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thekingthatwrites · 1 year ago

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Hello tis I.. rain y day,

If you’re up to it, I would DIE for some Ned and/or Duck comforting Aubrey! I’m on ep. 19 and they make me sooooo so sick in the brain I think they all deserve big comfort and hugs and maybe even a forehead kiss…

-🌧

Yeah, I Get It.

Summary: Sometimes, having a gift like what Aubrey Little does can become... draining. Both in a literal sense and in the way that drags her down in every moment she can't seem to help the people around her. She's seen things, been told things, and can't seem to get the past out of her head. But, lucky for her, there's someone on her team that gets it more than anyone else. Duck Newton takes care of her in a familial type way.

Genere: Hurt/Comfort

Aubrey Little and Duck Newton | Familial

A/N: Thank you, Rain, for this wonderful prompt, I will indeed have a field day with this. <33

Word Count: 3,020 words

@sunnynights-rainydays

‧̍̊·̊‧̥°̩̥˚̩̩̥͙°̩̥‧̥·̊‧̍̊ ♡ °̩̥˚̩̩̥͙°̩̥ ·͙*̩̩͙˚̩̥̩̥*̩̩̥͙·̩̩̥͙*̩̩̥͙˚̩̥̩̥*̩̩͙‧͙ °̩̥˚̩̩̥͙°̩̥ ♡ ‧̍̊·̊‧̥°̩̥˚̩̩̥͙°̩̥‧̥·̊‧̍̊ ‧̍̊·̊‧̥°̩̥˚̩̩̥͙°̩̥‧̥·̊‧̍̊ ♡ °̩̥˚̩̩̥͙°̩̥ ·͙*̩̩͙˚̩̥̩̥*̩̩̥͙·̩̩̥͙*̩̩̥͙˚̩̥̩̥*̩̩͙‧͙ °̩̥˚̩̩̥͙°̩̥ ♡ ‧̍̊·̊‧̥°̩̥˚̩̩̥͙°̩̥‧̥·̊‧̍̊ ‧̍̊·̊‧̥°̩̥˚̩̩̥͙°̩̥‧̥·̊‧̍̊ ♡

It was hard. Being chosen to be something bigger than you were. Sometimes it felt as if there was no point in it. Being put in a position where one is supposed to be something more than what they were before, is hard, it's a hard thing to accept. Be it a blade that is passed down from others or a title and a gift given from another world, it's a lot of weight to be something more.

Duck Newton and Aubrey Little sit in this same exact boat. Standing back to back, they are two sides of the same coin, given something more than what they might be. Aubrey, with her magic, something unique and ... more than she might be able to handle. Duck, with literally being a chosen one to bring about destiny. Though, unlike Aubrey, Duck has been dealing with this pressure since his teenage years, without much of any break from his dance with fate, and in turn, his dance with Minerva.

He has no issue with the woman, his mentor, but with the pressure that he has dealt with, with the idea of saving the world pressed into the back of his mind, it was sometimes more than he realized he signed up for.

Aubrey, on the other hand, has ... something different weighing her down. As memories circle her mind, she's brought back and forth from the past and the present; not only that she's been remembering something that just wasn't her own. She remembered the memories of Alexandra, the young ruler of Sylvain. It was something that felt... intruding, something that she didn't realize at first wasn't her own thoughts, but when she did it felt bad. It felt bad to realize your connection to another world, even though it was slight, or at least she thought this was the case. She had no way to prove it, no way to be sure, but somewhere in her heart she just knew it. With the crystal, with the memories, all of it. It ... no, she had to be something more. Part of her loved the idea of it, she wanted to be the one to help Sylvain but ... another part of her loathed it. She already had to deal with so much, with working with her magic and helping Duck, Ned, and the rest of the Pine Guard with the monsters that infest the world; why did she have to have more on her plate?

These were the thoughts that moved through her head as she sat at one of the window sills of the lodge. She leaned on the cold window looking out on the forest, watching as snow fell from dark clouds that blanketed the sky. She had a somber look on her features with her lidded eyes watching gentle flakes of snow land on the window. A hand rested on her chin as she pushed the weight of her head onto her palm, keeping her elbow pressed on the window sill.

There was an emptiness in the air, the sound of wind passing through the trees was the only noise that was notable as she sat there. As if the lodge had been abandoned, there wasn't a soul in sight, not even Moira at her usual place sitting at the piano. Though, Aubrey didn't seem to notice, or if she did, she didn't mind the quiet. She was a very social person, everyone in Kepler who knew her knew this as a fact, but today was a little different. Solemn and almost gloomy took up the afternoon, and likewise, it took her up as well.

She hadn't known how long she had been sitting there when she heard footsteps begin to sound through the lodge. Heavy boots on wood echoed through the halls, specifically, as Aubrey noted it, through the hall on the left from Mama's office. After living in these walls for months, she, at this point, has memorized it's layout.

When her gaze shifted from the window she stared out of to the other side of the room, she expected to see Mama. Surprise entered her mind when she saw Duck walking away from the hall, noting her with a slight eyebrow raise and a tip of his hat after placing it back on his head. For whatever reason he had it off.

"Hey Duck,"

She'd say, simply, soon finding herself going back to her original position. For some odd reason, she expected him to just keep walking after a small greeting back to her, leaving the lodge; he didn't.

"Hey Aubrey. What's got you goin'? All down in the dumps, it ain't like you."

Duck raised an eyebrow as he found his way over, crossing his arms over his chest as he stood over her, just a foot or so away. Once again, she just hadn't expected it, so she found herself looking over in surprise. Duck tilted his head in response,

"What, can't a guy ask a friend what's got her goat?"

He'd inquire, moving to sit next to her, leaning back into the corner of the window sill, letting out a soft hum.

Aubrey would watch as he sat down, allowing her eyes to just keep on him, staring with that golden and darker color of her irises. A silence ate at the atmosphere for a solid few seconds before Duck cleared his throat, trying to get her attention.

"Oh- uh."

She'd sit up, her posture straightening out as she leaned back onto the opposite wall.

"I dunno, yeah of course you can, but-"

She'd hesitate, furrowing her eyebrows, picking at one of her nails for a moment, before continuing.

"I'm fine, I guess."

She'd shrug, moving her feet onto where she sat, pushing her legs up against her chest, and crossing her arms over her knees. She laid her head down on her arms, a natural cushioning, as her eyes would shift back to the window. The snow hadn't let up, and it didn't seem like it would for a while. As she observed the outdoors, she would note little details, from Duck's car that sat in the driveway to Jake and Barclay hanging out on the front porch, slightly out of view. It really was a quiet afternoon.

"Yeah, that's one hella load of bull there, Aubrey. You ain't someone to sulk, so what's up?"

Duck would continue to probe and prod at the girl, wanting her to open up about her troubles. Listen, he wasn't really the kind of guy to give advice, to be some sort of therapist, but Aubrey was a different case. She reminded him so, so much of his little sister; he couldn't help but try and be by her side.

She moved her head, her chin sitting on her arms as she gave the other some sort of eye contact. Duck couldn't help but note the vibrancy of the girl's eye, the bright amber color of it eating all of the brown that originally was there. He hadn't gotten the chance, really, to take note of this girl's change, but such a thing would be pushed to the back of his mind.

"I'm..."

It was all she could allow to escape her lips for the moment. Duck watched as thoughts processed through her mind, he could almost see the loading bubble floating over her head,

"It's complicated. There's just so much on my plate now, ya know? With the Pine Guard to Sylvain, I mean, my eye and everything. It's just so much... so much I don't know if I can take on. I feel like I'm being built for something more than I am! Something that I ... don't think I can really be."

She'd look down at her shoes, moving them up and down for a moment as a way of slight stimulation. She'd listen as Duck would make that familiar clicking sound with his tongue before letting out a small sigh,

"Fighting with this, uh, whole destiny thing, huh? Yeah, been there. Listen, Aubrey, whatever the future has in store for you, you're gonna fuckin' kill it, I know it. There's no doubt in your abilities, that's for sure, strongest one outta all of us, for sure."

He'd lean forward, scooting over slightly, closer to the girl as he'd place a hand on her shoulder.

"Y'er stronger than ya know."

She looked at him with this hope in her eyes that wasn't there before, or maybe it was a glossiness that coated her eyes, Duck would never tell. She'd look to the side, placing her hand on her friend's, and let out a small chuckle, leaning back once again.

"Thanks, Duck."

She'd say, letting out a small huff and an amused breath. Duck smirked, copying her actions as he too leaned back,

"Any time. You're a part of this team and, honestly, we need you not worryin' so much. Try focusing on the present."

He'd look out the window too, watching as snow fell to the ground, coating the earth, as well as his car.

"Ah, shit that's gonna be a pain in the ass. Probably gonna be stayin' here t'night."

Duck sighed in defeat, realizing that by the time he wanted to leave, his car would be covered in snow. what a pain. Aubrey seemed to chuckle at this, causing him to look over. He smirked, happy that he could bring her mood up with such simple words. While she reminded him of his sister, they were very different. If it were Jane, well, she'd probably push him away. The two siblings love one another, that's for sure, but that girl doesn't need Newton all up in her business. So why not spend some of that brotherly love on the next best thing, someone he sees as a younger sister. In turn, Aubrey sees him in a similar light. It was hard not to with the energy that he gave off to her, the way he cares about the people around him, and wants to protect him. Even if he doesn't try to, he can't help but give the feel of an older brother.

Though, even with those words, such simple words that, for a moment, put her thoughts to the side, she couldn't help but get lost in her head as soon as he stopped talking. To Duck, the silence was comfortable, not realizing, as he looked out onto the snowy forest, that Aubrey was diving head-first back into the pool of stress. For Aubrey the silence was unbearable. It was suffocating, as she began to drown in her thoughts, her eyebrows couldn't help but furrow into a deep knot. Tears formed at the corners of her eyes as one main thing floated in her mind.

What if ... she wasn't good enough? What if her efforts weren't enough, enough to help the people she cares about, to help Sylvain grow as a world, be more than what these monsters escaping it were making it out to be. She was given this task, a task that pressed onto her being and hurt her chest, the pressure was something unlike she had experienced. She knew stress, she knew the pressure of expectations, but this was different. Her parents looking to her, her father expecting more than the magic she wanted to pursue, no, this was as if the world was at stake. In her head, she knelt on the ground, cradling herself as she pressed her head to the bottom of this void of a mind full of fear and distress. The worry clawed at her thoughts, and she couldn't help but let tears fall, be it one single drop moving down her dark features.

"How do you do it?"

She'd ask. The words slipped off her tongue, not really realizing what she had even said.

"Do what, Aubrey?"

Duck questioned without looking over, and for a few moments, it would stay this way. That was until he finally found himself glancing over after she would be silent for a few moments after he responded to her question. He sat up, surprised at the sight of the girl, teary-eyed, looking out the window as she refused to make eye contact with him. He was confused, at first, but it quickly set in that this girl needed more than just words. With his own eyebrows furrowing, he, once more, scooted closer to the girl, putting a hand on her knee as he hummed.

"It's alright to cry, Aubs, shit, there's no need to keep all that in. If you need to let those tears go, let them rip. kiddo"

Duck tried to make the girl laugh, and it seemed to allow a small smirk to move to her lips, but soon after she found herself melting into a puddle of tears. She leaned forward, crossing her legs as she pressed her head into Duck's shoulder, letting out sobs that echoed through the lobby. She was so relieved that there was no one else to bare witness to this tragic sight.

Duck wrapped an arm around the girl, pulling her into a hug as she just seemed to cry. She grasped tightly onto the shirt he wore, something that was more casual than his usual ranger uniform, and basked in the comfort that Duck's hold gave her.

"How... how do you handle it all... how ... how do you cope with... with being more than you ever thought you could be...? That... that isn't just me right? Right? I... I don't know what to d... do. How am... how am I supposed... supposed to do all this bullshit!"

These words were muffled as she spoke into his shirt, grasping tighter onto the cloth. Duck wouldn't care, not for a moment, as he stared down at the shaking girl. He hadn't ever seen her so... weak. So vulnerable. It was heartbreaking that a woman who had such a fire in her heart could be so easily doused into embers.

"...Time."

Duck would say. He'd move a hand to her back, rubbing it up and down, trying to give her comfort. He'd let out a low breath, looking to the side, out and over towards the rest of the lodge. Out of the corner of his eye, he noticed a figure, and when he looked over he spotted Mama, looking more than just concerned. He shook his head before nodding his head up, dismissing her from the area. Mama quickly understood before she gave a nod back, retreating back to her office to let Duck handle the situation.

At first, he didn't know what to say. He was an expert in all of this, in knowing how to deal with the stress, the intense fear that came along with being 'a chosen'. Sure, Aubrey wasn't literally one of him, of Leo, of Minerva, not at all, but she was still dealing with the same shit he had to go through. So what was he to say? What got him through the times he thought he wouldn't be able to do what was expected of him? In between his doubts, the times he declined Minerva's offering, there was still the intensity of it all. To be chosen by some figure to defend and even save the world? It was a lot … so what got him through it all? Besides his friends who stuck by his side, the people who loved him and cared for him, what really let him push through?

"It took a lotta time. Time that I thought I wouldn't have, really, but time. Listen, Aubs, every day you will find more courage in you to deal with the future, hell, even the present. It ain't gonna be easy, I know you wish it would be, I wish it was for you too. But I know you're strong, and you have not only me but also Ned and Mama right by yer side."

He'd place his hands on the side of her head, either side, and pulled up to look at her. Her face was stained with streaks of tears, her eyes red and puffy, and of course her nose was runny. She looked up to him, the tears not stopping, not for a moment, as he continued to speak.

"So don't worry your firey lil head over it, we got your back. I promise you that kiddo."

He'd give her a smile. That smile held so much warmth, so much kindness, every little ounce of hope she needed in one look. Her heart wasn't in as much pain, as the fire that was fear calmed and replaced with the usual flame that gave her that hell of a stage name. She smiled back, sitting up and retracting her face from Duck's hands, wiping her eyes and cheeks with the back of her hand.

"Okay..."

She'd start, letting out a pathetic laugh, one that dripped in obvious sadness that couldn't help but linger.

"You're right... for once, I believe you."

She joked, poking at the fact that most often he just wasn't that great with words. But lucky for her, this happened to be right up his alley, so he simply knew exactly what to say.

Duck snorted some at her words and reached up to ruffle her hair. Reluctantly, she let him, and would roll her eyes as she continued to rid them of tears.

"Thanks, Duck."

He smiled,

"Any time. Now go get yourself something good to drink, so you ain't dehydrated."

It was beyond her, as she watched as Duck tipped his hat to her once again as he stood from where he sat, bringing an end to this conversation. It seemed that he wouldn't let it go on anyway till she had done what he said. But still, it was beyond her how he could be so ... brotherly yet...

Thinking about it, the words didn't seem to come to her. Her eyes softened and, along with it, so did her features. She couldn't believe she really had an older brother, she just had to look in the right places.

#the adventure zone amnesty #Taz #taz amnesty #the adventure zone #the adventure zone fanfic #duck newton #aubrey little #ned chicane #jake coolice #Barclay taz #Mama taz #my fic #fic rec #taz fic #fic request #hurt to comfort

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