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masquette · 3 years ago

Text

The Tree by the River .

∿ pairings :

a Camilo Madrigal x fem reader !

∿ summary :

The long anticipated day of yours and Camilo’s anniversary has finally arrived. The two of you just can’t stop drowning each other with love and affection.

∿ warnings :

none .

∿ genre :

fluff ♡ .

∿ this will be written in :

third person pov .

∿ Part One , link .

∿ Part Two , you’re here !

∿ Reminders :

I am not fluent in spanish, anything said in this language is translated from Google.

This is not proofread. If you spot any grammar/spelling mistakes, please do inform me.

[Name] shot her eyes awake, a smile immediately painting her face. Wanting to start the day off with a good start, she started making her bed, swaying and twirling here and there. The female woke up pretty early, and knew she wouldn't be able to get back to sleep with the lingering thought of him.

She was already feeling butterflies.

“Aya, just what he does to me...” The E/C smiled, daydreaming about a certain shapeshifter. The female went over to her desk, opening a very detailed box she designed herself. Orange, green, and brown were it's theme. The box revealed many letters tied together with a ribbon, and a neatly folded handkerchief. The H/C gently held the cloth, admiring it for just a moment.

A chameleon accompanied by a star, between them was a bigggg heart. The chameleon representing Camilo, the star being the maiden, and the heart being their love for each other.

The female planted a kiss on where the chameleon was embroidered, grinning giddily. She really was lovestruck, she thought and agreed to herself. She stared at the handkerchief for another second, before tying the fabric on to her wrist.

[Name] picked up a piece of paper, words of song written on it. “Mmmhh,” She scanned over the lyrics, “Yeah. Made with love, words from the heart, a good tune, a killer voice, this has to be the definition of perfection.” The H/C haired joked with herself.

“Nowww, for the next step of the day.” She huffed, though grinning. Walking down the stairs as quietly as she could, making her way to the kitchen. She loved making things for her beloved, gifting being her love language and all while Camilo smothered her with hugs and kisses.

The cake she baked was already done as it sat on the fridge untouched, the female threatening anyone who got near it.

“Keep your filthy, unwashed hands from mi amor’s cake, Rigel! Unless you’re desperate in loosing a limb.”

Yeah.... You can say she's very uhm, protective? [Name] has good intentions though, the purest. Yeah, yeah.

Now she's baking arepas! She borrowed the recipe from tia Julietta's, though adding her own twist with it. The smell just makes her mouth water. She took it from the oven, proud of what she'd just made. Then placing it on a cloth before wrapping it securely, not as tight but.. tight. By the placement of the sun right now, her guess was that it was probably 7 to 8am.

Camilo said he'd pick her up at 10, so they could spend the whole day together by the tree besides the river. It's their usual place after all. The arepas and utensils had already been placed inside her picnic basket, she just has to be careful with holding it now. The cake will be put last second to make sure it doesn't melt.

Oh and her guitar! She almost forgot. The female rushed to the stairs, wanting to hold her precious guitar. “Ah, [Name], getting ready for your beloved?” Her mother teased, the said girl smiled in response, “What else would I be doing, ma? I want the best for mi chameleon.” She laughed, and her mother eyed her proudly before laughing herself, “Alright alright. I'll be downstairs if you need me.” to which the H/C just nodded.

She went inside her room to find her guitar placed beside her bed. “Well, guitar secured. Now I'll just have to get ready..” [Name] pursed her lips as she thought of what to wear. She'd never been one to dress, only on occasions like this. Luckily, she absolutely adored her lover. She brought up a self embroidered dress, having the same shade of yellow and orange as his. She sighed,

“The things I'd do for you.”

“Isabela! Can you make a bouquet? Mostly with roses and carnations, they're her favorite. Oh, and a stargazer in the middle!”

The said female rolled her eyes, a smirk lingering on her face. “Coming right up, loverboy.” She teased. He just smiled cheekily in response, cheeks tinted pink. Isabela made the bouquet as he requested.

Camilo's eyes lit up, his muddy green orbs held gratefulness towards his cousin. “Gracias!” They immediately took the bouquet from her grasp, running off to his room to fetch his backpack and a well wrapped gift.

He came across his mirror, as he tried to make himself more presentable. He was wearing a sea-blue ruana, matching the shade of his amor's. There were specs of dots, seemingly representing the stars. He got the help of Mirabel to design it. He hummed at himself in satisfaction, before fetching his bag and tossing it over his shoulders. The well-wrapped gift that was once on their desk was now on their grasp, with the bouquet at the other hand.

“Wait, how am i gonna open the door-” Before he could even finish his sentence, his sister, Dolores opened it for him. “I heard your hands were full.” She smiled, “Go, it's 8:30.” She motioned for him to get going, as he still needed to prepare by the river. The female would offer help, but she knew the boy would refuse and say,

“No, no. It has to be just between me and mi vida, just the two of us.”

The said shapeshifter grinned at her, “Thanks, hermana!” before sprinting towards the front door. “Happy Anniversary to you two.” She said, earning another grateful smile from the boy.

“Mami, I'm going to go by the river now!” He waves goodbye his parents, “Have fun! Just don't overdo it, okay?” His father teased, “Papa!” He flushed red, shaking his head. The couple just laughed, “Okay okay, mi chiquito. Happy Anniversary to you and [Name].” They both grinned at him proudly, a rainbow appearing on his mother's head. Camilo nodded with gratitude, before running of to their place.

He had finally reached the river, the sent of water and nature reached his nose. He raised his head to look at the tree, spotting a tree house made by the two of them, and a carving of their initials on it's bark. He smiled at the thought of her. Really, he was obsessed. But in a good way, of course.

Now crossing the river, using the big stones as his steps. Normally he'd just slip off their shoes and jump in it, as the river was shallow, barely reaching his ankles. But he didn't want to make it obvious he's been here, he wanted to surprise her.

Once he had placed the several books he thought would appear interesting to her, placed fabric for them to sit, and threw petals to make it more romantic. He had a set of candles ready for the night as well.

It was finally time to pick her up.

The maiden had just placed the cake inside her basket, having already changed and done her usual make-up, as well as her hair. Her guitar was inside it's bag, placed on the couch and ready to be picked up.

It was quarter to 10, her cariño will be here soon and the female could barely control her excitement. She just couldn't wait to sing her heart out and shower him with love.

Knock. Knock. Knock.

Her eyes lit up, “Coming!” The maiden went to the mirror to see her reflection, making sure she didn't look like a mess. She hurriedly went to open the door after, finally seeing those enchanting muddy emerald orbs of his.

He was holding a bouquet, consisting of her favorite flowers - roses and carnations, with the exception of a stargazer lily. Of course, the female recognized the shade of blue he was wearing before looking back at his eyes. He seemed to realize it too. The corner of their lips twitched as the two burst into laughter.

“It seems we thought the same, mi cariño.” The maiden smiled, one which sent the other onto a daze, getting lost in her presence. “Yeah.” He agreed absentmindedly, enchanted by her beauty.

“You're so beautiful.” He really just couldn't help it, it was the truth. They held the maiden's hands, planting a kiss on their knuckles.

“Really now?” She chuckled at her lover's antics, “I mean it.” was all he said in response, though his eyes said so much more as her eyes met his gaze. “Amor,” She mumbled, “Mi cariño,” She caressed his cheeks the same way they caressed her hand.

“You're the prettiest dream I've ever seen in the whole entirety I've been alive.” A kiss for a kiss, truth for truth. The two were in their own world, god, Camilo even forgot about the bouquet he was holding. Their lips touched for a brief moment, and although it was short, it was just as special as the rest.

Their gaze locked on one another, until the maiden started cackling. “Mi vida? What's so funny?” The corner of his lips curled upwards, being affected by her laughter. “The bouquet, querido. Am I really that enchanting?” She playfully smirked, teasing her beloved. “What else would've been the reason? Only you, mi princessa, would have this much of an impact on me.” He bowed in a dramatic manner, holding the bouquet out for the maiden to take — to which she did.

“As you too, mi principe.” The female chuckled, performing a curtsy. “Shall we?” He motioned for the maiden to link their arms together. “Just a second, chameleon.” She linked their arms for a brief moment, as brief as the kiss she planted on his cheek.

Guitar, basket, was that all? Yeah, and a song engraved on her body. The basket now on her arm, and a guitar bag slung over her shoulder.

“Wait- a guitar? Amor, did you-” She cut them off by placing a finger on their lips, shaking her head. “It's a surprise.” She linked their arms again, but this time, it's not only for a small period of time. “Come on, come on! I already told mami we're going.” The maiden tugged on his arm, “Slow down, mi estrella!” They chuckled.

“I'd race you but..” Her gaze fell onto their joined arms. “I like it like this.” She admitted, snuggling her cheek onto his shoulder, as they were almost of the same height. “Me too.” They kissed the maiden's forehead.

“So,” He started, “You wrote a song for me?” The shapeshifter asked, gaze curious yet glowed with appreciation. “Of course, it's for you.” [Name] smiled cheekily, “I have plenty of surprises for you later. I swear, you'll basically drown in my affection!” She proposed, it sounded like a declare of competition.

“Oh? Well, I also have plenty of surprises for you!” They returned the competitive gaze the maiden has. “We'll see about that, chameleon.” She smirked smugly, a gesture which he returned.

“Sounds like a competition to me, mi vida.”

“It is, and I'm going to win.”

“Whatever you say, amor.”

The two exchanged sarcastic remarks, just like they would on the daily. Teasing, flirting, lots and lots of love, it was a normal occurrence for the pair.

They were nearing their destination. The sound of water flowing reached their ears, making their stomachs flutter with excitement.

[Name]'s eyes widened slightly at the sight. Petals, books, wow. It was paradise. But with Camilo, it was heaven. Better than heaven.

“I did a great job, didn't I, mi tesoro?” He glanced at her reaction, prideful as he saw her awestruck eyes.

“It's- I'm- wow. This is absolutely amazing, Camilo, mi amor, I love it.” The maiden awed at the sight, “I love you.” She kissed his nose.

“More? Pleaseee.” He pleaded, to which the female obliged. She giggled, peppering the other with kisses, her lipstick stains on his face. He accepts with glee, letting the maiden shower him with her lovely kisses.

The basket was already on the floor, with the bouquet inside. After a couple more smooches, the female wiped her lipstick off his face, much to his dismay. She rested her head on the crook of his neck, savoring his scent. His arms held her waist, chin on her head. The shapeshifter started humming a song as he gently swayed, “Dancing now?” The female chuckled, as she started swaying too. “You don't want to?”

“Camilo, when would I never want to dance with you?” She looked up to lock their gazes, arms no longer on his chest as she draped them over his neck.

“Then, let's dance–” They guided the maiden over to the river, taking their shoes off. “here.” One of his arms on her waist, the other holding her hand whilst the female’s was on his shoulder. Together, they danced ever so gracefully, in sync.

Their gaze on each other never broke, feet moving by the water, it was mesmerizing. Their bodies moved together, as if they'd done this plenty of times before. [Name]'s dress flowing ever so smoothly by their movements, much like water. Camilo guided her skillfully, twirling her perfectly that allowed her beauty to shine.

He couldn't help but think of how pretty she is, she was absolutely stunning. Truly a sight to see. He loved how perfect the way her hair danced with the wind, loved how she looked at him with such admiration, loved the way she smiled, god, she was so beautiful.

And she? She loved how his cheeks flushed, his pretty eyes that shone, loved his adorable freckles, his hair that was so soft, dios, she was absolutely lovestruck.

Neither wanted this moment to end, even though it felt as if time had stopped. It was a day-

–full of loving songs,

“Mi cariño,” The female smiled, hands on the strings of her guitar. “This song, I wrote specifically for you.” She bopped his nose with a cheeky grin. Camilo laughed, leaning in to peck her cheek. “A goodluck kiss for mi vida.” They teased. “Luck I don't need, fuel I do. Your kisses will suffice.” She smirked, before strumming her fingertips on the strings of her guitar.

“ I'd never gone with the wind ,

just let if flow ,

let it take me where it wants to go ,

'till you opened the door ,

and there's so much more ,

I'd never seen it before .

I was trying to fly but I couldn't find wings ,

then you came along and you changed everything . ”

Camilo was already tearing up. The love of his life, wrote this song for him. And only him. He couldn't explain how special he felt at that moment. He felt so loved and appreciated.

“ You lift my feet off the ground ,

spin me around ,

you make me crazier , crazier ,

feels like I'm falling and I ,

am lost in your eyes ,

you make me crazier , crazier, crazier . ”

Her voice was amazing, she sang with so much passion. It made his heart melt and tooth rot. She was too sweet.

“ I watched from a distance as you ,

made life your own ,

every sky was your own kind of blue ,

and I wanted to know ,

how that would feel ,

and you made it so real .

You showed me something that I couldn't see ,

you opened my eyes and you made me believe . ”

Oh god, he was crying, wasn't he? Wiping the tears that managed to escape his eyes, he smiled at her with such love.

“ You lift my feet of the ground ,

spin me around ,

you make me crazier , crazier ,

feels like I'm falling and I ,

am lost in your eyes ,

you make me crazier , crazier , crazier . ”

The female's fingers stopped strumming the guitars strings, her gaze holding his. “Camilo, mi tesoro, I love you. Like what the song said, really, you make me crazier.”

–love letters the two kept,

“Okay, this!” The female rummaged through the box she bought, holding a pink letter. “This is my favorite.” She snickered. “What's yours, cariño?”

Her beloved held a box of theirs too, filled with the letters they've exchanged throughout the year. “All of them.” He exclaimed, “Since they're all from you, mi vida.”

“...That's not fair, now you're making me feel bad.” The maiden sulked, “You really don't have a favorite?”

“I mean, there is this one letter..” He trailed, shifting his gaze from the maiden to the box. They took a white colored paper, “This one.” he flaunted.

“A-Amor, are you sure you got the right letter-”

He cut her off by reading it's first line,⠀ “ Camilo, my beloved, I wrote you poems while you were gone. ”

“Mi vida, please, not out loud!” The maiden was flustered, cheeks reddenning.

Camilo paid no mind however, it was rare to see her all flustered.

“ I miss you already, and I can't stop thinking about you. Dios, all I'm painting is you, and all I can do is write about you. Chameleon, what did you do to me? ”

He read aloud with a smug look.

“ I can't wait to hear your voice again. I want to hug you and shower you with all my affection. Have I ever told you how pretty you are? ”

He snickered, “To answer your question, mi estrella, you have. Plenty of times.” He kissed her forehead, “You, are just like a dream. Mi amor is the prettiest.”

The maiden smiled sheepishly, “Thank you..” she burried her head further onto his shoulder, an attempt to hide her red face.

“..but I'll have to take revenge.” She smirked with mischief as she held an ocean blue letter. Camilo's mouth went agape, “You have that?!”

The maiden nodded, “A little birdie gave it to me.” before clearing her throat,

“ [Name], the love of my life, I probably won't be giving this to you. Not yet, at least. ”

“¡Lo siento!, mi vida! ¡Lo siento!” The other pleaded. He knew his sister could hear them, and he wouldn't hear the end of it once he comes back! They tried to rip the letter off her grasp, but she kept him in place whilst shaking her head.

“ So since I won't be giving this to you for maybe a long time, I'm giving this letter everything. You, mi vida, are just so perfect in every way possible. Beautiful both inside and outside. Words can never describe your beauty. My pretty girl. ”

The maiden blushed, reading the phrase ‘ My pretty girl ’ again. “Awe, amor.” She pecked his cheeks, “Can I have the letter back now? Please?” he begged with those eyes of his. The female considered for a moment, before shaking her head, “Nope.”

“ I crave your touches, your voice, and your scent. Mi estrella, my shining star. You have no idea how much I love you. ”

“I love you too, chameleon.” [Name] snickered, handing him the letter. “I meant it.” He exclaimed, “Every single word.”

“You know, I have this letter that I haven't given to you yet. So I thought it was only fair.” She picked a red letter out of the box, “Here.” She handed him the letter.

The other opened it, reading the letters contents before smiling softly. “I'm your first love?” He held her hands delicately, “Yeah.” she admitted. “You're my first love too, mi chica bonita.”

To: My first love, whoever you may be,

Hi, if you're reading this, I probably handed it to you. You're my first love, no one's ever made me feel the same. Whether or not my feelings are reciprocated, I wouldn't help but dream of you, and I'd thank you either way. You made me feel love, something I've never felt before. Requited or not, no one will be able to steal the title “My first Love” from you.

Signed, [Name].

–feeding each other sweet delicacies,

“Now these, mi vida, taste heavenly.” He moaned in ecstasy, whatever she made was absolute perfection. The maiden giggled at her lover's antics, before going back to reading a book he got her.

He visibly pouted, “Amor,” they called out, catching the females attention. “Hm?” She hummed, letting him know she's listening before shifting her gaze to him. Camilo's mouth was open, an invitation for the female to spoon feed another bite of the cake.

“Fine, fine.” She laughed, feeding them another spoon. “Is it that good?” She asked, the other nodded eagerly in response. “The best.”

Their grip on her waist tightened slightly, nuzzling his face closer to her neck. “Read for me?” He requested.

“Anything for you.”

–full of sweet moments,

Camilo was listening to the maiden ramble, his head resting on her lap.

“I felt really bad about it, honestly. But I couldn't do anything about it! I just-” She immediately stopped when she realized that her beloved was sleeping, eyes closed and relaxed.

She smiled and played with his hair, massaging his scalp. “Why'd you stop, mi amor?” They were not asleep. He sat up, “I was listening.” he took her hand that was on his head, kissing her knuckles. “Well- I thought you were asleep, I didn't want to wake you up.” She chuckled and laid down on the grass, making the other follow too.

“I was about to, your voice is like a lullaby to me.” He confessed, head now on her chest. She didn't mind. “I could sing you a lullaby.” The maiden played with their curly brown locks again, making him sigh with content. “I'd like that.”

“ Oh , my little little bunny ,

the carrots are on the wagon ,

somehow it thought it was funny ,

the carrots on the wagon . ”

The maiden sang, as the other closed their droppy eyes.

“ Oh , my little little bunny ,

the carrots have gone .

It's now in my tummy ,

said the little baby bunny . ”

The two held each other in their embrace under the setting sun. The wind hushing as it blows. The pair under the tree, content with where they are now, as long as they're together.

–the scent of candles and the comfort in his voice, eyeing the stars in each other's hold,

[Name] yawned, having just awoken from her short nap. She looked at the spot Camilo slept, only to find out he wasn’t there. The scent of candles reached her nose, looking around to see various candles lit up.

“Mi estrella,” She heard his voice, eyes immediately following the source. There she saw her beloved, a box in his hand. The maiden smiled, “Mi chameleon,” she said, sounding breathless.

The maiden turned around, giving him access to the back of her neck. She felt the cold metal touch her skin, hearing a clicking noise initiating the necklace was now on her. Camilo kissed her neck to her shoulders, his arms around her torso.

The shapeshifter took a seat next to the maiden, “This is for you.” he handed her the box. The two stared at each other lovingly, until the female pecked his cheeks, chuckling slightly.

“Open it, amor.” Ushered the shapeshifter, rubbing their noses together. “Alright, alright.” She giggled, before opening the box.

Inside it was a necklace, half of a heart. “I have the other half, they’re magnets.” He showed her the necklace he was wearing, hidden under his poncho. “You’re too sweet, mi vida.” She intertwined their fingers, the male just chuckled in response. “Here, I’ll put it on for you.” He offered, to which the other accepted.

Once he was satisfied, he raised his head to stare at the female’s pretty eyes, before taking a glance at her lips. She smiled, closing the gap between them, locking their lips together. She caressed his cheeks softly, while he nibbled at her lower lip. “Mnh, ‘milo,” She pulled away, giggling, making the other laugh.

“I love you.” He said, leaning in for another passionate kiss. Their lips moved together in sync, he felt the maiden smile. His hold on her torso tightened slightly, kissing her deeper.

Click!

The pair pulled away to investigate the noise, noticing that their necklaces were now connected. “Do you like it, mi sol?” He asked, gesturing at the necklace. [Name] nodded, “Of course I do.” she rested her back on his front.

Camilo fell down on his back, bringing the maiden down with him, turning to his side, spooning the other. “Ay, ‘milo!” Laughed the female. He just pecked her head, chuckling slightly.

A moment of comfortable silence ensued the two. “Why don’t we stargaze?” [Name] suggested, turning around to face her beloved. “I’m already gazing at you, though.”

She rolled her eyes at his antics, smirking, “I’ll give you a kiss.” and that was all he needed to be persuaded.

The two laid their in each other's embrace once again, one pointing out constellations of the stars, while the other admired the prettiest star next to him.

The Tree by the River .

January 24 , 2022 . Monday .

edited on February 10 , 2022 . Thursday .

∿ author’s note :

terribly sorry if this is a mess. honestly, i’m not quite proud of it, but we push through! The song [Name] sang for Camilo was, if you don’t already know, called “Crazier” by Taylor Swift.

anyhow, thanks for reading! i hope you at least enjoyed lmao

i promise, my writing will improve, okay? determination at its finest amirite

have a nice day / evening ! up next is a carlos fanfic this time, i am obsessed with these two.

#camilo x y/n #camilo #camilo fanfic #camilo x reader #CAMILO MY BELOVED #Encanto #camilo madrigal #x reader #fanfiction #encanto camilo #madrigals #the madrigals #tooth rotting fluff #dolores madrigal #camilo supremacy #i love him #fanfic

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alkhale · 4 years ago

Note

so... that new his dark materials on HBO got me feeling some things and thinking... Memos HDM AU?

Memos His Dark Materials AU Ko-Fi Request

(for context for the excerpt down below this, when someone’s daemon makes contact with another person’s daemon, it’s considered very personal and intimate. This is normal between family members and very close friends or loved ones, say, Luffy’s daemon would probably touch all his nakama’s left and right just fine, but for certain others, this may come as a bit of an alarming little sensation for them since people feel what their daemons feel and the same vice versa as extension of their souls)

- Hoku’s daemon is a white panther named Hau.

The two of them don’t get along very well and tend to get on each other’s nerves due to personal reasons. They’re capable of being a fairly good distance apart even though this isn’t normal and considered painful for most people. They sort of trained themselves to be able to be apart because they felt following their independent values was most important. It’s a bit of a messy situation but they’re the first ones either of them would turn to no matter what. He has the same marking she has painted around the curve of his left eye because it’s tradition for Pokians to paint it onto their daemons when they come of age. All daemons from Artopoki are also always colored white just like their hair.

His name means “happiness” in Hawaiian.

- Mahina’s daemon is a white horse while Manu’s is a small white wild cat. Mihawk’s is a massive, massive ink black raven named Sable. She and Mahina’s daemon got along really well.

- Shank’s daemon is a reddish tinted lionness who goes by Reina. Hoku and Hau are a bit smitten by her but Hau kind of hates Shanks, maybe not hate but he tends to be on the more skeptical end of him versus Hoku being a little doe-eyed for the man. Hau loved Mihawk though. Mihawk was the first person to ever touch him outside of Hoku’s parents (human to daemon contact is a super big deal when it’s not family or intimate loved ones, daemon to daemon is a little more tolerable but raises some brows)

- Luffy’s daemon settles as a springy lionness name Soleil who he calls Sol. She’s very energetic and can’t really read a room but she makes up for it with energy. She and Luffy are two peas in a pod.

- Nami’s daemon is an orange fox named Riki, the greatest thieving duo across the East Blue.

- Zoro’s is a massive bengal tiger named Masumi and she’s got a much more approachable personality than her counterpart but tends to be just as lazy and ferocious.

- Usopp’s is a chameleon by the name of Emmo. She’s a bit of a coward too but she’s funny.

- Sanji’s is a beautiful, rather stunning lady jackrabbit by the name of Celine who loves beautiful people and kicking. She seems a little wiser than Sanji.

- Brook’s is the skeleton of a songbird named Aretha. They’re the strangest case on the Grand Line because of his devil fruit. She sings beautifully for a pile of bones though.

- Franky’s is a female beaver named Aspen, they’re pretty much carbon copies of each other.

- Robin’s is a black owl named Yuval. He’s on the quieter side and tends to creep people out on first glance but he’s a very gentlemanly owl.

- Ace’s ends up settling as a red and black lynx by the name of Iskra. Sabo’s is a peregrine falcon named Brisa.

- Vivi’s is a fennec fox named Seti.

- I couldn’t decide of Kid’s should be one hell of a murderous honey badger with attitude named Naga or a crocodile or a bear. Any of those three felt pretty right but I lean more toward the honey badger HAHAHA.

- Law’s daemon is a snow leopard named Estrella. These two are an especially dangerous duo and Estrella tends to be a bit more on the mysterious side at first.

- - - - - - -

“Your blood,” Shank said, cupping her cheek. “Is worth treasures more than his.”

Hau bit at Shanks’ cloak, snarling as a white husky in protest, trying to pull him away. Reina watched him in utter amusement.

Steam exploded from Hoku’s ears, her entire face flushing red.

“Oops, hey, someone get Makino! I’m worried dove’s got a fever!”

- - - - - - -

“It’s nothing but a childish crush,” Hau said pointedly to her, perfectly aware of the fluttery, gross feelings inside Hoku spilling over to him. He walked after her, lashing his tail angrily while Hoku stared up at the sky in a daze. Shanks had just given them a living, ripe kiionohi tree. “He just thinks we’re cute kids. He likes teasing us. This is how he took Luffy!”

Hau worked over-time to remain as indifferent toward Shanks as Hoku originally wanted to be. Hoku had just given up and rolled over to the fact that Shanks was just… so hard to dislike. Was there even a reason to dislike him? Sure, she still got jealous that Luffy was so damn fond of him, but when Luffy was always pulling her around despite that, promising she was his first before anyone else—

“Are you listening to me?” Hau hissed at her, biting her ankle in protest. Hoku looked down at him. “I don’t like him! He’s just another schmuck! Nothing’s gonna happen anyway! Dream on! We’re just kids to him, got it?”

“I know that,” Hoku snapped, cheeks flushing. “I-It’s just adoration. Childish adoration. What do you think I’m gonna do, ask him to marry me?”

“No,” Hau muttered, “but don’t get any ideas.”

“I’m not,” Hoku snapped back at him, lightly nudging his paws. Hau swiped at her. “He’s just… he’s just charming, is all. And you’re one to talk, you know. You look at anyone that’s willing to scratch your ears like they’re god!”

“I don’t let people scratch me behind the ears!” Hau protested. “No one’s allowed to touch me!”

“Yeah,” Hoku snorted. “Except Luffy, right? I feel what you feel too, dumbass. Think about how it feels for me to get scratched behind the ears too, okay?”

Hau grumpily settled down onto his haunches, stubbornly looking over to the side, “But it’s Luffy.”

Hoku could understand that, but it didn’t make the sensation any more normal. Actually, I might be starting to get used to that. Luffy’s so damn touchy it’ll kill me. She didn’t even flinch anymore when Hau and Soleil were pressed tight together, rolling around or tumbling about each other or cuddled up in a pile. Luffy’s warm fingers patting Hau’s head, hefting him up into his arms—that was still something she was getting used to.

Or Hoku, cupping Soleil’s head in her hands, pressing a kiss to the top of the daemon’s head, committing utter taboo. Hoku, letting Soleil cozy up to the crook of her neck, shove her face into Hoku’s hand, weave between her fingers while Luffy laughed beside them—

The four of them, touching each other’s daemons, each other’s partners, each other’s souls—

But I am getting used to it. Hoku shivered. Never touching anyone’s daemon, huh?

Hau lashed his tail, “I won’t let Shanks touch me, you can count on that.”

“You’re just jealous,” Hoku said. “Luffy and Soleil already said we’re first. And it’s not like Shanks is going to be here forever, he’s a pirate, remember?”

Hoku rubbed the side of her arm, looking down at her shoes, “He’s just… he’s just become Luffy’s idol. You see how he looks at him—Luffy knows what he wants to do now ‘cause of him.”

Hau huffed, whiskers twitching. Hoku gave him a little shove and Hau shifted into a bull, ramming at the back of her knees as Hoku laughed, shoving back at him.

Shanks was just a bit of fun, that was it.

- - - - - - - -

But Reina didn’t play by the rules.

“You’re getting faster, little dove.”

Hoku almost screamed. Her heart lodged into her throat, forcing her to choke as Mau nearly clattered onto the dirt from her hands had she not hooked it last minute. She apologized to the amused blade, checking for scratches and trying to work out a game plan in her head.

Hau frowned. As deep of a frown as an unhappy skunk could make, sitting by a log and looking pointedly Reina’s way.

She didn’t know when Shanks’ daemon had made her way over to them or where Shanks was, probably with Luffy to be honest, but there Reina was, living up to her name.

The lioness daemon was stretched out onto a fat slab of rock jutting upwards from the ground. Luffy used it as a launching platform a lot when they were playing. Her red-gold body rippled, leisurely soaking up the sunlight.

Hoku’s fingers itched.

Reina watched them with golden irises.

“Thanks,” Hoku said, trying not to be awkward but feeling very much so. “I’m not there yet though.”

Reina’s chest rumbled, a deep sound that made Hau wrinkle his nose in protest. She laid her head down onto her paws, rolling over onto her side. Hoku noticed the scars lining her softer underbelly, the notch missing from a piece of her flicking tail.

“You’ll get there,” Reina said soothingly. “Why don’t you take a break?”

I feel like I’m talking to the devil. Hoku shivered. Temptation incarnate. “I haven’t hit my number of swings yet.”

“Shanks and Luffy are playing by the harbor,” Reina almost purred. “Don’t you want to join?”

Hoku frowned at her boots. Yes. “No. I’m glad Shanks is taking up all his time.”

Reina’s ear twitched. Her eyes glimmered playfully. Hoku felt as though if her feet weren’t planted firmly to begin with, she’d already be making her way over to the lioness for no reason other than the fact that Reina seemed to be beckoning her over.

“How come you two can be so far apart?” Hau blurted. Hoku shot him a look of disbelief.

Reina’s whiskers twitched in amusement.

Hau hunkered down, waving his big bushy tail. “I-Isn’t it painful? It’s weird, daemons aren’t supposed to be able to do that.”

“You two seem to be able to go fairly far,” Reina murmured. “Is that not strange?”

Hoku and Hau flinched.

Reina laid her head down onto the rock, letting the sun color her pelt. She looked crimson gold in the sunlight. “He and I simply found it in ourselves to promise to live our lives to the fullest and the freest.”

Reina seemed to smile, lips pulling back to show her fangs. “Besides, like this, I can be with Luffy and he can be with little dove at the same time, hmm?”

Hoku and Hau blinked in confusion. They looked at each other and back to Reina who’d rolled over to show them her back, settling down for a nice, long nap.

“Finish up those swings, dove,” Reina purred. “Then let’s play.”

I miss Luffy. Hoku miserably flattened herself down against the grass, Mau propped up onto a trunk beside her. Hau was chirping haughtily in the tree branch above her, flapping his white wings even though he was supposed to be a toucan. I always run off even when he’s playing with Shanks. Maybe I should just suck it up and have fun with them too. Or, not fun. Just… spend time. Yeah.

Hoku groaned, rubbing her sweaty face with her hands.

“About time,” Hau chirped at her. “Let’s go! I don’t care if Shanks and everyone else is there, I want to see Luffy and Sol.”

“Yeah, yeah,” Hoku snapped. “I heard ya. You just want to get touched again.”

Hau flattened, ruffling his feathers, “That’s not true!”

It absolutely is. Hoku sighed, preparing her aching muscles to lift her sluggish body up. Hau was practically touched starved and Luffy’s generous pats were like a drug. He did a good job making sure Shanks never got near him though. Hoku didn’t even flinch. Touching other people’s daemons is still such a weird feeling though, I can’t get used to anyone else but them.

She’d only ever touched Sable twice. Ki and Kekoa didn’t count because they were family. Soleil was the only one she ever really touch-touched, and even then, it was still a sensation Hoku felt all the way to the tip of her toes and down to her bones. Intimate.

Bet no one else has a daemon willing to get himself pet. Hoku peeked through her fingers at Hau who jumped from the branch and shifted into a little white butterfly. He’d turn into a dog later because it was easier to play with Luffy like that. What daemon goes up to someone to get themselves touched?

Some taboos just weren’t meant to be crossed.

A shadow fell over Hoku’s face and she blinked, moving her hands away to look up.

Reina looked down at her.

Hoku froze, stiff against the ground like a corpse. Her heart hammered stupidly loud in her chest, loud enough to burst through her ears. From this spot, she could make out every fine, red-gold hair smoothed over Reina’s slender face. She could see the dark lines that traced her feline gold eyes, followed the slope of her muzzle, to the long, elegant whiskers—a few cut short, and the few scars that lined her soft nose.

This was the closest she had ever been to the daemon.

She could sense heat from the lioness, hulking power and muscle. Reina’s killing paws sat on either side of her head. She could crush Hoku’s skull without much effort. Rip her throat out. In another world, Hoku would be fearing for her life—even in this world, Hoku was still fearing for her life, but, but, maybe death at the hands of such a beautiful, powerful daemon couldn’t be that awful.

Hoku waited, staring at Reina with wide eyes.

Reina blinked once, slowly. Something like amusement seemed to shift over the fine hairs on her face and she lowered her head over Hoku’s. Her body seized up, unable to breathe.

And then languidly, a warm, wet and scratchy pink tongue rolled once across her face, down her forehead to her lips and over her chin. Reina pulled away, satisfied, looking down at Hoku’s disheveled, slightly wet face and bulging eyes before calmly sauntering off, hips swaying.

It took her a moment. A good, solid moment. Her heart did something funny, her body frozen stiff and ascended to some other plain of existence, her mind whirring and still buzzing from the electricity of the slightest contact with—

Someone else’s daemon—

Reina—

Shanks’ daemon—

Touched—

Hoku’s face blushed a bright, scarlet red. She grabbed her face with her hands and rolled around in the dirt like the little bug she was.

Hau jealously nudged her face with his little ferret nose, huffing and puffing in displeasure.

She’d never been touched by someone else’s daemon before.

- - - - - - - -

The final nail into her own coffin was done by Hoku’s own hands.

At the crack of dawn, when the light was just beginning to crawl its way out of the horizon to peek over into the sky. Just hours before, Hoku had finally shown Shanks the book, speaking with him in the low light of that bar and making a total fool of herself—enough for Hau to tease and taunt her about it for hours until they fell asleep.

She woke up earlier than Luffy today, leaving him snoring in her hammock with Soleil sprawled as a baby badger over him. Hau woke up, slithering into her shirt and keeping himself warm by her stomach as they walked out into the forest.

Reina was already waiting for them.

“Dove,” Reina greeted, velvet voice carrying over as Hoku trudged through the dewy grass. Sunlight was warming her pelt, heating it up like a forge and turning the red-gold of her pelt darker and brighter.

Hau muttered a low, half-reluctant protest. Yesterday, Luffy had picked him up, holding him close and willingly thrusted Hau toward Shanks like some kind of sacrificial offering.

Shanks didn’t take the daemon, simply grinning in understanding at Hau’s horrified expression. Her daemon had never felt more betrayed.

“Hau, you gotta get along with everyone!” Luffy laughed. “Don’t be dumb like Hoku!”

Hoku couldn’t stop the greedy, uncontrollable itch in her fingers.

“...good morning,” Hoku mumbled, tucking hair behind her ear out of habit. Reina was stretched out, regal and picture perfect on that same slab of stone. Dawn was rising over the fine curve of her spine and the lioness kept her gaze on them evenly, waiting as Hoku slowly came to stand beside the slab of rock.

Reina’s ears swiveled forward. She watched Hoku, eyes glittering. A soft sound left her parted jaws.

Hoku hesitantly took a seat on the rock, a few inches away from Reina. She could feel heat rising from the daemon, her head turning to follow Hoku as they stared at each other.

She weakly raised one hand. Hau’s heartbeat matched her own.

“Could I… Could I draw you?”

Reina’s jaws parted to let out a soft rumble. Her body curved more, keeping Hoku in the middle. Her paws stretched out and Reina kept her eyes evenly on Hoku’s.

Hoku softly set her hand down on Reina’s side. Warmth flooded into her fingertips, spreading up her arm and making half her body feel almost numb with the sensation. Hoku’s head spun, buzzing with that vibrant thrum of energy as Reina’s pelt shifted under her fingertips. Hoku daringly let her hand come down Reina’s spine, feeling the muscles and scars in one gentle stroke.

Reina’s scratchy tongue dragged over Hoku’s hand in approval.

“I hope that man is deep, deep asleep,” Hau muttered. Hoku agreed.

She thought her heart was going to burst.

- - - - - -- -- - -

“This place is crawling with marines now,” Smoker said. “What are you going to do? Let them arrest you like some kind of washed up drunk?”

Hoku lightly pushed the glass in front of her. The bartender nervously refilled the glass, jumping in fear when Smoker glared daggers at him.

“Hoku,” Smoker said.

The woman kept swallowing mouthfuls of the whiskey in her cup, ignoring him. Blanca’s fur had settled over her back, smoothing out. His daemon watched the woman before them in silence, looking at Hau and then back to Hoku.

A soft sound left Blanca’s lips. Smoker shot her a warning look. The smoky colored husky daemon lowered her tail.

“What happened to all that spunk?” Smoker continued. “You don’t give two shits if I cuff you and take you in from here?”

Hoku didn’t even turn to look at them. She kept her shoulders hunched, curling in on herself over the bar’s countertop and refusing to meet the gazes burning into her back. The empty glasses spread out across the wood counter beside her, the heavy smell of alcohol settling amidst the cigarette smoke.

Hau kept silent at her feet, curled up and head low. Smoker observed the daemon carefully, noticing the matted fur, the dirt stains in the crisp white that used to be his go-to for hunting them down in the crowd. His unsheathed claws, caked with dried dirt and blood. The cleanest spot was the blood red ink curled over his half-hidden face under the countertop’s shadow.

A new spot was inked into his fur. A small, blood red flame right where the muscle of his shoulder blade bunched under his right foreleg. Smoker’s eyes traveled upwards to the matching red flame inked into Hoku’s skin over her right shoulder blade.

“This is it?” Smoker said gruffly.

Hoku snorted. Blanca shot him a look, gray eyes hard to read but Smoker never needed to read her eyes, he could hear her thoughts loud and clear in his own head, in the space they shared.

“Who cares,” Hoku muttered bitterly. “You got what you wanted.”

Blanca fell silent. Smoker shot his daemon a sharp look, but she refused to meet his gaze, tail limp behind her and ears pricked far forward, focused on the woman before them.

Hoku bowed her head. Her hands went up, carding through her hair, holding them there as though she were cradling her head in her hands.

“You won,” Hoku whispered.

His daemon took a step forward.

“Blanca,” he warned.

The husky kept her muzzle shut, looking at him.

“Smoker.”

Smoker tossed his cigar to the side. His gloved hand clenched into a fist before it loosened. Smoker let out an aggravated sigh, shaking his head. He took a step forward, raising his hand up.

Hau’s growl ripped through the air like a knife. A single, resounding warning. Smoker glanced down to the daemon, glaring at them with icy venom, fangs and claws bared. Blanca lowered her head only an inch, her only way of showing they meant no harm. Hau pulled his lips back into a louder snarl, tail lashing in aggravation.

Hoku glanced down to her companion, frowning for a moment before she raised her head and looked back at Smoker.

Tears continued to trickle from the corners of her eyes. They slid down the curve of her cheeks, dripping down her chin. Hoku watched him in silence, expression unreadable.

The admiral hesitated for only a second. Blanca let out the softest, softest whine.

For a moment, Hau’s body untensed, staring. The foggy look started to clear. Hoku’s brows creased and Smoker reached out with his gloved hand one more time.

The doors to the bar slammed open.

The light winked out from Hoku’s eyes. Hau stood onto his paws, head lowered, eyes narrowed into dangerous slits.

His men flooded the dimly lit room, raising their guns and shouting out orders as Smoker cursed in his head and Blanca’s ferocious barks of protest flooded the room over his, ordering the marine daemons to stand down.

Smoker lurched, eyes snapping in surprise to where Hau suddenly had Blanca pinned to the wooden floorboards of the bar. His daemon was silent, rigidly looking up at Hau with her teeth barely bared, body still while Hau’s jaws were wrapped around her neck. Smoker felt his teeth on his own, Hoku’s dead eyes looking at all of them.

“Go ahead,” Hoku said coldly. She turned to the marines by the door, half-smiling. “Just don’t forget, Hau’s got one more life over her.”

Blanca kept silent, staring imploringly at Hau. The panther ignored her gaze, keeping his jaws buried in the scruff of her throat, waiting. Smoker stared hard at Hoku and she kept her gaze on his men, expression devoid of emotion.

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

“Estrella,” Law drawled, ice dripping with the roll of his tongue.

His daemon pounced.

They poor no-body marine dog never stood a chance.

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

“No,” Law said. “This is rehab.”

He kicked Hoku’s lower back, sending her flying down the stairs with an ungoldy screech and down into the boiler room. Penguin and Sachi peeked their heads around the corner, staring down into the darkest depths of their sub while Law shoved a hand into his pocket.

“Is she still alive?” Penguin asked.

“She’s got a couple, right?” Law asked Hau. “Which one was that?”

Hau flicked his tail tip, the only sign of his annoyance. Estrella watched him with peering eyes, following the sway of Hau’s haunches as he slunk down the steps into the boiler room after Hoku.

“Fuck you, Law!” came the ghostly holler. “I’m going to blow up your submarine! You forgot I’m suicidal, asshole!”

Law looked satisfied, turning his back on them and closing the boiler room door. To Sachi and Penguin he added, “Make sure she doesn’t come out until she’s done.”

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

Law froze, his entire body stiff as ice.

He took a moment, reassessing the sensation he felt unfolding in his chest. He considered it carefully, made sure this… this feeling was not a mistake, that he had not wrongly interpreted the shared sensation between himself and his daemon. He picked it apart in seconds, slowly, rigidly turning his head to the corner of the deck.

It was dark, only a single headbeam lit from the corner pathway of the submarine. The deck on top of the rounded hull was bathed in darkness, but even in the thin light, he knew down to his bones he was not seeing wrongly.

Law gave the woman beside him one discreet, searching glance.

Hoku looked completely and utterly unaffected. He watched her a second longer to make sure it wasn’t an act, but her careless, bored demeanor showed truthfully she had no inclination whatsoever to sharing his barely, barely startled turmoil. Hoku looked completely at ease, still squinting in the distance to see if she could make out the constellation they’d just discussed, mouth moving around the dried fruit she’d just popped into her mouth.

Law carefully, with great composure, withheld the light, creeping shiver that traveled down his spine. He narrowed his eyes, looking back, but Estrella coyly kept her mind blank, hiding all of her thoughts from him the way they’d taught each other to.

There, against the side of the entry doorway, the two of them laid.

Hoku’s daemon had stretched out, directly in the middle of the deck to keep the perfect distance away from either side of the railings. His long, furred body turned a pale, ghostly shade of white under the moonlight, large paws hiding pearl white claws. Hau’s side rose and fell in lazy slumber, his tail stretched out behind him like a white whip, ears twitching only occasionally.

But the issue was who was beside him.

Estrella had silently made her way from Law’s side across the deck to his. Her lithe, powerful feline body almost nearly matched his in size. Law watched her with rapt, rigid focus, brows furrowed in dark disbelief as his daemon purposefully ignored his silent prodding.

She stopped inches from Hau’s form, sitting on her haunches, tail curled neatly over her paws. Hau’s ear flicked once in her direction to signal he’d noticed, but kept his eyes closed. Estrella stared down at him, icy gray gaze that had stared back as she ripped throats out of marines and pirates and their enemies alike, becoming almost clear.

Estrella rearranged herself, laying down on her stomach barely a centimeter—a heavy, tense centimeter Law could feel—from him. She folded her paws neatly over each other, staring out seemingly in boredom. Her striped black tail flicked from side to side, occasionally brushing against Hau’s limp one. A ghost of a touch.

Touch.

His daemon. Estrella.

Hau didn’t move, tail limp, body relaxed. Estrella turned her head to look down at the other daemon, expression carefully blank. Her tail curled and then the tip of it brushed against Hau’s flank. His fur seemed to shift, bright, scarred pink nose twitching but he remained relaxed. Estrella seemed pleased by this and her tail promptly laid out beside his own, curling idly over his.

Touching.

Law looked back at Hoku and she reached for another dried fruit, popping it into her mouth. She shuffled through her bag, debating whether or not to shove a handful more. Oblivious.

Is your connection to your daemon that terrible? Law almost bit out. Almost. It would have come out calm and cold and collected. Are you that dull? Is it that messed up? Are you an idiot—

He went rigid, gripping Kikoku with white knuckles.

Law exhaled, slowly. He carefully turned over his shoulder, inch by inch, glaring daggers behind him.

Estrella didn’t even blink at him, eyes trained sideways and away. She looked silver against Hau’s snow white. Her long, raspy pink tongue slid out languidly from her mouth in soothing, relaxed motions. It showed off the dangerous curve of bone-crushing fangs. But Estrella’s tongue was now running over the top of Hau’s face, over his ears, around his neck as she turned her face and—

“Are you grooming him?” Law spat out in disbelief at her.

The snow leopard lazily flicked her tail behind her in response. Hau yawned, stretching his paws out, unbothered, and resumed his slumber as Estrella continued her grooming, content.

Law ripped apart the shudder that almost raced down his spine. He shoved the sensations traveling from Estrella and Hau’s shared connection, the low buzz of energy, of electricity that came when two daemons touched each. A feeling he’d only ever felt when Corazon’s Rosa would curl her soft, furry body up around Estrella—

He grit his teeth, squaring his shoulders and forcibly maintaining his composure as he promptly knocked Kikoku against the metal railing once.

Hoku looked up, brows creasing. A fruit stuck out from between her lips. She gave him a look, as though he’d done something wrong for disturbing her.

Your daemon is touching my daemon.

“Somethin’ wrong?” Hoku asked.

Do you not feel what I feel?

Law gave her a flat look. Hoku continued to chew.

Go get your daemon—

“Hoku,” she and Law both looked down. Hau’s voice was smooth and not too low, like a melted rumble. He came up to her leg, pressing his big head against her hip and curling his tail over her leg. The white panther daemon blinked blue eyes up at them. Law could see gold.

Hau seemed to examine Law for a moment before his long whiskers twitched. The white panther blinked once. Law stared back at him, curious about the eye contact someone else’s daemon was making with him.

Without even pausing, Hoku’s hand ran over his face, pushing past his soft ears and turning against his cheek to scratch under his chin. Hau lifted his head for better access, a loud rumble filling the air.

Several feet away, Estrella slowly made her way toward them, nonchalant and shifting mass of silver and black fur. She didn’t even acknowledge the icy daggers her other half was fixing her with, haunches swaying as she came up and sat down loyally by Law’s feet. Estrella looked up at Hoku, whiskers twitching.

“What game are you playing?” Law thought at her.

“Nothing,” Estrella thought back at him, innocent. “Nothing at all.”

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

P.S - If you guys like this au, highly recommend checking out 500shadesofblue’s story “Echoes” on ao3, super good.

#memos #memos au #hdm au #daemons #straw hat crew #shanks #trafalgar law #mihawk #mahina #manu #hoku #ko fi requests #smoker

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dragon-kazansky · 5 years ago

Text

I do it for you - Chapter two

Here’s another chapter :D Slow progress it still progress!

Chapter 2 - Empty past

The Master made his way to the console and led the way to his first destination. A place he never intended on returning to, but if there was even the slightest chance of your past being there, he would find it.

You had become quiet as yo avoided him, only staring at him. It hurt him to see you like this, but he also couldn't blame you. You had no idea. You only had the word of two Timelords to go by.

You felt so awkward. Everything you knew was a lie. Why would they do that to you? To him? Was it because of how dangerous he was? Was this his punishment?

The Master stared at the console. He hadn't pressed anything in a little while. He just stood there silently, looking down at his hands. His mind was reeling with thoughts and his hearts ached.

He had never felt pain like this before.

"The Doctor said... you loved me. A lot." You spoke up, still keeping distance between you both. "Is that true?"

"Yes. There was a time when nothing else mattered. I left Gallifrey, promising to return to you." He glances at you. "Did you know I was going to marry you when I returned?" He turned away. "Then I was too late. I thought you had gone alone with Gallifrey, but when I heard it was back, in its little pocket universe, I hoped you would be there too. I went back, but you were gone. They told me you had died, had failed to regenerate. I learnt a lot of things that day." He clenched his fists.

"I really don't remember anything."

He yelled out in anger.

"They took everything from me! Everything that mattered! They made you human, made you live on Earth without a single clue as to where you came from, who you were. I have done so many things as a result of that. Now, here you are, but you don't know me any more." He hit the console hard.

You jumped from his rash actions.

You can't imagine how he must be feeling. If all this really was true, then he remembered it all and it was hurting him. To you, he was a stranger. To him, you were someone very dear.

You hadn't noticed that a tear had fallen.

"Where are we going?" You spoke softly, not wanting to anger him further than he was already. He was more angry at himself than you, but you couldn't really tell. He was a bit unpredictable.

"Gallifrey. What's left of it."

Gallifrey, home to the Timelords. The Doctor hadn't spoken much about it, but you were aware of it. Hearing him say it made the hairs on the back of your neck stand up.

"What do you mean what's left of it?"

"They lied to us. The Doctor and I. Everything we thought we knew was a lie... and then they did this. How could I ever have forgiven them?" He looked at you. "I burned it all down to the ground. Well, some of it is still standing. I might be able to get answers for you."

The Master looked at you sadly. He wanted to pull you close and hold you like he once did. He wanted you to look at him the way you used to. He wanted you to remember.

The TARDIS landed.

He took a deep breath.

"Come on."

He walked toward the door and held it open for you. You walked outside slowly. Yo were greeted with a bright orange and red planet. The city in the distance was burning. An overwhelming sadness came over you.

"This is..."

The Doctor came out of her TARDIS. She insisted the others remained inside. She didn't want the gang to see her planet like this. The TARDIS would keep them inside for her. She came over to where the Master stood with you.

"This is your home?" You whispered.

"And yours." The Doctor replied. "It was your home too."

"I wish I could remember..."

The Master clenched his fists at his sides. He was determined. You would remember him if it was the last thing he did.

The Doctor took your hand as you both followed him towards the city. He seemed to know where to go. He looked so tense as he walked.

The Doctor gave your hand a squeeze.

"I've never seen him like this before. He's been angry, but never quite like this." She said.

"Did you know? When we met? Did you know who I was?"

"Yes. You didn't seem to recognise me when I introduced myself. The Master has done a lot of bad things. The Timelords used you as his punishment. They must have you a Chameleon Arch on you to make you human. I did that to myself once. They took away the one good thing he held onto." She looked at you sadly. "I can't imagine what he's feeling right now."

The Master was walking quickly. The pair of you had slowed down in your chatter, so you both made sure not to fall behind.

"Are you alright?" The Doctor whispered.

You looked at her.

"I think so. This is a lot to take in. A part of me isn't sure this is real, but the way you both speak about me and the way he looked at me... how could they do that to him?"

There was a softness in the Doctor's eyes. You were concerned about the Master.

"Like I said, he's done a lot of bad things." She kept her voice low not wanting the Master to hear her talking about him. The last thing she wanted was for him to get angry with her.

"And I loved him?" You were still trying to figure all this out.

"Very much. You two were very dear to me, despite everything. I suppose you still are." She looked towards the Master. "Both of you still are." She muttered.

All conversation ended there.

The Master led you into one of the big towers, which was surprisingly still standing. It seemed to have taken only a small amount of damage now that you looked at it. The whole building was abandoned.

The Master silently led the way into a big room. It was a bit of a mess, but he seemed to know what he was looking for.

You stood back, the Doctor choosing to stand with you, as the Master walked on. He was muttering things, but you couldn't hear him. He was checking left and right. On either side of him were small vaults, each with a name and number on them.

He was looking for you.

While he went searching, you looked at the row of vaults.

"What is this place?"

"This is where certain artefacts are kept. For instance, those that hold regeneration energy when it is taken from you." The Doctor explained. "I've never been here myself, but I've heard rumours about this room. Makes you wonder what else is in here."

You would join in on her curiosity, but the frustrated yelling from the Master caught your attention much more.

"There is nothing here!" He clenched his fists, grabbed at his head, kicked the nearest vault, anything to let out of his anger.

The Doctor rushed to his side and grabbed him by the shoulders. She made him look at her.

"Just calm down. Keeping it here would have been too easy. Y/N was on Earth, so maybe it's there too."

The Master slowly looked at you.

"How do we find it?" He was asking the Doctor, but he couldn't take his gaze away from you. "I won't lose her twice."

"I won't let that happen. There really isn't a way to find it other than ask someone who knows. Unless she some how remembers what to look for. In the mean time you spend time with her, maybe something will come back to her." The Doctor offered him s little smile.

He nodded subtly.

The Doctor walked with the Master back towards you. You looked at him shyly and sadly. He clearly had his hearts set on your memories being here, but they weren't.

"I think it's perhaps a good idea if you keep travelling with the Master. Maybe something will come back to you.... and I think it's a good idea for you to spend some time together. Obviously I won't leave you with him completely. My TARDIS will be right behind his." The Doctor offered you a smile.

"Are you sure that's a good idea?" You asked, unsure. "I really don't mean offence to you, it's just, I don't know you.... don't remember you." You struggled with your words.

The Master was silent.

"Then get to know him all over again." The Doctor muttered, smiling softly. "If there is one thing I'm certain of, it's that he loves you. You may not remember, but he does." The Doctor looks between you. "For what it's worth it would make me very happy to see my two dearest friends reunite."

The Master looked at her. It had been a long time since she last called him friend. Perhaps she was doing it because you were here, but it hearing her say that made him quite happy.

Not that he would tell her.

"Alright."

The Master remained silent as you all walked back to where you had left the TARDIS'. You walked alongside the Master this time. He looked a lot less tense, but you could tell there was still a lot on his mind.

If you had felt more comfortable, you would have reached out for his hand. Something told you that you used to do that. It was like this felt natural, being beside him, but you couldn't remember ever doing it before. It was because of that feeling that made you believe them all the more.

You all stood outside each TARDIS, the pair of you facing the Doctor.

"Back to Earth?" The Doctor asked, making sure she got her heading right.

"Sure." The Master glanced at you. "Where to, exactly?"

"Have you always lived in that house?" The Doctor asked you. "Or did you live somewhere before that? If your energy isn't on Gallifrey, it will most likely be wherever they put you. Our best chance of getting it back to retrace your steps." She spoke kindly, not wanting to trigger you in any way. This was all very sensitive.

"I only ever remember that house." You tried so hard to think. "My family lived out in the country, but I can't remember any of that." You looked between them kn slight shock. "I mean, my fake family. Those are probably all false memories in my head."

The Doctor gave a polite small smile.

"Let's get moving. I don't really want to stay here any longer than we have to." The Doctor refused to look back at the city and she walked inside her TARDIS.

The Master opened the door to his and let you in first. You gave him a small smile as you passed him and went inside. The Master headed straight for the console and put in the destination after quietly asking where you had been living.

While the TARDIS set off, you closed the distance a little between you both.

"Can you tell me about us?"

The Master was not expecting you ask that. He wasn't expecting you to say anything at all. He assumed you felt more comfortable distancing yourself from him. Though it did warm his hearts to know you did want to talk to him. There was a time where you could both talk for hours. He missed those days.

"We met at the academy. You were being taught on the other side of the building, so we didn't meet right away." He wasn't looking at you, his gaze was locked onto the screen in front of him, but you knew he was focused on the story he was telling. "The Doctor and I are... were... friends. Very good friends. It was the Doctor that bumped into your first. She was a he back then, he introduced to you to me. I don't know why, but we just clicked." There was a ghost of a smile on his face.

"Sounds lovely." You smiled softly.

"Not exactly. Of all people you could fall in love with, it had to be me." He muttered. "I'm... mad." He scoffed.

"I must have seen something in you. You must have seen something in me. The Doctor said we were very close. I wish I could remember it all." You sat down. "I wonder what tales we share."

The Master turned to you. His gaze was gentle.

Even after all this time you were still beautiful in his eyes.

Standing here now, looking at you, he wished he hadn't left that day. If anything he would have taken you with him, made you go with him if he had to. Anything to get you back.

This was you, but it wasn't. This wasn't his Y/N.

"We shared our first kiss late one night. We had sneaked out to spend some time together. I made a picnic for you, all because you complained about hungry all day. You made a wish on a star and wouldn't tell me what it was. We kissed for the first time and I knew, then and there, that I had fallen so very much in love with you."

You gazed at him with big sad eyes. This all sounded so wonderful, so perfect, but none of it was ringing any bells.

You had to ask.

"Master... why did you leave and do what you did?" You asked him softly, almost whispering over to him.

He gritted his teeth, his eyes glazed over and narrowed.

"The Doctor and I are very different from one another. You obviously can't remember." His gaze snapped towards you. "I hope I'm not wasting my time. If I could, I would go do it all again." He hissed.

"Do what again?" You asked, whispering. A sudden fear overcame you. That look in his eyes, the sound of his voice.

"Wipe out the Timelords. I've done it once, but if I had known they would do this to you at my cost, I would destroy them all again."

You subconsciously started to move away from him.

He noticed.

He gritted his teeth again and looked away sharply.

This wasn't helping at all. You were like a whole new person, getting to know him all over again.

"You destroyed your home planet-"

"Our home planet."

"-your home planet willingly?"

"They lied to us. They took you from ME!" He yelled out, hitting the console with his fist. "Now I wish I had done far worse. They got off easy."

"They're dead..." You whispered.

The didn't say anything. He remained looking down at the console of the TARDIS, fists clenched and his shoulders tense. He was angry.

You got up from where you were and walked past him, going further into the TARDIS.

You didn't want to be around him right now.

Today has been too much for you.

Tags:

@awyr @fandombeehive @charmed-asylum @sigynbandraoi-blog@procrastinatingmurder @sitkafay @koschei-taylor @zelda2248 @aliisa-jones @enchantersnight @imthedoctorlove @welcome-to-the-chaos-of-my-mind @diyosku @malkaviangirl @nerdonpluto @snake-cutie @gracieteaqueen@twentysomethingloser92 @ettorah @aliisa-jones @pastlivesandsecrets @dreamerkim @beawes0me scarletraine @queerconfusionthings

#the master x reader #the master #dhawan master #sacha dhawan #dhawan master x reader #I do it for you #chapter 2

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selfwriting-sugarquills · 4 years ago

Text

Be happy again chapter 2.

Index: Prologue | Chapter 1 I

Warnings: None.

Word count: 1.388

Chapter 2. Oh, I used to do that.

It had been a mere week and a half when Julia called George. He’d rung the phone, staring at the note from her, which said her number and underneath “Remember to dial and WAIT until after the beep, leave message if you’d like.”

He’d waited whilst the phone gave low hums, then a voice said “Hi, this is Julia and if you’re hearing this then I can’t come to the phone right now, please leave a message after the beep and I’ll get back to you, thanks.” followed by a beep, and then silence where George contemplated what to say, then he’d muttered, “Call me if you need help.” only to cringe at himself while the phone beeped again and he was met by a low buzz. He’d put the phone down with a sigh.

She’d called him in midst of his dinner (he’d taken the phone upstairs from the workshop downstairs where it’d stayed for the past two years.),

“I hope I’m not interrupting anything important,” she said. George glanced at the place he’d been sitting before, a single plate and a single glass, he returned to look out the window the phone was placed next to, “No, not at all.” he said,

“Oh good, it’s just, you see - this is going to sound crazy - but Fae has somehow managed to turn her hair, well...”

“...Well?”

“Well, let’s just say it’s not the colour it usually is, a colour I very much like, by the way,” the last bit sounded like it was directed at Fae more than at George, he smiled when he thought he could hear her grumble an answer in the background,

“Oh, I used to do that when I was at that age. How did she do it? does she know?”

“Yes, I let her buy a book with spells for kids? I dunno, I thought maybe it’d help her control her magic, seeing as she doesn’t have a wand yet but apparently it creates more chaos than control.”

“Does it say anything about how to reverse it?”

“Yes, but I don’t understand a word of it, and neither does Fae.” George could hear the flipping of pages,

“Hm, well, I can’t return it to normal unless I’m there physically, so you’ll have to bring her to the store.”

“Ok, do you have time now? I don’t want to be any trouble to you but I’d appreciate if we could change it before Fae goes to school tomorrow; the other kids (and teachers) might find it strange if Fae’s hair goes from full rainbow to normal in under 48 hours - no, Fae that would not be cool…”

“Alright, I have time now, just bring her over, and I’ll see what I can do, and bring the book too, just in case.”

“Ok, thank you, George, I’ll be seeing you.”

“See you.”

***

When Julia had mentioned Fae’s hair had been turned rainbow coloured, it certainly hadn’t been an understatement. George had spotted them from far away and had burst into laughter at the sight of them. Fae’s hair, which had been quite normal before, had now been turned into a brilliant display of colors so bright they were almost neon, and best of all, it seemed to have no pattern; one lock was bright pink, the next a strange chartreuse, the third orange, the next a completely different colour and so on. Julia looked extremely tired.

“Hello, Fae,” George said, as Fae marched into the store, looking mildly irritated that her hair had to be turned back,

“Hullo, George,” She said, frowning.

“Hi,” Julia said, sighing as she handed George the book. He looked over the front cover as Fae jumped up onto the front desk,

“One-hundred-and-five easy spells for witches and wizards under the age of 12.

Dazzle your friends and family with quick, easy and wand-free spells and hexes”

“It’s page 84,” Julia said, and George turned the pages,

“Oh,” George said, as he read the page,

“What? Is it bad?” Julia asked, stepping over to stand next to George, looking at the book,

“No, this should be fairly easy,” George said, “hold on-” He grabbed his wand from his pocket and looked at the book again, then pointed it at Fae,

“Hold on!” Julia said, gripping his arm, George stared at her hand, “it’s not going to hurt her, is it?” she asked,

“What?!” Fae exclaimed, staring at the wand, George pointed it at the ground, he could feel where Julia’s hand had been, it was warmer than the rest of him, “No, not at all, or at least it shouldn’t.” He said. “But I should probably tell you that it needs a wand to reverse the spell, so probably don’t use these too much hm, Fae?” George explained. Fae nodded begrudgingly.

“But for now, just sit still, alright?” George pointed the wand at Fae again, “Contra capitallura” he said, and waved his wand. Fae’s hair returned to normal starting at the roots as the colour seemed to slip from her hair simply as if it had been painted on.

“There you go, as good as new.” George said.

“Oh, thank God,” Julia said before turning to Fae, “you cannot use that spell again,”

“but!” Fae exclaimed,

“Not until you have a wand at least,” Julia said. Fae sighed deeply and crossed her arms.

“You know, I have something that works the same way, but is a lot easier to return to normal, if you’re interested?” George said,

“Really? What is it?” Fae asked, her face brightening up a little, though her arms remained crossed across her chest,

“Hold on,” George said, fetching a hairbrush in a box off a shelf, “This is the comb-a-chameleon: it’ll change your haircolor and hairstyle into anything you want, and it’ll always revert back to normal after a bath.” He said, handing it to her,

“Cool!” Fae said,

“What does it cost?” Julia asked, George shrugged, “You can have it for free,”

“Really?” Julia raised a brow,

“Really, I figure it’s better than having to come here everytime Fae decides to change hair color.” He said with a grin,

“Thank you, George,” Julia said,

“You don’t have to thank me so much,” George said, “it’s the least I can do, you know.”

“Right,” Julia said, “well, I suppose we’re all done here, come on Fae.” She reached out her hand for Fae to take it, but Fae didn’t move. “But we just got here!” She said,

“Well, it’s a weeknight and you’ve got school tomorrow, and I’m sure George needs to get up early tomorrow,” Fae said, “right, George?”

“Erh,” George thought about how he’d gone in later and later in the day for the past week, he still had trouble sleeping so he’d had to catch up once the morning came and he finally dozed off,

“But mooom,” Fae drawled, and sent Julia some puppy eyes that would’ve convinced George, but Julia didn’t budge so easily, “Nope, not today, love,”

“We’ll go see George again some other time,” Julia coaxed when Fae still didn’t move,

“Can he come with us to the park?” Fae asked,

“Well, why don’t you ask George that?” Julia answered, looking at George,

“George, will you come to the park with us?” Fae asked,

“Sure,” George said, he also didn’t remember the last time he’d gone to a place with nature. He hadn’t been to the burrow in what seemed like forever, he’d been offered more than a couple of times by his parents, his mother frantically sending letters, he’d turned them down, when he thought of sleeping in his childhood bedroom he felt sick,

“When?”

“This friday, we always go after school,” Fae said, “mum says it’s good to walk on fridays, it helps to clear your head,” she explained,

“It’s stupid, really” Julia started,

“No, it sounds great, I could use some clearing up top.” George said with a smile, Fae let out a giggle,

“Alright, does that mean you will come with me then?” Julia asked, Fae jumped down from the counter.

“G’night, George.” Fae said,

“G’night, Fae,” He answered,

“I’ll call you tomorrow and then we can arrange where to meet up friday,” Julia said,

“Have a good night.”

“You too,” He smiled. He was certain he wouldn’t.

_________________

Taglist: @rewritingthefictional @ickle-ronniekins @keoghans @lilcutekittykat @proflongbttm @silentexplorer18

#george weasley #george weasley x reader #george weasley headcanon #george weasley imagine #fred weasley #the twins

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headoverjojo · 5 years ago

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Can I ask for Buccig with a S/o that has a lot of unusual pets? Like, they thought it was cats, dogs, even fishes or birds but nooo, one day they come out with a big ass snake on their shoulders 'She thinks I'm a tree' and then a giant tarantula 'He likes to high five!', and there's more from where these two came😈😂

Hi there, honey!! Aaaaaa I had so much fun writing iiiittt 😂😂😂 I tried to variate a bit the types of pets, putting in “weird” domestic animals, two for every of them! And I already apologize for the idiotic names I gave them, lol

Bruno’s gang with a s/o who has a lot of unusual pets

(Under the cut for length!)

Bruno Bucciarati

When he was a child, Bruno always wanted a pet. Unfortunately, his family couldn’t keep one, as his mother was allergic to cat fur and a dog would have been too demanding; so, Bruno never had one, even a hamster. Growing up, he never had the chance to have a pet, as he was always busy with Passione affairs, so he’s enthusiast when his s/o tells him they want him to know their adorable pets! He can’t wait for it!

While he goes to their home, he wonders which kind of pet his s/o has: a cat? A dog? Maybe a domestic bird? He’s so curious! And he’s absolutely shocked when, the moment they open the door, they show up with a big snake wrapped on their shoulders. His shocked expression is priceless! They can’t help but laugh loud, when he asks, in a whisper, if this is the “adorable pet” they said they had. At their nod and “Be gentle with Leroy McRoy!” Bruno could just whisper their snake’s name while they guided him to the living room, still laughing their ass off seeing his reaction.

The chameleon was more bearable, for Bruno. It was small, cute, in a certain sense… even if Bruno still isn’t over Leroy McRoy, he finds to like more Frizzy, their chameleon. In particular, Frizzy seems to like to nestle on Bruno’s shoulder and observe everything from here… All in all, it’s not bad, Bruno has to admit. Leroy McRoy and Frizzy are not the pets he was expecting, but… they’re lovely, in their way. He grows fond on them, helping you more and more to take care of them, even of Leroy McRoy. He has no problems in feeding him, but he’s still a bit reluctant to let him come on his shoulders! Especially because Frizzy is basically always here. He seems to like more Bruno than his original owner!

Leone Abbacchio

When he was little, Abbacchio had a dog, but they died when he was still a little child, so he doesn’t remember a lot of them. After them, his family never had anymore a pet, but Abbacchio never felt the urge to have one at home. When, then, he started to attend the Police academy and then he became a policeman, the possible time to dedicate to a pet became lesser and lesser, so he decided to never keep one. An animal was a serious duty, it wasn’t a joke: if he couldn’t take care of it properly, it was better not to have one at all!

He’s intrigued when his s/o says they, in fact, have a couple of pets. One seems already a great deal, but two… he admires his s/o for their love for animals! It’s not a common thing, all in all. He gladly accepts to come to their house to meet their pets, hoping them to be something small, such as an hamster or a small bird… even if he had familiarity with dogs, especially German shepherds, as, when he was a policeman, he had to go with the Squadra Cinofila, a couple of times, but he generally prefers smaller animals.

Well… his s/o has small pets, yes, but they’re definitely not a hamster or a bird, or something common at all. The moment he enters their living room, a red flash hops from the top of the bookcase to his head, almost making him freak out. His s/o is fast to grab it, whatever it was… and to introduce it to Leone. Red Nut, this was his s/o’s squirrel’s name, stares at Leone with unreadable eyes, squirming to try to free himself and run again on the man’s head. Leone just stays at a safe distance from him, glaring at him all the time, to his s/o’s utter amusement. It goes better with his s/o’s other pet, a quiet and cuddly hedgehog called Pinuccio that loved to roll up on his lap and gt belly up to be cuddled. Abbacchio can’t help but to huff a laugh, every time Pinuccio does it, while gently patting his soft belly. He never knew hedgehogs could be so cute!

Guido Mista

Mista never had a pet that was “just his”, nor a proper domestic pet, for all the matter. He was used to have around stray cats and dogs; he and his family feeded them, but they then slept somewhere else, not at home. They had their routes, their places; they were free. They let themselves be cuddled for a little, before getting up and trotting away again. Mista never felt the urge to keep one of them at home: wherever he turned around, a new dog or cat was waiting for a cuddle!

He’s happy to know, however, that his s/o has few animals! He just hopes they don’t have four pets… it’s be a disaster! He’d immediately bring them a fifth one. Everything, but not four! He relaxes just when his s/o reassures him that they have two pets, so everyone is safe from the Armageddon. Guido enters their home way more serene than before, ready to face… what? A cat? Two dogs? Oh, no, his s/o’s pets are far from this, he immediately notices, as they hand him a… what? A big lizard? They say it’s a bearded dragon and their name is Lizzy. From Lizard, they say, and he can’t help but to chuckle. Of course, he had to expect it…

Between Guido and Lizzy there’s immediate tuning. They’re both pretty chill, Lizzy has found such a nice spot on Mista’s shoulder where she can relax and nap… their other pet, however, it’s totally something else. He… doesn’t even know if it can be considered a pet. Can a tarantula be considered a pet? A tarantula named Octa? They say hell yes, all while keeping her on their hand. Mista never felt so disgusted and morbidly fascinated in one time. He even tries to keep her on his hand, but he manages to do it for just few seconds, before asking them to please take Octa on them again, making them laugh while they accomplish. Guido definitely prefers to stick with Lizzy!

Narancia Ghirga

When he was a child, his family used to have a cat. His mom loved that cat; it was a beautiful orange cat and they had been around since Narancia’s birth. However, after his mother’s death, his father immediately gave away the cat, breaking Narancia’s heart. Having the cat near was like still having something that remembered him for real his mom… from that on, he never had any pet, even if he shared a makeshift shelter with some stray dogs or cats, when he lived in streets.

He’s enthusiast to know that his s/o has pets! And curious too: dogs? Cats? Or something else? In his heart he can’t help but hope it’s a big, fluffy dog! Or a fluffy cat. In any case, a fluffy pet would be wonderful! He comes to their house full of curiosity and enthusiasm and this is repaid when, the moment they open the door, Narancia is literally assaulted by a…small pig? Oh boy, he can’t believe it! It’s such a tiny, cute pig! He picks them up, chuckling when they brush their soft muzzle on his face, softly grunting. It’s so cute! And their name is Babe, his s/o says. Narancia can’t stop to cuddle Babe! It’s just so cute…!

Their other pet is a goose. Narancia is totally baffled! A goose as domestic animal?! Is it even legal?! Well, not that he cares so much about what is legal and what is not, all in all. The goose, named Guendalina, reveals to be clingy to his s/o, she’s better than a guard dog! If he comes close, she starts to quack like crazy and she even tries to separate them! Sometimes, Narancia does it on purpose, going to smooch and hug his s/o, laughing loud when Guendalina comes running, flapping her wings and quacking like crazy. It’s like a clingy baby! And, while Guendalina is basically his s/o’s guard, Babe is basically Narancia’s kid. They’re always in his arms, when he’s at his s/o’s home, and he often jokes saying that Babe has in fact adopted him! In general, Narancia loves his s/o’s pets; they’re not pets you can expect to find in a house, yes, but they’re too precious not to be loved!

Pannacotta Fugo

When he was a child, his parents never wanted to keep a pet. His mother hated the thought they could leave fur around and his father didn’t want his son to have a distraction from his precious studies. Fugo always dreamed to have a pet, first just to challenge them and their prohibition, then because he wanted to have a friend. Outside his grandma, he had no one to talk to, to hug… he wanted a friend. If this friend had or hadn’t fur, he didn’t care. He just wanted to… be loved. And to love. Taking care of a pet seemed a good solution.

Of course this didn’t happened and Fugo had to archive this desire in order to focus on more pressing matters. When his s/o tells him they want to introduce their pets to him he’s so happy! He can help them to take care of the pets, he can… cuddle them, even! He can’t wait to see them. His s/o had been pretty mysterious about their pet’s species, so Fugo is horribly curious! Cats? Dogs? Hamster? He doesn’t know? When he finally enters their home, a loud croak made him jolt. What was it?! His s/o, chuckling, whistles and, after few seconds, a splendid crow lands on their arm, staring at Fugo with black, intelligent eyes. He’s a bit puzzled when his s/o says the crow’s name is Archibald, but whatever. It fits, he thinks, gently rubbing Archibald’s beak and gaining back few gurgles of bliss.

But it’s not ended here: his s/o has another pet. This time it’s not a bird, but…. a scorpion. Fugo shivers, when they proudly show him their scorpion -names Klaus, as the singer of the band Scorpions-, and absolutely refuses to take it on his hand, as they are doing; he even pleads them to put it back in his terrarium! He doesn’t like a lot insects, spiders and such, so he absolutely stays as far as possible from Klaus, being content to just spoil Archibald. He’s such an intelligent crow… Fugo adores him! He even tries to teach him some simple word and action, and he learns it! His s/o always chuckles, seeing how proud he is of their little crow, like a proud father!

Giorno Giovanna

Giorno never had a pet, even if he always vehemently desired one. He always was a sweet and affectionate kid, even if he had to hide it all, not to be beat or bullied more than what he already was. He always took with him some biscuits and, when he met one of the many stray cats or dogs, he always made sure to give them a small treat, smiling when they, as to thank him, licked his hand or brushed on his legs.

In general, Giorno loves life in all its form, and so also in form of animals. He’s happy to know that his s/o has a couple of pets they absolutely want to present him! Giorno is thrilled, now, and can’t wait to go to their home and see them! When he finally comes, the first to welcome him is a stoat, a beautiful stoat named Mr. Muffin. Mr. Muffin is an affectionate stoat! He loves to wrap around people’s necks, Giorno’s in particular. Giorno is always warm, he seems to emanate warmth and even light…. Mr. Muffin loves it. And Giorno loves Mr. Muffin: he never loses the chance to pet him, when he’s at his s/o’s home, and he always softly smiles when Mr. Muffin rolls up on his lap, to take a warm and safe nap.

Their other pet is a toad named Tassony. Giorno was more than baffled from knowing that they named their toad after a cedrata, but, oh well, he has seen worse. Tassony does basically what all toads to: croaking, hopping around, eating bugs… Still, toads and frogs are still among his favourite animals, so, every time he can, he’s going to feed Tassony, even with Mr. Muffin wrapped around his neck. It’s such a joy to see him taking care of his s/o’s animals! He seems to be born to do this!

#jjba #vento aureo #bruno's gang #bruno bucciarati #leone abbacchio #guido mista #narancia ghirga #pannacotta fugo #giorno giovanna #neutral s/o #s/o with a lot of unusual pets #headcanons #sfw #anon ask

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rikudiora · 5 years ago

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Unintentionally Seducing Emotionally Compromised Chameleons: Chapter 2

There were many things that Ilia disliked doing when she’d just woken up in the morning after having arrived to her current place of stay later than planned the day before. Trying to act friendly to the other people in the hideout, for example, was particularly straining on her newly sleep roused brain, so that was one of the first things she shucked out the window during mornings like this. Any greetings or questions she got were exclusively answered with noncommittal grunts as she dragged herself to the White Fang’s most shameful, yet simultaneously sacred relic;

The Schnee-tech industries XXL Turbo coffee maker(TM).

It was only after she had a cup of extra strong black coffee in her hands and she’d taken a few sips of it Ilia finally became able to interact with the rest of the world. Sadly, the first of these interactions would be one that she had dreaded in the back of her mind ever since she got back to base yesterday, and she knew that she couldn’t put it off anymore. Sighing, she threw her head back and swallowed the rest of her coffee in a series of loud gulps, the burning pain rising up in her throat helping to further wake her up. She’d never been a fan of the taste of coffee anyways, only really seeking out the caffeine, so she considered her intake of the liquid rather efficient, happily ignoring the horrified stares from the other White Fang members around her in the kitchen as she put her mug among the rest of the dishes and wandered off to the debriefing room.

Adam Taurus’ seemingly perpetually frowning face appeared on the viewscreen in front of Ilia the moment that she pushed the call button, and he didn’t waste so much as a second before interrogating her like she knew he would.

“You didn’t send any reports yesterday, Ilia,” Adam growled out slowly, his tone as bitingly cold as the featureless expanse of his mask. “I thought I’d made my orders very clear regarding your duties once arriving in Vale, but apparently not. You also chose to not answer any of our calls to your scroll either for some inexplicable reason. Care to explain yourself?”

Ilia winced internally at the venom in his voice, but the sooner she gave her side of the story, the sooner she could get out of here, scolded or not. It helped that she’d somewhat prepared what to say regarding her whereabouts.

“Sir, yesterday’s journey did not go entirely as planned, sadly, and I apologize for my absence. I was attacked by a pair of human scum and dealing with the situation brought unforeseen… consequences, that kept me occupied for far longer than I had anticipated,” Ilia replied carefully, bowing her head. She was doing her best not to lie directly to Adam, merely leaving out certain details that she wasn’t too keen on sharing right about now.

Not while she still felt all tingly with strange emotions from the past day’s events.

Adam regarded her silently, seemingly considering her words, for a moment that went on for longer than Ilia would have liked. Now more than ever, she could recognize how rash or outright stupid her actions could be seen as, even if, to her, they’d felt entirely natural. Something told her that her fellow Fang members wouldn’t exactly agree with her, however, and she felt immense relief when Adam decided to move on from the subject.

“No matter. I can accept your excuses this time, but only if ensure it doesn’t happen again. You’re a valued part of the Fang, Ilia, but that doesn’t make you exempt from being punished for further insubordination,” he said, arms crossing in front of his chest.

Ilia simply nodded in understanding, letting out a breath she hadn’t noticed she’d been holding, before giving her only slightly altered report in full. She regaled him dutifully with all the information she’d been able to gather from people in the city, mundane as most of it was, and only left out one particular individual from her recollection of the previous day’s events. ‘Human interference’ and cleanup of evidence were believable enough ‘complications’ for Adam to instead focus on her new mission briefing. It did not take long for Ilia to zone out during the explanation, however, only paying enough attention to Adam to answer yes or no when needed and to make sure she had at least a passing understanding of what she was meant to do during the coming weeks.

“Humans bad, Faunus good, oppression and suffering, they live in a society, it was time for them to rise up.”

It wasn’t that Ilia didn’t agree with his ideals or opinions about humanity—with the exception of maybe one certain human—but she’d gotten a bit tired of hearing what essentially boiled down to the same speech every single freaking time she got a new assignment. If the White Fang were ever going to be successful as bringers of justice for Faunus everywhere, Adam really needed someone to write some new scripts for him to regale the masses with or risk causing alarming outbreaks of narcolepsy all across the world.

Instead, Ilia found herself thinking back to how Jaune had ‘saved’ her for what had to be the thousandth time since the event itself had taken place. She could still feel the slight spark that had happened when their hands had brushed against one another’s when he’d given her her bag, the memory giving her goosebumps all along her arms. She found herself wishing she could feel it again—feel him again—and for longer than just a split second this time. She envied the orange haired girl he was apparently on a team with, since she seemed to have an all access pass to hugging on clinging to Jaune whenever she wanted.

Though it wasn’t like Jaune was the only target of said girl’s rather enthusiastic affections…

Ilia’s attention was only brought back to the Adam’s visage on the viewscreen when she caught his explanation winding down, and she let out a resounding “Sir, understood, sir!” in response to his questioning look.

“Good. I expect you to not make the same mistake of delivering your report late again, or you will find yourself replaced on this operation.”

With that, Adam cut the video feed, and Ilia finally let herself relax slightly, some tension flowing form her shoulders as her body sagged. As one of her hands ran through her hair, she brought up her scroll for her actual mission details with the other—yet another reason why she didn’t feel too bad about not paying much attention to her superior when he started repeating his speeches again. These calls were essentially just a formality, or so Ilia thought, but she knew that complaining about it wouldn’t do her any good. Adam was her boss for the time being, and he wasn’t exactly the most even tempered Faunus she’d ever had the pleasure of knowing, which was probably one of the reasons why breaking up with him had made it easier for Bla-!

With a clench of her fist, Ilia quickly stomped that thought down on instinct, feeling that pit from the day before slowly starting to crack open. In her head, the picture of the citrine eyed ravenette started to appear, but then, suddenly, it stopped. Instead, there was only the ugly scribbled image from the day before, and almost immediately after another thought took its place;

With her conversation with Adam over, she was now free to go back to him…

Ilia promptly spun on her heel and all but ran towards the base’s exit, picking up a breakfast bar on the way and scarfing it down mid-jog. She had almost made it halfway when she suddenly remembered an idea that she’d had as the sun had started to set the previous afternoon, skidding to a halt in front of the large storage area where all their equipment was contained. She was skilled when it came to tracking and spying on people, but it never hurt to be more prepared…

XXX

Head requisition officer Striga only gave Ilia a deadpan look as she read through the list of items that the chameleon Faunus wanted to withdraw from their arms and armor stockpile for a second time. When she looked up from the piece of paper, trying to determine if this was some kind of prank or not, all she was met by was Ilia’s smiling, hopeful looking face.

Despite being just a few years away from becoming an adult, she looked remarkably like a little kid right about now, one who had just given their Christmas list to their parents and was eagerly waiting for some kind of response.

As oddly sweet as it may have been, however, Striga knew she couldn’t just hand out gear without proper cause. Especially not when the ‘requisition order’ contained such oddly specific items.

“So… you’re going on a scouting and reconnaissance mission, yeah?”

Ilia immediately nodded.

“And you want me to check out one of our XV25 Stealth-suits for you? Along with a scent marker kit? For a scout mission?”

Again, Ilia instantly nodded, albeit slower this time.

For a moment, Striga simply had to lean back in her chair and clasp her hands together in front of her mouth, processing the information before her along with the sheer audacity of Ilia’s requests. It wasn’t every day she had someone come to her asking to take their top-of-the-line equipment for something that was almost akin to sightseeing. There were even more items listed on the paper in her hand, a diverse mix that went from outrageous to mundane and back again, but she could not for the life of her imagine how Ilia might ‘realistically’ need most of this gear.

“I have been given this assignment directly from captain Taurus himself and have been given permission to requisition any and all equipment I may need,” Ilia said after another second of silence, her posture suddenly ramrod straight.

“Uh huh,” Striga replied, not particularly convinced. “Pray tell, what are you planning on using these...” she glanced down at the list again, “Blacksun filtration goggles for exactly?”

“Nighttime reconnaissance over long distances. I need to be able to make out all the details of whome- whatever I am scouting out, ma'am.” The practiced and obviously deliberate neutrality of Ilia’s voice didn’t go unnoticed by the officer. “I’d, uh, also like to make sure the model of goggles can minimize window glare,” she added with an awkward cough, now sounding much more honest.

“Kid, these things will let you see the specks of dust floating around on that cracked moon of ours. They can handle a few panes of glass, don’t you worry. Especially not considering I can’t just give a pair of them out without really damn good reason. Sorry to say, kid, but your job doesn’t qualify.”

A flash of irritation moved across Ilia’s features, and for a short second the requisition officer wondered if something bad was about to go down, but as swiftly as the emotion had appeared, it went away, and Ilia’s face instead became one of resignation.

“Alright, fine,” she huffed, leaning over the officer’s desk, their gazes locked. “Look, either I walk back to the briefing room and call captain Taurus just to get a confirmation message for you, which is exactly the kind of interruption that he absolutely loves to deal with, or you give me what I’ve asked for and we can both get back to doing something more productive. If I’m lying, then I’ll be the one in hot water for falsifying a requisition order, not you. You’d just be doing your job.”

Despite her suspicions, Ilia’s words were enough to make Striga take a pause to think for a second. She didn’t entirely believe Ilia’s claim about having permission from Adam, but she didn’t put it past the higher ups within the Fang to give an operative like Ilia her own, secret mission, along with whatever she needed to carry it out either. Refusing to give equipment to someone working directly for their somewhat temperamental captain, if it turned out that Ilia was actually telling the truth, would definitely bite her in the ass one way or another, so the kid definitely had a point.

‘All this inter-organization politics stuff is why I’ll never accept that promotion they want to give me...’ she thought to herself.

Despite knowing there was still a decent chance she’d regret this, Striga ultimately decided that she could pull enough strings to make sure Ilia got all the blame for whatever stunt she might be trying, and took out a scroll from the one of her pockets, fingers moving to fill out forms with downright professional efficiency.

“I don’t get paid enough to deal with this crap...” she muttered mostly to herself before presenting her scroll to Ilia. “Press your hand to the screen to confirm your requisition order then wait here while I get your equipment for you.”

As soon as Ilia had done as instructed, Striga snatched back both her scroll and the list she’d been given and entered the storage area. Had she chosen to turn around at any point, she’d have caught a certain chameleon Faunus fist-pumping wildly with the expression of someone who’d just pulled off a big heist on her freckled face.

Lucky for Ilia, Striga didn’t, and only a bit later than she’d originally planned, she was finally off to begin her ‘special’ assignment;

Operation find a way to meet Jaune Arc again was a go!

XXX

Hitting Pyrrha’s shield felt like he was trying to cut down the very tower they stood on with a butter knife, and Jaune felt the muscles in his arm groaning from the shock that went through them. Again, he tried to find a way to reach the girl behind the bronze shield, and again his sword was easily swatted aside, only for her own blade to smack against his unarmored side. She might have refrained from using the cutting edge due to their shared lack of protection, but the hit still made him let out a hiss of pain and take a staggering step back.

He felt so slow and sluggish compared to her, like he was trying to fight while submerged neck deep in syrup, and no matter how much the rational side of his brain reminded him that she had more fighting experience in her left toe than he had in his whole body, he couldn’t help but get increasingly frustrated.

When he’d fought that bastard in that alleyway, he’d been unstoppable, at least while his aura had been active, but against Pyrrha, he was nothing more than a light nuisance, a fact supported by the rivers of sweat that ran from his body that were nowhere to be found on her own, or the heaving of his chest as he greedily tried to fill his lungs with as much air as they could handle.

He was already exhausted, all the while she hadn’t even gotten a light workout.

As Jaune continued to stagger backwards, he soon felt his back bump against one of the walls beside the door leading to the balcony they were training on, and the feeling of a red-hot knife shot up his spine, his knees crumbling beneath him. He managed to throw his arms out to catch himself before his face slammed against the stone floor, but it was a small comfort when the whole of his back felt like it had been brutalized by a sledgehammer. That kick he’d taken from the lady the day before had evidently wreaked havoc on his nerves, and when Jaune managed to gather the strength to lift his head, he caught Pyrrha looking down at him with concern written everywhere on her features.

“Maybe we should call it a day, Jaune? I think your injuries still need some time to fully heal,” she said in what Jaune assumed was supposed to be a supportive tone, but he couldn’t help but hear as condescending.

“I’m fine,” he bit back, cursing himself inwardly at the flash of hurt that Pyrrha didn’t manage to hide. “Sorry,” he quickly added, somberly. “I didn’t- you’re not- ugh...” A sigh escaped him as shame crept into his stomach. “I’m just… sorry.”

It wasn’t Pyrrha he was angry at and she didn’t deserve him taking it out on her, not when she was spending so much time helping him despite how big of a fraud he was.

Giving up the struggle against his legs, Jaune let himself collapse against the wall, Crocea Mors slipping from his sweat slickened grip with a clattering of steel on stone. A bead of perspiration ran down his creased brow, finding its way into his eye, and he wiped it away with the back of his now free hand, sweeping back his matted hair in the process. His body ached all over, and it wasn’t just from the day before.

When Pyrrha settled down next time him, Jaune simply let out a deep sigh of disappointment and frustration at how little he fit in with people like her, Ren, Nora, or any of the girls in team RWBY. He felt more certain than ever regarding what he wanted to do after dealing with people like Cardin and the racist couple, but at the same time, his fake transcripts plan was only looking more and more rash and downright stupid.

His attention was pulled to Pyrrha when he felt her hand gingerly brush across his cheek, checking on one of his many bruises. Their eyes met, and Jaune had to ask himself just how he’d managed to get someone as amazing as her as his partner for what had to be the hundredth time. Despite having every right to tell on him to the headmaster, getting him kicked out and letting her get a proper partner instead, she was sitting here with him, helping him.

“I really don’t deserve you, you know. The training, the secret-keeping, everything really… I shouldn’t be here, dragging you and everyone else down with me,” he chuckled dryly, entirely humorlessly, before looking away just as Pyrrha did the same, her cheeks far rosier than before.

“You’re being too harsh on yourself, Jaune. There aren’t a lot of people out there in the world who’d willingly risk their lives like you have done by coming here just because they feel like they need to do something for mankind. It’s true your skills aren’t exactly on par with everyone else’s, but we’ve only just started. You’re growing faster than most.” She nudged his shoulder with her own as her expression turned contemplative for a second before her eyes lit up. “And don’t forget, if you had never come here to Beacon, you would never have been in Vale and therefore able to save that Faunus girl from those humans. If it weren’t for you, she could have gotten seriously hurt, maybe even worse.”

Jaune let Pyrrha’s words hang in the air between them for a moment, a part of him half tempted to brush them off, but then he remember the look in Ilia’s eyes when he’d handed her her bag, and a new sense of purpose found itself breaking free from the gloomy expanse of his thoughts.

Despite his back still stinging, a small smile quirked across Jaune’s lips as he let the cool stone of the wall behind them seep into his muscles, relaxing them. The fire of determination in his gut had been lit anew after being temporarily doused by his lack of skill compared to Pyrrha, and his fingers found themselves coiling around the grip of Crocea Mors again.

“Ozpin is far wiser than either of us put together and he wouldn’t have picked you to be our leader if he didn’t think you were the best person for the job,” Pyrrha added as she hoisted herself off the ground, extending her hand to him.

With a deep breath, Jaune intertwined their fingers and, with Pyrrha’s help, got back onto his feet with only a slight grimace of pain. “Thanks,” he said honestly. “For everything. You’re the best partner anyone could ever imagine, and I’m gonna make sure not to let you down.”

He was under no delusions regarding just how far he still had to go to catch up to anyone else at Beacon, but he could also feel that the only way he could truly fail in the eyes of his partner and teammates was if he gave up now. To showcase his new conviction, he tried to get into the ready-stance that Pyrrha had taught him, but the weight of the sword and shield in his hands was too much at this point, and all he managed to do was flail his arms with a tired grunt.

“I think that’s your body’s way of telling you that we should try this again tomorrow instead,” Pyrrha giggled from the other side of the balcony. As much as it irked his pride to admit it, Jaune had to agree, collapsing Crocea Mors into its sheathed form.

Feeling even more sweat soak into his hoodie, he decided to simply tug it off entirely, leaving him in just a thin, previously white tank top that clung to his chest. He just barely caught Pyrrha’s exclaimed “Head’s up!” before a bottle of water landed in his reflexively raised hand.

“Appreciate it,” he mumbled absentmindedly as he regarded the bottle, eventually electing to take a single deep swig from it and then dump the rest of the liquid contents atop his head.

In the very same moment, the feeling of being intently watched started scratching at the back of Jaune’s mind, and he looked around at the windows of the towers around them. He definitely hoped that no one had watched his rather poor excuse for swordplay aside from Pyrrha, and despite the coast seemingly being clear, the feeling didn’t go away.

“Hey Pyr, you didn’t catch anyone watching us train, did you?” he asked over his shoulder, still looking at the surrounding towers for any sight of a spying presence.

Pyrrha—who unbeknownst to Jaune had been spending the last minute or so ogling the way his now all but transparent shirt outlined his torso—shook herself free of her thoughts long enough to let out a stammered “N-no!” before focusing her gaze on the very interesting way her feet were fidgeting, praying to all known and unknown deities throughout the history of Remnant that Jaune didn’t notice her very fierce blush.

Despite what Pyrrha said, however, Jaune still couldn’t help but think something was up. The feeling was only further solidified when he noticed a weird flickering near the top of one of the opposing towers, like there was something distorting the air...

Ultimately, he decided he was simply being paranoid, trusting the attentiveness of his partner even if he wasn’t sure what his own eyes saw. Instead, he moved to pull on his hoodie again, only to remember his previous cooling-off-measures and how uncomfortable it’d be to put on something over his currently wet clothes.

“I think I’ll stay out here for a bit. Try to relax and stretch while waiting for this thing to dry,” Jaune said as he turned to face Pyrrha, tugging on the front of his tank top.

“G-got it. I’ll see you later then,” Pyrrha replied before quickly gathering up her gear and heading inside, forcing herself to keep her head and eyes looking straight ahead when she heard Jaune grunting. She was in no state of mind to stay and watch him go through the stretching routine she’d showed him, no matter how tempting the images her mind conjured up were.

Instinctively, she reached up and felt her nose, just to ensure that there wasn’t blood running from it, her cheeks practically matching her as she finally left Jaune to himself.

XXX

After having spent the latter half of the previous day making her way around Beacon unnoticed, Ilia had had a lot more time to actually think about her actions as made her way around the school, now knowing the routes she should take to avoid detection. The weight and gravity of the measures she’d taken were settling in, how much time and effort she was spending simply to keep tabs on what amounted to just another human hunter-in-training. At one point, as she scaled the sheer wall of one of the towers, she went so far as to wonder if she was going a bit crazy.

But then, right as the thought hit, she’d glanced to look behind her where, on the other side of a window, she saw the one human who’d ever been nice to her, and her whole stomach lit up with that inexplicable warmth, wiping away any questions.

Jaune Arc absolutely needed to be watched because she simply couldn’t get enough of the feelings that watching him brought up from deep inside her.

Deep down, Ilia knew that what she was doing was irrational, but she’d been so emotionally burned out these past couple of weeks that she simply couldn’t care. Somehow, Jaune made her feel nice things, and recently that had become a scarcity for her, so she had become deadset on savoring it now that she had the chance. Just like the day before, after he’d helped her, seeing Jaune smile or laugh made butterflies flutter throughout Ilia’s stomach, accompanied with a longing to be the one said smiles and laughter was directed at rather than his teammates or friends.

Just remembering the scene she’d stumbled on was enough to make Ilia frown, her eyes flicking down to her scroll on which she’d recorded numerous notes regarding the people that Jaune had surrounded himself with. Most of which pertained to the females of his circle of friends (a collection of people that Ilia absolutely refused to think of as ‘competition’, the word all but banished from her word catalog, much to the delight of her chaos-feeding mind gremlin).

Chief interest among them was one Weiss Schnee, an individual who Ilia had already harbored many negative feelings towards due to her obvious familial relations, but had recently made her way to the very top of the Faunus’ rather short but important ‘people-who-deserve-several-swift-kicks-in-the-bloody-shins’ list (patent pending).

For some ungodly reason, the pompous heiress had somehow earned Jaune’s attention in ways that did not at all make Ilia feel pangs of jealousy (no sir!), and instead of cherishing every minute she could spend with him around, the special snowflake of a Schnee instead told him off at seemingly every given opportunity.

The dejected looks that Ilia had seen on Jaune’s face after he’d spent any time talking to Weiss were almost enough for her to want to blow her cover, and it was only the knowledge that Adam had very special plans—violent plans—in mind for every member of the Schnee family after the Faunus uprising had officially begun that made her restrain her fury.

Why exactly Jaune thought that the Schnee heiress was worthy of his time, Ilia had yet to understand, but her preliminary findings were still plausible enough to conduct further experiments.

“Jaune Arc attention grabbers(?): Long hair. Short?

Family history of Faunus exploitation???

Skirts.

Riches?

Lack of development???”

Rereading her list, Ilia looked down at herself, considering her own assets, or lack thereof, for a moment before she had a sobering thought.

‘Never imagined I’d be so relieved to be a B-cup… also, I need to get a skirt...’

As the afternoon sun began to shine its rays over the impressive structures that made up Beacon academy, Ilia felt a twinge of disappointment well up inside of her that she’d have to leave the school to conduct the actual reconnaissance that she’d been tasked with, but then, just as she’d started to prepare her exit strategy, the sound of a door opening reached her ears, and as she turned her eyes to check whether she needed to hide or not, a very familiar head of blonde hair stepped into view.

Ilia watched with rapt attention has Jaune and his partner, the world renowned Pyrrha Nikos, walked out onto a balcony of which she had a perfect view of. What they spoke of, she couldn’t make out, but before long they got into positions that she immediately recognized as sparring stances. Why they weren’t training in one of the academy’s facilities, she didn’t know, but she wasn’t about to look a gift horse in the mouth either. Not when said horse took the shape of being allowed to watch Jaune in action again.

For the next two hours, Ilia sat fixated at the simultaneously enrapturing and vexing display that was Jaune Arc sparring with Pyrrha Nikos, her hands clenching whenever Jaune stumbled or made a poor move. Even from her vantage point, Ilia could easily tell that he wasn’t acting with the practiced ease that a student at Beacon should be, that he lacked the coordination that she’d consider crucial for someone training to fight Grimm, and he struggled far more than he aught to be against someone who clearly wasn’t putting their all into their fight.

It was confusing, to say the least, and only made more so by the fact that Ilia could tell there was something else going on beneath all the mistakes. She was a person who knew how to fight, far better than most in fact, and as such, seeing Jaune keep getting up after his mistakes were punished with surgical precision by his partner, especially considering the beating she’d watched him receive the day before, baffled her. What the boy lacked in skill, he almost entirely made up with endurance the likes of which would put fully trained and hardened White Fang members to shame, and every time he fell, Ilia could feel that he’d learned something from it. Anyone else that she knew of would have simply stayed down after the third or fourth defeat, but not him. She’d lost count of how many times he’d been brought down only to rise up straight away.

As Jaune finally sank to the ground and stayed there, Ilia felt as if she’d seen something impossible. There were hundreds of questions buzzing around in her head, but before she could find any answers to them, something else caught her attention.

Something that she recognized, even if she didn’t want to.

Whenever Pyrrha Nikos looked at her partner, there was an unmissable veil of longing shining from her expression, and despite her best efforts, it didn’t quite go away when Jaune looked at her. Whether he had noticed and was ignoring it willfully or if he was somehow unaware, Ilia had no idea, but one thing was very, very obvious to her;

Pyrrha Nikos had feelings for Jaune Arc.

And the reason Ilia could tell was because she had seen that very same expression on her own features whenever she’d looked in a mirror after being around Blake Belladonna...

By now, it had almost been a full day since the ebon-haired Faunus had entered Ilia’s thoughts, something she hadn’t even truly noticed with everything that had happened with Jaune, but her return made a feeling almost akin to retching rise up Ilia’s spine, her hands curling into fists and jaw tightening until her teeth started to hurt. All of it was unwelcome, unneeded, but despite closing her eyes and doing her best to clear her head, the feelings and thoughts remained.

Anger erupted within Ilia’s chest as her attempts at finding equilibrium failed, washing her emotional plate clear for a moment. It was the unfairness of it all that she found herself focused on, how Blake had been allowed to simply leave without any signs of distress—like she hadn’t ever cared—while Ilia was left with all these untethered and blood-raw emotions.

It simply wasn’t fair.

Nothing in her life was, she was slowly coming to realize, and she hated it.

She had to wonder if the foul taste of betrayal would ever wash out of her mouth.

As these thoughts threatened to forever blacken Ilia’s heart, she glimpsed down at the balcony again just in time to see Jaune getting up off the ground, his posture changed from just a minute earlier. He stood straighter, with more purpose, and for whatever reason, the sight begun to resonate like a struck cord within Ilia’s turmoil filled heart.

Again and again, she’d watched him fall, but he didn’t let himself be kept down. He didn’t give up, despite the clear gap in skill there was between him and his partner. To Ilia, it felt downright inspirational. She was instantly reminded of how he’d looked the day before; bloodied but unbroken, with that smile that was more genuine than anything she’d seen before.

If Jaune could get back up again after getting beat down, so could she, Ilia realized. She unfortunately didn’t know him well enough to understand all his own thoughts and emotions, but something deep in her heart told her that he wouldn’t want Blake to control her like this, no matter how deep of a wound she had caused when she’d left.

All of a sudden, Ilia felt as if a great weight had been lifted off her back, like her breathing was now easier and her eyes had become clearer. Something had clicked again, and the chains that had kept her from moving forward from Blake had been shattered in an instant.

She felt free.

And all from witnessing the resolve of a human who had risked his own safety to for her sake.

What had once been a massive, impossibly realistic, and exquisitely radiant painting of a young man with golden-blonde hair and eyes the color of deepest of oceans inside of Ilia’s mindscape was at once transformed. No longer was the shirtless stud contained within canvas and frame; instead, there now stood a statue so grand and impressive that it would have had people come from far and wide to leave gifts and offerings to what had to be a deity of masculinity and glory were it to actually exist in real life. Perfectly cut marble, the likes of which not even the greatest artisan on Remnant could have chiseled, gleamed and glinted in the shine of a heavenly light from on high, every single breathtakingly beautiful detail from the painting made three dimensional. Warmth, safety, hope, inspiration, all were exuded from the statue.

It was a dream that was too good to be true, but at the same time, to Ilia felt entirely accurate when it faded away, melting into the image of Jaune Arc looking down at a water bottle in his hand.

It was then that time caught up to the chameleonic Faunus, and she realized fully what she was looking at. For once, there was no fantasy playing out before her mind’s eye, she was actually looking at Jaune, in the flesh, with his big hoodie on the balcony beside him. In a flash, Ilia had a pair of binoculars in her hands, focusing intently on the incredibly distracting way that Jaune’s arms shifted and moved minutely with every breath he took. A light sheen covered his exposed skin, and it only helped to accentuate the muscles she could clearly tell were being grown throughout his body. There was strength within those arms, the kind that had always existed but never been truly used until very recently, and Ilia observed them carefully as they worked to bring the bottle of water to their owner’s lips.

What happened next all but caused Ilia’s heart to skip and entire minute’s worth of beats, all the while her brain simultaneously fried itself like a server farm being hit by a firehose.

What had just been a clingy, damp tank top only a second earlier suddenly turned almost entirely transparent when Jaune decided to empty a water bottle atop his head, drenching his entire upper body and making Ilia catch herself on the tower she was sat atop lest she fall right off it. It certainly wasn’t the first time she’d seen a half-nude man before, the relatively small size of the White Fang hideouts she’d all but grown up in hadn’t exactly had privacy or modesty as a chief concern, but something about seeing Jaune in such a state, and not just in her head for once, was so very different.

Never had she appreciated how wide a boy’s shoulders were before, nor how solidly built their chests could be, or simply how big they often got compared to her, but she most definitely was now. Unlike the imagine that her subconscious had conjured up for her, Jaune’s entire body wasn’t made up entirely of rippling muscles the likes of which could crush stones between them, but in a way, the real thing made her stomach tingle far more. This wasn’t the body of a seasoned warrior, instead it was a firm foundation from which said warrior could be forged like a sword by a master blacksmith. And Ilia liked the look of it. Liked the look of him.

A lot.

So much so that Ilia only had a fraction of a second to duck down when he realized that Jaune was looking right at her hiding spot, her eyes wide and hands clamped over her mouth to contain the squeak that hap almost escaped her lungs. For a full minute, she just laid on her back, hardly breathing, as what she had seen replayed itself over and over again in her head. Had she looked down at herself, she would have seen the spots covering her dusty brown complexion practically glowing a hot reddish-pink, but she remained entirely frozen, vehemently ignoring the small trickle of drool that had begun to dribble down her cheek sometime ago.

Once the shock had mostly faded, she very slowly rose up into a sitting position, eyes just glancing for the briefest of seconds down to where Jaune was now stretching before her head snapped around and she focused on the sky in the opposite direction.

‘Holy shit...’ she thought as her hands finally moved away form her mouth and down to her stomach where she felt a completely foreign throb shoot through her, the temperature all around her feeling as if it had risen by several hundreds of degrees. The little gremlin in her mind whispered in her ear about how she should look back down again, make sure that Jaune was still there, but she couldn’t risk being caught like that again. Not when seeing Jaune in this state did so many strange things to her.

Ilia wasn’t entirely sure how long she spent sitting and looking anywhere that wasn’t in Jaune’s direction, but when she finally heard the distinct sound of a door being shut, she chanced a glance over her shoulder and was both relieved and disappointed to see that Jaune had returned inside. As strange as he was making her feel, deep down, it all felt good in a way, and losing ‘access’ to it was less than fun.

With a groan, she stretched her back out until she felt a satisfying pop and rose onto her sore legs. She hadn’t noticed just how rigid her whole body had become after sitting still for hours, but now she regretted not getting up sooner. She couldn’t exactly go back and change her actions though, so now she had to live with the consequences.

It was getting fairly late, and Ilia knew it was time for her to get back to her actual mission now that Jaune had finished his training and the chances of her spotting him again were pretty slim. Doing a final stretch to limber up her arms, she began to descend from her ‘perch’, making sure to follow the same route she’d taken when climbing up. For such a prestigious academy, she was kind of surprised at how easy it was to bypass the alarms and guards, but she figured it was an ego thing. With some many hunters and combat-ready students, the headmaster probably thought they didn’t need the kind of security that might have made her job difficult. Not that she was complaining though. Lax security meant she was able to focus more of her attentions on more important subjects rather than making sure no one spotted her.

A small shiver tip-toed up Ilia spine as she remembered how broad and strong Jaune’s shoulders had looked when he’d taken of his hoodie.

‘Man… I wonder how it would feel to wrap your legs around those…?’ she pondered for a split second, before immediately pushing the idea out of her head when she almost slipped out of one of her footholds. ‘No! None of that! Not now! But maybe later… when you’re back at base… and alone...’ Unknowingly, Ilia’s teeth latched onto her bottom lip at the prospect, her markings once again a radiant hue of red.

At this point, she wasn’t sure what she was doing anymore, or where her actions were taking her, and at some level that should have worried her, she knew that, but it just… didn’t. Not really. Not when she could simply imagine the smile of her ‘savior’ and be filled with a sense of comfort.

Nevertheless, one thing Ilia knew for certain was that she was going clothes shopping whenever she got a chance.

‘Need to buy a skirt… and maybe put my ponytail on the side...’

AN: Now comes the tricky part; where do we go from here? First off, I'd really like to know if you guys enjoy the level of humor that has been on display in these two chapters so far. When I originally thought up this idea, it was a lot more... crack-y, if that makes sense, but I am rather new to writing funny shit, so I abandoned that route since I couldn't get the timing right, I felt. The result is a mix of some "serious" moments and then jokes, mostly at Ilia's expense, but if you guys think I should lean into either side more, I'd very much like to hear your opinions.

Secondly, seeing as I haven't got a roadmap for this story yet, I'd love to hear any and all suggestions for scenes that might make it into future chapters (with the exception of Blake and Ilia confrontations, since that moment I do have planned fully already), and what kind of direction you think would make for the more enjoyable story; a complete romantic comedy, or something with a bit more meat to it?

Please leave your ideas and thoughts in the notes/reblogs, or send me a PM. Have a good one!

#RWBY #Fanfiction #Jaune Arc #Ilia Amitola #Adam Taurus #Pyrrha Nikos #Humor #Romance #Dorkmeleon

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jamiescallion · 5 years ago

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AMERICAN ANIMAL - (January Recap)

Chapter One

Mr Rawling Rump the Rhinoceros, of Austin Zoo, Texas, plunged his large snout into the cool mud and shut his beady black eyes. Rump, as most knew him, let the sludge cool his horn and daydreamed about the coming celebrations. He was excited. The weather had been stifling of late and the party was exactly what the animals needed.

Rump was the oldest mammal in the zoo. His advanced years hadn’t meant he’d learnt humility. Far from it. He was a proud beast who thought a lot of himself, and he wasn’t shy in sharing that around. His enormous enclosure: Rump Ranch, was named by Rump’s father Big Red Rump, and because of its location, next to the entrance, it was considered prime real estate. This made Rump a very important beast indeed. His father Big Red Rump would say:

“You’re a top mammal, son, and you must act like it. The Lion, Tiger, Elephant, Giraffe, Snake, Wolf, Monkey, Gorilla and Bear can afford to mess up. You can’t, the scrutiny is too great.”

Rump had been excited about tonight's chow down for weeks. It was an opportunity to see all of his supporters and also an opportunity for him to gloat. Just one week ago he’d won a triumphant victory over the ruling Big Cats. Rump had repeatedly insisted that President Zanzibar should provide conclusive proof he is an American Animal. Born in an American zoo. Zanzibar eventually relented and Old Baldy, the American Bald Eagle in charge of History and Births, confirm that Zanzibar was indeed born in an American Zoo, although not in Austin zoo. Rump considered the confirmation a victory and took great pleasure in letting his fellow creatures know. Rump’s swaggering self-satisfaction would soon sour.

Rump pulled his horn out of the sludge, climbed on top of Rump Rock, tipped back his head and let loose a thunderous bellow. Simon the snake slunk into the ranch. Simon, a python, was not very long for a python but he was certainly a python. His silvery scales blotched with oblongs of butterscotch yellow, ringed by lines of burnt orange.

Rump and Simon stalked and slid up the shallow slope to the Big Cat enclosure, where tonight’s stomp would take place. Under the giant arches, they went and into the vast and beautifully maintained Palace. Rump nodded cordially in return to those that greeted him. He took his place next to Senator Elena Forde’s enclosure. Elena, a sleek snow Leopard, nodded coldly toward Rump. They’d been friendly once but things had curdled since Rump had attacked her party leader. President Zanzibar, the Lion, climbed onto the speaking slab and addressed the crowd of gathered animals. Rump gazed up at the leader with barely masked disdain.

President Zanzibar looked down and smiled. “It is wonderful to be here with you at the chow down. As you will have heard Old Baldy released my official origin story and I am officially an American Animal. I was born in America!” The animals snorted in support around Rump. Zanzibar smiled more broadly now. “I hope it puts the doubts to rest but in case there is still any uncertainty, Old Baldy said he will give Mr Rawling Rump a blow by blow campfire retelling of my birth story. He’s called it out of Africa.” The animals laughed with great enthusiasm and Rump felt consumed with humiliation. His horn hot with embarrassment.

Zanzibar put up his paw to quell the laughter. “I should add that my mother was not African. She was born in New York Zoo…” Zanzibar now gazed openly at Rump. “Is New York okay or do I need to get Old Baldy to confirm my mother’s origin story too?” Rump’s eyes watered in shock, feeling the crowds communal stare upon him he attempted to smile back with casual grace. As if he’d been in on the joke. Only an awkward grimace was raised. Which only served to stoke the fire of mirth. President Zanzibar called for the stomp to begin and the animals, in unison, began to thud the ground with hooves and paws, trotters and claws. Rump turned to see Simon beating his diamond-shaped head against the ground with concentrated and joyous enthusiasm. Rump gave the snake a contemptuous glance and made his way out of the palace, through the entranced and stomping animals. He trudged back down the hill to Rump Ranch. With every step the rhinoceros’ fury grew, his stubborn will bent on revenge.

Chapter Two

Rump spent three weeks plotting. June ushered in a ferocious temperature and with it a resolve to get revenge done. The rhino climbed onto Rump Rock, tipped back his enormous head and roared. Simon slithered into the enclosure in record time. “Simon, I want you to gather all the animals together and tell them to come to Rump Ranch.” “Of coursssssse,” Simon hissed. “May I enquire as to what we will be discussing?” he said gazing up at the rhino with a colourless smile.

Rump snorted through bucket-sized nostrils and the python wished for eyelids. "This zoo is not great, not great at all. The zoo in Houston and the one in San Antonio are way better, way way better. Which is just terrible. Now go gather the other animals. I’m going to make some changes around here."

“Of courssssse?” said the snake. “But how do you know?" "Old Baldy told me,” Rump said impatiently.

“He wouldn’t lie to me. He’s a true American Animal." Old Baldy, the American bald eagle, visited zoos all over the state. Animals gathered around the ‘news tree’ most nights to hear Old Baldy broadcast the truth. Simon had not heard the claims their zoo was inferior to others but that didn’t mean it wasn’t true.

"President Zanzibar will surely do something," said the snake.

Rump shook his gnarled head, his yellow straw wig flapping, his beady black eyes rolling and his red necktie swinging.

"That pampered lion won't do a damn thing about a damn thing. He isn’t even a true American Animal. You heard him say his mother was African. He admitted it. How can he be our President if he wasn’t even born in an American zoo?"

“But Old Baldy said he was an American Animal.”

“Do you believe everything you hear?” said Rump.

Simon thought about this. Something deep in his slippery stomach told him Old Baldy had confirmed Zanzibar was an American Animal but perhaps he had it wrong. Did he believe everything he heard? Perhaps he did! One thing was for certain, Rump had never ever lied to him.

“Your right of course,” Simon said. “I will gather the animals. Although I’m not sure the Big Cats will come.” Rump settled the snake a beady glare.

“Tell them exactly what I say. Tell them I am going to clean this crooked zoo up and make it great again. Tell them I’m starting with the big furry hairballs in the White Palace. I’m going to cough them up and use them as earmuffs.”

Simon didn’t understand but nodded all the same. He knew Rump was talking about the ruling big cats but he didn’t know what a hairball was. As he slithered up the hill to deliver the message his thoughts turned to food. Most specifically, lunch.

The reptiles arrived first: Mike the lizard, Toby the toad, Gordon the gecko, Linda the turtle, Eric the skink, Charlie the chameleon and Crazy Tom the one-eyed crocodile, all settled down in the soft brown earth in front of Rump Rock and chattered excitedly as they waited for the great horn (as they called Him) to speak. Rump gave his loyal supporters an exaggerated wink, the enthusiastic reptiles grinned and all winked back. Apart from Tom, the crazy one-eyed crocodile, because a crazy one-eyed crocodile can’t wink.

Next to arrive was the sleek snow leopard, Senator Elena Forde. A senior member of Zanzibar’s administration and the Big Cat Patriot Party, she sashayed into the ranch with what Rump dubbed “arrogant cat syndrome”. Senator Forde climbed the leafy sweetgum tree that stood at the centre of Rump Ranch, stretched her limbs over a thick branch and began to preen her paws. She regarded Rump lazily and said: "What are you going to moan about this week?"

Before Rump could respond with nuclear indignation the heritage mammals ambled through the gates and into the enclosure. Joshua the giraffe, Gaga the albino chimpanzee, Jape the gorilla, Lenny the gazelle, Zee the zebra, Sally the hippo and Archer the toothless baboon. Trailing after them, like a vast grey cloud, plodded, Jacob the African elephant. A kindly and steadfast beast. Jacob was one of President Zanzibar’s most trusted supporters and a well-respected member of the zoos community. He was not known for his quick wit but was universally liked for his honesty, affability and tireless work ethic.

The heritage mammals supported the president with dutiful deference, Jacob going further with a belief that Zanzibar possessed almost godlike powers. The heritage mammals had always aligned themselves with the big cats. Since the dawn of zoos.

After the mammals, came the natives: Butch bear, Woody elk, Hank wolf, Buzz coyote, Rocky raccoon, Henrietta red fox, and Ace the three-legged bison. Rump loved the natives because in many ways he wanted to be one, and the natives loved him back because in many ways they thought he was one of them.

Old Baldy glided into Rump Ranch and landed gracefully on a branch high up in the leafless sweetgum. His friends from the menagerie had already taken up lower positions in the tree. Eric weaver, Sarah parrot, Dodger cockatoo and Reginald falcon were all thinking the same thing: if only the other animals could gain their elevated perspective, they might grasp how ridiculous Rump was, and not hang off his every pompous word.

Next came the rodents. Rump had long labelled them “aliens” because they’d arrived at the zoo from other countries, many of them illegally, or so the rhino claimed. Mohammed meerkat, Zoya mongoose, Ali otter, Baba porcupine, and Jose the Mexican rat. Strictly Jose was a Mexican sereque but only his fellow aliens bothered to learn the distinction. The rodents hung back, near the exit, unsettled and nervous. Ever watchful.

Finally, President Zanzibar wandered through the gates of Rump Ranch, his big cat cabinet marching in behind him. Seven senators: tiger, leopard, panther, jaguar, cougar, puma and cheetah. All lived and worked with the President at The White Palace.

Zanzibar moved through the crowd greeting creatures with an easy smile, the animals beamed back in delight. Only when Zanzibar was sitting on his hind legs, his lustrous golden mane angled upward toward Rump, did the rhino begin his speech…

The lion turned and gave the audience a warm smile and then turned back and looked up at Rump.

“Are we not all aliens in our own way?” His commanding voice silencing the commotion.

“My parents came to New York zoo from Tanzania many years ago. I am a first-generation lion. Does this make me any less of an American animal?”

The big cats and mammals roared in support. Rump shook his horn and looked out toward the assembled crowd.

“You’ve ruined this zoo with your woke snowflakery, Zanzibar. For eight years we have suffered at the paws of your administration. Whilst only the elite or the lowly are cared for. What about the animals in the middle? Enough is enough. We need change. I will do a better job than you. We must make this zoo great again. Do you accept my challenge?”

The gathering of animals roared, snapped, yelped and hissed. Some were noises of support, some of opposition, but all agreed that this was an audacious challenge. Zanzibar had never been opposed before, not even by another big cat, let alone a rhinoceros wearing a straw wig.

After a thoughtful pause, President Zanzibar raised his mane and addressed the gathering.

“It is Mr Rump’s right to challenge me.” He turned his flecked auburn eyes on the rhino. “But I will not stand against you. Another will take my place.” He nodded toward the Leopard lounging in the tree. “I choose Senator Elena Forde to run against you in my stead.”

A clamour of surprise and excitement erupted from the crowd. For the first time in almost a decade there would be an election and on the ballot paper a rhinoceros. Rump let out a high-pitched squeal, a noise that male rhinos are well known for, but try to avoid emitting because they think it’s emasculating. Rump pulled himself together, puffed out his cheeks and thought it through. It was unlikely he would win, the big cat elite was too powerful, their supremacy stretched too far back. However, he was in the race and anything can happen when you’re in the race. Then it came to him, a revelation. He wasn’t a big cat and as such he didn’t need to play by their big cat rules. He cleared his throat and began his acceptance speech.

“I accept any challenge set before me,” Rump began. “and I will fight, fight, fight to expose the lies and corruption the big cat elite have committed for so many years. But, you know what’s more important than anything?” he paused to rear up on his hind legs, delighting the reptiles at the front. “Unity! And you know what I love about it?” Continued Rump. “Unity is love, I’m in love with myself, I’m in love with all of you and I’m sure as hell in love with this zoo. And I don’t just love the animals that already support me, I love the animals that have cat yolk in their eyes. Yeh, that’s right, I’m in love with you because I know you love me right back. Deep down, even if you don’t know it yet. We’re all in love together because we all have one thing in common,” he paused again, glancing toward the exit where the rodents stood nervously watching. “Well, not all of us…and do you know what that thing we have in common is?” he bellowed.

Rump waited a beat and then thundered his final line with slow and purposeful intent. “WE ARE ALL… AMERICAN ANIMALS!”

As the new presidential candidate climbed down from the Rump Rock, a chant started up. Two words. Over and over again: “AMERICAN ANIMAL, AMERICAN ANIMAL, AMERICAN ANIMAL, AMERICAN ANIMAL.”

Chapter 3

Rump could not sleep that night; he replayed the day's events with growing delight. Excited and restless in his luxurious straw bed. He’d played it perfectly, he’d been cunning, calm and courageous. He knew the odds were stacked against him, but that didn’t matter. If he could just convince half the heritage mammals to vote for him, he’d be in with a chance of prickling some fat cat fur. Besides, win or lose, he was in the game and his daddy had always said:

“Once you get in the game, you can change the rules.” His daddy had also told him: “Winning ugly is still winning.”

It had been decided that the vote would take place in three weeks time. Rump’s campaign strategy was a simple one. Shake the tree and see what falls out. He was going to make sure that this election would be bigger than anything the zoo had ever seen before. It wouldn’t just be unique because Forde was the first female candidate to be selected in the history of the zoo and Rump was the first non-big cat to be selected. It would be unique because Rump intended to break with convention. In fact, he hoped he could break convention altogether. As he lay awake, staring up at the moon, he compiled a list of one ultimate and unbreakable rule: No matter what, however much the big cat elite pressured him, or how compelling the evidence against him was, he would never ever admit he was wrong. About anything. Ever.

One of the first executive decisions the rhino made was to make Simon Python his chief advisor. The other reptiles respected Simon and keeping them onside would be vital. Rump felt sure Simon would make an excellent right-hand snake. Not least because Rump knew he would do everything he asked, without question. He also chose Simon because he was almost as committed to expelling the alien animals as he was. The reptiles had always felt like they’d been treated as second class citizens by the big cat elite, they’d grumbled about it for years. Rump, who once boasted that his Ranch was twice the size of the reptile house, took the decision to make the refurbishment of the herpetarium (reptile house) his first election promise. He would hold a big rally that very day and announce the exciting news.

Rump commenced a run of rallies that quickly became the hottest ticket in town. His impassioned speeches sparking a conversation that divided opinion, animals and even, in some cases, species. Rump railed against the big cat elite with sincere passion, his mischievous charisma and disarming candidness winning over many doubters. He exploded with policies. Opinions that dared talk about real issues; overpopulation, sanitation and animal migration. His election pledges ranged from the wacky and wild to the inspired and necessary. He threatened to dig a vast trench around the zoo to stop the alien rodents getting in. He promised to make all carnivores pay more tax, a vow the big cat elite were most upset about. Rump was vague and direct, unpredictable and cocksure, but most of all he was plain-speaking, no-nonsense and different.

Rump told the animals that if they had a problem, he would fix it. He didn’t get bogged down in detail, he simply said it would be dealt with. If he said a group of animals were corrupt, they were corrupt. Rump didn’t get involved in evidence. Rump dealt in fact. He didn’t get embroiled in proving things; that was what the big cat elite did. He didn’t have time to waste on verifying particulars. Why should he? He knew exactly what was going on. His supporters took his word for it. He didn’t tell them how everything would get better. It just would. Every speech he gave, audience members either chanted and cheered, or heckled and booed. It was a polarisation so stark many animals worried there would be civil war. The middle ground vanished, you were either with him or against him. His detractors were ardent, his followers evangelical.

Every Rump rally ended with the same repetitive chant: “AMERICAN ANIMAL, AMERICAN ANIMAL.”

The rhino climbed onto Rump rock spurred by the sound of fanatical cheering, he gazed out at the assembled animals, his straw wig flapping in the wind. He was pleased to note the new faces. Every day more were drawn to his rallying cry. “We need big talk and even bigger action,” Rump began with intensity.

“BIG TALK, BIGGER ACTION.” Chanted the crowd back at him.

Rump had travelled around the zoo, visiting with animals from all walks of life, talking to them directly, listening to their grievances, promising swift justice or instant resolution. He injected his speeches with their concerns:

“American animals must come first! Let’s make this zoo great again!” he bellowed, waiting a beat so the gathering mob could chant his words back.

Rump awoke on the sixth day of the campaign with an idea. He summoned Simon and instructed him to go and find him a chalkboard. Within an hour Simon slithered back into the ranch, dragging behind him, a thin sheet of grey slate stone.

“Place it at the entrance of the ranch, where all can see it,” commanded the rhino. Rump followed Simon outside to make sure the snake completed the task to his satisfaction.

“What is it for, Mr President-Elect, Sir?” Simon said as pushed the flat stone into place. “I will use it to communicate my important message, direct to the other animals.”

“What a truly ingenious idea, Sir.”

Rump craned his neck and started to write on the board, with his horn. Simon spoke the words as he spoke them: “A leopard can’t change his spots. I don’t have spots!”

The snake wagged his tail excitedly. “What will you call this new form of communication, Sir?”

“Well, let me see, this is a Horn Board!” Rump said kicking the slate tablet. “So I guess the act of committing thoughts to the Horn Board is called Horning,” he added.

The following morning, Rump went to check the Horning Board and was surprised to find a rather large pile of flat stones stacked at its base. Closer inspection revealed each of the slate tiles was etched with a message.

The first of which was written in tall spidery lettering and was signed by the Mexican Sereque, Jose. It was a straightforward opinion: “You’re an idiot!”

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The cover art that received the highest number of likes for the month of January:

Quentin Blake

#authorsofinstagram #artists on tumblr #artistsoninstagram #artistsofinstagram

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parabellumrpg · 5 years ago

Photo

Congratulations, Isa! You’ve been accepted to play Eva Calderon. Please make your page and send it in within 24 hours.

A/N: This was a difficult choice because both Eva auditions were beautiful! There were certain phrases and and mannerisms in the way you described Eva that really sounded like you were very in tune with that character. I’m so excited to see her on the dash!

IC INFORMATION —

CHARACTER DESIRED

Eva Calderon

DESCRIBE THE CHARACTER IN YOUR OWN WORDS

Thrust into a world full of hate and disdain, young Eva chose not to harden her heart but rather expose it for all the world to see. She is a chameleon who doesn’t change her coloring to blend into the world around and disappear but rather to infiltrate it and hold a mirror up and expose all of its wrong doings. Wearing her heart on her sleeve barely does this passionate woman justice. Every fiber of her being corses with love, compassion, kindness, a strong will, determination and an unwavering morality and sense of justice that has always made her strive to get her voice and the voice of others heard. When I read her biography, I saw this young woman who has a mind older than her years, a smile that lights up and is as warm as the sun, expressive eyes, eloquently strung phrases leave her lips like a warm breeze and a heart that is tender and feels more than a heart in this cold world should.

When Eva’s father was deported and she then told her mother to be with him I couldn’t fathom it. In that moment, I saw just how selfless she truly is. Sure, her working multiple jobs to help out her mother showed that she would do just about anything for the ones she loved I never realized how much she would put the happiness of someone else before her own. I can picture the pain she must have felt on both occasions when her father was forced to leave his family and when she hands her mother the plane tickets to be with her father. Her smile warm but her eyes expressing the sadness she cannot allow herself to feel in front of her mother who had sacrificed so much for her. It cuts me deep and makes me appreciate the bond one can have with their parents. You know the saying, “actions speak louder than words”, that is Eva in a nutshell to me. She acts rather than reacting and is a force for change.

I believe that she does try to see the best in people and appeal to some part of their humanity, even if it is buried deep down and it is why I think her eyes are not open entirely to what the Aleman brothers are planning in Chicago and where they previously were. People may call her naive because of this but I don’t like that word for her. She is not naive because naive means (of a person or action) showing a lack of experience, wisdom, or judgment. Lack of experience? Are you kidding me? The woman has had her father deported; seen how the world treats anyone who is not white; experienced sexism in a philanthropic environment; been told her and her family would never be good enough. Her experience comes from working her ass off and devoting her time and energy to causes close to her heart. Wisdom comes from living through hell and coming out of it stronger than before and seeing the dual sides of life. Judgement comes from her heart that her parents helped to grow and teach Eva how to live with pain rather than being defeated by it.

WRITING SAMPLE

Alright, here is my unorthodox way of doing a writing sample. In order to get a better understanding of how I see Eva I have to give you samples set in the past.

Sample 1:

“What does it feel like?”

“What does what feel like?” Her mother asked.

“To be in love.” A six year old Eva replied.

“You know how it feels, little one. Do you not love your father and I?”

“Not that kind of love.” If she could only just move her head to give her a mother a look that every child gives their parents when they believe they are not being understood. A cross between a squinted stare and some other exaggerated expression. Eva liked to raise both of her brows as high as her hairline to get her point across. Her father once told her that if she could lift them any higher her brows would jump off her face and live in her hair for it was much easier to hide there than be front and center on a face. The eyes were windows to the soul while the brows were the window frame and little Eva had yet to master what she thought and felt from becoming an expression on her face. She never did master that art but why try to master something she never wanted to learn in the first place?

Her mother’s hands stopped braiding her daughter’s long brunette locks as she let the pause in conversation turn to silence. While Eva’s mother mulled over a question that had many answers depending on who was answering it Eva’s once straight and perfect posture folded in on itself as she laid agains the back of the couch where her mother sat. Silence was never a welcome thing to Eva who preferred unending noise. Silence always proceeded all storms, both the literal and figurative kind. Eva’s large hazel eyes turned up to try and find comfort in ones that mirrored her own but instead she saw cloudiness that if she was not too careful she too cold disappear into.

“Mom?”

“Hm? Oh-”

Eva’s mother once more regained the composure she once had and took hold of her daughter’s locks that had begun to unravel from the lack of tension. “I won’t lie to you, mi corazón, it hurts. To be in love is to feel every so profound all at once that it makes it hard to stand.” She sensed that her daughter was still unsure of what she meant and would ask a follow up, something she got from her father.

“Think of a great ship. The mast and sails help to catch the wind so it can steer. The mast and the sails must work with the steering wheel itself. One provides direction and the other provides power. Those two things are your head and your heart. Love is the waves that are under the ship and humans are the ships. With our head and our heart we navigate throughout waves that we are born to stay afloat in and cut through. However, not ever cut through of the water is a smooth one. We are put through storms, capsizing waves, and thrown off balance by the waves. We get banged up; we loose parts of ourselves throughout each journey. The waves test us; push us to our limits. We, the sails, mast, and steering wheel must work with and against the waves in order to keep us afloat. Being in love is a constant journey across unknown waters that will throw at us obstacles that we have to get around. It feels like a ship being battered by the water. That is what love is like.”

Eva continued to stare at her mother until her neck couldn’t stand the twisting any longer. “It sounds horrible. Who would want to be on a ship that long? Wouldn’t you get sea sick from it all?” Her mother laughed and finished off the last strand of hair before wrapping an orange, velvet ribbon around the ends to secure it.

“You do, mi corazón, but that is what sea legs are for."

"I still don’t understand it."

"You will one day.”

—-

Sample 2: Highschool

Eva finished waiting the last table of the night. She looked down at the watch that was on her wrist as she filled the last of the ketchup and salt bottles that customers went through than any other condiment. She could feel fatigue setting in, her arms beginning to hurt after the shoot here, and just thinking about the day she had tomorrow. There was only one reason why she was working herself like this, there was someone counting on her. Even when she felt like everything would come crashing down she never gave in to defeat. She couldn’t. She wouldn’t.

Her feet felt like weights as she made her way to the manager’s office, a small little room with only one window that was tucked in the back of the building. Eva knocked on his door waiting for him to say come in, but she heard no answer from the other side. Her fingers clasped the silver knob, turning it slowly until she was able to just peek her head into the room. Low and behold the manager was there, his reading glasses in his hands while his head rested against the back of the chair, a light snore escaping his lips. Apparently, Eva wasn’t the only one who wanted nothing more than to fall asleep in the middle of work.

Eva walked towards where he slept, her fingers gingerly touching his shoulder as to not startle him. “Nathan,” Eva said. “Nathan, it is time to wake up.” Nathan looked up at her, sleep in the corner of his eyes, as he tried to find the words to protest her statement. Eva just shook her head, not giving him a chance to speak before she walked over to the coat rack and grabbed his things, making sure to grab the office keys from his jacket pocket before handing his belongings over to him.

“Go on.” She said with a small smile. “I can lock this place up. I have done it enough times to know how to.” It was true, Eva had spent many late nights here transcribing her own notes into study aids that the students she tutored could use and correcting drafts of essays written by individuals who could not grasp how the system wanted to teach them or just flat out refused to try. She wasn’t the only one doing this. There were others in the same financial situation like her staying later each night to catch up on the work that was piled on them and get ahead of tomorrow’s before tomorrow’s work could pile up. Oh what a glamorous job she had. She was luckier than most, though. She had a job when so many did not.

Nathan put on his coat, tucking his glasses into his jacket pocket before he walked over to Eva and handed her the keys,“You’re too good for this place.” With those last words he left the office, leaving Eva alone with her own thoughts. The past few weeks she hadn’t been getting much sleep, working herself to the point that her mind just wouldn’t shut up, always going over her schedule, how she was going to write and how the more time she spent her the closer her past seemed to be. Eva brought her fingers to her temple to push away any thoughts about tomorrow that threatened to keep her up at night. Her hand dropped away from her temple as she pulled her shoulders back, took a deep breath, tomorrow was a new day and another one to be grateful for, her mother’s words played over and over as she put on a smile and headed out the door.

#accepted

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hannahmcne · 5 years ago

Text

Just a Dream - A MLB Oneshot

Birds were chirping, the sun was drifting through the dust lazily, and Alix was fighting to stay awake. Her dad had had to run to the Louvre early, so she'd been dropped off a full hour before school started. Armed with her backpack stuffed full of half-completed homework and a cooling cup of foul-smelling coffee, Alix trudged upstairs towards the locker room. She put her lunch, several binders, and her foul-smelling gym stuff into her locker before taking her backpack, now much lighter, upstairs.

The door was unlocked even though Mrs. Bustier still hadn't left the early morning teacher meetings she had to attend every Friday. Alix nudged the door open with her toe, shouldered a yawn, and paused mid-step as she spied the other person in the room.

In the spot where Adrien would usually sit was a girl with pink and orange streaks in her blonde hair, along with several friendship bracelets braided into the hair at the nape of her neck. Her mouth was open as she slept, and messy red eyeshadow was smudged around the corners of her eyes. She wore a band shirt that Alix did not recognize, and black ripped jeans with worn-through tennis shoes.

Alix had never seen her before.

Alix carefully scootched past her and went to set her stuff down at her desk. Then, after a moment's deliberation, she walked back down the aisle and prodded the girl's arm.

"Hey!" She called. "Time to get up, please."

"Ugh!" The girl groaned, rubbing her eyes as she woke. "Did I fall asleep in class again?" She rubbed her eyes as she looked up and squinted at the empty board. Her eyebrows suddenly knit together in confusion.

"Uh, who are you?" Alix asked as the newcomer stared at the board like they were trying to remember where they'd seen it before.

"Marilyn…?" She answered as she turned to look at Alix. Her jaw fell open as she took in Alix's bubble-gum pink hair and her unique outfit. Alix didn't think that was quite fair, seeing as what she was wearing. She crossed her arms and stared at the punk girl. Then, Marilyn said something Alix hadn't quite expected: "Alex Kubdel."

Alix blinked. "Have we met?" She asked slowly.

Marilyn blinked slowly. She looked at the board and then put her head down again. "I must still be dreaming." She yawned absentmindedly.

"Uh, no you're not?" Alex asked. The door swung open again. It was Kim, fresh from his morning sprints around the school and holding a green smoothie and a diet soda to help it go down. Marilyn sat back up when she saw him.

"Le Chien Kim." She said aloud.

"Just Kim," Kim said absentmindedly as he trooped up the stairs past Alix. Then, he paused. "Have we met?" He asked.

Marilyn stared at the both of them. Her eyes flickered from their frames to the classroom board, to the ceiling. Then, she shrugged and laid her head down on her folded arms. "Not my weirdest dream." She mumbled. "But while I'm here, you should know I totally ship you two together."

"What?" Alix asked. Kim looked abosolutely repulsed.

"Yeah." Marilyn nodded. "You and Kim should totally get together and do those weird couple yoga things and race each other around Paris. It'd be cute."

"Excuse me." Alix planted a hand down in front of Marilyn's face. "Do we even know you? Who do you think you are, to barge in and start making judgment calls on our lives?"

Marilyn sat back up, clearly annoyed that her sleep schedule is being interrupted. "Don't shoot." She drawled. "And it's not just me. Half the fandom thinks you should get together!"

The door swung open again. Marilyn turned to see who had entered, and recited: "Ivan Bruell, Mylene Haprele."

Their other two classmates stopped in surprise. Alix growled.

"You're already together and you're super cute." Marilyn giggled. "I was so excited when I saw Stoneheart for the first time! It was so cute. The way Ladybug caught Mylene while capturing that akuma was so freaking cool!"

Ivan furrorwed his brow at her. "How do you know about that?" He asked.

"Well, the episode was kind of made of close-ups. It was super awesome. If you ask me, they shouldn't have done the red and black spotted backsplash for when Alya got trapped behind the car though." Marilyn shrugged.

"Trapped behind a car?" Alix asked.

"Black and red spots?" Mylene tilted her head in confusion.

"Yeah. Animator decision though. Can I go back to sleep?" Marilyn yawned and put her head on top of a fist.

"Uh, no, you can't." Alix rolled her eyes. "You can't just appear in our classroom, say all these weird things, and go to sleep when we want to ask you stuff about it. So, sit up." She grabbed the back of Marilyn's shirt and hoisted the girl into an upright position as Mylene, Ivan, and Kim gathered around her.

"Sheesh!" Marilyn complained. "Why are you so touchy? My dreams aren't usually like this."

Alix reached out and grabbed the fleshy part of Marilyn's arm. She pinched, hard. Marilyn yelped.

"See?" Alix asked, frustrated. "We're not a dream. Now pay attention."

Marilyn blinked and looked down and where a red mark was starting to form on her arm. She took her skin in between her fingers and pinched herself. Nothing happened. "Oh my gosh," Marilyn said loudly as her eyes began to grow wide. "Oh my gosh!"

"What?" Alix asked irritably.

"I've been transported to the miraculous ladybug realm?" Marilyn shrieked. "Oh gosh, this is what I get for staying up late finishing my stupid math homework! I'm sorry, karma!"

"What's she going on about?" Kim asked the other three classmates as Marilyn seized her own hair and began to pull. They shrugged.

The door to the classroom opened again. A noise was beginning to come from the courtyard below. Students were starting to arrive. Marilyn spun as more people entered the room. "Rose Lavillant, Juleka Couffaine, Max Kante, and Nathaniel Kurtzburg!" Marilyn counted off on her fingers. "That means I'm in a room with Timebreaker, Dark Cupid, Horrificator, Stoneheart, Princess Fragrance, Refleckta, Gamer, and Evillustrator! That's like, a third of season one?"

"Season one?" Mylene asked hesitantly.

Marilyn jumped up and ran to the board. "You guys are part of my favorite TV Show, Miraculous Ladybug! The first episode of season three just barely came out and – ugh!" She paused with a long white piece of chalk in her hands as she shook her tiny fists. "I hate Lila so much!" She shrieked before she began to scribble three lists on the board.

"Lila's such a good and interesting person, though!" Rose said. She looked as confused as the rest of them but still had to stand up for her friend. "She's a personal friend of Prince Ali's!"

"Not really." Marilyn paused in her list writing to turn around and face Rose. "She really is a stupid, stupid liar, and I hate her guts."

"What are you doing?" Kim asked.

On the board were, as previously mentioned, three long lists. The last one had only one word: Chameleon. The others had twenty-six with a 'Christmas Special' in between. Alix recognized many of the names right off the bat. Timebreaker, of course, had been her akumatized identity. In fact, it seemed like Marilyn was listing akumas. Some of the ones she was talking about Alix didn't even recognize. Who was Copycat, or The Collector?

"I've seen every episode," Marilyn announced proudly. "That's about 700 minutes of watch time between all released episodes, not including the webisodes or the chibi episodes, which are so cute!" Marilyn paused to squeal as she began to circle certain villains on her lists. "I've watched episodes in French, German, Spanish, but mostly English. I've transcribed articles for MLB Wikia, and I make fan theories, and I can't draw super well but I love the fanart in this fandom. It's so pretty!" She finished circling and proudly presented her work to the stunned kids in the room. "These are by far the best episodes. Like this one, Style Queen, we learn what happened to Adrien's mom, and it's so sad!"

"What did I just walk into?" Someone asked from the doorway. It was Chloe, with her white designer purse slung over her shoulder and Sabrina by her side. Everyone rolled their eyes as she strolled inside. She examined the board tactfully. "You're missing akumas if that's what you're trying to do. Vanisher, for one." She flipped her hand at Sabrina, who looked delighted to have been awknowledged.

"No, I'm listing episodes," Marilyn said as if it were obvious. She sized up the two new girls. "Sabrina Raincomprix. Your dad is the police officer who needs to learn to cool his jets." Before Sabrina could defend her dad, Marilyn squinted at Chloe. "Ugh." She said. "I hated you back in season one for what you did to Kim, but I guess you do get a small redemption for what happened during the Queen's fight episodes and for shaming Hawkmoth on his fashion." Marilyn snorted and began to laugh.

"Episodes?" Sabrina asked softly.

Alix rolled her eyes. "She thinks she's asleep and we're all from a TV Show she watches when she's awake."

"You are!" Marilyn insisted. "I have clips and articles and fanarts on my phone to prove it!" She reached into her pocket and pulled out a sleek phone with a large screen. When she showed the screen to their classmates, they fell silent. Then, after a long pause, Nathaniel asked: "Is that supposed to be Marinette and Adrien?"

"Yes." Marilyn blushed with pride. "Aren't they adorable? They're my OTP."

"Marinette Dupain-Cheng?" Chloe asked in disgust.

"Yes." Marilyn squealed. "Did you know her name was almost Bridgette when they first started animating her? And her love interest was originally Felix, but Felix didn't have much opportunity for character development, so they let him go and made Adrien, our sinammon roll son, instead?"

Someone made a squeaking sound from the door. Everyone turned to see Alya and Nino standing in the doorway, looking extremely surprised and confused.

"I'm sorry." Nino coughed as he tried to talk around clearing his throat. "Did you just call my dude a cinnamon roll?"

"With an 's'," Marilyn confirmed. "If you ask me, I think Chat is way hotter than Adrien. He's just so much more… free and happy. Sure of himself."

No one was quite sure of what to say.

Marilyn looked around the room in amazement. "Woah." She said. "This is amazing. This has to be a dream. There's no way this can actually be happening. I mean, all we're missing is-"

"Hey, guys, what's going on?" Adrien asked as he walked into class behind Nino and Alya. Marilyn's jaw dropped and unhinged as she stared with wide eyes at him. "Oh, new student?" He asked uneasily.

"Oh my gosh!" Marilyn jumped off the desk and sprinted to him. "I have so many things I want to tell you and – holy crap, I can't believe it's you!" She screamed.

Adrien looked extremely uncomfortable as he awkwardly set his backpack down and pushed it under his desk with his foot.

"Where's my phone?" Marilyn panicked. "I have to show all of you guys my favorite Ladynoir fanart!"

"Ladynoir?" Alya perked up. Nino groaned.

"No." He complained. "Don't start her up on this. They're not a couple."

"I know!" Marilyn growled in frustration. "Isn't it so frustrating? I mean, if they would reveal themselves already, we could all go home and have a lovely rest of our lives, but no! They have to work the stupid love square into every minute of this show and –" She suddenly whirled on Adrien, "If I hear you call Ladybug 'a very good friend' one more time, I'm going to freak out."

"I haven't!" Adrien protested feebly.

"Back up." Alix sighed. "What's Ladynoir?"

"The ship name for Ladybug and Chat Noir." Alya supplied.

"There's also Adrienette, Marichat, and Ladrien. My personal favorite is Ladynoir. Power couple all the way!" Marilyn pumped her fist in the air.

Alix knew she could be a little slow on the uptake sometimes. Sometimes she had to be retaught things from math and her French teacher had to go a bit slower for her, but if she was counting correctly then that meant…

"Are you talking about Marinette?" Alya asked with a face. "Because, uh, she's smitten, and not with Chat Noir."

Adrien blinked and looked around. "Can someone explain what's going on?

"She thinks we're all from her favorite TV Show that apparently centers around a love square between you, Marinette, Chat Noir, and Ladybug while they fight akumas." Max supplied.

"Wait, what?" Marilyn asked.

Adrien looked equally taken aback. "But… I'm not into Marinette. Or Chat Noir for that matter."

"Of course you are!" Marilyn groaned. She looked like she was going to have an anesrum. "You're the secondary character and the love interest and everything depends on you!" She paused. "Actually, scratch that, basically every single problem in the entire series would be solved if Chloe learned to be nice, Lila quit lyin'-" Adrien stiffened at that remark, "-And if Gabriel and Natalie got together."

Adrien began to choke. "What?" He asked. "Excuse me?"

"No, but hear me out!" Marilyn exclaimed. "If Gabriel and Natalie got together, then Hawkmoth wouldn't have a reason to send out any more akumas, and Ladybug and Chat Noir could reveal their identities," She gave a not-so-subtle glare at Adrien, "And the love square would be resolved and everything would be fine!" She threw her hands up in the air along with her cell phone. Everyone watched it turn flips through the air until it hit the wall and remained still beside the door.

Mylene raised her hand. "I still don't see how Hawkmoth plays into that." She said. "Is Hawkmoth trying to, like, get Gabriel and Natalie together?"

Marilyn snorted. "If only our problems were that easy." She rolled her eyes. "Anyways, if Chloe were nicer people wouldn't get akumatized as much because as of right now she's caused fifteen akumas, not counting her own akumatizations. Most of those were in Season One, so she's gotten better, but still. Marinette's caused eleven, however, I count Zombiezou as one both Marinette and Chloe caused because Chloe caused the situation, but it was Marinette's anger that drew the Akuma in the first place." She paused to take a deep breath as everyone stared.

Finally, Rose piped up from the back. "And, uhm, what about Lila lying?"

"Oh, she's a nasty rotten liar who I've never heard spout a single truth since she was akumatized in Volpina. She's an absolute brat." Marinlynn answered with an eyeroll as she leaned back against Mrs. Bustier's desk.

"I am not!" Someone shouted from the doorway. It was Lila. Her face was turning red and her fists were clenched and shaking. "I've never told a single lie!" She said, crossing her arms over her chests.

"Oh, like when you stole Adrien's book about superheroes, got a fox miraculous knockoff and dropped his book in the trash, causing him to get grounded for life?" Marilynn asked with a raised eyebrow. "I'm quite sorry no one took you up on your sprained wrist lie, considered you switched up what hand it was at the end of the day."

The room fell deathly silent. Lila's face was becoming multichromatic as she shook with rage. Marilynn licked the tip of her finger, pointed at Lila, and made a sizzling sound with her teeth. Then, she turned to the class. "You all should probably know she's actively and willingly worked with Hawkmoth before. To the point when she was angry at Marinette and Adrien she literally took an akuma she found that was supposed to be for Marinette and put it in her own earring. The entire fandom hates her guts and we make memes all the time about how the fox says nothing but lies."

"This is unbelievable." Adrien shook his head. "The book was returned miraculously and I was ungrounded. Dad never even said anything to me about it. And how can you expect us to believe all of this? It's honestly… far fetched."

Marilyn began to laugh. She laughed so hard she doubled over onto her knees and then knelt on the ground laughing. Finally, she looked up with tears in her eyes. "Marinette Dupain-Cheng returned the book for you. But not before she showed it to Master Fu and he took three-million photos of it."

"Master… Fu?" Adrien stumbled, eyes wide.

"Mhmm!" Marilynn nodded. She crossed her legs criss-cross applesauce underneath her and smiled. "The Collector was a really interesting episode. We found out the identity of Hawkmoth."

The entire class did a double intake. "You know who Hawkmoth is?" Alya gasped. She reached for her phone, but Nino pulled it out of her pocket and held it under his arm so she couldn't wrench it back.

"I know everyone's identities." Marilyn's eyes sparkled. "Even Ladybug and Chat Noir." Everyone was silent; no one believed her.

Marilyn stood back up and wandered back to the board. The class parted as she went. She picked up the chalk and examined the list in season two. "Queen Bee first transformed in the Episode Queen Wasp." She recited as she made a large arrow pointing to the episode in question, which was already circled for importance, and wrote 'Chloe Bourgeois' beside it. "And Carapace transformed in Anansi." Marilyn shivered as she made another arrow. "I hate spiders." She murmured as she wrote 'Nino Lahiffe' beside the episode.

No one said anything.

"Rena Rouge first transformed in Sapotis." Marilyn continued as she drew a third arrow and wrote 'Alya Cesaire' next to the episode title.

"Wait," Alex said. "Do you mean… Alya and Nino are superheroes?"

Adrien looked very surprised. He stared at Nino as his best friend rubbed the back of his neck. "You were Carapace?" He asked.

"Yeah, sorry man." Nino shrugged. "I wasn't really supposed to tell anyone, even you."

Marilyn snorted, and leaned her head against the chalkboard.

"What?" Adrien asked her.

"Nothing." Marilyn shook her head. "Just… Irony." She made an arrow pointing to the Collector and then paused. She turned around to stare at Adrien, and the corners of her mouth twitched downwards in sympathy. Then she turned back to the board and scrawled 'Gabriel Agreste' beside the episode.

Adrien lurched backward as if he'd been shot. "No!" He exclaimed. "He was an akuma. He was The Collector! He can't be Hawkmoth."

"He akumatized himself," Marilyn answered, stepping back from the board and tossing the chalk in her hand. "He knew you were hot on his trail when he discovered the book was gone, so he akumatized himself. Natalie knew. She's in love with him though, so she keeps silent about the whole thing."

Adrien fell back against his desk with a thump. Marilyn examined her writing. "Ladybug and Chat Noir appear in every episode, of course." She announced to the room. "They're the love square, the main event. Watching them flail around each other is honestly why the show is so popular."

Max blinked and looked sideways at the board. "Ladybug and Chat Noir are the Love Square?" He asked.

"Yes." Marilyn nodded.

"And how many akumas has Marinette caused?" Max asked.

"A lot." Marilyn chuckled. "She did Gamer, Antibug, and Volpina in season one."

"No, she didn't." Chloe and Lila said at the exact same time. They looked at each other in surprise, and then Chloe turned back to Marilyn. "Ladybug did." She said. "I was akumatized when she called me a liar to Chat Noir."

"And I was akumtised when Ladybug came out of nowhere and yelled at me!" Lila exclaimed. Marilyn snorted.

"Yeah, Marinette isn't perfect, but she always does her best. Adrien didn't even apologize for akumatising Copycat." Marilyn gave Adrien a quick glare.

"Copycat?" Alya asked. "Wasn't that when Chat Noir stole the Mona Lisa?"

"Theo Barbot." Marilyn recited. "He sculpted the statue of Ladybug and Chat Noir. When Ladybug didn't show because she was busy stealing Adrien's phone, Chat Noir took the opportunity to tell Theo that he and Ladybug were dating. Theo was akumatized and Adrien never even apologized."

Silence filled the room. Adrien dragged his sweat-covered hands up and down his pants legs. He was still reeling over his dad being Hawkmoth. Marilyn laughed. "You don't all have to look at me like that. Marinette has stolen, like, three people's phones."

"Why would Adrien have to apologize for Chat Noir?" Chloe asked quietly.

Marilyn blinked. "Oh, you're still puzzling on that? You're a little slow on the uptake. Adrien's alter-ego is Chat Noir. With the black cat ring and his kwami Plagg he can transform into the cat-themed superhero."

"Stop," Nino whispered. He looked like he was in pain.

"Wait, wait wait!" Max waved his hands about. "Going back to that love-square-thingy you mentioned with the Ladynoir and Marilap-"

"Marichat!" Marilyn corrected with a glare.

"That would mean that Adrien takes up a place in all those points as either Adrien or Chat Noir and if I'm to interpret your claims of Marinette akumatising Lila and Chloe correctly, then that means that Marinette would also take up a place on each pairing of the square because Marinette would be-"

The door flew open with a bang and a girl with a red face and a pink purse skidded into the room. "Not late!" She yelled triumphantly, crashing into Alya as Marilyn's eyes grew wide.

"Oh no," Nino whispered softly into his hand.

Marilyn opened her mouth as wide as she could and screamed: "LADYBUG!"

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galivantingg · 5 years ago

Text

Behind Those Eyes

Chapter 10

My dreams were tumultuous. They passed like daydreams, washed in yellow light and slightly fuzzy. I heard them slightly, moving around me, whispering words like 'healing', 'how' and 'Chameleon'. Must be the team. Wondering how I'm healing. I got hurt? It must have been the fall. What fall? Oh well, time to dream a sweet dream now.

"Mama," the little girl said, her voice a hushed whisper. They were sitting on the roof, wrapped together in a blanket. "What are stars?"

"Do you want the real answer or my answer?" The young woman said, rubbing her pregnant belly gently.

"Your answer," the little girl giggled as if it were the funniest joke she'd ever heard.

"They're all your futures," the mother whispered to her little girl, burning as bright as the fire you were named after."

"Tell me the story again," the little girl pleaded. Her mother laughed, smiling wide and happy.

"There once was a titan named Kronos, who feared the power his children were prophesied to gain, so he ate them up, one by one." The mother pretended to munch on her little girl, making sound effects that were barely heard over the little girls laughter.

"Zeus, the youngest, was hidden by his mother, Rhea," at this name the little girl turned to her mother, excitement apparent on her face. "The same Rhea I was named after." She said nodding. "Zeus outwitted his father, and he barfed up all of his siblings."

At this part both the little girl and the mother made a face and yelled EW!, bursting into laughter afterwards. "The last one was Hestia, the first to be eaten, and last to be saved. But Hestia was incredibly important. She is the oldest god, and she is the goddess of the home, of the hearth. That's why your dad and I named you after her. You're our home." They clasped hands tightly, smiling at each other, slowly melting into another scene.

. . .

He sat in a cold room in the police station, bundled in his blanket to ward off the chill. Two men sat opposite of him. To the untrained eye, it would look like two detectives interviewing a little boy. Except you couldn't miss the spark of rage in the little boy's eyes, his face screwed up with fury.

"What do you mean an experiment!" He yelled, stumbling over the last word, showing his young age.

"Please kid," The thinner man said, holding his hands in a placating manner. "No need to yell."

His chin lifted in defiance, and then he was a she, and she was no longer a little boy, but an old woman, standing up in anger, cheat heaving. "What," she bit out, "do you mean an experiment?" This time there was no stumbling over words. She said it properly.

The two men stared in shock, not really able to process the fact that now they were interviewing an old woman. "Your experiment ruined my life!" She yelled, spit flying. She shifted again, now a non-binary teenager with orange hair. "Explain." They barked.

The bigger man stuttered a bit then finally found his words. "We were doing an experiment with the weather, seeing if we could create certain conditions, we didn't mean for it to get loose and hurt anyone." His words were calming but his tone wavered, showing his uncertainty. Or something else.

"Well it did," the angry teen heaved. "You killed my family and nearly killed me too. You'll pay for this, Mr. Director and Mr. Scientist. You'll pay off their life debts and then you'll die"

. . .

She was crouched in the corner, staring unblinkingly at the people gathered around the coffee table. She knew they knew someone was in the cave. They had noticed whatever messes they left, if any, were quickly cleared away. Fresh fruit and vegetables would be cut up to go with their breakfast. There were three of them. Aella, Waya and Swallow. Civilian names Martha Gibson, Tom James and Matthew Neves. They were all laughing, something Tom had said.

She started moving forward, keeping low to the ground, slinking over to them. She had been watching them for a few months now, and knew everything about them. Perks of having a high tech computer in the cave to tell her everything.

She was a few feet away when Martha noticed her. "Hey there, little one," she said, crouching down and holding out her hand. The girl was startled at the wording and the action for a second, before remembering that she was, in fact, a cat. Not for much longer, if the rumbling of her stomach was trying to say anything.

She inched forward, sniffing lightly. Martha smelled like strawberries and fresh air, grass and cleanness. Tom knelt down beside her, and he smelled like aftershave, freshness and something else she couldn't quiet place. (Coffee beans, her unconscious mind supplied, now looking back and recognising it.) Matthew sat down a foot away, just staring at her. He smelled like bird, like prey. The girl shook herself quickly, reminding herself that she was human, she didn't eat birds. Not even the fancy ones in french dishes.

She butted her head against Martha's outstretched hand, and was immediately attached to her. She never wanted to leave her side.

It was a few months later that the girl finally revealed herself. She was in her cat form, purring quietly while Martha and Tom watched TV. She slowly uncurled herself and jumped down to the floor, stretching out her paws. She mewed once, just to gain their attention, and when she had it, she shifted. Fur receded backwards and faded to a light brown, eyes changed into dark brown human ones, and paws became fingers and toes, hands and feet. Her tail snaked back into her spine, and she stood on two feet, staring at the two shocked heroes.

Swallow walked in, holding a bowl of cut up fruit. "What t-" His voice melted away into another memory.

. . .

"Give it up for your newest additions to the team: Legion, Geronimo and Starbright!" Waya shouted from in front of city hall. The girl was disguised as a street cat, watching from a perched position on a fence as the crowd in front of the building. She didn't understand why she wasn't up there. It was something the Director had said. Anger washed over her at the thought of the Director.

He still owed her four life debts, and he did nothing. She practically ran the Agency. He hadn't even noticed that she had stripped him of all his power and given it to herself. She groomed a paw smugly, wondering when or if he would notice.

The memories started to pass even faster now, lasting no longer than a few minutes.

. . .

"Welcome our newest members: Chameleon! Ace! Folly! Jacks! And Purrrrrrrge!" Swallow cried out. I grinned wide underneath my mask. I had finally made it. I came out of hiding and was now a public member of the team. Behind us stood Rebel, Ang, Arctic, Rellik, Artisto and the rest of the gang, cheering loud. After the loss of Swallow, the team too a hard hit. Which is why Waya thought it would be a good idea to add some more members.

We needed them too. A new villain, Mime, had popped up. She was vicious, leaving no survivors. Paired with the fact that Genocide was now underground again, it wasn't a good sign.

She revelled in the moment, hands clasped with Ace and Folly's, hovering above the ground in excitement. Now she could show the world who she is.

. . .

"FOLLY!" She yelled out, looking around. "JACKS? PURGE. ACE!" She turned around and around, until she spotted something fall to the ground just behind the building. She flew over, moving so fast her cape snapped behind her.

She rounded the building and stumbled back a few steps in horror. Mime had her arms wrapped tight around Ace, Jacks and Purge were laying on the ground in puddles of blood. And Folly, Folly was hanging from Genocide's great big gloved hand. The blades on the back of his forearms were covered with red. (Red. Always that colour, her unconscious mind thought.)

"AHHHHHH!" She screamed, tears forming. This was her team, her responsibility, and she didn't listen to them. Why didn't she listen to them?

Mime looked up and snickered, while Genocide stoically turned his covered head. "Poor little Chameleon, no more friends for you!" Mime sang.

"GO!" She yelled, buffeting them back with her wings. Genocide let Folly crumple to the ground into a pile, and the two of them took off. She didn't bother going after them. She raced over to her two friends laying in their own blood. She forced her suit back from her hands, hoping she could help them. Her hands, covered in the thick red substance felt nothing. Nothing but red and hate and anger and emptiness. She hurried over to Folly, hoping he was still alive.

He was.

"Folly, Folly please stay awake." She was close to hysteria now. Her hands fluttered over his neck, itching to heal. His hands came up to grab hers.

"Jacks.... Alive...." He muttered. Then his hands dropped.

She felt his pulse and deemed Folly strong enough to last while she healed Jacks. She rushed over, not having any time to waste. She pressed her hands onto his chest and shoved her magic into him. She felt spring and dew drops and smelled freshly cut grass and lilacs and his chest started to move. She was so weak, that was all she could do. Barely heal one of her friends. Her teammate.

"Help!" She screamed into the comms, hoping someone, anyone, was listening.

"Where?" A voice asked back.

"The storage units by the woods," she rasped out, her body wavering.

"Coming now," the voice said, sounding fainter and fainter. "Just hold on Chameleon."

"Folly, Folly, Foll..." she chanted. She slowly tipped to the side, noticing at the last second before passing out a figure leaning against Ace's frozen form. Oh good, she thought. Help is here.

. . .

I was woken by a blinding light. Someone had lifted my eyelid up and was shining a small flashlight into it, checking my pupil dilation. I groaned in protest, trying to move back from the light.

"What's with the ancient technology," I rasped out, my throat parched. I was still caught up in my dreams, and I couldn't quite see yet. "Just get Mo to fix me."

"Who's Mo?" A high cold voice asked.

Three things happened then in quick succession.

One, my eyes adjusted.

Two, I recognised that voice, and the face.

And three, I wasn't in the cave.

Standing in front of me in a tight semicircle was Genocide, Peculiar, Heathen and Martha, and Mime's face was almost pressed right up against mine.

#writeblr #new writeblr #writeblogging #writers on tumblr #superhero #powers #super powers #story

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cmyknoise · 6 years ago

Text

Comfort - Part 2

Words: 1755

Relationship: If you squint maybe platonic LAMP? Platonic Anxiet? Kinda

Warning: Sympathetic Deceit? Angst I guess but not much.

Characters: Virgil, Deceit, Roman, Patton, Logan, Thomas. ‘Carefree’, ‘Pride’, and ‘Envy’

Prev.

Next.

Fic under the cut!

Anxiety soon grew used to those he lived with. He learned that the one in yellow was Deceit. He never gave a straight answer for his name, but he seemed to enjoy giving names of his favorite musicians. Everyone called him ‘Dee’. The green one was Envy, and he only let Dee call him ‘Ennie’. The taller orange one he had seen was Pride. Dee and Envy seemed to call him Tiger Face. He seemed to be the lead in the household.

Pride reminded him of the dark blue one from the light. Well dressed, smart, glasses, though Pride had a huge ego. He cooked them food on occasion, but was mainly found reading or writing alone.

Envy reminded him of the red one from the light. His outfit had been almost identical if not for the complete color swap. He even wore a bare vine crown sometimes. A black prince like outfit, with golden accents and a green belt.

Dee’s personality most reminded him of the light blue one. For being Deceit, Dee was horrible at lying. He often slipped up and told the truth, he had to think about his lies, and it was obvious when he lied. It didn’t take long for Anxiety to find out that he could shape shift. It was spot on how much it looked like he was looking into the mirror when he opened the door. The only difference was a forked tongue, blepped past Dee’s lips.

He found out more about himself. He seemed to heavily rely on the fight or flight system, having no real control of whether his body decided to fight, run, or freeze up. He also found that in high states of anxiousness, panic, and fear that his eyes went white. Plus, Dee had been right. He had scales right under his eyes. Something he didn’t remember having until he left his room. He didn’t remember the sides in the light having those either.

Anxiety hadn’t seen the light for awhile… He did find out where to look. His window peered straight into the light, but it had just...been awhile. He hadn’t seen those strange eyes either, though thinking back...they were awfully similar to Dee, Envy, and Pride’s eyes. The thought made him curious. Had they been watching him as he...developed? Or had they been guiding him? It was something he would rather not dwell on.

Anxiety heard a knock on his door. He only had so many guesses as to who could be there, and he no longer worried or was scared. This was his...home. As much as he had hoped and dreamed of being on the light, being surrounded by these three wasn’t all too bad. They were a bit over dramatic and...extra but they were good company. He twisted the handle, opening up the door to see a certain snake, grinning at him.

Anxiety chuckled, opening the door to let Dee in.

“Do you ever have a light on, Anx?”

“Nope. At least, never the main one.”

Deceit groaned and found his way to Anxiety’s bed, throwing himself on it. The purple clad side chuckled and sat beside him. They both had been having a rough week. Thomas started his sophomore year not long ago. The stress of homework and tests were getting to Anxiety, and Deceit had to come up with a lot to make Anxiety and the rest feel better.

“Why don’t we go to the imagination?”

“Imagination?”

“Yeah! It’s a real bore, Anx. It’s really not that cool.”

Anxiety chuckled softly. Dee was really bad with his lies.

“Sure. Let’s go. I have no idea how to get there.”

“I planned on showing you. There’s an entrance in my room. Thomas got his ability to act from somewhere.”

“Mhm. Come on, show me.”

Anxiety got up, offering his hand to Dee, who grabbed his hand. Anxiety pulled him up, and Dee rushed to the door, dragging the purple side along with him. This...scared and excited Anxiety at the same time. It had felt like weeks, and yet at this point he and Dee had been pals for years. It seemed that time only slowed when Thomas was in big bouts of distress. He wondered now if that’s how it was for everyone.

Dee drug him into his room, past the snake patterned door, and into an...equally snake filled room. Deceit’s room was extremely warm, his bed covered in blankets. He had plenty of light, that could be dimmed if Dee felt it was needed. Tanks were on practically every desk and table, housing a snake, or in one case, a chameleon. Those clearly weren’t the focus, as Dee drug Anxiety to the back of his room, opening up his closet. Was this really some Narnia sort of thing?

Dee pushed aside the clothes in this closet, revealing a door behind it. He stepped in and pushed open the door. Beyond the door, locations shifted across it. A forest, an ocean, a river, a...school? Several places flashed, but it stopped darker looking forest with some mysterious glows. Deceit looked to Anxiety, whose eyes were slowly growing dull. The fear of the unknown started to kick in. Deceit gently squeezed his hand, giving him an assuring look taking a step past the door, hand still holding Anxiety’s.

They stepped through the door and it closed behind them. The two were left in a dark forest, but it was absolutely gorgeous. It was littered with glowing flowers, plants that looked straight from a fairy tale. Dee pulled him off, Anxiety was too focused on the fantastic surroundings to care where they were going. He...trusted Deceit. He thought back to his past while Dee drug him off into the forest. He had already made the connection of the orbs that once watched him in the void, they must’ve been the side’s eyes. Was this...why he found the yellow and brown ones so comforting? Because they were Deceit? From the beginning it seemed that Deceit stuck to him like glue. Envy was fine, so was Pride, but it was Deceit who eventually lulled him from the dark cave of his room.

He was once curious on why there were two sides, one in the light and the other shrouded in the dark. Pride had told him that it was because they were the main sides of Thomas’s personality. Logic, Morality, Creativity, and Care-free. That’s why they were in the light, they had a job to do. Pride had seemed bitter about the subject, and it was quickly changed. Anxiety never brought it up again.

Deceit stopped, taking Anxiety from his thoughts. They had stopped in a pretty open clearing, surrounded in dark trees, odd plants. Dee sat down in the soft looking grass, and Anxiety followed in suit, sitting down beside him.

“So why...are we out here?”

Anxiety’s voice was quiet and low, he was pretty calm. Dee gave a sly grin, looking at Anxiety and then at the dark forest surrounding them.

“Dunno Anx. Thought it’d be boring, thought you’d hate it.”

He chuckled and lent back. Anxiety rolled his eyes and looked around. The place was cool, quiet… He liked it. He didn’t know they could reach the imagination directly like this and...go places. A weight was felt on his shoulder and the purple clad side looked over to find that Deceit had rest his head on his shoulder, tongue stuck out past his lips. He gave a soft chuckle and closed, his eyes. He could get used to coming to this place.

A rustle of leaves and snapping of twigs alerted the two. Anxiety tensed up and got up quick, Deceit followed and stood up with him, looking around. Anxiety knew right where the noise was coming from, and he stood in a protective stance, stance, staring on into the trees. There was a glint as a blade came down on heavy thorns and shrubbery, and from behind…

Anxiety’s eyes widened and his heart rate picked up. It was the red, prince side.

Dee scowled, “Why are you not here, Creativity?”

Creativity looked up, staring at Deceit, then Anxiety. His eyes looked confused, lingering on Anxiety. The prince held his sword at the ready, and Anxiety moved over, almost blocking Deceit.

The prince completely disregarded the question, looking straight at Anxiety, “Carefree…? Is that you?”

Panic shot through Anxiety, and he quickly shook his head, hair moving, revealing his scales. Dee gave a hiss toward the Prince. Creativity’s eyes narrowed and he gave a growl, raising his sword. He almost growled, completely switching from caution to aggression.

“What did you do with Carefree?” He glared down at the two sides with the scales. Anxiety didn’t know what he was talking about. Deceit held his mouth shut and shook his head. The Prince muttered something about the ‘Dragon Witch’ and their minions before bringing his sword down, swinging at Anxiety only to clang… Anxiety had his hand up, a thin, light purple..shield of sorts, protecting his hand from the blade. His clouded white eyes widened and he looked to Deceit, before gripping his arm. Fight or flight- and he was not fighting Creativity. He grabbed Dee’s arm and the two popped out, leaving Creativity in the imagination.

Anxiety had his arms tightly around Deceit in a protective manner as they just appeared in his room, his heart pounding. Creativity was left in the imagination, just as confused as he was furious. How dare...how dare those monsters, those villains. The imagination crumbled down around him, and he was off, returning home.

Deceit clung to Anxiety, frozen in shock. Not a word was spoken, but it seemed they silently agreed not to go back into the imagination, certainly not any time soon. They both fell to sit on the floor.

Several minutes passed before they slowly unlatched from each other. Deceit looked at Anxiety, eyes wide.

“Since when could you conjure a shield?”

His voice was hushed and airy, he still sounded terrified and in shock. Anxiety just shrugged some, he still couldn’t find his voice, and his eyes were still clouded a bright white. Maybe...those sides in the light weren’t as nice and happy as they seemed. Dee made Anxiety promise not to tell Envy or Pride, which he promised not to. Envy would throw a bossy fit and Pride would’ve been pissed more so at the others. They kept what happened a quiet secret.

#comfort #logan writes #my writing 2018 #sanders sides #sanders #sides #virgil sanders #virgil #anxiety #janus sanders #janus #pride #envy #roman sanders #roman #creativity #au #part 2 #sympathetic deceit

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green-eyeddragonfanfiction · 7 years ago

Text

Running from the Past: Chapter 4

Summary: Reader is a mutant who was experimented on by HYDRA. Due to her unique powers, she escaped a year and a half ago without being seen when the Avengers attacked the Hydra compound she was kept in for 5 years of her life. Her mutations and Hydra experiments allow her to blend in with her surroundings (like a chameleon/cuttlefish/octopus) and change her appearance in minor ways (such as hair, skin, and eye color), though the changes are only temporary. She’s been caught by the Avengers. After a long and painful conversation with the Winter Soldier, she accepts his help in getting her memories from before 6 ½ years ago back. She also suspects he’s hiding something from her. Pairing: Bucky Barnes x Reader Word Count: 2,661 Warnings: language (always), violence/fighting, traumatic past (mentions of torture/experimentation), slow burn, angst, fluff, delicious breakfast food (Rough) Translations: Bonne apétit, garçons -enjoy the meal, boys кукла - doll Спасибо за еду -thanks for the meal A/N: A huge thank you to everyone liking and reblogging my posts <3 This is my first big fic and the support feels awesome. You’re all amazing! Also, this chapter = poor confused baby Bucky…. and sorry for shooting him in the leg earlier, but babe’s strong. he can take it.

Masterlist // Previous Chapter // Next Chapter

It took everything you had to keep your face impassive. The pressure in the base of your skull returned when he used the nickname, and you gritted your teeth.

“Dollface is fine. Just go get my shit, please,” you say, your tone giving away your internal struggle.

He nodded, grinning deviously. “If you have any questions or need anything, ask FRIDAY. If you need me or the team for whatever reason, just ask FRIDAY to let us know,” he said, sparing you one last glance over his shoulder before he walked out the doors of the observation room.

To your surprise, it wasn’t Bucky who returned with the blanket and entertainment. You were pacing your room, your thoughts wandering, when Wanda poked her head in the door. She saw you staring at her with a raised eyebrow and walked in, smiling tentatively.

“Hey,” you said cautiously, not entirely sure where you stood with the woman after your comments earlier.

“Hey, (Y/N),” she responded with a small smile.

There was an awkward pause.

“I, uh, hope you like romance novels. They’re most of what I own,” she said, nodding to the small pile of books in her arms that teetered precariously on top of a fuzzy-looking fuchsia blanket.

You thought back to the bookshelves at your apartment, overburdened with romance novels. You could find the books littering every surface of the tiny apartment. “Yeah, that’ll do, I guess,” you said, cheeks burning.

Wanda gave you a crooked smile as though she could tell what was going through your head. You realized she very well might. If she did, though, she didn’t let on. She pressed a button on the wall that you couldn’t see and a small 8inx8in square hole in the wall opened at about chest height next to you. She passed the books and blanket to you through it.

“This one’s my favorite,” she said, handing you a well-loved book with a particularly muscular, oiled-up, bare-chested man on the cover.

“Yeah, Jean Lancaster is a literary genius,” you said, smiling fondly at the book. You had a brief moment of oblivious bliss before your eyes widened comically in horror, hand flying up to cover your big dumb mouth.

Wanda laughed at your reaction. Hard. You briefly considered crawling into the darkest hole you could find and never coming out. But Wanda’s laughter was contagious, and you soon found yourself laughing along, books and blanket forgotten on your bed.

To your horror, Bucky chose that time to walk into the observation room.

“What’s going on in here? I could hear you both down the hall-” he paused as he took in the sight in front of him. Wanda was almost red in the face from laughing so hard, tears forming at the corners of her eyes. Your head whipped around to Wanda, your slightly puffy, watery eyes pleading. The look on your face sent her off into another fit of hysterical giggles.

“Wanda?” he asked, completely taken aback.

“Wanda,” you whined, your voice pleading.

With what you assumed was immense difficulty, she managed to get a few words out. You strained to hear them between the giggles.

“It’s’ok, Bucky. Just bonding,” she said, throwing you a devious smirk. You shushed her as subtly as you could. Bucky looked between the two of you, the confusion on his face as clear as day. She rolled her eyes at him. “Out, you big oaf. We’re going to have girl talk,” she said, pushing him towards the door.

“But-” he began, but she gave him a shove out the door.

“I said girl talk, Barnes!” she said with pseudo anger. He whirled around to protest, but she simply waved at him happily as the doors shut in his face. “Keep him out for a while, please, FRIDAY,” she said, turning back to you.

“As you wish, Ms. Maximoff,” FRIDAY said. You heard the door lock with a surprisingly loud thunk.

“So, lovely weather we’re having, eh?” you grinned nervously at her.

“No, no. We’re talking about this. You’re not getting out of this conversation by changing the subject,” she said, pulling a chair up to the large glass wall.

You groaned and plopped down on your bed. “Alright, which series are we starting with?” you asked her, resigning yourself to your fate.

She grinned happily at you before spurring onward into a tirade so impressive you thought it had to be rehearsed.

You talked with Wanda about romance novels for hours. You discussed your favorite authors and the best plot twists of each of your favorite books. You both commiserated over how much you hated badly written doe-eyed heroines with no backbone. There may or may not have been slight squealing over certain muscle-bound heroes you both liked. You debated on whether modern day romances were better, or if tragedy in classics like Romeo and Juliet were what made a romance truly great. Bucky had come by and dropped dinner off for the both of you. You both gave him distracted “thank you”’s before returning to your debate. While you ate, however, your conversation lulled.

“I’m sorry,” you said quietly, in between mouthfuls of mashed potatoes.

She looked up from her meal at you and smiled softly. She didn’t need to ask what you were talking about. “It’s alright,” she said before she took a bite of chicken. She grimaced at how dry it was a took a sip of the orange juice Bucky had brought you with your meals.

“Please tell me,” you said, braver than you felt. You nearly shriveled under the look she gave you. She assessed you coolly before speaking.

“Are you sure? It’s not a happy story.”

“I never thought it was. It must have been awful for Hydra to seem like an improvement…” you say meekly, not wanting your words to be taken as a challenge.

She sighed deeply and took another sip of orange juice. She gazed at you over the glass before setting it down.

Then, she told you everything.

She told you about her family that lived a hard but happy life together in Sokovia. Of the fighting that claimed her parents’ lives and nearly claimed her and her brother’s. How their thirst for vengeance against Tony Stark had driven them to nearly destroy the world. She told you, finally, of how her brother died on the floating death rock that was Sokovia, protecting Hawkeye and a small boy. She got very quiet at the last part. You could see it in her eyes- she was years and a thousand miles away, back in Sokovia.

“I’m sorry,” you croaked out. Your voice snapped her out of her reverie and she gave you a weak smile.

“You didn’t have to start crying, you know,” she said in a teasing tone that couldn’t quite hide how sad she sounded. You were crying? You reached up and felt your cheek. Yup, those were tears. You’d begun crying without even realizing it.

“I’m horrible for saying those things to you,” you said, rubbing your tears away with your sleeved arm.

“You didn’t know… and I’ve made plenty of mistakes. Mistakes I have to live with for the rest of my life. I suppose what I’m trying to say is: Don’t worry about it,” she said, smiling fondly at you.

You nodded, not trusting your voice to keep from cracking.

“Miss Maximoff, I’m sorry to interrupt ‘girl time,’ but Captain Rogers and Mister Wilson are back from their mission and request your presence for debriefing,” FRIDAY’s voice said over the room’s speaker system.

“Tell them I’ll be there in a moment, please, FRIDAY,” Wanda said to the VI.

“Right away, Miss Maximoff,” it responded.

“Duty calls,” she said as she got up and stretched, stiff from sitting for so long. “Are you done with your dinner?” she asked, motioning to the mostly empty plate in your lap.

You shoveled one last massive spoonful of mashed potatoes into your mouth and swallowed. “I am now,” you said, grinning impishly.

“Gross,” she said, smiling at you. “I’ll take it back with me,” she said, pressing the button to open up the hole in the wall. You stuck your plate through and she placed it and her glass on top of her own.

“Thanks,” you said, smiling up at her.

“Hey, what are friends for?” she said, smiling back. She looked pointedly at the books, then winked at you. “Enjoy.”

You groaned. “I hate you,” you said halfheartedly, unable to fight back a half smile.

“No you don’t,” she said cheerily as she walked out of the room, doors shutting firmly behind her.

You sighed and carefully arranged Wanda’s books into a neat pile next to your bed. You absently wondered what time it was. There wasn’t a clock or window in your tiny room-cell. You laid back on your bed, snuggling up under the white and fuchsia blankets. It could be any time of the day, but you weren’t tired. You picked up a book and started reading.

You awoke to the sound of the doors to the observation room opening. You groaned, rubbing the sleep out of your eyes. You must have been more tired than you thought. You’d fallen asleep two and a half chapters into The Contest. It was such a racy read- you didn’t even think it was possible to fall asleep reading it.

You closed the book, put it down, and looked to see who had deemed you worthy of visiting.

You weren’t that surprised to see Bucky, but Steve standing there surprised you. ”And to what do I owe the pleasure, fellas?” you asked, watching them suspiciously.

“Bucky told me about you accepting our help. Wanda- though she won’t go into any specifics- has decided you’re most likely not a flight risk anymore,” Steve said, staring at you evenly. He paused. “Are you?” he asked, raising an eyebrow at you.

“That depends on whether or not you try to feed me that bone dry chicken again or not,” you said, smirking. “It was like eating chicken-flavored sand.”

Bucky and the Cap smiled in unison, but Steve tried to look serious halfway through. It didn’t work, and your grin widened.

You let the joke sit for a moment before you sobered. “I’ll stick around for a while, Captain. Until this whole Hydra shitstorm blows over. Besides,” you said, glancing at Bucky, “I’ve gotten a very interesting proposal.”

“Please, call me Steve,” he said as he tapped away at the screen of a panel you couldn’t see in front of him. A loud clunk to your left caught your attention. The door was ever so slightly ajar now. You looked back at them incredulously. You pointed at it and raised an eyebrow in question. Bucky snorted, smiling, and Steve smiled and nodded.

“FREEDOM!” you screeched, yanking the door open and throwing yourself bodily into the corridor. The super soldiers followed you into the hallway, alarmed. You ran down it, relishing the ability to move more than six feet in any one direction. They jogged after you, still confused. You suddenly whirled around to face them. “Kitchen,” you said simply. They pointed down the hallway. You sprinted down it.

As you came upon an intersection, Bucky yelled to you. “Left,” he said, finally catching up to you. But you were off again in a flash. He gestured helplessly at you to Steve who seemed amused by the whole situation. Bucky groaned and jogged after you, slowed down by his only mostly-healed leg, Steve trailing closely behind.

By the time they’d arrived in kitchen, you’d already searched through most of the cupboards for the things you needed.

“Communal food rules?” you asked without looking at them as you continued to ransack the pantry.

“It’s open for everyone to use unless there’s a name on it. Never touch the prime cuts of steak, though. Sam forgets to write his name on them a lot and he’ll attempt to kill you if you eat ‘em,” Bucky said, leaning against the door frame as he watched you work.

“That’s only you, Bucky. He only gives the rest of us the cold shoulder for a day or two if we eat them,” Steve said, smiling at his friends’ shenanigans. He walked into the kitchen and sat on a stool at the island. Bucky followed his lead and sat down next to him.

“I’m beginning to think he doesn’t like me very much,” Bucky said, sarcasm dripping from every word.

“What gave it away?” Steve asked, matching his sarcastic tone.

Bucky was about to respond, but you spoke before he could.

“What do you guys like in your pancakes?” you ask, having found a huge bowl and pancake mix.

“Banana,” said Bucky without skipping a beat.

“Blueberry,” Steve said just after that.

You nodded.

“Eggs?” you asked after you located a nice non-stick pan under the counter.

“Over-easy,” they both said in unison. You chuckled and nodded.

“Got it,” you said.

While the pans heated and fruit prepped, you portioned out the pancake mix, adding banana slices to one third, blueberries to another, and cinnamon and a handful of chocolate chips to the last. You pulled out the carton of eggs and a stick of butter.

“So I hate to ask- I don’t want to lose my homemade breakfast privileges- but what brought this on? Are you just really hungry?” Steve asked, watching you work with interest.

“She loves breakfast food,” Bucky said, smiling faintly as he watched you work.

You froze for a second- not long enough for them to notice. How did he know that? That wasn’t something many people knew about you, and he said it like it was as plain as day. If he was to be believed, your relationship with him during your time as a spy for Hydra was professional (not to mention very, very evil). Were you even yourself while you were brainwashed? Did your love of breakfast food somehow transcend brainwashing? Or was there something he wasn’t telling you?

“Who doesn’t love breakfast food?” you said as cheerfully as you could manage. Neither Steve nor Bucky seemed to notice anything off about your tone. They were too enraptured by the food cooking on the stove.

“Amen to that,” Bucky said, watching as you flipped the pancakes perfectly. In between flipping enormous pancakes and their over-easy eggs, you pulled out three huge plates. As the food finished cooking, you tossed it onto their plates, doing increasingly difficult flips as you went. A behind-the-back-halfway-across-the-kitchen-pancake-flip earned a low, impressed whistle from Bucky and a round of applause from Steve. You finished scrambling your eggs and shoveled them from the pan onto your plate. You grabbed syrup and whipped cream from the fridge and placed them on the counter, set your plate down, and took a seat next to Bucky at the kitchen island.

“Thanks, (Y/N),” Steve said, lightly salting and peppering his eggs.

“Bonne apétit, garçons,” you said, taking a moment to appreciate your handiwork.

To your shock, you realized your beautiful three-stack cinnamon-chocolate pancake pile had been infiltrated by a banana pancake. It sat smugly in the middle, taunting you. You realized Bucky must have swapped one of his for yours when you weren’t looking.

“Oi,” you said, turning to look at Bucky.

“Is there a problem, sweetheart?” he asked, smiling at you innocently.

You opened your mouth to say something, but then the smell hit you. Cinnamon-chocolate-banana perfection, sitting there on your plate. You closed your mouth and stared at the pancakes in awe.

“Nothing,” you said, throwing some softened butter onto your stack of pancakes. You heard him chuckle under his breath.

“Looks delicious, кукла. Спасибо за еду,” Bucky said as he reached for the syrup at the same time you did. Your hands collided midair.

And just like that, it felt like the world exploded around you. The only thing you felt before the world went black was the rending pain in your head. You swore your head was collapsing in on itself.

Chapter 5

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#Bucky x Reader #bucky barnes #winter soldier #Winter Soldier x Reader #marvel fanfiction #steve rogers #wanda maximoff

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misadventures-phan-can · 7 years ago

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Chasing Phantoms ~ Prologue

It was not meant to be.

A Mother clutched her month-old daughter close. The ship shook, fire danced in the corner of her eye. Outside, a dark figure loomed. Another ship, the attacker, raining bolts down on its prey.

Oh the life they had planned. The love, happiness… The hard times and anger, sadness. All of it they were prepared to face together, forever. But not this. Never this.

The child she held in her arms cried, either from the jostling of her mother’s running, or the loud, terrifying sounds of battle that engulfed the ship whole. Soon, soon they could escape.

The woman felt terrible. Torn between the men and women of the crew that had helped her so much, the urge to stay and fight for them like they were for her… or her daughter, her Star, and the life she would surely have if she took an escape pod and ran.

The Captain knew what choice she would make, the crew knew. No one held it against her, even as she rushed away, no time spared for goodbyes. He only looked at her, stoic as always, nodding once. She smiled grimly, the first hit rocking their ship on its axis. She ran. The Captain turned and started barking battle orders. That was the last she ever saw of them, the valiant crew and their leader.

It was not meant to be.

It was hot as hell on this planet, the humidity in air stuck to the skin, only adding to the sweat that formed over faces and arms- for the humans anyway. Men and women alike wore sandals as they walked down solar-paneled sidewalks. Bicycles casually rolled past on the sidewalk separate from the pedestrian path. Every few feet the solar-panels displayed the image of a figure walking on the appropriate lane, and little bike signals on the bike path.

Leafy, flowering vines grew up telephone poles and hanging baskets dropped down within reaching distance, most full of small pitcher plants to help control the insect population. Although the wild variety smelled like rotting flesh, these small domestic ones smelled like overly ripe fruit. Edible plants and berry bushes hung down as well, such as ripe red strawberries, plump peaches, juicy oranges and many others, both from different planets and native to Linus.

Natural bridges went over highways for both human and fauna safety alike. Every block had a shaded solar charging port surrounded by benches, walkways that led to the beaches, bicycle racks and parking lots. The skyscrapers in the distance grew with greenery, bearing a strong resemblances to the massive forests surrounding most of the coastal capital.

The community, whether native or not, enjoyed this planet’s climate immensely… however the foreign General felt his sweat squelch in his thick military boots and under his formal uniform. The locals merely wore bikinis and shorts, with only the rare few daring to cover up with sundresses and tank tops. He had only been here for barely half a Standard Galactic Day, and already he hated it with determined vehemence.

The man stopped under some shade, both to catch his breath and check in with Head Quarters. Taking his communicator off the clip on his coat, he clicked it to the correct signal.

“General reporting, Sir come in, Sir.” The man states, pressing the receiver of the little device, all the while shaking sand out of the speakers despite it not having been exposed to the beaches at all.

“Oh hun, always so uptight and formal… you couldn’t just lay your head back and relax for the day could you…” An effeminate voice chimed through static from the other end. One could just imagine him in his Cat’s eye sunglasses, filing his nails. The General fought back a cringe of disgust.

“They didn’t know about the mineral… they don’t apparently use much mining resources… pride themselves on being green, having low impacts on the environment and all that… A biologist I found along the shore did not suitably help… he was more concerned with some species of cat beasts and a slug…”

“Ah yes….” The man on the other end of the line hummed. “I heard about those cuties. I think I may have seen one earlier today… maybe two if wolves in sheep’s clothing count. Very adorable little things, really. It makes me want one…” he hummed in a slight airy manner, with noticeable emphasis on the want.

“Sir, I do not think it a wise course of action…”

However within moments he was walking down the sidewalk to visit the flea markets, casting cold, grey eyes along colourful stalls that seemed to sell everything on this planet. From exotic fruit and meat, to equipment for ships, Earth antiques, and every species imaginable living on Linus, which seemed as good a candidate for ‘pet’ you could get, in as loose a sense of the word as possible.

He decided upon a particularly dedicated looking vendor, which was really just a collection of small play gates and cages full of animals. The first creature to greet him was a many-eyed reptilian-looking cat with 6 arms. It started growling- the man assumed- for it made a repeating, aggressive ticking sound combined with a series of rattling snarls. Eventually it turned to lay contentedly under a heat lamp. Then, he saw an odd looking snake whose eyes seemed to jut out like a chameleon’s and whose tail wrapped around a branch like it had a mind of its own. A certain scaly thing even vaguely resembled a dragon. But one species in particular caught his eye. If one had lived on Earth, in its golden age, one would compare it to a cute, chubby baby otter. To the people of Linus, they were Mimics. And, to the people who knew what they were capable of, limitless sources of potential.

The stern General was, however, hoping he wouldn’t have to go through with this tomfoolery.

Approaching the manager, or owner of sorts, he cleared his throat and presented his dilemma.

“I need a pet for someone… a Service Dog like animal. Something smart. Something vicious.” He said, with a glint in his eye.

“Ah, is it perhaps for that special lady in your life? I mean, it all depends on what you want smart for exactly…” The manager replied, the local Linus lilt colouring his speech as he scrutinized his latest client.

The man grimaced, disgusted by the latest developments. He supposed one could call his Commander a ‘special lady’ alright… special with a helmet maybe.

“You pry too much…” He retorted, in a very smooth, very dangerous tone despite his apparent anger. “I came to ask questions, not to answer them…. I am here for a Mimic.”

The vendor- thought he seemed slightly dumbfounded- laughed heartily. “Pardon my manners, us mainlanders don’t mean to pry as much as we do. Should have just been straight forward- we got a whole litter. I hear even the SDF are starting to use these guys. I do warn ya, they aren’t pets. With ‘em little guys it’s like adopting a kid of your own…”

He motioned to a small group of Mimics, round chubby faces with antenna like whiskers. One seeming to be a small white female, another a large dapple grey, the third a grey with a black back and light underbelly. The fourth, and final one was a small black, and white male, standing just slightly taller than the female.

“That one right there, he’s a smart one I’ll tell ya.” He says pouring some milk into a saucer with a small amount of cat food. By the time the dishes were placed in their pen, the “alpha” Mimics were chittering and hollering loudly. Already they had started to mimic the noises of the animals surrounding them. The small black and white male remained silent as the two others pushed and shoved, snapping at one another for the food.

“Chester, come over here boy.” The puppy, though young, seemed to have a natural aptitude towards this sort of thing. He stood up his hind legs, prancing up and down as if he were a kangaroo jumping in delight before the dish was placed down in front him. Followed by another one for the other two Mimics.

While the two grey males fought over who would drink first, the black puppy stared at them. When the moment was right, he snuck his snout under their chests to stealthily pick dish up carefully in his mouth, all the while pushing the other with his flippers. Once his thievery accomplished, the small male sat by the passive white female, with whom he shared his prize. She pressed up against him, affectionate, but most certainly shy.

Then, suddenly, the black male looked up at the scowling General, their gaze locking. A galaxy of blue ocean waves and worlds of the multi-hued coral beneath seemed to scrutinize the man’s very person- for he had no more soul. They glowed with multitudes of deeper secrets, hidden thoughts he would never see. Perhaps it was intelligence. Or maybe not. Was it, perhaps, something more?

It didn’t take long before the Grey’s realized what had happened and approached. They bristled and snarled, copying all sorts of offended animal calls. The black male, Chester, simply looked at them before growling and making a noise that the man had heard before, upon approaching the stall. The Mimic pup got up on his hind legs and made a noise resembling the roar of one of Linus’ big cats, albeit softer and smaller, babyfied, almost. Now, before the Grey’s, stood an almost perfect replica of the reptilian, six armed cat who slept a few cages over. The male’s siblings retreated in a frenzy, fearfully whining high pitched screeches that made the General want to shoot them. But nevertheless. If his Commander had stated he wanted a pet, he would have his damn pet. And if it was to be, the General would make sure its usefulness would be maximized. He would make damn well sure. And if he was to be stuck with an overgrown, doggish copy-parrot, he would make sure it wasn’t a dumb overgrown, doggish copy-parrot. This would be it.

The man spent the rest of the day carrying an unstable cardboard box, with holes punched in the top, under his arm. Heavily annoyed, very unamused. Little did he know, this was the beginning of 15 years of annoyance and un-amusement.

Next: Chapter 1 - The Cloak

#mop&d #chasing phantoms #prologue #fanfiction #space pirate captain harlock #captain harlock #my ocs #friends ocs #space #original planets #leijiverse #galaxy railways

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