#task force x-sona

[jesncin]

Did Ma'al ever join the Justice League or is he just messing around?

Maybe he just... Joined Task Force X while hiding he was a martian in order to find a certain big, hot shark boi, only to then spit the bomb and get the hell out of there?

Ma'al is an extremely reserved League member. He'll help if he's needed, but would prefer to live an average human life. I imagine over some arcs he does take over as the Martian Manhunter in the League for a while.

adfasf we've joked about Ma'al joining Task Force X on an undercover mission but I love your take that he'd hide that he was a martian haha brilliant

[ivyprism]

Masterlist 23

Suggestive? Kind of? *

Character and AU Information:

Angels Fall Dreamtale Gods Facts (Info)

Tails (My Skeleton Boys)

Skeleton Boys and Skelesonas: Relationship (Summaries)

Sona and Skeletons: Relationship (Summaries)

Spruce Farmfell: Singer

Dating Sim MCs: OCs (Info Dump)

Diletta: Canon Fight Winner (Dating Sim AU)

The Flirtiest Sona (Marguerite)

Names (Angel and Datura)

Names (Lycoris)

New Description (Old AU: Swap Papyrus and Fell Papyrus)

My Old Rewritten Swapfell and Fellswap AU: Skeleton Boys (Info Dump)

My Old AU Rewritten: Horrortale Skeleton Boys (Info Dump)

Farmhorrotale Skeleton Boys (Info Dump)

The Tragedies of my Old AUs: The Others (Info)

My Old AU Theme Songs (Info Dump)

Farmswapfell Amethyst and Farmfellswap Carnelian Skeleton Boys (Info Dump)

Farmhorrorfell and Farmhorrorswap Skeleton Boys (Info Dump)

Farmhorrortale, Farmhorrorswap, and Farmhorrorfell Sonas (Info Dump)

The Villains and Heroes: Dreamtale Skeleton Boys (Info Dump)

Timekeeper Shapeshifter OC (Info Dump)

The Timekeeper's Domain and the Forsaken Forest (Angels Fall Info Dump)

Timekeeper Shapeshifter OCs (Info Dump)

The Ages: Deities of Time and Timekeepers

Heights Part 12 (The Cursed Trio)

Additional Sona Appearance Facts!

My Old AU Sonas: Rewritten and New (Info Dump)

Ink Fellswap Papyrus, Ink Swapfell Papyrus, Error Swap Papyrus, and Error Fell Papyrus (Info Dump)

Tenebrous and Luminus AU: Personas (Info Dump)

Seers (Worldbuilding)

Dreamtale Ivy and Ink Hydrangea (Info Dump)

Equinox AU: Skeleton Boys (Info Dump)

Fun Fact (Luminus, Tenebrous, and Equinox AU)

Tenebrous and Luminus AU: Skelesonas (Revamp Info Dump)

OG Skelesonas: Revamped (Info Dump)

Cursed Skelesona (Info Dump)

Fun Fact (Dreamtale/Swap Fun Fact)

Dreamtale Playlists

Dream Walker Personas (Info Dump)

Dreamfell: Skeleton Boys (Info Dump)

The Masked Shadow and the Lost Spirit (Info Dump)

The Veiled Guardian and the Flowery Weapon: Sonas (Info Dump)

Stories Written:

The Deep Galaxy and the Deep Sea (Archemoros x Boronia)

When Deities at War... (Archemoros x Boronia)

I Hate You (Swapfell Amethyst Sona Backstory)

Bad Apple (Idea Thingy)

Keep Your Friends Close (Lyric Thingy Short)

In Need of a Little Comfort (Ivy x Honeycomb) // vent-ish

Undertale Underverse Opening: Creator Rambles

Tusche and Lenovo (Info Dump: Backstory)

The Cursed Beings: Manticore (Elpis x Reader)

The Cursed Beings: Mantidrake (Benoit x Reader)

The Cursed Beings: the Negativity Dragon (Verbena x Dusk)

More Than Anything (Lyric Thingy)

I Was Wrong (Verbena Story)

Colors (Edit Audio Thingy: Syrup and Honeycomb)

Colors (Edit Audio Thingy: Marguerite and Ivy)

When There are Clouds, there is Rain (Backstory: Old AU Tale Papyrus)

A Brother's Regret (Tenebrous Backstory)

It's a Curse to be a Seer (Tenebrous Sona Backstory)

A Force to be Reckoned With (Fallen Humans: Underfell)

The First Time I Died (Tenebrous AU: Hepatica x Morte?)

Everything Will Be Okay (Backstory Dreamtale: Dusk x Rivea)

The Second Time I Died (Tenebrous AU: Hepatica x Morte?)

Just a Man (Quote Thingy)

Congrats, Kioko!!! (Hound x Reader)

The God and the Mortal (Archemoros x Reader)

Who's a Heretic Now? (Lyric Thing)

A Dance with Death (Dusk x Reader)

Weapon Matchup (Neilles)

Asks:

Romance Headcanons (Dating Sim Love Interests)

Pranks (Dating Sim AU: Maple)

Out of their AUs? Why? What's their Goal? (Old AUs: Rewritten)

Rain, bby, where are you? (Old AU: Tale Papyrus)

The Outcodes and their Roles (Outcode AUs)

Did They Escape? (Old AUs Rewritten: Horrortale AU)

Wood (Farmhorrortale Papyrus)

No resets? (My Old AU Rewritten: Hrorortale AU)

What did Toxin Do? (My Old AUs Rewritten)

Farm Stuff (Farm AUS)

Least Favorite Chore/Task (Farm AUs)

The Story (The Displaced Protagonist and the Villainess AU)

The Lovers Cavern Gems (Worldbuilding)

The Lovers Cavern Lore (Worldbuilding)

The Moonlight Forest: Flashlights, weapons, and AU Shenanigans (Worldbuilding)

The Field of Flowers: How did the Rumors Start (Worldbuilding)

The Lake of Memories: How it works (Worldbuilding)

Angels and Demons: What are they and what do they do? (Worldbuilding Angels Fall AU)

The Underswap Variants (Multi AU)

Envy? (Honeycomb and Syrup)

Romance Headcanons (The Old AU Papyri)

What's their Origin? How did they end up as they are? (Many Ink and Error AUs)

Narava-duša-duša ženska in the World (Worldbuilding)

Tenebrous and Luminus (Worldbuilding)

Did Hepatica feel herself die? Do all seers see themselves die? Do they all feel themselves die? (Worldbuilding + Tenebrous Ivy)

Old AU Papyri: Jealous (Multiple Papyri)

Jealousy? (Main Six of Papyri)

Freetime (Nightmare Sanses)

Pets (Dreamfell Nightmare Sans)

Pranks (Dreamfell Nightmare Sans)

[zprites]

Do You Ever Really Know? - Chapter 1

Finally posting my Spot x Fem!Spider-sona fic. First Chapter is up :)

Summary: After deciding to find a way to reverse the effects of the collider explosion, Jonathan Ohnn (now going by 'The Spot') had set out to find a dimension where there was no Spider-Person. However his plans get foiled almost immediately by someone who shouldn't even exist in that universe. Who was this 'Spider Lily', and why did she want to help him? And why can't he get her out of his head?

Only warnings are eventual smut in the final chapter and brief mentions of death and a destruction of a universe. Also fair warning, these two flirt, A LOT.

Enjoy!

Next Chapter

Also available on Ao3

Chapter 1 - Renaissance

Jonathan Ohnn had no idea crime could be this easy.

He looked behind him for any sight of a web-slinging crusader as he rounded yet another corner, traveling deeper into the alleyway. The hefty bag of money he had slung over his shoulder did nothing to slow him down as he heard the police sirens grow fainter and fainter with each step he took. 

Who knew that simply finding a universe where there was no Spider-Person was the answer to his problems. It helped that this universe’s police department was more inept than the ones back on Earth-1610 as well.

All he needed to do was a few more bank robberies, maybe break into that fancy electronics store off of 57th to make his life easier. After all, building a machine that could reverse the effects that the Alchemax collider explosion caused was no small task. No, he needed top of the line electrical components and a lot of materials, that meant money, money he didn't have.

For now, at least. Soon he’d have enough to build his machine and he can turn himself back to normal. 

But first he needed to find a safe space to stash this money, start plotting his next bank heist, and figure out why he was suddenly feet off the ground. 

Wait, what…?

Before he could comprehend what was happening he was yanked upwards by an unseeable force. He cried out as bricks and windows zipped by until he was unceremoniously dropped onto a rooftop, landing with an ‘Oof!’ on his ass. Grumbling, he moved to stand but a hand on his shoulder pushed him back down onto the asphalt. 

“Easy there, handsome.”

He was immediately aware of several things at once. 

First, that the hand on his shoulder, although slender, carried a strength that set off multiple alarm bells that blared in his skull. 

Second, during all the commotion, a familiar web-like material had landed across his thighs, further keeping him in place. 

And the most concerning; the voice he heard hadn’t originated from someone’s mouth… 

No, the voice, female if he wasn’t mistaken, came from inside his own head. 

And called him handsome…

"You know, robbery is considered a felony in the state of New York." The voice took on a teasing tone as the owner moved into his line of vision. "While you do look hot as hell in white and black, I think the stripes would clash with your spots.”

He took her in as she stood before him. If the webbing wasn't enough of a dead giveaway as to who she was, then the sight of her spandex suit and mask confirmed it for him. 

She was a Spider-Person, definitely not one he'd seen before though. Granted he'd only seen two in his life: Peter Parker who died by Fisk's hands during the final collider test, and the kid who was bitten by the spider from Earth-42 that he inadvertently sent over. That was why he came to Earth-9210, because that kid kept getting in his way, always a step ahead as Jonathan struggled to rob even a simple ATM machine. 

But the Spider-Man of this world died approximately three years ago.

So why was there a Spider-Woman in front of him now? And why was he able to hear her in his head?

He realized she was waiting for some type of response, body lax while she stared at him expectantly, so he blurted out the first thing that came to his mind.

"You think I'm handsome?"

The lenses of her mask crinkled in amusement as she giggled out loud. Her laughter was soft and alluring, almost ethereal, and reminded him of a gentle breeze in a field of wildflowers. 

He wished he could listen to her laugh forever; to have it play on a never-ending loop, keeping him company on even the darkest of days. 

"I am many things, but blind isn't one of them." 

"And is one of those things a telepath or am I beginning to go crazy?"

Another chuckle, which had him melting. 

"Damn, handsome and smart? You really are a package deal." 

Oh, her continued flirtatious remarks were beginning to have an effect on him, if his rapidly beating heart and the butterflies that were slowly trickling into his stomach were anything to go by. He didn't know why he was suddenly acting like some lovestruck teenager over a Spider-Person of all people.

He did know, he just didn't want to admit it…

"You're correct though." She continued. "I am a telepath but don't worry, it only works one way so I'm not able to hear your thoughts or anything."

Shit, the thought hadn’t even crossed his mind. However, it was nice to know that the numerous thoughts swimming in his head, some of them not very appropriate as he focused on the part of her suit that stretched over her ample thighs, were still safe with him. 

He watched as she made a move for the bag of money that he had unknowingly forgotten about, taking the time to fully commit every curve of her body to memory. 

Her suit was simple. A solid light gray mask with deep red emotive rims surrounding the black lenses kept her real identity hidden. The suit was also light gray while the same deep red shifted into a golden orange along her arms and legs, the bright colors decorated with a black web design that was common amongst Spider-People. A pair of black fingerless gloves and black combat boots that stopped at her mid-calf completed the look of the superhero before him.

While plain, it left little to the imagination. Large breasts that he remembered jiggled just a tad when she laughed, a slight softness to her belly which attributed to the fullness of her hips and love handles that he wanted to feel under his hands so badly. She turned her back to him, giving him a full view of the black geometric spider logo that he didn't see before. His eyes traced the path of the lower spider legs which stopped just above the small of her back before wandering to the roundness of her bottom, all the way down to her thick thighs and sculpted calves.

When did he turn into such a pervert?

A few minutes ago he supposed, or maybe he'd always been one and never realized until now.

"So, why is a good-looking guy such as yourself robbing banks?" She questioned as she picked up the bag, pulling him out of his trance. 

“Ah well... It's kind of a long story.” He answered with a hint of sheepishness, already assuming that she would be uninterested in hearing his story.

“If you give me a minute to return this, you can tell me all about it.” 

Shocked at her response he gawked at her, searching her face for any evidence of dishonesty. He found none. 

“You want to know more about me?” He spoke evenly and almost uncertainly, afraid that he had misheard her.

The bag of money was slung over her shoulder. “Of course! One thing you'll learn about me dear, is that I mean what I say.”

She shot him a wink before she walked over to the edge of the rooftop. “Don't get into too much trouble while I'm gone.”

Before he could formulate a retort she was already leaping into the air, shooting out a web and swinging off in the direction of the bank, leaving him alone with his thoughts. 

Jonathan sat there, still reeling from the emotions that coursed through him. He wasn't used to feeling so much at once, yet in just a matter of a few minutes he experienced panic, confusion, and nervousness. To top it all off he had become utterly enraptured by the Spider-Woman of this world. 

It had been so long since he harbored any romantic, let alone sexual, feelings towards anyone that he had forgotten he was capable of it. Hell, the last person he had a crush on was his physics lab partner, Liz, during his sophomore year of college, but nothing came of it. 

He was too hesitant to confess back then, 'what ifs' plaguing his already anxiety-ridden brain at every moment until the semester was finished and she moved back home. That had been thirteen years ago. In that time he was so focused on his academics and career at Alchemax to even bother with dating, then the collider exploded and well...

There was no way that someone could fall for him when he looked like this. 

Yet...

No, that was just wishful thinking. Harmless flirting that held no real weight, that’s all it was… A lot of harmless flirting.

So much, in fact, that it left him wondering about the 'what ifs'. What if she was truly being honest and meant every word, every compliment she had given him? What if they got to know each other and she took him as he currently was, spots and all? What if he took her out on dates and decided he wanted her to himself after she laughed at all his jokes? What if they fell in love and he woke up beside her every morning, laying in his arms with a content smile on her face?

Even though there was a small possibility that he was reading too much into it, he accepted the fact that he wanted all of that and more. Anything she'd be willing to give, he would gladly receive and return twofold. 

Shit, he was in trouble…

A blur of gray and red swung into view before she landed in front of him with a soft thud.

"Now that that's taken care of, what say I get that webbing off you?”

Oh, that's right. He couldn't stand; not that he wanted to since he was already weak in the knees from her advances even in his current sitting position, but because of the webbing still sprawled across his thighs. 

“What makes you think I can't get out of it myself?” He found himself asking her. 

Even with the mask on he could make out the broad smile that decorated her lips. “I'm sure you're more than capable of doing a lot of things.”

Her voice was sultry, the hidden innuendo laced in her honey-dripped words not lost on him. A small part in the back of his mind wanted to show her exactly what he was capable of despite his lack of experience, but that did nothing to deter him from the desire pooling in his stomach. 

After all, he always learned best through trial and error and the list of things he wanted to participate in with the woman before him only grew by the second.

And he had a feeling that she wouldn’t mind guiding him though it all.

“Maybe I could show you sometime — My skills, that is... Only if you want to though...”

She regarded him silently for a beat as he began fiddling with his fingers. He could swear that her gaze followed the movements of his long, dexterous digits but it was hard to tell through the darkness of her lenses.

A huff of amusement escaped her throat. “Careful, I might just take you up on that offer.”

God, he hoped she would. 

She walked towards him and crouched down to his eye level. 

“Promise you'll be good for me?”

His breath hitched as he felt the spot on his face shift and expand across his heated cheekbones. A million scenarios played through his head — the majority of them involving him tied up in her webs in various positions while she brought him to the edge of pleasure multiple times, turning him into an incoherent mess, desperately pleading for release through husky declarations of 'I'll be good, I'll be your good boy'.

He forced himself to push those fantasies aside for later and tried to form some level of an intelligible response, but quickly realized he was unable to do so. Instead, he nodded fervently, practically giving himself whiplash in the process.

With quick precision, she ripped at the webbing that held him in place. He could have sworn he felt her fingers brush lightly against his thigh as she properly freed him from his confines. 

“Ah, thank you.” 

“Anytime.”

One simple word that carried so much weight.

He crossed his legs and settled into a more comfortable position as she sat down beside him, knee only a few inches from his own. 

“Now, I believe you were going to tell me your story.”

A small seed of doubt was still planted in his mind. “You were serious about that?”

“Of course. Like I said hun, I mean what I say.” She reassured him with a gentle tone. “You have my undivided attention.”

What little apprehension he felt melted away. Since the accident, people tended to avoid him, taking one look at his pale white skin adorned with many black spots and giving him a wide berth. Even the people who once cared about him casted him aside for his unnatural appearance. 

Yet here this woman was, changing all of that and making him feel... Like...

He was normal...

She treated him like a normal person.

And that was something Jonathan appreciated deeply. 

"I was a scientist at Alchemax, a research facility that was employed to create a device that could bridge the gap between dimensions…"

Jonathan told her everything: his involvement in the project, the series of events which led to his current condition, his plan to build a similar machine to change him back, the way he used his newfound abilities to travel to this universe. 

Throughout his retelling she remained silent besides the occasional question, nodding intermittently to show that she was listening. He didn't fail to notice the way her expression changed to one of concern when he spoke of Peter Parker's death and the bitterness he still held towards the new Spider-Man of his dimension. It's not that he blamed the kid. He knew that it wasn't his fault. However that didn't mean he wasn't upset with his current situation, and the kid did nothing but exacerbate his problems. 

He just wished he had evacuated like the rest of his coworkers instead of following Olivia's orders to make sure nothing happened to the vial of dark matter used to power the Super-Collider.

However there was nothing he could do about that now except fix the mess he got himself into. 

“...And so here I am.” 

“That's one hell of a story.” She mused. “It definitely explains a lot of things, like why you have so many spots.”

He rubbed the back of his neck. “Yeah, I know my appearance is a little off-putting...”

“Not to me.” One of her hands came to rest on his knee. “I think you look beautiful. Your spots remind of those rorschach paintings, abstract yet each blot can be interpreted in many ways.”

Heat crept up his neck as he considered her words. The scientist in him had been slowly formulating a hypothesis since she first called him 'handsome', and he was finally ready to test it. 

“Humor me then — what do you see when you look at the spot on my face?”

She hummed out loud before leaning in, taking the time to examine him closely.

There was no way she was seriously entertaining this, yet even through the mask, he could feel the weight of her gaze fixated on the inky, floating spot that sat on his face. 

What felt like several hours passed, though in reality, it was probably only a minute. His nerves started to get the better of him as he became acutely aware that the hand on his knee had moved upwards and was now resting on his thigh. It was growing increasingly harder for him to breathe, not just because of his lack of nose or mouth, but because her fingers were dangerously close to the edge of one of his holes, almost touching a part of himself that he still struggled to accept.

He let out a nervous chuckle and looked away from her. “Nevermind, forget I said anything.”

“Hold on—”

“It was silly and—”

Warm hands came to cup both of his cheeks, gently turning his head back to her. She was on her knees in front of him now, sitting on her calves so that she wouldn't topple onto him. 

“I wasn't done looking.”

His heart hammered in his chest as he allowed her to continue searching the vantablack spot for something he was certain wasn't there. If it wasn't for the tension permeating the air between them, he would have thought she was pulling his leg. Instead he could feel the genuine contemplation that rolled off of her in waves, making him feel vulnerable under her stare, like she was able to see the deepest facets of his soul.

“I see a man who is intelligent and humble. Someone who is understanding and mature to a fault. Even though I caught you in the middle of robbing a bank, I can tell that deep down you're not really a bad guy.”

He didn't quite understand why her words were affecting him so intensely until it dawned on him. 

She was speaking out loud.

“I know it sounds crazy since we just met but I feel drawn to you, like there's some kind of magnetic force pulling me towards you and I think you feel it too. Earlier, when you were talking about the Super-Collider, I didn't want you to stop. There was this deep, innate need to know you better and it's still there. I want to know what makes you smile, your favorite movies, how you take your coffee, your most cherished memories, even the parts of yourself that you think aren't good enough for others to know. I want to know everything about you, spots and all...”

The spot on his face widened in shock at her confession. She was right though, he also felt that force pulling him towards her, like gravity. Maybe there was a chance...

He was unable to find the words to properly convey the plethora of emotions that coursed through him, fully intent on admitting that he wanted the same, to know her completely. 

Unfortunately, his brain clearly didn't get the memo. 

“You could speak this whole time?”

Embarrassment gripped his body as he mentally chastised himself. Of all the things he could have said, that was what came out?

He wanted to open up a portal beneath him so he could teleport away in shame, however he stopped himself from doing so once he heard her laughing out loud.

“Sorry.” She took the time to move her thumbs lightly across his cheeks in a back and forth motion before letting go of his face. “I wasn't trying to be misleading in any way. It's just easier for me to use my powers to communicate, especially when I'm having a low spoons day or meeting new people.”

He was already missing the warmth of her touch, wanting nothing more than to be wrapped up in her embrace. 

“No need to apologize, I understand.”

“I—”

A series of beeps cut her off before she could get another word out. “Oop, hold on.”

She fiddled with her tech-gauntlet, a small silver and black band that he hadn’t noticed before, and let out a sigh as she took in the words displayed on the small, orange holographic screen. “Shit. Sorry to ruin this wholesome moment, but I'm needed elsewhere.”

Despite her hole pun sparking a hint of joy in him, Jonathan’s heart sank at the idea of her leaving. He knew it was foolish though. She was a superhero who had more important matters to take care of. She had no time to appease his selfish wishes.

That didn't mean he could will them away with a simple command. He didn't want her to leave, plain and simple. 

She stood up and sent off a quick message on her device before observing him with an almost critical eye. “But first I need to figure out what to do with you.”

Anything. She could do anything and he would thank her until his dying breath.

“Because technically I'm supposed to report you in, especially with the types of powers you have…”

Except that. 

He didn't know what kind of report it would be, or what it would entail, but he wasn't very keen on finding out. 

Scrambling to his feet, he held his hands up defensively. “Please don't, there's no need for that. I— I'm just a guy, no real danger here. I would never hurt anyone! In fact, one time I accidentally killed a housefly and I cried for a solid hour and I don't know why I'm telling you this but it's true. I promise I'll—”

“Woah, chill.” She interjected, voice hushed in an effort to calm him. “I said I'm supposed to, but I won't, okay?”

“Why not...?” He asked gingerly as he felt the spot on his face contract. 

“Well believe it or not, I do like you.” 

Oh...

Oh...

“Plus, Miguel is an asshole and I'd rather drink bleach than deal with him in any capacity.”

He didn't know who this 'Miguel' guy was but if she said he was an asshole, then he'd take her word for it. 

“Thank you.”

She smiled under her mask. “Of course, but you have to promise me no more crime.”

“I promise.” He placed a hand on his chest. 

Closing the distance between them, she held out her pinky finger to him. He was immediately distracted by how short she was compared to him. She had to be a foot shorter than him, something that he found adorable. Jonathan stared down at her pinky finger for a few seconds until he understood what she wanted from him, interlocking his pinky with hers, finding the gesture endearing yet oddly familiar. 

“There.” She said with an air of finality. “A pinky promise is legally binding, so no take-backs.”

“Wouldn't dream of it.”

Another string of beeps sounded from her tech-gauntlet and she cursed out loud. 

“Well, duty calls.” Bit by bit she dragged her pinky against his until their fingertips became the only point of contact. There was a moment of hesitation, an urge to just remain, but it passed all too soon as their fingertips glided apart.

She strode over to the edge of the rooftop, sparing him one last glance over her shoulder. 

“I’ll see you around, sweetheart.”

And with that she was gone, leaping off the building and throwing out a web, using the momentum to swing through the air with practiced ease. He kept his gaze trained on her retreating form until she disappeared around a building.

While he already missed her presence, Jonathan tried not to let that bother him. Besides, he had a feeling he would be seeing her again real soon.

[rosymiz]

Like A Rose, CH 9: Capital City

Title: Like A Rose By: ArisuChanSenpai (Visit my blog for AO3 link!) Fandom: League of Legends Ship: Jhin x Sona

The hustle and bustle of the city began to subside as the moon grew brighter in the sky. Stars dimly twinkled like a candlelight seen from a window. Among the people who were heading home, Sona walked towards the gate with a shawl around her shoulders and a hat on her head. She kept her hair loose, letting it flow through the wind with each step. It wasn’t the best disguise, but people seemed to care more about going home.

She stepped out of the city gates, clutching her shawl closer to her. The guards nodded their heads to her in acknowledgement. Without her etwahl, she stood out less to others. It was perfect for keeping a low profile when she had to leave for a short amount of time.

By the roadside stood a horse carriage with the coachman feeding his horses their dinner. Jhin stood by the bottom of the steps, waiting for Sona. He spotted her shadow and smiled as he looked up.

Sona descended the stairs to Jhin. “I didn’t think you’d leave so soon,” she signed. “The innkeeper herself approached me to give me your message.”

“That’s because I requested her to. I didn’t want to entrust it to anyone else.” Jhin brushed his fingers against her cool cheek. “I believe it might be better to arrive to the capital first to take care of my disguises.” He tapped his chin. “Are you sure in putting me in charge of the costumes?”

She nodded firmly. “I trust your judgement. You are an artist, after all.”

Jhin made a sound similar to a snort. “You have good taste,” he said, earning a haughty smile from Sona. The two fell silent, listening to the crickets and the evening breeze. “Will you be telling your mother?”

Leaning her head against Jhin’s shoulder, Sona continued to gaze out into the horizon. “I’ll have to. But we’ll have to talk about you more in private.” She let out a deep sigh. “I know mother won’t react well…”

“My past isn’t favorable, no matter how you look at it,” he said. “I’ve already accepted that I wouldn’t be regarded in a good manner. All I can do is hope.”

“Mother may be a noble of Demacia, but she is reasonable to an empathetic extent. I can try to reason with her, but that’s the best I could probably do.”

His hand found the top of Sona’s hat as he slightly tilted it back to plant a kiss on her forehead. “If she refuses, I shall accept her decision. But my heart will still continue to yearn for you.” He noticed the coachman getting ready to begin their trip to the capital. “It seems I must go.” He turned around to face Sona, taking her hand in his. He kissed the back of her hand before climbing inside the carriage. “I will wait for you there.”

“Be safe,” she worriedly signed.

“Of course.” Jhin then closed the door and notified the coachman to leave whenever he was ready. The carriage started to move, its wheels rolling over the dirt and rocks as the horses began walking.

Sona waved to Jhin as he left, watching until the carriage was out of sight. She headed back inside the city to the inn, walking closer to the walls on the way.

Lestara and Sona woke before sunrise and headed out the gates for their trip to the capital city. Her mother wanted to arrive to the capital before nightfall to make Shen’s tasks easier, despite his insistence on arriving at their convenience. A large carriage came directly from the capital, on Shen’s request, to hold Sona’s etwahl inside comfortably. Once everything was inside, they were on their way.

Mountainous landscapes and green forests passed by as the carriage continued on the road. Ionia was a land of lush nature that invoked awe and wonder from anyone who laid their eyes on it. It teemed with a natural magic that coursed through Sona’s body like a river.

“No matter how many times I come here, Ionia never fails to amaze me with how beautiful it is,” Lestara commented.

“This land gets more stunning every time, doesn’t it? I marvel at how much nature can grow here.”

A few moments of silence passed as they enjoyed the view. Lestara then spoke up, “Sona, dear, I have something to ask you.” Sona turned her attention to her mother, looking at her questioningly. “Your choreography seemed to have changed when you showed me the other night, and I thought it a little strange. It felt like you were dancing with someone.”

Sona felt her mouth turn dry.

“Will you… be dancing with someone at the performance?”

How could she keep lying to her beloved mother? She just couldn’t any longer. A little hesitant, but she nodded. “I… have been practicing a choreography with someone, yes. I have also requested him to dance with me for the finale. He’s the one who’s been helping me think of a dance.”

Lestara leaned slightly closer in interest. “Is that so? Who is this man?”

Calm down. It’s okay. “He is someone I’ve been meeting at the grove since the concert.”

“Since the concert? Were you safe? Is he dangerous?”

He used to be. “He’s not dangerous. He’s someone I’ve heard about a few times, though I never met him until then.”

“Do you know what he does for a living?”

He killed. “He works for the council. Running errands for them.”

Her mother was nodding slowly as she processed the information. She looked at Sona with a knowing smile that meant no harm. “Who is he to you, dear? I would like to know, if that’s fine with you.”

Memories of her time in the grove with Jhin flashed before Sona’s eyes. “He is an artist who excels in so many fields like acting, calligraphy, poetry, and dancing. He is such a caring man underneath his polite demeanor. I’ve seen sides of him that I discovered through my music. We became closer as friends, and… but…” She pursed her lips, swallowing the lump in her throat. “I’m in love with him, mother.”

“Does he love you too?”

“He does.”

Lestara gave Sona’s cupped hands a gentle squeeze. “Sona, do not be afraid of your feelings. Do not be afraid to tell me how you feel. I will not get angry at you for falling in love. I’m happy you’ve finally told me what was on your mind.” She embraced her, stroking her fingers through her hair. “I will be honest. You had such a lovestruck expression on your face a few days ago, but I couldn’t bring myself to ask. I felt you weren’t ready to tell me.”

She still wasn’t. At least, not about what Jhin used to do. “I apologize, mother.”

“Why apologize for your feelings? I was willing to wait until you were ready.” Lestara gave Sona’s head a pat. “So, will I be able to meet him at the capital?”

Sona nodded. “We have something to discuss with you when the time comes.” This time, she gave her mother’s hands a squeeze. “Will you wait for us until we’re ready, mother?”

“Whenever you’re ready, Sona. Whenever you’re both ready.” She then gave Sona a teasing smile. “But just because I heard it from you doesn’t mean you’re off the hook yet, dear. I need to see for myself how he treats you. I am not letting my daughter see a man who treats her worse than I do, and I am the best mother there is.”

Sona let out a breath that sounded like a burst of laughter. “You are the best mother there is.”

The sun was barely beginning to set when Sona and Lestara arrived to the capital. The carriage was indeed of high caliber, arriving to the capital in less than half a day while keeping the ride smooth. Shen was waiting by the front steps, waving the carriage over to him and opening the door for them.

“Lady Buvelle, Lady Sona, I hope the ride wasn’t very tiring for you.” He took Lestara’s hand and guided her down the carriage and did the same for Sona also. “It’s been a while. You have been well, Lady Sona?”

Sona signed a ‘yes’. “Thank you for sponsoring me for this concert, Shen. It is an honor.”

“I’m sure your mother has told you, but the capital has been restless as of recent. I believe it’s my duty to calm the troubled hearts of this city.” He held Sona and Lestara’s bags as they carefully took her etwahl out of the carriage. “I have already arranged the lodging for your visit, as I stated in my message, so please free to stay as long as you’d like.”

“Thank you for your assistance, Shen. We appreciate your efforts to make our visit comfortable.”

Shen slightly bowed his head. “You’re very welcome. Let us get going. I’m sure you would like to rest.” He lead the two through the gates and discreetly escorted them to an inn near the city square without catching anyone’s attention. Once they were checked in, he stayed by the door to drop off their bags. “Please send me a message through the innkeeper whenever you’re ready to see the venue. It’s already been set up for you to rehearse. My associate also took measures to prevent any spectators from peeking in.”

Sona smiled. “Thank you very much. I shall let you know when I am ready to go.” She then stopped Shen before he left. “Actually, I must tell you an extra detail of the concert. I will be having a dancer on the stage for the finale. Will that be an inconvenience?”

“From what I know, it shouldn’t be a problem. I will let my associate know that another person will be coming in for rehearsals.”

“Who is your associate?”

Something seemed disturbed within Shen as he spoke. “He’s someone I’ve known for a long time.” He tried to keep a controlled voice. “His name is Zed.”

Sona’s stomach dropped at the name. Zed. Another man that Jhin wanted to kill other than Shen. Shen and Zed. The only specific people Jhin mentioned that he used to want to kill. She didn’t know if this was some sort of sign. Some sort of sign of impending doom. She forced a smile and a nod of acknowledgement. “I will let the dancer know. Thank you.”

“I will be on my way.” Shen disappeared down the hall and left them to their room.

“Are you okay, dear? You’re looking pale…” Lestara touched the back of her hand to Sona’s forehead. “Not a fever, at least.”

“I’m fine.” Sona wordlessly resumed unpacking her bag, a dull panic in the back of her mind.

  Once Sona unpacked the necessities, she left the inn to wander around the streets in disguise again. She kept a violet shawl around her shoulders and tied her hair in a low ponytail to stand out less to the crowds of people walking by her. She kept a sunhat on to hide her aqua hair and face. She wondered if Jhin had already found an inn and was looking for costumes.

After wandering around the arts district, she spotted a familiar face by a mask stand. She found herself staring at the man inside. Her eyes narrowed in suspicion. Was that Jhin? He looked… different. He looked slightly younger than he used to. The man suddenly looked up at her.

Sona winced and immediately pulled the brim of her hat down to her face. She tried to sneak another glance at the man, hoping that he brushed it off. But he was staring at her. Her face flushed red in embarrassment. What if that wasn’t Jhin?! She was so preoccupied with her thoughts that she didn’t see the man approach her.

“Excuse me, miss? But is there something that caught your eye?” he said in a quiet voice.

Her head perked up and looked into the deep blue eyes she knew. She shot him a questioning look. Was it really Jhin? For a moment, the man’s face quickly reverted back to the face she was familiar with. Her face deadpanned as she lightly slapped the side of his arm. “You ass, you scared me.”

Jhin chuckled in amusement. “That’s the perks of being an actor. I get to look a little different with some change in facial muscles.” He chuckled again when Sona playfully slapped his arm again. “Glad you made it safely. Have you settled in yet?”

“I did. I was just sightseeing before I went to rehearsal. I wanted to try finding you too, of course.”

He smiled. “I want your opinion on something.” He took Sona’s hand and went back to the stand, where a line of masks were neatly displayed on a wall. “I've been thinking of what mask I can wear for the finale, and I can’t seem to decide between these two.”

One mask was a black color but with white and red streaks around the face, and the surface was smooth with barely the form of a face. Gold accents dotted the red streaks and the eyes. There was no form or painting of lips on the mask, as if the mask was meant to silence the dancer. It was an elegant mask that covered the face except for the eyes and the nostrils for breathing.

The other mask, an ivory white color like his old one, covered the top of the head and had more details with red horns protruding out of the forehead. A golden color lined the top of the eyes and extended into a point at the horns, while red lined the bottom to a shorter point near the corner. The sides of the mask were carved like an animal’s skull to resemble a jaw.

Sona studied the masks carefully, taking each design into mind. “What made you choose these, if I may ask?”

Jhin picked up the mask with horns and followed the design of the jaw with his finger. “Your song sounded like a story, a folktale. A story in which the protagonist follows a path and goes on a journey in search of something.” He set it down and picked the other one up. “I wanted to interpret it as the protagonist looking for hope, a light to give them the warmth they seek.”

Discreetly, Sona planted a kiss on Jhin’s bare shoulder, disguising it as leaning her head on him. It earned her a gentle peck on her head. “I like the first one, according to your interpretation. I think their search for hope would look more apparent through the colors of this mask.”

“In that case, I suppose I’ll take that one.”

She huffed a giggle. “No second thoughts?”

“It’s your song. Therefore, I shall follow your judgement.”

Her lips curled into a smile against his shoulder. She waited where she stood as Jhin went to purchase the mask. In curiosity, she picked up a mask similar to Jhin’s but with a white base instead of black. She held it to her face to hide her pleading expression behind it.

Please, oh please, her heart begged the gods. Just for tonight. Please let nothing bad happen tonight.