#that is the one time hunters get a free pass in my books

[pretzelwrites]

THE COLONEL'S INSPECTION .

summary: after being apart from caleb for months, you and tara visit skyhaven for the summer solstice festival. he has… concerns about how you spent your time apart.

warnings: nsfw (18+, minors dni), dubcon/noncon, caleb is very controlling and a little mean in this, pet names (pipsqueak, silly girl, and 1 singular ‘gege’), fingering, virginity testing, smut with plot, lowkey badafabanatomy101, extreme jealousy, inappropriate use of evol, pre-confession caleb & mc, manhandling, orgasm denial if you squint. 

characters: caleb from love and deepspace (post-explosion with some edits), afab!mc reader, and tara. everyone is in their twenties.

wc: 2.9k

author’s note: soooo this is my first fic in like ten years… i hope you all like it! i took creative liberties for dramatic effect (i.e. mc’s grandma gifting caleb her antique dining table pre-explosion.) also, this was originally written in present tense before i switched it to past tense so if you notice any typos or grammatical errors…. that’s why rip. if i missed any warnings, please let me know!

* this will likely have a second and/or third part! 

visiting caleb happened less and less often. between your work with the hunter’s association, and his work as a colonel for the fleet, there was not much room in either of your schedules to meet up. that’s why whenever you had a few days of freedom, the two of you made sure to make the best of it. this time, luck was on your side. not only did you manage to get three days off of work because a big case you were working on concluded a month earlier than expected, but it also coincided with the summer solstice festival in skyhaven— and caleb said he would be free for most of your visit. what were the odds?

being freed up from the case meant tara could tag along with you, and you immediately invited her after asking caleb. he agreed to allow this with only one condition: she could not sleepover. it was a surprisingly rude request from the typically friendly and accommodating caleb, plus it was extremely inconvenient for tara. afterall, it was the only summer festival in skyhaven. most hotels would be booked up by now, and what was leftover would probably be low quality or expensive.

and your efforts to persuade him?

“i’m not changing my mind, pipsqueak.” he said dismissively although his tone was still cheerful. his rich violet eyes remained fixated on the new model plane he was assembling while he spoke into the phone, “this home is open to family, and family only.” even if you two weren’t technically family, you understood exactly what that meant— and no amount of pleading or batting your lashes would sway him. so, you begrudgingly told tara she’d have to find a place to crash for the entire trip. your friend, always the optimist, took it in stride and even seemed to enjoy flipping through the listings of premium hotels in the city.

“ooh! Y/N, look at this one! it’s got one of those infinity pools on the roof!” she’d exclaim while shoving her phone towards you over your desk of files. a holographic 3D model of the swanky hotel popped up from her screen. it was sleek and clean, mirroring the aesthetic that decorated most of skyhaven. you smiled and nodded in an attempt to feign the same level of excitement as her, but you found it hard to. 

for some reason, there was a growing sense of dread in the center of your chest. 

two days passed by quickly, with most of the time being spent trotting through the festival with tara and caleb— then finishing the night off at the bar with tara. caleb would say he couldn’t stay long, that he had something to tend to early in the morning, but that meant you two could enjoy yourselves without him. things were going smoothly… perhaps your worries were truly irrational afterall?

the first night, you and tara had gone a little overboard and were too drunk to end up anywhere other than the hard couch in her hotel room. the second night, you were invited out to dinner by tara’s favorite artist from the festival, you couldn’t possibly say no to her desperate pleas to tag along. that meant you had to cancel dinner with caleb twice, but you swore you’d make it up to him later. 

on the third day, you all decided to conclude your last festival visit with something sweet. the local shops were selling all sorts of solstice themed foods, and this particular parlor had brightly colored frozen yogurt with the cutest sun-shaped cookie bites topped off with iridescent sprinkles. you and tara couldn’t bare to pass it up, even though caleb seemed worn out by the constant activities. 

as you stood in line to order, he leaned down to whisper at a level only you could hear, “don’t spoil your appetite, pipsqueak.”  

that sounded like a threat.

you found a small table beside the window, and the three of you settled in. you sat beside tara, and caleb took the seat across from you. right away, the table was loud with lively conversation and laughter between bites of creamy sweetness. you all exchanged jokes and tidbits seamlessly, there was barely a second to breathe between the chatting. considering both tara and caleb were social butterflies, it was no surprise they got along well. 

somehow, the flow of conversation brought you to discuss each other's silly childhood habits. tara laughed at the way you’d steal his t-shirts from the dirty laundry to mop up any spilled juice and coffee, and caleb brought up how he would send you at least ten check-in texts every time you’d go out with your friends when you were teens.

tara’s eyes lit up and she nudged her knee against yours under the table. “oh, just like that guy leonardo! there must be something about you that brings out protectiveness from guys.” she turned to face caleb, “it makes sense that you’d do that since you two are close, but i told Y/N before that it would be so weird if leonardo wasn’t cute!” 

it was like the air had been sucked out of your lungs. even though you and leo were just friends, his feelings for you were hard to ignore, and you had gone on a few dates with him. you had told tara plenty of times that your ‘gege’ was protective, and wouldn’t be fond of the idea of you casually dating someone he’d never met. regardless of how old you both were, caleb was unable to shake this role. you blinked at tara, a silent plea for her to stop— be quiet, take it back, anything other than continue talking. 

she immediately caught on to the pleading look in your eye and attempted to backpedal. “i- i mean, not that it’s- hah- he’s not anything serious, of course. h-he’s a good coworker, is my point.” she laughed nervously, and you joined her in it. the conversation at the table carries on to a new topic, thankfully, and for a moment you thought you were in the clear… until you looked over to caleb. 

it was something only you, someone who had nearly a lifetime of experiencing caleb’s personality, would be able to detect. as he listened to tara’s ramblings about the exhibit of her favorite artist at the festival, the same one you two had drinks with prior, you immediately notice the way his smile fails to reach his eyes. in fact, his typically vibrant gaze seemed to have lost every fleck of color it had. he was merely going through the motions to keep up appearances.

the feeling of dread you had managed to shake off earlier returned tenfold, and the colorful dessert in your bowl suddenly became incredibly unappetizing. it melted into a puddle of sugary goop and soggy bits of shortbread as the sun disappeared under the horizon.

it was tara who first announced she would be turning in for the night. your heart fell further from your chest when you realized that meant being alone with caleb for the aforementioned dinner you promised him, and absolutely could not back out on. dinners with caleb were always a treat, but this time…

“it was good to see you, tara.” caleb’s smooth voice interrupted your train of thought. tara smiled widely and nodded, “it was nice to see you, too! you two have a goodnight!” she turned on her heels to walk in the opposite direction towards her hotel, while you and caleb headed back to his place. 

the trip back was full of what could only be described as bizarre small talk; retreading old ground, repeating details you’d already told him over the phone months ago, and answering questions that felt pointless to you. you wanted to shrug it off, to reason that surely the man you’d known nearly your entire life didn’t deserve to be treated so suspiciously, but this wasn’t meaningless small talk. he was fishing for information, attempting to piece together just what you were up to during your time apart. when the realization dawned on you, you suddenly became concerned about how every detail would be interpreted, and your responses shortened to a handful of words at most. 

you stepped inside of the familiarity of caleb’s home, letting out a satisfied sigh when the scent of him enveloped you like a warm blanket. “mmm, it’s always nice to come back to—” your words are cut off with a loud ‘click’, the sound of the door being locked behind you. 

“i already have dinner from last night prepared in the fridge, it just needs to be heated up.” caleb muttered while pulling off his heavy bomber jacket to toss onto the couch. the fact that this was likely the dinner you two were supposed to have the night before felt like yet another bad omen. “i- uh, great! i-i’ll set the table.” it was a habit you had picked up on in your youth. a dining table full of plates, even if empty, made you feel like your family was bigger than the one you’d found. you swallow down your anxiety and quickly trot to the kitchen, walking past the old table that used to be your grandmother’s. 

when you return, arms heavy with a stack of porcelain, caleb is standing by the table with his hands planted firmly on his hips. furrowed brows and underneath that, eyes downcast and unfocused. he appeared to be locked in deep thought.

“cal—?” 

“put the plates down and come here.” 

his tone was authoritative and flat—  the same tone he used when you were caught in a lie all those years ago. that persistent dread fully consumes you as you carefully place the stack of fragile plates onto the table and walk to his side. you looked to him expectantly, fists tightly squeezed shut, waiting to get scolded for your flakiness during the trip. in a flash, he pulled you flush against his body by your wrists, wedging you between his large build and the table. “a-ah! c-caleb, what the-”

“do you have any idea how fuckin’ rude you’ve been? how much restraint i’ve had to use lately?” his bionic arm, with all of its unnatural strength, takes control of your throat and holds your back firmly against his body. your frantic wiggling only makes the feeling worse, the metal causing red patches of friction on your throat. you have no choice but to stay still.

detecting your reluctant submission, he chuckled in bitter amusement. “ah, so pips hasn’t completely lost her mind…” caleb whispered, his warm breath skating down the side of your face. “cooperate and this will be over quickly.”  his human hand snaked under the hem of your dress, traveling up your skin and leaving a trail of heat in it’s wake. his fingertips gracing the frilly hem of your panties makes you squirm automatically, despite your efforts to stay still. 

he seemed to hesitate for a millisecond before his fingers roll over your mound. “h-hey!” you gasped, your entire body freezes in shock. caleb stroked over your pussy, the only thing between his touch and your skin being the thin lacey fabric of your underwear. his breath deepens as he traces over your folds, dipping a single fingertip down the center to trace over your covered clit. 

“you know, i didn’t pull strings on that case just to share our trip with someone else, right?” there wasn’t even enough time for you to be shocked by this revelation, caleb was moving quicker than your brain could comprehend. his hand trailed from your clothed heat up your body to cup your breast, rolling his palm over your nipple and then firmly squeezing the flesh. it was hard for him to control himself for longer than a few seconds, made abundantly clear by the way he alternated between roughness and tender touches on your hardening peaks.

“and after all i did, you have the nerve to skip out on dinner with me twice in a goddamn row…”

“caleb, y-you’re being-” your voice was trembling under the pressure of his robotic hand. it didn’t hurt, but it was rough and unrelenting. 

“and who exactly is leonardo? why didn’t you tell me about him when i called? just what did you do to make him think he could check on you like that, huh? it’s my job to protect you- or are you trying to replace me?” caleb’s questions are delivered in rapid fire succession, leaving no room for you to respond or plead your case. his robotic arm released your throat, giving you a chance to glimpse the dark blue and red ripples out of the corner of your eye. a heavy weight crashes onto your back, forcing you to lurch forward against the dining room table, your face crushed into the cold antique wood by his gravity evol. you squeal in protest, but all that does is make him press you down harder. 

he quickly hikes up your skirt once more until you can feel the cool air on your rear, which only solidifies how impossibly vulnerable you are in the moment. there’s another beat of hesitation, or admiration, from him before he pulls your panties to the side to fully reveal your pussy. caleb pressed his hand to your warmth, rubbing his knuckles over your folds slowly, like he’s trying to memorize the feeling. “c-caleb, please think about what you’re doing. t-this isn’t right!” you whisper in desperation, as if he’d listen.

“i know exactly what i’m doing. i’ve just never had to resort to this.” he murmurs disapprovingly. “i used to trust that you’d tell me everything, pipsqueak.”

“i have told you every- unff!” your eyes widen from the sudden intrusion.

“hush. i’ll be the judge of that.” caleb’s middle finger, long and thick, slowly pushes it’s way deeper into your heat until it’s fully sheathed inside. “we promised to never keep secrets from one another, remember?” you are rendered completely speechless as his digit explores your most tender area, a place no one but yourself had. sliding along your walls slowly, rotating, prodding. it’s not like he was trying to give you pleasure, but rather inspecting you. sensing your shock and confusion, caleb answers the unspoken question on your lips.

“i’m just making sure you aren’t doing anything you’ll regret... there’s no reason for you to fight this if you have nothing to hide.”

caleb slowly drew his finger out and then slid back in with a second digit. the extra girth made you flinch and teeter on your toes. he watched your legs tremble from the unfamiliar pressure, your pussy fluttering and tensing around his fingers reflected both your discomfort and inexperience. “tolerate it for just a little while longer,” he urged sternly. his fingers pumped as slowly as possible, stretching your walls carefully.

caleb’s touch inside of you felt so right— blissfully so, despite it all. it was like every inch of his finger was created for your cunt, every ridge hitting you just right and coaxing out more slick from your core. shameful pleasure began to build in your body within a few pumps, which didn’t help how pathetic you felt being subjected to caleb’s control so easily. just as you were beginning to enjoy this bizarre sensation, it ended. he let out an approving sigh and pulled his fingers out with a wet ‘pop.’ 

your body was still his. 

despite not being able to see caleb’s face, his relief was palpable. his gravity evol lifted off of your body, but you still weren’t able to move. a different weight was placed on your back to hold you against the table. when two hands are planted on either side of you, you realize that he had practically collapsed on top of you.

“silly girl,” his head leaned against the back of your’s, nuzzling his nose into the depths of your hair. the cold silver of his apple necklace slid against your warm skin, sending a tingle down your spine. “you caused all this distress for no reason… do you enjoy getting a rise out of me?” caleb chided, but his voice didn’t boast that biting edge from before. his eyes fluttered shut as he took in a deep breath of your scent, attempting to still his rapidly beating heart. 

slowly, reluctantly, caleb stood up to free you from his crushing hold. your panties and dress are put back in place with a gentle touch, and although you wanted to slap his hand away, your head was spinning far too much to properly retaliate. he then turned you around to face him, revealing your flushed cheeks– one redder than the other due to the sheer force he had used when slamming you against the table, yet he didn’t acknowledge it or even look slightly regretful. 

his bionic hand reached up to fix your hair, like he often did. the artificial fingers felt strangely cold on your scalp, and not at all reassuring when combined with the heated ache between your legs. just barely in your line of sight, you caught a glimpse of his throbbing member through his denim. a wet patch of precum had formed at the tip along his upper thigh, saturating the already dark fabric with his sin. the sight of it sends a rush of forbidden excitement through you, but you quickly avert your gaze to hide your budding desire. caleb returned your timid expression with a warm smile, this time it actually reached his eyes. 

“now, we can eat.”

[circeyoru]

Love Trial _ Part 4

[Sung Jinwoo x High School Ex-Lover!Reader]

Part 1 ― Part 2 ― Part 3 ― Part 4 (here) ― Part 5

“They’re together again.”

“I say they make a good couple.”

“Aren’t they just so cute together?”

“Wish I had a boyfriend too…”

“They’re lucky to have much other~”

You and Jinwoo were the talk of the school whenever the two of you walked together on school grounds, whether it was going to school together cause you two lived close or walking through the hallways together to head to the cafeteria for lunch. Both of you brushed off the rumours in the beginning, you two were close friends, nothing else.

Then one day, Jinwoo asked, “What are we exactly?”

“Humans.” You answered without missing a beat, even though you were reading your favourite novels instead of studying for finals.

“I don’t mean that!” Jinwoo exclaimed, but caught himself by the evident redden face from his outburst. He cleared his throat and elaborated, “I mean, our relationship. We’re close, but are we just best friends?”

“Excuse you,” You glared at him after leaning down your book, “We are childhood best friends. Mind you, my friendship is one you can’t just get off the streets, mister.”

That seemed to make Jinwoo chuckle, momentarily averting from the serious topic. You tend to do that, but humour was something he liked about you. Oh. “I think I like you.” 

“I like you too, if I didn’t we wouldn’t be friends.”

“As more than a friend, I mean.” Jinwoo shyly corrected you, “What I want to say is I love you.”

You blinked at him and squinted your eyes. “That’s so random, you’re not doing it by the steps.” You showed him your novel, “See, if you truly love someone the way I see it, you need to time the perfect moment and set the mood.”

“Oh…”

“Always.” It was your turn to clear your throat, you raised your book upright to continue reading it. “Back to studying.”

“You’re not even reading the textbook or reference books…”

“Hush! Mind your own business.” While Jinwoo did so, your mind went elsewhere. Being in love and being loved was something you wanted, but you questioned whether you were actually in love with Jinwoo in that way. Novels and films wrote love to be so clear and obvious, but in reality, it never was that easy.

Since that day, you began to subtly look at Jinwoo differently. His little quirks, his little flaws, his little joys. Everything. You knew then when your heart was always at peace with him and you longed for him by your side, that was love. Though, you didn’t know how Jinwoo saw you after that conversation. You assumed he saw you the same way since he learned from his mistake and popped you that question to move onto the next step in your relationship.

How naive.

Following your confrontation with Jinwoo, your picture of him as the stone-faced, strongest, and most impenetrable Hunter somehow changed to that of an abandoned puppy―if that made any sense. 

If someone were to ask you to name the most desperate person in your life, you’d pick this guy who snuck into your lecture hall and boldly sat next to you, even innocently writing down short sentences in a notepad before ripping the pages and passed them to you. You were a diligent student, so you were paying attention in your studies and marked down notes. Needless to say, you were using learning as an excuse to ignore Jinwoo.

To the point that one side of your arm was covered in pieces of paper from Jinwoo. Luckily, it was not your dominant side, else you would have called off Jinwoo ages ago. The messages ranged from mundane ’are you free after this lecture’ to ’can I get you a drink’. Now why weren’t you doing anything like an outburst or trying the usual tricks?

It was mostly due to the aftermath of your rooftop conversation. Yes, you did draw an obvious bolded thick line between the two of you and told him you want nothing to do with him. Yes, you did say you’re leaving things in the past and opted to enjoy your present life than wallow in anguish. However! Jinwoo took it as an opportunity to start over.

Just as you were leaving, he confidently and boldly proclaimed, “Give me some time! I’ll prove I’m serious about you. I know I have no excuse for what I did to you and I know nothing can wash away this slate. But. I want to show you I have seen the error in my ways and want to change.” His voice shook in a way that made your heart ache for it reminded you of the old days when you two were your real carefree selves with each other. “Please, give me a chance and don’t push me away.”

And guess what, you caved and gave him a chance. The only thing you never accounted for was Jinwoo approaching you at any given opportunity. He was almost around you for 27/4, wait you got that wrong, 24/7. Yes, that’s right. See how he has affected you… You can’t even get the time right because he was just always there. Respectfully keeping his distance when you had company, but there all the same.

“I brought you something to drink.” Jinwoo popped up out of nowhere when you were just sitting in the lecture hall waiting for the class to start.

“Can I sit here?” A stray Jinwoo just approached you while you were on the bench resting.

“It’s going to rain and you don’t seem to have- Oh, I thought you didn’t have an umbrella and waited for you…” Jinwoo awkwardly chuckled when you gave him the deadpanned face and opened an umbrella right before his eyes, you went first into the rain but then Jinwoo soon joined your side, “Let’s walk together to the station then.”

There were so many more that you can’t even remember it all… 

“He’s at it again…” Jong-In chuckled as he sat next to you, “When are you going to announce our break-up? I feel like I’m third wheeling when he’s around.”

You pinched the bridge of your nose, sighing in frustration and annoyance. “We can ‘break up’ only if it’s what you want. Not for that insufferable guy…”

“I never seen you this mad and indifferent to someone… What exactly did he do to you?” Jong-In questioned half-heartedly, knowing you wouldn’t enlighten him with your answer or story. He added when you had that look in your eyes, “Hey, we’ve been together―as friends―for a long time and I know how your moods are. Whatever he’s done wrong to you, I think you’re trying to forgive him too.” He chuckled as he commented, “Well, more like you’re putting him through trials of love. You know, to prove himself?”

“...”

“You don’t want to be hurt again, don’t you?”

You weakly nodded―mentally at least. All of this was so exhausting to you. If only Jinwoo had went for Cha Hae-In like he did in his past life… Then everything would been perfect and you could move on with time. 

You glanced over to the door, particularly the glass that gave you a peek of the outside, Jinwoo’s arm was there in view. Even after you told him you didn’t want to see him. You heard Jong-In’s remark, “At least our professor banned him from the lecture hall, no disturbance for the prized student and you get some time and space away from him.”

You turned back to your lecture notes, a tiny―very tiny―upward curl at the corner of your lips. “Stupid dummy…”

Note: The last part will be uploaded tomorrow on Valentine's Day~ My treat to you since this one is quite short~ Spoiler, there's a bit of angst, but it's a fluff end. No worries. Not breaking any hearts.

𝕮𝖎𝖗𝖈𝖊 𝖄.

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[blackcat-star]

[Married] Wiege.

Husband!Jinwoo x Fem!Reader.

« Someone who loves you | That's all he needs »

_____________________________

"흠, 음, 아가 (Hush, my little child)

어서 잠들거라 (And drift into your dream)

눈을 감으면 낙원에서 (A place where you can leisurely play)

뛰놀거라" (Our paradise)

Night has fallen over Seoul. It is time to start your bedtime routine which will help you unwind and sleep deeply tonight.

The moon radiates its bright light from the night sky tonight as it floats above like a large shining pearl. A soft spring wind moves across the landscape and enters the small room of a house near the city limits.

The pale curtains move slightly with the passing of a soft wind. Soft moonlight enters through the window to brighten the space where stuffed animals mingle with children's books in a pleasant and magical setting.

The room remains dark because the main lights are off while the night lamp shines softly and moonlight enters through the window.

Tonight is another quiet and peaceful spring night.

People who want peace should choose to live in the areas beyond the city limits. The outer city area remains quiet throughout the night with no vehicle noise or crowds like downtown but instead offers peaceful sounds of a baby sleeping next to its mother.

Sung Jinwoo remained still at the entryway while gazing into the room. He had just returned, he always came home late, his wife often nagged him about it. What could he do, the night was his territory, the most suitable time for all investigations and crimes. His job was to investigate and detain criminals, it sounded heavy and tiring.

But he did all this just to return to the warmth of his family's love.

His liitle, beloved family.

You were sitting by the crib, holding your little child in your arms. Your lips moved slightly, singing a lullaby in a deep, sweet voice like honey, so gentle that it made his heart skip a beat. You reached out to pat his back, your eyes strangely gentle.

He should have showered, changed, and crawled into bed like every other day. But that lullaby stopped him. Fixed him there, as if if he stepped into... this peaceful moment, it would shatter like glass.

Suho slept soundly in his mother's arms. Enveloped in the warm breath of mother's arms, mother's heart and the warmth of home.

Jinwoo's heart suddenly felt like it was melting.

He never thought that one day he would be able to start a small family of his own. The E-rank hunter back then never thought that his life would be like this, he didn't even dare to dream. Back then, he only cared about how to live, how to make money, he didn't think about falling in love, getting married, and having children.

Looking back at himself now, Jinwoo felt that he had accomplished so much. This was the greatest achievement he had ever had.

His wife and son.

You used to be a very strong and free-spirited person. You were always full of life and enthusiasm. Now that image has been replaced by a gentle image of you, the image of a mother and a wife.

You were once the brightest light on the battlefield.

He met you during the most chaotic days of his life.

A young girl with eyes that never looked down, walking through the ruins of a destroyed gate as if victory was inevitable. I once told him.

"This world is cruel, Jinwoo. But if we don't fight it, who will protect the weaker ones?"

You once stood alone in front of a high-level ogre, blood flowing from your forehead to your chin but my lips still curled into a smile. You once carried the wounded Jinwoo out of the battlefield, cursing profusely while your hands trembled with worry. You once rushed forward first, drawing your weapon from your backpack and shouting.

"Back off! Let me clear the way!"

Jinwoo never forgot that small but burning figure. Like a flame that resisted the storm.

You were never afraid. You were the first person to teach him how to hold a knife properly, the first person to swing a shield for Jinah when she was ambushed near the school gate. You were the one who climbed over the corpses of monsters alone to save a living child. And who once said, "We do not fight for fame, but for those who cannot fight."

There was a fire in you - strong, fierce, unyielding.

Yet, you were the one who put down your weapon first.

During your daily morning routine you started talking as you both drank coffee on the balcony. During your morning coffee you asked "What if I stop wanting to fight tomorrow? All I want is to become a wife and mother while devoting my time to my family."

Jinwoo paused to think before responding with a smile. "You made me realize this is the most lovely statement I have ever heard."

You smiled. Those eyes were no longer as fierce as on the battlefield. But gentle. Soft. But still you.

Jinwoo entered the room, very quietly, as if afraid to break the warm image. He sat down next to you, looking at the little boy who was dozing off. Suho's jet-black hair was like his, but those plump lips and rosy cheeks - they were clearly yours.

You didn't say anything, just leaned against your husband, your hand still patting Suho's back, the lullaby still on your lips.

"부드러운 (The gentle wind)

바람이 춤추고 (Writing its symphony)

간절하게  (The morning comes)

숨결을 스며들 때 (Unshaken and so certain)"

Suho is still sleeping soundly in his mother's arms.

Little Suho doesn't need to worry about anything, because his mother is always here to take care of him, his father is still here as a strong shield, protecting him from nightmares. And the shadow soldiers, always silently following behind, making sure everything is okay.

Suho was born with all the joy and love, so don't worry about anything, just sleep well, sleep soundly.

Jinwoo gently touched his son's cheek with one finger. The baby moved slightly, his tiny hand waving as if welcoming his father's presence, then lay still in your arms.

Then he looked at you. The soft light fell on your face, highlighting your eyes and lips.

In Jinwoo's eyes, you were always beautiful.

Jinwoo suddenly wanted to cry.

He would give anything for moments like this.

He would give up everything, even his blood and life, just to be able to keep this moment forever.

Jinwoo reached out, gently grasping the hand that was placed on Suho's back. That hand was still as strong as before, pulling him back from the brink of life and death. Now, that hand was caressing a small creature, with all the gentleness in the world.

The moonlight fell on your hair, creating a soft glow around your face. You were no longer the warrior you once were – no more blood, no more wounds, no more strong eyes that always looked forward. Now, you were Suho's mother. Jinwoo's wife. Home.

He just sat next to you, quietly listening to Suho's steady breathing, your lullaby, the spring breeze gently blowing through the window, and... the sound of his own heart beating.

He had thought he was dead, since the day his father went missing, then his mother fell into a coma, since his heart was covered in darkness, since he stepped into those dark and bloody dungeons. He had thought his heart would only live for fighting, for revenge, for protection.

But after he had solved everything, his heart beat for something else – for love.

Jinwoo lifted his gaze to study the window frame. The moon shines like a perfect round pearl in the night sky. The spring breeze continues to softly move through the grass blades as if a gentle spirit touches everything.

"자연스레 (Without a word)

품을 거야 (You will embrace)

노래하던 바다" (The endless sea that sings)

TAfter the song ended you placed Suho back into his crib.

Jinwoo held you close as he asked "Do you need rest?"

You leaned against his chest for support and pressed your face into his muscles while saying "Yeah...Suho tested my patience tonight and took forever to fall asleep."

He laughed quietly before placing a kiss on your hair and said "Thanks, love."

You studied him as you asked, "Why do you thank me?"

Jinwoo held your hand softly while keeping his gaze fixed on the peaceful face. "For choosing me. For staying here. For giving me a lovely family."

The moonlight remained suspended like a precious stone above the night sky. The soft spring air brought the fragrance of flowers and the night's fresh air into the room. Inside the small room three hearts made a soft family beat as they all throbbed in harmony.

"You are my home."

"And you are the last person I trust to turn my back on without defense."

_______________________

the song lyric: Wiege - Alien Stage

_________________________

Part of LIFE WITH YOU.

__________________________

[loveanddeephistory]

LaDs x Archaeologist! Reader

While Rafayel absolutely would have an interesting dynamic, what about the other lads? This is gonna be a loose version of canon, reader remains childhood friends/having grown up with Caleb and Zayne. Bulleted headcanons

WC: 2.7k

✨Xavier✨

✨ This man is OLD. He has SEEN SOME SHIT. He’s been on this planet for over two hundred years, depending on where he lived and bounced around across the world he’d absolutely have bared witness to the development of anthropology and archaeology. Whether or not he paid much attention to it is another question.

✨Since you’re not a hunter, the next most likely place to meet Xavier as an archaeologist would be the library or a local museum. He’s been going through some old items, and realized he had some old momentos he didn’t feel the need to keep anymore. Rather than throw them away, he asked if the museum may be interested. You’re working as a consultant when he walks in.

✨While curation and collections work are not on your resume, you help the director anyway, sorting through the relics of a forgotten age. The handsome young (looking) man is quiet, but would answer questions as asked. ✨ You find out he’s a Deepspace Hunter. And a UNICORNS member at that. You try to thank him and ask about his job, but he shoots you down and instead asks about yours.

✨What was supposed to be an hour to assess what items the museum might take turned into multiple hours. Xavier didn’t seem keen on discussing his connections to the items in front of him, brushing them off as old trinkets great aunts, uncles, and other relatives passed down. But when you began to discuss the history and context behind them? Those big blue eyes started to sparkle like the stars in the night sky.

“I… didn’t think people still cared about those kinds of things.” He murmured, sliding his thumb across an object, wiping away a small layer of dust. You flash him a grin, snapping on the archival gloves to handle some of the more sensitive matters.

“I do. It’s my job to. I work more in the field, but I pitch in at museums where I can. Finding the stuff is good and all, but giving it a proper home where it will be cared for and preserved for future generations is just as important.”

✨ Consider his interest piqued. ✨Long, constant missions don’t leave him much time to hang around. But it isn’t the last time you see him. He seems to pick up odd jobs everywhere, when he wasn’t on a mission or fast asleep somewhere. One time he was handing out fliers, another he was running a second hand book store. But every time you saw him, he’d stop you to ask about the collection he left. About any excavations you’d been on, or research you’d done.

✨ He might not talk much about himself, potentially making you self conscious that you’re talking about yourself too often, but he’s just enthralled. He’d spent 214 years on this planet, and oh how times had changed in those two centuries. But your passion for the past, the one he knew and the one long before him? It frees him in.

✨ Expect him to “just so happen” to drop by the first time you’re on a long term excavation far from Linkon. He brushes off any questions of ‘how did you know I was here’ or ‘how did you get clearance for this’ with just flashing his UNICORNS identification. Wanderers, metaflux, you know the drill

✨Oh but the one time there was a Wanderer that showed up during an excavation? He was there in a heartbeat. ✨ Your passion for the past and the beauty of its preservation for the present and future caught his eye. While you might not have mummies or sorcerers chasing you down, there were real threats that did exist. But your fellow history fan had your back, from that point on.

🐠 Rafayel 🐠

🐠For a more in depth exploration, check out Trowels and Scales

🐠You two meet while you’re doing research on Lemuria, preparing for an underwater excavation. He’s polite but none too pleased.

🐠I mean, puh-lease, you think he’s gonna let this stinky human anywhere near his homeland? An archaeologist no less? Absolutely not

🐠He’s well read. He knows his history. He was present for it, anyway. He knows archaeology. He knows archaeologists. Just a fancy human way to say “thieving culture vultures with a dash of supremacy”. Absolutely not.

🐠That being said? He keeps an eye on you. Watches you from afar. You get spooked when the first phase of the Lemurian excavation goes south, so he takes that as a good sign.

🐠But still. He needs to keep an eye on you. But the more he does, and the more he “accidentally” runs into you, the more he finds his thoughts being challenged.

🐠You insisted on working alongside the community. You insisted on working with them, not against them, on being respectful.

🐠He doesn’t know what to think of you. You’re earnest. But you’re human! You’re an archaeologist! But the more he learns, the more he sees, the more he finds… he realizes you’re serious.

🐠He doesn’t open up fast. Far from it. It’s little tests here and there, seeing if you’re serious. His trust is hard to come by. But damn, you manage to get it. 🐠Maybe you’re useful in the long run. Having an archaeologist helping him? Good. It’s been a long time coming.

🐠But you’re cute. Really cute. That passion, your fervor for doing the right thing, for history and art…

🐠 Maybe there’s something here. Maybe. Now to get rid of that fake pearl around your neck…

❄️Zayne❄️

❄️ He was always quick to defend you growing up if other kids on the block made fun of you for your nerdy interests. An icy stare usually made them shut up.

❄️He had to admit, he liked the thought of you both being ‘doctors’ some day together. Him, cardiac surgery. You, archaeology. A social science is still a science, though you didn’t need to go to med school.

❄️You two lost touch when he moved away, only to meet again at a conference you both had been invited to. He was thoroughly surprised to see you.

❄️You could see the scars peeking out from under the sleeves of his collared shirt. He caught you staring, and at first cleared his throat while looking away. You merely rolled up your own sleeves, showing off the multitude of scars on your own forearms.

❄️”We match.” It was a surprise. While he knew your discipline meant the hazard of injury while in the field, he certainly hadn’t expected this. Your arms and hands were littered with small and big scars. As his eyes trailed over each one you smiled and pointed out what each one was from.

❄️Machete mishaps, things falling, accidents with students, a sharp tape measure retracted a little too close to skin (yes this has happened to me 🫠)

❄️Zayne didn’t know if he should scold you for being reckless, scold the people around you for being reckless, or both.

❄️He did both.

❄️The organizers noticed your chemistry and found out about your history together, and asked if you’d be interested in running a joint panel about the evolution of medical history, starting with what’s been found in ancient archaeological digs vs modern medicine. You agreed to make it a joint project for the conference the following year.

❄️Which meant meeting up on your days off (which were few and far between for the both of you), getting some drinks and macarons at his favorite bakery.

❄️Once the time came, it was one of the most anticipated cross-disciplinary panels to be hosted. Attended by medical students, anthropologists, archaeologists, and people just generally interested.

❄️You brought in some physical anthropologists to balance the history with the anatomy, while Zayne brought some of his colleagues with knowledge of old medical pathways.

❄️The whole event was a smashing success, praised across discipline for its thoroughness and its importance. Medical students understood the significance of the history of medicine, while anthropologists learned something new about the modern medical system.

❄️While schedules remained tight, your meetings with Dr. Zayne remained constant. Meeting up for drinks, macarons, and to review each others academic papers.

❄️Oh, and if you do pursue your doctorate? Know for a fact he’ll be there for your dissertation, front row, already wanting to rehost that panel once you’re a Dr. too

🐦‍⬛ Sylus 🐦‍⬛

🐦‍⬛I need to find and tag that person who said we should let Sylus loose on the British Museum, please let me know if you know who that person is because they’re RIGHT

🐦‍⬛Let’s say you two meet under… unsavory circumstances.

🐦‍⬛You were working on a high prestige excavation, only to find some of the precious jewels uncovered to have been stolen. Now this was a very important heritage site to the local community so on top of being frustrated and angry, you’re downright heartbroken.

🐦‍⬛You hear through the grapevine the thieves have an auction set up at the nest in Linkon. It’s ballsy, but you’re pissed enough as is, so you get yourself an invitation and show up.

🐦‍⬛No one recognized you (easy to get away with since you weren’t covered in the muck and grime of an excavation) so you watched and bide your time.

🐦‍⬛The auction starts, and already the price is high. People are bidding all over the place, and you just have to grind your teeth as you take mental notes to report this to the authorities. But you knew if it crossed the line into the N109 zone, it would likely never be seen again.

🐦‍⬛Finally, the highest bidder won. 5 million. Five. Million. Everyone else was bidding in the thousands, disappointing the thieves greatly, until a single low voice called out his number. The thieves not so subtly rejoiced.

🐦‍⬛You watch as a huge man slowly sidled up to where the jewel rested. His white hair and red eyes glowed in the low light of the club, and you nearly broke your martini glass. Typical rich assholes thinking they could just buy and sell precious relics with no regard to who they really belonged to.

🐦‍⬛You’d seen enough. You paid your tab and made your way out, ready to report this to the authorities when a black mist covered your mouth and pulled you backwards. You couldn’t scream. You couldn’t run. 🐦‍⬛”Don’t think I didn’t see you eyeing these new jewels, sweetie.” That same low, baritone voice from the auction caught your attention. The black mist around your mouth vanished as the man cockily walked towards you, the jeweled draped over his hand. “I haven’t seen you here before. What are you?”

🐦‍⬛You knew better. You really did. You knew to keep your mouth shut. But you didn’t. You scoffed. “Just the person who found those jewels.”

“This isn’t finders, keepers, sweetie. I paid for these fair and square.”

“And those thieves that pawned them off to you stole them from an archaeological site! Those belong to their proper community.” You spat back. “I don’t want them. I want them to go back to where they do belong.”

🐦‍⬛There was a beat. A pause. In the shadows of the alley you couldn’t quite see his eyes. But the mist holding your wrists together dissipated as well. You didn’t make any stupid moves, gently rubbing your wrists as he simply hummed.

🐦‍⬛”I didn’t realize your kind were so… altruistic nowadays.” You scoffed.

🐦‍⬛”Times have changed. That doesn’t belong to you, or me, or those thieves. You’re right, this isn’t finders keepers. We’re not children.”

🐦‍⬛He walks off without another word, going back inside. You take the opportunity to get the hell out of dodge, before filing a police report.

🐦‍⬛You were thoroughly surprised the very next day to have your phone blown up by your contacts from that community, thrilled that some Good Samaritan returned the jewels in the night. The thieves had been apprehended and revealed to be smugglers who did this at multiple sites. You refused to take credit, that wasn’t you. But, who was it? It couldn’t have been that big man from the nest.

🐦‍⬛You started feeling watched from that point on. You’d catch glimpses of a crow tailing you. Hanging out outside your home.

🐦‍⬛Next excavation you were on confirmed your suspicions that the odd man with the white hair was your newfound hero. Another attempted robbery happened- only for the artifacts to be returned, the thieves dropped off with the police, and a note.

🐦‍⬛”Keep your sparkly things under lock and key, I could suggest a few supplies. -S”

🐦‍⬛ Whoever this ‘S’ man was, he seemed to have a vested interest in the proper homes for artifacts. So even with that crow following you around, it became a new sense of peace.

🐦‍⬛Sylus found you interesting. Very interesting. He returned that necklace and got his money back from those vagrants. Thievery wasn’t something that inherently bothered him. But preying on a community and stealing their artifacts? Absolutely not. He’s killed for less.

🐦‍⬛It takes him back to his space pirate days for a minute. This was a lot less showy than the last time he dealt with repatriating goods, but it got the job done. Now that you’d caught his eye, he had something much more valuable than any needless trinket.

🍎 Caleb 🍎

🍎Do you really think he doesn’t remember how you’ve wanted to do this since you were a child??? Come on. This is Caleb we’re talking about, here!

🍎Every history project, every mathematical equation, your college application, your grad school application. It got harder as you both got older, with him in the DAA. But he did his best to be as present as he could, to be a call away for any help you might need.

🍎But, secretly? He wouldn’t mind if you faltered somewhere along the way. Not that he didn’t want you to succeed! Not in the slightest.

🍎But the job was hard. Long, unforgiving. Publish or perish. You were stressed enough, and the weight of your pasts weighed heavily on his shoulders. A small part of him felt bitter. Why would you return to the world of science, when it had done you two so much harm? Not that you remembered.

🍎Then again… that passion. That commitment. The way your eyes lit up when you passionately told him one day you’d be off exploring the world, making new finds… how could he ever deny you? He couldn’t.

🍎So he helped look over your applications to suggest word changes. He helped coach you through it. While dendrochronology and radiocarbon dating might make his head spin, he listened to every word, more than happy to just be your duck so you could figure out the problem on your own.

🍎He cleared his schedule to come and watch you defend your thesis after grad school. He had a bouquet of flowers at the ready, already knowing you’d pass with flying colors.

🍎He’d be the first to know of every find. Every new gig. Your first excavation out of school, your squeals of excitement just made his life light up.

“Y’know, pipsqueak, one of the benefits of havin’ your own personal pilot is bein’ able to get to these gigs faster, and with better company!”

“Caleb!” You laugh, still thrilled and giggly over the newest job. The thrill of the work hadn’t yet faded. He hoped it never did, if it meant hearing you laugh like that. “You can’t ditch work every time I get a new job!”

“Yeahhhh? Wanna bet?” The playful lilt in his voice just made you grin harder, your cheeks hurting.

🍎Of course, he still ran background checks on every one of your coworkers. Every time you complained about a chauvinistic man in your crew he’d handle it himself.

🍎He’d watch closely, making sure he’d be the first to know if your signal got too faint while in a remote part of the site. And if there was ever an emergency, he’d often know before the supervisor of the site did. He’d be calling nonstop, asking if he needs to fly down there, sometimes not bothering to wait to ask.

🍎He’d let you do your job. You were so proud of yourself, so fiercely independent. But you were still that little pipsqueak he knew and loved. And no matter what, no matter where you were in the world, he’d come to you. Access and permissions be damned.

[bubbleddisasters]

Stupid Shit I’ve done/Gotten myself into by accident/been dragged into as Twisted Wonderland Characters:

—————-

Ace : Heard my sister screaming bloody murder downstairs and didn’t do shit because I assumed she was watching a horror movie. Turns out there was a fire in the oven.

Bonus: Sniped my friend in the eye from across the Cafeteria with a Ketchup Packet, Meant to hit his glasses, but he repositioned them at the last second.

Deuce: Answered Maine four times on a Historical Geography test and was wrong all four times.

Cater: Threw my phone out of the window in a panic after seeing one of my Idols followed me back.

Bonus : Accidentally convinced a transfer camper from Wales I was from London after I quoted something in the accent to myself in the showers and was too awkward to tell them I wasn’t when they struck up the conversation.

(I am from America, and the camp is in America.)

Trey: Accidentally created a puddle of Dark Red Icing and Stepped in it four times in a row while making a cake at 2 am.

Bonus : Befriended and helped out the owner of a French Bakery down the street when they started out, they ended up becoming really popular (rightfully so, her stuff is amazing) and now I either get free shit and/or Friends and Family Discounts.

Riddle : I have read the dictionary on multiple occasions out of sheer boredom.

Bonus: I once read the bible and marked down verses. Im not religious I just needed to win an argument.

Leona: Slept through an earthquake and 3 ambulances coming to my house bcs my sister was hurt.

Ruggie: Waited for families going inside to pass by and asked them to hold the door for me so I could sneak into a VIP rooms for free food. (Usually only at fancy hotels but luckily this strategy is flexible when your 5’2 with a baby face.)

Jack: Used to Smash open large rocks containing Crystals or Quartz at the beach as a kid, and now I have a large collection of them.

Bonus: I have extremely good hearing, to the point I hear into the negative decibels up to -15 - -20 (according to the audiologist this is rare but i literally don’t know shit about audio and decibels) so my old dormmates used to try and bribe me to tell them what I heard about certain things or themselves.

Bonus 2: Almost got shot by an illegal hunter while in the woods with my sister.

Floyd : Cracked my skull open at the pool, lost consciousness for a few seconds and woke up in the water calling for help, then got confused on why I was calling for help.

Bonus : A Sea lion once came up to me while I was scuba diving and did little circles, bumped its snout on my mask and just followed me the whole time in a very gleeful manner as a temporary homie.

Bonus 2: Apparently ate / took bites of my moms library books as a little kid (????) according to the librarian.

Jade: Taught myself to untie my hands with my hands behind my back, tie by hands behind my back with my hands behind my back, deciphered, translated and memorized a fictional hieroglyphic language, Read from Act 1 to Act 6 of Homestuck, and accidentally discovered how to disguise Chocolate Ice Cream as Pistachio; all within the span of 2 weeks. (I had covid and was A-Symptomatic)

Bonus : Lived in the Woods for 7 months (in total), had a large bag of mica and Almost Drowned in a tent when there was no moving water nor rain. (Basically, I was asleep, Woke up underwater, nearly went back to bed, then shot out of my tent screaming “My Tent Titanticed!” )

(It was like 3 am don’t judge me)

Azul: Somehow ended up with $2200 dollars in $100s in Monopoly at the end of the game. Also have been stuck between two identical twins while talking with both and boi that shits TRIPPY. (I also almost died with them later but it was fine)

Bonus: I lived on a middle of fuck knows where island during the spring and summer up until covid, yet I absolutely despise eating fish or Shellfish, and the smell often makes me nauseous.

(Bonus 2: I love shiny things, but very specifically fancy looking keys. I also had a weird obsession with signing a shiny contract after watching Ariel. Another tiny thing Is I own a Flotsam and Jetsam Scarf which I chuck around when Floyd or Jade pisses me off ingame.)

Kalim : Got distracted by a cool leaf while at a fancy resort in Xatapa, Mexico, and waddled off from my parents and explored around to try and find more, somehow managed to get extremely far and ended up lost in a whole different city for 6 hours while trying to find my way back.

Bonus 1: I had an obsession with Kiwis for awhile as a kid, and our neighbors house had a Pangium tree that reached over to our yard. (It was planted before either families moved in so we didn’t know) I thought it was some kind of strange Kiwi and ate one. I didn’t like it and was like “Oh maybe its not ripe” and waited 3-5 months then tried it again, same reaction, repeat process one more time.

I went to my parents out of curiosity and asked them what it was, and so after some process I am unaware of but I think my mom brought one of the fruits somewhere, we discovered what it was.

Pangium contains Fatal amounts of Cyanide if not properly prepared. I was fine but for the love of anything please don’t try eating it like little me did.

Bonus 2: I’ve Almost died more times than I can count on both hands and feet. Im not an heir or something fancy I just have wackass luck.

Jamil: Once had to talk my sister out of jumping off a tour boat because our cousin dared her to.

Bonus : Managed to make French Toast in the middle of the woods with Dehydrated Milk, Cinnamon, Three Eggs I stole, and a loaf of bread we got once a month. Also made 3 kinds marinated chicken in the middle of the woods.

(My Cooking Style is literally “just trust me bro.” I’m like Lilia except it actually works and is edible)

Epel : Whenever we went applepicking at my Grandfathers house, I’d climb into the trees and throw or pass the apples down. Sometimes I actually wish I could sit in trees more often shits comfy.

Bonus: My Mom was a Champion Horseback Rider as a kid, and sometimes took us to this Ranch I shall not name for my own privacy, but I’d run around with this group of kids and this one herding dog like a damn movie protagonist, sometimes go riding horses, or the one time we stole a tractor and near crashed it (THE REGRETS I STILL HAVE-) etc.

The WHIPLASH from that to going back to a whitewashed Northeast suburban town is insane.

Rook: My Cousins and I, and sometimes the kids at the priorly mentioned ranch, would play the most intense games of manhunt (basically really intense hide n seek at night) ,

I mean wearing camo if you had it, alliances, little dollar store walkie-talkies, code words, binoculars, climbing in trees or hiding in bushes/tall grasses/Hay to “scout”.

I hid in a large pot/vase more than once and another time on a roof, and (ONLY ONCE, DO NOT DO THIS IM STUPID) under a car.

I still remain the top in last man standing points. Mostly bcs I’m stingy with rescues but shhh

Vil - Accidentally poured a lot of liquid eyeliner into my eye, was literally crying out Eyeliner for 30 minutes. Also taught myself to run and jump in heels as a kid because I thought it looked cool in movies.

Ortho : Unknowingly was Hacking my Elementary School Databank for several years,

I genuinely thought it was normal to go on the school website, press a few buttons and be able to find a friends address if I had a playdate and needed to tell my mom where the house was, a parents phone number if needed communication with my friends parents , and mostly ignored the other general info.

I didn’t even know I did this until my dad told me a few months ago that I almost got suspended for it but by the time they found out it was the end of my last year there. ;—;

Edit: I feel I should elaborate that my dad had somewhat recently told me that I almost got suspended for that in elementary school, but all that happened 5 YEARS ago. Hence why I was so surprised because I was never told back then.

Idia: Accidentally acquired both a Nahida and Eula in Genshin and was genuinely annoyed at the time, they are now my most powerful DPS’s…

Bonus : I own a shit ton of original Japanese first edition Pokemon Cards my cousin gave me, (they are probably worth more than me which is neat), and I have a giant pile of Pokemon plushies I have infact fallen asleep on or in on multiple occasions.

Bonus 2: I was playing Breath of the Wild, and my very first thing I did after getting off the plateau was beeline for the castle. I actually got all the way up and took out 2 blights but the Wind one kicked my ass.

Bonus 3: Got confessed to and asked out by a guy I did not like nor knew very well, and I panicked, said “Maybe, Sorry no.” And ran into a wall. Also have crawled through a chute to avoid an awkward situation as a kid (do not recommend its dusty and definitely not safe)

Bonus 4: Once didn’t sleep for 5 days.

Malleus : Accidentally attended a Private Party and a Private Funeral in the same week. I was not invited nor knew anyone present. Stayed there for most of it because I was too nervous to say I wasn’t supposed to be there. Whoop.

Bonus: Got nicknamed the “Trip Curse.” By my Old Dormmates because everytime I went on a trip with them everything seemed to go to shit or get hella chaotic.

Bonus 2: Another camping one: Once woke up at night with a shit ton of fireflies just chilling in my tent. It was serene but also I genuinely thought I was hallucinating for a few minutes.

Lilia: Literally will hang upside down anywhere I can, its so fun bro.

Bonus : I know an extremely large amount of useless historical information, and once genuinely realized I know more about poison than what flour and eggs are used for in baking.

Silver : Once befriended a wild horse ( Im like 90% sure he was a Chestnut).

I called him Clover the Dog like horse because he was honestly just a golden retriever in the body of a horse.

This is great and theres alot of sweet moments, but then theres the times you have a giant horse galloping full speed at you for attention or trying to nudge you affectionately and nearly pushing you into a creek in the process.

Sebek: Got groundstruck by lightning once. Also I am often told I have a loud voice.

Che’nya : a good friend of mine and I have an inside joke at school where if we see eachother through a window (my school has alot of indoor windows for some reason?), we’ll text the other “Behind you.” Or “To your left.”

——————-

Theres more things I can think of but I have run out of characters and this is getting too long, so ye!

[apples-that-dreams-often]

𝐊𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐮𝐚 × 𝐓𝐰𝐢𝐧 𝐁𝐫𝐨𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐑𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐞𝐫

Part 2

"Killua, Isn't this.. this isn't right.. You said papa assigned us a new mission." You held your drawing book against your chest as you looked around the huge pipe room.

You stayed close to your brother as the unfamiliar place has gotten you uneasy. Usually your father or Illumi give out a short portfolio about the target. Face, schedule, deadline of the elimination and most importantly... the locations of where the target frequence.

"This place, which one is the target?" You said in a hushed tone, while vigilantly looking around for threats. Killua smirked and patted your shoulder. He knows how you're easily manipulated with the right words. After all, between both of you, you're not really the smart twin.

"Relax, papa said that our task is to finish this test and get our very own hunter license." Killua informed you, he made sure his tone was serious with a hint of calmness.

"But you said papa gave us an order to kill a target. Why couldn't you just say that straight up?" Looks like you're falling for the trick.

"Papa said to me that I need to lie in front of you incase mama heard us. Mama doesn't agree to us having a hunter license."

".. But a Hunter license, isn't that like... the card that grampa often use to take use out?" You asked as you vividly remembered for the first time seeing the license, and it being explained to you by your grandfather. Killua nodded with what you mentioned, "The exact one. Papa said that we'll be needing those in the future and said to be handy. Just imagine all the free transportation and hotel visits!"

You smiled and put your hands on Killua's should and excitedly asked, "Do you think I can pass into that restricted museum that display international treasures?"

Killua smiled and then continuing to encouraged the act, "Exactly, maybe with the license it's much more easy for you to buy rare items."

Your smile got even wider as Killua encouraged you more about the benefits of the license. Enter the restricted museums, and buy paint that is made with raw parts of rare magic beast.

"Hmmm but why does papa want us to have hunter license?"

Killua patted your back, "It's going to be convenient for some mission."

You didn't further asked as the hunter license have many benefits, if it's going to help with assassinations. You don't have to ask why the license is important.

▦

The exam started, the task isn't much of a hassle as walking was an easy thing to do, but eventually Mr. Satotz picked up more phase and starting leading everyone to run.

You stuck with Killua at all times. Killua brought his skateboard with him so it ends up you only running and trying to keep up with Killua.

"Hey Kid!" A voice called filled with annoyance. You looked back and saw a well suited man. "You should show the Hunter exam some respect."

Killua did all the talking and arguing with the man named Leorio. About how Killua was cheating and then Killua asking how it's defined as cheating, then the man told it was a test for endurance.

Then another kid appears, denying Leorio's belief and also gaining Killua's attention. You ran beside Leorio when you noticed that Killua is busy with the boy in green.

"Sorry about Killua. He can be... Obnoxious at times."

Leorio frown and halfly praised you, "At least one of you is nice." As if Leorio already guessed that Killua is your twin brother. Even if you and Killua are twins, you both are different in terms of appearance. You taken more from your mother while Killua with father.

"Y/n, This is Gon!" You blinked, looking at Gon and observing his appearance. "Hello." You whispered.

"Oh heads up Gon, My little brother here isn't much of a talker outside from our family." Killua warned but Gon dismissed it, and understand your situation.

You noticed how Killua wasn't using his skateboard. "Change of phase Killua?"

"I just think it's better if I ran like the others."

You smiled and nodded.

▦

Four hours later.

You sensed how Leorio was slowing down behind you and you guessed that Gon also noticed. When Leorio stopped, Gon turned and stop to watch Leorio and waited for him.

Killua looked at Gon,"Hey forget him. Let's get going." You bumped Killua using your elbow and frown at him. "Shh.. Quiet" and then pointed at Leorio.

"Screw it. I'm gonne be a Hunter. Damn it all!" Leorio slowly shouted as he ran pass the three kids.

You giggled at Leorio's sudden motivation to run again. Gon smiled, he aimed is fishing pole and catches Leorio's left behind bag.

Killua showed interest at Gon's fishing pole and wanted to try it and Gon smiled and asked if he can also try the skateboard.

Then you flinched when you saw the set of stairs, Killua noticing this pulled you up to not stop like Leorio did. Killua's grab on your hand tightened, "Stairs huh"

You looked up worried, "With this, many more would be eliminated. Gon do you think Mister Leorio can handle it?"

"Sure! He gained energy again to finish this exam." Gon reassures. Killua doesn't like it when things are tensed so he asked Gon for a race up to top.

The group then encountered Kurapika and Leorio.

"See you at the goal Kurapika!" Gon exclaimed and the Killua, "Catch you later, old timer."

Then Leorio with his unmanageable anger issues said, "I'm not old. I'm a teenager, just like you guys!"

Everyone didn't expect that.

"Huh?"

"No way!"

"So Mister isn't Mister??"

▦

You ran beside Killua as he and Gon raced to the top. You won apparently because you didn't know you're also part of the race. Now both of them owe you a meal.

Faced with both boys' grief you just smiled awkwardly. You turned to Satotz if the first phase was over but he said it wasn't.

Killua brought you over to the side to wait as the others was taking their time to reach the top.

Later, more and more applicants are reaching the top. When Leorio came he was put of breath but still reached the top, next to him was Kurapika.

Gon greeted him and Kurapika asked "Is this our destination?" Gon relied "No, it isn't."

Kurapika looked around and noticed the fog is fading. Gon stood up and smiled when he saw more from what the fog was covering.

You commented while mesmerized by the view, "A swamp.."

Satotz began to explain the place. Naming it Nemere Wetlands also known as swindlers swamp. To reach the phase 2 of the exam, the applicants needs to cross the swamp. He warned that the place is filled with bizarre animals, many cunning and deceive humans to prey on them.

"Be very careful. If you let them fool you.. You're dead."

You flinched when the doors from the runner was closing. Alerting everyone that there is no return.

Satoyz instructed to stay close with him to avoid getting caught on the swamps deceitful ecosystem.

Leorio grumbled about how can they deceive us when we already expected it.

"Don't let them fool you!"

Everyone turned to where the voice came from. Aan claimed that Satotz was deceiving everyone, then proceeded to pull out a creature very similar in parts like Satotz.

You didn't believe the bullshit because that man as an examiner? Barely standing from just the animals from the swamp is just unbelievable. How can he lead us when he can't even handle the animals in the swamp.

Satotz remained calm as he doesn't need to prove himself. And let the others witness the ways of deciet the creatures can make.

Just when some was believing the bullshit. Someone attacked the two, and proved who was the real impostor.

Like you, he belived that a Hunter tasked to be the examiner is a Hunter themselves, so bloking that lame attack would be easy for them. Satotz claimed the explanation as a compliment, but another attack like that being commited would lead to Hisoka turning on the examiner and be immediately disqualified.

Again Satotz warned the applicants about the dangers of the swamp.

Killua muttered, "We cannot relax our guard." And Gon agreeing.

If lost in the swamp they can never find the second phase so bare in mind to always keep Satotz in line of sight. With that, Satotz continued the run.

[ameliathornromance]

Rain, Rain, Rain - Orc Romantic Short Story

There was a growl in the back of your throat as you attempted to clear it. God’s be damned, you had fallen ill. It was nothing serious, a cold from being exposed to the elements. All thanks to your Orc partner. He was the one who had insisted on you both travelling through the storm, so that the two of you could reach the encampment shared by his tribe.

The two of you had gone out on a walk that day, since the weather promised a warm and sunny day. As you listened to your partner’s stories of Orc history, thunder grumbled above you and by the time afternoon became evening, the Heavens had opened. “You’ll be fine.” He’d called to you over the thunder. “You’re one of us now, you won’t fall ill in my care.”

But alas, you had a fever by the time you arrived back. “Won’t fall ill my arse.” You snuggled into your animal skin covers, deeper and further away from your tent entrance, left open to give you fresh air.

Candle light flickered gently next to you, giving you enough light to see your surroundings. The storm had passed the night before, but left you bed ridden and shivering.

It was only now that you could fully recognise what was going on around you: It was night, judging from the darkened sky outside, the camp seemed to bustle with it’s usual fervour. You could hear the familiar grunts and growls of the harsh Orc mother tongue.

A part of you wondered where your boyfriend had gotten to. You hadn’t seen him since your fever had broken and the tribes healer had given him a well deserved tongue lashing. You had only been able to pick up bits and pieces of their conversation, “you know humans are not like us!” Lashed the old Orc at your boyfriend. Something about ‘you foolish oaf’ and ‘not knowing enough about human bodies’ and, ‘not doing enough to take care of something as fragile as a human being.’

You sniffled, pouted. You hadn’t seen the tribe healer much either. He only came by to bring you water and some stale bread. “Good for the stomach when you are unwell.” He said as he handed you the food. “The big fool has lumbered off somewhere. He’ll be back.” He assured you at your worried expression.

You could not fault your partners eagerness to return to camp; There are worse things than a storm, outside the camp. Due to poor visibility and no way of hearing approaching horses thanks to the thunder and ever pelting rain. Human beings are vicious and sometimes more monstrous than Orcs can be. If they had caught the two of you together, they would have done God knows what to the both of you. Being ill and confined to bed was better than being hung, drawn and quartered by Orc Hunters or a mob of angry villagers. Even in your cloudy state, you knew that this, was definitely not the worst outcome (even if it did sting to admit it.)

The tent flaps parted and revealed your boyfriend. He was covered head to toe in mud and dirt, a brown potato sack thrown over his shoulder, book clutched in his other free hand that hung down by his side. He huffed and panted as he laid eyes on you. “Oh.” He said, surprised. “You’re awake.”

You furrowed your eyebrows at him as he set down the sack and thumped the book on the table in the corner of the room, “so I did all that for nothing.”

“Huh?” You asked, nasally.

“I went out to go and get some ‘erbs and that,” your Orc had his back to you as he unloaded the sack, different bundles of roots, branches and nettles of plants on the table, “so you could get better quicker… but I guess I won’t be needin’ ‘em now, will I?” He grumbled.

Your heart twinged at his words. Forcing yourself up, you gazed up at his dirty form. “Thank you for trying.” You sniffled.

He rushed over to you as you tried to sit up further, “no, don’t say that. I should be apologisin’. Shouldn’t ‘ave dragged you through that storm.”

You shook your head. “’ts better than the alternatives.” You sniffled again, “here, if you hand me the book, we could make something to help.”

“No, I’ll get the old geezer to do it,” your Orc partners weight caused the bed to dip below his weight as he sat next to you. “You should rest.” He cupped your head with his hand. His whole palm was as big as your head. His eyes fell to the ground in front of him, “I made the mess, so I should fix it.”

You pursed your lips. “After you’ve washed,” you started, “do you want to come and get into bed with me and you can finish that story you started yesterday?”

Your Orc boyfriend was silent for a moment, before a smile crept onto his lips. “Yeah, sounds like a plan.” Packing up the supplies he bought, picking up the book. He cast a short look back at you, “I’ll give these to the ol’ geezer and bring back somethin’ that’ll make you feel better. Then I’ll finish the story I started yesterday, yeah?” And with one last, toothy grin, he left.

You smiled to yourself. He probably spent the whole day looking for that book and those herbs, and it looks like it wasn’t easy for him to do, judging from the state of him. You shuddered to think where he could have gotten that book from and hoped it wasn’t from the Healer’s tent – there would be more trouble if he had done that.

You snuggled up into the animal skins again, a warm fuzziness taking over you. How lucky you are to have such a lovely Orc partner. Before you knew it, he’d come back, a cup of strange liquid in hand, clean and in a fresh set of clothes and settled himself beside you to finish his story.

[here-comes-the-moose]

Modern Bad Batch at the Airport/on a Flight

Inspired by the fact that I’ve been flying a lot recently with and without my family, here are some Bad Batch Headcanons of how I think they’d be like.

Hunter

The passenger princess of air travel. Has no idea what time they board, barely knows where they’re going. Only job is to sit there and look pretty.

Actually I lied his other job is constantly fussing over Crosshair.

Constantly gets snapped at by Crosshair for this.

Does not let this deter him from fussing, hovering around Crosshair, and even following him to the bathroom.

Given a number from at least one person on the plane.

His siblings are just glad he remembered his ID and/or passport, since he forgot it one time and had needed to go home and come back to the airport, which had stressed everyone out to no end. He has not lived this down.

Passes out the second his ass is in his seat and will stay asleep the whole time, but somehow has a sixth sense when it comes to one of his sibling’s needing him and will immediately jolt awake and spring into action.

Wrecker

Orders ginger ale on the plane because he LIVES for the ginger ale biscoff cookie/pretzel combo.

Will only sit in the aisle seat because he does not like to look out the window (fear of heights).

Super chill and is the one who keeps the others from killing each other and/or getting pulled aside by TSA.

Sharing snacks with Omega and Hunter.

Not as intense as Hunter, but regularly checks in on Crosshair. Will get snapped at a little bit.

Always watches rom-coms on flights, it’s his routine. He cries every time, but doesn’t really feel embarrassed by it because once they see that he’s watching The Notebook they’re like “understandable sir have a nice day”.

Falls asleep half an hour before the flight ends, every time without fail.

Tech

Has all the boarding passes and knows their gate number and seats from memory.

Made them leave extremely early and still pissed at Hunter for making them leave behind schedule.

In charge of the itinerary.

Loves the window seat since he enjoys looking out the window as he listens to music or a podcast, but also likes to point things out to Omega, since she loves when he does so.

Also checking on Crosshair, but more through observation than outright asking him. Has disappeared and gotten Crosshair something he needs to feel a bit better before wordlessly giving it to his twin. This form of care is much appreciated by Crosshair.

Loves to shop in the airport. He’s a fan of the cute knickknacks, books, and the duty free section as a whole. May or may not be buying something for Phee.

Crosshair

Hates airports and air travel, so he’s miserable the whole time.

Very irritable and short-tempered because of this, but his siblings let it slide since he’s not feeling great.

Ordering a ginger ale on the flight, but because he gets sick not because he likes it.

Needs to sit in the window seat. He wants the privacy if he starts feeling too sick but also looking outside helps him a bit.

Spends most of the flight napping or at least trying to nap. Either way, he’s resting his head on Echo’s shoulder most of the time.

Not that anyone enjoys it, but he hates when they’re hit with turbulence. He’s gripping his armrests (and Echo), he’s scared, he’s nauseous, he’s dizzy and headachey, overall he’s just not having a good time. Spends the whole time there’s turbulence praying, even though he’s not religious.

Echo

Hates and dreads going through TSA.

Pretty chill after it’s over though.

Has a bag (affectionately referred to as “the diaper bag”) that has EVERYTHING in it. Tons of snacks, OTC medicine for basically an anything you can or can’t think of, hand sanitizer, two types of wipes, ear plugs, eye masks, you name it.

Also fussing over Crosshair, but not as much as Hunter since he knows when to just give Crosshair his space to sulk.

Crosshair usually seeks him out for comfort because of this.

Doesn’t care much about where he sits as long as he has the most room available for his prosthetics.

Usually sits next to Crosshair on the plane, since by the time they board Hunter has made Crosshair ban him from occupying the seat next to him.

Hunter is usually on the other side of him.

Omega

Just having a good time.

Tech explains a lot of the technical things to her and she finds it so cool.

Loves takeoff and landing; thinks they’re so fun.

Spends most of the flight watching movies and eating snacks.

Even though she’s having a good time, she’s still worried about Crosshair and always tries to help and/or do something nice for him. The only one who can get away with this without him getting irritated for the most part, but even if he does get irritated it’s just for a second and very mild.

Sharing her snacks with Wrecker and passes some to Hunter as well across the aisle.

Always says thank you to the pilot and flight attendants. Chats with the pilots if she’s given the chance and they always love her and her questions. One time early on into living with the batch and traveling with them she very bluntly said to the pilot “thank you for not making my brother throw up”. Crosshair was mortified but the pilot laughed and thanked her for the compliment.

[missmarveledsblog]

Not just a flower child huh? ( Logan howlett x reader) part 5

Summary: a bored y/n leads to a choas filled result as she running through the mansion fight with technology, piotr finally expresses his guilt for not being there to help her when they were kids and revealing more than he intended to

Warning : goofy , angsty , mentions of violence and abusive past , Google translated Russian ( feel free to correct me ) , grammatical errors , slowish burn

Previous part

Restless maybe was what she was feeling , each day was both a reminder she was free but it was almost the same as the one before. She would help some of the teachers and professors set up Before lessons , head to the living room for bit Then her greenhouse. Read a little , tend the plants then dinner time . Each night she would fail to sleep and end up in the kitchen Or garden with logan chat about anything while She drank her tea and He drank a beer or glass of whiskey. She enjoyed It but it was the same over and over so now she felt restless and in that Feeling she felt guilty like she should be grateful Either way for it all . She walked down the halls admiring the ark work that adorned the walls til she found a room she not been in she tried the door to find it unlocked , she walked in hitting the light seeing it was a gym probably her brothers favorite room in the mansion considering every time she seen him he was sweaty even when he was in his other form . Almost inspecting the equipment as she passed by the machinery . She spotted a dummy only it was different it had buttons all along the side of it which she at that point should of left alone considering she could barely read English writing most of books gotten for her where in Russian if not all of them . Yet the curiosity got the better of her turning it on she turned the dial to ten as the thing stood up making her jump up . What she didn't expect was for it to start circling her like she was prey and it was the hunter . In a spilt second it lunged at her make her almost fall backwards to get out of the way , then it kicked her sending her across the gym crashing into the wall . A groan she got up and shut the door maybe if she got someone they could turn it off only for the thing to pull the door off the hinges . She took off down the hall and it took off after her throwing thing it found on its way to try deter her from getting away .

“ дерьмо , дерьмо ,дерьмо ( shit , shit ,shit)” she cursed running down the hall. Running to the main area she seen rogue coming out to see what the commotion was.

“ get help” was all y/n could get out of her mouth before she dodged the murderous robot Coming at her sending the now wide eyed woman in search of just that . Knocking her to the ground as it went to punch her she moved the robotic fist hitting the ground smashing the Floor mere inches From her skull .

“ хорошо, моя очередь ( ok my turn)” she narrowed her eyes sending a kick to the Metal chest pushing it back so she could get to her feet . Flipping Over the seemly angry robotic dummy She kicked it back sending it into the wall only for it to keep Coming . Soon she was catching it movement , knowing when to dodge and when to hit not once in the seemly Dance she was tangled Up with did she even consider Using her powers or the fact a crowd Now build watching the whole thing. She jumped on it shoulders as it fist flew Trying to get Her when she finally hit the power off button jumping Off The things shoulder to the ground panting finally seeing them stand around .

“ who the fuck thought to have this thing in a building full of kids” she asked looking down at the now lifeless dummy.

“ you ok?” logan asked.

“ other then demon robot Trying to kill Me , peachy” she stood before hitting the ground matching the dummy .

“ ok shows over back to class” he chuckled Heading over picking Her up . “ you can hold your own bub” he carried Her off to her room ignoring jean telling him to bring her to the med wing .

She shoot Up panting , sweating a common way for her body To walk realizing she was not in the common area as she took in the interior of her room. The plain Room bar Few drawing the kids had giving her that is .

“ welcome Back to the land of the living rocky?” A voice called making her head turn to see logan holding one of her books.

“ you can read in russian” her voice rasped .

“ not a clue , how you feeling” he asked putting it down.

“ all healed , what the hell was that thing?” she stretched out really she wasn't lying she didn't feel any pain at all .

“ training dummy keeps us in shape when on missions , impressive work out there how come you didn't use your powers” he asked.

“ well you know I didn't get a chance to think of them when it was trying to kill me” she rolled her eyes heading to her closet needing to get out the clothes now felt well sweaty.

“ where you learn to fight like that” he asked watching as she walked to bathroom.

“ learn myself to do it , knew I would need more to protect the kids” she yelled out pulling the wet material off of her body seeing a faint remainder of a bruise still there but in fairness it did kick her across the gym. “ learned from the men when they beat me too” she walked out seeing him still sitting there.

“ your not bad , not at all could use some pointers” he shrugged standing walking to her door holding it open for her .

“ I don't use it that often on to defend me or others” she said easily.

“ if you want I can help you out , just some tips” .

“ ok once its not with that thing though” agreeing because if she was honest with herself it was kinda fun.

“ not robot, just Me and You like sparring” he smiled as they entered The dinning Room.

“ OK we spar “ she headed to her seat.

“ hey rocky how are you “ bobby asked.

“ why do you call me that , logan too” her head tilted .

“ its a movie you know the boxer .. nevermind “ he said seeing as none of it was registering With her.

“ I am fine , I will fix The broken stuff or work to replace it” she looked to the professor .

“ not at all , once you are unharmed It's the main thing although I am sorry we didn't warn you before hand”.

“How come you didn't use your powers ?”

“ I Didn't think of them when it was swinging at my head” she ate The food as she Could physically see the cogs turning Inside their Heads . “ anything else?” She looked Around The room .

“ what made you turn the dial to ten couldn't you see the warnings?” Bobby Spoke up .

“ I can't read English that well now let me eat” she glared feeling A little embarrassed .

“hey less yapping more eating” .

Once again she was looking around her room only this time it was covered in vines and there was thumping on the doctor , screaming for her go answer . She pulled the door Open it wasn't the mansion It was the cage , the same metal Bars She stared at day in and day out . The feeling Of a electric shock hitting her skin making her fall to her knees feeling it course through out her body Hitting ever nerve In her , she biting Her Lip that much the copper metallic taste danced on her taste buds . Only thing she was grateful For was she was only one in the cage .

“ enough” it called out . “ my little lab bunny finally Awake” he taunted.

“ your not real” she gritted only for the shock to happen.

“Not necessarily Wrong bunny but I'm a part of you know , I'm the one who truly know the monster you are” he was laughing.

“ he's wrong dear Come on Follow my voice” .

“ you see how they see you , when you watch them being taken” .

“ you paralyzed me keep the knife in so I could not move” she gritted.

“ they’re not there , follow my voice dear don't listen To him” professor sat watching over Her sleeping for the screams Were louder transferring To reality. “ it not working she Is prisoner to her own subconscious , piotr Any thing that helped when she was a child” the professor Asked .

“ a song our grandmother would sing” he asked feeling rather useless lately to help her.

“ may I?” Charles asked for the man to nod . Eyes close as he was almost transfer the memory from one sibling to the other.

She felt something shift , the line of the things around her blur , the cage Switching between The metal she knew To the fire She used to sit At . She seen stryker words muffling as the melodic Humming on her grandmothers voice filled her ears , the wrinkled Hand around her shoulder and the smell of lavender soap filled her senses . She was home , back on the rural farm she missed so dearly one that even though it wasn't the biggest or the fanciest it was the place she knew a Beloved One . her Tense body relaxing almost instantly and she savored the moment , the feeling , the everything. Was only then it was fading , only then her body Was listening and she began opening her eyes. She was sweating and crying but she was scared this time . She sat Up and look To see the blurry figure Being push out of the room and four small ones coming towards Her clinging on to her .

“ we will keep you safe Sister” Ana Muffled voice hit Her ears.

“ we love you” luka head rested On her shoulder .

“ that's my job” she said softly kissing their heads . “ I am OK just bad dream , go to bed” she smiled softly as they reluctantly left Harry clinging to her little more but eventually Left .

“ you both share same happy memories more of you in his ” charles looked between siblings.

“ I've have an Amazing grandmother, but I have an even more amazing big brother” .

“ Я подвел тебя( I failed you)” his eyes fell to the ground Not willing to look At her .

“ Ты думал, что я умер, ты оплакивал меня. ( you thought I was dead , you mourned me)” she stood , coming in front of him hand on his arm .

“ Я должен был искать тебя, видел их ложь. ( I should of been looking for you , I should of seen their lies) “ his eyes filled with guilt and sadness that matched his words . “ Мне не следовало тебя оставлять.( I shouldn't have left you )” .

“ Тебе было шестнадцать, ты был ребенком( you were sixteen ,child yourself )” trying to show the guilt he had was misplaced that it shouldn't have been there at all .

“ Если бы я увидел их сейчас, я бы не смог сдержать слов. ( if I seen them now I might not be able to keep it To words ) “ she watched as he started pacing , the anger Building . “ их никогда не волновало, кому они причиняют боль, и до сих пор не волнует( they never cared who they hurt , they still Dont)” .

“ что ты имеешь в виду?(what do you mean ?) “ her brows furrowed. Was he saying what she Thought he was.

“ ты знаешь, какие они ( you know what they're like)” he pause only then he realize what he said .

“ they are alive” her voice and expression unreadable , her stare no longer comforting .

“Yes Here is new york” .

“ I want to see them” Everything about her in that moment told him that no wasn't even in the realm of possibilities of an answer.

part 6

Taglist : @oscarissac2099 @ayamenimthiriel @mega-kittyglitter-1

[howtofightwrite]

Clothes Followup

Hi there. Professional sportswear outfitter and part-time athelete here just chiming in on how these choices are perfectly believable, in my humble opinion: #1 SHOES "sneakers" is a loose definition. but, if the character is wearing casual/lifestyle "sneakers" like jordan lows, vans, etc., these type of shoes are FLAT (not narrow running shoes). Flat soled sneakers are often preferred training shoes for mixed arts or lifting at the gym. You could wear boots, but you're sacrificing agility. As a female, I can say that a female character likely would not inflict such a handicap as BOOTS on herself. Feet are very resilient and resistant to pain and injury. Being able to move on your feet matters a lot more than protecting them does. PASS #2 PANTS. you are not punching someone's pants while boxing. and have you watched fight club? they mostly wear jeans. they're durable, wick moisture (although it feels unpleasant), and if they're fitted properly, they're not going to get in the way of your agility. Jeans are light armor if you're speaking in tabletop rpg terms. PASS #3 SHIRT. a good tshirt of a decent quality will wick moisture, will not be bulky or baggy, and will move with its wearer. tshirts are not expensive and are the best option outside a sleeveless top or topless for martial arts. Especially if you have boobs. Boxing in only a racerback sports bra is also viable, but a tshirt will provide light protection to the skin, which is a good idea in amateur boxing. If they're WEARING GLOVES, nobody is grappling anyone's shirt so there is no risk of clothes-grabbing violations happening there. If this ring is literally underground, it's probably cold. Clothes can be shed between matches, but it's often more important to be clothed appropriately so as to prevent both overheating and chills. Becoming chilled between fights is a greater danger to performance than getting sweaty is. PASS I also have questions as to the type of boxing gloves being used. Are they full padded gloves? Light knuckle pads? Do the boxers wear headgear? Mouthguards? What areas are allowed to be hit or is it a free-for-all? Maybe you think these details are mistakes, but I disagree. Half my job is punching boxes all day. Hot, sweaty, fully clothed, wearing comfortable shoes. Lots of moving around. If I am going to punch boxes (or faces) for hours, that's exactly how I'd dress. The rest of my job? Literally outfitting people with boxing equipment. Literally selling people clothing for athletics. I am also a footwear specialist. Thank you for taking the time to read this. :) -lilkittay

So, apologies in advance, lilkittay, but you're about to get dragged. This might come as a shock, but I actually have a copy of the novel Fight Club. I just found it wedged between a copy of Hell's Angels by Hunter S. Thompson, and the Demolished Man by Alfred Bester. I'm not going to try to figure out what lead to that sorting peculiarity. The book is exceptionally good, and if you've never read it, it's an easy (if somewhat unpalatable) recommendation. Stick it up there with books like Native Son, or Ivan Denisovich, in that it covers some really ugly subject matter, but discusses a problem exceptionally well. And, in the 27 years since the novel was originally published, it has proved itself fairly prescient. It's not about the violence, it is an excellent discussion on the underlying psychology of toxic masculinity.

Now, the last time I mentioned Fight Club, someone immediately piped up with, “you've lost all credibility.” That's their problem, but I didn't actually define it, and it is a term that gets thrown around without being defined. Toxic masculinity refers specifically to an individual who cannot engage with their own emotions, particularly painful ones, in a healthy way, because they view those behaviors as effeminate. As a result, they respond aggressively and, or, violently. That's the toxic part. You get dumped. Your pet dies. You get passed over for a promotion at work. And, instead of dealing with that in a healthy way. In any healthy way. You go out into the world and try to make someone else suffer. That is toxic.

Unfortunately, Fight Club is not the grown up version of Calvin and Hobbes, though that is an amusing fan theory, and something that holds together better in the film thanks to Brad Pitt's costuming decisions.

I'm saying all of this to point out, the characters in Fight Club have no idea how to fight.

More than that, jeans are not light armor. Motorcycle leathers? Sure, those would be light armor. In fact, I'm pretty sure they're described as light armor in D20 modern. But, the only place I'd expect to see denim categorized as light armor is a game that used, “light armor,” for mage gear, “medium armor,” as rogue's leather and chain, and, “heavy armor,” as warrior gear. Which is to say, yeah, that's not how that works at all.

The problem with jeans as armor is, they're really bad at it. Someone with a crowbar? Yeah, jeans aren't going to do anything about that. Someone with an axe? I've heard about the aftermath, it was not pretty. Against a sword? Nope. Against a knife? Personal experience says the knife will win without issue. In an underground fighting arena against someone driving a shin kick into your knee? Yeah, your jeans may look fine after the fact, but you're probably not using that leg again anytime soon.

But, that RPG comment made something click together a little, so back to footwear for a second.

Why would someone wear boots? Now, personally, I wear motorcycle boots in my day to day life. Not because I'm a rider, but because I find them more comfortable and convenient than normal dress shoes, and so long as I keep them buffed out, they pass for men's dress shoes at a glance. The interesting thing about this is that my heel has a wide, flat, block of wood under it at all times. If it was a matter of life and death, I could probably grind off a significant chunk of my heel bringing a bike to a stop without suffering any injury. Now, I bring this up, because driving 200-300lbs of force behind a sharply edged wooden mallet into your unarmored instep will not improve your agility.

In the real world, armor doesn't work like D&D. There's no equivalent exchange between mobility and being able to soak a hit. (And if you think there's an irony in substituting a term from one RPG for another... well, yeah. You're not wrong.) If you think someone's going to stomp on your foot, bring steel toed boots. What you lose in agility today, you make up for in your ability to walk without a cane tomorrow.

The paradox of humans is that we are both stupidly resilient, and horrifically fragile, at the same time. Now, at this point, I do want to say something genuinely nice to you, even if it sounds a tiny bit condescending. You've never looked at another person as 150-250lbs of ambulatory meat and considered the best way to take them apart with your hands. And you know what? That is a good thing. Embrace that, and don't let go, because never finding yourself in that kind of a place is a credit to you, and the world you've been able to live in.

All of that said, fighting another human being is not a workout. It's engineering. You're looking at an organic machine with roughly the same parts and pieces you have, and your goal is to make that machine stop thrashing around, screaming, and leaking on everything, before it does the same to you. It's not better. It's not worse. It's different, and it comes with different considerations. You don't dress to look good or stay comfortable, you dress to avoid life altering injuries if at all possible.

Competitive fighting does land at a meeting point of these two considerations however. The fighter wants to come out intact, the sponsors want good show, one that will draw an audience. This leads to things like fighting in a sports bra. Yes, it may be the most, “agile,” option, but if you're going to be in a fist fight, a heavy leather jacket, preferably one with fiberglass plates may not breathe, but it will take far more abuse than your body can. (Actually, I think sometimes the inserts are made out of memory foam these days, which should also take a hit pretty effectively, especially against an unarmed foe.)

This isn't a major issue, but it is something to consider, when thinking about the temperature of the arena, it's important to remember that human body heat in a crowded space is somewhat cumulative. So, a room that starts out at around 60 degrees, could easily warm up to a comfortable temperature once the spectators are present. There's actually consistent math for calculating what you should set the thermostat for in an amphitheater when it's unoccupied so that the temperature is comfortable when the seats are filled, but I can't remember the numbers, and can't find it on short notice.

You do bring up a good point, the original Anon did not specify what kind of gloves were used. I assumed those were nominally regulation boxing gloves, but those could be something like the UFC gloves from a couple decades back, that left the fingers exposed while armoring the knuckles. The armor on those gloves allowed the wearer to inflict all kinds of horrific injuries on one's foes. In an event Michi is quite happy to recount, her younger brother almost lost an eye to a skull fracture from one of those during a poorly supervised sparring bout. It's fairly credible to suggest that an illegal fight club might use those simply to excite the crowds with actual bloodshed.

Now, as someone who has worked in shipping, I know full well that sometimes boxes do hit back. However, they are the exception rather than the rule. There's nothing wrong with practicing on punching bags, but boxes aren't trying to break you. At worst, they may just want to take a nap on the floor without regard to whether you're in the way or not. Live opponents? They're looking at you as however many pounds of meat machinery, and trying to end you. Looking good doesn't make their job harder, but armoring up does.

Anyway, like I said to the original Anon, nothing in their explanation was outright wrong. A lot of it was non-optimal, but not to such a degree as to shatter belief. The mistake you're making, and I really do say this with respect, is that you're looking at it like any other physical activity. As I said, combat is not a work out. Combat as a hazardous environment beyond the reach of OSHA. You wear protective gear (if you can) because that protection may be the difference between walking out alive and (basically) unharmed, or never walking again. You wouldn't (or at least, really shouldn't) take a bike out on the freeway at 60mph in jeans and a tees, you really don't want to get in a fight wearing them either.

-Starke

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[rainystressed247]

Ohhhh!! Can we talk about the Pokemon AU?? What ideas do you have for professors and gym leaders? What about a regional champion?? I 100% think that Techno is the regional champion and Phil could be either a professor or part of the Elite 4! Tommy can be the scrappy teen that is trying to accomplish the gym challenges and try to fight Techno for the title! Dream can be his unofficial mentor the one that comes by when things get tricky with the evil team and then had a dramatic twist of “he is the villain but actually not, he is just a tragic figure”

*crack my back and rise* Be prepared for a long post because I have a lot of them in my brain.

Original pokemon AU (base plan):

The original headcanon I had for the pokemon AU is more based around cc!Dream with a dash of drama from canon linked here! You are absolutely right that Techno is the champion and has and will continue to challenge and enter competition even outside of his region! Phil can absolutely be one of the professors! He can be invested in the study of fossil or death >.< The gym leaders are pretty loose as I don't give much thoughts to that tbh, but I do think that Tina as grass leader, Puffy as water, etc. Maybe I will throw in the newer mafia, who knows? I definitely see Tommy, Tubbo and Ranboo as the trio working their way through gym challenges, stumbling into villain organisation and accidentally saving the world hahaha.

Dream in this AU is more laid back, not liking to battle but his pokemon has maxed out friendship and can definitely rain hell on any trainers foolish enough to approach with ill intention. He works in a pokemon daycare during his free time and will give out friendship eevee for those close to him. His care to the pokemon means that most of the eevees have good EV! He definitely gets dragged into the plot unknowingly, much to the dismay of his close friends.

This AU is mostly chill and just shenanigans!

The B side of the Pokemon AU:

This, this is the part where things start to derail for me because if I can have a pokemon AU based on the cc why not go all the way to c!Dream as well.

So this is an alternate Pokemon AU involving c!character. In this side of the AU, c!Dream still possess the revival book and because of that, he forces himself to release all his pokemon with the intention to perish witht the revival book. In the process of destroying the book, he accidentally intergrate the book with himself so we now have an immortal walking revival book that is Dream. Worried that he and any of his close ones will get targeted, he devoted himself a life of a lone hermit and proceed to travel the land in hope to find a way to truly end his existence. He does, however, perform small miracle act subtly whenever he passes by someone or some pokemon in need of help as a way to atone for his sins. He makes sure to do it discreetly so that he would not gather unintended attention.

Alas, sometimes people still put two to two together so he still occasionally gets targeted. What he doesn't know is that most of the people he helped one way or another, does in fact help cover up his trail, misleading any hunters after him. Dream has one pokemon willingly follow him; a stubborn Charcadet, which prove to be a good helper by saving Dream multiple time in their travel.

Dream can hold his own against pokemons in this AU. He kinda has to, as he doesn't have a companion pokemon of his own for the longest time. Phil, as the angel of Death or the guardian in pokemon term is actively tracking down Dream to detain the revival book, but after he witness the bond between Dream and Ceruledge, he let Dream go with the condition that should Dream one day run into any problem bigger than he could handle, he would find Phil to help.

Techno is one of the child Dream helped revive on a whim. He was born sickly and wasn't supposed to make it past the night, well, if Dream hasn't shown up like a wet cat on his doorway. Techno still makes fun of him on the off chance that they met. Because of the second chance, Techno was able to become an extraordinary trainer. He helps out Dream whenever he can and even offer a roof for the homeless Dream to stay in. Dream refused ofc, but he would crash in from time to time to rest.

Speaking of the B side, it leads to an uncontrollable spiral in which I start imagining Pokemon with any and most of my AUs. Like would syndicate!Dream has an Eevee as well or would he has a Arcanine, I can totally see him accidentally taming Zygrade (Dog) without knowing it as a legendary. Also witch!Dream would have a Hatterene. Cornelius can have a Floette, Hubert and Indeedee works because of the bulter theme. Can you see how I am absolutely normal and not being able to talk about this has only made me more normal?

Anyways, thanks for the ask and sorry for taking so long to reply. It is...a lot.

[mediawhatwiveswatch]

The Wives Watch: Supernatural S2 E11-E13

Passing the halfway point! Things are heating up at the Winchesters!

E11 - Stop demolishing pretty buildings

The house is so pretty who cares about the ghosts

Haunted dolls!!

Everytime the boys talk emotions we gotta break the meme back out

Brits insulted, scooby doo mentioned, voodoo spotted, hotel trivago

So like everyone assumes their dating? It's like 2007 were people this chill about sharing beds?

"You look the type" - Gay or Antiquers? Basically the same thing. ('but antiquing is so fun!' 'we aren't breaking the stereotype')

Very pretty dress nailed to the wall. Thats not how decor works

Butler: "All my family has lived here and I'm very sad that I might have to leave" Dean: "I wonder who would want to do hoodoo to keep this place open"

Homophobe Dean vs Ally Sam. Who will win

The truest of sibling behaviour: Making up lies to embarrass your little bro

Who puts their grandma in the attic?? That is asking for evil spirits

On the ghost's side again, demolishing pretty house should be a crime

Every so often they swap Dean and Sam's opinions on whether dad is a dick. This time dean gets to right

Sam sleeping on his front is the most evil thing he's done

Do people not like hearing old people tell stories? It's fun!

"I've never had a home" DEAN STOP TRAUMADUMPING TO THE MAYBE EVIL BUTLER

We went from secret evil twin to secret evil fake sibling

If we had a nickel for every time there was a haunted evil car on this show we'd have two nickels. That's one each

You don't get to call the boys insane after witnessing the most stereotypical haunting ever

Maggie is a Little Freak (derogatory)

This pool is so pretty!!!

This house is really well built?? Very strong glass??

None of these morons know to do CPR on a newly drowned girl

Good to know this little girl can dress normally when not being haunted by her evil great aunt who just murdered attic grandma

E12 - Mandroids Play Among Us

Do we fear the FBI more than the demons? Yes

Dean says ACABATJ (All Cops Are Bad At Their Jobs)

Ronnie boy knows whats up

Cybermen!! Doctor Who Reference!!

MANDROIDS?? Kit Pedler and Gerry Davis are playing copyright games

Poor Ronnie getting his dreams crushed

Sam too good at being a cop. He was made for this. Pre Law babyy

"I like him, he says okie dokie"

This hostage is a snitch. Let the guy keep his knife

Locked in a safe with a girl who's got a crush on your brother is Sam's idea of Hell

Free Goop! Yum!

The boys once again run into amateur hunters and teaching them basics

The cops continue to be useless <3

Rip to Ronnie. He was built different

ඞඞඞඞඞඞඞඞඞඞඞඞඞඞඞඞඞඞඞ

Honestly feel bad for the Winchester assigned FBI agent. Must be a hard life

NGL telling the hostage takers that you don't wanna be released and will just vibe in the vault is a powermove even if its because your a shapeshifting murderer

Its even more of a powermove when you aren't a shapeshifting murderer!!

Mr FBI agent giving FHJY Agent Clark Energy

NGL telling the hostage takers that you don't wanna be released and will just vibe in the vault is a powermove even if its because your a shapeshifting murderer

Its even more of a powermove when you aren't a shapreshifting murderer!!

Mr FBI agent giving FHJY Agent Clark Energy. He's on the hunt for the most elusive german shepard and will never win

Sam and Dean said "Free disguises!"

E13 - Priests Fail To Understand Theology

Spent most of the time trying to guess if this is a Protestant thing or if they're just wrong

The Whole Episode:

Televangelism is scary and we're right for saying it

Sam you are not a medical professional PLEASE STOP GIVING THERAPY

ANGEL EPISODE?? IS IT TIME???

The brothers can't get mad at being considered gay when their booking rooms together at sex hotels. You can afford separate rooms please!

Insane bed. Are those real??

Can you have demons without angels? Does Dean consider demons non-religious?

Love finding some fingernails in the walls. A great thing to happen in a murdered guys cellar

Supernatural implying that demons are front line workers and angels are line managers

Good Omens crossover continues

Is the B plot going to be about the sex bed??

Hacker man Sam

All these guys went to church? How shocking!

In todays episode we learn about being innocent until proven guilty

Hard turn into religion from Closet Christian Sam!

They have implied that Spongebob is holy

Dean really said only one person gets to murder strangers

This priest didn't study. You ain't holy you just got shot. Men don't become angels, they get sainted, which you didn't

B Plot (C Plot?) of Dean getting to do a car chase!

Creep got final destinationed. Good.

In todays episode we learn about being innocent until proven guilty

Hard turn into religion from Closet Christian Sam!

They have implied that Spongebob is holy

Dean really said only one person gets to murder strangers

This priest didn't study. You ain't holy you just got shot. Men don't become angels, they get sainted, which you didn't

B Plot (C Plot?) of Dean getting to do a car chase!

Creep got final destinationed. Good.

{{11% through}}

Spent way too long making that among meme. Paint crashed and had to redo it all. Deserves more respect

Looking forward to the boys getting FBI'd again soon

[sunbowo-o]

⚠️ HoO Spoilers ⚠️

ok, so i just finished the last book from HoO and i need to say that, even though i LOVED this saga, i am kinda disappointed with the ending... and here is why:

(tbh, i don't know if these are controversial or general agreement topics, but pls be nice!)

i felt like a lot of things were missing, like, for example, WHY the hell didn't have a scene with Percy and his mother??? not even a LETTER?? 😭 my boy went missing for so long, his mum must be dying from worries and we don't even get a chapter with them both talking?? after everything Sally has done on the first saga?

another character that i felt was forgotten is Grover. tbf, i didn't expect like a whole scene with a long dialogue with him, but, how much it would cost just to say that, for example, Nico saw him, Percy and Annabeth talking together? the og trio. he deserved so much better 💔

ok, so we miss all these, but what do we get?? JASON AND PIPER KISSING! like, i understand the importance of the scene (a new begining and shit) but is not like we haven't seen it happening before, they say it was their first kiss but that part didn't had any impact on me like???? and they're just a OK couple, doesn't even gets close to that Percabeth kiss scene in the end of the last PJO book. so, yeah, was this REALLY necessary??

Leo's "death" was a really weak angst. don't get me wrong, leo is one of my favourite characters of all time, and i know some of the readers got really sad, but i didn't, because i knew he wouldn't die (ok, this was my fault maybe, but i saw that he was the one who narrates the last chapter) and we kinda of knew his plan, i knew he had the cure with him yk?

and, complementing topic 4, the last chapter being about him and Calipso was just 😐😐 like, everyone thinks he is dead, but we know he is not, so it doesn't have this weight anymore, and, then, he goes to Calipso... i know he is obsessed with her, and talk about her throughout all the book, but, why this was the last chapter??? A WHOLE SAGA SAYING ABOUT MONSTERS AND GAIA AND IT JUST END WITH TWO "TEENS" TALKING ABOUT OH YEAH WE DONT KNOW WHERE WE ARE GOING BY THE WAY

And, in the topic of monster and battle, the Gaia battle was SO DAMN BORING!!! Ok, so Rick passed 5 whole books saying to readers "hey, pay attention! they can't let Gaia wake up or else will be THE END OF THE WORLD" and we are like "ok lol" and then she wakes up and i was like "OH SHIT WHAT THE HELL ARE THEY GOING TO DO?? IS THE END!!! NOOOO!!!" ... she appears... they drag her to the sky... one explosion (and an unnecessary Octavian death) and BOOM! its over. "simple" like that. AND without any relevant deaths.

i am just angry because the end of PJO was wonderful. they had to do hard sacrifices, (Charlie), it had betrayal plot (Silena) and redemption (Silena and Luke). they had to use ALL the forces they could think of and still was a difficult battle. and the main villain was a TITAN!!!!! Gaia was supposed to be SO MUCH DIFFICULT, and yet, it was not. the giants were harder to fight.

and talking about fight. the way that the amazons and the hunters didn't appear back was so 😐😐 too. like, it seemed they were forgotten like Grover and Sally. not even a change of letters? just to guarantee they were ok...

my verdict: pjo CRUSHES hoo

anyway, i know that there's "more" but i also know that The Seven™ will not be all together again, so its just kinda of disappointment to know that was the end... feel free to also give your opinion (but try to avoid future spoilers please!)

(also, srr for my English! 🫶)

[lyanachaan]

OC Tag Game

Tagged by the lovely @star--nymph !! Thank you so much Kat <3 I'll do Yelena because she is nonstop rotating in my brain.

tagging: @canavaris @schwarznummer1 @crowwowo @elfroot-and-laurels

Name: Yelena Lavellan

Alias: Lena, Marigold, Sweetest

Gender: Cis woman

Age: 26 in 9:40

Place of birth: Nevarra

Spoken Language: Trade, Elven, (I would also say Nevarren but apperently there is no Nevarren language smh), Dorian teaches her a bit Teven later on

Sexual Orientation: Pansexual

Occupation: Second of Clan Lavellan, Sheepherder, later on Inquisitor. After 9:42 occasional honorary professor at the reformed Circle of Magi in the Free Marches.

FAVORITE:

Color: Blue Iris, Burgundy

Entertainment: Trashy romance novels. Especially if they have an over the top convoluted plot that gets unnecessarily messy and dramatic

Books: She'll read anything, but she's most intrested in History and Folklore.

Pastime: Gardening, hiking, and after the Inquisition she picks up the lap harp again

Food: Sweets and Desserts, especially Apple Charlotte

Drink: Jasmine tea, sometimes when she misses home she steeps it too long for it to taste far too bitter and drinks it with lemon. And mulled wine, especially when it steaming hot.

HAVE THEY...

Passed university: If you consider her studies under her Keeper as uni, then yes

Had sex: Yes

Had sex in public: Yes, but you didn't hear the from me

Gotten tattoos: Except for her vallaslin, no

Gotten piercings: No

Had a broken heart: No, but certainly heavy

Been in love: Yes

ARE THEY...

A cuddler: Yelena loves being held, it's warmer that way

Scared easily: Not really but she does flinch a lot when anything is getting too close to comfort. That being said she does regularly flinch at birds flying overhead when she didn't pay attention or flinch away from nothing when wandering Skyholds halls at night and thought to have seen something moving towards her.

Jealous easily: Not really, but if it does clutch her, she often mistakes it for anger or grief

Trustworthy: Kind of? You can absolutely trust her to keep her word but she won't shy away from lying

FAMILY:

Siblings: Ilya is Yelenas older brother with a five year age gap between them. They have a very strong bond and they've been through thick and thin together. When Yelena leaves for the Conclave he is the one she leaves a letter for explaining where she went and the first to receive a message of her being alive in Haven. Later when the news of the fall of Haven reaches the Free Marches and in turn Clan Lavellan he is the one to chase to Ferelden to look for his sister.

Parents: Yelenas Mother is the physician of Clan Lavellan. While she is a mage her magic is rather weak so her practice is more practical. When she was pregnant with Yelena she had stayed in Nevarra with her Family for a sort of apprenticeship with a Mortalitasi. The Clan had once stayed near his lands on the boarder between the Free Marches and Nevarra and she had helped him with his sick wife. In turn he offered her a place to study medical practices and anatomy in peace. Both her and Yelenas father visit him and his wife from time to time.

Yelenas Father is a hunter of Clan Lavellan. He's a very stoic but soft man. Early on he knew that none of his children would follow his footsteps, and while he didn't get to take them with him on proper hunts he often took them birdwatching. He taught his son to play chess and taught his daughter how to read the stars.

Children: After Tresspasser, yes. A boy, Ruslan and a girl, Alexandra

Pets: Once Yelena and Cullen settle down they have two dogs, Cullens mabari and Yelenas borzoi named Spoon. She also calls her little lady even though Spoon reaches up to her hip.

[photogirl894]

"Sun and Rain Part 3: A New War"

Chapter 1

"We're already free"

A "Bad Batch" fanfic!

Pairing: Hunter x fem OC, Echo (more best friend pairing)

A/N: Welcome, everyone, to Part 3 of Sun and Rain!! 😆

It took a long time to get through Part 2/season 1 of TBB, so I'm hoping this one doesn't take as much time 😝 This part will follow the events of Bad Batch season 2 as well as some original storylines I will be interweaving throughout the show, just like I did with season 1. I've got a few fun and interesting things planned already and I know more will come as time goes on!

Without further ado, let's jump into Part 3/season 2!!

Taglist: @the-sad-batch , @nimata-beroya , @intrepidmare , @legolkenxbi , @tech-aficionado ,

@ladykatakuri , @sammi9498 , @darthzero22 , @scarlettrose9901 , @thebadbatchscyare ,

@chxpsi , @ilikemymendarkandfictional , @4pplecider , @locitapurplepink , @l-lend ,

@nekotaetae , @eternalwaffle , @merkitty49 , @avathebestx , @idoubleswearimawriter ,

@techs-stitches , @fantasyproductions , @totallyunidentified , @theknightofivanhoe , @dreamsandrosies ,

@seaofsunberries , @flowerfellfrans

《 Part 2

》 Chapter 2

All chapters (Part 3) (Part 1)

Explanation: Months have passed since the attack on Kamino and the Bad Batch find themselves faced with a mission that could potentially lead to a better future.

On the tropical planet of Aynaboni, the atmosphere over one certain island was tranquil, quiet and serene. The distant calls of sea birds could be heard on the light breeze and the smell of sea salt lingered in the air. It was a peaceful existence…until the sound of a roar sounded in the distance as Echo, Hunter and Wrecker of Clone Force 99 came sprinting out of the trees and onto the beach. Echo suddenly lost his footing and fell face first into the shallow water, but Hunter was quick to pull him up to his feet.

“Go, go, go, go, go, go!” Wrecker cried out urgently as he went running with a giant crate in his hands.

Just as the three of them resumed booking it down the beach, a pod of six giant Aggrocrabs came charging through the trees, chasing after the three Clones who were trying to evade them. They were a good few yards behind them, but they were moving pretty fast.

Echo chided Wrecker as they ran, “We went over the plan five times.”

“I got the package, didn’t I?” Wrecker asked in return.

“Just keep moving,” Hunter ordered from behind them. 

Elsewhere on the island, the squad’s ship, the Marauder, was docked on a large, flat rock just on the edge of the ocean. The door to the ship was open and the ramp was out partway, giving Omega a place to sit outside as she looked over her datapad with different ship schematics on it that she was studying. However, being outside and enjoying the fresh air was distracting her and she briefly decided to put the datapad down and lie on her back for a moment, taking it all in. Then she heard a splash from the water below and peeked over the edge of the ramp to see if the line they’d dropped down from the ship had caught anything. 

Her moment of respite was soon ended by the sound of her brother, Tech, coming to the doorway and questioning as he picked the datapad off the ramp, “Does this unscheduled break mean you are fully versed in every ship in the Imperial fleet?”

Annoyed, Omega complained, “Do I have to do this right now? We’re on a mission.”

“That does not give you a pass on your studies,” he said back, holding out the datapad.

Omega rolled her eyes and asked as she took the datapad, “How come Kimber gets to take a break and I don’t? That’s not very fair.”

From above them, they heard a female voice reply, “I’ve already finished my studying. Now, listen to your brother, Omega.”

The young girl just groaned back.

Up on the roof of the Marauder, the final member of the squad, with her sniper rifle at her side, was lying on her back and taking in the warm sunshine, sighing contently to herself. This was Kimber Sallaros, the human woman who had joined their squad. In over the past six months since the destruction of Tipoca City, she and the rest of Clone Force 99 had continued to do mercenary jobs for their employer, Cid, on Ord Mantell, but they were doing their best to ensure they remained under the Empire’s radar since they had been presumed dead after the attack on Kamino. So far, there had been no signs that the Empire’s forces were aware of their survival. They kept busy quite often and Kimber was taking a moment to just relax, even if it was brief. They didn’t get very many moments like this. Or, at least, they hadn’t recently. Even though she wasn’t entirely fond of the fact they were on a tropical ocean planet--being afraid of water and unable to swim and all--it was still nice to take in the stillness of the atmosphere.

She heard a grunt close by and saw Tech pulling himself up over the edge and onto the top of the ship next to her. “Why do you insist on climbing up to the roof of my ship, KImber?” he asked her.

“Because this way, I have a better vantage point for when the others make their way back,” she answered, sitting up and moving beside him.  

“Yet I see you are clearly neglecting your duties as the lookout,” he pointed out.

“Relax, Tech. Hunter will comm us if they need anything,” she said casually back. “Besides, you’ve been inside the ship this whole time. How would you know if I’ve been slacking off?”

Pushing up his goggles, he simply stated, “I have my methods.”

“Oh, shut up,” she said through a chuckle, nudging him with her shoulder.

The two of them sat together staring at the ocean silently for a short moment before Tech spoke up, asking, “May I be frank with you?”

“Of course,” she said.

He pointed out, “This particular aquatic planet happens to remind me of Bestine, where you and I took an amiable flight together over the ocean quite some time ago.”

Looking back out at the blue water before them, Kimber chuckled good-heartedly. “You know, you’re right. I can see some similarities,” she agreed. Then a reminiscent smile crossed her face. “I remember that day well. That was one of the first times you and I ever spent time together.”

“It was, indeed,” he said back. 

Then she realized aloud, “We haven’t gotten as much time together like that just you and I since then, have we?”

“Yes, I myself have made that observation,” he affirmed. “It is understandable, of course, as I know I am not usually the first person you would choose to spend your time with. Hunter, naturally, would be your first choice as you are romantically involved with him. Then Echo, you are closest to after him. Wrecker and Omega also offer more joviality than I do and--

“You're saying that like you think you’re my least favorite of the squad and I wouldn’t want to spend time with you. That isn’t true,” she interjected.

He just casually shrugged and said, pulling out his datapad, “It does not bother me, as I am content to busy myself with other things.”

However, Kimber watched him closely and noticed his avoidance of eye contact and the fact that his facial expression, despite his attempt at hiding it, was giving away that he wasn’t being fully honest. “You know, you’re a terrible liar,” she said. When he kept his eyes on his datapad and refused to respond, she thought she’d coax the truth out of him by asking what she thought he wanted to hear: “Tech…do you want to spend more time with me?”

He hesitated and then ever so timidly answered, “I…would not be opposed to the notion.”

Hearing his answer, she felt both touched at his vulnerability, but also a little guilty that he’d been hesitant to admit such a thing in the first place. “Oh Tech, why didn’t you ever say anything?” she said back sympathetically. “I would gladly do that, you know I would.”

Tech looked back at her, a pleased look in his eyes that showed even through the lenses of his goggles, but then the moment was interrupted by his comm beeping, followed by Hunter’s voice speaking, “Tech, we’ve got the cargo, but we could use some firepower.”

With a roll of his eyes, Tech responded, “Wrecker woke the pod, didn’t he?” Then he slid over the edge and down the side of the ship, landing on the ramp just beside Omega, who was still there studying, before retreating back inside the cockpit.

Hunter responded, “Yeah and they’re not happy.”

As she grabbed her rifle and then slid down the ship after Tech, Kimber replied back into her new wrist comm, “Didn’t we go over the plan, like, five times before you all left so this wouldn't happen?”

Then Echo’s voice responded, clearly unamused, “That’s exactly what I said.”

“We need a pickup,” then said Hunter.

Omega confirmed, “Copy that. We’re on our way.”

Kimber took up her rifle in her hands in a ready position, peering through the scope to see if she could see the others anywhere in the distance while Tech got the ship powered up. She didn’t get much of a chance to look as the line in the water started to jerk.

“Tech, we caught something and I think it’s big,” Omega cried out, coming back out from in the ship with her new helmet cap on and her energy bow on her back.

“Release the line. We do not have time to reel--” Tech started to answer, but then the ship jolted as all of a sudden, two more of the crabs came climbing up onto the front of the ship. To try and get the crabs off, he started pulling the ship off the ground.

To keep her balance, Kimber braced her hand against the doorway and Omega tried to bring up the line, but then it jammed and caused the ship to tilt downward as another crab appeared out of the water, pulling the line. The force of the pulling caused Omega to fall off the ramp.

“Omega!” both Tech and Kimber called out.

Luckily, she managed to grab the line and slid down enough that she was still out of the crabs’ reach as more began to appear. After reassuring the other two that she was okay, Tech pulled the ship higher, letting the wings unfold fully, but it wasn't going anywhere since the crab on the ground still had a grip on the line. The two crabs on the hull of the ship were starting to tear into it with their pincers.

“They're wrecking the ship!” Omega called up. 

“I cannot shake them,” Tech responded.

Kimber found herself in a quandary. She wanted to help Tech, but she also wanted to keep Omega out of danger. She could potentially hit the crabs on the ship, but her line of sight was partially blocked by the ship's walls. When she looked back down to see Omega slowly sliding down the line, she then came up with a plan, trusting that Omega would put the extra training she'd been receiving over the last few months to good use. 

“Omega! I'll go low, you go high!” she cried out, taking up her rifle and aiming it at the crab below. 

The young girl gave her a quick nod and then let herself slide faster down the line towards the ground. Kimber lined up her shot and fired at the crab holding onto the line. The crustaceous creature immediately let go of the line, ducked its head down and raised its pincers over its head, letting the blaster bolt ricochet off its hard outer shell. It seemed as though their shells were resistant to blasterfire. Once the line was released, Omega let go, jumped off of the crab’s shell and tumbled over its back, withdrawing her bow as she turned and lined up her shot. She took two shots at each crab and managed to hit them on their underside, knocking them off the ship. She kept firing as the others turned towards her and they reacted the same as before: lowering their heads and covering them with their pincers. Up above, Kimber happened to notice more crabs emerging from the trees further inland. Just as she realized it, so did Omega.

“Tech, fly along the beach,” Kimber called inside the ship. Then she yelled down, “Omega, start running!”

Both of them did as Kimber ordered without hesitation. Tech turned the ship and flew along the waterline while Omega took off running away from the Aggrocrabs over the rocks and down to the beach. Over the comm, Tech told Omega to grab the line just as he maneuvered the ship a couple paces ahead of her. She took out her bow and expertly fired at a crab coming towards her, causing it to duck down, and used that to her advantage by climbing up its back, leaping off of it and catching the line mid-air before clipping it to her belt. Seeing that Omega was now secure, Kimber grabbed onto the line with one hand and leaned into the turn as the Marauder started rounding a corner of the beach. 

She heard over her comm Wrecker asking, “Tech, where are you?”

Just as they came around the bend, she then spotted the others ahead, running in their direction with another huge group of Aggrocrabs chasing them. Seeing the number of them, it was no wonder they needed a pickup.

As Tech started shooting at the crabs with the ship’s guns, Kimber heard Hunter demand over the comms, “Why is Omega hanging off the ship?”

“It is an unscheduled study break,” Tech simply stated back.

Now that they had found the remainder of their squad, Kimber activated the mechanism that reeled the line back up, pulling Omega back to the open ramp of the ship. She unhooked herself from the line, sent it back down to the other Clones and resumed firing at the crabs at Kimber’s side, the two of them providing cover for their squadmates. Below, Wrecker took the giant cargo crate he was carrying, tipped it on its side and hooked the line onto one of the handles. After that was done, he, Hunter and Echo all climbed up onto the crate and rode it as the line pulled them up to the ship, firing down at the crabs that tried to jump up at them. They came up beside the ramp and Omega offered them a welcoming grin while Kimber greeted them with a smirk, saying, “Fancy meeting you here.”

Hunter stepped up on the ramp, reached out and lightly touched her cheek before going inside the ship. Echo followed him and then Wrecker, now with the crate back in hand, went inside. Kimber signaled for Omega to go in before her and then she went in last, closing the door behind them as the Marauder took off away from the island.

Echo and Hunter had dropped into the two chairs in the main area of the ship, breathing heavily, and Wrecker collapsed on top of the cargo crate, complaining, “I thought the beach was gonna be relaxing.”

Removing his helmet, Hunter looked at Omega and remarked, “Appreciate the backup…but try staying inside the ship next time.”

“I’ll try…but it was still pretty fun,” Omega replied, still grinning gladly.

Hunter couldn’t help but smile at her enthusiasm, which Kimber noticed right away. Still a gleeful glint in her eyes, she retreated to the back of the ship and climbed up into her makeshift room in the gunners mount.

“You should’ve seen her, darling,” Kimber said, kissing Hunter on his brow. “She was amazing. Her intensive training is paying off.”

“So I noticed,” he replied. Then he reached up and grasped her hand, looking up at her adoringly. “You were amazing yourself, as always.”

She just smiled gratefully and tightened her grip on his hand. Her eyes wandered down to the red scarf he now wore around his neck. A few months back, they had all determined as a squad that, in order to keep from being discovered by the Empire, they had to change their appearances, specifically their armor. They all got some new leather armor to wear underneath, but they couldn't get whole new sets of battle armor as that would definitely arouse suspicion no matter where they went, so they decided to just repaint and change up their current armor. With the help of their friend, Kida, from the Koriena Force, they all gave themselves new paint jobs with different colors while still keeping it relatively uniform: Kimber and Hunter had gone with light gray, teal and orange, Tech did white and orange, Echo had done white, gray, orange and red and then Wrecker had gone with gray, orange and yellow. On top of changing their armor, however, Hunter and Kimber both had found scarves for each other to wear. She had found his first in a market when they were looking for new clothes for Omega; a red scarf with a few thin, white stripes and thought it would look good on him. That and he thought it would come in handy for disguise purposes, if necessary. She had then made a joke about needing a scarf of her own to match him and, naturally, he took that seriously and found one for her, as well. It was a darker red-orange in color that buttoned together over her left shoulder and had curled gold embellishments sewn in along the edge. He said the gold curls reminded him of what she had worn on their Imperial masquerade gala mission, which she found incredibly sweet. 

It had been a bit hard for all of them to change their armor, having to paint over or scratch out the Clone Force 99 skull that had come to mean so much to them; that had symbolized who they were as a squad. It felt like erasing part of their identity, but it's what needed to be done in order to keep their cover. To the Empire, Clone Force 99 was dead…and so they had to think the same. It was taking some getting used to still, but they were adjusting better than they'd anticipated.

Kimber then glanced over to the cockpit where Tech was flying the ship and, recalling their earlier conversation, decided to go join him. “You boys stay back here and rest. I'm going to go sit with Tech,” she said. 

Hunter wasn't going to argue against that and just gave her a tired nod, his eyes already halfway closed as he leaned his head against the back of the chair. Wrecker just groaned and gave a thumbs up and Echo was already fast asleep.

With that, Kimber walked up to the cockpit and she asked Tech as she came up behind him, “What’s the damage report on the exterior hull?”

Tech tapped a few keys and brought up the ship’s system readings as he replied, “Nothing too substantial.” When Kimber leaned down to take a closer look, he went on, “The interior system damage is minimal, but nothing critical. We should make it back to Ord Mantell without issue.”

“Will the ship still be okay to make the jump to lightspeed?” was Kimber’s next question.

“Absolutely. The force of hyperspace should not affect the damaged hull,” Tech affirmed.

Letting out a sigh of relief, she said as she sat in the co-pilot's seat, “That’s reassuring.”

A few moments later, they exited the planet’s atmosphere and flew back into the starry vastness of space. Tech put in the coordinates back to Ord Mantell and soon, they made the jump to hyperspace. Even though she’d seen it many times, Kimber still couldn’t help but marvel in awe at the sight of the stars zooming past them and transforming into the blue tunnel of hyperspace. It amazed her every time and the sight of it never got old.

After putting on the ship’s autopilot, Tech then inquired, turning his chair to face her, “Kimber…do you have any interest in learning to pilot the ship?”

The question caught her off guard for a moment, but she replied, “I’ve thought about it, but between the rest of you already knowing how and Omega currently learning to fly, I figured we had enough pilots to go around.” 

“That may be so, but it is still an important skill to learn, should you ever find yourself in a situation where you yourself must fly a ship,” he stated. His facial expression turned lightly timid briefly before he straightened up and asked outright, “To coincide with the notion proposed earlier of us keeping each other’s company more often, would you perhaps consider taking flying lessons under my tutelage, once I have concluded teaching Omega?”

That brought a smile to her face at seeing him open up to her like that. She could tell he actually was eager about the proposed idea and she found that even more endearing. With a glad smile, she replied, “I can think of no greater instructor to learn from. I would love to, Tech.”

He grinned, pleased with her response.

“But don’t feel like you need to rush Omega’s lessons,” she added. “Take your time to make sure she learns properly. I’m more than willing to wait.”

He nodded. “Understood.”

“Until that time, would you mind if I stay up here with you on the way back to Ord Mantell?” she asked kindly.

Tech grinned again. “I do not mind at all.”

Then Kimber suggested, gesturing to the console, “Maybe you can tell me about the Marauder’s system specifications. Give me a bit of a headstart on the technical part of flight training while I wait for the actual flying.”

“An excellent idea,” he agreed.

After that, Tech proceeded to start listing off the different ship specifications in the cockpit and Kimber listened intently to every word, enjoying this time with him on their way back to Ord Mantell.

The doors swished open to Cid’s parlor on Ord Mantell and Kimber couldn’t hold back a light groan. Even though she was now used to coming back to this place at this point, she still didn’t like it. It was better than being destitute and constantly running, but she wished they didn’t have to keep working for Cid, whom she couldn’t stand. 

As they walked in, removing their helmets, they were met by AZI-3, the medical Droid they had rescued from Kamino, floating up to them and carrying a tray of drinks for a couple patrons. “Greetings,” he said, “I am AZI-345211--”

“Yeah, yeah, we know,” Wrecker grumbled as he pushed past him with the cargo crate.

“You are all quite late,” AZI observed. “Mistress Cid has been extremely vocal about her displeasure.”

Echo rolled his eyes. “Well, there’s a surprise,” he said sarcastically. 

Kimber snickered. “You’re starting to sound like me,” she pointed out. 

They made their way to the back room where Cid’s office was and sure enough, she was standing in front of her desk, her arms folded.

“Well, well, well. The space lugs decided to finally show up,” she spat.

Then, to the Bad Batch’s surprise, they heard an unfamiliar woman’s voice say from behind Cid, “Better late than dead, I always say.”

When Cid moved aside, sitting in the chair and with her legs propped up on the desk, holding a drink in her hand, was a human dark-skinned woman. Her dreadlocks went up and over one side of her head and she wore a blue headband across her brow as well as a light brown overcoat. The Clones and Kimber had never seen this woman before, but something about her demeanor made them all slightly suspicious.

“And who are you?” Hunter questioned.

The woman simply smirked and asked back, “Wouldn’t you like to know?” She stood up from the desk and then said as she walked around over to them, “So this is the top team you’ve been talking about? The rogue Clones on the run from the Empire, huh? How juicy.”

Hunter narrowed his eyes at Cid. “You told her?”

Dismissively, Cid waved a hand and rebuked him, “Don’t get twitchy. Phee’s a friend. She’s the most trustworthy pirate I know.” 

“Is that supposed to be comforting?” Echo asked in disbelief. 

Kimber put a hand on her hip and gave Cid an incredulous look. “The words ‘trustworthy’ and ‘pirate’ aren’t words I would put together. Besides, anyone that you consider a friend, I automatically don’t trust,” she stated.

The new woman, Phee, seemed to pay no mind to anything Echo or Kimber said as she then proceeded to say aloud, “Aren’t Clones supposed to look alike? So much for quality control.” She looked at Wrecker and then Omega and then Hunter. “This one’s too big. This one’s too small. This one’s got a face tattoo. Yeah, real subtle,” she remarked sarcastically. Then she got to Kimber and her eyebrows furrowed. “And this one ain’t even a Clone at all. What’s a random beauty like you doing with a group of Clones?”

There it was: the usual question Kimber was always asked. Most times, she didn’t mind it; she’d gotten used to it, but certain times like this with people she didn't like or trust, it was just annoying. “Wouldn’t you like to know?” she replied, echoing Phee’s words while maintaining eye contact with her.

Phee smirked deviously. “Mmm spunky. I like you,” she responded, looking Kimber over. 

Kimber just frowned back. 

Right then, Phee happened to look over Kimber’s shoulder at Tech and suddenly, her expression changed, her eyes widening slightly. “Oh…hey now. You got a name, brown eyes?” she asked, a flirtatious grin crossing her face.

With a small adjustment of his goggles, he answered, “Tech. However, the phenotypic eye color for all Clones is brown. Iris pigmentation was not affected by our mutat--”

“Well, as fascinating as this has been,” Phee interrupted him, already bored, “I have places to be.” She finished up her drink, dropped her cup into Cid’s hands and then approached Wrecker. “You, let’s see those muscles in action.”

For a second, Wrecker seemed unsure if he should go with her, so he looked to Hunter for affirmation. After Hunter gave him a nod, he nervously answered, “Uh y-yes, ma’am.” Then he picked up the cargo crate from off the ground. 

Before she walked out, Phee turned back around and said, “And, Cid, that intel is not free. I expect a cut if your ‘top team’ comes through.” With that, she walked out of the office, followed by Wrecker. 

The rest of them looked back at Cid apprehensively.

“What is she talking about?” Hunter questioned her.

“Your next mission. You lot are heading to the Outer Rim,” Cid responded. She then pulled up a hologram of a large fortress with an oval-shaped tower in the center.

Tech then observed, “That is Castle Serenno, the former home of Count Dooku.”

“Who’s that?” Omega inquired.

Echo was the one who answered her, saying, “A Jedi who betrayed the Republic and led the Separatists in a war.”

Then Cid explained, “With him being dead, Dooku’s entire war chest is up for grabs. The Empire has already started pillaging his palace, but there’s still time to strike before it’s all gone.” 

“Of course, it’s all about the money with you,” Kimber complained, rolling her eyes.

Hunter then stated in response, “Too much of a risk. You want that war chest? You go after it.” Then he turned on his heel and walked for the door.

Following him, Kimber then said to him quietly, “Wow, now you’re starting to sound like me, too.” The door opened and then closed behind them as she went on, “You know I support your decision.”

He cocked a half smile. “You’re just saying that because it means we don’t have to do another job for Cid.”

“I mean, yes,” she admitted, “but I also understand why you don’t want to go to Serenno. The Empire already has their forces going for that war chest. We’d be putting our safety on the line going there and I’m not willing to risk that just so Cid can get her claws on more credits.” She took a hold of his hand. “It’s not just your job to look out for our squad. It’s mine, too.”

He brought her hand holding his up to his lips and placed a kiss on the back of it. “I’m glad to have you looking out for all of us.”

“Always,” she said back. 

The two of them stayed out in the parlor area for the next few minutes until everyone else came back from Cid’s office. They all took a spot at a nearby table and Omega sat herself on a barstool in front of Hunter. Within a few minutes, the two of them started reviewing different classes of spaceships. Along with Tech, Hunter had also undertaken giving Omega lessons both in combat as well as different academics. To Kimber, it was endearing to see Hunter taking on much more of a mentor role with his sister.

Although, not long into their lesson, Kimber and Hunter overheard Cid talking to the others in the squad in not-so-hushed tones and their ears perked up. Curious about what was going on, they left Omega to continue her studies at the bar and started walking over to the others.

“Then we’re all in agreement,” they heard Cid say. “Now, all we gotta do is convince dark and broody and the Missus.”

“Convince us about what?” Hunter asked, approaching the table with Kimber next to him.

Hesitating to make eye contact, Wrecker told him, “Uh, well, we took a vote…and we wanna go after the war chest.”

“It’s unanimous,” Cid then put in. Gesturing to Echo, she added, “Even Killjoy over here agreed.”

Echo, however, seemingly had no idea that was what Cid called him and didn’t seem too amused by it.

Frowning, Kimber looked at the Trandoshan and said, “Cid, I don’t think you know what the word ‘unanimous’ actually means. If Hunter and I aren’t on board, then that’s not the right word for this situation.”

“Oh, can it, Dollface. You're sounding like Goggles,” Cid retaliated.

Kimber’s jaw clenched and Hunter could sense her building frustration, so he laid a hand on her shoulder to keep her from blowing up. Then he stated, “Serenno is Imperial occupied. We’ve stayed off the Empire’s radar since Kamino. Why chance it now?”

“Because the contents of just one of those containers would be worth more than all the jobs you pulled for me combined. You can buy your freedom,” Cid told him. 

“We’re already free,” he said in reply.

“It’s cute you think that,” she responded.

Kimber pursed her lips. “Since when did you actually care about our wellbeing?” she questioned.

Cid just humphed at her and then said, “There’s a lot you don’t know about me, Dollface.” Then she pointed between Kimber and Hunter. “Clearly, neither of you are paying attention to what’s happening out there, but I am. It’s only a matter of time before the Empire comes here and then my little operation is over, which means no more jobs for you.”

Tech then spoke up, “She does have a valid point.”

“You wanna really be free? Then pull off this heist and you’ll have the means to disappear,” Cid went on. “No more risky missions. No more living hand to mouth. You can have a future. Isn’t that what you’re after?”

Unfortunately, Kimber knew Cid made a good point. It turned out Cid didn’t want the money from the war chest for herself; she uncharacteristically wanted it for them so they didn’t have to keep living the way they were. If they even had just a small portion of it, it could be enough for them to move on to something better; a peaceful future they all yearned for. She looked up at Hunter and found he was looking another direction: over at Omega. From the look in his eyes, she could tell he was having the same change of heart as she was and remembering Omega only furthered it for Kimber. Omega deserved to live a normal life and just be a normal girl. That’s what they both wanted for her. A few seconds later, he turned to face Kimber and they shared a knowing glance, relenting against their previous resentment of the mission. 

Sighing in defeat, Kimber stated, “Well…it’s unanimous now. Looks like we’re going to Serenno.”

During the long flight to Serenno, Hunter sat at the computer console in the main area of the ship, scouting out possible planets they could hide out on once the mission was over and Kimber was in the chair across the aisle from him cleaning her rifle. The flight was silent for a good little while until Echo came into the back with them from the cockpit. He stole a quick look up at the covered gunner’s mount where they all knew Omega was resting.

Then Echo looked down at Hunter and said, “I know why you agreed to this mission…but we can do better things with Dooku’s fortune than hide, Hunter.”

Kimber looked up from her rifle and watched them closely. She knew where Echo’s point was going, considering this wasn’t the first time he’d brought something like this up to Hunter.

Sure enough, he proved her suspicions right by going on to say, “With what we’re up against, we have to be prepared to fight. That means numbers and weapons.”

“That’s not the kind of life this kid deserves,” Hunter replied.

Sternly, Echo retaliated with, “Our lives are like this because of Omega.”

“Echo…!” Kimber quietly chided him as Hunter immediately jumped up from his chair and moved Echo further away from the back where Omega could potentially hear him.

Echo kept going, keeping his sights on Hunter and his voice a touch lower now, “Taking her off Kamino was the right thing to do…but there are others out there who need our help.”

“We understand, Echo, but there’s only so much we can do,” Kimber interjected, moving up next to him.

He looked to her and then between the two of them. “We’ve seen what the Empire is doing throughout the galaxy. We should be doing more.” Not even waiting for a response from either of them, he retreated back into the cockpit, leaving them alone.

For a second, Kimber thought she saw movement up in the gunner’s mount, but when she looked, the curtain seemed to still be in the same position it had been in before, so she supposed she was just seeing things. Hunter looked conflicted regarding what Echo had said, so Kimber took him by the hand and wordlessly gestured with her head for him to come with her. Then she led him back to their bunk where they could have some privacy to discuss everything because she had some things she wanted to say.

She explained right away after the door closed behind them, “I’m on your side in all this, Hunter, but I do also understand where Echo is coming from. This isn’t the first time he’s been insistent on doing more to fight against the Empire. It’s just who he is. From everything I already know of him and from how Jesse once spoke of him from back in his reg days, Echo’s always been a devout soldier. He wants to finish what his fallen brothers started; he wants to carry on the Clone legacy and continue fighting. He wants to save as many lives as possible, which I can’t fault him for. If you remember, he and I are very much alike in our experiences: he was a slave who was freed from his captivity and was given a second chance at life, just like I was, and he doesn’t want to waste it. Even though the rest of us would be content with doing this last mission and then settling down somewhere, I don’t think that life would suit him for long. He’d get too restless, I know he would.”

Hunter sighed loudly. “I see his point, but I’m afraid putting ourselves out there will put us all at risk. We’ve gone through enough and I don’t want anything else to happen to our squad.”

“Darling, you and I both wish for that, believe me, but you have to understand: you can’t control everything that happens, not when we live the lives of soldiers,” she said to him. “We can protect the others, but we can’t stop everything from happening to them anymore than we can stop the suns in the galaxy from setting. It’s just a fact of the lives we lead.” She stepped closer to him and rested her hand on his tattooed cheek. “You’re doing all of this for Omega, which I fully support…but it might not hurt to consider what Echo talked about, too.”

Briefly, he remained silent, but then he finally nodded and replied, “I’ll think about it.”

“That’s all I ask,” she said. 

“I just…,” he started to say before then pulling her closer against him by her waist, “we’re so close to finally being able to afford getting married and having the peaceful life we’ve always wanted. I don’t want to lose this chance at real freedom.”

In response, she wrapped her arms around his waist and hugged him as his arms traveled up around her shoulders. “I know…I’ve thought about that, too,” she said. “It feels the same as the end of the Clone Wars: it’s something I thought wouldn’t happen for a long time and now, it’s just within our sights.” Then she gazed up at him with a bright gleam in her amber eyes. “We’ll get there soon, Hunter. I know we will. I can feel it.”

Brushing some extra strands of hair out of her face and tracing her cheek, he said back, “We’ll just have to keep being patient, which you’ve already been more than enough with me.”

“You’ve been just as patient with me, as well. Give yourself some credit.”

“You’re right.” Hunter gave Kimber a kiss on the forehead and then told her, “Come on, let’s go back out before the others think something’s wrong.”

“Or that we’re doing something we shouldn’t with everyone on the ship,” she teased, giving him a flirty wink.

His eyes narrowed slightly and a devious smirk appeared on his face. “Don’t tempt me,” he warned her playfully. “Besides, with how many times we’ve been interrupted when I’ve simply kissed you, I’m not risking anyone interrupting that.”

Kimber snickered, amused. 

The two of them exited the bunk and returned to their previous activities, getting themselves ready for their upcoming mission on Serenno, that hopefully would prove to be their last before finally gaining the peaceful future they wanted and deserved. 

[magicalsniper]

A Vampire Resides in Camelot

4,118 words | Teen | Part 2 of 12 Author's AO3: MagicalSniper Story Link: A Vampire Resides in Camelot Part One

Summary: In the kingdom where the Pendragons reign supreme as ruthless vampire hunters, Arthur Pendragon stands as the most feared and skilled of them all. His loyal servant, Merlin, appears to be a clumsy, scrawny, and goofy young man, but secretly, he is a pureblood vampire—the rarest and most powerful kind. As Arthur travels the land, slaying vampires and declaring them dangerous monsters, Merlin remains by his side, hiding his true nature. Initially, Merlin's need for blood is minimal, allowing him to pass as a human with ease by claiming the vials of blood from Gaius are medicinal. However, as Merlin's strength grows, so does his thirst, and he becomes increasingly desperate to avoid drinking human blood, fearing he will become the very monster Arthur hunts. When the charade unravels, and Arthur discovers Merlin's true identity, their world is thrown into chaos. Faced with losing his friend, Arthur makes the ultimate sacrifice: offering his own blood to keep Merlin alive.

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The One Where Merlin Struggles with Puberty

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Arthur strode into the great hall, his boots echoing against the stone floor, with a determined glint in his steely blue eyes. His father, King Uther Pendragon, sat upon his throne, a figure of imposing authority. His scrutinising gaze fell upon his son like his very presence disappointed him. 

"Father," Arthur began, his voice resonant within the chamber, "the villages at our borders are succumbing to vampire attacks. The people live in constant fear; their lives are being destroyed."

Uther's gaze remained unyielding as he replied curtly, "Those are outlying territories, Arthur. There is no immediate threat to the castle’s safety."

"Then, at what point does their suffering become our concern?" Arthur's tone rose, laced with frustration. "When they are but half a day's walk from our walls? When the terror is upon our doorstep and half our people have already been turned?"

"Exactly," Uther said, his voice cold. "That is when it becomes a matter for the crown."

Arthur's jaw clenched; he knew that waiting was not an option. The problem would only get worse if they allowed it to continue. With a curt nod, more to himself than to his father, he turned on his heel and departed, his mind set on a quest to rid the kingdom of its lurking shadows.

Meanwhile, Merlin paced in Gaius' candlelit chambers, the flickering light casting long shadows on the stone walls. Dusty shelves, crammed with vials, herbs, and ancient texts surrounded him. A large wooden table in the centre held various alchemical instruments and an open book, which Gaius stood before with a deep frown. He turned from the book and watched with weary eyes as Merlin paced back and forth, his dark hair tousled, his usually mischievous blue eyes now clouded with angst.

"Merlin, you must calm yourself," Gaius urged.

"Easy for you to say, Gaius," Merlin replied, a wry smile flickering across his pale features. "You don't have fangs threatening to sprout whenever you smell a fresh pie."

"Indeed, I have other ailments to worry about at my age," Gaius quipped, but his expression soon softened. "What happened?"

“I felt bloodlust,” Merlin stopped pacing, his shoulders slumping. "Stronger than ever. My senses and strength intensified, and I could barely hold back... If this continues, I will lose control."

"In those times, you have to try to remember who you are, Merlin—a young man with a kind heart, no matter what runs in your veins," Gaius assured him, placing a comforting hand on the young vampire's shoulder.

"Kind heart, maybe," Merlin mused, a spark of his usual levity returning. "But if you ever see me eyeing your neck, feel free to whack me with your walking stick."

"Rest assured, I'll do so without hesitation," Gaius replied, his lips twitching in amusement.

He motioned for Merlin to sit at the table before sitting opposite him. “Has your mother told you anything about pureblood puberty?”

Merlin scrunched up his nose. “Another puberty?” He barely just left the last one!

“Pureblood vampires, Merlin, experience puberty quite unlike humans. It's a critical and turbulent time for them. Their abilities and instincts are heightened to extreme levels. Their senses become razor-sharp, and their strength can be overwhelming.”

Merlin leaned forward, his eyebrows drawn low on his face. “That sounds… dangerous.”

“It is. You will have to learn how to control your new powers and urges. Without proper guidance, you could be a threat to yourself or those around you.” Giaus pushed the book between them towards Merlin, pointing to a faded picture on the page. “During this period, your emotions will be intensified. You will be more volatile and more aggressive. This is why many vampire clans have strict rites of passage to help their young navigate this phase.”

Merlin frowned, “But I don’t have a clan… what are these rites of passage?”

“Rites and trials designed to teach control and responsibility. Normally, those going through puberty are often secluded from society until they have mastered their abilities.”

“What!?” Merlin cried, jumping up. “Secluded? I can’t seclude myself. What am I going to do?”

“We could send you to your father’s old clan.”

“Absolutely not,” Merlin growled, slamming down his fist. He winced as the sound of cracking wood met his ears. “What… what happens if one doesn’t master their abilities?”

Gaius sighed, closing the book softly. “If a vampire going through puberty fails to gain control, they risk becoming feral, driven by their primal instincts rather than reason. They become a danger to everyone around them.”

Merlin sighed heavily and sank back into his seat, burying his face in his hands. 'What am I going to do, Gaius?' he whispered, fear lacing his voice.

Gaius stood and reached for a small chest on his cluttered bookshelf behind him. He placed it carefully on the table and flipped the lid open to reveal an assortment of glass vials, each filled with a murky red liquid.

“Listen carefully,” he began, his tone shifting to one of utmost seriousness. “We can try something. I created these for Balinor during the tail end of his puberty.”

Merlin took one of the vials and held it up to the light, studying the contents with a frown. “What’s in it?”

“Each contains a single drop of human blood, diluted with herbs and other...less conventional ingredients.”

Merlin eyed the vials warily. “Blood vials?”

"An interim solution," Gaius explained, meeting Merlin's gaze. "They will sate you temporarily, but they are not a replacement for sustenance. You must seek out alternative sources—animals, perhaps."

"Animals," Merlin repeated, the word leaving a bitter taste in his mouth. "Well, at least the blood from the poor creatures Arthur insists on hunting won’t go to waste… And when these vials no longer suffice?"

"That is a bridge we shall cross when we come to it," Gaius said with a resigned sigh. "For now, they will help keep your secret—and your wits about you."

"Thank you, Gaius," Merlin muttered, pocketing several of the vials as the sound of clanking armor approached.

“Merlin!” Arthur's commanding voice rang through the corridor. The door swung open, revealing the future king, eyes blazing angrily. “We haven't much time. Gather our provisions; we leave by the next candle mark.”

"Right away, sire," Merlin replied, slipping another vial discreetly into his pocket.

As Merlin ran around to gather the necessary supplies, Arthur inspected an array of weapons on the table before him. He reached for an ornate dagger, its blade engraved with his initials and a dragon head, which his father had gifted him when he turned thirteen. Arthur's hand slipped in his haste, and a thin line of red blossomed across his palm.

Arthur cursed under his breath, his blue eyes narrowing at the sight of his blood.

Merlin's head snapped up at the scent, his fangs aching beneath his lips. He squeezed his eyes shut and pulled out a vial from his pocket. With trembling hands, he uncorked it, the concoction's pungent aroma masking the tantalising smell of Arthur's wound.

He chugged it down and corked the vial back up, shoving it in his pocket before turning to Arthur and sidling up to his side. “Here, let me.” He took Arthur’s injured hand in his, his movements deliberately awkward to distract from his trembling. With his free hand, he reached into the bag on the bed and pulled out a bandage roll.

"I guess even future kings aren’t immune to the sting of their own blades," Merlin jested, trying and failing to hold his breath to keep the smell of blood out of his system, already reaching for a second vial as he pulled away from Arthur. It was going to be a long journey.

Twilight reached across the kingdom, casting a pinkish hue over the dew-laden fields. Arthur and Merlin set forth on their steeds with solemn looks on their faces.

"Remember, keep vigilant. We don’t need you falling off your horse because a rabbit scared you." Arthur teased, even as his eyes scanned the horizon as if he could already see the shadows that skulked in the night.

"That was a vampire rabbit, and you know it," Merlin muttered. “Next time a furry little fanged monster comes at you, I’ll just let it happen.” A pang of unease twisted within him, and he scanned the area for anything hiding in the wood.

As they traversed the cobblestone roads towards a small village, villagers emerged from their homes like wary spectres, their eyes hollow with fear. An old woman approached, her hands gnarled as the branches of the ancient oaks lined the village square.

"Milord," she croaked, her voice carrying the tremble of witnessed horrors. "Our kin vanish, and nothing is left but shadows and blood."

Arthur dismounted, his hand resting upon the hilt of his sword. "Tell us what you have seen," he urged, the furrow of his brow deepening.

Merlin followed suit, the frown on his face deepening. Something didn’t feel right, but he couldn’t quite put his finger on it. He sniffed the area subtly but found nothing of interest.

"The creatures... they come with the moon," another villager chimed in, his words tumbling out in a frantic cascade. "Like death itself, they are—silent and swift."

Merlin half-listened to the stories. Between the treacherous whispers that taunted him and the feeling of unease that he felt from the area, he was struggling to concentrate. It was usually the same story—someone, or multiple someones, went missing in the middle of the night, only to turn up several days later with red eyes ready to destroy them all. 

It was late into the evening when Arthur and Merlin were about to find solace beneath the boughs of an ancient grove.

"We need a good strategy," Arthur said, unsheathing his blade and inspecting the edge with a critical eye. "We should seek them out under the cover of night. We'll strike swiftly, using the element of surprise."

"Surprise is good, but caution is better," Merlin countered, the image of Gaius's vials flashing in his mind. "These creatures are cunning. We must not underestimate them or risk becoming prey to overconfidence."

"Afraid, Merlin?" Arthur teased.

"You can’t win everything with stupidity and a sword," Merlin quipped, his humour a thin veil over his gnawing anxiety.

Arthur reached over and cuffed him over the back of the head. “Shut up.”

Several hours later, a sombre view unfolded before Arthur and Merlin as they crested the low hillock. The village below lay in disarray, homes ransacked, timbers charred, and an eerie silence hanging over the desolation like a shroud.

Arthur swore under his breath, his jaw set with a grim determination as he surveyed the wreckage.

Merlin followed close behind, his gaze darting about nervously. The scent of blood hung thick in the air, coppery and sweet, and he was forced to hold his breath. He reached into his cloak and clasped a vial. With a furtive glance at Arthur, he uncorked it and took a swift draught, feeling the potion's immediate, albeit fleeting, relief.

"Stay vigilant, Merlin," Arthur said, oblivious to the inner turmoil of his companion.

"No, I’ll walk about with my eyes closed," Merlin snarked.

They stepped through the crumbling gate, each footfall stirring up the ashes of the once fertile lands. Around them, remnants of life stood still—dolls abandoned mid-play, pots overturned, their contents seeping into the earth.

"Such destruction…" Merlin's words trailed off as he knelt beside a fallen beam, his fingers tracing the scorched wood. He froze as his skin began to tighten and his senses sharpen. Desperately, he consumed another vial, the concoction bitter on his tongue.

"What’s wrong with you?" Arthur eyed him with a hint of concern.

"Headache," Merlin lied smoothly, averting his eyes so Arthur wouldn’t see the change in his eye colour.

"Come, let’s see if any evidence was left behind."

Together, they moved deeper into the devastated village, passing by splintered doors and ripped animal carcasses. Arthur's hand rested on the hilt of his sword as they scanned the area.

"Look," Merlin pointed toward the well, where dark stains marred the stones. He held his breath again, feeling his fangs fall. The scent of fear and blood was too delicious to his senses for his body not to react. He pushed his trembling hands into his pockets to hide them from view. His next vial would need to wait, but for how long, he could not say. As the shadows grew long, so too did the thin line he walked between loyalty and the beast within.

A cold gust of wind signalled their foes' approach. Vampires emerged from the obsidian shadows, silent as death, their eyes gleaming with feral hunger. Arthur's sword was out instantly, its blade reflecting the scant moonlight with deadly promise.

As steel met undead flesh, Merlin wrestled with the tumultuous storm inside him. His blood sang with the call of his kindred, yet his heart belonged to the realm of men. With a silent invocation, he summoned the arcane winds, his hands weaving incantations that sparked with eldritch energy.

Merlin snapped his fingers, and a surge of mystical force burst forth, striking the vampires with stunning light.

Together, they fought—a symphony of blade and magic. Arthur's courage never wavered, and his every strike was a testament to his resolve to protect his kingdom. Merlin's spells danced between the trees, their radiance illuminating the battlefield with flashes of spectral light.

"Your aim improves by the day, Merlin!" Arthur called out amidst the fray, a grin on his face even as he dispatched another foe. “Then again, anything is an improvement from nothing.”

"Learning from the best," Merlin shot back, throwing back his head in a laugh as Arthur tripped over a conveniently placed rock.

Finally, as the last vampire fell to the ground, silence descended upon them once more. Arthur wiped his brow, his chest heaving from exertion, but his eyes shone with the fire of victory.

"Another battle won," he declared, sheathing his sword.

Merlin nodded, exhaustion clawing at his limbs. He took a deep breath, wincing at the taste of acrid blood in the air. "Yes," Merlin agreed, his voice steady despite the weakness he felt.

The ground was cold and unforgiving, swallowed by the creeping tendrils of evening fog. Arthur's armoured boots struck the ground confidently, while Merlin moved with less certainty, his thoughts as scattered as the mist veiling the area.

"Are you sure we're headed in the right direction?" Merlin asked as he glanced over at Arthur, a teasing smile on his lips. "You know, you tend to struggle with reading the stars."

Arthur didn't stop, but a half-smile formed on his lips at Merlin's jest. "No, Merlin, the stars are aligned for us, not against us," he replied, firm yet with a touch of mirth. "Stay sharp. We're close."

Merlin snorted if only Arthur had any idea. 

As they delved deeper into the labyrinthine forest, an unsettling prickle danced along Merlin's neck. His senses whispered of something lurking in the shadows. He strained his ears, trying to catch the soft footfalls of the unseen follower. The air was still, too still, and carried a scent both unfamiliar yet oddly recognisable.

"Arthur," Merlin murmured, drawing closer to the prince. "We're not alone."

Arthur's hand instinctively gripped the hilt of his sword, his heart pounding as his eyes scanned the darkened surroundings. "Reveal yourself!" he commanded, his voice echoing off the stone walls. Only silence answered his call.

"Maybe it's just a stray cat," Merlin chuckled, though his heart hammered in his chest.

“Leave it to you to be frightened by a kitten,” Arthur scoffed. Despite his words, he remained tense and squinted into the darkness.

“They’re coming,” Merlin murmured, his eyes flashing gold. “They’re using something to shield themselves from me. I can only tell that we’ve met them before.”

“Friend or foe?”

“We’re about to find out.” Merlin tensed as her gaze lingered on them from the embrace of darkness— a pair of emerald eyes glaring out from the trees at them.

The figure stepped forward, the moonlight revealing her face. Morgana emerged from her concealment, her long dark hair cascading like a raven's wing and her piercing green eyes fixed on her half-brother with an intensity that could cut through steel. 

"Arthur," she said, her voice melodious.

Startled, Arthur almost dropped his sword at the sight of her disarming him. “Morgana!” Shock and relief battled on his face as he stared at the sister he thought he had lost. “Where have you been?”

"Six months, dear brother, and nary a sign of you," Morgana stated, her tone both accusatory and playful. "And here I thought you'd forgotten me."

Merlin watched her warily but closed the gap and joined Arthur in a heartfelt embrace that enveloped Morgana. "We feared the worst," Merlin confessed, his eyes still taking her in, a frown on his face. He subtly leaned closer and sniffed at her neck. It was Morgana, that much he was certain of, but she definitely had a scent on her he had sensed on her before. The look she gave him as he pulled away did not go unnoticed. 

“Yet here I am,” was her simple reply. “I am afraid I come with dire news.”

"What do you mean?" Arthur urged, his brows knitting together. "Have you heard about what has been happening?"

“You’re chasing the fodder when it is the puppeteer you should seek,” Morgana stated plainly, her eyes flicking to Merlin’s before returning to Arthur’s.

It was just as Merlin had feared then. He cleared his throat, “Armies are being created then? To what end?”

“Is it not obvious?”

Unfortunately.

Merlin scowled, “Just what we needed.”

“Enough of this nonsense,” Arthur commanded. "Six months vanished without a trace," he muttered, more to himself than to the enigma before him. "And now you return with tales of darkness? It ill suits you to play the seer, Morgana."

Merlin snorted and rolled his eyes at the heavens.

"Does it?" Morgana's voice was silk over steel. "Or does it simply displease you that I might know something you do not?"

"You’re making no sense," Arthur retorted. "You speak of vampires as if they’re capable of taking over a kingdom! Their mindless creatures, nothing more."

Morgana’s eyes bored into Arthur’s before turning to Merlin. “Is that what you believe?” Merlin’s heart dropped to his stomach. She knew.

“I—” Merlin was saved from answering by a bloodcurdling scream piercing the night air.

The abruptness of the scream tore through them, and their heads snapped towards the direction of the disturbance. Merlin sniffed the air and froze, “Oh no.” 

"Arthur," Merlin warned his voice barely above a whisper yet carrying an edge of urgency. That scream hadn’t been human— it was primal, guttural, and filled with a rage that sent your blood cold.

As the echoes of the scream died down, a massive shadow lunged from the trees, its form grotesque in the moonlight. A werewolf, its fur matted with blood and filth, bore its fangs— a snarl ripping from its throat as it set its sights on them.

"Merlin, do something!" Arthur shouted, stepping protectively in front of Morgana with his sword extended.

Merlin extended his hands, murmuring incantations under his breath as his eyes burned gold. These spells should have calmed the beast or turned it away, but the words dissolved into the night, powerless. His magic, usually so potent against creatures of the night, fizzled into nothingness. He stared, mouth agape, unable to comprehend what was happening.

“What is wrong with your magic?”Arthur grunted, dodging the werewolf’s swipe, his blade meeting the creature’s hide with a clang.

"I—I don’t know!" Merlin replied, panic lacing his voice. He racked his brain for any alternative, but his thoughts were chaotic. How could this be happening? Werewolves were susceptible to magic—it was one of the few advantages they had against such monsters.

"Vampire magic doesn't work on them," Arthur said between breaths, dodging another attack. "But yours should!"

“Oh, should it, Arthur. Should it? I had no idea,” Merlin snarked. His gaze darted around, searching for anything that could be used as a weapon or distraction. He grabbed a fallen branch, hardly a match for claws and teeth, but he couldn't stand idle while Arthur fought alone.

"Focus, Merlin!" Arthur commanded, narrowly avoiding a particularly vicious lunge from the werewolf. "We need to drive it back!"

"Right," Merlin said, forcing confidence into his tone. He feinted at the werewolf with the branch, hoping to draw its attention long enough for Arthur to find an opening.

“Behind you!” A strong voice from behind them called.

Arthur spun, his blade glinting in the pale light as he managed to slice across the beast's flank. The werewolf howled, the sound mingling with the clashing of metal and the thundering of their hearts.

A man with dark wavy hair and a strong athletic build got between Arthur and the werewolf. His sword gleaming under the moon’s pale light, he met the creature mid-leap and turned its ferocity aside with a well-placed blow.

"Stay behind me!"  The man shouted, parrying another swipe of the werewolf's deadly claws.

"Behind you? You'll find I'm quite capable of standing at your side," Arthur retorted grimly, joining the fray.

The two men’s movements were synchronised as if they had trained together for years. The man was precise, finding weak spots in the beast's defenses, while Arthur's strength drove the creature back, step by torturous step.

Who is this man? Merlin wondered silently, clutching the useless branch against his chest. He felt a pang of guilt for his inaction, but there wasn’t much left he could do. To engage would mean to reveal, and revelation was a luxury he could ill afford.

"Merlin! A little help here!" Arthur's voice cut through his reverie, tinged with urgency. Arthur's blade sang a metallic song as it cleaved through the air, narrowly missing the werewolf's snapping jaws. The beast was a maelstrom of claws and fury, each blow from its massive paws sending sparks flying from Arthur's armour. The prince's face was set in grim determination, blue eyes tracking every move with predatory precision.

"Right," Merlin muttered to himself. "Help. Without magic." The irony was not lost on him. He was a vampire who couldn't fight a werewolf with strength lest he reveal himself, and a wizard who couldn’t fight the werewolf because of a magic that should have worked but didn't. The absurdity of it all would have been laughable under different circumstances.

He watched the man move, throwing himself into the fray with a ferocity that matched the beast they fought. There was something inherently noble about him, an aura that spoke of chivalry and honour—the very ideals Arthur so cherished in his knights. It was no wonder they fought well together.

"What are you doing, Merlin!?" Arthur grunted, sidestepping a vicious pounce and driving his sword into the werewolf's flank.

With a howl that seemed to shake the very stones beneath their feet, the creature stumbled, its form shimmering as it tried to flee—but in a moment of quick thinking, Merlin shot out his hand, “Fyr!”

A line of fire blocked off the werewolf’s escape. “Fire, they hate fire!”

Arthur and the man seized the opportunity. The man harried the beast, keeping it engaged and enraged, while Arthur readied himself for the killing blow.

"Keep it steady, Merlin.” The man called, “Just a little longer..."

With a mighty roar, Arthur lunged forward, his sword glinting in the torchlight. The werewolf, caught off guard by the sudden assault, had no time to evade. The silver blade, guided by Arthur's unwavering hand, found its mark, plunging deep into the creature's chest. A howl of agony split the night as the werewolf's form shuddered and then stilled, its body reverting to the twisted shape of a man.

"Good thinking with the fire, Merlin," Arthur said, clapping him on the shoulder with a grin that belied the seriousness of their situation.

"Yeah," Merlin replied distractedly, a frown on his face as his mind was elsewhere. Why did his magic not work on werewolves all of a sudden? Did it have to do with his ‘vampire puberty’? And if so, what was he going to tell Arthur? “Hey, Mor— where did Morgana go?”

Morgana's second disappearance left them with more questions than answers, and Merlin knew they were far from unravelling the mysteries that ensnared them.

As they gathered, ready to continue their quest into the night, Merlin cast one last glance at the fallen foe. The battle was won, yet the war was far from over.