#team as a family | Explore Tumblr posts and blogs

theoneeyedgoldenwolf · 1 month ago

Text

Brothers not bound by blood

Whumptober 2024, number 13: Team As A Family

Inspiration:

Summary: One small question while fixing the Captain’s hair after a prank he had done leaves Time hurt. The answer he had sought for years wasn’t what he had waited for.

CW: Pranking, hurt feelings, cursing, literally stabbed to back, magic blockers, poisoning, arrows into bad guys, Wolfie attacking and mauling a bad guy, the Chain attacking and taking down the bad guys, near death situation, short bit of afterlife

Notion: - Time’s hair is much longer than in the comic for braiding reasons! =P Especially the hair at the back of his head since the bangs are perfect already. ;) - *facepalms* This didn’t feel whumpy enough and so I went and got Time literally stabbed to back. -.-‘ - Also, when the Chain was commenting on Time’s purring, I didn’t mean Legend to be the last one to talk. Sorry, Ledge, for the words I put you to say! XD So, this is one of my ideas how the Chain can stay together. =) I got two more ideas but those might take quite a while before getting written.

-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-

The day had been going well. Time had declined from the offers of practice while claiming that he wasn’t as fast as the others and laughing things off while claiming he just was too old. But, that didn’t mean he wouldn’t supervise things as Warriors had taken his place and put the boys through their moves.

The Chain had gathered together for meal and the Chain’s leader finally had a chance to talk with his older brother. Yet, as he approached the high ranked soldier, he couldn’t help but feel entirely mischievous. This whole situation reminded him of the past he had had with the other Link.

“Captain.” Time called while coming over. The younger male, whom over twenty years ago had been older than him by a decade or so, turned around to face him.

“Yeah?” Warriors called before bit gasping as the one eyed male placed his hand onto his hair. Yet, he couldn’t help but enjoy of the situation and how things had, in a way, changed between him and his brother.

“Thank you for training with the younger Heroes today.” Time told while honestly meaning his words.

The war hero grinned and chuckled. “I was glad to give these youths some guidance.” He replied warmly. It was always nice when the others actually listened and learned from each other. They all had lot of experience and knowledge when it came to fighting with different weapons but it all was different from each other. That made it unique and allowed new attacks and moves that the others had never even thought about.

Suddenly Time pulled off while looking disgusted. “Eugh…” He almost whined while trying to calm down.

Warriors freaked out entirely by that. “WHAT?!” He screamed out while grabbing his hair. “WHAT IS IT?!” He nearly screamed while already starting to go through his hair. That, along with his looks, his armor and, most of all, his scarf were always in tiptop condition. If SOMETHING was messing things up, he would NOT accept such!

“I’m serious, Old Man. WHAT IS IT?!” The Captain demanded while messing up his hair while trying to figure the situation out. “A spider?!” He queried in near panic before something far more horrifying struck his mind. “DID A KEESE POOP IN MY HAIR?!” He shrieked in disgust and terror.

Time tried to wave his hand in dismissing way. “No…. It’s nothing. I overreacted.” He claimed but his older brother didn’t see the mischievous and victorious grin on his face. He was chuckling almost evilly as he headed back to the camp.

Hyrule had the bad luck of having just come back from gathering some healing herbs from close by. He hadn’t seen his oldest brother’s look as Warriors already dashed to him and started to shake him. “RULIE! WHAT’S IN MY HAIR?! TELL ME!!!” The war Hero panicked while barely even giving the youngster a chance to check the situation.

The half-fairy’s reassurances weren’t enough to calm the Captain down. Time watched with a grin as his older brother went from one Link to another. Few, such as Sky and Twilight, actually checked his hair and tried to assure him of there being nothing out of ordinary. Others took the chance to mess with him and claimed all kinds of things. Especially Legend seemed to enjoy of the moment.

The Chain’s leader was actually bit surprised that Warriors didn’t realize the similarities between this situation and the dozens during the war. The one eyed male had been one hell of a gremlin back then as a ten year old kid. He had pulled this trick on him so many times that it was almost worryingly odd that the high ranked soldier hadn’t already realized to pick up on the telltale signs of the prank.

After the meal the war Hero was still wary of his hair and desperately trying to check it. The rest of the Chain had already settled for the evening and gotten off of their gears. Time just couldn’t take it anymore so he moved over to his older brother. “Sit down to the ground, Wars.” He half commanded and the Captain followed the request.

The one eyed male sat down onto the log behind the younger male and started to go through his hair. “I fooled you, you know.” He told and grinned a bit when the man below him went rigid. “Just like so many times during the war.” He continued and chuckled when Warriors whined and slumped. “There’s nothing wrong with your hair. And I’m already fixing the knots and whatnot you’ve created.”

The Captain huffed but he closed his eyes and just enjoyed of the situation. “No braids, little brother. You owe me that much at least.” He commented while knowing how eager Sprite had been to do such little things.

Time rolled his eye and shook his head. “Still don’t understand what you have against braids.” He playfully grumbled while working with harder knot with delicate and gentle actions.

“I’d rather not answer that one.” Warriors replied but he could notice that the others were curious for the answer too. The Chain’s leader didn’t pay attention into the curiosity of the others, especially of Hyrule, Wind and Wild.

“Hmm… Maybe I should do a braid just because of that answer.” The Old Man mused with a mischievous grin. He began to tug on the hair a bit while entirely faking like doing a braid in there.

“Please, don’t.” The war Hero begged while hiding his face into his hands.

“Oh, I know a better one.” The oldest Link nearly smirked. “How about I start to tickle you? I know all the places where I can turn you into giggling breathless mess.”

“Sprite!” The Captain exclaimed while feeling like wanting to pull away from the place. Yet, he needed someone to get his hair fixed. He ended up whining as Time laughed behind him.

“You either answer the question after all these years or I’ll pick one of the two ideas of mine.” The one eyed male told calmly while still working with the fixations.

“You don’t want to hear the answer.” Warriors warned bit sharply.

“I think I deserve the answer after all these years.” Time replied while wondering what could be such an answer that the other one didn’t want to give out.

“It’ll hurt and I don’t want to hurt you or anyone else.” The war Hero told bit unwillingly. He gulped as the hands in his hair stilled for a moment as his little brother thought the answer through.

“Just tell. I’m sure we’re all old enough to understand it’s just one opinion.” The Chain’s leader commented. Still, he couldn’t help but feel bit of dread about the situation. Yet, it had already gone too far to back away anymore.

Warriors debated for a moment longer before sighing heavily and slumping with his ears drooping. “It’s girly.” He finally whispered. He nearly flinched as the hands in his hair stopped moving again. He could easily feel the shock around the camp by his words.

Time gulped thickly while trying not to let the words hit him. “Well…” He started with strained voice before bit shrugging. He was fighting to stay calm and forced his bit shaking hands to continue to fix the Captain’s hair. “T-that’s just one opinion.” He continued and inwardly cursed at the slight tremble in his voice. “I like the braids. It reminds me of home and fairies. They’re affectionate beings and do braids all the time. Hyrule’s half-fairy so doing braids is kinda like in his blood. Wild likes them for their uniqueness and different way of keeping his long hair off the way. Wind’s curious and just wanting to learn new things.” He explained as carefully as he could while knowing he wasn’t in one piece anymore.

“Anyway, your hair’s fixed.” The Old Man stated out firmly while standing up. He patted his older brother’s shoulder. “I’ll head off to bed. Wake me up for the second shift, thanks.” He told while avoiding eye contact and heading off to his things.

“Sprite…” Warriors called while not really knowing what to say. “I… I’m sorry.” He half shouted after him but all he got was a dismissive wave of a hand. He looked around in near distraught. “Guys… I… I’m sorry….” He whispered without really knowing what else to say as he knew Time hadn’t been the only one he had hurt.

The war Hero glanced once at the bedrolls and almost flinched at the fact of Time having his back towards them and he could hazard a guess of him having curled up too. He wasn’t shaking but the Captain was certain he was crying. This wasn’t the first time he had caused this kind of hurt to his brother. The first time had been in the war when he had claimed to Sprite that Hylians don’t purr. That hurt and shock in the kids eyes had killed him but he couldn’t fix it back then and now he had hurt his little brother all over again.

The Captain gulped a bit as he noticed the glares the others were giving him. Twilight was trying to calm Wild down while whispering reassuring words. Wind was in Sky’s arms and Hyrule was being consoled by Legend and Four. The roughest glares came from the Veteran and Ranch Hand. The Chosen Hero just was disappointed and sorrowful. The Smithy was trying to figure the situation through and kept his gaze off of him.

“I’ll take the first shift.” Warriors whispered while keeping his gaze in the fire.

“Might not be a good idea. I doubt Time wants you to wake him up.” Twilight nearly snarled the words out.

“I’m taking the first shift. I have no intentions of waking Time up for any of the shifts.” The war Hero sated out as firmly as he could. “I need to think. I need to find a way to apologize to him and to each of you.” He told much softer. “I did warn but I didn’t mean this kind of hurt.”

“He’s going to be mad for not being awakened for his shift.” Four commented calmly. He wasn’t among those whom had taken the words roughly but he sure as hell didn’t like others hurting his brothers no matter whom they were.

“I can deal with the gremlin but not with the hurt.” The Captain replied bit roughly before already apologizing. He sighed heavily and slumped. “He can be mad at me all he wants but I want to fix this. I can’t take it when I see him or any of your hurt. I just…” He explained before trailing off with a heavy sigh.

“Why do you think braids are girly?” Sky queried while trying to get into the bottom of things instead of letting the situation harm everyone any of worse.

Warriors shrugged. “Everyone whom I’ve ever seen having braids during the war and after it were all women. Sprite had those but he was a kid and surrounded by the fairies. I didn’t think much about that.” He answered as calmly as he could.

The Chain nodded and Sky was ready to go even deeper into the conversation before Hyrule took the chance. His voice was quiet and he kept his gaze on the ground. “The braids aren’t just for girls. Not with fairies. Some braids mean leadership. Some stand for specific title and status. Each fairy has their own signature braid to tell them apart from the others. It’s a sign that this person was helped by them specifically. That they were there first. It’s a sign of gratitude and caring. It’s a mark of family in a way of saying I give you my braid and you give yours so we’re together now. The braids mean the world to fairies.”

That explanation left the whole Chain silent around him. It took a while before Sky spoke softly with a small fond smile. “Braids are fun to do. Sun loves them and I’m always trying to find new ways to make them unique.”

“The flowers that are used have meaning.” Wild whispered quietly while leaning against Twilight and keeping his gaze off of everyone. “Sometimes it’s easier to speak through the flowers than to say the words out loud. And it means a lot when Time and Hyrule add them into my hair. They tell what they think of me without words. It means the world to me when they don’t say what flowers are used and I get to see them by taking a pic of the braid. It gives so much.”

“It’s a soothing action when I’m having a nightmare.” Wind told bit uncertainly and playing with the rim of his tunic. “Aryll does those little braids whenever she notices that I’m sleeping restlessly. It works the other way around too.”

Unknown to the Chain, their leader was listening to them talk. It felt bit nice to hear the others try to explain things and fix the situation. Still, it had been his older brother whom had called the braids girly. He took that much more to heart than if it would’ve come from someone unknown. The braids had been part of his life for as long as he could remember. The fairies did them already the day he had had hair to braid. He liked the feeling. He liked the memory of those flyers. He didn’t really have a braid of his own but three fairies had already claimed him as theirs. Navi, Tatl and Proxi. It was family and home. And now….

Time carefully shifted and tried to dry the tears. It was like when Wars had told that Hylians didn’t purr. That only cats did that sound and but people didn’t. They weren’t animals. He had learned it from the fairies. They purred whenever they really were happy and at peace. Showing that they were enjoying of the actions and words. And then, it all was shattered. Just telling it was wrong. That it wasn’t supposed to be done or received. It was like saying he didn’t belong with the fairies whom called him as their brother not bound by blood. He couldn’t even anymore think that he could ask for Hyrule’s signature braid to be claimed by the fourth fairy in his life. He had always had a fairy for a bigger quest and on this one it was the Traveler. Now, he felt like had just been robbed of that right.

The one eyed male simply hid his face as the Chain finally headed off to bed and left Warriors to the first shift. He didn’t know what to do and even less what to say. So all he could do was to lay there and try to figure it out. Without him realizing it, he fell asleep at some point of the night.

The Old Man stirred into quiet talking. He tried to catch the words but the whispers were too silent for him to hear. He bit shrugged and just shifted before falling back asleep as it clearly wasn’t anything of bad and he still recognized the voices belonging to his boys. Yet, it still confused him a bit why Warriors was talking with Hyrule out of all of them after last night’s situation.

When the Chain’s leader woke up next time, the voices were louder. It still took a moment for his sleepy mind to catch the words and figure out whom was talking which line. Yet, he frowned when he realized that the topic of braids was still going. He yawned and forced himself up from bedroll. He scowled the moment he realized that everyone else was up already.

Time sighed heavily before facing the campfire and going over to the others. When his gaze fell into the war Hero, he stopped dead on his tracks. After moment of shock, he felt a grin tuck on his lips before letting it on. “So, am I asleep or am I really seeing the Mr. Braids-Are-Girly actually having braids in his hair? And a fancy ones too.” He queried while very much being ready to NOT let his older brother live this down anytime soon.

The Captain blushed brightly while feeling entirely nervous. He shrugged a bit while wanting to disappear right then and there. The others were waiting for the situation to unfold as they had already cleared things off.

The war Hero had woken Hyrule up couple of hours earlier. They had talked about braids and what they meant to the fairies. Much to the half-fairy’s shock, Warriors had eventually asked for one that would stand for a Captain and one for the meaning of a Hero. The Traveler had needed bit of coaxing and assuring before he created them along, with his brother’s acceptance, one that meant for older brother.

The others had been woken up about an hour later by Hyrule out of Warriors’ request. This was what he could do to show he hadn’t meant of anything bad. That he had just needed answers and explanations to why the braids weren’t just what girls did. He had never thought about the reasons or meanings of those creations. But, having seen the hurt his words had caused and the answers from his brothers, he was ready to give the braids a chance.

And right now Warriors had a braid that rounded his head. At his neck, starting off from the braid-crown at the middle of the back of his head, was another braid. On the sides of his face, in front of his ears, were braids too. In each of the braids was one single flower, a cherry blossom, except for the crown-braid which had four in it. That meant for seven flowers in total.

“The flower stands for warrior.” Wind piped in and Time nodded while still grinning.

“I’m aware but thanks.” The one eyed male replied before walking over to his older brother. At there he began to investigate the very ornamental braids.

“Hyrule did them.” Warriors whispered while bit fearing of how things would go down from here. “The crown with a tail stands for captain. The left side’s one stands for a Hero and the right side’s for a brother.” He explained while feeling like slumping beneath the checking his little brother was doing. “I…. I-I kinda asked for them. Hyrule had said fairies got braids for everything so….” He trailed off and bit shrugged.

The Chain’s leader stayed silent while listening before frowning. “Since you already got three, may I do a fourth one?” He inquired while already taking hold of the hair on middle of his brother’s forehead.

The Captain would’ve rather nodded but he couldn’t really dare to move as the one eyed male was already working without waiting for his answer. “S-sure…” He mumbled while not having any of idea what kind of braid it would be. At least Hyrule had described things and explained it all.

“There.” Time finally told and pulled off with a slight grin. Warriors feared for there to be a knot instead of a braid but at least no-one was laughing or trying to suppress such. Yet, when he glanced at the older male, he frowned. The look on his face was sorrowfully fond. “Proxi’s braid.” The Old Man explained quietly. “You were claimed by her before me.” He reminded gently.

“You… You remember her braid?” The Captain queried bit startled.

Time sighed and shrugged. “She taught it to me since I don’t have a braid of my own.” He answered bit tentatively.

“If a fairy teaches their braid to someone, that means for absolute family.” Hyrule told with slight shock. “You’re her brother through and through by that.” The war Hero was more shocked of the information than what his little brother was.

The one eyed male blushed a bit while smiling bit shyly. “I… I-I guess that goes with Navi and Tatl then too.” He whispered quietly, almost mouthed the words. He gulped once and pulled away from the war Hero before turning his gaze into the dying flames of the campfire. He needed to stay in one piece and not break down. He was their leader after all!

“May I teach you my braid?” The Traveler whispered and bit startled the Old Man as he hadn’t realized the half-fairy having come over.

Time felt uncertain, even fearful. He opened his mouth and shut it few times while trying to figure out what to do. He wanted to say yes. He wanted to at least nod but his older brother’s words of braids being girly were going around his head. He felt like he didn’t have the rights to accept even though Hyrule was offering to claim him as his brother.

“Go for it, Sprite.” Warriors whispered and startled the Chain’s leader quite thoroughly. “Family means the world. And I know what the fairies mean to you. What the eight of us mean to you.” He told bit sorrowfully. “I’m sorry, little brother. I should’ve rather talked about this instead of just claiming stuff.”

The oldest Link hesitated for a moment before he hugged the younger male tightly. After that he pulled off, took a deep breath and faced the half-fairy. “If you truly wish to claim me as your brother, then I accept.” He spoke in Fairy Language before bowing his head and closing his eye.

Hyrule smiled fondly and leaned his forehead against Time’s. “Brother. Now, before and forever.” He whispered before pulling off and beginning to braid the left side’s bangs while, in Fairy Language, explaining how the braid was done. After that he made another braid to right side with the meaning of a brother.

“You are ambidextrous but you prefer left so that is why my braid is on that side. You protect your family with your left side. They say heart is on right and hence I place brotherhood into there to be part of your life forever.” The Traveler explained in Hylian so that the others would understand the reasons for specific sides chosen.

“I wish I could return the favor. I really wish I had a braid of my own.” The one eyed male whispered bit sorrowfully. “For this reasons all I can give is the mark of brotherhood for both sides.” He continued before braiding the half-fairy’s hair. He knew he should’ve talked in Fairy Language but he wanted the others to know that he was claiming Hyrule as Hyrule had claimed him.

The half-fairy closed his eyes and bowed his head a bit while fully accepting the braids. Once the Old Man was done, Hyrule glomped him on that second. Time returned the hold while finally relaxing. He was family of four fairies now.

When they pulled off, Hyrule went to do a braid for Wild while the Champion worked with the breakfast. Wind dashed over to Time and eagerly requested for a braid or few. The oldest brother of the nine Links created the braids for brother and Hero. After that, one by one, the others came over too and asked for their hair to be braided.

Warriors watched the situation unfold and slowly calmed down. He couldn’t deny that the braids looked really amazing. They were elaborate and loving. And they had lot of meaning. That was what finally started to get him to accept the braids as something more than what girls did just because. And suddenly he realized something which got him to snap his gaze into the half-fairy.

“Hyrule, what’s the braids for a General and a Princess?” The war Hero queried with a slight frown. As the Traveler explained the unique braids, the Captain could easily recall the similarity in the braids Impa and Zelda had worn during the war.

After the meal the whole Chain was getting ready to head forward. Time approached Warriors and made sure the others wouldn’t listen in. “Wars.” He called carefully and the Captain turned around. “I know we should get to the town and restock but if you’re not yet ready to go around the public with braids, we can head different way. We can create arrows of our own and Twilight can hut with Wild. It’s nothing we haven’t done before.”

The war Hero was bit startled of the reminder but he thought for a while before shaking his head. “Nah. I’ll manage.” He answered and smiled reassuringly. “These braids mark me. Captain. Hero. Brother. I am all of those and claimed by one of the fairies as part of their family.” He continued surprisingly confidently before gently forcing Time to lower his head to lean their foreheads together. “I’m sorry, little brother, for having hurt you.” He apologized before bit grinning. “Oh, and please, do purr when you feel like it. Heard someone claim such heals. I’m sorry about having been such an idiot back then.”

The Chain’s leader was fully taken off guard but he sighed in relief and relaxed. “Thank you.” He whispered quietly before pulling off. “If you’re sure of this, then we should head forward so we can actually do some restocking today already.”

“I’m sure.” Warriors replied firmly and his little brother nodded once before going off to finish getting ready. He couldn’t deny of being bit worried but the braids were him. They told his rank, title and family. They told everything without needing to wear any markings such as the armor or scarf. And they were quite unchanged throughout the eras too.

The Chain arrived to the town, by Time’s accurate knowledge, at sixteen minutes over one. It was still lunch time but no-one was up for eating as Wild’s breakfasts were usually such amazing ones to keep one going well through the day if needed. The Champion did offer to handle meal but the others were more willing to get the restocking done and get to laze off for some hours before evening meal.

The Old Man stayed by his older brother while sharing off who searched out what. He had already noticed the attention they all had gained so far. It was why he had Wild with Twilight and Sky just to make sure he got the needed support if someone decided to be an idiot about the braids. Hyrule was with Legend while Wind left with Four.

“How are you so far?” The one eyed male queried before letting his older brother leave the Inn they were going to stay for a while.

“I’m used to the attention.” Warriors replied before tad shrinking under Time’s gaze.

“Not what I asked.” The one eyed male sated out bit warningly.

The Captain sighed and shrugged. “Still getting used to the braids but they’re telling who I am.” He told before bit slumping against the wall behind him. “But, that’s not what people see. They see the braids but they don’t see their meanings.”

“Do you want the braids off? Hyrule won’t mind. He would understand it.” Time offered bit sorrowfully but his brother shook his head. “You sure? You’re getting quite a lot of notion. And if they don’t understand the meaning of them, you’ll be getting the wrong kind of attention.” He warned while not wanting to put the war Hero into bad place.

“Army will understand. Commoners don’t.” Warriors replied firmly while standing up straight. “I’m a Captain and a Hero. I know who I am.” He stated out and nodded firmly to show he was ready to face the world.

The older male nodded back and took a deep breath before following the high ranked knight out of the Inn. He stayed by him but slight bit behind just to let him deal with things without him interfering unless needed. Most just watched and were very plainly curious while his brother just either ignored the stares or gave a grin and possibly a wink as thanks for the attention. Some acknowledge his rank and saluted while alarming others of his presence too. The war Hero replied into the actions accordingly.

And then there were the people whom either entirely ignored the signs and clear telltale marks of who they had in their notion or weren’t aware of them. The Chain’s leader hated the looks the fools threw at his brother and he was ready to strangle them for it. Warriors ignored most of them but he could see it affecting him. Eventually, when one of those fools came too close and clearly had wrong ideas in his head, the one eyed male couldn’t take it anymore.

Time growled and slammed his arm diagonally on full length into guy’s torso while striking the guy’s back roughly against the wall behind the man. “Show some respect, you bastard. You are in the presence of the man whom is both the Hero of Hyrule and the Captain of Hyrule’s army.” He snarled while glaring on full force at the man.

The said Captain of Hyrule’s army was taken fully off guard by his brother’s actions and words. He stared bit startled at the scene before calming down. He was entirely grateful of the protection the older male gave him but he also felt bit bad that he had been forced into this situation.

“Are you just fucking oblivious or entirely stupid for NOT recognizing the markings claiming him high ranked?” The one eyed male continued with almost cruel voice. “Everyone knows how fairies do their braids and mark those they care and respect. You have NO rights to your actions.”

The man in the Chain’s leader’s hold flinched and slumped. He muttered some kind of apology. “Brother.” The war Hero called before his little brother could go further with his words. “He already got it. You can let him go.” He told as calmly as he could. Time growled and pulled off but his glare didn’t lessen. “You’re lucky he’s lenient today. He could’ve easily crushed you.” Warriors told with a slight grin before turning his gaze into the taller male. “Come on, Sprite, let’s just continue.” He half called while turning to head forward.

The Old Man huffed and tore his glare off of the guy. He blinked once slowly and let himself calm down as he followed the Captain. Yet, before he got more than two steps forward, he felt dread lodge into him. The movement had been too fast for him to react before the hand was over his mouth to silence the loudest part of his scream as a knife was struck into his back.

Warriors jerked and turned around in a flash. “SPRITE!” He screamed out as he saw the guy they had just encountered to be right behind his little brother with hand over the one eyed male’s mouth. Time gave out a pained gasp as the knife was yanked out of him and brought into sight while the guy’s hold on him shifted to lower to hold him up.

The man smirked and snapped his fingers. Right after that other men came from the close by alley and surrounded them. The Captain gasped as two of the guys took strong hold of his arms. Yet, his gaze was fixed into the oldest of the nine Heroes.

Time was gasping for air. He had closed his eye but his face was twisted in pain. He was trembling and losing fast his strength and consciousness.

“Magic blockers and poison.” The guy behind the Chain’s leader mused with a smirk. “Works beautifully together. He’s not having much of time to live anymore.” He told and his smirk only widened at Warriors’ growl and struggling. “You can either come nice and easy with us or you can watch your brother die slowly and agonizingly.”

“Oooh! I know what this means.” One of the men suddenly told while coming closer to his comrade and Time. The one eyed male whimpered when the new guy’s hand brushed at his face and took hold of the braid. “Fairy braid. Connection.” He smirked cruelly while playing with it. “If it’s broken before twenty-four hours have gone past, it’ll mean the offer was declined and it can never be renewed.” He tugged at the hair and earned a new whimper from his victim. He licked at his lips with a sadistic look on his face. “How about I break this, hmm?”

“N-no…. P-please….. D-don’t….” Time whimpered while forcing his eye open. The look he gave was a pathetic plea compared to the cruel glare he had only moments ago given. “P-please… I-I’m begging of you….” He nearly prayed as the guy tugged at the braid again. He flinched as the guy laughed when he noticed him crying.

The war Hero was growling loudly and desperately fighting against the hold. “LEAVE HIM ALONE!” He screamed while hating the sight of his brother whimpering. The poison clearly had rendered him unable to fight back. The magic blockers wouldn’t prevent him from struggling or giving a death-glare to these bastards so it had to be the poison. And that freaked the crap out of Warriors as he realized how quickly and strongly it was affecting.

Suddenly the guy toying with the oldest Link’s braid screamed in pain. That one eye snapped open and took in the situation of the man having an arrow in his hand. He recognized it swiftly even though the short lived shock was already moving aside and the poison’s cruel work came back.

Soon two more screams were heard and the Captain dashed forward as he was freed. He glared on full force at the guy behind his little brother and punched the bad guy cruelly into face. He swiftly caught the Old Man and lowered them both down to the ground. If Wild was there with his archery skills, the others weren’t far.

And, just like on cue, the massive wolf dashed into the scene and crashed into the guy whom was closest to the Chain’s leader and his second in command. The canine growled cruelly before already sinking its teeth into the bastard. The man screamed as the Sacred Beast tore him apart in rage.

The Chain quickly showed up right after Wolfie. The swords swung through the air and forced the bad guys to back off. Sky tackled the guy whom had stabbed the one eyed male into the back. He wanted to kill the bastard but he had heard the word poison so he thought keeping the man alive was wiser idea at the moment in case they’d need information from him. Hyrule just dashed through the group and straight to Time and Warriors. He, like the others, had heard the muffled scream since they had, instead of going for restocking, followed the duo around. Sadly, they had been keeping bit too long distance just to make sure they wouldn’t be noticed and they wouldn’t overhear possible conversations. They just had been worried for Warriors going around with braids and attaching unwanted notion.

“T-the b-braid…?” Time almost slurred while looking desperately at his older brother. He was entirely terrified of the guy having done something to it.

“It’s intact.” The Captain assured while checking the braid. “Nothing to worry, little brother.” He assured as calmly as he could. “Just stay conscious, little brother. Just stay with me, Sprite.” He nearly begged while noticing the sleepiness the one eyed male was fighting against. Yet, with the reassurance about the braid, he relaxed more than he should’ve.

Hyrule was already working with his healing magic before growling in anger. “I need the knowledge of the poison! It’s blocking me out!” He shouted while trying even harder to get his magic in. He wasn’t even capable of tapping into his leader’s magic like every time before. The magic blockers didn’t stop external magics from getting inside. Those only blocked one’s own magic’s usage. The poison though….

It was enhancing the magic blockers so much that it almost got the magic to turn against its own wielder. It blocked the magic from leaving one’s body and from getting inside there. It was keeping the stab wound bleeding and unhealable. It almost paralyzed its holder and made breathing hard. It was weakening and killing the one having the poison within them. The worst thing was that it didn’t matter if one fought against it or not, it still got stronger with every passing second.

“We’re running out of time!” The Traveler nearly snarled as he watched Sky and Legend interrogate the guy whom had stabbed Time. At first each of their attempts failed but when they picked the man’s own knife up and noticed the dark purple goo on it, they threatened to stab him with it. The thought of getting poisoned with the same shit he had used got him finally to talk and tell what the poison was.

“Wild! Sky! I need you two!” The half-fairy almost commanded the moment he got the needed knowledge. The Chosen Hero was there before he even finished the sentence and the Champion jumped down from the roof before he took the Paraglider out to land safely. The moment the duo was by him, Hyrule already started to name herbs, plants and whatnot while commanding the Knight of Skyloft into getting the ingredients mixed the right way.

As the potion of sorts was on making, Time shakily raised his hand towards Warriors’ hair. The Captain swiftly took hold of his hand but the one eyed male almost fought to get it free so he loosened his hold. Slowly and weakly that hand found its way into the crown-braid. “Cap…” The Chain’s leader almost just mouthed the word out before continuing forward from there. “H-hero…” He mumbled, nearly slurred it before going for the third braid. “Bro…” He gave a weak and fond smile before softly exhaling while closing his eye. His hand fell limply down onto his chest.

“S-Sprite…?” Warriors called fearfully. “Sprite!” He half shouted while bit slapping the older male’s cheek. “SPRITE!” He screamed in near terror as he realized how quiet and unmoving his little brother was. “SPRITE! WAKE UP! DON’T DO THIS TO ME! WAKE UP!!” He screamed in terror while crying.

Before the war Hero could’ve cradled his brother into his arms, Hyrule was right back. He forced the golden colored liquid down the Chain’s leader’s throat while already initiating his magic. He nearly threw the small bowl out of his hold before slamming both of his hands down into the Old Man’s chest. The sudden arching and soundless gasp coming from the one eyed male startled everyone else except the half-fairy whom had been waiting for this reaction. Time wasn’t awake but at least he was breathing and alive.

It was hours later before Time stirred. He smiled fondly as he felt the action of someone running their fingers through his hair. Before he realized what he was doing, he already purred. Yet, nearly instantly, at the same time as the hand stilled in his hair, he stopped in shock. He hadn’t meant to do that sound. He slumped and felt entirely ashamed.

“Sprite? You awake?” Warriors called while gently resuming into his earlier action. He saw the older male gulp once before slowly opening his eye. The uncertainty and shame he saw in the gaze nearly killed his heart. Yet, he forced himself to smile fondly at his little brother. “Hey there, little brother.”

The one eyed male sighed and closed his eye while hiding his face into his hand. “Go on, you can say it. Purring is not meant for Hylians.” He half grumbled and turned to his side so his back was towards his brother.

The Captain was bit shocked of the situation but he soon grinned. He laid down and pulled the Chain’s leader into his arms. “Fine, hugging time, it is.” He stated out before getting tad startled as Time chuckled. “What?” He queried with a frown.

“Double meaning, dear big brother, double meaning.” The older male replied with a clear grin on his face. He chuckled again when the war Hero groaned.

“Just shut up and enjoy of the embrace.” Warriors playfully snapped and tightened his hold around the Old Man. Yet, he soon sighed heavily and hid his face into the other male’s hair. “I nearly lost you, Sprite.” He whispered bit fearfully while tad tightening his hold. “I freaked out so bad.” He mumbled with bit breaking voice.

Time sighed heavily in sorrow and carefully turned around in the younger male’s hold. After that he wrapped his arms around him and held tight. “I’m here, big brother.” He assured while moving to his back and pulling the Captain to his chest so he could feel and hear the heartbeat of his little brother. Yet, the moment the weight was there, the one eyed male hissed in pain and Warriors pulled off on that instant.

“You’re still healing.” The war Hero whispered sorrowfully. “The wound needs to heal on its own since the poison almost killed you. Hyrule was able to counter things and get the healing to work bit faster than normally. Still, it’ll take few days before that wound’s gone.”

Time carefully moved to his side and tried to relax. “I think I’ll just take a nap.” He mumbled while bit curling up.

“You’re allowed to have braids. And you’re allowed to purr.” Warriors told firmly while laying down in front of the one eyed male.

The Chain’s leader frowned and opened his eye. “What?” He queried bit confused.

“I’m sorry I made you feel like you didn’t have the rights for those.” The Captain whispered while gently starting to run his fingers through the golden hair of his little brother. “I was an idiot. I’m supposed to protect and defend you. Not bring you down.”

Time huffed a bit and closed his eye while trying to relax. “We’ll talk about this when I’m more coherent to understand.” He mumbled while just wanting to get off of the conversation. Warriors simply nodded even though it went unseen.

Few days later the stab wound in the one eyed male’s back was healed. The Chain still made sure they’d have a day off just to be certain that their oldest brother was to his best condition. He was just going past the living room of the Inn towards the dining room to catch something to eat when he noticed all of his boys circled around something. He frowned and tilted his head a bit in confusion before going inside. “What are you guys doing?” He called curiously.

“Braiding.” Wind almost chirped happily.

“Brai— Wait, what?” Time gave a slight startled move before moving closer to his boys. “What exactly are you braiding?” He inquired while seeing all eight as Hylians so it wasn’t Wolfie they were doing braids into. He bit thought that the boys had found broken rug and were having fun with that. Them having broken the said rug did cross his head and got him bit uncertain.

“Come and see, little brother.” Warriors called while grinning. That got their leader even more worried of the situation but he went to check on the situation. He was quite taken off guard when he saw the very beautiful and very ornamental braid made by several long pieces of different colored yarns.

“Up to you to finish it.” Hyrule told with a fond smile while the Chain moved off the way. Time stared at the creation in shock and awe. There was one piece of yarn, a golden one, still off of the creation while the braid had eight yarns already together. He half crashed, half sat down to his knees while feeling almost unwilling to touch the creation.

“According to Hyrule one can make their own braid and claim it as their mark.” Legend started calmly.

“The braids the fairies have, are slightly bit altered from their own family’s mark to make them their own.” Sky explained with a fond smile.

“We’re not fairies but we’re a family.” Four stated it out as a certain fact.

“So, we made our own braid.” Wild continued with a bit shy smile.

“Our mark. Our braid. Our family.” Twilight said firmly.

“All it anymore needs is your line, Sprite.” Warriors told fondly.

Time stared almost wide-eyed at the braid made out of yarns. He didn’t know what to say or do but he picked the last piece of yarn with bit trembling hand. He felt hesitant and uncertain while feeling like he’d be destroying something the others had created. “Go on. Make it finished.” The Captain coaxed gently.

At first the one eyed male thought about just starting from middle where the Chain had left unconsciously an empty spot for the yarn and just wrap it around the other yarns gently and carefully. Yet he soon scratched that idea. It would ruin the creation and seem to suffocate things. So, instead, he very carefully and bit uncertainly began to slip the yarn into middle of the whole creation while having it in straight line but going up and below the other yarns to make it like the others were rounding it and claiming the straight line as part of them. For some reason it reminded him of all the times the Chain had piled on him for Hero Pile of Support and Comfort to show they were right there for him. Together and close to one another but not suffocating. Him being the protective leader but them being right by him to defend him too.

“Brothers not bound by blood.” Time whispered quietly after letting go of the golden yarn.

“I think that’s perfect name for the braid.” Hyrule commented. “The nine Heroes of Hyrule, brothers not bound by blood, a family through and through.” He mused fondly. “May we do this braid and claim you as ours?” The half-fairy queried while looking at his oldest brother with hope and love. The others were equally hopeful while clearly wanting to do this for him.

The Chain’s leader was unable to talk as he felt the lump in his throat. All he could do was to bite down to his lower lip and nod. He felt the tears in his eye so he closed it and let out a bit shuddering breath. The Chain moved behind him and each of them took hold of his hair. “Just hold the middle one straight, please.” Hyrule asked and his oldest brother did as requested.

“You okay, Sprite?” Warriors called as each of the Heroes were holding one piece of the braid while carefully, on their own times, swirled them around the others. Time was actually smiling while feeling tugging and moving his hair around to create the unique braid.

“Y-yeah…” The one eyed male half mumbled. “J-just….” He trailed off and tried to dry the tears.

“This is your braid, Time.” Hyrule said firmly and softly. “This is our braid.” He continued while making sure it all went as supposed to. “This is the braid of family.” He concluded while fully understanding how much this meant to the Chain’s leader. “You are family to four fairies and you are family to eight Heroes. With this braid, we claim you as our brother now, before and forever.” He explained and bit grinned as the seven others echoed his last line.

Time gasped in shock before already hiding his face into his hand while crying. He had never felt this loved and cared about before. Like the fairies before in his life, he now had eight brothers by the rules of the fairies. His brothers. His family. He barely was capable of talking when he whispered with slightly broken voice: “Thank you.”

“Can I get the braid next?” Warriors requested and the others nodded. Once the braid was done for the oldest brother of the nine Links, he kissed his little brother’s head. “It’s official now, Sprite. You are our brother through and through.” He told fondly.

Time turned around swiftly and pulled each of the Heroes into a tight hug. He would’ve loved to hug them all simultaneously but he wasn’t capable of that. Still, it was clear how much this action, the braid and the whole situation meant to him.

The rest of the Chain, one by one, requested for the braid too. The one whom got the braid to be done for them, held the middle one straight. The rest moved places for each other so in the end, every single one of them had held and moved each of the pieces of the braids. This further claimed the braid as theirs and made them even more of a family according to the Rules of the Fairies.

None of the nine Heroes wanted even one damage to come to the new braid so they stayed at the Inn for the day and the night. They weren’t going to allow any kind of chances that they’d decline from this offer and family. Each of the braids had been given with the words of With this braid, we claim you as our brother now, before and after. It was to show that this brotherhood would never break.

It didn’t need more than one stray fairy whom saw and heard the situation. She very quickly informed her kin of the new braid, of the new brothers and, most of all, of the new family. The moment the news reached the Great Fairies, the family of nine brothers were already, unknown to the Heroes, welcomed and blessed by the fliers. And Fierce Deity, connected to the family of nine brothers, was entirely doing all he could to expand the blessing and acceptance of the Great Fairies and their small sisters and brothers. Even though it wouldn’t come into the knowledge of the Heroes of Hyrule, this braid and the acceptance and blessing by the Great Fairies, fairies and the Fierce Deity would make it certain that they would be in contact even after they would have to leave back to their own eras.

Until then it was more often than not Warriors whom actually requested for the braid to be done for him. After him, usually, it was Time out of unconscious mutual agreement unless he specifically asked not to be next. Then, out of whom was the quickest, the rest of them half shouted off for a turn and taking numbers in a way.

Then, at one time, as the Chain had become very good at braiding their marking, the Chain’s leader purred contently while very much liking the action and, even more so, the specific braid. The others hadn’t heard him do such before so it took them off guard and they stopped the braiding. Yet, that also was when Time realized what he was doing. He jerked in shock and clamped his hands over his mouth even though it wasn’t where the sound came. He slumped with ears drooping.

“Just purr, little brother.” Warriors whispered and gently kissed the top of his leader’s head. “It’s good to see you enjoying.”

“Fairies purr. It’s natural to them.” Hyrule commented while nudging others to continue with the braid. “You were raised by them so it’s natural for you too.”

“I like to listen cats purr. Wish I knew how to do that.” Twilight told while wanting to glomp his mentor and find a way to make him purr again.

“Do that sound again! It was so comforting.” Wind nearly begged.

“Agreed. There’s something entirely enthralling and special in the sound you made.” Four told while bit frowning as he tried to figure the whole thing out.

“The Remlits purr too. It reminds of Skyloft and makes me feel safe.” Sky mused fondly while checking the line of hair he had in his hands that there weren’t any of knots or such as he waited his turn to swirl it around the braid to get it to correct place. “Since fairies purr, I now understand why their presence is so comforting and making me feel so at home when surrounded by them. I didn’t make that connection during my quest and, well, not until now.”

Legend hesitated for a while and already blushed but luckily everyone was ignoring his situation. “You make it sound so beautiful.” He mumbled and felt like wanting to disappear at the round of Aww-sounds. Yet, for his luck, no-one started to pick on him for that line. Though, the Veteran thought it was due to them wanting to make Time feel secure, happy and having full rights to do unconscious things such as purring without fearing to be ridiculed.

Hyrule took the next turn to have the braid done for him and he purred loudly and happily. Showing that there was nothing wrong with creating the sound. The others, with mixed results, tried to purr too when their hair was braided. Mostly the others tried not to laugh or giggle at the failed attempts but everything was done out of affection and made sure no harm was meant. Hugs and closeness were shared, especially from the oldest of them as he often felt bit overwhelmed and in need of gentle touches. The others were happy to provide him what he was needing. So, usually, those days were filled with leaning against one another and hugs.

When the end of the quest came as the evil was defeated and timelines were saved, the nine portals opened up to separate them. Yet, before they could even start to say their goodbyes, the area was filled with fairies whom were followed by the Great Fairies from all of their eras. Right after them, Fierce Deity came into sight with a slight startled and bit pained gasp from Time. The Chain straight off came next to their oldest brother while feeling contradicted of the situation. The God of Protection moved to the fairy kin and turned around with a fond smile.

“Hero of Time, my dear friend…” The Deity started calmly. “I have been doing my best to ensure you could keep contact to the family you have gained through this quest. Yet, I feared that I was not powerful enough while having been reduced into a mask and connected to you.”

The Great Fairies glanced at each other before one of them was chosen to be the one to speak on everyone’s behalf. “Dear Heroes of Hyrule, our brothers…” She began gently while sticking to Hylian Language for everyone to understand. “…The day you together created the Brothers not bound by blood -braid, was the day you gave us the rights to ensure nothing would break the ties you have created.”

Another Great Fairy stepped forward with a fond smile. “Hero of Wild, take your Slate and open it.” She requested and the Champion did as she asked of him. Yet, he gasped the second he noticed the new feature within his device. She nodded firmly and the fairies, in small groups, came to the Heroes.

The small fliers, with all possible colors of the world within their glow, carried smallish devices between them. “Please, accept our blessing.” Third one of the Great Fairies almost pleaded and the nine Links carefully took the small, round things into their hands. With Wild, though, the thing quickly was within the Slate.

Fierce sighed a bit and gave a sorrowful look to Time and Twilight. “I know you have thought that the name of the braid does not entirely hold true but, forgive me to stay this, it does. The two of you are not related as you believe. You are from different timelines but the end result is the same. It sadly goes crossed in your case and hence not related by blood.” He explained while making the braid’s claim entirely true between all nine Heroes.

“Guys…” Wild called while looking both entirely baffled and delighted at the same time. “These things… We can communicate through them. It’s like the Rock of Connection and my Slate. It’s like letters. It’s…..” He nearly choked on his words while looking so happy. “It’s like the portals. We can get back together whenever we wish. Call, letters, the sight of the others on a call like my Slate and Wind’s Rock of Connection and real honest portal to get back together.”

“Well, in that case…” Time started slowly before already grinning widely. “Don’t hesitate to drop in at the ranch whenever you wish. You’re all welcome to home at any time.” He promised fondly. The moment the others, besides Wild, understood the actual meaning of the small items in their hands, they already glomped Time while promising to visit often and telling that everyone was more than welcome to their eras and homes too.

The first one to make the visits to the others after that day was none other than Wild. He, with all the tech in his usage, figured the items swiftly and right after that already began to visit the others to teach them how to use the connection items. Before it even was fully realized, the Lon-Lon Ranch became more often than not the place where they all got together. Yet, even though it was used to keep contact and visit each other, it also became a way to request help and in no time the whole Chain was together to clear off whatever problem it was as it ranged from normal everyday problems and such into taking down ferocious monsters and cruel bad guys.

About a year later, during one call from Time to all of his brothers, the Chain got one hell of a surprise. Their leader was first having his back to the camera of sorts before, while grinning widely, turning around and introducing his bit over a week old baby girl. The room was filled with “Aawww!”, “Congrats!” and “What’s her name?”.

“So, when do you boys think you could come over again to meet her properly?” The one eyed male queried and the Chain, even though everyone at their own eras, glanced at each other through the shared screens.

“How about straight off?” Warriors half queried.

“Perfect. We’ll be waiting.” Time replied and grinned even wider. “My little princess needs her eight God Fathers, you know.” That almost got his brothers to faint before already scrambling into action and getting to the ranch in record time. Soon they were truly introduced to Linnea and their family had just grown by one.

When the natural end of the lives of the Heroes came, Time did not end up as the Hero’s Shade. He had had long and amazing life with his family of the Chain, Malon and their daughter. He got to see her grow into adulthood and worry for her safety with the eight brothers of his. He even lived to see his precious daughter to get married and to watch over her two kids. Not just all this, he also got to be there as the Chain found the love of their lives, got married and had kids. This was the life his counterpart in Twilight’s own timeline wouldn’t have.

As the Hero of Time met with the other Links at the afterlife, he wasn’t certain things were right for Twilight. Yet, even though the Rancher hadn’t met with the one he shared his blood with, he met with the real family he had of the Chain and the one eyed male. The Chain’s leader’s Cub was more than happy to be here than with a person he shared blood but knew nothing of. This was the family he knew and wanted to be with and, in the end, that was more than enough for Time as he had one hell of a huge family by him.

39 notes · View notes

crimsonwolf715 · 12 days ago

Text

Death Will Do Us Part

(POV Bruce)

Family dinner is chaotic as ever. Bruce smiles as his family eats and argues about whether or not to bet on the next villain to get out of Arkham. Of course, he doesn’t agree with the idea of placing bets on that, but it isn’t hurting anybody. Unless they break somebody out to win the bet, but that isn’t likely. The house shakes and everyone practically jumps to their feet. They can see vines through the roads outside, so everyone heads down to the Batcave. Bruce goes over to the computer and puts a call through to Commissioner Gordon.

“What’s the situation, Gordon?” Bruce asks.

“Everyone’s out of Arkham. We’re completely overpowered,” Gordon answers.

“We’re on our way.”

“Thanks.”

His kids are collecting their gear and getting ready.

“Did all of you hear that?” Bruce asks.

“Yep, everybody’s out of Arkham,” Jason answers. “Pretty sure we jinxed it.”

“Do we believe in that?” Cass asks.

“I don’t believe in that,” Damian replies.

“I don’t either,” Tim says.

“I doubt we did,” Dick says. “But let’s just deal with this quickly. I have something to attend to later.”

“Like a date?” Jason asks.

“Like none of your business.”

“It’s definitely a date,” Tim says.

“Focus,” Bruce demands.

“Don’t worry, we’re still getting ready as fast as we can. Speaking of which, I’m heading out,” Jason says.

They all head out and start taking on the inmates of Arkham. Bruce gets a steady stream of updates over comms that his kids are dealing with inmates and he updates him when he takes them out as well.

“Ivy’s causing too many problems. I have the building she’s in,” Barbara says.

“Nice of you to join us, Oracle,” Dick’s replies.

“Shut up. My setup got destroyed so I had to get to the Batcave to assist.”

She gives the location. Bruce looks at his location.

“I’m close.”

“I’m close too, so I’ll come assist,” Jason says.

The two make it to the building and it’s definitely a floral place. Jason and Bruce have to cut through greenery to get into the building at all. Poison Ivy gives them a hard time, but nothing the two of them can’t manage together.

(POV Jason)

“We should get out of here, this building’s unstable,” Bruce says.

Jason nods, so the two head towards the roof with Ivy.

“If I can’t win, you two won’t make it out of here alive,” Ivy says.

Vines sprout up and start exploding, rocking the whole building. The floor cracks and Bruce shoves Jason to the part of the floor that isn’t cracked.

“Dad!”

Jason watches as the floor crumbles away under Bruce’s feet. He lunges to grab Bruce’s hand and barely misses the mark. Bruce tries to catch himself on one of the other floors, but fails. He falls onto a large piece of a floor, which impales him.

“Dad!” Jason cries out.

“What’s going on?” Barbara asks. “Why are Bruce’s suit’s stats bottoming out?”

Jason pulls his helmet off and throws it.

“Jason?”

“I’m fine,” Jason says through gritted teeth. “But Batman isn’t. Delete the feed from my helmet without looking at it.”

“What?” Barbara asks.

“Delete the damn feed from my helmet without looking at it,” Jason demands. “Barbara, do it.”

“Okay, okay. I’m sending medics to your location.”

A pause and Jason can almost hear his father stop breathing.

“Jason.”

“I know. Let the others know and I’ll get him to a safe location.”

He turns his comm off and grips the floor. He spots Ivy, who got thrown away from the two during the explosions, but seems fine. He gets up and she looks terrified. She starts trying to get away and he shoots her hands and feet. She cries out and starts cursing Jason.

“I should kill you for still breathing,” Jason growls. “But I’m better than that now. You are gonna pay for killing him, but you deserve to live and suffer for it.”

Jason drags her out of the building by her hair and officers are heading towards the location.

“Red Hood?”

Jason throws her over to the officers. “You might wanna cuff her.”

He turns and heads back into the building. He walks over to Bruce’s limp body and he feels an overwhelming amount of anger. He stuffs it down and as gently as he can gets Bruce out of the building. After getting him into the Batmobile, he turns his comm back on.

“He’s in the Batmobile. Send him home, Oracle.”

The Batmobile closes and speeds off. Jason heads back to continue taking out inmates, turning his comm off so he doesn’t have to hear everyone’s reaction.

{POV Cass}

Cass is searching for villains when she comes across several people tied to a lamppost by their feet. She throws a batarang to cut the rope on the first person and catches them. When she does, she sees that the person’s eyes are wide and they aren’t breathing. Cass checks their pulse and realizes that they’re gone.

Smoke starts spilling out all around her, so she tries to find the source. A metal orb with straw on it. Cass goes to grab something from her utility belt when someone takes her legs out from underneath her. Batman’s towering over her, completely decayed. She backs away and Batman crumbles to pieces. She pulls a mask on, searching for more threats in the suddenly dark world. Gotham’s been replaced by a metal room.

“The darkness is where you belong. Killing people for someone who will never appreciate your efforts. They’ll only expect more out of you.” That voice belongs to her father.

Her father comes forward and she stumbles back. She starts searching her belt but can’t find any of the things she usually keeps in there. She closes her eyes and tries to focus, blood rushing in her ears. Her father’s getting closer, sword raised for a fatal strike. She jabs herself with what she hopes is the fear toxin cure and kicks her father away.

Slowly, the world returns to what it should be. A grimy Gotham street with Scarecrow not far from her, getting up. Cass attacks Scarecrow, who tries to run. After a mostly one sided fight, Cass takes out Scarecrow. She ties him up and heads towards a police checkpoint to drop him off, still feeling the aftereffects of the fear toxin.

{POV Damian}

“Please help us!” An officer shouts when Damian drops down.

“What is it you require assistance with?” Damian asks. “There’s nothing going on here.”

“Goons are running loose in this area and Killer Croc keeps popping up and taking officers out,” the officer answers.

“Does he?”

Damian unsheathes his sword. He pulls up the manhole cover and stands by it. Once the goons come back, Damian starts taking them out with expert ease. He kicks the first goon into the sewer grate and can hear the audible crunch sound of Croc eating the goon. He continues to beat up the goons and then kick them in the sewer until Croc comes barging out of the sewer.

“There you are,” Damian says. “I was starting to think that you were too much of a bitch to come and get me.”

Croc charges at Damian and he dodges, slashing at Croc as Croc passes him.

While the blade is mostly blunt, Damian can still easily kill someone with it. Croc would need more force and a pressure point, but Damian’s goal isn’t to kill him. It’s to incapacitate him.

Croc goes headfirst into a lamppost and Damian snorts. Croc regains his senses quickly, then rushes Damian again. Damian and Croc go back and forth until Damian picks up the manhole cover and throws it like a frisbee. It hits Croc in the head, knocking him unconscious. After instructing the officers on what to do from there, Damian leaves the area.

“Croc is accounted for,” Damian says. “I’m heading to the next one.”

{POV Jason}

“Am I close to any more villains?” Jason asks.

“Freeze has been reported about a block from you,” Barbara answers. “You sure you’re good to keep going?”

“I’m fine, Oracle. Give me the location.”

She sends it and after looking at it, Jason heads in the direction. He walks into the courthouse Freeze is supposed to be in and it feels like the temperature has dropped at least ten degrees.

“Well, Freeze is definitely here.”

He walks into each of the courtrooms and barely manages to dodge a blast from Freeze’s gun.

“You’ll never defeat me, Bat-Brat!” Freeze shouts.

Jason pulls out his gun and starts shooting the dome around Freeze’s head.

“What are you doing?” Freeze demands, ducking behind something.

“Unless you wanna die here, you’re gonna surrender quietly,” Jason says. “I’m far past the mood to be lenient with you lot.”

“What happened?” Freeze asks. “Doesn’t Batman normally keep you on a tight leash as his wild-child?”

Jason pulls out a smoke grenade and throws it over the desk Freeze is hiding behind. Freeze runs out from behind the desk and Jason dropkicks him into a wall. Smoke starts spewing out of the grenade and Freeze looks confused.

“All my grenades look the same to other people,” Jason offers to cure Freeze’s confusion. “I’m the only one that knows which one is which. So unless you wanna test your luck to see if I’ll blow you to hell, you might wanna surrender.”

Freeze unclicks a freeze grenade and throws it at the approaching Jason. Jason kicks it away from him and beside a little frost on his shoes, is unaffected.

“I’ll surrender,” Freeze says, putting his hands up.

“Good.”

Jason pulls Freeze up and handcuffs him.

Even though it hurts to say, Jason says, “Batman doesn’t keep a leash on me.”

(POV Dick)

“I think you’re the only one with villains left,” Barbara says. “Everyone else is accounted for.”

“Well, that’s nice,” Dick replies sarcastically.

He’s having a hard time pulling his punches with the emotions flooding through his system, but he manages.

Can’t deal with this right now. Dad’s dead and I’m here dodging being shot by two people that should be in a mental hospital.

“The others are on their way.”

“Beautiful. Everyone can watch me have a mental breakdown.”

Dick’s fighting Penguin and Two-Face, who have decided that it is best to temporarily get over their issues so that they can beat him. They’re not doing very well even though they are technically getting along. Dick’s just doing flips around them, literally. Penguin tries to keep up with him, moving and shooting, but he just ends up falling off the roof.

Dick throws down a net so Penguin doesn’t die on impact, but then turns his attention back to Two-Face. Two-Face shoots at him until he runs out of bullets. Dick runs forward to strike him down when Two-Face shoots Dick’s leg and his leg goes completely numb. Dick stumbles and falls.

“Had this little beauty waiting for me to try. I’ve wanted to use it for a while, but never found the right moment. Pays off to go and get gear before engaging, doesn’t it?” Two-Face asks. “Alright, do we deliver the kill shot? Let’s flip the coin.”

Dick turns towards his leg and starts trying to beat life back into it.

“Ooo, luck is not on your side, Nightwing. Goodbye.”

“Grayson!”

Dick turns in just enough time to see Damian take a shot meant for him. It would have killed Dick instantly. Dick attempts to get up but his leg won’t let him. Damian stumbles into him and Dick wraps an arm around him so he doesn’t go anywhere. He grabs Damian’s sword and throws it. It goes through Two-Face. Dick turns his attention to Damian, who’s attempting to stop the bleeding chest wound.

“Hey, it’s gonna be okay. Barbara, we need medical attention right now. Damian’s injured.”

“It’s on the way,” Barbara says.

“You’re gonna be fine, buddy.”

(POV Tim)

Tim jumps onto the roof of the building where Damian and Dick’s trackers are and finds a horror scene in front of him. Damian and Dick are covered in blood and Two-Face is dead not far from them. Tears start pouring down Damian’s face as he clings to Dick. While Tim doesn’t want to, he can’t seem to look away. Dick’s crying and trying to soothe Damian. Tim can feel Jason and Cass’ presence beside him, but he can’t look at them.

“Ssh. It’s gonna be okay, Dami. I swear, everything is okay.”

A pause in sobs and the silence is broken by Damian quietly asking, “You love me, right?”

Dick nods. “Of course. I love you. Everyone does. I love you so much.”

Damian’s sobs resume and persist for a little longer, then stop altogether.

“No, Dami. No, not you too. Dami, stay with me please.”

Jason walks over to Tim, who’s frozen in place. Jason pulls him into a hug that Tim doesn't even attempt to fight.

“He can’t be gone…” Tim mutters. “They both can’t be…”

“I’m sorry,” Jason says. “I’m really sorry.”

Jason goes to move Tim to arm’s length and Tim clings to him. Jason rubs Tim’s back as Dick’s cries for Damian ring in his ears. After a while, Jason finally convinces Tim that they need to go. That the crisis is over for them and that they need to get home.

Tim watches Jason walk over and puts a hand on Dick’s shoulder.

“No, no. You can’t take him.”

“I’m not gonna take him, but we need to go.”

Cass takes Tim’s hand and the two of them hold hands, silently supporting each other.

“Where’s Dad?”

“On his way to the Batcave. I’m really sorry, Dickie.”

Dick stands up slowly, holding Damian’s body like a baby.

“It’s not your fault, Jay. It’s Ivy’s. We should…” He chokes up and looks away from Damian. “We need to get back to the Batcave. Make sure that Tim and Cass get there, okay?”

Jason nods. After stomping some machine by Two-Face to pieces, Dick takes off with Damian. Jason turns towards Tim and Cass, the three of them coming to a silent agreement. They head to the Batcave and are met by Barbara and Alfred.

“Dick here yet?” Tim asks.

Barbara shakes her head. Cass, Tim, and Jason all hug Alfred, who looks like he might break down. Dick comes in and bypasses all of them to put Damian on the table beside Bruce. He sits between Damian and Bruce.

“Come on. You all need to get cleaned up and taken care of,” Alfred says.

So they head upstairs. Dick and Alfred join them not long after.

(POV Dick)

Dick planned the funeral, refusing to let anyone assist him. Whether it was so nobody else had to deal with the event or him, no one knew. The event was only for family and close friends. Many of the Justice League members showed up to show support. Dick stayed in the back during the event and after giving his speech, didn’t say anything to anyone.

Since then, he’s locked himself in his room in the manor. Just about everyone’s tried to come in and talk, but he ends up running them all off. Tim knocks on the open door and Dick barely glances at him before returning his attention to his hands which are planted in his lap.

“Did you come in here to talk me into feeling better? To tell me to pull myself together? How am I supposed to pull myself together when my father is dead? When my baby brother died in my arms while waiting for medical support that never arrived?” Dick shouts.

Tim doesn’t flinch or leave the room like the others did. He walks over, sits down, and wraps his arms around his oldest brother. Dick breaks down sobbing and the two end up hugging for a while. Dick breaks away, walking over to his closet. Dick walks over to his closet and digs around until he finds his box of keepsakes. He holds it out and Tim takes it.

“Feel free to keep it as long as you’d like. You can share it with the other two if you want to.”

“What is it exactly?” Tim asks.

“Things I keep here. Pictures, items, writings about memories. I figured that you’d enjoy looking at some of the nicer ones,” Dick answers. “I won’t be able to even think too hard about them for a while, so you guys might as well.”

“Okay, I’ll share it with the others.”

Dick ruffles Tim’s hair. “Thanks, buddy.”

“Do you need space?”

“Yeah, a little. I’ll be down in a minute.”

Dick watches Tim leave the room and he collapses on his bed.

How am I supposed to live with the guilt that it should have me? That Damian’s supposed to be alive right now?

25 notes · View notes

chaotic-orphan · 23 days ago

Text

Whumptober No. 13

Team as a Family

Familial Curse // Multiple Whumpees // “Death will do us part.” (Set It Off, Partner's In Crime)

*~*~*~*~*

Whumpee was the team’s ace in the hole. Their trump card for whenever the team got into too tight a spot of bother. He hadn’t even been an original member of the team. It was a chance encounter one day when Villain’s team attacked Whumpee’s favourite coffee shop, where he had been waiting in line, scrolling on his phone, minding his own business.

Time stopped and Whumpee looked up, frowning as the patrons and the noise all melted away into silence. Whumpee narrowed his eyes, scoffing and looked around. He heard voices outside his local and stomped out of the queue, throwing the door open to see Villain performing an evil monologue to Team Leader and the other members who were frozen mid fight.

“And there’s—”

“Hey! Asshole!” Whumpee yelled, rolling up his sleeves. Villain stopped short, his brain short circuiting and glanced over at Whumpee. Whumpee kept advancing on Villain without a care in the world, tapping his watch on his wrist. “You gonna wrap this up anytime soon? I’m missing my first coffee of the day here.”

Villain blinked at Whumpee. “How are you moving?”

“Probably from fucking anger at not having my caffeine intake for this time of the morning! Now are you gonna reset time or do I have to kick your arse to get what I want?”

Villain looked at Leader and scoffed. “Can you believe this guy?”

Whumpee cracked his knuckles. “Fine. The hard way.”

Needless to say, time restarted and Whumpee got his coffee after he was finished with Villain. After he had sat down at the coffee shop he noticed Leader walk in, searching the room for Whumpee. When her eyes landed on him she smiled a bright grin and walked over. He merely raised an unimpressed brow at her.

“Howdy.”

“Not interested.”

Her demeanour dimmed. “You don’t even know—”

“You want to convince me to be a hero. Not happening.”

Her smile returned as she slid into the booth. “Actually I wanted to buy you a coffee to thank you for today. It’s not everyday a citizen steps in to help us.”

“Shouldn’t it be the other way around?”

“It usually is,” she replied candidly, despite Whumpee’s hostility towards her. “Though Villain just keeps coming at us with new tricks that are impossible to counter or predict.”

“My heart bleeds.”

Leader tilted her head, her warm smile still on her face. Blue eyes bright and glimmering with cat like interest. “How come you were able to move through his time freeze?”

Whumpee shrugged. “Just lucky I guess.”

Leader’s smile sharpened. “You don’t play coy very well.”

Whumpee stared at Leader, and Leader stared at Whumpee. The silence between them filled with the bustling of the cafe, of traffic outside the window and footsteps falling on the pavement.

“Tell you what,” Leader said eventually. She reached into her pocket and pulled out a card, sliding it across the desk to Whumpee. Whumpee didn’t even look at it. “If you decide you want to amount to something more than you are right now, call me. I’ll show you around the base, no strings attached, show you how we operate.”

Whumpee nodded though he had no intention of ever calling. Leader smiled. “Good. Great meeting you—?”

Whumpee stared at her blankly. Leader got to her feet, head dipping. “Do I not even get your name?”

“It’s Whumpee,” Whumpee said, though he didn’t know why he offered it. It’s not like he owed her anything.

“Nice meeting you, Whumpee. I’m Leader. I hope you call.”

And Whumpee did call, eventually. After he realised his talents were being wasted on him, that the world would benefit if he put himself out there. Defending the city from villainous threats and crimes.

The family he found in the team was an added bonus. The camaraderie and friendship and being needed and wanted by others, it was addictive and he coveted it. He wanted to lock it all down in his chest and never let them go, never stop loving them and being loved in return.

It was supposed to be a simple mission. Other Villain and his crew were attacking the docks. Other Villain was easy to manage most of the time, but Nemesis? Nemesis wasn’t supposed to show up. They didn’t have any intel that Nemesis was even in the city, which is exactly what Nemesis had been counting on judging by the smirk on his face when he appeared.

Second’s eyes blew wide and he turned to shout in warning when Other Villain blew sleep dust into his face, grabbing Second’s face and slamming their hand over his mouth to keep him from screaming. Whumpee sensed them before he saw them.

He turned and Nemesis was grinning at him. The last time Whumpee had seen Nemesis he had just helped Leader defeat him. Whumpee remembered Nemesis’s yellow eyes locking onto him with interest. It was the first time Whumpee had exposed himself during a fight with a villain who got away in the end.

“So nice to see you again, Whumpee!”

That drew the rest of the team’s attention. Rogue was the first to turn and advance on Other Villain who dropped Second’s unconscious body to the floor.

“Rogue! Don’t!” Leader cried and Rogue froze, their lips pulling back into a snarl.

Whumpee stepped out of cover finally. He was caught, and he walked over to Leader, standing tall beside her.

“You shouldn’t be here,” Leader said to Nemesis. His yellow eyes flashed with mirth, and a horrible knowing that sent Whumpee’s guts twisting themselves into knots.

“Oh, I know. I was away on business, retrieving something for our dear friend Whumpee here.”

Whumpee knew it was true before he said it. He could feel something, something he hadn’t felt in a long time. A draw of magic, pulling at him, like a moth to a flame, guiding him back to the source. But that… that couldn’t be… they were dead. Nemesis must have done something to make them feel this.

But how? A voice in his head asked. How would he know?

“Walk away, Nemesis. Unless you want us to flatten you again,” Medic growled. Nemesis laughed.

“You flatten me? You couldn’t do it before Whumpee here, Medic. The freak, the abomination.” Whumpee swallowed the lump in his throat at the words. They still stung, even after all these years. He was an abomination. A magical anomaly. Magic had no effect on him. Pyrokinetics couldn’t burn him, Time wielders couldn’t freeze him. Other Villain’s sleep dust didn’t put him down.

A chill carried on the breeze caused a shiver to run down his spine. Whumpee sucked in a breath and turned on his heel, towards the source, towards the flame and he froze.

“Besides, I’m doing a good deed, Heroes. Reuniting family.”

Whumpee stared at the man in front of him. He was older than Whumpee remembered, jeez, he must be in his thirties now, but there he was. His brother. His hair was longer, and he had a stubbly beard, but he still had the same weathered stormy eyes.

“Whumper?” Whumpee whispered, his voice cracking. Whumpee took a step forward. “Is this real? Are you— are you really—?”

“I’m real, Whumpee.” Whumper said. His voice low, raspy, as if he had emerged from a forge that was billowing smoke into his throat all day. “I’m alive.”

Tears sprung to Whumpee’s eyes. “I thought… oh my god. I thought you were all dead. I thought— how are you alive?”

Whumpee stumbled forward as he spoke, closing the distance between them. Leader grabbed his arm, stopping him in his tracks. He snapped his head towards her, betrayal painting his features. “Whumpee. He’s here with them.”

“He’s my brother.”

“I know.”

“You can’t— let me go, Leader.”

“She’s right, Whumpee.”

Whumpee looked back at Whumper. He had straightened. The dark strands of hair that weren’t tied back into a bun at the back of his head obscured his eyes, making him look more menacing. Whumpee stopped struggling against Leader. He even fell back a step.

“Whumper?” Whumpee asked. His voice terribly small.

“Whumper was kind enough to follow me back once he found out what you were doing here, Whumpee.” Nemesis said behind Whumpee. “Running around with heroes. What would your dear uncle think?”

“Fuck the king,” Whumpee growled, ripping his arm out of Leader’s grip. “He didn’t do anything for me when he found out what happened to us, Whumper. You can’t side with Nemesis! I’m your blood. I’m your little brother, you— I looked up to you.”

Whumper levelled his gaze to catch Whumpee’s eyes in his snare. The weathered grey turned bright like headlights and Whumpee couldn’t look away. “I’m sorry it has to be this way.”

“Whumpee what—” Leader began at the same time that Whumpee pushed her back behind him and said, “get behind me!”

Whumper spoke the old tongue and Whumpee screamed as a spear of pain shot through his temples. He reached up and grabbed his temples, trying to walk through the pain but on his third step it became too much and his leg faltered. Whumpee fell to one knee but shot up again.

“Whumper!” Whumpee cried, gasping as he fell again. There was a hand on him and he could feel more than hear Leader speaking to him.

“Don’t bother, Leader,” Nemesis said as a particularly piercing scream came from Whumpee. Leader turned, glaring over her shoulder at Nemesis. He was closer now, strutting tall towards the pair. “Whumper told me of a certain curse on Whumpee’s family. Royalty, did you know that?”

Leader glanced down at Whumpee who was panting, eyes screwed shut and trembling. No, Leader thought, she didn’t know that.

Nemesis continued. “There’s a myth about the first royals. Two brothers. One who could resist magic, the other who could control it. Can you guess which one ruled in the end?”

“Whumper! Please,” Whumpee cried. Then he went boneless and Leader got pulled down with him. He stared unblinking at the sky, tremors ripping through him every few seconds. A hand grabbed Leader by the hair and yanked her back to her feet.

She clawed at Nemesis’s grip but he didn’t falter, his other arm wrapping around her throat and squeezing. She struggled to get out from under him, but he pushed her back flush against his front. She could only watch helplessly as Whumper advanced on a barely conscious Whumpee.

“Thank you for your assistance, Whumper.” Nemesis said with a smile. Whumper grunted in response as he crouched beside Whumpee.

“Don’t touch him!” Leader spat, kicking at Whumper and barely missing him as Nemesis yanked her backwards before her foot could make contact.

“Don’t worry about him, Leader,” Nemesis cooed. “You’re coming with me.”

Leader threw her weight forward suddenly, but Nemesis recovered quickly and this time when he grabbed her he started to squeeze her throat. She struggled in his grip, but that only tired her out quicker. The last thing she saw was Whumper throwing Whumpee over his shoulder and turning his back on her.

“That’s it Leader, just relax.”

No air got to her lungs and she succumbed to darkness that brushed her vision, her eyes shuttering close in the arms of her enemy.

31 notes · View notes

psychologeek · 1 month ago

Text

Whumptober #13:

TEAM AS A FAMILY | Multiple Whumpees | "Death will do us part."

@keitria this isn't exactly what you want, but part of the universe

There's a basement underneath The Nest.

During the constructions of the old theatre, Tim has extended it sideways and below, making it so sheltered that one could survive anything smaller than a nuke. Whole with enough MRE for a year, necessarities such as bathroom and algae for oxygen and recycling water.

There's a box in the basement. One that used to hold his secret photos, back when he was a child.

It still holds memories.

There's a kid's cap, and child-sized shovel.

("There you go, kiddo! Just like your dad!")

There's an old book and a pair of gloves.

("You are part of a long, powerful dynasty. Never let anyone make you feel ashamed of who you are.")

There's a magnifying glass and a pair of googles.

(“The hair gets in my eyes and Flush’s so mode about it he keeps telling me I just need to cut it but I don’t want to did you know they have shampoo that can make you smell like STRAWBERRIES? that’s totally crash past is so crash but I still like my hair.”)

There's a golden earring.

("What's wrong, Rob?"

And everything was too much. Too wrong.

"It's nothing.")

There's a golden earring, shaped like the sun.

("It just. It feels wrong," he later tried to explain. "Like it's... it was done for a girl. But that was done to my body. But it wrong and- urrgh, sorry, it's hard to explain it.")

Just a single eering.

(Kon and a needle and a pair of earrings -

"I thought maybe it could help," said his teammate. "Maybe we can make it, like, something of our own? Making this - I don't know. Something good? That we choose?"

And there was a needle in Kon's hand, and a hole in his earlobe were a tag used to be. A number.

But after that, they were just friends who shared a single pair of earrings.)

(Like it? I have more mini-fics Whumptober index | And full size fics on ao3. )

33 notes · View notes

oxideblack · 1 month ago

Text

#Blake's 7 #whumptober2024 #no. 13 #TEAM AS A FAMILY #Death will do us part #Vila Restal #Cally #Come on' what could possibly go wrong?#whumptober #art #illustration

28 notes · View notes

hywenhei · 1 month ago

Text

before i do this, i have to put out a disclaimer that I LOVE FOUND FAMILY WHUMP. I SNORT ALL THAT SHIT UP LIKE CRACK COCA COLA. disclaimer over :)

TEAM AS A FAMILY: Familial Curse | Multiple Whumpees | "Death will do us part."

Due to the trauma they've been through, Team Leader starts lashing out more towards their team and becoming more like Villain. The rest of the team agree that the only way to get them to open up is to forcibly bench Leader until they agree to talk. When the team try confronting Leader, Leader ends up trying to fight them off, which leads to them getting seriously injured. Now, the team have to decide whether to patch Leader up or let them suffer while waiting for answers...

"You shouldn't be doing this alone. I knew what I was signing up for when I joined this team; you were just a kid!"

Whumper has captured multiple Whumpees, and over time, despite their differences, they've come to care for each other and heal the others after particularly bad sessions with Whumper. Once Whumper has been taken down and the Whumpees have been taken to the hospital, they become fiercely protective over each other and refuse to let anybody hurt them the way Whumper did.

"We're in this together, whether you like it or not. 'Til death do us part, my friend."

Whumpee is the youngest/weakest member of the team and everyone makes it clear to them that they're the weak link. When Whumper subsequently kidnaps them and tries to use them as bait for their team, Whumpee easily laughs in their face, claiming that nobody will come for them.

wow this is actually the longest prompt list I've ever written ＼⁠(⁠°⁠o⁠°⁠)⁠／ i'm actually quite proud :] see you tomorrow for day 14!!

#whump #whump community #whumpblr #whump ideas #whump prompt list #whump prompts #swiss writes whump #whumptober #whumptober2024 #no. 13 #team as a family #multiple whumpees #death will do us part

32 notes · View notes

kybercrystals94 · 1 month ago

Text

Come Back (ch. 2)

Read here on Ao3!

Whumptober 2024 - Day 13 - Prompts: Team as a Family // Familial Curse

Rated: T | Words: 773

<<Previous Chapter | Next Chapter >>

A/N: Told myself I was not going to write anymore multi-chapter stories for prompt challenges...but here we are...not sure which prompt will be the next chapter, but keep a look out! (Special thanks to @fionas-frenzy & @omegafett99 for their suggestions with this prompt fill!)

“How’s it looking?”

“We’re in luck. Whoever scuttled this ship didn’t wipe the hard drive’s data imprint. I’m transferring the files.” Tech doesn’t have to ask if Omega wants to help. He already knows she does. She would not have sought him out otherwise. He holds out the data stick, and she readily takes it. “But I still need to copy the master drive. It’s under that panel.” He goes back to his own work.

“Tech?” Omega asks a moment later, and he waits for the expected questions to come next. Instead, she asks nothing related to copying the master drive. “What was the war like?”

Omega may have been bound to Kamino her whole life; however, she has been surrounded by the essence of war. The Kaminoans were not discreet in their purpose for cloning soldiers. The question, therefore, seems unnecessary, since she surely knows the definition. “It was a primary mission objective comprised of battles on various fronts.”

“But what was it like?” Omega asks again, emphasizing her words in such a way as to indicate he had not just answered her question.

“Hm?” There is no other answer to give. “I just told you.”

“What was the war like?” Tech echoes the distant question, voice a breathless whisper. “I didn’t understand your question at the time, did I?”

Omega is not present to answer. He wonders if she and their brothers got off Eriadu safely. This can’t all be for nothing. His brokenness, of body and spirit. He does not want to think his mind might be broken too. Not yet.

Time is moving strangely. He doesn’t know if it’s been mere minutes or hours or days. But he can’t stay in this cave forever. He needs to find water at the very least. And then a way off this planet. A way back to his siblings. But maybe he can rest just a few moments more.

“The war was everything,” Tech says to the darkness where the warmth of Omega’s presence lingers like a ghost. Maybe his mind is broken after all. “It was our whole lives, our whole meaning, our whole purpose. There wasn’t anything else. Until the Order. Until you.”

He has to find his way back. He has to tell her about the war. About their history. About her brothers. He has so much left to teach her. He was willing to go through with Plan 99, and had meant the words with his last breath.

Only the plan had failed, and he had drawn breath again against all odds.

“I’m picking up a heat signature over here,” a voice says. It isn’t modulated through the comm of a helmet, but that doesn’t make Tech fear any less. He can crawl further into his cave, hope that he isn’t worth coming after.

Before he can force his fragmented body to move, a set of hands claws into the narrow opening, fingers trying to find holds on the remains of his armor. He wants to struggle, to pull away, but perhaps he is more injured than he initially realized. Perhaps it was adrenaline that pushed him this far.

Perhaps he is dying after all.

Perhaps…this is the end.

He is dragged out roughly and dropped. He cries out in pain.

“What are you doing here, Empire scum?” the voice demands.

Tech coughs, a rattle deep in his lungs. That is not good, he thinks faintly. “I am…” he gasps out, “...not with the Empire.”

“You’re a clone.”

“I have freewill,” Tech bites out, fingers clawing into damp earth. Dew has settled. “My brothers and I chose against the Empire.”

“Your brothers,” the voice scoffs, voice saturated with disdain. “You mean other clones.”

Something inside Tech breaks. These individuals, whoever they are, hate the Empire. Hate him. Hate his brothers. But they are his only chance now. He won’t survive much longer on his own power. “Please. I want to go home.”

“Why would we help you? Why shouldn’t I just end you now, put you out of your misery?”

“Because I have information that might be valuable to you,” Tech says, and maybe some unchecked emotion leaks through, but he is too exhausted and shattered to care.

A boot rolls him to his back, and Tech is staring up into a twilight sky. The misty clouds he fell through have cleared, and stars blink down at him, brilliant pinpricks of light. Even without his goggles he sees them. Omega loves the stars.

“Prove that you have information we want,” the voice says.

But Tech can’t think of anything to say before his thoughts and vision go dark.

TBC

Let me know if you'd like to be added to my tag list!

Tag List: @followthepurrgil @amorfista @mooncommlink @arctrooper69 @proteatook @ezras-left-thumb @maeashryver @baddest-batchers @laughhardrunfastbekindsblog @omegafett99 @heidnspeak @fionas-frenzy @dreamsight73 @royallykt

#Whumptober2024 #no.13 #team as a family #familial curse #Star Wars the bad batch #fic #physical whump #emotional whump #tbb tech #chapter 2 #fics by kyber #tech whump

29 notes · View notes

its-a-ittle-bit-cold · 2 years ago

Text

I just want to tell you I am (Jamie Tartt x reader)

1.2k

warnings: fluff, language? mention sex like once

summary: Rebecca and Keeley ask you a very suspicious question

a/n: short little engagement drabble <3

“How’s Jamie?”

You, Keeley and Rebecca have begun a tradition of pamper and girl talk before matches, almost every week. Each of you bring things for self care to a rotation house- this time yours- and spoil yourselves and each other. The three of you, the medical and technical director, the publicity mogul and the club owner, make a very unusual trio of three generations.

You’re in the middle of putting on a bright blue rubber face mask with your hair up in a mask and dressed in your matching fuzzy robe when Keeley poses the question.

Rebecca busies herself with her nails, pretending to not be interested.

You can’t help a face-splitting smile as you gaze at one of the many pictures of the two of you on the wall of your shared residence with the famous football star player: Jamie Tartt himself. In this particular shot, Jamie is holding you up in front of a sunset, your hair flips down and covers both your faces, but if you look carefully, you can see jamie’s adoring eyes.

patting the mask back on, you avert your eyes.

“He’s… fine. Great. He’s great actually.”

Keeley tears the seal off a tube of teeth-whitening solution.

“You two are perfect for each other,” She tells you. “You don’t take any of his shit. That’s really good.”

Rebecca flashes her white shimmer nails. Both you and Keeley ooh and ahhh at them.

“you’ve been good for him,” the oldest in the room tells you. “He’s been very good for you, as well.”

You smile at your two closest friends.

“d’you reckon you’d marry him?” Keeley asks suddenly. “like, if he proposed tomorrow, what’d you say?”

You stare past her at the screen.

another one of the defining characteristics of your spa days is the sad movies playing in the background. You and your girls always love having a good crying movie in the background, especially if they have happy endings.

(you remember when you had the day at Keely and Roy’s place. The football coach walked in, took one look at the three of you crying while a screaming mother grieved on the huge flatscreen tv, and turned and walked out). In this particular movie, the boy who is sick is being sung to and he starts crying (unrealistically. he’s in a coma).

“It sounds crazy. I know, but i think i’d say yes,” you tell them. “I don’t know. I’ve never loved as hard as i love Jamie. It’s not going away, it’s only getting so much better.”

You watch Rebecca’s face carefully, trying to gauge her reaction. After her horrible experience with Rupert, how would she take this?

She looks like she’s trying to hide a smile.

“That’s great, babes,” she tells you. “really, really great.”

“plus,” you add with a grin. “he’s really, really good in bed.”

“That’s a bonus right there,” rebecca exclaims.

The three of you soon brush the tooth whitening solution on and silently shed tears as the mom on screen begs for mercy.

this is the life.

The match today is a great one to see. Jamie flies on the pitch, and every time he scores he looks up at the box and blows you a kiss. You know he likes to fluster you, and this never fails to disappoint.

when there are only five minutes remaining, rebecca and Keeley stand up and grab one of your elbows each.

“what’s going on?” you follow them, confused into the stands, and to the private elevator. “where are we going?”

they share a look. Keeley squeals and rebecca squeezes your shoulders, but they don’t answer your question.

“You’ll just have to wait, my darling.”

you give them looks. They know you don’t particularly like waiting. You’re the one who always looks up spoilers for the movies you watch because you just can’t wait.

You descend past the entrance and to the pit. The smell of sweaty man bombards your nostrils but they keep walking.

“you guys know you’re not allowed on the pitch, right?”

“don’t worry, babe, we’re not going to the pitch.”

“see even though you say that, it really feels like we’re headed straight into the tunnel that leads to the pitch.”

the second you step foot into the opening, the ref’s whistle blows. The three of you stop short as the crowd erupts into screams and the Richmond chant. Rebecca has her phone out.

“What is going on?” you ask for what feels like the fifteen hundredth time. the whole Richmond team Is getting closer to you guys. Sam and Isaac don’t even say hello, they hoist you onto their shoulders and charge back out onto the field.

“put me down!” you are surrounded by the team - your family. “You two are super sweaty!”

once you reach the center circle they let you down. The whole team - and the other, for that matter, surround you.

Jamie Tartt, your boyfriend, cuts through the circle, followed by all four coaches.

he’s holding a microphone and a ring box in his hand.

you bring your hands up to your mouth and look to your sides. Sam and Jan Maas, the two closest to you give you the hugest, shit-eating smiles you’ve ever seen as jamie gets down on one knee, still in his kit, and flips the ring box lid.

“(y/n), love.” his Mancunian accented voice reverberated throughout the gasping crowd. “I live you more than i’ve loved anyone in my life. I will never stop loving you, and I want to spend the rest of my life with you.” he pauses and you cover your eyes, sloppily wiping up the tears that have gathered in your eyes. “Do you want to spend the rest of yours with me? will you make me the luckiest man on the planet and marry me?”

The crowd, the teams, and even the birds flying above seem suspended in this perfect moment. The moment your perfectly imperfect boyfriend becomes your fiancée.

you nod furiously. frantically.

“yes,” you whisper. “of course i’ll marry you, Jamie.”

he quickly hands off the microphone and charges toward you, taking you into his arms and spinning around amidst the roar of the crowd and the teams gathered around you. You’re crying. you’re both crying. He kisses you in his arms and then takes the ring out of its box and slides it onto your finger.

You press your forehead against his and kiss him again, crying.

This is the moment you will remember forever.

When you get a moment of silence, jamie kisses you sweetly.

“You don’t have to, love.”

you pull back, startled.

does he mean he wants to take it back?

“Jamie?”

“I put ya in the spot out there in the pitch. You don’t need to say yes right now. It’s okay.”

You can see the pain this statement causes in his eyes. You shake your head, new tears of happiness blooming for his consideration of you.

“Jamie, I meant what i said. You are the love of my life, okay?” you hold out your hand. “And we’re getting married.”

He kisses you again, but this time, you can feel the promise of more behind his desperate, post game, adrenaline fueled lips.

should i make this a series?

#jamie tartt x reader #ted lasso #ted lasso imagine #rebecca welton #keeley jones #roy #team as a family #jamie tartt #engagement #sweetheart #proposal #girls day #spa #rubber mask #football #soccet #imagine #x reader

682 notes · View notes

meetinginsamarra · 1 month ago

Text

Take My Broken Love

team as a family - chapter 13 is up on AO3

Standing on the airfield's tarmac and about to fly off to a suicide mission, Sherlock says what he had always wanted to say to John but never had. His words drastically changed the course of events.

Mycroft softly closed the door to his office room in the Diogenes Club behind himself and turned the key to lock it for good measure. He wanted to be alone and most of all, he needed to be undisturbed for one hour at least.

Mycroft allowed himself a quiet sigh and then he cocked his head to make the vertebrae snap back into their normal position. The relief he felt when the tension in his neck receeded was nearly exhilarating.

Maybe he was getting old.

He definitely felt old right now.

READ FULL CHAPTER 13 HERE

#whumptober2024 #no.13 #team as a family #sherlock fic #my sherlock fanfics #take my broken love

14 notes · View notes

promptsforyourwhumpfic · 2 years ago

Text

Whump Prompt #1139

A comes back from an excursion and they’re exhausted beyond relief. They’re covered head to toe in scrapes and bruises and have gone perhaps too long without a meal that wasn’t rations/protein bars/energy drinks. They listlessly stumble from the transport, and head straight to their room to decompress; the team know better than to intervene at this stage.

So in the shower A goes, maybe still in their underwear and t-shirt as they sit on the tiled floor; letting the warm water pulse at strained muscles and rinse away perhaps weeks worth of grime.

Maybe ten minutes later, or however long they decide to give A, B quietly slips into the shower with them, and begins to coax them through washing their hair and body. A doesn’t speak, they’re too tired, and B knows better than to expect an answer. When they’re finished, C is patiently waiting on the other side of the shower curtain; armed with a warm towel and fresh bandages if they’re needed.

In the bedroom adjacent, D has prepared the bed, and laid out clean clothes for A, as E carefully steps into the room with a tray loaded with food/snacks for A to eat when they’re ready. The team know better than to expect A to have a full appetite at this stage.

They fall asleep together that night, thankful A is back (mostly) unharmed. A has a smile on their face as they drift off to sleep.

#whump #you can have as many/few characters as you want #I’m just in a found family mood #prompts #writing #ideas #angst #comfort #team dynamics #family dynamics #team as a family #fluff #exhaustion

307 notes · View notes

alicewritingstories · 29 days ago

Text

Whumptober 2024 Fills Part 4: Secret

AO3

Fandom: Linked Universe

Central character(s): Sky, Hyrule, Legend

No.9: OBSESSION | Broken Window | Bruises | “Frame me up on the wall, just to keep me out of trouble.” (Fall Out Boy, Irresistible)

No.11: SEEING DOUBLE | Convenience Store | Loneliness | “Leave no trace behind, like you don't even exist.” (Taylor Swift, Illicit Affairs)

No.13: TEAM AS A FAMILY | Familial Curse | Multiple Whumpees | "Death will do us part." (Set It Off, Partner's In Crime)

No.14: LEFT FOR DEAD | Hunting Gear | Blackmail | “Because I want you to know what it feels like to be haunted” (tiLLie, kooL aiD mAn)

No.19: BLOOD TRAIL | Abandoned Cabin | One Way Out | "Is there anybody alive out there?" (Bruce Springsteen, Radio Nowhere)

No.23: FORCED CHOICE | Public Display | Broken Pedestal | "I'm doing this for you."

No.24: RADIATION POISONING | Collapsed Building | Equipment Failure | “I never knew daylight could be so violent.” (Florence + The Machine, No Light, No Light)

Warnings: torture, imprisonment, hunger

---

Sky choked as another kick landed in the small of his back. His stomach twisted, but there was nothing left to throw up and all he could do was cough and gasp, reaching for some happy memory he could use to comfort himself and escape this experience.

"Oh, no, Chosen Hero," said the Shadow, kicking him again. "You don't get to pass out just yet."

Sky gritted his teeth and screwed his eyes shut. One of them, anyway. The other was already so swollen with bruises he couldn't have opened it if he'd wanted to.

"It makes sense, though." He heard footsteps walking round him and the Shadow's voice shifted to something like an echo of his own. "You always were a coward."

"If y'... wan' me… g'v… trif'rce… wrong way… go 'bout it." he panted out.

The Shadow snorted. "Do they know? Those two boys I captured you with?"

Sky didn't waste breath on asking what Hyrule and Legend were supposed to know.

"Do they know you're the reason for all their pain?" The incongruously-light footsteps paced around Sky in circles. "The sharp-tempered one… does he know you're why his beloved uncle died in his arms and he's spent his whole life on one quest after another? And your sweet little healer. Does he know you're why his world is, well, the way it is?"

The words sent a chill through Sky's body despite his pain and weakness.

"So much suffering," mused the Shadow, pausing by Sky's head and putting a booted foot on his right arm, just below the manacle on his wrist. "For so many people, but especially the ones you call your brothers. All because you were slow. All because you were a coward."

The words wormed into the wound in Sky's heart that had never fully healed, but he was determined not to show the Shadow that he'd found a weak point.

"I assume you'd like to keep your lie going and let them keep thinking you're a hero just like them." The Shadow leaned a little more weight on Sky's arm, grinding the bones together and finally wringing a whimper through gritted teeth. "Oh, good, I was starting to wonder if you were still conscious."

"Oh… 'm still… conscious." It was intended as a growl, but he knew it came out as more of a moan.

"Good." The Shadow eased up slightly on Sky's arm. "So. Do you want me to tell them the truth?"

Sky didn't, but he still didn't want to show that kind of weakness.

"Not even enough courage to say 'no' out loud, I see." The Shadow stepped off Sky's arm and started pacing around him. "Heroes. You talk so much about goodness and light. Who knew that you would find daylight just as violent as anyone else?" His voice took on the hiss of his lizalfos form even as he spoke.

Sky still didn't reply, trying to ignore the pain in his body and heart, trying not to let the words land.

A scaled hand grabbed the back of his neck to hold him down and he squirmed instinctively, his breath catching in his throat. The Shadow barely acknowledged his struggles except to tighten his grip slightly as with his other hand he released the chain between Sky's wrists from the catch holding it to the floor.

Sky yelped in pain as he was hauled to his feet, still by the back of his neck, and almost before he had found his feet the Shadow had taken hold of his wrists and was dragging him off down the corridor back to their cell, so fast it was all he could do not to trip and fall as he followed, especially as the pull on his arms sent fire chasing through his injured ribs. When they reached the door, the Shadow shoved him against the wall, one hand still holding his wrists high above his head, the other closing on his jaw.

"I want information from you. You want silence from me. I suggest you consider your options," the Shadow hissed in his ear.

Sky knew his options. And giving up the triforce and the other heroes wasn't one of them.

The Shadow unbolted the cell door and hurled Sky in. He cried out as he landed, pain once again shooting through his battered body, and couldn't even try to resist as his chained wrists were once again attached to a tether in a corner of the cell. He had barely gathered up the strength to move when the door slammed and the cell was plunged into darkness.

"Sky?" asked Hyrule's voice. "Are you there?"

Sky stirred, biting back a moan.

"How bad is it?" asked Legend quietly.

"Nothin' new broken," replied Sky. Plenty of new bruises and some lash marks, but nothing deeper. He coughed to clear his throat. "Not too… much blood lost. You two OK?"

"You worry about yourself for now," said Legend.

"You missed a meal," said Hyrule sadly. "We saved you some of our rations. Can you move enough to reach?"

They'd discovered early on that they could just about touch each other if they reached out and strained against the chains on their manacles. Sky didn't have the energy to do that right now. And in any case he really didn't feel right taking any of their meager rations of food and water.

"Finish it," he said. "I… I'll be OK." He coughed again, struggling to find the words he knew he needed to say.

"Sky," said Legend suspiciously, "What's wrong? What happened?"

"There's… something I need to tell you." There. At least he'd started.

There was silence for a moment.

"Sky, we're going to get out of this," said Hyrule at the same time as Legend said, "Save it to tell us after."

"No, I… I have to tell you now. I should have told you before." Sky sighed and winced at a searing pain through his ribs. "There's… a secret I've been keeping. The Shadow seems to know it. I… want to tell you before he does."

Silence. Sky used the time to take another long breath, as deep as he could through a tight throat and broken ribs.

"There's… a curse. On me. On all of us. And it's my fault." Another cough. "It's… I fought… you know I didn't fight Ganon. I fought the demon lord Demise."

Gradually, he told the whole story, bleeding words into the darkness. How he had been too late over and over again. How it had taken him too long to save Zelda and how she had suffered as a result. How when the battle was done and he stood over the defeated demon, he had been too slow once again. The words Demise had spoken, dooming him and Zelda and all their descendents and successors.

"I was too slow," he said bitterly, the words scraping in his dry, worn throat. He ignored the pain and difficulty. It was the least he deserved. "And that's why… that's why. There are thousands of years of blood on my hands, all through time, all across timelines… Everything Ganon has done to any of you or your lands or those you love… ultimately it's because I was too slow." Finally, the words choked off. "I… knew you'd hate me. So I didn't tell you. I… I'm so sorry…"

Then he waited, choking back more sobs, more alone than he'd ever been, for their reaction.

He wished he could see them.

He was glad he couldn't.

Hyrule spoke first. "Sky, drink something," he said softly. "Here." There was a soft scrape of a wooden cup across the stone as it was nudged towards Sky.

Sky stared in the direction the voice had come from. "Dri- What?"

"He's right," said Legend. "You sound awful."

"Didn't you hear anything I just said?" That was more than his throat could stand and he broke down coughing.

"Of course we did," snapped Legend. "Now drink something."

Sky reached out, wincing as he moved his bruised, stiff body, and managed to hook a finger over the edge of the cup and carefully draw it towards himself. The water was stale and dirty, but it was wet and soothing on his dry throat and that was all that mattered. He sipped carefully, not wanting to risk making himself sick.

"Right," said Legend shakily. "Now, you listen to me, Feather-brain. None of this is your fault. You didn't make Demise kidnap Sun and you didn't make him curse you. You did your best to fight to save yourself and your home and your family the same as any of us. It's not your fault you had to."

"It is my fault I failed."

"Stop insulting my brother," said Hyrule, his voice raw.

"I'm… not?" said Sky, confused. "Legend -"

"Not my brother Legend, my brother Sky," said Hyrule.

"We can talk about what happened and what it means," said Legend. "But right now, stop blaming yourself for everything that happened to us. Even if I thought you did it on purpose for some dumb reason, Goddesses know there's blame to share around."

"And you'd have to have done something way worse for us to hate you," added Hyrule.

"Right," said Legend.

Sky's breath caught again and he squeezed his eyes shut, trying not to cry. He couldn't lose too much water. "You… mean it?"

"Yes," they said together.

"Th-thank you."

"Now get some rest," said Legend, more gently now. "We're going to get out of here, but you need to keep your strength up."

"Eat first," said Hyrule, and Sky once again heard the scrape of something being slid across the stone. "It's going to be OK."

Sky grabbed the plate and nibbled the two small pieces of stale bread, still sniffing back his tears.

It's going to be OK.

He still had his family. And with that knowledge to sustain him, he could hope.

It's going to be OK.

11 notes · View notes

b0amagination · 1 month ago

Text

Tastes of Whumptober: Day 13

I had to actually Do Things today so I wanted to write more but I got my idea down and that's what matters :D! These aren't characters I've established or anything, they've just got names because I needed them for the story!

Team as a Family

“Ah, I see! The fiendish pair finally show their faces together when I invite them over for a meeting.” A full, pearly smile swept open the door. “Welcome in, officially.”

The first man adjusted the camera strapped to his chest. His only protection in the lair of the enemy. Two security guards flanked them when they crossed the threshold and took each forcefully by the arms.

“Hey! We had a deal!” The second squirmed and tried to kick the legs out from under them.

“Relax.” A leather gloved hand on his shoulder allowing the other to loom over him. “We had an agreement about contraband. If this is to go on, I’ll be verifying your compliance.”

They patted him down feeling first over his jacket, grabbing at the empty pockets, then under. An “excuse me” was murmured when feeling more intimate areas, and they finally struck gold at his back left pant pocket. A wallet, and a thick one at that.

“That’s my wallet,” he grumbled.

“Yes, I do wonder what’s inside. I’ve yet to learn much about either of you.” They flipped it open and plucked out the driver’s license. “Peter Borowski, hm? Thirty-two years of age, a Capricorn… ah, your address. Now we’re even, don’t you think?”

“Give it back, Dorian.” Pulling the name as a power card didn’t mean much when his own had just been revealed.

“I think it’ll stay right here until we conclude tonight. Insurance for me.” They gestured to the camera. The proof that Dorian wouldn’t be able to steal it.

Peter’s legs were felt down as well as his shoes, including the strange bump under the zipper. They unsheathed a concealed knife and stood up, tutting.

“Naughty boy…” The blade pressed to his neck. “This your plan, sweetheart?” The other was struggling against the guard to point his camera their way.

“You’re under surveillance,” he growled. The knife was lifted and held up in surrender.

“No sense of humor in either of you. Calm down, enjoy yourselves!”

“Them first.” He inclined his head toward the guards.

“Touche.” They twirled the knife between their fingers and chucked it behind the pair, the blade lodging itself snugly into the wooden doorframe. Both flinched. “Finders keepers.”

Deeming their business finished with Peter, they approached his partner now. He stood fast against the invasion, but his trembling couldn’t be hidden from thorough hands. Dorian unzipped the pocket of his jacket and found his wallet, eyes lighting up in the same way they had before.

“It’s certainly an interesting tactic, bringing your identifying information right into my hands like- oh…” A look was shared, knowing exactly what they’d just discovered. Their eyes darted between the pair. “No wonder you never let me see you side by side.”

“Is it really such a big deal?” Peter scoffed. “I can’t see what you find so surprising.”

“Really now? What do you think, Gordon?” They twisted his ID card between their thumb and index finger. “Gordon Borowski?”

“You’d be surprised at the bond you can form when you investigate with your brother.” “I’ll say. Twin, even. Fraternal, assuming that black hair didn’t come from a box.” No resistance was an affirmative, they supposed. “Well, boys. Let’s not dilly dally any longer. Step into my office.”

11 notes · View notes

uuuhshiny · 1 month ago

Text

Vladimir Verevochkin in Survival game (Игра на выживание)

At the escape attempt Semyon accidentally shots Tanya and decides that it’s better to finish them all off and be on his own

#whumptober2024 #No.13 #TEAM AS A FAMILY #multiple whumpees #alt #FRIENDLY FIRE #Vladimir Verevochkin #show: Survival game #gifs #this show... ugh #Look at all of them being bloody and beaten #Он так нежно ее называет – милая #They all in one team #all trying to survive the Game #by uuuhshiny #uuuhshiny's gifs #VV gifs #whumpedit

11 notes · View notes

whump-tr0pes · 2 months ago

Text

Another Way to Be

Many thanks to @newbornwhumperfly for being so generous in letting me put their boy Morja in Situations, and many apologies to them as well for holding onto this story for so many months while waiting for me to finish it.

My masterlist

Morja is a diathésimos, one of a class of indentured servants owned by society’s elite - though some would call them slaves. He has been tasked with a mission of critical importance by his anóteros: to infiltrate a dangerous family that has taken refuge in the north, and kill the criminal that they are harboring: Gavin Stormbeck.

“It is your part to kill me, mine to die without flinching.”

— Epictetus, from Discourses (Translated by Robert Dobbin)

Contents: conditioned whumpee, implied past murder, false execution, misunderstanding whump, flashbacks, PTSD, guilt, past offscreen murder of children, forgiveness, recovery, collared whumpee, collar removal

Note: in @newbornwhumperfly's story, it is not canon that Morja has killed children.

Isaac separated Morja from the rest of the family again, a few days later, like a wolf cleaving a single sheep from the herd. Morja watched it happen - watched as Isaac suggested Gray, Vera, and Tori leave in their car to go into town. Then he watched as Finn and Ellis slipped out, encouraged by Isaac again. Sam and Gavin were harder to convince. Still, as Morja washed the dishes from the morning breakfast, scrubbed the counters that were already clean, wiped every surface in the kitchen and then wiped them all again - he could feel Isaac’s eyes on his back. He could feel the presence of Gavin Uriah on the couch next to him in the living room, too, and Sam’s in their room.

Morja’s hands shook as he worked. He wanted to ask for something else to do, but the thought of breaking the heavy silence made his stomach clench. He reached for the broom and began to sweep the already spotless kitchen floor.

“How about you go take a walk around the lake?” Isaac said gently to Gavin. “Get some fresh air. You’ve been inside all day.”

Morja froze, straining his ears for Gavin’s response. He didn’t hear one.

Not only a useless diathésimos, but an eavesdropper, too. He set the broom aside and turned toward the back door.

“Where are you going?” Isaac called after him.

Morja froze. His heart pounded. His hands balled into fists. His spine was a rod inside his body, perfectly straight, as he turned and looked at the two of them. “I’m sorry,” he croaked, throat dry. “I didn’t mean… I was just going to–”

“I’ll come with you, if you want to go outside,” Isaac said, and he got to his feet.

“No,” Gavin breathed. His hand locked on Isaac’s wrist, pulling him back.

Isaac stared down at Gavin for a long moment. Finally, he murmured, “I just want to talk to him. Alone.”

Gavin shook his head. “No.” The word was barely louder than a breath.

Isaac turned, showing Gavin his back. Morja blinked, confused, before he realized - there was no gun tucked into Isaac’s waistband. That didn’t matter, Morja knew, Isaac could have a knife concealed on him and end Morja’s life that way. Or just use his hands. Diathésimos could be deadly with anything they were given. Morja had ended enough lives with his bare hands to know that.

Isaac turned back to Gavin and knelt, holding Gavin’s face in his hands. “I swear,” he whispered, and the gesture was so intimate that Morja turned away, face flushing. “I’m not going out there to kill him. I swear, I swear, I just want to talk.” He sucked in a breath. “D-diathésimos to diathésimos.”

Gavin took in a breath, too. Morja stared at the floor.

Tactically, it was a good strategy to get Morja alone. He wondered what Isaac would say to Gavin once Morja was dead - what he would have to say to repair the trust Isaac was breaking right now.

Finally, Gavin nodded in Isaac’s hands. Isaac pressed a kiss to Gavin’s forehead and rose to his feet once again.

“Let’s go,” Isaac said flatly. He brushed past Morja and slid the back door open. Morja followed behind, silent and still.

He had already had Isaac’s gun pressed to his head once. He knew Isaac Moore would not hesitate this time.

He trailed behind Isaac as Isaac walked out over the grass behind the house, then onto the pebbly beach of the lake. Isaac walked in silence. Morja’s legs moved mechanically, bearing him along, his hands and head numb. He wondered where and when Isaac would tell him to get on his knees and execute him with quick, clean efficiency.

Isaac had hesitated before. And diathésimos never hesitate.

Diathésimos never show the enemy their back, either. But Isaac was walking only a few steps ahead of Morja, and Morja was staring at his empty waistband.

Once they were about a quarter way around the lake, Isaac stopped walking. Morja knew without looking back that they must be out of sight of the house now, or at least the rear windows.

He wanted to say goodbye to Sam.

He dropped to his knees.

Isaac wanted something else from him, last time–

Shaking, shaking, he crossed his wrists behind him.

“Get up, Morja, I’m not killing you today,” Isaac said without turning around.

Morja choked on a sob. He stared up at Isaac’s back, the pebbles digging into his knees through the soft sweatpants they had given him.

He was tired of the tricks, of the games - ah, diathésimos, I never told you to scream, I only told you to beg, now contain yourself or I’ll bring in another friend to enjoy you tonight - he was tired of the nightmares.

He was tired of never knowing when a correction was coming. Let one come now.

He held his tongue and bowed his head. His shoulder ached from holding his arms in the position they were in, but he would hold them there as long as it took.

Isaac whirled on Morja. “I said get up,” he snarled. Morja flinched minutely. The motion was hardly noticeable at all.

He flinched hard when Isaac held out a hand in front of his face. He steeled himself and braced for the correction. Heat spread through his face in anticipation of the blow. This, he knew. He closed his eyes.

The wind made a soft sound through the bushes and trees around them as Isaac stood motionless in front of Morja. The pebbles ground into his knees, but he hardly noticed it.

Other than the barn, he had not been made to kneel in so, so long.

“Please,” Isaac whispered. His voice sounded so broken that Morja’s eyes opened in shock. The hand in front of his face was still there, motionless–

Not motionless. Shaking.

“Please,” Isaac said again. “Please get up.” He opened his hand further and reached for Morja’s bicep. Morja let himself be pulled to his feet. Helped to his feet.

As he staggered upright, his hand landed on Isaac’s wrist. Isaac allowed the touch, allowed the weight. Once Morja had righted himself, he pulled away, staring at his feet. They stood together in silence, closer than they had ever been. Isaac made no move away from Morja. Morja stood stock still - gunpowder near a flame. A wrong move, and the explosion might destroy them both.

Still, Isaac didn’t seem uncomfortable with Morja so close. He tucked his hands in his pockets and looked out over the lake. The sun shimmered on its surface in the late afternoon. It looked more like a pane of glass than water.

“I’ve been thinking about what I– what happened.” Isaac said. He swallowed thickly. “About what I did. What I…” He wet his lips and stared at the ground. “What I almost did.”

“I understand it,” Morja said. “I am… I was…”

“It’s not about that,” Isaac said. “I know it. And I think you do, too.” He bent to pick a particularly smooth and flat stone from the beach. He straightened and flicked it over the surface of the lake. It skipped along the top several times before it slipped beneath the surface, sending ripples in every direction.

“But I…” Morja blinked, staring at Isaac. “I did. Try. I mean… I apologize. I did try to kill your…” He lapsed into silence.

“You’ve been… forced,” Isaac said. “And I… I know what that… means. What that’s like.”

If you return without proof of death, diathésimos, it’ll be you on the rack next.

Morja shivered and looked out over the lake with Isaac. Large white birds twisted and soared in the air currents above it. His eyes followed them for a while.

Isaac broke the silence. “It’s not just that,” he whispered, pained. “I mean, I…” He glanced back at the house. It was a brilliant white smear on the edge of the lake. “Even after Gray… found… me… I didn’t stop killing. Even when I… even when…” He drew a hand over his face. The pale scars at his wrist peeked out from his long sleeve. “Even after I knew there was… a different way. I… I killed someone on… on our side.”

Morja’s throat tightened. He said nothing, just looked at Isaac.

Isaac chewed his lip and kept going. “It was an argument that got out of hand. They were… going after Gray about a difference of opinion on how to handle a syndicate target. Gray was calm, and the other person… wasn’t. And they… they raised their hand to Gray, and I–” He let out a choked sound and sank into a squat beside Morja.

The birds whirled above them, indifferent to the tears that glittered on Isaac’s cheeks.

Isaac shot to his feet again, swiping the tears away. “Fuck,” he breathed. He glanced at Morja. Morja looked at the ground, bowing his head again. Isaac huffed out a bitter laugh. “You ever kill any kids?”

Shame clutched Morja’s heart. He swallowed, swallowed again. His hands squeezed into fists again.

They were enemies, diathésimos. An enemy is an enemy, no matter their age. Be careful, or I may suspect that you are beginning to sympathize with our enemy.

“Yes,” Morja said, more a breath than a word.

“Yeah,” Isaac responded, nodding. “Me, too.”

More tears shone on Isaac’s cheeks, now. Gooseflesh rippled on Morja’s arms. His throat tightened. His eyes prickled, and he squeezed them shut.

Sam’s body, juddering under his knife, flashed across his vision. He opened his eyes with a soft gasp.

Isaac was looking at him with curiosity. Morja’s lips trembled as he returned the look.

“Is there a way to be something other than this?” Morja said with a numb mouth.

Isaac was silent for so long that Morja thought he wasn’t going to answer. The lake made little ripples on the gravel. One bird landed on the lake and floated. It was joined by another, then a third. The wind moved through Morja’s hair.

“I don’t know,” Isaac finally said. “I’m… trying to figure that out. With Gavin. With Sam. With my family.”

“And… could I…?” Morja’s knees shook. He was ready to let them fold, if it was the wrong question.

He was always ready to kneel.

“Could I… try… as well?” he whispered.

Isaac looked at him, then out across the lake. He nodded. “Yeah,” he said. He rubbed his fingertips along the scars along his throat, the ones that marked him for what he was - or used to be. “Yeah. I think you could.” He turned to keep walking along the edge of the lake. “Want to keep moving?” he said softly.

Morja paused. “Will you…?” His hand drifted up and trailed along the edge of his own collar, still buckled tightly around his throat. “Will you help me?”

Isaac’s gaze softened as he stepped forward. Gently, slowly - so slowly - he raised his hands and loosened the buckle of the collar. Just as gently, he drew the collar through the buckle until it was just a strip of leather hanging on Morja’s shoulders. Morja held one end of the collar in a shaking hand. As he did, Isaac covered his hand with his own.

Slowly, Morja pulled the collar away until it slithered off his shoulders and hung from his fingers. He turned, resolutely, and faced the lake. Then, with perfect precision, he wound up and hurled the collar into the center of the lake, startling the birds who had decided to take their rest there.

@womping-grounds , @free-2bmee , @quirkykayleetam , @walkingchemicalfire , @inpainandsuffering , @redwingedwhump , @burtlederp , @castielamigos-whump-side-blog , @whatwhumpcomments , @whumpywhumper , @stxck-fxck , @whumps-the-word , @justplainwhump , @finder-of-rings , @inky-whump , @thatsthewhump , @orchidscript , @this-mightaswell-happen , @newandfiguringitout , @whumpkitty , @pretty-face-breaker , @cinnamonflavoredhugs , @pebbledriscoll , @im-just-here-for-the-whump , @endless-whump , @grizzlie70 , @oops-its-whump , @kixngiggles, @1phoenixfeather , @butwhatifyouwrite , @carnagecardinal , @annablogsposts , @suspicious-whumping-egg , @starfields08000 , @morning-star-whump , @theelvishcowgirl , @i-eat-worlds

14 notes · View notes