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thiswasinevitableid · 4 years ago

Note

For the mermay fills: 10 & 22 with indruck? 👁️👁️ (nsfw or sfw)

I went with ten (tattoos/piercings) first, since 22 will be part of another fill. I went with NSFW, and wrote this as a follow-up to my “Heat” fill from last year.

Indrid swims up and down the hall outside the palace infirmary. He’s far from the only one doing so; the reef serpent wreaked havoc through the city before the Chosen mers defeated it. He’s not even the only person waiting to see if Duck is alright.

“Have courage, Prince Indrid Cold!” Minerva, sporting a new gash on her face, clamps her hand down on his shoulder in what he knows is her version of a comforting gesture, “Duck Newton is the strongest Chosen after myself. He will pull through.” The blue of her tentacles flashes with pride.

“Besides” Ned, the castle mer who has, against all odds, become Indrid’s closest advisor, flicks his orange and silver tail “you informed us yourself there were no futures where our friend passed away.”

“I know.” Indrid takes a breath, intending to explain the tangled net of anxiety in his chest. All that comes out is another, “I know.”

Behind him, he hears two nurses murmuring that they’d better bump the prince’s consort up in the line, but before he can turn and order them not to, they’re gone.

It happened like this: Duck kept his word, began courting Indrid properly once the seer's heat passed, and Indrid reciprocated without hesitation. This caused a near scandal; yes, Duck was a Chosen and thus noble to a degree, but Indrid was a prince, and a prized one. Indrid pointed out that he rather liked someone who cared about his welfare, not just his happiness, and if they had an issue with that, that was their problem not his. And so the comments about Duck moved from to his face to behind his back, which he counted as good enough.

Duck found the whole consort business stressful, given that he’d forgone his Chosen destiny in favor of tending the kelp forests specifically to avoid that kind of fanfare and politics. Thus, they steered clear of the castle when they could, spending their time with their friends in town or in the sunken ship Duck called home.

When the serpent attacked their town, Duck discovered the limits of his rejecting his destiny, and joined the fight to save his home. Indrid is proud of him, even if his stomach churns whenever the futures shift and he has to see whether the strings of fate weave a grimmer outcome for the man he loves.

It’s well after moonrise when he’s allowed to see Duck. The other mer is half-asleep in his infirmary bed, a massive bandage on his side and one of his tentacles bitten down to a nub

“Hey darlin” The sleepy drawl is accompanied by the mer opening his arms.

Indrid carefully settles against the non-bandaged side of him, rests his head on his chest with a relieved sigh, “I’m so glad you’re alright. Or, well, mostly alright. You’re in one piece. Sort of. I, I’m not conveying this well.”

“I ain’t dead, given how today went I’m callin that a win. Besides, this’ll grow back in no time.” He wiggles the stub of his tentacle.

“Mmm” Indrid cuddles closer, purring softly as intact tentacles pet his tail and back.

“When’d you last sleep?” Duck murmurs, kissing the top of his head.

“Not since the attack started.”

“Seems to me we’re both due for some shut eye.”

Indrid nods, right before falling asleep and dreaming of strong tentacles and stronger arms.

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

“Guess I gotta get a tattoo now.” Duck studies the scar on his side, his bandages having permanently come off this morning.

“I suppose so. Though, if you’ve avoided so many other parts of Chosen protocol, I fail to see how skipping this one will make things worse.”

“I dunno, I kinda like this one. Used to strike me as macho bullshit, showin off how many battle scars you got. But now...makes me think of how when the forest gets trashed by a storm, or a huge-ass monster tearin through it, there’s a certain kind of pleasure that comes from watchin it heal, watchin it go from desolated and scarred to somethin beautiful.”

Indrid loves when he talks like this, smiles dreamily as Duck adds, “you could even design it for me. I’d like that.”

“I could do you one better; I could apply it as well. And since I foresee you asking yes, I do have the training to do so. Royal mers learn to tattoo themselves, due to rules about being touched by lower ranking mers that I judiciously ignored.”

“No kiddin” Duck grins, two tentacles coiling around Indrid’s tail, teasing the red stripe, “now that I’m healed up, gonna do all kinds of things to you to remind you why you ignored those rules in the first place.”

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

“Are you nervous?” Indrid finishes setting out his tools on the pristine table in his pristine chambers. He tends towards messiness in his habits, but when it comes to Duck’s health he’s cleaned the whole place by hand and with magic. Twice.

“Nah, I know I’m in good hands.” Even as he says this, a burst of anxious yellow moves up his tentacles.

“All the same, if you need a break at any point, let me know. And if the scar starts stinging or throbbing, tell me at once.”

“You got it, darlin.”

Indrid takes his time using a spell to transfer his design to Duck’s skin, double checking the placement before picking up the charm-powered tattoo gun. When finished, the tattoo will be a small forest of kelp, with the scar making up most of the body of the serpent swimming between the leaves. Six shades of green ink, three shades of brown, one shade of copper, and black for outlining, lay on the table, Indrid dipping into each of them in turn as he brings the image to life.

“Love watchin you draw” Duck sighs, then shudders, “sorry, gettin a hell of an adrenaline rush from the pain.”

“Just try to stay still. If you twitch or fidget too much, it will cause mistakes on my end.”

“Do my best.”

“If you don’t, I’ll just have to tie you down.” Indrid says breezily. The tentacle near him pulses purple. Desire. Interesting.

He’s most of the way through when Duck’s arms shake, his tentacles following suit, occasionally bumping Indrid’s tail or sides.. They’re small movements, all things considered, but in most futures they mean he has to re-do the entire last third of the tattoo.

“Nono, this won’t do at all.” He set’s the gun down, flitting across to the closet near his bed. A sea-grass rope waits, right where he left. There hasn’t been much call for it, Duck capable of restraining Indrid in a variety of ways all on his own.

“Now” Indrid bites off several lengths of rope, “since you cannot be still, I am going to tie your tentacles down. You’re to keep your hands where I put them, or I will tie them as well.”

Ducks tentacles are now deep, unflinching purple, “Holy fuck, ‘drid.”

“Just because I am generally submissive around you does not mean I’m not capable of giving orders.” Indrid smirks, tying the first two tentacles down.

“I, I know, it’s just you, uh, you, you never talk like this.” Duck’s eyes are wide, excited even, as they track Indrid’s circular path.

“I suppose you don’t hear me during advisory meetings, so this is a new experience for you.”

“Maybe I oughta start sittin in on ‘em.” Duck whines when Indrid kisses his cheek but refuses to stick around long enough for Duck to kiss him back.

“Perhaps. Right now, however, you are to sit still until I’m done with you. Understood?”

“Uh huh.” Duck smiles, docile and sweet, and Indrid wonders why they never thought to try this before.

He returns to his work, inking colors into Duck’s skin, enjoying the intimacy of learning the familiar curves of his ribs and belly in new ways. At one point he notices Duck tensing and almost moving his hand, but the other mer catches it in time.

“Good boy.” Indrid purrs.

“Fuck.” Duck tips his head back, “how much longer?”

“About ten minutes more, I’d say. You can manage it my sweet, you’re doing so well already.”

Duck whimpers low in his throat as Indrid goes back to his work. Exactly ten minutes later, he puts a protective covering atop the tattoo and pushes his supply table aside.

“There, all done. You did wonderfully.”

“Great, now untie me.” Duck wriggles hopefully.

Indrid raises an eyebrow, “In a hurry, sweet one?”

“Yes” Duck holds out a hand, trying to coax him closer.

“Whatever for?” He replies airly, as if can’t sense the arousal pouring off his boyfriend in waves, “and stop moving so much, you’ll aggravate the tattoo.”

“‘Drid please” The folds between his front-most tentacles ripple as his cock starts emerging.

“Oh I see.” Indrid swims so they’re face to face, pinning Duck’s hands to the back of the chair as he leans into his space, “you want me to fuck you, is that it? You’re willing to risk pain to new scar tissue, even marring my lovingly done work, just to have your cock played with?”

“Holyfuckinshit, why is this the first time you’re talkin like this?” Duck bites his lip with a little moan as Indrid rubs their cheeks together.

“I don’t know. In hindsight, it seems so obvious; you’re my powerful, competent mate, you always take such wonderful care of me, but you want someone to take away that power from time to time, don’t you?”

“Yeah.” Duck tips his chin up, hoping for a kiss, but Indrid floats backwards out of reach,

“What shall we do about that, hmm?” He swims a slow, tight circle around the other mer, staying just out of arms reach, “shall I keep you bound until the urge passes? No, that’s far too cruel for my beloved. Perhaps I should make you see to it yourself? But no, you might accidentally hurt yourself. Hmmm, what to do, what to do….” He taps his chin as Duck growls and whines, tentacles now straining against their bonds. Indrid knows Duck could snap them easily if he needed or wanted to. Which means he wants to remain at Indrid’s mercy for the time being.

“You do look wonderful like this. I didn’t even plan it this way, but how I tied you shows off most of your assets.” Indrid rubs the upper front of his tail, “now you’re getting me all wound up.”

“Good” Duck growls, tentacles swirling purple and pink.

“Yes it, ahnnn, it is rather good, isn’t it. After all, I have the perfect solution to the situation sitting right in front of me.”

Duck’s cock is fully out, it and the slit beneath it tempting Indrid to abandon his plan. He swims in front of the other mer, eyeing his cock approvingly, “yes, you’ll do quite nicely.”

“Thank fuckOHfummmhp” Duck’s surprised moan turns to a laugh as Indrid, having zipped upwards in a flash, finishes shoving his cock into Duck’s mouth.”

“Yesss, ohyes, goodness I love doing this, you look so charming with your lips around my cock. Ah, ah, don’t you dare move your hands from the chair. This” he gives a sharper thrust, “is all I need to be satisfied.”

Duck moans louder, which Indrid takes as his cue to hold his head in place and fuck into his mouth with abandon.

“That’s it love, that’s it, oh I ought to have done this months ago, tied my big strong hero down and reminded him of hisAHAnnn, his duties as consort.”

“‘M ot a ero.”

Indrid looks imperiously down his nose at him, “It’s rude to contradict someone when they’re giving you what you want, my sweet. I guess I’ll need to render you further incapable of speech” He concentrates and extends his cock, a mechanism meant to ensure he can reproduce with mers of any size or genital configuration but that he uses only to make Duck groan with pleasure.

His orgasm is already racing towards him, as it always does when Duck lets him (or orders him to) fuck his throat, and he shuts his eyes, concentrating on tight heat and the happy, muffled grunts floating up to his ears.

“Just a little, nnnn, little more my sweet, let your prince ravish your throat a little longerOH, ohgods, Duck, sweetheart, yes.” He cums, a shudder rippling down his tail, and doesn’t pull out until Duck struggles to swallow the rest down. The other mer is still collecting his breath when Indrid wiggles down and pushes his tongue into his slit.

“Fuck!” Duck jerks hard enough to move the chair an inch to the right.

Indrid snickers, wraps both hands around Duck’s cock, stroking it hurriedly as he raises his head, “What do you say, beloved?”

“Th-thank you?” Duck cracks an eye open. Indrid nods, then dips his head back down to to suck and tongue at the senstive skin.

“Fuckme, ohfuck, ‘Drid, darlin’, this is fuckin incredible, gonna, gonna be such a good consort, do whatever you say, fuck you five fuckin times a day, just, FUCK, just promise we can do this again.”

“Muv ourse.” Indrid thrusts his tongue deeper, twisting his hands on his upstrokes. The fourth time he does, he pops up to suck on the head just in time to catch Duck’s cum in his mouth. He takes his time, sucking him clean with happy trills and moans while his boyfriend utters curses that would make sailors blush.

He pulls away to wipe his mouth, intending to start untying Duck. The futures show that won’t be necessary,

Snapsnapsnapsnap

The ropes break in pairs, rapid fire, and then Duck is on him, enveloping him in arms, tentacles, and love. He tries to press closer, then winces back, “owfuck, you’re right, the tattoo is real sore.”

“It’ll be that way for a few days. Your Chosen strength will help, but you should still rest when possible.”

“I dunno” Duck kisses him sweetly, then nips his lower lip, “you know how stubborn I can be. Might have to uh, tie me to the bed.”

“That, my love, can be arranged.”

#indruck #indrid cold/duck newton #mermay fills #mermay

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crimsononiarataki-archive · 9 months ago

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The Oni hadn't brought the ore in the hopes of GETTING Mora. He'd been delivering ore to her shop and the blacksmith for some time. Of course, MOST of the time he left the crates just outside with a note saying something along the lines of 'For you to use', the neat handwriting likely being attributed to someone the peppy firework crafter knew. Which was more than likely NOT the incredibly tall male currently carrying a crate of ore inside for her.

"Of course Shinobu talks about me a lot, I mean, I dunno HOW she talks about me but I know she does."

He had a feeling his second in command probably complained about him more than actually talked about him, but that was fine. He kept leaving her to do stuff she wanted to do rather than having her join him on his commissions. He might change that at some point, and let her tag along so she wasn't bored. He knew she wasn't fond of sitting idle or anything like that. She also liked her freedom which is why she'd joined his Gang in the first place.

"Pfft, why are ya wantiin' to do anythin' for me, Yoimiya? It's fine, I ain't doin' this to try and get freebies."

He literally couldn't use the ore himself, he could gather it, but he had no means to process or use it for anything. He'd been tempted to see if he could learn basic repairs for his claymore but opted against asking. He had no issues paying for repairs should they ever be needed. He just liked the idea of helping two local businesses out in his hometown. Sure he couldn't come around that often but he helped out when he could.

"I feel like I knew that already but I'd never make ya hold one of 'em, plus, Onikabuto don't really move much unless they're battlin' one another."

He'd not actually done any Onikabuto battling in a while. Not due to not having the time, but because he'd mostly been watching the kids play and giving the winners treats. He could join in if he wanted but he didn't. Plus, his Onikabuto was too well trained to take on rookies it'd hardly be fair.

"I'm guessin' someone made ya hold some bugs when ya were younger and it gave ya some sorta trauma. You're fine though. No judgement here. I get not likin' stuff."

He'd follow her to the back of the house to where the workshop was, he'd place the crate down where she instructed, the thump likely reflecting how heavy the crate was despite how easily he'd carried it. Oni strength was nothin to scoff at but he never acted like he was stronger than anyone else. He treated everyone with kindness he wasn't often shown in return.

"I get it, though I think watchin' ya make a firework could be prett-y cool. I love watchin' the shows your family puts on even though I can't really watch 'em from up close or anythin' like that."

He'd never done anything wrong during any festival, but there were people who refused to serve him food even when he offered to pay. He tended to avoid most of the festivals due to how people acted.

━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━ Yoimiya sighed when he continued to refuse her mora. "Itto, you are so stubborn." She said with a groan, "But I... suppose I'd be the same way so I can't say anything." She said, giving up on trying to convince him to take it. She'll just have to find a way to make it up to him somehow. Maybe buy him something at some point in the future.

When he asked why she'd make him fireworks, she shrugged. "Why not? Shinobu talks about you a lot and well, I thought it'd be nice to do something for you, especially with all the work you're doing to help me out. Sure, you're already mining, but you don't have to transport them all the way here."

"Just can't you let me do this for you since you won't accept any payment?" She asked, rocking back and forth on her heels, smiling at him. She wanted to do something for him, but if he wouldn't accept anything she offered, then she didn't know what to do anymore.

When he said about not forcing her with Onikabuto, she shook her head. "But I want to hear you talk about something you love. It's not so much the bugs... It's more so I don't like the feeling of bugs crawling on me." She said, shivering at the thought. "But, that's as far as it goes. Everything's fine apart from me touching them..."

When he leaned down and picked up the crate, she turned around and opened the door to her house. "I mean, yeah, everyone has likes and dislikes, but... I also like to hear other people talk about their dislikes."

Stepping out of the way for him, she closed the door behind him and lead him to the back where the workshop was. "Just right here." She said, pointing to an empty spot beside the workbench. She laughed, "Yeah, there is a lot. I probably wouldn't understand it myself had I not learned it at such a young age and have been helping make them for... well my entire life."

#reliquiicis #The Queen of Fireworks Yoimiya #The One and Oni (primary)

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inkribbon796 · 3 years ago

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I Thought We Were Brothers Ch. 1: Wish I Could Relive Every Single Word

Summary: Marvin and Chase have a lot of unspoken grievances between each other and neither of them know what to do about it.

A/N: For Marvin’s birthday. Chapter title from the song “Brother” by Kodaline.

Chapters: 1, 2

Marvin knew he should say something. Anything at this point was better than the growing chasm opening up between him and several of the Septics. J.J and Henrik were civil on a good day but Chase was a different matter.

It started way before time travelers came came back with grim news, or Marvin first voiced the want to train Chase’s daughter in magic. It began with Robbie.

Sweet, innocent Robbie.

Marvin would never apologize or regret raising the young teen from the dead. He couldn’t.

The magician had looked the young man’s mother dead in the eyes and swore that he’d protect Robbie. Had sworn on his magic and own soul that he would do everything in his power to always bring him back to her alive. And Marvin had done just that, he wouldn’t have been able to live with himself if he hadn’t tried.

But that night had left Marvin and Chase on unspoken bad terms. Chase ceased trusting Marvin, had started drinking again, and then cleaned himself up a couple months after. The atmosphere, forever spoiled.

After the incident with the Suits, Marvin had ceased trusting Chase as well. Chase now had a part of Clubs forever buried in his soul, and it showed in little ways. His beard was getting trimmed instead of him just allowing it to go wild until he shaved it back. He’d gotten a gun, a real one, and was hiding it in his room in the base. None of the heroes tried to talk about it, but many of them knew it was there. The marksman sometimes made especially barbed jabs at Marvin when he was tired or too exhausted to keep his filter up. Then there was the matter of Dark.

Marvin had seen the look in Chase’s eyes whenever Damien was on the news. Chase was especially anxious whenever Marvin got near any of Dark’s kids. Even if those kids were King and Host. Dark was more willing to hold long conversations with Chase, and Chase had been caught by Marvin on more than one occasion texting Dark.

There was something growing between Dark and Chase and everyone was too busy walking on eggshells to confront either party about it.

Well Marvin was sick of watching his friend group tear itself apart. He needed to talk to Chase, before the guy did something stupid.

Marvin walked into the comms room. Chase was in there with Tommy and King.

“This job always as borin’[1] as shit?” Tommy asked.

King chuckled, “Yeah but so long as you’re listening to the feed you can be on your phone or work on stuff. Logan and Bing once built a transforming roomba from the ground up during a couple comms sessions. It’s why Logan likes to be in here, he gets his little side projects done.”

While King and Tommy were talking, Chase immediately noticed that Marvin had opened the door and was just staring at him.

“Hey Chase, can we talk?” Marvin asked.

“Logic, takin’[2] a smoke back,” Chase scoffed into the microphone and stood up, “King, yeh[3] have seniority, call us if anythin’[4] happens.”

“Yes, finally!” King smiled in joy and threw his arms up as Tommy groaned in annoyance, flopping back in his chair and rolling his eyes. “I got it!”

Without a word, Chase stepped out and quietly motioned for Marvin to follow him and took him out to the little smoking area. There Chase lit up a cigarette and took a deep lungful of nicotine laced smoke, before even acknowledging Marvin’s presence, “What do yeh[3] want?”

“I wanna talk,” Marvin reminded. “Why do yeh[3] think I followed yeh[3] out here yeh[3] bollocks[5]?”

Chase took a seat, “Fine, what yeh wanna go on about?”[6]

“Look, I know we don’t usually talk, but we need ta[7] talk about somethin’[8],” Marvin told him.

The marksman gave an amused chuckle, “Nah, we don’t have anythin’ ta talk about. Just go back ta yer books Marv.”[9]

“Yeh[3] hate me, so we got shite[10] ta[7] talk about,” Marvin told him.

“You murdered Stacy an’[11] the kids, ‘a[12] course I fookin’[13] hate yeh[3]!” Chase ripped the cigarette out of his mouth and stomped towards him.

Marvin flinched and Chase pulled away, “An’ sure yeh didn’t this time, but yeh did the other times, yeh did before they came back. Yeh set an entire city on fire, killed hundreds ‘a people. What am I supposed ta say ta yeh?”[14]

“I know,” Marvin called back, terror in his voice. “I know an’ don’t know what the fook was wrong with me ta brin’ me ta that point. That is hundreds ‘a thousands ‘a people who did nothin’ ta deserve the horror ‘a fookin’ burnin’ ta death!”[15]

“I don’t remember what was wrong with yeh[3],” Chase shot back, still angry. “I got stuck with that fooker’s[16] feelings, not his memories.”

The two of them fell quiet, the air nasty and injured between them.

Marvin felt like poison was bubbling in this throat. “The fook[17] happened ta[7] us?”

“Yer gonna have ta be specific,”[18] Chase asked curtly.

“I wanted ta[7] learn magic an’[11] hunt ghosts,” Marvin raked his hands down his face. “I didn’t want ta[7] save the world an’[11] deal with the fact I fooked[19] the future so bad it had ta[7] be fixed.”

“Yeah,” Chase frowned, before his phone went off. Chase pulled it out to see a text had shown up. It was Mori, in the water, near some tunnels with a fish in his mouth, the photo taken from the shoreline which meant Memento or Tempus had probably taken the picture.

The picture got a tiny breathy laugh from Chase, and a small smile. His kids seemed to be having fun, they didn’t seem to be getting into some big trouble. Yet, at least.

“They usually text yeh[3]?” Marvin asked, trying to make his tone sound less hostile.

“Yeah,” Chase’s expression turned bittersweet, he started texting Dark with an update. “Helps ta have a second pair ‘a eyes on ‘em. They tend ta slip out ‘a the Manor or the warehouses when Dark’s not watchin’. An’ that’s on a day when Wil doesn’t just sweep ‘em away an’ cause trouble with ‘em.”[20]

“Why are yeh in charge ‘a watchin’ ‘em?”[21] Marvin asked, completely confused. “Can’t those two just rise an’[11] repeat what they did with the other six? I mean if yeh[3] can handle raising six fookin’[13] demons in secret, three seem like no big deal.”

Chase paused, his fingers still. They were going to figure it out eventually. King already knew, he’d confided that in Chase already. “Cause[22] they’re mine, Marv.”

Marvin spent the next minute trying to figure out if Chase was joking, and then another minute trying to figure out how that was possible since they were demons and Chase was still human.

But a nagging feeling tickled the back of his head: was he still human?

Logan and the other Sides had been demons since the first moment he had met them and no one had been the wiser. Not even the Sides, and Marvin should have known. He should have taken one look at Virgil and more importantly Remus and known. Chase could be a demon, he could not know, and fly under every kind of test and radar known to magic itself. Hell, Patton and Roman still came up as humans for those tests.

“Do— Does uh,” Marvin floundered for an adequate response, because what the hell was he supposed to say to that! “Does Dark know?”

“Yeah, he’s the one who told me,” Chase was moving his cigarette back up to his lips. “Don’t know if he told the rest ‘a[12] his kids but they all know too. King said as much.”

“So what now?” Marvin asked.

Chase let out an ugly, contemptuous snort, “What about now?”

“Dark’s got yer[23] kids, is there another custody battle comin’[24] up?” Marvin winced at the memory of Chase’s last custody battle, one he had lost handedly.

“They’re Dark’s kids, he’s the most powerful bein’[25] in all Egoton, there’s nothin’[26] ta[7] fight against, Marv,” Chase dismissed, rolling his cigarette around in his mouth.

“Chase, no yeh can’t just roll o’er an’ just—”[27] Marvin spat.

“Calm yer[23] fookin’[13] tits, Marv,” Chase scoffed. “Dark an’[11] I have somethin’[8] set up. I see ‘em[28] more than I see my human kids.”

Marvin shoved his hands in his pockets, not sure what to do with them. “Okay, that’s good at least. So did yeh an’ Dark talk about stuff then. I know that the Clubs version ‘a yeh was with him in the future.”[29]

“I don’t have a future with Dark anymore,” Chase snarled. “He’s with Wil.”

“Wil cheats on him with practically the entire town,” Marvin reminded.

“I know!” Chase slammed his fist on the bench before raking his fingers down his face. “Yeh[3] think I haven’t noticed that bubblegum bastard perched on his arm, being the fookin’[13] shittiest arsehole[30] in the whole fookin’[13] world?”

Marvin opened his mouth but Chase turned and started on a tirade, “Dark is loyal ta[7] him. He fookin’[13] raised those kids almost by himself. An’[11] what does he get in return? The fooker[31] rips his heart out an’[11] leaves. It pisses me off.”

“I thought they said Wil died?” Marvin asked and all the momentum bled out of Chase’s system.

“Yeah he did,” Chase corrected himself. “Fook![17] I did it again.”

“Did what again?” Marvin asked.

“I say weird thin’s[32], I do weird thin’s[32],” Chase dismissed. “Yesterday I made like three different coffees, one fer me, one fer Eef, an’ another fer Dark. Crank wasn’t e’en in that day, an’ why the hell should I be makin’ a fookin’ coffee fer Dark? I was in the base.”[33]

“Wasn’t future yeh datin’ him or fookin’ him or somethin’?” Marvin asked.

“I think he was gonna[34] propose,” Chase admitted.

Marvin just stared at Chase, “What? How do yeh[3] know?”

“I caught myself lookin’[35] at rings,” Chase admitted. “Tryin’ ta find somethin’ that looks nice with red an’ blue. Not that it’s ‘a any use now.”[36]

“How much do yeh[3] remember or feel?” Marvin asked, coming closer and taking a seat next to Chase.

“I don’t have memories, just his feelin’s[37],” Chase frowned in thought. “Frustration, anger, love. Future me was so smitten with Dark that I know he was killin’ fer him. The weight ‘a my guns feel off now. Whene’er I look at Mori an’ Memento I feel so upset ‘cause they’re with Wil an’ they’re so big an’ it eats at me. Wilford fookin’ stole my kids an’ changed ‘em, an’ I’m supposed ta stand by an’ watch his aura keep changin’ ‘em.”[38]

“Have yeh tried talkin’ ta Dark about this?”[39] Marvin questioned.

“An’[11] tell him what?” Chase demanded. “That I fookin’[13] hate his guts an’[11] I wanna[40] take him out on a date ta[7] this nice curry place I saw on my last patrol at the same time. That I think his boyfriend is awful fer[41] him an’[11] I wanna[40] put a hollow point right between his fookin’[13] eyes?”

Marvin was trying to find some way to comfort or calm Chase down as he kept rambling. “Yah know maybe I should march my arse o’er ta his office an’ tell him that I hate wakin’ up in the morning. That when I wake up, I can’t stand it when my bed is fookin’ empty. That someone is supposed ta be in my bed with me an’ I just lay there fer hours ‘cause I can’t leave until he knows I’m there.”[42]

“Yeah, Marv, Dark would love that,” Chase laughed sadly. “Big, powerful mob boss would love some sad alcoholic who can barely hold himself together long enough ta[7] get out ‘a[12] bed in the mornin’[43]. That’ll really get his attention.”

“Well he must’a liked somethin’ ‘cause he was datin’ yeh,”[44] Marvin tried to offer.

“Wil was dead,” Chase reminded. “He’s alive an’ kickin’ now. Dark’s not gonna e’en look my way if Wil’s alive.”[45]

Marvin and Chase went quiet again. Unsure how to help either of them.

Fortunately for Marvin, he didn’t have to. King called them both back in. City hall wanted Average, Marvin, and Jackie to come in for a meeting.

Marvin saw the tense look in Chase’s eyes but he agreed and the two of them set off to meet Jackie at City Hall.

~~~~~~~~~~~~

Accessibility Translations:

1. boring

2. taking

3. you

4. anything

5. balls

6. Fine, what do you want to talk about?

7. to

8. something

9. Nah, we don’t have anything to talk about. Just go back to your books Marv.

10. shit

11. and

12. of

13. fucking

14. And sure you didn’t this time, but you did the other times, you did before they came back. You set an entire city on fire, killed hundreds of people. What am I supposed to say to you?

15. I know and don’t know what the fuck was wrong with me to bring me to that point. That is hundreds of thousands of people who did nothing to deserve the horror of fucking burning to death!

16. fucker’s

17. fuck

18. You’re going to have to be specific

19. fucked

20. Helps to have a second pair of eyes on them. They tend to slip out of the Manor or the warehouses when Dark’s not watching. And that’s on a day when Wil doesn’t just sweep them away and cause trouble with them.

21. Why are you in charge of watching them?

22. Because

23. your

24. coming

25. being

26. nothing

27. Chase, no you can’t just roll over and just—

28. them

29. Okay, that’s good at least. So did you and Dark talk about stuff then. I know that the Clubs version of you was with him in the future.

30. asshole

31. fucker

32. things

33. Yesterday I made like three different coffees, one for me, one for Eef, and another for Dark. Crank wasn’t even in that day, and why the hell should I be making a fucking coffee for Dark? I was in the base.

34. going to

35. looking

36. Trying to find something that looks nice with red and blue. Not that it’s of any use now.

37. feelings

38. Frustration, anger, love. Future me was so smitten with Dark that I know he was killing for him. The weight of my guns feel off now. Whenever I look at Mori and Memento I feel so upset because they’re with Wil and they’re so big and it eats at me. Wilford fucking stole my kids and changed them, and I’m supposed to stand by and watch his aura keep changing them.

39. Have you tried talking to Dark about this?

40. want to

41. for

42. You know maybe I should march my ass over to his office and tell him that I hate waking up in the morning. That when I wake up, I can’t stand it when my bed is fucking empty. That someone is supposed to be in my bed with me and I just lay there for hours because I can’t leave until he knows I’m there.

43. morning

44. Well he must have liked something because he was dating you

45. He’s alive and kicking now. Dark’s not going to even look my way if Wil’s alive.

#Superhero AU #Masks and Maladies #birthday post #footnotes #Marvin the Magnificent #Chase Brody #angst #Chase is dealing with his feelings #so is Marvin #unrequited feelings

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a-cluttered-gordon-freeman · 4 years ago

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Ok. Ok ok. @faebiie you asked for this.

3 days till the defeat of the Combine. The main three had made a camp surrounding a very large apartment complex. It served greatly, there was only one way inside the camp- a small grate that led to the apartments sewers.

Gordon had spent a vast majority outside of the camp. He insisted he do the patrols. There hadn't been any action from the Combine, but Gordon wasn't willing to miss out on the fighting.

Alyx watched Gordon from the penthouse window. She had grown concerned for Gordon. Whether it was the fact he hadn't left the HEV suit for the past two months or had only six (seven?) hours of sleep. Or perhaps it was because Gordon was practically hiding several wounds under the hazard suit. Whatever it was, Alyx hated the thought and hated even more the feeling.

"Gordon's not gonna come in anytime soon if ya keep watchin' him," Barney chuckled, taking another sip on his beer. Alyx rolled her eyes at hom.

"I know Barney. Its just-"

"You love him. I know, Aly. But Gordon doesn't need you ta worry 'bout him. He doesn't need saving. Gordon's got this war won."

Alyx looked down, upset.

A rebel burst in through the door. "We need your help! The Combine are attacking!"

With that, Alyx and Barney ran downstairs and out onto the scene.

The fight only lasted an hour. 1,000 fought, two hundred died and about six hundred injured, half in critical.

As everyone gathered inside to sheild away from the Combine, Alyx waited for Gordon at the gates.

And she waited.

And waited.

In total Alyx waited about five hours before going to search for Gordon. As she searched, she began thinking the worst.

What if he was taken hostage?

What if he was horribly injured?

What if he died?

She shook her head, trying hard, desperately hard, to get such thoughts away for her.

Becoming desperate, and having just made a full lap around the apartment, Alyx began calling for Gordon, running through the streets. Her call didn't go unnoticed, however, for as she called, she heard distantly...

"Alyx....?" Gordon was weak, but safe enough. He could hear Alyx's cries, but alas, couldn't soothe her. Fuck, the man couldn't even stand. His side had been blown off by a hefty shotgun- ironically, his own- and it left him heavily wounded and vulnerable.

As Gordon heard Alyx's cries grow softer, he searched for a flare or a pistol, whatever he could use to attract her attention. Finding only his blasted shotgun, he raised it up and fired.

It wasn't long until he was found. But unfortunately for Gordon, he was found by the wrong people.

Alyx ran around the corner to see Gordon getting the shit shot out of him by a few Combine soldiers. Firing her own gun, Alyx managed to pick off several of the soldiers, unfortunately leaving one to run off.

Ignoring the run away, Alyx set off over to Gordon, who was miraculously still breathing.

Hes still breathing, still alive, hes ok, he needs help, get him help, get him home-

Alyx lifted Gordon over shoulder and started running over to the apartments, the poor man limp and bleeding. As they burst through the door, Gordon was relieved of his armor, which was fully wrecked and therefore trash and soon taken to the medic bay, and Alyx was instructed to shower.

One full day until the Combine were liberated.

Everyone was waiting on Gordon to even slightly show signs of life. He had been left in critical, he had lost way too much blood to even be deemed alive.

Alyx watched over Gordon as the man slept. She gripped his hand, held back tears, and started trying to speak to him about something- anything- to even get a soft nod or a squeeze from him.

Kleiner and Barney watched Alyx hopelessly as she spoke. Soon Kleiner left the room, unable to watch Alyx speak mindlessly.

Barney sat by Alyx. "Y'a know, I don't think he's gonna come back from this. I think its over fer him."

"No its not!" Alyx bowed her head and started crying. "Its not over! He can still come back!"

"Aly, he ain't comin back." Barney set a hand on Alyx, prompting a punch from her.

"He'll make it! He has to! He has to..!" Alyx collapsed, sobbing hard.

Barney watched Alyx before going over and hugging her. They both held the hug for atleast ten minutes before taking tgeir respective spots next to Gordon.

The last day for the rule of the Combine.

As rebelmen and medics prepped for this final battle, Kleiner, Barney and Alyx waited around Gordons bed- either for a flatline or for a wake up.

The hours ticked on as silence, with exception of the heart monitor, filled the room and held still everyone's voices. It felt wrong to talk, wrong to move, wrong to even breathe as they watched Gordon's heart monitor.

Beep. Beep. Beep. Beep.

Some church bells tolled as noon hit and the first bullet was fired outside. The Combine had been the first to attack, and there were many. Too many for everyone, an upsetting ration of one rebel for every 40 soldiers.

As the sound of gunfire rang outside, Kleiner, Barney, and Alyx waited by Gordon's bed. The noise of the gunfire and heart monitor upset the mood, but there was no stopping the war. No way they could risk killing hundreds of revels just so they could listen to Gordon's life line.

Another hour passed. Kleiner left the room to help the medics with some of the rebel injuries. Alyx and Barney sat uncomfortably as the monitor beeped on.

Beep. Beep. Beep. Beep beep. Beep beep.

The heart monitor raced as Gordon stirred and sat up, wincing and letting in a sharp and pained gasp of air. Taking a long look around the room, Gordon put on his glasses and grinned weakly.

"Didja miss me?"

"Gordon!" Alyx wrapped her arms tightly around Gordon's neck, nearly strangling the poor man. He patted her back as an attempt at offering consolance.

Barney smiled and took Gordon's free hand. "Glad to have you back."

"Glad to be back."

Alyx backed away from Gordoon and wiped her eyes clear of tears. "You haven't missed much, todays the final day."

Gordon nodded. "Thats great. You two head on out, I'll see to it that I can snipe out the soldiers, for unfortunately I can't be on the front lines. We can chat later."

Alyx and Barney nodded.

"We'll give em hell in your name, doc."

With that, Barney and Alyx left the room with a clear conscience on a single goal: some time with Gordon.

#fic.fer #half life #barney calhoun #gordon freeman #alyx vance #isaac kleiner #you happy faebiie?#its angsty !#fic.tum

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diddlesanddoodles · 4 years ago

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DEAD WALLS RISE - CH 5

ATTENTION: This chapter occurs during the events of ch 47 of Dumpling and therefore contains spoilers. If you have not not read that chapter or have not caught up to that point, this will not make much sense and I strongly urge you to wait until you are caught up before continuing with this chapter.

The fear was always the first thing to hit. Like a gust of wind, it swept him away until all he could perceive of the world was a small pinprick of light and the only sound was his own breathing and the only physical sensation was the frantic beating of his own heart. He never heard Nenani call his name or felt her hand on his shoulder. He did not notice when Keral pulled him bodily from his seat and carried him from the great hall. Perhaps that was better. He may have died from embarrassment right then and there if he had possessed enough presence of mind to understand.

“Remember what Yaesha told ye,” Keral’s voice said, penetrating the thick fog of his mind. “Just breathe. Slower now, lad. In and out.” He could feel more than hear Keral’s own breathing and he slowed his to match the ranger’s. “That’s it. Come on back now, lad.”

He felt Keral’s large fingers lightly tapping the side of his head, just enough to jerk him back to attention and ever so slowly the world came back into focus and he was no longer in the great hall, but a side garden and sitting on a stone bench. The night air bit at his face and he felt the cold stone under him, the chill seeping into the fabric of his pants and onto his skin. Keral was kneeling down in front of him and peering into his face, green eyes studying his own blue ones. “Back with me yet?”

He nodded mutely and Keral stood to take a seat on the bench beside him. “Scared the lass pretty good. Don’t think she’s ever seen one of yer fits before.”

Jae didn’t respond, feeling shamed and mortified.

“Go on and tell me what set ye off.”

His hands were clenched hard enough to hurt and he could feel the muscles in his neck and shoulders pull tight. “…you know what.”

Keral did not reply right away. Instead, he reached behind his back to pull out his pipe and a small pouch of tobacco. He stuffed the bowl and just as he struck a match, he said, “Tell me anyway.”

“I can’t…I’m not…why would he…?” He could almost feel the fit trying to begin afresh and he steadied his breathing again, trying to keep it at bay. When he was sure it had passed, he ran his fingers through his hair, gripping fistfuls of it and staring at the pitted stone under him. “I can’t do this Keral.”

The larger man beside him took a moment to puffed idly at his pipe, plumes of grey smoke drifting upwards to obscure the stars peeking down at them from the open courtyard.

“And why not?” he asked.

“I’m not a prince,” Jae replied exasperated. “I can’t…do all that stuff.”

With a short huff of a laugh, the ranger shook his head. “Yer a fuckin’ idiot, you know that boy?”

With a growl, Jae punched Keral’s thigh hard, and shot back, “Dammit, I’m being serious!”

“So am I,” Keral grunted. He leaned over just enough to pin Jae with one eye. “Just what do ye think yev been this whole time? Hm?”

“…an idiot, like you said. A spoiled idiot. A brat,” Jae replied lowly. “I don’t want to be a prince. I only…” A long pause. “I just wanted…so badly for…for Warren…to see me like I saw him.”

Keral shook his head. “Thought you two figured that mess out weeks ago.”

“…I thought so, but…” Jae sighed. “Nothing’s changed.”

“Not followin’ ye.”

Jae felt like his chest was gonna rupture and his eyes burned with frustrated tears. In a low voice, he choked out, “…I’m not his son, Keral.”

“Bullshit ye ain’t!” Keral snapped, glowering down at him. The degree of vehemence from him was enough to startle Jae and he shook his head.

“…I can’t be.”

Keral leaned down further, enough to cast Jae in shadow. “And who th’fuck says?”

He couldn’t meet the ranger’s critical gaze. “…you heard them in there.”

“Since when did ye give a right shit about what Eldherst and Tendle thought of ye?”

How Jae wished he had some snarky quip to throw back, anything to offer distraction, but all he had was what he knew was true but was too scared to admit to himself. Let alone aloud. The lords were right. He wasn’t Warren’s son and never could be. He’d been fooling himself all this time, playing at make believe. A fallacy they could continue within the castle where Warren’s power could shield him, but beyond the walls of the keep…

…the world would never let him be Warren’s son.

“Because even if all that load ‘a tripe were true,” Keral continued, poking Jae’s shoulder with the butt of his pipe. “Why would Warren wanna adopt ye if didn’t mean nothin’ to him?”

Jae was silent. He didn’t want to start crying in front of Keral.

“It ain’t about makin’ ye a prince fer the hell of it. It’s about makin’ ye his son. In the eyes of the law. All that other nonsense is just a consequence of yer Dad being a King. Ain’t like he’s puttin’ ye in the line of succession.”

“But still…”

Keral shifted again and rose to his feet to stand in front of the bench. He planted both hands on either side of Jae to loom above him, his pipe clenched in his teeth. In a quiet voice, he said, “Warren loves ye lad. Been takin’ care of ye all these years hasn’t he?”

“…yes.”

“And ye think of ‘im like yer Dad, don’t ye?”

“…y-yes,” Jae said, his words shuttering.

“Then why question it?”

“…I don’t want to cause him any problems,” Jae admitted and Keral laughed, the sound of it loud in his ears. He removed his pipe and sat it down onto the bench.

“Far too late fer that, Pup. Yer ‘a walkin’ disaster.”

Jae almost smiled. It had been years since Keral had called him that. Like so many of those employed at the castle, he had taken to calling him brat; a nickname Jae had rightly earned not long after hitting puberty. Somehow, with Keral using his first nickname for him made Jae feel a little better. It was almost a term of endearment.

“Me being an embarrassment as his ward is one thing,” Jae said. “But as his son…it’s a little harder to ignore. Or forgive.”

“If Rosanna of fuckin’ Ibronia could manage to accept ye,” Keral said flatly. “Why the fuck can’t ye accept yerself? Of course yer gonna make mistakes. Yer still a damn kid. Ye still have a few years left of ye bumblin’ around in the dark before ye figure out how to light a damn match.”

Jae raised his head to meet Keral’s gaze and squinted at him in confusion. “…what?”

“Ye still have a lot to learn,” Keral translated. “They call ‘em growin’ pains fer a reason. Fer some, it’s more painful than fer others.” A pause. “Ever stop and think there was a reason fer Warren makin’ ye Assistant Steward?”

“To keep me out of trouble,” Jae replied with a shrug. “What else?”

“Well, yeah. That’s what happens when ye have a kid too smart fer his own good and with too much liberty as his disposal. But it ain’t only that. He gave ye responsibilities because he knew ye’d be able to handle it. And ye have. We both know Donal wasn’t always yer biggest fan, but somehow ye managed to wiggle yerself into his good graces. That’s gotta be worth something. Been tryin’ to do that fer almost twenty years, still haven’t managed it myself.”

“I just sit around and take notes or deliver messages for him and…I don’t really do anything. I just…watch.”

“And listen. Ever stop to think that maybe that was the point? Ye learn from watchin’. Hell, Pup, yer a damn sponge when it comes to all that shit. Ye’v got a decent head fer politics after watchin’ Warren all these years. And he knows it. Yer more ready fer this than yer willin’ to give yerself credit fer.”

“Doesn’t feel like it,” said the human, running a hand through his hair. “How the hell does it make sense to make me a prince? I’m not even Vhasshalan. And did you see some of their faces? Some of them were and still are Baynor supporters.” He pulled his knees up to his chest and rested his chin down onto them. “Probably wishing the fucker did eat me…”

“Well he didn’t. And Warren’s makin’ ye a prince. So the only thing ye should be asking yerself is what do ye do now. Sittin’ and mopin’ about it ain’t doin ye any favors. Never has. All the time yer spend on the roof, what has it ever done fer ye? Eh? Not a damn thing. Warren wants to make ye his son officially. Not just some vague understandin’ between yerselves. That should tell ye all ye need to know, Pup.”

“…what if I can’t do it, though?”

“Ye ain’t scared of not being able to do it. Yer scared of disappointing yer Dad.”

Jae hung his head. “…because I’m a coward.”

“Now I’ve known plenty of cowards in my time. And there’s plenty ‘a things I could call ye,” Keral said. He laid his hand against Jae’s back, fingers curling around his shoulders. “But a coward ain’t one of ‘em.”

“I’m scared…all the time. And there doesn’t even need to be anything wrong. How does that not make me a coward? I freeze up and have these fits and I have to drink that disgusting tea just to have a chance to function and I…I don’t know what’s wrong with me.”

“I know exactly what’s wrong with ye,” Keral told him seriously, green eyes seeming to bore holes through him. “It’s called surviving a war. Survivor’s guilt.”

“What?” Jae asked.

“What yer feelin’. S’called survivor’s guilt. Saw it plenty during my own deployment. Men comin’ back from battle without half their company. Wonderin’ why the fella next to him was dead and he wasn’t. Same as you. Ye’ve had it fer years. Since we found ye out in the moor.” He paused. “All yer family and friends never left that pond. But ye did. And ye’ve let that guilt fester inside ye and it comes out in yer nightmares and in these fits ‘a yers.”

Every muscle in his body felt tense and unyielding. He hated what Keral was saying and wished he would stop. He was too tired to do this now. He didn’t want to…

“Ye never talk about ‘em. Yer folks,” Keral said quietly. Gently. “Don’t know a thing about ‘em. ‘Cept yer Dad’s name and trade. Never hear ya speak about yer Mum.”

“It hurts too much. Even now,” Jae said, already feeling the tears dripping down his chin. “If I try to remember her face…”

“Ye never dealt with all that pain of losin’ ‘em. As young as ye were when ye did. Now yer panickin’ that yet might be losing Warren. In a different way. But losin’ ‘im all the same. ‘Cept this time no one’s takin’ anythin’ from ye, Pup. Yer takin’ it from yerself.”

Finally, Jae broke. His shoulders began to shake as a racking sob bubbled up from his throat. For several minutes, he just cried and let all the hurt and fear and regret and guilt pour out of himself. When finally, he had no more to give, he quieted. Sniffling and in a thick voice, he mumbled, “I’m such an idiot…”

Keral laughed. “Oh, ye don’t need to tell me that, lad. Known it fer years.”

Jae raised his head to glare at the ranger. “…Anyone ever tell you that your pep talks suck?”

“All the time,” he said with a satisfied grin. He patted Jae on the back and motioned for him to stand. “Come on now. Enough sulkin’. On yer feet.”

His legs and arms felt twice as heavy and his temples throbbed. Gods did he need a drink. He wobbled on his feet, but once he’d steadied himself, Jae looked back at Keral expectantly. The ranger crouched back down so he and Jae were on the same level and was regarding him with a serious expression.

“Yer a smart boy, Jae,” he said, laying his arms onto bench and leaning forward. “And Warren adores ye. It’s true that it’s no small thing fer ye to be adopted by the King of Vhasshal. Ain’t sayin’ yer gonna have an easy time of it. But fer what’s it’s worth, I think yer gonna be pretty damn good at it.”

For a moment, Jae simply stared at the ranger, emotions swirling inside of him, before he dropped his gaze to stare at his feet for several moments. He took a step and then another and pressed his head against Keral’s shoulder. He sniffed, trying to keep himself from falling into tears again. A large hand came to rest against his back, rubbing lightly.

“Oi,” Keral said gently, a smile in his tone. “Don’t be gettin’ yer snot all over my good jerkin now. S’the only one I got.”

Despite the roiling emotions inside him, Jae laughed. “I’ll get you a new one. Princes get allowances don’t they?”

Keral chuckled. “That’d be a question fer yer Dad.”

Before Jae could speak, from within the great hall, they heard a horrible shriek and he jumped in” surprise. “What the –?”

Keral was on his feet, looking towards the large stained glass windows and listening. There was another shriek from inside and then many voices all at once calling out in shock or surprise. The lone lantern near the other end of the garden began to glow.

“Well, fuck...” Keral growled. He turned towards one corner of the garden where two guards were standing post, both staring dumbly at the lantern, and he called out to them, “Guards to the hall!”

The two guards started, looking at Keral and then seeming to recall themselves, took up their swords and called out behind them, ostensibly to more guards, “All guards to the hall!”

There were several calling answers and in a matter of mere moments, guards from all over seemed to be spilling from corridors and breezeways and into the small garden and then into the hall. From the red of their leather armor, Jae could see a spot of black fighting against the tide of so many bodies.

“Donal!” Keral called out to the man as he struggled to get through. “What in the seven hells is goin’ on in there?”

“Keral!” Donal said, waving at him and struggling to catch his breath as he broke free of the throng. “Get Master Jae to safety! The Smoke Mage, he’s in the hall.”

“What?” Keral asked.

Donal scowled at the ranger. “Didn’t you hear me, dammit? Your King’s orders are to get Master Jae to safety! Now man, damn you!”

Before Jae had a moment to say anything, Keral grabbed him up and was running.

“Wait! What about everyone else?” Jae asked, gripping the fabric of Keral’s jerkin. “Warren is still inside. And Nenani!”

“Warren said to get ye to safety and that’s what I’m gonna do,” Keral told him.

“But –!”

“No arguing with me now,” Keral barked. “My big ol’ speech is gonna be nothin’ but a waste of time if that fucker gets his hands on ye again.”

He took a side corridor and slipped down a flight of stone steps. Near the bottom was an old and unassuming wooden door and Keral went inside. He sat Jae down onto his feet before ruffling inside his back pouch for his matches. He struck one and lit a candle sitting on a broken stool off to the side.

“You’ll stay here till it’s safe,” Keral said as he grabbed a folded blanket from the shelf and setting it on the floor near the back wall. “Just keep quiet till I get back, here me?”

“But what about –?”

“No arguing with me I said,” Keral snapped. “Trust me to do my job, Pup. Stay here and stay quiet.”

Jae nodded. “O-okay.”

Keral rose to his feet and pulled the door closed as he slipped out. There in the dark, Jae listened to beating of his own heart before making his way over to the folded blanket and sitting down. Rubbing his still splinted arm, Jae could not help but worry for everyone inside the hall. He thought of Warren and tried to convince himself that the guards would never allow anything to happen to the King.

He thought of Nenani.

Pushing himself back against the wall, he drew his knees up to his chest and watched for a moment as the candle’s warm glow sent the shadows around the room dancing. He felt another panicked wave begin to take hold deep inside and he pressed his forehead to his knees and began to breath. Deep even breathes. Like he had been taught.

One…

Two…

Three...

#DEAD WALLS RISE #g/t #Giant/tiny #G/t story #g/t writing #Jae #Keral #hurt/comfort #Keral is best uncle

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mudzdale · 4 years ago

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got more nuzleaf hcs requested! putting them under a readmore bc they got long and, uh, stupid

nuzleaf has lived his whole life by an m.o. of always keep moving, dont make long-term attachments, and remain self-sufficient--that's how he gets the most fun out of life. this all changes when the hero enters his life

in my post-pmd headcanon, the expedition society establishes a branch located on revelation mountain, in the interest of researching ancient history and protecting the location. this location is manned by the hero and partner, by now entering their young adulthood, and find themselves joined by their grown schoolmates in society membership!

nuzleaf and carracosta are also roped into the serene village expedition society activity. they decline official membership, but more often than not join hero and partner to make a four-pokemon exploration team, often leaving for weeks at a time for far-off research missions together. theyre all fambly :)

the beheeyem take over the responsibility of carracosta's oran fields, since he's so often away. they also function as the serene village society's communications base, utilizing their psychic power to stay in touch with society members in the field and within lively town.

nuzleaf likes to take point in group explorations... he hangs back when it comes to leadership decisions, but finds himself running ahead to scout for enemies and items in dungeons

he learned to cook suitably enough for his own needs during his years living on his own, but having a permanent residence in serene village prompted him to start practicing further and expanding his repertoire. raw foods are the most common fare in the world of pmd, but cooked foods are by no means unusual and often preferred when available--hero may disagree, however, after being the unwitting recipient of more than one of nuzleaf's less-than-successful experiments

(he's not a bad cook by any means, just the world of using more than 3 ingredients is rather new to him)

after being freed of dark matter in the tree of life, it was nuzleaf's idea to turn back and help the kids in their battle against dark matter. the other vessels had rather been of the same mind, but were reluctant to follow through--it wasnt until nuzleaf was like "screw yall, we're gonna die anyways. i'm gonna just climb until i reach em or drop" that yveltal was like "you are SO dramatic smh" and warped them all there

arceus channeled the voices of those in the voidlands to the hero and partner, telling them not to give up. impossibly, every pokemon in the voidlands could all see arceus, perched upon the highest mountain against the red sky. each of its motions was visible to every onlooker, and when it swung its head about, each pokemon bodily felt its almighty gaze, heavy as stone.

dark matter's multitoned voices rang through the voidlands at the same time, as audible to its inhabitants as arceus was visible. they could all hear its raging screams, and its pained cries. they listened to the hopeless demands the darkness made of their two heroes.

the voidlands shuddered, lights flickering and shattering in the sky--a reflection of the damage already done to the evil entity.

yveltal was the first that arceus looked to. searchlight eyes turned upon the destruction pokemon, and its intonement swelled to fill the air of the voidlands as much as dark matter's tore at it.

"speak unto them."

and yveltal spoke plainly, the only thing there was to say.

don’t give up

^nuzleaf is sitting there watchin this, knowing hes next like

#i yam. not a writer #ALSO SORRY IF THESE R TOO OFF TOPIC LMAO..... ive been thinking on how to build up the world they live in as well so i promise it all correl #ates. somehow #esp the last bit with the voidlands.. pls be patient im trying to work out my irony poisoning <3 #golly gabs #psmd

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luminary-gremlin · 5 years ago

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Poly vs Poly (Prologue)

A/N: Hi everyone! I was inspired to make this small series from an anon’s ask on @franklyshipping tumblr! I can’t wait to see how people like this!

Tagging: @thehostofleetrature @yandere-ipli-ler @darkipli-ler @wilford-lee-warfstache

It was a quiet afternoon in the ego household, quite a rarity with all the chaotic energy from some of the egos. Two polyamorous relationships decided to hang out together, bonding over the fact now there was another poly within the household.

The OG poly consisting of Silver Shepherd, Yandereiplier, and the Host were all cuddled up on the couch near by the fireplace with a light blanket as to not overheat with Host sandwiched in between his two lovelies.

They were chatting with the newly formed poly of Darkiplier, Wilford, and Captain Magnum, all currently lying on the floor while Wilford and Dark rested on Magnum’s large beastly chest. Although Dark and Wilford were definitely not shy to their relationship, having a third was some getting used to. They were all more than happy to be together, but definitely appreciated having another poly help figure things out.

Currently they will all gushing over themselves, complimenting each and every one of their features with respect towards the other poly.

“Magnum darling has anyone mentioned how perfect your chest is for resting heads, I think I see you being the one in the middle nearly all the time in the future ol’ chap!”

Wilford spoke up, his caramel eyes twinkling as he looked up at Magnum, who was currently blushing and rubbing the back of his head.

“Aye, tis a trick I learn’d from watchin’ the cute couple nuzzlin’ an’ sleepin’ on Silver’s an’ thought ta give it a try fer meself.”

Hearing this, the hero got all bashful, partially hiding in his white tank top as Yandere and Host faced him with a smile

“Oh his tummy is so soft and comfy to rest your head on no other pillow can compare! I always love to sneak my nails under his shirt when we’re cuddling because I just can’t resist!”

Yandere cooed, wiggling her nails, causing the aforementioned hero to squeak again.

“Although Yandere and I are always battling who gets to it first, once in a while we share but then there isn’t enough to satisfy us, unlike with Magnum who can take care of two people at once.”

The Host piped in, but made it very clear that he and Yan still loved Silver for who he is and that his body was perfect no matter what.

“Tis true! I once proved it with ta heroes, easily pinned ‘em down with little effort and made them squeal like itty bitty piggies all ta way home~!”

Magnum let out a hearty laugh as the flustered hero now was fully hidden into his tank top from his tease.

“That does bring an interesting question, who would win a tickle fight between all of us?”

Dark inquired, sparking ideas from everyone.

“Well it clearly be me! If I can take down both SUPER HEROES with ease and mercilessly tickle them until they plead mercy, then that title obviously has me name on it!”

Magnum declared with vigor, causing Yandere to raise a brow as their ruby eyes lit up with determination.

“Oh yeah? Well I’d like to see you go up against someone who’s been trained to fight before they were born! Unlike everyone else, I could easily climb around you and tickle you to shreds! Right Hostie?”

“…Hostie?”

Yan looked behind her to find Host sipping on some chamomile tea calmly, lifting his head after hearing his name a second time and taking a moment to glance into the future.

“Well…yes, and also no. You both are so equal in very different ways there is no clear outcome. Your small stature and quick speed could let you easily climb around Magnum in ways all of us could; however, with Magnum’s stature he could just as easily grab and pin you down with his pinky finger with no way to escape. As far as I can say, it all comes down to the timeline we’re in.”

Everyone blinked, fascinated by how equally matched Yan and Magnum are and a glimpse into timelines and parallel universes.

“For example, if Dark and I were to duel, we are just as equally matched when it comes to magic. Dark can summon tendrils to provide range attacks along with his teasiness makes him already seem like a winner. However, I can easily narrate attacks without lifting a finger. So before we would even begin I could also win. Then again narrations tire me out severely and unless I can get Darkiplier to plead mercy, then I would have to forfeit.”

“Hmm, very interesting Host. So not only are our strengths decide who wins or loses, then our weaknesses as well.”

Dark hummed in thought, now playing out a scenario in his head, almost as if knowing this rhetorical question would come true in a few moments.

“Well well old boy come on! Tell us the rest! What about Silver and I? Do I win~?”

Wilford, the most egotistical one of them all spoke up, excited to hear about himself out of curiosity.

“…well…That’s even more complicated than the other two scenarios…”

Everyone gasped in shock, amazed how in all three scenarios they were equally matched with one another, wondering how in the world Silver and Wilford’s battle was even more evenly matched.

“I would rather not spoil the finer details for right now, if that’s alright. I am getting rather tired peeking into the future for so long. If Silver and Wilford were to fight, Silver has an inhumane amount of endurance and stamina, meaning that there is a good chance Wilford would get exhausted from tickling him before Silver could even fathom about calling mercy if he is determined enough. However, Silver’s spots are very…focused you could say. After all Silver is the most ticklish Iplier ego, or ego in general and so if Wilford were to target a very sensitive spot it wouldn’t take long for Silver to give in, and with Wilford’s spontaneous behavior it can catch Silver off guard. Wilford on the other hand, is not as ticklish as compared to Silver. He even teases and speaks very cheekily towards his ticklers and could say something to fluster Silver enough to make him vulnerable. Then again Wilford, although strong, doesn’t have Silver’s endurance.”

Silver blushed at Host explaining his strengths, appreciating his compliments as Wilford bounced happily.

“Ahem, i-in short it would be a battle over strength, agility, and endurance for us all.”

The Host then went back to drinking tea, counting down 3, 2, 1…

“WE’RE IN!”

Everyone else cheered, eyeing their opponent in playful fun. They all decided to take a day to prepare and to meet up in Silver’s training room to have enough space for their battles.

Who will win? That’s up to fate to decide.

#the Host #Silver Shepherd #Silver #Yandereiplier #Yandere #Darkiplier #Wilford #Wilford Warfstache #prolouge #tickle #tickle fic #non-tickles #introduction #markiplier egos

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saiilorstars · 5 years ago

Text

The Beginning of Everything

Fandom: Doctor Who

Pairing: Female OC x 10th Doctor

(OC Renata’s Face claim: Marjorie de Sousa) (Gabby’s face claim: Victoria Moroles)

// Story Masterlist //

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DISCLAIMER: This chapter’s plotline is from Doctor Who’s comic stories. Most of the dialogue is directly written from the comic. The plot is NOT mine.

Ch. 15: Art Butterflies

Chapter Summary: Renata struggles to find the right way to 'teach' Gabby on her first trip to an alien planet, so the Doctor naturally offers a way to help her. In the midst of a battle against art apprentices, Renata and Gabby come in contact with a force that gives them a glimpse of a never before seen energy.

When the Doctor found Renata, she was in the console room but...she was just standing there like a statue. Her back was to him so she didn't immediately see him but the closer the Doctor got to her, the more he could hear her mumbling to herself. Anyone else would've called her a crazy person, but the Doctor was no stranger to silent conversations with one's self in the console room. Half the time that's what he did when he was in the TARDIS.

"Renée?" his soft call still elicited a gasp from her, as well as her sudden whirl in his direction.

"You scared me!" she exclaimed, clearly irritated with his way of entrance. "Don't do that again!"

The Doctor raised both his hands to show he was coming in peace, but the growing smile on his face - which looked like he wanted to laugh at her - betrayed his intentions.

"It's not funny!" she huffed and once again turned away from him.

"What are you doing anyways?" he decided to skip his argument that he wasn't trying to make fun of her. "Just standing in the middle of the room talking to yourself? That's my job."

Renata almost snorted at him. She bit her lip and gave him a strange look instead, one akin to…

"Why do you look scared?" the Doctor quickly picked up on it.

"Because I did something bad."

"You?" now the Doctor nearly laughed. "What could you have possibly done, Renata?"

"I let some human come into the TARDIS with the idea that I'd be able to teach 'em something!" Renata exclaimed in a full blown panic. She'd been thinking about this ever since Gabby was invited yesterday. She hadn't slept wondering what the hell she would teach Gabby when she herself didn't know a lot of things.

"That's your problem?" the Doctor was about to comment how ridiculous it was but seeing Renata's worked over expression made him pause and think. "Renée... c'mon...Gabby's 19. She doesn't know a lot to begin with."

"Which is exactly why she expects to be taught about everything!"

The Doctor tilted his head at her. The expression on his face was the exact one he would give Renata back on Gallifrey when he claimed - he firmly believed- Renata (then Zuriah) was overreacting. Renata wanted nothing more than to snap at him and tell him that she wasn't overreacting. But of course doing that would out her.

"You should teach her," she instead decided. "Yes, that's the better idea. I don't have a clue of what goes on out there," she turned sideways to make a gesture at the doors. "And if Gabriella wants to know about the galaxies, then she should learn it from the smartest one of the two. You."

The Doctor just couldn't help the wide smirk that took over his face. "Oh, so you think I'm smart?" Renata rolled her eyes at him, but she did have to turn her head away to keep her blush a secret. "As much I truly accept the compliment, I must refuse." Now that made Renata's head snap back in his direction.

"What?" she frowned. "You refuse?"

"Yes," the Doctor nodded his head. "Because it's not true. You are intelligent beyond belief."

Renata scoffed. "Please. You already kidnapped me, you don't need to suck up."

Now it was the Doctor's turn to roll his eyes. "I'm just telling you the truth. Your intelligence does not stem from travels. Remember what you did back in the foundation you worked for? All that has made you so smart…"

"But I don't know humans!" the woman threw her hands into the air, giving the impression she might just self-combust in that moment.

"Yes you do," the Doctor nodded, his smile of amusement irritating the hell out of her. "You spent so many years living amongst them. You know humans."

"I don't know what to do with one!"

"You don't do anything with them. They're not pets, Renata."

Renata rolled her eyes. "I didn't say they were. I'm just...I'm not in my element. There's a 19 year old human who…"

"Looks up to you?" the Doctor finished for her with the same smile still on his face.

Renata groaned. "Why would she do that? She doesn't even know me!"

"You did save her," the Doctor swayed his head. "And then you did bring her along the city to save it."

"You are not helping!"

The Doctor grinned at her. "I think I am. You just don't want to admit it."

Renata sighed and leaned against the console. Alright, so maybe having someone looking up to her was a bit exciting but it was also scary. It meant that Gabby was going to watch her every move and what if she messed up in front of the girl? What would Gabby think then?

Renata scrunched her face when she realized how much thought she was putting into what Gabby would think of her. It was the expression that made the Doctor suddenly laugh. "Is my misery amusing to you?" Renata demanded from him.

"No, it's...you looked like you caught yourself or something. What'd you realize?"

It was moments like these that reminded Renata of how easily the Doctor could often read her emotions. Back then, it was almost impossible to hide her feelings no matter if they were good or bad. He always knew how she felt. And when he picked up on her bad feelings, he almost always endeavored to solve it with a great big hug.

Renata really loved his hugs. She could really use one right now.

"Morning!" the cheery voice of Gabby pulled Renata back to the present. Gabby was coming into the room with Donna, the former looking extremely excited. Gabby came directly to Renata with the biggest smile Renata had ever seen. "So, Donna says we start travelling today. Where are we going?"

Renata's mouth opened to answer until she realized she had no idea where to even bring Gabby. Her eyes flickered to the side in an attempt to come up with something fast.

"Actually," the Doctor suddenly spoke up, "Renée was just talking about visiting an art gallery in the 50th century."

Gabby's eyes nearly sparkled at the idea. "Really!?" she looked back to Renata, but the Time Lady was staring wide-eyed at the Doctor.

"I was?"

The Doctor nodded. "Yeah. You mentioned the Academia Stellaris on Sirius 5. I thought-" his hands went to his chest in what Renata would describe as dramatic, "-it was a brilliant idea. I told her, 'Gabby is going to love it!' and-"

"-I do! I so do!" Gabby exclaimed, unable to stop herself from squealing like a child. "Oh, thank you!" she hugged Renata so tight, and so unexpectedly, that all Renata did was just let the human sway her body side to side.

Donna noticed the way Renata was looking at the Doctor and had to describe it as gratitude? And the Doctor, being who he usually was, had a big grin on his face. Oh, those two were so complicated to read sometimes.

"Why don't you go grab a coat?" the Doctor suggested to Gabby then to Donna. "It's a bit chilly on Sirius 5, not quite adapted for humans yet."

"I'm getting my furry coat!" Donna quickly said when she remembered how freezing cold the Ood planet was. "C'mon Gabby, let's find you something in the wardrobe!"

"There's a wardrobe here?" Gabby blinked while Donna dragged her by the arm back into the corridors.

Soon as they were gone, Renata brought her hands to her face and groaned. "That was a disaster!"

"Seriously? Gabby's happy," the Doctor tried to remind but Renata shook her head.

"She's only happy because you thought of a place to bring her. I didn't. I'm terrible at this." Her shoulders slumped as her entire body fell against the console.

The Doctor stared at her for a few seconds as he convinced himself that this really was Renata. He hadn't ever seen her so confused and...feeble? Since she'd come with him - well, when he kidnapped her - all she'd been was authoritative, even when sometimes it was a pain in the ass because it deeply contrasted with his way of living. She always knew what to do, when to do it, and the best way to do it. But now Gabriella Gonzalez was the apparently the downfall of the Time Lady. And honestly, it was the closest the Doctor had felt to Renata since they'd started travelling together. Her cool walls were down and now he was meeting the real Renata, the part of her that was just as frazzled as he was; the part that showed him that she made mistakes and sometimes had no idea what to do. He liked both sides of her, but this side right now was the side that allowed him to get closer to her, even if it was just to aid her.

He stepped closer to her and gently pulled her hands off her face, though he then kept them in his hands. He met her fearful eyes and offered her a kind, soft smile. "I just gave you a start. Doesn't mean I'm better."

Renata shook her head. "No, it's always been a fact that you are better." She lowered her gaze as the repressed feelings started worming their way to the surface. It was his ideas that always gave her a moment of fun in her life, even when it was usually accompanied by nearly getting caught. It was his ideas that always ended up getting a smile from her, it was him that always had her feeling better in the end. "You've always been better," she whispered.

The Doctor wanted to believe that there was more meaning behind her words, but as much as he tried to think about it...he came up with nothing. He didn't know her. He didn't know what she could possibly be thinking about. And it irked him. Yes, it irked him.

Donna purposely cleared her throat when she and Gabby returned, both coated up. She raised an eyebrow at the questionable aliens and had quite an amusing time watching them quickly tear their hands from each other and move in opposite directions. "Did we...interrupt…?"

"Of course not," Renata immediately shot the idea down, even throwing a glare at Donna for the insinuation.

"Are you ready, Gabby?" the Doctor asked the young girl, perhaps as a way to move things along who knew.

"Aha!" Gabby nodded her head so fast the others thought she might get dizzy.

"Right then, let's go!" the Doctor went for the controls to get them to Sirius 5.

Donna brought Gabby up to the console with the warning that the trips were never easy, something that earned herself a hard 'Oi!' from the Doctor. He did his best! But Gabby couldn't be less bothered with the way the TARDIS jolted. All she knew was that as soon as the TARDIS stopped, it meant she was going to be on a foreign planet. She turned to run for the doors when Renata called her to wait.

"Oh, Renée," the Doctor moved around the console, throwing the Time Lady a smirk, "Let her go out and explore."

"I think not," Renata's authoritative hardness was back. "We need to know what's out there, hence the monitor." She moved up to the screen and ignored the Doctor rolling his eyes as he mumbled about how boring that was.

"Oh, that makes sense," Gabby quickly turned on her heels and returned to Renata's side. "Something could, I don't know, pop out and eat us."

"I doubt that would happen, but...it's always a good idea to check where you've landed," Renata pointed at her like a mother would when she was lecturing their child.

"Can she be my teacher?" Donna, smirking, looked to the Doctor. She knew very well the Doctor would never in a 100 years be this cautious. It didn't mean he was careless but...Renata just did it better when it came to this part.

"I'm just going to go," the Doctor resolved and turned for the doors.

"Fine, but when you get eaten I don't want to hear it," Renata calmly called while she gazed at the readings on the monitor. So far, everything did look okay but she wanted to be extra sure.

"When I get eaten," the Doctor mumbled under his breath and missed Renata's sharp look on him. Gabby brought a hand to her mouth to cover her giggle. They were a funny pair. "Oh, look at that," the Doctor pushed the doors open and stepped out. He looked back inside after a few seconds. "Nothing's eaten me yet." He made a show of walking a couple steps away then once again called back to say how he was still very much not eaten.

Renata scrunched her face and tilted her head. "I am this close-" she raised her hand with her index finger and thumb almost touching each other, "-to shutting the doors and leaving him here."

"Do it," Donna laughed at the idea. The Doctor's face would be priceless!

Renata's smile was close to turning into a laugh, but she knew better than to be this rude. "Let's just go Gabby. Everything seems in order." She led the way towards the open doors and stepped out first into a dark, blue sky planet. The Doctor was a few feet away, gazing at a collection of mountains not too far from where they were.

As soon as Renata heard a thud behind, she whirled around in a state of panic thinking Gabby had been hurt. It was only confirmed when she found Gabby on her knees and with a hand over her mouth. "Gabriella! What's wrong!?" Renata rushed up to the young woman.

Donna looked at the Doctor to see what he thought, but he didn't appear to be so concerned. He seemed to guess what was going on with Gabby.

"Gabriella?" Renata exclaimed. "Are you okay!? Please tell me what's happening!"

"Yes!" Gabby said through a teary-eyed laugh. She felt guilty fofr making Renata think she was hurt but she couldn't help it. "This place...it's just so beautiful!" Renata let Gabby go as the latter reached to scoop up some sand from the ground. "Even the sand feels different! More smooth, more…" she got up fast and rushed to a bush with blue leaves and curly vines. "The leaves are blue! And…" she leaned forwards to sniff it, "...they smell like lavender!"

"You think that's nice, come check out the pond," the Doctor nodded to the small lake ahead of them.

"Wait, Gabby!" Renata called just as Gabby dashed for the lake which meant she was running down the hillside. "Don't run or you'll fall!"

Gabby couldn't hear anything right now. She was ecstatic. She dropped to her knees and leaned closer to the water. She saw a creature resembling a seahorse but it was purple...and it had blue wings…

"Oh my God, look at that," Donna had come up beside Gabby and pointed at a pair of jellyfish that turned out to have iridescent, gangly tails.

"C'mon," the Doctor offered his arm to Renata so they could walk down the hill to join their companions. She rolled her eyes but accepted nonetheless. She curled her arm around his and allowed him to lead the way down. "It's quite nice to see their reactions, right?" he asked her quietly, but Gabby and Donna were too enthralled with the sea life to overhear them anyways.

Renata had to admit there was an indescribable feeling to it. "I guess this is why you tried so hard to impress Donna when you first took her to the Ood planet."

"Look at the waterfall!" Gabby laughed and pointed ahead.

There was a waterfall between two of the mountains the Doctor had seen earlier. But the water was so sparkly that it almost looked crystal clear. What really took Gabby away was the fact that part of the water seemed to be flowing from the sky, almost looking like Van Gogh's Starry Night.

"It's a pretty good place here," Donna remarked and looked back at the pair of aliens. She took notice of their closeness but kept it to herself for now. "Why haven't we come here before?"

"Because we were busy getting nearly killed somewhere else," Renata said so calmly and easily.

"You what?" Gabby turned around. She hadn't caught a word of their conversation and it showed because anyone else would've panicked at their track record.

"Nothing," Renata said instantly. "We were, um, we're going to head into the city."

Gabby's face lit up all over again. "Yes! Let's do that!"

The art gallery was at the very end of the city, which allowed the travelers to see pretty much everything in the streets. Of course once or twice, Renata had to remind Gabby that around here she was the alien. Gabby couldn't help but point out the fact that a lot of these people, aliens, had blue or green skin. Not to mention the fact many of the civilians had bulging eyes like one would see on a bug. She just couldn't help it!

"How do you guys do it, though?" Gabby soon started a round of questions when they turned the street that would lead them to the art gallery. "Be so at home even though you're on an alien planet, millions of galaxies away from Earth? Or even from your own home?"

"We're used to it. We tend to move a lot," the Doctor was the one to answer, despite now wearing a heavy expression on his face.

Gabby paused to really study both his and Renata's similar expressions. They seemed sad, but like..really sad. Almost grim. She said something she shouldn't have because even Donna was nervously biting on her index nail. But what did she say?

Then it clicked.

"Hey," she started again but in a quieter tone, "You never said...where are you from?" Neither Time Lord wanted to answer that, but Gabby noticed their expressions fell deeper towards a crestfallen path. She had asked the wrong question. "Sorry, I-I didn't mean-"

"Look, the art gallery!" Renata pointed out the building they were approaching. Once Gabby saw it's castle-esque style, she forgot all about her question.

"That's like royalty!" she gawked.

"The Pentaquoteque Gallery of Ouloumos," the Doctor presented, much happier than a few minutes ago. He was relieved Gabby was forgetting about her question because he certainly wasn't in the mood to go down that path with her yet, much less Renata.

They came up to the open gate which was several, and several, feet high. Gabby felt so small when she walked past them, even more so when she caught sight of the beautiful garden leading up to the gallery's front door.

"This is amazing!" she practically screeched and dashed to one of the many statues lining up the path.

"She really reminds me of a kid in a candy shop," Donna remarked. She looked at the Doctor and Renata and saw their agreeing looks. She was about to add that they resembled parents in that moment when she realized it would probably trigger memories of Jenny. Thank God she caught herself on time. "I'm going to stop her from touching something she shouldn't," Donna then said and hurried off before she said something she shouldn't. Too close!

"She does look happy," Renata said after the ginger had gone. "Thanks for that." Her warm smile meant everything for the Doctor, but he wasn't sure why. Still, he took it.

"Look, Renée," he moved to stand in front of her.

"That's not my name," she reminded, not that it mattered. The nickname had stuck despite her protests.

"I have an idea, I'm just not sure how you'd feel about it." And judging by the look on his face, it was quite an idea.

"What is it?" Renata admitted she was a little curious.

"Inside there's a lot of paintings and statues and other things Gabby's going to see. I imagine you'll want to explain what they are-"

"-naturally," Renata sighed. "But I won't be able to. I don't know what's inside."

"I do…"

"Surprise, surprise," Renata playfully rolled her eyes.

"There is a way for you to know it too," the Doctor said, though his tone had gone quiet and...a bit soft? Renata wasn't sure. "I can...share with you. My thoughts? The ones specific to this art gallery. I can share that with you telepathically."

Renata instantly knew what he wanted to propose. Her body shifted to the side, as did her gaze. "Doctor…"

"I know you've refused in the past to let us connect our minds telepathically but this is different," the Doctor promised fast before she would shut him down. "I could let you in and you would be able to know everything that's inside that gallery."

"But that's cheating," Renata bit her lower lip, her eyes flickering to Gabby excitedly babbling to Donna about a golden statue they'd discovered. "Not to mention lying. I'd be taking credit for something you learned. Something you know about."

"You wouldn't be because I'm letting you peek into my mind to answer a question Gabby might have."

"That's literally cheating."

"Renata," the Doctor rubbed his forehead. He knew this would be a complicated thing to run by her, so he just had to push through.

"Doctor I can't do it," Renata shook her head. "You're the one that knows everything. I shouldn't take credit. It's cheating, lying and stealing."

"Not if I'm letting you take it," the Doctor argued. "I'm teaching you, in a way...just a quicker way. I'm giving you access to an information bank."

"Your brain is not…" Renata paused when she realized that it was the perfect description of what his big old brain was. She had to laugh.

The Doctor grinned. If she was laughing then they were on the right track. "So, what do you say?"

Renata sobered from her laugh fast as she got to thinking. Sharing their thoughts was a gateway to letting each other into their respective minds that included other memories and feelings. What if she accidentally let one wrong memory slip from her grasp and he saw it? What if he saw she was Zuriah in the past? That's why she initially told him that she wasn't comfortable connecting telepathically.

It's not like you don't have a tight grasp on your memories, she berated herself. She wasn't stupid.

"Oh my God! Look at this!" Gabby's voice drifted to them. She now stood in front of an odd statue with a twisted body. "What do you think this is?" she asked Donna, but of course Donna had no idea.

The Doctor probably knows, Renata thought.

"I won't look into your head, Renata," the Doctor quietly said, presuming that's where her thoughts had gone to. "I would never do that."

"I know," Renata sadly smiled at him. "I do trust you, Doctor. You're not that type of person."

"So, what do you think?"

Renata drew in a deep breath before she nodded her head. "Okay. We can do that. But-" she raised a finger to point at him, "-in return I want you to actually teach me about the galaxies. I don't want to take credit for your experiences. That's not fair. If I'm going to teach Gabby, I want it to be from me."

"I would love that," the Doctor beamed. Someone who didn't mind hearing his babbles about his trips? Someone who would actually understand what he was talking about? How could he refuse!?

~0~

The inside of the art gallery was even more grand than the outside. There were dozens of hallways with dozens and dozens of artwork to admire. Gabby couldn't get enough of them! She'd visited museums before but they all paled in comparison to this one!

"Oh! Look at that one!" she practically seized Renata's wrist and yanked the Time Lady towards a podium with a see-through cube. Its inside had millions of small black and white particles floating in the air while golden waves floated from its corners. "What is that!" Gabby pointed at it.

Once Renata pried her wrist from Gabby, not that the human noticed with all her excitement, she took a look at the cube. "...it's a 3D pointlist painting. It's based on principles invented by George Seurat." Gabby audibly 'aaahd' as she circled the podium. "It changes depending on what angle you view it from."

"It's so cool!" Gabby felt like she was repeating the same thing over and over, but there was really no other way to put her thoughts into words. She was just speechless and that's what came out.

As they continued down the hallway, Gabby kept pointing at different artworks that Renata would then explain. It was honestly quite incredible the way the information just rolled off her tongue, least that's what Gabby remarked after leaving two portraits that mimicked her face and Renata's.

"Thank you," Renata would then whisper to the Doctor every time she had the chance. Everything she was saying was what the Doctor was telling her telepathically, as well as what Renata saw through his mind. He truly had been everywhere.

"Of course," the Doctor would say each time despite having to do it almost every 5 minutes. He liked watching her flushed face when Gabby would praise her.

The group reached an intersection a couple minutes later and since no one really knew where to go from there, the Doctor suggested they visit the room dedicated to an artist he was good friends with.

"Zhe Ikiyuyu is a phenomenal artist," he said as he took the group down a turn. "I think you'd love her block transfer sculptures."

"Block transfer sculptures?" Gabby repeated in confusion then looked at Renata for an explanation.

"Uhm...it's a method of creating solid objects from pure mathematics," the blonde elucidated then added, "It's usually done by chanting."

"What?" Gabby laughed at the absurd idea. How do you sing and create sculptures? That sounded more like magic than artwork.

Donna, on the other hand, was giving Renata a strange look from behind. She'd been quietly listening to everything Renata said and she couldn't help but feel that the way Renata was explaining...sounded familiar. She just couldn't place it yet.

"And Zhe's a skilled artist," the Doctor added. "She trained on Logopolis centuries ago! She sings things into existence!"

He stopped in front of the right room and poked his head inside, only to find it completely empty. Gabby and Donna looked inside and wore similar confused expressions.

"Is it supposed to be empty, spaceman?" Donna asked.

"Uh, no…" the Doctor turned as if to leave but then poked his head into the room one more time to make sure he really was seeing it empty. "That can't be right," he frowned and then finally walked away.

"Where are we going?" Renata was right behind him.

The Doctor took them directly to the gallery's curator, who turned out to be a green-skinned woman with a head shaped like a potato...least that's what Gabby whispered to Donna who then snickered.

"What do you mean Zhe's vanished?" the Doctor demanded from the curator, nonethewiser of the snickering going on between his companions.

"A hundred years ago," the curator leaned against her desk and took a look at her fingernails.

"You don't seem very concerned," remarked Renata.

"You know what artists can be like," the curator practically snapped. "Zhe was the most mercurial and sensitive of the lot."

"Still," Renata put her hands together, her face scrunching as sarcasm dripped in her next words, "If someone I knew vanished a hundred years ago, I would want to know where they went."

"Does her private space elevator still work?" the Doctor had gotten the same careless vibe from the curator as Renata had.

"Yeah," the curator shrugged. "Pushy art dealer tried visiting about seventy years ago and he came down in quite a hurry."

"Is that supposed to be a warning?"

"No, just a head's up."

The Doctor didn't give the curator another look. He left the office in a hurry, leaving the others to promptly follow.

"What are we doing?" Gabby asked Renata once they had left the building altogether.

"Something's up there that made an art dealer rush back down," Renata said and had Gabby soon staring up at the starry sky. "We need to see what it is."

"Yeah, but...where would that be?"

"A very long piece of string, basically, one end of which is held in geosynchronous orbit by a counterweight, in this case Zhe's private moon," the Doctor said with a wide grin on his face. He loved explaining that bit. "Used to be a creative retreat. She would invite other artists, writers, students...and the parties she'd host…" the Doctor's wolf whistler elicited a sharp glance from Renata.

"Please finish that sentence with what you would do at these parties," she said calmly, but that was a trick the Doctor learned quickly when she first arrived. He'd start saying something and it was usually the wrong thing that would get him in trouble.

Donna, in the meantime, had seemed ready to say something but caught herself again. Now her eyes were flickering between the Doctor and Renata, as if something had finally donned on her.

"But it's beautiful," Gabby had to circle the elevator before they would go inside. It was in a cylindrical shape made up of glass. "This will really take us into the sky?"

"Yeah, apparently," Renata answered and motioned the girl to go in first. Before she or the Doctor followed Gabby and Donna, she grabbed the Doctor's arm and quietly asked, "Are you sure this is safe?"

"The elevator? Of course," the Doctor almost laughed at the silly question as he walked inside.

"I meant the moon," Renata said through gritted teeth.

"Ooh," the Doctor turned to her with a thoughtful face. "One can only hope."

Renata's face was comical in his opinion. Her eyes were wide and half of her mouth had raised for quite an expression.

The way up to the 'moon' had been a quiet one, but even then the Doctor was still agitated. It was nothing like the last time he'd been there. Even the lovely friend who used to manage the elevator was now a dusty old robot in the corner that didn't speak. Something was definitely wrong. Once the elevator opened up, it let the travelers onto mushy grass. One wouldn't even think that this was a place in the sky. It looked just like the actual planet below them.

"Is that a sculpture garden?" Gabby spotted the millions of old-looking sculptures dispersed around the front garden. They weren't as pretty as the ones she'd seen down in the gallery. "They're all...stringy and…"

"Hey, just like him," Donna jerked a thumb at the Doctor. He didn't really approve of the comment.

"You two need to appreciate this artwork," he reprimanded. "The study of the living form is the basis for visual arts in billions of cultures across the universe! Well if you happen to have a living form that is...or eyes...or perception based on sensory input in a nervous system."

"I have no idea what you just said," Gabby gave him a strange glance.

"You get used to that too," Donna shrugged and went up ahead. "But you know what, I don't like these sculptures. Even though they're fake...it almost looks like their eyes follow you..." she circled one sculpture with a twisted, gangly body.

"Yeah, I don't quite like it either," Renata admitted. There was something in the air that felt terse to her, frightening…

"You three are over-reacting!" the Doctor opened his arms to gesture the sculptures on both sides of the path. "All these statues represent the artist's State of Mind. Her influences... Touch of Giacometti here and a little Henry Moore there! Zhe was always in search of the perfect subject. She could find beauty in any form - what an eye she had! Though she did love bipeds - the humanoid form. Changed her own gender willy-nilly to get different perspectives on it. She would jump forms to get a sense of what a biped looked like from the outside."

"She could change bodies just like that?" Gabby blinked.

"It's not that hard, trust me," Renata mumbled.

"Well, Zhe's case was more of body augmentation," the Doctor said. Zhe wouldn't have to die to change bodies. She would just think it and change in that moment!

"So, all the sculptures have been conjured into existence by your friends singing a bunch of numbers?" the more Gabby asked these questions, the more she wanted to disbelieve this was actually real.

"As crazy as it sounds," Renata shrugged.

"It takes a great concentration, skill, and awareness of quantum foam harmonics and, oh, I don't know, a nice voice?" the Doctor thought that should be enough to make these 'ugly' sculptures look better to the women.

"Sounds very complicated, though," Donna ducked to meet the face of another sculpture whose head seemed to be under one of their legs. "Did she really do it all by herself?"

"Right, like one of those fancy computer programs," Gabby thought of but the Doctor quickly shut that idea down.

"No, no," he shook his head. "She doesn't use computers or machines. It's a discipline that needs all the nuances and playfulness of living minds…"

Donna gasped when the sculpture she was staring at blinked at her. She stepped back and stared at it for another minute.

"What's wrong, Donna?" Renata noticed the way the ginger had suddenly froze in her spot.

"I, uh...I think that sculpture-" she pointed ahead, "-just…" She was about to finish when the sculpture raised its head and straightened its body. It grew twice as big and stomped a foot forwards. "Moved!" Donna whirled around and dashed towards the others.

"Is that supposed to happen!?" Gabby, wide-eyed, looked at Renata but she could guess the answer all on her own.

Now it was Renata's turn to seize Gabby's wrist and pull her forwards into a run. The statue chased them down the path and each time it stomped a foot, the ground rumbled like an earthquake which made it harder for the group to get away.

"What the hell kind of artwork is this!?" Donna shrieked at the Doctor who'd taken her wrist to run.

"Not artwork! Not Zhe's fault!" the Time Lord clarified before anything.

"Oooh of course it's not!"

"Would you two quit arguing and run!?" Renata actually passed the two with her own companion. "There's the gate!"

The building meant to be Zhe's personal workplace had a large silver gate barring them from going directly inside. As they neared it, the Doctor used his sonic to open the locks and was the last one to go through it before shutting it again.

"Are you okay?" Renata immediately turned to Gabby. She grabbed the girl's head and turned it both ways to examine her for any injuries.

"I've never felt so alive!" Gabby laughed and pushed Renata's hands form her face. "It's like every instinct, every cell in my body, just switched on!"

Renata incredulously stared at her.

"Doctor, that's not going to hold those things!" Donna was busy telling the Doctor. The creatures had reached the gate and were pulling and pushing against the bars.

"I have a feeling they're about to stop," the Doctor was staring at the creatures with a calm face. And not a minute later after he said that, the sculptures froze to become actual sculptures again.

"You're just showing off," Donna raised her hands and turned away from the man.

"How'd that happen?" Gabby asked him, but he had already turned for the building where a young boy was awaiting. "Oooh. Never mind."

The Doctor led the group towards the front steps and waved a hello at the boy who, upon closer look, was a young Asian man. "Hello! Is Zhe here? I'm an old friend of hers, the Doctor?"

The boy looked on with a straight face.

But that didn't stop the Doctor from trying to peek into the building's foyer.

Renata cleared her throat and pulled the Doctor back to stand with her. She offered the man a kind smile as she spoke up. "We're just looking for Zhe. I'm Renata, that's Donna and Gabriella."

"It's Gabby," the woman in question raised a hand to wave.

"I address you by your actual name," Renata shot the Doctor a look when she said that. "Because a nickname is not a name." Her words flew over his head.

"Gabby's an artist too," he said instead. "Just wanted her to meet Zhe."

"I am the ultimate apprentice," the young man finally spoke up. "There can only be one."

"That's a bit creepy," Donna muttered under her breath.

"Is Zhe around, then?" the Doctor moved on into the building, consequently pulling Renata with him since she'd been holding onto his arm again.

"You don't just come in like that!" she scolded.

"You seek to become an apprentice?" the young man followed the group inside.

"No, no, we just want to see Zhe's art as well as Zhe herself," Renata let go of the Doctor and turned back to the young man. "Would you be so kind to show us where she is, please?"

The young man nodded and moved around them to take lead. He brought them down a hallway, into a dark room where only a spotlight illuminated it. There was nothing but a sculpture of Zhe herself sitting cross-legged on an orange cushion over a table.

"She looks like an Egyptian goddess," Gabby remarked and eyed the sculpture's four arms positioned in the 'zen' manner. She curled her arm around Renata's and pulled the Time Lady forwards when suddenly Renata pulled her back. "What?"

"This isn't right," the Time Lady went again. She'd gotten the same vibe from before when they had entered the gallery. "That statue…"

But it was too late.

Before she finished that sentence, she felt a force pick her body and Gabby's to drop them somewhere else. It was quick, instantaneous that all took was a mere blink to find themselves in a different room.

"Uumm...what just happened?" Gabby tried to uncurl her arm from Renata's but now the Time Lady was holding on tight. "Where's the Doctor and Donna? And where are we?"

The room was now white, still empty, but they were also standing in front of the young man...who was now a girl.

"Where the hell did you put us?" Renata demanded from the girl.

"Weren't you just a boy a couple seconds ago?" Gabby tilted her head, very much confused.

"You can't fool me," the girl warned. "You want to be an apprentice," she raised a finger at Gabby. "But there can only be one and that's me! I am the ultimate apprentice!"

"Oh my God - this is all for a stupid job?" Renata now let go of Gabby's arm to rage at the apprentice. "Are you kidding me?"

The girl merely tilted her head as something seemed to be sprouting from the side of her neck. It turned out to be another head, the head of the boy they'd met outside.

"Gross," Gabby crinkled her nose.

"Focusing on the wrong part!" Renata whirled around to face Gabby.

"Right…"

"Go!" Renata ushered Gabby towards the door.

~ 0 ~

Donna was the first one to notice Renata and Gabby were gone from the room. The Doctor had been busy admiring the statue to notice it right away. But when he did, he turned to the apprentice - still a boy - and dropped his typical playful demeanor. "Where are they?" his voice had dropped to a low tone, dark too. "I'm not playing jokes. Where is Renata and Gabby?"

"I do not believe you dropped by only to see Zhe," the apprentice finally spoke up. "You brought the girl to become an apprentice but there is only one."

"He thinks we brought Gabby to steal his job?" Donna raised an eyebrow. "Listen here, buddy," her voice grew louder, "We don't care about some job! We just came to see some artwork!"

"Lies!" the apprentice raised a hand which quickly became claw like. It kept morphing until it appeared as if a pair of scissors had fused with his fingers.

"Seriously, I think you've got this all wrong!" the Doctor pulled Donna to run away together.

"No, Doctor," the apprentice chased after them. "I am exactly right! Time is running out for you!"

"That sneering, cleverer than thou attitude you have - this is my domain and I hear everything! I heard everything you said on the way up to the house! Your friends think the sculptures are frightening and wrong! You're worse than all of them! You think you know it all! You're not artist! Admit it!"

"If we admit it, do we get to leave alive?" Donna had to ask. She yelped when the Doctor pulled her towards a staircase.

"Not likely!" the Doctor told her. "C'mon! If this staircase follows the house's original layout, it'll lead to the roof terrace!"

True to his word, they came running into a lovely terrace full of flowers and unfinished work.

"Get the hell away from us!" they soon heard a familiar cry from below.

The Doctor dashed to the ledge and looked down to see Renata and Gabby fighting off another version of the apprentice. Donna did the same and was relieved to see them relatively okay.

Renata had just thrown a pot at its two heads and couldn't look more furious. Actually, she didn't even look scared. She was just incredibly mad. "Who do you think you are, huh? I demand to see Zhe and put in a formal complaint!"

"Really? Those are her threats?" Donna raised an eyebrow at the blonde, but the Doctor was just smiling.

"That's my girl," he said, or blurted. It might have been a blurt.

"Oh, really?" Donna's smirk was a red alert for him.

"I-I did not say that. Don't you dare tell her I said that!"

Donna's smirk widened.

"Donna!" the Doctor's yell pulled Renata's attention from below.

"Oh! Doctor! There you are!" she exclaimed.

The Doctor shook his head at Donna then quickly told Renata, "Find Zhe's studio! That way!" he pointed them to the left. "It's a glass wing building with big windows! Maybe she's there!"

"Okay!" Renata grabbed Gabby's arm and took off in the direction he'd pointed them to.

"So telling her you said that," Donna warned, much to the Doctor's dismay, but all was forgotten when they turned to leave and saw the apprentice under the threshold.

"Not you again," the Doctor groaned.

~ 0 ~

Renata and Gabby eventually found the building the Doctor was talking about. The big glass windows were the giveaway that they were in the right place. Renata brought Gabby inside, which turned out to be a regular workplace. Even as they dashed down the hallways, Gabby had to admire the artwork hanging on the walls.

"You know, you can stop to admire this when we're not being chased by a jealous, homicidal apprentice!" Renata yanked Gabby away from one canvas the latter had stopped by.

"I know but it's just so pretty!" Gabby looked over her shoulder and saw the apprentice still coming after them. Renata continued to run and Gabby seemed to be on the same plan...until she passed one room she just had to go back to.

"GABRIELLA!" Renata's scream wasn't enough to pull the human out of the room. With a groan, she darted back for the specific room.

It turned out to be a studio - Zhe's studio - which was completely cluttered with unfinished and some finished work. Bookshelves lined the four walls and were filled to the brim with art utensils, books, pieces of objects probably meant to be artwork.

"What a nice studio," Gabby gawked with a huge grin on her face.

"Hello!" Renata waved both her hands in the air, not that it mattered since Gabby was walking up to a desk. "Homicidal apprentice still after us! You remember that part, right?"

"How dare you touch those!" the apprentice appeared at the doorway, making Renata scream and jump back.

"Did you do these?" Gabby had taken hold of a pile of papers and turned to face the apprentice. Her eyes were full of wonder and fondness. "They are preliminary sketches for some of the sculptures outside, right? I love them!"

The apprentice paused. "Seriously?"

Renata's eyes flickered from Gabby to the apprentice.

"Seriously!" Gabby laughed. "This is kind of a strange thing to ask, seeing as you're trying to kill us but...would you mind showing me some more?"

"Are you kidding me?" Renata growled. "She's trying to kill us!" Gabby might turn out to be more like the Doctor and this was only her first trip! Renata dreaded to think what she might become after more time in the TARDIS.

"But she's an amazing artist!" Gabby thought that was a good enough reason, leading Renata to smack her own forehead. "Imagine what I could learn from her?"

"You really think all that?" the apprentice's female face had a small smile all of a sudden. "I...thought you were after an apprenticeship."

"With Zhe? Nah!" Gabby shook her head. "I've already got a teacher. Her." She pointed at Renata who was couldn't believe how this was going. "Could I see your work, though? I bet you're just as good. Who knows, I could even become your apprentice one day."

"No, no," Renata wagged a finger at her. "You will not become an apprentice to a homicidal apprentice."

"Maybe she won't be a homicidal apprentice anymore-"

"-stop!" Renata pointed a finger at Gabby, looking completely incredulous. "You are just as crazy as the Doctor!"

Gabby laughed. "No, I just really love artwork."

Well, at least Renata could say that Gabby had gotten the apprentice to lose the second head and revert back to her female version.

"Alright, I've never really shown this stuff to anybody ever," the apprentice motioned Gabby and Renata to follow her to a set of double doors at the end of the studio room.

"I get it," Gabby put the sketches back on the desk. "I like to draw but I'm never sure if I'm any good."

Her words seemed to make the apprentice a bit more confident as she led them into the adjoining room. Its walls were covered in papers of sketches and drawings.

"I'm not going to pretend you know the first thing about sculpture block transfer or otherwise...but I think these are beautiful. I love that you began just by drawing." Gabby hurried to the nearest wall to stare at the sketches.

"Drawing is one of the first and oldest technologies for many life-forms, humanoid and otherwise," the apprentice said. She raised a hand to create a hologram of a nude woman. "We learn to forage, to hunt, to communicate, to make fire...then we draw. As soon as our basic needs are met, we begin to make things. Drawing if the very beginning of that impulse." The one hologram turned into two, then three and suddenly the room was filled with different holograms of creations.

Gabby and Renata saw more humanoid figures forming a circle as if it was a ritual. Behind them swirled an orange fish-like creature that zipped behind Renata. The blonde shot it a look, still mighty suspicious that the apprentice might attack them when their guard was low.

"It is almost as old as we are. We draw to understand the world around us. It's the beginning of representational thinking," the apprentice was saying. "It's our way of assigning meaning to everything to see. It's the beginning of written language, of symbols and code of numbers. And once you have numbers, you begin to understand at the very stuff from which the universe itself is made of."

Soon, equations started flowing into the air. Gabby laughed melodically as it passed over her head and zoomed past her face.

"All this from drawing," the apprentice said.

"Alright, stop," Renata ordered and her voice was hard enough to put an end to everything that swirled in the room. The apprentice lowered her arms and looked at Renata. The Time Lady was furious again. "I have had enough of this."

"Renata," Gabby whispered, but Renata pointed a finger for her to stay quiet and so Gabby did. Renata was kind of scary when she was mad.

"You have chased us all around this place with the intent of killing us out of pure jealousy that was so misplaced! And I have no doubt that the other version of you is still chasing my friends," Renata stormed up to the short apprentice and glowered. "So I need you to take us to them. Or are you going to kill us now?"

"Renata, she's not evil," Gabby dared to speak again and it was still enough to earn her a glare.

"She just tried to kill us five minutes ago!"

"But she was just misunderstanding. I think we can trust her."

"In my experience, you can't even trust your own family," Renata's words held double meaning and Gabby knew it. There was no doubt in Renata's eyes. She firmly believed what she said.

"I am sorry," the apprentice suddenly said. Renata returned her gaze to the small girl. "I have misunderstood but...I can repair it. Let me impart some of my knowledge to you both."

"I don't need nor want to understand anything here," Renata snapped.

Gabby moved towards them and held one hand out for Renata and the other for the apprentice. "I'd love to."

"No," Renata looked away.

"Stop being stubborn," Gabby gently said, even smiling at the Time Lady despite the frown on her face. "We might even learn a way to find Zhe like this. Or do you already know everything?"

Renata slowly looked to Gabby. "Gabriella, this is just not a good idea. Even if the apprentice does mean well-" she shot a glare to the questionable girl, "-we don't know what might happen."

"Take a risk," Gabby wiggled her fingers at Renata, once again reminding the Time Lady too much of the Doctor.

'Take a risk', he would say to her back when they were on Gallifrey. She was too much of a stickler to have fun. Everyone always seemed to know how to have fun except for her. Why couldn't she be more like them? More carefree?

"C'mon," Gabby gently took Renata's hand. "It could be fun."

Renata sighed. "Okay, fine. If I die, what's another face? This life was useless anyways."

Gabby gave her a strange look for her words, but the apprentice cut in to commence.

~ 0 ~

The Doctor was so tired. He and Donna had been running for a good while now. One room changed into an endless pit that threatened to kill them...until he figured out it was just an illusion and that there was a rope for them to hang on (from which they got rope-burn). It brought them to another spiraling staircase which led them…

...back to the first room they'd come into earlier.

"That statue again," Donna crossed her arms at Zhe's statue. She was out of breath and if the Doctor didn't do something quick they were just going to die.

"Of course," the Doctor hummed. He moved towards the statue as he now took a better look at it. "That's why the apprentice distracted me...you're no sculpture…" he leaned closer to the face of the sculpture. "You're Zhe."

"Doctor! C'mon!" Donna wearily said. "What are we doing here?"

"Donna, we've been tricked. This isn't a statue, it's Zhe but...she's been trapped somehow."

"Okay, so what do we do?"

"I can maybe reach her telepathically. Keep an eye out for the apprentice, Donna."

"Keep an eye - how!?" Donna practically screamed, but by then the Doctor had joined hands with Zhe's (one pair anyways) and left her. "Oh, you're kidding me!"

~ 0 ~

The apprentice's room was covered in purple and golden butterflies. At least that's what the figures resembled. They swarmed to cover every inch of the room and yet Renata and Gabby didn't feel overwhelmed by it, nor like they would suffocate. It was as if they were a part of each other.

They were immersed into a different type of reality. At first, it was a series of incoherent images and noises that they saw. Renata presumed they were images of places they would perhaps see one day. She blinked as an image of a young woman with curly, ginger hair briefly appeared in front of them. Gabby's ears perked when the woman sang, in a beautiful voice, singing what seemed like a lullaby.

"A little fairy comes at night,

Her eyes are blue, her hair is brown'

with silver spots upon her wings,

And from the moon she flutters down."

The song and the woman disappeared altogether to continue the rush of images. Both Renata and Gabby screamed when they were sure that a blast of sharp icicles were about to hit them. A tall woman with a short, curly blonde hair seemed to be staring at them with glowing blue eyes. There was a clear, elegant-jeweled crown sitting on top of her head.

Then, just like before, she disappeared and from there the images that Renata and Gabby saw were from their past.

Gabby saw herself back in New York, fighting off the Cerebravores. Then there were Primavores and their beautiful butterfly wings flying around her. "This is incredible! I feel like I'm plugged into a new world! And that song…"

"It's everywhere," Renata drew in a deep breath. She could hear a song, a bloody song that made her feel...bad...but she didn't know where it was coming from.

But then she saw herself. Not this her right now but…

'Zuriah!' someone called. Her first incarnation turned her head and with her flipped her fiery orange hair. She was laughing - or rather she was laughing at someone, but it was a good-natured laugh.

It was the Doctor's first incarnation who was responsible for that laughter. He had tripped over one of her boxes in her foundation's library and brought down a stack of books with him.

'Doctor! I really can't leave you alone. What am I going to do with you?' Zuriah had come up to the man on the ground and squatted down next to him.

The Doctor pulled a book off his face and gave her a sly smile. 'I've got a few ideas.'

Renata blinked and immediately looked away. "NO!"

But then the song grew stronger. And it didn't have any words. It was just a tune - a melody that carried through.

"Oh, hello!" she heard Gabby say, and when Renata opened her eyes she saw an Ood very present in front of them.

The air around them had turned into a dozen colors swirling around the three.

"Is that you singing?" Gabby leaned forwards but Renata touched Gabby's arm to keep her from moving.

"Time Lady Renata, the Vortex Butterfly is coming," the Ood spoke up. "Be warned that if it rises - along with its companion, the Cosmic Butterfly - your song will end sooner."

"STOP!" Renata clapped her hands on her head. She screwed her eyes shut and fell to her knees. She didn't want to hear nor see more.

"I sense interference," the apprentice cut everything off and turned for the doorway where the other version stood.

Gabby, on the other hand, was more attentive to the Time Lady on the floor. "Renata, what happened? What did all that mean? I-I saw you and you didn't look like you! Neither did the Doctor! Plus that weird alien - what was that?"

The more she spoke, the more Renata wanted to yell at her to shut up. How could she have been so stupid to do this? Now Gabby knew more about Renata than Renata wanted anyone to know of her. And the Ood? She'd rather forget it all and just go home. She just wanted to go home.

'Home. I want to go home.'

Renata's head snapped up. She had not said that aloud.

"Woah, what's going on?" Gabby had heard too, but not only that…

'We're you, duh,' went her own voice against her.

Gold and purple butterflies flapped their wings around them. They weren't 'real' persay but they were real enough to be seen and heard.

"It's the Doctor trying to make contact," the male apprentice was telling the female on the side. Neither seemed to be that worried over the new butterflies.

"We must prevent it," the female apprentice said.

The two joined bodies, literally, and rushed out of the room.

"Wait!" Gabby called after them. "You can't just leave us here!"

'We have to stop them!' went her voice again.

"I was going to say that," Gabby frowned.

Renata pushed herself up to her feet and looked around. "What a mess."

'We know. What a mess indeed,' her voice agreed.

Renata balled her fists in the air and decided to go chase the Doctor first. He needed to be safe.

'Always keep him safe,' her voice said.

"Shut up!" she screamed frantically.

Gabby felt really guilty then. She'd been the one who convinced Renata to let the apprentice share her knowledge. She hoped the butterflies would disappear soon or Renata might just drop her off back on Earth.

~ 0 ~

Donna had picked up a piece of a table leg and was brandishing it at the two apprentices when Renata and Gabby ran into the room. "Nice of you two to show up!"

Renata rolled her eyes. "We were a bit busy, Donna! What's the Doctor doing!?" she saw the man standing in front of the sculpture - who was Zhe - and joined by the hands.

"Turns out that bloody sculpture isn't a sculpture! It's Zhe!" Donna swung the table leg at the male apprentice but missed. "And you two need to stay the hell away!"

"And he's gone off trying to contact her telepathically," Renata groaned.

'Doctor, Doctor, always doing the same stupid things!'

Donna froze for a second as she tried to decide whether or not she'd heard the echo of Renata's voice.

"It's a long story," Renata left it at that. She hurried towards the Doctor's body, not that he would know since he was deep in another realm. "Oh, you idiot, what have you gotten yourself into now?" she gently touched the side of his face, careful not to let her own telepathic abilities interfere with his trance.

'Just like always.'

Renata closed her eyes. This second voice was a truth teller, apparently.

"Okay, please stop!" Gabby put herself between Donna and the two apprentices. "You've really got all this wrong! The Doctor's not the bad guy. He doesn't mean any harm - none of us do."

"He's trying to connect to the originator and that can mean only one thing," the female apprentice scowled at her. She was back to being homicidal.

"He wants to be an apprentice," the male apprentice finished with the same frown on his face.

"No he bloody doesn't!" Donna snapped. "Doctor doesn't have the patience to sit still and draw! Ha! As if!"

"Please believe us," Gabby begged and looked to the female apprentice. "We had a connection, you must know that I'm not lying. And look," she gestured to Renata who was completely focused on the Doctor. "She's just trying to get him back. We're not lying."

The female apprentice studied Gabby then Renata for a minute. She slowly split from her male counterpart and raised her head. "She's right. I detect no deceit from them."

The male apprentice didn't seem to agree. "If you can't finish them, I will!"

"No!" the female apprentice raised her hand - which had turned into a shovel - and smacked the other apprentice's head. "We must weigh up the variables. This requires further information!"

"No!" the male apprentice argued back and raised his own hand, only instead of retaliating himself he brought the largest sculpture from the front yard and let it stomp through the wall.

Donna looked back at Renata and the Doctor. "We need him back or we're going to die!"

Renata couldn't argue with that logic. "I-I don't know…Doctor, can you hear me?"

~ 0 ~

Zhe was trapped in her own realm, out of her own accord. And as she was explaining to the Doctor how she came to be there, he heard the echoes of Renata's voice around him.

He looked around the blue realm and saw nothing but himself and Zhe. Still, Renata's voice kept calling to him.

"My artworks. The binary pair... They're in opposition... Not enough strength to keep them from destroying each other and us," Zhe brought one of her hands to her forehead. She seemed tired.

"Zhe, we have to go," the Doctor helped her stand straight with one arm around her waist. "My friends are in danger. I can hear one of them calling to me."

"I don't think I can make it," Zhe wearily said, letting her head hang.

"Oh yes we can!" the Doctor exclaimed. They just had to make it back to the origin of Zhe's force. It was so close, he could almost feel it.

Plus, Renata's voice got stronger and stronger. And that was only because on the other side, she was screaming as the sculpture tried to stomp on Donna and Gabby, She ultimately let the Doctor go to try and help them instead.

"C'mon!" she pulled Gabby and Donna towards a corner of the room.

"What are we going to do!?" Donna shrieked.

"I've no idea!" Renata shook her head. Even the apprentices were going at it against each other. And really, what did they have to fight against the big sculpture? Nothing, that's what.

But thankfully, a blinding light flashed from the Zhe's frozen body. It rocked the Doctor to the ground, but Zhe emerged from her trapped form and rose into the air.

"Enough! This little experiment ends here!" her voice roared. She swung one of her arms and captured the two apprentices in jets of white energy. "Binary Apprentice! Opposing aspects of my psyche - artists create! Never wanting to or knowingly destroy things!"

Zhe brought the two apprentices down and turned them back into what they had been originally: energy.

"Hello there," the Doctor had found his companions and Renata in the corner of the room. He looked completely fine with that big grin on his face. "You hear that? A block transfer artist in performance!"

It was very possible that one of Renata's eyes twitched. Her nose crinkled but more than it should have. She snatched Donna's table leg and threw it right at him.

Alright, so maybe he shouldn't have been so focused on that part. He should've focused on the homicidal situation they were in.

'Oh, it's the Doctor!' Gabby's echo filled the room. But out of her excitement, more thoughts started spilling out, including what she thought about him and the TARDIS.

"Oh, stop it!" Renata berated herself, but her own thoughts were spilling through...only hers included more of her past.

'Just like before!'

'The trouble follows!'

'Zuriah!'

"What?" the Doctor's eyes had widened to the brim at the last thing they heard.

~ 0 ~

Once everything was back to normal, Zhe invited the group for a nice cup of tea on the terrace with the promise of a good explanation for the frightening apprentices. As it turned out, they were created due to, ironically, a creative block. Zhe accidentally created a physical manifestation of her self doubt with all her powers. It split into two and went mad from there. As a result, she trapped herself in a voluntary stasis in an attempt to drain their powers.

"I need to go home," Renata had said as soon as Zhe finished her story. She got up from the table and walked away, of course with her new friendly echoes.

"How long is that going to last?" the Doctor quietly asked Zhe since both Renata's and Gabby's echoes were still very much active.

"It should fade as soon as you leave," Zhe said, offering her most apologetic smile.

"Very truthful echoes, mind you," Donna remarked as she sipped her own tea. "I had one of Gabby's tell me, in a spectacular manner, that I was much older than her."

"Is that why she hasn't come from over there?" the Doctor nodded to Gabby who had positioned herself by the balcony for some time now. Donna shrugged.

Renata had come to stand next to Gabby, not looking at the human but instead at the yard ahead of them.

"Renata...I'm sorry about this," Gabby made a gesture to their combined butterflies around them. She shouldn't have let the apprentice touch her and Renata because now they had all this foreign alien stuff on them. "I-I didn't think of what could happen...but you did. I should have listened to you."

"Don't worry about it, it'll fade away I imagine," Renata drew from the Doctor's mind. That link was still active, but not for long.

"And about what we saw...the images...that alien saying the thing about the song and the butterflies-"

Renata closed her eyes. She didn't want to think about her death prediction. "Let's never speak of that. I don't want to."

"But you look scared," Gabby pointed out. "Maybe we should tell the Doctor-"

"-no. I don't want to."

Gabby kept quiet for a moment, but there was just too much to ignore like Renata wanted her to. "But the connection...it showed us images from our past - least that's what I'm assuming since I saw myself back in New York. You weren't you. And neither was the Doctor. Were you on your planet? And were you and him-"

"-don't," Renata turned to face Gabby, her face hard and empty of any emotion. She wanted to look as scary as possible to keep Gabby from drawing conclusions and saying them aloud. "I don't ever want you to speak about what you saw, do you understand? Those are my memories. Memories you should have never seen. If you say anything about those memories to anyone I will personally drop you back on Earth in a snap of a finger. Understand?"

Gabby quickly nodded her head. "Aha. S-sorry."

Renata turned away from the girl and walked away. She wanted to find the TARDIS and refuge herself into her room.

~ 0 ~

"That was...I can't even describe what that trip was," Donna was very honest when the group had finally returned to the TARDIS.

"The usual, I suspect," the Doctor shrugged and turned to Gabby who was coming in last. "Whaddya think, Gabs? You want to keep going?"

Gabby bit her lower lip and looked at Renata. The Time Lady couldn't quite look at her right now. "I mean...I'd love to, but...Renata…"

The Doctor made a face and followed Gabby's gaze to Renata. "Renée, are you okay?"

"Yes," she snapped but went directly into the hallway without saying anything else.

"I think I angered her," Gabby hugged herself. "I-I should have just listened to her. She's the teacher. I'm...I'm the student." She went towards the hallway, like Renata, but she wasn't going to do any sleeping like a human should.

"What...just happened?" the Doctor scratched the top of his head.

"You're a dunce, you know that?" Donna remained by his side and leaned against the console.

"Maybe you should follow," the Doctor suggested and moved away from her. She rolled her eyes but let the comment go. She had something else she'd been wanting to say.

"Hey Doctor, I've got a question," she leaned off the console and turned around. She pressed her palms to the bottom of the control panel and smiled so innocently, it made the Doctor nervous. She had something up her sleeve. "Last time I heard, Renata didn't really know a lot about the world. I mean, she's smart cos she's from Gallifrey but...she never really traveled."

"So?"

"She never came to Sirus Star 5, did she?"

The Doctor blinked at the straightforwards question. "Excuse me?"

Donna folded her arms and gave him quite a look. It was unnerving, really. "I just kept wondering how Renata knew what every single thing in that art gallery was and then it hit me - her explanations sounded like you. And they were you!"

"Donna, what are you going on about?" the Doctor gave himself away by focusing completely on the console. He'd brought them off the planet and into the vortex, but for some reason his hands kept playing with the controls.

"What did you do, spaceman, that made Renata talk like you? And don't lie to me because I'll smack you."

The Doctor rolled his eyes. "Fine. I just let her into my mind. No big deal."

"Except it is," Donna said. "Do you just share your mind with anyone, then?"

"Well, no, but-"

"-you did with Renata-"

"-because she needed help and I wanted to help!"

"Doctor, it's just me now," Donna moved around the console until she standing next to him again. "You've been a little...closer...to Renata lately. And to be honest, that worries me a little bit."

The Doctor gave her a crazed look. "What?"

"Don't get me wrong, Renata seems kind and caring and...more put together than you but-"

"-oi!"

"But have you ever really asked yourself who she is?"

"What kind of question is that!?" the Doctor frowned.

"I'm saying...do you really know things about Renata?"

"Yes!" the Doctor answered a bit too fast to sound genuinely right. "I've talked to her and I know about her family and her job."

"Really?"

"Yes!"

"Do you know her sister's name?"

The Doctor opened his mouth to answer but...he didn't actually know the answer.

"Or what exactly was the nature of her job? And I'm not just saying what she did - I really mean, what was her job? Who did she help? What did she do?"

"Donna-" the Doctor shook his head. He couldn't believe she was actually trying to make Renata seem suspicious.

"How about where she lived on Gallifrey? Who her parents were?"

"Enough!" the Doctor's voice hardened and the look on his face was not one you wanted to be on the receiving end of.

Donna knew he was upset, but she just needed to get this out there for both their sake's. "I think there's a reason why she's so reclusive about her past. Don't you feel like she's hiding something?"

"I have no right to pry about her past lives, alright? And it doesn't matter because I like Renata now. I like her - who she is right now."

"But there could be more to her and you'd never know because she doesn't say."

"Donna…"

"Doctor, who was that 'Zuriah' name Renata's echoes named?" Donna folded her arms and watched the Doctor's face shift through several emotions. "I saw the way you reacted when you heard it. Renata looked terrified. Who was that? If she was someone you knew, Renata didn't tell you, did she?"

The Doctor's gaze fell to the console again. Zuriah. How could Renata know that name if he never told her?

"Doctor," Donna rested a hand on his arm, "I like Renata, I really do. I'm not trying to make her a bad guy I'm...I have questions. And I know that if I have these questions, then you've had them for a while. Why haven't you asked her?"

"Because I don't want to lose her," the Doctor said quietly but his tone indicated this should've been obvious for her. "Renata is the only other of my people. I already started way wrong with her."

"Right, because you kidnapped her and forced her into the TARDIS," Donna mumbled, bit the Doctor said a sharp 'no' that made her stop altogether. "What do you mean?"

The Doctor was thinking about a time he'd forced himself to forget. 1913 when he was John Smith, the man who fell in love with Renata and simultaneously killed her family. Again.

"What are you keeping from me, spaceman?" Donna narrowed her eyes on the Doctor.

"I can't," he shook his head but he was a fool if he thought he would be getting away from Donna Noble.

"Oh no, you tell me right now what you did. What could be worse than kidnapping her?"

"It's a long story."

"And I have time," Donna straightened herself up and motioned him to start talking.

And for some reason, the Doctor felt like he could really use the talk.

#10th doctor #doctor who #ocappreciation #ocapp #dw imagines #10th doctor imagines #10th doctor imagine #doctor who imagine #doctor who imagines #doctor who fanfics #10th doctor fics #donna noble #gabby gonzalez #tardis

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hysterialevi · 5 years ago

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When the Devil Cries - Final Part

Fanfic summary: (NO SPOILERS IN THIS STORY) After arriving in Saint Denis, Arthur ends up falling in love with a seemingly innocent pianist, only to find himself in a battle with one of the most notorious outlaws to ever emerge from America. Now, between working for Dutch and robbing money for the gang, Arthur has to also protect the man he loves as the two of them try to find their freedom.

Pairing: Arthur Morgan/Male OC

Previous chapter

This story is also on AO3

Author’s note: Welp, this is it guys! The final chapter. Thank you so much to those of you who stuck with me during this whole story. I seriously appreciate the support you’ve given me ever since I started this fanfic, and it means the world to me to see how much you’ve enjoyed it. I’m definitely gonna miss writing about Arthur and Eddie, but I also can’t wait to show you what else I have planned in the future. Stay awesome :)

From Arthur’s POV

ONE WEEK LATER

THE BASTILLE, SAINT DENIS

“Dear, John...” I murmured to myself, readin’ my awfully-written letter out loud, “...it’s Tacitus. I hope this letter finds you on the off-chance that you’re still alive, but truth be told...I wouldn’t even know where to start looking. Last time we saw each other, we was both trying to make our way out of that god-awful shit storm, and I regret that I never got the chance to see if you survived.”

“If you’re still out there somewhere, I wish you luck. You saved my ass when hell finally broke loose, and I won’t forget it. As for me -- my partner and I have managed to stay out of trouble for a while, and we’re planning to start a new life someplace else. For your safety and mine, I cannot say where, but just know that we’re doing okay. Things ain’t easy, but we got each other. And if these following years go according to plan, who knows? Perhaps we might be able to rejoin you someday.”

“If you’re not alive though, then...I will certainly miss you. That’s for sure. We ain’t related by blood, I know, but you was always like a brother to me. We grew up together since the very beginning, and I’ll never forget the times when you used to annoy me so much that I wanted to tear my hair out. Who’d have thought I’d eventually miss those days?”

“But...as much as I’d like to keep this going, I’m afraid there’s a ship I need to catch pretty soon. It’s gonna carry me off to a civilized world where I am to live as a civilized man. I ain’t exactly ready for a life like that, but it’s where I’ve ended up. I suppose we shall see how that goes.”

“Farewell for now, John. You’ll always be in my thoughts.

Your friend and brother,

--Tacitus Kilgore.”

Placin’ the letter down on a table, I leaned back in my chair and reread some of the sentences to myself as a worn-out breath escaped me, probably because of how long I spent thinkin’ about how to word all this.

If I was bein’ honest, I didn’t even know if trying to contact John was a good idea. I mean, we was both still wanted men. Even with Agent Milton gone, the rest of the Pinkertons were still searching for us. If they knew that either of us were alive, I had no doubts that they’d do everything within their power to try and stop us from escaping...and that was a risk I couldn’t take.

I let out a frustrated sigh and balled up the piece of paper in my hands, tossin’ it into the nearby fireplace.

“...Goddammit.” I whispered to myself, solemnly watchin’ as the letter burned.

Was that the right thing to do? I wanted to see John again, of course, but...maybe it was better this way.

We both had people to take care of, after all. He had Abigail and Jack, and I had Eddie.

The less we knew about each other, the safer we’d be. We had to worry about more than just ourselves in this case, and -- with the law constantly up our ass -- perhaps it was best for everyone if John thought I was dead. Then, he’d have nothin’ to give to the Pinkertons. At least, not when it came to me.

Still though, part of me wished I could at least say goodbye to him before hightailing it to England. Out of all the people I grew up with, John was the only one left who was alive and trustworthy.

And on top of that, there was no guarantee I’d ever return to America. Apart from sentimentality, this country had nothin’ else for me. All that remained of the Van der Linde gang was a long trail of blood that civilization was already in the process of forgetting, and I certainly didn’t plan on lingering around with my wanted posters still flappin’ in the wind.

I was finally ready to be the man I aspired to be, and not the man Dutch created.

My life in the United States may have been over...but my life as a free man was just beginning.

Interrupting my thoughts, the door suddenly swung open when Eddie came wanderin’ in with a briefcase in his hand, all ready to go. He was usin’ the same cane that Hamish gave to him back at O’Creagh’s Run, and the more I saw him limpin’ around the room with a sway in his step, the more I worried about the true condition of his leg.

The pianist insisted he was fine whenever I asked him, but -- despite bein’ the dolt that I was -- I was still smart enough to assume that climbing a huge rock formation not too long after getting shot in the leg probably wasn’t the best idea.

I supposed all that commotion with Atticus finally did a number on Eddie’s injuries. He looked alright during all that drama, but with everything else that was goin’ on, I only hoped that we wouldn’t need the doctor’s services before departing for England. Things was stressful enough as is.

“Arthur,” Eddie greeted, settin’ his briefcase down on the bed for a moment. “You ready to go? The ship’s leaving in half an hour.”

“Yep. I got everything I need. What about you?”

Eddie took a seat across from me. “Me too. Just...preparing myself for the long journey now, is all. It’s been ages since I last set foot in England. I wonder what it’s like nowadays.”

“Hopefully, better than here.”

A chuckle escaped him. “Oh, I dunno about that, but at least we won’t have to worry about the Pinkertons there. I’m sick of constantly checking over my shoulder for them.”

I nodded in agreement. “I know the feeling. Milton may be dead and gone, but I doubt that the rest of them clowns will give up so easily. Perhaps, it’ll even motivate ‘em to work harder. I just hope Agent Ross doesn’t find John. That man has a family to look after.”

“Have you heard from him ever since Beaver Hollow?”

“No. I was actually plannin’ to send him a letter, but...I got rid of it just before you walked in here. Figured it’d be better if he didn’t know I was alive.”

Eddie tilted his head in an inquisitive manner. “Why? Don’t you want to see him again?”

“’Course I do. But think about it -- if John believes I’m dead, then the Pinkertons will have no reason to pester him. They might still go after him for the bounty on his own head, but interrogatin’ him for information about me would be pointless.”

The pianist glanced downwards. “Hmm. I guess so. Still, it’d be nice to thank him in person. John was always friendly to me back at camp, and he saved our lives at Beaver Hollow too. Without him, neither of us would’ve gotten away.”

“Now, ain’t that the truth.”

Eddie changed the subject. “And what of Dutch? Have you heard any news about him?”

I shook my head. “Nope. Nothing. There’s no word in the papers, no rumors circulating about him -- it’s as if he’s vanished entirely. That man could be on his way to Tahiti for all I know.”

The other man glowered. “...Or running off with Micah.”

“...That, too.” I sighed in disapproval. “Goddamn it...what the hell happened to that man? Dutch used to be so different. So full of life. So...human. But now, he’s nothin’ short of a madman. Just a tyrant who goes trigger-happy when he doesn’t get his way. I keep wonderin’ to myself where it all went wrong. Where things started to fall apart.”

The pianist frowned out of sympathy. “Well, perhaps he was always a madman. It was you who finally opened your eyes and changed.”

I rubbed my chin in thought. “...Maybe. I don’t know. Hosea used to say the same thing about himself, but to be honest...I’m not sure I care anymore. All I care about is us. You’re what matters to me now, Eddie. Not them.”

Eddie beamed warmly at the comment and gazed lovingly at me for a second, seemingly gettin’ lost in his thoughts before bringing up another topic.

“You know what...” he recalled, “that actually reminds me of something I’ve been meaning to tell you ever since we arrived in Saint Denis.”

I quirked a brow. “Oh yeah? And what would that be?”

The pianist gave me a sincere look, suddenly changing his overall demeanor. “...I wanted to say I’m sorry.”

I flicked my eyes around in confusion. “Sorry? For what?”

“For not taking your advice,” he answered. “Ever since the beginning, you warned me that vengeance was an idiot’s game. And like the idiot I was, I refused to listen to you. I was just...”

Eddie let out a conflicted sigh, shifting in his seat. “I was so consumed with this insatiable desire for revenge. No matter how much I tried to forgive him, I just couldn’t let Atticus go. There was too much anger inside me. Too much grief. I thought that killing Atticus would provide a sense of justice, or a fresh beginning, but in the end...his death only made me feel...”

The man trailed off, unable to find the right words.

“...Empty?” I finished.

The pianist nodded in response.

“Yes. Empty. But not only that. When I saw the life disappear from Atticus’ eyes, part of me even...regretted killing him so soon. I guess I had hoped there would be some sort of closure to the conflict between us, but instead...it felt like reading a story that was one chapter short. There was no resolution. No way down from the peak of the mountain. It was just...a cliff. And you know the worst part of it?”

Eddie’s expression sank with melancholy. “...I still can’t let Atticus go.”

Strugglin’ to set his thoughts in order, Eddie lowered his head in a distraught manner and stared aimlessly at the floor, causin’ me to reach across the table and lay a hand on top of his own in an attempt to comfort him.

“Hey...” I whispered softly, tryin’ to catch the disheartened man’s attention. “You made a mistake, but it ain’t the end of the world. You can still learn from this. You’re strong. Much stronger than you realize. And...if I may offer some advice...”

I scooted my chair closer to his, grippin’ his hand more firmly now. “Based on everything you’ve said to me since we first met, it sounds like that Atticus ain’t the one you can’t let go. ...I think it’s Nathaniel that you don’t want to forget.”

Takin’ my words to heart, Eddie paused at my observation and lifted his head slightly, starin’ in a way that told me I just hit the nail on the head.

I could tell from the expression plastered on his face that he ain’t never thought about it that way before, and I almost felt kinda bad for the emotional conflict that I was clearly puttin’ this poor boy through.

He blinked away some of the tears that were startin’ to gather in his eyes and gripped my hand affectionately, trying to hide how much his voice was truly trembling.

“...He is, isn’t he?”

Eddie let out a shaky breath, thinkin’ back to the day Nathaniel died.

“You know, I always blamed myself for not being able to save Nathaniel. I understand that, realistically, there was nothing I could’ve done for him, but still. The thought eats me up all the time. Even now. I just...can’t move on. I can’t sleep at night because I know that if he was alive today, he’d probably never forgive me for abandoning him.

“Nonsense,” I replied, quick to come to his defense. “If Nathaniel knew that you managed to survive that day -- that you actually made it all the way to America, started a new life for yourself, became a pianist, and killed Atticus Rose after months of fightin’ for your life as an outlaw only to become a free man -- why...” I chuckled in awe, “...he’d be so, goddamned proud of you.”

The other man gazed at me with teary eyes, not quite convinced yet. “How do you know?”

I smiled brightly at Eddie. “...Because I know I am.”

Evidently somewhat overwhelmed by my praise, the sorrow disappeared from Eddie’s face as he cracked a small grin and leaned forward, showerin’ me with his own storm of compliments.

“Thank you, Arthur, but it’s not as if I did it all by myself. You did your fair share of work too. In fact, I never would’ve made it this far if you hadn’t found me that day. Your first interaction with me was an act of kindness, and yet you still speak ill of yourself constantly. You truly are a marvel, Arthur...but I don’t think you see it.”

I sighed remorsefully, wishin’ I could say Eddie was entirely right.

“That’s ‘cause I done some real bad things in my life, Eddie. Horrible things. Before I met you, I used to rob people who didn’t deserve it, kill folks who did nothin’ except get in the way of Dutch’s plans, and I did all of it while living under some twisted sense of honor to help me sleep at night. But now...”

I looked the pianist in eye, still holdin’ on to his hand, “I wanna change, Eddie. For real this time. I don’t wanna just be some thief who happens to be kinder than the rest. I wanna be a better man. A better partner. No more crimes, no more violence...just redemption. That’s all I want.”

Eddie gently brought his hands up to my face and pulled me closer, caressing my cheek in a loving manner.

“...Then let’s do it.”

~~~~~~~~~~

TWENTY MINUTES LATER

SAINT DENIS HARBOR

Sittin’ in the stagecoach as it gently rolled over the brick roads, Eddie and I eagerly gazed outta the small windows with a newfound wonder in our hearts as we passed by the whole city, somewhat unable to comprehend that we was actually leavin’ this country.

I had to admit -- it was strange, seeing Saint Denis like this again. Over the course of the last few months, Eddie and I spent every damn day fightin’ for our lives, just trying to survive. We fought against the O’Driscolls, the Pinkertons, Atticus, and even good ol’ Dutch himself.

We had been to Hell and back while still finding the time to plant the seeds of what was now an unbreakable bond between us, and yet...Saint Denis hadn’t changed one bit.

In fact, this city looked exactly the same as when I first met Eddie. People were breezin’ through the streets without a care for the beggars on the sidewalks, activists and politicians rallied people to their campaigns, children played games in the open gardens, and everywhere, people lined up in front of all sorts of establishments, waitin’ to be entertained.

The gears of civilization kept turnin’ with not a single thought for those left behind, and somehow, it still managed to look like it hadn’t gone anywhere at all.

It was one of the many wonders of the new world, but also one of the things that made me fear it. How was it that a city could progress so much without actually changin’ anything? Or maybe it was just my nerves actin’ up? I didn’t know anymore.

Everything was just so confusing now. Instead of runnin’ away from civilized life like I normally did, I was headin’ straight towards it.

I was getting ready to do the one thing that Dutch always insisted was impossible, and to make matters even more astonishing, I had a man who loved me standin’ at my side.

All them years of wondering why I could never be good enough for Mary, or strong enough to protect Eliza...and I finally had someone who accepted me as I was, but also encouraged me to be better. It took a good three decades, but my life had finally picked itself up even though I sure as hell didn’t deserve it.

I was on the opposite side of the spectrum for the first time, but -- contrary to what I expected -- I was happy. I was ready to change. And I welcomed it.

Finally arrivin’ at the harbor, the stagecoach slowed down to a steady halt as it stopped beside the entrance, prompting me and Eddie to leave. There were already a few other stagecoaches lined up in front of us, spittin’ out passengers just the same, and without even looking, I could tell it was gonna be crowded as hell outside just based on the noise.

I picked up my briefcase, takin’ hold of the door’s handle.

“You ready?” I asked Eddie, earning a nod from him.

“Ready as ever.”

Lightly pushing the door open, the two of us were instantly greeted by a cool breeze as the sound of seagulls cryin’ and people chatting reached our ears, followed by the distinct scent of saltwater.

All around me, I could see men, women, and children pacin’ their way across the harbor as they hurried to find their ship, or simply waited for their loved ones to arrive.

There were multiple paperboys stationed throughout the place, merchants displaying their trinkets to newcomers as they came fresh off the boats, fishermen luggin’ heavy nets around, and a number of street performers offerin’ a lively mood to the otherwise mundane atmosphere of the harbor.

It was a surprisingly busy day in this part of town, and...if I was bein’ honest...I felt a tad nervous jumping into the heart of it all. There were just so many people; so many civilized folks who were unlike me that...I felt incredibly outta place here.

But I supposed I’d have to get used to it sooner or later. This was the beginning of my new life, after all...and I was old enough to know that nothin’ worthwhile ever came easy.

“Here,” I said, offering Eddie a hand as he stepped out of the stagecoach. “Lemme help.”

The pianist gave me a humorous grin. “Such a gentleman.”

I chuckled, duckin’ my head as I followed him out. “What can I say? Civilization’s gettin’ to me.”

Swiftly makin’ our way outta the confines of the stagecoach’s limited space, Eddie and I set out for our ship as we slithered through the bustling streets of the harbor, doin’ our absolute best not to crash into other people.

Unlike the serene nature of the countryside, this place was pretty much filled to the brim with commotion. Folks were movin’ around so fast that they practically made the signposts twirl, and sometimes, there’d be nothing but a tornado of leaves whirling in their wake.

It was like people couldn’t even spare two seconds to take a breath. They were just completely focused on the here and now, and didn’t even bother to take in their surroundings. It was...kinda sad to witness, in a way. Though, I guessed that was just the nature of civilization.

There was no time for the present. Only for the future.

Stickin’ to the sides of the pavements, the two of us made haste for a ship at the very end of the harbor called “The Pytheas.” It was a gargantuan thing stacked with so many massive crates and strange-lookin’ machines that it made you wonder how the hell it managed to stay afloat.

There were all sorts of people gatherin’ on the pier as well. Even from here, I could see groups of businessmen discussing deals in many different languages, professors pondering what awaited them on the other side of the sea, artists sketchin’ down the vast landscape to combat their boredom, and immigrants huddling up with their families. It was like seein’ a miniature version of the entire world stuffed onto one strip of land.

And then...there was me and Eddie.

Just a musician and an outlaw.

A pianist and a gunslinger.

Two lost souls who were once crippled by their own fears, but learned to become whole after they found each other.

We was nothin’ but a pair of ordinary men in the eyes of these people. Just two regular guys goin’ about their business on a regular day. But if they were to look a bit more closely -- I guaranteed they’d be able to see the convoluted stories hiding inside.

They were written in the lines on our faces, in the depths of our eyes, in the steps we took. It was a silent journey that spoke for itself, and I doubted that either of us would ever forget it, despite leavin’ that entire ordeal behind.

We had a plethora of memories lingering in the west, after all. Simply by gazin’ at the wilderness hiding behind the city’s skyline, I was practically able to relive every moment of my past.

From the day Dutch and Hosea found me, to our endless adventures riding across the open deserts, to the times I wasted fallin’ in love with Mary, to the many years I spent mourning Isaac and Eliza...

All the friends that I buried along the way, the anger and grief I experienced, the enemies we gunned down, the nights we spent sharin’ stories around the campfire, the days where I wondered if I’d live long enough to see the next sunrise...

It all flooded my head at once. Within the span of a few seconds, I watched my whole life unfold in front of me like a person rapidly flipping through the pages of a book, and for the first time in years, I could sense genuine tears welling up in my eyes from all the emotions that were racin’ through me.

It was just...surreal to think about how far I had come. How much I’d grown. How much things had changed.

Not too many years ago, I was nothin’ but a sad, lost, and lonely man who thought he’d die long before the age of gunslingers withered away -- but now... there was an entirely new world waitin’ for me on the other side of the ocean. As well as a new home.

And so -- with one last glance over my shoulder -- I turned around and savored the reminiscent view standin’ behind me as it slowly disappeared in the distance, waving goodbye like an old friend bidding me farewell.

I had no idea if I’d ever return to this country, or if I’d ever get the closure I desired with John and Dutch...but one thing I did know was that America would always be home to me.

No matter the amount of pain or heartache that lingered in the shadows of our gang’s actions, there was just some sort of connection between me and this place that nothing could sever.

For the sake of buildin’ a peaceful home with Eddie, I would comply and live in a civilized world away from crime, but deep down -- I knew damn well that I’d always be an outlaw for life.

It was just who I was, and it was the thing that turned me into this man today.

I was Arthur Morgan, and this was the end of my story in the Wild West.

“...Goodbye, Dutch.” I whispered softly to myself, turnin’ on my heel to follow Eddie to the ship.

There were only a few minutes left until departure now, and part of me grew weary just thinkin’ about the lengthy journey ahead -- but regardless of how long it took for us to reach England, or how tiring the trip would be, I was at peace knowing that we had finally achieved the dream we fought so long to reach.

Eddie and I were officially free men from this day forward...and we had acquired the one treasure Dutch never found. The only luxury that no amount of money could buy.

The one thing that only ever truly mattered to me.

Redemption.

#red dead redemption #red dead redemption 2 #rdr2 #arthur morgan #eddie ryan #arthur morgan x male oc #rdr2 fanfic #rdr2 story

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fairyvvind · 5 years ago

Text

Fairy Lights

Ao3 Version | Piers x Female OC, ~5.9k words. Explicit content.

The story of Piers and my Pokemon SWSH OC, Beetle, who goes by Bee for short. Beetle is 19, and I HC Piers in this fic as 22.

Reference shots of Bee can be found here.

Bee's hands shook as she cradled the covered casserole dish in her arm, causing the lid to clatter against the dish. She swallowed, hesitating as her other arm extended over Piers’ dressing room door. Was this weird? She couldn’t tell. This flew just fine in Postwick - she was convinced she probably managed to keep her childhood crushes around on her cooking alone. But this was Spikemuth. Oh sure, it was safe and all, but it wasn’t exactly a quaint little village like back home.

Her hand was knocking before she knew it, and she clenched her jaw, panicking.

“Yeah, come in,” she heard him say. Her hand nervously wrapped around the doorknob.

She entered to see him sitting back, feet up on a table, on his phone with an earbud in. He glanced up at her and hurriedly got up, throwing off his earbud and phone.

“Oi, I didn’t know you had that heavy dish in your hands, you shoulda said somethin’,” he said, taking the dish from her.

“Oh relax, it’s not that heavy, Piers!” she laughed.

“You kiddin’, Bee? This thing is huge - what is it, anyways?” he said, placing it on the table.

“Oh, just a chicken pie,” she replied, “Family recipe. You just um, looked like you could use a home cooked meal. I mean, I thought you’d like it. Just, I was thinking about you. You can just take it home and stick it in the oven for a bit and it’ll heat right back up. It should last you a good while, too. I’ve always made it in big batches with my mum. Oh and I uh, don’t care about the dish. I mean, you can give it back when you’re done with it if you want to, but you don’t, uh, have to.”

Her stomach was in knots as she rambled, and she brushed a stray hair behind her ear. He smiled, looking down at the dish.

“Wow, that’s… really thoughtful of you, Bee,” he said, turning back to her, “Thanks.”

She rocked on her heels, nodding.

“Well, um, that was all,” she said, “I’ll uh, leave you to it.”

Piers laughed and shook his head.

"What, you're just gonna go?"

Her mouth fell open, and she nervously twisted the hem of her sweater in her hands.

"Well I… didn't want to impose…"

"Come on, you made this, we should have it together," he said, "I was just about to head home. You wanna come with?"

Bee's stomach sank a bit. Marnie would probably be there. That wasn't a bad thing, she liked Marnie a lot - but it wouldn't feel quite the same as if it were just the two of them.

"Sure," she said, "Do we wait up for Marnie, or--?"

"Oh, no, Marnie's out of town. And besides, she lives in her own place by the gym now. It’s my old place, I let her have it. Not that I ever really used it; always stayed in my current flat with her. But, you know, she's a big girl now, Gym Leader and all…"

He cleared his throat.

"But listen to me, all ramblin' and such… come on, let's get out of here - I mean, if that's okay with you," he said, with a small smile.

"Yeah! Yeah, yeah, yeah, that's fine!" she replied, a little too excited.

"Alright then," he said, packing up his bag and slinging it over his shoulder.

The walk to his apartment was, truthfully, quite short, but it felt like an eternity for Bee. A few Yell members recognized her and greeted her, which eased her nerves a bit; at least she didn't feel so out of place like she did the first time she had come there.

"They love you, you know," Piers commented, "Our battle was probably my most well-attended gym battle ever. Nice to go out on a high note like that."

"'High note'? But I beat you."

"Yeah, and the crowd was fantastic," he said, "Winning's nice an' all, but what I really like is a happy crowd."

Bee smiled to herself, silently sighing as they climbed up the steps to his apartment.

“Ah, here we are. Hang on,” he said, fiddling around for his keys.

Bee’s heart beat faster at the realization that it was really going to happen, she was really going to have dinner with Piers - in his own place.

The door unlocked, and he pushed it open, gesturing for her to enter.

“Milady,” he said as she walked in.

It was a very busy, but overall tidy place; a little bit of clutter here and there, but mostly kept together, and above all, extremely lived-in. It was dimly lit, even when he turned the lights on, the walls littered with lamps that resembled neon signs.

“S’ not much, but it’s home,” he said, “Here. Oven’s over there, glove’s in the drawer. Kitchen light’s to the left.”

Bee made her way over, setting the oven and placing the dish inside.

“Thanks. Set the timer for twenty minutes, that should be enough just to warm it up,” she said, stretching “Oof. Feet are killing me. Where can I put my boots and things?”

“Aw, anywhere, I don’t care,” he said, taking his own shoes off and hanging his jacket on the coat hanger. She followed suit as she watched him get down to just his shorts and shirt, and couldn’t help but stare as he let down his hair - all natural (save for the meticulous dye job), tumbling all the way down past his waist.

“Oof,” he said, “S’ heavy. Think maybe I should cut it?”

“No,” Bee suddenly said, “I mean, only if it’s bothering you. Looks-wise it’s great.”

She swallowed, blushing as she took off her hat and placed it on a kitchen chair. She could hear him laugh as he took his seat on the couch.

“Thanks,” he said.

“Yeah, sure,” she quickly replied, taking her seat in the armchair next to the couch, facing him.

“So,” he said, “Been cookin’ with your mum since you were a kid, you said?”

“Oh! Yeah,” she said, “Always. I love to cook. It’s like art you can eat.”

She winced internally, feeling like a fool for saying something so silly. He smirked, resting his head on his fist.

“That’s a nice way of lookin’ at it,” he said, “Everyone’s gotta find some kinna artistic outlet.”

"Yeah," she replied, quietly trailing off.

He laid his head back, exhaling. Her eyes wandered over his pale neck, down his chest and across his arms, and she couldn’t help but notice how far he had his legs spread. Her face grew hot, and she looked away, posing as casually as she could.

“Augh, so bloody tired,” he said, “Glad the tour’s over; gives me time to relax."

“I bet you get even more time from off, now that Marnie’s the new gym leader,” she said, looking for more things to talk about.

“Yeah, I guess I do,” he said, “Don’t really know what all I’m gonna do with my time, but, it’s nice to have.”

“Yeah…” she trailed off.

The next moments were painfully long and slow to her, with only the sparsest bits of conversation scattered throughout. She could hardly contain her trembling as she waited for the oven to finally be done, though when it finally did she nearly jumped out of her seat.

“Oh, better check that,” she said, all too eager for a distraction.

Piers stretched as he rose from the couch, rubbing his eyes.

“Alright, it’s ready,” she said from the kitchen, “Where do you keep your plates?”

“Oi, I’ll get us some,” he said, trotting in to help her.

“Oh, and do you have a slicer-- ah, thanks,” she said, taking the utensil he already handed her.

“Alright, well,” she said, putting their plates down, “It’s not a very pretty dish, but it’s good.”

“I’m sure it is,” he replied, scooping up his first bite with his fork.

His brows raised the moment it entered his mouth.

“Oh wow,” he said, “This is fantastic, Bee.”

Bee’s heart raced as a smile spread across her lips.

“I’m glad you think so,” she said, “Well, eat up. Goodness knows you need it!”

He rolled his eyes, still smiling.

“You sound like my sister,” he said, “I’m fine.”

“Come on now, you’re wasting away!” Bee teased, “You could so with some meat on your bones.”

“Well, that’s not gonna be hard with you around,” he said.

They shared a look, and fell into a comfortable silence for the rest of their meal.

“Goodness, I think we ate half the dish,” Bee commented, as she rose from her seat, taking their dishes to the sink.

“Couldn’t help m’self. Best stuff I’ve ever had,” he said, “I might have to hoof it down to your mum’s every now and then!”

“Hah! She’d definitely love to have you,” she replied.

Her eyes darted to a movie laying on top of the television.

“Oh my goodness, is that… oh no way,” she said, picking it up, “ The Unauthorized Story of Team Rocket ? Ohh, where did you get this?! They don’t even put this on any of the streaming networks!”

“Oh yeah, that? Nabbed it on a tour in Kanto. Pretty crazy stuff. Why, you wanna watch it? It’s one of my faves, wouldn’t mind watchin’ it again,” he said, shrugging.

She swallowed. So far this was dinner and a movie, so what might come next? No, no, shouldn’t think like that.

“Absolutely,” she said, handing it to him, “I love true crime stuff.”

“Me too,” he said, popping it into the television, “Even if it makes me kinda upset sometimes.”

“How so?” she asked, settling on the couch.

“Just how nasty people can be. To other people. And to Pokemon,” he said, “That burns me up more than anything. We’re supposed to coexist with Pokemon… not take advantage of ‘em and hurt ‘em. They do so much for us, we should strive to do the same, y’know?”

“One-hundred percent,” she replied, with a solemn nod, “It’s pretty deplorable what people will do to Pokemon to serve their own ends.”

Piers smiled as he flipped it on, landing on the couch next to her. Oh. He was going to sit next to her? Oh boy.

He relaxed, resting his ankle on his other knee, his arm on the top of the back of the couch, and once again she could not help but look at him. His pale inner thigh was exposed to her, and a fleeting desire to run her hand along it came to mind, but she shook her head, chasing the thought away.

“You cold?” he asked, as the documentary began to play.

“Oh, no, just, you know, one of those weird shivers you get sometimes,” she replied.

“Ah, yeah. I feel you.”

She tried her best to relax, but the presence of his arm behind her put butterflies in her stomach. She slowly sat back against the couch, concealing her nerves when the back of her neck touched his arm ever so slightly.

They were quiet for a good bit of the movie, but each of them had opinions to share at several points, and they ended up pausing it often to discuss them. So often, in fact, that it had grown very late by the time they finished the movie.

“Oi, it’s nearly ten o’ clock,” Bee said, glancing at her phone, “Ugh, sorry. I didn’t mean to impose so late.”

“Oh, well… you don’t gotta go right away,” he said, “I mean, unless you got somewhere to be. Don’t wanna keep you if you’re busy.”

“Me? Oh, no. I don’t have anything going on right now, really.”

He gave her a smile.

“Neither do I.”

They shared a look, and he raised his brows, shrugging.

“Well, if you’re not too tired yet,” he said, “You wanna watch somethin’ else? I got some happier stuff too. Don’t have to just watch documentaries about crime bosses and other such depressin’ stuff.”

Her heart leapt into her throat. He wanted her to stay?

“Or we could just sit and talk,” she replied, feeling a bit bold. His smile radiated softly across his face.

“Yeah,” he said, “We could do that.”

The hours flew by as they talked about anything and everything, making each other laugh, and she honestly had never felt so comfortable around anyone in a long time. He had so many things to say about everything: almost all good, and from his unique and so utterly passionate perspective. She found herself listening more than speaking, but never feeling talked over. She just wanted to hear him talk all night. Forever, really.

“...but I digress,” he said, “Uh… actually, I can’t remember what we were talkin’ ‘bout.”

They laughed, and she suddenly realized how close she was to him, and that his arm was now draped completely over her shoulder.

“Oh,” he said, with another short, nervous laugh, “Look at that.”

They probably ought to have moved away from each other. But they didn’t.

“I don’t mind,” she said, softly.

He swallowed, the tip of his tongue grazing the corner of his mouth.

“Neither do I,” he replied, leaning a little closer.

Her heart raced as he approached, but her stomach twisted in fear.

“Piers,” she suddenly said. He stopped.

“Yeah?”

“I… you know how I feel about you, yeah?" she said, shaking with nerves.

He blinked slowly, with a soft smirk.

"I think I got an idea," he said.

She gave a weak laugh and shrugged.

“You must be used to it, though… with all those fans and all,” she said, shyly turning away from him.

“Oh sure, I got fans,” he said, “But that’s not the same. Detached. Impersonal. It’s not real .”

Bee’s breath hitched as his hand wrapped around her waist.

“But… I am?” she asked, suddenly feeling how close his face was to hers.

“Yeah,” he whispered, nose grazing her cheek, “you are.”

“Piers, I…”

She shook in her spot, her heart sinking. It was all too perfect, all so sudden, that there was no way he could have truly meant it.

“What’s wrong?”

“I just... I don’t want you to do this if, you know… if you’re gonna pretend it didn’t happen in the morning,” she admitted, shaking, her other hand crumpling her skirt.

“You really think I’d do that?” he asked, softly. She gave a weak shrug.

“I dunno. It just seems too good to be true, I guess,” she said, “I’ve never had things go this well with anyone before.”

“There’s a first time for everything,” he said, with a laugh, “What can I say? I like you, Bee. I like you a lot.”

Her cheeks buzzed with warmth as she smiled.

“I like you too, Piers.”

He gazed into her eyes, and the tender look within them broke her - her feelings suddenly came pouring out all at once, without warning.

“I like you more than anyone I think I’ve ever met in my life,” she confessed in a single breath, “I know I’ve only known you for a few months, but I’m--I’m crazy about you.”

His brows raised as she continued, her trembling nearly moving the entire couch.

"I think about you every day, and every night, just before I go to bed, while I play your albums, pretending it’s me you’re singing about," she continued to babble, unable to contain herself, "I-I’m kind of falling in love with you and I can’t get out of it. I don’t want to. I want to be with you, want to be with you so bad and sometimes it… it…”

Her voice cracked as she trailed off, and he reached for her, silencing her with his thumb over her lips.

“Shh,” he gently chastised, “I get it, love.”

“Oh goodness, thank you,” she laughed, “I didn’t know if I was ever gonna stop…”

“You really do that? Listen to my songs before you go to bed?” he asked.

She blushed bright red, her eyes widening.

“Oh, um, well… yeah,” she replied, embarrassed.

“Which one's your favorite?”

“I… well,” she said, thinking, “I love them all, but I guess if I had to pick… I’d say Fairy Lights. ”

He smiled, leaning close.

"That so?"

He gently turned her face away so his lips could be at her ear, and she shivered as he softly sang to her.

I wanna get lost in the light of your eyes

Shinin’ like the lights in your window

Can't see a thing but their glow so bright

Wrap me up, baby, in your fairy lights

“Ohh, that’s not fair ,” she laughed, giddy with nerves. He turned her face back towards him.

“I don’t play fair,” he whispered, with a wink, pulling her in for a kiss.

She tensed, then melted into him, sighing. Their lips locked together softly, lingering rather than moving against each other, and then pulled apart, and she could not help but bring her hands over her face.

"Oh my goodness," she whispered, overwhelmed.

"Too much for you, love?"

"I've… I've kissed maybe three other people, ever," she admitted, "Kid I grew up with a long time ago, and a couple random folks in secondary... it's just been so long, and I-- wow ."

"Yeah? How do I compare?" he joked, his face pulled into a small smile. She could see the heat blooming across his pale cheeks.

"Ohh, you’ve knocked them all out of the park for sure," she said, "But, maybe you should try again, just to make sure?"

He grinned, leaning towards her and claiming her lips for his once more. Her nerves faded away as he kissed her, and she pulled him close as she possibly could. He shivered as one of her hands wandered up his waist, and her lips parted to invite his tongue into her mouth. Slowly, they kissed, exploring each other and savouring the other's touch.

She found his bottom lip between her lips, and she couldn't help but take it into her mouth and drag it between her teeth, very gently.

"Mm, you don't have to be so gentle with me, girl," he said.

"Come on, I haven't done this in a while," she replied, "Don't wanna give you any bite marks."

"Not even if I ask nicely?" he teased.

She swallowed down the groan his words coaxed from her as her hands wandered up, pulling herself even closer. She shivered as his hand snaked down to her leg, pulling it up and over him. He ran his fingers down the inside of her thigh, fingers grazing the hem of the shorts under her skirt.

"Piers--" she said, pulling away from him.

"Oh, sorry, too fast for you?" he asked sheepishly.

"I've just… I've never actually…"

"Ohh, oh," he said, withdrawing his hand, "We don't have to go that far--"

"No, I mean, we can , I just thought you should know," she said, "Just so you don't expect too much from me…"

Piers could not help but laugh.

"Bee, stop worryin’ so much. I don’t want you to do tricks or somethin’, I just want you ," he said.

She laughed nervously, covering her face again.

"Bee?"

"I just-- I cannot believe this. If I had known bringing you food would have worked this well, I'd have done it months ago!"

Piers took her face in his hands, pulling her into a hug.

"You're adorable," he said with a laugh, squeezing her tight.

She sighed, arranging herself so she could rest against his chest, warm and thudding away against her.

“You’re wonderful,” she replied. A warm laugh rumbled in his chest beneath her, and she closed her eyes to better feel his heartbeat.

It was quick and steady, and it thrilled her to know it was beating the way it was because of her. The warmth of his skin could be felt through his jersey, and temptation bid her to turn her head to place a kiss against it, to which he gave a small ohh .

His little noise gave her an idea, and she began trailing kisses up his chest, over his exposed collarbones, and then at his neck. He couldn't help but quietly moan, his hands gripping into her sweater.

" Bee ," he breathed, voice thick with desire he tried his hardest to conceal.

"Piers," she sighed back, lips now wandering to his earlobe. He shivered when she placed a small kiss upon it, then turned his face to kiss her again, hungrily.

He sighed as he felt her grind on him, and he moved his thigh up underneath her in response. They continued to kiss as she moved against him, keening desperately from the lack of contact.

“Touch me,” she moaned, suddenly.

She stopped, blushing.

“...I mean, if that’s okay…”

He smiled.

“Ohh, it definitely is. Come ‘ere,” he said, bidding her lay against him. She hurriedly slipped off her undershorts and panties, awkwardly kicking them to the floor.

He gently pulled her head back and kissed her, palming her breast. Even through her clothes, it felt good, and she moaned into his mouth. He responded by sliding his hand down her leg, carefully opening her up to him. She thought she could feel his fingers trembling, but he was diving between her legs, and it caused her to whimper.

“Fuck, you’re so wet already,” he said.

“Not the first time I’ve been wet because of you,” she teased, which elicited an aroused growl from him.

“Oh yeah?”

He stopped his ministrations, and she whined.

“Yeah,” she said, “Sometimes I catch myself just thinking about you and I can’t help it.”

“You ever touched yourself while thinkin’ ‘bout me?” he boldly growled into her ear.

“Yeah… on more than one occasion,” she admitted, “I… usually do it while your music is playing.”

She felt his erection digging into her back, and he bit his lip to stifle a hiss.

“Mm, that’s so bloody sexy,” he whispered, “I’d give anything to see you fucking yourself to my voice.”

“ Please ,” she whined, taking him back to reality.

“Ohh, my apologies, milady,” he said, finally taking his fingers to her slit.

He was slow, gentle, rubbing her folds before very carefully sliding a finger inside. She gasped and tensed, so utterly overtaken by the fact that he was touching her at all.

“Did I hurt you?” he asked, worried.

“No, no, I’m fine, don’t stop,” she begged.

He continued, slowly working his way inside, and she writhed from the sensation. She knew she should probably try to relax, but she was so desperate for his touch, ached so badly for release.

He continued to work at a maddeningly slow and soft pace, and she wondered for a moment if he was teasing her.

“Is this alright?" he asked, as he added a second finger and increased his pace.

“Well, Piers, don’t take this the wrong way, but I've fucked me harder," she replied, "It’s okay. You're not gonna break me."

“I gotcha,” he said, suddenly pumping much harder than before.

“Oh, fuck,” she hissed, back arching, “Yeah, that, that’s perfect.”

Her head fell back against his shoulder, sighing as she bucked upwards into his touch. The slick sounds of his fingers thrusting into her filled the room, which only added to her arousal. The other hand fell away from its place, and she felt his fingers rubbing her clit, which caused her to shudder with pleasure.

“Oh fuck, Piers, I’m gonna cum,” she hissed.

He turned towards her face, running the edge of his tongue along the shell of her ear, and the sound of his breath made her shiver. Harder, faster, his fingers plunged, while the others circling above them applied more pressure, and her eyes rolled back as her pleasure began to peak. Something in the back of her mind noted how utterly wet she had become, and she abstractly worried that she was soaking a spot on his couch - but then she felt the sparks firing in her belly as the first wave of orgasm hit her, and she was lost.

“Piers, Piers, oh Piers I’m cumming, I’m cumming--!” she cried.

“Good girl, good girl,” he whispered hoarsely into her ear, gently dragging his teeth against its sensitive lobe.

She fell limp against him, chest heaving and eyes rolling back.

“Enjoy yourself?” he said, tasting her off his fingers, “Mm, I know I did.”

She gave a weak laugh.

“Yeah… that was… good…”

“Do you want more?” he asked.

They looked into each other’s eyes, and she pulled him into a kiss, her other hand sliding over his erection. His breath hitched as he bucked up into her, unable to control himself.

“I think you do,” she teased, giving a small moan as she tasted herself on his tongue.

He swallowed as they pulled off each other.

“But, do you want to?” he asked again, brushing a stray hair off her forehead.

She looked up at him, studying his face. She gave him a warm, affectionate smile, taking his hand in hers.

“Yeah,” she said, “I really do.”

He returned her smile and moved down to kiss her again, once, softly.

“I think I really do too,” he said, softly, rising from the couch, her hand still in his.

The short distance to the bedroom seemed to last forever, the two of them trembling with nerves. He flipped on a switch, and pink string lights suddenly bathed the room in a romantic glow.

She trembled as he led her to the bed, equal parts excited and petrified. He reached behind her to let down her hair, but laughed when he realized he hadn’t the faintest clue how.

“Here,” she said, pulling out the pins, shaking it out, letting it fall across her shoulders.

“Mmm, beautiful,” he said, running his fingers through it.

She licked her lips as he removed his shirt, his pale skin awash with neon pink light.

“So are you,” she breathed, and he gave an embarrassed laugh.

“Nah, I look like a bloody drinkin’ straw,” he said, brushing her compliment off.

“You have like, hundreds of fans who would disagree.”

“It’s just fame blindin’ ‘em,” he said, “The camera adds ten degrees of sexiness, didn’t y’know that?”

She laughed, put at ease.

“I really do think you’re beautiful, Piers,” she assured him, “You don’t have to believe it, but, well, I do.”

He looked down as he slipped off his shorts.

“Thanks.”

She, too, began to undress, and soon there they both were, sitting next to each other, bathed in pink, wearing almost nothing at all.

“I um, I guess I’d better--”

She reached to take off her bra, but fumbled nervously.

“Here, lemme get it for you,” he said, reaching for her back, undoing it with ease

“Oh. Thanks,” she said, slipping the lacy thing off her and letting it fall to the floor.

He swallowed audibly as his eyes wandered over her exposed breasts. She shyly brushed hair behind her ear, looking away. He looked up into her eyes, moving closer, then gently pushing her onto her back. She opened her legs for him once more, and he greedily dove down between them, his tongue pushing past the plush lips to her slit. The sudden warmth upon it made her moan, her voice breathy and shrill. He lapped at her in careful, experimental strokes, gauging her reactions. He flicked the tip of his tongue against the sensitive bundle of nerves--

“Oh, fuck, Piers, yes…”

--and he gave a small groan, having found just the right place. His eyes wandered up, and she could have cum from the image alone: Piers, between her legs, looking into her eyes and pleasuring her. She carded her fingers through his hair, and he wrapped an arm around her leg affectionately.

He kept at it until she was a babbling mess, moaning through her orgasm.

“Ohh, Piers… fuck me,” she begged, as she came down from fresh waves of pleasure, “Please.”

“Oh, you bet I will,” he said, wiping his mouth with the back of his hand.

He bent down to kiss her, and she wrapped her legs around him invitingly. Suddenly, he broke the kiss.

"Bee?"

"Yeah?"

"I… I wanna take it really slow with you," he said, "I only say that because you seem to kinda like it fast and hard but… I promise I can make you feel good if I take it slow too."

She sighed, wrapping her arms around his neck.

"Of course, Piers," she replied affectionately, "Take all night if you want to."

A mischievous smirk from him.

"Now there's an idea."

He hovered above her as he slowly eased himself inside, her back arching as it filled her.

"Ohh, oh Piers," she whispered, eyes squeezing shut, brows pulled together mournfully.

"Feel good?" he asked, breathlessly. She nodded, her teeth worrying her lip.

He bottomed out in her, moaning, and she slowly opened her eyes, her gaze locking with his.

"Ohh, baby you feel so good," he hissed, "So soft and warm, fuck you feel so good."

His thighs shook with restraint, her plush walls alone nearly tipping him over the edge.

"Piers, you have to move a little ," she teased.

"Oh. Right. Sorry," he laughed, beginning to tremble.

She noticed how nervous he looked.

"Are you alright?" she asked.

His eyes darted away.

"I'm just afraid of ruinin' this for you," he said, "I know my fans act like I'm some kinda sex god, but the truth is… I haven't done this in a few years."

"Really?"

"Yeah. There was just no time for any of this, between shows and battles and takin' care of Marnie.”

He hung his head, with a small laugh.

“Also doesn’t help that my heart’s beatin’ outta my chest.”

Bee smiled, putting a hand on his face. His eyes fluttered closed as he leaned into her touch, taking a deep breath through his nose.

“I… really care about you… really like you… and I just don’t want you to be disappointed.”

She pulled his head down towards her own, giving him a soft, tender kiss.

“I’m sorry. I know I can be kind of… eager,” she said, “But don’t worry about it. I’m happy enough just sharing this moment with you.”

He smiled, resuming his ministrations.

Every thrust was soft and gentle, but it filled her so well, made her feel so wonderful, that bringing her to her peak was not a terribly difficult task. His breathing was audible and labored, and he slowed to gain his composure more than a few times.

He rose from her, and at first she wondered if something was wrong, but then he took a thumb to her clit, rubbing it as he thrust. She threw her head back against the pillow, legs shaking as the onslaught of pleasure began to overtake her.

“Piers, ohh, Piers, keep going, that feels so good,” she moaned.

He groaned as he staved off his peak once again, shuddering as he felt her begin to close tight around him once again--

“Ohh! Piers!”

Her pleasure built up intensely, making her back arch, taut as a bowstring, until she collapsed back onto the bed, panting.

“Hold me,” she said, breathlessly, “ Please. I really want you to hold me.”

He bent down and took her in his arms, burying his face close to hers as he quickly thrust, now entirely too far gone to stop himself.

“Harder,” she said, and he obeyed without question.

The staccato sounds of his hips meeting hers was immensely arousing for the both of them, their cries of pleasure mixing with each other’s.

“Bee, I’m gonna cum,” he moaned into her hair.

“Then make it good,” she teased.

He took one of her legs in his hand, gripping it just below the bend of her knee, and thrust into her as hard and as fast as he could.

“Oh, fuck, ” she cried, “Yes, yes, yes Piers--!”

He was driving into her deeper than he had yet, and she shuddered beneath him as she approached her peak once more.

“Baby I want you to have one more,” he hissed in a single breath, perilously close himself.

“I will, I will, don’t stop--!”

He felt the first flash of heat rush through his abdomen, and his vision blurred as his eyes rolled back in his head.

“Piers, Piers, I’m cumming, fuck I’m cumming-- ahh! ”

He felt her tighten around him, heard her loud shrill cry, and he was driven over the edge, moaning loud as he spilled inside her. Words were lost to him as he helplessly shook through his ecstasy.

Then, silence, and he collapsed next to her, lying on his back, his chest heaving.

“Oh, wow,” he said, lazily draping his arm around her.

“You can say that again,” she replied, snuggling up to him.

“Did you… like that?” he asked, breathlessly.

“Oh, absolutely,” she laughed, “I loved it. You really made it so special, Piers.”

She rested against him, sighing contentedly.

“Mm. Gotta tell my friends… just bring the guys you like food,” she joked.

He laughed as he pulled the blanket over them.

Piers awoke to an empty bed, but that isn’t what he noticed first. No, what first lifted him out of his slumber was a positively heavenly aroma coming from the kitchen. As he sat up, rubbing his eyes, the sounds caught up with the smell.

As he emerged half-dressed from the bedroom, he saw Bee, wearing one of his old sweatshirts over her underwear, humming happily and cooking on the stove. He sleepily walked by the pantry and stopped - it was fully stocked, filled with things that hadn’t been there the day before.

“Bee… what’s all this?” he said.

She turned to him, smiling.

“Morning, sleepyhead,” she said, “I just woke up a little while ago, got dressed, and took a taxi to Hammerlocke to do some shopping. I wanted to cook for you straight away, but all your pantry had in it was snacks and ramen. And that won’t do.”

“Yeah, but… you didn’t have t--”

She held up a finger, silencing him.

“I wanted to,” she said, turning back to her cooking.

His heart throbbed in his chest, moved by her generosity.

Bee hummed away while she worked, and suddenly felt arms wrapping around her waist.

“Piers?”

He buried his face in her hair, breathing deep.

“I’m not goin’ nowhere,” he assured her, tenderly, “I want you to know that, Bee.”

She gave a shuddering sigh, closing her eyes as she leaned against him.

“...I believe you, Piers,” she said, her voice barely above a whisper.

He squeezed her tight before letting her go, sitting down at the table.

“That sweater looks good on you, by the way,” he said, “You didn’t go to the market like that, did you?”

“Nah, I borrowed a pair of your sweatpants and took em off when I got back,” she said, “They were a little tight, to be honest!”

He laughed.

“Damn, maybe I am too thin.”

Bee turned off the burner, putting his food on his plate and handing it to him.

“Well,” she said, with a wink, “That won’t be a problem for long.”

#piers pokemon #pkmn piers #piers x oc #pkmn #pokemon #bee x piers #my fics

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