#they were just guessing based on observing his injuries while he was unconscious

[softpine]

and i am you, and what i see is me and do i take you by the hand and lead you through the land and help me understand the best i can?

[transcript] + [case notes]

[arts-and-drafts]

Linger (Hermit Tommy AU)

(A discussion about scars. This one has been in the bucket for a long time, and it's finally done! Enjoy!!)

TW: Permanent injury, bodily harm, scars, overdose mention

-

Tommy's in pain.

The hermits mistook his ever tense posture for wariness, his pinched expression seeming only a front to those Tommy distrusted. They hope it will ease with time, and they are patient.

They turn out to be right. Slowly, Tommy gets used to them, relaxes, smiles more and yells less.

But he's still tense, and his face still twists occasionally in what the hermits start to realize is hurt rather than intimidation after completing simple tasks like lifting shulker boxes.

It's False who notices Tommy's not right handed.

He's a damn good fighter, as dirty as his shots are and as rough his technique is. Tommy fights like his life depends on it, and in that situation there's no room for fancy footwork or skillful swordplay. But looking impressive is not a requirement for being good at PVP, and the scuffed up teenager is a prime example of that.

Tommy's scars are evidence that he just encountered someone better.

Besides his crude offensive, False notices he's also clumsy. Tommy always draws his weapon with his left, and yes, he switches to his right as soon as it's in his hand, but as sporadic as Tommy likes to be, that doesn't add up.

False sees him get jumped by a creeper, once, and in the miniscule time alloted to attack, Tommy drew and swung with his left. Instinctually.

False then sees him grimace when the creeper explodes, and he drops his weapon to knead his left shoulder. That is when it clicks.

"Tom." False tries to sound casual on break from sparring with the kid the next day, watching him carefully from her periphery while she feigns busying herself with her water bottle.

Tommy grunts in acknowledgment, and False takes a breath.

"How come you always switch to your right when you're fighting?" She treads carefully. Tommy doesn't like it when the hermits pry, and he definitely doesn't like it when they're as observant of him as False is.

Thankfully, it doesn't look like Tommy reads into the question too much. "I'm right handed." He says simply, and False knows it's a lie, but his nonchalance would absolutely fool her if she didn't know the truth.

Now is when False would normally nod, and change the subject. But Tommy's hurting, and a part of her just can't let that go.

"See, you're not." False says lightly, abandoning all pretense. Tommy tenses next to her, more than he already is.

"You draw with your left. You wouldn't do that if you were right handed. Why don't you fight like that?" False asks. She doesn't grill him on how he got hurt, or why he hides it. She's being risky enough as is with her flat-out asking, and she's not certain she'll get an answer from the kid if she pushes any further.

Tommy swallows, and his left hand flexes unconsciously. "It, uh. Hurts." Tommy says. False waits patiently.

"I got hit. There. By a Wither, y'know." Tommy continues, and False finally feels a different emotion than calm worry. Sympathy and slight horror twist in her chest, and she's thankful she doesn't need to speak so Tommy can keep talking.

But he doesn't talk, and instead pulls off his shirt in the most difficult way possible since he moves his left arm as little as he can. False's eyes widen as blackened skin is revealed, spreading over the poor kid's entire left shoulderblade and down his arm and chest, dangerously close to his heart. If False were to touch it, she'd know the skin would be cold and dead, barely hanging on to Tommy's body anymore.

False lets out a horrified breath instead, feeling as if the wind got knocked out of her lungs.

There is no cure for being withered, if you don't have milk on hand directly after a hit. Those marks stay with you for life.

But Tommy is 16. Tommy has barely started his life, and he's already bearing an injury that will last with him until the end of his time. False feels bile rise in her throat. Whether it's cause of grief or anger, she can't tell. All she knows is that Withers aren't made on accident. There is a story here.

A story she has no right to know.

"Gods, Tommy, I'm--I'm sorry." False utters helplessly, because she just doesn't know what else to say. Tommy stiffens.

"Not your fault." He says curtly, his words edged with a familiar tone of sharpness that he takes when he feels someone is taking pity on him. False scrambles to save the situation.

"Scar's had some run ins with a Wither. Impulse, too." False comments, and pretends not to see Tommy's face flicker in surprise.

"I'm sure they have some tips, if you're interested." False continues, holding back the desperation she feels with every drop of willpower she possesses to not scare Tommy off. "You'd be a much better fighter if you could use both hands." She adds gently, and a wave of relief crashes over her as Tommy's eyes light up with recognition of opportunity.

Tommy utters an eerily mischievous laugh that False can't help but smile at. "Ohhh-ho, I'm gonna be so fuckin' powerful--they call me dual blade Innit!! I'm gonna dual blade your ass!"

False laughs out loud at that, the icy horror in her chest loosening for only a moment. "Void help us." She comments sarcastically. "Go on then, see Scar first. He's got magic crystals that I hear are good to help pain."

Tommy's face flickers, so quickly that False barely sees it before it's gone. But the expression was bare exhaustion, a kind of weariness that False has never really seen before.

False could guess that Tommy's been in pain for most of his life. No wonder he's tired. No wonder he nearly overdosed on gapples for the absorption they provided when exposed to the hermit's infinite supply. No wonder he doesn't move quickly unless he has to.

Several things click into place as Tommy pulls his shirt back over his head, and the conclusion leaves a lead weight in False's gut.

It's not her business to know what happened to this boy barely old enough to attend MCC that gave him lifetimes of scars both inside and out. She knows her fellow hermits who have been her friends for years have secrets they will never share, and she's made her peace with that a long time ago. For Tommy, it's no different.

But as False watches him gingerly make his way down from the top of her base to the portal, she just wants to know why that fate was seemingly a deserving one for a child to bear.

END.

[breathlessmorro]

I got bored so here's some light cousin content. Based off of an actual interaction I've had with my cousins.

Also I'm on Tumblr mobile so... Semi-Long post

Synopsis: Wu bears witness to a fight between good and evil.

Don't Ignore Me.

"Wu! Your son is being mean!"

Letting out a deep sigh through his nose, Wu lifted his head to see Lloyd pouting in his doorway. His fists were clenched and shaking, not unlike the rage-shake he'd had as a child. For a moment, Wu allowed himself to be amused by the memory, before catching a glimpse of Morro standing behind Lloyd with a smug grin plastered to his face. 

Putting aside the warmth that filled his chest at Morro being referred to as his son, he began to speak. "And what has he done that is so mean?" he asked, setting down his tea. 

Lloyd pointed an accusatory finger at Morro, his face going red. "He won't talk to me!" His lower lip quivered pathetically, and Wu had to bite back a snicker. 

Morro, on the other hand, held no such reservations. He let his head fall back as he let out a loud laugh, crossing his arms and leaning against the doorway. Wu gave him a glance before giving his attention back to Lloyd, whose cheeks were now puffing out with indignation. 

"If Morro isn't talking to you, then perhaps he is having a tantrum," Wu suggested, fighting a smirk at the sudden indignant expression that took over Morro's face. "Let him stew and start the conversation himself."

"What?! I was not throwing a tantrum!" Morro squawked, uncrossing his arms and entering the room. 

Wu lifted a brow. "All evidence to the contrary, little one."

Lloyd snickered at that. "Ha. Little one."

"Shut up!" It was Morro's turn to go bright red, his gaze fixed firmly on Lloyd as his fists clenched. "You're the child here!"

"I am sixteen!" Lloyd shouted back as the two of them turned to face each other. Wu let out another exhale, shaking his head as he watched the scene unfold before him. The two boys became incredibly animated as they bickered back and forth, waving their hands around, pointing their fingers, stepping closer and further apart from each other. Despite the raised voices, Wu knew they weren't truly angry with each other. 

In fact, they hadn't been truly angry with each other for quite some time now, when he thought about it. Lloyd had of course advocated for Morro to join them, but he hadn't forgiven the past immediately. Those first few weeks had been awkward and tense, and Wu had begun to fear that the two of them would never see eye-to-eye. Until the day he saw Lloyd helping Morro unlock his phone, the two boys playfully fighting back and forth about the device. 

Since then, Wu had seen Morro come out of his shell more around the others as well. The rowdy and excitable boy he'd known in his youth had slowly - as in, incredibly slowly - but surely returned to him as last. In fact, his playfulness with Lloyd seemed to have opened up entirely new possibilities for him. As proud as Wu was, he was also grateful; Grateful to have back the son he once thought he'd lost. 

Over time, their own relationship had improved, with Morro coming to see Wu for one-on-one training sessions in the beginning, to the time they took out of their day to check in to see how Morro was adjusting. He'd been quiet and withdrawn at first, just as he had been when Wu first met him, but soon those walls came down again just as they had the first time, and Wu could proudly say that Morro was now a permanent presence in his heart once more. 

The thought brought a smile to Wu's face as he continued to observe the bickering cousins. He allowed the fighting to stretch out for a minute before clearing his throat to speak. 

Both boys instantly turned their attention to him, the argument all but forgotten. "I think there may be a better way to resolve this than with shouts and horseplay. Morro? Why do you ignore Lloyd?"

Morro shrugged, blowing a strand of hair from his face before answering. "Because it's funny," he answered simply. Lloyd scowled at that, but didn't say anything. 

Turning his attention to the younger, Wu gestured to him. "And what were you trying to talk to Morro about before he decided to ignore you?"

"I was trying to talk to him about the sparring move he used earlier on Jay," Lloyd said as his expression evened out again. "He barely even touched him, and he managed to knock him out."

"Well I hope Jay is alright," Wu frowned, giving Morro a look. 

He scoffed, rolling his eyes and crossing his arms again. "He's fine, I didn't even knock him unconscious," he huffed. "I paralyzed him for a minute, that's all."

"Yeah, but how?"

"Wouldn't you like to know, weather boy."

"Enough." Once again, both boys went silent as they directed their attention back to Wu. Pinching the bridge of his nose, he fixed them both with a stern look. "Lloyd? Go and check on Jay. Morro, may I have a word with you?"

"Yes, Master," the two sighed, parting ways with a final glare. Wu watched closely as Morro's eyes followed Lloyd of the room, before clearing his throat and stepping closer to him. Morro immediately jerked his head back to attention. 

"Now, why exactly did you see the need to paralyze Jay?" he asked him gently. "I believe I only taught you to do that in dire situations."

Morro shrugged his arms as he crossed them. "I don't know, I guess I thought it would just make the fight easier. I didn't think he'd collapse like that." Again, he blew at the strand of his hair in his face, prompting Wu to step closer. 

He carefully tucked the piece of hair behind Morro's ear, ignoring the eye roll as the latter allowed it to happen. "You do remember what I told you could happen if you did that move incorrectly, yes?" He was only asking as a formality. Of course Morro remembered. 

"Yeah, I know. That's a sensitive area and hitting it wrong could result in a serious injury," Morro sighed before gently pulling back from Wu. "But I didn't hurt him that bad. Lloyd kept bugging me about it so I decided to ignore him."

Wu gave him a small smile, shaking his head fondly before leading him out the door. "If all you do is cause trouble," he said with a warning tone, placing a hand at Morro's back while they walked, "then all you'll receive is trouble."

Morro grinned at him with a smug smile. "Trouble is what I'm good at."

"That it is," Wu chuckled, shaking his head fondly. He gently pushed Morro towards the hallway where the other ninja could be heard. "Now go make your peace. I have a meditation to get back to."

"Yes, master," Morro bowed to him respectfully, before running off after the rest of the ninja. Wu watched him go with a smile on his face, before re-entering his study. 

[echo-three-one]

Whatever It Takes

Now safely headed home and rescued the hostages, Soap discovers something from the four corners of the infirmary. It's basically a chapter that happened inside the infirmary. Yeah.

Previous Chapter : Alex - Dé jàvu

Chapter 5 to another story made by Ray (echo-three-one) Comments and Reviews appreciated! I hope you enjoy! Love you all ❤️

"Reunited"

John 'Soap' MacTavish

Task Force 141

Task Force 141 Base - Infirmary

Soap grunted at the initial moment he felt consciousness. The faint tune of the radio started to fill his ears followed by soft hushes from within the room.

If I lay here… If I just lay here…

Sharp pain struck his abdomen as he tried to get up, making him wince ang grunt loud enough that the two ladies beside him noticed. He shot a pained glare at them and breathed heavily.

"Look who finally decided to get up." The pale brunette greeted him with a soft smile. This was Samantha, the Daughter of America's Head of Defense, she really looked different from her photos from the briefing and Soap thought maybe it's the continuous days of being unconscious draining her out.

"Hm." Soap muttered as he laid back on his bed. He wasn't strong enough to fully get up yet and it frustrated him that he let out a heavy sigh. He rolled his eyes to France who was giggled beside him. Guess she found his misery satisfying.

"What's funny?" he finally gave in and asked.

"Oh nothing. It's just no matter how fast we ran the bullets will always be faster, huh?" she joked, but there was a hint of grief on her tone, something Soap knew and realized just then. It was unfair, it was the harsh reality. They were both considered fit for those conditions but they were the ones who sustained most injuries.

"Heh." Soap chuckled and leaned to face Maxine. She had a few stitches on her forehead an bandages wrapped most of her arm. Her smile was warm and welcoming, but Soap knew what's hidden underneath. Samantha wore the same smile but hers was just happy to be away from her captors.

"So I assume your British, like the rest of the people here?" Samantha asked Soap.

"What made you ask that?" He replied, curious as to her assumptions.

"You sound different than the doctors and nurses around here. I was just curious." She replied almost intimidated.

"Don't mind him, Samantha. He's just grumpy he got injured because he thinks he's so good at everything." France mocked and they both giggled.

"So you two got something going on? I may have lost my memory but not my senses." She winked. France fell silent and Soap immediately replied.

"It's Scottish, Maam and no. We do not have something. If anything it's rivals. She wants to be better than me."

"Oh. I knew that accent stands out among the others!" she mused. Soap turned his attention to the glass window as Alex and General Shepherd passed by discussing something. Samantha caught up with his behavior and looked as well.

"Shit!" She cursed, loud enough to get the two's attention.

"What's wrong?" France asked, holding her arm.

"That guy… his face… looked familiar." she whispered, her hands covered her hands almost scared. 

"Oh him? General Shepherd. Basically our boss. Why, you met him?" France replied calmly.

"No.. those arm tattooes. I swear I saw those before… they're very familiar." she spoke softly. Soap and France turned to each other and nodded, agreeing not to force her too much on remembering things.

"Arm tattoes are the new thing now. I could get one myself anytime you know." Soap informed, trying to divert attention.

"Really? It won't look good on you. You got noodle arms." France retorted, mocking the Scotsman. This seemed to work as Samantha turned to them and laughed.

"You two are the worst liars." she giggled. Soap didn't mind this but he was glad that Samantha was okay.

Time passed by and Soap continued conversing to the two ladies, sharing thoughts and ideas on each other. For someone who's memory had been played with, Samantha recalls quite well. Her descriptions were very detailed up to the last dot. Soap wondered why this was the case and decided to consult Alex when he had the chance.

When it comes to talking, the girls really took their time, they were discussing a lot of things and Soap wasn't able to catch up with them.

"So, Why France? Is it because of the city?" Samantha asked. Soap gulped as he knew it would be asked to him next.

"It's actually short for Francine." She smiled, Soap just stared at her. 

"What about you, tough guy?" Samantha asked as MacTavish snapped back to reality.

"Got beef with someone back at the parachute regiment. Threw a bar of soap straight into his eye." he muttered, almost embarrassed.

"Quite the marksman…" France mused jokingly.

"Oh, bug off. Bet you can't do it square in the eye at a far distance." he boasted, finally getting up.

"I could try. Why don't you stand there so we can test it out." she retorted and Soap just rolled his eyes at her, convincing himself that arguing with her is a waste of time.

The doors slowly opened and a short blonde girl on a wheelchair was being pushed by a nurse. Everyone turned their heads towards the door and Soap noticed France's soft sobs.

"Maxine… I finally found you." she cried. Maxine just sat still, her eyes were open but it felt like she was looking at the vast nothingness.

"She's still recovering her memory lapses. She could hear you and see you but while her brain is still repairing itself, you couldn't expect any response from her." The nurse added and set her on the bed beside Samantha's.

"Sleep restores most minor brain damages we have. So I advise you to do it as well." the nurse patted Samantha and she nodded as the nurse made it's way out.

"How do you know her?" Soap asked, breaking the silence that occured since Maxine entered.

"She's my roommate." Samantha replied in unison to France's "She's my sister."

The girls turned to each other and started crying. Soap just sat there in awe, knowing nothing about calming the situation down.

"I'm sorry I dragged her into this." Samantha sniffled, wanting to hug France.

"You don't have to… It's not your fault." France replied.

~

The rest of the squad arrived when they were permitted to visit the infirmary, except for Price, who was busy about another upcoming move from Nero. In a small room, on a huge circle like formation. Alex was by the door, crossing his arms and staring momentarily at Samantha and turning back to the squad when she turns to him. Soap was aware they had a past mission together but something happened that made him act that way, another reason why he wanted to talk to him.

Ghost and Roach sat by the sofa, finally addressing his raccon story to the group.

"And so there I was by the dumpster. Spreading my arms establishing dominance toward him." Gary narrated, spreading his arms like that of his story.

"It's all over now Rocky Raccoon. I have you cornered. Now give me back my watch! I yelled and you know what happens next? The raccoon actually dropped my watch and scurried back to the forest! Isn't that amazing!" Gary continued adding sound effects and ambiance in the story. He was always the jolly one in the group. He turned to the girls who were laughing along Roach's story while Ghost and Alex forced themselves not to chuckle.

"What's the value of that watch?" Samantha asked.

"Oh about a few hundred British pounds." 

"No no. The sentimental value. The memories it holds. Why is it important to you?" She corrected. Soap caught Alex staring at her intently, his fists were gripping some sort of pendant.

"My mother gave it to me when I left home and joined the force. She said time is golden and I have to enjoy every second of it." he replied showing his watch to the group.

"Aww.. Roach.." France sniffed and Soap rolled his eyes. It wasn't that sad. He thought.

"Well, your Mum's right." Ghost patted Roach's back and he smiled.

The PA Systems rang again and alerted their little group. It announced about another briefing with the exception of those injured and Alex. Ghost and Roach bid their goodbyes at the remaining people, and they waved back except for Maxine who was still asleep.

As soon as the door closed the atmosphere began to shift as Alex slowly walks toward Samantha. Soap and France quietly trailed their eyes at the event and observed intently.

"You!" Samantha finally yelled and slapped Alex as soon as he was reachable.

"Ow! What gives!" he hissed in pain, rubbing his red cheeks.

"You were that creep I met by my apartment! What are you doing here!" she grabbed a pillow and gestured to hit the man. France tried to calm her.

"That's Alex. One of our allies." She whispered softly.

"Alex? Hmmm. Yeah. He looked like that creep who chased me to the supermarket. But that creep had longer hair and complete legs." she noted, calming herself down and lowering his weapon.

"That was actually me. Samantha." he muttered. Soap and France sat quietly as the drama began to unfold.

"You dropped this. That's why I chased you to give it back." Alex handed her a golden pendant. Samantha quickly recognized the thing and held it tight. 

"Daddy's gift." she sighed.

"You dropped it when you were walking home." Alex added and looked down on the floor.

"Thanks, Alex. I'm sorry if I slapped you." She smiled at him and Alex stared back. It was quite long and France whispered to Soap that "things are heating up'. Do these two have some history or something? Like Romantically? Cause, I can sense it." 

Soap shrugged her idea and looked back at Alex who was now leaving.

"It's okay, Maam. Afterall, I'm just nothing but a complete stranger to you." he smiled and closed the door shut, leaving the four of them in silence.

Next Chapter : A Walk to Remember

[elizabethemerald]

The Nein, The Sapphire and The Ruby; Part 2

“What was your plan?” Beau stepped forward, her threatening posture completely unnecessary as the man was still completely terrified of Jester. 

“Our plan was to scare the Ruby. We weren’t going to hurt her too badly. Just scare her, to lure that one back to the city, he wanted us to capture the Blue Tiefling.”

He nodded his head to Jester as she stepped back from him. Caleb stepped back with her, while Fjord and Beau took over the interrogation. The two of them left the room and walked together through Yussa’s tower. Jester didn’t say anything until she found herself outside the closet where Caleb had cast his tower. She stared idly at the cat statue and wand sitting at the base of the closet. 

“Jester. Are you-” Caleb started. 

“I’m just fine Cay-leb.” Jester interrupted with a bright smile even as she wiped tears from her eyes. 

“Talk to me Blueberry.” Caleb said softly. 

“He hurt my momma because of me.” Jester said, more tears rolling down her cheeks. “I played a prank and Sharpe attacked my momma.”

Caleb snapped his fingers and Frumpkin appeared to weave around Jester’s ankles. She immediately picked up the fey cat and pressed her face into his fur to hide her tears. Caleb stood with his hands at his sides for a moment, unsure what else to do to try and comfort her. 

“What happened today is not your fault. You must know that Jester. Lord Sharpe is a cruel and arrogant man.”

“I know that Cay-leb! He’s a dick and he’s just awful, but he hurt my momma because I pulled another prank on him!!”

Jester sobbed even louder, and put Frumpkin back on the ground. She threw her arms around Caleb’s narrow shoulders, pressing her face against his neck. He hesitated for a moment before wrapping her in a some what awkward embrace. He felt out of his depth. He felt he usually left the comforting to one of the other members of the Nein or to his cat. 

“Your momma is safe. And we’re going to make sure she stays safe. After we’re done with Sharpe no one will dare threaten her again.” This was a promise Caleb could keep. 

Jester pulled away, looking again at the doorway to Caleb’s tower. 

“I hurt him.” She gasped out. Caleb looked around in confusion. Was she talking about Lord Sharpe? After a moment Jester continued. “What I did to that guy, what you and Beau were willing to do to him. It was too much like what the Iron Shepards did to me.”

Caleb stepped back, floored by that admission. He hadn’t even thought about that. The nature of his memory was that he could still remember every detail of that dungeon. The stink of fear and rot. The implements used to torture children, and chains to keep them helpless. He could remember the bruises and marks he had seen. And worse, he could remember the exact appraising look he had given that dungeon. Compared their tools to the ones that had been used on him when he was a child under Ikithon. Compared the marks they left to the ones on his own body. Compared the rank stink of fear to his own wild fear of falling back into his one time master’s hands. 

He stepped forward and grabbed Jester in a tight hug. This may be the first time he had been the one to initiate a hug between the two of them, but she needed it now. She needed comfort, not the reminder of what she had gone through before they could rescue her. So he held her tight, her knees grew weak and they slumped to the floor. 

“I want to make Sharpe pay.” Jester whispered. “I want him to suffer, for even thinking he could hurt my momma.” She was quiet for a long moment. “But we can’t torture him like that. I can’t… you can’t… We aren’t like that. We don’t hurt people like that.”

A sound from below them brought them both to their feet. Jester quickly wiped her eyes and picked up Frumpkin again. Soon the rest of the Nein joined them. 

“We got we can out of that piece of shit.” Beau declared as they arrived, then stopped short when she saw the two of them. “Jes, are you-?”

“I’m perfectly fine Beau.” Jester interrupted for the second time. Beau and the other more observant members of the Nein were quick to catalog Jester’s red eyes, the tip of her nose showing a hint of purple, the tear marks on Caleb’s white shirt, and the fact that Jester was currently cuddling Frumpkin tightly to her chest, but none of them commented on it. 

“Yussa has the information we need.” Beau said. She spoke slower than normal, keeping a close eye on Jester while she did. “We’re going to lead a squad of Zhelezo to arrest Sharpe. We need to go now before he has a chance to leave the city, or pull some stunt.”

“Go on ahead guys.” Jester said. “I want to stay here with momma, make sure she is ok and safe.”

“But Jester-” Veth grabbed for her hand. “Don’t you want to get revenge?” 

“I want to stay here with my momma.” Jester repeated, more adamantly. 

Caleb gestured to the closet and the door into his tower opened for her. She stepped up to it, her back straight, even as her tail curled tightly around her ankle. 

“Jester, would you like me- s-someone to stay behind with you?” Caleb wasn’t sure why he offered. He knew she was more than capable of taking care of herself. 

“No.” She sounded sure when she said that.  “Go arrest Sharpe. And Caleb-?”

Jester hesitated, unable to ask the question on her mind, but Caleb could see it, could guess what she couldn’t say. He nodded without bringing it up. No matter how much he might deserve to be punished. Lord Sharpe was not to be tortured. At least not by the Mighty Nein. They weren’t like that. They didn’t hurt people like that. 

“Ah. Could you hold onto Frumpkin for me?” He asked her instead. “We don’t know quite what to expect with Sharpe’s estate and I would rather know my cat was safe.”

“Of course Cay-leb.” Jester gave him a small genuine smile, before stepping into the tower entrance. 

Once Jester was within Caleb’s tower, standing in the middle of the entrance way with its nine windows showing the schools of magic she took a deep shuttering breath and began to float up through the tower. It didn’t take her long to find the room Caleb had created for her. She entered her apartment’s sitting room to find her mother, Luc and Yeza. Marion took one look at her daughter and without hesitation opened her arms. Jester ran into them and held her momma as tightly as she could. 

They cried together, mother and daughter, Ruby and Sapphire, for what felt like hours, but was probably only a few minutes. They summoned some of Caleb’s cat servants. Some just to bring food. Some to cuddle and play with. Jester took Luc into her painting room and together they began to cover the blank walls. Her momma sat and watched them paint, while Yeza would lift Luc up to reach a high spot on the wall. 

Jester, of course, wasn’t used to waiting on the side lines while her friends fought, so she used multiple Scry spells to check up on them to make sure they were alright. She watched as her friends walked at the head of a small group of Zhelezo through the streets of Nicodranas. She saw Caleb’s Cat’s Ire tear down the gate to the Sharpe Estate. A moment later with spells flying targeting Sharpe’s mercenaries, Yasha bamfed out her wings, picked up Beau and together they flew up to the second floor and crashed through a window into Sharpe’s office. 

The next time she scried the fight was basically finished. Sharpe was unconscious, Beau and Yasha standing over him while Fjord and Veth dealt with the last of the mercenaries. Caduceus and Caleb focused their efforts on some second rate wizard Sharpe had hired, but he wasn’t a match for either of them. 

After that, they had Sharpe in chains. The Zhelezo were scouring the estate and interviewing different members of the Nein about what had transpired. In the background Veth was picking the lock on a safe hidden behind Sharpe’s desk. She watched as one of the city guards aimed a vicious kick at Sharpe, only to be stopped by Caleb. He gave the guard a firm but quiet shake of his head. 

Finally she scried on her friends and found them walking up the stairs in the Tide Peak Tower. She flew down to meet them, polymorphing into a hawk (pale blue of course) to move even faster. She hugged each of her friends tightly in turn, using what few remaining spells she had to heal any small injuries they sustained. 

Her friends… her family… The Mighty Nein reconvened inside Caleb’s tower. They had dinner together, again laughing and telling jokes, keeping the mood light. Caleb stayed quiet for most of the night, only giving small smiles, seemingly lost in thought. They were tired, but they felt confident that no one else would dare threaten the Ruby of the Sea again. 

When dinner was over, Marion sang for them. A private concert just for them. Jester blinked away tears as her momma sang, her beautiful voice, perfectly suited for the magical tower. While she sang Caleb used his few remaining spells to create illusions and light effects around her, just like he had done on Rumblecusp. 

Eventually it was time for them to go to sleep. To rest and recover from the injuries and the terror of the day. To regain spells so that tomorrow they could do a little more to leave the world a better place. Marion was offered the guest bedroom but declined in favour of sharing a room with her daughter. 

RIght before Jester went into her room to sleep for the night, she grabbed Caleb into a tight hug. 

“Thank you Caleb.” She whispered, then pressed a quick kiss to his cheek. She left him there blushing up to his ears and gently closed the door.

[tradgicworks]

Heartfelt 1 - 1 Heart of the Matter

Anna wakes up in a hidden facility and is told the dark secrets of what she had just witnessed.

Anna’s vision slowly stained back to life. She found herself submerged in a mountain of violet flesh, unable to move. The sound of a distant roar droned in her ears. In the far distance she could see Gwyneth and Eva illuminated by a pale purple light, their backs turned towards her. Anna called out to them, but she had no voice. The roar grew louder. The violet flesh began to wriggle as if it was laughing at her. A massive Sorrow charged at them. It dragged itself across the floor, its bulky body speeding out of control. Black smoke billowed out of its gaping maw. The roar grew to ear shattering volumes. Anna screamed in vain as the Sorrow crashed against Gwyneth and Eva, swallowing them whole. Tears ran down Anna's face in silent anguish.

"Take a deep breath," A gentle voice called out to her. “You know this is just a nightmare.”

Anna looked up to see the thin silhouette of man. His body shone a calm sky blue that completely hid all of his features. He looked frail but, for some reason, familiar.

"It's time to wake up, your friend is waiting for you," The man said.

Anna’s breath steadied. She closed her eyes. The darkness that surrounded her hummed to a warm sunlight. . . .

Anna sat up quickly as she broke out of her nightmare. She found herself in a small hospital room. Her tattered uniform had been replaced with a simple medical gown. The bed she laid on took the majority of the room. Sunlight peered through a window beside her. An IV bag hung from a tall rack and connected into her arm. A mirror hung on the far corner of the room.

"Anna!" Gwyneth greeted her with a tight hug.

She was sitting beside her on a small chair. Dark circles clung to the bottom of her eyes. She wore a Warden’s uniform that was slightly too big.

"Gwyneth! Are you okay?" Anna said as she returned the hug.

"I’m okay," Gwyneth choked up slightly. “What about you? You got hurt the most by that Sorrow.”

"I think I’m okay, most of my injuries look like they are healed..." Anna struggled to say as Gwyneth squeezed her hard. “Gwyneth, you’re crushing me.”

Gwyneth gasped before quickly letting go of Anna. “I’m sorry, let me go get a nurse!”

“Wait,” Anna grabbed her arm before she got up. “What about Eva?”

Gwyneth’s face shifted to a mix of hatred and disinterest. “She’s fine.”

“Oh, that’s good,” Anna sat up straight. “What happened? I thought you two escaped.”

Gwyneth sat back down, her face softening. “We did, kind of. We got to the surface and there were Wardens already there waiting for us. I saw Coraline go in, apparently after you. I don’t really remember what happened next. When I woke up, I was already here.”

"Where is ‘here’ exactly..?” Anna asked.

"Uh, okay," Gwyneth sat back in her chair and got comfortable. “There is a lot I have to explain to you. First off, you were knocked unconscious for a whole week.”

Anna’s eyes widened. “A-A whole week?”

“Yeah, and well, a lot happened in that time. I guess I'll answer your question first. We’re currently in the Capital City’s Central Station for Sorrow Affairs, or just Central Station. It’s, uh, literally under the academy.” Gwyneth explained, gauging Anna’s face on whether or not she believed her.

“So, that abandoned bunker we were lost in…”Anna said as she tried to piece her situation together.

"...was once part of the Central Station. It had to be abandoned. When it was, the Sorrow came in and formed its nest there," Gwyneth finished for Anna.

"The 'Sorrow'?" Anna frowned in confusion.

"That is what that 'creature' we found down there is called," Gwyneth gave a complicated expression. "They can’t be hurt by anything except energy, like fire. Even then they will keep regenerating as long as their core- uh, that black orb you saw- is not destroyed."

"Can they all morph their body?" Anna straightened herself.

"No, each Sorrow has a unique ability. The one we encountered was able to shapeshift by molding it's body using it's tendrils," Gwyneth explained.

"Then why didn't it shapeshift into a human to crawl through the air ducts? It literally mangled itself trying to force its way through," Anna's voice shuddered slightly as she remembered it's centaur form.

"They are literally animals, Anna. The Sorrows hunt, make nests, and protect their territory based on their predatory instincts. It shapeshifted to deceive us because that is the way that Sorrow hunted, once we ran away it had no reason to keep up its disguise. I know it sounds cruel, but you can’t think of them as people," Gwyneth’s face softened.

"Oh," Anna murmured as she remembered the Sorrow pleading for help. "How do you know all of this?"

"I’ve been working with Beatriz for a few days now as part of her Surveillance Branch," Gwyneth said with a bit of pride.

"Beatriz?" Anna asked.

"She’s the chief of the East Station, she’d probably want to meet you," Gwyneth stood up and grabbed a radio from her pant’s waist. “Ms. Beatriz, Anna has woken up.”

“That is splendid news, Gwyneth. Call a nurse to prepare for her dismissal and bring her to the observation deck whenever you can.” Beatriz’s voice replied, she had a slight French accent.

"Will do," Gwyneth responded before turning to Anna. “I’ll get a nurse, there’s a lot more stuff that you need to know about but I honestly think it would be better for you to see it first hand.”

“Okay,” Anna said as Gwyneth walked out of the door.

Anna glanced at her surroundings unsure of what to do. She glanced at her reflection in the mirror. The scar glanced back at her. She covered it with her bangs as the nurse came in with a change of clothes.

. . .

Anna walked out of her hospital room wearing an identical uniform to Gwyneth that fit her surprisingly well. She looked over at Gwyneth who stood beside the receptionist desk, a bouquet of daisies in her hands.

“Anna, over here,” Gwyneth gestured. “How are the clothes?”

“Great actually, I like the boots.”

“That’s good, um, I’m going to make a little detour before I take you to the observation deck. Is that cool?” Gwyneth asked with slight meekness.

“Sure, we’re in no rush right?” Anna replied.

“Yeah, okay, uh- The detour’s a bit morbid,” Gwyneth began walking and Anna followed after her.

They walked for a while before eventually reaching a set of double doors labeled “Intensive Care Unit”. Anna tensed slightly as she read the name. Gwyneth opened the door and walked up to room 309 and opened it. Sophie laid neatly on a bed. Medical equipment surrounded her, monitoring her condition constantly. She wore an oxygen mask and was connected to an IV. Dark purple veins stained her body. They wriggled ever so slightly with each breath that she took. Gwyneth put the bouquet in a small vase on a nightstand that stood besides Sophie.

“This is what happens to the victims of the Sorrow…” Gwyneth took Sophie’s hand and gave it a soft squeeze. “They enter a coma. None of the doctors know why or even how to wake them up.”

Gwyneth looked at Sophie for a few moments before turning towards Anna. “Let’s get going.” She said quietly.

“Sure,” Anna stared at Sophie’s unconscious body before following Gwyneth.

Gwyneth led her to an elevator and the two stepped inside before the elevator sped upwards. When the doors opened, they found themselves in a large control room. Rows and rows of Wardens sitting behind highly advanced computers took the majority of the space. A small set of stairs led up to a deck where a massive monitor made the entirety of the wall. A woman stood in front of it, her scarf fluttering slightly from the pouring air coming from the vents. Anna stood in awe at how advanced the set up was. Gwyneth made her way to the woman.

“Ms. Beatriz, I brought Anna like you asked,” Gwyneth said with slight stiffness.

“Thank you, Gwyneth,” Beatriz gave a warm smile. “Did you enjoy your lunch break?”

“I went to visit Anna first, I haven’t eaten,” Gwyneth sheepishly admitted.

“Oh, that is not good,” Beatriz pulled out a small pocket watch from her pocket and read the time. “There is still a little more time before we begin our mission. Go to the mess hall and fetch yourself some breakfast, bring a serving for Anna too.”

“T-Thank you, Ms. Beatriz,” Gwyneth blurted before heading towards the mess hall. “Go on, she’s really nice.”

Anna walked up the steps.

“Ah, you must be Anna,” Beatriz said with a hint of excitement. “How are you this fine morning?”

“I’m okay, mostly. I’m still trying to grasp the situation I’m in,” Anna replied.

“Of course, it is a lot of information for one to take in at a time. Unfortunately, your burden will not lessen anytime soon.” Beatriz’s smile weakened.

“What do you mean?” Anna asked with a bit of anxiety.

Beatriz took a deep breath. “I assume Gwyneth has told you about the Sorrows, correct?”

“Yeah, they’re basically dangerous giant mutant animals, right?” Anna bluntly stated.

“Something like that,” Beatriz turned towards the monitor. “Their qualities make them incredibly dangerous, even one Sorrow is capable of destroying an entire city if left unregulated.”

“Then how come people don’t know about them?” Anna asked.

“That is largely part to our efforts, Anna. The Wardens do not just act as security staff for your school. They are also in charge of monitoring the Sorrow and keeping them a secret from society. We do this as the Sorrow Affairs Department- an official branch of the government. We do this to prevent a country wide scare. When our efforts fail, we send the Hearts.”

“Hearts?” Anna asked.

“Think of them as the S.A.D’s soldiers,” Beatriz explained as the monitor blinked to life.

The image of Eva standing in front of a barn shone into Anna’s eyes.

“Eva?” Anna muttered.

“Anna!” Gwyneth yelped in a rushed tone from behind her, she held a warm cinnamon bun by a napkin. “Here, I have to get to work.”

Gwyneth quickly handed her the bun and made her way to one of the empty computers. She booted it back up and logged in.

“E-Enabling audio interface,” Gwyneth cleared her voice. “Stand clear.”

A sharp static sound rang out for a single second before breaking into the sound of crickets chirping in overgrown grass.

“Eva, do you copy?” Beatriz tapped her ear.

“Yeah, I can hear you,” Eva grunted.

“Excellent, you have permission to proceed with the raid,” Beatriz tapped her ear again.

“Finally,” Eva rolled her shoulders. “Waiting for so long was starting to piss me off.”

Eva huffed before following suit.

“Switching to bodycam footage,” One of the Warden’s said as the monitor flicked to an image of the inside of the barn.

The wood that made up the barn was breaking apart and waterlogged. Clumps of wet and filthy hay splattered all over the walls. The bare dirt floor was overgrown with waist high grass. The gnawed remains of deer bones laid scattered throughout the grass. A rickety ladder hugged the far corner of the barn. Eva slowly trudged through the grass and towards the ladder. She climbed up the ladder carefully. The attic was a clutter of tree branches and torn sheet metal. She pulled herself onto the rotting wood floor. She surveyed the attic only to find nothing of value.

“Attic’s clear, I’m gonna climb onto the roof-” Eva said before suddenly screaming in pain.

The screech of something huge howled through the speakers as the bodycam footage turned to black.

“Eva!” Anna exclaimed.

“Switching to drone footage,” A different Warden said.

The image of Eva pinned down by a harpy like Sorrow blipped onto the screen. Its boney violet frame gave it the impression of a mummified corpse. Its legs were slender with long talons adorning the bottom. Two gigantic wings took the place of its arms, its pitch-black feathers glowed a bright purple at the tips. Its neck was elongated and curved downward. Rows of jagged teeth took the place of its mouth. The rest of its face was a cancerous growth of spiny feathers that consumed all of its facial features. The Harpy screeched and flapped its wings. It lifted Eva a few feet up before slamming her back onto the ground.

“The Sorrow is going to kill her!” Anna exclaimed to Beatriz.

“She won’t die,” Coraline’s voice called out from behind them. “Hearts aren’t exactly delicate, miss Anna.”

Coraline gestured towards Beatriz who took out her earpiece and handed it to her. Coraline put it on and cleared her throat with a curt cough.

“Eva, you were tasked with eliminating the Sorrow. Do not embarrass me,” Coraline stated coldly.

“Easy for you to say,” Eva grit her teeth and grabbed its talons. “This thing ain’t exactly making it easy.”

“Just get it done,” Coraline glared.

“Sure,” Eva clenched her grip until she heard the Harpy’s talons snap. “Whatever you say, chief.”

The Harpy shrieked in pain before being thrown off of Eva. Its talons quickly snapped back into place, completely healed. Eva stood back up. The back of her uniform was torn slightly but there were no signs of injuries. She put a hand over the center of her chest. A heart-shaped light glowed a bright orange before disappearing. Eva swiped her hand away from her. A streak of orange light traced her fingers and formed a handle. She gripped the handle tightly with both hands. An axe head formed at the end of it. Eva steeled herself as the axe solidified, the axe head still glowing an ethereal orange.

Anna stared in awe.

“Sorrow’s cannot be hurt by anything except for energy, they are faster, stronger and bigger than us. So the question remains, how the hell do we even stand a chance against them?” Coraline looked at Anna in the eyes. “That’s what makes Hearts so special. We are women blessed with superhuman strength and speed...”

Eva charged forward. The Harpy swung its wings at Eva. She narrowly dodged them, snippets of her bangs getting cut by the razor sharp tips. She swung her axe upwards. It wedged itself in between the Harpy’s chest.

“...We can make weapons made of pure energy through sheer will alone. We can fight against the Sorrow, we can kill the Sorrow…” Coraline continued.

The Harpy screeched at Eva’s face only to be met with a swift punch that nearly broke all of its teeth. The force of the blow was enough to break the Harpy free. It began to flee in a mad panic. Eva shifted her weight and pulled her axe back.

“...We, the Hearts, stand as humanity’s sole defense against the hordes of vile men turned beasts and we do it all without them even knowing. Those ungrateful wretches.” Coraline’s glare hardened, Beatriz frowned in annoyance.

Eva threw her axe at the Harpy. It cleaved deep into the flesh between its collarbones. The Harpy crashed back onto the earth. Eva walked up and held the Sorrow down with her boots. She pulled out the axe, exposing the core, and raised it high above her head. She swung down with brutal force. The sound of glass shattering echoed through the speakers. The Harpy’s body disintegrated into a thick black smog, leaving only the cut core behind.

“Sorrow exterminated,” Eva radioed as she crushed the remains of the core with her boot.

“Why are you telling me this?” Anna asked suddenly.

“Because whether you like it or not, you’re a liability now. You know of the secret world of Hearts and Sorrow, a secret that we cannot afford for you to spread. As such you have two options,” Coraline raised a finger. “You return to your life and pretend that you know nothing. Of course you’d be under strict supervision. Everywhere you go, everything you do, and everyone you will ever interact with will be monitored by us-”

“Or, you can work for us,” Beatriz butt into the conversation. “Either as a Warden or a Heart. You can help us protect the innocent and stop the Sorrow from doing more harm.”

“...either way my way of life now depends on the S.A.D,” Anna said quietly.

Coraline scoffed. “You’re smart.”

Anna looked at Eva and then at Gwyneth. She thought to herself for a few moments before taking a deep breath.

“I want to be a Heart,” Anna turned towards Coraline and Beatriz with a determined stare.

Coraline and Beatriz both reacted with slight surprise.

“You sure about that, miss Anna?” Coraline stepped closer. “Becoming a Heart isn’t easy, you have to be in top physical, mental, and emotional condition. Getting there is akin to a death march.”

“I’m sure, I don’t want what happened to Sophie to happen to anyone else.” Anna’s gaze remained unbroken.

“Oh… I hope for your sake your confidence isn’t just for show, because this is going to be hell on Earth for you,” Coraline gave a sadistic smirk as Beatriz frowned.

[hkshirayuki]

The Mythical Creature

Marco x Reader

Genre: Fluff

This is the story of a Curious adventurer named y/n and The Phoenix.

Y/n is a well known Adventurer, she was a fearless woman. She face the great sea. To search the Mythical creatures she had read when she was a kid. It was her dream to meet a Dragon, Centaur, Giants and Yeti. But what really encouraged her to set sail to the wild sea is to see the phoenix.

It was a bird that holds immortality it says, It was a beautiful bird that is rarest of all. You can only see one after a thousand years had pass.

Y/n took the risk to look for a proof that phoenix exist. In her great adventure she encountered danger yet, she face them all. She experienced hunger and felt like she will almost die. But she survived somehow.

She been wandering around beating the people that bother her. She won't be called fearless if she is weak. They always look down on her as they judge her by the cover. Y/n is strong that her name become well known in Grandline.

The wandering adventurer y/n. She doesn't stay at one island she will wander around.

At the same time somewhere in the Great sea. A blond boy that eat a rare type of Devil fruit that he decide to fully transform into his phoenix form.

Marco just transform as a blue phoenix. As he tested out and fly to the sky. He was soaring up high. When he notice a boat, he just fly in a good distance to observe.

When he saw a person that is unconscious, he just landed to the boat.

"I can't see other people on board, only her, it seems she faint, I should transform back to normal" Marco thought to himself, when he tried to revert back to his human form.

He just shout.

"Revert back!" he shout to himself, but only the sound of bird were heard. He did call out but he can't revert back to his human form. He start to sweat as he forget its his first time to transform completely as a phoenix for a long time.

Mostly he transform halfway or he transform completely for a short time.

Marco just keep trying to revert back to his human form. He can't believe that he can't control his transformation. So he keep trying. Back to y/n and what happen to her before Marco arrived.

Y/n just wander around the sea for three days she haven't seen a island which she could get food, so she faint due to hunger. She been drifting to the sea for three days. When she woke up by the odd sound. A bird noise, she only open her eyes slowly to see a blue beautiful panicking bird in front of her.

She only stare it until she suddenly sit right up. Marco were only startled when he saw you sit right up. You were observing him closely.

Y/n felt like she is missing a important detail.

"what kind of species are you?" she mutter yet it's loud enough for Marco to hear what she said.

Marco just tried to speak only to know he can only make Bird noise.

"Roast chicken, Fried chicken, my very first meal after three days of hunger, Finally..."

"Oyaji! Help me," he thought to himself. When he heard her what she said.

Y/n though hesitate to eat the bird that is currently panicking. She just wonder, if it know how to fly but how did the bird came to her boat. Did it fell? Or its Injured.

She was debating to eat it, As she never saw a bird like that, she had seen a Pterodactyl a flying dinosaur. Giants in Little garden. Where she met and greet a Real living giant.

So she want to know what kind of bird is this blue beautiful bird before eating it.

"it would be nice, if birds can speak"

y/n said to herself. Marco just thought to himself. "I can talk though"

He was distracted by you that he didn't notice the chain you put in his feet.

"there, so you can't fly and I can observe you more"

"Crap! I got caught!" Marco thought to himself.

"now then, let's find a island first so we can asked, what kind of bird this is" y/n said but she collapse in the floor again.

"let's conserve energy first, I'm hungry, am I dying?" she mutter and Marco who is only stuck just thought.

"Why did she even set sail in the sea?"

Back to Whitebeard's ship.

"Oyaji! Marco haven't return yet" One of his son said.

Whitebeard just laugh while looking at the telescope as he found his son get caught by a girl.

He never see him act like that, after he become a his personal doctor.

Marco is always mature and calm. They always praise him for being mature. Thatch is older than him, but Marco act more older than childish thatch. So seeing him panicking when the girl caught him.

Whitebeard still thought Marco the little boy, he know is still the same.

"Gurarara, don't worry about Marco, his just hitting on a girl, he be back when his done" Whitebeard said.

"whoa, for real, Oyaji?! " thatch asked.

"Yeah, Gurarara"

"that's very rare"

The others just agree and laugh.

Back to y/n's ship.

Marco doesn't know what to do. He just stare at your unconscious body again. Just why did he landed on your ship. He could just fly back to his ship and asked them to help you. Now his stuck with you, How will he help you?

He is currently stuck to his phoenix form. He can't also speak. He can't go back like this, His crewmates will definitely make fun of him. So he thought of staying with you longer. Until he can revert back to his human form.

Marco finally stop panicking. He could easily break this chain, if he wanted to. But he just got curious on how did you surpass the sea. Like this, 

Day one

Marco and y/n only drift in the sea.

"okay, since I got my energy back! Let's look for a island to land!" y/n motivated said.

"Really, how did she survive like this, she isn't a pirate, what's her reason for set sailing?" Marco thought as he watch you.

"I can't always call you pretty blue bird thats too long to say, hmm"

"huh? What pretty blue bird? Yoi!"

"hmm?"

Marco only fume out at what you said. He just peck your forehead.

"ow! What's that for?!" y/n asked while rubbing the part he peck with his beak.

Marco just made an angry bird noise which y/n somehow understands.

"I see, you don't like me calling you, pretty blue bird?"

Marco just nod. She just smile at him.

"I see, hahaha, That's weird you understand what I said"

Marco were only stunned but he shake it off.

"I guess, it's not that bad to have a companion to sail with" y/n said. Marco just saw her make a sad face. He just flap his wings, and y/n just look at him.

"are you telling me to cheer up?" y/n asked. It's weird to talk to a bird that it doesn't speak. Marco were only flustered when he act like a bird.

The two just spend two days together in the sea. She were smart based on Marco observation. They finally got something to eat when she caught a lot of fish.

"I remembered that bird eat raw fish, here you go" y/n just give Marco a raw fish. Like hell he eat it, he just peck her forehead with his beak again.

"oww, your a smart bird, can you please stop doing that, when you telling me you don't like something" she said rubbing her forehead that is in pain. She only give Marco a cook fish that she cook.

"you sure are an odd bird, Ao" y/n said and Marco just tilt his head.

"hmm confused? I be naming you, Ao since your blue"

"Oi, oi, don't name me like a you got yourself a pet yoi" Marco said but give up as he only produced bird noise.

Y/n misunderstood and thought he liked the name Ao.

The next day, the two face a stormy weather, y/n just bring Ao to her room so he can be safe while she handle the boat. Marco can see how much you struggle in the sea. But your lucky that you overcome it.

After the stormy weather, she was soak wet by the rain and the splash of the sea waves. She only entered her room to change not bothered by the bird that give her a curious look.

Marco just blush hard when he realized that your going to change. You were unaware that you didn't hesitate to remove your clothes. Marco just saw it, he just saw it. He mentally apologies for trespassing your privacy. He tried not to peek on you. But you just walk in front of him.

"hmm? Wait ao, are you having a famous bird flu?"

"Put on some clothes woman, you shouldn't easily strip in front of a man yoi" Marco said he was still diverting his eyes somewhere else. but he was enchanted by you. You were gorgeous but sometimes crazy. He is annoyed he can't still revert back to his human form. It's been three days and he is still stuck.

"Oh so your a male bird?! That's a new info for me" y/n said seeing how the bird is flustered seeing her half naked. She only pat his head.

"My what a gentleman bird, hahaha" y/n mocking said to Marco.

He couldn't go against her due to how she look like.

Another day had pass and finally they saw an island.

Y/n just remove his chain. As she didn't want to get attachment to it. When she let go of it.

"Your free to go" y/n said and Marco just give her a confused look.

why is she freeing him now?

"I'm sure you need to return to your nest right? I can't grow attachment to a bird I don't know yet"

Marco just peck her forehead hard. It's too late now, after what you two share your abandoning him now?

"oww, what's with you, I am only returning your freedom"

"yoi really stupid sometimes!" Marco said and he just realized that he can talk.

"who are you calling stupid, You pretty blue bird" y/n talked back but her reaction sudden change into a realisation.

Ao just talk...

The bird just talk?!

"Did you just talk to me!?" y/n surprised asked but she still had a expression of disbelief.

"yeah, finally I can speak again" Marco replied but he mutter the last part.

"Just what are you?!"

"I'm Marco the phoenix"

"wait, you had a name?! Phoenix!!! You mean the Mythical Creature phoenix?!"

"whoa, whoa, what's with the sudden excitement yoi" Marco thought to himself.

"I set sail to the sea to search for Mythical Creatures, So awesome!"

"I never thought of her as a fan girl, yoi" he thought while you were staring at him with pure admiration.

"is it true you are a immortal bird? Or you can heal any wounds or injuries!? Are you a 500 year old phoenix? " y/n just bombarded Marco with her Questions.

Marco just put his claw in her shoulder and make her sit.

"Stop asking me unnecessary questions yoi"

"My bad, I got carried away, by the way, Why you didn't talk to me when you can actually talk! That's very mean of you!?"

Marco didn't respond as he didn't want her to know the mistake he did.

"Giving me again the silent treatment, I thought were friends" y/n said.

You think a bird as your friend?

You really are an odd person.

Well if it's really a bird, your a crazy person, but your lucky it's actually a human. So your only an odd peculiar person.

"Your really stupid, yoi" Marco said.

"what did you say!? Me? Stupid!? Your really a mean bird"

"I'm fine with being a mean bird, Rather than become a roasted bird, am I right, y/n?"

Y/n just sweat and sudden feel nervous as she try to play it cool.

"ahahaha, yeah, your right..." she said with a nervous laugh. She remembered that she said it out loud that she will cook him when she find out what species he is.

Marco just narrowed his eyes at her.

"don't tell me she is still planning to cook me yoi" Marco thought to himself.

"hey don't give me that look, I won't cook you! Now that I know what you are, well don't judge me, I was so hungry that time, that I couldn't think straight"

Marco just sigh now that he can finally speak. He can maybe transform back to his human form to end this humiliation.

Being treated as a pet and Bird.

"yeah, yeah"

"Your really are a mean bird"

"I'm not a bird! I'm a human! yoi " Marco said as he is already had enough of y/n calling and treating him as a bird.

Y/n just look at him more surprised than before.

"A-Ao! Turn into a pineapple human!"

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

Here's the Continuation since I reached the limit words of tumblr.

here:https://hkshirayuki.tumblr.com/post/623895729724866560/the-mythical-creature-2

[solartranslations]

VF Luca Chapter 1: Lucky Break

Surrounded by the mysterious fog, they fall down the stairs and into the darkness of the ship’s hull…

Luca: AHHHH!

(*collapse)

Luca: A-are you alright, Ojou-sama? …Are you hurt at all?

>Everything hurts…

>Luca, you’re heavy…

Felicita: …

Luca: I think you cushioned me when we fell down here…I’m sorry

Luca: Um, where does it hurt?

Luca: Huh!? Oh, sorry. No wonder the floor was soft and smelled so nice

(*whack)

Luca: Guh…I-I’m so sorry

(Skip the next dialogue choice box)

>Sorry, it was a joke

(No Amore)

>Just kidding. It didn’t hurt

(+10 Amore)

Luca: Ojou-sama, please don’t joke in times like this

Luca: I really was worried

Luca: You were kidding…Ojou-sama, please think of the time and place

Luca: But, I am relieved

Luca: It’s so dark…hold on one second

(*ignite)

~*Scene: VF Hold*~

Luca: This doesn’t give us much light, but it looks like we’re in the ship’s hold

❤≪Luca≫ Seems concerned

Daily: I’m glad Ojou-sama is alright

Place: This is a very interesting room

Pain: ……

Link: Something seems to be missing

Luca: We were just on the deck, so how…?

Felicita: ?

Luca: I can hear sound of the waves against the walls, so this should be the hull

❤≪Luca≫ Seems concerned

Person: She looks a little pale

Place: So that means we were thrown into the floor above this one when we fell from the stairs

Place: The water sounds close

Pain: ……

Link: Something seems to be missing

Luca: And, um…

Luca: This rooms looks more like an archive for books than a hold actually

❤≪Luca≫ Seems concerned

Person: She’s bound to get fed up with me

Place: A treasure trove!

Pain: ……

Link: Something seems to be missing

Luca: There’s lots of rare books now that I take a closer look…

Luca: …Hmm…It looks like this hold also serves as an alchemist’s personal room

Luca: I can recognize the types of books here. And…

Luca: There’s a blanket to use as bedding, apples for food, and a lamp

Luca: Oh, we can use the lamp

Felicita: !

Luca: Huh? Oh, my hat isn’t—

❤≪Luca≫ Seems shocked

Pleasure: But I always wear that hat!

Pleasure: It was a present from Ojou-sama

Pain: ……

Link: Something seems to be missing

Luca: …!

❤≪Luca≫ Can’t seem to handle it

Pain: Ouch!

Pain: I must have gotten some bruises

Daily: I hope Ojou-sama really is okay

Link: Something seems to be missing

>…Thanks for coming to save me

(+10 Amore)

>Where does it hurt?

(+30 Amore)

>I’m sorry I let the Tarocco get taken

(No Amore)

Luca: You don’t need to thank me for that…

Luca: Protecting you is my duty! But…

Luca: Considering what happened this afternoon, I’m a failure as your attendant

Luca: He knocked you unconscious with a hit, didn’t he…are you at all in pain?

Felicita: No

Luca: …That’s a relief

Luca: It’s quite embarrassing. I seem to have gotten quite a few bruises when I fell down here…

Felicita: *sigh*

Luca: I’ll be alright. I won’t be able to move around much for now, but it should heal if I get some rest

Luca: I have some of my special salve too

Felicita: Yeah

Luca: Huh? Oh, I can put it on myself, you don’t need to!

Luca: No, I was the one who let my mouth run loose and put you in danger

Luca: So I’m the one who should be apologizing

❤≪Luca≫ Can’t seem to handle it ❤≪Luca≫ Ojou-sama ❤≪Luca≫ Can’t seem to handle it

Pain: I’m so worthless as her attendant

Pain: I couldn’t even protect her from taking a hit

Daily: My life is spent alongside Ojou-sama

Link: Something seems to be missing

Pain: Today is not our day

Person: Having Ojou-sama worry about me is a bit of a lucky break

Link: Something seems to be missing

Pain: I should have just attacked first and asked questions later

Pain: I shouldn’t have let her go alone either

Link: Something seems to be missing

❤≪Luca≫ Ojou-sama ❤≪Luca≫ Seems nervous

Pleasure: It’s enough just seeing that smile of hers

Love: I can’t take this!

Pleasure: I did used to put salve on Ojou-sama

Pain: But…

Link: Something seems to be missing

Fukurota: Hoot

Luca: You were worried too, weren’t you, Fukurota

❤≪Luca≫ Can’t seem to handle it

Daily: She’s the one who would worry about Ojou-sama the most

Pain: Everything really hurts though

Pain: ……

Link: Something seems to be missing

Luca: …I am so sorry about today, Ojou-sama

Luca: I’m the one responsible for getting you into this situation

Luca: The two things in the Family that I’m supposed to protect are you and the Tarocco. It’s unforgivable that I allowed both to be taken

Luca: I act with that in mind…or I should have…

Luca: To say that he used you as a shield is just an excuse

Luca: We were able to reunite safely this time, but it might not go that easily the next

Luca: Because it took all I had to attach a tracker to you without being noticed at the time

❤≪Luca≫ Can’t seem to handle it

Pain: There won’t be a next time

Daily: Ojou-sama’s safety comes first above everything

Link: Something seems to be missing

Luca: I guess I really need to get stronger

>Let’s get stronger together

(+30 Amore)

>Luca, I want you to protect me

(+10 Amore)

>Yeah, do your best

(No Amore)

Luca: Y-Yes

Luca: The way you want to move forward together instead of letting people go at it on their own is one of your greatest virtues, Ojou-sama

Felicita: No

Luca: I really don’t think everyone is like that though?

Luca: It’s one of your best qualities, Felicita

Luca: And it’s something I really love about you

Luca: Please do let me protect you

Luca: Since you don’t usually indulge me like that, Felicita

Luca: It makes me happy

(Skip the next dialogue choice box)

Luca: …Yes

Luca: Could it be that you’re really mad about what happened today?

Felicita: No

Luca: No, I take it back

(Skip the next dialogue choice box)

❤≪Luca≫ Ojou-sama ❤≪Luca≫ Ojou-sama ❤≪Luca≫ Seems concerned

Love: That’s what I love about her

Love: She hasn’t forgotten!

Link: Something seems to be missing

Love: Ojou-sama!!

Person: So cold!

Daily: No, this is normal for Ojou-sama

Link: Something seems to be missing

❤≪Luca≫ Ojou-sama

Pleasure: I love her so much!

>Stop it…

(No Amore)

>So embarrassing

(+10 Amore)

Felicita: *sigh*

Luca: You shouldn’t make that face either then, Felicita

Luca: You’ll make me forget all about my recent failures and fall for you even more

Luca: Oh, I’m sorry…

Felicita: …

Luca: Now that I think about it, what I said really was embarrassing

❤≪Luca≫ Seems happy ❤≪Luca≫ Seems nervous

Love: My reasoning is completely sound

Love: This isn’t the time!

Link: Something seems to be missing

Pleasure: But part of me wants to see her like this too

Love: I need to control myself

Link: Something seems to be missing

Luca: Ow ow…

❤≪Luca≫ Seems shocked

Pain: As soon as I relax is starts hurting again!

Pain: I guess that’s just what I get…

Link: Something seems to be missing

Felicita: !

Luca: Ahaha…it’s my injuries from this afternoon

Luca: I can still stand, but it’s embarrassing that you have to see me like this

Felicita: Yeah…

Fukurota: Hoot!

Luca: Ojou-sama, shall we quickly go over what happened today?

❤≪Luca≫ Seems concerned

Pain: What happened while we were separated?

Place: We need to share information with each other

Link: Something seems to be missing

>He was using alchemy too

>How did he…know about the stigmata…

Luca: He also used a sword, and his alchemy was quite skilled…

Luca: Usually people are better at one or the other, but he seemed skilled in both

Luca: He knew about the Tarocco, so I think it makes sense that he also knew about the stigmata

Luca: Since he called it a stigmata as soon as he saw Dante’s head…

Luca: I think that means he’s seen them before

Luca: But none of us have met him before

❤≪Luca≫ Seems happy ❤≪Luca≫ Seems concerned

Love: I can’t forgive him for attacking Ojou-sama!

Daily: He has many talents

Link: Something seems to be missing

Arcana: It isn’t easy to gain knowledge of the Tarocco

Arcana: What could his motive be?

Link: Something seems to be missing

Luca: …Another thing I noticed…is that when we saw him again after leaving the mansion, he had a mark on his neck

❤≪Luca≫ Seems concerned

Arcana: That means he contracted with the Tarocco

Arcana: I wonder what powers he gained

Daily: I won’t let him lay a hand on Ojou-sama

Link: Something seems to be missing

Luca: When he held you hostage, I observed him as carefully as I could

Luca: He didn’t have anything on his neck then, but he has what appears to be a stigmata now

Luca: The results of our research show that the cards themselves choose their contractors

Luca: But he shouldn’t have been able to perform a contract ritual without knowing the method…

Luca: Based on that, along with the mysterious fog and the moving skeletons we saw on the deck, it seems that this ship is anything but ordinary

Felicita: …

Luca: Oh, it’s nothing that you need to be worried about, Ojou-sama

❤≪Luca≫ Can’t seem to handle it

Pleasure: That face…

Pain: I have to protect her this time!

Arcana: Now to recover the Tarocco

Link: Something seems to be missing

Luca: The rest of the Family is on the ship too, and…

Luca: I’m here too, okay?

Felicita: …

Luca: Huh? Am I really that unreliable…

❤≪Luca≫ Seems nervous

Pain: I understand why after my failure today

Love: But I do care about Ojou-sama more than anyone

Link: Something seems to be missing

Luca: It’s true that I haven’t been of use at all today

Luca: But, I’m sure that I can but you at ease better than anyone

Luca: Because I’m so familiar to you, everything feels ordinary when you look at me, right?

Luca: No matter where we are, or what the situation is…

>I can’t relax without you

(+10 Amore)

>Now if only we had some tea

(No Amore)

Luca: I can’t criticize Papa if I’m too protective of you though…

Luca: I do want you to be independent but

Luca: When you act vulnerable like that, I can’t help but feel happy

Luca: Yes, you’re right. It’s my job to make you tea every morning

Luca: So it is a little disappointing that I can’t

❤≪Luca≫ Ojou-sama ❤≪Luca≫ Seems excited

Love: Ojou-sama…

Link: Something seems to be missing

Love: That’s why we have to get off this ship as soon as we can

Link: Something seems to be missing

Felicita: !

Luca: It’s alright. We must have knocked some books off balance when we fell down the stairs

❤≪Luca≫ Seems concerned

Person: She does get scared easily

Place: But this really is a treasure trove

Arcana: Now to recover the Tarocco

Link: Something seems to be missing

Luca: If not for our situation, I would have liked to read every single one of these books in detail

Luca: Intellectual curiosity can’t be easily contained!

Felicita: …

Luca: Oh, um…I haven’t forgotten about our main objective, of course

❤≪Luca≫ Seems nervous

Person: What’s important is that she’s not scared

Place: But this really is a treasure trove

Arcana: Now to recover the Tarocco

Link: Something seems to be missing

Luca: But right now, we just don’t know what could happen…

Luca: A ghost ship covered with fog is something that only appears in legends or fairytales after all

Luca: By the way, Ojou-sama…

❤≪Luca≫ Seems concerned

Person: It’s understandable for her to be sleepy

Place: But this really is a treasure trove

Arcana: Now to recover the Tarocco

Link: Something seems to be missing

Luca: It looked like you were trying hard not to yawn while we were talking

Luca: You’re not hurt like I am, but you must be tired, right?

Luca: Hold on a minute. I’ll find something to block the door just in case

Luca: We might not be able to sleep very well like this, but let’s at least lie down for a little while

Luca: There’s a blanket here we can use too

Luca: Are you worried?

❤≪Luca≫ Ojou-sama

Pleasure: How cute

Love: Our ordeal is just beginning

Arcana: Now to recover the Tarocco

Link: Something seems to be missing

Luca: *laugh*, You always were scared of ghosts, Ojou-sama

Felicita: Yeah…

Luca: Then, let’s sleep together just like we used to

Luca: There aren’t any ghosts or monsters here, so don’t worry

Luca: …The place in my arms is reserved for only you

Luca: You’re not scared this way…right?

>I’m not scared, but I am nervous

(+20 Amore)

>Yeah….Just like old times

(No Amore)

Luca: Felicita…I don’t know what to do if you say something like that

Luca: Oh um. Nothing

Luca: Whenever you read a scary book and couldn’t sleep, or Mama was bedridden with a cold

Luca: You always hated being alone

Luca: Are you cold? You can use my part of the blanket if it isn’t enough

Luca: Well, you’re shivering a bit aren’t you? I’m not sure if you’re scared or cold though

Luca: …Sorry, was that mean of me?

Luca: This side of you really hasn’t changed at all…

Luca: I’m glad…

Luca: No, I’m just glad that you’re not alone in a dangerous situation like this

Luca: I was able to put “Ariadne’s String” on you this afternoon, but I didn’t get the chance to do so on the deck earlier

>You worked really hard to make that

(No Amore)

>You used to use it a lot when I went to play in the forest

(+20 Amore)

>You said it’s because I’d get lost…

(+10 Amore)

Luca: Worked hard…?

Luca: Oh, no, you’re right. It’s not something you can make very quickly but…

Luca: Because you’d always go hide somewhere whenever we went into the forest

Luca: Even when I tell you not to run because you might trip

Luca: You did, if I remember…

Luca: Because when you were young, you would sometimes hid in places where we couldn’t find you

Luca: We couldn’t find you even after night had fallen, so I thought up this method

Luca: But when I actually tried it out…

Luca: ……

Luca: …Hm?

Luca: “Ariadne’s String” is…so you won’t get lost…?

Luca: Oh, no, it’s nothing. What am I even saying?

Luca: I can’t really remember…it must be because I’m sleepy

Luca: Let’s sleep for today

Luca: Good night, Felicita

~*End of Scene*~

Special Voice obtained. It can be heard in the Profile section

(Continue to Luca Chapter 2)

(Back to Directory)

[tearbos]

UPLIFTED

I originally posted this on my LJ back in 2011. I corrected a few editorial issues but refrained from making any major changes. :) This was written as a humorous fic that ended up becoming more angsty, but it still shouldn’t be taken too seriously.

This was written for Criminal Minds Kink Meme IV prompt: Reid is captured by an unsub (it's a cliche for a reason) who uses his victims for experiments. When the team finds him they expect the worst, but Reid seems relatively unharmed except for the fact that he now has wings.

Spoilers/Warnings: None, really.

The screech of tires rubbing against slick asphalt filled the early morning air as the large, black SUVs jerked to a sudden stop. The calm silence was broken by thundering footsteps as four agents hurriedly unloaded from the vehicle and converged on the small office building followed closely by a SWAT team and half a dozen DC police officers. Once the perimeter was surrounded, the team members quietly entered the front door and efficiently cleared the lobby area. SWAT and several officers came in as spread out to finish securing the rest of the building. The air was stale and dust covered every surface; the decor of the entryway was easily a decade old and gave no indication of the brilliant yet completely delusional scientist being searched for inside. The FBI agents began following the officers down a dingy, dimly lit hallway when a loud commotion echoed from the end of the corridor. They ran ahead to fine SWAT team members dragging a disheveled, protesting Dr. Brians from a small office.

“Wait,” he screamed angrily, “I’m almost finished! I just need to see if they work properly. That is the final step. Please!”

Hotch stormed over to the distraught scientist and demanded, “Where is he?”

The doctor looked up mournfully and pleaded, “Please?”

“Where?” Hotch insisted.

“In the lab,” Dr. Brians muttered bitterly.

The team members wasted no time, leaving the handling of their former Unsub to the police. As the hallway behind them had been cleared, and Dr. Brians was found in the only office to the left, the agents began checking all of the doors to their right. They found only empty rooms until they reached the last door. It was firmly locked and secured with an alarm, but a few blows with the SWAT team’s battering ram easily remedied that problem.

The space was pitch black, which made their flashlight beams reflect off of glass jars and metal tables around the room. No light sources were turned on in the front, so the team cautiously spread out as they slowly moved forward. The air was thick with tension and the quiet sounds of moving bodies. A switch was finally found near the back, and the florescent lighting crackled to life. The agents took in their surroundings in disgust. The room was a macabre cross between an Unsub’s trophy room and a horror movie mad scientist’s lab. Along the left wall were glass jars filled with ‘experiments’-both animal and human it seemed- in various stages of whatever processes to which they were subjected. The middle of the room held autopsy tables modified with leather restraints and smeared with dried substances. The right side was lined with shelves stuffed with books and a large desk piled high with lab reports, blueprints, and numerous other papers. There was no sign of the object of their search, though, until someone noticed that the back of the room was still dark behind large glass windows and a solid steel door. Applying force to the door and shining light into the glass both had no success. However, it took the considerable intimidation abilities of Hotch, Rossi, and Morgan less than three minutes to pry the security code from Dr. Brians.

Once the door was finally open and the room lit, the team stared in horror at the sight in front of them. Their missing team member was perched facing them on a pedestal about a foot above the ground. He was unconscious and supported under the arms by leather straps suspended from the ceiling. His head hung forward and his messy hair covered his face. A concerning amount of blood had formed a puddle around his feet and next to the pedestal. The blood appeared to have originated from his upper back or shoulders and flowed downward from there. After several moments of shock, the team jumped into action. Emily began searching the rooms for controls or keys to the straps and Rossi and Morgan grabbed Reid to hold him upright so Hotch could check Reid’s vitals.

“I have a strong pulse,” Hotch announced, and each agent let out a sigh of relief. While Rossi and Morgan worked on unlocking the straps with the keys Emily located across the room, Hotch moved around to check Reid’s injuries. What he found was something he never would have imagined-ever.

“What the Hell!”

His exclamation caught the attention of the others who shifted closer to see what had Hotch so surprised. They all had a similar reaction when they saw Reid’s back. Attached to his shoulder blades was a pair of feathered wings-actual, full-sized wings with real feathers that were cream with intricate detailing. They were folded up to lie flat against his back, but appeared to be nearly three feet in length and about a foot wide, not necessarily large but certainly not natural. A cursory examination didn’t reveal how they were connected to Reid, but the skin around the area was inflamed red and had obviously bled at some point. Silence filled the room until Emily finally spoke up.

“Are…these what Dr. Brians wanted to see working? He said something about a project…”

“It’s probably safe to assume this is what he meant,” Rossi replied.

“What the hell should we do now,” Morgan asked?

“Let’s get him down and to a hospital for starters, then we can figure out what to do from there,” Hotch decided. “Prentiss, let the paramedics know the situation and make sure they know to take him to the base hospital. We have a better chance of discretion there.”

“On it,” she stated as she pulled out her radio to inform the medics of the issues. With a combined effort the remaining agents managed to get Reid down from his stand and lying face down on the floor with his face propped against Morgan’s legs. They all studied the wings silently until help arrived.

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

Gathered anxiously in Reid’s hospital room, the team members crowded around the x-ray images displayed on the lighted board while Dr. Alison described what they were seeing. The base structure of the wings was steel, and Dr. Brians had fused and wielded the metal to bones and reconfigured tendons until it was almost a part of Reid’s skeletal system. He had even tediously connected the nerves, and by all appearances the wings should be fully functional. It was painstaking work, and quite the scientific achievement, yet the whole idea was sick and horrifying. Perhaps the ‘test subject’ being an unwilling member of their team skewed the perspective somewhat.

After consultations with orthopedists, physical therapists, and a plastic surgeon, Dr. Alison confidently reassure the team that the wings could be removed with little or no permanent damage to Reid’s original arms and shoulders. The surgery, however, would have to wait a minimum of two weeks so that the current incisions and additions to Reid’s body could heal properly before undergoing further trauma. Reid would remain under careful observation during that time so that the doctor could monitor for infections or complications. The agents knew Reid would be unhappy with the delay and amount of time in the hospital, but the risk of serious injury was too great to avoid it. They would just have to do their best to support him until the time for the ‘wingectomy’ –as it was jokingly referred to.

Other than the obvious changes, Reid managed to escape his captivity without any major harm being done to his person. During the five days Reid was in his care, Dr. Brians had fed him and allowed him to rest when lapses in the experiment came around. The details were diligently logged in records in the lab, which was fortunate as Reid wasn’t awake to tell them and Dr. Brians was too busy mourning the loss of his project to cooperate. Neither the logs nor the physical exam by Dr. Alison revealed any further experimentation, and the team was relieved that Reid had only one serious physical issue to cope with. Only time would tell if he suffered any psychological distress from the ordeal, and Dr. Brians’ notes made no mention of Reid’s mental state during the process. The team members collectively decided to prepare for the worst possible scenario just in case.

Nearly ten hours later as the BAU team-now including Garcia and JJ- began to grow restless, Reid finally stirred. It took a few minutes of furious blinking and quiet groaning for him to become conscious, and another moment of panic before his full awareness returned. Reid smiled weakly at the sight of all of his team gathered around him with varying looks of concern.

“Hi guys,” he croaked out. “I guess I’m now officially a freak.” He spoke teasingly but the others hurried to reassure him and inform him that things could be repaired. Then, Emily posed the question that was on everyone’s mind, “Do they actually work, Reid?”

He gave a rueful grin and replied, “I don’t know yet. They hurt too much to try them before.”

“They don’t hurt now, do they,” Garcia asked worriedly?

“Not at the moment, but I imagine that one of these IVs contains some form of pain managing substance.”

“Yes, NSAIDs only,” Hotch responded.

“Good. Thanks.” Reid looked thoughtful for a moment. He held out a hand to Morgan. “Help me sit up.”

“What? Why?” Morgan took the offered hand but made no move to comply with Reid’s request.

“No time like the thoroughly medicated present to find out the answer. At least I’m already in the hospital if something goes wrong.

“I don’t think that’s…” Hotch began, but Rossi interrupted him.

“I’ll get Dr. Alison. He can supervise.” After Rossi left, Morgan carefully pulled Reid into a sitting position and JJ promptly arranged pillows to support him.

“Can you move your arms ok?” Emily inquired.

Reid tested both limbs successfully. “Interesting. They don’t move with my arms automatically. I must have to control them consciously,” Reid mused.

“I wonder why he wanted to do this at all,” Morgan stated.

“Well, an interest in flight is almost an intrinsic part of human nature. Studies dating as far back as the early…”

Reid’s mini-lecture was cut off by the arrival of Dr. Alison and Rossi. “Dr. Reid, it’s nice to meet you officially. I’m Dr. Alison and I’m in charge of your case.” He extended his hand and Reid shook it easily- one preliminary test passed.

“Nice to meet you too doctor. Are you a specialist in the surgical removal of unusual object from the body?”

“I guess you could put it that way,” Dr. Alison replied with a grin. “I must say that this will be my most unusual case to date.”

“I should hope so,” Morgan muttered to the amusement of the others.

“Do you feel up to doing a simple assessment or two?”

“Sure,” Reid answered. “What do you need me to do?”

“Well, I see that you can move your arms independently of the wings, so let’s test your range of motion.” Reid easily followed the instructions until Dr. Alison was satisfied. Finally he requested, “If you can, Dr. Reid, I want you to try to move the wings. However, you can only do so if there isn’t a lot of pain. I don’t want you to be injured any further.”

Reid focused his efforts on obeying the doctor’s orders. Slowly, the wings unfolded to their full extent. The rounded tops came just past Reid’s shoulders while the pointed tips hung over the edges of the bed. No one spoke as they took in what they were witnessing.

Dr. Alison broke the silence after a long pause. “Dr. Reid, would you mind if took a few pictures to include in your medical records and to give to the plastic surgeon?”

Reid shrugged, the wings lifting slightly as he did so. “As long as they don’t end up on the internet or the local news.”

“No worries there,” Dr. Alison reassured with a chuckle. He removed a digital camera from his lab coat and took a few panoramic shots before moving closer to photograph the areas around the incisions. After the photos he had Reid repeat the test while he palpated the areas around the shoulders and upper back, noting the way the movements affected the wings. “Fascinating,” he murmured under his breath when he felt how seamlessly both sets of appendages were connected. “This really is mind blowing work.”

“Why me though? Why do I attract the crazies,” Reid bemoaned?

The others laughed and Morgan ruffled his hair. “I don’t know Pretty Boy; maybe you give off a scent or something, some strange brand of Crazy Juice.”

“Ew,” JJ, Emily and Reid all exclaimed simultaneously.

“This is kind of amazing,” Garcia chimed in.

“Why is that, Baby Girl?”

“Because I’ve called Reid ‘Boy Wonder’ for years and now he really does have a super power!”

The room exploded with laughter while Reid crossed his arms and pouted.

“What’s the matter, Spence,” JJ asked once she regained her breath?

“I doubt that I could actually fly with them.” He seemed disappointed at the thought.

“Why not,” Rossi asked?

“They’re kind of small,” he replied. “I’m not sure they could lift my body weight.”

“Well, you don’t really weigh a whole lot Reid,” Emily retorted.

“I’m heavier than I look,” Reid stated indignantly. “Besides, it’s relative to the amount of weight they can support. They don’t seem very strong.”

“I don’t know, Reid. They are solid steel, and Dr. Brians was very detailed and exacting with his plans. I’d imagine he took your height and weight into account when he designed them….What?” Hotch asked when he realized the others were staring at him.

“Sir, your inner geek is showing,” Garcia told him. Hotch smiled at that while the rest nearly collapsed in amusement.

“I do have my moments,” Hotch replied, causing the merriment to continue.

Once things calmed down again, Dr. Alison briefly explained the plans for the next few weeks to Reid before excusing himself. Reid, surprisingly, didn’t protest his hospital stay; instead he seemed relieved to deal with this situation in the closed environment rather than in the real world. The team discussed visitation and work schedules for the next weeks while Hotch called in three weeks (minimum) medical leave for Reid as well as a few days off for the rest of them during and immediately after the surgery. Things were figured out as much as possible when JJ stood and approached the bed.

“Can I touch them Spence,” she asked hesitantly? Reid was startled by the questions but quickly acquiesced. She reached out and gently ran her hand along the edge before fingering the tip. “They’re really soft,” she stated as she continued stroking the downy feathers.

“Do they bother you, Baby Cakes,” Garcia wondered as she joined JJ.

“Bother me how? The fact that they are there bothers me, and remembering how they got there really bothers me,” he answered with a slightly bitter tone.

“Well, I meant bother as in: Are they heavy? Do they itch or annoy you? I can see why you would be bothered in different ways too though Sweetie.”

“Sorry Garcia,” he said softly. “I barely notice them unless they move, and I can’t feel you touching them.”

“Speaking of what happened, Reid, you will need to have a psych eval once you recover from the surgery,” Hotch told him. “I can have Dr. Benson come here to see you if you want to talk to him sooner.”

“Really, Hotch, I’m fine. There’s no need for an eval.”

“Its standard procedure and it isn’t up for discussion. Of course you can talk to any of us if you want to, but I do need a formal record as well.”

“I know,” Reid sighed in defeat.

“Do you want to tell us about it,” Morgan asked?

“What’s to tell? You read Dr. Brians’ notes so you what happened already.”

“That isn’t a complete picture and you know that,” Rossi said. “We don’t know what happened from your perspective. You were missing for five days, Reid; you can’t tell us you aren’t affected by that.”

Reid remained quiet for a few minutes before softly asking, “It was really five days?”

“Yes. Why,” Hotch answered?

“It…didn’t seem like that long, but I was pretty out of it for some of the time.”

“He drugged you,” Emily asked?

“Yeah, I’m not sure with what though- a sedative or paralytic or something. I was awake most of the time but not completely aware. I didn’t have as much pain while he was working as I did when he was done.”

“Did you know what he was doing,” Garcia wondered?

“Yes. He explained his plan in great detail and documented each step in the process.”

“How do you feel about this,” Hotch inquired?

“Conflicted,” he replied slowly. “I’m always interested in scientific advances and experimentation. I participated in several studies during college, but those were all voluntary and I was aware of the risks involved. I’m not happy that this was done without my consent, but the scientist in me is curious about how this ends up.”

“You could always delay the surgery and find out,” Rossi quipped lightly. Reid shot him a LOOK.

“Yeah, sure, that‘s a good idea. I’m weird enough already without adding this to it.”

“You aren’t weird,” JJ retorted at the same time Garcia blurted out, “I think they’re kind of cool.”

“Thanks, JJ, and of course you would say that Garcia,” he responded.

“You know I love you no matter what my gorgeous gray matter,” she said with a smile. Reid returned it with a grin of his own.

Just then, a nurse came in to inform them that visiting hours were finished for the evening. The team told Reid goodbye and promised to visit again in the morning-with coffee as stipulated by Reid.

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

Four days later, Morgan and Hotch helped Reid conceal his new appendages beneath his corduroy jacket as much as possible. Because there was no sign of infection, and Reid was healing so well, Dr. Alison released him to go home until the day of the ‘wingectomy’. By this time Reid was eager to get to his own apartment; hiding out in the hospital got boring very quickly. Once he was clothed the three agents signed Reid out and headed to his place. Reid fully expected to find the rest of his team members waiting for his arrival, but he didn’t anticipate a Fairy-themed welcome home party.

The ladies all had sets of sparkly wings in bright colors, and Rossi even had a set of large, hideously cheap, plastic wings strapped to his back-he didn’t seem to happy about the situation though.

“Welcome Home,” they all shouted as he walked in and Garcia bounced over and tossed a handful of glitter on his head. She kissed him cheerily on both cheeks to leave bright red lip prints behind. Reid couldn’t help but grin at the (weird) thoughtfulness of his friends. Despite their efforts, though, he still felt a little self-conscious as Hotch helped him remove his jacket. He wore his usual button-up shirt strategically modified in the back with a pair of scissors to accommodate his temporary limbs. Feeling a bit stiff, Reid cracked his neck, rolled his shoulders, and stretched his wings out to their full extent. Looking around he saw all the eyes in the room watching him in awe. He smiled nervously at them.

“You’ve all seen them before,” he stated.

“We know, but it takes some getting used to,” Emily replied as she tugged him further into the area. He gaped in surprise as he took in the bright tissue paper and shiny streamers decorating his living room.

“This is what I imagine the inside of a fairy house would look like,” Garcia commented as he slowly spun to take it all in.

“Garcia, I’m not a fairy,” he protested half-halfheartedly, knowing already that arguing with here was a losing battle.

“Well honey bun, I’m not sure you qualify for angel status so this is the next best thing!” She grinned cheekily and winked at him. He couldn’t help but smile in agreement. Meanwhile JJ and Emily fitted Hotch and Morgan with their own sets of plastic wings, and Morgan strutted over to Garcia to show them off.

“What about me, Baby Girl? Do I make angel status?”

“Oh my gorgeous chocolate god, you will always be a heavenly vision in my eyes!”

Morgan smirked and wrapped an arm around her. “That’s good enough for me.”

“How do you feel, Reid,” Rossi asked from the corner?

“Not too bad. They’re feeling kind of stiff right now but they don’t hurt anymore.”

“That’s good. Here, have a drink,” he replied as he indicated the counter between the living room and the kitchen. “There is ‘fairy punch’, whatever that is, or I brought a good scotch if you prefer.”

“Scotch is good…” Reid started, but a large, flashing glass of pink punch with a tasseled straw in it suddenly appeared in front of his face.

“You have to at least try the ‘fairy punch’,” JJ started.

“Plus I need a picture of you holding it,” Garcia added as she held up her camera. Reid groaned but didn’t bother protesting. He obediently posed for the required photos before retreating to the safety of the couch were Rossi and Hotch sat nursing their drinks.

“So, what other festivities are planned for this fairy wonderland party,” Morgan wondered.

“Not much,” Emily answered. “Pizza should be here soon, and we just figured on watching a movie or something.”

“I wanted to watch Peter Pan in honor of the occasion but I was outvoted,” Garcia broke in with a pout.

“Thank goodness,” Hotch murmured, to the amusement of the others.

“I brought board games too,” JJ chimed in, “ones that Spence can’t dominate everybody in.”

“Do those exist,” Morgan mumbled?

“Yes, Morgan, I don’t know everything!”

“I have ‘Loaded Questions’, ‘Pictionary’, and ‘Life’,” JJ interrupted before an argument could begin.

“Let’s play ‘Loaded Questions’,” Reid decided. The others agreed and gathered around the coffee table.

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

Three days later Reid strolled cautiously into the bullpen, unsure if anyone could tell something was different about him. Emily wasn’t at her desk so he headed towards Morgan’s office. A few agents stopped him along the way to welcome him back and wish him well. He took comfort in the fact that none acted as if there was anything unusual in front of them. He knocked lightly on Morgan’s open door and grinned when the agent smiled up at him in surprise.

“Reid! It’s good to see you, my man, but what are you doing here? You barely started your medical leave.”

“I know, but I was getting bored wandering around at home. Besides, I’m not really sick or injured so I can at least do paperwork or something until the surgery.”

Morgan looked thoughtful. “I should tell you to clear it with Hotch first, but I could use a hand. As long as you hang out in here with the door closed you should be fine. I will claim ignorance if Hotch catches you.”

“Deal,” Reid happily agreed. “I will be very sneaky, but you know he will figure out that I helped you once you turn these in.”

“That’s true, but as long as he doesn’t catch you doing them I should be safe.” Morgan handed him a stack of files and cleared a section of desk for him to work on.

Reid worked in Morgan’s office for nearly two hours before he called Emily in the bullpen and recruited her to be his look out while he went to the break room for coffee and a trip to the bathroom. She gladly complied, and Reid brought her and Morgan coffee as a thank you. He would have made it the whole day without getting caught if Emily hadn’t gotten stuck on a phone call around 3:30 and failed to warn Reid of Hotch going to Morgan’s office. Morgan was in with Garcia checking on missing information from a case file and Reid was huddled over his corner of Morgan’s desk engrossed in an autopsy report when Hotch knocked lightly on the partially open door before entering.

“Morgan when you get a chance can you…” he trailed off upon seeing Reid-looking up at him in surprise-rather than the person he expected. “What are you doing here? You are supposed to be on medical leave,” Hotch stated pointedly.

“I, um, just came by to help for awhile. I’m fine, Hotch, really. There’s no reason why I can’t do paperwork.”

Hotch studied him before deciding to just let the issue go. “I don’t want to see or hear of you doing anything strenuous Reid. You know what Dr. Alison said about infection and tissue damage; he wants you to take it easy before the surgery. Paperwork only.” His tone made it clear that no arguments would be accepted.

“Yes, sir,” Reid responded gratefully.

Hotch handed him a thick file. “I was going to have Morgan work on this, but since you are here you can do it instead.”

“No problem.”

Hotch turned to leave, but he paused and said, “You can work at your desk now if you want instead of hiding in here.” He left without waiting for a reply.

Reid finished the day in Morgan’s office despite Hotch’s approval; both of them were glad for the company on an otherwise boring work day, and they didn’t get to spend much time together unless they were on a case now that Morgan had his own office.

Garcia declared it to be ‘Team Dinner Night’ so they all gathered at Reid’s apartment again, this time with Greek take-out. The evening was fun and relaxed as the agents talked and laughed together. Once the food was gone, Reid got everyone’s attention.

“Guys, I’m ready to try an experiment.” The identical looks of concern and confusion amused him greatly. “I’ve done some calculations and I believe that the wings will be able to support my weight for a short flight.”

“Really? That’s so great,” Garcia exclaimed. “I can’t wait to see this!”

“How short is a ‘short flight’,” Rossi inquired?

“Approximately three minutes, could be as much as four or as few as one-and-a-half depending on wind conditions.”

“So, where are we conducting this experiment,” Emily wanted to know?

“I was thinking the roof…”

The room exploded with protests.

“No way man!”

“Not a chance, Reid!”

“You are not jumping off of the roof!”

He held up his hand to regain control of the conversation. “I’m not planning on jumping off the roof,” he insisted, “just jumping around it some.”

“Why the roof Spence,” JJ asked?

“I determined that I could get the most ideal wind and space combination there.”

“Ok, we can do this. I do insist that you will be connected to a repel line first,” Hotch declared.

“Oh. That’s a good idea. I guess we can try this tomorrow then.” His tone was dejected, and both his arms and wings slumped in defeat.

“No, we can do it now. I have a kit in the truck.”

“Why do you have that, Hotch,” Morgan wondered?

“In SWAT you learn to prepare for anything. Some habits are hard to break I suppose,” he replied with a shrug.

“Ok, let’s go then. Aaron, grab the supplies and meet us on the roof.” Rossi took Reid’s arm and pulled him toward the door. The others quickly followed, Garcia pausing to pick up her camera.

An hour later the team trudged back into Reid’s apartment somewhat disheartened. Reid had managed to get a decent amount of lift, but he lacked the control to keep himself airborne for more than 30 seconds or so at a time. They had tried several different maneuvers, but they were all met with limited success.

“If I had a more time to practice…” Reid sighed wearily as he plopped down on his couch. “I’m sure I could figure it out in a couple of days.”

“I bet you could, Boy Wonder, but is it worth the effort of constantly cleaning up things you break or knock over because you aren’t adjusted to the wingspan?” Garcia questioned. She bounced down next to him and stroked his feathers soothingly.

“I don’t know. I’m finally starting to get used to them.”

“You do realize that you can keep them as long as you want to,” Morgan pointed out. “The surgery can be rescheduled.”

“That’s true, but the longer I put it off the long it takes to get my life back to normal. I will have to be laid up for at least a week regardless; postponing the surgery won’t avoid the downtime.”

“Reid, sweetie…” Garcia began carefully, “do…you actually want to have them removed?” Reid, along with the others, looked at her in total shock. “We all just assumed that you’d want them gone ASAP, and you thought the same thing at first. Now that you’ve had time to adjust and think, you could have changed your mind and that’s perfectly ok.”

“I can’t keep them! How will I work or…or do anything? I just…it wouldn’t be logical,” Reid said decidedly.

“There are always was to work around things, Reid. You were at the office all day today with no problem.” Hotch sat on the coffee table facing him and looked Reid in the eyes. “It is ok if you want to keep them-for a few days or indefinitely. The choice is yours and you shouldn’t be pressured into making it. At least consider your options; you won’t ever get this opportunity again.”

Reid swallowed forcefully and met Hotch’s gaze. “Thanks. I think I’ve already decided, but I will think about it a little more. I am learning to work around them and, scientifically, they are fascinating. I’ve continued to keep Dr. Brians’ logs just to have records. This really is the study of a lifetime and I’d hate to leave it unfinished.”

“Plus, plus, I still think they’re kind of sexy, and you have to take at least one shirtless pic with them for me before you get them removed,” Garcia enthused. Reid flushed bright red but nodded his consent to her demands.

“That would be pretty cool,” he admitted begrudgingly.

“Oh! I could play with lighting and color tones and even some costuming!”

“Let’s not get carried away, PG,” Emily warned.

“So it’s settled, then,” Rossi declared. “Reid will do some thinking tomorrow while Penelope does the photo shoot. That should help with the decision-making process!”

“I’ll say,” Reid groaned while the others laughed at his predicament.

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

The following evening, the team members convened in the conference room to view Garcia’s picture presentation and to hear Reid’s decision. Everyone was thoroughly impressed with her work featuring black and white, sepia tone, and different backgrounds and props. She’d somehow even managed to convince Reid to accessorize for a few- in one he had a sparkly boa, in another, Mardi Gras beads, and in others various hats and scarves. He had, however, steadfastly refused the plastic halo Garcia somehow obtained-much to her disappointment.

Finally, Rossi asked the question on everyone’s mind, “So Reid, what’s the verdict? Are we spending next week camping out in a waiting room or giving flying lessons?”

Reid smiled and looked around at each person. “I called Dr. Alison and discussed the options with him. He didn’t see any harm that could come from postponing, so we rescheduled for one month with the option to make it sooner if I decide I want to do that. As a scientist, I just can’t imagine not seeing this through.”

His statement was met with approval all around the table.

“I’m glad you decided that, Reid,” Emily stated as she dug through the papers in front of her.

“Why is that?”

“Because I’ve been working on some diagrams to get you better air time.”

[thenixkat]

Animorphs notes: Visser

Visser

The Yeerk Chronicles book

Marco was too sweet natured and trusting

Visser 1 is a dick

Visser 1 likes sailing

Visser 1 knows how to make it look like an accident

Visser 1 makes a distinction b/w HER husband and the host’s son

Visser 1 is on trial

Yeerks have courts

“I spoke to the holographic representation of the Council. Thirteen Yeerks in various host bodies: Nine Hork-Bajir, two Taxxons, and two whose host bodies were so concealed that I could not guess at their form.”

The council’s hosts are wearing very very dark red robes. Am reminded of the ‘plant’ descriptions we got in the AC.

“He rested comfortably on four almost dainty hooves. His body was standard quadruped grazer: like an Earth deer or horse, or a Desbadeen limner.” Quadrupedal mammalian grazing animals are just a thing in the universe I guess

Andalites not having mouths is weird compared to the universal average

“Garoff? Was it Garoff speaking for the Council? I couldn’t tell. Nor could I be sure whether it was good news or bad that my mentor would be taking a leading role.”

Edriss 562 of the Sulp Niar pool is her actual name

The empire is constantly wasting perfictly good hosts

A week with untreated injuries including bad burns? Someone has at least one decent infection. And those limbs ain’t never working right again

What I’m getting is that the Skrit-Na are interested in aquiring andalite tech

The taxxons are more allies than true hosts (eh, if the ones that don’t want to go along get murdered its still slaves all the way down)

That’s not how that works! Damnit! Its not the hork’s fault! It’s the damn writers!

Also what’s wrong with fucking code switching?! They know multiple languages!

Yeerk bosses joke about murdering their subordinates and then wonder why there’s rebels

The empire wastes perfectly good bodies

So, why do non-human alien species not number in the billions?

The writers confusing/conflating sex with gender

Garoff 168 is Edriss’ mentor

Can yeerks only infest carbon based life?

Essam 293 worked with Edriss

So yeerks have tech that they can wholesale dump memories into to make them viewable to everyone? And it's not something that the upper crust of yeerks have to submit themselves too.

“While on patrol he had allowed a handful of Hork-Bajir to escape aboard a neutral

Desbadeen ship.”

WAIT. ARE THERE FREE HORKS IN SPACE!?

Earth is a nothing backwater planet on the edge of nowhere

Operation Desert Storm

So the other aliens don’t have tv and radio? Or at least don’t have whole entertainment industries? Other than the iskoort?

Right, horks needing less oxygen makes sense what with the mile high trees.

Earth air is bitter and dry to hork senses

The yeerks made a night vision spray for hork hosts… where the fuck was this on the night Elfangor died?

Edriss and Essam watch a battle in the Middle East and decided that they should start with conquring the USA

Edriss describes the host brain in terms of circuits and computers

Hork’s have better deph perception than humans

Garoff is a member of the council

The 13 know who the emperor is but no one else to avoid accurate assassination attempts

There dumb mfs just didn’t decide to see if any of the Earth water or trees were ok for horks b/c they want to waste perfictly good bodies

Yeerks don’t have a concept of fiction

Visser 3 fakes an animorph attack

Eva is a rightous woman

Edriss kinda had kids?

Apparently making hosts reproduce is gross as fuck to the yeerks

Edriss did drugs

Edriss managed to infest one person and murder her previous host at the same time

Allison Kim was also very strong

Also Edriss is a dick

Humans are suicidally brave. Yeah sure

Honestly yeerks would def hate having their own yeerks

Garoff knows. Heh

Sure humans have the most complex and powerful emotions. Barf

Edriss steals a cellphone

Edriss has the nerve to call Marco a little monster

WHat’s going on with the Anati planet?

I’m down with how awesome humans are b/c we have a lot of evidence to the contrary

Eva backseat advising

Essam decided that he was done being an invader and gonna release his host and the kids

Huh, the meat plant book gets a call back

As do teh david book

The yeerks know about the helmacrons

Have the yeerks fought the helmacrons?

Visser 3: If yer so loyal shoot yer son

Madra is a name for the Yeerk planet’s moon

The animorphs come in and crash the party b4 Edriss has to shoot Darwin

Tail fighting face to face

So one of the chee is helping with cover

Marco and Eva are cold motherfuckers.

Can yeerks not control sleeping/unconscious bodies?

Eva’s trying to convince the kids to let Visser 1 live so that open war doesn’t happen b/c a lot more people would die and the yeerks would probably win

Edriss thinks the tiger’s probably andalite given how clever his observations are. Until that bit.

Heh

Eva is a-ok with Peter moving on with his life

There are indeed humans willing to join mind control slung cult of their own free will

Why does Eva feel any pity for Edriss?

Hidly had a yeerk die in his head

The SHaring is very lit a cult.

The Council already made their judgements they just wanted the end of teh story

Eva really? Just cause someone’s a mom dont main they aint shit

The andalites are amassing their fleet

They’re sentenced to death, after the yeerks win. Visser 3 cant go all out and Visser 1 is going to the Anati system

They don’t even know how many sentient species are in the Anati system to take

Yeahhh Edriss is not a good parent

Edriss decides not to tell Visser 3 b/c fuck ‘em

[craniumculverin]

some unedited, brain flow-type ramblings based on @donc-desole‘s oc percy as a villain in a ww2 era au. more about how a narrative might work then anything. i’m really rusty on my ww2 knowledge and don’t wanna let myself fall down another research rabbit hole, so i’m probably off with how military stuff works.

ww2!au possible story?

maybe wes is the unwitting companion to harry who’s on a mission. not the sidekick mind you, wes would still be the main character and protagonist, just not the action movie hero - that’s harry’s role.

wes is technically harry’s c.o. but was supposed to leave the front due to injury (losing his finger). due to a bureaucratic error nothing is done to get him out, but he’s believed to be on his way back to england. meanwhile, harry is a slightly lower ranked officer but for whatever reason is chosen to do something or other by the higher ups - he’s given a secret mission basically, and has to fake being KIA in order to proceed. or something.

despite wallowing in his horrible mood, wes is still protective of his friends.  so when a surprise skirmish happens and the world’s blowing up around them, and he sees harry run off, he runs after - partly to make sure he stays alive, partly to yell at him for being stupid. they end up in enemy territory, one believed to be heading home, the other believed KIA due to swapping uniforms/tags with a similar looking, already-dead-before-the-fight guy.

wes is livid with harry and can’t comprehend why he refuses to head back to allied territory, harry is trying to keep it together while not letting wes know that he’s - rather they’re - on a secret, possibly undercover mission.

idk how it plays out from there, specifically. harry would probably breakdown at some point and tell wes some of what he’s doing, but whether that’s before or after wes already figures it out or the mission is completed, idk. harry’s a horrible choice to carry out a secret mission tbh.

one way or another they end up very close to a german field hospital or the like. wes’ injury isn’t doing well and harry took a tumble - he’s not too badly hurt, but looks like hell. they get captured, wes chokes and just silently surrenders, but harry ups the dramatics and acts like he’s horribly wounded and confused. and also american, cus harry is just. harry. neither are wearing their uniforms anymore having changed them out for civvies, so the germans bring them to the hospital, as captives/patients i guess.

and that’s how they meet percy, a doctor and one of, if not the, chief medical officer running the place. seeing through harry’s horrible accent right off the bat, percy decides to play along and speak with a perfect english accent, which confuses the two along with his english surname(?). he immediately knows something’s up, has them searched and all their belongings taken before being restrained and left alone somewhere whilst under guard. harry keeps up the act while wes is between pissed and pissing himself. 

wes and harry start bickering, thinking they’re still alone, but percy quietly enters the room alone and listens for a while. eventually wes notices him, falling silent as percy just placidly smiles back, before harry turns to see and goes deathly still and quiet as well.

then the three have a nice chat. and by “nice” i mean percy is disturbingly sweet and genial even as he semi-openly threatens them, etc. by the end of it he knows they’re british soldiers on a mission, but harry has managed not to totally give everything away. wes is extremely uncomfortable with how percy has been acting toward him in particular - which at this point is just percy having fun; he sees an opportunity to probe and observe, he takes it. harry continues to keep his american act going despite obviously being found out, which wes actually apologizes for to percy out of embarrassment, which catches the doctor off guard and intrigues him. he drops the english accent for his usual german when he responds in a positive fashion, which takes wes by surprise - cus it sounded so legit, but also cus percy could’ve really used their thinking he was english to his advantage.

wes and harry are kept as prisoner-patients basically, occasionally being questioned by percy, who almost always does so alone. they’re also kept separated, cus percy doesn’t trust them together/their bickering bothers the patients/staff. even though harry isn’t really hurt other than some scratches he’s still seen to, while wes has it bad cus his injury got infected while traipsing around the countryside. despite his being the enemy, percy claims his role as a doctor comes first and treats him personally - wes is thrown off by the genuine concern for his well-being. which while it is genuine, percy knows he can possibly use, and so ups the act.

guessing wes is of a higher rank than harry (which wes confirms) percy also mistakenly assumes that means he’s the one in charge of he and harry’s mission. despite all the uncomfortably personal interactions he ends up having with percy over time, wes manages to keep the truth to himself. mostly cus he still doesn’t know what the mission even is and doesn’t want to mess anything up for completing it if they get out alive.

speaking of personal interactions, unless wes acts out, percy treats him as though they were simply acquaintances and not captor/prisoner - talking about likes/dislikes, hobbies, interests, etc. in particular he learns of wes’ playing the violin and how broken he is over losing a finger - and uses it against him. somehow. idk, manipulation and the like, details details.

at some point percy approaches harry when wes isn’t there, under the guise of checking up on him. he casually brings the conversation to the female staff, particularly the ones that have been seeing to harry. he basically turns from soft doctor to cut-your-throat-out doctor in a split second as he causes harry a good deal of pain, warning him to stop harassing his people or he’ll be in a similar shape to wes - aka missing something or other similar to finger size. harry agrees, trying not to let on how scared he is. soft doctor is back and percy smiles, thanks him, and leaves. harry takes percy more seriously than before. which he really should’ve been anyway.

 at some point wes and harry manage to talk alone, or from time to time. they realize and discuss how percy must've never reported them to his higher-ups cus no one outside the hospital has come for them. they’re hella suspicious of his motives but can’t agree on what to do about it. wes ends up deciding not to bring it up to percy.

 they’re brought in for another round of questions. percy’s demeanor seems different this time - he says he’s glad they’ve recovered, and that he’s tired of their not cooperating.

then he signals the guards to beat the shit out of harry.

wes freaks out and starts yelling, which turns to begging percy to stop. percy smiles and calmly says that he’d gladly do so, if wes tells him what their goal is. wes falters when harry tells him not to, but sorta lets the cat out of the bag when he snaps back about not knowing anything anyway. percy is somewhat surprised to learn harry’s the “mastermind” here.

he lets the beating continue as he know tries to get harry to talk, who of course doesn’t. eventually percy has to call off the beating so harry isn’t too badly hurt, despite getting nothing out him. he immediately orders that harry be taken to be seen to properly while wes is left with him, trying not to cry.

percy turns to him with a friendly smile and apologizes for assuming he was who had to be targeted, and after looking thoughtful comments this way was better for wes. once asked to elaborate, percy says if he’d been targeting harry and with how stubborn he is, he’d have let most of wes’ fingers be broken before he even considers talking. harry’s so stubborn, he wouldn’t have broken as quickly as wes did, so wes likely would’ve outright lost another finger or two. how fortunate for wes that the doctor had assumed incorrectly, that he didn’t have to allow harm to come to him, etc.

percy says all of this as though the very thought disturbs him, to make wes think he actually cares, but wes isn’t responding by now out of shock/trauma. he’s led back to where he’s been being held and after a while breaks down sobbing.

after a few days of asking wes is allowed to see harry, who at the time is still bedbound and seemingly unconscious. he looks like shit, but is feigning sleep as wes visits, so they whisper to each other. wes is still messed up from what percy said about harry letting him lose his fingers, and has begun to doubt/mistrust harry’s choices - just as percy intended.

wes asks for more info on the mission, partly out of his own curiosity as to what harry would take a beating over, and also to maybe use as leverage to get them out of here. harry refuses cus he can read his friend like a book, upsetting wes. he tells harry he’s gonna get them both killed and storms off to be taken back to his room. harry feels bad but knows his friend is stressed out, and is frankly too tired/injured to care very much. which is partly planned by percy - being on pain meds to mess with his head, but not so much as to strain the supply for his actual patients.

idk, percy basically manipulates and gets wes to start doubting/mistrusting harry, while harry is kept away from him and drugged. the only interaction wes really has is with germans that don’t speak english, and percy - so really just percy. like stockholm syndrome sorta-ish, except wes is definitely, extremely wary of him.

the doctor has taken an interest in him and finds him enjoyable to “study”, but more importantly thinks he can still use him and maybe harry to his own benefit, aka mess with nazi plans somehow. he’s a great doctor and good at running the field hospital - not so much good at being a nazi.

i feel horrible just thinking about it but what if evil!percy ends up killing paddy? that’s one way to ensure your status as a villain - kill the kindly, sagely scottish dude. i have no idea how that would even work... prolly paddy’s a sniper that spies wes and harry as prisoners in the field hospital, but before he can regroup with his men to set up a rescue he’s caught or shot. injured or not, he’s captured as well, initially brought to percy when he’s questioning wes and harry at some point so the two are aware of him.

idk how that plays out, but he wouldn’t be killed immediately. and it’d definitely be the last straw for wes before he’s absolutely done with percy.

despite being a wehrmacht officer percy doesn’t agree with his boss’ ideology, aka nazism. but to maintain his job/rank/station, which he thoroughly enjoys, he has to play the part of the agreeable subordinate. which he isn’t, since he’s all about seditious acts in his free time, but he keeps up the facade.

basically his priorities are ranked: (1) immediate patients and staff. (2) other’s lives, enemy or not. (3) maintain his position as an officer in order to fulfill #1. (4) cause trouble for nazis in a way that doesn’t cost lives (to fulfill #2), without exposing himself (to fulfill #3).

nowhere in his priorities is any nazi/nationalistic bs, cus he’s a scientifically-minded doctor, and none of it makes a lick of scientific sense. people are people, and people are to be helped equally, regardless of lineage/sexuality/etc.

he’d have had to take the hitler oath at some point to serve or continue serving. it likely meant nothing to him; just another formality of staying in military service, since the alternative was p much execution. is an oath really an oath if there’s no option other to take it, beside dying? especially if the person is either agnostic or atheist, so the concept of swearing to a divine power means nothing?

or maybe he charmed his way out of it but is in the books as having taken it. suave doctor.

how would percy go about sedition while staying undetected and costing as few lives as possible? idk. but generally, it's likely stuff like bribery or blackmail, or making it so other’s plans go awry. little things that don’t seem like they’d add up to much, but could end up causing quite a change in the long run. the butterfly effect, but instead of a butterfly it’s a manipulative swiss-german military doctor that would rather not have complete idiots in charge, and instead of a hurricane it’s like. a series of inconveniences to the nazi’s overall war efforts.

that makes him sound too good though, he’s supposed to be evil... his mindset is good, that’s what it is. his overarching goal is to help his patients and stop needless loss of life - but to do so he’s willing to utterly ruin or destroy whoever he must to attain that goal, without a lick of remorse. hero’s become villains when achieving a goal outweighs maintaining a moral code - percy’s on the edge of that balancing act just by his nature, i think.

so what if he caused a small town to be destroyed by the intel he had altered via anonymous blackmail? civilian lives were lost, sure, but  if the wehrmacht had attacked and captured the actual coordinates, they’d have a supply route advantage and be able to turn the tide in their favor, costing significantly more lives, civilian or otherwise, in the long run. he’ll gladly personally send a few hundred innocents to death now to potentially save tens of thousands later.

[buckyfan23]

Escape from Hydra

Last mission. 

I will get myself caught. Time for me to take off for Wakanda. I need to help Sergeant Barnes. I won't take him back to Siberia like I'm suppose to, so he will get his mind wiped again. I must find where they are keeping him. 

"Who are you, and why are you here?" Captain Rogers gasps when he sees the symbol on my chest. "You work for Hydra! You're here for Buck, aren't you? I thought we put you all behind bars." He decides to fight me. I struggle to push past him. He ends up slamming me through a door.

I stumble upon Barnes's cryo cell. Next, I work quickly to free him. Then he slams me against the wall. He chokes me with his only hand. "I'm done with Hydra. I didn't even want to be a part of their plan." I explain to the two soldiers. 

The rest of the fugitives pop in. "Who are you?" One of them asks.

Barnes eventually puts me back on the ground. "Why are you here then?"

"I came to help you. Trust me when I say; you are going to need all the help you can get." 

"You won't find anything inside, Wanda. I can feel you poking around in my head." Everyone looks at me perplexed.

Seconds later, a phone goes off. Steve answers it. "It's Tony. There is a problem; he needs our help." Steve informs the group. 

I teleport everyone to the Avenger's Compound. A cup is thrown at me, but I fly it right back before it makes any contact. Tony's confusion about the cup makes my powers seem more like a blessing than a curse. 

Tony says, "How the hell did that cup hit me and not you? Who the hell are you, and how did you all get here so quickly?" Everyone watches me intently as I go to explain everything I feel comfortable telling. 

"My name is Juliet, and I'm a hybrid. Unlike Steve and Wanda, I wasn't experimented on. And to answer your question, Tony, I can teleport; I also can control the elements, which is why the cup hit you." My eyes turn completely white as a vision comes into sight. 

Christmas morning, Mama and папа are actually happy for once. The tree shines so brightly with only a handful of presents underneath. Dad calls me by the nickname he gave me, Бабочка. He tells me to open my presents. As I move toward the tree, the door slams wide open, and the big scary metal-armed man, that killed my grandpa, comes into the room.

He pulls a rifle out of nowhere and shoots my parents. I am so scared he is going to shoot me next; I slowly hide behind the tree. I pick up on the sound of him leaving. I run to my parents; they are already dead.

My sight comes back. I look at everyone's scared faces. I tell them that it was a vision of the past. "How do you know it was from the past?" Tony asks. 

"I was nine years old, and it was Christmas. A Hydra agent broke into my house and killed my parents." I inform them. "I spent the rest of my life in a Canadian forest up until Hydra found me."

 Looking everywhere but the people in the room, "They forced me to join them. They gave me two options, either join them and only a select few die or get my brains shot out of my head and the whole world dies at one time." 

They stare at me in shock. I didn't want to tell them Bucky was the one who murdered my parents. I don't blame him for doing it, since it wasn't his fault.

"What is the problem?" Steve questions. Tony and Steve begin to argue over whether or not the problem is important enough to call them over. They are about to start throwing punches when I get in between them.

"How about we all grow up and act like adults here. Hydra is an important issue. We need to take them down, but Sergeant Barnes shouldn't come with us. It's too risky." I tell the two men, but neither of them heed my advice. No one ever listens to the seventeen year old girl.

At the underground Hydra base, Steve takes the lead and gives the orders. Everyone has their earpiece in. 

Fifteen minutes later, I hear from Clint *Winter Soldier is back. Everyone be careful; he is going after everyone on the team. Steve, Tony, Scott, and Nat are down. Never mind, I'm the only one left.* I can hear Clint scream in pain. Well, now I'm the only one left. 

I round a corner; I see everyone on the ground unconscious. I can feel the anger radiating off Barnes's body. I watch him run towards me. He throws punches and kicks at me, but I am able to dodge most of them. He gets a few good cuts in. 

I say his trigger words in reverse. He stops dead in his tracks; he looks around. I can feel his anger turn into that of sorrow and guilt. I can still feel the pain from his attack. I stare in amazement at the fact that the wounds haven't healed yet. 

I listen to him apologize to me; I try to tell him it is okay, but he won't listen to me. Everyone's pain overwhelms my senses. I watch Barnes move towards the team; I follow his lead. I pick Steve up and place him on my back as Barnes helps wake up everyone that he can. 

I teleport everyone back to the compound, seeing as the base has been taken down. I go about healing everyone's wounds, even Barnes's. "You are more than welcome to call me Bucky. No one calls me Sergeant Barnes."

He pulls me to a seat as he grabs a first aid kit and cleans my injuries. Why does he care about me? No one has ever cared about me. "What wrong?" he asks me. 

"I'm sorry; I'm kinda new to being taken care of. The last person to actually care about me was murdered in front of me when I was six." I tell him.

"Hydra did awful things to me because I resisted them. They couldn't erase my memory because if they did I would have no control of my powers whatsoever." I move my line of sight to my old bloody combat boots.

Steve asks, "What kind of awful things did they do to you if you don't mind me asking?" I grimace up at him. I don't want to burden them with what can't be changed. But they deserve to know.

"They would experiment on me to find the extent of my powers; they used me as a rag doll. They tried extremely hard to break me."

No longer wanting to stay in the chair, I move to look out the window. "I 'd much rather not talk about their torture methods anymore. Rumlow's methods were the worst of them all." I explain to them.

I try to tell Tony I'm his cousin, but he doesn't want to believe it. So I show him the letter my mum wrote to me before she died. "She told me if something ever happened to them, open the letter and find Howard Stark. I guess, she didn't know he died a few years before I was born."

Tony still can't believe he has a family member left, but he's just as happy to know that Hydra didn't kill everyone. 

I watch everyone talk in groups, while I decide to keep to myself and observe my surroundings. Bucky is the only one to not be in a group. Steve and Sam are talking about someone named Sharon. I wish I don't have super hearing. I hate unintentionally eavesdropping. 

Tony was talking to Natasha and Wanda about having a celebratory party Tuesday. They were talking about whether or not it should have a theme.

A second or two later, the tower shakes as thunder could be heard. The next thing I hear is a blaring voice. I look over to the door to find a gigantic guy standing next to a smaller guy. I hear everyone but Bucky, Wanda, Scott, and Sam gasp.

 "Thor, why is Loki here?" Tony asks. Thor explains that it is his punishment for taking over Asgard. 

Two hours later, everyone comes back to the main room. Tony asks me why I didn't change out of my suit. I tell him I can't, since I don't have any other clothes to wear. After he gave me some, I quickly change in the closest bathroom.

Dr. Bruce Banner is in the room by the time I get back. He and Natasha talk among themselves. Tony gets everyone's attention. 

He says, "I'm having a party Tuesday. It is going to be different than usual. It will be a masquerade party, and everyone has to come. I have a reason for the masks, but I won't tell you until you show up."

"The reason is something lovey dovey, isn't it? Seeing as Tuesday is Valentine's Day." I ask him, but I got my answer by the look on his face.

I mentally ask him if it is mandatory for everyone to go. He stares at me in shock. He nods his head. 

Everyone looking down at the mid-thigh length Black Sabbath shirt and the barely holding up jeans, thought about me definitely needing to get some clothes that fit better.

__________________________________

Бабочка is Russian for Butterfly

* means what someone says in a headpiece. 

Italicized words means Juliet's thoughts

Taglist:

@mahalaraewolfe @lilulo-12

[acabloe]

Soon Goodbye, Now Love: Chapter Two (reposted with important corrections)

chapter one

important A/N: right so I’m reposting this chapter because I apparently don’t proofread enough and I left out like three really pertinent paragraphs so I thought it would be more beneficial if I just reposted the whole thing instead of editing it. You don’t have to re-read it but it might help you understand to the story better. I feel really really bad and guilty about this so I’m working really hard on chapter three! I should have it posted by the end of next week. Sorry again friends:,,,,,>

tw’s: abuse, swearing, depression, mentions of death, anxiety, trauma (motor accident, near death)

still based on this song

Chapter Two: Soon A Painting

Very slowly Beca began to gain more and more consciousness, beginning with a sharp tingling in her feet, fingers, and face. She became aware of the thick and muddy grass beneath her stomach that poked skin uncomfortably and dampened her clothes. Her ribs ached from where she guessed she'd fallen on them. She took a breath in and coughed as she accidentally inhaled dirt. 

Attempting to push herself onto her knees, she brought her palms to her side and pressed upwards firmly, elbows and wrists smarting under her weight. Her head throbbed as she parted her eyelids but she forced herself to leave them open to adjust to the light and observe her surroundings. As she scanned the empty field, she struggled to remember how she gotten there. Unsure of how much time had passed while she had been unconscious, she reached into her pocket for her phone. When it wasn't there her movements became more frantic, running her palms over the wet terf and blinking rapidly to attempt to clear her fuzzed vision in the dark. Then suddenly she realized that she didn't even own a phone, and memories flooded her brain like rain after weeks of humid days and packed overcast skies.

Beca and Chloe's relationship had been the at the forefront of both of their existences ever since they first met. They had often teased that Beca's sophomore (Chloe's senior) year of high school was the year they both properly became people. That statement was, for a plethora of reasons, relatively metaphorically true; It was the year when Beca's mother passed away, and her father had left her because the grief had been to much to handle. Her mental health had spiraled, and she became closed off and for the most part unresponsive. Chloe had relocated all the way across the country from her home in Seattle, and had never really shared solid friendship with anyone. She also suffered abuse from her parents for being openly bisexual. As Beca and Chloe grew closer, their relationship became the most fundamental part of their lives. They became so intertwined that absence of the other became like a vitamin deficiency, or a sinkhole in a busy road in need of immediate filling. Least to say they were agreeably the oddest and closest couple of friends to anyone who met them.

Chloe's accident was around a year and a half after the two of them had graduated. She was found eight miles from their home, unconscious on an embankment by the highway after her car had been hit by a drunk driver. Chloe was rushed to the hospital, but by the time they had arrived at the ER, it was too late. She had been hanging on by an already worn thread. Beca went into extreme shock. She spent the most terrifying four hours of her life praying to every higher power she had never thought to believe in until that moment, pleading that somehow she could take Chloe's place and that they could take her instead.

Curiously enough, her requests were immediately taken into effect. Apparently, Beca Mitchel was an exception to the laws of prayer in most religions.

Beca's memory after her prayers were different, just as clear as her memories beforehand but oddly as if what she experienced after that moment lasted several years longer than it should have. She remembered stepping outside the hospital, and then the sudden gap of black. She woke in front of a giant grey building and after ascending the huge marble steps, she'd walked down the alpine-ceilinged hall lined with black and white tiled flooring and rows of flanking dark wooden desks.

She remembered chuckling softly to herself upon thinking of how it had looked like the magical bank from Harry Potter, only without the goblins or flying papers. Sat at the tallest desk at the end of the hall she'd assumed was the head guardian angel. He explained everything about her trade for Chloe's life and about the payment for her actions by becoming a guardian angel for an infinitude in the Higher City, the city's given name. It was not in heaven exactly, but certainly above earth. He told her that mention of any higher power was forbidden and punishable by a very long time in confinement and that no angel below his station knew, or would know of who or what governed life itself.

He had also broken to her the necessity for the erasure of Chloe's memories of their friendship and lives together. Every memory after that moment was recalled to be more like a hell than a heaven.

Immediately after her introduction to the fact of her new eternity as a magical being she had previously assumed to be fictitious came months and months of guardian training and the pining and the anguish for endless, horrible nights on end. Oh, those nights, when she had been unable to sleep, distracting herself from the grief by plotting any conceivable way she could see Chloe for one last time. Whoever had agreed to let her trade places clearly hadn't anticipated Beca's determination to reunite herself with her best friend by any means considerably possible. Trust and friendship among the other angels she came in contact with was extremely rare, frankly nonexistent. She relied on no one but herself to pull through day after day of impossible exercises and painfully lengthy lessons.

When came the end of training and everyone's human assignment, she had been appointed to station herself in Siberia to guard a local scientologist. Beca's nights of mostly fruitless planning finally came to fruition as she obdurately broke into the human-assignment database (with ease; the process had oddly reminded her of using Garage Band, only with thin hovering bronze bars and colored beads instead of on-screen controls. There had still been sound waves though) and changed, by hand, her human assignment to guard Chloe. While everyone had been in place to be dropped to earth, she had escaped unseen to the edge of the city to the closest region she could find in Chloe's vicinity. And now she was here. In this field. This freezing, wet, scary-ass field.

Beca wasn't even sure if she was in the right state. She didn't recognize anything about her location or surroundings and her plans had only come this far. She had simply assumed that somehow Chloe would find her shortly after her fall to earth, to welcome her into her home to nurture her back to health, and everything would return to the state it had been before all of this mess. Cursing herself for not planning ahead more, her anxiety began to spike and she forced herself to count as she breathed. Why had she thought that simply jumping out of heaven would be the best idea? She had no belongings, no clothes, nowhere to sleep, and worst of all,

no money.

She shakily stood and decided that the best thing to do right now would be to walk off the pins and needles in her legs and to scout out the area. She had also read somewhere that exercise stimulated the brain. Small steps Beca, small steps, She chanted to herself while she stretched her fingers and cracked her neck and back. As she checked her body for more serious injuries or broken bones, she realized that the clothes she was wearing were her own from the night she died (Left earth? How would someone describe this situation?) and she groaned in annoyance at her past-self. Why didn't you at least go out with style, moron? You planned your retirement to the most ridiculous detail but you couldn't even die in a flow-y white dress or something? She was still damp from the grass and she was only wearing socks, no shoes. Her outfit from training had been simple white overalls and a grey, soft knit sort-of sweater. Everyone wore a variation of the same outfit, plus one pair of shoes of their choice (Beca had picked red sweade pumas because she had seen Blake Lively wearing a pair once.) Now she was beginning to miss those shoes. The only reason, she thought, that would have made simply following the rules a better choice of actions.

As she trudged her way around the perimeter of the field, she searched for signs of life. She heard far-off cars and airplanes overhead and the path she had been walking was well-trodden and relatively flat. She spotted the glimmer of some distant lights, and decided that once she had relaxed her muscles and figured out some mode of transportation to get there, she would make her way in that direction. And then she thought better of it and realized that sleeping in one of the bushes would probably be safest. And easiest. With the least walking. And effort.

Wherever Chloe had gone, Beca followed. After a lot of convincing on Chloe's part, together they joined an all girls a capella group at their university, where they became properly close with other people for the first time in their lives besides each other. Chloe had stayed two extra years in college, telling everyone the reason was that she could not bare to leave the group, but really the majority of her motivation came from the wish to see Beca through her junior and senior year, and then graduate with her. Beca had often come to family gatherings and holidays with Chloe, and vice versa with to visit Beca's removed family, often in other parts of the world. Chloe often put on a show of flirting with Beca for laughs and it was a running joke to make euphemisms of any slip of the tongue that could possibly be taken out of context. Friends joked that they were so close anyone would guess they were married, and they would laugh it off or play along, jesting to boast engagement rings, or play fake surprise proposals.

But the matter of it was that Beca secretly abhorred these fake shows of tease, romance and marriage. Because ever since her first year of college, she'd had much deeper respect and care for Chloe. There was no need for her to ask or talk about the subject. Beca had known since the beginning of her feelings for her that Chloe would never feel the same way, and so she had absolved to ride it out until she simply did not feel anything other than close platonic intimacy for her. In spite of all her efforts, seven years later she felt exactly the same, if not stronger than before, and it was miserable.

Eventually Beca neared the halfway mark of her third lap. Her anxiety had dwindled little, though her legs were mostly returned to a more natural and pin-free state. She was still shivering from the cold, rubbing her arms and occasionally stamping her feet but achieving very little warmth from any of it. She had given up on her socks halfway through the first lap. I can't believe I went through years of stupid training and they didn't even teach us how to fly! Isn't that the whole point of angels? That they have wings?! She knew the answer to her own question but still resented it. It was true, only higher level angels like the guardian trainers and the traditional angels spoke of in Texts and human accounts had wings. You have to have gone through several experiences so great that those above everything granted you the power of flight and wisdom like that of Gabriel.

The deep and rather eerie quiet of the place was what she'd been strongly accustomed to since she'd woken up, so when someone behind her shouted loudly in her direction, she nearly sprinted into the bushes to her right. But she glanced behind her and saw the form of a woman waving and walking idly, and she was set at a tiny bit more ease and waved back apprehensively. Shit, Becs what're you gonna do now, you look like a maniac. Dude, you're not even wearing shoes. Just play it cool, act hostile and moody, the regular. It's probably too dark to even see my clothes anyway, right? She made a brief attempt to brush off some of the dirt and grass still on her clothes and ran her fingers through her hair a few times.

Rapid footsteps approached from behind her and suddenly the girl had caught up to walk alongside her. Beca sighed quietly in annoyance and scanned her mind for an explanation as to why she was out this late and wearing the bare minimum and no shoes in a 30°(F) field.

She turned to look at the girls face and had to promptly hold herself back from shouting or even remotely outwardly responding to what she saw. Even in the gloomy darkness, the shiny doe-eyed look of the girl next to her was painfully unmistakable. Beca had not planned or expected herself to react so violently as she did when she saw this face again.

"Hi." She controlled her voice to the best of her ability, but the lack of recognition in the girl's next statements and the sudden realization of her stupidity in mistakenly romanticizing and simplifying the entire situation around only her own desires was so painful that Beca doubted she could hold back tears. The sight of Chloe Beale after months, years, of grieving was just too much. She did try, but they simply came, silently streaming down her cheeks, one after the other.

"It's so chilly for this time of year, I don't usually even come here while on walks. The mist is so spooky!"

Beca realized it was her turn to speak. She saw Chloe turn to look at her from her peripheral view and realized it was to late to do anything about her tears so she struggled to keep her voice even as she replied.

"yeah. Super spooky."

[ididntwanttoshipit]

(Be)longing; 15/?

Ben Solo/Rey

SFW

Multi chapter fic; all chapters here

Feedback is appreciated greatly!

—

They hadn’t so much come up with a concrete plan as they had agreed on an objective and immediately set out for it.

She supposed it was one of the few things they had in common: neither had a lick of patience.

Using the key card to exit the cell was simple enough. They had already been able to sense the number of guards (twelve) immediately outside the door, so there was no surprise there. Rey threw herself at them in melee, while Ben hung back and flicked his wrist to toss aside any that got too close to her. He clenched his fist, and crushed the radio of one man attempting to raise the alarm.

The base was large, but not a labyrinth. There weren’t an abundance of shortcuts or offshoots for them to utilize.

“Ducts?” He asked as he pulled on the jacket of a Resistance fighter Rey had knocked unconscious. This would be their only chance to collect supplies before their journey.

“Can you really climb with that hole in your side?” Rey was unfastening the man’s holster.

“Don’t insult me,” he took the weapon from her hands and began to buckle it around his waist.

“Alright. But we’ve got to stop at my room first.”

Ben frowned as his eyes darted up to her. “What could be so important?”

Rey rolled her eyes. Made a swinging motion accompanied by a low hum.

“Oh. Right. That.”

“Right,” she extended her hand to him, and hauled him to his feet. She pretended not to notice his involuntary grunt of pain.

They were really doing this. She had really, properly just turned her back on these people.

And she found that she didn’t care.

The path to the dorms was sparsely populated, and the few they did encounter were easily avoided. Rey wondered why Poe had expected to be able to hold two Jedi against their will.

Once inside her dorm, she made a beeline for a small trunk next to her bunk. She snatched up a bag and tried to empty the trunk into it before Ben could see what she was doing.

“You…” Ben stepped toward her, mouth slightly agape, “…stole the ancient Jedi texts.”

Rey smiled tightly.

“Not really the best time,” she reminded him as she tossed the bag over her shoulder. She found another duffle style bag and threw it to Ben’s chest. He began filling it with basic supplies as he shook his head in disbelief.

She thought she detected a flicker of pride. Tried not to be too pleased with herself for it.

He coughed harshly into his hand, only to find it speckled with blood. Rey fought down her worry. Made sure to bring along her med kit.

She upended her mattress and retrieved what they had really come for. The saber that had been divided.

The saber they would make anew.

“There’s a vent here,” she indicated the ceiling above her dresser. With an unceremonious clatter, she mounted the object and unfastened the covering plate impeding their journey.

Ben had vigorously argued that their goal should be to secure the Falcon, but Rey knew it was too recognizable for the places they needed to hide. She also knew Chewie to sleep in the thing, and refused to draw him back into the middle of this. He had done enough. Ben tried not to be disappointed.

“That one,” they chorused while pointing to the same little ship as they observed the hangar from an upper vent. Rey smiled as she turned to him. She hadn’t known two people could be so in sync. He smirked.

She drew a deep breath. “Are we ready for this?”

Ben’s smirk grew into a full smile.

“Oh, I suppose.”

Rey was pretty sure she shouldn’t have been having fun.

The instant her toes made contact with the hangar deck, she sprinted to the cover of a pallet of supplies. Ben waited for her say-so to shuffle down the ladder, decidedly more slowly than she had. Rey found herself fighting for a lungful of air.

His hand was cupped around the hole in his side. Covered in fresh blood.

‘Go,’ he ordered as he made his way after her.

But something wasn’t right. She hadn’t sensed it in the rush of working at his side again. And he’d been too preoccupied with his injury to notice it either.

They were too close to escape with too little resistance.

'I sense it too,’ he whispered to her mind as he sidled up alongside her.

'I don’t sense any troops,’ she frowned as her eyes scanned the enormous hangar.

'Do you think they disabled the hyperdrive capable ships?’ He readied his pistol once his eyes landed back on their target. A tiny ship that belonged to a passing trader.

'That would take too long. It’s something else,’ it felt like an itch at the back of her mind that she couldn’t get her finger on. Panic bit at her the longer she tried to place it.

'Well then. I guess we’ll have a nice surprise,’ Ben bumped her shoulder to urge her on.

Inside, the ship was even smaller than expected - clearly only ever intended for a single occupant, in spite of its two pilot seats. But it had everything they needed; provisions, a bed, a fresher, and most importantly, a hyperdrive. Ben collapsed into one of the seats as soon as he was able, hand still clutching his side. He looked paler than he had in the infirmary, which was a feat in itself.

“Let’s go,” he pushed her concern aside again. Rey blew out the breath she’d been holding and went about figuring out the controls. Ben started the calculations for light speed.

She steered the ship out of the mouth of the hangar, panting now. The further they got, the greater her tension.

“It can’t be that easy,” he echoed her train of thought. Her jaw tightened.

“Are we ready for the jump?”

He nodded. Her fingers gripped the toggle, heart in her throat.

She realized too late the trap that had been laid for them.

[iruka-2013]

Fanfic: Winds of Change, Epilogue - Tough Love (11/11)

Summary: Book 3 AU in which Asami becomes an airbender and goes with Tenzin to the Northern Air Temple, while Kuvira joins Team Avatar. Approx. 70,000 words. (Based on this post by Ikkinthekitsune.)

Previous Chapters:

Prologue: New Airbender                Chapter 1: Thief

Chapter 2: Captain of the Guard     Chapter 3: Traitor

Chapter 4: Level Zero                      Chapter 5: Earthly Tethers

Chapter 6: The Crew                       Chapter 7: Red Lotus, Part 1

Chapter 8: Airbending Master          Chapter 9: Red Lotus, Part 2

Chapter 10: Voidbending                 My fanfiction master post

“You said you wouldn’t risk using the Avatar State to save your own life. But you used it to save mine. You risked the Avatar Cycle for me.”

 “Yeah… I guess I did.”

 Kuvira had been more reticent than usual after the fight at Laghima’s Peak. She and Tonraq had taken turns watching over Korra during the long flight to Republic City. When Korra woke with an ache in her chest and the coppery taste of blood trickling down her throat, she had often found Kuvira sitting by her bedside, arms folded and looking pensive. Only once had she been in the mood to talk.

 “So does that mean that you overvalue my life or that you undervalue your own?”

 Korra didn’t know what it meant—only that it had felt like the right thing to do. Still, Kuvira’s questions needled her during the weeks after the battle, as she underwent endless healing sessions for her broken back and damaged lungs, then struggled to learn how to walk again.

 Kuvira had wanted to stay and help with her long recovery on Air Temple Island. Once, hovering on the edge of consciousness, Korra had heard a whispered argument between Kuvira and Su.

 “Your place is in Zaofu, Kuvira. I need you there.”

“The Avatar needs me too—maybe more than you do.”

 “No. You’re the captain of the Security Force, not the Avatar’s keeper. To be honest, you’ve been arrogating too much authority to yourself lately. Come home with me now, or don’t come at all.”

 That note of discord had lingered disturbingly in her mind, though she couldn’t be sure it hadn’t been a dream.

 (Had she dreamed Asami’s visit? She remembered the details of it so vividly—the new white burn dressings on her friend’s arms, the smell of smoke that clung to her clothes, the odd-looking bandage beneath her eye. But Asami had never come back.)

 To everyone who met the Avatar in the weeks after her return, one thing was obvious: Korra’s body might have taken a horrific beating, but her spirit was as fierce as ever. The healers had their hands full managing her drive to get back on her feet as quickly as possible, and once she had fought her way out of the traction-bar bed and into a wheelchair, even the White Lotus had trouble keeping up with her.

 Air Temple Island was busier than ever before, with a constant trickle of new airbenders arriving. Even with the help of the White Lotus guards and the first cohort trained by Tenzin—the group that had been forged into a community by the ordeal at the Northern Air Temple—Jinora and her siblings had their hands full with housing the newcomers and introducing them to the Air Nomad culture. Bumi and Kya did what they could to help, though they were still recovering from their wounds, and Pema tried to mother them all. Though they seemed able to bear up, Korra could see the toll Tenzin’s injury was taking on his family; the master had woken a few days after the battle and was slowly recovering, but he was in no condition to resume the leadership or training of the Air Nation.

 One person who could have helped bring order to the chaos was missing. Of course, Asami would be busy helping to resettle some of the airbenders at the other three Air Temples to continue their training, or dealing with all the Future Industries business that had built up in her absence. After a few weeks, though, Korra couldn’t help noticing how persistently her questions about Asami’s whereabouts were being deflected by everyone from Jinora and the new airbenders to Mako and Bolin.

 Bolin. He’ll be the weak link.

 She cornered him in a front room on Air Temple Island one morning and grilled him relentlessly, until he cracked and wailed out the one thing Korra had never expected to hear.

 “She’s in prison, okay? She tried to kill Zaheer and Beifong locked her up for attempted murder and it could be for murder if he doesn’t pull through, which they’re still not sure he will, and Mako made me swear on Mom and Dad’s graves not to say anything until you were better, and now he’ll—”

 Korra shook her head in confusion. “Asami’s in prison for trying kill Zaheer? Why isn’t it the other way around?”

 “She did it after they captured him, when he was chained up in the hold of Su’s airship. Chief Beifong says she was acting really crazy—yelling stuff about how he was going to destroy the Air Nation and they had to let her finish him off before it was too late. She did some nasty airbending thing to his lungs, and now he can barely breathe.”

 “She did what?” Korra found herself unconsciously rubbing her chest. “I have to talk to her.”

Reluctantly, Bolin agreed to call the police station and arrange for Korra to visit. Chief Beifong, her lips pursed in displeasure, led her to a secluded cell on an upper floor that had a small observation window set into the wall. “Before I let you talk to her,” the chief said, “I want you to be ready for what you’re going to find.”

The room had the usual plain metal-frame bed, a single chair, and bare off-white cinderblock walls, worn and pitted. But the woman who sat huddled in the corner behind the bed was so changed that Korra had to study her for several seconds before she could believe it was Asami Sato.

 Beneath the ill-fitting prison jumpsuit, her hunched shoulders spoke of weariness and despair. Her dark hair hung lank over her face, exposing just enough to show the gauntness of her features and the purplish-black circles under her eyes. If not for the bandage on her face, she would have looked like a vengeful ghost from some old Fire Nation story.

 “What’s happened to her?” Korra threw her chair’s wheels backward. “I’m going in.”

 Beifong bent a quick tendril of metal around the chair’s spokes, earning a fiery glare from Korra.

 “Not so fast, Avatar. See those marks on the walls? None of those were there when we brought her in.” The chief pointed at one place where part of the stone had been broken away. “That one was left by the last officer who tried to get anywhere near Miss Sato. She’s not in her right mind, and she doesn’t want visitors.”

 “Sounds like she needs a healer, not a prison cell.” Korra bent the cable away.

 Beifong folded her arms. “She did try to murder Zaheer.”

 “So did I,” Korra snapped. “You gonna lock me up next? I said I’m going in there, so get out of my way!”

 The chief regarded her in silence. “All right,” she said finally. “But only for a few minutes. I’ll be watching in case anything goes wrong.”

 Once she was through the door, Korra’s brazenness melted into uncertainty. Asami gave no sign she had heard Korra enter. She continued to stare at nothing even when the Avatar wheeled herself within arm’s length.

 “Hey, Asami,” Korra said quietly. “It’s Korra.”

 Asami turned her head until Korra caught a glimpse of clear emerald green through the dark strands. She didn’t answer.

 “Look, I’m sorry I didn’t come sooner, but nobody would tell me where you were. I heard about what happened with Zaheer, but I want your side of the story. Talk to me.”

 Korra held her breath for half a dozen heartbeats. When her friend spoke, her voice was so quiet that Korra had to lean forward to the point of overbalancing to hear.

 “…spider-fly, caught in its own web… All one… ridiculous… bugs aren’t people, Tenzin…” Asami blinked and focused, and her eyes met Korra’s. “Bugs aren’t people… so why can I crush a person like a bug?”

 Suddenly Korra felt cold. “What are you talking about?”

 Asami stirred and stretched her legs out in front of her, resting her hands in her lap. She stared at the ceiling, and Korra could see the words organizing themselves behind her distant eyes. “Every nation has its own forbidden bending art. Like bloodbending. When the Red Lotus attacked I discovered something called voidbending. Killed two of them with it. Without even meaning to, I passed it on to Zaheer.” She closed her eyes. “He got one of Kuvira’s men and tried to kill you too.”

 “You mean that thing he did to my insides…” The reason I coughed up blood for a week after the fight…

 Asami nodded. She seemed more lucid now. “Tenzin said the old airbenders had a terrible punishment for voidbending. Zaheer showed me what it was.”

 She reached up and ripped the bandage from her face, turning her head to give Korra a good look at what lay underneath. Korra had given it little thought, except for wondering distantly why the wound hadn’t finished healing since she’d noticed it on the airship.

 Beneath the bandage, Korra saw not the half-healed cut or abrasion she had imagined, but an elaborate burn mark several inches square, a deeply gouged network of scar tissue forming the character for danger. Her best friend had been branded.

 “He said there was more to it,” Asami whispered into Korra’s dumbstruck silence. “I have no idea what. Airbenders don’t believe in capital punishment, and you can’t exile one, because they’re not supposed to have homes anyway…”

 “I knew,” Korra whispered. “I knew they’d done something… on the radio…”

 “Right. Giving the Avatar a show.” Asami’s smile was bitter. “Effective, wasn’t it?”

 Korra leaned forward and gripped her shoulder tightly. “I’m getting you out of here. You were just giving that bastard what he deserved. If you hadn’t beaten me to it, I’d—”

 Asami pushed her hand away. “You’re missing the point. I am dangerous—like a bloodbender. Like Zaheer. Using one of the forbidden arts changes you. If I go back to the Air Nation I’ll end up like those Red Lotus lunatics, ranting about chaos and the new world order.” She shivered, dropping her eyes and hunching her shoulders. “Tenzin had high hopes for me. He’d be so disappointed. But this is the safest place for me now.”

 Korra felt both her dismay and her temper rising. “Asami, it’s not like you to give up. Remember how enthusiastic you were when you started airbending? Remember the first time you went flying without an airplane?”

 “Stop it,” Asami snapped. “I failed, Korra. I couldn’t make it as a bender. I never understood the principles, I couldn’t master the discipline… Now I’ve put the entire Air Nation in danger, just like Tenzin warned.”

 Asami’s anger flared out, and she sighed, looking desperately tired. She held out her hands to Korra, palms up. “Avatars have taken away people’s bending before. Can’t you figure out how to do it again?”

 Korra saw Daw, his back pressed against Kyoshi Bridge, his hands extended toward her... Make it stop!

 She opened her mouth to repeat the old answer—I’m sorry, I can’t—then shut it again at the expression of misery on Asami’s face.

 For a long moment she was silent, her mind racing.

 “I do know one way,” she said finally. “It’s temporary.”

 Asami looked up, hope sparking in her eyes. “Anything.”

 “If you want, I can try to guide you into the Spirit World. Bending doesn’t work there. Jinora’s been helping me practice so I can go there myself when I need a break from this thing.” She thumped the arm of the wheelchair. “How’s your meditation?”

 Asami’s lips thinned into a determined line. “Good enough. Let’s try it.”

“Okay, but we can’t do it in this place.”

After some persuasion, Beifong agreed to release Asami temporarily, provided Korra accepted certain conditions. One of those was that Detective Mako would go with them to Air Temple Island. Asami would remain in police custody, but at least she would be among friends and out of the jail cell.

 Asami changed back into airbender clothes, but insisted on replacing the bandage over the brand on her face. Pema welcomed her home to the Air Temple with a pot of tea and a batch of meat dumplings (“If you don’t tell Tenzin, I won’t,” she said with a wink), that made Asami perk up for the first time; she had never been a vegetarian before the joining the Air Nation. But when Korra suggested that they look in on the master, Asami went pale and froze up. She wouldn’t go near Tenzin’s room.

 Taking the food and tea and leaving Mako in the dining area, they went to Korra’s room to meditate in privacy. Except for a few handrails and other devices the White Lotus guards had added to help Korra in and out of her chair, the furnishings were much as they had always been—a plain bed, desk, chair, and nightstand table with an underused bookshelf beneath. Asami looked around as if seeing the place for the first time.

 Korra decided to make an attempt at conversation. “Voidbending… dumb name, huh? Doesn’t make sense. Void means nothing, but the stuff in your lungs isn’t nothing—it’s just more air.”

 Right away Korra gave herself a mental kick for her choice of topics. Still, Asami picked up the thread.

 “The void isn’t a thing, it’s a place. An empty place, detached from everything. Cold and dark and lonely.” A breeze that seemed to have her as its source whipped through the room, sucking away any warmth. She hugged herself. “Voidbending is a perfect name.”

 She talked as if she had seen the void, as if she had gone there and returned with a piece of it inside her. For the first time, a tendril of doubt about the wisdom of bringing her here crept into Korra’s mind.

 She pushed it aside and cleared her throat. “Well, shall we get started? Don’t worry, meditating into the Spirit World isn’t as hard as everyone makes it out to be. All you have to do is—”

 “—ignore the fact that I have waking nightmares of Zaheer and the Red Lotus every time I close my eyes,” Asami said, dropping into the chair by Korra’s desk.

 Korra paused. “Yeah,” she said after a moment. “Me too.”

 She decided not to mention that last night’s dreams had been worse than usual, ending with Asami’s scream echoing in her head. She had woken yelling and swinging her fists at empty air, trying to punch that gloating smirk off Zaheer’s face.

 She lifted the tea tray into her lap and poured two cups, setting Asami’s on the nightstand. Asami stared out the window at Yue Bay, her lips moving soundlessly while one finger tapped an agitated rhythm on the side of her chair. Something in her friend’s eyes—a faraway, detached expression—triggered Korra’s memories of Zaheer standing over her, preparing to break her with her own staff.

 She’s not in her right mind.

 Korra lowered her eyes and sipped her tea.

 “You might be more comfortable sitting on the bed for this,” she suggested quietly. “Makes it easier to keep up proper meditation posture.”

 “There’s nothing wrong with my posture.”

 “I didn’t say there was,” said Korra, “but you don’t want to wake up on the floor because you started a little off balance.”

 Asami pursed her lips and moved to sit on Korra’s bed, folding her legs the way Tenzin had taught them both. She put her fists together as Korra was doing.

 Korra set down her cup. “Now, I want you to watch your breathing and focus on my voice,” she said, closing her eyes. Hearing her friend’s breath hitch, she opened them again.

 “I just thought of something,” Asami said. “What if he’s there—Zaheer? Doesn’t he spend a lot of time in the Spirit World?”

 “That’s impossible,” said Korra. “He’s in a coma, and you have to be conscious to project your mind into the Spirit World.”

 “Impossible things are Zaheer’s specialty. There may be a lot we don’t know about what he can do.”

 Korra frowned. “I don’t think you’re afraid of Zaheer. What else is wrong? You seem��� angry.”

 When Asami glared at the floor and didn’t answer, Korra tried again. “Listen, the past few weeks haven’t been a picnic for any of us. But I’m here to help you, so let’s keep going.”

 Asami looked up, her jaw set. “Who said I needed help? If I’d wanted out of jail, I could’ve paid my own bail fifty times over, or airblasted a hole in the wall.”

 Her elbow knocked over her teacup as she stood up, spilling its contents across the desk. She crossed the room to tower over Korra. “What reason did you have to interfere? What reason do you ever have?”

 Asami’s hands twitched unconsciously into the series of airbending moves Zaheer had done on Laghima’s Peak. Korra’s tendril of doubt had swelled into a great thick Spirit vine. Realization struck her, and she knew what was wrong.

 I have to end this.

 Korra’s fist whipped through the air and connected solidly with Asami’s jaw. Asami tottered for a moment, an expression of cross-eyed surprise on her face, before collapsing to the floor, unconscious.

 Korra breathed heavily. She shook out her throbbing hand.

 Chief Beifong’s second condition for releasing Asami had been for Korra’s ears alone. While Mako completed the necessary paperwork and Asami changed clothes, Beifong had crouched next to Korra’s wheelchair, slipped a pair of police handcuffs into her hand, and murmured, “Consider yourself deputized.”

 Korra had shot her a glare. “I already told you—”

 “Yeah, I know—best friend, absolute trust, yadda yadda.” The chief’s eyes had been serious with a tinge of skepticism. “Humor me, kid. I’ve seen a lot more of her than you have these past few weeks.”

 Maybe Asami should have been given more time to work things out behind bars, on her own. It was too late to reverse that decision, but if the Spirit World journey worked the way Korra hoped it would, Beifong would never have to learn how right she’d been.

 She didn’t have much time. She levered herself out of the wheelchair and onto the floor, landing on her useless legs with a thump and tumbling to the floor. She pushed herself up and took the cuffs from her pocket.

 Her partial paralysis meant that she had to rely solely on upper body strength in order to move, so it took several minutes of hard work to drag Asami’s limp body next to the nightstand. Propping her back against one corner of the table, Korra pulled her friend’s hands behind its heavy wooden leg and cuffed them there.

 She paused to catch her breath. Given time, Asami might be able to shift the table and even gain enough leverage to break it apart, but her awkward position would also cause her pain from the moment she woke up. No getting around that.

 Korra dragged herself back to her chair and hauled herself into its seat. As soon as she was comfortably settled, a flick of her hand sent the spilled tea splashing into Asami’s face.

 Asami gasped, spluttered, and opened her eyes. She tried to move, then stopped, teeth clenched, as the cuffs bit into her wrists and the bruise forming on her jaw made itself felt. Her eyes slid up to meet Korra’s.

 “All right. I might have deserved that,” she said after a moment.

 “Might have?” Korra snorted. “The way you were behaving, knocking you out and handcuffing you were acts of mercy. Did you know you have a glass jaw?”  

 “No. Surprisingly, considering how much time I spend around you, I’ve never been punched in the face before.”

 Korra shrugged. “Something to keep in mind. That, and I’m pretty sure you were trying to voidbend me.”

 Asami breathed deeply and dropped her eyes. “Okay. I’m sorry, and I’m back in control. So you can uncuff me now.” Asami shifted her back against the table leg, trying in vain to find a less uncomfortable position. “Please.”

 “Sorry.” Korra resumed sipping her tea. “I got those cuffs from Beifong, and she has the keys.”  

 Asami groaned. “So much for visiting the Spirit World.”

 “Oh, we’re still visiting the Spirit World. We just need to straighten out a couple of things first.” Korra set her teacup aside, picked up a meat dumpling, and bit off half, talking with her mouth full. “You can’t bring anger issues into the Spirit World. Your emotional state affects your reality there, and I don’t want any trouble with Dark Spirits while we don’t have our bending.”

 “I’m not angry. Besides, I told you I can handle my issues myself if you’ll just leave me alone.”

 “No you can’t, because it’s about me. I’m the one you’re angry with.”

 Asami flinched. “That makes no sense!” she snapped.

 “It makes a ton of sense. You’re angry with me, and you’re beating yourself up for it. Perfect way to give yourself a chakra block.”

 Asami seemed to deflate. “But none of my problems are your fault. You almost died saving me.”

 “Zaheer never would have gotten airbending if I hadn’t opened the Portals and let Harmonic Convergence happen. The Red Lotus came after you to get to me. In a way, all of this is my fault.”

 “No,” Asami whispered. She squeezed her eyes shut and her breath caught in a sob. One tear escaped and slipped down her cheek, disappearing into the bandage. It was followed by others as the floodgates finally opened.

 Korra sat back in her chair, exhaling slowly, and washed down the last of her meat dumplings with a gulp of tea. Having polished off her own plate, she began working on Asami’s.

 After several minutes of quiet weeping, Asami spoke. “It’s not all you. It’s everything. We took down the Red Lotus, but we can’t fix the damage they did—Tenzin crippled, the Northern Air Temple and all its history destroyed, the Air Nation thrown into confusion—and you…”

 “Us. They did a number on both of us, didn’t they?”

 Asami looked up, still sniffling. “How’d you guess what my problem was, when I didn’t know myself?”

 Korra shrugged. “Being angry with yourself for being angry with a friend is your kind of problem—and I mean that in a good way. Besides, I am a pretty wise Avatar. Ready to try again?” She moved one hand, and Asami’s restraints dropped away and clattered against the bookshelf beneath the nightstand.

 Asami nearly toppled onto her face before she recovered her balance. She looked blankly at Korra, who gave her a lopsided grin.

 “I don’t need the keys. Did you forget I’m a metalbender?”

 A red flush crept up Asami’s face. “No jury would convict me if I tried to voidbend you right now,” she muttered, examining the chafed skin on her wrists.

 “I could see you needed some cooldown time. You’re welcome. Now, let’s do this.”

They opened their eyes to a flat, green landscape of tall leaf-trees and colorful butterflowers (flowerflies?) that looked very familiar. If Korra hadn’t been used to the tricks of the Spirit World, she would have shivered at the memory of her disastrous first visit to this place.

 Asami turned in a slow circle, her mouth open in wonder. “I’ve always wanted to see what the Spirit World was like. It’s incredible.”

 She faced the Avatar, and the girls regarded each other in silence—Korra standing on spirit-body legs, Asami’s beautiful face restored to perfection.

 Korra folded her arms and shrugged one shoulder. “Go on and try it. Try to imagine what it would be like to wake up one morning and be a nonbender again—no more airbending, ever.”

 Asami breathed deeply, shifted her feet into an airbending stance, and threw a punch. Nothing happened.

 Mouth hardening, she tried again. She began working through one of Tenzin’s basic practice routines, her speed and agitation increasing as she moved. When she reached the end she stopped, breathing hard, her expression changed to one of grief.

 “I always thought Amon’s victims must have been exaggerating how bad it was to lose their bending—Tahno, Zolt… even you, because you still had your airbending.” She met Korra’s eyes. “It’s not like before I was a bender. Feeling that elemental connection disappear—it’s terrifying, like having part of myself ripped away. It must have been so much worse for you.”

 Korra’s mouth went dry as she thought back to the time after Amon. “I… yeah.”

 “It’s a miracle you didn’t jump off that cliff.” Asami stepped forward and wrapped Korra in a hug. “Thank you.”

 Korra returned the embrace, though she was unsure whether Asami was thanking her for the spirit journey or for not jumping off the cliff. While she waited for Asami to regain her composure, she sensed movement from the nearby dirt and looked down.

 A Spirit meerkat had popped out of a hole by their feet. The creature sniffed at Korra’s boots, then straightened and glared at the girls, paws on hips. “Pfft. Get a room, Avatar.”

 She aimed a kick at its head, and it vanished into its burrow.

 “What was that?” Asami asked, letting go of Korra and peering down at the hole.

 “Just an old friend,” said Korra. “So, about your bending…?”

 Asami sighed. “I understand now. Even if you could make me a non-bender again, it wouldn’t be the same. Tenzin was right. I have to accept my airbending, the good and the bad.”

 “So you’re ready to go back?”

 Asami took a deep breath. “Yes.”

 “Right. Here we go.”

 Returning to one’s body after a Spirit World journey was always more jarring than leaving it. Korra’s head jerked upright as she heard Asami gasp like a fish netted and dragged from the water. She relaxed when she saw her friend’s balance was good, her body in no danger of toppling off the bed.

 Asami steadied her breathing and stood up stiffly. She noticed her empty plate, and a pained expression that had nothing to do with her injuries crossed her face.

 Sighing, she looked at Korra. “I know what I have to do now. I didn’t invent voidbending, but maybe I can stop it from spreading. You won’t like what I have in mind, but I’m going to need your help, Korra.”

 “You’ve got it.” Korra wheeled closer and squeezed her arm. “I’ll support whatever course you decide to take.”

 “That’s good.” Asami stretched out her arms and combed one hand through her luxurious black hair. “For starters, I think it’s time I shaved my head like a real airbender.”

 Korra’s smile froze. She felt an eyebrow twitch. “Uh…”

 “Hey, I’ve got a great idea. Why don’t you show your support by joining me? You can even choose whether we go completely bald or try the ‘Avatar Yangchen tonsure’ look.”

 “Um…” Both of those mental images were about to join Zaheer in Korra’s nightmares.

 She was considering the most tactful way to slap a few conditions on her unconditional promise of support when Asami broke into a grin and punched her arm. “I’m kidding, of course. Payback for handcuffing me to a table and eating my food.”

 Korra’s heart started beating again. “Oh. Thank the… I mean, of course you were kidding. Right. Yeah, I knew that.”

 While Asami gathered up the tea set, Korra tried to be unobtrusive about wiping the sweat from her forehead. 

Before long, Korra wished Asami had stuck with the idea of head-shaving.

 She had removed the bandage and kept it off, and when the two girls and Mako entered the office at Future Industries headquarters that had once been Hiroshi’s, the employees tried in vain not to stare at their boss’s face. Ignoring their disturbed looks, Asami scribbled a phone number on a notepad and handed it to the man she’d left in charge in her absence.

 “Yao, I want you to call this number and ask for Varrick. Tell him I’m about to offer him the deal of a lifetime.”

 As the man hurried off, Mako stared at Asami. “The police have been trying to corner Varrick for months. How do you know how to contact him?”

 Asami was already seated behind her desk, scribbling memos. “He contacted me. On my second day in jail I found a note baked into the manju they served with lunch. It had Varrick’s name, a phone number, and a P.S. that said ‘Eat this note.’”

 “Where is it? Did you keep it?” Mako glanced around the room.

 “I ate it. It was the best thing on the plate. More flavor than the noodles, less chewy than the chicken-pig rolls…”

 Mako grimaced and held up his hands. “Okay, I get it. I’ll talk to Beifong about the food.”

 “You might also want to talk to Beifong about talking to Raiko about getting Varrick a pardon. He is about to be a pillar of Republic City business and industry again, after all.” Mako scowled at that, but said nothing more.

 The flow of people in and out of the office increased over the next hour, and Korra found herself examining the features of every business-suited man or woman who strode through the door, watching for Varrick or Zhu Li in disguise. It wouldn’t surprise her to learn that the two of them had been camping out in a Future Industries broom closet, waiting for this day.

 At one point, Asami’s lawyer walked in with a leatherbound document case and went straight to Mako. “Mr. Mako? Sign here, please.”

 Mako looked nonplussed, but did as instructed. The man bowed and left without another word.

 Mako turned to Asami, “What was that about?”

 “Deed transfer,” Asami said absently. “You’re now the legal owner of the Sato estate. I hear you have some Earth Kingdom relatives who need a place to stay.”

 Mako looked dumbfounded. Korra wondered how Hiroshi would feel—when and if he heard the news—about his daughter giving away the Sato mansion to a family of refugees from the Lower Ring of Ba Sing Se. She understood just enough about finance to grasp that Asami was liquidating the entire Sato inheritance with unbelievable speed.  

 “Should we stop her?” she hissed to Mako.

 “How?” Mako hissed back.

 Short of punching her lights out again, Korra wasn’t sure. Talking to her might help.

 She wheeled closer to the paper-covered desk. “Asami, are you sure all this is a good idea? Shouldn’t you at least think about it for a few days?”

 Asami looked up from her writing. “If I want to protect the Air Nation, there’s no time to waste. Besides, are you suggesting I can’t do as I please with my own worldly possessions?”

 “That’s not what I meant. It’s just that you’re making it hard for me to keep a straight face when I tell Beifong you’re still sane. How is this helping the Air Nation?”

 “I’m getting rid of encumbrances. Freeing myself to worry about bigger things.”    

 Encumbrances? Korra exchanged frowns with Mako. To Asami, Future Industries had always been my company, or even all I have left of my family.

 Varrick failed to emerge from the woodwork before Asami finished her work that day. At least, Korra hadn’t seen him emerge, though the next morning every newspaper in the city carried stories about the impending sale of Future Industries to a “soon-to-be-revealed mystery client.” While she was hardly business-savvy, she felt like she should have noticed the business deal of the century being pulled off right under her nose.

 The three of them returned to the police station and checked in with Beifong, who raised an eyebrow over Asami’s business dealings and frowned at Mako’s red-faced revelation about her gift.

 “First of all, congratulations,” Beifong said flatly. “Secondly, due to an obvious conflict of interest, you’re done supervising Miss Sato. She gave you a mansion, detective? And you let her?”

 Mako’s face turned a deeper shade of red. “Chief, I…”

 “The question is,” Korra interrupted, “what happens to her now?” She glanced at Asami, who was staring out Beifong’s office window at a passing lizard-crow. Her eyes had that detached expression again. “I still think it’s messed up that Asami’s the one who’s in trouble when Zaheer’s the real bad guy.”

 Beifong gave her a hard look. “Zaheer died this morning, Korra.”

 Asami turned with a look of shock. Korra reined in her first impulse, which was to respond, Good!

 “What are you going to do now?” she asked. “Charge her with murder?”

 Beifong sighed. “If we wanted to charge her, we would have done it sooner. There are political factors in play.”

 “Like what?”

 “Like your poll numbers, Avatar. They’ve gone through the roof since you left to rebuild the Air Nation. People remember how hard Aang worked to build Air Temple Island as a center of airbender culture, and they love an underdog—or a nation of them. Putting a new airbender who is also a citizen of Republic City and a friend of yours on trial for what most people would see as a justified revenge killing…” She shook her head. “Let’s just say Raiko has been looking for any excuse to delay moving the case forward. At least as long as his poll numbers keep dropping.”

 “What’s your jurisdiction over this so-called crime, anyway? Didn’t it happen on Su’s airship?” With a pang she realized that Kuvira, like everyone else, had kept the knowledge of Asami’s actions from her.

 “You’re right. Kuvira could have asked to have Miss Sato extradited to Zaofu, but Su has enough on her plate without adding a criminal trial. Because the Air Nation barely exists as a legal entity, no one is really equipped to deal with the trial of a new airbender.”

 “Korra is,” said Asami.

 “She’s right,” said Mako after a moment. Beifong glared at him, but he pressed on. “Think about it. Who kept Zaheer locked up for all those years? The Order of the White Lotus. Because they exist to serve the Avatar, they can use the Avatar’s prestige to deal with governments and criminals from anywhere in the world.”

 Asami stared at her hands. “We’re setting a precedent for an entire new nation. Only the Avatar has the moral authority to hand down judgement in a case this serious.”

 Beifong looked ready to protest, but Korra held up a hand to stop her. “You’re saying you want me to put you on trial?” she asked. “No jury?”

 “An airbender jury? They’d just declare me innocent and let me go.”

 Korra exhaled. “Call me stupid, Asami, but I’m not seeing the downside to that.”

 “I heard Kai talk about my fighting skills after the battle, and he seemed to like the idea of voidbending. If the other airbenders feel the same way, they’ll try to set me up as a leader alongside Jinora and Tenzin. Beifong knows what I’m talking about.” She waved a hand at the police chief, who folded her arms but didn’t deny Asami’s words.

 “I can’t let that happen. We have to make them understand that a forbidden art is a terrible thing.” Asami looked her in the eye. “I don’t need a trial, Korra. Just a sentencing.”

 “A sentencing to what, exactly?”

 “I’ve asked Jinora to research some ancient airbender customs. Maybe she’ll come up with something we can adapt.”

 “Okay, okay.” Korra could feel the beginnings of a headache as she rubbed her hands over her face. “Before I do anything, I want you to do something for me. Talk to Tenzin about this.”

 For the first time, the determination in Asami’s expression gave way to fear. 

All the way back to Air Temple Island, Asami fought to keep her nervousness about facing Tenzin in check. She knew he was anxious to talk to her, but his health was still in a delicate state, his strength easily exhausted. It didn’t help that Beifong had insisted on coming with them.

 They entered Tenzin’s room to find another visitor already there, taking a teapot from a tray held by a White Lotus guard. The visitor’s face was unmistakable; she was meeting one of her childhood heroes, the man who had redeemed the honor of the Fire Nation.

 “Fire Lord Zuko,” she whispered.

 “Retired Fire Lord,” he said, rising and bowing deeply. “You must be Asami Sato, first of the new airbenders. Tenzin has told me a great deal about you.”

 A needle of ice pierced Asami’s heart. What would Tenzin have told him?

 She looked at her master, who seemed to have aged twenty years since they had fought together at the Northern Air Temple. He sat at the small table near the foot of his bed, resting one arm next to his own teacup, his eyes unfocused and his face still showing faintly the marks of the fight.

 He met her eyes and smiled weakly. “Asami.”

 Asami hesitated, then clasped her hands and bowed to him. “Master Tenzin.”

 Tenzin’s smile faded. He sighed, waving her, Mako and Beifong into seats on the bed and around the table. The little room had gotten very crowded.

 “I know why you’re here. Jinora filled me in on what happened to the Air Temple… and to you. For trying to defend our home and the Air Nation, you were tortured and almost killed. I’m so sorry, Asami.”

 Asami clamped down on the urge to brush her fingers over her scar; that gesture was already developing into a nervous habit. “It doesn’t matter. The future is more important. I—”

 “It sure is,” Korra interrupted. “Which is why I think you’ve let too much of Zaheer’s nonsense about chaos get stuck in your head. You’re the last person I’d peg as a danger to the Air Nation, Asami. They need you. Besides, if air is the element of freedom, shouldn’t you a little more determined to hang onto it?”

 Asami met her eyes. “You had a good reason for giving up yours, and my reason is the same. I can’t stand by and see the Air Nation destroyed.”

 “Even if the Air Nation is in danger of turning down the wrong path, there has to be some way to fix this without punishing you just for helping to save my life.”

 Asami pounded her fist on the arm of her chair. “You’re still not getting it. Why I did it doesn’t matter—it still went against every airbender principle. Imagine what Kai and the others will think if they see there are no consequences for my using a forbidden art! Actually, you don’t need to imagine, because they’re already thinking it!” She looked at Beifong. “Tell them about the petition.”

 Beifong folded her arms, looking unhappy. “Last week some of the airbenders sent Raiko a petition to have Miss Sato pardoned on the grounds that her knowledge of voidbending is vital to the survival of the Air Nation. Given his reluctance to put her on trial at all, he’s actually considering it.”

 “You see? Voidbending is powerful, but it’s not the kind of power the Air Nation needs. It would destroy us as quickly as our enemies.” Asami sighed and tried another tack. “Korra, think of a time when you were tempted to kill with your bending in a way you knew you’d regret later. How would you be different if you’d actually done it?”

 Korra sat back in her wheelchair, frowning. “That night in Tarrlok’s office… If he hadn’t gotten me with bloodbending first, I’d have burned him to death.” She looked at Asami with new understanding. “Nobody stopped you in time. Zaheer was probably egging you on. Is that what you want me to do—stop you?”

 “Before I end up finishing Zaheer’s job for him,” Asami said quietly. “Any of it.” She laced her fingers together tightly in her lap, remembering how Zaheer’s last act had been to pass on to her the secret of destroying the Avatar. Any airbender could free this world.

 During the long moment of silence, she could see the dawning realization in Korra’s eyes. The flash of insight clearly made her feel sick.

 Asami looked away and closed her eyes. “Air is the deadliest element. I have to achieve better control if I’m going to use it responsibly, and to do that I need your help. You can see I’m trying to do what’s right, can’t you?”

 They were both surprised to hear a chuckle from Lord Zuko that grew into a deep, full-throated laugh. Even Tenzin looked startled by the sound.

 The former Fire Lord spoke to Korra. “It’s maddening, isn’t it, when they attack you with airbender morality as if it were a sledgehammer and you were a railroad spike to be driven? And you, Miss Sato…” He turned to Asami, shaking his head in wonder. “Is it true what Tenzin tells me—that you believe you’re a failed bender and your airbending a cosmic fluke? Why, if I closed my eyes I’d think I was listening to my old friend Aang himself!”

 He wiped at his face with one sleeve before going on. “I’m sorry to have startled you. It’s been such a long time. Let me say this: Airbender laws, customs, stories, and skills—these may be learned, through years of effort, from the ancient texts or a good master. But an airbender’s conscience… that is much more difficult to come by. Without that, no new Air Nation will stand for long. You have it in spades, Miss Sato, and for that reason alone your Avatar would be wise to listen to you.”

 He raised an eyebrow at Korra. “And for what it’s worth, Avatar Korra, I think your friend is right about one other thing. With undiscovered airbenders scattered across the Four Nations, you are vastly underestimating the danger of loosing voidbending on an unsuspecting world. If Miss Sato is willing to give up her freedom to contain that danger, I advise you not to throw the chance away.”

 “The ancient airbenders talked about the principles of pacifism,” Tenzin said thoughtfully, “but they knew that something more important was at stake. It’s about… well…” He paused.

 “It’s about what using that power does to you inside,” Asami whispered.

 Lord Zuko’s gaze was far away as he sipped his tea. “I know what you mean. You’re trying to make the turn I was forced to make many years ago. Who are you,” he whispered, “and what do you want?”

 “The Air Nation will have to make some changes,” said Tenzin. “I had hoped to inculcate pacifism in the same gradual, gentle way my father taught it to me, but I think it’s obvious that we need to make our principles clearer. From now on, new airbenders who wish to join us will be required to swear an oath of nonviolence.” He raised one eyebrow at Asami. “Would you care to be the first?”

 Asami ventured a half-smile in reply. 

 I don’t need a trial. Just a sentencing.

A sentencing to what?

 Korra gave Asami a long, searching look. She knew of only one person in the world who was prepared to attempt the confinement of a dangerous airbender criminal.

 She turned to Howl, who stood in one corner of the small room. “What was Ataneq’s plan for dealing with Zaheer if he’d recovered?”

 The guard unconsciously stood up straighter, tucking the empty tea tray under one arm. “There’s a cave beneath the mountains east of the city, Avatar. The Grand Lotus had workers preparing a chamber deep underground and installing a secure elevator to reach it. Since Zaheer had learned to fly, we’d have had to keep him chained up constantly.”

 Asami was listening, and her face had gone ashen. Korra shook her head. “Underground is no good. What about the place where you kept him before—the one he escaped from?”

 “Mount Tu-Min? It’s still there—and still functional, unlike some of the other Red Lotus prisons.”

 “Have you seen it? What’s it like?”

 “I’ve pulled a few shifts there over the years.” Howl scratched his cheek, remembering. “It’s a pointy one-room building made of metal, sitting on top of a rocky pillar—small, isolated, and high up. Very bare inside, but there are some nice ancient airbender carvings on the floor.”

 “Airbender carvings?”

 Howl shrugged. “That’s what Grand Lotus Ataneq thinks. He guesses the structure was built centuries ago as an Air Nomad meditation retreat. Until the Order discovered it and added the extendable bridge and the earthbending door, only an airbender could have used it.”

 Korra glanced back at Asami, who actually looked… well, interested.

 She nodded to Howl. “Tell Ataneq to get it ready to be lived in, and to throw out the rulebook on Zaheer. This time I’m writing the directions myself.

 “And get the other guards together. We’re having a sentencing.”

Sometime around sunset two days later, Asami woke with a terrified start and a gasp of stale air.

 For weeks, her sleep had been filled with nightmares distilled from her darkest memories of the battle with the Red Lotus and its aftermath—Ghazan’s bloody grin as he darted forward to grab her, P’Li’s third-eye tattoo blazing in the lurid glow of a branding iron, Zaheer’s insanely reasonable voice trying to seduce her with the prospect of chaos and human destruction. She could only remember her home Temple as she had last seen it—ruined, desecrated, and finally destroyed by the invaders.

 Swallowed by the void.

 Part of her still couldn’t believe that she had survived the ordeal, that she was safe.

 Right, she thought ruefully, raising her head from the table, in the process rattling the chain that led from her cuffed hands down to her manacled feet. Safe.

 The ironic thing was that Asami did feel safer now—in White Lotus custody, on her way to Mount Tu-Min Prison—than at almost any time since Ghazan had burst into the Temple sanctuary. While the limited air supply she got through the firebender muzzle made her feel lightheaded, it wasn’t too bad as long as she stayed still. Staying still was encouraged by her right foot being locked to the leg of her metal chair, which was bolted to the deck of the airship.

 Yes, she was a prisoner, but she knew that the female White Lotus captain who had been standing at attention behind her chair for the past two hours was not going to threaten, beat, or torture her. The guards were keeping her restrained, as they would any convict being transported (or at least any firebender, though the trip was being considered a dry run for airbenders who might try to freeze off their handcuffs with the Breath of Ice). But none of the White Lotus could have forgotten how their boss, the Avatar, had threatened in extremely colorful language to roast their livers on sticks over a Glacier Spirits Festival bonfire if they let anything worse than being chained up happen to Asami while she was in their charge.

 If anything, the guards were being a little too solicitous toward her. Now the captain stepped around her chair and leaned down with a concerned expression. “Miss Sato, are you all right? Is there anything I can get you? A pillow, some warm lychee juice… It’s almost oh-six-hundred—I could fudge your meal schedule by a few minutes and give you an early break from the muzzle.”

 Asami shook her head. “Just another nightmare. I’m fine, and I don’t want you fudging anything for me.”

 “As you wish.” Frowning, the captain resumed her post.

 In a way, Asami was glad to be away from the legal tangle and media circus that had attended her sentencing for the new crime of voidbending. She knew that Kai and a few of the others had expected, after her release from the Republic City Jail, that she would actually start passing on her voidbending skills. The look of shock on Kai’s face when she’d instead been brought before the assembled Air Nation in shackles, then sentenced by the Avatar to an indefinite stint in the same prison that had once held Zaheer, was seared into her memory.

 Shocking, yes. But they have to understand.

 Even Korra had finally understood, though she hadn’t liked Asami’s solution. 

Before they had faced the Air Nation, she’d grumbled at the guards who were chaining up her best friend until Asami had said, “You know this isn’t their fault. Who are you really angry at?”

 “You,” Korra had snapped, “for badgermoling me into going along with this.”

 Asami had given her a humorless smile. “Well, at least you can admit it.”

 “Lord Zuko was right. Airbender conscience is a huge pain in the butt.” Then Korra had sighed, the anger melting out of her expression and leaving only the hurt. “It’s just… you have to get better. And you have to come back.”

 “Yeah. I will.”

Now the Avatar and the others were left with the job of turning one small group of airbenders into the core of a nation that could establish its own laws and restrictions on its own forbidden bending arts, set its own requirements for new members, and decide the course of its own future.

 As Howl had said, Mount Tu-Min Prison consisted of a single cell of gray metal atop a narrow stone butte. It was not quite dark when the airship arrived at the landing pad on the opposite side of a deep gorge. As the moving bridge carried the four of them across, high-altitude winds lashed the guards’ capes and rattled Asami’s chains.

 The guards guided her off the bridge and opened the heavy stone door and barred entryway to an octagonal chamber. The room had several narrow slits to serve as windows and a low wooden bed on one side, made up with a single blanket tucked over a mattress.

 Once they were inside, the captain unfastened Asami’s muzzle, then took out a key and unlocked her chains. Slinging them over her shoulder, she returned the key to its belt pouch and walked past Asami and out of the cell. Asami stepped forward, into the center of the eight-sided trigram carved into the floor.

 She hadn’t known what feelings to expect upon seeing this place for herself. The White Lotus had removed all trace of Zaheer, and she was left with a sense that this sanctuary was much, much older than its former occupant. For the first time, she felt an inkling of what Jinora was always saying about some places having a stronger connection to the ancient airbenders than others.

 The bars clanged shut behind her, though the outer door remained open. The two guards took up positions on either side of the entryway, while the captain stepped back onto the bridge and began the long journey back to the White Lotus airbase.

 Crossing to the bed, Asami dragged the mattress and blanket onto the floor and lay down on the bare wood. The exhaustion and sleeplessness of the past few days hit her all at once, and in a few moments she slept.

 For the first time in weeks, there were no dreams.

Prissy, beautiful, elegant rich girl.

 Maybe a little less beautiful now, at least on the outside. The rest had always been skin-deep, or not true at all.

 “I have an idea,” Korra said to Jinora, who was working with Opal—an airbender under each arm—to lift Korra from her wheelchair into her bed for the night. “The healers say it might take a year or more. But when I get back on my feet, would you two come with me to the Spirit Oasis at the North Pole?

 “I’ve got a friend who could use a little Spirit water action.”  

[THE END]

A/N: It’s taken two and half years, but I’ve finally fulfilled my vision for this story and hit every point in the post that was its origin. (Without which I never would have started--so thanks, Ikkin! ^_^) 

In line with my chronologically-messed-up writing style, the later scenes in this chapter and the previous one are some of the oldest in the story. The final scene itself is completely new and a bit impulsive, but given the “canon” ending of Book 3, I decided it was not inappropriate to end with a teaser for what could be coming, when and if I write it (although the interlude stories are becoming so developed in my mind that it would be a shame not to...). 

Again, I want to thank everyone who kept me going with likes and reblogs and feedback of all kinds. (If you’re as interested in “writing process” stuff as I am, check out my Fanfic responses tag for some of that.)

[rainbowwritesthings]

Warmth

Boruto has only recently learned how to heal others. Mitsuki loves being healed.

Link on A03---------------http://archiveofourown.org/works/10936143/chapters/24330777

Mitsuki had never made his feelings towards Boruto a secret, after all said male was his sun therefore his devotion was warranted, and as time passed his feelings only deepened.

This had never been a problem for either of them until Mitsuki got careless. The mission had been a simple one, follow the criminals to the hiding place then attack if it could be handled alone or call in for backup.

However, the base was much farther than anyone had anticipated, and the initial estimate for how many occupied said base was drastically lower that the reality. Even then it wasn’t cause for concern, between the three of them, the petty thieves who were pretending to be ninja were no match.  

As such Mitsuki let his eyes roam the scene, spotting Sarada dislocating one man’s jaw before throwing him at person behind him told him that she would be alright on her own. It took little time after that to find the blond as he weaved through trees, showing off as Sarada scolded the boy for being so reckless.

He couldn’t help but stare when he saw the look of determined mixed with playfulness that graced the blonde’s face, and the small smirk he wore had Mitsuki entranced. His observations were stopped when a kunai became lodged into his shoulder, the dim sensation of pain had him refocus on the battle.

Pulling the weapon out he threw it into the man’s leg and jumped up into a nearby tree where he was immediately joined by an irritated Sarada. “Mitsuki, stop staring and- what happened to your arm?!” She couldn’t help but raise her voice in surprise when she saw blood blooming across his shirt, originally she had come over to make him stop ogling at Boruto.

However, at seeing the injury she mentally scolded herself for not keeping better track of her teammates, instantly she looked for the other member to make sure he was fairing alright on his own. Feeling a that he was being stared at Boruto sent out two shadow clones to distract the men while he joined the others.

“What happened to you?!” Mitsuki smiled calmly at blonde as he so often did, “well it appears I’ve been stabbed.” Both Sarada and Boruto stared at him before Sarada closed her eyes and breathed in deeply, “I’m going to finish the mission, Boruto if you would be so kind as to heal our teammate.”

At any other time Boruto might have felt bad for whoever was at the mercy of Sarada’s fists, for now all that filled his mind was the crimson that was staining the light blue cloth. Tugging the cloth away he ignored the golden eyes fixed on him and instead focused on the actual wound, it wasn’t too deep and if he healed it properly then Mitsuki might not even have to go hospital after this.

“Hold still, this might feel weird.” Gathering up his chakra he placed his hands slightly over the wound, the healing chakra wobbled slightly before mending the tissue and muscle, before finally fixing the skin. Mitsuki had been healed only one other time by Boruto, and was to injured to focus on anything other than the faint voice he had come to cherish telling him to hold on.

Now however he could see how Boruto’s face was screwed up in concentration, how his posture was tense as if in an invisible standoff, and most of all he noticed his eyes. Eyes that always held any mixture of emotion, were now trained solely on him in a way that made his heart squeeze in his chest.

The healing itself was normal enough, the usual tingling and itchiness from having your body forced to knit itself together was nothing new to Mitsuki, however the warmth was entirely new. It was calm and soothing, drowning out the usual sensations that healing brought, yet warm like the steady rays of the afternoon sun.

It was a sensation that only Boruto would be able to produce, yet all too soon the warmth faded and Boruto pulled away with a smile, “all better.” While Mitsuki did love it when Boruto smiled, especially when it was directed at him, he couldn’t help but be disappointed that it was over. “Just what I’d expect from you.”

The statement was odd but Boruto had come to expect that Mitsuki was prone to saying odd things from time to time, though the severity still did shock him some days. Looking around, Boruto wasn’t at all surprised to see the unconscious bodies of the men they were tracking, Sarada was in the center of it and calmly cracked her knuckles before wiping off some of the blood that had splattered onto her cheek.

She calmly walked underneath the tree they were perched in and waved them down, “if you two are done staring at each other, then let’s go.” Without waiting for a rebuttal, she left the two, Boruto blinked then sighed. “Sometimes I wonder how Chocho keeps up with her. Oh well, I guess we should get going before she gets mad at us. C’mon I’ll treat you to some burgers, healing always takes a lot out of my and you need to eat something. Remember that the blood you lost wasn’t magically replace, so take it easy this time.”

Mitsuki smiled at how quick Boruto was to mother hen someone, a trait that mostly became apparent when he began to learn how to heal. “Then it’s a date.”

Boruto frowned at the words, “If you keep joking like that, someone might get the wrong idea.”

Mitsuki only smiled back, “I’ll be sure to keep that in mind.” While they headed back to the village they met up with Sarada, who as it turns out was waiting for them. “What happened to you, Boruto? Your face is really red. Did you strain yourself too hard today?” Her question had Boruto raising his hands to his cheeks and noting that she must be right, he could feel the heat coming from them. Mitsuki leaned forward to get a look as well.

“They are quite red. Perhaps on our date you should drink water.”

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