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twoidiotwriters1 · 4 years ago

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Written In The Stars CIII (Harry Potter xF!Oc)

A/N: I know last book ended horribly but I promise this one won’t be entirely sad, just a bit frustrating– Enjoy and please leave feedback! -Danny

Words: 3,888

Series’ Masterlist

Book IV // Next Chapter

Listen to: Then -by Anne-Marie

Chapter One: A Lousy Summer.

1974

Emily wasn't going to cry where the girls would be able to hear.

She could've used a spell to quiet her own sobs, but she just needed to be in a place where there was no need to hide.

So she went to the common room, drowning her cries on a blanket and wondering how was she going to crawl her way out of this one. She thought it was unfair, she'd never experienced something so embarrassing prior this moment. Wasn't love supposed to be beautiful?

"Mily?"

The girl gave a start and cleaned her face hastily.

"Padfoot," She tried to sound casual. "What's wrong? Had a nightmare about cats chasing your tail?"

"Are you okay?" He walked up to her, ignoring the teasing. "I'm sure that if you were to talk to them..."

"I think it's clear enough," Emily averted her gaze. "All of us want things we can't have."

"That's not true."

"What exactly should I do after the humiliation I went through?" She sniffed. "He kissed me in front of everyone! I can't be near him and I refuse to be around Lily, I don't want to see any of them!"

"Mily, when I tell you Matt got the worse deal..." Sirius frowned. "The look on his face–"

"You don't need to remind me," Emily lamented. "Why can't I like him back?"

"You can't force things to happen," He shrugged. "If I could make all of you forget I would, but you'd find a way to do whatever you want anyway."

"This is not the time for jokes..."

"Talk to Moony then," Sirius complained. "I'm not good at comforting people..."

"I don't want to talk! Can we just... sit in silence?"

The girl curled up and got closer, he wrapped an arm around her awkwardly.

Really –Sirius thought with exasperation– What was she expecting? This was bound to happen, one of them would eventually develop a crush on her...

Well, more than one... but Sirius was going to take that secret to the grave. It was out of place, Matthew was way better than him– Hell, anyone was a better choice! But tonight it was just the two of them... and Emily had asked him to stay.

"It'll get better, right?" She asked quietly. "I'll get over my stupid crush and so will Matthew... we'll be back to normal in no time..."

"You were never normal," He joked.

"You know what I mean..."

"Yeah," He fixed his gaze on the dying fire, a hint of bitterness in his voice. "If you ask me, James doesn't know what he's missing..."

1995

It was the driest and hottest month of the year back in Private Drive, but Mel was freezing at the front door of Grimmauld Place.

Her mother led her in as she closed the door behind them, Mel hugged Grey's basket closer, thinking a ghost would walk out of the hall. Instead, Sirius walked in with a bright smile.

"You're here!"

Mel looked around dubiously.

"This is your house?"

"Mel! Don't be rude!"

"That's okay," Sirius made a face. "This place is hot rubbish. Your room's clean though. I made sure you'd be comfortable. I know it's hard to be away from home, stuck in such a... place."

"Well, at least you're here," She smiled. "I'm sure I'll get used to it."

"Hand me those," Sirius grabbed her trunk and walked ahead of them. "Let me take you to your rooms... Try to be quiet, my mother's portrait is mental. I tried to take it down but she glued it there. It's bloody torture."

"Language, Padfoot," Emily said, though she was far more interested in the house-elves on the shelves. "Love the decor..."

"Don't mention it," The man growled. "The house-elf that kept the house clean while I was young used to be here, I have no idea where he is, but I haven't found him. I can't wait to throw all those heads out."

"You think he died?"

"I'll find him eventually."

"So this will be the headquarters for the Order?" The girl asked, choosing to ignore his vague answer.

She'd read her mother's letters in secret until Emily found her snooping around, by then it was too late, so Emily didn't see the point on hiding it anymore.

"That's right," Sirius opened the first door of the second landing. "I figured, if I can't be of use out there, the least I can do is give a safe place where to have our meetings. It's secured with a Fidelious charm, Dumbledore did it last Saturday when he heard you were coming."

"Interesting..." Mel looked around. "Who used to sleep in this room?"

"Guests, that's why it's so plain. I thought you'd like it that way, my family wasn't keen on jolly decorations."

"I noticed," Mel grinned.

"You must be hungry, coming all this way from Remus' place. Why don't we go to the kitchen and have lunch? We can unpack later..."

Mel was helping her mother set the table when she heard a strange noise coming from the corner of the kitchen.

"What's in there?"

"It's where the elf used to keep his appliances... there might be rats in there, be careful."

When she opened the door something fell swiftly on her feet and she screamed, jumping on the table.

"What happened?" Emily circled the table. "Oh–! Sirius! I believe Mel found your elf..."

"Is he alive?" The girl asked in terror.

The creature looked ancient and dirty, with a sneer that she'd never seen in an elf before; usually, they were all smiles and compliments. This one started to insult them as soon as he lifted himself from the ground.

"Rats! Thieves! Traitors of the blood had come to rob my masters' treasures!"

"Kreacher," Sirius said. "Shut up."

The elf closed his mouth tightly but sent Sirius a deathly glare.

"He listens to me because I'm the last member of my family that still lives. Be of use, Kreacher, go clean my mother's room."

The elf's eyes shone with anger but he turned away and vanished.

"He always liked to throw tantrums," Sirius added, pulling Mel down from the table. "You're okay?"

"Yeah– it took me by surprise..."

"You jumped so high!" Her mother laughed.

"Laugh at your daughter, will you?" Mel scoffed. "Not like you're the adult or anything..."

"No one here is allowed to be an adult," Sirius crossed his arms. "Not unless we're holding a meeting. In which case we're adults. Today there won't be any, though."

"Don't listen to her, she's just upset about spending summer away from Harry," Emily mentioned.

"I'm not," She replied tensely.

"It's okay, I was beyond sad the first time I had to leave Matt for–"

"I don't feel that way about Harry," Mel retorted roughly.

"What?" Her mother's smile fell. "What happened?"

She bent down to pick up the things that fell when she'd jumped on the table.

"I'd rather not talk about it..."

"Am I missing something?" Sirius raised a brow.

"Last summer Mel told us she was having feelings for Harry..." Her mum began carefully, "I thought it was still a thing..."

"I'll tell you what it was. Stupid..." The lump in her throat formed at a remarkable speed. "I should've known better..."

"Did you talk to him?"

"He doesn't like me, Mum."

Sirius and Emily shared a look, the woman moved to hug her.

"We can talk about it if you want? Once you're ready..."

"Can we have lunch?" Mel asked quietly.

"Sure thing, little Em," Sirius nodded. "I'm a brilliant cook. Your mother's skills will be put to shame."

"How're you so sure?" Emily grinned.

"Because I remember your cooking."

Mel was spending some quality time with Buckbeak when Sirius walked in. It was almost midnight and her mother had gone out on a mission.

"Is it okay if I join you?"

Mel shrugged.

"I know you said you didn't want to talk about it, but maybe you'd like to talk to me now?"

The girl remained silent.

"C'mon, Mel! We'll live under the same roof for a while, let's practise our social skills!"

"My social skills are fine, thanks."

"I heard from a reliable source that you're still scared of speaking to large crowds..."

"I simply don't find it exciting," She lied.

"Well then, I'm not a thousand people, but I have a nice pair of ears that would love to listen to fifteen-year-olds' problems."

"I'm sure your godson will have plenty once he's back."

"He's been demoted to my godson?" Sirius taunted.

"I don't want to talk about it."

"All right, we won't talk about him... What about your father?"

"What about him?"

"Well, when he was about your age–"

"He kissed my mum and she turned him down?" She replied tiredly. "So what? They married anyway..."

Sirius frowned.

"They didn't know they were going to marry each other, that's what! Matt didn't look like himself for weeks! Your mother'd been rejected, that's why your dad kissed her. He thought it would help... to this day I don't know why he thought that, but alas, it worked!"

"Did you know the other?" Mel asked. "That kid mum used to like?"

"A fool," Sirius shrugged. "A nice fool, but an idiot nonetheless... your parents were lucky, Mel. They found a way to fall in love, but even if that hadn't been the case, your father would've found someone– your mother would've found someone... It's not that we're meant to find just one person and stick to it. Most times it's just finding an equal that understands you and suits your needs, and there are plenty of those."

"I don't want anyone," Mel pouted. "I hate this, and I wish there was a way I could avoid liking people. It's hideous."

Sirius laughed.

"Trust me, you'll regret it if you don't give someone a chance. Though I'll tell you this, no person in this world will ever be fully worthy of you, little Em. And even if it's true and you don't find one, your life will still be full of adventures."

Mel didn't think she was that great, but whatever had happened between Harry and she felt right, it felt natural, she'd been able to see a future with the boy. Then again, that could've been her childish and gullible self thinking that her first love was going to last forever. Maybe, if she were to try hard enough, she'd be able to see someone taking Harry's place.

"Have you ever been in love?" Then she added rather bashfully. "I mean, not that I have, but you know..."

Sirius cleared his throat.

"It was a long time ago. Long before leaving Hogwarts... It wasn't meant to be, nor my place."

They fell in comfortable silence, watching Buckbead nibble some bones.

"If you really want to help me," Mel started. "You can teach me how to avoid detention..."

"Nice try," Sirius laughed. "Emily warned me about you... My official answer is no."

"What about your off-the-record answer?" She inquired, standing up at the same time as him.

"Only the days Mily's not in the house."

Kreacher kept insisting on following her around as if she were a criminal, making sure she wasn't touching any of his old trinkets. She didn't have any interest in doing so; everything had dark magic, she'd sense it without even having to touch them.

On a normal day, she'd go to the attic to spend time with Buckbeak, sometimes Sirius would make tea and they'd sit there talking about his adventures in Hogwarts. He'd tried several times to ask her about Harry, but she would ignore him every time.

Dumbledore visited one morning to ask her to keep it all a secret, what they were doing there, meaning that if she was planning on sending letters to Harry, she wasn't allowed to talk about the Order. But Mel wasn't writing to him at all, and her letters to Hermione and Ron were always vague. Both of them were under the impression that Mel, true to her nature, was keeping an updated knowledge on Harry's whereabouts, that she didn't confirm nor denied.

Erick wrote to her a week after she'd moved to Grimmauld Place. Anne went completely unmentioned, but that was expected. He was busy looking for young supporters, things got a bit complicated when Eliot Flint got sick again and Erick had to look after him. He seemed to be having just as a dreadful summer as she was.

It wasn't that her mother, Lupin, and Sirius would leave her to rot inside this huge house, but they were adults who had their minds set on important matters, and she had nothing to do but overthink about him.

She still had feelings, but she was doing her best to bury them. Mel was hoping that once in Hogwarts she'd find a way to be okay with his existence. She didn't want to get rid of him altogether, that was impossible.

"I take that you're having a rough morning?" Sirius spoke from the doorway.

Mel gave a start, looking up from her seat at the kitchen table.

"I had a nightmare," She said drowsily.

"Same as before?" Sirius knew about her dreams, but that day she didn't want to talk about them. Today all she wanted to do was to sit in silence and drink her coffee.

"Have you had breakfast already?"

"No. I came here so Kreacher would stop nagging about me trying to steal the rubbish he keeps in the living room."

Sirius chuckled, walking up to the stove.

"Maybe if you praise my mother's portrait he'll stop..."

"Would love to, but I'm not a good liar."

"I can help you with that," He turned around for a moment. "Don't laugh when you speak, don't smile– if someone accuses you of causing mischief, act like it was the most insulting thing you've ever heard."

"What if they don't buy it?"

"Confidence is key, Mel. If you believe it, then it's done."

"Sirius, you're not giving my daughter bad advice, are you?" Emily walked in.

"Not at all," Sirius said, feigning surprise. "It shocks me that you think so, the only thing I want for Mel is her well being!"

"He's good..." Mel snickered.

"You have to pick your battles wisely, Paddie. A fifteen-year-old, or an experienced witch that's old enough to hex you," Emily warned him.

"I'll trust my luck," Sirius smirked.

"I got Molly's answer by the way," She ignored him, "The Weasleys will be here next Tuesday."

"Hang on... where will everyone sleep? I know the place is big, but..."

"Ginny can sleep with you," Emily started, "Ron can sleep in Phineas' room, the twins can sleep in the room next door to yours– Molly and Arthur can stay in Walburga's room..."

"But Sirius is in that room," Mel tilted her head.

"Yeah..." Emily glanced anxiously towards the man. "Sirius will take my room. I spend the night outside anyway, remember? Like uncle Lupin."

"But sometimes you don't."

"Little Em," Sirius told her. "Don't worry, your mother and I will make sure everyone's comfortable. As much as this bloody house can be..."

Mel knew Sirius was less than happy about spending his days locked up in the house where he'd lived the worse years of his life, but he was glad to have her, or at least he'd said as much. According to him, Mel was a lovely housemate.

She also knew there was something going on between the two adults. She could see it in the way Sirius would stare at her mother when she wasn't paying attention, and the way her mother would look more cheerful than usual after talking to him. The nights where she had to eat with the two blatantly flirting felt like personal karma from all those months she'd spent recklessly ogling at Harry in front of her friends.

"Can Hermione come too?" Mel asked.

"D'you think she'll want to come to this musty old place?"

"Please?"

Sirius sighed.

"Look at those eyes, Mily. I can't say no to those eyes!"

"Those are my eyes," The woman crossed her arms. "I can."

"I got my father's smile though," She said cheekily. "Please? It could be my first birthday surrounded by friends!"

"You heard that, Mily? Her birthday," Sirius said without missing a beat. "Are you going to deny such a simple request to your only daughter?"

"Oh, you two are unbelievable!"

"Is that a yes?"

"You have five minutes to write that letter and send it– Wipe that smirk off your face, Black. You're washing the dishes tonight."

Mel and Sirius high-fived, laughing at Emily's annoyance.

"And here's where we'll be sleeping!" Mel dragged Hermione into the room.

The house was definitely more fun now that the Weasleys and Hermione were there, from time to time some members of the order would visit as well as her uncle. The place almost felt like home.

"You're not sleeping with your mum?"

"My mum and Sirius share–" She stopped abruptly. "Mum goes out a lot, sometimes when she's here Sirius will give her his room so she can take the bed and he sleeps on the couch."

"Ginny sleeps here too?" Hermione examined the jumpers laying around on the other bed.

"Yeah!"

"How is she? She's over Harry now?" Hermione smiled. "She's okay with him liking you and all?"

Mel groaned internally. This was going to be a long month if people kept asking her about Harry.

"Harry doesn't like me."

"Please, Mel–"

"No," The girl interrupted. "I actually talked to him this time. Don't ask. It's better if we just forget it."

Hermione stared at her in shock.

"I–I could've sworn he... that he..."

"'Mione," Mel stared at her. "Forget it."

Hermione nodded, sitting down at the edge of the bed.

"Careful with the twins, by the way," She continued calmly. "They're free to do magic now, and they're out of control."

"I'll keep that in mind."

Ginny and Hermione were acting oddly ever since they found out she wasn't talking to Harry. They had the right to be, it was strange to see how unfeeling she was about being so far away from her former best friend. The twins and Ron, on the other hand, weren't that worried. They thought it was her way of coping and, in a way, it was.

They kept asking a lot of questions about Erick though, whether if he was to be trusted and exactly how much could they get away with. Mel thought it was funny, so she answered as many questions as she could.

Her birthday passed without much of a fuss, suddenly she was fifteen and just as quickly, Harry was too, but he wasn't there to celebrate. For the first time in weeks, she wished he could be there with them, she didn't dislike him as much as to wish him a bad birthday.

Hermione and Ron started to write to him. She tried to write a Happy Birthday note but it sounded stupid, she knew it'd be far from happy, all alone in Privet Drive. That night he would open his window only to see hers completely shut.

Erick's present had been one of those old radios his Grandad used to make with a note that said 'So you can practice your dancing' signed with two E's. She and the twins used it a lot while working on their products, that way it would drown the noise and their mothers wouldn't suspect as much. Mrs Weasley was on edge lately, Percy and his father had gotten into a real nasty fight and now the boy was gone, it had the poor woman in a terrible state.

One night after dinner, Fred walked into her room.

"Hey," She said without looking up. "Erick told me there's a station where they do these radio novels? I'm trying to find them, bet they're hilarious..." She said while toying with the buttons of the object.

"You're all right?" He asked, sitting next to her.

"Brilliant."

It was a lie. She'd been having a terrible headache for the past twenty minutes, probably because of the lack of sleep and the white noise.

"I'm not the best talker, and you don't have to say anything, but–"

"Not you too, Fred," Mel rolled her eyes, turning off the radio. "I told you I'm fine–"

"Exactly. I'd never seen you so calm about leaving Harry before, there must be something," He raised a brow.

"It's called growing up," She scoffed. "He's capable of looking after himself. You know it, I know it..."

"A real grown-up wouldn't avoid confrontation."

"That's rich coming from you, considering you keep hiding your products away from mummy."

"That's not fair, you know it's a safety measure!"

"Okay then," Mel stood up. "This is my safety measure. I don't talk about things that don't concern others..."

Fred caught her wrist and stopped her from leaving.

"Lady..."

"Using my nickname in that aching voice won't change my mind," She raised a brow. "Let go."

"Don't be grumpy, you're starting to sound real' bossy and you haven't gotten the Prefect badge yet!"

"Fred..." She tried to move. "Please, my head is killing me..."

"Did you guys fight?" He tilted his head, finally letting go. "I don't get why you fancy him if you're always bickering..."

"I don't like Harry."

"Yeah, right," Fred laughed.

"I don't," She tried to follow Sirius' advice and kept a neutral expression. "We went to the ball as friends. He saved me during the second task because I was his friend. What Skeeter wrote was rubbish, I don't fancy him."

"If you insist," Fred shrugged, but she could see he wasn't buying it.

He stood up as well and she realized, with a strange sense of accomplishment, that she was tall enough to reach his chin. She was about to point that out when something completely different came out.

"Why did you ask me to the ball?"

"What?"

"You said it was because you thought it'd be fun. Was that it?"

"Why does it matter?"

That was a good question.

Why did it matter?

But also, why not Fred? He was handsome, funny, smart...

It wasn't that she didn't like him, it was that she hadn't picked him. Sirius said there was more than one person for her, she just had to find them. Mel wasn't ready, but she would eventually, and if she could pick...

"It doesn't," Mel sighed. "I was curious, that's all. Ron used to think you fancied me, you know? I told them it was stupid..."

"Well, not stupid," Fred was quick to correct. "Just... I don't know, unlikely."

"Am I unworthy of your affection?" She joked.

He eyed her intently, like pondering the idea she had put out there. Suddenly, her mother stormed into the room.

"Harry was attacked," The woman blurted out.

"What?" Mel snapped, walking away from Fred.

"He's all right, but he used magic. The ministry has been looking for an excuse to get him– I'm afraid he just gave them one."

"Get him?"

"If we don't do something, he'll be expelled from Hogwarts."

"How– we're not– Do what?" She stammered.

"They're bringing him here," Her mother replied. "Harry's coming."

Next Chapter —>

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#twoidiots writing #hp fanfic #Harry Potter #harry potter fanfiction #harry potter xoc #WITT fic

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sevenstarsinning · 4 years ago

Text

Invasion Ch.11

Description: A planet conquering race of Saiyans invaded Earth and deemed it worthy of habitation. After bringing the humans to their heels, they set up a new society where humans had one role, to serve. You found yourself in the unlucky faction of being bought and sold as a human pet. With absolutely no interest in owning a human but no way out of having one, Kakarot made a bid on you at the urging of his brother. It was only a matter of time before you were either killed or forced into obedience.

You can find previous chapters in this link: Ch.10 or you can read it here on my AO3

Warnings: Things get a little violent in this chapter. Enjoy!

____________________________________

Kakarot finally glanced up when he heard the door close. He let out the defeated sigh he’d been holding back and slid down the wall he was leaning against. Every ounce of his being was urging him to break free of the cell, tear down the forcefield that kept you just out of his reach so he could hold you one more time. His hands trembled as he flexed his fingers and clenched his fists. The self-loathing began as he recalled the words he said to you, each syllable of bullshit that came spewing out of his mouth. He wanted to take it all back, to beg you to stay, to wait for him, but he knew he had no choice. If he was going to save you, truly save you, he had to make sure your feelings were cut off at the nerve.

He fought sleep at night, every time he closed his eyes he could see your weakened frame, clothes barely hanging off of you, tired and tearful eyes that seemed to burn right through him. He couldn’t bare the sight, so he forced himself to stay awake. Even if he did want to sleep, it wasn’t like they’d let him anyways.

“Wake up, traitor.” Turles stood in the doorway with a wicked grin spread across his face.

Kakarot peered up at him wearily, barely giving him his full attention as he slumped back against the furthest wall in the cell.

“Again, Turles?” His voice was gruff as he spoke.

“You know the drill.” Turles cracked his knuckles loudly.

Kakarot wasn’t sure if it was his attempt to intimidate him or if it was some weird way for him to prepare himself. He slowly stood up, using the wall to lean against as he did. His legs trembled and he kept his gaze on the floor.

“I noticed the Prince brought your little human by earlier.” Turles paced slowly in front of the forcefield.

“She’s not mine.” He didn’t like the way Turles mentioned you, but it wasn’t like he could do anything about it.

“I’ve been thinking,” he slowed and stood directly in front of the cell, “do you think the Prince has had a chance to stretch that sweet little cunt of hers yet?”

Kakarot couldn’t hide the way he clenched his fists instinctively at the mention of you, his nostrils flaring as he fought to control his breath.

“We both know the Prince isn’t patient either. I bet he used her the very first night, shoving her down…” he pulled the key from his pocket, “tearing and clawing at her clothes…” he dropped the forcefield, “right before he shoved his royal cock right into her. Can you imagine the sounds she made? Probably begging for him to breed her tight cunt, pleading for him to claim her like you never did.”

The second the door unlocked, Kakarot launched himself at Turles and jerked him into the cell with him. He broke free of the cuffs that were secured around his wrists. He slammed him back against the hard, metal wall, denting it with his skull while his hand wrapped around his throat.

“Still got some fight in you after all.” Turles grinned and grabbed Kakarot’s forearm, trying to loosen his grip.

Kakarot felt his body buzzing with energy as he held back on turning Super Saiyan. As he was trying to refocus his ki, Turles twisted his arm and shoved him back, cracking his neck as he headed straight for Kakarot. He held nothing back as he fought him, slamming him into every wall in the cell. Kakarot fought back, hit after hit, pounding his fists into the cruel saiyan but continuing to hold back. He knew what happened when he let go completely and he wasn’t prepared to suffer those consequences again.

Before Kakarot could exact his full rage on Turles, he was quickly pulled off of him by two other saiyans. Turles wiped the blood and sweat from his brow as he straightened himself up, the two saiyans holding Kakarot back while they secured another pair of cuffs around his wrists and a heavy steel collar around his neck. Kakarot continued to fight, trying to break free of their hold but an intense jolt of electricity flowed from the collar into his neck. Kakarot cried out in pain as his body tensed, the shock rolling through him wave after wave, each one growing in intensity. They released him and let him fall to the floor, chest heaving as he trembled.

Turles crouched in front of Kakarot and grabbed a handful of his hair, jerking his head up, “I’ve heard the King is leaning more towards execution and I’ll only be too happy to offer my services.”

Kakarot smirked and licked the blood that trickled from his lip, “make sure you have your pets with you.” He cut his eyes back at the two saiyans that remained by the door.

Turles slammed Kakarot’s head on the hard floor and held it down, “we’ll see how funny you think it is when you’re sentenced.”

Turles released him and stepped over his body as they headed out of the cell. Kakarot remained in the floor, every nerve ending in his body was still trembling from the shock as he recovered. It was difficult to maneuver with his hands cuffed behind his back, but he managed to roll over on his back and sit up before scooting himself back against the wall. He let out a harsh sigh as a soreness se into his limbs and images of you flooded his mind. No matter how hard he tried, it was always you that he came back to. You were his comfort, his peace.

“Kakarot?” He recognized the voice as he opened his tired eyes, focusing for a moment before seeing her face.

“I didn’t think they’d let you see me.” He struggled to sit up a little straighter.

Gine knelt in front of the cell, “let them try to keep me from my son.”

The softness in her smile hid something more, something worrisome.

“Who did this to you?” She asked as she took in his current state.

“No one. Why did you come here?” He wanted to avoid her finding Turles and putting him in his place, which he knew she would.

“I needed to see you. There are rumors-“

“Not the good kind, I’m sure.” He gave her a slight smile, hoping it would reassure her that he was okay.

“Not the best things you’d want to hear about your son. I heard your human is settling in at the palace well.”

“She isn’t eating. Or sleeping from the looks of it.”

She perked up a little, “you’ve seen her? Did she come by? Is she coming back?”

Kakarot shook his head, “she isn’t coming back, I made sure of that.”

Gine shifted and moved a little closer to the cell, “I’m sure she still cares for you.”

“I have a favor to ask of you.”

“Anything, what is it?”

“I need you to help her move on and get past this. She wasn’t doing well the other day and I doubt she’s doing better now.”

Gine looked up at Kakarot, “I’ll check in on her, see if she needs anything.”

She said her goodbyes as he thanked her, her expression dropping once more as she left. He was grateful that she’d come by and that she was so willing to help him. Kakarot remembered when he was a kid and wanted to get out of training, she would hide him in the laundry basket and tell Bardock she hadn’t seen him. She’d let him know when the coast was clear. It wasn’t that she didn’t want him training, she just preferred to stoke his playful side more than the warrior side. He hoped you’d let Gine help you, it was the only thing that would bring him solace.

It wasn’t that you were ignorant or even that dense, but Gine set up shop and watched you trudge out past the garden almost every day. She watched as you took your anger out in a very odd way and she noticed the way you broke down each time afterwards, clutching your hands to your chest as the tears streamed. She knew you wouldn’t last like this, especially when you weren’t eating. She watched about as much as she could.

“If this is going to be your outlet, you need a better target.” She said as she stood before you.

“How long have you been watching?” you wiped the sweat from your brow, blood staining your knuckles.

“Long enough to know you’re going about this all wrong. If you really want to blow off some steam you need to hit something that’ll hit you back.” She made no move to console you or convince you that this was stupid.

“What did you have in mind? You’re not gonna hit me, are you?” You stepped back from her, knowing she’d put you through the tree in an instant.

“That’d be too easy. Come on.” She grabbed you and took off from the palace grounds.

You wanted to ask where she was taking you and if you even had permission to go that far from the palace, but you honestly didn’t care entirely. You were grateful to be away from everything and wherever she took you was probably going to be better than anywhere else. After a few minutes she started to descend and panic built in your chest.

“Wait- The Arena?! You can’t-“ You struggled to get out of her grasp but she held your arm.

“Calm down. I’m not leaving you here. This place has different rules than the rest.”

“Yeah, and those rules are that humans fight to the death here.” You still tried to pull away from her.

“Not if you enter with a bet or with a saiyan. Doesn’t matter if they own you or not, they can still bring you here to fight.” She held firm with her grip on you.

“I don’t get it, you want me to fight in the Arena? For money? I’m not a fighter. I’ll get my ass kicked.” You looked at her with complete confusion.

“Maybe your heart will hurt a little less then.” She finally released you.

You considered what she was saying. Fighting had never been something you wanted to do, regardless of the situation, but she seemed to think this would help. You weren’t keen on the idea of fighting other people who were forced into the Arena against their will when you were able to come and go as you pleased. But again, there were unknown benefits to doing it. Maybe one time wouldn’t hurt?

“One fight, and then you take me back to the palace, right?”

“Of course. I’m not a monster. Stay with me and don’t say a word.” She returned her hand to wrap around your arm as she pulled you along with her, approaching the large outdoor arena.

The Arena was set up more like a cage of death in wrestling. Stands were set up around the whole thing and in the middle there was a chain link fence with two doors on either side. You could hear the screaming saiyans from the outside and the pent-up energy flowing from it was almost overwhelming.

“Didn’t know you owned a human, Gine?” A small saiyan at the doorway looked you both up and down.

“She’s new. Gotta see what she can do in the Arena before I take her back to Bardock.”

“How much you betting tonight?” Another saiyan asked.

Gine glanced at you then back to them, “let’s set it at one hundred. I don’t want to waste it, she looks a little too thin.”

“Alright, she’s up next. It’s been kind of slow today.”

They made note of her bet and stepped aside for her to lead you in. Anxiety had set up a permanent home in your stomach as you stood to the side of the stands. You watched as the two people in the cage fought one another, hard hits without armor or protection of any kind. Blood splattered the white platform and their clothes. It was violent, chaotic, and exactly what you wanted.

“So what happens now?” You glanced at Gine.

“Once they finish, you’ll go up against whoever is next. A winner is declared one of three ways, a tap out by the saiyan, knock out, or death.” She said as simply as she could.

“Death?”

“If the human is decent and actually wanted, then the owning saiyan will intervene before that happens. If they do that, they forfeit their bet.” She pulled you forward as the fight neared it’s end.

You could tell one of the humans was faltering, barely standing stable on their feet but they continued to fight.

“Stay up!” An angry saiyan shouted from the side of the cage, which you could only assume was their owner.

Within another few seconds the human was flat on the ground, blood trickling from their head as the other human stood victorious, a clear smirk on his face as his opponent lay unconscious at his feet.

“You’re up.” She pushed you forward towards one of the doors in the cage.

You took a deep breath and exhaled it quickly as the door was opened and you were pulled inside. You glanced back at Gine who gave you a slight smile and a thumbs up. It was a simple gesture, but it was at least some kind of encouragement. As you stepped forward, they were still cleaning up from the last fight, the smell of blood was thick in the air, saiyans muttering around you from the stands. It was all so different from what you expected. You looked to the other end of the cage, seeing your opponent enter, realizing she was familiar. You’d seen her before, at the auction. She was the one who bit Nappa.

“You know the rules, tap out, knock out, or death. Those are your only ways out of here.” A large saiyan towered over the two of you as you stood face to face.

He back away and left the cage without another word. You stood almost frozen in place, you had no idea how to start a fight, especially not a fight to the death.

“I remember you,” she said as she stared at you, “that elite bought you. Heard you had a real nice situation there until he murdered all those saiyans.”

“He hasn’t been found guilty yet.” You felt like you were waiting for her to just knock you out at any instance.

“Well, murderer or not, bet he’s still better than mine. Enough chit chat though, you ready to get this over with?” She stepped back and cracked her neck from side to side.

“Um, yeah, I guess-“ Before you could even get your words out completely, she punched you squared in the jaw.

You stumbled back and placed your hand over the sharp pulses of pain you started to feel in your jaw that echoed through your entire head.

“Shit.” You muttered.

“Come on, that wasn’t even my best hit.” She started to circle around you.

You stood back up and before you could even get your bearings, she hit you again. This time she landed her fist in the center of your chest before hitting you in the side of the head with her other fist. Your vision blurred and you felt like your heart stopped as you choked and doubled over. You glanced back to see Gine standing on edge against the cage, still urging you on.

“This isn’t even a fair fight.” She stopped moving and sighed.

“Just kill her and get it over with!”

You looked over to see who her owner was and the second you saw the familiar, spike haired saiyan, you felt an anger building within you. Turles.

“Fucking end her!” He shouted again.

Memories of how he treated you and Kakarot the last time you saw him, flooded your mind. You clenched your fists and centered all of your rage in your stomach. You caught her off guard by tackling her to the ground, pinning her beneath you as you slammed your fists into her, one after another. She grabbed at you and tried to shove you off, but you weren’t budging. You hit her with everything you had, ignoring the harsh hits she landed sparingly on you. You could hear the other saiyans roaring and encouraging the two of you as you fought. It was exhilarating, addicting. She finally managed to shove you off of her, but the pause in fighting was short lived as you both scrambled towards one another with fists flying. Blood poured from her lip as she attacked you and after a moment you noticed your knuckles were smeared with it. You knew you had some wounds as well, but honestly they were at the back of your mind as you fought. You unleashed every ounce of anger and frustration into her, but it wasn’t enough.

Your advantage was brief from the surprise attack you managed. She was clearly a better fighter and trained at that. She quickly dodged one of your hits and had you flat on the ground within a split second, her foot on your throat as she proceeded to hit you, over and over.

“Out! She’s out!” Gine called from the sidelines.

She continued until the saiyan entered the cage again and pulled her off of you, declaring her the winner while you faded in and out of consciousness.

You were vaguely aware of Gine carrying you from the cage, muttering something about how fucked you were in a real fight.

“I can’t take you back to the palace like this. You got your ass handed to you.” She took off from the Arena.

If you had been awake enough to ask questions, you would’ve asked where you were and why she was hooking you up to a few hoses and shoving you into a tank of water, but you were soon unconscious again.

You came to as she was pulling out of the machine, letting the water drain from it as she wrapped you in a towel.

“Not perfect, but at least your face doesn’t look like a piece of chewed up gum.” She helped you dry off.

“I want-“ you coughed up some of the water, “I want to go back.”

“Sorry, humans can’t handle too much of the healing pods, your bodies get all weird and soft.”

“Not that. The Arena.” You looked up at her.

“You need training before that happens. And you need to eat. You look like a starving animal.” She continued to dry you off.

“Train me then.” You said without really worrying about the consequences.

She paused for a moment as if she was giving you a chance to take it back, “did it help?”

“Yes, more than I thought it would.” You nodded.

“Fine, but you won’t tell anyone, and you’ll need to start eating at least three times a day. Deal?”

“Deal.”

For the first time in a while you felt hopeful. Not about your future or the situation with Vegeta, but hopeful about putting your energy and time into something other than waiting for death to come to you.

#lynn #invasion fic #kakarot #kakarot x reader #gine #turles

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wordsfromthesol · 5 years ago

Text

Replacement (2/2)

Pairing: Tim Drake x Reader Warnings: Language, uh...drama? But happy ending obviously. Word Count: 1.7k Requested: @beebosclique A/N: This ended up being way more intense than I planned...my bad.

Part One

You woke up in the Batcave infirmary. Your hands immediately shot up to your face. An audible sigh of relief escaped your lips once you felt the fabric of your mask against your hand. The next sound you heard…not so great.

“WHAT THE FUCK HAPPENED?!” Jason’s voice boomed.

Your eyes moved towards the sound, watching Jason’s figure hastily move towards your side. Once it registered that he was not in costume, you realized your identity may have been compromised after all. Before Jason could berate you further, another voice echoed through the room.

“This isn’t on her. Hell, she called me.”

“Because you were still a better option that Dick…” Jason’s voice mumbled.

“What…what happened?” Your voice finally croaked out.

“Right. Well when I got there some idiot had just shot you in midair. I took him out and brought you here.” Red Robin explained.

“Ravenger?”

“What?” Red Robin looked at you, brows furrowed.

“It’s that gang we busted up today Tim.” It took a minute for your brain to process what you had just done, but before you could explain Jason chimed in.

“Yeah, replacement here already knows who you are.”

“Your mask was in case any of the others came down…” Tim explained further once he noted the confusion in your eyes. Almost like he was summoned, Dick rounded the corner.

“I heard we had a guest.” Nightwing chimed. His head quickly jerked towards Jason, who was not in costume.

“We already know the whole…” Jason gestured towards you and then back at him. “Heard of the Ravengers, Nightwing?”

“Can’t say I have. They did this?”

“I think.” You muttered, trying to say as little as possible.

“I’ll run the guys prints.” Tim rose from your side, “Are you going to be okay?”

A faint smile spread across your face as you nodded up at him. A reaction that didn’t go unnoticed. Dick followed Tim out of the room, clearly elbowing him in the side. Jason was much more upfront.

“Uhm, what did I miss? When I said you might like him, I did not mean like that.”

“Jay, I’m way too hopped up on pain meds to understand you.”

Jason’s eyes narrowed, “I saw that look. I’m watching you.”

You welcomed sleep yet again, trying to ignore your brother’s words. You woke again a few hours later in a panic.

“Jake!” The memory of your promise came rushing to the front of your mind. You attempted to get up, only you were met with a gentle hand on your shoulder.

“It’s taken care of.” You heard Tim’s voice echo around.

“Wh – what do you mean?”

“His daughter, right? The kidney transplant?” You nodded as he rattled off the information. “I paid the hospital a few hours ago. Then called Jake to inform him that his daughter would receive the next available match.”

“What about…” the raspy words trailed off before you could finish the thought.

“He’s also got a few interviews for Wayne Enterprises in the next week. I’m sure we’ll find a fit for him somewhere.” Your hand went up, in search for his. You clasped it in yours and drifted back to sleep with a smile on your lips.

You had been staying at Tim’s apartment for a few days, you had tried staying at Jason’s. You only lasted a few hours before you were begging to go somewhere else. You were laying in the couch watching mindless tv when Tim collapsed into the chair next to you.

“What did you tell them this time?”

“Oh you’re on vacation with Marisa, didn’t you know?”

“I don’t even know a Marisa…”

“Yeah. That’s the point.”

“Why haven’t you told them?”

“Some speech about choices this weird person dressed in spandex gave really got to me.”

“Ha ha.”

“Eh, I figure you have a good reason. Though I would like to hear it…I trust you.”

“Why…?” Your voice almost sounded disgusted at the thought. Tim just shrugged, ignoring the question altogether. That just irked you more, so you continued. “I’ve never done anything to make you trust me. In fact, I resented you for…well for someone else’s choice.”

“Yeah you did.”

“So?”

“I got to hear why and I figured that if you could see past Robin, well you wouldn’t hate me.”

“Yeah, guess that speech kinda gave me away…” You trailed off, remembering the words that had previously escaped your lips.

“Your shoulder gave you away more.”

Your eyes went wide, recollecting the night’s events. “Is that why you went left?” A smirk grazed his features. “Why didn’t you just out me then?” You swatted at his shoulder with your good arm.

“I wanted you to trust me enough to tell me yourself.”

“I kinda ruined that, didn’t I?”

“Or your subconscious made the decision for you.”

“Hmm mm sure.” The sarcasm dripped from the words.

“Well then why are you here and not at Jason’s?” Tim shot back.

“That’s so not fair! He was treating me like some wounded deer!”

“What did you say to me…Oh right. Jason only pretends he doesn’t care.”

“He doesn’t know I’m here right?” You panicked, while Tim only laughed.

“Jason knows you’re safe, healing, and not allowed back in the field yet.”

“Hopefully he won’t turn into Dick and he’ll let me back in the field.”

“Heh, I think Jason knows he couldn’t stop you. I just wonder why Dick thinks he can.”

“Because my dearest brother thinks of me as the same 3-year old girl watching in awe as our parents fell to the ground. He sees me as his last connection to a normal life. As something he must protect.”

“There’s a difference between protecting and hindering…” Tim mumbled.

“When Dick learns that lesson, let me know.”

Another week had passed and honestly you were shocked that Dick hadn’t found suspected anything. You were also astonished at how well you and Tim were getting along. You couldn’t believe this was the same person that took the robin mantle from you almost ten years ago. Then again, I guess it wasn’t. He had become so much more in those years, but you refused to see it.

You walked out of your new bedroom, picking at the bandage at your abdomen. “Hey Tim, can you look at –” Your words were cut off by the sound of the door opening, both of you jumped up in a defensive stance. When Dick came bounding through the door, you quickly shuffled behind the kitchen counter, hiding any evidence of the gunshot wound.

“Alright where is my sister?!” Dick screamed across the room before his eyes settled on you. “Oh Y/N/N…you’re here. Why are…?” Dick glanced back and forth at you and Tim.

“Dick, you’re here!” Tim quickly pulled him to the couch, while swatting his other hand towards you. You quickly scurried back to your room, throwing on the baggiest shirt you could find, in an attempt to hide the bandage.

As you exited the room yet again, your eyes shot to the door, which was opening yet again. Jason barreled through, “Tim, where’s Y/N? I think Dick is – oh, hey Dick.” Jason’s eyes met yours, “Wait, Y/N’s been here the whole time!”

Both you and Tim broke out in laughter, “Yeah you didn’t look very hard.” You reasoned as you joined them in the living room.

“I didn’t think it would be that obvious…” Jason mumbled as he sat down.

“Are you wearing Tim’s shirt?” Dick’s brows furrowed in confusion.

“What?” You pretended to ignore the question.

“Are you –” Dick began again.

“Huh?” You cut him off yet again.

“Anyways so as I was just telling Dick,” Tim cut off the sibling antics, “That you were just getting overwhelmed at the Manor.”

“Overwhelmed? With what? What happened?” Dick immediately went into older brother mode.

“Dick, geez. Overwhelmed with everything. I need to figure out who I am and what I want to do without someone constantly watching over my shoulder.”

“Why did I become Robin…instead of Y/N?” Tim’s own thoughts burst from his lips. Everyone looked at him in awe, you even elbowed him in the side.

“Y/N doesn’t be a vigilante. Don’t be ridiculous.” Dick waved off the theory entirely.

Jason awkwardly cleared his throat and got up to leave. You grabbed his wrist and motioned back at the seat. “How do you know that?” Tim questioned before you had the chance.

“What do you mean? It’s…well…she…”

“I mean, you did train her, right?”

“Well some basics, but no more –”

“I, uhm, I did.” Jason reluctantly offered up the secret. Dick shot him a fiery glare.

“And I asked,” you had finally found your voice. “When Jason was killed, when dad went off the rails. I asked to be out there with you. With you both.”

“You weren’t serious?” Dick was starting to doubt his own memory.

“Of course I was. I just lost my brother, the one that actually believed in me. I wanted to prove to you…to myself…that I was worthy of that.” You felt Tim’s hand squeeze your own in reassurance. Thankfully, your words caused Jason to miss that moment of affection. He never understood how much of an impact his actions had on your life.

“I…” Dick’s eyes searched your own, for what, neither of you seemed to know. “I guess I wanted you to be joking, so that’s what I told myself. I just didn’t want to lose you too.”

“You already did, in a way. I can’t be myself with you. The person you know, it’s a façade. They don’t exist.”

“Heh, you’re Eclipse…aren’t you?” Dick’s mind was finally putting the pieces together as he rose from the chair. “I hope you give me the chance to get to know her.” A solemn expression graced his features as he walked out the door. Jason quickly got up to follow him.

“I’m still watching you.” He warned before chasing after his older brother.

Closing your eyes, you fell back into Tim’s chest as relief cascaded over you. “Thank you.” You mumbled as you felt Tim’s arms wrap around you before he pressed quick kiss on top of your head.

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kakatenzo · 4 years ago

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kkyam royalty au 1

okay I have two fic ideas that are centred around a royalty au and i wanted to post both on here and see which ones ppl preferred!

here’s royalty au 1 i’ll post the second one tomorrow

(ps this is un beta’d and it is 2:40am so i have not looked over it at all. just typed and hit send)

“You come here often?” Kakashi ask sleazily.

It’s a cheap shot. He knows that, he’s sure he’s had better one liners at the tavern after one too many drinks but Kakashi can’t bring himself to care. The entire night has been occupied by stuck up nobility and empty conversations that carried across the ballroom. He’s just surprised he has managed to survive the entire night despite not coming from a royal lineage himself, it seems that all that condescending behaviour blocks all common sense and Kakashi tries not to be too smug about it. It’s a good thing he’s an excellent liar and charming if he really put his mind to it, and now he’s putting all his effort into trying to swoon this doe-eyed brunette. Kakashi hasn’t seen him before unlike the other parties of the monarchy who often were presented during ceremonies and announcements, so he assumes he is visiting from another kingdom. It’s perfect, Kakashi thinks, he’ll bag a noble for one night and never see them again.

“Yes actually,” the brunette answers frowning and it catches Kakashi by surprise. “Konoha’s been my home since I was born. I suppose you are visiting?”

Well, that’s one idea out the window so Kakashi replies dumbfoundedly, “Uh, yes.”

It seems to jerk the brunette awake. “I apologise for I have misplaced my manners, good sir.” he says before straightening his shoulders and giving a bow. “I am Yamato, nobleman of Konoha.”

Kakashi quickly dips into a bow. “Kakashi, crown prince of the Hatake kingdom.”

Yamato raises a brow. “I don’t recall the Hatake family mentioning a visit to the kingdom.”

The crown prince disguise had worked well the whole evening and if Kakashi is going to be honest with himself, it also gave his ego a small nudge but now his ego is deflating because it seems like he decided to try to court one of the only smart people in this ballroom.

“It was all very last minute, so I apologise for the short notice.”

The back of Kakashi’s neck prickles with heat and he resists the urge to ease the collar from his throat. The tavern is going to have a ball when they find out he got kicked out from the ball because he found a guy attractive.

A small, almost bashful smile encompasses Yamato’s face instead and he amicably says. “I apologise I did not mean to doubt your presence. How are you finding the ball?”

“Eh,” Kakashi says loosening up and his shoulders return to their usual hunched position. “Everyone here is on their high horse.”

For a moment, Yamato looks horrified but then he laughs. Gentle and warm, and it invites Kakashi to relax further. “You’re very honest, do they allow the crown prince of your kingdom such brash honesty?”

Kakashi returns a laugh because he is the opposite of honest. He is conning this poor man with his endless spindle of lies from the moment he had opened his mouth. “I’m only honest to people that I like,” he winks, “but I’m sure there are more honest people than me.”

Yamato shakes his head. “I’ve been attending these royal balls since I was a child. Everybody treats you like you’re below them and make you feel small over the silliest things.”

“Why do you keep attending them?” Kakashi asks and tries to ignore the sincerity that pools in his chest. “Can you not decline the invitation? It would save you from a lot of misery and hassle.”

“I seldom do,” Yamato’s eyes slide to the side and breaks their eye contact. “My aunt she—she’s very high up and it’s pertinent I attend these events to create connections with other kingdoms.”

Kakashi squashes the warmth of sincerity and replaces it with the hot rush of want. “Do you want to make a connection with me?” he offers haughtily and Yamato rewards him with a scandalised expression and a wonderful flush that disappears under his collar.

His smile is timid but Yamato’s voice is firm when he says, “I’m not opposed to the idea of making connections with you.”

“Let’s go make our connection somewhere less crowded.” Kakashi says and offers his arm.

Yamato quietly latches onto the crook of Kakashi’s elbows and Kakashi escorts him out to the courtyard. They are greeted by the cool air of the evening and the luminescent glow of the moon who casts a soft spotlight on the shrubbery below her. The roses sleep gently under the calm glow of the moon, they rest because they are tired after dancing with the sun all morning. The rest of the greenery follows suit, all the branches hang low, the leaves don’t dance as they sleep to the orchestra of chirping crickets. The courtyard is large and paves a quarter of the unending garden, its stones are smooth and even unlike the rough cobbled pavements in the centre of town. The courtyard is fenced off by a low stone wall which Kakashi hops onto and pats the space next to him, offering Yamato to do the same.

They’re both facing away from the large doors of the ballroom and Yamato tilts his head back as if he’s drinking in the light of the moon. “This is my favourite place in the palace.” He says quietly like a confession.

“I can see why. It’s peaceful out here.” Kakashi says in agreement. “What do you like to do for fun, Yamato?”

“What do you mean?” Yamato answers. His head snaps down to look at Kakashi and he almost looks baffled.

Kakashi quirks a brow. “You know, when you’re not doing these parties or your duties? What do you do in your spare time?”

Yamato bites his lip drawing Kakashi’s attention. “I like to tend this garden.” He decides after a moment.

“Is that all?” Kakashi presses. He’s not a royal but he’s sure Yamato has at least some hobbies that don’t involve standing around and looking pretty all day.

Even under the moonlight Kakashi can see the deep blush that spreads on Yamato’s face. “Well,” he starts. “I like sword fighting and I used to practice with the knights until they found—well, let’s just say nobody really liked to challenge me. The knights were all frightened they’d accidentally hurt me and then would get executed.”

Kakashi can’t help the laugh that escapes his mouth. “Really?” he says gleefully. “I never expected you to be invested in combat.”

Yamato looks away then. “I was interested in a lot of different things, but I had to whittle it down because it didn’t seem right, for someone like me to do them.”

Someone like Yamato? “I thought noblemen could do whatever they wanted as long as it didn’t betray the kingdom.” Kakashi frowns. He’s sure he had seen the duke wandering around doing activities that Kakashi wouldn’t crown ‘duke-ly’.

“I guess they just have high expectations,” Yamato shrugs. “Enough about me, you’re the crown prince! I’m sure you have much more exciting things to share than me.”

“Where do I start?” Kakashi says coolly as he rapidly searches through all his memories. How the hell was he going to fabricate a royal story? He had many in the town and in the countryside, but they all consisted of him working or training and neither seemed princely. He then forces himself to remember all those conversations he had with those prudish Lords and Ladies in hopes of bringing up a hobby that was vaguely plausible.

“If you don’t mind,” Yamato breaks his rapid-fire train of thought. “Can I ask how you received your scar?”

Kakashi’s fingers find the line that staggers under his eye before it disappears into his mask. “It was from an attack,” he answers honestly for the first time that evening. “My friend and I were out where we weren’t meant to be, and we had been ambushed. This was from a knife.”

He brushes his hair from his brow and slowly follows the ridge of his brow, over the curve of his eyelid and then over the soft fabric of the mask. Yamato’s eyes follow the path carefully, his eyes bright under the moonlight and his mouth slightly open in awe. “Is that why you wear the mask? For your safety?”

Kakashi nods quickly in agreement.

“You’re lucky to have survived, Prince Kakashi.” Yamato quips and hearing his name in Yamato’s mouth makes his heart jump.

“It was a fair fight.” Kakashi says easily. “I won in the end anyway.”

Yamato’s eyes widen and he sits up eagerly. “Do you get to train at your palace?”

Kakashi thinks of the field. It is by no means a training room nor the mighty barracks that housed the knights. During winter, when the ground froze over, was when he would accumulate the most bruises after a spar and during summer, the soil would be so dry that it would kick up everywhere. It ended in his eyes, his hair, under his nails and he always came home dirty. He thinks of his makeshift targets and dummy, the way they’ve been branded with marks since he was a child and how they’re worn and yellowed with age. He wonders if Yamato had managed to brandish a shiny sword at all and practice his footing on even ground.

“Yes, all the time.” Kakashi answers and he can’t look into Yamato’s eyes. “I begged my father so I could protect myself and it proved worthy.”

Suddenly his hands are engulfed with Yamato’s own warm ones. “Could you teach me something?” he asks earnestly.

Yamato is smiling so widely and Kakashi realises that Yamato may be the only genuine face he has encountered tonight. “Sure,” Kakashi says and leaps to his feet with Yamato following suit. “We have no swords, so we’ll focus on hand to hand combat.”

Kakashi begins with stances, he notes the importance of the stance and how to make sure there are no openings that make Yamato vulnerable. He then moved onto basic attacks, how to disarm your opponent and the weakest points of the human body.

“You’re a quick learner,” Kakashi comments nonchalantly and gently fixes Yamato’s arms by raising his elbow slightly.

“Can I fight now?” Yamato asks with a glint in his eyes.

Kakashi splutters. “I’m not going to fight you, Yamato.”

The nobleman drops his stance. “How am I going to learn if I don’t fight someone?”

“Your practice stances will kick in.” Kakashi lies. He had always made his students fight him.

“Don’t lie to me. The knights spar all the time!” Yamato protests and Kakashi bites back on a grin.

“I’ll go easy on you,” Kakashi offers. “I wouldn’t want to hurt your pretty face.”

The deep flush invites itself again on Yamato’s face as he enters his first stance. They both move shift around in a circle, waiting for the other to make a move, arms and hands close to their face and chests, and their eyes locked onto each other intensely. Kakashi throws the first attack to which Yamato quickly parries and it leaves his neck exposed. Kakashi hooks his arm over the crook of Yamato’s neck but Yamato grabs his arm with both hands and throws Kakashi off. He stumbles back and Yamato follows with two quick punches, Kakashi ducks and before Yamato can throw a jab, he rises quickly, years of agility drilled into him and knocks Yamato back onto the grass.

He lands with a soft ooft and leans back on his hands, he looks up at Kakashi with bright eyes, a ruddy face and a wide grin. His hair is ruffled but his shoulders are much more relaxed. “You’re very skilled, Kakashi.” Yamato compliments catching his breath.

Kakashi stretches his arm out to offer a hand and pulls Yamato up. He jumps to his feet and ends up nearer to Kakashi than he had anticipated. “You’re a quick learner,” Kakashi parrots from earlier. He’s distracted by their vicinity. “You did well.”

Their hands are still conjoined and Kakashi’s eyes drop to their clasped hands before dragging his eyes back up to Yamato’s dark gaze. Something snaps in the heavy silence between them, and Kakashi finds himself leaning in but Yamato stops him with a gentle press of his free hand to Kakashi’s chest.

“Kakashi,” he says warily but his brows furrow with determination. “I have something to tell you.”

Before either of them can get a word in the doors to the ballroom burst open and they both break apart from each other as if they’d been shocked. Queen Tsunade steps onto the courtyard and they both bow to greet her. Kakashi’s head swims as he straightens back up because Queen Tsunade is not a force to be reckoned with. He’s sure she’s caught him, she knows that he’s not a royal at all and has been parading around as a fraud all evening, and the mere thought of her punishment sends an awful bout of guttural anxiety.

“Ah, there you are Tenzo!” Queen Tsunade bellows across the courtyard and approaches the duo. “I thought you had disappeared before the ceremony and I was getting worried. Come along now, you know we can’t start it without you and the people are waiting.”

The relief that Queen Tsunade isn’t here for Kakashi doesn’t take the edge off his nerves. She’s even more powerful in person and this is the closest Kakashi has gotten to her. She’s shorter than he had expected, but her stoic glare and booming voice has commanded many rooms. Her blonde hair is loose over her shoulders, they fall gracefully frown the crown atop her head, and she places her hands on her hips, crinkling the jade green dress she’s often seen in. Kakashi is glad he no longer has Yamato’s hand in his grasp because he’s sure his hand would slip out with how much his palms are sweating.

Yamato shoots him an apologetic look. “I’m sorry I’m afraid I have to go. Where can I find you later?”

“Let’s meet here.” Kakashi says with the intention to bid Yamato goodbye before he returns to his regular civilian life. He had told enough lies tonight to last a lifetime.

“I look forward to it.” Yamato says sweetly before turning to follow Queen Tsunade back inside.

Kakashi lets out a sigh of relief and steals one long glance around the garden that Yamato had tended himself. He cranes his head to the moon, she had been the only audience to their dance, if you could call it such and turns on his heel to return to the ballroom.

Gai is easy to find in the crowded ballroom because he is impressing a small crowd with handstands. Kakashi joins the crowd in watching Gai perform and remembers when he had challenged Kakashi to see who could hold a handstand for the longest. Unfortunately, it had been winter and the ground was damp with rain that left their hands muddy, cold and unmoveable.

Towards the centre of the room, a servant calls for the audience’s attention so Kakashi steps forward. “I’m so sorry to interrupt the entertainment, but I believe there is a royal announcement.”

Gai fixes himself back onto his feet with unyielding control and the small crowd reward him with a short round of applause before they all usher each other to the centre of the room.

“Kakashi!” Gai booms. “It has been the most wonderful evening!”

“I’m glad you’ve been enjoying it,” Kakashi says while Gai swings an arm around his shoulders. “Would you like to watch the ceremony?”

“Why, of course!” Gai exclaims. “It would be of our best interest to make the most of our stay.”

Truth be told, Kakashi really could not care for the ceremony because all he can think of is Yamato’s ruddy grinning face under the moonlight. How his eyes glittered even in the dark shawl of the night sky. (How dark his gaze had been when they were all but pressed close to each other with the moon as their only witness.)

Although they are on the outskirts of the crowd, Queen Tsunade’s voice doesn’t fail to reach them from across the room. “Foremost, I would like to thank those who have attended today. It is always a pleasant sight to see, the unity of the kingdoms and our people, especially for an occasion such as this.” She pauses and the room waits with bated breath. “I am here tonight to proudly announce my heir and who will be next in line to the throne.”

Her speech sends the room to a stifled but frenzied whisper. Heir? Queen Tsunade had no children. Her husband passed away before she could bear any heirs. Who is this heir? Has she passed the lineage of Konoha to a neighbouring kingdom’s prince? How are we to trust this new heir to rule Konoha?

Queen Tsunade continues resiliently. “I apologise for hiding him from his people, he was too young to be exposed to the masses but I assure you he has been in this kingdom the entire time and I am confident that he will serve you, our people, very well. That’s why he is here today, because he has come of age and has grown into a splendid young man.” She smiles softly, pride shines in her eyes and she steps aside. “I would like to introduce my dear nephew, Prince Tenzo Senju, as your next ruler.”

The room bursts into a cacophony of applause as Tenzo emerges and joins his aunt, Queen Tsunade, at the front of the crowd. He gives an obligatory bow, back straight as if he’s rehearsed it a lifetime and just like the one he gave Kakashi earlier that night. Except it’s not exact because his hair is ruffled from their short spar. Gai is clapping wildly next to him but it seems as if Kakashi can’t move his arms. The noise is far too loud—no, it is far too quiet and Kakashi drowns in the rushing noise of his thoughts filling his head. Realisation sinks in, like the first chill of winter that sinks deep into your bones, but you’ve not prepared a coat and you’re left shivering in the early rays of the sun.

Then Tenzo turns and catches his eyes. He spares Kakashi a tight lipped smile, empty of the mirth from earlier that evening. No wonder why the knights didn’t allow Yamato to train, because they would have been fighting the crown prince of Konoha. He had little hobbies to do because he’s spent his entire life preparing to be the next ruler. With each piece that clicks into place the sinking feeling in his stomach only tightens.

“—Kakashi,” Gai says and it shakes Kakashi out of his trance. There is a firm but grounding grip on his shoulder. “What’s the matter?”

“Nothing. I’m just looking forward to meeting someone in the courtyard later tonight.”

#kakayama #my writing #WHEW this ended up longer than expected #kakashi #yamato #yamato tenzo #tenzo #kakashi hatake #naruto fic

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wildroseofarran · 4 years ago

Text

Looking for Kelly || Leslie, Cameron, Pete, Henry, & Kelly || February, 2020

Cameron: Cam stared at his phone for a moment, debating if he should send the text he'd typed out. He'd sent Kelly a few texts since their last meeting, some pretty nature pictures and a selfie where he grinned from ear to ear while some geese clearly chased him in the background, but there was no response. He'd thought their last encounter had gone well, but Kelly was such a hard man to read that there was a chance he didn't enjoy himself as much as Cam did that day. He wasn't sure if this was a hint he should be taking, but he decided to send the text anyway.

{Text to Witchy Bitch} Hey Leslie, any chance you've heard from Kelly at all? I haven't heard from him in a while and just wanted to make sure he was okay.

Leslie: Leslie felt his phone go off, but chose to ignore for the next ten minutes. Customers were in a positive flux, and Myrtle's niece was stumbling. Ten minutes became fifteen, became thirty. When he finally had a moment to himself, his first response was an apologetic explanation. Then finally, to actually read the message.

{Text to Incredible Hulk} I haven't, but I've been meaning to look in

{Text} Wanna come with me to the pub tonight?

Cameron: Cam had to resist the urge to pace as he waited for a reply, and after about 20 minutes he tossed his phone to the side and decided to take Zeus on a run to burn some energy. 40 minutes later he returned, panting and a little less high strung as he picked up his phone. He was relieved to see Leslie's text and quickly responded.

{Text} Yeah sure, I'll feel less weird going with you than I would going by myself we haven't spoken since we last hung out so I didn't want to bother him if he wanted to be left alone.

Leslie: Leslie didn't want to tell Cameron about his feeling. It could have been due to a number of things, but his stomach only churned with thoughts of Kelly. He trusted his intuition above all else.

{Text} I'll be off work in an hour. Meet you there?

Cameron: {Text} Okay! I'll meet you there

Cam waited about an hour before he hoped on his bike and drove to the pub. Once there, he removed his helmet and leaned against his bike as he waited for Leslie to arrive.

Leslie: Leslie was waiting outside. The weather did not permit his usual jacket, which he had brought to work. Now tied around his waist in a bulky mess.

The witch looked up from his phone with a diluted smile.

Cameron: Cam pushed away from his bike when he saw Leslie arrive, and approached him with a smile.

"Hey stranger, you alright?"

Leslie: "I'm alright." Which was not a lie. He was alright, but still...

"Have you ate?"

Cameron: Cam tilted his head, taking note that Leslie's response lacked the usual enthusiasm, but he decided not to question it at the moment.

"Nah, wanna grab food after we're done checking up on him?"

Leslie: Leslie remained oblivious of Cameron's notice.

"Have you tried the food here? Almost never fried food." Which was something around here.

Cameron: "I haven't, I'd be down to try it! I just had a couple drinks the last time I was here."

Leslie: "There's some people I need to introduce you to." The owner, for one. Quite a fetching man to anyone with eyes. A voice to make the blind swoon. Not his sailor, but perhaps someone Cameron would spare a wink.

Leslie headed for the bar, pausing only for a moment to cast a quick glance. No Kelly in sight.

Pete: Kelly Rose was indeed noticeably absent from the pub tonight. In his place was Pete himself, serving drinks alongside June while a heavily pregnant Stella sat drying off glasses.

"Oh hey," Pete called when he spotted Leslie. "Fancy seeing you here. Whatcha having?"

Cameron: "Alright," Leslie had a habit of introducing him to the most interesting people, so suddenly he was a little more excited than he should be.

Once inside, his initial glance around did not spot Kelly, and he tried not to look as disappointed as he felt.

Leslie: "Um." Quick introductions. He waved a light hand over the eager-looking Cameron.

"We'd like Kelly. The other half of this ‘we’ is Cameron. Cameron, this is Peter." One of those names which highlighted his unusual accent.

Pete: Pete smiled warmly at Cameron, though some of the brightness had gone. "Nice to meet you, Cameron. Welcome to my pub. As for Kelly, things seem to be about the same, I haven't heard anything different from Bridget. Can't tell if the whole no news is good news thing applies to a situation like this."

Leslie: Leslie blinked. "What - What do you mean? Bridget? Kelly's in hospital?"

Cameron: "Leslie, you gotta start telling me when the friends you're introducing me to are so attractive," Cam offered Pete a playful wink, thought his smile was more warm than flirtatious as he nodded in greeting. The smile quickly faltered and he looked between the two, suddenly worried. Kelly was in the hospital? He yearned to ask questions, a lot of them all at once, but knew the answers would come on their own.

Pete: Pete's brow furrowed. "You didn't--? Oh. Ah..." He looked around for a moment before feeling his sister's hand on his shoulder.

"Go on up," she said, casting an apologetic smile at Leslie and Cameron. "June and I got it."

"Are you--?"

"Yeah, go. I'm fine."

"Okay. Why don't ya'll come on up?" Pete said to them, nodding toward the open side of the bar. "We'll talk in my office."

Leslie: Leslie looked between them. Offered a subtle greeting smile to Stella.

"Hey, Stell. Thanks."

Pete: It was returned. "Hi, Leslie. You and your friend go ahead and follow Pete. There's no privacy down here."

The office was on the second floor of the pub, accessible only through the door behind the bar. It was warm and comfortable and distinctly masculine, decorated with dark wood and rich earth tones.

Save, of course, for the light grey cat tree in front of one of the windows, which currently held two sleeping cats.

"Have a seat wherever," Pete would say once he closed the door.

Cameron: "Thanks," Cam nodded to Stella as his smile sombered, and he followed Pete to his office. When he saw the cat tree he drifted towards it and its occupants, and he made a soft clicking sound with his tongue to get their attention. Whichever cat roused he let sniff his hand before giving it a gentle scratch, if they seemed amenable to it. Then he turned to look at Pete, happy to stand for now. If he sat the anxiety would set in, because he could sense something was off.

Leslie: Leslie followed behind Peter and took the offer of a chair, leaning forward to rest his forearms on his knees, giving his full attention. A lesson in various coping mechanisms before Peter's very eyes.

"What happened?"

Pete: It was the orange and white cat who roused from his nap to greet the visitor. He sniffed the hand, rubbing his squashy face against it once he deemed it safe and worthy.

Pete smiled briefly. "He likes you," he said to Cameron as he sat on the edge of his desk.

He had no idea how to approach this. How much should he say? How much could he say? Kelly was such a private person, the last thing Pete wanted to do was overstep or betray his trust.

Then again, these were people who cared about him enough to come look for him and check on him; Pete couldn't leave them with nothing.

"I got a text from a friend one night after closing time telling me that they'd heard something weird coming from this direction. Sure enough, when I came to check on the place, I found Kelly collapsed in the alley. He was in a very bad way."

Leslie: "He was assaulted?" Someone as strong as he imagined Kelly to be, beaten to the point of collapse put a cold brick in his stomach. Was his wound so great, he wondered, and felt a tinge of guilt.

And then he wondered something else.

"What night was this?" Because, without any doubt in Leslie's mind, there was only one type of creature capable of rudely handling a Fera.

Cameron: "He's got good taste," Cam smiled as his fingers moved to scratch at his new friend's chin. His fingers stilled for a moment as Leslie said what they were both wondering out loud, and then they resumed their pets as he listened quietly from where he stood.

Pete: "It's looking that way, yeah. Sheriff's looking into it." Which made him feel twenty kinds of terrible. He hated having to lie but what other choice was there? He couldn't very well tell Peabody or Parker that Kelly was a werewolf.

"It was this past weekend. Saturday night." Not quite the truth, not quite a lie.

Leslie: Peter didn't have to lie. Leslie's eyes were planted on the ceiling, putting forth a calendar in his distressed hasty thoughts.

"...I see."

Cameron: Cam felt something in his chest tighten.

"Is he hospitalized?" Cam finally asked, unaware of what either of the other men might be thinking.

He didn't know Kelly was a werewolf, so to him, his friend had simply been attacked. He always had a feeling that Kelly was more than he said, and regardless he was huge, so it made Cam wonder what had happened to overpower such a man.

Pete: Pete nodded. "I took him and they admitted him right away, rushed him into surgery. He was in the ICU for a couple days. As far as I know he isn't anymore."

Leslie: Leslie forced himself back to the room and those within it. While he was quite fond of Kelly, he well aware of Cameron's budding relationship, whatever it was shaping into. Cameron was in this room, not Kelly.

"I'll see to visiting hours." Henry Brozek would be his first call walking out of Peter's office.

Cameron: "I want to go with you," Cam said quickly, and he paused in his pets of the friendly cat. He turned to look at the other two, his expression almost forcibly blank.

Pete: He offered Cam a reassuring smile. From what he'd been told Kelly wasn't quite out of the woods yet, but having some visitors that weren't him would do him good. Even if he wasn't awake.

"Ya'll go on."

Leslie: "At this hour?" Leslie hadn't stepped foot in a hospital in years. Ignorant to what was and wasn't allowed. He'd assumed visiting hours would have been midday.

Still, he got to his feet. "Thanks for this. I'll see you real soon."

Cameron: Cam could easily sneak them into the hospital, but perhaps he'd save that for a time when he was alone.

"Thanks," Cam nodded to Pete. He gave a slight smile in return and then held the door open for Leslie to step through.

Pete: “Bridget isn’t working today. Whoever’s on duty will let you see him for a second if you say I sent you.”

Pete nodded. “No problem. Sorry I couldn’t give you better news.”

Leslie: "I've got someone in mind. Thanks again, Peter."

Leslie took the stairs at a gallop pace, screen between him and a clear view as he searched for Henry's number. Had he kept it? He never threw away a number, not even those he should.

The phone was pressed to his ear, looking over his shoulder for Cameron as he exited the front door.

Cameron: Cam kept his eyes forward as he followed Leslie, very obviously deep in thought. It was hard not to let the twist of anxiety grow to something more, but he knew seeing Kelly would help him figure out how he felt about... Whatever this situation was. He had so many questions, and knew he'd probably get no answers as quickly as he wanted them. He followed Leslie out the front door and took a slow breath, letting the burn of the chilled air settle in his lungs.

Henry: It would take a good number of rings, but eventually Henry Brozek would answer his phone.

"Leslie?"

Leslie: "Hey, Chippy. Are you at work right now?"

Henry: "Uh, yeah, why?"

Leslie: "My friend and I want to look in on Kelly Rose."

Henry: "Okay, um, visiting hours ended about twenty minutes ago but I'll tell you what. If ya'll can get down here quickly I can let you see him for a little bit. Just ask for me when you get here."

Leslie: "Is he - nevermind. Thanks, Chippy. We'll see you soon."

Cameron: "Could I ride with you?" Cam asked quietly once Leslie hung up the phone. He glanced over at it bike to avoid looking at Leslie. "If you don't mind dropping me off here later to pick my bike back up? I just.... Don't want to drive at this exact second." He clenched his fists to hide the slight shake in his hands. He hated hospitals, but he wasn't about to let that stop him from going to see Kelly.

Leslie: Leslie looked back at Cameron as he pocketed his phone. "Yeah. Yeah, of course." Keys were absently-mindedly tossed between hands.

"He's alright," he said, climbing into the driver's seat. "He's going to be alright." It would appear he was speaking more to himself than to his passenger.

Cameron: Cam followed Leslie quietly, and when they reached the car he took his seat on the passenger side. Cam's hands curled tightly back into fists and he nodded as he stared out the front window.

"Yeah..." But there was no confidence in his voice.

Leslie: As much as Leslie wanted to, he would not reassure beyond the hopeful sentence. Whether Kelly was in recovery or not mattered less than what could potentially be done in his aid.

At least, that was the repetition of Leslie's thoughts as he threw the Jeep into park. As expected of a tourist fishing town, the hospital was all but vacant.

"As it should be," he muttered under his breath, stepping out into the unwelcoming February night.

"You alright, Cam?"

Cameron: Cam listened to his own repetitive thoughts on the way to the hospital, and it wasn't until the car came to a stop that he returned to himself. With a blink he jumped from his seat and tried to use the bite of the cold air to stop himself from trying to will his mind to be somewhere else.

"Sorry- I'm... I'll be alright. hospitals- or parts of them- I hate hospitals, let’s just go with that," it was all too much to address right now, and he didn't want to make this about him. They were here for Kelly. He'd figure out how to process this when he saw Kelly.

"I'm good, I'm good," he tried to give Leslie a half smile, but it didn't reach his eyes. He nodded towards the doors. "Lead the way."

Henry: With visiting hours over, the hospital was even quieter than it normally would be this time of year. The waiting area was empty. Only the rare page broke through the quiet.

But even so, the receptionist was sitting at her desk, chatting with a nurse and ready to help anyone that might come in.

When the two men entered, they would be given a friendly smile and asked, "Good evening, can I help ya'll?"

Leslie: Cameron was given a soft pat to his elbow. "We won't be long." He could have said more. 'I'm with you. It's for a good cause.' It seemed enough of a given.

Leslie approached the desk with the best smile he could muster. Honest in its intent at the very least. A glance of regard to her name plaque. His smile widened enough to crease the corners of his mouth.

"Hi, Tiffany. I'd like to know if Henry Brozek is available."

Cameron: Cam took a deep breath and nodded. "Yeah. I'll be fine," he gave Leslie a smile, this time with a little more confidence. "I just want to see Kelly. I can definitely endure a hospital for anyone I care about." His smile warmed as they approached the receptionist and he stopped beside Leslie, and looked between the two as they talked.

Henry: Tiffany smiled and nodded. "I think so, yes. Have a seat and I'll page him for you."

It being a slow night, Leslie and Cameron wouldn't have to wait long for Henry to appear. Even so, he looked a bit more somber than he usually did.

"Hey," he greeted.

Leslie: Leslie took to leaning against the nearest wall. Silence filled what normally would have been pleasantries until Henry's arrival. Climbing his thirties and still he looked just like a boy scout.

"Chippy," he greeted. "Hey, thanks for this. This is Cameron, by the way. Cam, this is my buddy Henry."

Cameron: Cam took a seat and stared at the ceiling until Henry arrived, and then he rose quicky from the chair when he heard footsteps approaching.

"Nice to meet you. Thank you for letting us do this." He offered a hand in greeting.

Henry: Henry smiled and shook Cameron's hand. "Nice to meet you too, man. Sorry it's not under better circumstances."

Speaking of which....

"Before I take you to see Mr. Rose, I've gotta ask. Has someone warned you?"

Leslie: "We just came from Peter's. We have the bare minimum of information. How bad is he?"

Cameron: Cam felt his heart sink at Henry's words and his expression returned to the blank one from earlier. He shook his head slightly.

Henry: Henry blew out a long breath. "I can't give you specifics, it's against hospital policy. All I can say is he's stable for now but he's, well. He sustained significant injuries."

Leslie: "Is he conscious?" At this point, that's all Leslie needed to know; the rest he could sort himself.

Cameron: Cam simply stared at Henry, and let Leslie ask the questions for them both.

Henry: "Right now he's sedated to keep him comfortable."

Leslie: "Is it alright if we look in on him? We won't disturb him."

Cameron: Henry's words rang hollow in Cam's ears. For a moment it was as if someone were shouting them down a long, darkened tunnel in Cam's direction.

Sedated. To keep him comfortable.

Cam swallowed, and, with a snap, he was back in the waiting room with Henry and Leslie.

"Please?"

Henry/Kelly: Henry glanced over at Tiffany. She was focusing very intently on her screen and pretending she didn't hear a single word that was being said. Sweet girl.

He looked back to Leslie and Cameron and nodded. "Just for a minute, or we'll all get in trouble. Follow me."

They would be led toward the elevators and taken up to the third floor.

It was even quieter and emptier than downstairs, due both to the hour and the time of year. Without the tourists in town getting themselves into trouble, they had more empty beds. Less strenuous shifts. Less staff on call. It was as close as a hospital could ever get to peace.

Kelly's room was halfway down the hall to the right, door open. Inside, a bedside lamp served as the only source of light apart from the glow given off by the various monitors surrounding the bed. Their beeping was the only sound apart from Kelly's soft labored breathing. As for Kelly himself...

A week's growth of beard covered a face that was noticeably more gaunt than the last time either would have seen him. Scars that he made an effort to conceal in his everyday life were thrown into stark relief by the low light. The same light also helped mask, however marginally, the myriad of bruises in various stages of healing all over his body. Some were all but black, some starting to inch toward healed yellow.

An IV kept him fed. An oxygen mask helped him breathe.

Leslie: Leslie reserved his feelings for the time being. The last thing Kelly needed was thrown emotion. Still, turning into the room, the sight caught him off guard like a forgotten stair. Someone or something had managed to inflict such damage to a credible creature. It was humbling, infuriating even.

"Thanks, Chippy. We uh, we won't be long."

Cameron: Cam was completely silent as they entered the room. The last time he'd seen someone in a bed like this, he didn't want to think about what had happened, or send that energy to Kelly.

Instead, he focused his energy on the present, and wordlessly moved to the side of the bed after a grateful nod to Henry.

"Who did this to you...?" Cam whispered softly, and his fingers curled into fists at his side to resist the urge to reach out and touch Kelly's hand. They'd promised not to disturb Kelly, and he meant to keep that promise as well.

Henry/Kelly: Henry nodded and clapped a hand on Leslie's shoulder. "Don't mention it. Seriously. I can give ya'll about five minutes then ya'll are gonna have to say goodnight for now." He left them to it.

There would, of course, be no answer from Kelly. He was lost to peaceful unconsciousness, aided by the medications being used to manage his pain. There was nothing Leslie and Cam could do to disturb him unless it was magical.

Leslie: Leslie circled the bed to the opposite side. His first thought was consciousness. Wondered if Kelly was aware at all of his situation; wondered if he could feel their presence. Some function of his species.

"I'm gonna put my hand on him." For some opaque reason, it seemed necessary to state his intention. A slow hand came to rest on Kelly's forehead. Eyes closed with a wince.

Cameron: Seeing Leslie reach out made Cam's resolve not to touch Kelly waver, and he reached out to gently touch Kelly's hand with the tips of his fingers. He noticed the wince and bit his lip as he looked at Leslie with concern.

"What?"

Leslie: "Just...feelings." He didn't want to elaborate. The utter mangle of Kelly's body, the invasiveness of surgical tools, knives, threading. So far away from everything familiar and harmonious. He wanted to hear Kelly's disapproving voice again. To see him as far away from this place as possible.

He pushed his intent into his hands. What meager little wounds could he discreetly heal he would tend to. It was not enough, but he had to do something.

"I'm helping with - where I can. Not much, but..."

Cameron: Cam crouched down next to the bed and slipped his fingers into Kelly's hand to gently hold it. It made his heart ache with the lack of reaction to his touch. Not that he expected any, but it still hurt.

"If I find out who did this..." he murmured quietly, more to himself than the other two, "...I promise to make sure they can never do this to anyone again."

His thumb traced a small circle on the back of Kelly's hand.

"At least... at least you can do something. No matter how small..." He said to Leslie, and looked up to give him a half-hearted smile.

Leslie: "Don't let that be what you walk out of this room with," murmured Leslie. "That's not the kind of energy he needs. Remember how we met. What you said to me."

He could feel every little tear. Horrid scar tissue. There was no belief in this hospital. His magic was dim. If only he could bring Kelly home.

Cameron: Cam opened his mouth as if to argue, but slowly closed it as he thought better of it. While he thought this was different, this wasn't an accident but an intentional and malicious act of violence- this wasn't the place. Leslie was right, Kelly didn't need that. He needed positivity. He needed support.

He stared down at Kelly's hand in his own and gave it a smallest of squeezes.

"Alright Kelly," Cam tried to imagine Kelly upright in the bed, giving him that subdued half smile Cam had grown used to. "You'd better get better..." He swallowed, "... I know you will. I'm going to visit you every day until you do." Even if the future didn't hold what he wanted, Cam wasn't psychic after all, he had to believe there was going to be a Kelly there- free of this hospital bed and this place. He focused all of that hope into his touch, squeezing again as softly as he dared. If Kelly couldn't hear him or respond, Cam hoped he could feel it, somehow.

Leslie: Leslie opened his eyes and waited. He understood how defensive someone could be under such strained circumstances. Felt similar disappointment and anger with reckless people. Cameron had been there for him. Charles and Tristan gentle anchors. Support which needed to be paid forward.

"How much do you believe in what I do?" A pause, checking the door for Henry. "These places are suffocating, sterile. I need your assistance, love."

Cameron: "I believe in your magic as much as I believe in my own powers. I've seen you at work," Cam reminded, and he looked to Leslie as he stood up.

"Of course, what do you need?"

Leslie: "Just talk to me. Tell me the first time you witnessed magick."

Cameron: Cam paused and tried to think back to the first time he witnessed magick, something not based in a mutation or specific power.

"Before I could heal myself, my friend- who is basically my mom- I stopped by her place since she invited Lucien and I over for family dinner. I got into a tussle on my way there, and showed up beat to all hell. I had a black eye and a fierce road rash from getting tossed down a street- I wasn't wearing my usual gear, and had bandages up my arm. She used this ointment and worked her magick on my wounds when I showed up, she didn't even hesitate to help me. She basically healed me to almost good as new. I was sore, but that was it... It was amazing."

Leslie: Ointments? Interesting. Leslie gently smiled, squeezed Kelly's hand and slowed his breathing. Cameron's belief was strong. Even Kelly, despite unconsciousness, was a node against the consensual reality. Just a little more...

The prickling at the back of his neck warned him. He could offer nothing further. Not here.

"Is she a witch? This woman?"

Cameron: Cam shook his head. "She's a Druid."

Leslie: His brow furrowed. "Are you... Was that Bronwyn?"

Cameron: Cam gave Leslie a confused frown. "What?"

Leslie: "The druid. It was Bronwyn? From the Charles' Christmas party?"

Cameron: Cam nodded. "Yeah, that's her."

Leslie: "I could really use her help in this matter. My mother... perhaps both. He just shouldn't be here."

Cameron: Cam nodded. "Do you want me to call her? I can try to reach her now...?" He wanted Kelly to be free of his place as quickly as possible.

Leslie: "Tomorrow. Henry will be back any moment. We'll come back tomorrow. We'll think of something."

Cameron: Cam looked down at Kelly, and as soon as his thoughts dared dip towards the negative, he instantly chased them away. He gave Kelly's hand another squeeze.

"We'll be back tomorrow for you. We're gonna get you out of here," Cam whispered, and tried to focus all of the positive energy he could into his touch. Tomorrow. There was hope for tomorrow. Then he released Kelly's hand and turned to Leslie. "We should get going then, yeah?"

Leslie: "Yeah." But not before whispering a blessing in Kelly's ear. May your dreams be peaceful. May you find the strength within yourself to heal, as is your nature. Luna will not turn away her child. You are not alone.

They needed to leave. Henry didn't deserve trouble on their behalf. Still, the nurse would be given a quick and fierce hug of gratitude.

Cameron: Cam offered an awkward hand to Henry once Leslie was done with his hug. "Thank you, for letting us see him."

Henry: Henry had been about to go get Leslie and Cam when they came out of Mr. Rose's room and saved him the trouble.

He returned the hug and accepted the handshake. "No problem. Sorry I couldn't give you any longer. You should be good to come back tomorrow during visiting hours. You'll be able to have more time."

Leslie: "Thanks, Chippy. I'll give you a ring tomorrow."

The walk out of the hospital was slower than he would have liked, but he couldn't bring himself to quicken the distance between himself and Kelly.

"I miss my coven," Leslie said to the stars. "I don't - I don't like this feeling."

Cameron: Cam was quiet until the automatic doors of the hospital closed quietly behind them. He inhaled the evening air in slow, even breaths, but despite this, he could not stop the bought of nausea that swelled in his chest and pressed at this throat.

He hated hospitals. Hated how sterile they smelled, how cold and empty they felt, how the bland walls and white tiles and pressed scrubs and- all of it- bolstered memories that clawed at him and crawled just beneath his skin. He was going to have nightmares tonight, and an intense wave of guilt washed over him as he felt relief- relief that he no longer had to walk those halls tonight, yet his friend remained trapped inside.

"Would your coven help with this sorta-"

With a sudden turn, Cam nearly ran into the alley beside the hospital, doubled over, and vomited onto the pavement with a heave that brought tears to his eyes.

He quickly wiped at his eyes, and then his mouth with the back of his hand, and he straightened up to try and collect himself.

"Would they- would they have helped with something like this? Why- why aren't you around 'em?" He asked, keeping his eyes downcast as he hoped to avoid the subject of his current nausea.

Leslie: His mother's coven, without a doubt would have come to his aid. His creation with Belmira, that was a different matter.

But that conversation was pushed to the side as Cameron fled for privacy. The unsavory sound which followed swelled his concern.

How could he ignore that?

"Let's...get us home first. Come home with me, okay? I'll get you some tea."

Cameron: Cam suddenly felt tired, and a part of him wanted to refuse Leslie's request. It'd be easier just to get shit faced, pass out, and hope the nightmares don't take him. Unfortunately, he knew that wasn't the right way to do things, and he was fairly sure Leslie wouldn't let him.

He could taste bile on the back of his tongue.

"Alright..." He said quietly, and he rubbed a hand over his face as he returned to Leslie's side.

Leslie: "Okay?" Just an extra confirmation. An arm wrapped around Cameron's shoulders for comfort or steady. Whichever Cameron needed more would be the excuse.

"To answer your question, yes. A gathering of awakened can resist the strength of consensual reality. I'm not with them anymore because I chose to leave."

Cameron: When Leslie touched him, Cam couldn't control the way his body flinched. His skin crawled at the contact, but another part of him knew he didn't need to recoil, that there was comfort there. So he forced himself to lean in, to gently grip the back of Leslie's shirt so he wouldn't pull away.

"No..." he answered honestly, but he didn't have the heart to elaborate. He could walk though, and started to move in the direction of Leslie's vehicle.

"What's awakened mean? Why did you leave?" Anything to keep Leslie talking so he didn't have to.

Leslie: "People that are aware of... their capabilities. Of magic. That the world is much bigger than what the majority believe." There was no sense in subtlety with Cameron. He had nothing to hide from him.

"I left because I needed to find my way again."

The passenger door was opened, waiting for Cameron to settle before closing.

Cameron: Cam settled into the seat, and as he waited for Leslie to jump in the driver's side, he scrambled for more questions. "Where you lost with your magic or something?" He asked. He had no idea how any of it worked.

Leslie: Here, Leslie would wait until the engine warmed. Some answers required a moment to breathe.

"Or something. Some in my coven were going down a dark path. I was among them."

Cameron: Cam stared out the front window, and quietly debated his next question. "How'd you know it was a path you didn't want?" He asked finally. "Do they just... Let you leave?" He could remember when he left the Brotherhood, it didn't go over well.

Leslie: Leslie started down the parking lot and out onto the small road leading out of town.

"It wasn't a - a greater good path. The ones in stories, where the villain does what he thinks is just for the better of humanity. It was viciousness for the sake of progress. It was wrong and it felt wrong."

A moment of silence stretched, caught up in memories. "Sorry, uh, I didn't give them any choice. I just packed my things and I left." Not a lie, but more a paltry summary of the experience. "I had a run-in with just one."

Cameron: Cam nodded. He could understand that too. When he was told to let children die in a burning building, he knew in that moment that it was wrong. It all felt wrong. He wondered what kind of strength it took Leslie to leave, and it made him admire his friend that much more.

"So... They don't normally just let you leave then?" Was what Cam assumed Leslie meant by that answer. "How'd... How'd that run-in go?"

Leslie: "There's no crime in leaving a coven. A real coven. That is, it's not a cult." Fingers rubbed against his lips. "I'd say poorly, for both of us."

Leslie turned his smile on Cameron. One for the sake of a pleasant atmosphere. "Enjoying the interview?"

Cameron: Cam felt a pang of guilt at that.

It wasn't hard to tell he was steering the conversation away from himself, but he knew that Leslie was also extremely perceptive. Cam wondered if that was a part of his abilities as a witch, like when they'd first touched.

"Sorry..." Cam said softly, and looked down at his upturned hands, laid limply in his lap. "I do actually want to know about you, and witch stuff- your coven..." which was all true, Cam found witches fascinating. In his avoidance he didn't mean for his questions to seem disingenuous, or like he was trying to grill the other for information.

Leslie: "You can ask me anything." Simply stated, but honest. Eyes fixed to the road while feeling for Cameron's knee to squeeze.

"Do you need a distraction? A uh, story?"

Cameron: Cam reluctantly reached out and gave Leslie's arm a squeeze, making sure to avoid direct skin contact. If he was going to tell Leslie what was on his mind, he wanted it to be out loud.

"Sure, a story would be great," Cam nodded.

Leslie: Leslie considered the possibilities. Opened his mouth, closed, tried again.

"When I lived in Charlotte, I met a girl named Belmira. Told ya about her, I think. She became my best friend overnight. Could hardly understand her through her accent. She's Portuguese. I was just a kid, but I was obsessed. I wanted to speak to her in her language. She's Verbena, like me. Dabbles in Matter as well. Makes her far more special than me. Can turn a rock into a tomato, and vice versa. Never has to want for anything. It... It'll go t'your head, that combination. Did go to her head. But when we were kids it was fun! So much fun. But, heh, when spells didn't go our way, I can - I can still remember the sound she'd make when she was frustrated. This little... like a squeal? A sound like what you'd imagine Barbie would make, kicking her foot out."

Cameron: The further into the story Leslie got the more the little smile on Cam's lips grew. It was a good distraction, and with it came more questions.

"Sounds cute..." Cam hummed, and from his past he remembered a few little ticks like that from people who made him smile.

"You said it went to her head... did something happen to her? Or just... magic like that is easy to... let change you?"

Leslie: "Power changes people, even good people. It doesn't have to be a negative change, but change is inevitable. Could call it growth." As though alone, he nodded to himself, shook his head. "Maybe it's the application. My father said it would go to my head when I produced my first flame. Said I was toying with one of the most dangerous spheres."

Leslie took a breath, took a left turn. "Some people can alter time. Go back, forward. Set themselves on repeat. Takes a toll in their body and mind, makes them feel godlike and behave the same. Some people have luck in the palm of their hands. Cockiest sonofabitches you'll ever meet. But...combining Life and Matter, living and inanimate, it did something to Belmira. That was her deadly combination. When she realized she could hurt someone without any obvious consequence, that was it. In an instant she was someone else."

Cameron: Cam slowly brought a leg to his chest and perched his foot along the edge of the seat. His arms wrapped around the leg and he leaned forward so he could use his knee as a place to rest his cheek while he listened to Leslie talk.

"Magic sounds so..." he wanted to say 'dangerous' but with the nature of his own life, that seemed a hypocritical statement, "alluring. In some crazy ways...." He frowned a little. "I don't know anything about magic but... it sounds like application. It's like mutants and their powers. You might be able to do something dangerous or hurtful, and your choice not to do that, or to use your abilities to help others, is what determines whether or not you're a hero or a villain. Or just- someone tryin' to live your fucking life. Doesn't have to be as dramatic as all the stuff I do..."

Leslie: "My father, Clive, builds houses for a living. He blesses every home. He brings tonics to work for his employees. Ones for health and good energy. He cares. My mother, Hazel, owns a tea shop. About the oldest form of the craft there is. What ails you? She's got a potion for that. A prayer. She could easily brew a potion to maim, murder, spill secrets. My parents never went down that path."

Cameron: Cam's smile softened.

"They sound lovely..." He squeezed his leg just a little bit and relaxed again. "Like the kinda witches I'd like to meet. Like you." He sighed and let his eyes close for a moment. "I wish I had abilities like that. Stuff that helped people directly. Stuff that was more than just me... I dunno, physically altering my surroundings." Stuff that would let him help Kelly. "Dunno why your dad said fire was a bad path to follow. You helped with that car when we met..."

Leslie: "You can do anything, Cameron. If you believe in the magic, you can use it. It's that simple. I'm a witch. If you believe anyone," he chuckled.

Cameron was given a quick glance. Almost home.

"You're a hero, love. Don't let anyone tell you otherwise. What Clive said is true, or can be true. I suppressed the fire, but had that been an enemy? Could I have enraged it?"

Cameron: "Wouldn't that be a sight huh? Seein' me do some magic..." Cam laughed a little, and he quietly wished the weight on his shoulders would ease.

"I try to believe that," he said with a nod as his eyes opened again, and he gave Leslie a small smile. It was hard to believe, when there were plenty of things he'd done what weren't very heroic.

"Probably... coulda tried to hurt the guy responsible, but you didn't," Cam pointed out, and he gave Leslie a curious look. "Any particular reason you call your dad by his name?" Cam did the same thing with his own father, but it was because they were estranged.

Leslie: "Just something we've always done. Father is his title, but it's not a name. He's Clive. She's Hazel. Feels more personal."

Cameron was given a gentle smile in return, one with sympathy and restraint.

Finally, his dirt road. His little A-frame to the left. The crunch of gravel like a welcome home chorus.

"You're welcome to stay as long as you'd like. I dunno about you, but I'm beat."

Cameron: Cam nodded slightly.

"I guess I could see that. If it already has that positive context, I could see how that'd work," He could never see himself using his father's name in a respectful manner.

"I... I dunno how long I should stay. Unless you've got something to knock me out cold into a dead-ass sleep, it's probably not wise for me to stay...." He could just picture himself accidentally destroying one of Leslie's rooms mid-nightmare.... and with a churn in his gut he realized this might not have the smartest of ideas. He was exhausted, but this feeling in his chest usually meant he was in for a bad night. He could pull an all-nighter, they had to get Kelly tomorrow, he had to contact Bronwyn...

Leslie: Keys were gently rolled between his hands. "Can I let you in on something? I have a little... gift, you can call it. People sleep better next to me. I promise you, for what a promise is worth, it's not sexual. I'll stay up if you'd prefer, or outside of the covers, or under them. You look a foot in the unconscious door."

Cameron: Cam stared at Leslie's hands, and for a moment debated turning down his offer.

"I'm not worried about it being sexual," Cam shook his head. He'd sleep with nearly any of his friends if asked, if only for the fact that it'd mean more to him than the experiences with the random men he usually invited into his bed.

Not that this would happen with Leslie, and in a way that was a different kind of comfort.

"I dunno how potent that ability is... but, if I do start to have a nightmare, can you promise to leave the room until it's over? I don't want to accidentally hurt you," he'd never be able to forgive himself if he did. He stared down at his hands. "You don't have to stay up either. It's just- if it starts to happen it'll start slow so you'll probably wake up before it gets crazy. I can fix the room after I wake up."

Leslie: Leslie watched, wishing he could understand what he was feeling, why he was feeling it, what was it about the hospital. He had his own reasons, but no reason was enough to make himself sick.

He pulled himself from his thoughts, shook his head as he asked, "You wouldn't rather I wake you?"

Cameron: Cam rubbed at his arm.

"You could try, but depending on where I'm at in the nightmare- waking me up only means I'll be conscious, but most likely not able to recognize where I am... basically a PTSD flashback." He explained quietly. Now was the time to tell Leslie why he was so uncomfortable. Now would be a good time to explain why he threw up once they left the hospital. He just had to....

"I... spent almost a month in a mutant experimental facility. It's like... a fucked up science lab where they abduct you, and run experiment after experiment on you. You don't exist to the outside world, so they... literally do whatever they want. There were no windows, so I measured time by when I was conscious and was, or wasn't, in pain.

It was perfectly white. Perfectly sterile. The doctors wore lab coats. The attendants wore scrubs. I wore scrubs when I wasn't being ripped open. The machines they hooked me up to beeped in the same ways. It smelled just like a hospital."

He fiddled with the hem of his shirt.

"I haven't been in a hospital since then. Leaving Kelly there..."

Leslie: Leslie turned to press his back against the Jeep door, giving Cameron his full attention as he explained what he'd been wondering. Not a mind reader, just decent at reading the atmosphere. Another of Cameron's talents, perhaps.

What followed sickened him, and it showed in his eyes, the wince of his cheeks, the stillness of his hands.

"Those places diminish faith, belief in anything other than what they can offer. It kills my magic. It's why I needed your help. You're strong, Cameron, despite what's happened to you."

Leslie offered his hand. "He won't be there long. We'll find a way."

Cameron: Leslie had become a trusted friend. He had an energy about him that made him easy to trust, despite the short time they'd known each other, and at this point, with the night that could be ahead, he deserved to know what was on Cam's mind.

Cam nodded in silent agreement, but in moments like this, when something dark and uncomfortable clawed just beneath his skin, it was hard to truly believe it.

He reached out an took Leslie's hand to give it a squeeze.

"Logically I know it's not the same place. I know the intent is different and he's not going through some... fucked up testing- it's just... the similarities..." he shuddered, and his grip tightened on Leslie's hand for a moment. "I just reacted, and it's hard not to go back there, to be right back on that table- to feel like I'm betraying Kelly somehow. I always end up with nightmares when I go back to that place..." He shook his head and took a slow, deep breath.

"We'll get him out. We'll find a way," he nodded, as if trying to convince himself of Leslie's words by saying them out loud, and then he let go of Leslie's hand so he could pop open the door beside him.

"Could- do you have any tea- or something? Something I could drink before we sleep?"

Leslie: Leslie remained still, offering a calm energy as Cameron continued. He could squeeze his hand as tightly as he needed; aware the intent was connection, not pain.

"You're reacting to trauma. That's natural. Please don't be ashamed. You understand what's happening."

He took a deep breath for measure, something for Cameron to imitate by will or subconsciously.

The Jeep locked behind them, Leslie headed around to the backyard. Motioned for Cameron to follow.

"Of course. Regular tea, or my kinda thing?"

Cameron: Cam shrugged at that. It was hard not to feel... shame, or embarrassment, over not being able to sleep around others for fear of hurting them in his sleep.

Cam slipped from the Jeep and followed behind Leslie.

"I mean... what do you recommend?" He didn't drink tea often, but it sounded really nice at the moment.

Leslie: His pace slowed, waiting for Cameron to join him.

"On average, how many hours of sleep do you get?"

Cameron: Cam moved to walk with Leslie, and he shrugged.

"Depends. If it's a good night, maybe 6 hours. Bad nights mean I get like 2, if I sleep at all, and there's no nightmares." He shrugged again. "So I guess, 4 or 5- on average."

Leslie: A nod. "And do you have a preference in tea at all? Peppermint, earl grey, chamomile?"

Cameron: "I love mint, and chamomile is good too," Cam took a step towards Leslie as they walked, and he leaned into his friend.

Leslie: Leslie thought nothing of draping his arm around his shoulders. Just smaller, and yet Cameron felt so tall.

"I have just the thing. Valerian root. Smells, so you'll drink that, first. Hazel has just the recipe. Then some...mm... passionflower and lemon balm. I can make you a peppermint and chamomile tea in the morning."

The backdoor was unlocked. Opal yawned and stretched from her bed. Greeted with a soft hello.

"So tired you are. Want my shoulder?"

Leslie knelt, waited patiently as the little white ferret climbed his shoulder and around his neck like a breathing scarf.

"Opal, meet Cameron. We're gonna help him sleep."

Cameron: "You're the expert, I trust your judgement," Cam conceded.

As soon as he spotted Opal, Cam's eyes lit up, and when she finished settling into Leslie's shoulder he slowly approached and offered her his hand to sniff.

"Hello! You are adorable, my god. If you're helping, I'm guaranteed to sleep through the night."

Leslie: "She's a good girl. Wants under the covers and on my chest. Unless Tristie's with me. Then she wants his hair. That man is a sea creature."

Leslie slowly turned back to the small kitchen, taking a few tins from the shelf as he passed. One in particular not so pleasant. A smell one might consider very good cheese or very bad feet.

Even Opal grimaced from her perch.

"A spoonful to put you to sleep. Two spoonfuls for pleasant dreams."

Mixed with a small squeeze of lemon and warm water from the tap.

"Give that a minute and sieve with this." For now, he'd put the kettle on.

Cameron: "I have seen his hair, and that is completely understandable Opal," Cam greed with a nod, and he gave her a tiny scratch between the ears.

He grimaced with her at the smell, and he gave Leslie a look that clearly longed to ask if they could skip that one. "I gotta ingest that?" He asked in a soft whine as he waited.

Leslie: "Here." A slice of lemon was offered, gestured to his nose. "Trust me when I say this'll help. Hazel made that brew concentrate so you don't have to suffer an entire cup."

Cameron: Cam pouted, but he followed Leslie's instructions, and quickly ingested the glass with the lemon poised under his nose.

"Ugh..." Cam grunted once it was over, and he set the glass down. He ate the piece of lemon, and set the rind beside the cup.

Leslie: His host chuckled sympathetically. "I know. But the benefits outweigh the unpleasantness. Now, the reward of tea." A far superior aroma to replace what lingered in Cameron's mouth. Passionflower and lemon balm for two. Given what they'd seen, a night of peaceful rest was little to ask for.

"Want to shower while this steeps?"

Cameron: Cam could smell the tea as it started to steep, and he greatly looked forward to the point they could start to drink it. The tastes battling in his mouth were... unpleasant. At the mention of a shower, he nodded. Maybe the water would help wash away the way his skin felt like it was crawling.

"Yeah, a shower would be great."

Leslie: "I'll get you some clothes. Towels are folded under the sink. Really, make yourself at home, sweetheart. Tonight this is your home."

Cameron: Cam nodded and then pointed at the entry points leading to the kitchen. He tried to ignore the weird little thought buzzing around his head about 'home'.

"Which way to the shower? This is my first time in your home..."

Leslie: "That wall right there. This is the easiest house you'll ever be in," he chuckled.

Cameron: "It is a lovely home," Cam hummed, and he slipped into the bathroom to start up the shower. It took a moment of fiddling with the faucet to find the right temperature, just hot enough to make his skin tingle, before he stripped and slipped into the shower. He didn't spend long in the shower, just long enough to scrub at his skin and use a bit of whatever shampoo he found there, and he slipped back out of the shower to retrieve a towel and dry himself off.

Leslie: A green flannel henley was unearthed from the trunk. Gray sweatpants and socks, not sure their sizes mattered considering it was just the two of them. Still, boxer briefs to accompany. Not long for the scent of sweet sandalwood to fill the small space.

Leslie knocked his knuckles against the door. "Got some clothes here."

Cameron: The smell of sandalwood, combined with the tea and the shower, all helped to soothe some of Cam's nerves. As the hot water washed over him he started to zone out, only to be brought back to the present when he heard the knock at the door.

"One sec," Cam shouted as he turned off the water. A quick tousle of his hair with the towel before Cam wrapped it around his waist.

"Thanks," he opened the door and held out his hand to accept the offered clothes. He kept his torso behind the door in an attempt to hide the rest of his scars. He couldn't hide the ones down his outstretched arm, but he really hoped to avoid any questions about them tonight.

"I'll be just a sec," he closed the door behind him so he could quickly change, and when he was finished he hung his towel on the nearest hook before stepping back into the kitchen.

"That was... needed," Cam sighed as a little bit more of the tension seeped out of his shoulders.

Leslie: Questions would be avoided. Cameron had explained his past, which Leslie would base those scars upon. Their night was already heavy without adding another burden of confession. If Cameron wanted to give, he would take. No more than that.

Leslie smiled upon his return. Hip against the counter, arm hugged to his ribs as he sipped the last of his tea. Ugly yellow jacket and shirt hung and tossed respectively. Standing in bare feet, jeans, and white tank. Shoulders low with fatigue.

"You look better already. Want some more tea, or some sleep?"

Cameron: "I think a little more tea might be nice, if you don't mind? You don't have to though, you do look like you're about ready to pass out." Cam was sure he could too, within a few minutes of resting his head on a pillow. He just didn't want to. It felt silly to delay the inevitable but, more tea couldn't hurt, right?

Leslie: Another tea, then. Water still hot from the kettle. Less sugar this time.

"There's spare brushes under the sink. Feel free to pick one and leave it here." Because he doubted this was going to be the one and only sleep over.

Cameron: Cam nodded and grabbed one from under the sink so he could brush his teeth. He stared at himself as he brushed, and briefly wondered why he felt so... calm. He was still- off, but usually he felt... worse, when these things came up. He ran his hands through the damp hair clinging to his forehead, and sighed.

"I just left it on the counter," Cam explained when he returned again, and leaned against the counter beside Leslie.

Leslie: A fresh cup had been made. Set aside near the sink, just above the tiny fridge.

"Can drink it now or toss in the fridge." The stove was double checked before excusing himself for the bathroom.

"Bed's just up there. Won't be long." Just a quick rinse and a brush of his teeth, returning minutes later in black and blue checkered pajama bottoms and blue shirt. Wavy ash blond hair clung stubbornly to his ears and forehead. A quick shake of his head like a dog did the trick.

Cameron: Cam sipped a little of the tea and tried to enjoy the quiet moment to himself. Instead, it made him anxious, so he set the tea into the fridge before heading up to the bed. He stopped at the edge and stared down at it for a moment before taking a seat on its edge.

"You feelin' any better after a shower?" Cam asked when he returned.

Leslie: "Showers make everything better. At least by a small margin." Torc bracelet and leather cuff watch were removed and placed on the chair. Braided leather necklace and piercing remained as he climbed into bed.

"Are you still comfortable with this?"

Cameron: "With what? Sleeping in the same bed- snuggling?" Cam asked as he watched Leslie finish his prep for bed. "Yeah. Are you comfortable? If this isn't okay I didn't think you'd offer, but - if it's not - I'll be okay." He shrugged. He craved physical contact, and he trusted Leslie, so he hadn't really questioned the offer up to this point. It sounded nice to be able to share a bed with his friend. And if it meant he had a chance of sleeping through the night? He wanted to try. Getting to cuddle with his friend was just a bonus.

Leslie: "Mhm." The white comforter and tan sheet were pulled out as invitation to his guest. "Just double checking." This was about Cameron, after all, and he wanted this to be a positive experience.

He rolled himself onto his back and stretched. Arm spilled over Cameron's side of the bed. His chest wide and inviting, pale and just warm.

Cameron: Cam paused for a moment at the edge of the bed, before joining his friend beneath the covers. With ease he nestled against Leslie's side, and draped his arm over the other's waist. "This okay?" He asked, his head against Leslie's chest.

Leslie: "Comfortable? Been told the bed's too soft." His eyes were already closed. "If I grind my teeth too loud, just give me a shove." He gestured with two fingers off somewhere. "Mouth guard thing is somewhere."

Cameron: "I's perfect," Cam replied, his eyes already closed as well as he nestled in just a little further. "And if I start to toss and turn and talk in my sleep, if stuff starts to happen- just leave the room till it quiets down, I'll fix anything that gets wrecked when I wake up..." and already he drifted off to sleep, his body relaxing against Leslie's side.

Leslie: Leslie, well aware he was not a light sleeper, had half a mind to fight unconsciousness altogether. By the sound of it, Cameron would need saving from himself. He wondered what nightmares were like, as he couldn't recall ever having one. He pitied those poor souls wracked by the terrors of their own mind.

But sleep took him. His face against Cameron's hair, held in a non-grasp. At some point in the night he began to grind his teeth. A small moan intended as words. He nuzzled himself in.

Cameron: Cam is a clinger in his sleep, so the further Leslie nestled in Cam naturally followed suit and nuzzled into the comfort his friend's embrace.

Unfortunately, it wasn't long until he started to stir. It might have been the grinding of teeth, or Cam had simply reached the turning point of his dream, but unrest quickly settled into his limbs. A crease formed in Cam's brow and his breathing changed from its even pace to soft, uneven exhales. He shifted against Leslie and his body suddenly went unnaturally rigid before he started to tremble.

Leslie: "Mm-mm." Still not awake, but Cameron was hugged to his chest. Too much movement. Had him assuming his heat source was on the move. Forbidden. He needed those snuggles, and nuzzled himself into that green hair and against his neck.

"Good sleep," he breathed.

Cameron: At first the affection seemed to sooth the disturbance in Cam's dreams - but it wasn't long before Cam began to struggle against the comfort- or the confinement - of Leslie's arms and affection. Cam's fingers curled into blankets and Leslie's shirt, pulling and twisting in short, jerky movements as his breathing quickened. He groaned and a deep crease formed between his brows. Then Cam writhed, arching and gasping as his nightmare took another dark turn.

Leslie: It was the tugging of his shirt which finally stirred the witch. A moment taken to gather his wits. Staring at his guest with blank, tired eyes before the rest of him caught up.

"Mm, sweetheart." He settled on slow circles over Cameron's chest, rather than aggressive shaking or taps to his body. In his tired logic, it seemed the most gentle method.

Cameron: Cam shuddered, but his movements slowed, then stilled, until only labored breathing remained. The gentle touch eased the sense that he was 'confined' - and finally Cam's breathing evened until his eyes fluttered tiredly open. He stared blankly at Leslie as his own mind tried to wake up, and Cam reached up to rub a few stray tears with the heel of his palm.

"M'sorry..." He breathed softly, and he glanced around them. He was startled to find the room intact, and nothing appeared to have moved. "I didn't.... I didn't break anything?" He asked, and then it occurred to him that Leslie was still in the bed with him. He stared at Leslie, confusion obvious in his expression. "I didn't- you- you woke me up?"

Leslie: For a moment, it looked as though Leslie had nothing to say. Watching Cameron carefully, from his teary eyes to his hands wiping away what had slipped from his lashes.

"Remember what you dreamed?" Words slurred with exhaustion. He repositioned himself flat on his back, reinviting his guest to settle where he pleased.

"Everything's fine. We're fine."

Cameron: Cam stared at Leslie for a moment, and quietly looked away as he felt shame creep up his shoulders.

"Normally, during those it's hard to wake me up. I had to start locking Zeus outside of my room on bad nights because I nearly hurt him once while asleep. He's a smart dog, he's tried to wake me up..." Cam hesitated to move. He wanted to nestle back against Leslie's side, but the terror from the dream, residual guilt, and guilt for waking up his friend made him unsure if he should.

He fell silent instead and tried to chase the fading remnants of his nightmare while he stared down at his hands.

"I always do, for the most part," he replied quietly. "But I'm normally more... "in emotional pieces" when I wake up. This is probably the first time in a while I didn't wake up screaming, or having trashed my room with my powers..." he glanced at Leslie. "I'm sorry I woke you up," he could tell his friend was exhausted.

Leslie: "Nope. No mess. No pain. No... nothing." He tried to smile through the sleepy, and it was mildly silly to look at, with eyes half shut and smile just a little too wide. If Cameron needed to talk it out, by all means. He watched and listened and waited until the apology, waving it off with a shake of his head and hand.

"Nah, s'fine." That same exhaustion was gripping mercilessly. "Make it up t'me n'sleep."

Cameron: Cam hesitated another moment before he smiled softly at his friend's goofy, sleepy look. Then he snuggled back up to Leslie's side and nuzzled his head into Leslie's shoulder. "Alright..." and a few minutes later his breathing evened out, and he fell back into a surprisingly sound sleep.

Leslie: Leslie joined in no time, turning to rest his cheek against Cameron's forehead. The occasional grind of his teeth, but nothing more harmful throughout the night. Still an early riser, Leslie replaced himself with a pillow, slowly wriggling from bed and the sheets tangled at his ankle. He needed water and a good long stretch. Time to himself to reflect the goings on last night and not - again - to forget his insulin.

Cameron: Cam was not a morning person, so while he whined when Leslie left the bed, he accepted the pillow replacement and dosed for a while longer. When he finally rolled out of bed and wandered into Leslie's kitchen, he still looked sleepy and a little out of it, with bed-head sending his green hair in multiple different directions.

He yawned and rubbed the back of his neck as he sent Bronwyn a quick text:

{Hey, are you free sometime today?}

Then he set to searching for Leslie.

Leslie: Leslie was outside, on the porch in his underwear and a plain blue shirt. Stretched long with his forehead to his knees, holding center to his feet.

"You're up earlier than I thought."

Bronwyn: {Text to Cam} I'm at the shop today but it's not too busy if you want to come by

Cameron: Cam quickly typed out another text in response.

{Yeah, if you don't mind? Leslie and I need your help to help out a friend in trouble.}

Cam tucked his phone back into his pocket. Then he yawned again as scratched at his shoulder, exposing one of the large scars that started at his collar bone and moved down to the center of his chest.

"Yeah, I don't usually get up this early, but it happens. It probably helped that I slept so soundly after I first woke up.... thanks for that," Cam reached up and arched his back, stretching his arms up to the ceiling with a grunt, and a small line of his hips was exposed above his borrowed sweatpants. Then he sighed and let his arms fall back to his sides. "You got any coffee by chance?"

Leslie: Leslie kept his eyes closed. Stretched with arms over his head, perfectly flat and relaxed.

He would never understand that habit, but, he supposed, that was the way of all habits.

A single eye opened. A quick assessment of his guest.

"We've got tea, chilled tea with lemon, orange juice, and carrot juice. So, no more nightmares?"

Cameron: "Orange juice it is," Cam nodded, and he disappeared back into the kitchen. He returned with a glass filled with the orange liquid in question. "Nah. If I had any I don't remember them. I don't think I had any more, cause normally when I have a bad night I don't feel like I slept at all, but I don't feel that way today." He took a sip of his drink and leaned against the nearest wall. "Did you sleep okay? After I woke you up?"

Leslie: Leslie sat up, raised his knees to rest his forearms and simply watched Cameron as he spoke. Realizing some things about his new friend.

"Glad you got some quality sleep. Can always stay over when you need it."

He nodded, eyes falling to his toes. "Mm. Told I talk in my sleep. I don't even remember waking up, if I'm honest."

Cameron: "Thanks.... I'll letcha know if I need it, I guess,” he sheepishly rubbed at the back of his neck and then bit his lip. It felt weird to ask for help in that way, but if Leslie was offering, and it seemed to work pretty well this time... he could try it again.

"Well, I'm glad then. I didn't hear ya talking at all, outside of the conversation we had."

Leslie: "Good! Might be surprised - or not? - how many people just go with it and just keep talking," he smiled. "So! Breakfast, and we'll make a plan for today. What are you feeling?"

Cameron: "Whatcha got? If ya don't have coffee I have a fear my suggestion for bacon, eggs and hashbrowns might go unanswered," Cam smiled in return as he teased, and he took another sip of his juice.

Leslie: "Oh ho. There's where you're wrong. What would you say to grits, eggs, and strawberry yogurt on toast?"

Cameron: "Sounds delicious, can I help at all?"

Leslie: "Can you poach or fry eggs?"

Cameron: Cam paused.

"Ummm.... I meant more with prep - I am... admittedly very bad at cooking."

Leslie: "Well, you've spent the night with a chef. We'll have you frying eggs in no time."

Cameron: Cam looked skeptical.

"Well I wish you luck, the last time someone tried to teach me how to cook didn't go the greatest..."

Leslie: "Did you burn a pan?" he asked, getting to his feet.

Cameron: "I burned the entire stove."

Leslie: "How... did you manage that?"

Cameron: "I'd... rather not talk about it." Cam sipped casually at his drink and avoided looking at his friend.

Leslie: Leslie tilted his head, nodded. He thought it would have been a funny story, but it seemed to be a source of embarrassment. He'd let it go.

"So, you're in charge of toast and strawberry slices. Watch me make eggs and grits. Do you want cheese grits or peppery?"

Cameron: Cam was grateful Leslie let it go, but for Leslie's benefit he added, "let's just say I wasn't paying a lot of attention to what I was doing- some things nearby lit on fire, and then part of the stove was on fire."

He shrugged and grinned at Leslie's question.

"Cheese please!"

Leslie: "Cheese grits coming right up." Cameron would be only mildly supervised. His tasks weren't difficult, and the kitchen small. The tiny cabin forced intimacy with every guest. Part of its charm in Leslie's opinion. Reminded him of Kelly's visit some time ago, and had him stirring the grits for a minute longer than necessary, just off in his own world.

"When are we seeing him again?"

Cameron: The tasks given to Cam were easy enough to handle, and he started with the strawberries.

"Well, when can we move him here?" Cam asked and he glanced over at Leslie.

Leslie: "You want him here?"

Cameron: "Isn't that what you said? Or were you thinking of somewhere else?" Cam couldn't remember, that portion of the evening felt like more of a blur than a real memory. "There's plenty of room at my place," he offered, although he wasn't sure how attentive he could be between kids and his night classes. "I just know we wanted to get him out of there."

Leslie: "Maybe he'd feel safer waking at his place, but I don't mind him being here. Don't mind at all. He just needs to be well enough to leave. Did you uh... message Bronwyn? I still need to call Chippy. Oh! Did you still want a peppermint and chamomile tea?"

Cameron: "We could take him to his place too, I just wanna make sure we can watch over him," Cam nodded, "I messaged her, she said she's at the shop but we can stop by. Yeah, I'll take some of that. Is there honey I could put in?"

Leslie: "Shop where?" he asked, adding water to a bright red kettle.

"Honey's on top of the fridge."

Cameron: "New Orleans," Cam explained as he glanced down at his phone. "I have a friend who can take us, unless you wanna use a porter?" He retrieved the honey and set it down on the counter.

Leslie: Leslie smiled to himself. There was something delightful in hearing familiar terms with trustworthy friends.

"How much does your friend cost?"

Cameron: Cam paused and thought to himself.

"One is free but will take longer to get a hold of - the other is very food motivated, so if I offer to get him some sort of sweet treat I'm sure he'd transport us. He knows Bronwyn too so that helps."

Leslie: Leslie smiled. "I love feeding people. Sorta my thing. Let's try him."

Cameron: Cam smiled in return and nodded. Then he sent Vincent a quick text.

{Hey bird-brain, you free by chance? My friend and I need a lift to Bronwyn's, and there's some delicious food in it for you if you don't mind helping us out!}

Bronwyn: {Text} Sorry, I got distracted!

{Text} I don't mind at all, I hope I can help. Do you need Vincent to come get you?

Cameron: Cam glanced over at Leslie and then the strawberries, and he grabbed one so he could take a quick bite.

{No worries <3 and yeah, I sent him a text but I figured he's not looking at his phone lol}

Leslie: Vincent's phone was somewhere in Bronwyn's house - or perhaps Adrik's. He couldn't keep track of that cumbersome device. At the moment, he was perched on Bronwyn's shoulder, oblivious of messages except those reading from his mobile seat.

Bronwyn: {Text} Nope, he’s looking at mine. He’s sitting on my shoulder

{Text} When should I send him for you?

Cameron: "When will we be ready for Vincent to come grab us?" Cam asked Leslie as he glanced up from his phone.

Leslie: "He can have breakfast with us." He vaguely remembered that name.

Cameron: {Now if you want, he can have breakfast with us}

Bronwyn: Bronwyn turned to her familiar. “Do ye want to have breakfast with Cam and Leslie in return for bringin’ them over?”

Leslie: "Food!" The bird chirped, hopping down from his perch to land on human feet.

"What do you think they want?"

Bronwyn: “Apparently a friend o’ theirs needs help. I’m guessin’ the friend must be hurt in some way.”

#Looking for Kelly chapter #leslieeissott #changingthelights #petegraham #henrybrozek #kellygeorgerose

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mandakatt · 4 years ago

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FE3H/FFXV Crossover - Balthus x Gladio x Fem!Reader - More to love

A/N: Written for @thecoffeeaddictedshortcake during one of my writing streams.

She’d asked for how Gladio and Bathus would act to a Plus Size Reader that got picked on for her weight during training, and honestly, this one hit home a lot. So... Here. Have two very handsome, very ‘in shape’ men, loving on one curvy/plus sized fem!reader

Characters: Balthus x Gladio x Plus Size Fem!Reader Warnings: Low Self-Esteem, Self-Confidence Issues, Bullying Word Count: 1581 Summary: You've called yourself 'fluffy' for years. While others that don't know you and want to make you feel like shit call you fat.

Normally you can ignore it, and simply put your head down and train harder to prove them wrong. Today...it got under your skin cause someone happened to mention the two very handsome, very 'in shape' men you were dating.

...and those two handsome men want to remind you that you are worth it.

“Hey, Pal!”

Balthus called out to you when he walked into the apartment, catching you heading from the living room toward the bedroom. He smiled as you came to a stop but there was something off about you. Something about the way you were holding yourself didn't seem right and his brows dipped into a slight scowl. At first he thought you might have injured yourself so he quickly jogged up to your side, but when you didn't look at him, yeah. He knew something was up.

Leaning over, just enough to get into your line of sight he gave you a soft smile. “Hey you doin’ alright?”

“Yeah, I’m fine,” you said softly as you took a deep breath to calm yourself down. And slowly you turned your head to look at him. “What makes you think something’s wrong?”

Balthus studied your face for a moment, then frowned further. "Well the red rimmed eyes are a good place to start," he gently crossed his arms over his chest. "Did you hurt yourself?"

"No…"

"No?" Balthus' brows then dipped into a scowl. "Did someone make you cry? If someone made you cry then they're going to have a nice long talk with the King of Grap--”

“Balthus--” you huffed at him and frowned a little. "It's fine, I'm fine…"

“Love, if you’re going to lie to me…at least make it convincing will ya?”

You blinked up at him for a moment before sighing again and looking away. “It’s not anything I haven’t heard before…I just don’t know why it got to me so much this time..”

“This time?" Balthus frowned. "You uh, wanna elaborate on that?”

“Not really.”

“Why not?”

“...because I’m stupid for letting them get to me about something like this.”

“Them?" Bathus' brows shot upwards as he growled softly. “So they’re ganging up on you now? Just tell me who’s brains I have to bash in--”

“Balthus, you don’t have to smash anyone’s brains in.”

“You sure about that?”

“I mean, it might make you and me feel momentarily better, but I don’t think it will solve the problem.”

“And what problem is that?” came Gladio’s voice from behind Balthus, his arms crossing over his chest as he came into view. He shot a bit of a teasing smirk at Balthus before looking back to you. “Did this big idiot upset you again?”

“What?” Balthus blinked once, huffed softly before giving him a smirk of his own. “Look who’s talking, muscle head!”

“Talking about yourself again, huh?” Gladio grinned at him as he made his way over to you, before placing his hand gently on your shoulder. “All kidding aside, Babe, what’s going on?”

With a deep sigh you gently shrugged Gladio’s hand off your shoulder, and you felt something in your chest tighten as he blinked at you in surprise.

“Nothing. I just have to train harder that’s all.”

“Train harder?” Gladio blinked at you again. “Babe, you have been putting in long days already. You’re up before me most of the time, which with you being a night owl is a feat in itself. Do you wanna tell me why you think you need to train harder?”

You mumbled something softly under your breath as you looked down to the floor.

Gladio and Balthus looked to each other, then back to you.

“What was that?”

“I said I’m fat, and apparently my size is what makes others think I can’t do what they do!” you snapped then sighed taking a deep breath. “Sorry...I didn’t mean to--Ugh, okay this is something I’ve heard from others, many times. I just...today it got to me, and I don’t know why.”

“Fat.” Gladio repeated softly. “They think you’re fat?”

“Gladio, you cannot tell me that someone my size isn’t--”

“You’re not.” Gladio snarled softly back at you and frowned further. “You are not fat, Babe.”

You blinked at him in surprise then snorted a little. “Yes I am.”

“If you’re fat, then I’m the future king of Fodlan.” Balthus huffed.

“I love you both, and I get what you’re trying to do, and what you're trying to convince me of, but it’s not me that needs convincing. There’s times sure, where I am not okay with how much I weigh because that’s just how my self-confidence works. But today, apparently, it bothers those that I train with because they believe because of my size that I can’t do what they do.”

“Do they even--? Wait…tell me something. Have they felt you hit them with a punch?” Balthus blinked at you before huffing out a soft laugh. “I mean it, you have knocked me on my ass a few times with just one swing.”

“I mean, I guess? But--”

“No,” Gladio cut you off gently. “There is no you guess. You have. I’ve seen you do it so many times. I’ve seen these people, that I know are saying this shit to you, not make it to the top of the rock wall in the training room where you can. I’ve also seen you run absolute laps around most of them.”

“Only because I have to. I have to prove that I can do better than they can...”

“Babe, no you don’t,” Gladio huffed again and moved to gently cup your face with both hands as he watched tears form in your eyes. “Listen to me. The only one you have things to prove to is yourself. Not me. Not this idiot next to me--” and he smirked when Balthus huffed out a loud ‘Hey!’ “--the only one that matters on what you want to accomplish or do, is you.”

Balthus moved up beside you and gently wrapped his arm gently around your waist, chuckling softly when you tensed. “I’ll admit, he makes a hell of a point and besides, I'm pretty damned sure you know who we wanna have sandwiched between us at night don'tcha? Sure as hell ain’t some shit head that treats their comrades like garbage just because of their body type."

"For once, I agree with you."

"'Bout time you did. Oh, and another thing, if you think that your curves affect how we feel about you, you'd be right." Bathus smirked at you. "Cause let me remind you of just how much Gladio and I like holding onto those curves of yours for certain...activities?”

Gladio chuckled as your face warmed under his hands then leaned forward to gently press a kiss to your forehead before moving back to look at you again.

“Babe, your size has nothing to do with who you are. I’m pretty sure I’m safe in saying that we love you for you. Simple as that.”

“The two of you are going to make me cry again you know, it’s not fair...”

“Sure it is.” Gladio said softly and pressed a kiss to your nose.

“Hey, quit hoggin’ her will ya?” Balthus huffed and moved close enough to kiss your face between Gladio’s fingers, causing both Gladio and you to laugh softly. “Listen, like I said, if you wanted me to, I’d gladly bash in a few skulls till they got the point.”

“While I appreciate that,” you finally said softly as you gently pulled away from Gladio’s hands, gently taking one into your own, as you grasped Balthus’ hand with the other. “I don’t think it’ll help. I just have to somehow prove it to myself that I’m...that I’m worthy of this.”

“Hey. You don’t mean us, do ya?”

“...yeah.”

“Babe,” Gladio sighed softly and gently squeezed your hand. “You do know that if I didn’t think you--”

“Don’t.” you gently cut him off, a soft smile on your features. “I know what you’re going to say, but right now, I wouldn't believe you, but I promise that I will figure out a way to prove it to myself that I do. In the meantime--” you took a deep breath, and your smile grew. “--is there any chance that we can do that thing where you guys like having me sandwiched in the middle of you two for a while?”

Gladio grinned down at you. “Definitely.”

Balthus then huffed and gently picked you up, slinging you over his shoulder like one would a sack of potatoes. “I got this!”

“HEY! Put me DOWN?!”

“Nope! Not till I get you to a bed anyway.” he started heading off in the direction of your bedroom, pausing once to look over his shoulder. “You coming?”

“Yeah, I’m right behind you,” Gladio said with a smirk as he yanked his tank top over his head.

“Oh ho! You’re getting started early!”

You shrieked softly as Balthus tossed you down on the bed, then laughed when he flopped into it next to you, followed by Gladio a moment later. The two of them wrapped you up in their wonderfully strong arms and snuggled themselves close to you.

“Hey, you do know that the two of us are going to be here to tell you pretty much every day that you're worth it, right? That we love you...yeah? I mean, if you can get the two of us to work together without killing each other that says something right there.” Balthus hummed as he gently nuzzled his nose against your cheek.

“Yep,” Gladio agreed as he pressed a kiss to your ear, then your jaw, then growled softly into your ear.

“And I promise you, we’ll be all too glad to remind you in more ways than one.”

#Meraki #Final Fantasy 15 #Final Fantasy XV #FFXV #Fire Emblem Three Houses #FE3H #balthus von albrecht #Gladiolus Amicitia #Balthus x Gladio x Female Reader #Plus Size Reader #Self Insert #Reader Insert

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balmacedapascal-archive · 4 years ago

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kissed by fire | osferth & astrid | 3/?

summary: osferth had looked forward to join uhtred and his men at coccham. what he hadn’t anticipated was to be so taken by lady gisela’s right hand woman. a/n: okay here’s a little more osferth and astrid. i’ve realized that i kind of screwed up a bit with how he arrived at coccham and everything we’re just claiming canon divergence for now because it’s easier that way. i’ve also gone ahead and made a page for this story where you can find links to all the parts and any other content for it if anyone is interested. you can find it here. hope you guys like this still.

It’s been a week and a half since he first managed to get a moment of her time and every day since Osferth has been taking whatever small opportunities he has to have a conversation with Astrid. But today is the first she found him rather than the other way around. He’s just come down from the small room he’s been given as his own to start the day when she walks by, her hand reaching out to grab his sleeve and pull him along. An apple and piece of bread are shoved into his hands as she says, “Come on, priest. You can help with the cows today.” He doesn’t even care that Finan is shouting taunts from where he and Sihtric are sat, breaking their own fast before starting the day. He gladly follows along behind her, taking a bite of the apple as he keeps pace through the village. Her hair’s wild today, blowing behind her in the morning wind with waves from the braid she’d worn the day before, and when they reach the pen where the cattle have been over night she calls out something in Danish that has them meandering over to her.

There isn’t much actual conversation at first. Mostly, she’s talking to the animals, some of it in English, some Danish, all of it coming out in a soothing tone he’s only heard her use with animals and children. It does the trick because the cow she leads over to the small barn goes willingly to be milked. The barns quiet for the most part as he finishes off the food she’d handed to him and whether she realizes it or not she’s humming a tune he isn’t familiar with as she works. He listens to the melody, moving to stand in front of the animal and watch her curiously. He’s still trying to figure out what’s changed that had her inviting him along rather than him finding her on his own when she finishes.

“Ask your questions, priest, you always seem to have new ones.”

Osferth can feel his cheeks flush a bit though she’s not wrong. He keeps quiet for a minute, watching as she sets the pail aside and grabs a brush off the ground. “That song you were humming - I’ve never heard it before.”

“No, you wouldn’t have. It’s a lullaby my mother used to hum at night. I wouldn’t suppose something like that would be popular with you Saxons.” She doesn’t look at him when she speaks, running the brush along the cow’s side at a steady pace.

“It sounds lovely,” he comments, ignoring the Saxon remark. It’s no secret that she’s not particularly fond of his people but from what little he’s heard of her life from Sihtric, he doesn’t blame her. People still turn their noses up at Lord Uhtred. He can’t imagine they’re any politer to a young woman who prefers to follow gods that are foreign to them. “What was she like? Your mother, I mean.”

Her hand stops at his question, a tension obvious in her jaw that has him immediately regretting asking in the first place. Each day has been a test of what she’s willing to discuss with him and what crosses some invisible line that he doesn’t know about until it’s too late. He’s avoided too many problems so far, only unintentionally halting the conversation when he had asked about how she had come to Coccham originally. That particular memory had her storming off a cold look in her eyes. Sihtric had told him at dinner that it wasn’t an overly pleasant tale and one that she most likely wouldn’t want to discuss. He’d tried to keep to lighter topics in hopes of avoiding a repeat of that reaction. Now, he’s afraid he may have stepped into something else that she’ll refuse to discuss. But then she’s taking a deep breath and resuming her work as she speaks in a quieter voice.

“She was beautiful,” she tells him, the brush moving in long strokes across the cow’s back repeating over and over. “Her name was Inge. She came here after my father, looking for a good place to settle. She had me a year after the journey. She was fierce, had to be for the times when my father would be off with Gisela’s father looking to bring new wealth home. He always said she was twice kissed by fire - once for her hair and once for her temper.”

“Sounds like you favor her in that regard.” His words are quiet, like he’s doing his best not to scare her off which is honestly an accurate description. He wants her to keep talking, wants to know more if she’ll let him.

Astrid hums a sound of agreement, the corner of her mouth quirking up into the hint of a smile as she sets the brush aside and simply letting her hand stroke behind the animal’s ear gently. “I suppose... She died when I was seven. Sickness came to our village and took two dozen men and women in a week. After that I lived with Gisela and her family.”

The encouraging smile he’s been sporting in hopes that she’ll keep talking falls in a heartbeat, feeling a tightness in his throat that pairs perfectly with the guilt he feels in his stomach. Without even meaning to, an image of his own mother, feverish and speaking of her dead brother, comes to mind. “I - I’m so - Astrid, I’m sorry. I didn’t realize…”

That’s when she finally looks at him, oceans of emotion in her blue eyes that threaten to drown him and anyone else that gets caught. Her brows knit together for a moment in confusion and then she turns, leading the cow back to the field now that she’s done with it. “You didn’t kill her, priest. There’s nothing for you to apologize for.”

He doesn’t know what to say to that, choosing simply to follow her out to the field in silence. The sun’s hidden behind clouds for now, the morning cool as they stand in the middle of the field. A bit of noise from the village reaches them but for the most part, it’s just them. Well, them and the cows but only one is paying Astrid any mind at the moment. Slowly, he comes to stand next to her, arms brushing as he reaches to run a hand along the back of the cow in front of her. “I know for - for your people, there is Valhalla. Is that - would your mother be there?”

Her head tilts at his question, the wind catching her hair and playing with till she reaches to push it back. “Valhalla is for the warriors, to feast with Odin after dying with your sword in hand. She’s with Freyja in Folkvangr.” He watches her and waits for her continue, their hands close as she brushes some dirt off the animal’s back. “It’s a beautiful field where those worthy feast with the goddess. That’s where she’ll be waiting for me when my time comes.”

“Hopefully that time won’t come for quite a while,” he mumbles without hesitating, his face flushing when she hears his words and turns to him, that little quirk at the corner of her lips returning. “I just mean - well, I just -”

“We’ll just have to wait and see, priest,” she cuts him off, the hint of a smile directed at him for moment before her hand is pulling at his arm again. “Come on. There’s more to be done before Finan drags you off for that training of yours.”

#the last kingdom #the last kingdom fanfic #tlk fanfiction #osferth #let's be danes ⚔️#let me know what you guys think #i'm not sure if this is good or not #kissedbyfire #*mine

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blackandblueandstars · 5 years ago

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Captive Pt9

Pt1 Pt2 Pt3 Pt4 Pt5 Pt6 Pt7 Pt8

Kamilah held Amy for a while, wishing she had been stronger than Rheya. She'd led the hunt for Amy, readied to kill her.

She closed her eyes, trying to hide the tears. She thought she'd put this behind her with Gaius's death. The guilt, the helplessness. It's like a volcano in the pit of her stomach, that desperate feeling.

She was Rheya's puppet, jumping with each tweak of the strings. She hated herself, hated Rheya, hated Gaius. She hated that she was ever turned into a vampire to begin with, ever made to be someone's plaything.

But then, there was Amy.

She opened her eyes, looking at her sleeping form. She'd exhausted herself with tears and now laid in Kamilah's arms, clinging to her like her life depended on it.

She hated so much about who she was, and who she'd been. But this incredible woman, in all her beauty and courage and intelligence and strength, this magnetic force of a being that she worshipped -- she loved her. She forgave her. And as much as that volcano boiled inside her, Amy was a cool breeze cooling her down, reminding her that she was worthy despite her flaws.

She didn't deserve her love, but she gave it to her anyway. And she would be a fool to throw that away because of some insecurities.

Kamilah was deep in thought when Amy finally opened her eyes.

"Hey," she said, sleep still in her voice.

"Hey," Kamilah said softly, trying to hide the pain in her voice. "How'd you sleep?"

Amy smiled. "The best I have since Rheya came back," she breathed.

Kamilah nodded shortly. "Good."

Amy sat up, brows furrowed. "What's wrong?"

Kamilah smiled. "Nothing," she said.

"It doesn't look like nothing," Amy said, looking into her eyes. She put her hand to her cheek, caressing it. "What's wrong?"

Kamilah sighed, cursing Amy's ability to read her.

"I was just thinking," she says, hoping Amy will drop it.

"About?" she asks, concern in her eyes.

Damn her heart of gold.

"Rheya," she said quietly. "Gaius. Me."

Amy pulled Kamilah's chin, looking in her eyes.

"Want to give me a little more context?" she asked.

"Just feeling guilty," Kamilah said, looking away. "I don't deserve you, you know that?"

"Of course you do," Amy said gently. "Where is this coming from?"

"Amy, I did such terrible things. I know you think that I'm more than my actions, but I'm still trying to process what I've done."

"Oh," Amy said, unsure how to respond. "Okay."

She climbed into Kamilah's lap and hugged her close.

"Take all the time you need," Amy said as she held her. "But I'll be right here, loving you, the entire time."

Amy needed Kamilah to know that they were okay. Sure, it'd been hard without her, watching her work against her. But that's exactly why she wanted to savor having her back. She was exactly where she wanted to be, in Kamilah's arms.

Kamilah couldn't help the raw emotion tearing through her as Amy pulled her close. She didn't deserve this force of a woman, but she'd fight to be better until she did deserve her.

A knock on the door interrupted the moment, Amy pulling away from Kamilah and opening the door. Adrian stood before her, brows furrowed.

"Oh, Amy, hello," he said, surprised at her presence.

"Hi Adrian," she said with a smile, as Kamilah came up behind her.

"What is it?" asked Kamilah.

"It's Rheya," Adrian said, voice shaky. "She's awake."

They followed Adrian to Rheya's cage, uncertain of what they would find.

She sat silently on a cot, looking straight ahead.

"Has she said anything?" asked Kamilah.

"No," replied Adrian. "She's just been staring at the wall."

Amy stood behind Kamilah, watching Rheya in the cell. Suddenly she turned her head, her eyes boring into Amy's.

"Amy," she said, quietly. The smile that spread across her face looked like a Jack-O-Lantern, sinister and sharp.

Amy moved to step past Kamilah, but Kamilah reached out, grabbing her by the arm.

She met Kamilah's eyes and saw fear and worry, a frown on her face.

"I'll be okay," Amy whispered, touching her hand. Kamilah stared at her for a moment, before finally removing her hand from her arm.

Amy stepped forward, looking at Rheya.

"Rheya," she said with a nod.

"I didn't know you were sun-proof," she said, cackling. "So you've won."

"You're still alive," Amy said carefully. She didn't know what effect the stake had had, and she knew she had to be careful.

"And human," Rheya growled. "Thanks to you."

"You mean--" Amy began.

"No immortality, no powers, no fangs. Just a damned worthless human."

Amy was quiet, listening to the anger in Rheya's voice.

"Why are you still alive?" She didn't mean to ask the question, but it slipped out.

Rheya sighed, looking at her. "I assume because it wasn't my tree, it only killed the vampire part of me, the part I shared with Gaius."

Amy frowned, thinking over what she said.

"Very well," she said, turning back to Kamilah and Adrian.

"We'll need to determine how to proceed," she said to them.

"Just kill me," Rheya shouted. "I don't want to live at your mercy."

Amy ignored her, leaving the room with Adrian and Kamilah following her.

They finally settled into a conference room, quietly looking at each other.

"How should we proceed?" asked Kamilah.

"How do we know we can trust her?" asked Adrian.

Amy sat, hands folded in front of her. "We don't," she said finally. "We need to verify that she's truly human."

"And if she is?" asked Adrian.

"We should kill her," said Kamilah, her eyes blazing.

"Yea," Amy replied. "We probably should." She raised her head, eyes meeting Kamilah's. "But then, are we any better than her?"

They sat silently, letting the weight of the words sink in.

Part 10

Tag list: @h-doodles @scarlet-letter-a0114 @wildsayeed @lightning-fury @mrskamilxh @blogsupitssam @ilovetaylor13m @la-guera-69 @adrianrainesworld @iam-the-fuckin-queen @hela-odinsdottir @jen825 @sheyah @lifesadance96 @theoblivionforest @kamilahsayeed-owns-me @sayeedbound @scaryqueenbee @made-me-deep-blue @kamilahismyqueen @caliseds @eleanorbraidwoodmanor

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therainroguefanfiction · 4 years ago

Text

🔥 ℝise Ⱥbove I̾t ◈ Chapter 037 [Awards Ceremony]

📑 Table of Contents | ◂Backward

Word Count: 3,710

⊱ ────── {⋅. 🔥 .⋅} ────── ⊰

〈“I wanna go to the other side; they have a club where the legends never die. ‘Cause I want everyone to know my name, And I’m ready to do what it takes to live forever in the hall of fame.” Smash Into Pieces, “Hall of Fame”〉

⊱ ────── {⋅. 🔥 .⋅} ────── ⊰

I stifled a yawn as I returned to class A’s seating area. Katsuki was missing, thankfully, probably getting ready for his next match. To be honest, I don’t feel like listening to him bitch about how I was disqualified. I’m already kicking myself because I want to fight Todoroki now. I fell into his empty seat with a sigh. Tsu was beside me, followed by Mineta, Sero, and Sparky.

“W-Winchester,” Sparky shifted his weight, cheeks darkening a bit. “Bakugo was looking for you.”

I grunted, resting my cheek against my palm. “I know.” He shifted again, asking if Tsu would switch seats with him. She tilted her head, looking at me for confirmation and I shrugged. He settled down beside me but he kept looking at me and then snapping his gaze away. I tried to ignore it, but it was hella annoying. “What is your damn problem?”

“I thought you hated us,” he responded softly, running his hand over his pants. “But you defended me and… and the rest of the class. That really meant a lot to me… what you said. Thank you, Winchester.” He smiled brightly, eyes closed as he tilted his head to the side, blonde hair shifting from the movement.

Huh, that’s actually kinda cute. I smiled, ruffling his hair. “You’re welcome, Sparky.”

“My name isn’t Sparky,” he pouted. “It’s Denki Kaminari.”

I chuckled, pushing his head down a bit as my smile turned sadistic. “After all, only me and Katsuki are allowed to terrorize class A~!”

He sweatdropped, pulling away from my hand. “You can be really terrifying sometimes…”

“Welcome to the final battle at U.A. High School’s sports festival! In just a moment here, we’ll see which first-year comes out on top! Yes, it all comes down to this folks! From the hero course, Shoto Todoroki! Versus! His classmate, Katsuki Bakugo! Now… Begin!!”

Todoroki wasted no time sending a huge wave of ice toward Katsuki, but the blonde went into overdrive, exploding the ice at an incredible speed. Despite this, he was soon encased in an icy prison.

“Todoroki starts with a crazy ice blast! Bakugo seems to have been completely buried! Is it possible we’ve already got a winner down there?!”

“This isn’t like when he attacked Sero,” Zuku commented from in front of Mineta. “That ice just now was more controlled. He’s being cautious.”

“Can ya blame ’em?” I hummed as muffled explosions reached my ears. I grinned, leaning forward to rest my arms on my knees. Sorry, Todo, but that chihuahua ain’t that damn easy!

“What’s that terrifying sound?” Mineta cried out in fear, making me roll my eyes. Fuckin’ twat is scared of his own shadow.

“It’s gotta be Bakugo’s doing,” Tsu answered. Sure enough, the explosions became louder until the ice finally shattered, opening up a hole to reveal a pissed off looking blonde.

“He used his explosions to tunnel through the ice like some kind of mole man!” Sero exclaimed in surprise.

“These two are insane,” Kaminari muttered, leaning back in his chair.

The two boys rushed at each other and Bakugo used a small explosion to propel himself to the side, catching Todoroki off guard as he grabbed the top of his head and left shoulder.

“He dodged his right side with a blast!” Zuku said in awe.

“Awesome…” Ochaco added.

Hmm, he’s trying to make Todoroki use his fire like he did on Zuku, ain’t he? Pushing off the ground, Bakugo sent him flying across the arena with an explosion, but Todoroki used his ice to curve around the inside, sliding across the ice to remain in bounds.

“Todoroki surfs an ice wave to avoid going out of bounds! Looks like fun!”

For once, we agree, Mic. That does look like fun. This kid should be hired to entertain kids parties, he’d make a fucking killing.

Bakugo launched at him and Todoroki grabbed him with his left arm.

“Do it, Shoto!” Endeavor commanded.

I scowled, falling back into my seat. The sound of his voice ruined my mood and now all I can think about is punching dicks.

Todoroki refused the demand, throwing Bakugo away from him without using his fire.

“Stop screwing around!” Bakugo growled angrily. “What, do you think I’m not worthy of your fire?!”

“Bakugo timed his explosions to grab Todoroki’s left side on purpose,” Aizawa commentated. “He’s done his research. His aptitude for this becomes more apparent with every fight.”

“Interesting!”

“Todoroki’s doing well so far, but his attacks are too simple. It almost seems like he lost his spark after the match with Midoriya.”

Of course he fucking did. I ran my hand down my face in frustration before lowering my head. That damned chihuahua doesn’t care about why people do the things that they do. He’s smart as fuck, true, and he even heard Todoroki’s story, but he believes that it doesn’t matter, that it’s not important. He hasn’t stopped to think about why Todoroki is so damn reluctant to use those flames of his. All he cares about is that he used his flames on Izuku. Why, Katsuki? Why do you feel inferior next to Zuku?

“You bastard! I’ll tell you what’ll happen if you make a fool out of me! I’ll kill you!!” Bakugo cried angrily. “I don’t want there to be any doubt that I’m the best student at the festival! That’s only possible if you come at me as hard as you can! There’s no point if you don’t fight me with the same power you used against Deku! If you don’t want to win this, then why are you even here?! Show everyone that’s you’re trying to destroy me!”

Zuku shot up from his seat, approaching the railing. “Come on, Todoroki! Don’t give up! Do your best!”

I grinned at him and stood up, resting on the railing. “Oi~ Todoroki! If you win this, I’ll punch that flame fuck for you! Right in the nuts!”

“W-Winchester, you’re too brutal!” Kirishima cried, his hands over his lap.

I smirked at him over my shoulder. “Don’t worry, Kiri, you can harden your balls can’t cha? I doubt I could damage ’em.”

He sweatdropped, his cheeks darkening. “T-That’s not the point!”

Bakugo rushed him and Todoroki’s ice started to melt as his fire raged up. Crossing his arms and holding his palms out on either side of his body, Bakugo started to release an explosion from one palm then the other until his body started to spin like a goddamn ninja blender. Todoroki lifted his flaming arm, ready to depend, but then his power dropped and the flames died away. Meanwhile, Katsuki’s power is steadily fucking rising.

“Howitzer… IMPACT!!”

The ice shattered as Bakugo released a massive explosion, filling the arena with thick, black smoke.

“Wohoho! Bakugo combined speed and rotation with a huge blast like he used again Uraraka! He turned himself into a human missile! Todoroki didn’t fire off the flame attack that wowed us in his match against Midoriya! So what has become of our top two competitors?!”

My hands clenched around the railing as a bead of sweat rolled down my cheek. Katsuki is gonna be so~ fucking pissed that Todo didn’t use his fire.

The smoke finally started to clear.

Todoroki was out of bounds, his body unmoving against a huge chunk of cracked ice. Bakugo shakily got to his feet, taking a step forward. “Hey… Hey!” He suddenly rushed forward, grabbing the collar of Todoroki’s shirt and shaking him. “Stop messing around! This isn’t a real win for me unless you try harder! It can’t end this way! Now get up!”

Pink powder filled the arena as Midnight activated her quirk, putting Bakugo to sleep. She raised her arm. “Todoroki is out of bounds! That means… Bakugo is the winner!”

“And~ with that, the final match is officially over! The first-year champion of the U.A. sports festival is… Katsuki Bakugo from class 1-A!!”

⊱ ────── {⋅. 🔥 .⋅} ────── ⊰

I stepped into Gran’s temporary office, sliding the door closed behind me.

“Hello, deary.” She smiled. “What have you done now?”

I sweatdropped. “Have you no faith in me, Gran?”

She hummed, thoughtfully tapping her chin with her finger. “Let’s say that’s up for debate.”

I laughed. “I’m innocent this time, I promise. How’s Todoroki doing?”

“Only a few minor scrapes and bruises. I’ve healed him and he’s resting up.”

I nodded, grabbing a stool and setting it beside his bed. He looks so peaceful when he’s sleeping. I reached out, my fingertips brushing the two-tone bangs from his forehead. His eyes slowly slid open, looking up at me with confusion. “How ya feelin’, bro?”

“I’m… okay.” He responded, softly.

I ruffled his hair lightly, giving him a smile. “You did really good out there, I’m proud of you, Todo. Congrats on getting second place.”

His eyes widened a bit in surprise, his lips parting but no sound escaped him.

The door slid open roughly and Midnight waltzed into the room, her eyes landing on me. “Oh, Winchester, I was looking for you!”

I stared at her blankly. “I didn’t punch anyone else, leave me alone.”

She smirked, putting her hand on her hip and cocking a brow. “Oh? So you didn’t threaten to punch the number two hero in the dick in front of thousands of witnesses?”

“Woah woah woah,” I stood up, turning around to face her with a scowl. “First off, I threatened to punch him in the nuts, not the dick. Get your fuckin’ facts straight, Midnight. Plus, I said I would punch him if Todoroki won the match which I’m sure you are clearly aware, he did not. That makes the threat null and void.”

“That’s not how that works, Winchester. You’re such a pain!” She sighed dramatically, putting the back of her hand to her temple before smiling at me. “Officially, you and Tokoyami are tied for third place. We were considering having the two of you compete in a side game -”

“It’s not chess, is it? You know I ain’t smart enough to win in chess, Midnight, especially not against Tokoyami.”

She ignored me. “However, since you like to make questionable choices and give your teachers a constant migraine, you have forfeited the right to fight for third place and will settle for fourth place. Clear?”

“Oh right, I forgot about that.” I waved my hand. “Cool, does that mean I can go home now?”

“Of course,” she smiled, licking her lips. Even though she had a kind expression on her face, her eyes were burning with sadistic intent. “Not. We still have the award ceremony to do and you will be there. Plus, you need to apologize to Monoma and class B for your behavior.”

“I already did that, chief.”

“Do it again.”

“I don’t wanna.”

“Do it again or else.”

“You can’t just say ‘or else’, Midnight. You gotta follow through with a threat. No one is gonna take you seriously like that.”

Her eye twitched and she was about to yell at me, but she suddenly paused and slowly approached, an evil grin on her face. Her finger ran down my cheek, making me shudder in disgust. “Or else, I will have Shimatsu Tacos fined for using a student to advertise their business during a school event.”

My eyes narrowed. “You fuckin’ wouldn’t.”

She leaned in her closer, her eyes begging me to challenge her. “Oh please, Winchester, do test me.”

I shuddered again, shoving her face away. “Alright, fuck! Just keep yo ugly ass face out of my space, man.”

She humphed in triumph before turning to Todoroki, whose eyes were still wide as he watched us. “Can you stand, Todoroki? We need you there to start the ceremony.”

“Yes, ma’am.” He swung his legs over the side of the bed, slipping his shoes on before standing up. He hesitated, glancing over at me. I raised a brow and he seemed to think about it for a moment before shaking his head and following Midnight out of the room.

What a strange edgelord, he is.

⊱ ────── {⋅. 🔥 .⋅} ────── ⊰

“The first-year students have completed all of the events for the U.A. sports festival!” Midnight announced as she stood in front of the gathered students. A group of reporters are gathered behind a barricade nearby so they can get pictures of the winners. “Now, it’s time to relax and enjoy the awards ceremony!”

Loud music started to blast through the stadium as fireworks exploded across the sky in a wide array of colors. I stifled a yawn as a stream of sparklers shot up behind Midnight, covering the area in smoke. The winner’s pedestal started to raise from the ground.

“Woah…”

“What the heck…”

“He’s been going nuts ever since he woke up,” Kirishima explained from beside me, giving me a look. Katsuki was quite literally chained up to the fucking slab of concrete, his hands bound so he couldn’t use his quirk and a metal mask over his mouth so he couldn’t speak. He’s growling and struggling against his bonds, clearly not happy about the outcome of his match. His eyes met mine and I smirked, making him struggle harder.

“Man, Bakugo, pull yourself together.” Kiri sighed, rubbing the back of his head. I patted his shoulder.

Midnight cleared her throat. “Jen Winchester and Fumikage Tokoyami were meant to battle it out for the third place, but because of a technicality that has arisen, she will automatically take fourth place.” She winked at the cameras, putting her finger to her glossy lip.

I felt eyes on me and glanced around, spotting Monoma staring at me. He was chewing on his lip, face blank and pale blue eyes looking conflicted. As soon as he realized I was looking at him, he turned his face away.

“Too bad Iida couldn’t be here,” Tsu commented. Now that she brought it up, where is that engine freak? I haven’t seen him since the spat after Zuku’s surgery. I had just assumed he was avoiding me.

“Yeah…” Zuku’s eyes were shining with worry and sadness as he turned his gaze to the ground. I scratched my cheek, not liking that expression on his face. Just what the fuck did I miss exactly?

“Now, let’s break out the hardware!” Midnight held out her arm with a smirk. “Of course, there’s only one person worthy of distributing the awards!”

A familiar laugh rang out across the stadium and the crowd went wild when All Might appeared, jumping toward the podium.

“Citizens, I am” “All Might is the” “here!!” “number one hero!!”

I sweatdropped as his and Midnight’s voices overlapped one another. Clearly, they should have fucking rehearsed before trying that because that performance was total ass, bro.

“I ruined that, didn’t I?” Midnight put her hands together in apology before acting as if nothing had even happened. “So now that you’re here, All Might, why don’t you start the presentation?”

Toshi took the third-place medal and stepped up to Fumi. “Young Tokoyami, congratulations.” He placed the medal around his neck. “You showed great strength out there!”

“Your words humble me, sir.”

“However,” Toshi pulled him into a gentle hug, patting his back. “You’ve got more training to do if you’re going to be able to fight against different kinds of villains. You’re not going to be able to rely on your quirk in every battle you face.”

I started to laugh, earning a glare from Midnight and strange looks from my classmates. I couldn’t control it so I turned around and stuffed my face into Kiri’s shoulder. Bro, Fumi’s fucking beak is literally pressed into Toshi’s fucking armpit and I know from fucking experience that it smells like hopes and the laughter of children. Bro, someone fucking save him, please.

“Are you okay, Winchester?” Kiri asked with worry, patting my back as I laughed into his shoulder. “Midnight is really glaring at you… god, she’s terrifying.”

I pulled myself away and coughed a few times, slapping both of my cheeks at the same time to compose myself. I gave him a thumbs up and turned back around. Holy shit, Midnight looks like she’s about to fucking sprout snakes from her hair. I didn’t know laughing was a fucking crime, chief.

Toshi took the second place medal and stepped up to Todoroki, whose gaze remained lowered. “Young Todoroki, congratulations. I’m assuming there’s a reason you didn’t use your left side, though it cost you the final.”

“Midoriya opened my eyes during our match, but then I started to doubt myself. I think I now understand a little about why you’re so interested in him. I want to be the kind of hero you are, but my path… isn’t as clear as I thought it was. I have a lot to think about… and I still need to settle things with someone, very soon.”

I threw my arm around Zuku’s shoulder, careful of his injuries. “See what you did, kid? Todoroki was lost in a tunnel of darkness, and you shined the light that got him running in the right direction. Be proud of yourself.”

He nodded, sending me a bright smile as his eyes teared up. “Thank you, Jen…”

“If you keep this up, you’re gonna be called the crying hero, Zuku.”

“Sorry…”

Toshi continued, pulling the boy into his arms. “Hmm, I’ve never seen this sort of look on your face before. I won’t ask for details, but trust yourself. I’m sure you’ll work things out.”

“Right…”

“And now, young Bakugo.” Toshi took the first place medal and stepped up to him. “Huh, this is a little much. Well, you did what you said you’d do in the pledge.” He unlocked the metal mouth guard, tossing it back to Midnight, who held it up in disgust, spit dripping from the inside. “You’re true to your word!”

“All Might,” Katsuki growled angrily. “Winning first place this way… doesn’t prove that I’m the best one here!! Even if the world considers me the winner, I refuse to accept it like this!!”

Zuku sweatdropped. “Kacchan is so angry…”

“Yep,” I responded. “But that’s nothin’ new is it?”

He bit his lip. “No, but…”

“Worried that everyone will look at him poorly?”

He nodded.

“Probably, but that’s fine. Not everyone has to understand that idiot, as long as we do.”

“I guess you’re right.”

“I’m a woman, Zuku, I’m always right.” I grinned, ruffling his hair.

“In a world where we’re constantly being compared to one another, there are very few who can keep their eyes focused on the top spot,” Toshi spoke up, forcing his gaze back to the blonde, which he was clearly unnerved by. “You’re one of them. Please accept this medal, even if you have to think of it as a scar, something you’ll never forget.”

“I don’t want that piece of garbage!!”

“Come on, now.” Toshi tried to put it around his neck but he slammed his head back and the strap went over the bridge of his nose instead.

“Get that trash off of me, you idiot!!”

Toshi tugged it down hard and the strap fell between Katsuki’s teeth. “Here they are, the winners of this year’s sports festival! But listen closely,” he turned toward the crowd of students. “Any of you first-years could have ended up standing on these podiums! Think about what you’ve done today! You’ve challenged each other, learned, and climbed even closer to your goals of being pros! I think the next generation of heroes is proving to be our most promising one yet! So, I have one more thing to say – I want to hear everyone yell it with me!”

While that idiot screamed ‘thanks for your hard work!’, the crowd screamed, ‘plus ultra!’. A couple seconds of stunned silence passed before the crowd and students started to boo him, much to his displeasure.

“What?! That was the perfect time to say ‘plus ultra’, All Might!”

“Oh, well, yeah, I guess, but… everyone did such a good job!” He cried in protest.

What a complete fucking dork. Me and Zuku exchanged a look before we started laughing.

それ以上に上昇 ☆ Third Person

Felix grunted as he watched the awards ceremony taking place at U.A. High School. The camera panned across the first, second, and third place students, but the man had no interest in them. His knee bounced impatiently as he waited for the camera to pan toward the other students.

“Look, there she is.” Ryan pointed his finger, leaning forward. Two sets of lime green eyes stared at Jen Winchester as she had her arm around Izuku Midoriya, the two of them laughing together. And then the angle changed again, capturing the filled stadium as people cheered and laughed.

“A technicality,” Felix muttered under his breath, his large hand resting on his bearded chin. “What do you think it could be?”

Ryan tilted his head, orange-tipped bangs sliding across his eyes. “I’m not sure. Perhaps they didn’t want to bring too much attention to her given who her mother is.”

“That makes no sense!” He huffed, folding his arms over his broad chest. His Irish accent became more pronounced in his frustration. “If they didn’t want to display her, they shouldn’t have allowed her to compete!”

“It’s possible that they are punishing her for the sins of her mother,” Ryan hummed, crossing one leg over the other. “But that hardly seems like a thing U.A. would do.”

“There’s only one way to find out!” Felix jumped up, heading for the door. When Ryan didn’t move, he stopped and tilted his head expectantly. “Well, what are you waitin’ for, boyo?”

“Stall the ball for a minute, pops.” Ryan sighed, brushing his bangs aside before standing up and motioning toward the desk to his left. “You can’t just up and leave to another country. You are the number five hero of Ireland.”

The man’s eye twitched in annoyance, but he knew his young son was right. He was a pro hero and he had responsibilities to attend to before he could leave. “Fine!” He grinned brightly, rolling back the sleeves of his long-sleeved shirt. “Let’s get to work, then!”

Ryan chuckled, shaking his head at his father. He glanced back at the TV, now showing highlights from the festival. ‘We’ll see you soon… Jen Winchester.’

⊱ ────── {⋅. 🔥 .⋅} ────── ⊰

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tintinwrites · 6 years ago

Text

tonight | Poe Dameron x Reader | Part Four

A/N: I wrote this a while ago but I’ve been either forgetting to post or been too lazy. Here tho!!

Rating: T

Warning: Hux threatens the Reader. The Reader recalls being forcefully kissed once but Hux took care of that. Naughty words. These two are cute.

Word count: 1,528, apparently!!

Summary: You, a First Order officer, and Poe Dameron, the best pilot in the Resistance, are drawn to each other from the moment you meet. Very loosely based on West Side Story, which is obvs based on Romeo and Juliet.

Masterlist

GIF credit: No idea, but it’s not mine.

Tags: @yana-versio @bobateaandchocolatepudding @yeeterbenjaminparker @aroseamongthestars @unicorntrooper @helaintoloki @marvelous-revengers @moonflowersandsparkles @myrabbitholetoneverland if you wanted to be tagged and I forgot please let me know

You weren't brave when it was time for you to meet with Poe again, but your fear had changed.

Now you were afraid to stay.

You gave some terrible excuse as to why you should go to the planet, how its citizens would make perfect allies to the First Order, and General Hux requested to speak with you the morning you were scheduled to leave.

"Do you think I pay so little attention that your lies convince me?"

Your hearts was pounding and your head was urging you to run out the door, but panicking would only prove your guilt. "Sir?"

"Your tears when we take lives aren't of pride or happiness." His words had you nearly slumping in relief, as there was no mention of you visiting a planet to meet with a man you were supposed to hate. "You have always been...soft. I'm willing to allow it to some degree, but you must understand that casualties are necessary."

You hid a cringe. "I'm sorry, General, I guess it's just a bit mu—" You gasped as his hand came up to grasp your chin, firm enough to make your heart rate pick up again.

"I would hate to lose one of my best officers. You handle the stormtroopers so well and..." He let go of your chin, stroking your cheek with the back of his hand. "I'm...quite fond of you. A public execution wouldn't suit you." His once-charming accent now made your skin crawl as it wrapped around his threat, and you forced yourself not to flinch back.

"Yes, sir. Yes, General." You stepped back in the most subtle, non-terrified way you possibly could. "I'm sorry. It's a little overwhelming."

He smirked, nodding slightly. "Now attend to your duties before the Resistance fools another planet."

You practically ran out and got onto a transport ship, silent the entire flight when you usually would have made conversation.

Strangely, all you wanted was Poe.

Poe was kind.

Poe was safe.

Poe was waiting for you behind a building, leaning against the wall and looking handsome, which was odd since you'd only paid attention to looks a few times in your life. One of those times was the night you met him.

"Hey, Y/N." He smiled at you like you were important. "Gotta admit, I was a little afraid that you wouldn't...show up..." His smile fell the closer you got, brow furrowing in concern. "You okay? You look like you've seen a ghost."

"I think I was just issued my first threat." To think that you barely knew they threatened anyone not so long ago.

His response was immediate, pushing off the wall and taking hold of your arm. "Okay, I'm not doing this anymore. I'm getting you out of here."

"No, wait!" You grabbed his hand and pulled it off your arm. "I...I do want to leave now, I really do. But they're pretty suspicious, and they might expect it and come after me." Your own words surprised you, but you knew they were true now.

"You need to be somewhere safe, where they can't get to you."

You paused, staring at this man you had met a few times and yet felt so strongly for that it almost scared you. "Why do you care so much?"

"—you got some time?"

"A couple hours."

You and Poe sat in a cantina on the planet, sipping on some drinks you didn't know the name of.

"You just...you're driving me crazy, kid. I don't know what it is about you...maybe it's because you're a light among all that shit, but I can't stop thinking about you." Poe ran his fingers over the glass on the table in front of him.

"I know the feeling." Boy, did you know the feeling. You wondered how he could so easily be kind to you and talk to you like this. You were fairly certain that the Resistance was good, but he had no real reason to show you any trust based on what you now knew of the First Order. "Why do you trust me?"

He thought about it for a moment, lips pursed. "The night we met, I was going to shoot you when we were walking away from each other." He ignored your look of slight alarm. "But you kept walking without even looking back. Then you let me go, and Finn told me all about how different you are from the rest of the First Order."

"Finn?"

"FN-whatever. His name is Finn now."

You smiled. FN-2187 found a place that considered him worthy of a name; the Resistance was starting to sound better and better. "I see."

It was obvious now that you had a connection with Poe. You wanted to leave because of him and because the First Order scared you, but you didn't know much about the Resistance outside of the lies you'd been told. Maybe if you didn't have even the slightest doubt about leaving all you knew, you'd be brave enough to.

"Poe?" Your soft tone had his eyes meeting yours over his glass as he drank. "If I leave with you, what will we do?"

"Take down the First Order."

Emotions were a funny thing. You were disillusioned and you feared the First Order, yet your heart still found slight offense at the thought of the group being eradicated. "Is that all? Just fighting?"

"No. We'll have time to relax. We can...what do you wanna do?"

Now it was your turn to think. You had so many dreams that you'd brought up to your superiors, who told you that wasting time was wrong. And you believed them and kept them as dreams so you wouldn't waste any time. "Could we go to beautiful planets...just because?"

Poe grinned at you. "Sure." He was looking at you in a way you'd never been looked at before. It made your cheeks darken and your heartbeat quicken in a way that was much more pleasant than when you had been threatened by Hux.

"Can we have dessert? I've only ever had it a couple times."

"Of course."

"Can we lay out and look at the stars?"

"Absolutely."

"Can you show me all the things I don't know to ask for?"

"—yes." Sympathy seemed to pour from Poe's tone and eyes. "They've taken so much from you, haven't they, kid?"

You had never thought about it before, but nodded as it occurred to you now. You really had spent your life just being a soldier.

"Has anyone ever kissed you?" The way you looked away had him quickly adding, "Not that you have to kiss me, but it might be a good way to ease you into having freedom and your own life."

"Twice. But I want you to kiss me." You didn't know much about love — another thing taken away from you by the First Order, you supposed — but you were pretty sure you were falling into it with Poe. Or at least you were feeling something that had you not caring about the risks that came with kissing a rebel.

Your first kiss had been with a stormtrooper. You were both sixteen and not even supposed to talk to each other. Hormones were high and curiosity was higher within the shelter of the First Order. The kiss was tight-lipped and awkward, and the stormtrooper didn't come around to see you after that.

Your second kiss had been with your superior. He was in charge of your training and used that excuse to get you alone in a room, where he held you against a table. The kiss was rough and terrifying; you cried and pushed at his chest. General Hux walked in and shot him in the head without a second thought, and you were sure you'd never forget the calm way he'd said, "I suppose you have a new position now." to you.

Your third kiss was with Poe. He leaned over the table and pressed his lips gently to yours. The kiss asked for nothing in return and wow you understood why others seemed to like kissing so much. His lips moved against yours with care, no cruelty or selfishness at all, before he slowly pulled away.

"—I want to leave with you."

"Then let's get out of here." He eagerly got to his feet.

"No! No. Not yet. I have to get things in order and just..." You had to make sure you did everything perfectly so you wouldn't be possibly executed. "Maybe we can wait a week and then meet each other again?"

"I'm not a patient guy, but okay." He moved closer as you stood, looking down at you with honesty. "Then I'm taking you away from them. No more fear, no more excuses. I won't let you suffer because of them."

Your fourth kiss was with Poe.

You initiated it, which you'd never done before.

You wondered why the two of you felt a connection with each other, of all people, that seemed deeper than just thinking the other was nice after being sure of the opposite.

You didn't know much about love, so was it normal to be falling this fast?

#poe dameron imagine #poe dameron x reader #star wars imagine #poe dameron fic #tonight #teach me how to write a fic without Hux lowkey being into you #HE'S PROBABLY LONELY OKAY #are you guys enjoying this #I need to write the last chapter #next one is ready #thank you for reading!

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artificialqueens · 6 years ago

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Bring It On Again pt 2 (Branjie) - Ashley

A/N: part 2 of Bring It On, time for Brooke to try out for the Amazons! Hope you like! Thanks for the lovely feedback make sure to keep it coming and any concrit you have. Just wanna apologise for a typo that slipped away from me in the first chapter I’ve been a lot more vigilant this time. This ones a bit sad, prepare for an ep7 untucked level bust up, but oh well. Enjoy! Love Ashley xoxo

One night was all she’d had to try and channel her precise years of ballerina training into the fast-paced flicks and fierceness of cheerleading. Although she was physically capable of doing all the moves she had been meticulously researching, Brooke was still far out of her comfort zone - yes she could flip but could she do it fast enough? Would she even look like a cheerleader? It took every inch of will not to return her feet back to third position after completing a move, now having to keep them shoulder-width apart and her arms raised in a high V instead. The moment had arrived and despite begging Jovan to come to watch her audition he was decidedly against the whole nature of cheerleading so she had come alone. Trying hard not to let the cheerleaders intimidate her, Brooke cast her mind back to Toronto where she had always floated above the rest of the school, she was ready. Like something out of a 2000s teen film, the squad sat at a long table of 5; two boys adjourning either end, Akeria and Silky sat next to each of them and of course Vanessa in the middle. They all had matching blue and white tracksuit jackets with the Amazon emblem embroidered at the left side of the chest. Vanessa’s differed from everyone else; with gold piping around the edge and “Vanjie” written under the logo, she separated herself from the rest of the group, outlining herself as the ruler of the group. “You need to fill one of these out,” she looked at Brooke with slight disdain, holding up the application form. “Did it,” Brooke replied sharply, whipping the sheet from her pocket and walking towards the table to hand it to the girl. Her large eyes skimming the page quickly, Vanessa grinned: “Brooke Lynn, is it? Before we start I’m going to need to make sure you can do a standing back tuck. Standard procedure, you’ll understand.” “Just Brooke. Standing back handspring, back tuck okay?” she replied, not waiting for the girls response before throwing herself backwards into the move- grateful for the years of gymnastic seminars and flexibility training that accompanied her focus on ballet, Brooke knew she was still in too deep with the moves, but if there was one thing she’d learned about competition it was that they should never see you falter. “Nice job white girl,” Akeria smiled at Brooke, jotting something down in her notebook. “But can she yell? We’ll try an oldie” Vanessa looked Brooke up and down, clearly taking note of her quieter and more reserved nature compared to the Amazons. Moving her arms to the tune of her own chant, she began to perform from her seat and once again Brooke realised why everyone at the school was so obsessed with Vanessa and the Amazons, something about her was just so captivating, even when sitting down and cheering Brooke was still impressed: “We’re bad, we got the T, we can’t be had, we’re the best so score them points, you win the game we’ll rock this joint. Go Amazons!” Brooke tried her hardest to mimic Vanessa’s cheer, even throwing an arabesque in at the end, but she knew her voice wasn’t as loud or commanding as it should have been. “I transferred from a Ballet Academy in Toronto, your school has no other type of dance and it’s a last resort. I haven’t cheered before but I can learn. I checked out your stuff online, it’s good but you need to be different to become number one, you could use me,” Brooke pleaded her case to the girl, trying not to let her emotions cloud over too much, she knew Vanessa would not allow a weak player onto the team. “Do it,” Silky nudged Vanessa to which the girl looked up in response. “Front handspring, step out, round off. Back handspring, step out, round off. Back handspring, full twisting layout,” Vanessa popped the “t” in layout with a devilish smile, raising her brow at Brooke. Simultaneously angry and aroused towards the other girl, Brooke waltzed to the back of the gym, keeping her arms elegantly draped by her sides. The whole room was silent other than the light patter of Brooke’s footsteps. The tension knife worthy, she turned to face the panel and dived - hitting every single step perfectly. Landing eventually close to the table and facing the opposite way she turned around to see Vanessa’s mouth open with surprise. Despite the other girls hollering and cheering at her, Brooke found the most pride in the response from Vanessa, knowing it took a lot to impress the commander of the squad. She had broken through her hard exterior, only just. Despite that breakthrough simply being a small opening of the mouth, it still validated Brooke nonetheless, she was on her way to impressing the ice queen. One count at a time. “Brooke is bank!” One of the boys at the end of the table grinned towards Brooke. “Bankrupt,” Vanessa retaliated, giving the boy one of her infamous looks. “I’m captain and what I say goes. This is not a democracy. Sorry, Brooke Lynn, I don’t think you have what it takes. Maybe next time.” For years Brooke had learned how to take defeat. You smile, you thank for the opportunity, you say goodbye and exit with grace. In her old life, she’d done it hundreds of times with no issue, knowing that it was just another bend in the road. All of that was gone here. Fighting back tears she grabbed her bag from the floor and stormed out the gym - the antithesis of graceful and pristine. Vanessa’s words ringing in her ear, she hadn’t even noticed that Jovan was at the doorway until he grabbed her arm and pulled her to one side. “I told you so?” Brooke said to him with choked breath, wishing she’d stayed away from the cheerleaders as Jovan had warned. “We’ve all been there B, you ever wondered why I hate them so much? You’d think being double jointed in almost every way would get me on their squad but it didn’t. And here I am saying I want nothing to do with it yet unable to resist watching. Trust me though, you killed it. They’ll be regretting not having you when they’re still coming second at nationals. They’re just jealous Brooke. Stupid bitches,” he responded, Brooke, surprised at the nice words towards her coming out of his usual cynical tirades. Used to bottling her feelings, Brooke let the tears fall down her cheeks as she hugged her new friend, grateful to have someone there for her. “What do you say we go to mine, watch sad movies and get pissed again? My parents are out of town” he asked her. “Your sister..” Brooke looked at him in response. “In case you haven’t already noticed, I don’t give a fuck what she thinks.” Jovan laughed, “I promise we’ll stay well clear of her.” “Only if I pick the film,” Brooke propositioned, “I’m not watching any of the weird shit you have on DVD.” “Deal,” Jovan raised his hand for Brooke to shake whilst laughing. Fuck Vanessa, she thought, maybe her night wouldn’t be so bad after all. *** “I’m sorry, girl. If I had known..” Jovan trailed off, the loud music being played downstairs filling what would have been an awkward silence in the room. “It’s fine,” Brooke said taking a heftier sip from her drink until it was all gone, “I had to face them at some point, better sooner than later I guess.” Having been drinking since they returned home from school that day, it was safe to say that the pair were slightly steamed. “It’s my fault, I should have known that obnoxious popular teenagers and a free house meant a party. Would it make you feel better if we tried to steal some of their booze?” The tipsy and confident Brooke she had met at the start of the week returning, she smiled at Jovan in response, “Yes. Yes, it would.” Making their way downstairs, Brooke knew they’d be unable to avoid Vanessa. Despite being so horrible earlier, in her current state Brooke wanted to see her, to look her in the eyes and see how she reacted. Jovan was right, Brooke had killed it in her tryout and if Vanessa couldn’t see that then she was a stupid bitch. Walking into the kitchen where she’d encountered the girl the last time she was here, Brooke was determined to rise above whatever may be said as she made her way to the fridge. “Vanjie, who’s the babe with your step-brother?” Vanessa’s boyfriend asked non-subtly, despite having already met Brooke on the previous Monday. The couple sat on a red couch in the corner surrounded by the rest of the cheer squad and some other students Assumedly on a similar level to Jovan and Brooke with a drink in her hand, Vanessa looked at the pair and responded: “She’s nobody, just some transfer who thinks she’s hot shit.” Sticking with her mantra to rise above it, Brooke looked in Vanessa’s direction and was all set on ignoring the couple until Jovan turned around and rose his voice towards his sister, the alcohol in his system leaving him clearly incapable of holding back. “Hey Vanessa, has anyone ever told you that you’re jealous? You’re all about team spirit and being number one but you know fine and well that you’d rather lose every competition than have someone that slightly better than you on your squad. So what is it about Brooke? She’s prettier, she’s more polished, she’s stronger?” Despite being tipsy, Brooke could see the flinch of pain Vanessa had felt at her brother’s words before she reverted back to her usual sense and laughed at his comment, brushing it off as if it were nothing in front of all of her squad. “It’s more to do with the fact she can’t cheer,” Vanessa retaliated harshly, Brooke seeing the pain behind her glossy eyes and gritted teeth as she did so. “Sorry guys, I guess it’s time for everyone to go, can’t seem to have any fun around here without people ruining it. I’ll see you lot for practice on Sunday.” *** “Jovan, you didn’t have to do that,” Brooke said to her friend as his sister escorted the rest of the guests out of the house. “Someone needs to put her in her place, Brooke. All I did was be honest,” he sighed as his sister entered the room again. Gone was the calm exterior she had held previously in front of everyone, Vanessa was mad. “I thought I told everyone to leave,” she glared in Brooke’s direction, resulting in a scoff from her brother. Not wanting to cause any more trouble, Brooke grabbed her bag and went to get up before being stopped by Jovan. “You don’t own this house Vanessa; and anything you want to say to me you can say in front of Brooke. I’m sorry you have a problem with my honesty.” The tension radiating between them, Brooke was waiting for the storm - despite wanting to hide from the clash of two huge personalities, she found herself glued to the spot she stood in, unable to look away from the pair as though they were the wreckage of a car crash. “I don’t have an issue with your ‘honesty’, but if you have an issue with me you can pull me aside and tell me you don’t have to pop off at me in front of my whole team. I thought we were closer than that,” “I did not pop off at you, I told you the goddamn truth. You’re so defensive, and that’s the only reason I pushed any of your buttons in the first place” “You’re so full of shit Jovan. The other day there you were telling me how proud you were of me!” Vanessa was screaming at this point, her voice hoarse and tears pricking her eyes. Every face Jovan had pulled when Brooke mentioned the cheerleaders to him, every awkward encounter she had witnessed between the siblings had all amounted to this moment. “Because I was fucking proud of you,” Jovan shouted back at his sister. “It’s not my fault you never made it onto the squad Jovan, it’s been years just get over it. You knew at the time there was nothing I could do, I wasn’t gonna give up my chance to please you when all you do is shit like this,” “I don’t give a shit that I didn’t make it onto the squad with you 2 fucking years ago Vanessa, but you’ve turned into that person who did that to me and now you’re doing it to Brooke. Yes, I was fucking proud of you working hard to be a captain but not if you’re gonna let your jealousy take over.” Clearly striking a chord with Vanessa, she got closer into her brothers face. Coming from such a humble background and life in Toronto she didn’t know how to react to the current situation at all. Any fighting Brooke had witnessed in the ballet world had been behind the scenes and sneaky, the complete opposite at the screaming match the siblings were having in front of her, with years of anger and non-raised issues clearly seeping through the surface of their words. “Regardless of what you think, I would have never have spoken to you like that in front of people who are meant to respect you like you just did on the couch! I would have pulled you aside and said ‘Jovan you’re fucking jealous”” Vanessa shouted again, the argument between the two siblings being clearly deeper rooted than insecurity about her position of power on the Amazons. “Well, I think you’re a fucking terrible sister because I’m not here to hide around away from you and whisper shit in your direction. You can yell at me when I leave high school with a fucking good life because I didn’t spend my whole time there trying to impress people who won’t give a shit about me in a few years time,” Jovan started to walk away from Vanessa, knocking over a chair in the process. “I was trying to be cordial with you,” “I don’t need anyone to be cordial with me, I need you to be real. At least I’m getting the real you now, ey sis.” “I thought we were fucking cool Jovan,” Vanessa let her emotions pour out, Brooke shocked at the girl she’d barely seen move her face in a week losing any sense of her priorly cold exterior. Vanessa was a real human being and she was hurt. “If we’re cool, I’m not gonna lie to you like all your teammates do. I’m not gonna feed you with bullshit like those ‘sisters’ do, is that what makes you happy?” “I never told you to lie to me!” Vanessa gave one last final scream at her brother, her voice minutes from breaking, before running out of the room. Although she hadn’t known her for long, Brooke could see she was coming from a hurt place. The click of the front door shutting rang through the suddenly silent house. “Fuck,” Jovan shouted to himself before kicking the chair that had been knocked on the floor, a lot of pent up anger from years of his relationship with his step-sister having just spilt out of him like a tap too tight to turn off. Adjusting to the way in which the room had gone from 100 to 0 in less than a minute, Brooke was about to comfort her friend like he had done for her earlier when he stopped her, “It’s freezing outside,” he looked to the floor, not making eye contact with Brooke. “You should go find her,” Brooke suggested. “She won’t talk to me, and if I’m honest I don’t want to talk to her either, I just don’t want her to freeze,” Jovan laughed in a slightly hysterical way. The way you laughed when everything you felt had been torn out of you and your body couldn’t comprehend any other way in which to react. All that was left to do in the sick silence was to laugh. “I’ll go find her,” Brooke said, any prior anger she felt towards Vanessa melted away by the scene she just watched unfold. “Thanks,” he said, curling his knees up to his chest and rubbing his hands over his shaved head clearly trying to process what had just happened. *** Clad in one of Jovan’s fleecy coats with another one in hand for his sister, it didn’t take Brooke long to find the other girl. There she was curled up on a bench by the park close to her home, hands running through her hair. Despite the argument, they had had and the fact that they shared no blood, it was clear she and Jovan were related. “Hey,” Brooke sat next to her, unsure of what else to say. “I brought you a coat.” “I’m fine,” Vanessa spoke quietly and looked straight ahead, not making eye contact Brooke. “You’re stubborn aren’t you,” Brooke rested the coat on the other girls back. “You don’t know me,” she whispered again, Brooke seeing a different side to both the Vanessa she had watched at school for the past week and the one she’d watched not more than half an hour earlier in the kitchen. “I know you’re upset, and I know it’s freezing out here.” Garnering no response from the girl, Brooke spoke again, “If you’re not gonna speak to me it’s fine but I’m not leaving you alone like this, I can ring your boyfriend if you want?” In a similar way to how Jovan had done so earlier in the calm after the storm, Vanessa began to laugh to herself as though her body had no other way of processing the events of the night. “It’s Friday so he’ll probably be at Ariel’s, or is it Kahanna’s on a Friday, I can never keep up.” “Well he clearly doesn’t deserve you but maybe that’s something for another time,” Brooke looked at the girl, not wanting to scare her away by prying too deep into her life. She had already seen such a vulnerable side to someone so guarded and didn’t want to intrude even further. “You don’t need to worry about me, I’m a big girl, I’ve got this,” she raised her eyebrows towards Brooke, looking at her for the first time since she had sat down. “Well I don’t really believe you so I’m just gonna stay here until you’re alright,” Brooke said. “You don’t have to babysit me for my brother, I’m fine.” Vanessa pleaded. “I’m not,” Brooke responded, which was true, although Jovan had asked her to find his sister she genuinely wanted to make sure the girl was okay after seeing her in such a vulnerable state. Pulling a bottle of water from her pocket, she offered some to the girl. “Don’t you think I’ve had enough for one night,” “It’s water,” Brooke laughed, causing Vanessa to crack up too. Within minutes they were both dying with laughter and even though Brooke knew objectively that it wasn’t really funny, something about the atmosphere in the air and the whole fucked up night they’d had just made the girls laugh more and more. Until of course Vanessa was no longer laughing, tears once again streaming down her face the way they had when she argued with her brother. Brooke put her arm around the girl and rubbed her back softly. “It’s alright,” she whispered. “Why are you being so nice to me? I’ve been a bitch” Vanessa asked, turning to look at Brooke. She was a deer in headlights. A lost puppy looking for comfort. “As much as I’d love to give some sort of poetic answer like they do in the movies, I don’t have a fucking clue,” Brooke looked up at the night sky. She hadn’t known what to expect when picturing her new life in Florida but it certainly hadn’t been trying out for cheerleading, befriending a double jointed oddball and sitting on a bench at midnight comforting a girl who had treated her worse than muck. A girl may she add that she probably would have kissed were she not in such a vulnerable state. “I don’t have a fucking clue, Vanessa.”

#rpdr fanfiction #brooke lynn hytes #vanessa vanjie mateo #yvie oddly #branjie #bring it on #bring it on again #high school au #lesbian au #tw alcohol #angst #ashley #concrit welcome #submission #s11

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damnit-samnit · 6 years ago

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The Perfect Present [DadMight]

Merry Christmas everyone! Here’s my Secret Santa gift for @singartworks. Just a certain green-haired boy trying to find the best present for his golden-haired mentor. I hope you all enjoy it!!

---

Panic.

That’s what Midoriya Izuku felt when he sat down at his desk, eyes falling on the All Might calendar he had hanging just above it. Though it was absolutely covered with workout plans and training regimes that All Might himself had written in for each day of the month, one date, in particular, had been circled in bright red marker.

The box wasn’t filled with small, carefully written instructions like most of the other days.

No, instead there was a grinning, and very detailed, bearded All Might drawn inside the otherwise empty box, donning a large Santa hat and exclaiming ‘Enjoy the day off!’

The date?

December 25th.

Christmas.

Midoriya had been given Christmas off.

And it was three days away.

Christmas was three days away.

That’s when the panic gripped him, his eyes going wide as he was smacked upside the head with the realization that Christmas was only three days away and he had not gotten All Might a single thing.

It wasn’t as if he didn’t know the day was coming up -- he looked at the calendar daily. He just… hadn’t been paying attention, too caught up in his own world and too focused on his training.

It had been a little more than nine months since he first met the number one hero, who declared Midoriya his successor on an empty residential street after a run-in with a villain. With his impossible dreams of heroism now actually possible, Midoriya had been running full-speed toward his future. Particularly toward the Yuuei entrance exams that grew closer each passing day.

To be given a quirk…

To be given All Might’s quirk...

He owed so much to All Might. Not only was he possibly the greatest hero to ever live, he was also Midoriya’s personal idol and had been dedicating so much of his precious time and energy to training him.

The least the teenager could do was get him a Christmas present!

And he was running out of time!

With the remainder of his afternoon free, Midoriya found himself dashing to the front door, grabbing for his coat and shoes along the way.

“Izuku!” his mother squeaked, popping her head from the kitchen doorway at hearing his sudden, thudding footsteps and the rapid rushing of his coat. “Where are you doing!? Dinner--”

“Just running to the mall!” he shouted back, shoving his feet into his bright-red shoes. “I’ll text you!”

“Mall!? What do you -- Izuku!”

It was too late though. Shouting a goodbye behind him, the boy was out their apartment in a rush, the door swinging and clicking closed behind him.

With brows furrowed, Inko glanced back to the large dinner she had already started prepping.

Why was he going to the mall in such a rush?

She blinked.

Maybe… he was meeting friends?

The thought immediately placated her and she released a steady, hopeful breath. He had seemed much more… motivated lately. Upbeat. Plus he had been spending more time out of the house. Perhaps a new collection of friends was the reason.

Though it was most certainly overkill, Midoriya made the trek from Musutafu to the Kiyashi Ward Shopping Mall in Tokyo, arriving there around dinnertime. On the train, he had sent a follow-up text to his mother that he would be late getting home and to just put his dinner aside. Instead of peppering him with frantic questions about his whereabouts and his actions, she had only asked that he send her a message when he was on her way home and to have fun.

Her… nonchalance was unlike her and it surprised him. Still, he was not about to question it. The lack of guilt on skipping dinner meant he could focus wholly on the momentous task at hand.

What gift could he possibly get All Might that would be worthy of him?

It was the Saturday before Christmas, the last weekend before it, and the mall reflected that.

The usual weekend crowds had swelled in size as shoppers dashed in for a last-minute shopping trip before the holiday. Parents, grandparents, uncles and aunts were buying for the various children of their families while others focused on getting the perfect present for their special someone.

The mall itself was brimming with Christmas cheer. Thousands of twinkling lights in shades of blue and white were strung up, garland was twisted around every pole, column and pillar the structure had. Along pathways, and in tight clusters around storefronts, were small, yet fully dressed, evergreen trees.

As soon as Midoriya entered the mall’s complex, he came face-to-face with a large grouping of girls his age, all standing around and comforting one of their own who had burst into loud, hysterical tears.

“It’s our first Christmas together!” she sputtered out between sobs, ignoring the comforting pats of her friends. “It has to be perfect!”

Midoriya quickly moved away from the crowd and the hovering gawkers, acting as if he was a man on a very important mission. Technically, he was. All he needed to do was get to a central point in the mall and he would go from there. He stepped onto the escalator when he found himself in its vicinity, riding it up to the second floor where--

He stopped.

Oh no.

A man cleared his throat behind him and Midoriya jumped, mumbling out his apologies when he realized he had stopped too close to the top of the escalator, partially blocking a steady stream of people that were trying to disembark.

Continuing his awkward sorries, he side-stepped out of the way and turned to lean against the railing overlooking the first floor. There he was, at the mall, his meager savings burning a hole in his pocket, ready and willing to get All Might the perfect Christmas gift as thanks for being there for him...

But it was the ‘what’ that had become his biggest hurdle.

He had come to the mall with no plans and no ideas. Nothing. Not even a whisper of an inclination in his mind.

What could he possibly get the man who had everything?

Okay, okay, breathe…

He just had to think it through, that was all. Bringing out his phone, Midoriya opened a blank email he could write his thoughts in. All he had to do was deconstruct All Might. That wasn’t too hard, right? Just list his likes and interests and that should trigger some gift ideas.

He stared at the screen, watching the cursor blink in the great expanse of empty white.

Right.

Things All Might liked...

Well, he liked crime fighting! Being a hero! That was his life’s calling after all.

Oh! And America! All his moves were named after American cities. Plus the colors red, white and blue were featured heavily in his costume designs.

Also, he liked…

What else did All Might like?

He stared down at his phone, his list of two things seemingly laughing up at him.

Heroism and America?

That’s all he had!?

They were the most superficial things about All Might.

How could he, Midoriya, call himself a fan? This was a man he had watched ever since he was a child and all he could come up with was--

Tea!

All Might liked tea!

It was not an uncommon sight to see a thermos by All Might’s side. Sometimes, especially after a particularly grueling day of work at the Dagobah Beach Park, they would stop by a coffee shop on the way home and chat about life. He always ordered tea there.

What if he got All Might a tea set? Surely that was a considerate gift, the kind of present that showed he had been paying attention to the interests of his master.

Midoriya looked up from his phone, face set with an overblown sense of determination now that he had an actual plan in place.

A tea set.

It was the perfect gift.

---

Midoriya brought the present with him the following day to the beach park. It had been so nicely wrapped in reindeer-patterned paper by the man behind the counter. He had even put a sizable green bow on it.

A collection of tea from all over the world contained in a sharp cedar box.

It was the perfect gift.

It was tucked away in his backpack, as he already envisioned All Might’s perfect response to the perfect gift. Right before they would leave the beach for the day, Midoriya would dig into his bag and reveal the present. All Might, of course, would be flattered and, ever so carefully, would open--

“Ah, Young Midoriya!”

The tall, lanky blond was in the parking lot, standing beside the pickup truck he had been using the haul away garbage at the end of each day. Midoriya waved as he approached, a slight skip in his step.

“Hey, All Might!”

“How are you feeling this morning, my boy?” he asked, falling into the usual line of questioning he greeted Midoriya with each day. “Ate a nice breakfast? Brought water?”

“Yep!” And, just like always, Midoriya pointed his thumb toward his backpack. “Brought it with me.”

“Good. We’ll pick up where we left off yesterday, I don’t think that--” They were walking side-by-side to the beach when All Might stopped, jerking his head back to his truck. “Oh wait, I forgot…”

Midoriya watched his mentor jog back to his vehicle, dig around inside of it, before returning a few short seconds later. A Santa hat was in his hand and, with a lopsided grin gracing his bony features, he placed it on his head.

“‘Tis the season!” he declared as Midoriya beamed up at him.

Though it was the eve before Christmas Eve, All Might did not pull any punches or give the teenager any sort of holiday break. He stood on the sidelines, as hawkish as ever, hollering words of encouragement as Midoriya sank deeper and deeper into the sand. He was trying to push an industrial oven across the beach and up toward the parking lot.

“Your back Midoriya,” All Might yelled, slapping his own. “Put your back into it!”

Oh, he was putting his back into it alright. His back, heart, lungs, skull, feet -- every part of his body was working in tandem to push the heavy object. At some point, the ground beneath him shifted away and he fell forward, smacking his head against the frigid metal of appliance.

His arms were on fire and he could feel a heartbeat in his head as he groaned. Midoriya heard a series of coughs before All Might’s voice rose above the steady, dull roar of crashing waves behind him.

“Do you have a concussion?” he called. Midoriya sat up on his knees, rubbing his forehead.

“N… No,” he answered, though he felt a sizable bump already growing. “I, uh, I don’t think so.”

“Then stand up and keep at it, my boy,” came the shouted reply. “This beach isn’t going to clean itself!”

“R-right!”

It took almost the entire day to push the oven from the shoreline to parking lot. Alone. Throwing his predecessor a bone, All Might shifted into his muscle form to hoist the appliance onto the back of his truck, paying no mind to the way the vehicle groaned beneath the added weight.

“Well,” All Might said, coughing into his fist as he lost mass. “We didn’t get as much done as I was hoping…”

“There’s still time!” Midoriya said, glancing back at the setting sun. Now that they were in the heart of winter, the days were growing much shorter and sunlight was a precious thing. “There are some cinderblocks I can go--”

All Might shook his head.

“No, no, what you did was good today.” All Might groaned, checking the time on his phone. “We can pick this up after Christmas…”

“Oh!” Midoriya blinked, brows knitting as he thought back to his calendar. He was certain All Might had planned on getting together the following day, on Christmas Eve. Should he bring it up? Maybe the hero had forgotten what he had written?

“Young Midoriya,” All Might said, bright blue eyes peering down at him. “What are your plans for Christmas Eve?”

Midoriya stared up at him blankly.

“You see,” All Might said, puffing out his chest. “I was planning on making an appearance at the children's hospital and I was wondering if you wanted to come along--”

“Yes,” Midoriya said firmly, nodding his head in one sharp, resolute motion. “Yes! Is it an event for your charity? You always do stuff like that around this time of year. Especially giving out free trees. Of course, I’d be honored!”

“Fanboy!” the hero teased and a toothy smile found its way across his face. “It’s become a yearly tradition… sort of. Sometimes I switch it up and visit schools instead. Here…” he was moving to the passenger side of his truck, and Midoriya followed. He had opened the door and was reaching for a messenger bag he had sitting on the floor. “I’ve got the address of the hospital on a card somewhere. If you want to meet me there at 9 a.m.--”

All Might was still mumbling instructions to Midoriya, but the green-haired teen’s eyes had fallen on the mess of wrapping paper and collection of boxes that had taken up most of the passenger seat.

“Presents?” Midoriya said out loud. All Might glanced up from his increasingly panicked searching, following the boy’s gaze.

“Oh, yes,” All Might said with a soft chuckle, silently praying he had stashed the hospital information in a front pocket of his bag as it wasn’t in any of the other compartments. “Gifts from employees at my agency that I picked up this morning. Please don’t tell them I ripped their wrapping paper so messily, some of it was really fragile... Shit, don’t tell me I left the envelope on my desk…”

A lump settled in Midoriya’s throat.

From his vantage point, at least three of the presents were tea-related.

“Tea…” Midoriya squeaked under his breath. All Might released a thankful sigh when he pulled out the manila envelope he had been searching for.

“Hm? Tea? Oh yes, it’s the easiest gift to get me!” he said with a laugh. “It’s no secret I like my tea! Now, here’s the address for the hospital. I’ll be there in costume around 9 a.m… Do you want to be an elf or a reindeer? You know what, why don’t you be a reindeer…”

Midoriya limply took the card All Might was holding out and the costume that had been folded beneath his bag -- he had brought it along with the assumption Midoriya would agree to be his helper.

All Might was droning on about something related to Christmas trees as he slammed the door of the truck shut, punctuating his monologue with a breathy laugh. When Midoriya didn’t laugh along with him at his excellent tree pun, All Might paused and looked over to the boy.

Why did he seem so… shell-shocked?

“Is everything okay?” All Might asked, concerned.

Had his pun been that bad!?

No, the pun had been a classic All Might zinger.

Maybe… he had Christmas Eve plans…?

“You know, you don’t have to come tomorrow,” All Might added, trying his best not to sound too disappointed. “If you had plans with someone… You don’t have to waste your holiday with an old man...”

“What?” Midoriya blinked, breaking from his trance. “Plans…? What, no, of course not All Might. I’ll be there tomorrow, don’t you worry! You can count on me!”

“That’s what I like to hear!” All Might said with a sizable amount of relief, flashing a thumbs up. Two of his other reindeer had already canceled on him and he was banking on Midoriya’s help. “I guess I’ll see you tomorrow then!”

Midoriya watched All Might carefully pull his long limbs into the driver’s side of the truck before it roared to life at the turn of his key.

All Might’s perfect gift...

All Might’s perfect gift was terrible.

“Oh! One last thing…”

Midoriya looked up just in time to catch a wrapped gift that All Might had tossed out the window of his truck.

“Merry Christmas, my boy. I’ll see you tomorrow.”

Midoriya’s shoulders slumped as he looked down at the gift.

A gift from All Might.

All Might had given him a gift.

Oh no.

What was he going to do?

---

Inko had been talking on the phone with Bakugou Mitsuki when Midoriya returned home that night. Immediately, she knew something wasn’t right. Her son looked absolutely defeated as he kicked off his shoes and trudged to his bedroom, backpack under one arm and a shining gold present under the other.

“I have to go,” she informed the woman on the other line, motherly intuition ringing in her ears.

“Okay! I’ll email you that chicken recipe I was talking about...”

Gingerly she tip-toed to Midoriya’s bedroom, wringing her hands as she stood outside his door, listening. It didn’t sound like he was crying. Should she knock? Should she ask him if something was the matter?

Beeping from the kitchen interrupted her internal doting and, casting one last worried look to the closed door, she went to go pull the food from the oven.

Midoriya, meanwhile, was carefully unwrapping his master’s gift.

Of course it was perfect.

He had been given an All Might action figure. Not just any All Might action figure -- the hero was wearing his Bronze Age costume and, judging from the date on the box, it was an original run.

It was a collector’s item. A rarity. A figure that had been released back before All Might had become a household name. When he was a rising star that had just started capturing the public’s attention and imagination.

It was a perfect gift.

The teenager sniffed loudly, rubbing his eyes across his forearm, touched at the amazing gift and ashamed of his own failures. Why was it so hard to pick out a present for All Might? He had spent nearly every day with him for months, he was an important presence in his life, basically on the same level as his mother.

Nothing was good enough.

Midoriya inhaled deeply through his runny nose, desperately trying to dam the flood of tears that just kept coming.

Nothing would ever be good enough to give to All Might.

Nothing would ever be able to properly encompass or represent the amount of reverence, respect and gratitude the teen had for his mentor.

He owed All Might so much.

So. Much.

No.

Nothing would ever be good enough.

And he didn’t know what to do.

Facing an impossible dilemma, Midoriya went to the only other person he could turn to in a moment of crisis besides All Might--

He went to mom.

“Oh, Izuku,” Inko sputtered, nearly dropping the plate of fish in her hands when she turned to find her only son standing in the doorway of the kitchen in tears. Though she had no idea why he was crying, automatically her own eyes started to water. She placed the plate down and fluttered around him, placing worried and placating hands on his cheeks and forehand before smoothing down his messy mop of hair. “What’s wrong? Are you okay? Do you need something?”

“Mom, I--” he sniffled and she steeled herself for him to release some horrendous piece of news. “I… I don’t know what to get someone for Christmas.”

Inko froze, eyes wide, as his problem wasn’t as… doom and gloom as she originally believed.

“I thought I’d get him a tea set but a lot of other people got him a tea set and I thought maybe a tie but I’m sure he has a million ties at home and I’m stuck because nothing is good enough for him because without him I wouldn’t be where I am and he’s dedicated so much time to me and the present he got me for Christmas is awesome and there is no way I can match it and I never will be able to--”

“Izuku,” his mother said, grabbing his cheeks between warm hands and shushing him, trying to stifle his mumbled rantings. “We can talk this through. We can work this out. Come on, sit down.”

Midoriya didn’t put up a fuss when he was led to the kitchen table, taking a seat as a bowl of plain white rice was placed in front of him.

“Eat,” she demanded and he acquiesced, though his bites were half-hearted. “Now, tell me what’s wrong. You have to get a present for someone?”

“It’s a…” he rested his cheek against his palm, shifting the rice in his bowl with the other, hesitating on how to best describe All Might. “Teacher that I’m trying to buy a present for. He’s been really helpful, mom, and he’s spent a lot of time teaching me. And I’m helping him out tomorrow morning at a hospital and I want to give him a present but nothing I think of is good enough for him.”

A confused Inko was nodding along.

“O-okay,” she said. “Maybe a gift card?”

“A gift card!?” Izuku said, looking up at her aghast. “No! It has to be something…” he trailed off before sighing and shrugging. “I owe him a lot, mom.”

“Well…” she shifted in her seat, eyeing the stray grains of rice that had been knocked out of his bowl and onto the wooden table. “If storebought presents aren’t good enough, make him something.”

“Make him something?”

“Well, you don’t have to make it. It just has to be something… personal. Something with heart.”

Izuku was looking at her with wide, curious eyes.

“Remember when you were little and you made me all those drawings of you in your hero costume?” she said, a smile tugging the sides of her lips. “Those were some of the best presents I’ve ever gotten. I have them all saved.”

“I can’t give All--” he coughed. “I can’t give my teacher a drawing.” Defeat was creeping back into his face and Inko scooted forward, panicked.

“It doesn’t have to be a drawing! That was just my favorite present. It could be a picture or a letter or a card…” Midoriya’s brows furrowed slightly and he looked off to the side, an idea blossoming in his head. Inko continued on. “It’s all about heart, hon.”

He didn’t answer right away. He had a far-off look in his eye but there was a light in his face that calmed Inko.

Then, in a sudden burst, he was standing.

“What time is it!?” he shouted, reaching for his phone, shoulders relaxing at seeing the time. Then he was swiping. “I think I still have it…” he muttered to himself.

“Izuku?”

“I think I know what I can do!” he said, a bright smile erupting across his face at finding what he was looking for. Still, a concerned Inko raised her hands as her son darted away from the table, the chair skittering out from behind him.

Before he left the kitchen, he seemed to catch himself, sliding to a stop in the doorway. He turned and looked back at his mother, giving her a thumbs up.

“Thanks, mom!” he said, grinning.

A visibly confused Inko raised an unsure hand in response.

“Of course…”

---

“Ho ho ho, don’t pull Santa’s bangs!” All Might declared through a clenched-teeth smile as he tried to pry open the iron-grip of the toddler he had bent down to greet.

While the parents laughed and took pictures of the Santa Might standing in front of the hospital, the child he was babbling at had become mesmerized by the two rigid blond bangs poking out from in front of All Might’s Santa hat.

Rather than grip the stuffed dolphin he was holding out, she had instead grabbed and held onto the golden handlebars instead.

“Ho ho ho, you’re gonna give Santa a migraine if you keep pulling his hair…”

“Alright, alright,” one of the mothers said, finally deciding to step in and save All Might from her spawn’s clutches.

But, she didn’t want to let go.

In the end, All Might was able to free himself, though the toddler was waving three long golden hairs in her hands -- prizes she had pulled from the number one hero’s head.

All Might laughed through his tight smile, thrusting the stuffed dolphin into the arms of the parents as he was not bending down to the child’s level again.

He had learned his lesson.

“Merry Christmas!” he said as he waved goodbye, relieved, the front of his scalp throbbing slightly.

It had been the last family that had crowded him at his arrival. Having been blessed with a brief reprise from fans, All Might reached into the pant pocket of his red suit, looking at the time.

Midoriya was almost ten minutes late.

Maybe he’s not coming?

All Might pushed the thought aside. He had complete and utter confidence in the boy -- he wouldn’t skip out on him. Not on Christmas Eve. Something obviously came up.

“All Might!”

The hero turned his head to see a familiar sight -- a green-haired teenager running toward him full speed, waving an arm wildly.

Though, the reindeer get-up he was wearing wasn’t typical.

“All Might? Where?” The blond turned his head wildly, as if searching for the famed hero. “You must be confused Young Mi-deer-iya. I’m Santa Claus.”

“O-oh! Right,” Midoriya’s eyes darted around, worried that was a child nearby and he had ruined the magic. Save for a couple of members of the press stationed a stone’s throw away, the hero and protege were relatively alone. “Sorry for being late, the train--”

“Oh, it’s not a worry at all, my boy! I’m glad you can make it. Santa Claus needs one of his trusty reindeers by his side!”

You know what, an elf may have been a better choice…

“Before we start All Might…” Midoriya glanced behind him at the reporters and photographers. “Can I talk to you? Privately?”

“Of course, young one! Why don’t we head inside? Oh, wait, let me... Thank you all for coming!” All Might said loudly, turning to address the gathered media personnel. “If you excuse me, Santa has to go visit some children…”

Leaving the media wasn’t as simple as making an announcement, though. Some wanted more staged shots of All Might in his Christmas costume, others were looking for additional quotes from the hero that could be included in their stories. After about twenty minutes, All Might put his foot down and disappeared into the relative safety of the hospital, asking a starstruck nurse if there was an empty room they could borrow momentarily.

When the door of the hospital room was closed and the two of them were bathed in privacy, All Might turned to Midoriya.

“What’s bothering you, my boy?”

“I, uh… I got you a Christmas present.”

The hero’s face, partially hidden beneath a large white beard, slackened slightly.

“Oh!” he said, caught off guard. “Well, thank you! You didn’t have to--”

“It’s not much,” Midoriya said, digging into his costume and revealing the gift he had somehow managed to stash away inside of it. He was staring down at it, unable to meet All Might’s eyes. “You were really hard to shop for. Nothing seemed good enough for you.”

“Midoriya…” All Might dropped the sack of toys he had been carrying on his back, reaching out to place a paternal hand on the boy’s shoulder. “Any gift from you is… more than good enough!”

Rather than push back against All Might’s statement, Midoriya simply held the present out.

He didn’t look up when All Might took it from his hands, or when he carefully broke open the red wrapping paper.

Inside was a photograph encased in a simple wooden frame.

It was a picture All Might had taken and sent to Midoriya several months earlier, when the weather had been much, much, warmer. The hero had taken a selfie in his buff form on the beach. His beaming face took up nearly half of the photo and, in the background, Midoriya could be seen in a mid-guttural yell, arms held out wide, a variety of tires hanging from arms as he ran.

It was perfect.

“I know it’s not much--”

“This is the greatest gift I’ve ever gotten,” All Might said, interrupting his successor. The bravado was gone, his voice was soft. He was being earnest. “I mean that, Young Midoriya. Thank you.”

Midoriya peered up at All Might’s face, a wiggling smile forming as tears dotted the corners of his eyes.

All Might held up his hands.

“Now, now, what did I say about crying--”

“Thank you All Might,” the teen said, inhaling loudly and blinking back the waterworks. “For everything you do. I’m happy to have met you.”

All Might’s smile softened.

“Likewise, my boy. Likewise.”

A comfortable silence settled over the room, broken only when there was a series of quick knocks on the door. The head doctor on duty was ready to meet with All Might, the nurse informed them, and lead him through the rooms of the patients he was to visit.

“Excellent!” All Might declared, settling back into his heroic persona. “Be right out!”

With that, the tender moment was over.

“I have to give my mom credit,” Midoriya admitted, scratching at the back of his head. “She suggested I go with something personal and I remembered this picture and how much you laughed at it... I’m just glad you like it.”

“Your mother is a very smart woman,” the hero said gently, eyes flickering back down to the picture held carefully between his gloved hands. He cleared his throat and, holding opened his red coat, he tucked the present safely into an inner pocket. “Tell me you got her something nice for Christmas too.”

Midoriya went rigid as All Might reached for his large toy sack.

“Got her… something… for Christmas…” he repeated, heart nearly stopping.

Oh god!

Shit. Shit. Shit.

“I got her… a tea set!” the teen said through clenched teeth, completely aware he was a terrible son.

“Ah, a thoughtful present,” an oblivious All Might said with a nod of his head, opening the door of the room and gesturing for the teen to go through. “Now come on, let’s go spread some Christmas cheer.”

#bnha #midoriya izuku #All Might #yagi toshinori #dadmight

282 notes · View notes

fish-food-s · 6 years ago

Text

Septum

Words: 2174

Warnings: Major character death, blood, the R slur, cursing, unsympathetic deceit, lots of angst, let me know if I should add anything else.

A/N: This is heavily based off of a youtube video called Septum by Hazel Hayes. I used the same story and really similar characters. Please go check it out!

---

“In front of you is a pill. Within the next twenty-five minutes, one of you must take the pill. If, after twenty-five minutes, no one has taken it, you will all die. Survivors will all win their share of $50,000,000. Good luck.”

Logan scanned the room. A digital clock was installed into the wall, counting down from twenty-five minutes. It contrasted the rest of the electronic free room, being the only source of light that wasn’t a dim yellow lamp against the worn out walls. A security camera was nestled in the top corner of the room, watching them from afar. He and four others sat at a small table filled with little cookies and fruits, along with a single white pill, cushioned neatly on a tiny, fancy box, opened and up for anyone to take.

The man reading the note, Logan knew him as Patton, put down the piece of paper and licked his lips in nervousness.

“Charming,” one man commented, fear evident behind his confident-ridden eyes.

“Would anyone like me to read it again?” Patton asked, unsure. Everyone solemnly shook their heads; Patton nodded and put the note away.

Logan cleared his throat, it being rougher than he anticipated. “I suppose we should introduce ourselves. I’ll go first,” He was met with no objection, “I am Logan, and I feel it would be unfair if I did not mention that I already know Patton,” Logan stated, nodding in Patton’s direction.

“Yes. Hello Logan,” Patton admitted, sheepishly

A man in a black bowler hat furrowed his brows. “Did you know that you’d see each other here?” He questioned.

The two shook their heads. “No. We were friends in school but lost touch when departing. Seeing Patton here came as quite a shock,” he explained.

“Yeah. We haven’t spoken in, like, ten years,” Patton agreed. The man with the hat nodded suspiciously.

“Well, It would definitely add to the show, with all the drama and such,” said the confident man. Logan thought about it for a moment before nodding, remembering that this was in front of an audience.

“Well,” Logan started, “There is not much to know about me. I am married, and we have a daughter. We are signing the divorce papers currently, though. It simply did not work the way we planned. I am a nurse, by the way. It is what I’ve wanted to do since childhood, and I quite enjoy meeting such a diverse set of people from the occupation. There is truly so much to learn from them.” He dipped his head, signifying he was done.

“I guess I’ll go next,” Patton decided through the silence. “I’m Patton, and I’m studying to be an architect. I love traveling and seeing what humanity could make with just a few materials in hand. I’m planning on climbing Kilimanjaro. Which I know seems a bit...” he gestured to his wheelchair, “It won’t be easy, but I’m going to try my hardest.” He smiled proudly.

“Hello, I am Roman,” the next man announced, the same one that spoke with a fragile arrogance, “I am an incredibly charming and witty, and downright devilishly handsome man-” the man in the hoodie next to Roman laughed, “-When I was young I wanted to be a Disney prince, but I settled on being a writer instead, everyone insisted that you couldn't have something that didn’t exist. I do not believe anyone gave a reason for being here, but I came because the cash would help greatly in writing and publishing my novel.”

“You came here for a novel?” Logan confirmed, “That’s admirable.”

Roman nodded, flashing a wavering smile, “I am also quite a fan of this show, another reason I decided to come.”

Logan nodded and everyone’s head turned to a rather dark character. “Would you like to introduce yourself?” Logan asked, leaving silence for his name.

“Virgil,” His deep voice surprised everyone, “And no thanks. I’m good.”

The hat man scoffed. “It’s not like he’s offering you a snack”

Virgil rolled his eyes that were painted with shadows, “Yeah, I’m not giving you some sob story to get you to feel sorry for me. We all got problems, next,” he made a swiping motion with his hands, gesturing to the last man.

The man in the bowler hat sighed. “Well, I am Vincent,” he spoke, his voice smooth and calculated, “I dropped out of school at grade seven and started my own business. I have been under my own employment ever since.”

“Yes, cause someone like you definitely needs the money,” Roman signed. Vincent shook his head and looked away, as if too worthy for his contributions.

“So, that is all of us. How shall we do this?” Logan asked, ignoring the rising feeling of sickness in his gut.

Vincent lifted his head to meet Logan’s eyes. “Let’s do a vote. It doesn't have to be official, we’ll just test the waters and go from there,” he suggested. Everyone made some noise of agreement.

“Yeah, we won't do it unless it’s unanimous. Well, if four people vote for the same person. Obviously, we won't get all five of us to vote together,” Patton added with a touch of forced humor.

“Okay, I will start with me,” Logan stated, “And go clockwise from there. By a show of hands, who votes for me to take the pill?” No one raised their hand.

“Patton?”

“Roman?” Vincent raised his hand.

“Virgil?” Roman, Logan, and Patton raised their hands, the ladder quite sheepishly.

“Vincent?” Virgil raised his hand.

“Okay, that’s one each for Vincent and Roman, and three for Virgil,” Logan finished, feeling nausea take over.

There was a beat of silence

“Let's take a break and come back in a moment. To think about the vote,” Patton suggested, guilt plaguing his voice.

“Excellent idea, Patton,” Logan agreed, and with that, everyone turned to talk amongst themselves.

Logan approached Patton, smiling at the familiar face. “It is quite strange seeing you here,” he commented.

“Yeah, you too,” Patton said, laughing forcefully.

“Now that the first voting has finished, everything has become all too real,” Logan confessed, looking on to the others.

Patton nodded solemnly.

“May I ask why you voted for me?” Virgil turned his head to see Vincent facing him, pleading with his eyes. “I mean, I know we all have to vote for someone, but if I did anything that caused you to be upset, my apologies,” he said almost sincerely.

“To be honest, I just think you’re kind of a dick,” Virgil said bluntly. Roman chuckled. Vincent snarled and turned away.

Everyone slowly made their way back to their seat, and a silent tension was reset in the air. Logan cleared his throat. “I suppose we could vote again. Anonymously this time,” Logan suggested. Patton began to take strips of paper out.

“Wait,” Roman announced, “Virgil are you sure you don’t want to share your story?” he asked.

Virgil looked down. “Well, if you really want to hear it. My dad died when I was seven. It’s just me and my mom. She’s absolutely perfect. You know those moms you see in magazines or movies? Always baking and always supportive? That's my mom. She, uh, she’s sick. Like, sick sick. I came here cause I thought I could-” he covered his eyes, whimpering. “I can’t...” His whimpers turned to low laughs, “I can’t believe you guys fell for that shit.”

Everyone sighed in disbelief. “You sure are something,” Vincent spoke, his voice dripping with sarcasm.

“What a wonderful performance!” Roman commented, lifting his glass of wine to Virgil. The actor imitated a bow.

“Can’t you take anything seriously?” Vincent growled at Roman.

“Can’t you take that stick out your ass? It’s not a good look,” Roman shot back. Virgil chuckled.

“Look, I’m just saying that we can’t judge someone so quickly in just twenty-five minutes based off each other sob stories,” Virgil stated, leaning back in his chair.

“Yeah, and you could never know who’s telling the truth,” Roman agreed.

“Who’s side are you on?” Vincent growled.

“My own.”

“What an awful side.”

“Okay. okay, lets vote,” Patton said suddenly, passing five strips of paper around, “If four of the votes are the same, that will be the decision,” Each wrote a name on their slip before passing it back to Patton.

Patton unfolded each and read them out loud. “Virgil. Virgil. Vincent. Virgil… Vincent.”

“Are you fucking kidding me? You just got us all killed! We were one vote away from getting out alive!” Vincent lashed out, looking directly at Roman, “You just fucked it all up!” Roman shook his head and chuckled. “What is this for your book? Trying to get a good story out of it?”

“Oh, please.”

“What, you think this is a joke? We’re all going to die because of you!”

“That’s enough-” Virgil stepped in.

“Oh, now he talks! You just stay silent and wait until one of us becomes the antagonist? Well, you did a great job at that!” He seethed, lightly clapping his hands.

“It’s not like I have some strategy to this! I came here for money that I need. I’m here to vote and feel awful about all of it, but I am not begging anyone for sympathy in the process. My shit hole of a life is not going to be my excuse to live.”

“It was me...”

“What?” Vincent demanded.

Patton looked down. “I voted for you...”

“What the hell is wrong with you people? The moment I walked through the door you all hated me!”

“I’ll take that apology when you’re ready”

“Fuck off!”

Vincent stood up and walked to the end of the table. “Since we cannot reach an agreement, I suggest the majority takes the pill. Virgil?”

“Wait that is not what we decided on,” Logan argued, “We need to take another vote just to be sur-”

“Are you fucking retarded or something?” Vincent snapped. The room went cold. “No, that’s not what I meant-”

“You’ve been nothing but trouble all night,” Roman said, standing up to meet Vincent, “You claim you’re some rich business owner, but I’m calling bullshit. You’re just a liar with a bad attitude and a bad-”

Roman couldn't finish the sentence with Vincent's fist to his nose. Logan caught him as he fell backward, and Virgil stood up to level with Vincent. He almost took another blow when Virgil looked up, Vincent following his gaze to the security camera. To where millions of people are watching them. Virgil turned around to help Roman stop seeing stars.

Patton glance at the clock. Only a minute left. “Logan, we’re running out of time.” His voice was on the edge of sobs.

“Okay, another vote, with a show of hands this time, majority rules. I will start with me,” Logan stated, “And go clockwise from there. Who votes for me to take the pill?” No one raised their hand.

“Patton?”

“Roman?”

“Virgil?”

“Vincent?” Everyone but Vincent raised their hand.

“Vincent you have to vote,” Patton pleaded.

“Doesn’t matter,” Roman spat, holding his nose, “he’s dead.”

“No, he should vote,” Logan argued

“Vincent just take the pill!” Virgil yelled. Vincent did nothing.

“I’m sorry,” Logan apologized sincerely, “But you have to take it.”

Vincent sat down in his spot, eyeing the pill. He leaned in, almost reaching it, before retreating back into his seat. The clock ticked from a minute to fifty-nine seconds.

Screams of resentment flooded the room. Patton wordlessly sobbed as he held his head in his hands. Logan stood up and eyed the pill, circling the table. Ten seconds. He reached his hand for the pill and dry swallowed the tablet before anyone could resist. The room went silent.

“No!” Patton screamed, pushing his chair over to logan and clutching the hem of his shirt, “Logan you didn’t have to do that!” The timer hit zero. Logan lowered himself to Patton’s level as the man cried into his chest. “Why did you do that...” he whimpered, sobbing.

Patton pulled away slightly and wiped at his nose, noticing the blood it left on his finger. Vincent, wide-eyed, turned to Roman, who had begun to cough up blood. He tested the tip of his finger at his own nostril, fainting at the sight of blood on his index finger. Virgil looked in horror at Roman. “It was an antidote,” the writer whispered. He squeezed his eyes shut and held out his hand. “Could you… could you hold my hand?”

Virgil wordlessly sat down and took Roman’s hand in his, watching the man take his last breath, knowing his own would come soon. He stood up and separated their hands, before making his way to Logan, who was now cradling a half-dead Patton. Without saying anything, he leaned his head on Logan’s shoulder and fell into darkness, Patton joining him soon after.

Logan, now surrounded by bodies, looked up as the walls opened to a bright white light, revealing a cheering audience that only made his tears burn more.

---

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Taglist:

@pansexual-cat @thefailurethe @a-whole-lot-of-screaming @iris-sanders-athena @allaboutthemsides @nepturanus-thy-planet @allycat31415 @thekeytohappiness-is-you @0joodles0 @hghrules @error-i-dunno-what-went-wrong @cxrus-kippen @small-words-to-say @helloangrydestiny @evilmuffin @mollycassmith @rileys-main-blog-spot @whatamessofwords @sander-fander-sides @madsdragon @finger-gunsss

#kat-writes #logan sanders #roman sanders #virgil sanders #patton sanders #deceit sanders #im so proud of this #i wrote it in one sitting

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