#too many ocs to rank them all at once so I settled for those that appeared in my head first

[vihola]

Rank your characters from least to most likely to survive a horror movie. Show your work (offer explanations). Happy Spooky Month!

(hope you’re doing as well as you can. Slava Ukraini!)

Let's rank their survival chances on a scale from 0 to 5

0/5: Morri

Morri can survive only as long as they can outrun the threat. They have their redeeming qualities, but they’re a coward and a fool (affectionate). And the horrors are likely to target them on purpose because of their constant jokes and silly comments that ruin the spooky atmosphere. 

Morri in a haunted mansion: Well, you know what they say about ghosts and their problems, right? Ghosts: … Morri: They always come back to haunt you! *Morri is immediately killed*

1/5: Xala

Xala can actually outlive everyone, strong and capable as she is, but the temptation to heroically sacrifice herself is too great. She is more dramatic than she’s willing to admit. Where other people see a problem, she sees an opportunity for an over-the-top solution that will leave everyone crying and shaking. So basically: 

Xala: I can’t believe I’m going to die to save you all Relu: You don’t have to– Xala: No, I’m gonna

2/5: Relu

Relu’s first instinct would be to reason with the horrors, but the horrors aren’t known for being reasonable. His only saving grace is that he can withstand immense pressure and stress. When others are panicking and making stupid mistakes, he keeps his cool. But you can also expect the plot twist in which he becomes the next big evil, so watch out. He’s not as normal as he seems.

3/5: Liran

Liran is smart, Liran is a survivor, but he’s not above doing something that goes against his self-preservation instinct. After all, he almost got executed for deliberate insubordination while knowing all too well that the Empire never forgives. And while he very much wants to live, he doesn’t see himself as particularly important – always a cog in the machine, never someone worth saving. 

4/5: Merkara

She’d be having the time of her life. She vibes with the horror atmosphere, she adores everything macabre, she has lots of experience dealing with hostile supernatural entities. Is she likely to become cursed/possessed/haunted? Very much so. But don’t worry about Merkara – pity the horrors. Even if she dies, she has the habit of not staying dead.

5/5: Ateitis

Ateitis is immune to any horrors because she can be scarier than them. If I were the big evil with Ateitis as my victim, she would make me have an existential crisis and a mental breakdown within an hour. I would just leave at the start or find someone else to terrorize, it's safer this way.

[qnomnstrs]

Heian Era! Sukuna x Concubine! reader The only way is down

PART 2 IS HERE

I think I might give this one a part two with more fluff

Warnings: Smut 18+ MDNI, use of word slut, pregnancy, slight humiliation, plot with porn, fluff if you squint, creampie, double dicks, anal, fingering, blowjob, double penetration, dacryphillia, trueform! Sukuna

Word Count 3K

Sukuna speaking is in red

y/n speaking is in green

Hana speaking is in blue

Small Concubine in purple

Small Concubine’s Servant in orange

Sukuna ruled over all. Sukuna’s law was above anything else. He ruled over humans and curses. They feasted on human flesh. Towns were turned into cattle farms. Sukuna was not a nice or forgiving man. Even still, he had desires. Many concubines lived in his estate, human concubines. Sukuna had a perversion of taking those frail and weak.  He had his favorites that he visited often, causing ranks among the concubines. His favorites received a lady in waiting, their own pavilion and staff. This caused discourse in the concubines. They would try de-ranking each other to move up in status. Sukuna wasn’t any help as he has no care for the concubine disputes. He would kill them if he was displeased.

You were a mid-ranking concubine. You had your own room, bath and a lady-in-waiting. Your pavilion was shared with the other mid ranking concubines. Your servant was a low-level curse. Every servant was a curse. They were faster and more capable than humans. Not to mention a curse can protect a concubine if needed.

You currently were in the garden with the other concubines. A tea party was hosted, you showed up out of respect and curtesy.

A smaller woman next to you spoke, “I love my lady-in-waiting. I view her as a close friend. Its nice to have one! She even tried scolding me for dirtying my dress in the garden! I told her not to worry, she’s so thoughtful!”

You rolled your eyes. She clearly is a new concubine, who moved through the ranks quickly. She was very beautiful and delicate, Sukuna’s type. It irked you when the girls pretended their servants were their friends. You took a sip of your tea and calmly retorted.

“Your lady-in-waiting is here to keep you safe and presentable for Lord Sukuna. If you truly thought of her as your friend, you wouldn’t be so careless. She is the one that gets punished for your naive actions. I hope you can do better in the future.”

The small woman blushed in embarrassment; tears welled up in her eyes. She abruptly got up and rushed off.

“My lady!” Her lady-in-waiting followed closely behind her.

It wasn’t intentional to make her cry, you did feel bad for her servant though. You sighed in frustration, staying a bit longer at the garden party.

“You shouldn’t have been so rude to the new girl; she really didn’t do anything.” A woman in green stated.

“I was just trying to give her some advice, she is too naïve. She is climbing the ranks too quickly. If she becomes a top consort, she will be de ranked quickly; trusting others so openly. Once at the top, the only way is back down.”  You spoke the truth. You purposely don’t rank up for this very reason. Sukuna comes and visits you once in a blue moon. He has so many women here, he couldn’t visit them all in one month if he visited one every night. When he visits you, you sleep with him and do what he asks. You don’t do anything fancy.

Speak of the devil, Sukuna himself rounded the corner. He wore a leisure robe, his bottom set of arms folded across his chest. He doesn’t look happy. His bottom eye is looking directly at you, you shiver at the condescending glare. All the women get up from their seats and bow. You did as well.

“My Lord Sukuna” everyone says in unison. You glance forward and notice the small consort rubbing the tears out of her eyes. She is behind Sukuna. Normally Sukuna doesn’t settle consort disputes, he must of ran into her on accident.

“Tell me who made this brat cry?” He was pissed like he didn’t want to be here. You had to be careful, or it was your head. Before anyone else spoke you ratted yourself out.

“Lord Sukuna it was me. It was not my intention; I was giving her advice.”

“I’m sure, and what advice would that be? Get to the point.”

“I simply stated she should be more cautious of her actions as they affect others. She should be careful of whom she calls friends.”

Sukuna looked at your servant, Hana, who nodded in agreement.

“Is this true?” Sukuna now looked at the small lady.

“WELL- SHE!” The lady started to get anxious and loud but her servant stopped her.

“Yes, my Lord this is what happened. My lady is just not used to being critiqued so openly.”

Sukuna scoffed, “So my time was wasted for this shit!? Learn how to talk to others, I won’t accept another stupid outburst from you again”.

“Yes, my Lord” The small lady sniffled and bowed her head.

“AND YOU-“

Sukuna now had his attention back on you. You can’t deny the nervous sweat on your neck. He was so intimidating. Hopefully you wouldn’t be de-ranked or even worse killed.

“Visit my room tonight.” With that Sukuna turned and left, not even awaiting your response. He wanted you to visit him tonight? After you annoyed him? Suddenly, being de-ranked didn’t sound so bad.

“My lady you need to be careful on how you speak to Lord Sukuna” The servant was trying to calm the small lady who was still crying.

“Miss, we should prepare you a bath and get ready.” Hana spoke to you awakening you from your deep thought.

“Yes of course.”

You followed Hana to your room. She helped you undress from your layers of robes and started a warm bath. The bath had aromatic oils and flowers in it. She helped scrub you down and shave. Once done, she combed your hair, decorating it with fine jewelry. You wore a see-thru night gown and robe over it. Your attire was alluring but not over the top, just the way you liked it. Hana began escorting you to Lord Sukuna’s palace. Once you arrived at his door, Hana stopped you.

“Please be careful my lady.” You smiled at the thought. She was worried about you.

“Thank you Hana I’m sure it will be alright.”

Hana knocked, “Lord Sukuna Lady y/n is here”

“You may enter”

Hana opened the door for you. She bowed her head and left. You bowed your head and awaited Sukuna’s command. He was only after his own pleasure as usual.

“Enough with the formalities come here and undress.”

You looked up and saw Sukuna on top of his large bed. He sat in his usual position, resting on his side with a shit eating grin. You blushed at his urgency and began to undress. It was still uncomfortable to get bare in front of someone so casually, but you hid the emotion from him. You crawled onto the bed on your knees in front of him. He undid his robe revealing his hard abs and two flaccid cocks. Just seeing you naked wasn’t enough for him.

“Suck me off until I’m satisfied”

“Yes, my lord”

You bend down and put one cock in your mouth and stroke the other. Even soft, his cocks are thick and 8 inches long. He was a grower too. He was a large curse after all. You swirled your tongue around the tip. You took as much as you could in your mouth. You could feel him growing in your mouth. You repeated the motions then switched to suck the other one on top. At full length he is 12 inches and four fingers thick. Sukuna liked how well you deepthroated him compared to most concubines. You were sloppy. You would gag and have saliva dripping down your chin. You hollowed your cheeks. You loved the feeling of his cocks hitting the back of your throat and how he tasted so clean every time.

“Maybe I should bring you in here more often. I think you could take all of me eventually since you love my cocks so much, fuck!”

He put a hand on your head and pushed you down further. He rocked his body into your face. You breathed through your nose and let out a big gag. He released your head. You went back down to his bottom one. The other one resting atop your head. Pre cum dribbled into your hair and face.

“That’s enough”

You pulled back a string of saliva connecting you to his cock. Your mouth was open and your breathing was ragged. It was surprising he didn’t finish in your mouth like usual.

He pulled you on your back, towering over you. Your eyes met his chest. You admired his attractive body and markings.

“You caused quite a stir today”

“Im sorry my Lord you should have not been involved in such trivial matters.” You were scared now. Why bring this up now? What was his intention? You shook slightly.

Sukuna smiled and his pupils dilated. He liked seeing you so frail and scared. Out of all his concubines, you always remained calm and collective. It caught his eye, and he started to acknowledge your presence a while ago.

“Maybe I should make you cry as you did the other girl today. Perhaps I will fuck you until you beg me to stop.”

You looked up into his eyes. The fear in your eyes was delicious. You weren’t sure how to respond to him. You’ve had sex with Sukuna before he’s huge and it’s kind of painful, more than pleasurable. He’s never tried to please you before, only himself. You assume he means fuck you so hard that you can’t walk afterwards, nothing pleasurable about that. Sukuna stays in his same position, top arms on their elbows above your head. His bottom arms move. One hand opens your legs and the other spreads your folds. He puts in one finger. His hands are so much bigger than yours. One of his fingers was three of yours.

“damn you’re tight” he massages his finger inside trying to find where its most sensitive. You moan quietly as he abuses the same spot. As you loosen up, he adds a second finger. You put your hands up to his chest trying to stay quiet. Your legs were twitching as he penetrated you. He adds a third finger gently massaging your insides. The tension in your belly was rising about to break. You continued to let out soft mewls and wriggling your hips around. You couldn’t stay still as the pleasure was overstimulating.

“Go ahead and cum y/n”

Upon hearing Sukuna speak your name, The tension broke and you groaned as you squirted on his hand. You still tried to be as composed as possible when you came.

“Thank you, Lord Sukuna,”

“Tch what the hell was that?”

Sukuna leaned back onto his knees, while you laid down. Your eyes were widened. Curious, what he was so upset with?

“I can’t wait to break you. This time down hide your moans from me. Relax I want to see you melt under me.”

“y-yes sir” That was the first time you stuttered in front of him. How were you supposed to relax when he made you so tense? Either way you would listen to his command.

He positioned his bottom cock at your entrance, rubbing it up and down. He pushed forward. His head couldn’t even fit. He continued pushing and prodding, your pussy slowly giving and allowing him entrance. His head was all the way in and you shuddered. You could feel every ridge, and vein in his cock. After your first orgasm everything was sensitive. You gripped onto his forearms. He was still on his knees, you could see his face more clearly and he yours. You blushed at the thought of him watching you receive pleasure from him. His top set of eyes watched your face and the bottom set watched your pussy. He had a shit eating grin watching you blush under him. Sukuna continued pushing his cock all the way in until you were full. You moaned and rubbed under your belly button, where you could feel the tip of his cock press against you. It was so sensitive up there. You could never reach with your own hands how far Sukuna is. His top cock was resting on your stomach. He used one of his hands to pump it. Before letting you adjust, he began moving at a slow pace. Normally he would move at a fast and rough pace. This allowed you to feel your insides being rearranged instead of going numb.

“nhnn- o-ohh! Ugh nn wait I ugh-“ You couldn’t speak normal sentences anymore. It felt like he was taking the air out of your lungs. He continued to push into you.

“Open your mouth little slut. Clearly you still need something to suck on”

He bent down and kissed you; he has never done that. It was a sloppy wet kiss. His tongue prodded you. You moaned in his mouth and whined. You moved your hips up, he had to pin you down. He switches his angle rubbing a sensitive spot that it almost hurt. You dug your nail into his arms, then scratched down his back. You put your hands everywhere they could reach to try and hold yourself. You came harshly. You couldn’t even tell your orgasm was approaching. Your pussy clenched but it was no match for the thick cock inside you; he kept pushing in as your pussy tried pushing him out.

“Fuck woman your sucking the soul out of my cock right now.”

He continued a few thrusts while a hand pumped a few fingers in your ass. You have done anal with him before, so this wasn’t an issue.

“Sir i- I can’t”

“Nu-ugh you haven’t received your punishment yet little slut I don’t see any tears yet.

He pulled out and lined both his cocks at your entrances. He pressed in. If you felt full earlier, now you really do. You were sure there wasn’t any room for any organs in your body. You laid there limp. You were still so sensitive and sore from the last round. You pussy was still trying to push him out.

“Fuck!”

This time he had a fast and rough pace. He was so deep in your ass. Tears welled up in your eyes. Finally, those sweet tears of pleasure.

“My-my Lord Sukuna please -please I- can’t”

Sukuna started to lick the tears off your face now fully aware of your desperation. It turned him on to see you unravel and needy. He continued his brutal pace, and you came. Sukuna finally roared as he came hard. He filled you to the brim, thrusting into you a few more times. Sukuna wasn’t tired in the slightest. He pulled out slowly. It felt empty.

“Get on your hands and knees, show me your pussy.” You shakily moved. His cum dripped out of both holes. He smacked your ass and played with your body.

“Fuck yes”

“Thank you, Lord Sukuna,”

“You may leave now y/n”

You jumped when he said your name. How did he remember? He never knew it before. You put on your clothes and left quietly. Hana was outside the door and helped you to your room. Once there you crashed. You were so exhausted and sore.

The next morning Hana gave you breakfast in bed, heating pads and tea. It was normal for concubines to have to stay in bed after sex. You thought about when you first arrived how embarrassing it was to have someone help wash the cum out of you or to wait outside Sukuna’s room. Now it’s normal.

Nothing unusual happened after that. A few weeks later you were tending to the garden, practicing songs and dances with the other concubines. You were all taught these arts to impress Sukuna at banquets and such. However today you were exhausted. You were sleepier than usual, as of late. Once you arrived in your room you started to fall asleep on the couch.

“My lady sorry to wake you, you mustn’t sleep on the couch please sleep in your bed.”

“Just let me rest with my eyes closed, I won’t fall asleep.”  You fell asleep sitting up on the large couch. In your room you had a bed, dresser, and sitting area for guests. Hana let you sleep there, clearly you were very tired. She went to prepare some food for later. Sukuna barged into your room suddenly

“My Lord!” Hana dropped to the ground and bowed.

“Where is she?”

“Lady y/n is resting on the couch my lord”

“Why is she sleeping there and not her bed?”

“My lord she seemed very tired and I did not want to disturb her”

“Very well you may take your leave”

Sukuna shooshed away Hana. You still slept. Sukuna came and sat next to you. He didn’t wake you, just let you sleep. You moved in your sleep and rested your head in his lap. He huffed and petted your head. He was coming for sexual reasons but decided to let you sleep. Especially since he noticed your energy was off. He studied your sleeping face and contemplated why your energy fluctuating. Then it hit him, you’re pregnant. He couldn’t believe it. He finally has an heir. Being a human-turned-curse has wasn’t sure if he could produce children. Finally, out of all the consorts you were pregnant. He boasted out laughing and it awoke you from your slumber. Your eyes opened still full of sleep. You stared at your room trying to wake up. That’s when you realized you were sleeping on someone. It was Sukuna! You jolted up and bowed your head.

“Lord Sukuna I am sorry for sleeping I wasn’t aware of your arrival.”

“Ill forgive it this time. Its understood with your condition.”

You gave him a puzzled look, as he smiled like a madman.

“Y/n’s Servant!”

Hana hurried back in “Yes my lord?”

“You will gather Y/n and her belongings; she is to be moved into my palace at once.”

“Yes of course, thank you Lord Sukuna”

“Wait my Lord why? I don’t understand”

“You are being promoted”

“I understand my Lord but why into your palace? I dare not question you my lord but I have never heard of another consort being in your palace”

“Always the courteous silver tongue you have y/n. Yes you are the first to be promoted as a wife.”

“A wife!?”

��Yes enough rambling I must go”

“Servant make sure you double y/n’s portions and have the doctor come check her for the pregnancy”

“Yes my lord” Sukuna left just as fast as he arrived.

“PREGENANT!!!???”

Hana looked at you shocked.

“Oh! Miss y/n! How delightful! A wife! And an heir!”

You couldn’t believe it. All this time you were trying to stay hidden and now you’re promoted to wife. It can’t get worse than this!

[lang-rangler-enjoyer]

TELL ME ABOUT YOUR STONE OCEAN OCS I'M WORKING ON MY OWN OCS AND NEED ✨INSPO✨

(esp Canada Goose he looks so FUNKY)

OK HERE WE GO :0 I don’t have too many

Canada Goose (yeah, that’s his name. legally)

•Somewhere in his late twenties. Six foot two. Chunky boi with fat tiddies. Has a large black back tattoo of the letters “BNL” in block font

•He’s a mid-to-high level ranking gangster in Sports Maxx’s gang who’s serving a reduced sentence (like Maxx, due to mafia destruction of evidence and legal tampering) for trafficking and selling hard drugs.

•He’s a natural stand user wielding Barenaked Ladies (often abbreviated to BNL). BNL is a soft, squishy parasitic stand that enters the body through open wounds and travels up the bloodstream to your brain. Once it’s in your head, BNL attaches itself to your brain and can read and transmit weak electric signals. Basically, this allows Goose to hear all your thoughts and allows him to send you telepathic messages. BNL can’t do any physical damage to its host, but it’s a psychological weapon that also gives Goose a huge boost in combat, kind of like Dragon’s Dream.

•Not too smart, but then again he doesn’t need to be. He’s good at what he does, he’ll leave the thinking up to people like Maxx. He’s a good listener, he loves just hanging out and shootin’ the shit with people, maybe with a drink and a smoke too.

Viktor Rolf (like the fashion house Viktor & Rolf)

•I COULDNT NOT STEAL HIM HES SO PRETTY LOOK 👁️👁️ AT HIMM

•Mid twenties. No significant tattoos, marks, or piercings.

•Dropped out of university (majoring in English) in his second year due to burn out and personal issues. Got a “temporary” job at the prison and promised his family and friends he’d be back at university as soon as he was feeling better. It’s been at least four years and yeah, he’s starting to feel like that’s never gonna happen. Not that he likes his job at GD st., he fucking HATES it here, but he just can’t bring himself to change everything again.

•He’s cold and standoffish with most people. He doesn’t want to get close with any of his coworkers because it feels like settling in, admitting defeat, admitting he’s never going to leave. Not rude per say, just curt and withdrawn.

•Oh yeah, and he’s secretly dating Goose. He appreciates that Goose doesn’t judge or ask questions.

Dege Goose-Rolf and Skinner Goose-Rolf (like the fashion company Dege & Skinner)

Don’t ask how it happened. Goose would probably tell you, just don’t ask.

•I’m away right now and haven’t had the time to draw them more :( so these are just preliminary sketches

•The twins are weird. like those kids who show up at family gatherings and you’re not quite sure who they’re related to but your mom says you have to sit next to them even if they chew crayons and smell funny.

•They’re very close. Goose is trying his best but he is a first time single dad with no idea what he’s doing, so they sometimes have to rely on each other.

•They share the stand Beastie Boys. I haven’t figured out what it does yet 🤔

[koulakoukoula2003]

Impatience (Levi x Reader)

Pairing: Levi x Reader, Levi x You

Genre: Fluff (soooooo much fluffffff)

Word Count: 1199

A/N: Hellooooo fellow Levi hoes, here’s a fluffy scene between you and Levi. Been wondering, when Historia became Queen and got Levi into saving the orphans of the Underground, how cute was he going to look holding one of those orphans in his arms... 😳 Oh my God... Anyways! The two of you are already in a relationship, so just, enjoy! 😘

You were in the Underground -a place the two of you hadn’t visited in so long- and Queen Historia was leading the way. She was in a carriage riding ahead. Of course, Levi and (y/n) were on the front to lead them through the streets of the place that you two grew up in. A bunch of MPs were all around, making sure to help and protect their Queen from the scums that lurked around in the Underground. The smell of moisture was all too familiar. Both (y/n) and Levi couldn’t help staring all around the place. You hadn’t visited that place ever since Erwin came and dragged you both out of there. 

Too many bad memories. You recognised the streets. Children were lying all around. Abandoned and starving. Despair in their eyes. Their bones almost sticking out from the lack of tissue. Levi raised his hand, signalling the MPs to stop, and Historia stuck her head out of the carriage. 

“We’re here, your Majesty,” Levi informed her. He had to admit, it was weird calling that brat like this, but he got used to it faster than he expected. 

“Excellent, Captain, Lieutenant,” Historia jumped out of her carriage and the MP officer approached her right away. 

“Uh- Ma’am! I suggest that you stay within the carriage. You will be safer that way,” The man said nervously. Historia frowned and parted her lips to throw something utterly rude on the officer’s way, but you unmounted your horse, and you approached the two. 

You placed a hand on Historia’s shoulder. “No need to worry, officer, we’ll be keeping an eye on her. Besides, there’s no criminal in the Underground that doesn’t fear Captain Levi, I assure you,” 

Historia smirked. “Exactly. Now quit trying to order around your Queen, and let’s get to work,” Historia said. An authoritative and stern tone in her voice that could’ve scared the highest-ranking officers trembling. Your eyes widened. You were impressed. 

“U- Uh, yes, your Majesty! I- I wasn’t trying to- M- My apologies!” The young man stuttered before he set off to get to work right away. 

Once the two of you were left alone, you laughed and squeezed Historia in a side-hug. Your hand reached for Historia’s hair, caressing gently. “I’m so damn proud of you!” 

Historia giggled and overly enjoyed the way you were messing her hair. “Thanks, (y/n)!” She managed to escape your hug and she turned and looked around her. “Let’s see what we got here,” 

The MP officers, Historia, Levi and (y/n) set off to pick up the children, load them in the empty cart and take them out of that horrible place. The construction of the orphanages was going well, and Historia didn’t want to any more prolong saving those kids. She had to save them, and she had to do it fast. 

You knelt in front of a little boy. He must have been around three to four years old. He flinched right away when you approached him, as if he was afraid that you were going to hurt him. That reaction was more than understandable. You were once the same. A scared, bony little child, tossed into a cruel world, wallowing in fear and despair. 

“It’s alright,” You said and you gave him the sweetest smile you could manage. You knelt down, close to his height. “I’m (y/n). What is your name?”

He examined you with those huge, innocent, deep brown eyes of his for a moment. “S- Shawn,” 

“Well, Shawn, it’s very nice to meet you. Are you hungry?” You asked. The boy was scared, but hearing of food, that fear slowly started to subside. The boy nodded and your hand reached for your pocket beneath your green, Survey Corps cloak. You took out a cracker. You opened and handed it to him. “There you go,” 

Shawn stared at the cracker. He didn’t even bother to catch it. He lifted both of his little hands up, allowing you to pick him. You smiled as you handed him the cracker, and then you lifted him up and settled him in your arms. He was so light, it almost worried you, but he started munching on the cracker hungrily. He had consumed it before you knew it. 

You tried to leave him back down on the cart where the rest of the children were and Historia was offering them food, but he did not want to get off of you. Shawn just buried his face in your neck. His little hands clutched on your clothes and he remained silent in you embrace. All you could do was smile. You pressed a kiss on his little temple. 

“It’s alright, you’re safe now. We’ve got you,” You said, trying to reassure him, but his little fingers only tightened around your shirt. “Alright, I’ll hold you a little bit more,” You promised and you turned around only to see Levi with a little girl in his arms. 

The sight melted your heart right away. The little girl was in a white, dirty, ragged gown. She had blonde, messy long hair. She too had finished eating the cracker that Levi had given her, and she was now sucking on her thumb. She must’ve been a three-year-old. She was the definition of cute. 

“Oi, brat,” Levi’s one hand reached for the little girl’s and he pulled her thumb out of her mouth. “No sucking on your fingers. They’re dirty,” 

The girl just looked up at him, with those large honey eyes and she tucked her finger back in her mouth. Levi sighed. He should’ve known better than to try to reason with a three-year-old. 

Your sweet laughter reached his ears and he finally lifted his attention on you. He almost forgot how to breathe. You had a little boy in your arms, and that boy was clutching on your shirt and he was burying his face in your neck. Your hands supported this little body against your chest and the boy had closed his eyes, enjoying every second he spent in your arms. 

You were so wonderful, there, holding and talking, and treating that little kid as if it was your own. Levi couldn’t get his eyes off of you. He could almost imagine you in one of your white, baggy gowns, and a baby boy in your arms. One that would have the raven colour of his hair, but your eyes. 

Levi tried his best to snap out of the beautiful picture that he had in his mind as the two of you finally settled the little ones on the cart, but he couldn’t stop himself. A warm arm slipped around your waist, and he forced your back to crush against his chest. Dry, soft lips pressed a kiss against your cheek from behind and his breath brushed against your ear warmly as he spoke. 

“I can’t wait to have one of our own,” 

You giggled. A bright blush spread across your cheeks and you let her head rest back on his shoulder. You nuzzled your nose in his neck and you smiled, closing your eyes briefly. 

“Me neither,” 

A/N: Ooffffff there it is! Y’all feel free to reblog just send a few follows and notes on my way! Thanks for reading! Lemme know what you think! This is a scene from my actual Levi x OC fic on ao3, I just changed it slightly so that it can stand on its own 🥰

[rowansparrow]

By Any Other Name: Chapter Seven

Summary: You and Rex have a conversation on the rooftop.

Chapter Rating: Teen 

Warnings: Alcohol, some drunk-ness. Sad, so very sad.

Ships: Rex x Female!Reader, Fives x Female!Reader, Clone OC x Female!Reader, other ships tbd.

Tags: #ByAnyOtherName, #BAON

Word Count: 3.1k

A/N: *insert that Always Sunny in Philadelphia Meme: “NEWSFLASH ASSHOLE, REX HAS BEEN IN LOVE WITH READER THE ENTIRE GODDAMN TIME* As always, bless @fat-zygerrian for being my beta reader!

Comment if you want to be tagged! Reblogs are SO appreciated!

Chapter One Chapter Two Chapter Three Chapter Four Chapter Five Chapter Six

You were supposed to meet him that night.

You’d planned on going to 79’s instead of the rooftop as usual. Rose said the boys had missed you and wanted to play cards again. You’d gotten all dolled up and were about to head out when your comm beeped.

“Hey,” You grinned, shutting your apartment door behind you. “I was just heading out.”

“Yeah… about that,” Rose sounded embarrassed. “There’s been a change in plans. I won’t be able to make it. In fact, none of us will. We got – err – held up on base.”

“Really?” You asked, pausing as you started to head down to the main level of your building. “Okay… well can we meet after?”

“I’m not supposed to go off base but – yeah, yeah I’ll see what I can do. Keep your comm close.”

He hung up and you hesitated in the stairwell for a beat. Fuck it. Even if Rose couldn’t come along, you were still going to have a nice time tonight!

You had gotten more confident about going to 79’s ever since you and Rose had gotten close. You could recognize a few distinct faces now, just from people Rose had pointed out to you or introduced to you in passing. There was a notable absence of 501st blue, which at least confirmed Rose wasn’t just ditching you and had in fact gotten held up at the base with the rest of his battalion.

You approached the bar, settling in and glancing around to look for any familiar faces to keep you company while you waited for Rose. Further down the bar, you spotted Marshal Commander Cody and your breath hitched for just a moment. Rose had told you all about him – the most highly decorated clone soldier in the entire Republic Army. You would’ve been able to guess it even if Rose hadn’t told you about the curved scar on the side of his face. For the way Cody carried himself, even here, held an air of authority, of gravitas and poise.

He was talking to someone, the other person obscured by his own body. You ordered a drink, trying not to look as starstruck by the Commander as you felt.

“I’d try your luck with someone a little less ranked if I were you,” The bartender teased, catching you staring. “I’ve never once seen the Marshal Commander take up an offer to go home with somebody.”

“That’s – that isn’t my intention.” You blushed, taking the drink with a short huff. Still, you glanced at Cody again and watched him clap his hand on the shoulder of the man he’d been speaking with.

“Alright, see you around, Rex ‘ole boy. Stay out of trouble.”

Now that made you turn instantly. As Cody moved away, you were able to get a better look at the man he’d been talking to, and gods above, it was him. It was Captain Rex. Rose had told you so many stories about him that it felt strange finally seeing him in the flesh.

Rose had warned you about how much trouble you both could get in if anyone ever found out you were seeing each other. Your friendship was frowned upon enough as is, but now that it had become something more, Rose had given you the full dressing-down on what could happen to him if you were ever caught.

As such, you hadn’t ever met Rose’s superior officer, and since Rose wasn’t here…

You downed the rest of your drink quickly. There’s no reason the Captain would be suspicious of you. Besides, you wanted to meet him, get to know the man who was such a huge part of Rose’s life.

You wanted to meet his family.

“Hi.”

In truth, maybe your introduction could’ve been a little stronger. But as you sidled over to the Captain and leaned one hand on the bar, he gave you a small smile, nodding once.

“Ma’am.”

“Can I buy you a drink?”

Rex seemed surprised and looked you over carefully. He seemed to be waging a war with himself for a split second but eventually nodded.

“I don’t see why not.”

You grinned, settling into the seat beside him and waving the bartender over, tucking a hand under your chin. “What’s your name? I’m Y/N.”

“Rex.” He replied, offering his hand to shake. You repressed the urge to giggle. He was such a gentleman.

“What do you drink, Rex?”

He chuckled. “Whiskey.”

“Two of those, then.” You told the bartender. Rex’s eyebrow jumped up but you barely noticed.

“So. You must be a Captain, right? With all this fancy gear?” You said, motioning to his pauldron and kama.

“How d’you know I’m not just some ARC trooper who likes showing off?” Rex replied, smirking and leaning forward a bit.

“I’ve met an ARC trooper or two, and you don’t seem the type to boast.”

Rex chuckled again, taking his glass as the bartender returned. “You must get around, then.”

It wasn’t an insult and you didn’t take it as such. “Maybe I’m just good at making friends.”

Rex smiled and his eyes seemed to appraise you for a moment, taking all of you in, calculating. He took a swig.

“You here with any of those friends?” He asked.

“All alone, tonight.” You replied. “My friends got held up and you looked lonely. Thought I’d keep you company. It’s the least I can do for a soldier like you.”

Rex chuckled, low and sweet. “Most pretty girls don’t just find themselves in 79’s.” Rex drawled, setting his glass down again. “From what I can tell, they’re usually looking for trouble.”

He turned slightly to face you better. “Are you looking for trouble, mesh’la?”

Your heart skipped a beat. You knew that word, but didn’t know what it meant. Rose had called you that before.

“It looks like I already found it.” You replied.

Rex grinned. “Then I guess you better stay close so I can keep a proper eye on you.”

You chuckled, picking up your own drink and finally taking a sip. The whiskey burned your throat but it warmed you to the core. Rex looked impressed which was its own bonus.

“You never answered my question.” You said. “Are you a Captain?”

“I command the 501st attack battalion.” Rex said, a note of pride in his voice.

“Ah, then you must know Echo and Fives.” You prompted.

Rex seemed to age ten years at just the mention of their names. “I take it those are the ARC troopers you’ve met?” He asked. “My condolences.”

You giggled. “We played cards a few times. They’re nice but definitely a handful.”

“They’re all a handful.” Rex waved over the bartender to get another drink. “Every last one of them. That’s why none of them were allowed off base tonight.”

“Oh?” You grinned. “Do tell.”

Once he got going talking about his men, he couldn’t stop. Rex regaled you with the story of how earlier that afternoon he’d discovered his men were not only hiding a loth cat in the barracks, but it had given birth. They had managed to keep it a secret for weeks until the kittens started wreaking havoc. According to his men, Fives and Hardcase had been the ringleaders.

“That’s what they all say at least.” Rex amended. “’Course, Fives’ll take credit for just about anything. But Rose and Echo were suspiciously quiet the whole time. Kix was the only one with the good sense not to show his face in the barracks when I caught them. Still, I’ve got a feeling he encouraged the others to go along with it. Di’kuts, all of them.”

He shook his head but smiled as you laughed. “Anyway. They’re cleaning up the mess and finding natborns to rehome all the kits with. And when they finish with that, they’re supposed to take over the latrine shifts and canteen shifts for any other battalions.”

“Aw, seems a steep punishment for hiding loth cats.” You laughed.

“You didn’t see the state of the barracks.” Rex said, shaking his head slowly. “Apparently a bucket of paint got upended. They should all be scrubbing paw prints out of the durasteel right about now.”

You smiled fondly at Rex. Even as he retold the story, you could tell he was trying not to smile at the antics. It was clear he cared very deeply for his men, even if he had to be the tired parent of them all.

“Sounds like they wear you out.” You teased. “You deserve a break.”

“Are you offering me one?” Rex prompted.

You tilted your head to the side. “What do you mean?”

Rex smirked, and downed the rest of his drink. He took a deep breath, as though he was steeling himself to ask you something.

“Y/N!”

You recognized the voice and turned quickly as Rose hurried up to you. He had a small streak of blue paint across his cheek, but otherwise was beaming.

“Hey, you should’ve told me you’d be here. I went all the way to your apartment and had to backtrack -.”

He noticed the Captain a beat too late and you watched as all the color comically drained from his face. “Captain! Sir!” He snapped to attention. “I ah – I can explain…”

You glanced between Rose and Rex, your own heart pounding. Rose had all but given away the two of you were seeing each other. Rex looked at Rose before looking at you. He then turned to his glass, picking it up and making a big scene of looking it over.

“Sir…?” Rose asked nervously.

“Oh, I’m just inspecting my beverage.” Rex replied smoothly. “I must’ve been drugged you see, because surely I am not seeing my Lieutenant standing here, not when he is under strict orders to stay on base tonight.”

Rose cringed. “Yeah, sir, about that -.”

“It’s my fault.” You spoke up quickly, throwing together a lie. “Rose and I met yesterday, we’d been playing Sabacc with some of his brothers and he very kindly walked me home afterwards. I promised him drinks tonight to thank him and I wouldn’t take no for an answer.” You glanced to Rose. “He was just being a gentleman.”

Rex raised an eyebrow, glancing at Rose. “Funny.” He said. “Could’ve sworn I saw you in the weight room with Fives last night.”

“We… came here afterwards sir.” Rose lied, shifting a little closer to you, almost protective. “Ask him, he’ll say the same thing.”

“I’m sure he will.” Rex stood, picking his helmet up off the counter and knocked his knuckles lightly against the bar. “It was lovely to meet you, ma’am.” He said. “Rose?”

Your soldier stood at attention once again but Rex just put a hand on his shoulder.

“We have a briefing tomorrow morning. Oh-eight-hundred. Don’t be late.”

“Thank you, sir.” Rose was barely audible over the roar of the music in the bar. He looked like his knees would give out at any moment.

You could’ve sworn you saw Rex give Rose a little wink, but it must’ve been a trick of the light. He gave you one last nod before quietly departing.

Neither you nor Rose saw him glance back at you over his shoulder one last time before stepping out of the bar.

~

You’d lost track of how long you sat on the roof with Rex. Partially because he’d gone downstairs and returned with a bottle of your favorite whiskey and two glasses, pouring drinks for you both.

“For Rose,” Rex toasted, clinking your glasses together.

You smiled and for the first time that you could remember, Rose’s name didn’t make your heart ache. “For Rose.”

You both tossed the glasses back, that familiar burn searing your throat and chest before you shook yourself out, watching as Rex poured you both a second glass, entirely unfazed.

“He was very unsubtle about sneaking off base to go see you.” Rex told you, leaning back on one hand and closing his eyes as the breeze kissed his cheeks. “I’d give him a job and it would either be done in record time or it would’ve been passed off to somebody else. He once almost missed a debriefing because he’d spent the night with you. Skidded in right as I was about to start.” He chuckled. “I didn’t mind. He was happy. Gods know we soldiers deserve whatever happiness we can find.”

You hummed, smiling as you took another drink. “He talked about you all the time.” You said, leaning slightly against Rex’s side. “Idolized you, actually. He told me about the battles you’d been in together, how well you led your men.” You smiled to yourself, finishing your second drink and making your way towards a third. “He told me about that virus. Blue Shadow Virus, right?”

Rex hummed, getting himself another drink as well. “That was an ugly mission.”

“He said you were hovering a lot.” You teased. “Because he was always so sick when he was little. You were worried about him.”

“Brothers were dropping dead, left and right. Hells, even Commander Tano passed out at one point.” Rex recalled, shuddering to himself. “I thought we were all going to die.”

“He told me he wasn’t scared because you weren’t scared.” You smiled. “I guess you did a good job of hiding it.”

���He had way too many close calls.” Rex chuckled. “That virus almost took him out. We got rescued just in time. There was another time he was scouting with me and a few others on Saleucami -.”

“I remember that. You were shot.” You recalled and Rex chuckled.

“He really did tell you everything, didn’t he?”

“He was terrified. He told me he thought you were dead, the way you flew off the back of the speeder after getting hit..” You murmured.

“What he probably didn’t tell you is that shot just barely missed him.” Rex replied. “I’d been leading but he’d circled around me to get in front. He was goofing around with Hardcase. Bolt whizzed just an inch past his head and hit me instead. He had a blaster burn on the side of his helmet to prove it.”

You shuddered at the thought. “He didn’t tell me that part.”

“Probably also didn’t tell you that he got shot pretty good on Toydaria.” Rex replied. “Not once, but twice, once in the leg and another straight through the chest. Kix thought for sure he was a goner.”

You were familiar with those wounds. A frown pulled your lips. “He didn’t tell me. I had to find them myself.” You grumbled, still bitter. “He’d come back from the mission and told me he’d gotten hurt, but it was nothing serious.” You threw back your drink again. “Bantha shit, if I brushed against him, he winced. Finally made him show me.”

“I’m sure he got an earful after that.” Rex laughed.

“Oh, he did. And he wasn’t even that bothered that he’d nearly died, no, he was more concerned about the fact that his tattoos had been damaged by the shots. He was worried he wouldn’t be able to get new ink over the scars.” You rolled your eyes. “That man…”

“He was just trying not to worry you.” Rex smiled, taking another drink.

“I always worry.” You murmured, rubbing your thumb along the rim of your glass. “Always. About all of you. I always worried that one day Rose would come home and tell me something had happened to Fives, Echo, you… or any of the others.” You chuckled humorlessly, finishing your drink. “And then… one day you showed up at my door instead.”

A heavy silence fell between you. Rex took your empty glass, filling it up once again.

“It seems so silly.” You said. “That he should survive all of that and then just get shot and killed during a routine supply drop. I thought he was unbreakable.” You shook your head. “Guess I was wrong.”

Rex wouldn’t look you in the eye, instead focusing very intently on the glass in his hands.

“It was quick.” Rex said finally, still avoiding your eyes. “He didn’t feel anything. I promise.”

“I know.” You gave him a small, sad smile, squeezing his bicep gently. “And I guess I have that at least. At least… at least I know he didn’t suffer. He wasn’t alone or – or afraid.”

You smiled wistfully, looking out over the skyline.

“There’s a dress in my closet,” You began. “It’s nothing fancy, just a white sundress with lace around the hem and sleeves.”

Rex already seemed to know where this was going. He took a very long drink and followed your gaze out towards the skyline.

“We were going to leave together.” You said quietly. “Get married. Have a family. He had this whole, crazy plan.” You chuckled. “I’d told him I wanted to think about it. It was a big decision, he’d be on the run for the rest of his life, hiding from the Republic. And I’d be part of that.”

You glanced over at Rex. “He told me he was going to tell you. He said we could trust you. Did he ever…?”

Rex shook his head. “No. He never got the chance.”

You nodded, turning back towards the sky. “I was going to say yes.” You whispered. “I was going to go with him when he came back. We were going to run away together… It was all very romantic.” You shook your head, staring down at your glass. “And it was so stupid.”

Rex was quiet for several long moments until finally he rose to his feet, offering you his hand.

“C’mon.” he murmured. “I think that’s enough drinking for one night. Let’s get you home.”

You nodded, taking his hand and letting him pull you to your feet. You swayed. You didn’t realize how much you’d had to drink until you stumbled, falling slightly against his chest.

“The Rose Lounge owner can’t hold her liquor?” Rex teased. “Ironic.”

“Shuddup.” You mumbled, giving him a little shove. “I can walk.”

“Oh no you can’t, Tipsy. C’mere.” He crouched down slightly, and you slumped against his back. He picked you up with ease, bouncing you once to hike you higher up his back. He wrapped his arms around your legs, holding them snug against his torso while your hands wrapped around his shoulders.

“Don’t puke on me.” Rex warned, carrying you piggyback style towards the stairs.

“’M gonna fall off.” You muttered.

“No you won’t. Trust me.”

Your eyes were heavy, cheek pressed against the back of Rex’s neck and you remembered a time very long ago when another man had carried you on his back to this rooftop, and said the very same thing.

“I trust you, Rose.”

Rex was still. You hadn’t noticed your slip, your eyes already slipping closed.

“Okay.” His voice echoed. “I’ve got you.”

I’ve got you.

~

TAG LIST:  @fat-zygerrian @ladydiomede @pro-fangirls-unsocial-life @threevie @cheesemachine44 @bubblyacey @fivedicksinatrenchcoat @loverofclones @starwarsgarbage @hockeyjedi13 @crazygirlwithasword @dar-manda-rjct @gotomarvelgal @baba-fett @whore4rex

[solinarimoon]

Fields of Wildflowers - Chapter 11

Fields of Wildflowers 

Chapter 11

A Sihtric x OC story

AN: The story will start to get a little bit off canon/timeline here and in the final few chapters.  Just a heads up.  The previous chapters are here. And my master list can be found here.

Warnings: Typical TLK violence and drama but nothing else I can think of at the moment.

Word Count: 3366

Once the decision had been made by both Cwen and Eadith to travel with the company to Winchester, plans moved quickly.  Horses and provisions were purchased and goodbyes were made.

Lady Aethelflaed did not come to see the journeyers off.  She must maintain a certain level of propriety now and cavorting with her former lover would not rank high on that scale. Cwen also imagined it would be too painful for her to watch as Uhtred rode away.  But Aelfwynn did come, accompanied by Wyllath.  

Cwen said her final goodbyes and helped Aethelstan into the cart to ride alongside his grandmother.

“I am glad for your company, Cwen,” Lady Aelswith said once she had settled next to Aethelstan in the cart. “I would like to offer you a place in the palace to help me with Aethelstan, should you wish it.” The former queen’s words struck Cwen quite a shock. 

“My Lady, it is a very kind offer.  One that I do admit is tempting. But,” she trailed off.  Her eyes  gazed across the courtyard towards where Sihtric was readying the horses, “my future lies elsewhere, I am afraid.”

Lady Aelswith followed Cwen’s gaze and pursed her lips in disapproval.  

Before allowing her to make any disparaging statements, Cwen interjected, “Is there anything else I can do for you, Lady?”

After being given a tight lipped shake of the head, Cwen reached her hand to take Aethelstan’s own. 

“Once we are stopped for the night, would you like me to sing you another song, Aethelstan? Maybe one I can teach your grandmother?”

“Yes, please,” came his gentle voice as he smiled before turning his attention back to the book in his hand.

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

After a full day's travel, the group settled on a place to make camp for the evening.  

Sihtric helped Cwen to dismount her horse and took the opportunity to steal a kiss from her.

The pair chuckled and Cwen hid her face in Sihtric’s chest when they heard Uhtred call,

“Sihtric, I saw that.”

“Sorry, Lord,” Sihtric called back, chuckling and landing another kiss along Cwen’s lips.

Cwen could not help the girlish giggle that came from her and the feeling like a bird was fluttering against the inside of her chest, trying to break free.

In all her years, she could not remember feeling as light and as happy as Sihtric had made her feel since they’re reunion at Aylesbury.  

On the road and on the run, Cwen had felt pulled to him.  But the feeling had been more dense.  Marred by something more grave, somber, serious.  Sihtric’s eyes had always been on her. Studying her and assuring her safety.  Cwen had begun to look for those eyes and found comfort and security in them.

But the dangers of their last journey had passed.  And that curtain, now pulled back from their relationship, shed light on entirely new and exciting aspects of each other they couldn’t wait to explore.

Since their night together in the glade, Cwen found her mind often returning to thoughts of Sihtric’s hands on her body, his lips on her skin.  Her body’s response to him being near her, to feeling his presence excited her.  

“I miss our night in the glade,” Cwen whispered as she looked up to meet his eyes. The look she found there left her knees weak.  

“Well,” the tembur of his voice rumbled in his chest, “while you’re out gathering wood for the fire, if you notice a nice secluded spot,” his words trailed off suggestively.

Swallowing thickly, Cwen took a step away from his embrace and replied, “I’ll keep my eyes open.”

“What you do to me, woman.” Cwen heard him reply as she turned to stride away in search of firewood.  

Cwen had walked several paces when she found Eadith at her side.  The two women helped each other collect several pieces of wood before returning to the campsite only to be sent off once more since it would apparently not be enough for Lady Aelswith.

“It’s her way of showing she likes ya,” Finan told Eadith as the ladies walked past him into the forest again.  Eadith chuckled in reply and continued walking, while Cwen quirked her brow up at Finan.

“Well…?”

“Well what, Cwen?”

Sighing exasperatedly, Cwen replied “You still haven’t talked to her?”

“Hush,” Finan gestured with his hands for Cwen to quiet her voice. “And no… at least not yet.  Now go get more firewood, Cwen.  The Lady Aelswith is cold.” he chided her away.

Smirking and shaking her head, Cwen turned on her heel and followed after Eadith into the woods.

“So how does it feel?” Eadith pried after the pair had been silently collecting wood for several minutes.

“How does what feel, Eadith?” Cwen smiled over at her friend.

“Oh you know, just embarking on a new journey with a new lover?”

“Oh you cheeky..” Cwen trailed off after kicking up a small stick at Eadith and managing to not drop the pile of wood balanced in her arms.

“Honestly, Eadith, it just feels right.  It feels like I have found a piece of myself that was missing... that I did not even know was missing.  But now it is reunited with me and I am whole.”

“Well I am very happy for you, my friend.”

“Thank you, Eadith.  Now let us head back and see if this is enough wood for Lady Aelswith’s cold bones.”

Laughing, the two women turned to trek back along their path to camp, but their voices fell silent as they got closer and saw many horses and warriors surrounding their camp.

“What is this?” Eadith hisses while the two crouch low behind a tree.

“I do not know.  I can not make out any words.”

Cwen gasped and clasped her hands over her mouth as she watched men grab Aelswith and Aethelstan and march them over to climb into a cart along with Stiorra.

She can only watch in terror as the cart ambles away only to then have her attention caught again as she heard Finan cry out and the Dane’s crowd in around the men.

“What are they doing?” Cwen whispers harshly as their men are tied and strung upside down from tree branches.

Eadith does not respond, only stares ahead.

Cwen can see Sihtric fighting against his restraints and feels a steely resolve in her mind.

“They will die.  We must do something.  A..a..a diversion.” Cwen rambles as she formulates a plan.

“What sort of diversion?”

“Anything! Anything to bring the guards away from the tree.” Cwen hissed while she looked around for any sort of idea. 

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

At the tree, Sihtric struggled and fought against his restraints, only succeeding in wearing himself out and increasing his blood flow. 

His vision began to get spotty and he could feel himself beginning to fade. 

“Sihtric,” he heard Uhtred’s voice. It sounded far away and slow. “Sihtric, stay awake.”

“Cwen,” Sihtric groaned. “They can’t find her…” he mumbled.

But his thoughts were interrupted by Osferth dangling next to him from the tree. 

“Hey, it will be alright. They don’t know about her. Just stay awake, eh? Stay awake for her.”

At that moment, Sihtric heard a strangled, terrified scream come from the surrounding forest. As one of the Danes guarding the tree ran off to investigate, Sihtric felt the panic set in that it was Cwen screaming. 

Meanwhile In the woods Eadith was crouched over in the forest floor with her back turned to the approaching Dane. Cwen stood over her, clutching at her shoulders and feigning panic. 

“What’s this?” Cried the Dane as he got close enough to touch the two women. 

“It’s my sister. We were out collecting mushrooms and I don’t know what happened.  She’s with child and just fell and screamed. Please help us!”

Her pleading worked as the Dane rushed to Eadith’s side. 

Cwen stood back as he approached and allowed him to come between herself and Eadith. Once he was on a knee and therefore lower than Cwen herself, she grabbed a knife from his belt and before he could turn to learn what was happening, she plunged the knife into the side of the man’s neck.  Quickly, Eadith stood and backed away searching the woods for signs of the second guard.

Cwen pulled the blade out of the man’s flesh with a sickening squelch, but seeing him continue to struggle she forced the knife into his throat once more.  

A look of horror crossed her face while she watched the burly man fall to bleed at her feet, his mouth gaping open and shut like a fish.

“Orm…. Orm,” Cwen was startled from her horror as Eadith clutched at her and the two women knew they must move or else be found by the second guardsman.  Eadith grabbed the axe from the dying man’s belt as Cwen held on tightly to the bloody knife.

The ladies crept through the forest silently, skirting the edge of the treeline and avoiding the Dane.

As soon as they knew he was occupied searching in the distance, Eadith ran forward clutching the axe while Cwen rushed to Sihtric, cutting the bonds at his wrists.

As she cut, Cwen tried to rouse him, “Sihtric, wake up.  We’re cutting you down, so you have to wake up! Please wake up!”

Cwen breathed a little easier when she heard him begin to groan in response to her shouts.

“Eadith the axe!” Cwen gestured to the rope at Sihtric’s feet.

“Hold him steady,” Eadith rushed while swinging the axe upward, striking at the ropes.

After several cuts, Sihtric’s rope frayed and snapped and he dropped onto the ground and into Cwen’s arms.

Eadith moved on to help free Father Pyrlig next while Cwen tried to shake senses into Sihtric.

As he sat up, Sihtric gasped, regaining some of the feeling in his upper extremities.  

Then, before Cwen could register what was happening, the other Dane was back darting towards them.  Sihtric was up and moving away from her to keep the man back while Eadith continued to cut the men down.

But Sihtric had not fully recovered from being strung upside down.  The Dane overpowered him after a few moments, but it did not last long as Cwen tackled the enemy off of her lover.

By that time, Eadith had been able to free Father Pyrlig who rushed to Cwen’s side, forcing her away to safety as Sihtric grabbed the Dane and shoved him backwards, held tight against the tree.  Cwen watched as Pyrlig grappled with the man now too, restraining his arms while Sihtric used a knife to stab at his belly repeatedly.

Cwen turned her attention now to helping the others cut their ropes and regain the strength to stand. 

She was supporting Finan who was rubbing at his legs when she felt Sihtric’s hands grasp desperately at her shoulders.

He cupped her face then grabbed at her hands holding them up to inspect them, “Are you hurt, Cwen?  Did they,”

Stilling his panic, Cwen hushed his fears, “It is not my blood.  It is the first guard’s.  I...I killed him.” As soon as the words left her lips, Cwen could feel her own panic begin to rise. Her breathing became erratic and her eyes locked on the blood covering her hands and wrists. 

“Hey, hey, hey.  We are alive.  Breathe. Cwen, look at me.”

Cwen did as he said and found his eyes as they both continued to try and regain control of their breathing.  

Their moment was broken when Cwen realized Uhtred and the others were rapidly discussing plans.

“What happened? We could not hear anything. Only saw them take them.”

“It was Haesten, an old enemy who wishes me dead.  While we were all in Mercia, the Danes have taken Winchester.  That is where they are taking my daughter.”

Cwen could only stare in shock at this news.

“Lord,” Finan interjected, “they do not know who she is. They don’t know she is your daughter.”

Uhtred growled but Cwen watched as he immediately began to strategize.  Ever the lord and leader.

“Pyrlig, find Edward and inform him of what has happened here.  The rest of us, we go on to Winchester.  They will not take what is not theirs. Not while I live.”

The next moments are a flurry of activity as swords are retrieved and everyone begins a quick run following the route the enemies had taken.

Cwen grasps for Eadith’s hand who was still clutching the axe. 

“We have to move,” she breathed although the conviction in her own voice fell short.

As if breaking from a trance, Eadith meets Cwen’s eyes, nods and Cwen sees her resolve return.

Sihtric grasps her shoulder as he takes the axe from Eadith and they begin to run.

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

They seemed to run endlessly, hours and hours.  Cwen’s breath was ragged and her feet ached.  But she knew they must make it to Winchester.

There is a good chance that the Danes do not know they have Edward’s first born son as prisoner, but the idea that Aethelstan may be harmed or worse gave her the stamina to continue until nightfall and beyond.

Eventually they did stop for rest and to recuperate for a short while when the night became too dark.

Too tired to do anything more than flop to the earth, the group lay down, all panting, and stretching, and aching.

Sihtric moved himself to lean against a tree and Cwen placed her body between his knees, relaxing into his arms.

She felt as his hand rose to brush his fingers through her hair and he kissed the top of her head before resting his forehead against it and taking deep, steadying breaths.

“I can feel your heart,” she whispered softly.

“It still beats because of you, lady.” He replied, not moving his head, his mouth mere inches away from her ear.

Cwen smiled silently and focused her attention on listening to his heartbeat and continuing to catch her breath.

“You were wonderful, Cwen.”

“I was terrified,” Cwen revealed. “I still am.  If anything happens to Aethelstan,” she trailed off.

“I know.”  Sihtric did not try to tell her it would all be alright.  There was no way to know that it would be.  And Cwen appreciated him all the more for that.

Instead, Sihtric continued to stroke her hair as they both listened to their breathing returning to normal.

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

After what felt like an eternity of running, they approached the gates of Winchester and took stock of the situation while regaining their breath under a large tree.

Cwen craned her neck to look up to the ramparts where men were pacing and spikes had been placed. Spikes with the heads of dead Saxon’s adorning them. 

This new Dane, Sigtryggr, seemed to be utilizing different tactics. It appeared the city was preparing for a siege. Something the Danes had not done in the past. 

Cwen sat and listened while Uhtred discussed ideas for what to do. 

“We are known here,” Osferth reminded them all. 

She felt Sihtric tense next to her, “Yes. Someone would give us up for their own safety.”

“But I am not!” Cwen spoke up forcefully. 

The eyes of her friends all turned to her and she felt Sihtric’s gaze burning into her. 

Cwen glanced his way for a moment before continuing. “I am not known here. I haven’t been back to Winchester for many years. No one will know me. I can find them and”

“We can find them,” Eadith interjected. Cwen turned to face her friend. “Neither of us will be noticed. Cwen is right. We could hold out in the siege. Keep eyes on our people. If possible let them know you’re here.”

“Exactly,” Cwen agreed. “When the time comes that you can enter the city and retake it, it will help to know where they are being kept.  And it will bring them comfort to know you are here.”

Finan looked at Eadith and Cwen in turn and Uhtred mulled the idea over.

“You do not have to do this,” Finan spoke.

“There will be no protection for you.  There is no way to know what you will find in there.” Cwen heard Sihtrics' low voice.

“You are right.  Both of you,” Cwen looks at the men in turn. “But we don’t really have any other options.  And if there is something I can do to help the people we love in there then I will do it.”

“You are sure, Cwen? Eadith?” Uhtred asks.

“Yes,” both ladies reply.

“Then we will find you some provisions to bring in with you.  You can not enter the city empty handed. Let’s go.” Uhtred finishes while standing and retreating back with the others to search for food or other useful items left along the road by those fleeing to the safety of the city walls.

As Cwen stands, she feels Sihtric’s hand reach out to take her wrist, holding her back as the others leave.

“I do not like this plan.” His words are honest and slow.  Cwen looks at him and has difficulty deciphering the tone of his voice.  

“I know you may be angry, but I can not stand by and do nothing.”

“Doing nothing might be better than doing something foolish,” Sihtric hissed while looking down at Cwen’s feet.

Cwen took a step back from him, the shock at his words written on her face.  Sihtric allowed her wrist to fall from his hand and he brought his eyes up to see the hurt in Cwen’s eyes.

“You are not the only one who can protect those you care about.” Cwen hissed in reply to his words.  “I have cared for Aethelstan as I did for Aelfwynn.  They mean the world to me and I meant what I told Lord Uhtred.  If there is a chance I can be of help inside those walls then that is what I will do.” Cwen’s words came out clipped and tight as she drew her arms tight around herself.  Farther from his reach.

She winced when she saw him scoff and run his fingers through his hair then down his face, leaving them resting in front of his mouth for a moment.

“You will need this on you.” He said taking a knife from it’s sheath on his belt.

“Keep it hidden but on you at all times.”  His words were methodic and instructive now.  The matter-of-fact instructions directed both of their attention away from the harsh words they had each spoken.

“If you need to use it, aim for one of the areas that is likely to do the most damage and allow you to get away.”

Sihtric brought his body close to hers now and demonstrated where to place the blade and how best to hold it.  

Once the impromptu lesson finished, the others had returned bearing a basket with a small amount of food and a large earthen jug.

“Thank you,” Cwen looked up at Sihtric through her lashes to find something unreadable on his face.  He spoke no more words, instead closing his eyes and resting his forehead against hers.  A gesture Cwen had come to realize held special intimacy for her Dane and his companions.

Cwen breathed deeply hoping to quell the frustration in her head at his words earlier, but it only dulled the ache.  

After a few silent moments, Cwen pulled away and placed the knife in the pocket of her skirt before turning to head back to meet the others by the large oak, leaving Sihtric behind her and standing next to Eadith.

She took the jug, filled with water from Osferth’s grasp and then the two ladies walked towards the walls of Winchester.

Neither knowing what danger they may find inside.  Or what enemies may lie within.

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

*please let me know if you would like to be added or removed from my tag list.

Tags: @maggiescarborough @pokeasleepingsmaug @nxrdist @mystic-shadows42 @emilyhufflepufftlk @magravenwrites @lauwrite1225 @morosemagick @thebohemianpenguin @mrsalwayswrite @notyourwildestdream @obipoelover @ecarroll1978 @93xdiagonxalley @nobodys-business-world @evelynshelby @deans-ch-ch-cherrypie

[feanorianethicsdepartment]

more of tauriel’s hellfamily adventures! there’s still a couple of gaps in my conception of this au, which is why these are bullet points and not an actual fic, but i think i’ve got enough to progress the plot, such as it is. certainly got a bunch of anecdotes i think are funny

i’m not even going to bother explaining how tauriel ended up in one of the fëanorians’ boltholes being treated for mild injuries

nothing super serious, but enough that she’s out of action for the rest of the night. the palace is on fire

the bolthole opens, and celegorm (who’s doing first aid) turns his head. his preemptive scowl melts away instantly. ‘hi elrond!’

the former lord of imladris just sighs. ‘please tell me you idiots haven’t abducted tauriel’

legolas has concerns, apparently. he saw celegorm vanish into an alleyway with her slung over his shoulder and immediately started panicking

‘i've talked him into delaying his rescue mission until i had the chance to check that she was safe’ elrond finishes, sounding absolutely exhausted

tauriel confirms that she is doing fine, as much as she can through the concussion. celegorm’s like ‘if he’s so worried about her why doesn’t he just come up here’

elrond disappears, and a few minutes later legolas scrambles inside

he’s glaring at celegorm. celegorm tells him where the first aid kit is, punches him on the arm, compliments his tracking skills in a vaguely threatening manner, and jumps back out to assist with the chaos

legolas collapses by tauriel’s bedside, still clutching his bow. tauriel pats him on the thigh reassuringly

neither of them are surprised elrond knows the fëanorians - they stayed in his place in tol eressëa for a while, dude knows literally everyone - but they don’t really know why

closer to dawn, elrond’s voice drifts up into the hideout. he’s going on this long irritated rant that climaxes in an extremely exasperated ‘valardamnit dad!’

maglor cackles. tauriel’s like ‘huh didn’t know that.’ legolas makes a face like he accidentally swallowed a spider

by this point, tauriel’s known the brothers hellspawn for long enough legolas has been unnervingly close to a kinslayer way more times than he’d like

this is the longest he’s spent in proximity to them by far, but it’s not the only time he’s interacted with them. they seem to like tauriel, and he knows she can take care of herself

but like still

it keeps happening, though. as tauriel further ingratiates herself with these awful awful elves, her two separate social circles keep bleeding into each other

take the time legolas and co visited the aulendili

before they left middle-earth, gimli whipped round every dwarf they knew and assembled several volumes of complaints. they refuse to confirm or deny whether aulë is the maker, but they are determined someone’s gonna hear their grievances

and thus a small wagon train of wood elves head up into the mountains. including tauriel

tauriel offhandedly mentioned the upcoming trip to the twins, and amras was like ‘hey we’ve got family up there!’ a few messages went up and down the funicular, and now gimli and crew have a place to crash up there

they’re put up by some of the fëanorians’ less murderous (if equally loud) relatives. it’s a pretty interesting trip

half the town is redheads. several people still mistake tauriel for a fëanorian. it’s been happening a lot in the wider noldorin territory lately, it’s weird

caranthir stumbles up into town about halfway through their visit. he gets into an extremely long philosophical argument with gimli that somehow ends with a mutual dwarven nod of respect

he also ends up fighting back-to-back with tauriel in one of those debatebrawls so common among the noldor. neither of them is quite sure how it happens

that’s the way it goes, isn’t it. there’s no big official moment when tauriel becomes part of the family

she just grows closer to them over her time in valinor, as they do to her

she merges into their social world. she develops a rapport with maglor’s wife - a first age mountain sinda and a third age forest avar don’t have that much in common, but they are both looking at noldorin culture from the outside. they have so many injokes about ridiculous bling

(it goes the other way too. this childhood friend oc of hers i’m developing - pretty sweet guy, the token sane man in the legolas-tauriel-him trinity - gets along really well with celebrimbor)

this one time tauriel punches a guy out for calling elrond a traitor. it doesn’t matter that he’s like three times her age, he is babey

she gets chewed out by maedhros and tests out new devices for curufin and drops in on nerdanel for tea. even though she doesn’t permanently live in the definitely-not-fëanorian quarter, she has her own personal space in its innermost warren

she’s one of them long before anyone consciously realises it

what causes that realisation is, admittedly, partially the conspiracy theories. if you say something often enough, you’ll start to believe it, and while the tauriel origin stories circulating through the noldorin rumour mill vary a lot in the details they all agree she is a fëanorian

but that’s a gradual long-term thing. it’s one more thread that leads to the moment

because there has to be an inflection point, i think. the fëanorians have plenty of family friends within the ranks of their definitely-not-minions. some are even as close to them as tauriel’s become

something has to happen to show she’s something more. fortunately, as demonstrated by the darkening and the númenorian invasion, no matter how peaceful it seems, history never stops

shit goes down. the exact details i’ll admit i don’t know yet, but at some point some sort of massive crisis rocks all of valinor. it’s during that crisis that tauriel does stuff that makes it blindingly obvious she’s not just on her side, but one of them

what stuff? again, i don’t know yet. i have this mental image of her leading a strike team that’s half definitely-not-minions and half legolas’ people through a burning city to do... something badass, but that’s as specific as i can get atm

what i am certain about, is that throughout the unfolding of the crisis, tauriel is permanently on the fëanorians’ side, just like they’re on hers

it’s one thing to be someone’s friend in bright happy days. it’s another thing to stick by them when everything’s falling to pieces and the whole world is against them. it’s in the depths of this crisis that both parties have the chance to fully prove their worth to each other

that probably wouldn’t be enough on its own, but combined with the friendship and the conspiracy theories and just the general way she is, once the dust settles it’s blazingly clear that tauriel is a daughter of the house of fëanor

there’s a little debate about where exactly she fits on the family tree, but not much. our sample size is admittedly small, but third generation fëanorians tend to have the slightest modicum of common sense? elrond and celebrimbor both have a fair degree of self-awareness and at least a few brain cells

tauriel does not. tauriel is mad, bad, and dangerous to know, just smart enough to understand that her sheer chaoticness is something she can channel but not nearly close to regularly thinking through the consequences of her actions. she’s loud and violent and does whatever she wants whenever she wants without a single thought towards what people will think of her

and more than that, she doesn’t relate to the second generation fëanorians the way the third generation does. she’s their friend and partner-in-crime, not one of their precious perfect must-protect children. she gets jerked around and bullied and does all that stuff right back, and while she doesn’t have a solid place in the second generation’s internal hierarchy yet she would easily slot in

no, tauriel’s a second generation fëanorian, one of fëanor and nerdanel’s horrible children. the fact that fëanor is currently indisposed and unable to provide an opinion on the matter doesn’t seem to bother anyone

she gets inducted into the family in a massive group hug, and from then on out the brothers hellspawn are the siblings hellspawn

her new family doesn’t replace her old one, of course, she has a long talk with elrond wherein she hashes this out. she’s still a silvan of the greenwood

she’s just also the little sister of the most bloodthirsty elves in history

(that sound in the background is legolas screaming)

[tiredassmage]

Character Profile ❅ Astor Caulfield

But the AU one. Also yes, I just took a bunch of pics in one set, shhh, am lazy atm.

BASICS ---

Name: Astor Monroe Caulfield

Age: 28 years (By approximately Heavensward)

Nameday: 17th sun of the 3rd Umbral Moon

Race: Midlander Hyur

Gender: Male

Sexuality: Bisexual

Martial Status: Single, though still mourning

OC Tags: ch: astor caulfield, vs: dragonsong (the first being his overall character tag, the second being specifically for our lovingly dubbed heretic au x,D, which this sheet is for!)

PHYSICAL APPEARANCE ---

Hair: Dark brown, usually pulled back into a single, neat braid, though occasionally simply done up in a ponytail. When free, full length hangs roughly about his mid-shoulders down his back. He somehow manages to keep it relatively neat, despite the relatively frequent travel - part of why it’s usually tied up.

Eyes: A pale crystal blue, almost gray if you catch him in the right (or wrong) lighting.

Height: 5 fulms, 10 ilms.

Build: Average, with broad shoulders.

Distinguishing Marks: Little physically that isn’t covered by general physical descriptions. The stark contrast of his dark hair and pale eyes is usually enough to stick to people, if they’re trying, and the way his hair is always braided back.

Common Accessories: Generally carries a full deck of arcanima, regardless of current job. Generally wears a relatively simple band with a small design of blue gems set into it resembling ice or crystal. A simple leather necklace with an aged, once silver (at least in color, if not partially in material) charm usually worn freely over robes and other clothing - an inheritance from his mother.

PERSONAL ---

Profession: Scion of the Seventh Dawn, he supposes, if you’d want to be technical. Generally speaking, just an adventuring companion to the Warrior of Light. Previously, a high-ranking member of Iceheart’s band, and something of an unofficial keeper of their knowledge.

Main Job: Astrologian and, later, Summoner, learned in the course of helping the Scions and Warriors of Light combat the persistent primal threat.

Hobbies: Gardening, a light and quiet enthusiast for drawing (he keeps a small journal of sketches of various landmarks and such from his adventures that he also keeps little scribbles of notes in, don’t perceive him, especially if he didn’t tell you). Let him hear of animals in need of rescue or adoption at your own risk because he’ll probably at least really consider taking them on himself. Occasionally indulges in a little fortune telling with his deck. Not that he’d admit it. And not that he’d do it for just anyone. Usually for his own peace (or opposite) of mind.

Languages: Possessed of the Echo, but native to the Eorzean Common Tongue, both spoken and written.

Residence: He hasn’t really felt settled anywhere since he left Tailfeather and Anyx Trine behind, but likely has a small retreat of a residence either somewhere in Gridania or Revenant’s Toll, so as not to be too far from Scion operations when necessary.

Birthplace: Tailfeather, the Dravanian Forelands. A little north of it, technically. But it’s the closest town, and that’ll do.

Religion: Though not exactly practicing, had offered his beliefs to the Twelve, and selected patron in Nymeia, the Spinner, though adventures since would have made him question a fair bit of things.

Fears: Disinclined to be totally alone, abandoned. Wildfires. Being manipulated and used as a tool or weapon, particularly against the few he does cherish. Not being fast enough to save someone else he loves - and, worse, not being able to do a damn thing even if he was there.

RELATIONSHIPS ---

Spouse: Ysayle. No, he’s never quite recovered, even by Shadowbringers, though he has learned to live with it, to carry his grief and move forward, instead of being held back.

Children: None, currently. Though he wouldn’t be opposed to the idea.

Parents: A father he didn’t know too well, lost to bandits on the roads when he was sixteen, and his mother, Gaia, lost when he was eighteen to illness.

Siblings: None

Other Relatives: None by blood, though the Scions are something of a found family, with time. He has also endeared himself to several of the dravanian residents of Anyx Trine, and got no small amount of delight in working with the younglings.

Pets: A hunting hawk named Zephira he nursed back to health from a broken wing.

TRAITS ---

Extroverted / In Between / Introverted

Disorganized / In Between / Organized

Close Minded / In Between / Open Minded

Calm / In Between / Anxious

Disagreeable / In Between / Agreeable

Cautious / In Between / Reckless

Patient / In Between / Impatient

Outspoken / In Between / Reserved

Leader / In Between / Follower

Empathetic / In Between / Apathetic

Optimistic / In Between / Pessimistic

Traditional / In Between / Modern

Hard-working / In Between / Lazy

Cultured / In Between / Uncultured

Loyal / In Between / Disloyal

Faithful / In Between / Unfaithful

HABITS ---

Smoking: Never

Drugs: Never

Alcohol: Occasionally, and only lightly. Usually socially.

ABOUT ---

Born and raised in the Dravanian Wilds to a humble hunter and trader and healer who had spent some time studying in New Sharlayan before she had left, Astor would see little of his father in his youth, though he’d know him to be a decent and loyal man. He was closest with his mother - almost insparable, they were just as much friends and as family. From her, he soaked up as much of her knowledge as she could share, eagerly taking after her in learning healing arts from conjury to the art of the astrologians. The young boy was particularly entranced with the art of drawing magic from the heavens and their representative cards. Together, him and his mother ran a small clinic from their home just north of Tailfeather, occasionally traveling into town to trade and work with the hunters there.

On one of his hunting and trading trips, his father was killed by bandits and thieves when he was sixteen, leaving just him and his mother with little closure on the who of the deed - not that it mattered. Knowing wouldn’t bring him home, and they still had lives to lead for themselves, and patients to tend to, so they carried on. Sadly, one might have said it was the first strike of tragedy, as his mother feel ill no more than two years later, and, despite his best efforts both physical and magical, her condition refused to improve until she passed shortly after his eighteenth nameday. Though the boy struggled to grieve the loss of his closest friend, he persisted their work in the clinic for two more years before the Calamity struck and changed everything as all had known it.

In the cold and snows that followed, Astor met Ysayle, and the pair of dreamers quickly grew close. Astor packed up to follow her where her dreams would lead them - into revolution, change for a better future, and an end to a war that had mired so many lives for far too long.

Over time, he became one of her most trusted comrades, filling a role akin to a second-in-command, often tending to their forces himself in the wake of skirmishes and conflict with Ishgardian forces and otherwise. When finally the Scions and the Warriors of Light entered the fray, it was with wariness and caution he met these would-be heroes. His trust would not be so easy to earn; he would not risk all they had worked for thus far - beloved, just hero of the realm or just some overzealous knights filled with lies and duty. Though, if Ysayle deemed them worthy of trust and cooperation... he would concede, for now. But he’d be keeping a very close eye on them.

Ysayle’s eventual death struck him hard and shook him to the core. He was quick to withdraw from their new would-be companions in his struggle to process the loss, though he ultimately agreed to see the battles through to the end - their vision, their dreams, could not end here. As Ishgard entered a period of reform and unrest in the wake of Thordan’s defeat and demise, Astor withdrew further to Anyx Trine, preferring to spend his time with the dragons - the better to perhaps find his own footing in the new unstable ground the nation tread upon.

Eventually, the mage would re-approach the Scions and Warriors of Light and ask, if they would permit it, something of a second try... He... had not exactly been warm with them before then, but... they had helped, when it wasn’t their fight, really... And Ysayle had believed in them. Trusted them. And this was all real... it was really happening... And he couldn’t stay.

He needed a new purpose, a new direction. One he could, perhaps, call more of his own. He would join them in their battles and adventures, if they would be amicable to it... For those they had lost. For those they could yet save.

[biggest-stupidhead]

Freedom Seekers (Levi x OC)

Summary: The seekers embark on their journey, meanwhile the scouts also strike out in search of dragons that have been stirring up trouble near a small village. 

Warnings: Vomit, minor violence

Word Count: 5.1K 

 Levi stood on the sidelines of the large field and watched as his trainees sparred with each other. The sun glared over them, the day was hot for so early on in the summer. The large field was dry and dusty due to the cadets’ boots kicking up the loose earth. Levi watched the nearest pair spar, a short blonde girl and an averagely tall boy with dark brown hair. The fight was over nearly as soon as it started, the blonde girl walking away victorious as the boy landed flat on his ass at his captain’s feet. As the dust settled, Levi noticed a layer of grime settling on his perfectly polished leather boots. He looked down to see the boy rubbing the back of his neck, those jade green eyes of his looking up at Levi a bit sheepishly. 

“You are completely limp out there Jaeger. The goal is to fight your partner, not dance around them.” Levi said now looking at the blonde who had thrown the boy, she was waiting patiently for the kid to return to the fray. The dark haired boy sat up, clearly winded, his shoulders sagged in defeat, Levi stared down to him and kicked his back slightly. Pushing him back on their “battlefield.” 

“Levi.” A familiar voice said behind him. He turned around to see Hange at the gate. She was kneeled over, sweat dripped down her nose, her glasses fogging from the heat and accumulated sweat. Disgusting. He thought to himself as he watched her catch her breath.

“What is it Hange?” Levi asked, walking over to the woman. 

“Erwin needs us to suit up.” Hange said, composing herself. Levi looked around at his team, who were now all listening to their conversation. Large smiles spread on most of their faces, work had been slow since the kingdom had succeeded in capturing Marley. He sighed and walked back over to his team, his arms placed behind his back, head held high. 

“Go get yourselves cleaned up. Captain Hange and I will be back with orders.” Levi ordered, the teenagers all began to head for their assigned barracks to wash up and pull on their uniforms. Once the last of the cadets had fled the field he turned and watched Hange rise to her full height. She swiped the back of her hand over her forehead as she sighed. Levi reached deep into his pocket and produced a neat handkerchief, he offered her the piece of fabric and she accepted it gratefully. 

“Care to share more details about this mission?” Levi asked as he turned to retreat back to the main building where the superior officers of the Scouting Regiment worked and lived. 

“Of course! Essentially there has been an increase in sightings outside of a small village located near Shiganshina. At least three different dragons have been identified in the area. Erwin has given me permission to bring in the smallest of the trio-” 

“That’s enough.” Levi cut her off before she could get too carried away. She huffed in defeat, the wind seeming to leave her sails at Levi’s interruption. 

“Erwin just needs to brief us.” Hange said, now fully composed. She turned and walked away, Levi followed her. Walking a few good paces behind her. They went into the large castle-like building. The space was not up to his standards of cleanliness by any means. The scouts were only using the building as a temporary headquarters, meaning that Erwin had forbidden Levi from cleaning too obsessivelyI. The building was plagued with the smell of mildew and sweat, it made the man want to pinch his nose to attempt to block out the urge to scrub the place down until it shined. He managed to push those urges into the back of his mind as the pair climbed a set of stairs up to the second story where Erwin’s office was. 

Hange knocked on the door three times before letting herself in, the heavy wooden doors groaned in protest as she pushed into the room. Erwin was sitting behind his desk, which was covered in a large map of the continent; he didn’t bother to look up as they entered. Sunlight streamed in through the large bay windows behind him, casting him in a golden glow, his blonde hair shining in the natural light. 

“Eyebrows.” Hange greeted as she saluted a bit lazily, Erwin hummed a small smile playing onto his lips. Levi rolled his eyes and made his way to the nearest wall so he could prop himself against it. 

“Glad that you both could make it.” Erwin finally set his pen down and looked up at the pair. Hange was leaning on his desk, eagerly awaiting his orders. 

“As if we wouldn’t come.” Levi scoffed, rolling his eyes a bit at Erwin’s words. Erwin let out a bark of laughter at the captain’s reply. 

“I’m sure you were enjoying yourself with the cadets out in the courtyard?” Erwin replied smoothly, a mischievous glint in his sapphire eyes. 

“Not in a million years.” Levi grunted, the mere thought of the idiotic children causing a migrane fester within his head. 

“Aw Levi you know that you love those little kids.” Hange cooed as she turned to smile at Levi. 

“I do not.” Levi objected, hoping that Erwin would get on with the assignment. 

“Anyway, I’m sure you’re eager to hear about your next assignment, yes?” Erwin mused, reaching into one of the towering piles of paper and pulling out an envelope. 

“Please.” Levi said exasperatedly as Erwin passed the envelope off to the brunette. 

“Rumor has it there is a trio of dragons that have been spotted on the edge of the western wood, along with a pair of dragon seekers. I’d like for you to bring as many of them back alive as you can. This includes the dragons.” Erwin instructed as he dug around in his desk and pulled out another paper, this one was passed off to Levi, who immediately scanned the document with narrowed eyes. Essentially it was a list of supplies that they were to bring along, chains, dragon skin armor, steel blades, herbs that worked as a powerful sedative etc. 

“Of course, where will we put the beast if we manage to bring one back alive?” Hange inquired as she tucked the envelope into her breast pocket. 

“I’ve made preparations.” Erwin said vaguely much to Hange’s dismay. 

“I’ll trust your judgement Erwin…” Hange said slowly, her brown eyes glinting in the sunlight. 

“When will you expect us back?” Levi asked, folding the paper neatly and placing it safely in his breast pocket. Erwin stood up straight and crossed his arms over his broad chest, a thoughtful look falling over his face. 

“No later than two months time.” Erwin said after a moment of thought. Levi scoffed, his gaze hardening at the estimation. 

“Do you really think it will take that long?” Levi growled, his chin tilting downwards as he scowled at the commander. 

“Hm hopefully not, but I’m sure it will be longer than the recent missions that you’ve been assigned.” Erwin replied, eyebrows knitting together as he pondered the time frame that they were looking at. 

“We’ll have it done by then.” Hange said, conviction thick in her tone. Levi nodded in agreement. 

“The sooner the better, we have to be close to wiping those creatures off the face of the continent.” Levi stated as he glanced up at the dusty bookshelves that lined the walls. Erwin hummed thoughtfully as he drummed his thick calloused fingers on the wood. 

“Agreed, but let’s not get sloppy with this one.” Erwin said darkly as he looked up and scanned his eyes over his two comrades' expressions. They both nodded in agreement and saluted him one last time before leaving to gather their squad and supplies. Hange closed the door softly behind them as they left Erwin’s office, her face was screwed up tightly as she thought about the information that they had just received. 

“I’ll get the brats, you ready the supply wagons.” Levi said, pulling her from her thoughts. She nodded and shot him a weak smile before splitting up with him and heading in the direction of the supply shed. Levi sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose, it was going to be a hassle to corral the teens. They hadn’t seen action since the front lines of the war about 4 months prior. He knew that they were probably excited to return to work, while Levi had hoped for a longer break. 

By the time that Levi had reached the parlor, his squad was already lined up, knapsacks at their ankles and fists over their hearts. 

“Hm must say I’m impressed.” Levi admitted as he walked slowly in front of the teens, his shoulders pulled back and hands neatly folded across his lower back. 

“Not often that you idiots are punctual.” Levi mused as he stopped in front of Connie, who was now towering over him. 

“We’re ready sir!” Connie said enthusiastically as he tipped his chin down to look at his captain. 

“Really? Have you double checked your packs yet?” Levi asked with a quirked brow. The kids shuffled a bit guiltily before all collectively stooping and rifling through their bags to double check. Once they were finished Levi gave a curt nod of approval before motioning for them to follow him outside. 

The sun was now hiding behind a thick cloud, casting dark shadows over the encampment. The wagon was nearly ready, a few other lower ranking cadets were scrambling to load the last of the sacks as Hange leaned against the edge, her nose in a book. Levi walked up alongside her and tapped her boot with his own. 

“All set then?” She asked as the teens circled up, the reins of their horses in their fists. 

“Yes ma'am!” Armin said enthusiastically, he’d always been a suck up to Hange. 

“Very well then, Moblit my horse!” Hange said, shutting her book with a loud snapping sound. Moblit, her assistant traded her the reins for her book, a nervous look on his face. 

“You’ll be careful, right section commander?” He asked, eyes wide and almost pleading. Hange waved him off dismissively and laughed a bit, reaching out to ruffle the young man’s hair. 

“Of course Moblit, we’ll be back before you know it!” She assured him, Levi glanced up to see another young cadet bringing his steed over, the black stallion tossed it’s mane, he knew what was going on. Levi accepted the reins with a curt nod in thanks, he tugged himself up and into the saddle, the rest of his cadets following his lead. Armin jogged around the wagon and climbed onto the front seat, clutching the reins as he awaited Levi’s order. Once Levi had done his usual head count and was pleased with the seven heads that he counted he tugged his horses’ reins and trotted out of the fort, his squad behind him. 

“We’ll reach the western woods in three days' time.” He called over the sound of horse hooves as they thundered out of the fortress. 

 __ 

   Frankie and Killian walked leisurely through the dense forest. The two teens hadn’t talked for what seemed like miles, but they both felt a small  comfort in one another's company. 

 “You want some?” Killian asked, shoving a small Kebabed rabbit in front of Frankie's face. She pushed it away, already full from the rabbit that she’d had earlier. 

“Fine. More for me I guess.” Killian said, grabbing the remaining rabbit of the small stick and swallowing it whole. Frankie looked at the boy with disgust. He gave her a toothy smile. The afternoon sun beamed down through the canopy of the dense wood and Frankie sighed, they had planned on moving largely at night, when dragons were to be most active. 

“We have to be close. I can feel it.” Frankie said looking around to only see an abundance of trees. She hoped that they could leave the pitiful camp before sundown to continue their journey through the woods. 

“Frank’s. It can take years. We just have to try and have fun while you’re out here.” Killian said, nudging the young girl. She rolled her eyes, of course he would say something stupid like that, he was the one with years to try, she only had about ten months left. 

“I just can’t shake the feeling that something’s here.” Frankie said, turning a corner by the mountain side. They had elected to camp at the foot of a mountain, which was on the edge of the woods, the village about a day’s walk away. Although Frankie was in her element, shrouded by trees, bow on her back and hunting knife secured on her hip, she still felt uneasy. The wood was rumored to be populated largely by mythical creatures yet they hadn't seen anything more exotic than a quail. She stood and rested her hand against the steep wall of the mountain, the stone seemed to hum underneath her fingertips and she pulled her hand back as if she had been struck. She gasped and stared in awe at the mountain side, tilting her head curiously she slowly reached out and placed her fingertips timidly against the stone once more. This time she wasn’t startled by the humming stone, instead she closed her eyes and focused on the vibrations. 

She’d felt this feeling before, it was familiar yet foriegn all at once. Yes, this was the unmistakable feeling of magic, a powerful spell at that. Excitement bubbled in her chest as she recalled the lesson that the elder had taught them a few years back, about how some strong dragons had the ability to cast spells. She pulled her hand back and turned to beam at Killian. 

“Come feel this Killian!” She called out, running over and dragging the boy to his feet and over to the stone. She pressed his open palm onto the mountside, his brows furrowed as she looked up at him expectantly. 

“I knew you should’ve eaten, you’re seeing things.” He teased, pulling his hand off the rock and looking down at her with a wry smirk. She rolled her eyes and looked back at their small camp, 

“Pack it up, we need to check this out, it feels like powerful earth magic.” Frankie said, determination written on her face as she grabbed a handful of dry dirt and tossed it on the fire. The flames flickered out and Killian began to gather their sleeping rolls. Frankie swung her bag over her shoulder and looked back up at the mountain. Killian returned to her side with the supplies in hand, he watched her expectantly, trusting her judgement though he didn’t get the same feeling as her. He did know that it smelled of rain in his nose, a damp smell that was fresh on the mountain side despite the fact that the whole two weeks they had spent in the woods, not a single rain cloud had let loose a drop of water.

 He began to mess with the leather bracelet on his wrist. It had become a new habit, the object had permanently made an indent in his pale skin. For it was two sizes too small for him. Though he couldn’t bring himself to take it off. Frankie walked slowly along the base of the mountain, her hand held a few inches off the stone. As they walked further along the mountain Frankie began to hear a voice. Which seemed impossible, for the mountain was far too thick for people to inhabit. 

“We must move him before the hunters find us. I can only hold them off for so long.” The voice was deep and scratchy, it made the young girl shiver. The sound was muffled still, and she was sure that the owner of the voice was the one casting the spell. She placed her ear to the mountain trying to get a better understanding. 

“What’s wrong with ya?” Killian asked, stepping next to Frankie, his eyes filled with confusion. 

“There’s someone inside the mountain.” Frankie said, her eyes darting all along the rock, looking for a weak link in the spell. 

“No one is inside the mountain.” Killian said, following her eyes. 

“I know there is. You have to trust me. I have not gone mad. ” Frankie said, now beginning to run along the mountain side. Killian followed her pace, a bad feeling taking hold over his gut. 

“I never said you had gone mad.” Killian said, with a deep worry in his voice.

The girl ran fast, even dropping her satchel on the ground, much to Killian’s displeasure, he stooped and snatched the bag up once more. She knew there was someone or somethign in there. She just had to find an opening. She was so enraptured with the mountain side, she almost ran right off the edge of a small cliff and into a crystalline pool of water. Killian held her fast, his fist knotted in the back of her cloak. They both breathed heavily as they looked at the water below and the roaring waterfall across the pool.Vines hung from the cliffs, large rocks loomed under the surface of the impossibly clear water, a deer was sipping from the banks, unaware of the teens on the cliff above. 

“That explains the water that I smelled earlier.” Killian mumbled as he gave Frankie’s cloak one last tug and pulled her back against his chest and safely away from the cliffside. Frankie shrugged him off and walked towards a thick brush of vegetation. She pulled her hunting knife off her belt and cut through the vines as if they were warm butter. Once the vines were gone, a rough stone staircase was revealed, Killian whimpered as Frankie fearlessly began to descend the steps. At the bottom they found themselves right below the waterfall, the pond to their right and mountain to their left, they had nowhere to go but under the spray of the water. Frankie inhaled sharply and ducked under, leaving Killian standing dumbstruck on the stone steps. 

“Frankie?” Killian called out with a slightly shaky voice, he unsheathed his dagger, readying himself for a fight. 

“It’s alright Killian, come on in!” Frankie’s voice echoed against the stones as she squinted into the darkness. Killian pushed into the cave and reached out blindly, his hand falling on Frankie’s back, he fisted her cloak once more. She allowed him to hang off of her as she waited for her eyes to adjust. 

“Don’t suppose you have a torch on you?” Killian joked despite his shaking nerves. 

“Actually…” Frankie reached for her bag and yelped when she realized that she’d dropped it in her haste. Killian chuckled and handed it to her, she riffled through the bag and produced some flint and steel and a small candle. She passed the candle to Killian as she struck the steel against the flint, casting small sparks into the darkness. Finally one of the sparks caught the wick, illuminating her face against the darkness. Frankie held the candle up, causing large shadows to be cast along the dripping walls of the cave. 

“There.” Killian said, pointing towards a large passage that sloped upwards, large steps leading up into the darkness. Frankie nodded and carefully picked her way through the moist cave until they reached the mouth of the passage way. Killian still had a tight hold on her cloak, his hot breath on Frankie’s neck was beginning to annoy her. The pair carefully climbed the large steps, stooping down to get a better view of the stairs with the candle. After what felt like hours, they reached a landing, the stairway abruptly turned left going deeper into the mountainside, but having turned the corner, strangely enough they could see what appeared to be daylight. Killian’s grip tightened at the sight, Frankie sighed at the revelation of more stairs and continued to press onward. At last they reached the top, and to their amazement the light that they had seen was indeed sunlight. The top of the vaulted cavern was open, vines draped down the walls of the cave, a freshwater spring bubbled in the center of the large space. 

However what caught their attention was not the impressive cave, no it was the hulking mass that sat hunched to the left of the stairs. Yellow scaled rippled and claws scratched against the stone as the creature turned to pull a vine off the wall. When the massive male dragon moved, he revealed two more dragons, one an emerald green with beady brown eyes, which were focused on a shaking young dragon, curled up between the emerald dragons forelegs. The sandy yellow dragon turned once more to the youngling and offered it the vines, the creature whimpered pathetically. 

“Don’t make me father! It tastes awful!” the small dragon squeaked out, Frankie stood frozen at the entrance, now grateful for Killian’s touch that kept her in the present. 

“You must, this will help with the pain.” The yellow dragon spoke, his voice was gravely and over all abrasive.

“Loto.”  A softer voice interjected, the shuffling of wings made a chill run down Frankie’s spine. 

“Mind your father dear.” the dragoness’ head poked over the male’s body, chin tilted downwards to keep her eyes on the young dragon. 

“But mother-” a draft of air breezed through the cavern and the dragons froze, Frankie knew what had happened. Their scent had been revealed, there was no backing down now, it was time to put their knowledge to the test. 

“Who’s there.” The father growled, his head swinging his large head to face the source of the scent. 

“We come in peace!” Frankie called out, holding up her hands to show that she held no weapons. Killian shoved his sword back into its scabbard and held his own hands up. The dragon’s head cocked to the side, his golden eye glinting in the sun, his pupils dilating and contracting as he studied them. It was said that just by looking at a person a dragon could tell if they were pure of heart or not. Frankie and Killian now understood where that saying came from. 

“What’s a pair of dragon seekers doing so deep in the forest? So far into enemy territory?” The golden dragon hummed, his one good eye studying them, his bad eye was milky, a thick pink scar cut down the length of his face. 

“We are in search of our partners, we mean you no harm.” Killian assured the dragons, the smallest one whimpered as it chewed the vines, while the female stood to her full height, at least 10 feet tall at the shoulder, her elegant neck stretched up to at least 13 feet. Meanwhile the male seemed to measure up to be 15 feet tall at the horns and 12 feet at the shoulder. 

“In search for your partners?” The male growled, his head lowering as he took a few threatening steps forwards. 

“Yes.” Killian said, puffing his chest up and lifting his chin, it was known that dragons were not fans of the meek. 

“What is your name boy?” His inquired, now only about 20 feet away, heat radiated off his body, his pale golden scales catching the sunlight beautifully. 

“My name is Killian, Killian MacDuff.” Killian said proudly, his gunmetal eyes glinting as the light that was reflected off the dragon hit his face. 

“MacDuff….” The dragon said thoughtfully, his golden eye narrowing as he inspected the boy. 

“Aye.” 

“I knew a MacDuff once” he said a bit wistfully, his eyes glazing over as he recalled the MacDuff he once knew. 

“It’s a common name…” Killian said a bit awkwardly. 

“Is it now? It’s been so long since I dabbled in the human world.” The dragon mused, turning his head and lowering it to better inspect the boy. 

“That’s the truth, may I ask for your name?” Killian inquired, still standing tall in the creature’s presence, 

“My name is Gyo, this is my mate Emriss and our fledgling Loto.” The dragon said nodding his head in the direction of the two dragons. 

“This is my fellow seeker, Frankie Findlay.” Killian said, extending his arm to the redhead who nodded her head in greeting. 

“Pleased to meet you, come in, come in!” Gyo’s mood almost did a full three sixty as he lifted one of his thick clawed feet to gesture for the pair to enter the cavern fully. He turned and padded back over to Emriss and Loto who were still sitting to the left in a makeshift nest. 

“Pleased to meet you.” Emriss said, leaning forward, her brown eyes soft and filled with kindness. 

“Likewise.” Frankie smiled, not sure what else to do, she extended her hand. Emriss seemed taken aback for a moment before shuffling to extend her clawed foot, tenderly she placed her claw in Frankie’s palm. The girl’s breath faltered as the beast slowly shook her hand. 

“How sweet, it’s been so very long since I’ve seen a seeker.” She mused as she withdrew her claw and tucked it under her chest. Loto covered her face with her wings, which Frankie noticed had holes riddled through the thin skin. 

“Do you mind me asking what-” 

“Those damn Scouts shot her down.” Gyo’s voice interrupted Frankie before she could even finish her question. 

“I should’ve known.” Killian snarled, matching Gyo’s frustration. 

“We have a healer in our village, if you would let us help her.” Frankie offered, the small fledgling peeked out from under her wing and looked hopefully up at her father. 

“No, it’s much too far. We will stay here until she is healed.” Gyo said, his jaw clenching as he thought of the options that were before him. 

“Gyo...We’ve been grounded for nearly a month now. And poor Loto’s in a whole world of pain. This is our chance.” Emriss said reasonably, her brown eyes wide and almost pleading towards her mate who’s own eyes seemed to melt under her gaze. 

“I suppose… that it has been a while.” Gyo grumbled, as he lifted his large head to stare up at the open ceiling. 

“And your spell… certainly you can’t hold it much longer.” Emriss continued, her silky voice made Frankie ease, she stood up as well and brushed her horns against her mate’s, who also relaxed with her touch. 

“You’re right, it’s been more taxing than I anticipated, holding the spell for this long.” Gyo admitted as he closed his eyes and leaned into her touch. Frankie looked at Killian, who was looking up at the pair with wide eyes. 

“We can make it, if one of you could carry Loto then we could make the trip back in maybe a day or two.” Frankie said hopefully as she watched the pair break apart. 

“True, we could. But how do we know we can trust you?” Gyo grumbled, his ears flicked impatiently as Killian and Frankie both hesitated to answer. 

“Become our partners! If we can handle the powers that you give us, you’ll know that we’re worthy. If not then…” Frankie said, her confidence surprisingly holding throughout the statement. 

“You’ll die.” Gyo growled, his eyes sparking with intrigue at the small challenge presented before him. 

“That’s correct.” She agreed, nodding her head curtly as she examined Emriss’ reaction as well as Gyo’s. 

“Very well then, I’ll take the boy, Emriss you can have the girl.” Gyo’s voice rumbled in his chest as he shifted and lowered his head, bringing his nose level to Killian who hesitated to reach out. Nothing could prepare him for what he experienced when he touched the golden creature’s nose. A hot gust of dry air nearly knocked him clean off his feet, the heat burned his skin and made his lips feel chapped. The heat swirled in his chest and for a moment he was sure that it would cause his chest cavity to explode. He felt as though he’d been transported to the desert, sand stinging his cheeks and the sun beating down on his strawberry blonde head. But to his surprise when he opened his eyes he was still standing in the cavern. 

“Hm now that’s surprising. Normally I don’t match well with scrawny kids.” Gyo huffed, a brazen bout of laughter falling from his jaws. Killian let out a shaky breath of relief as he fell to his knees. Frankie watched with wide eyes as he closed his eyes tightly and fell onto his side. 

“Is that...normal?” she asked anxiously as he rocked back and forth. 

“More or less. The more compatible the seeker and dragon the less painful the transferal will be.” Emriss answered, standing and walking over to Frankie who swallowed her nerves. 

“Alright then…” Frankie relented as Emriss stooped to her level and jutted her nose out for Frankie to touch. When Frankie’s hand came in contact with the warm scales, she felt no pain. But she felt a surge of warmth course through her veins, the scent of wildflowers, damp leaves, campfires, and fresh air graced her senses. Frankie gasped, keeping her hand on the dragoness who chuckled. 

“You’re a hunter then?” Emriss inquired as she pulled away, Frankie swayed on her feet as she looked up at the dragoness in awe. 

“Aye, that’s correct.” Frankie said, still shaken from her experience. She felt no different really, just more aware of her surroundings, everything seemed to smell stronger, all her senses amplified and perfectly tuned. 

“I feel like I’m going to be sick.” Killian moaned as he managed to climb to his feet and lean heavily on Frankie. 

“That is normal, we’ll take the rest of the afternoon to rest before we depart.” Gyo declared, turning on his heel and wandering over to a rocky outcrop, where he leapt up and laid down, curling his tail around his massive body. 

“Congratulations young heroes. I hope that our partnership will be long and prosperous.” Emriss congratulated as she dipped her head, a small smile gracing her narrow features. 

“Thank you.” Frankie bowed before leading Killian to the pool to freshen up. Killian pulled his palms through the deep blue water. Looking a bit queasy as he washed his face off. 

“I’m not feeling so good.” He said before pressing his body weight on the mossy stones. He heaved over, throwing up all the rabbit he had eaten before. Frankie took the small piece of fabric that had been holding her hair up and put into his. Tying his strawberry blonde locks behind his head as he continued to get sick. Frankie sighed sitting next to the young boy. She had felt light headed but was definitely in better shape than the tewn who was now lying on the floor. 

[bitter-sweet-farmgirl]

Kall Zamkh

Part 7 of ‘A Deep Misunderstanding’.  Who know how many more parts are going to follow…  Link to Series Masterlist.

Thorin falls for a Dwarrowdame raised by Elves, and tries to make know his feelings, but accidentally offends her, which leads to another and another misunderstanding between the two.

Based off of @immawriteyouthings​ ‘Falling Stars’

MASTERLIST

OC(s) Used: Estel

Word Count: 1,374

Warning(s):  Shunning

Translation(s): Kall Zamkh:  Cold Shoulder

Sindarin:

Dandúledh:  You again

~~~~

Ever since my sudden confession, I found myself drawing deeper into myself in an attempt to protect myself from the hurtful words I thought would come.

But strangely, none ever did.  Everyone seemed to treat me the same as they had before I had said anything about my heritage, contrary to my beliefs when I had temporarily fled the company after my declaration.  Everyone except Thorin that was.

He became colder towards me; going so far as to turn the other way whenever I passed by him as if I carried some horrible, contagious disease; his actions only affirming my beliefs about his feelings for me.  

That there were none.

But while everyone tried to treat me the same, I still made plans to part ways with them as soon as we reached the next settlement.  No need for me to burden them any more than I already had.  I was only causing strife within their ranks; strife that would disappear once I left.

What little comfort and security I had taken in being in the presence of others of my own race had suddenly disappeared as soon as they heard who had raised me.  Even while I desperately wanted to remain with my new friends who had decided to overlook my Elvish upbringing, I couldn't remain around Thorin and keep my sanity.

It just hurt too much to be around him and know that there was nothing but contempt for me held in his sapphire blue eyes.

"Miss Estel!"  A sudden voice broke the silence I had been in while I sat off by the edge of the forest, sharpening the blade of my dagger.

Fighting the urge to hide my face in my hands, I turned wearily to see Fili and Kili approaching me.  "Dandúledh...  What do you need?"  I asked exasperatedly, trying to show them through my tone that I didn't want to be bothered; that I was busy.

"Can you teach us Elvish insults?"  Kili piped up, and I raised an eyebrow at him.  Why in Eru's name was he asking this of me?  Weren't Dwarves supposed to want nothing to do with Elves?

"Please?"  Fili added on the end as I continued to remain silent.  Chewing on my bottom lip as I thought, my gaze wandered across the camp to land on Thorin's brooding form.

He was watching Fili, Kili and I with a dark gaze, making me wonder if he had heard Kili's none-too-quiet words.  

In that case, it was probably better not to teach these two lulkhs anything.  I didn't want to invoke any more of Thorin's anger.  Not when it would only hurt my heart.  But then again, there was some fun to be had in teaching these two unsuspecting Dwarrows a few phrases that were most definitely not insults.

Turning my gaze back to the two waiting Dwarrows, I let out a heavy sigh.  "Fine...  Just be careful who you say these to…  Kili, I definitely wouldn't mention these around Lorelei.  Particularly if she by some miracle knows Elvish."  I muttered, settling myself more comfortably and sheathing my dagger as they crouched before me.

Kili grinned at me, "no, she doesn't.  She's just an average Dwarrowdame."  He said, and Fili let out a bark of laughter from beside him.

"I never thought I'd see the day when you called Lorelei 'average'.  Most of the time it's a never-ending spiel of how pretty or smart she is..."  Fili snickered.

"Oh, be quiet."  Kili grumbled, scowling at his brother.  

~~~

"Aim sui belaith sui a nigol!"  Kili crowed, making Fili put on a false expression of disbelief.

"No!  How dare you insult me in such a way?!"  He said dramatically, making a hesitant smile bloom on my face.

Kili caught sight of it and a cheeky smirk of his own grew on his face.  "Look Fee!  We made her smile!"  He chuckled, and Fili joined him.

"You should smile more, Miss Estel...  It suits you."  He said gently, and I turned my gaze downwards, trying to hide my burning face.  I used to smile more; back when I thought I had a chance at finding love in the Dwarrow I knew was the only man I could ever love.

"Yeah, you look beautiful when you do."  Kili said, "Uncle certainly thinks so."

Fili elbowed his brother, "don't let Lory hear you say that.  She might be the one to shave your beard."

I brought my head back up, looking at Kili with a stony expression.  "How can you even say such a thing?"  I said in a low voice, making Kili shuffle under my gaze.  "Just look at him right now; he certainly doesn't think that."

How dare they continue to give me false hopes.  Thorin had never and would never show any affection towards me.  It only hurt to hear people say he thought I was pretty or liked me.

Kili followed my direction and shot a glance toward his Uncle who was glaring at the three of us, brawny arms crossed over his fur coat.

Shrugging his shoulders, Kili looked back to me.  "You don't see it?"  He asked, and I shook my head vehemently.

"No, I don't see anything but dislike, Kili."  

"But--"

"Kee, let's just leave her be for now."  Fili cut in, giving his younger brother a meaningful look.  "Maybe Balin can tell us a story about our forefathers?"  He suggested, and Kili stared at him for a moment before nodding reluctantly.

"Alright, but I want to choose this time..."  He grumbled, following his brother as they walked away from me to leave me in solitude.

Solitude that didn't last very long.

Heavy footsteps approached me as I resumed sharpening the only remaining dagger I had left.  The last of the pair my Naneth had given me.  Thorin still had the other; why, I had no clue.  Perhaps he was reluctant to toss it away due to the fact that it was a good blade.

"Miss Estel," Thorin's deep voice reached my ears, causing me to pause in my activity.  "What did you teach my irakdashshat?  My sister-sons?"  He asked, and I looked up into stormy sapphire blue eyes.

Eru knew I had never expected to see such anger directed towards me.

Drawing my courage close, I stood so that I was able to look him in the eye.  "I taught them a few simple phrases upon their request."  I said coolly, making him scowl.

"What were the phrases?"  He asked darkly, and I struggled not to cower underneath his heavy gaze.

"Aim sui belaith sui a nigol and aim a gaer hû."  I rattled off, biting the inside of my cheek in an

attempt to hide my amusement at his quickly hidden confusion over the meaning of the words.

It was fun to be the one who knew things.  For all Thorin knew, I might have just deeply insulted him.

"What do those words mean?"  Thorin asked begrudgingly, and I smirked.

"I am as mighty as a mouse, and I am a cowardly dog."  I said in soft voice, glancing around to make sure Fili and Kili weren't nearby.  "They believe those are horrific insults, so do not tell them otherwise.  The ones I know could make your ears bleed."  I said, and Thorin raised an eyebrow, his expression flickering between amused and furious.

For a mere moment I thought he would smile, but then all emotion was removed from his face and he nodded coldly.  "I would have preferred it if you hadn't taught them anything in that filthy language.  I do not need the Heirs of Durin's Line spouting Elvish nonsense."  He growled, and I took in a deep breath.

Why had I expected anything else from him?  Why had my heart expected some sort of thanks for not teaching them truly horrific curses?  I should have known better by now not to expect such things from him.

They would never come for me.  

"I'm sorry, Master Thorin."  I said through clenched teeth, trying to keep my voice from shaking as tears began to prick the backs of my eyes.  "There will not be a next time."  I said, and he nodded stiffly before turning and striding away from me.

"Good."

[amaya777]

Captive of the Abyss | A Twisted Wonderland OC Oneshot

Here is the first part of Chapter 3 up until right before Azul’s Overblot. This will all be in Sander’s POV and for Yuu, I’m going with gender neutral pronouns since that’s what they use in Japanese. I tried not to have Sander be directly involved in most of this to keep to the canon events, so sorry if this is kind of boring.

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

Sander managed to lie to everyone who asked about the choker he wore, saying that it was a gift from his parents. Luckily no one questioned it, knowing that even if someone knew, nothing could be done about his circumstances. He was Azul’s slave, belonging to him and it was his own fault for signing the contract after all.

It was the first day of exams as he was pretty confident that he passed the written exams. He had no choice, studying so much when he wasn’t working or in class. The only issue is with Flying class, but even with that he should still be good. But he was hearing some of the other students talk about how easy the tests were; Ace, Deuce, and Grim along with that Ramshackle dorm student Yuu. Those three must be Azul’s clients, wishing that he could tell them of the truth but knew that he literally can’t.

Even later that day when he was working, he witnessed what happens if someone doesn’t pay up their end of a deal with Azul. He was right to be scared of Floyd, but Jade is just as terrifying with that Unique Magic too. To think that all this time, he was clueless as to the true nature of those three. How could he have been so blind and stupid?

A week later, everyone finally got back their test results as he saw that he had gotten 100 points. This should be enough to be in the Top 50, listening to others be excited about their scores as he felt sorry for them. He could hear Crewel be suspicious about their scores in Magical Alchemy and how scores were good in Magical History too. Sander looked down, staying silent before class continued on.

It was time to see the Top 50, taking a quick look as he was ranked barely. So many people with perfect marks, this is truly the power of Azul after all. But he left as Azul had told him to come to the Monstro Lounge after the results were posted. So he went to the lounge, about to start his work when he suddenly saw so many students start coming inside, anemones on their heads. One after another, a constant stream of those in all different dorms forcibly pulled into the Monstro Lounge. Just how many deals did he make?! Once the last came in, that’s when he saw Azul appear and give his speech, stunned to hear that all these students are now Azul’s slaves until they graduate.

This many students as slaves, that is extremely excessive. Just why does he need this many? Hearing them argue with Azul and him talk about the deals reminded him of his own deal, how Azul tricked and swindled them all too. But then Sander saw a Savannaclaw student, Jack Howl speak up and be upset about this before everyone decided to go against Azul. It was useless though, watching as they couldn’t do anything to Azul or the contracts at all. They’re all stuck, bound to him through those indestructible contracts too. He resigned himself to this fate, working alongside the others within the Monstro Lounge.

But it was a surprise when the next evening while working, he spotted Jack and Yuu visiting Azul and going into the VIP Lounge. Did they sign a contract with him too? Is it to help all the others? If the other students could be freed of their servitude, that at least would be fine and the best for everyone. The next few days were spent working in the lounge, helping all the newbie workers and discovering that he had been right, that Yuu signed a contract and was working to free the students along with Jack, Ace, Deuce, and Grim.

At first it was a normal day, the Monstro Lounge having just opened up. But then suddenly there was an influx of Savannaclaw students coming in before they started being rowdy, a fight breaking out and ordering so much food and drink that they were running out.

“S-Settle down! Please be patient and we’ll get your food and drinks soon!”

Since Jade and Floyd weren’t here, he had to try to take control of this situation. But like usual, it was difficult to get any of those students to listen to him at all. He had spotted Azul come out for a second before he went back to the VIP Lounge. It wasn’t long before Sander noticed the Savannaclaw dorm leader Leona and vice dorm leader Ruggie leaving the lounge. As the two were quickly heading out, he thought that he spotted a golden contract on Leona. Wait, did he steal the contracts from Azul?!

As soon as he saw Azul run out of the Monstro Lounge, he had a very bad feeling about all of this. Honestly he shouldn’t still care about him, considering what Azul had done to him. But he couldn’t ignore it, chasing after him outside. When he made it, he saw Azul looking uncomposed and begging Leona not to destroy the contracts, willing to do anything.

But Sander was just as surprised as Azul, hearing that Leona wouldn’t take a deal before he used his Unique Magic to destroy all the contracts. That’s when it happened, the choker disappeared from his neck and he could feel his magic come back to him. No way, he’s free now! He is not Azul’s slave anymore!

Soon enough he then heard Azul cry and scream so loudly, completely shocked to see how broken down the other was and hearing what he was saying. Trashy, idiotic octopus? But a black aura was forming around him now, stunned as he demanded that they give him their precious magic.

Everything was turning dark and students were collapsing, Azul stealing their magic or abilities easily one by one without a contract. Sander’s eyes had met Azul’s as the other smirked at him.

“Give your storm magic to me once again!”

“No, Azul!!”

Sander screamed, feeling his Unique Magic being sucked out of him as he fell to his knees. He panted, barely holding on to keep from collapsing and thinking that this is beyond bad. Azul is going out of control!

[starstruckkittensweets]

Chapter XXV (“A Wolf with Wings”)

A/N: Hope you guys enjoy! :)

Fandom: Attack on Titan  Pairing: Levi x Mia (OC)  Words: 9.6k~

-

|XXV|

No… It’s not possible… This can’t be real…

It’s been ten years! How is he still here?! 

Shit! He’s coming closer! I have to get out of here!

But my feet refused to move. I was stuck where I was, as my former boyfriend stepped closer to me. His mouth was pulled up in a smile—or a smirk, now that I thought about it.

I opened my mouth, but no sound came out. I wanted to scream at him for doing what he had done to me on the night of our graduation ceremony. Even though it had happened so long ago, the right side of my face still burned from where he had slapped me.

“Jax, I said no. I don’t want to.”

“Come on, you know you want this.”

“No, I don’t! Cut it out!”

“Stop being a brat. I’ll make it quick.”

I don’t want this!

The fifteen-year-old Mia inside me was curled into a ball, trying to shield herself from the boy who had hurt her all those years ago. I had to protect her. I wasn’t going to let that bastard do it again.

“Mia Wolf? Is that really you?”

Hearing his voice kicked me into gear. With a burst of fear in my chest, I turned on my heel and raced down the hall, back down the stairs I had climbed just a few minutes ago. I couldn’t let him touch me. I couldn’t let him hurt me again. I had to get away as soon as possible.

My boots slapped against the bronze floor, sending echoes throughout the hall. The sound of my breathing and my racing heart were the only things I could hear at the moment. I was too scared to look behind me to see whether or not he was chasing me. The thought only spurred me on, and I started running faster. I ended up skipping a few stairs just to pick up the pace.

Jackson Meyer was in Mitras. On what business, I had no idea. What had he been doing for the past ten years? Where had he been? I hadn’t seen him once since Hanji kicked him out of the girls’ barracks for me. He hadn’t even been at the ceremony the following day, when we joined the Scouts. He had just…disappeared into thin air.

And now, he was in Mitras, in the same tower that housed the king and the King’s Guard. Was he working for the Military Police? I didn’t get a good look at his clothes, so I couldn’t remember if he was wearing the standard MP uniform. It was impossible for him to work for them as a soldier, since he hadn’t been one of the top ten cadets in our class. Still, that didn’t mean he wasn’t exempt from other positions among their ranks.

The Military Police had quite a few people working for them. Leyna had once told me that they hired a few people to take up the desk jobs and help out around the castle. These jobs included accountants, librarians, and many others. They picked up some of the work when the MPs couldn’t be bothered. I had seen a few of them roaming along the castle hallways before, so it wasn’t unusual for me to run into them.

But I had never seen Jax here before. In all the times I had visited Mitras and stepped foot into the castle, I had never seen him inside. Even if he was working for the Military Police, he must have been recently hired. I had run into everyone within these walls at least once—everyone except him.

Finally, I reached the second floor. My room with Hanji was probably the safest place for me to hide in. I needed time to settle down and process seeing him again. I was a nervous wreck, and if anyone could help me through it, it was Hanji.

But just as I turned the corner, I crashed into a warm body. I squeaked as I felt its arms curl around me. No! Don’t tell me he’s found me already!

“Watch where you’re going, Wolf.”

My eyes snapped open. I know that voice. A wave of relief washed over me as I gazed up at Levi, whose hands were currently wrapped around my upper arms. I let out a heavy breath, inching closer to his chest. I was safe as long as I was with him.

The moment my hands brushed against his sides, however, I felt his body stiffen. His fingers clenched tighter around my arms. “What’s your problem? Why are you out of breath?”

I grit my teeth so hard I thought they would shatter. He didn’t know about Jax. How was I going to explain it to him? Did I even want to? He had enough to worry about on his own, he didn’t need to carry my burdens, as well.

“It’s…” I glanced behind me, sighing when I saw nothing but the empty hallway. “It’s nothing… I just got spooked, that’s all. Nothing major.”

Like hell I was going to tell him my ex-boyfriend was currently roaming this castle. I had to get us both inside our room, just so they wouldn’t run into each other. The less Levi knew about Jax, the better it would be for all of us.

“Mia! There you are!”

My heart soared at the familiar female voice. I peeked around Levi’s shoulder and smiled when I saw my sister jogging toward us. She was dressed in her usual Military Police uniform, with her rose-colored shirt underneath her jacket. Her blond braid bounced against her back, swishing behind her. Even when she exercised, looking beautiful was effortless for her.

I untangled myself from Levi’s hands and met her halfway. Immediately, her arms found their way around my waist, and mine melded around her neck. I inhaled her scent deeply, smiling as her blond strands tickled my face. It was so nice to finally hold her in my arms.

You’re safe. And I finally have you. “I missed you so much, Leyna.”

She scoffed lightly and hugged me tighter. If I had to guess, I would say she was rolling her eyes right then. “Me too. I was looking for you, but your friend Hanji told me you had gone looking for me instead. I’m glad I caught you when I did.”

Her entire body suddenly went rigid in my arms. She gently pulled me away and held me at arm’s length, staring at the spot right over my head. Her blue eyes were slanted and slightly darker than usual.

“Mia, who is he?”

Shame flooded my face. I had forgotten all about Levi. I stole a glance at him from over my shoulder, and my blush only grew stronger when I saw his gray eyes still locked on me. For a split second, he glared up at Leyna, and when I looked back at her, she returned it without hesitation.

“Oh! Ah, Leyna…this is Levi. He’s one of my…friends.” I mean, I guess I can call him a friend at this point. “Levi, this is my sister, Leyna.”

But judging by the expressions on their faces, starting a friendship with each other was the last thing on their minds. By now, Levi’s hands had curled into fists, and Leyna’s grip was tightening on my shoulders. I swallowed hard as he took a step closer. Leyna didn’t waste a second in shifting me behind her, holding me back with her arm.

What is she doing?! This is ridiculous! If I was nervous about Levi hurting me, I wouldn’t be hanging out with him!

My stomach suddenly churned. Wait…did she just see us together? We were practically hugging each other… Did she think we were some kind of couple?

“I’ve met every soldier in the Survey Corps at least once, and I don’t remember meeting you.”

Leyna’s voice was cold and harsh; I bit back a groan at her possessive nature. No matter what, she had to know who Ben and I were hanging out with. At any age, she had to know all of our friends (which weren’t many, in my case, but still). When we joined the 90th Training Corps, it only grew worse. And if she didn’t like one of our friends, she would make it known. I couldn’t even count the number of times she had rolled her eyes at Hanji or made some comment under her breath about Blaise.

If she knew about Levi’s history in the Underground City, there was no telling what she would say about him.

I placed a hand on her shoulder. “It’s alright, Leyna. He’s been with us—”

“Your little friend can speak for himself,” she cut me off, shaking my arm off of her, “especially if he thinks he can put his hands on my little sister.”

By the Walls, are we really doing this?! Cut it out, Leyna! Don’t antagonize him! I didn’t want them to engage in a brawl right in the middle of the hallway.

His steel gray eyes were sharp as he answered her. “Commander Erwin recruited me two years ago. I don’t see why an MP should be so concerned about us. Aren’t the Scouts below you?”

My mouth fell open at his words. What is he doing?! Don’t get her started! Pushing Leyna’s buttons was not something you wanted to do, especially if you were meeting her for the first time.

“The ones that disrespect me are below me,” she snapped back. She was fuming at this point. “Maybe you should learn some damn respect before you even think about addressing me with that tone. You are talking to the Fourth Blade of the King’s Guard, you know.”

An eyebrow shot up at this. “Is that supposed to mean something to me?”

I would’ve laughed at Leyna’s baffled expression if the situation wasn’t so serious. As fast as I could, I planted myself between them, holding them at bay with both my arms. I didn’t need them fighting right outside Commander Erwin’s room.

“Come on, guys, cut it out! Leyna, back off. He’s not that familiar with the MP titles, so don’t berate him. Levi,” I started, turning to face him, “please stop it. Don’t piss her off.” She doesn’t need that, and neither do you.

I didn’t expect Levi to know any of the terms Leyna was throwing around, or the importance of her job, but it wouldn’t hurt him to show a little decency toward her. I could explain everything to him later, so she wouldn’t chew him out the next time she saw him. But on the other hand, I could see why he wasn’t all that friendly toward her. As far as I knew, he had been surrounded by corrupt MPs all his life, being a criminal in the Underground City. He had tangled with the worst of the worst, and I didn’t blame him for being skeptical of my sister. As far as he was concerned, she was just another corrupt MP, using her job to benefit herself.

My voice must have been raised too much, because the next thing I knew, the door on the right was opening up. Hanji poked her head through, her glasses glinting in the faint light of the chandelier above.

“What’s all the racket? Oh!” Her brown eyes widened when she saw Leyna. “You found her! That’s good. And I see you’ve met Shorty.”

“Fuck off, shitty glasses.”

Leyna scoffed and crossed her arms over her chest. “A man of class, I see. How eloquent.”

My stomach dropped when I saw his eyes harden. They were no longer a silver color—now, they reminded me of a thunderstorm. If I didn’t do something now, there was no telling what could happen. Although she liked to pretend she wasn’t, my sister was not above getting violent when she believed she was in the right. And if I knew my sister, she didn’t think she was ever wrong about anything.

“Guys, seriously, that’s enough. Now let’s all try to—”

“There you are!”

The words died in my throat. I knew that voice. All too well, in fact. And this time, I couldn’t bolt away. Leyna, Hanji, and Levi were watching. I couldn’t tip them off that something was wrong.

With a deep breath, I lowered my arms and turned to face the source of the voice. Jax was walking toward our little group, coming up right behind Levi. Thankfully, Levi’s back was turned to me, so he couldn’t see how red my face was. Or how hard my teeth were chattering.

For the first time in ten years, I took a good look at the boy I had once loved with all my heart. He was no longer a boy—he was a man now, and if I remembered correctly, he was around twenty-six years old. His brown hair had grown longer over the years, and now it stretched down to his shoulders. Those dark blue eyes were just how I remembered them.

He wasn’t dressed in the standard Military Police uniform, like Leyna was. Instead, he was in a straight black and white business suit, with a dark orange bolo tie wrapped around his neck. It was odd to see him wearing one, since only the Commanders of each branch wore them: Erwin wore a green one, to represent the Survey Corps; Commander Nile Dok wore a red tie to represent the Military Police; and Commander Pyxis wore a dark purple one to represent the Garrison. A few high-ranking officers wore them, as a badge to show off their accomplishments as soldiers. But I had never seen a dark orange one; even Leyna didn’t wear one (she only had a silver band around her left arm to show off her status as a Blade of the King’s Guard).

“I was wondering where you had run off to, Mia. I was getting worried when I couldn’t find you.”

Suddenly, a blur of brown and white flew past me. Before I knew it, Hanji had him pinned against the wall, her hands curled around the front of his collar. Jax sputtered and coughed, but he couldn’t break free from her grasp. Leyna gasped at the action, and even though I still couldn’t see his face, I could tell Levi was just as surprised as she was.

“What are you doing?!”

“Hanji!”

I remained silent as the cries of Leyna and Levi flooded the air. But my best friend ignored them. All she was focused on was my ex-boyfriend, who was gasping for air under her hands.

“What are you doing here, you bastard?” I had never heard Hanji sound so menacing before. “How do you have the nerve to show your face, to talk to her again?” She leaned her face close to his, her voice nothing more than a soft, dangerous hiss: “I should kill you where you stand.”

“Hanji, stop!”

But it wasn’t Leyna who yelled at her. It wasn’t Levi, either. It was me.

She whipped her head to the side and met my eyes. “What? Mia, he—”

“Hanji, stop it.” Please, listen to me.

I didn’t want to drag my past with Jax right in front of our little audience. Only Hanji and I knew what he had tried to do that night ten years ago. I would be damned if I let my sister, my only living sibling left in the world, know what had happened between us. And Levi didn’t need to know about that side of me. I had told him enough about me, but the fact I had almost been raped was not one of them.

Thankfully, Hanji seemed to understand, and she ripped herself away from Jax. But that didn’t lessen the hard glare on her face.

With a huff, Jax straightened his suit and returned her glare. “You haven’t changed much at all, Hanji.”

Leyna was at my side in a flash. When her arm brushed against mine, I felt my shoulders relax a bit. “What was that all about?”

“Why don’t you ask Mia?”

Suddenly, all four pairs of eyes were on me. My face burned with shame at Hanji’s words. She was backing me into a corner, forcing me to come clean. She always hated the fact I had stayed silent about that incident with Jax, but I didn’t see the point in telling anyone.

I couldn’t tell them what had happened between us. Not to Leyna, not to Levi, not to anyone. Even if I did decide to tell someone in the future, it certainly wouldn’t be in front of Jax. I knew he wouldn’t try anything now that Hanji had asserted her power; he wasn’t eager to have another punch thrown at his face. And there was no telling what Leyna and Levi would do. My sister would rip him limb from limb, and I was certain Levi wouldn’t hesitate to join her in doing so. All it took was remembering the way he had sliced up that angry civilian back in Trost to tell me he wouldn’t stand for Jax’s past behavior.

My eyes met Jax’s, and I felt my knees grow weak. He knew—the bastard knew what I was going through. After all these years, he never forgot what he had done to me, or the ways he had hurt me. While the physical traces were all but gone, the mental scars were still there. But I was the only one who knew of their existence.

I dropped my eyes to the ground and hung my head. “We broke up after graduation.” My voice was dull and lifeless, but I forced myself to continue. “We had a big fight. He left afterwards, and I never got to say goodbye.”

I couldn’t look Hanji in the eyes; I didn’t want to see the disappointment in her eyes. I knew she wanted me to confess, to bring Jax down right then and there, but I couldn’t. I couldn’t do it. I wasn’t strong enough to admit it out loud.

A chill ran down my spine. Why was I covering for him? Why did I feel the need to defend Jax? If anyone deserved my compassion, it certainly wasn’t him. He had hurt me, and he deserved to pay. So why was I so concerned over how he would react to this revelation?

Clenching my fists together, I raised my head and looked him dead in the eye. “Nice to see you again, Jax. Sorry about Hanji. She blamed you for the breakup. I guess she’s still not over it.”

The moment I saw the smirk on his face, I wanted to curl up and die. But I had to behave. I couldn’t let this dirty little secret get out to my sister or Levi.

“It’s alright, Mia.” Ugh, I hated the way my name left his disgusting mouth. “I’m glad we can put all of this behind us.” I didn’t miss the sideways glance he shot Hanji. Still, I couldn’t bring myself to meet her eyes. I didn’t want to see the sense of betrayal in them.

Leyna’s hand found itself on my shoulder, and she gave me a comforting squeeze. “I meant to tell you that he transferred over here during the winter…but I never got around to mentioning it in my letters. Especially after Ma…”

An icy claw raked at my chest as I remembered the real reason I wasn’t able to see Leyna sooner. With a whimper, I wrapped my arms around myself, and they were immediately covered with Leyna’s own arms. It was all too much so soon, and the weight came crashing down on me. All I wanted to do was fall asleep in the arms of my sister.

“I know, baby,” she crooned in my ear, holding me close. “Come on, I’ll take you back to my room. You don’t have to be here, if you don’t want to.”

And God, did I not want to be here right now.

She didn’t wait for an answer before she started leading me down the hallway. I barely had time to sneak a glance at Hanji and Levi before she urged me further and up the stairs. I prayed with all my heart that Hanji would keep her composure around Jax—and that she would keep her mouth shut around Levi. I didn’t need anyone else meddling around in my business.

|~|

I had been in Leyna’s room a few times. When she had first been appointed to the King’s Guard, she let me into the room to explore it. She shared it with Sara Meyer, her best friend from the 90th Training Corps, and the Fifth Blade of the King’s Guard. Jax and Sara shared the same last name, but they came from different bloodlines. They were in no way related to each other, which was weird. But it wasn’t hard to believe; they had been nothing alike as cadets.

Now, Leyna had sat me down on the bed to the right, and she left to fetch some water from the bathroom. With my arms still around myself, I took in the sight of the room around me. It hadn’t changed much since the last time I was here. The walls were still an elegant pale gold color, and the floor was sparkling white. Silk sheets covered both of the beds in the room, and the pillows had been freshly fluffed. For a split second, I wished we had this kind of comfort back at the Survey Corps base.

Leyna returned with a cup of water, which I gulped down in a rush. As I wiped my mouth with my sleeve, she sat down beside me, resting a hand on my thigh. I curled into her warmth, closing my eyes as I rested my head on her shoulder.

For a moment, I forgot about all the animosity between us. I forgot about the high-and-mighty attitude of the Military Police and the nobles within the castle. I forgot about my sister’s hatred for the Survey Corps and her endless disapproval of my chosen profession. I forgot about the bickering between her and Levi, and even the spat Hanji and Jax had just gotten into. Right now, I wasn’t the captain of the Elite Reconnaissance Squad, and she wasn’t Fourth Blade of the King’s Guard. We were just Leyna and Mia Wolf, mourning the loss of our mother.

“I’m sorry I couldn’t be there in person,” she whispered against my forehead. “I tried, but I couldn’t leave my post.  He wouldn’t let me—”

“It’s alright, Leyna.” I didn’t like hearing her ramble; besides, I could feel a headache coming on. “It’s not your fault. Besides, Ma wouldn’t have wanted you to see her like that. Hell, she didn’t even want me to see her like that.”

My sister’s face softened, and her arm tightened around my shoulders. “I heard about the mess Trost was in. Please tell me you didn’t go there alone. Tell me Hanji went with you, at least.”

All the moisture in my mouth seemed to evaporate on the spot. “Uh…Hanji didn’t go with me, but it’s okay. I wasn’t alone.” She raised her eyebrow at me, and I realized with a jolt that I couldn’t hide the truth from her any longer. “…I know you don’t like him, but I ended up going with Levi.”

She didn’t even try to hold back the annoyed groan. I bit back a whimper as she pulled away from me and stood up. “Are you telling me you went to Trost with no one else but him?”

“Leyna, he’s not that bad!”

My cheeks burned under her scathing blue eyes. I knew her well enough to know that she wouldn’t listen to me about him, as much as I wanted her to. Still, that didn’t keep me from trying to make her understand.

“He knew Trost was a hellhole at the time, and he didn’t want to see me and Hanji go alone. He offered to go with me instead, and he promised he would protect me.” I debated telling her about the civilian who had grabbed me by the throat, but I bit my tongue just in time. There was no need to worry her any further. “He acted as my shield in that city. I trusted him with my life, and I still do.”

Despite our rocky start, I had grown to appreciate him as a fellow Scout. Both inside and outside the Walls, I counted on him to keep me safe. Just like with the cadets of my new squad, my life was in his hands, and his was in my own. Whatever petty grudge that Leyna held against him meant nothing. She had to admit that he was one of the Scouts responsible for bringing me back home to her. And it was my job to make sure he came home, as well.

Her arms were crossed over her chest, and she still wore that fierce blue glare. “Don’t you think you’re being naïve? You’ve always been too trusting with people, Mia. You don’t realize they could turn on you in a flash.”

“He wouldn’t do that!”

“Really?” Her face was suddenly in front of mine, and I had to lean back on the bed just to keep enough space between us. “Tell me something: is he one of the former criminals you told us about a while ago?”

I stiffened. How did she figure that one out? I hadn’t even mentioned their names when I told her, Ben, and Ma about them. I had made sure to keep his name a secret, in case any of the other Military Police members decided to storm down to our base and take him by force.

Then again, it wasn’t exactly a secret that I had few friends within the Scouts. Apart from Hanji, and maybe Erwin and Mike, I didn’t have anyone I could really call a friend. Levi was the only other person I could actually say that about. At this point, we had been through so much together it seemed impossible to call him anything else.

I bit my lip and gazed down at my hands, which were folded in my lap. “So what if he is? He’s not like that anymore.”

“Mia, how stupid can you be?! You don’t think he’s just acting it out? That he’s just trying to win your trust? You don’t think that he’ll try to kill you the first chance he gets? That he’s just trying to get you alone so he can—”

“Stop it!” I couldn’t hear any more of this—not when Jax was within the walls of the castle. Levi was nothing like that bastard was. I refused to believe he would try something like that. “He wouldn’t do that, I know he wouldn’t! You wanna know what he did, the morning I found out that Ma was gone?!” Tears started to flow down my cheeks. I couldn’t hold it back any longer—I had to let her know exactly what I thought of him, and what he had done for me. “He held me in his arms. He didn’t leave my side, not once! He did his best to make me feel better, because you weren’t there!”

I knew the last part was a lie, but I couldn’t take it back now. It wasn’t Leyna’s fault she wasn’t able to make it to Trost, but I couldn’t suppress the anger that rose in my chest. She had been spared the sight of our mother’s ragged form, as she clung to her last few breaths in this world. She hadn’t seen her body be carried out of Johanna’s home in Trost. She hadn’t woken up next to Ma’s cold form, like I had. She had been spared from all that, and because she hadn’t been there to hold me, I had to lean on the only person who was there. For all his faults, I was thankful for Levi being there to support me.

Leyna’s eyes fell at my words. There was no mistaking the pain in them. My chest clenched at the sight of her pitiful form. I had hurt her. I had hurt my sister.

A sob tore at my burning throat, and I hastily wiped my eyes. “I’m… I’m sorry…”

Her arms were around me again, and I was pressed into her warm chest again. “It’s fine,” she muttered against the top of my head. “I’m sorry, too. I didn’t mean it.”

But I knew she did. Nothing about this had changed her opinion on Levi. Unless she saw him protecting me from the Titans outside the Walls, which was practically impossible at this point, she couldn’t care less about him.

I didn’t want to worsen the wedge between us. Now, we didn’t have Ben and Ma to force us to be civil with one another. We only had each other, in this cruel, psychotic world.

|~|

When Erwin, Mike, and Ness emerged from the conference in the early evening, I had been called into his assigned room, along with Hanji and Levi. The meeting had gone exactly as I had thought: the nobles that made up the royal government weren’t interested in listening to the Scouts’ side of the story, which made it all the more easier for them to insist on defunding us as a whole.

Surprisingly, they still wanted to evaluate the newest Squad Leaders of the branch the following day. Erwin had warned both me and Levi to be on “our best behavior,” and to just let the nobles say their piece. In short, it was nothing we didn’t already know.

As usual, we were escorted to the largest hall soon after, just in time for dinner. When we arrived and saw the Military Police officers already seated at the huge table, I could feel Levi stiffen beside me. I shot him a warning glare, which he returned without hesitation. If I could put up spending a few days surrounded by MPs, he could do the same.

While Erwin and the other veteran soldiers sat with Nile Dok, the Commander of the Military Police, I found myself further down the table, with Hanji and Levi on either side of me. Leyna took her usual spot across from me, and she was joined by an unfamiliar man with blond hair and kind green eyes. As soon as I raised my eyebrow at him, she tapped his arm and pointed to me.

“Oh, Emil, this is my sister, Mia. Mia, this is Emil, Third Blade of the King’s Guard…and my boyfriend.”

A small part of me wanted to treat Emil with the same amount of respect Leyna had shown Levi, just to spite her, but when he gave me a genuine smile, I couldn’t bring myself to do it. Instead, I decided to take the high road and simply shake his outstretched hand.

“Nice to meet you, Emil. Leyna’s told me a lot about you.”

“And she’s done the same about you.” His voice was deep, even though he only looked about a year older than me and Leyna. “It’s nice to finally meet you.”

As he took his seat next to Leyna, I couldn’t help but wonder what she could have done to score a man as nice as him. Leyna had high expectations for her significant other—she had told me and Ben about them a few years ago, when Dad was still alive. How had she found someone who was willing to meet those expectations and put up with her for the rest of his life?

Well, whatever. At least they seem happy together. I could tell by the way they kept sneaking glances at each other as the dishes were served.

However, just as a plate of roast meat, potatoes, and vegetables made its way in front of me, I saw another figure take the chair right next to my sister, and across from Levi. My stomach turned to stone as Jax flashed me a smile and helped himself to a plate.

My hands began to shake. Why is he here? Why isn’t he with the other nobles? This is where the soldiers usually eat, so why is he in here with us?

I didn’t want him sitting next to Leyna, or anywhere near us at all. But I couldn’t draw attention to myself. Attention would only raise questions, and that was the last thing I wanted right now. So I held my tongue and kept my eyes glued to the full plate in front of me. I pushed my food around aimlessly, even though my appetite was already long gone.

Out of the corner of my eye, I could see Hanji staring at me. I didn’t want to face her head-on, in case I ended up crying right then and there. I knew she was disappointed in me for not telling the truth about Jax. But I stood by my words. It was my problem to worry about—not hers, not Levi’s, and especially not Leyna’s.

Still, that didn’t do anything to calm my nerves. Every time Jax gazed in my direction, a bolt of ice would hit the base of my spine. All I could think about was the way those blue eyes had stared back at me that night. They had been dark—so dark—that I couldn’t even see his pupils anymore. When he flexed his hands in any way, I remembered how they felt around each of my wrists. They had gripped them so hard the bruises didn’t fade until two days after graduation. Every time his mouth quirked upward, I thought of all the kisses we had shared as innocent, ignorant cadets. They meant nothing now; they had all been lies.

Leyna seemed to notice my stiffness, but she probably chalked it up to me being uncomfortable around so many MPs. I was never a big fan of these fancy dinners at Mitras, so I was able to pass it off. Besides, she was already preoccupied with her conversation with Emil.

Thankfully, Hanji held her tongue. She knew better than to stir up unnecessary trouble. I knew she was bound to confront me about it later tonight, when we made it back to our shared room. Maybe I could think of an excuse before then. I had a little more time, to excuse my behavior around her.

Finally, there was Levi, whose eyes were currently locked on my ex-boyfriend. To my disappointment, I couldn’t read his expression. (Well, when could I ever?) I had no idea what he was thinking as he studied Jax. When I glanced down at his half-eaten plate, I saw only one of his hands resting on the table. The other one was curled into a tight fist on top of his lap.

He couldn’t have pieced it together already, right? There was no way he could’ve inferred my bad history with him. Surely my cover story about our breakup was enough to convince him, right?

I mean, even if he knows I’ve had a bad experience with a guy in the past, he couldn’t have figured out it was him, right?

But my frantic heart seemed to think otherwise.

Jax suddenly cleared his throat and met my eyes. Immediately, I dropped them to my plate and shoved a forkful of meat into my mouth. I couldn’t even bring myself to swallow it.

Please, anything but this! Don’t look at me!

“It’s been ten years since we’ve caught up, Mia. You haven’t changed in the slightest, huh?” A deep chuckle sounded from his chest. A chill ran down my arms as I realized it didn’t evoke the same kind of excitement that Levi’s rare laughs did. “Still determined to be the best Scout you can be, is that right?”

What do I say to him? I can’t just talk to him like everything’s fine! How can he be so calm about all this?! Has he forgotten what he tried to do to me? I mean, I know it happened ten years ago, but it still feels like it happened just yesterday.

I swallowed the chewed-up meat in my mouth and shuddered as it went down. I couldn’t even savor the taste, I was so scared.

“…Yeah.”

There was so much I wanted to ask him, so much I wanted to scream at him. But the words wouldn’t come. My throat was swollen, my mouth was bone dry, and my heart was going to burst out of my chest at any minute. It was only a matter of time before I lost it completely and broke down in front of the whole dining hall.

“You were always looking forward to being a Scout. Always wanting to follow in your father’s footsteps.” He sighed and rested his chin on his hand, as if he was reminiscing the good old days. “We were quite the pair back then, weren’t we? Practically inseparable.”

Maybe once, but not anymore. You had to rip that away from me, you bastard! You took that away—you were the one who betrayed me!

But I remained silent.

Something brushed against my leg from underneath the table. I couldn’t move, even if I wanted to. “Maybe we can pick up where we left off someday?”

I couldn’t feel my arms or legs at this point. All I heard was his voice, tearing through the sound of the blood pounding in my ears.

No! I don’t want this!

Suddenly, Levi was up and out of his seat in a flash. Before I could blink, he was tugging on my wrist and dragging me out of the dining hall. I barely managed to meet Hanji’s concerned eyes before we were out of the room and walking down the main hallway.

I swallowed the lump in my throat as I stared at the back of his head. It bothered me that I couldn’t see his face. All I had to go by was the way he was holding my wrist and leading me down the hall. It wasn’t as tight as Jax had held me that night, but it wasn’t exactly gentle, either.

What’s his problem? Did something set him off back there? Was it something that Jax had said? I couldn’t tell, and it only made me all the more anxious.

Finally, the two of us reached the end of the bronze hallway, and he halted us in front of a set of double doors. After glancing down the hall, to make sure we were still alone, he pushed the doors open and led me inside.

I trust him. It’s okay. He won’t try to hurt me. I know him better than that. I’m safe with him. Still, I had my doubts as we entered the darkness.

I had been in this room a few times before. It was one of the ballrooms that served as the setting for the dances the nobles liked to host every other year. While they were never my favorite events to attend, it was nice to see all the different decorations and the dresses the noblewomen wore. I felt out of place most of the time, awkwardly hanging off to the side with Hanji, feeling severely underdressed for such a fancy occasion.

The light from the dying sun shone through the glass ceiling, giving us a little bit of light to see each other and the room around us. It was a glamorous room overall, with a gorgeous chandelier above and golden walls around us. The white floor looked like it had been freshly mopped, even though the next ball wasn’t scheduled to take place until next year.

Well, that has to be a positive for Levi, going by how much he loves everything around him to be clean.

But the smile the silly thought had brought me vanished the moment I met his eyes. They were no longer a stunning silver color. Instead, they were a dark and stormy grey, reminding me of the way he had looked at Leyna with so much distaste and distrust earlier. I heard a click as the double doors shut behind him, and he faced me fully. I willed my hands to stay put at my side.

I’m not afraid of him. I’m not.

“What did he do to you?”

He didn’t waste any time beating around the bush, it seemed. My teeth chattered at how direct his question was. How did he pick up on it so quickly? Was it really that obvious? Was I really that easy to read, as Hanji had always said?

“W-what are you talking about?” No harm in playing dumb for a little while, right? Especially if he’s already figured me out.

“I’m not as stupid as you think I am, brat.” He reached up and grasped my upper arms, to prevent me from backing away. “What did he do? I know you have a history with him. Hanji wouldn’t have gone after him if she didn’t have a good reason to. You obviously know each other.”

Shit, no! He can’t know! I don’t want to drag him into this! “N-n-nothing, I swear—”

A squeak left my lips as he brought me closer to his chest. His grip was tight, but it wasn’t painful. He won’t hurt me. No matter what, he won’t hurt me. Not like Jax did.

“Don’t lie to me, Wolf.” He was seething now, his eyes glinting sharper than I’d ever seen them before. “I know you’ve had bad experience with men before. You told me yourself.” Fuck, that’s right! He figured that out the night he tried to kiss me! “The way you’re acting around that bastard isn’t normal. You can’t even look him in the eye. It’s not a coincidence.”

I squeezed my eyes shut. It was too late. He knew already. But I couldn’t admit it out loud. Actually saying it made it worse somehow.

In the years following that incident, I had wondered if it had all been a dream. No, I had hoped it had been a dream. Maybe then I wouldn’t feel so disgusted with myself. Maybe then I could move past it. Admitting it out loud made it sound real and revolting.

But I had shoved it into the darkest corners of my mind, like I had done with everything else that bothered me. I ignored it and pretended it never happened, just so I could try to act normal. I didn’t want it to scar me, or have it affect the way I acted with others. Unfortunately, that had already happened. I couldn’t even get too close to someone without freaking out and pushing them away.

Levi’s breath fanned over my face. “Tell me the truth, Wolf. Did he touch you?”

I couldn’t hold it in any longer. I snapped.

My palms found their way on his chest, and I pushed against him with all my might. But the bastard wouldn’t let go of my arms, and the two of us ended up hitting the double doors behind him. He grunted as his back collided with the golden doors, his gray eyes still locked on mine.

“Shut up. It’s none of your business, Levi. Nothing happened between us, I swear it! He didn’t—” The next words were lodged in my throat. “…He didn’t…” He didn’t touch me.

But he tried to.

With a groan, I pushed myself off of his chest and turned away from him. Instinctively, my arms wrapped around my torso, providing a feeble shield for myself. My eyes were screwed shut, and my knees buckled underneath me, threatening to let me fall to the elegant white floor.

I was a terrible liar, I knew that much. And it was easy for people like Hanji and Levi to read me and my expressions. As much as it sickened me, I couldn’t keep something like this from him forever. He would figure it out eventually, even if I never told him outright what had happened. The best thing I could do at this point, for my sanity and the ones around me, was to squash that fear down and pretend as if I had never seen Jax again in the first place.

I couldn’t prevent him from finding out. But I could keep myself from elaborating on it and giving him any more information. The less he knew about it, the better it was for all of us.

“Yes, we used to date, but we broke up a while ago. We haven’t seen each other since. Now leave me alone… I don’t want to talk about it.” My voice was no more than a whisper; I would’ve been surprised if he could hear me at all. “So don’t pressure me. You were the one who told me I didn’t have to say anything if I didn’t want to!” If he remembered so much from our encounter the night he tried to kiss me, surely he would’ve remembered saying that to me.

“I also told you not to beat yourself up over it.”

An awkward silence passed over us, as the sun began to sink further into the horizon above us. Eventually, I leaned against the wall and slid down into a sitting position, keeping my distance from Levi. I kept my arms around myself, trying to find some kind of warmth in my own self embrace. What I really needed was for someone like Hanji or Leyna to hold me, but that was out of the question. And it would be a snowy day in hell before I sought out Levi for a hug.

It was too much too soon. Jax had found his way back into my life after a whole decade, and I had no idea how to cope with it. I had locked him in a box and tucked him away in the farthest, darkest corner of my mind since our last real interaction as freshly graduated cadets. Now he had broken out, and I wasn’t sure I could restrain him again.

I still didn’t even know why he was in Mitras in the first place. Honestly, deep down, I didn’t really care. All I wanted was for him to get out of my life as soon as possible, so I could regain some sense of normalcy in this hellish world called home.

My teeth gnashed against each other. I hated how he still held so much power over me, even though it had been a full decade since that incident. Every time he crossed my mind, I could feel my inner fifteen-year-old bunch up into a ball and start sobbing hopelessly. A flood of memories attacked all at once, blending together in a red wave. Our first kiss, the bruises on my wrist, the first date we had gone on together, the gruff voice of the shadow above me, the sweet kisses he would press to my forehead during training breaks, the hard length between his thighs—

If Hanji hadn’t broken in through the window and fought him off for me, there was no doubt in my mind he would have succeeded in raping me. And now, I was scared of it happening again.

What if he tried to get close to me again? He now knew I was in Mitras, so what if he planned on using his position to get some alone time with me? What if he was planning on attacking me that way again? What if he found me, and I wasn’t with Hanji or Leyna or Levi? What if he managed to get me cornered and did take advantage of me?

The thought sent violent shivers down my spine. I couldn’t bear the thought of his hand diving between my legs again, just as it did so many years ago. I had strayed away from any kind of physical intimacy over the years, so I wasn’t used to the basic touch. What if he managed to ruin my view of it completely? What if he succeeded in leaving his mark on me, visible to no one but myself?

Would I be damaged goods then? What would I do? I buried my face into my knees, trying my best to swallow a rising sob. I couldn’t break down now. I would wait until tonight, when I was safe in my room with Hanji. She would know what to say.

“Come on.”

My head shot up from my knees. I stared up at Levi with blurry eyes. He had moved closer to me, and he was currently motioning to the doors behind him with his head. “…What…where are you going?”

“Just come with me. You’ll see soon enough.”

The second he held out his hand, I grabbed it and let him pull me to my feet. My legs were a little shaky, but I managed to keep my balance. He kept his other arm at bay, making sure I wasn’t about to fall. I appreciated the gesture.

“What are you planning?” I asked as he led me out of the empty ballroom. He didn’t seem as hostile as he had a few minutes ago, thankfully.

Those steel gray eyes slanted mischievously, and his lips stretched up into a soft smirk. “You’ll see, Mia.”

His hand never left my own, which didn’t help my reddened face in the slightest. It was bad enough my heart was already racing from the sound of my first name falling from his lips. I didn’t need to get flustered over his hand around mine—God it’s so warm.

Stop it!

As he led me through the castle, further away from the dining hall and toward the back of the structure, I focused on the feeling of my fingers laced with his. Despite their warmth, they were calloused and scarred. My own hands weren’t much better, given my military history, but there was something about his that sent trembles along my body.

These hands had killed for the ones he loved. For Furlan and Isabel, and now his fellow Scouts. My mind wandered, engaging in a fantasy before I could stop myself. If the situation would arrive, would he hesitate to shed blood for me? Was I that much of a concern to him?

I thought back to our encounter with the angry civilian back in Trost. Even before we stepped through the gate, he had promised to protect me—and he had later lived up to those words. I remembered the blood spraying onto the dusty ground, and the way the man with the dark eyes had curled his torn fingers against his chest. It had all happened so fast I hadn’t even seen the blade until the tip was bathed in blood.

He’s already shed blood for me, I realized with a jolt. Would he have protected me if he had been there when Jax—

I squeezed my eyes shut. I had to stop. It wasn’t healthy. I was clinging to a fantasy of what never could have happened in the past. Deep down, I was still trying to comfort and coddle the fifteen-year-old Mia, who had curled herself into her best friend’s outstretched arms and wondered what she had done wrong.

She had to move on. And I had to do the same.

“We’re here.”

I blinked, gazing at our new surroundings. He had led me up to the fourth floor and onto the balcony that gazed out to the north side of the city. From this point of view, we could see at least half of the city around us. Smoke rose up from the chimneys of the houses and the towers of the nearby factories, but they couldn’t block out the stars up above. The sky was a beautiful blend of purple, orange, and pink, with the golden moon partially hidden behind a few clouds.

Suddenly, I felt a gentle shove against my shoulder. “Are you just gonna stand around all night, or what? Come on, start climbing.”

He pushed me toward the wall, where a few aging bricks jutted out of the surface. I had scaled these walls countless times with Hanji already, so I was used to them by now. However, it was a whole different experience with Levi. With my bespectacled friend, I felt a sense of excitement and adventure. It reminded me of our days as cadets, when we would sneak around the training grounds to explore the forest around us, and when Duvalier would either catch us outside the barracks with muddy boots in the middle of the night. It was simply an enjoyable thrill, which could only be explained if you were with your best friend.

Now, with Levi, I felt a sense of security. I felt like nothing could touch me when I was with him. As long as he was at my side, making sure I didn’t fall, I felt as though I was on top of the whole world. It wasn’t even a sense of parental or older sibling protection, like I had felt with Leyna and Ben. It was something totally different, but it was just as strong. And to be honest, I loved it.

Once we were both up on the roof, with our legs hanging off the side, I turned to face him. He was sitting on my right side, with his hands resting at his sides. Biting my lip, I pressed my hand to the tile at my side, just a few inches away from his own. Hopefully he would take the hint.

“So…why did you bring me here?” There has to be a reason, right? Don’t tell me he just felt bad for me and decided to drag me all the way up here for the hell of it.

He kept his eyes on the city before us, but his hand inched closer to my own. I tried (and failed) to hide my smile at this. “You needed to take your mind off of some things,” he finally answered in his deep voice. “The easiest way to distract you is to show you something shiny or pretty, so that’s what I did. You’re like a goddamn cat, you know.”

“…Um…thanks…?” Was that a compliment? How was I supposed to take that? Either way, I knew how hard it was for him to stay nice for a long time, so I let it slide. I still appreciated the gesture, even though the reasoning behind it was a little weird.

He wanted to take my mind off of Jax. That’s…actually kind of sweet. But I’m sure he won’t be a fan if I point that out to him.

“…Hey, Levi?” This time, he turned his head to look at me. “I appreciate it.”

He rolled his eyes and reached over to ruffle my hair. “Don’t mention it, kid.” When he lowered his hand, he let it drape directly over my own. But when I looked up to meet his eyes, he was already looking away, out into the city lights in front of us. “Just don’t stress yourself out about this.”

I swallowed the lump in my throat. What was he getting at? Was he still talking about Jax?

“You don’t have to tell me what went on between you two if you don’t want to.” His fingers tightened around my own. “But don’t forget about the promise I made to you, Wolf. I told you I wouldn’t let anything like that happen to you.”

So…that didn’t just apply to our visit in Trost? Is he serious right now? Has he deemed me important enough to protect? I didn’t think he was the type to give out special treatment.

Still, a part of me feared his words were hollow. Anything could happen out here, he had said so himself before we had left for Trost. How could he promise nothing bad would happen to me? As much as I hated it, it was definitely a possibility for the future. Now that Jax was back in my life, I ran the risk of having a repeat of that incident from ten years ago.

“…I’ve had bad luck with promises lately,” I muttered before I could stop myself. Ben’s bloody face flashed in my mind, just as he was about to be eaten by a Titan. “They don’t hold as much weight as they used to.”

Suddenly, his hand migrated to my shoulder, and he shifted me around to face him. A blush spread up my neck and across my face as I found myself getting lost in those beautiful silver eyes of his. You know, they actually look nice in the twilight sky.

“I don’t make promises lightly, kid. When I say something, I mean it. So believe me when I tell you this: I promise I won’t let him, or anyone else, hurt you in any way. You deserve so much better than that.”

My voice was thick with unshed tears. “I…I do…?”

“Of course you do. Everyone does.” He turned me back around, keeping his hand on my shoulder. “Now shut up and enjoy the view. We don’t have that much light left, so admire it while you can.”

As the two of us continued to admire the city from above, I found myself scooting closer to him on the rooftop. Before long, my entire side was pressed against his, and his arm had lowered down to my waist. I didn’t feel scared—I felt protected. Although, he wasn’t the biggest fan of this position; I could tell by the way he kept his head tilted away from mine.

Maybe I could allow myself to believe in this one final promise of his. He seemed genuine enough. Maybe this promise was the real deal.

[my-whumpy-little-heart]

+brain+ Anxious, snacktime, and Ocean

Aha, finally getting around to this. Thank you so much for the ask! 

Anxious

Alrighty, gonna go with Ray from the pirate universe for this one. 

Ray’s an interesting case. It’s always really hard for me to tell what he’s really feeling, what he’s fabricating, and what he’s covering up. His emotions seem very clear and on his sleeve until you look a little deeper and figure out just how conflicted he is at most times. 

This is gonna seem unrelated at first but stay with me. Something I do know is that he can’t stand harm coming to anyone he knows, but he also hates confrontation. Confronting people about things they’ve done wrong makes him so anxious and that’s one of his larger weaknesses as a leader. Putting away that friendly, open persona and having to enforce rules or discipline someone (assigning more chores, harder shifts or duties than normal, etc.) is something he fears greatly. 

This is one of the only reasons why, at the time of Llyr’s story, Hugh is still part of The Thief’s Halyard’s crew. Even after previous fairly violent outbursts at others and a few instances of aggression towards higher ranked crew members, Hugh was still kept on the team. Ray gave him the benefit of the doubt far too many times, and Mabel, normally a more confrontational type, had been letting it slide too. Just one of those mistakes you make that seems so stupid looking back on it, but seemed more reasonable at the time. 

But yeah I got away from the point but Ray does Not like confrontation, and that causes Problems sometimes.

(me, hoping nothing i’ve written contradicts this because this was a more recent revelation and i don’t remember how well i developed his character in the earlier stages of writing him,,,,)

Snacktime

So this is really conveniently timed because I was just thinking of the most random thing I realized earlier about all my characters. None of my characters hate oatmeal. Like, maybe some of them don’t like it quite as much as the others do, but they will all happily eat oatmeal if it’s put in front of them.

Random? Yes. Important? No. Oatmeal? Absolutely.

The biggest oatmeal fans are Llyr and Floyd (well... Floyd loves oatmeal for a time, at least. that may end up ruined but shhh...) from the pirate universe, as well as Jade and Terrence from The Space Idea. If we get more specific, the most hardcore fans are Floyd and Jade who enjoy oatmeal the most when it’s plain, no nuts or berries added in for extra flavor.

Ocean

*stares at my pirate ocs all vehemently shaking their heads*  *stares at both of my boys who are literally water based creatures and also not wanting to answer* fine! handing the mic over to Terrence who at least lived on a very oceany planet for the majority of their life >:(

Once they’re fairly settled into space life, as much as they can be with the situation they’ll be in, Terrence realizes they really miss swimming. It was a once a day sort of activity for them back home on Soscha and even though floating in space is similar to it in many ways, it’s also just too different. They don’t get the pressure and feeling of water on their skin, the mild thrill of holding their breath for as long as they can before coming back to the surface for air, the calmness of lying in the cool water as the hot sun shines down on them...

Terrence really misses the ocean.

[newbornwhumperfly]

some of them want to use you.

another chapter of my OCs. 

be warned, explicit sex lies beyond this border & its dub-con (only in the most technical sense of the word).

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

If someone had told Brax a few weeks ago that they’d be ushering Morja to their quarters for a fuck, they would have smiled thinly and given them latrine duty for a week. They could not have known, when they recruited an enemy assassin into their ranks, that they’d fall for him. 

Well, not...fall.

Respect him. 

Care about him. 

Really want to fuck him. 

Enough so that Brax fumbled with their key as they led Morja into the austere but comfortable quarters, dimly lit by the washroom lamp. As Morja slipped in, Brax pressed Morja against the still-ajar door, hearing it slam as his back collided. Brax ducked into Morja’s space, hands lifting to cup his face. 

His mouth was pliant and opened wide against Brax’s lips, faintly echoing Brax’s moan as their hands roamed the hard planes of Morja’s chest, stomach, explored the lower curve of his back, brushing against the swell of his ass. The man’s own hands had settled, featherlight, on Brax’s hips, now roving ever-so-slowly over Brax’s ribs. 

Needing air, Brax reeled back from kissing, brushing their nose against Morja’s, watching him. That broad, handsome face was no longer blank, focused with all his usual intensity upon Brax, as though they were the center of the world.

That look went straight to their cock.

It didn’t help in the slightest when Morja murmured, low, sonorous, his voice that was always so quiet and restrained now snagged with a breathy desire: 

“Would you...like to fuck my mouth?”

Oh.

Brax’s fingers curl, a flex of their fists as their belly clenched with the thrill of desire rolling through them. It’s been a while since anyone had gone down on them. It’s been a while in general. 

“I’d like that.”

Morja nodded, eyes twin coals, dark and burning as they raked over Brax. They felt swell of desire that Morja’s offer was so focused on Brax’s pleasure warmed them, as did the desperation of the man’s lust. God, but they craved a good fuck. 

They were so used carrying burdens, their own and others’, denying themself, again and again, of adequate care. Let alone indulgences. These days, their sexual pleasure came last. And now, this man, breathless and beautiful, was openly offering to suck them off? Brax thought they could afford to indulge. 

They felt like a teenager again, horny and shaky, almost on the edge of nerves.

Not trusting themselves to speak, they let the backs of their legs hit the bed and sank down, spreading their knees. Morja had practically collapsed at Brax’s feet, between their thighs in a moment. His broad torso was a tight fit between Brax’s stout thighs, but Morja made his fall seem gracefully intentional.

God, Morja looked so stunning like this. So composed, so purposeful, even in his plain eagerness. Rough and knobby as his hands were with their myriad breaks and scars, they ghosted gently over Brax’s inner seam, making quick, careful work of the fastenings.

It was sweet and strange to see such diffidence in a passionate setting, Morja’s familiar behavior sharpening the heat of the moment until Brax needed Morja’s mouth on them now, right now.

As Brax’s leaking cock sprang free of its trappings, Morja brushed his knuckles along Brax’s thighs and paused, hesitance creasing his broad brow as he hovered. 

What was he waiting for? Permission? 

They ventured a firm, “Don’t wait up”, the steely, heated urgency of his voice sending a clear shiver through Morja.

They knew plenty of people enjoyed sexual submission - nothing wrong with that at all, obviously. Brax maintained strict control in all aspects of their life - the bedroom was not much different. They thrived as a guide, a firm and steady hand, and they certainly appreciate deference at the moment, as their commanding tone seemed to set Morja upon Brax’s cock with shocking eagerness.

Fuck.

Fucking Christ. 

Morja was…very good. 

Brax shivered from toe to scalp as Morja’s mouth engulfed them all at once, their length sliding down that warm throat so swiftly that Brax seized up, grabbing onto Morja’s head to steady themself. They almost apologized for the clumsy gesture but the man seemed to be invigorated by the touch.

Brax’s hips canted up into Morja’s face, the man now almost gagging himself on Brax’s cock as though he didn’t need oxygen like other mortals - like all he needed was Brax’s cock thrusting down his open, eager throat. 

It was astonishing that Morja had this effect on him. They didn’t tend to talk a lot during sex (wasn’t one of those vocal types) but right now they felt speechless, staring down at Morja’s dark eyes, lit up with a clear eagerness that defied their usual suppression.

Brax could hardly believe that they made Morja lose control like this, made him so excited, feverish with desire? They’re harder than they’ve been in years from merely getting blown and they don’t trust themselves to speak without betraying their desperate state of arousal.

Brax wanted to hold back, to make this first time linger, but at this rate they were going to climax like a virgin.

They were at that age where they knew what they liked and they’d long since stopped justifying their sexual tastes. They knew they’d be classed as boring and somewhat un-fancy, but that was what they liked. They like their pleasures quick and simple and efficient. They hadn’t had many complaints for certain.

They fisted Morja’s hair at a trick of the quick wet tongue and the pace Morja was setting yanked those black curls at the contact. It did not seem to deter Morja. 

If anything, it invigorated him further. 

Huh.

Well, Brax mused listlessly, he wasn’t really one for rough stuff but, again, not his place to judge. People like what they like. They have a brief flash of Morja at the card game, spaced out and breathless after Jorah’s aggressive kiss, blood glinting berry-red on his lip, eyes as bright at they are now.

There was something to Morja’s fervor to please, his unrelenting drive, his hyper focus and dedication to whatever he did (including, at this moment, trying to suck Brax’s soul out through his cock) which provoked an unusual urge to tenderness within Brax.

They did not relinquish their grip on Morja’s hair, so soft, so damp with sweat, sweat rolling down Morja’s neck and jaw, beads glinting even in the pale dark of the unlit room. But they did place a loose hand on the back of Morja’s head, no pressure, no force, just a solid presence and rubbed their thumb appreciatively over the shaven expanse at the base of his skull.

God, but what Morja was doing with his mouth should be fucking illegal. It was perfect, perfect, perfect.

They were going to cum soon, especially with how nearly frantic Morja’s ministrations has become. And the low, barely perceptible noise he made as Brax’s cock hit the back of his throat? It would steal the very breath of a stronger person than Brax. That little gargle, that little whimper of need, a keen of clear desperate arousal made Brax hum louder than he intended, rough and rasped like a primitive growl. They’d usually be embarrassed and annoyed to have revealed that loss of control in the bedroom but Brax supposed it was fair.

If they could clearly cause Morja to become this drunk on arousal, heedless and hot, it was fitting that Morja should see them a little unhinged.

They gave Morja’s hair a gentle tug to signal him to slide off their cock but it did nothing.

“S-stop, I’m gonna-“

No sooner had they bitten out that first word then Morja sat back on his heels with shocking alacrity, freeing Brax’s cock from that glorious silky wet heat. It warmed Brax’s heart to see someone who was clearly so drunk on desire still be so receptive to consent. 

Morja was a good man. So good. So good with his mouth. 

But Brax has no fondness for spilling down someone’s throat and won’t spend on anyone’s face unless they explicitly ask.

Sunk onto his heels, panting soft yet ragged and barely quivering, Morja fixed his gaze to the carpet, obviously trying to gain control over himself. He watched Brax take their cock in hand and licked his lips, tilting forward urgently.

“Please, please, I can--“

He was so sweet but Brax liked what they liked and shushed the eager man by sliding their thumb over his lips as they untangled their fingers from his hair.

“Gonna...finish myself - ok?”

If Morja was offended or annoyed, it didn’t show. He seemed too dazed to properly hear it.

Brax canted to one side to quietly and closed their eyes as they stroked themself to completion. This method took longer than when fucking (God, they were getting old already) but the immediate sense memory of Morja’s throat had them spilling sooner than usual, coaxing a low shuddering groan from their lips while stars spun behind their lids.

God, what was Morja doing to them?

What had he done to them already?

Brax breathed evenly as possible, trying to regain some control over their heaving chest and trembling hands. Heaving onto their side, every inch of skin softened from the release, they swiveled back towards Morja, still kneeling and now more rigid than before, having risen off his heels.

Brax was no pillow princess and had a reputation as a more than equal giver in the bedroom. 

And after a fuck like...that? 

They wanted to make Morja fucking cry with pleasure. 

They wanted see those thick arms quiver with anticipation as they gripped the headboard and that delectable sweat trickle down his whole broad body, bright focused dark eyes haze and roll with delight, his perfect mouth open and that glorious self-control slip as he moaned and writhed.

Their shifting knee brushed against Morja’s crotch, feeling it’s softness.

Did...did he cum just from sucking Brax off? A warmth, lower and more primal than before, rolled through Brax’s gut. They had to take another steadying breath. If they were a younger, less particular person, the flattery of that fact alone would have them hardening again. 

Quirking an eyebrow, Brax was unable to suppress their slight twinge of disappointment that they were not able to make Morja cum by their own ministrations tonight.

The man was now watching their face, upturned eyes bright and keen, throat clicking.

Yet the hour was already late. 

As much as they might aim for an uncharacteristic repeat performance, it was clear that Morja was tired. He’d been tired even before he had thrown himself at Brax, his body’s square angles struggling to hold themselves in alignment. Grey smudges, stark even against the golden hue of the man’s flesh, conveyed that he likely didn't sleep enough as it was.

Brax themself was pleasantly yet undeniably exhausted, the shock of their orgasm having leeched all the cricks and cramps from their coiled muscles.

So, as Morja fingered the hem of their undershirt, Brax stopped him with a hand on his elbow.

“I’m very tired,” Brax confessed softly, warmed at the little quiver which rolled through Morja’s arm at their words. Wearing out the tireless Brax with a simple sex act? Indeed. They were also surprised. “Another time? When I’ve got some energy in me that is.”

A lesser man would be peeved or even pouty, not that Brax much expected that sort of childishness from the gracious Morja and was not proven wrong when all the man did was nod slowly in agreement, eyes heavy and watchful and warm. 

He really was so sweet. 

Smiling, wide and soft, they ducked forward to rob a kiss from Morja’s pliant, wet, swollen (God) mouth, pressing as much lingering lust as they could into his lips. Morja shivered, nearly imperceptible, beneath their touch, stirring embers in Brax’s blood as they gently stroked his moist cheek with their thumb. 

Brax placed so little weight on “first times” yet here they were getting sappy from a fucking blowjob, he really must be tired. Or it had just been a really good blowjob.

Fuck, they wish they were younger and less tired.

Gliding their fingers a final time through that damp, dark, lovely hair, Brax heaved to their feet as Morja scooted back and out of the way - stayed kneeling, probably knowing it wasn’t wise to stand too quickly.

“Well…I’m taking a shower, so, thank you, Morja.”

Why were they being weird about this? They were a goddamn, professional adult and this was just sex. Not with just anybody, of course, Morja was…important, but it was still just sex. 

Nothing to fuss over. 

Brax bid a hushed good night as they stepped over Morja’s knees on their way to the washroom.

“H-How…”

Brax paused to glance back at Morja, who had risen to his feet in his typical, at-attention, pose. 

Guess the mood was officially gone. 

He seemed trying to ask, to inquire, but failing to form the words. Maybe he was trying to thank Brax back? Maybe the deep-throating had left him a little voiceless.

Suppressing a shudder at the thought, Brax took pity on him and answered the most likely unspoken question.

“We can do this again, if that’s what you were wondering. If...that’s what you want?”

Brax found themself suddenly uncertain, but their twinge of nerves was quickly dispelled by Morja’s quick nod, naked gratitude washing over his face like light over rock. Brax’s sympathy sharpened. They shouldn’t be so easily fooled by that stony exterior - Morja was likely feeling a bit off-balance about this...whole thing, just as uncertain as Brax was. 

No - far more so. 

It was so hard for him to ask for even the most basic shit, seeming to expect less than nothing from anyone. It was awful and tragic and made Brax ache to spoil him.

They smiled at Morja, allowing themself to soften more than they otherwise  might.

“Get some sleep. Next time, I promise I’ll pay better attention to you, ok?”

Even if they were reassuring, they could still leave a partner wanting more next time. They weren’t that far gone. With that encouraging tease lingering in the air, Brax smiled again and slipped into their private shower, oddly, unusually, content. 

As they sagged against the steel wall as hot water pleasantly thundered over them, Brax smiled fully to themself at their promise to Morja, not a little thrilled by the way it (and the clear anticipation of desire) had made the man stop breathing.

Next time, Brax swore to themself, they would try and mirror Morja’s focus in order to repay him.

He certainly deserved it.

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

i am gonna hide under a rock forever now, bye.

[thebiasrekkers]

Doberman 18+ || KWS

Plot: How do you Hunt that which is used to Hunting? Even more so when feelings are involved?

Rating: R 18+ // NSFW

Genre: modern day // mafia!au

Pairing: Kim Wonsik x Female OC

Warnings: Strong language, sex, violence

Links: FAQ || VIXX Masterlist || Admin L’s AO3 || [ REQUESTS ARE OPEN ]

Word Count: 3,069

AN: For Admin E! I wrote this a while back and now that we have a space for VIXX, I figured I would go ahead and post it!

© thebiasrekkers (Admin L). All rights reserved. Reposting/modifying our work is prohibited. Translations are not allowed. Plagiarism/stealing is not tolerated by any means. Legal action will be taken in instances of theft.

Her hands shook as she saw the photos, of the aftermath. It was something that she had gotten used to being there in the gang with them all but there was a small piece of her that really never got used to it all. They had tried to come for her again, under the orders of her former boss but she was always one step ahead and even made a new home without them. 

It was a quiet night, as she looked at the pictures again and she almost wished that she’d died that morning. But she didn’t, in fact. She rose up from Hell to get where she was, to finally be able to take down her former boss. The one that worked her, tried to mold her and to try chain her down to his ways. One could never fully control a tiger, could they? The cigarette smoke drifted lazily up, the slow burn of the nicotine and tobacco filling the area with a familiar smell. It was one thing that he hated she do, for he was a neat man. He was a control freak and that wasn’t any good way to run a gang, now was it? 

Even more when they tried to kill her, tried to kill the one person that keeps them from going under. 

However, her escaping only proved to be the Herculean Feat as she tried to stay alive afterward. If it wasn’t one thing, it was another and those days seemed to be full of it as they went along but she was determined to stay one step ahead. Even if it was one half-step ahead, it still progressed. The ash fell gently from the burning stub and into the tray as she flicked the remainder in there with a delicate finger. Taking another drag off of it, she felt her nerves slowly settle and finally clearing her head just enough to process what she was seeing there. 

Her contacts had been found and slaughtered, the pictures were found at the crime scene. It meant that she was no longer safe where she was, the pack was trying to close in on her. Their sniffing was getting too close for comfort and while she grieved their lives, they all wanted her to live. They all wanted her to take her life and finally do something with it, aside from mucking around with them. She was too good for them all, each and every one of them could sense it. So they all helped her to get out and now paid the price for it. 

Her former boss looked boldly up into the camera, a slight smirk on his face. A disgusting turn of her lip when she saw that picture, it caused her to snuff out her cigarette on his face. Her lace nightgown barely touched the floor, even with her sitting there at her vanity. It was too hot to put something else on but at that point, she might need to since she was already found out. Suddenly, there was a slight click and her blood ran cold as she realized that danger was far closer than what she previously thought. 

Looking into the mirror, she saw a shadow step out of the shadows and sighed. The figure didn’t move from his position, hand on the door when he had closed it with his gloved hands. The tuxedo only made him look more presentable standing there as they watched each other for several minutes. 

“So, who the fuck is it this time? Did he fucking get smart and send someone after me that will actually be a cakewalk?”

The figure reached up with his free hand and pulled down the mask that he had on his face, revealing a face that she’d only heard about in passing. Someone that they only called out for when things got rough, the one that actually protected her former boss. 

Oh god damn, Ravi….

He’d been watching her for some time now, how she had made her way up in the ranks even. It was a long time watching her and yet, he felt conflicted about taking this job. Personal reasons aside, this was a stupid ass move. But a man’s ego was too much at times, even he knew about that. His boss had made the mistake of crossing her for the last time and when she retaliated, he could only laugh when his boss had the gall to be upset. 

After all, what should he expect from the little Wolf? The woman was fierce and stirred his blood, no matter how many times she railed at the storm. But there he was, ordered to kill her. Something he felt was incredibly unfair but he was just a pawn and a follower in the grand scheme of things. Yet, all he could think about was reaching out to stroke her hair and relish on how it would feel in between his fingers. How she would sound as she whispered his real name on his skin, the mere thought of it raised the hairs on his arm and neck where her lips would have been. 

It just wasn’t fair. 

His dark eyes watched her, watching him in return. For several minutes, he just took in her form as she sat there with the moonlight creeping its way in to illuminate her figure. That cold blooded killer, protector--he was out of his league when dealing with her. Yet, he was under a contract and that couldn’t be changed. 

“What are you just standing there for? Are you here to try and kill me or not?”

He blinked in surprise at her boldness, watching her finally stand up with the nightgown falling over her dark skin. He was more enraptured by her presence now than he was before, like someone had lifted something from his eyes so he could see everything in HD. There was never a time that he had such emotions in his work until that very moment. He slowly lifted the fabric away from his holstered gun and sighed, wanting to prolong this out as much as possible. She raised an eyebrow at him and scoffed before turning to her vanity to pick up a hidden knife. The Wolf threw it at his head, to which he only turned his head a fraction to keep it from piercing his face. 

Another long pause before he stepped forward. He mirrored her actions by throwing needles that were in his sleeve but she gracefully stepped aside with an incredulous look of her own. That was when the war started. 

They both lunged for each other, the Wolf and the Hunter. 

Parries and fists were deflected as they fought. Her vanity was destroyed when he was thrown into it and the chair she was previously sitting in was split in half when he broke it across her back. They were going at it with no mercy, both fighting for their lives. It wasn’t until they both pulled guns and were at another stalemate, both of them with the trigger in their faces. Heavy breathing and drips of blood, the fight was fierce from the start with no signs of relenting. One trying to stay alive and other after said shadows. 

“What? Can’t get it off? Can’t pull the trigger? What’s the matter, suddenly got feelings?”

Her words were meant to sting, to aggravate the man but it made him realize that he did feel that way. A mistrustful look suddenly settled on her face as she watched the flicker of recognition hit his droopy eyes, the eyes of a dog who was tired. And for once, she watched the Hunter pause in his relentless drive to capture. The gun suddenly dropped as a new tension started to fill the room, mainly coming from his intense stare at the sweaty but gleaming creature before him. 

From her, the dark eyes surveyed the tense aura that came from him. She’d always seen him from afar and for the brief moment, around her shadow when she had gotten close to their boss. Once, she had entertained the idea but that was put to a stop by their boss and even more so when she left the gang. So why the fuck was these things coming into play now? One last dive for survival? Even she didn’t know and in that moment of hesitation from her, he stepped forward to kiss her. 

He could have killed her in that moment, hell. No, he chose give into his carnal desires and press her barely clothed body to his. The kiss was hot and demanding, telling her that he wanted her for her body. It was a spur of the moment rush of emotion that had her reeling back in shock, slapping his face out of instinct. It didn’t deter him as he reached out and grabbed her wrist to bring her back to him. The aggression overcame the both of them as she reached up and yanked on his hair, forcing him to break away from his assault. Eyes blown out, the both of them came together again with him pressing her against the wall as he took apart her outer clothing. 

Her hands roughly pulled apart his shirt until the buttons popped off, exposing the broad chest and surprisingly… tattoos. She couldn’t help but smirk as her hands ran over them, enjoying the expanse as his hands suddenly found her neck from the contact. He growled and suckled on her skin, wanting more as she was fascinated with his own skin. Soon he took of the rest of his shirt and even had to separate to take off his belt. Pinning her with his hips, he took the belt and tied her hands up. Oh how she protested but his leg in between hers was letting her know that he was wanting only one thing and he was going on a different Hunt tonight. 

After nipping at her throat and chest, the Hunter picked her up and threw her onto the bed that fortunately hadn’t been destroyed in the battle. It had been while since being treated this way, all tied up and ready for unwrapping underneath his taut body. Even her previous lover hadn’t been this way with her, despite telling him that she wanted otherwise. It was all about him but this time? It was for the both of them, to burn energy and desires right off their bodies like steam from the asphalt in summer. His fingers found their way underneath the little she had left on like fire trailing with every touch and when she tried to bring her bound arms around him, he only took one long arm to keep them up. 

At least, until he was done roaming her body with both lips and fingers. Her bound hands were forgotten when he settled between her legs, ripping away what was there. Spreading her wide, he admired what was there waiting for her as the cool air brought goosebumps along the area. His hot breath crept up her thigh, a little nibble her and there until he got to his prize. Precious few were able to handle the Wolf but even fewer were able to see this side of her. If he was truly prepared, he would have had other objects there waiting to please her with but he was disappointed that all he had for her was his mouth and his dick. 

But he had to work with what he had, right?

His lips carefully brushed her there, causing her to whimper for more and to demand that if he was going to fucking suck there then he needed to get on with it. A smirk spread on his lips as he complied with her wishes. Attacking brutally the area, she couldn’t help the gasp that suddenly left her body at the sudden contact. He was the Hunter after his prey, lips and teeth combined with the sly flick of the tongue were chasing down his prey. Her bound hands found the follicles of his messy and bloody hair, to pull and have something to hold onto as he continued his assault. 

He hoisted her legs on his shoulders, to gain more access to the area he was relishing his feast on. Pushing even further in, one hand left the confines of her beautiful long legs and now were dipped into the plush velvet to keep his tongue company. His fingers pumped slowly while his tongue teased the bud and giving it random, sweet sucks. The absolute moment that he started to feel her tighten around his fingers was when he released her legs, pulling away. 

For the moment. 

The loss of sensation had her about to round on him again, until she saw him freeing himself from the pants he had on. He didn’t even bother pulling the fabric off of his body fully when he sheathed himself into her. Gripping her hips, he was doing all the work for her and to also let her know that his lust for her was more than just that moment. It had been a long time coming and he was going to paint her body with that passion. After all, he might have to kill her later so he might as well enjoy the moment. 

He wasn’t letting her get her way, every time she tried to lift or swirl around for more friction. Firmly, he set her back down against the mattress and drilled into her further as punishment. He slicked in and out of her until there was nothing to be heard but their frantic breath and wet noises slapping against skin. The bed was knocking against the wall soon with the force of his hips, adding more to the ambiance. But somehow, her hands wiggled their way free of his haphazard bindings to bring him even closer to her burning body with nails and teeth of her own. 

She marked him like had done her, gasping for reprieve in his rhythm as she reached that high peak quickly. His hands shifted and trailed up her chest, caressing the curve of her neck. A few light squeezes had her momentarily panicked, the unexpected sensation throwing her back into fight mode. Like lightning, she drew out a knife that was under the pillow that she had been splayed upon and held it up to his throat. He paused a moment in his ecstasy, before laughing leaning more into it. Was she going to bring something interesting to their session or was it really meant to kill him? His member twitched in anticipation inside of her, taking of the hands that was on her neck to grasp hers holding the knife. 

“Do it. Kill me here and now because I’m about ready to bust a fucking nut inside of you from this.”

His words, gravelly and low, spurned her on as she slid it from a death strike to the flat end down his chest. Reminding him that she was always still in control and ready to strike should he test her again. His hand knocked the knife out of her hands to get it out of the way and he pulled all the way out to ram inside of her again. His thumb of the hand that was still on her neck reached up to caress the perfect little opening that she now had, swiping some of the moisture across her lips as he pounded in hard but slow strokes this time. 

It wasn’t long before she clenched around him, holding him with everything that she had as she cried out with her own finish. The force of the action caused him to finally let go since he started. On his own pride, he wasn’t going to let go of everything until she had her own. The force of holding back had his veins in his neck ready to pop as he rutted until he was finished dumping everything he had inside of her.

Well, honestly.. It wasn’t everything as he was instantly ready to keep going. 

She gasped from the force of it, seeing stars of her own before being able to focus on him. Taut muscles and the way he was still rock hard inside of her, nearly had her once again. He suddenly started up again, pounding inside of her as her oversensitive clit cried out in abuse. Pleasurable abuse, is what it was as he kept going to completely spend all of the energy that they both still had for one another. 

Tears started to spring in the corner of her eyes as his fingers found the nub to give it extra pleasure. He hooked her leg over his shoulder, holding her here in that position while the other hand was plucking and rubbing the moisture that she had spilt all over herself as well as him. It wasn’t long before she came undone again, squirting all over his shaft and dribbling into the sheets below. He was going to make a complete mess of herself before doing anything else. 

He pulled out of her, ready to erupt again at the sight of her body splayed out there for him. So, to achieve his final end, Ravi helped her turn over with her pretty and perky ass upright for him. He entered her beautiful and destroyed pussy from behind, wrapping what he could around himself for extra friction. Giving themselves over completely to the chase of the pleasure, the fucked like animals for many hours more until they were completely spent. 

The Hunter had finally gotten his fill of the hunt while the Wolf got tired of running from him. They laid there in their mess, panting and exhausted. Yet, the rush of the chase had worn off and they were left with the question of the original meeting. 

“I wish I didn’t have to kill you, my little wolf.”

“Then don’t and help me kill your master. I’m not saying this to spare my life, but I have my reasons for doing what I did. And I’ll be damned if I regret it.”

He smiled, eyes darkening again at her suggestion. Ravi’s hands roamed up her stomach again, the need suddenly filling him again. He could do with that, after all the Hunter needed another target that night. 

[clansayeed]

Bound by Choice ― II.iii. The Beginning of the End

PAIRING: OC x OC x OC (Valdas x Isseya x Cynbel) RATING: Mature (reader discretion advised)

⥼ MASTERLIST ⥽

⥼ Bound by Choice ⥽

Before there were Clans and Councils, before the fate of the world rested in certain hands, before the rise and fall of a Shadow King ― there was the Trinity. Three souls intertwined in the early hands of the universe who came to define the concept of eternity together. Because that was how they began and how they hoped to end; together. For over 2,000 years Valdas, Cynbel, and Isseya have walked through histories both mortal and supernatural. But in the early years of the 20th century something happened―something terrible. Their story has a beginning, and this is the end.

Bound by Choice and the rest of the Oblivion Bound series is an ongoing dramatic retelling project of the Bloodbound series. Find out more [HERE].

Note: Choice is the only book in the series not based on an existing Choices story. It is set in the Bloodbound universe and features many canon characters.

*Let me know if you would like to be added to the Choice/series tag list!

⥼ Chapter Summary ⥽

The Trinity’s enemies grow in number.

[READ IT ON AO3]

Three nights before…

Old wood and old metal and bones older still take refuge from the bitter night rain.

In the shadows Cynbel waits, watches. The smith brings down his hammer against white-hot metal clang. clang. clang. Hunting like a different kind of predator and oh he has been so many that this… this he barely feels in the shift of his skin.

Steam erupts into the air, filled with the foul smell of a burning port where the worker submerges his latest creation beneath the water’s surface. Ignorant; blissfully ignorant.

“One would think after a long day’s toiling away, any opportunity for respite would be welcomed.”

Surprise catches in the mortal’s bones. Makes him release his work from the grasp of rusted tongs. He spins around, looks this way and that, but is no better than a blind man in his efforts.

“Who goes there?” Then, once the young man catches himself, “We are closed for the night. Please, return tomorrow at dawn.”

Does he think he plays at manhood? But this new age of innovation demands it of such boys, does it not. He might feel pity for them — if he could.

“Alas,” and when he replies his voice wraps around the small hovel; an embrace from Winter herself, “I cannot.”

Still the boy persists. “I insist, monsieur.”

“Who are you to insist of me?”

It’s advantageous; the hesitation that follows. Gives Cynbel a chance to emerge from his not-so-hidden refuge beside a basket of ores. He A shine catches his eye and he plucks it from the dark and misshapen pile, raises it against the light of the furnace to marvel at the gemstone’s glossy sheen.

He pockets it with little thought. A token of affection for his darling girl — so recently bored of diadems and jewelry and smitten with such… imperfections.

“Hey, that doesn’t bel—”

“Sssh…” The vampire presses a finger to his lips and the human goes quiet. Good, he likes them obedient.

This part of the workshop, back and away from the street where the front room displays the prides of masters and apprentices alike, requires a bit of meandering. But he’s an opportunistic man and takes what is offered for his own uses. Sways his hips with every movement slow, seductive.

Every good hunter knows his prey.

And indeed — when Cynbel comes to tower over the young man’s figure he can see each bead of sweat that rolls down his temples. Not just from the room’s stifling heat. Watches one bead along a shaven chin and glisten over the lump in his throat.

Here, and now in the light, things are different. Aren’t they?

Here every pump of the mortal’s racing heart threatens to deafen him in the best of ways. Here he is illuminated in fire’s heavenly glow; and recognized.

Cynbel lets his finger fall in unspoken permission. Watches as he’s taken in rapturously and in ways he has only seen between the pious and their places of worship… in ways he, too, has found rapture from his own religion.

When the human finally speaks it is rushed; exhaled, “I-worried-you-would-not-come…”

“For you,” and he weaves his fingers through locks of mousy hair, uses it as a master to his hound to pull him forward; breathes his honey-drenched words against peeling lips, “always.”

Their kiss is desperate, fervent with inevitability. Smoke-stained hands smeared over his jaw and Cynbel resists the urge to bite out his inexperienced tongue as a second gift for his beloved. Lets himself be defiled with the touches of a young man craven for affection and so so alone… unable to give it.

He would call this creature pitiful but even that would be too kind. That the mortal is too obsessed with his own gratification to realize every drop of passion is entirely from his own cup, that Cynbel’s cup could not be more barren in his presence, is nothing short of pathetic.

He pulls back as he always does. Stops those dirty wandering fingers as he always does. Kisses the day’s work from trembling knuckles as he always does.

“What kept you away?” The mortal whimpers.

And as he always does Cynbel lies through his teeth. “It matters not — that you stand before me now is more than enough.”

The mortal beams with pride. Though that is not the only vice Cynbel has been able to impart on him.

Everything in the smithy is exactly the same as he had left it a fortnight ago — well, almost.

He doesn’t have to pretend in this. The way he (none too) gently urges the wayward man aside to cross the room in several strides. Among the hammers and horseshoes the work done here is for the meager rank and file of Paris. Nothing as flashy as settings for gems or swords for battle. Cynbel knows this because his time has been well-spent these last months. Because the thing that separates the hunters who fail from the ones who survive is found in the little things.

Surveying the prey. Entering its nest. Staking its claim over the carcass before it has even been devoured.

Knowing all that he does — it begs the question of the mannequin—freshly carved—and the armor—freshly polished—settled snug upon it.

“Is this your work?”

He looks back and hears the skip in the mortal’s heart as he nods. “Indeed. Are you taken with it?”

“As taken as I am with you,” he croons in response; and knows the flush in living cheeks is not from the heat.

“That is why I am still here, actually,” he remembers his work then, and plucks the now solid metal from the bucket to wipe it dry with his sleeve. Small, in comparison to the rest of the pieces, but Cynbel takes it when it is offered; lets their touch linger in a promise he does not intend to keep.

The fastening is crude; its finer points interrupted by Cynbel’s arrival. But the sigil would be difficult not to recognize — especially for his kind. The halo around the center meant to be the sun. The fleur de lis enshrined within it in need of a little more dedication to be perfect.

More likely than not his little apprentice smith knows not what he is being asked to make. The holy war he is urging forward in his own way. A suspicion confirmed as Cynbel offers the work back and allows the mortal to continue to hold his hand.

“This is the only thing left. The master had just arranged contract with the Duke who ordered it when he fell ill,” —he explains this like Cynbel doesn’t know, like he didn’t ensure it— “and as his eldest apprentice the duty fell to me. I don’t know what overcame me, my love… it was as though the muses of old inspired my every movement.

“I missed you terribly, Claude, but I was fortunate there was this work to help me pass the time.”

Should he never hear the false name given for this ruse again it would be too soon.

Cynbel gestures to the armor, a “may I?” whispered reverent on his lips. With the human’s permission he steps closer, ghosts his touch over the refined metal. Imagines all the ways he will go about tearing it from whatever unfortunate soul it is given to limb from bloody, gory limb.

“You have outdone yourself.”

“Truly?”

Is the first of his praises not enough? Disgusting whelp. “Truly and more. I dare say whomever commissioned this will command any battlefield.”

Warm arms encircle his waist. The tack of the human’s sweating forehead presses against his doublet and already Cynbel begins practicing the apologies he will give to his beloveds upon his return. No doubt his Lord and Love will banish him from the apartment for the stench.

It is torture, pure and simple.

“May I confess something to you, Claude?”

Cynbel swallows back his bile. “Anything, always.” And he doesn’t need to see the human’s face to hear his pathetic ‘secret.’

“The Duke has sent word he will arrive in Paris tomorrow — and he hopes to see how the piece is coming along. I hope to convince him of my skill… perhaps even take some of the spoils for myself.”

Greed. One of the few things that make his presence bearable against all his shortcomings.

Cynbel turns in his arms; feigns as though he could never imagine such a scandal. “And what of your master? Will he not cast you out for the gall of it?”

“Perhaps he may not be around long enough to do such.”

“Don’t sound so hopeful.”

“Why not, when you inspire in me such a wonderful hope?”

Their second kiss is far more chaste, entirely so on part of the vampire. The disappointment on the other’s face is impossible to miss.

“Something the matter?”

“I would not have your well-earned pride ruined for it. Pay me no mind.”

“Claude,” Cynbel’s cheeks are taken in grimy mortal hands and he shivers, lets him take it as he wishes, “there is no joy I can bask in without you. Let me ease the weight on your chest. Please.”

Let it be known that he does not give in to the mortal’s whims. But with demons of the night leaping from shadow to shadow among the rafters, with every horrendous and degrading sentiment forced through his teeth; then and there Cynbel has had enough. Enough pretending, enough disgust.

Enough with feeling somehow unworthy of the love bestowed upon him when he returns to the arms of the ones with whom he truly belongs. Oh they placate him dutifully but he sees the twitch of a sensitive nose — a touch moved elsewhere at the last moment. These things are their prey; no better than chattel.

He was amusing at first. But…

“You have simply outlived your usefulness to me.” With no risk comes no reward they say but there is no risk here. He might be inclined to entertain it further if there was.

And like a child the human seems only to hear the kindly things. Continues to hold him, to adore him. To sicken him.

So he continues. “There is no risk, here. Only the continued debasement of the Golden Son, of the first of Valdemaras’ blood. If, when all the ages wither, I find in my soul no love of self then I must at least continue to love the part of me that is my God. Wouldn’t you agree?”

Sure enough that rouses him. As if from a slumber. The masquerade finally coming to a close.

“I don’t understand.”

“Was I not speaking French?” Which could have been a possibility. As it is his muscles tense, predatory, in preparation of the first violent act that comes to mind.

“Yes, Claude, but — what you are saying makes little sense.”

So simpering, so pitiful that Cynbel actually stomachs the will to kiss him again. If only to whisper the insult to his lips; “I would expect nothing less of such a feeble mind.”

He’s seen heartbreak before. This is not it. This is a pantomime—what the inexperienced whelp believes heartbreak to be. Tries, so fleetingly, to wrench himself from Cynbel’s grasp but the charade is finally over. And with it the need to disguise his true strength.

“I had hoped you would have completed all of the armor in time, and maybe had I a stronger constitution one more night would have done the trick.” He looks back to the suit with true critique in his newfound eyes. Such a waste — talent like that in the hands of a worm. “But their sigil is clear enough that any member would recognize it as their own. I suppose there’s a poetic drama to the incomplete set.

“Isseya would know of such things better than I. She’s quite taken with the stage. She is the voice behind my tender affections towards you in fact.”

All the while the human tries to free himself to no avail. His workman’s hands are used to shaping manacles but have never been imprisoned by them after all.

Finally some sense comes about the man. All the telltale signs of a scream; flared nostrils, flushed pallor, the sour odor of fear near his knocking knees. Too late.

“HE—!”

Valdas would be proud how he silences any cry and practices for the upcoming ball in one swift movement. Pulling so hard he feels the joint come loose in a feeble shoulder and presses them close as lovers, back to front; molded against every vibrating measure of him and a hand tight over his lips.

“Ah ah ah…” He turns them both to face his work. Will give him that final gift of his life’s work burned behind his eyelids in the moments before death. “Don’t you want to know, my love? To understand?”

The fussy little fucker actually shakes his head. As though that will save him. As if he is held captive only until Cynbel has given him light where there was previously only darkness.

But that light is not for him. It belongs to them.

He belongs to them.

“If that is what you wish, fine. Throw away my gift, and your life with it.”

“Mmmph!”

“No no taking it back now. My mind is made up.”

“MMmnpm…” A needling heat pierces his skin. The sight of it makes the vampire laugh.

“A tear, really? And here I thought it was quite impossible for me to think less of you.”

He wrestles the human’s head to position; nearly breaks his neck several times in the process. Forces him to take in the splendor that will soon serve as a crafted casket for whatever heathen is suffered to wear it.

Unsympathetic, Cynbel places a final kiss to his temple. “Everything is in place now darling. I want you to know I could not have done it without you. Well—no—I just cannot help myself but lie to you it seems.” Another wave of muffled whimpers drowned in his laughter. “But you have made it easier on me. The Knights will collect your work and your corpse with it. One little life — that’s all it will take to earn their ire. Clever little hellions that they are… they’ll follow every crumb I’ve left. All. the way. to me.

“If my beloved is correct—if the Godmaker graces the evening with his vile presence—then I may finally have the opportunity to rid the world of two evils. Can you imagine? No longer looking over our shoulders… no longer fearing unholy wrath…” The very thought has him in near ecstasy. Actually—quite close to the real thing.

But thoughts of a life free of the Knights draw him, as they inevitably do, to a darker place.

To the cursed memories of Isseya prone, neck bare… to the taste of steel on his tongue and the delicious smell of roasted game—but he was the meal of bubbling blistering flesh and every tear he shed—she shed a fresh wave of agon—

“The events that will unfold will ensure their safety. No one will dare to take them from me ever again…” Cynbel surprises them both in that his voice breaks with unbridled fury, with withheld anguish.

“Lest they remember what befell the last to even try.”

Countless hours spend seducing the young smith who surely had a name that he hadn’t bothered to remember go to waste, then. Such a fragile neck in his grasp — the way it sounds when it snaps is like the first notes of a sonnet.

But there’s still one crucial crumb that needs leaving. One that will ensure the Holy Sacred Knights of the Rising Dawn know exactly who has courted them such.

One that will ensure they amass their armies beneath Paris in droves.

One fallen innocent is a message.

A slaughtered horde—that’s a warning.

He takes his leave of the workshop in much the same way as he entered; undetected by any soul living or dead. The mortal’s blood is tacky on his soaked hands the long walk back to their lodgings. He wants his lovers to taste of the wretched little cur so they know; so they understand.

Their sigil—the Brand of the Made-God Valdemaras—left to dry red on the breastplate. The unfinished clasp fastened neatly in the middle.

It was not unheard of for the vampires of Paris to think themselves important. Far more relevant than they actually are. Cynbel had gazed upon the half-masque of Serafine Dupont in the halls below and assumed her prestige nothing more than vanity; the hostess putting on airs for her guests.

But he’s a big enough man to admit when he’s wrong.

It takes a skill honed from centuries for the discipline she shows now. All of her remaining strength fixated on her injuries, on the effort to stand and set the bone to heal. A wound that would cripple a mortal—and even a younger vampire—rendered fruitless as muscle and flesh knit together in the tapestry of her dedication.

They watch the show of her impressed — but never intimidated. They will give credit where it is due.

With a vengeful cry she lunges forward and all credit is lost when her open palm meets his face.

Cynbel reaches up, feels the heat of the sting on his cheek with a shiver down his spine. Like all pain it fades too fast — but while there may be no more Knights in vain attempts to slay him Serafine still stands there and she looks positively craven for the excuse to strike again.

A look seen by more than just him. One that lands her pinned to a building exterior with splayed limbs and Valdas’ hand around her throat.

“Apologize.”

Yet even as his darling’s softer hands skirt feather-light touches over his healed skin Cynbel laughs. Laughs and laughs and adjusts his hair where the whore had sent it askew.

“No no, let her come for me. The Knights proved no real contest, maybe she’ll last a moment or two longer than they.”

“How dare you mock them,” seethes the woman with labored breaths; and because it isn’t the apology he asked for Valdas only tightens his grip, only strains her further in a wraithish rasp, “have you no grief for our brothers, our sisters who were slaughtered?!”

“They are no kin of ours.” Isseya answers for him. He snakes an arm around her waist and squeezes.

“Forgive her, my God,” he croons, would rather keep his lovers close than risk their already fractured good luck, “the poor thing seems to be under the impression we are on some equal standing.”

And he does, eventually, let her go. But only when it takes longer than a passing moment for the carvings of his nails at her neck to heal.

“A mistake she would do well not to make again.”

Serafine’s eyes are wild; a frightened animal that takes them in all at once. The way they were meant to be understood — the way they had always been understood. Her voiceless words aren’t worth the effort it would take to even try to comprehend her.

“The same blood runs through your veins that does mine, le tueur.” She snarls.

Isseya’s eyes narrow. “Not for long. Not with that foul tongue.”

“Now now, Iss’, let the little thing mourn.” Cynbel attempts to placate her with long, slow pets to her hair.

“She dare call you the killer when those sycophants live?”

She turns her face away from their accuser, tucked into the ridge of his shoulder and Cynbel holds her tighter for it. Knows that she, too, is plagued with memory. That if he coaxed her face up he would see the shine of unshed tears in her beautiful eyes.

“Less of them now,” he whispers, “thanks to us.” For now it is all he can offer her. And for now it is enough. They only have this thorn to deal with before he can comfort Isseya—both of his lovers—properly and as they deserve.

“And while the Knights posed an entertaining foe, I’ll admit there were far more of our kind in attendance tonight than I thought there would be. The cost should have dwarfed the rewards.”

“What rewards? What reward could there possibly be for the senseless murder of our kind?!”

“Victory over the Knights of course.”

The noise she makes; strangled and not quite fully alive before it died in her throat, only amuses the woman on his arm. Has her reaching out for their God like she wants to mock Serafine. And that may very well be the case.

Here is my salvation. Where is yours?

“How was this to be a victory? You speak like —”

“Like he tipped the scales of this war with a battlefield of his own choosing?” offers Valdas -- now comfortable against his surviving lovers. “A soldier ‘til the end, my golden boy.”

Here he thought the deaths of the Knights would not be the only victory this night — the next to come much later and wrapped in sheets of the finest imported silk. But here stands another much to his surprise, crept up out of the gutters like vermin.

It is with utter delight that Cynbel watches Serafine come to understand the truth of the matter; watches the horror and disgust twist upon her beautiful features somehow made better by all-consuming sorrow.

Fills him with an arousal usually reserved for carnage and lovemaking; but this works too.

“You— You… brought the Knights of the Dawn to the crypts?”

“I didn’t hold their hands, no, though I almost needed to. Fucking simpletons.”

The woman’s voice catches. “How?”

“The righteous are terribly predictable. A few bodies here, a few whispers there. If they think their cause to be one of justice they’re akin to a persistent plague.”

Serafine is less an annoyance now; more a festering wound. Really, must she take the fun out of it? As it is he has to reconcile with the Godmaker surviving — no doubt leagues from Paris by now with his Bloodqueen in tow. Can he not just have this?

“You orchestrated this… this culling?”

“Those who died did so because of their own weakness.”

“You willingly led our enemies straight to us!”

“And now they are an army fewer in number.”

The look he gives her — disinterest, boredom. If you seek to make me remorseful you seek in vain.

“Monsters,” Serafine finally chokes out; said to them all but Cynbel takes it just a tad personally, “monsters… the three of you. Les Trois Amants no more than old, cruel, mindless creatures of bloodshed.”

“Not quite,” Cynbel’s hand stays his Maker from attacking her, allows him to meet her gaze level and calm with a lover on each arm. United; permanent.

“Where they seek justice I gave vengeance. That I was able to lead them to us at all says all the things you wish to ignore—to put as blame upon my shoulders. The Knights would have eventually discovered the catacombs our refuge. If not tonight then tomorrow, or a fortnight from now. Would you rather that, mademoiselle? Would you rather they have had the time to plan, to cut off completely all means of escape?

“You should be thanking me that the living outnumber the dead. And that you may count yourself among them.” And with his victory inevitably wilted Cynbel has had enough of her accusations. “But yes — I would watch every vampire alive burn at the hands of the Knights themselves so long as my beloveds are by my side.”

With the last of her strength the vampiress snarls with fangs bared. Such a pitiful portrait she paints of herself; he knows it, all three of them do. It doesn’t even warrant Valdas’ reaction and isn’t that saying something.

“You will see justice at the hands of your enemies.”

“Four centuries and the bastards have yet to do any lasting damage.” An amusing thought, too.

“The Holy Knights are not your only enemy today.”

He can see it, too. A hotter, blinding flame burning inside of her far stronger than the ones that ravage underneath their feet. Give it a century or two, he thinks, and it will be snuffed out with the rest.

Two sets of hands try to keep him close but he gently coaxes them aside. Approaches the tempest before him with her wild eyes and wild hair and finds satisfaction in the flinch of her when his fingertips graze her silken chin.

“My victory is—has always been—inevitable, ma chérie. And I look forward to the prestige it will bring.”