#uncle: where is your respect. go help your mother warm the water! | Explore Tumblr posts and blogs

novaursa · 5 months ago

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The Wolf's Flame

- Summary: When you take your son flying, Cregan keeps fires warm for your return.

- Pairing: velaryon!reader/Cregan Stark

- Note: reader is referred to as Y/N, is only daughter of Rhaenyra, has silver hair and violet eyes and is bonded to a dragon. These events happen after Fires That Never Freeze. To read all parts in chronological order, visit my blog. The list is pinned to the top.

- Rating: Mature 16+

- Word count: 4 000+

- Tag(s): @sachaa-ff @daeryna @21-princess

Your fingers gently trace the downy softness of Alysane's silver hair, a mirror of your own. Her tiny eyelids flutter as she breathes steadily against your chest, her warmth a comfort in the quiet of the nursery. The light filtering through the windows casts a soft glow, making the strands of her hair shimmer like moonlight on water. She stirs slightly, letting out a small, contented sigh, and you can't help but smile, though it is tinged with sorrow.

You can still vividly recall the first time Jace held your son, Killian. He had been so careful, so reverent, as if the boy was made of the finest glass.

"He's got your spirit," Jacaerys had said, cradling Killian in his arms with a grin that could have brightened the darkest day. "And a bit of Cregan's stubbornness too, I reckon. He's going to be a strong one."

You remember how his brown eyes had softened, his usual warrior's stoicism giving way to a tenderness that was rare to see in him. You had laughed then, a light, joyful sound that echoed in the stone halls, lifting the spirits of those around you.

But now, that memory is a dagger to your heart. Jace is gone, another brother taken by the cruel hands of war and treachery. The Battle of the Gullet claimed him, like it claimed so many others, leaving behind only a hollow ache where once there had been warmth and love.

Your grip on Alysane tightens ever so slightly, as if you can protect her from the world that has already taken so much from you. She shifts in her sleep, her tiny fists clenching, and you wonder what kind of life she will have in this world that seems so determined to tear your family apart.

The door creaks open softly, and you glance up to see Cregan standing in the doorway, his gaze heavy with unspoken thoughts. His presence is a comfort, a solid anchor in the storm of your emotions. He steps into the room, his boots barely making a sound on the cold stone floor.

"She's beautiful," he murmurs, his voice rough with emotion as he comes to stand beside you. His hand comes to rest on your shoulder, a warm, steadying presence. "Just like her mother."

You smile faintly at his words, but it's a fragile thing, easily broken. "She reminds me of Jace," you say quietly, your voice barely above a whisper. "The way he looked at Killian… it was as if he could see all the good in the world reflected in him."

Cregan's jaw tightens, and he nods, his eyes darkening with shared grief. "Jacaerys was a good man," he says after a moment, his voice low and filled with respect. "He would have been proud to see how you're raising our children, Y/N. Proud of the mother you've become."

His words are a balm, easing the sting of your loss, even if only slightly. You lean into him, resting your head against his chest, drawing strength from his steady heartbeat. "I just wish he were here to see them grow," you admit, your voice thick with unshed tears. "To see the family we’re building…"

Cregan wraps his arms around you, careful not to disturb Alysane, who remains peacefully asleep in your arms. "We'll make sure they know who he was," he promises, his voice strong and resolute. "We'll tell them stories of their uncle Jace, of his courage, his kindness. He won't be forgotten."

You nod, a tear finally slipping free, tracing a path down your cheek. "I just miss him so much," you confess, the words breaking like waves against the shore.

"I know," Cregan whispers, pressing a kiss to the top of your head.

For a long moment, the two of you stand there in the quiet of the nursery, holding each other close, sharing the weight of your grief. Alysane stirs again, and you look down at her, at the peaceful innocence on her tiny face. She is a beacon of hope, a reminder that even in the darkest times, life continues, new stories begin.

As you gaze at your daughter, you feel a small spark of determination flicker within you. You will protect her, protect Killian, and ensure they grow up knowing the love and legacy of those who came before them.

"I'll make sure they know," you whisper, more to yourself than to anyone else. "I'll make sure they remember him."

Cregan nods, his grip on you tightening just slightly, a silent promise that he will stand by you, no matter what. Together, you will keep Jace's memory alive, woven into the very fabric of your children's lives, a legacy of love and courage that even death cannot erase.

The chill of the northern wind bites at your cheeks as you stand in the courtyard of Winterfell, the ancient stones of the castle walls towering around you. The sky above is a pale, wintry blue, the kind that stretches on endlessly, promising the first snows of the season. Thraxata, your beloved dragon, is a dark silhouette against the sky, her massive form casting a shadow over the courtyard as she awaits you with the patient stillness of a creature who knows her place in the world.

Cregan stands nearby, holding Killian in his arms. Your son's violet eyes are wide with excitement, his small hands clutching at the fur-lined collar of his father's cloak. His breath comes in quick, excited puffs, visible in the cold air, as he watches you secure the last of the straps on Thraxata's saddle.

"Is Mama ready?" Killian asks, his voice high with anticipation, his gaze flicking between you and the towering dragon.

"Almost, little wolf," Cregan replies, his deep voice softened with affection. He adjusts his hold on Killian, allowing the boy to lean forward slightly, getting a better view of the magnificent creature before him.

You finish tightening the final strap and turn to face them, your heart swelling with love at the sight of your son’s eager face. "She's ready," you confirm, walking over to them with a smile that feels more natural now, more present. The cold air feels invigorating, as does the promise of the flight ahead.

Killian wiggles in Cregan’s arms, his excitement barely contained. "Can we fly now, Mama? Please?"

You chuckle at his enthusiasm and reach out to take him from Cregan, who hands him over with a tender smile. "Of course, we can, little one," you say, holding Killian close for a moment before lifting him up to press a quick kiss to his forehead. "But you must hold on tight, alright? Just like we practiced."

Killian nods eagerly, his little hands gripping your cloak as you turn to face Cregan. Your husband’s grey eyes are filled with warmth, the kind that always makes you feel grounded, no matter how high you fly. He steps closer, wrapping an arm around your waist as he bends down to press a kiss to your lips, a slow, lingering gesture that speaks of love and longing.

"Fly safe," he murmurs against your lips, his breath warm in the cold air. "And bring him back to me in one piece."

You smile against his mouth, pulling back just enough to meet his gaze. "Always," you promise, your voice soft but filled with the certainty that comes from years of shared battles and shared love. "We'll be back before the sun sets."

With a final kiss, you turn back to Thraxata, your heart thudding with a mix of excitement and the familiar rush of anticipation that always accompanies a flight. You cradle Killian with one arm as you approach the great beast, who lowers her massive head in greeting, her violet eyes shimmering with intelligence and recognition.

“Hello girl,” you whisper, your free hand brushing against her polished obsidian scales, which glimmer faintly with hues of violet and blue in the sunlight. Thraxata rumbles in response, a sound that vibrates through the ground beneath your feet, as if she’s sharing in the excitement of the day.

With practiced ease, you swing yourself up onto the saddle, positioning Killian in front of you. His small hands reach out instinctively to grasp the pommel, and you secure him with a careful, reassuring grip. He giggles with delight as he feels the warmth of Thraxata’s body beneath him, the thrill of the impending flight already bubbling over.

“Ready?” you ask, your voice a blend of both motherly concern and the thrill of the adventure ahead.

“Ready!” Killian exclaims, his voice filled with a joy so pure it sends a spark of warmth through you, despite the cold.

With one last glance at Cregan, who watches you with that same steady look, you give Thraxata the command to take flight. The dragon responds immediately, her powerful wings unfurling with a sound like thunder. She launches into the air, her great body rising smoothly from the ground as the wind rushes past you, carrying the scent of pine and snow.

The world below falls away quickly as Thraxata soars upward, the chill of the wind tugging at your hair and cloak, but the cold is nothing compared to the exhilaration of the sky opening up before you. Killian’s laughter rings out, a bright, joyous sound that echoes across the open sky. He turns his head back to you, eyes wide with pure wonder. “Mama, we’re flying! Look, we’re really flying!”

You tighten your grip on him, feeling the steady thrum of Thraxata’s heart beneath you, the power of her wings carrying you higher, above the walls of Winterfell and the endless expanse of the North. “Yes, we are,” you say, your voice filled with the same awe you see reflected in your son’s eyes. “Just like I did with my mother when I was your age.”

The dragon’s flight is smooth, a testament to the bond you’ve shared since her hatching in your cradle. She’s been with you through every trial, every loss, and every victory. Now, she carries your son just as faithfully, as if she understands that he is a part of you, a continuation of your legacy.

As Winterfell grows smaller beneath you, you feel a sense of peace settle over you. Up here, with the sky stretching out infinitely above and the world below far removed, it’s easy to forget the weight of your grief, the loss of Jace, the uncertainty of the future. Up here, there is only the sound of the wind, the warmth of your son in your arms, and the steady, powerful beat of Thraxata’s wings.

You glance down at Killian, whose eyes are now glued to the horizon, a look of pure wonder on his face. “What do you see, little one?” you ask, curious to hear his thoughts.

“Everything, Mama,” he breathes, his voice filled with awe. “I can see everything.”

You smile, leaning down to press a kiss to his temple. “Then let’s see where the wind takes us, my brave little dragon rider.”

As Thraxata glides effortlessly through the sky, you let yourself enjoy the moment, the rare freedom it offers, the bond between mother and child, between rider and dragon. And for a time, as the cold wind whips past and the world falls away beneath you, you are simply Y/N Velaryon, a daughter of House Targaryen, a mother, a wife, and a rider of dragons. The rest of the world can wait until your feet are back on solid ground.

Cregan Stark watches as Thraxata’s obsidian-black form rises higher into the sky, the great dragon’s wings beating with a rhythm that reverberates in his chest. He stands in the courtyard of Winterfell, eyes locked on the shrinking figures of his wife and son as they ascend into the endless blue, until they become little more than a speck against the pale sky. The wind whips through the courtyard, carrying with it the scent of pine and the distant promise of snow, but Cregan remains still, his gaze unwavering as long as they are visible.

There’s a sense of awe and pride that fills him every time he watches Y/N with her dragon. Even after years of seeing her soar above the battlements, it never fails to stir something deep within him. She is a true daughter of the Targaryen line, a force of nature bound to the skies, and it amazes him that she is his—his wife, the mother of his children.

As Thraxata and his family disappear from sight, he finally lets out a breath he didn’t realize he’d been holding. A smile tugs at the corners of his mouth, a mix of contentment and longing. He knows she’ll be back before long, but there’s always that small pang of separation, as if part of him takes flight with her every time she ascends into the heavens.

With a final glance at the now empty sky, Cregan turns and heads back toward the Great Keep. The stone walls of Winterfell rise imposingly around him, offering a stark contrast to the boundless sky from which he has just watched his wife and son disappear. The weight of his responsibilities returns to him with each step, grounding him in the reality of the world below.

As he enters the Great Hall, the warmth of the hearth fires greets him, a welcome change from the crisp air outside. The hall is quiet this time of day, the usual bustle of Winterfell subdued, with most of the household attending to their duties. He makes his way down the familiar corridors, his boots echoing softly on the stone floors, until he reaches the chamber where his daughter, Alysane, is being tended to.

The door is slightly ajar, and as he steps inside, he is greeted by the sight of a nursemaid cradling the infant in her arms. Alysane is awake, her bright violet eyes—so much like her mother’s—tracking the nursemaid’s movements with the curious intensity only a baby can muster. The soft, cooing lullaby being sung to her halts as the nursemaid notices Cregan’s entrance.

“Lord Stark,” she says with a respectful dip of her head, adjusting her hold on the child. “The little lady has been a delight today, though I daresay she misses her mother already.”

Cregan crosses the room in a few long strides, his gaze softening as he looks down at his daughter. “She’ll have her back soon enough,” he replies, his voice a low rumble of reassurance. “Let me hold her.”

The nursemaid carefully transfers Alysane into his arms, and Cregan feels the familiar, grounding weight of his daughter settle against his chest. She’s so small, so delicate, and yet she has a strength in her grip that makes him smile every time she reaches out to grasp his fingers. Alysane’s eyes, so much like Y/N’s, meet his, and he can’t help the rush of love that fills him.

“Have you been good for the nursemaid, little one?” he asks, his tone lighter, more playful as he gently rocks her. Alysane coos in response, her tiny fists waving in the air as if to say, Yes, Papa, I’ve been very good.

“She’s taken to her feeding well, my lord,” the nursemaid informs him, a smile tugging at her lips as she watches the interaction. “And she seems to enjoy the warmth of the fire. Perhaps she takes after her mother in that regard.”

Cregan chuckles softly, nodding. “She has the blood of the dragon in her, no doubt. But she’s a Stark, too. She’ll grow to love these cold winds, just as we do.”

He spends a few more moments with his daughter, savoring the simple joy of holding her, of feeling her small heartbeat against his chest. It’s a different kind of peace than what he feels when he’s with Y/N, but no less profound. Alysane is a part of them both, a perfect blend of fire and ice, and he treasures these quiet moments with her.

After a while, he gently hands Alysane back to the nursemaid, who resumes her gentle rocking and humming. “Thank you,” he says, his voice warm with gratitude. “Keep her close to the fire. The day will grow colder before it ends.”

The nursemaid nods. “As you wish, my lord.”

Cregan leaves the chamber, his thoughts now turning to the evening ahead. The wind outside has picked up, and he knows Y/N and Killian will appreciate a warm welcome when they return. He heads toward the Great Hall once more, this time with purpose in his stride. The fires need to be tended, more wood brought in, and the hearths stoked to a roaring blaze. Winterfell might be a cold, unforgiving place at times, but it was also a home—a sanctuary for his family—and he would see to it that they returned to warmth and comfort.

As he reaches the Great Hall, he calls out to a nearby servant, a young man quick on his feet. “We’ll need more wood for the hearths,” Cregan instructs, his tone commanding but not unkind. “Bring in what you can carry and see to it that the fires are stoked high.”

The servant nods eagerly, hurrying off to fulfill the request. Cregan moves to the main hearth himself, where the fire is already burning but not nearly to the level he desires. He takes up a heavy iron poker and stirs the embers, watching as the flames leap higher, their glow reflecting off the stone walls.

As the fire roars to life, filling the hall with a warm, golden light, he steps back, satisfied with his work. The crackling of the flames, the scent of burning wood, and the comforting heat are all reminders of why he fights, why he endures. It’s for these moments—for the quiet, peaceful evenings after the storms have passed, when his family is safe and together under one roof.

He can almost hear Killian’s excited laughter already, the way his little boy’s voice fills the hall with joy whenever they return from a flight. He imagines Y/N’s smile, the way it lights up her entire face, and how her silver hair catches the firelight as she steps inside, Killian in tow, both of them flushed from the cold and the exhilaration of the sky.

The servant returns with an armful of wood, and Cregan helps him stack it near the hearth. The warmth is already spreading through the hall, driving away the chill that had begun to settle as the day waned. He can feel the sense of home building around him, the very thing he’s fought to protect, to preserve for those he loves most.

With the fires now blazing, he takes a moment to himself, standing in the center of the hall and letting the warmth seep into his bones. It’s a simple pleasure, but one he doesn’t take for granted. The flickering light of the flames plays across his face, casting shadows that dance along the stone walls.

He glances toward the door, knowing it will soon swing open, admitting his wife and son back into the safety and warmth of Winterfell. He’s ready to greet them, to hear about their flight, to listen to Killian’s breathless recounting of the view from above and to feel the reassurance of Y/N’s presence beside him.

As he waits, the fire crackling at his back, Cregan Stark feels a deep sense of contentment. There’s a storm coming, as there always is in the North, but for now, his world is warm, his heart full, and his family is safe. And that is all he could ever ask for.

The warmth of the fire mingles with the lingering heat of your bodies, still flush from the passion that had just consumed you both. You lie nestled in the soft, thick furs of your bed, the heavy pelts providing a cocoon of warmth against the biting cold that lurks just beyond the walls of Winterfell.

Cregan's strong arm is draped around you, his hand tracing lazy, soothing patterns on your bare back. Your head rests on his broad chest, rising and falling with each steady breath he takes. The intimacy of the moment is profound, the kind of peace that only comes after such intensity, when every barrier has been stripped away, leaving only raw, unfiltered affection in its wake.

His fingers slide through your silver hair, untangling the strands that had become tousled during your lovemaking, and you feel a contented sigh escape your lips. The connection between you is tangible, a bond forged not only in love but in shared trials, in the promises whispered in the dark and the strength you find in one another.

"Sometimes," you begin softly, your voice barely more than a murmur in the quiet of the room, "sometimes I wish I could be down there, in the thick of it, fighting alongside my mother. Facing the Greens with fire and blood, like we were meant to."

Cregan’s hand stills on your back for a moment before he resumes his gentle caresses. He knows how deeply the conflict weighs on you, how much you struggle with the separation from your mother and the battles you were born to fight. "You’re a warrior at heart, Y/N," he says, his voice low and full of understanding. "It’s in your blood, in your very soul. But you’re here now, and there’s strength in that too—in being the heart of this family, in raising our children with the knowledge of who they are and where they come from."

You nod against his chest, taking comfort in his words. It’s not easy to be away from the fight, to know that your family is out there, risking their lives while you remain here, safe in the North. But Cregan is right—there is strength in what you’re doing here, in the life you’ve built together, in the legacy you’re creating.

"I know," you whisper, tilting your head to press a soft kiss to his chest, right above his heart. "I know. But I’m grateful, Cregan. For this, for you, for everything we’ve found here in Winterfell. It’s more than I ever imagined for myself."

He shifts slightly, turning so that he can look down at you, his grey eyes dark and intense as they meet yours. There’s a tenderness there, a love so deep it nearly takes your breath away. "You’ve brought light to this place, Y/N," he says, his voice filled with conviction. "You’ve made it a home, not just for me, but for everyone within these walls. You are the heart of Winterfell now, just as much as you were born both of Dragonstone and Driftmark. And I will always be grateful for that, for you."

You smile up at him, a warmth blooming in your chest that has nothing to do with the fire. "And I, for you, my love," you reply softly, lifting your hand to trace the strong line of his jaw, feeling the roughness of his beard beneath your fingers. "I never thought I could find such peace, such happiness, in a place so far from the warmth of the South. But here with you, it feels like I’ve found something even better. Something that feels like home."

He leans down to capture your lips in a slow, lingering kiss, one that speaks of love and promises, of the future you’ll face together. When he pulls back, his gaze is serious, his expression thoughtful. "Winter will come soon," he says, his voice taking on a more somber tone. "The snow will fall heavier, and the North will sleep beneath its blanket of white. But when the spring sun melts the snow, when the rivers flow again and the ice recedes, the North will rise. And we will march south, to deliver the justice that has long been owed. Just as I promised you, Y/N. The time will come."

You see the resolve in his eyes, the fire of his conviction, and it stirs something within you—a spark of hope, of purpose. You’ve always known that the North was a place of endurance, of long winters and even longer memories. But with Cregan by your side, you also know it is a place of honor, of loyalty, and of promises kept.

"And I will be ready," you say, your voice firm with determination. "We will be ready. For whatever comes."

He nods, the tension in his expression easing as he presses another kiss to your forehead, his lips lingering there as if to seal the promise between you. "But for now," he murmurs against your skin, "we have this. These moments, this peace. And we will hold on to it for as long as we can."

You close your eyes, letting his warmth and the steady beat of his heart lull you into a state of calm. The world outside can wait for now—the battles, the struggles, the uncertainties of the future. Here, wrapped in Cregan’s arms, you find solace, a reprieve from the weight of the world, and the strength to face whatever comes next.

As you drift off to sleep, cocooned in the warmth of the furs and the security of Cregan’s embrace, you feel a deep sense of contentment settle over you. The future may hold its challenges, but in this moment, all is well. You are together, and that is all that matters.

#house of the dragon #hotd #hotd cregan #hotd x female reader #hotd x you #hotd x y/n #hotd x reader #cregan x you #cregan x y/n #cregan x reader #cregan stark

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animelovelover123 · 1 year ago

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DMC: Family Pet AU – Adoption Process

The day you are adopted into the family and how everyone deals with the news of your joining.

Link to Master List

THE Set-Up

You awake from a dreamless sleep to your name being called in a whisper intended to be quiet enough to not wake the rest of your colony but the frantic way it was said disturbed some around you. Your arm was being tugged at carefully by one person while another smacked your leg repeatedly.

“Get up!”

“Now!”

“She’s on her way.”

“She’s coming just to see you.”

“You have to get ready.”

“Hurry, hurry.”

The voices belonged to two of your aunties. Not blood-related aunties though, as far as anyone knew. The frequency at which people were taken, returned, born, or abandoned on the colony by demon families that found the child too close to your species to be worth keeping was too high for anyone to track who actually birthed whom or who was born together. Anyone, of any gender, who was released, abandoned, and/or escaped from their family and made it back to the colony was referred to as ‘auntie’ or ‘uncle’. Such as the two above you, an abandoned and a released auntie respectively, who grew more violent the longer you pretended to ignore them.

“Just go.” Came a sleepy grumble from one of your siblings behind you as he gave you a decently strong kick to your lower back. Again, not your actual blood sibling, as far as anyone knows. It was just another person in your colony who was of age yet had not been taken in by a family yet, just like you. “Some of us still wanna sleep.” Your sibling adds, which was met by a small chorus of agreeing grumbles.

“Fine.” You grumble back, relenting to the pull on your arm trying to sit you up.

“Come on, you have to get cleaned up.” The auntie on your arm said as she continued to pull you up off the ground. The other auntie stopped smacking your leg to instead peel off the various tails, hands, and limbs that kept you tangled in the mass cuddle puddle.

“Why?” You whine, rubbing your tired eyes as you put up no fight in being dragged out of the den, out into the cool air not yet warmed by the rising sun.

“Because Ms. Matier is on her way.”

Ms. Matier? You knew her, the whole colony did actually. She was a Guardian of Vie de Marli, or Dumary Island as the humans called it, along with her daughter Lucia. The colony and the guardians were on friendly terms with each other, helping each other out on occasion but generally staying out of each other’s business. Ms. Matier and Lucia, though, seemed to have a soft spot for your people, having gone out of their way to track down and reunite lost/abandoned pets with their original colonies. Or, at the very least, helped put to rest those of your people who were killed by their demon family. The two women had shown far more kindness to your colony than most humans and demons, so it is no surprise that anything the mother and daughter pair asked for in return was gladly given, but…

“Why do only I have to get up?” You ask as you are led to the natural spring not too far from the den where a few other people, a mix of aunties, uncles, and siblings, are waiting.

“Because Ms. Matier has requested you specifically.” The auntie holding your arm finally releases you to motion you into the water.

“Why though?” You had expected to receive the usual cleaning, that being licks and bites from yourself and others to clean your body, including the hard-to-reach places like the large ears atop your head and the base of your tail. But it looks like you’re getting the royal package as once you step into the water the others quickly start lathering you up in the sparsely used body scrub and shampoo (including conditioner after) purchased from the human stores that your people rarely have the chance to enter. And off to the side, was that a sibling holding the lacy, bead-embroidered lingerie outfit and robe that an uncle stole when he fled his family? That’s the fanciest clothes your colony owned!

“We don’t have all the details yet,” An auntie started as she lifted your chin up to stop the shampoo suds from dripping into your eyes. “but Ms. Matier believes you would make the perfect Pet for a family she knows.”

“Is the entire family here?” Sparda asked as he finally entered the mansion dining room, calling all eyes to him.

“Yep, just waiting on you, pops.” Dante said, his usual joking tone having a twinge of annoyance laced in. “Nice of you to be the last to arrive when you’re the one who called the meeting.” Dante snarked, eyes closed so he missed the piercing glare he got from his older brother, though he could feel it.

“Show father some respect.” Vergil spat.

“Don’t worry about him Verg,” Lady hushed with a casual wave, seemingly unaffected by Vergil’s glare being directed at her next for the nickname. “Dante’s just grumpy because he had to wake up before noon.”

“It’s not just ‘before noon’. It’s six in the morning where I’m living!” Dante defended.

“Six is a perfectly reasonable time to wake up.” Credo informed matter-of-factly. “Training is done best in the early hours of the morning.”

“But you have to remember Credo, not all of us grew up with morning group training and prayers.” Kyrie said, voice calm and gentle, devoid of any judgment or annoyance.

“True…” Trish started, checking her nails nonchalantly. “But most of us also don’t sleep in so late that the sun is already going down by the time we wake up.” Her eyes jump up so she can watch the dramatic look of betrayal Dante put on.

“I’m not the only one who thinks it’s too early. Back me up on this Nico.” Dante said with a full arm gesture towards the mechanic who didn’t respond.

“You’re being talked to.” Nero informed, rolling his shoulder to get his best friend’s resting head off of him. “Wake up.”

“Wha…? Hu…?” Nico’s head popped up and she looked around, her tired brain confused at why she wasn’t in her van.

“See what I mean!” Dante proclaimed as if Nico’s inability to stay awake proved his point, which it kind of did.

“You ever hear the saying ‘the early bird gets the worm’?” Griffon asks in a mocking tone as he hovered around the tired half-breed.

“You would know about that, wouldn’t you feather face?” Dante shot back, pushing the avian away.

“Come back here.” V instructed, waving his cane in a beckoning motion. “Or will I have to call you back?”

“No no,” Griffon assured, flying back over to his master. “I wanna hear this.” He settles himself atop Shadow who is sitting proudly at the end of the dining table beside V. A giggle from the other end of the table brings all eyes to Eva whose chair was at the head of the table beside her husband’s.

“It’s so nice to have everyone in such high spirits.” She explains, her maternal instincts being put at ease by seeing her whole family so lively.

“I couldn’t agree more.” Sparda concurred, leaning down to give his wife a greeting kiss on the cheek before taking his seat beside her. “As the head of the Sparda family, I couldn’t be happier to have all of my kin together and safe, especially after all the years of hardship and stress we have endured.” The mood in the room dampened a bit as each family member thought back to their own personal struggles they have faced and overcome to get where they are now. “And for all of your efforts, and with us all now in stable situations,” All of the family, except Eva who had already discussed the idea with Sparda, looked up in interest. Even Nico woke up from her nap on Nero’s shoulder. “I think it’s about time this family adopted a Pet.”

Some of the family raised their brows in realization. Dante let out a whistle, Vergil nodded in understanding, and Lady let out a slightly annoyed huff.

“A pet?” Nico parroted back; brain not fully awake yet.

“Like a dog or something?” Nero questioned.

“Not quite-” Trish started with an amused chuckle at Nero’s naivety but was interrupted before she could explain further.

“They’ll have ears and a tail like a dog,” Griffon cut in, hoping off of Shadow’s head to start hobbling down the dining table, smug in his superior knowledge. “but instead of throwing them a bone you get to give them a bone, if you know what I-” Griffon was cut off by Shadow pouncing on him, pinning him to the table then grabbing his neck in her jaws with enough force to hold him but not hurt him.

“My apologies.” V said as Shadow carried Griffon out of the room despite the bird's squawks and cries to be released, tone polite but face showing his annoyance at his familiar’s crude words. “Please disregard him.”

“W-w-wait.” Kyrie stammered, a blush covering her face at the implication before all colour drained away in horror. “Don’t tell me… are you talking about a… a… sex slave?”

“Is that what you mean by ‘Pet’?” Nico asked, finally coming to full alert.

“Hell no.” Nero asserted, slamming his hand down on the dining table. “I’m not okay with this plan.”

“Calm down kid,” Dante jumped in, making Nero turn his determined glare onto the elder. “it’s not as bad as you’re thinking, trust me.”

“The kind of ‘Pet’ being referred to here is in reference to a certain species of demon.” Credo began explaining, having studied demon tradition through his work with The Order of the Sword and serving under Vergil. “They have been bred specifically to serve demon family units as a companion and, if the family so does wish, for more intimate care and as a carrier of children.”

“Dante and Credo are right dear.” Eva jumped in, unconsciously raising a hand to pat Nero’s shoulder calmingly but being too far from him to do so. Trish seemed to get the picture though as she stepped in and delivered the pats for her (kind of) twin. “And even compared to other demon families, we intend to treat our Pet better.”

“That’s correct dear.” Sparda laid a hand on his wife’s shoulder in solidarity before standing from his chair to assert some dominance over the situation. “Though many other demon families may treat their Pet cruelly, I trust this family to care for and treat our future Pet with all due respect, as any living creature deserves.” Sparda took a pause to gaze around the room. A sense of paternal and leadership pride washes over him as all his kin quickly and unanimously nod their heads, showing that they do intend to treat the supposed Pet well. “Now,” He continues. “this decision has been a long time coming. I had intended to adopt a Pet once Vergil and Dante became of age in human years, but then…” Sparda trailed off. His, and a few other family members’, eyes turned to Vergil, some with sympathy and others with anger.

Vergil couldn’t look at any of them, lowering his gaze in shame as he thought back to when, at only 19 years of age, he had gotten into such an intense argument with his family, and especially his brother, that he dived into the demon world alone to try to prove himself. He hadn’t been able to rejoin the family for over 20 years.

“circumstances changed.” Sparda continued, not wanting to dig up his eldest son’s bad decision and harsh punishment. “But now that we are all together and as an even bigger family than I could have ever imagined,” Again Sparda looked around the room at all of the people that had blessed his life by joining his unorthodox family unit. “I think it will be good for us to finally adopt a Pet. And I know just the woman to help us find the perfect one.”

“Ms. Matier,” You call out from the back seat of the car where you sit alone, Lucia currently driving while Ms. Matier took the front passenger seat. “who is this ‘family’ you’re taking me to?”

“It is the family of a dear friend of mine.” Ms. Matier answered in a wistful, far-off tone as if she were remembering a distant memory. “Tell me child, have you heard of a demon lord named Sparda?”

“I’ve heard of him, yes,” you say. Your eyes wander away from the front of the car as you try to remember what little you know of Sparda. “I know he is a powerful demon that helped you and the other guardians defeat Argosax the Chaos a long time ago.” Your hands mindlessly fiddle with beads of the sheer lingerie robe your colony had given you to wear before sending you off to your new life. “But that’s all I know.” The battle with Argosax was long before your time.

“Do you perhaps remember the battle with Arius several years ago?” Lucia jumped in, glancing back at you briefly through the rearview mirror to catch your nod before looking back to the road. You were around when Arius started to cause mayhem on the island. Many people of your colony were taken then, and almost none were seen again, not alive at least. “The man who helped defeat Arius and the resurrected Argosax, Dante, is the son of Sparda.”

A father defeating a chaos god and then his son coming back decades later to defeat the mad sorcerer and the same god that was resurrected? That’s either a crazy coincidence or this family has a thing for saving the world.

“Yes, they are a noble family.” Ms. Matier says, a calm smile on her face. “And though it took a while, the Sparda family has finally found peace in their lives and wish to continue this time of peace and joy with a Pet of their own.”

“We’re here.” Lucia announced as she brought that car to a stop. As all three of you step out of the vehicle you look around. You were at some sort of private dock where only one, awfully large, ship sat in the water. Even though the sun has fully risen at this point, you can’t help but shiver as the ocean wind whips at your barely covered body. Thankfully the lingerie outfit was not sheer like the robe, but it was still a thin, silky material that did not hold in any of your warmth.

“I’ll go tell them we are here.” Ms. Matier announced as she swiftly made her way down the dock and onto the ship, faster than one would think her old body was capable of.

“You know,” Lucia started, politely offering you an arm to take as the rough wood of the dock wasn’t exactly pleasant on your bare feet. “my mother and Sparda are very close. They still send letters to each other almost every month.” She begins walking you down the dock. “Sparda knew that my mother loved and watched over Pets, so when he and his wife decided they wanted a Pet for the family he came to her asking her to find the perfect match, and mother chose you.”

As you arrive at the ramp connecting the ship to the dock, Ms. Matier emerges from inside the ship, bringing with her two people. One was a woman, clearly in her later years yet still seeming healthy. Her blond hair with the occasional gray strands and her gentle smile which showed her laugh lines give an aura of a kind, mature, loving mother. The other was a man, standing tall and proud, looking far younger than the woman he was linking arms with. You would later learn that this seeming age gap was due to their different species’ lifespans. Still, he smiled gently down at the two women around him like he was speaking with old friends.

“I can promise you this,” Lucia continued. Her arm slips away from yours as the three finally turn to look at you. “you will be happy with them.”

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melzula · 5 years ago

Text

Come What May

third and final installment of the Fire Lilies series

pairing: Zuko x Princess!reader

warnings: fluff, angst, some mean Zuko, forbidden lovers au

notes: thank you all for the love & support you’ve given this series. although it’s over, if you still have any questions or are curious about what happens to Zuko and the Princess along the way feel free to ask me and I’ll be happy to elaborate! enjoy!

summary: you put your trust in Zuko and agree to run away with him. But have you made the right choice?

part one | part two

“I’ve been challenged to an Agni Kai.”

“I’m engaged.”

The two of you stare at each other stunned, eyes wide and stomachs immediately filling with dread.

“What?” Zuko breathes quietly. His voice is barley above a whisper and he refuses to make eye contact with you, but you don’t miss the way his body begins to tremble with emotion.

“With my father gone and my mother growing older I need someone to provide and take care of me,” you explain weakly with guilt present upon your features. “I’ve been given away to the son of my father’s most trusted advisor.”

Zuko’s eyes widen in horror as you carefully tug the collar of your coat away from your neck to reveal your betrothal necklace. The jewelry rests daintily against your skin, the carved stone almost shimmering underneath the light that reflects across the ice that surrounds you, and it takes every fiber of his being to restrain himself from ripping the thing right off of you. You were meant to be his fiancé, his wife, and yet here you were claiming to be the promised bride of a boy who wasn’t Zuko. A part of him felt sick, and though he knew it was beyond your control he couldn’t help but feel betrayed.

“Tell me you’re not going to marry him,” Zuko demands, his voice calm and unwavering despite his aggravated state.

“Zuko...”

“Tell me you’re not,” he urges you now as he grasps at your forearms and pulls you closer to him. If you didn’t know any better you’d assume he was furious by the way he was holding you, but in reality he was just desperate and afraid. “Y/n, tell me.”

“It’s not that easy,” you try to reason, “it wasn’t my choice.”

“Exactly, it wasn’t your choice! So don’t marry him!” Zuko insists firmly.

“If I don’t marry him I risk bringing dishonor to my family and to my people. I’m the Princess, Zu. Even if I tried to say no it wouldn’t matter. Becoming a wife to a member of our tribe is part of my duty as Princess. I’m so sorry.”

Your heart aches for Zuko as he slowly removes himself from you, and both of you choose to ignore the handprints that have been charred into the fabric of your coat from where he had once grabbed you. He was good at controlling his temper around you, but his temperature was a completely different story; it was a wonder that he hadn’t somehow burnt you yet.

“What about your Agni Kai?” You press gently, taking one of his hands in both of yours before bringing it close to your chest and over your heart. A small sigh accompanied by a breath of fire escapes Zuko at the action and warms your cool cheeks.

”One of the war generals at the council threatened your life,” Zuko explains dully. You squeeze his hand tightly in response. “I spoke out of turn in your defense, and now I’ll have to duel him. I know I can take him, but what I can’t take is someone who isn’t me being able to call themselves your husband.”

“I’ll always be yours, Zuko.” He says nothing as you wind your arms around his torso and nuzzle your face against his chest, but he can’t help himself from returning your embrace and holding you impossibly tight against him.

“Then run away with me,” he says. A small gasp escapes you as you pull away to look up at him with wide eyes.

“Run away?”

“Yes, run away. As soon as the Agni Kai is over and I win, I’ll come get you and we can leave. We’ll go wherever you’d like, it doesn’t matter as long as we’re together. Please, Princess.”

“I... I’ve heard Ba Sing Se is the place people go to get a fresh start,” you reply with an uneasy smile. Zuko rewards you with a gentle kiss to your forehead.

“We’ll leave in three days. Meet me by the docks at midnight and bring only what you need,” he instructs before gently cupping your face in his hands. “We’re going to be so happy together, y/n.”

You smile as he pulls you in for a passionate kiss, but you can’t help the uneasiness that stirs in the pit of your stomach. The thought of running away with Zuko is exhilarating, yet something in the back of your mind is begging you not to go, warning you that things will not be as you planned them to be. But your body succumbs to the sensation of Zuko’s lips against your own, and before you can stop it you find yourself sinking further and further into his warmth.

~~~

It’s not easy having to turn your back on your people and leave the only life you’ve ever known behind, but the journey that lies ahead of you is enough to convince you that leaving the Southern Water Tribe behind is for the best. You’d never be happy in a marriage with someone you didn’t love, and you’d forever resent your parents and your people from keeping you tied down to one place forever. You would be happy with Zuko, there’d be many new sights to see and so many new experiences to have. It was for the best.

You arrive at the docks by midnight per Zuko’s instructions, a backpack full of what little belongings you could bring along with you resting upon your shoulders. This is most likely the last time you’ll ever see the South Pole again and a sense of bitter sweetness washes over you as you take one final look at your home. When the sun rises your mother will find the note you’ve left behind and Princess y/n of the Southern Water Tribe will be no more.

A ship slowly emerges from the distance, the Fire Nation emblem displayed proudly for all to see, and nervous excitement tingles through your body as you prepare to leave your home once and for all.

The Zuko that descends from the ramp of the ship to greet you is not the same Zuko you had seen just a few days ago. The boy before you now has completely transformed both physically and emotionally. The long hair you loved to comb your hands through so much is gone with only a ponytail of hair remaining at the back of his head. You try not to stare at the patch tied securely around his head and over his left eye in fear of upsetting your boyfriend, but he doesn’t even bother to explain it.

When he approaches you it is with purpose, a seriousness and sense of formality that had never been there before- not when it came to you. There’s a coldness to him that frightens you, but you do your best not to show it. Something is wrong, you know this, your superstitions had warned you so, but until you find out what it is you will do your best to act as if everything is fine. You offer him a smile that doesn’t reach your eyes, and Zuko doesn’t meet your gaze.

You watch with bated breath as he reaches out and tugs your collar down to reveal the betrothal necklace around your neck.

“Why are you still wearing this?”

“I was in a rush and forgot to take it off,” you explain quickly. Zuko stares at you for only a moment before quickly emitting a heat from his palm so great it melts the carved stone of your necklace right off. The choker that held the stone falls limply from your neck and onto the snow below you. You’re bewildered by such a harsh action from the boy who had always treated you with the utmost care and respect. A part of you wanted to turn around and run back home to your mother, but you knew there had to be a reason for Zuko’s sudden change, and so you stay.

“Let’s go,” Zuko says gruffly, taking your bag from your shoulders in one hand and holding your hand in the other as he guides you up the ramp and onto the ship.

He stands beside you with an arm around your waist as the ship pulls away from the docks and out into the open sea. Your home grows smaller and smaller until you’re no longer able to see it, and then it is just you and Zuko together in silence.

“You’re going to be happy with me,” he says quietly, but the statement does nothing to ease your nerves. “It’s late, you need your rest. I’ll escort you to your quarters.”

You say nothing as he guides you to the ship’s deck below, only glancing once at the moon before you before the night sky is replaced with a steel roof over your head.

~~~

Zuko doesn’t tell you much about the Agni Kai; you’ve learned it’s best not to bring it up. But from the vague answers he’s given you along with the tiny details his Uncle has let slip out, you find out that Zuko had not won the challenge and was now an outsider of sorts to the Fire Nation. But that shouldn’t matter now considering you both had wanted to run away, right?

You have separate quarters on the ship, but you always find yourself winding up in Zuko’s bed. Homesickness hits you more often than you had presumed, and Zuko is the only warmth you find in your new life abroad. You hope that will change once you settle down in Ba Sing Se. The thought always bring a sense of comfort to you- the idea of starting over, settling in a new home, eventually getting married, and having children are images that keep you sane on the moving metal death trap.

When you wake you find that the spot beside you in bed is empty and cold, proof that Zuko has been gone for a long while now. With a sigh you force yourself up and ready yourself for the day ahead. If your calculations aren’t off and if you read the map correctly, you should be arriving in the east end of Earth Kingdom some time today.

However, when you ascend onto the top deck you find that you are nowhere near Earth Kingdom territory at all. The air is still frigid from the cold, and you’re regretting not bringing a coat up with you to wear.

It is Iroh who notices your trembling form first, immediately sitting you down at his tea table and calling for one of the crew members nearby to fetch you a blanket.

“Zuko, the poor Princess is freezing,” Iroh states whilst pouring you a nice, warm cup of tea. “Please forgive my nephew for his lack of hospitality.“

You only give the General a weak smile in response as you quietly sip your tea. A warm blanket wraps itself around your shoulders accompanied by a chaste kiss to your cheek.

“Why is it so cold?” You frown, glancing up at Zuko who stands before you. “I thought we’d be near the Earth Kingdom by now.”

Iroh guilty looks away from the two of you and quietly excuses himself in order to give you privacy. Zuko is silent for a long while.

“We’re not going to the Earth Kingdom,” he replies bluntly.

“But what about Ba Sing Se?”

“I have to tie up a few loose ends before we can settle down together. But don’t be sad, Princess. I’m sure you’ll like where we’re going instead.”

It’s then that you truly notice your surroundings, the familiar gray skies and calm ocean waters, the frigid temperatures. You’re going back home.

“The South Pole? But that can’t be!” You exclaim. “I just ran away and now you’re taking me back?”

“We’re not going there for you,” Zuko responds harshly. “They have something that I want.”

“I don’t understand...” you frown, rising from your seat at the table to meet Zuko’s fiery gaze.

“I wouldn’t expect you to,” he mutters, brushing past you in order to stand along the railing of the ship.

“Zuko, if we go back there’s a chance my people will try to take me away from you. They’ll blame you for my disappearance, returning would be nothing but trouble. What could the South Pole possibly have to make you go back?!”

You love Zuko with all of your heart, you really do. But if you had known the severity of the situation you’d find yourself in once you decided to run away with him, you would have listened to the voice at the back of your head that begged you not to go. But now, as the banished prince turns back to meet your eyes, you realize that it’s much too late.

“Your people are hiding the Avatar.”

| tags: @titaniafire @dekahg @emberislandplayers @kikaninchen-2 @multi-fandomstan @eridanuswave @royahllty @lozzybowe @izzieserra @melacholy @music-geek19 @thia-aep @thyunnamed @kittenthekat1234567890 @haylaansmi @nataliahaslosthershit @coldlilheart |

#zuko #zuko x reader #zuko imagine #prince zuko #prince zuko x reader #prince zuko imagine #atla x reader #atla #avatar the last airbender #secret tunnel #fire lilies #forbidden lovers au

2K notes · View notes

lovely-angst · 4 years ago

Text

+ last edited: 10.22.20

+ works are posted as newest on top and oldest at the bottom!

+ works with ** are personal favorites!

+ works so far: 45

- a letter addressed to you - fluff (9.20.20) [1527 words]

as the battle with muzan began to stir, tomioka knew he had to get you somewhere safe. day after day, you waited for a letter from him, whether it contain a lovely update from him or the certification of his death

- time for you - angst (09.03.20) [1794 words]

after asking for tomioka to be home more often for you and your child, the two of you get into a heated arguments that cause him to leave for the night—leaving you vulnerable

- a cry of help - angst (08.12.20) [384 words]

seeing you cry your heart out crushed tomioka’s heart. no matter what difficulties you were going through, he would be there for you

- seamstress - fluff (07.22.20) [975 words]

another cut in his haori meant another trip to visit his favorite streamstress in town who he may or may not have a crush on

- secret family - fluff (07.03.20?) [1056 words]

as tomioka strolled through the meeting with a child who looked oddly familiar holding his hand, the pillars realized they were in for a surprise

- secret lover - fluff (06.27.20) [821 words]

after the pillars picked up on the fact tomioka was missing out on some of his days as the water pillar, they decided to comfront the man only to find him with a woman

- a sudden change - fluff (06.16.20) [1008 words]

after finding an infant who’s family was killed by demons, you decide to take in the child

- a little shy - fluff (06.06.20) [986 words]

tomioka couldn’t help but flush as the two of you took turns washing eachother’s hair in the bath

- haori - angst (05.25.20) [2481 words] **

after losing giyuu’s precious haori that he lend to you to wash, you decided to find it to make things right between the two of you again. no matter what troubles you run across on the way

- “When did we adopt 4 children?” - fluff (5.22.20) [1146 words]

welcoming tomioka home, you weren’t expecting him to come home with four other young demon slayers

- beginning of a new future - fluff (5.11.20) [796 words]**

after months of wondering of your lover was even still alive after the battle with muzan, you get a warm surprise waiting for you at the door

- uncle nemi’s dog - fluff (5.06.20) [792 words]

sanemi wasn’t surprised when he found his missing dog with your’s and tomioka’s children

- no more false hope - angst (4.22.20) [900 words]** (part 2 listed below)

after defeating a demon alone while tomioka and shinobu ran, you decided it be best if you left the corps, even if tomioka was angry at you for it

- pt 2 of ‘no more false hope’ (4.29.20) [1599 words]

after overhearing tanjiro inform his friends on your well being, tomioka realized he missed you, even if you’ve found your way into the arms of another man

- harmless prank - fluff (4.1.20) [730 words]

tomioka decided to ignore you for a day as a prank but he didn’t expect the outcome to have you in tears

- secret child - angst (3.26.20) [1138 words]** (part 2 and 3 listed below)

confessing that you were pregnant to the man you had loved, you weren’t expecting to get tossed out into the streets. after 15 years of raising your son alone, his hatred for his father grew with each year

- pt. 2 of secret child - angst (04.08.20) [2254 words]**

after hibiki's suspension, tomioka decided to pay him a visit to train him. after a few days pass, hibiki was quick to notice the subtle feelings flitting around his mother and tomioka

- pt. 3 of secret child - angst (07.11.20) [2080 words]

as tomioka as his trainer, hibiki had no option but to listen and respect the man as the water pillar of the demon slayer corps, but once tomioka hits a sensitive subject to hibiki, hibiki doesn’t hesitate to throw his hands

- good things will come my way - angst & fluff (3.17.20) [522 words]

you’ve always reminded yourself that no matter how tough things may get, good will always come back to you. and it did

- pregnancy adventures 1 - fluff (3.06.20) [732 words]**

as his pregnant wife, tomioka knew he had to watch out for you, especially when it came to the food you ate.

- pregnancy adventures 2 - fluff (3.20.30) [704 words]

being heavily pregnant with his child, tomioka decided it was time for you to pack your bags and live with him

- a warm family - fluff (3.03.20) [1132 words]

ever since you moved in with tomioka, you hadn’t seen your family often. after attending a family dinner with your family, tomioka felt guilty taking you away

- the cost of loving you - big angst (2.25.20) [721 words]**

after losing his first love, you did whatever you could to help him through this hardship, even if it meant breaking yourself for him

- im not your little sister - angst [1026 words]

one of tomioka’s admirers mistakens you, his girlfriend, for his younger sister

- the big v-day - fluff (2.15.20) [1298 words]

tomioka thought valentine’s wasn’t your thing until he noticed you watching all the couples happily. so on the big day, he decided he would try to celebrate for you

- happy birthday giyuu - fluff (2.08.20) [991 words]**

celebrating tomioka’s birthday with a date, his only wish in the world was for your happiness

- crossing oceans - angst [1065 words] | DISCONTINUED

running away from home before passing out from the freezing winter, a man with a half and half haori finds you

- prompt #28: “im fine. stop asking” - angst (2.2.20) [1015 words]

noticing a change in your nature, tomioka asks you about it for you to burst into tears from frustration

- prompt #5: “the kids asked about you again” - fluff (02.01.20) [1149 words]

being a pillar meant being away from home often. taking the weekend off to bond with his kids, he realizes they don’t want to hang out with him as much as he had thought

- fight (kids) for your girl - fluff (01.30.20) [2075 words]

after saving the life of one of your students, he develops a crush for you and your boyfriend isn’t particularly fond of that

- prompt #27: “are you happy?” “I…yes,” he lied - angst (01.24.20) [878 words]

your relationship with tomioka felt, off. It wasn’t until the two of you decided to talk about that the truth comes out

- the change we need - fluff (01.16.20) [617 words]

being promoted to a pillar, you couldn’t shake off your nerves but thankfully tomioka was there to make you feel better

- dote on tanjiro - fluff (01.09.20) [875 words]**

you couldn’t help but want to shower tanjiro with hugs and kisses because he was so adorable, even if your husband was feeling neglected

- Insatiable - nsfw lol [453 words]

sucking his dick lmao

- a secret love story - fluff (12.7.19) [1512 words]

hiding your relationship with tomioka a secret wasn’t exactly, ideal. but enough was enough for tomioka when your mom had tried to set you with with another man

- pregnant glow - fluff (12.6.19) [1481 words]

tomioka finally agreed to let you come along with him on the journey to visit your friends, the pillars. but he couldn’t help but love the way you brightened up at seeing everybody

- follow your footsteps - angst (12.4.19) [940 words]

after losing the tomioka, his haori and the breath of water was all you had left of him, until oyakata-sama had a special request for you

- where did we go wrong - ANGST (12.02.19) [1005 words]**

a few months into your amazing marriage, it began to get rocky. it felt as if tomioka was drifting away from you no matter how much you tried to love him

- snow day - fluff (11.27.19) [831 words]

snow had finally fallen and what’s better than a snowball fight?

- reader and giyuu separated for two years - angst & fluff (11.25.19) [1164 words]

the battle with muzan began and you had to leave tomioka’s side. two years pass by as tomioka continues to search for you, just to find you with a small child

- older kamado sister!reader vs rui - angst (11.17.19) [883 words]

your younger brother tanjiro was stubborn, refusing to leave to keep him and nezuko safe. but thankfully tomioka was there to help

- do you believe in love at first sight? - fluff & angst (11.16.19) [2440 words]**

you fell in love with tomioka the first time you saw him, when he saved you. but once you fall into another life or death battle, will he be there to save you for a second time?

- no matter how hard i try, i can’t have you - ANGST (11.6.19) [818 words]**

your heart was for tomioka and tomioka only, even if his heart wasn’t for you

- pt. 2 of ‘matter how hard i try i can’t have you’ (11.13.19) [1609 words]**

you couldn’t hate shinobu, no matter how much you wanted to. after getting injured during a mission, tomioka held you in his arms and you knew it would be alright to finally let him go

- tomioka, i can - angst & fluff (11.04.19) [1240 words]**

tomioka was tired of you always trying to fight demons you couldn’t handle, causing him to save you every time. but you had enough of him reminding you how weak you are

#tomioka giyuu #tomioka #giyuu #tomioka giyuu x reader #tomioka giyuu scenarios #giyuu x reader #tomioka x reader #giyuu tomioka #giyuu tomioka scenario #giyuu tomioka x reader #giyuu tomioka scenarios #kny #kimetsu no yaiba x reader #kimetsu no yaiba tomioka #Kimetsu no Yaiba #demon slayer #demon slayer tomioka #demon slayer x reader

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hesther-mcg · 4 years ago

Text

fire lady

request: Could I maybe request a one shot where reader is Fire Lady🔥 (married to my boy Zuko hehehe) and how all of the gaang’s children love to be around her? Like, she’s their auntie and all that because I refuse to think that the children didn’t grew up seeing each other as family and loving all of their crazy aunts and uncles

pairing: zuko x female!reader

warnings: none, just some wholesome fluff

a/n: this is... so long. i have no self control lmao but i hope you like this! i hope it was what you were thinking of when you requested, but if it wasn’t just send in another fire lady reader request bc i would love to continue this!

fire lady, prequel fire lady, part one fire lady, part two

“Are you excited to see everyone?” You asked your daughter softly as you brushed her hair. She stood in front of you in the vanity chair, watching you in the mirror. Her grin matched your own, but her eyes were all Zuko.

“Yes!” Izumi cheered, little arms raising in the air. “When they get here, will you sit by the Turtle Duck pond with us?” She asked sweetly.

“Of course, my love,” you hummed, hands gathering the top part of her black hair in a topknot. “Should we go ahead and place an order for some fruit tarts? Bumi and Kya go nuts for them every time they’re here,” you chuckled.

She giggled at that, and hummed to herself as you finished securing the crown in her hair. “Alright, Princess, I think you’re good to go,” you stated, patting her on the bottom once while giving her room to jump down.

“Woohoo!” She yelled and hit the ground running, out of the room and racing down the corridor. You followed her, much slower, and asked a passing servant to send a large order of the Fire Nation desserts down to the kitchens. You were excited to see your friends, it had been awhile since you’d all found time to see one another, and you especially missed your nieces and nephews. You never knew your heart could be so scattered across a group of children, but here you were.

Upon entering the courtyard, you were greeted with the sweet sight of your husband reaching up to help little Kya down from Appa’s saddle while your daughter had her arms locked around Bumi in a tight embrace.

Aang and Katara slid off together and you made your way to them. “Long time, no see,” you greeted, and engulfed Katara in such a way that you’d been told not to do in the past. Your personality clashed with the Royal council, but the people of your nation loved you.

“Hey, (y/n).” Katara whispered in your ear as she rocked you slightly.

“Sweetie, let the rest of us see her,” Aang joked lightly, and you backed away only to be pulled into another hug, the airbender wrapping his arms around your shoulders.

“Hey, Aangy, how’ve you been?”

Bumi laughed from beside you and you when you looked at him he darted towards you. He collided with your midsection, arms wrapping around your waist. “Awe, Bumi, I missed you so much!” You ruffled his already wild hair.

“Aunt (y/n), can you take us for a ride on Uncle Zuko’s dragon?” He asked, looking up at you with wide eyes, full of adventure.

“Perhaps another day,” Zuko answered, coming up to join your little group with Izumi in one arm and Kya in the other.

“Hi, sweetheart,” you whispered to the Water Tribe girl, and she giggled as you placed a kiss on her cheek.

“(y/n), come meet my kid!” Toph shouted from a few feet away, and your heart skipped a beat. There was a pep in your step as you made your way over to her and Sokka, who held little Tenzin in one arm. And in the earthbenders arms was a little girl with green eyes and dark hair, and your heart was spread a little further. She already had a piece and she hadn’t even acknowledged you yet.

“Oh my goodness, and who is this?” You asked, reaching forward to wrap your arm around Toph’s shoulder, and she moved her daughter around in order to return the gesture.

“This is Lin,” you old friend answered and thrust the young girl towards you. Lin’s eyes widened and she stared at you in wonder as she sat in your arms.

“Hello, Lin, my name is (y/n),” you smiled at her and she eventually returned it. You could see Toph written all over this girl, and it warmed your heart tremendously. “Have you ever seen a Turtle Duck?” You asked animatedly, and reached your other arm out to take Tenzin, and make your way towards everyone else.

“Well, do I have a treat for you,” you continued when Lin didn’t answer.

“Is it fruit tarts?!” Kya shouted, jumping in place.

Izumi joined in as she answered with her own shout. “Yes! They’re in the garden waiting for us in the garden!”

Bumi gasped and looked to his mother and father before returning his gaze to you. “Can we go, Aunt (y/n)? Please?”

“Yeah, please,” Tenzin echoed sweetly and you rubbed your cheek against the top of his little bald head.

“You took the plans right out of my head, Bumi! How do you always do that?” You shook your head and didn’t miss the proud look that overcame the young boy’s face.

“Alright, misfits,” you addressed loudly. “To the gardens, for fruit tarts and Turtle Ducks!” And began your march through the palace, three children trotting behind you, and the semi-domesticated Fire Ferret you insisted on letting wander the palace freely, followed not too far behind.

“What’s that?” Lin spoke for the first time since meeting you, the words jumbling together. You glanced at her, and noticed her pointing over your shoulder. When your eyes landed on the small red animal, you grinned.

“That’s my friend, he lives here with us; though Izumi and I seem to be the only people who like him.” You chuckled, and continued your trek to the outside gardens, it wasn’t too much farther.

“Hey! Daddy doesn’t mind him,” Izumi called, pausing to let the Fire Ferret jump onto her shoulders. She’d heard her father repeat those words a hundred times, whenever the creature would find his way inside and he was forced to stop anyone that attempted to shoo him away.

“That’s right,” you agreed, breaking through the threshold where the corridor opened to the outside, the sound of the fountain filling the space and the smell of flowers floating through the air. Just as you stepped out, a servant was placing multiple trays of fruit tarts on the table that was set up for this specific reason.

“We made it just in time!” Izumi shouted and grabbed Kya by the wrist and pulled her forward.

“Thank you,” you bowed your head slightly to the woman who brought you the treats, and she smiled at you. She lowered her body in respect before hastily retreating from the garden, and your heart sunk just a bit at her speedy exit.

“Why’d that lady leave so fast?” Bumi asked as he reached for a fruit tart.

“A lot of the people who work in the palace are still a little scared that Uncle Zuko and I will be like the Royals before us,” you answered honestly and you sat on the bench, Lin and Tenzin situating themselves on your lap. “But we try to let them know by showing them that those times are over, because why?”

“Actions speak louder than words!” Your daughter answered with a mouthful, and you chuckled at her. That was a lesson that you worked hard to instill in her.

“That’s right, Princess,” you nodded as the little monk in your lap handed you one of the desserts. Your heart felt full, sitting in the most magical place you knew of, surrounded by all the children you were so blessed to know and love. You were even more blessed that they loved you; every time ‘Aunt (y/n)’ left one of their mouths it felt like music to your ears. They reminded you so greatly of yourself and the Gaang, and you would do anything for them.

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moral-turpitudes · 4 years ago

Text

A Secret Life:

**Gif credits go to the amazing @nofckingfighting your gifs give me life ok. They’re *chef’s kiss.**

Masterlist | Rules | Peaky Prompts

Trigger Warnings: None really, just some Fluff and some Swearing I think.

Word Count: 3,324

Characters: Johnny Dogs x Female!Reader

Requested by: @atjafshelby, you can find it here. This was the first time I’ve written anything mainly for him so I hope this is good lol. I love getting the opportunity to write other characters. :)

Summary: After a spat about potatoes and a sudden departure from Thomas’ dinner meeting, Johnny Dogs rushes home to be with his wife Y/N and their family, knowing he’d have to tell the blinders about his secret life with them eventually.

The weather was gloomy as the peaky men prepared for one of Tommy’s meetings in the middle of Charlie’s yard. The cans full of logs and kindling burning brightly through the smog of Small Heath as the smoke filled the air. The smell of smoked meat and other foods slowly making their way onto the makeshift table.

In the distance though, was a loud voice mumbling on hurriedly as he stomped along the dirt and soot covered road leading to the feast.

“Right, put the steel rods up the gooses arse there. Go on.” Johnny Dogs said to one of the younger lads who were understandably confused. His eyes watching as they did so, itching to do it himself since no one ever prepared goose the right way. This wasn’t his only criticism though, as he made his way to the table he noticed the lack of starch amongst the men.

“This isn’t a proper dinner. If you’re going to have the Gold’s here ya gotta have potatoes!” Johnny Dogs said loudly as the Shelby’s tired uncle followed the Irish traveler around the yard.

Charlie looked at the man dumbfounded, thinking it was as great a feast as any.

“I want him to see that we live proper, that we eat proper, in the proper way!” He exclaimed.

“No...no you know what?” He added, pointing at Charlie with an anger-filled expression.

“What?” Charlie asked, lighting a cigarette as his infamous nephews came strolling in.

“I’ll get the potatoes me-self!” He exclaimed, clearly frustrated as he stomped through the yard to the old market nearby. His mind buzzing with the thought of his wife and children back at camp. He loved being here with the men he considered allies, but his heart was there with Y/N, always, especially now that she’d been alone with their newest edition to the family.

“What’s he on about aye? It’s just a dinner to discuss the vendetta. Is he scared of the Gold’s?” Tommy said, a cigarette lingering on his lips.

“No he just thinks they’re bloody heathens.” Charlie said as Tommy smirked, walking back to meet Aberama Gold and his son Bonnie.

As Johnny got back, he hastily threw the potato’s in one of the boiling pots near the men. The steam rolling off them as he mashed them up and brought them to the table.

“Bit late there Johnny.” Arthur said, grabbing a huge spoonful of them.

“Not me fault someone can’t prepare a proper meal.” He said, his eyes darting to his pocket watch as Aberama agreed, thanking him for making them as they continued their tense conversation.

“Is there something wrong?” Tommy asked Johnny, causing him to swallow hard as he tried to not tell them about you. It ached him not to, but quite frankly he was nervous to do so. Knowing they’d have something to say when they learned of his relationship status and such.

“Almost forgot, I had some things to take care of at camp. I’ll be back in the mornin’ boys. Don’t get blood all over the fucking food alright?” He said, Tommy waving him off with a suspicious look on his face. He never had men leave abruptly, but if anything he thought maybe he had a whore waiting for him or another feud to handle.

But little did the blinders know what actually awaited him.

“Aye! Dads going to be home soon-no-don’t you dare hit your brother!” Y/N said aloud to her two rambunctious children Alice and Samuel, who were running around the field with the other little ones of the group that were set up nearby. Your youngest, Sarah, nestled on your hip and baby-babbling to herself.

“You’re gonna be full of words just like your father aren’t ya love?” You said to her quietly, going over to your son and daughter who were rough-housing as usual.

“Playtime’s over loves, we have to get ready for dinner.” You said, the children immediately stopping and saying goodbye to the other kids as you waved goodbye to their parents.

As you led your children back to the vardo, you quickly put your daughter down in her small crib near the cramped bed in the wooden structure.

Your tired reflection caught you off guard as you looked in the mirror. Your eyes not as bright and hair not as perfectly placed as before you’d had three children.

You were always grateful to be blessed with good looks that were surely from your mother, but you soon garnered unwanted attention as you’d grown up, the men throwing themselves at you left and right, until you’d seen Johnny one day at a camp in Ireland of course. He was bantering with his friends, fist fighting and such near one of your family’s stops, his smile catching your eye as he laid his own upon you. The poor man got punched because of you after all, making him go off his game with your beauty. But to this day he said he didn’t regret it, telling you in that moment his world stopped. That he’d felt like the luckiest man in the world to have someone as sweet and as beautiful as you by his side all these years.

And so now here you were, waiting for your traveler and infamously rowdy blinder husband to come home. The sun setting in a plethora of colors over the field as the other travelers sat around their respective bonfires.

“When’s dad coming? He’s usually back.” Your son asked, his eyes the color of yours but the shape of Johnny’s, and your daughters small smile like his as well.

“Yeah mum where’s he off to? I wanted him to tell us a bedtime story.” She said, pouting slightly as she watched you preparing dinner.

“Give him time angels. He’s a busy man.” You said, wondering where he was, knowing he’d most likely gotten held up by the fucking Shelby’s once again.

He’s never told them about you and it stung a bit, but you realized early on that he only did it to keep you and the family safe, knowing that nothing good ever came from uttering the Shelby name.

As you portioned the food out for the children, your youngest cried for her food as well as you sighed and went in to nurse her. Humming a soft song to her as she gradually fell asleep in your arms.

As the kids emptied their bowls, stomachs full and content smiles on their faces, you ushered them to their beds, your heart racing slightly as you thought about where your husband could be.

“Don’t worry loves, dad will be home soon alright? I’m going to be just outside.” You said, fixing yourself your portion of the food as you stoked the fire a bit more, the embers disappearing into the night air as you wrapped the warm knit blanket around you.

You’d gotten accustomed to spending the majority of your nights alone with the children, eating amongst the stars and telling stories, but one thing always remained constant, and that was the need for their dad to be home. He made everyone light up when he’d come around. His laugh bringing a smile to your face instantly as he entertained the kids on his off days while you rested with the baby. But now like many nights, they missed him. They missed how he’d make you all feel safe, knowing he had you all out in the open like this. But he knew the company he kept, and he trusted them with his life that they’d take care of you all if need be.

Alas, as you sat there lost in thought, you heard the cries of your daughter once again as you went into the vardo, gently cradling her to you as you carried her outside into the cool night air, the sound of the crackling fire and water rushing nearby helping her fall asleep once again as you bounced her around lightly.

“It’s okay sweetheart. He’ll be home soon.” You reassured her. Knowing he’d never ever leave you sleeping alone, unless it was something serious.

---

“Johnny, before you go, we’ll be stopping by tomorrow. We need to make sure you all are ready.” Thomas said as Johnny walked away from the table.

“Alright, I’ll see ya there then lads. Goodnight.” He said, tipping his hat and walking off towards the horse he’d ridden in on. Quickly riding towards one of the flower fields nearby to pick some for you. He knew they wouldn’t make up for him being late, but he knew they’d at least bring a smile to the face he loved so much.

---

You sat wide-awake with your sleeping daughter against your chest, your nightgown covered by the thick blanket you’d draped over you and the baby. Her soft coos and little snores bringing a smile to your face as you kissed the top of her head. Your stomach still hurting with some efforts as you shifted in your seat. She’d only been about 4 months old, so both you and her were adjusting to the whole life thing with each other.

As you sat there naming the constellations to yourself as you gazed at the stars, you heard the familiar horse hooves pounding on the ground near the vardo. Johnny’s giddy whistle making your daughter rustle around in your arms as she knew he was home.

“Shhh, she’s sleeping.” You said quietly as he walked over ever-so carefully to kiss you, his lips soft against yours as he lingered on them for a moment, taking you in.

“I wanted to get here earlier, with the baby and everything but uh...Tommy got in the way again.” He said, grabbing the flowers he’d picked earlier.

“Are these for me?” You asked, grasping them with your free hand.

“Mhmm. Picked them me-self. Thought you’d like some after a hard days work caring for the kids. And uh, since I’ve been gone so long ya know?” He said, nervously rubbing his hand on the back of his neck.

“I love you Johnny Dogs. You romantic devil.” You said with a smirk as you kissed him once more.

��Now tell me love, what’s got you on your toes?” You asked, knowing his body language more than your own at this point.

“They’re coming here, to make sure everything’s ready for the big mission.” He said.

“Christ....do we need to stay in? It’ll be hard with this one crying.” You said, looking down at the sleeping bundle in your arms.

“No...I...I want you to meet them. They’re coming tomorrow mornin’.” He said.

“I see....well I’ll make sure to get up and make sure the kids meet them too. Couldn’t hurt right?” She asked.

“It could soften the blow I suppose.” He said, grabbing the last of the food that was still warm over the fire.

“What’s that supposed to mean?” She asked.

“They’ll take one look at you and drool. You don’t think I see it every time we go outside the camp? You’re bloody gorgeous and you’ve gone and married a fool like me?” He said half-jokingly. His self-deprecating humor hurting your heart.

“They can say what they want, but you’ll always be the man for me Johnny. I wouldn’t have you any other way. You were the first man I’ve ever loved.” You said, remembering how despite your looks, you’d never had the luck of relationships on your side, thinking all hope was lost until that day so long ago. And god were you grateful for him, even if he did talk your ear off on more than one occasion, you still loved the man to death.

“Now go tell your children a bedtime story, please love?” You asked, looking at him with puppy dog eyes that made his heart swoon. He could never say no to you.

---

The next morning, you awoke to the sound of the kids playing out by the river, the wind rustling around the vardo as you heard Johnny helping out with the baby outside.

“I’m sorry love, I was going to get up and help ya but I guess I overslept.” You said, wrapping your robe around yourself that complimented your eyes and physique exquisitely.

“You needed the beauty sleep love. Besides, you’ve done enough for me these past weeks, thought I’d do something for ya.” He said, cradling the baby in his arms as you sat near him next to the barely lit fire, the coals still hot from the night before.

Johnny took your hand in his lightly, the ring on your finger sparkling in the sunlight as you both watched your kids playing together near the river.

In the distance though, you could hear the sound of a car pulling up, your nerves getting to you as you knew it was Thomas Shelby and his brothers.

“Here we go.” You mumbled, calling your children over as the men got out of the car, the kids nearly running into them as their little legs carried them swiftly over the grass. They quietly stood behind you as Johnny handed you your baby girl, her bright eyes looking up at you as the sun hit your face flatteringly.

“Hello boys! G’morning to ya! How’s about we get this meeting done shall we?” He asked, putting his cap on.

“Who’s the lovely lady over there aye?” John asked, eyeing her with hungry eyes.

“That’s me wife. Her names Y/N.” He said, looking John in the eyes as he crossed his arms.

“Oh and who are the children with her? They can’t be yours can they? Wow Johnny boy! Didn’t know you had it in ya. How’d you snag a gem of a girl like that aye? Use any of yer charms?” Arthur said jokingly.

“They’re mine yes, and don’t worry, I did nothing of the sort. She came to me actually.” He said with a proud smug smile on his face, knowing he married one of the prettiest women near Small Heath and the bastards couldn’t do anything about it.

“Well if you have anymore questions how’s about you lot meet them then?” Johnny asked over the awkward silence, Thomas still eyeing him a bit suspiciously.

“You boys go meet them, me and Johnny have something to discuss.” Tommy said shortly.

“Oh...al-alright. Here ya go lads.” He said, leading them over to Y/N and her children, who backed behind their beautiful mother shyly.

“Hello gentlemen, I’m Y/N. Nice to meet ya.” You said, smiling brightly as their stares lingered over you. It was something you were used to, but still made you slightly uncomfortable, so you remained focused on your kids.

“You can have a seat if you’d like, we don’t mind do we loves?” You asked, patting your son on the head as he smiled.

“No it’s ok momma. I’m gonna go play.” Your daughter said, running off towards the other little kids nearby. Your son sat by you though, eyeing the men curiously.

“So these are Johnny’s kids aye? What’s your name little man?” Arthur asked, putting on his nicest smile.

“Samuel. Who are you? Why do ya have big hats on like me dad?” He asked.

The men both looked at each other and smiled.

“We’re in a...group that your fathers in. It’s for people that are nice and strong.” He said.

“Oh...” Samuel said, fiddling with his fingers as he leaned his head against your arm.

“How’d you and Johnny meet aye? Old bugger like him sure snagged a beauty for a wife.” John said.

“Oh uhm...we met by chance really. I saw him scrapping with some people by the roadside when my family were going through and I stopped to watch. He says he got caught off guard by me. He got hit right after eyeing me up.” You said with a small laugh. John and Arthur chuckled as they looked over at Johnny and Tom having a rather tense conversation.

“While our brother’s interrogating the poor man, who’s this little one and her big sister?” Arthur asked.

“This is Sarah. She’s 4 months, almost 5. Talkative little bugger just like her dad. Always babbling about somethin’ aye? And that’s Alice. She hates sitting down, always wanting to be on the go. Guess it’s in the blood.” You said, also feeling antsy as you sat there with half of your little family.

“That it is.” Arthur said, looking around the camp as Johnny’s voice rose in the distance.

“When were you going to tell me Johnny?” Thomas asked, his cigarette dangling from his lips.

“About what mate? Bout me cookin’ and leaving yesterday or bout me family?” He asked.

“About your family, Johnny. You’re like family to us you know. How could you not tell us?” He asked loudly.

“You should know! The bloody line of work we’re in! God knows I’m not bringing them into that ‘ere.” He said a bit louder than Thomas expected, causing the others to look over.

“But why hide something like this Johnny? Not because of the way of our work but why hide it until now aye?” He asked.

Johnny thought for a moment, leaning against the tree near the river.

“Because Tom. I knew you’d all take one look at her and wonder why she’s wit’ a man like me. Ya know I’m not the nicest looking man ‘ere. Somehow how Tom...somehow she loves me and I wanted ya to see why I had to leave yesterday. It’s not just me I’m thinkin’ bout anymore.” He said.

“That why you’ve been yelling at work? Being short with everyone?” Thomas asked.

“Yeah Tom, yeah. Just...please don’t drag them into this.” He said, looking over at his wife who was managing pretty well despite John practically drooling.

“Well now that that’s cleared up how about you introduce me to them aye?” Thomas said, patting him on the shoulder and walking past him.

“I fucking guess. C’mon.” He said walking quickly ahead of his friend as Y/N smiled upon their arrival. His heart skipping a beat at the sight of it.

“Y/N, love, I want ya to meet-“ He said before you cut him off. Eyeing the man who’d put your family in risky circumstances long ago.

“Thomas Shelby. Yeah...I know. Nice to see you in person.” You said, shaking his hand roughly and with a more colder glance than you’d had given his other brothers. You knew Thomas orchestrated everything within the blinders, so he was often the one blamed when things went south, and you had no problem casting the blame on him when Johnny would come home half conscious and bleeding, or limping with a bullet wound or two.

“Pleasure’s all mine Y/N. How’s the family?” He asked, sitting beside Johnny around the bonfire that was slowly burning out.

“Good now that their father is back. This little one is Sarah, the wild one over there is Alice, and our boy here is Samuel.” You said, pointing with your free hand to your small crew of children.

“Aye, so he tells me you met by chance. How in the hell did this man meet a woman like you?” He asked.

You looked down slightly at your daughter who was surprisingly sleeping soundly, her small mass of hair on her head coming in as dark as her fathers.

“I told your brothers already but, uh we met when I was traveling with me family. Saw him scrapping with some other men from nearby, I guess ya locked eyes long enough with me that they knocked you out aye love?” You said lightly punching Johnny’s shoulder.

“Aye they did. Couldn’t stop bloody lookin’ at ya. I mean seriously boys. Isn’t she a beauty? I’m a lucky man. A lucky lucky man.” He said, lighting a cigar as you smiled and put your free hand on his. It was rough from years of work, but as warm as the hugs he gave. He was home to you, no matter where you all went, he was the one constant thing you longed for, knowing in your heart he was yours forever.

Johnny Dogs Tag List:

@flysafepapi, @gaytommyshelby, @ta-ka-shi-ma

If you’d like to be added/removed, just send me an ask/message. :)

#atjafshelby #peaky blinders #peaky blinders imagines #peaky blinders oneshots #peaky blinders fanfic #johnny dogs #johnny dogs x reader #johnny dogs x female!reader #johnny dogs x y/n #johnny dogs imagines #thomas shelby #arthur shelby #john shelby

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phoxphyre · 4 years ago

Text

In honor of the gorgeous Snowbaz Pride & Prejudice art from @laeve-leve--and because it’s looking like it’s still going to be a while before I finish and start actually posting this thing--I’m going to do something a bit different for WIP Wednesday and post an entire scene.

I’ve posted bits and pieces of this before, but here’s my version of the 2005 P&P rain proposal scene.

Tagging @super-duper-twelve (for encouraging me to keep writing in the middle of a crazy month), @captain-aralias, @flammable-grimm-pitch, @otherworldsivelivedin, @nightimedreamersworld, @palimpsessed, @wetheformidables, @ninemagicks, @aristocratic-otter, @sharkmartini and anyone else who wants to share!

~~~~~~

Once in the park Simon summoned the Sword of Mages and swung it viciously, slicing the heads off of flowers and cutting new pathways into the spring grass. His mother would reproach him for using it for something so trivial—but after all, she was not here.

When the skies at last poured open Simon bent his head back and stood staring up into the clouds.

“Perfect,” he said.

He was soaked to the skin within moments. He strode onwards; something about the weather matched his mood.

“Her family,” Simon said viciously.

It was impossible that Mr. Pitch could have meant anyone other than Shepard and Penny. He was hardly surprised that Mr. Pitch had opposed the match, but he had believed Miss Wellbelove the chief architect of their separation. To learn that Mr. Pitch was the cause, that his vanity and pride were the cause of all that Penny had suffered—that she continued to suffer—

Simon decapitated a hapless daisy. Mr. Pitch had ruined the hope of happiness for the best person Simon knew—the person who had saved him when he had lost everything.

“‘There were very strong objections against the lady,’” Simon bit out. What were the objections? That she had one uncle who was a country attorney, and another who was in trade?

Mr. Pitch could not possibly have objected to Penny herself. She was perhaps somewhat irregular in her way—but also sharp as a blade, a talented magician, on her way to becoming a brilliant magickal scholar. She was exactly the type of person Mr. Pitch should respect. Nor was there anything to object to in their mother.

His father and siblings, on the other hand…but no, that could not possibly be the reason. It was all vanity; Mr. Pitch must object to their lack of connections, their want of wealth. And perhaps Simon’s own bastardy.

Simon swung at a stump; the sword stuck in the wood, and he had to use two hands to pull it out. Even the cold felt good: the act of driving his body to escape the tyranny of his mind.

Simon broke free of the trees and found himself on a long lawn. To his left it sloped down to a picturesque pond, all surrounded by willows weeping into the gray water; to his right it climbed to a ridiculous Grecian folly, the kind of thing that rich people planted on their lands when they grew tired of hedge mazes. The rain pounded down, stronger here without the trees to shield him. He broke into a run, less to escape the rain than to feel the blood pumping through his body.

The folly was little more than four columns reaching to the sky with a marble floor and a rounded wall on one side; it was roofless, and once within the columns Simon tipped his head up again, drinking in the rain. He felt hot with rage, as if his anger might overflow his body and run down the hill like the rain.

Then, without warning, there was the tap of riding boots against marble—and suddenly Mr. Pitch was there.

For a moment they stared at each other. He was as wet as Simon, his hair plastered to his skull. Water ran from the ends of his hair and tracked down his cheekbones like tears.

“Simon,” Mr. Pitch said. Through his anger Simon saw that his eyes were the color of the pond. The storm washed everything about him grey-green; he might have been the statue of an angel carved from the same rock as the columns.

“I—” he said. And then he took two steps forward, pressing Simon back into the stone of the wall, and crushed Simon’s lips against his.

For a moment Simon was frozen, too surprised to resist. He felt the cold stone against his hips, the cold rain running between their two faces. Against his will his hand came up and wound itself into the hair at the back of Mr. Pitch’s neck. Somehow he had already known how it would feel, soft as down under the pads of his fingers. His mouth opened; Mr. Pitch’s lips were gentle on his, even as his body pushed Simon’s into the stone. Simon could feel him down the whole length of his body, warm where he blocked Simon from the rain.

Then Simon’s hands came up; he placed both palms against Mr. Pitch’s shoulders and pushed him away, hard. Mr Pitch stumbled back a few paces; he raised his hand to touch his lips.

“What. The hell,” Simon spat.

“Simon,” Mr. Pitch said. “I have struggled in vain. It will not do.” He took a step forward. “I came to Hampshire to see you—” He shook his head, the wet ends of his hair whipping past his face. “I had to see you.”

Simon could only stare at him.

“I’ve fought against my family’s expectations, my better judgement, the lowness of your birth—my rank and circumstance…” His voice hitched. “All of it. I know any connection between us must be reprehensible. But I must put those considerations aside and ask you: please, end my agony.”

Simon had never seen that expression on his face, had never imagined that face capable of making such an expression: open and yearning, as if all of his walls had fallen and the gates thrown open.

“I love you,” said Mr. Pitch. “Most ardently.”

Simon made a noise, halfway between horror and mad laughter. “You love me?”

Mr. Pitch extended his hand, pale in the darkness of the storm. Rain ran down the curves of his fingers and pooled in his palm. “Believe me, I wish I did not. It is ridiculous—unthinkable. But I do.”

Simon stared at the hand and did not take it. “It is ridiculous to love me?” he said slowly.

“Yes,” said Mr. Pitch. He sounded relieved that Simon had understood so quickly. “But here we are. So I must beg you to accept my hand.”

“You have a strange way of begging,” said Simon.

“What?”

“I am sorry if your—passion has been difficult for you,” Simon said. “But no. No.”

He watched Mr. Pitch’s face close as he spoke, the gates swinging shut and the walls fortified.

“So you are refusing me?” Mr. Pitch said coldly. He withdrew his hand, wiped it on his coat, and placed it in his pocket.

“Yes.” Simon could not help the bite in his voice. “But as you have so little esteem for me, I hope you will recover quickly.”

“Might I inquire why I am thus rejected?”

“I am surprised you need to inquire, after telling me that you liked me against your will, against your reason, and even against your character.”

“I did not mean—”

“You should thank you me for saving you from such a terrible fate,” said Simon. “In any case, did you think I would marry the man who has ruined the happiness of my dearest friend? My sister?”

Mr. Pitch paled further. The rain fell between them like a veil.

“Can you deny it?” Simon demanded. He stepped forward, thrusting his chest forward, forcing Mr. Pitch back a step.

“I have no wish to deny it,” said Mr. Pitch. Simon searched his face for regret and found none: only pride and bitterness. “I did everything in my power to separate Shepard from your sister, and I rejoice in my success. I have been kinder to him than myself.”

“Why?” Simon demanded. He put his hands against Mr. Pitch’s shoulders again and shoved, pushing him back. “How could you do it?”

“I believed she was indifferent to him.”

“She danced with him! She laughed with him!”

“She argued with him! Continually!”

“For Penny, that is love!” Simon snarled. “She was supposed to show her true feelings? You will not even show your true feelings when you find your mother’s journals!”

Mr. Pitch stumbled back another step, away from Simon’s hands. “And I suppose you despise me for what I am as well?”

“No! I would never—”

“After all, why would you tie yourself to a dark creature?” Mr. Pitch said bitterly. “Even when it would save yourself and your family.”

“Yes, it is always about money, with people like you. I suppose you think Penny was hungry for Shepard’s fortune?”

“I would never do her the dishonour. Although it was made clear that an advantageous marriage—”

“Did Penny give that impression?”

“No! But there was your family—”

“My family. What was it—our want of connection? My bastardy?”

“It was the lack of propriety shown by your father, your younger siblings—even your mother on occasion.” He looked away. “Forgive me.”

“Oh? Is that all? And what about Mr. Lamb?”

“Lamb?” Mr. Pitch said blankly.

“What excuse can you give for what you did to him?”

“You certainly take an eager interest in that gentleman’s concerns.” The earlier openness had been entirely wiped away; Mr. Pitch’s face showed only anger now.

“How could I help it, once I knew of his misfortunes?”

“Oh, yes, his misfortunes,” Mr. Pitch said savagely.

“You were the one who reduced him to poverty, and yet you mock and ridicule him.”

“So this is your opinion of me!” cried Mr. Pitch. He paced from one side of the folly to the other, his steps quick and angry. “This is the estimation in which you hold me! Thank you for explaining it so fully.”

Suddenly he was before Simon again, having moved too quickly for Simon’s eyes to follow. It was so inhuman a motion that Simon could not help himself; he shrank away, as one shies from a snake. Mr. Pitch’s eyes narrowed.

He thrust his face into Simon’s, almost spitting now. “But you might have overlooked all of this, if I had not injured your pride—if I had lied and flattered you.” He raised a hand, and Simon thought for a moment that he would strike him. Simon put his hand over his hip, wondering if he could summon his blade quickly enough to prevent Mr. Pitch from killing him.

But Mr. Pitch was already dropping his hand, turning away. “I refuse,” he said. “I will not lie to you. I abhor disguise of every sort.”

Simon grabbed his arm, preventing him from moving away. The skin was cold beneath his fingers and slippery from the rain. “You have been lying from the moment you met me,” he said. He yanked at Mr. Pitch’s arm, wrenching it in its socket. “All you are is disguise! And there is nothing you could have said to make me consider your offer.”

“Simon—”

“My name is Mr. Snow,” Simon spat.

Mr. Pitch tried to wrench his arm from Simon’s grasp, but Simon held on doggedly. “I’ve known it from the first moment met,” he said. “You are the last person in the world I could ever marry.”

Mr. Pitch’s arm was still in Simon’s grip, so instead he leaned in, his face a breath away from Simon’s. “Are you quite finished?” he said coldly.

This close, Simon could see the rings of colour in Mr. Pitch’s eyes, all the hues of the sea. He could feel Mr. Pitch’s breath on his face. He loosened his grip, and Mr. Pitch’s arm slid from his fingers.

“You have said quite enough, sir,” Mr. Pitch said. “I perfectly comprehend your feelings.” He turned to go; his boots made a dull plashing in the puddles gathering on the stone floor.

“I have now only to be ashamed—” his breath hitched, and Simon watched his shoulders rise and fall. “Of what my own have been.”

He looked back over his shoulder, his voice full of venom.

“Forgive me, sir, for taking up so much of your time.”

He strode from the folly. A moment later Simon heard the sound of hooves, pounding away.

#pride and prejudice au #valour vanity and vampires #snowbaz #WIP Wednesday

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storydays · 4 years ago

Text

Season 1, ep 4, p2

You and Bolin walked up to Korra, who was petting Naga's belly. "Hello, fellow teammate!" She looked up and smiled slightly. "Oh, hey Bolin." Nevermore and Pabu ran off together playing happily. "Missed you at practice this week." Bolin continued awkwardly. "Yeah, sorry about that." Korra turned towards Naga, who continued to wag her tail happily. "Aw it's all right. We're probably out of the tournament anyway. Unless some money miraculously drops out of the sky by tomorrow. Anyway, reason I came by was to give you this. Ta-da!"

He held out a pretty red rose and a cupcake wrapped up neatly in a plastic bag. "Wow, thanks. What's this for?" She wondered. Bolin's eyes widen from where he was currently handing you a (favorite treat) and a yellow rose. "Uh...oh, I can't remember now. Oh, yeah, now I remember. You guys saved me from Amon." He smiled happily like a puppy who earned a treat.

"Oh that? It was no big deal." she shrugged it off, while you rolled your eyes, gently watering the flower in your hand. " 'No big deal?' Are you serious? I was totally freaking out when he was coming at me with his creepy mask, all: 'I will take away your bending forever.' I mean that is scary stuff. I still can't sleep well." He sighed, sitting next to Korra on the steps who hummed.

Your (e/c) eyes narrow at her suspicious behavior. "Delivery for Avatar Korra." You all turned to the stringy man. "Tarrlok sends his compliments and urges you to reconsider his offer." He smiled pleasantly. "Tell him I haven't changed my mind." "Yes Avatar Korra. Oh, Councilman (Y/N)? You have a letter from Waterbender Master Katara." "O-Oh, thanks!" The man bowed and left Air Temple Island. "Whose this Tarrlok guy? Is he bothering you? Huh, 'cause I could have a word with him." Bolin threatened.

"Heh, no. It's not like that. He's just some old guy who works with Tenzin and (Y/N) on the council." Korra laughed at Bolin's goofy nature. "Oh good. Good, that's better. I like that better." Bolin rubbed his hands together, making you raise an eyebrow curiously, before shrugging it off. You sat next to Korra and opened Gran Gran's letter.

'Dear (Y/N),

It sounds like your ESP powers are starting to show. Do not worry, all will be explained when you come visit me. Take care of yourself.

Love, Gran Gran.'

You sighed, making your bangs puff slightly. Typical: elders seemed to like talking in riddles. "Everything okay?" Korra wondered. "Yeah, just some Grandmother Grandson stuff. Nothing to worry about." You smiled before you all yelped when Nevermore and Pabu rolled by squealing, and nipping each other. "Ah, Bolin! Help me!" The two of you raced over to your respective animals who were very aggressive and unusually angry with each other.

"Hey, what's wrong girl? This isn't like you." You frowned, as Nevermore pouted. Bolin laughed uneasily. "It's like their siblings, huh, (Y/N)?" He laughed sheepishly, tending to Pabu's wounds. You chuckled dryly, wrapping Nevermore's wing, while sending Bolin an amused look. "Reminds me of when we first started training together for pro-bending." The Earthbender had the nerve to grin impishly. "Wait, what happened the first time?" Korra asked curiously. "Well.."

*Flashback*

You step sided an Earth disk and a burst of flames before sweeping underneath their feet with ice cold water. You then took off your blindfold, walked over to the side of the arena to see your teammates and friends frowning and pouting (in Bolin's case) up at you. "How?" Mako said blankly, looking more serious than a 10 year old should. It's been two years since they became a family with the pro bending gym. You've still had a ways to go before you fully knocked down Mako's walls, but he's slowly warming up to you.

You laughed, jumping down before hanging on one of the lower beams by your knees, near the boys. "I'm the grandson of Waterbender Katara, who is friends with the Greatest Earthbender of All Time. I've learned a few things, Mako." The brothers then smirked at each other, before they began splashing you, and eventually Mako pulled you into the water and you joined into the fun, acting like a child instead of an adult for once.

The three of you were so busy having fun, you didn't even notice Aunt Kya and the gym owner smiling at the three of you. "This will be good for the three of them." He said quietly, Kya placing her hand on her hip, loving how happy you looked, being around children your own age.

"Yes, it will."

*End Flashback*

"And that's how we our first training session went." You laugh softly, eyes closed in memory. "Ahh, seems like yesterday that happened." Bolin hummed, running a hand over Pabu's back. "Yeah, and look how far we've come. Interesting, huh, Korra?" Your eyes met hers. "Yeah, sounds like fun." She smiled at you. "Well, I've got to get going, I need to see what Mako wants to do for dinner. See you guys at practice, next week!" He waved with Pabu chattering at Nevermore.

"Yeah, see ya." You waved before turning to study Korra. "What?" She asked, feeling defensive. "Nothing, Avatar. I'm going to go check on Ikki, I owe her a story. Catch ya later." You waved backwards, leaving the Water Tribe girl alone. Nevermore flew up and away to play with some of the bisions.

*10 minutes later*

You found Ikki and Meelo playing in a Sato Mobile, chattering away to Tenzin. "Beeeeeeep! Beep, beep, beep!" she exclaimed, Meelo repeating her. "Beep, beep." "Nice ride." you whistled, looking at the gift tag. "Ugh, Tarrlok is annoyingly frustrating." Your Uncle hummed, agreeing with you. "Yes, he is. Have you seen Korra, nephew?" "Yes, Uncle. She was heading towards the ying yang training grounds..." He started to walk away before he stopped. "(Y/N), are you..doing all right?" He asked hesitatingly.

"I-," you looked at your curious cousins before smiling unconvincingly at the airbending master. "Yes, Uncle. I'm fine. However, I'm worried about Korra. Could you--" "Do not worry. I will talk to her." He smiled at you before leaving. Meelo pulled back his arm with a (favorite flavor) pie, and began to throw it at you but yelped when it was suddenly thrown back into his face. Ikki began giggling wildly, before she yelped as she was suddenly thrown into the air and began throwing air back at you.

"You two brats are sneaky, but guess what?" You all were suddenly drenched in water, and Meelo was all muddy. "I'm sneakier." Pema was laughing from where she was standing next to a giggling Jinora, and a few Air Acolytes were laughing at the scene. You merely blinked and held your arms out to catch Ikki bridal style. "Aw, Mommy! We were playing! We're still in the middle of a prank war." Meelo pouted, running up to the group of women.

"Yes, dear, you can do your prank war later, it's bath night." At the word of, "bath," Meelo tried to run, but was grabbed by his ankle with a water hand, and was hanging upside down in front of you. "(Y/N), I hate to be a bother but would you--" "Say no more, Auntie." You set Ikki down, and she left with some of the Acolytes, before you grabbed Meelo, slung him over your shoulder and then began walking to the men's dorms.

"But (Y/N)! I don't want to take a bath!! Baths are gross, and how can the ladies love my natural self if--" the airbending rugrat yelped when he was suddenly in warm water, without clothes. He spat water at you, and glared at you. You were smirking, your hair tied up, your normal clothes gone, and you were wearing swimming shorts.

"Well, Meelo, let me tell you something about women," you leaned down be face to with him as he leaned in excitedly. "Ladies don't like stinky brats." You booped his nose with suds, and laughed softly as he exclaimed. "(Y/N)!" He giggled as you rubbed his bald head with his washcloth. "Seriously though, little cousin. Women like men who take care of themselves, which includes taking baths or showers regularly."

Meelo closed his eyes as he sighed happily. He liked bath time with you; you make bath time fun. "How do you know that?" He asked curiously. You froze before rinsing the mud off his body. "My mom used to tell my dad that when I was younger." He turned around to face you with curiosity on his face.

You didn't talk about Aunt Lotus, your mother very often. In fact,nobody did. You smiled at Meelo. "I'll tell you a story about my mom later, okay? I got to get ready for my shower." You drained the water, and dried off the little monk. "Go get dressed, and I'll join for dinner soon." He ran off, and you ran warm water, before locking the door and sighing as the water ran over your sore body.

It's been 10 years since your mother passed away, and her birthday was coming closer, and it never got any easier. You usually shut yourself away on certain days concerning your mother, and tried to forget about the pain you were feeling. You refused to cry because your mother wouldn't have wanted that.

After all, you were always her strong solider.

*Crunch*

You blinked, bringing your trembling hand to your chest, and hissed as warm water ran over your now bloody and bruised knuckles. So trapped in your thoughts, you didn't realize your knuckle was in motion until you were staring at bloody water. Sighing in annoyance, you let your hair cover your sight. "Damn it."

*20 minutes later*

You walked to the courtyard, a towel on your wet hair. Knuckles wrapped in fresh pristine white bandages, slippers on your feet, sweatpants loose on your hips, tank top clinging to your skin. On your wrists, two Northern Water Tribe bracelets. You leaned against a column underneath Korra, watching Ikki and Jinora play a game. You both perked up to see Tarrlok's assistant run up.

"Avatar Korra, I have something for you!" Annoyed, Korra jumped down. "It doesn't matter how many gifts Tarrlok sends." She used the Earth to turn him around before kicking him in the butt. "I'm not joining his task force!" "Sheesh, Korra." You laughed into your hand. "It's not a gift. It's an invitation." He pulled out said paper. "To what?" asked the blue eyed Avatar, snatching the invitation.

"Tarrlok is throwing a gala in your honor. All of Republic City's shakers and movers will be there. The Councilman humble requests your attendance. You as well, Councilman (Y/N)." You rolled your eyes, before accepting the invitation. "Fine." you and the girls laughed as Neo growled at the assistant to leave. "Yeah, see ya there, dude." You shook your head as Neo sat down for Jinora and Ikki to rub his belly.

*The next night*

Jinora, Ikki,Meelo laughed seeing how amazing the party looked. You trailed behind Korra and your Uncle Tenzin. "I-I can't believe this is all for me." Korra breathed. "I'm not sure what Tarrlok's plotting, but keep your guard up. It's not like him to throw a party just for the fun of it." "Uncle's right, Tarrlok is sneaky as a snake." They turned to you snacking on a pig in a blanket, with a handful of other treats, in your hand.

Your hair was half up, half down, complete with a few blue beads here and there. "Wow, (Y/N), you've cleaned up pretty good." Korra complimented, stealing one of your treats. "So glad you could make it, Avatar Korra. If you'll excuse us, the city awaits its hero." Tarrlok smirked, urging Korra to follow him. You stuck your tongue out childishly, before laughing when you notice what Meelo was doing.

"Uh, Uncle?" You outright laughed as Tenzin rushed to get his son. "Meelo, no!" He gasped, turning blue. "That is not a toilet! Oh, dear." He sighed, rushing over to grab his son, clearly embarrassed. "Hey, (Y/N)." You turned around to see Asami, with her arm hooked with Mako's, and Bolin trailing behind. Korra stood next to you, with an annoyed look on her face. "This us my daughter, Asami." Hiroshi introduced.

"It's lovely to meet you. Mako's told me so much about you." Korra crossed her arms. 'Oh, no.' "Really? Because he hasn't mentioned you at all. How did you two meet?" Korra asked, snappily. "Oh, Asami ran him down with her motorbike." You said, casually. "What? Are you okay?" Korra's mood switch, as she turned to the firebender.

Ohhhh. You realized why she was acting like that, and you felt a smirk creeping to your face. 'This is going to be fun.' "I'm fine, more than fine. Mr Sato agreed to sponsor our team. We're back in the tournament!" Mako grinned when Bolin wrapped his arm around his brother with an even bigger grin. "Isn't that great?" "Yeah, terrific." Korra's face dropped.

The whole team thing was still sore between the four of you. After all, the Fire Ferrets was your team, you were the one that created the team!

"Chief Beifong, I believe you and Avatar Korra have already met." Tarrlok said slyly. "Just because the city's throwing you this big to-do, don't think you're something special. You've done absolutely nothing to deserve this." She said, narrowing her eyes and walking away. Korra looked down, discouraged. "Eh, don't mind her, Korra. She's just grumpy because this is interrupting her self care time." You grinned at Korra who smiled weakly. "Thanks for trying, (Y/N)." She walked away.

Tarrlok led her to the stairs where the press was waiting for her. "I've got one more question, Miss." "Hold up, hold up!" The reporters chattered but stopped when a voice spoke up. "Avatar Korra, you witnessed Amon take away people's bending first hand." "Uh, no. Councilman (Y/N) did, I was busy dealing with some of his goons." You grumbled under your breath as you hid behind your Aunt Lin.

"How much of a danger does he present to the citizens of Republic City?" "A real danger." "Then why haven't you or Councilman (Y/N) joined Tarrlok's task force?" "Why do people keep bringing me into this?" You hissed to your Aunt Lin who in turn laughed quietly. "Aren't you going to help her?." Lin questioned. "No, she needs to learn to deal with the press. It's part of being apart of the lime light." You said, chewing on a candy stick.

"As the Avatar, shouldn't you be going after Amon?" "Well, I--" Korra tried to explain, but the same reporter continued to question her. "Why are you backing away from this fight?" "What? No! I've never backed away from anything in my life." Korra defended.

"You promised to serve this city. Are you going back on that promise?" "Do you think pro bending is more important than than fighting the revolution?" "How do you think Avatar Aang would've handled this?" "Are you afraid of Amon?"

"I"M NOT AFRAID OF ANYONE!" She shouted, as you finally came from behind Lin. "If the city needs me,then we'll join Tarrlok's task force, and help fight Amon." You scowled and glared at Tarrlok. "There's your headline, folks." Cameras flashed and questions echoed through the building, as you felt your blood boil. You watched Tarrlok wink at a certain reporter and realized it was a trap.

You followed the reporter, and grabbed him by his neck. He yelped and was shaking when he came to face to face with you. "So, what did Tarrlok bribe you with?" You demanded, while he played with his fingers before finally talking. "I will tell you everything I know, but it's not much."

*The next day*

"My fellow task force deputies, tonight we will execute a raid on an underground chi-blocker training camp located in the dragon's flats borough. According to my sources, there is a cellar underneath this bookstore, where equalists train chi-blocking in secret." You were kneeling next to Korra but sat on top of the truck, more there as backup and for medical knowledge. You bent water to the next teammate.

"Get ready, anddddddd now." You said boredly, waving your hand as the task force attacked. You watched Korra run after two Chi blockers, and sighed. You ran after her, seeing no one was injured. Korra fell on the floor, and gasped sharply as someone fell down and tried to attack her. You used ice to trap him, and freezing the other behind you. "Oh, nice timing. Thanks (Y/N)." You helped her up, and gave a lopsided grin.

"Of course,friend. Let's go." She smiled as you lead them out, pulling your gloves tighter over your hands, keeping your distance away from Tarrlok, but staying close to Korra.

At the moment, she was too unstable to keep her guard up for much longer.

*At the pro bending gym*

"No Korra for practice again?" Bolin asked. "Doesn't look like it. " Mako sighed, reading his newspaper. You were currently practicing some similar movements to make your agility smoother. You tuned into the radio, "Avatar Korra and Councilman (Y/N) have bravely answered the call to action. With the three of us leading the charge Republic City has nothing to fear from Amon, and the Equalists. Question for the Avatar: Amon remains at large. Why have you failed to locate him?"

Korra's voice came over the radio. "You want to know why? Because Amon is hiding in the shadows like a coward. Amon, I challenge you to a duel. No task force, no chi blockers, just the two of us, tonight at midnight, on Avatar Aang Memorial Island. Let's cut to the chase and settle this thing...if you're man enough to face me." With that the radio turned off. You pinched the bridge of your nose, steaming mad.

"Ugh....this girl."

*That night*

You were sitting on the ladder, watching Korra wrap up the rope from the pier. "Korra, this is madness." Your uncle's voice stated from behind you. Korra's dark blue eyes snapped to the airbending master. "Don't try to stop me, and don't follow me. I have to face Amon, alone." You studied her movements, ignoring the adults arguing behind you. "This is all your doing." Uncle snapped at Tarrlok. "I've tried talking her out of it too, but she's made up her mind." Tarrlok defended himself., giving Korra the opportunity to zoom away.

"No Uncle. " Everyone turned to look at you, but you kept your gaze on the water changing color below you. "This is something Korra needs to do, or she will never understand." "Understand what, Nephew?" Tenzin asked curiously.

You looked up at the stars, determination in your eyes.

"That is is okay, not to be okay."

"(Y/N) is right. And if anything truly goes wrong, I have a fleet of airships ready to swoop down." Tarrlok said, attempting to re-assure Tenzin. You leaned down to allow your hand to feel the coolness of the water, and suddenly you weren't leaning on the pier, waiting for Korra. You were in a vision, great.

*Vision*

You opened your eyes to see a young child running through luscious green gardens. The child was tearing up, until he finally collapsed on the ground. Your vision cleared to see a younger you, about 10 years younger. It was raining down hard, and the tiny you was soaked to the bone, and stiffled your sobs. "(Y/N), where are you?" "Son? Come out!" you simply curled up tighter, clutching your head.

You heard footsteps stop near you, and a breath of relief. "Oh, (Y/N), there you are." You looked up to see Uncle Tenzin standing there, with a warm blanket. He knelt down and opened the blanket, silently urging you to run into his arms. He grunted when you tackled him, and clung to him with a vice grip. Tenzin sighed softly, running a hand through your hair as you shook in his arms.

"Nephew, it's okay to not be okay." He murmured. "No, not for me. I just have to be strong. I just have to."

*End vision*

You opened your eyes and jumped into the air, opening your glider, and taking off. "Uncle, let's go!" He followed you, soon the two of you were flying around looking for a sign of where Korra was. You went higher, and landed near an opening, before seeing Korra crying into your Uncle's chest. "You were right. I've been scared this whole time. I-I've never felt like this before,and Tenzin, I don't know what to do." she sobbed.

"Admitting that you're afraid is one of the first, but most difficult part of healing." Tenzin's voice echoed through the tunnel. You leaned against the wall, waiting for them to step out.

'She'll be okay.'

#lok imagine #legend of korra #legend of korra x reader #x male reader

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capsiclecevans · 4 years ago

Text

“you are something Hugh Drysdale”

Warnings: none really, soft!Ransom though!

Summary: Ransom and reader get back from lunch with the Thrombey’s/Drysdale’s and Ransom has to reassure that the reader is the person he loves even though his family don’t like them

Word Count: 2k

Pairing: Ransom Drysdale x Reader

⭐︎ ashleigh’s masterlist ⭐︎ | ☾ ashleigh’s taglist ☽

*:·ﾟ✧*:·ﾟ✧

You knew that having dinner with your boyfriend’s eccentric family would be tiring, but since this was the Thrombey’s you knew arguments would ensue because of said boyfriend, Ransom. He knew how to push people’s buttons, especially his uncle, Walt’s. Thus leading to Walt screaming in Ransom’s face about how much of a spoiled, entitled brat he was because of the way he used to be. Used to be. Ransom was now not the playboy he was before he met you, he wasn’t sarcastic as much as he used to be, and he was able to speak about his feelings (only to you though, the barriers came up when he was around his family or friends from the country club).

He was kind, caring, soft if you have to go that far. You were the only other person he cared about in this world, and he vowed when he admitted that he loved you that he would protect you from anything that the world would throw at you, including siding with you against his own flesh and blood. When Ransom told you that he loved you, you couldn’t believe that he was admitting those 3 words, because all your friends had tried you to warn you away from him, but your heart wanted more. You were his person, and neither of you were going to let people tear you apart. People can change, even people like Ransom.

Lunch had started as well as it could have done, you and Ransom actually arrived at the Thrombey mansion on time. Only because you nagged Ransom to be on time for once. Linda acknowledged you with a brief look over of your outfit and a small nod. You knew that Linda Drysdale didn’t like you, she always made it clear when you and Ransom had started dating over 2 years ago, and still tried to make you want to leave Ransom by the way she treated you. Ransom had warned her, given her a look as his hand was in yours as you sat down on a couch together. The only two people at the mansion who would be happy to see you at lunch would be Harlan and Marta, the young nurse who you came to love. Only because when there was a party at the mansion and Ransom dragged you to, because he had to go since it was a family occasion and that he would be too worried to leave you in the house on your own, you and her would hide in the kitchen talking about how crazy the family was. Harlan had a soft spot for you, you were the person to calm his grandson down, make him learn how to love another person apart from himself and that money wasn’t everything in life.

Since you had gotten together with Ransom, you had persuaded him to use his writing talents and follow in his grandfather’s steps, publishing his own book through the family company, Blood Like Wine. The overnight success of his book infuriated Walt, only because of how long he had working at the company but Ransom came in and swiped the rug from under his feet, especially with Harlan making Ransom the CEO and completely firing Walt from the company when Harlan noticed that Ransom was the future for the company, not his own son. With these responsibilities now, it made Ransom calmer and better with his feelings, he even told you that he couldn’t wait to have children, as long as they are not like his relatives. You laughed at this and promised that they would not be like them in the slightest.

Marta and Harlan had happily spoken to you at the lunch before the arguments between Walt and Ransom started. With Walt still bitter about that he lost his job in the publishing company and that Ransom would sink it to the ground. Ransom is a lot smarter than what he lets on and you knew that he could easier show Walt up with what he has achieved in the last 6 months compared to the last however years Walt had been working at Harlan’s publishing company. Your boyfriend was the person that Harlan trusted the company with, instead of his own son, because Ransom respected his wishes on not selling the rights for a movie, the main job was to publish books, and he did that. He published up and coming writers in the Boston area and gave them a shot where the larger publishing companies weren’t.

Once the screaming match started at the dinner table, you sat awkwardly at Ransom’s side as you watched the family argue, Ransom smirking next to you at what he has caused as he knew that this would happen. It always does and he can never help but put everyone in their place. They were all money hungry, wanting a slice of Harlan’s fortune for themselves. What none of them know though is that, apart from Ransom and Marta, none of them are in Harlan’s will for when he does pass away. Ransom has proved himself to his grandfather to be worthy to inherit half of his millions, respecting his grandfather’s decision to allow his nurse and close friend to inherit the rest, to allow her and her family to stay in the country without a worry in the world.

You always got a headache at these family events and Ransom knew when it was time to take you home and apologise. He only had a soft spot for you and never could say no to you.

*:·ﾟ✧*:·ﾟ✧

You unlocked the door to your house slowly, sighing to yourself as Ransom followed you inside and shut the door. Kicking your shoes off as you shrug your coat off, Ransom taking it to hang it up for you with his coat before you walk to the kitchen to get a glass of water.

“You okay baby?” He asks as he watches you, frowning when he sees you rub your forehead, so he gets some painkillers out for you from the side cupboard in the downstairs toilet cabinet.

“Just a headache…” You mumble, smiling a little at him as he kisses your cheek, “Thank you…” You whisper and take two tablets for the pain before sitting on the couch slowly.

“It’s more than a headache isn’t it?” Ransom asks as he follows you, rubbing your shoulders to ease the tension in them for you.

“Your family hate me Ransom, how are we ever going to live a peaceful life together if your own mother can’t even smile at me?” You ask and sits up, looking at your boyfriend before tearing up a little. “I don’t get why they hate me, I have never done anything to them…”

“Because they only care about themselves sweetheart, believe me when I say this okay?” Ransom waits for you to nod before he continues with making you feel better. “You are the one person in this world that I love with my entire heart, you have brought the best out of me and I don’t think I have ever been as happy as I have ever been without you. I know that I wouldn’t have written my own best selling novel without your help and persistence so my own grandfather could finally be proud of me. My family don’t know you the way I do and I love that we can go months without having to see the majority of them because they don’t deserve to see how amazing you are, and how you have changed me for better…”

You look up at your boyfriend with tears glistening in your eyes, smiling lovingly at him. “You are something Hugh Drysdale, I love you so much.”

“I love you too darling, always have, always will.” Ransom says and chuckles at your use of his first name. You are the only person who calls him by his first name (occasionally) and he doesn’t get annoyed when you do. Don’t people say that love can change you, right?

“I might have a bath, to help with this headache…” You say and strokes his cheek gently. He smiles at you and nods slowly, kissing the tip of your nose, making you giggle at his antics.

“Okay beautiful, I have a few emails to attend to for Blood Like Wine, so you go and relax, call me if you need anything…” He says and kisses the back of your hand as you get up to walk upstairs to the main bathroom.

“I will Ran…” You say and smile at him, walking upstairs slowly, the headache already subsiding as Ransom always knew how to make you feel better when you felt down about how his family treated you when you were around them (and of course the painkillers that you took were starting to take affect too).

*:·ﾟ✧*:·ﾟ✧

You have the most relaxing bath you have had in a while, the disastrous lunch behind you now, knowing that the main person in your life loves you more than anyone else has loved you before. Ransom was the only person who’s opinion mattered to you, and him loving you was enough for you.

You climb out of the bath when the water starts to get cold, wanting to curl up in one of Ransom’s many sweaters, preferably the maroon one, and fluffy pyjama bottoms, to watch a film with Ransom on the couch (or in bed, you didn’t mind where) to relax for the rest of the day with no other worries in your mind, but you didn’t know how long Ransom would need to work for.

You blindly reach out towards the towel rack to grab your towel to wrap round you to dry yourself but your hand is met with air. You frown and turn your head to look at the towel rack, there were towels on there this morning, so where the hell were they now?

The clearing of his throat brought a blush to your cheeks, meaning that Ransom was stood at least in the doorway, watching you stand there naked and confused. “Now that is a view I like to see…” He says, your fluffy towel in his hand, he had put them to be washed just before you left for lunch, yes Ransom does the laundry now, and it looks like he has just ran it through the dryer for you so it was warm to wrap round you.

You glare at him playfully, a soft smile gracing your lips as you reach over, grabbing the towel from his hands and wrapping it round you tightly. A hum leaves your lips at the warmth of it as Ransom chuckles at you, leaning against the doorframe and crossing his arms across his chest.

“You’re Satan…” You mumble, glancing at him as he barks out a laugh and shakes his head, dropping his arms and pushing himself off the doorframe to walk over to you.

“I know I am, but you love me…” He says before kissing your cheek softly and wrapping his arms round you tightly.

You smile and leans back against him lightly, resting your head back against his shoulder. “More than anything in the world…” You whisper, closing your eyes as Ransom holds you a little tighter against himself.

He hums softly and kisses your head before walking through to your shared bedroom, grabbing the maroon sweater for you to wear without you even asking for it. Only because he knows you so well, and you know, he can’t say no to you because of how much he loves you. He knows that no matter what happens with his family that you will be right there beside him, through thick and thin, because you made him a better person and you fell in love with him more and more with every passing day. You changed Ransom for the better and he knew that he will never be able to go back to the person he was, because that would mean losing you, which he didn’t want to happen as he couldn’t imagine his life without you. You were his soulmate, like he was yours.

*:·ﾟ✧*:·ﾟ✧

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marmolady · 4 years ago

Text

New Horizons

Main Pairings: Estela x (f)MC, Graleister

Summary: Endless Ending. Liv and Reggie are starting school in San Trobida. Notes at the end!

Word Count: 9695

Chronology: After 'Growing Pains', before 'How the time escapes me...'

Tagging: @saivilo, @edgydepressedchoicesthot, @sceptilemasterr, @greengroove @mauvecatfic

Thanks for reading!

San Trobida, July 2035

“Hey, Auntie Grace!”

Reggie looked up from his book at the sound of his cousin’s voice, and hastily placed aside his shiny new copy of ‘A Guide to San Trobidan History’ so he could rush out into the hallway.

Grace was already wrapping Liv in a hug. “Hello, sweetheart.” She kissed the side of her niece’s head, before her eyes wandered down to a bloodied knee. “Did you have a mishap on your bike on the way here?”

“Yeah… I clipped the kerb and crashed,” Liv said, offering her aunt a better view of her wound. As she heard Reggie’s footsteps, she looked up to meet his eye and smiled.

“Youch!” Reggie offered sympathetically as he came close enough to peer over Liv’s grazed knee.

Liv shrugged. “I’ve had worse.”

Grace, though, was more concerned. “Are you sure you didn’t hit your head when you fell?”

“No, just scraped my knee. It does actually sting a bit.”

“Hmm. Well, I think we’d better put some anti-septic that knee just to be safe.”

The new house was a mess. Boxes and misplaced furniture filled every room, and the twins-- six years old-- had been making forts with the packing boxes that had been emptied so far. The family had been in the house for just over a day, and some good progress had already been made. There had been a lot that had been left behind. Neither Aleister nor Grace put too much value on material possessions, so most of what had come with them and the children to their new home in San Trobida had been essential furniture, and the mountains of photo albums and memorabilia from a life with the kids.

Grace sat Liv down on a wooden ottoman, and, after a little bit of rummaging, found the first aid kit.

“Okay, this might hurt just a little,” she said gently, and she carefully dabbed Liv’s graze.

Liv yelped, “Fuck!”, causing Reggie to gasp, looking to his mother for a reaction, and Erin and Immy to burst out giggling from inside their box-fort.

Grace raised an eyebrow, but her warm smile didn’t shift. “It stings that much?”

“Yeah…,” Liv said, flushing a little. “Sorry about the language.”

“I’m sure I didn’t hear a thing.”

There was the usual bustling around as Aleister got the girls into their shoes; Immy and Erin had decided that swapping one shoe with one another was the peak of humour, but eventually, their father managed to get them each into a left and a right-- even if they didn’t match. Six-and-a-half-year-old sisters, Reggie had come to realise, made just about everything more of a headache than necessary.

Eventually, though, they were on their way. His mom and dad, walking beside the twins as they pootled along on their bicycles, had the address, but Reggie rode ahead with Liv, taking her lead as she zig-zagged through the streets of Valle Brava. Having only set foot on San Trobidan soil as a new resident some twenty-four hours ago, everything aspect of his environment set his senses alight. This wasn’t like being back in America. Perhaps it was the tropical climate, but he was reminded much more of La Huerta-- of home. Liv certainly seemed right at home here. She and her mothers had settled a few weeks before, and Liv had been coming here pretty much all her life. There were just a few blocks between their respective houses, and the wide cycle paths along the bitumen roads made for an easy journey. This, Reggie had been told, was a newly developed area; much had been re-built since the war he knew his Tia Estela had been involved in. The cycle paths ended as they came nearer to Liv’s place, a little way out of the main township. The foliage on either side of the road became thicker, and there was less street noise, more birdsong.

“Beat you!” Liv announced as she planted her feet into the ground, forcing her bicycle to a stop.

Reggie grumbled, pulling up beside his cousin in front of a humble bungalow-style house with outer walls a vibrant azure blue against yellow accents. The sound of a dog barking-- unmistakably Liv’s Robin, was further confirmation they’d arrived. “You didn’t beat me, Livia. I was following you. I didn’t even know where we were going.”

“Jeez, dude. No one likes a sore loser….”

“I am not a--!”

The door swung open.

“Reggie!” Taylor wasted no time in sweeping her nephew into a hug. “It’s so good to see you! I can’t believe you still have the energy for cycling over here-- didn’t you move house, like, yesterday?”

Reggie laughed. “Hi, Auntie Taylor!” There was something about seeing a familiar face in this new environment that made the pieces seem to click into place. Family made it home. “I’m a little bit tired but mostly just excited. I did sleep in today, so I guess I won’t crash until later.” His sisters on the other hand… there was no way they’d last the evening without overtiredness rearing its ugly head.

“I’m guessing your mom and dad are on their way with the girls?”

“Yeah,” said Liv, “but they’re pretty slow. I don’t have to wait to give Reggie the grand tour, do I?”

“Knock yourself out, kid. Hang on, Liv? Walk your bike through the house, please.”

“I was gonna!”

Reggie could only smirk. Like hell you were….

“Aaaand,” Liv finished off with a flourish, “this is my room!” She opened the door to a good-sized bedroom. It seemed to Reggie that what floor-space wasn’t taken up by the bed was piled up with boxes.

“I mean, I can’t say the mess wasn’t a clue.”

Liv gave her cousin a look as she flopped into her bed. “Hey-- moving house is hard. You’ll see soon enough. You get started all excited, but once you start living your life, you kinda get… stuck. Mama Taylor says we’re going to just blitz it all next weekend, and throw ourselves a pizza party as a reward.”

Reggie got up onto the bed and crossed his legs. “Do you like it here?”

“I love it here! I always liked coming here when I was little, so I guess it doesn’t feel like something completely different. I reckon my tio abuelo is over the moon that we’re here for good; it’s like I’ve got a grandparent now.” Liv’s cheeks flushed pink, and she glanced away.

Understanding, Reggie nodded. Together, they’d grown up in a family that didn’t take the traditional shape. There were some things that simply couldn’t be explained to other friends; like why Reggie’s grandma could help him with his homework, but could never come in for grandparents’ day, and why Liv had a whole side of the family with no grandparents at all-- not even dead ones.

“And,” Liv continued, “people don’t really look at my Mama Estela funny. I noticed that years ago. I guess ‘cause of the war, people don’t look twice at someone who’s maybe a little bit banged-up. I got so sick of it back in America. Every time we met someone new, they’d put on that ‘God, what happened?’ face. Maybe Mom doesn’t want to explain the whole ‘revolutionary in a civil war’ thing to every random person who can’t mind their own business. Some people have scars-- big freaking deal. It’s better here.”

“Yeah, that would be a nice change. The amount of times I’ve seen you and Auntie Taylor look at a nosy idiot like you want to deck ‘em--”

Liv burst out laughing. “True, that.”

The sound of excited barking rang out from the backyard. It seemed pretty likely to Reggie that his parents and sisters had just arrived. When he and Liv arrived in the backyard, Erin had already joined Estela at the barbecue, desperate to be involved, while Immy was passionately talking to Nicolas about goodness-knows-what. Reggie made a mental note to rescue him in a few minutes; that kid could be intense, and the poor old guy had come out here for a relaxing lunch with his niece.

Nicely, but firmly, Reggie nudged the wriggling, writhing form of Robin the dog to the side so he could join his mother and Auntie Taylor at the large alfresco table under the porch. And Robin returned to his favoured position at the feet of the barbecue-- Erin was just a kid, surely, she’d drop something….

“Do you need a hand with the salads?” Reggie asked as he greeted his mother with a hug. He’d been seeking a lot of those. With so much changing, familial comfort meant a lot, and he wasn’t ashamed to admit it.

Perhaps more than anything, though, he was grateful to have Liv by his side. It was the way it had always been; from their toddler days on La Huerta, through elementary school, to their adventures in home-schooling. Some things might change-- some things might change immeasurably-- but he always had his cousin.

___________________________

La Huerta, 2028

Liv yelled out as she splashed down into the shallow surf. “Reggie!”

“I got her, Xiraana!” Reggie cried, and soon he was joined by a young Vaanti girl, who helped restrain their victim.

“No, no!” Liv squealed as she struggled. Vaanti kids, she’d long ago realised, were strong. “You’ll never take me alive!”

“Five-- four--- three….” Xiraana counted down, not letting Liv out of her grasp.

“Two-- one!” Reggie finished triumphantly, and he let his cousin fall unceremoniously back into the water. “The klaawyi ate all the meat off your bones. You’re one of us now!”

Liv pouted, but admitted defeat. It wasn’t the worst thing that could happen; she was pretty good on Team Klaawyi anyway. Or, she would have been… had she not seen the figure of her favourite uncle descending onto the beach from the great tree of Elyys’tel.

“Tio Diegoooooo! Hiiiii!” Liv ran across the sand, almost tripping in her desperation to reach him.

“Hey, Livia!” Reggie cried out, indignant at being suddenly abandoned. “You’re meant to help us catch them!”

But Diego had crouched down to wrap Liv in a hug, and Reggie might as well be talking to a pile of rocks for all that was being absorbed.

“Tio, they got me! Reggie and Xiraana got me, and now I’m a klaawyi!”

“You?” Diego laughed. “You’re no klaawyi-- I’ve never seen a klaawyi that was ticklish!”

“Wha--?” Oh no. Once again, Liv was shrieking with mirth, this time dodging the tickling hands of her tio.

Still standing in the shallows, Reggie stomped his foot, which achieved little but splashing himself in the face. The game went on without them; games of Klaawyi Chase didn’t stop for anyone. The usual fun on the beaches outside Elyys’tel would go on like this every day… whether Reggie and Liv were there to join in or not. And Reggie didn’t want to miss out now.

“Come on, Livia!”

She just shook her head, not letting her adoring gaze up at Diego slip for so much as a heartbeat. “Nah,” she said. “I’m done.”

Torn, knowing that whichever direction he ran in, he’d lose out on precious time with friends, Reggie admitted defeat and rushed back to Liv’s side on the shore. He looked back over his shoulder and waved goodbye-- for what he’d been told would likely be a long, long time. Engrossed in their game, his friends gave just the most fleeting of farewells before continuing to race through the small waves that lapped the beach.

Liv, in contrast, had eyes only for her tio. She clasped his hand tightly; if she held on tight enough, perhaps he’d have no choice but to come with her to wherever her mothers were taking her in the big aeroplane.

Where exactly she was going, Liv didn’t quite understand. It was away from La Huerta, but they weren’t going back to live with Tio Nicolas, they were going… someplace else. Someplace with no Tio Diego and Varyyn, where all the other kids would be boring shades of pink and brown rather than blue and green, and where no one knew about the yeti-bear, or the magic crystal alien that made her mom, or about The Story of the Year the World Stopped.

“I want you to come, Tio Diego…,” Liv softly beseeched.

Diego’s eyes grew misty, her earnest words having tipped him over the edge after what had been a long period of emotional build-up. Goodbyes were never easy, and Liv’s family was his family. He squeezed her little hand gently.

“I’ll visit you, Livi-- I promise. Cross my heart. And your mommies will bring you over to visit us here too; you are going to learn so many new games at school that you can teach Xiraana and the other kids.”

“But I’ll miss you…”

Having rejoined Liv, Reggie peered up at Diego’s teary face with concern. “Diego, you’re making your glasses all foggy.”

“Ha. I know, I know!” Diego wiped his eyes. “You might have a point there, Reggie; I want to spend this last night with you guys actually being able to see you!”

Liv giggled and wrapped her arms around her uncle’s legs, only to be peeled off and hoisted into the air. “We can still have fun until bedtime, can’t we? Will you tell us a story?”

On the ground, Reggie danced around, his arms waving. Diego-time was the best story-time.

In the arms of her tio, her playmate since she was a baby bouncing on his knee, Liv was a mess of emotions; of fear and excitement, of merriment that competed with the looming sorrow. It was more than her little self had a clue what to do with. She was only five.

Sensing his cousin’s turmoil, Reggie reached up a hand and took hold of Liv’s, hanging down by Diego’s side. “Don’t worry, Livia! If you worry, you won’t enjoy story-time.”

Liv stuck out her bottom lip. That little nerd-face could be pretty smart sometimes. Tomorrow night, there would be no goodnight story from Tio Diego, but tomorrow night was not now-- now, everything was as it should be. Her wavering grin returned, and to her delight, it brought matching smiles to the faces of her companions.

“Do you think Varyyn, and my mommies, and Auntie Grace and Uncle Alli, and Auntie Grace’s tummy babies want to listen to the story too?”

“Yeah,” Diego said, letting Liv back down to the ground, where she immediately found another hug in Reggie’s arms, “I think everyone would really like that.”

_____________________________

San Trobida, August 2035

“I don’t get it,” Liv said thoughtfully, as the car rolled right on past the turn for her Auntie Grace and Uncle Al’s place. “It’s right on the way; wouldn’t it have been easier for us to pick up Reggie?”

“Hon,” Taylor replied, “I think Reggie wanted his mom and dad to take him to orientation. They’ll probably be better at helping with his jitters than we would be.”

“I guess.” Liv looked out the window, watching the surrounding vegetation thicken once more as the car followed the road up out of the valley. “Orientation Day shouldn’t be too bad, right? Just, like, meeting our teachers, learning where stuff is, that kinda thing?” And you’ll have to try and make friends. That would be a laugh.

By the time they pulled up at the Las Selvas Secondary School, however, Liv fully understood her cousin’s nerves, and realised that was probably why she’d been so disappointed that he didn’t share a car with her. Through every big change in their young lives, his presence had been a reassuring constant.

“Uggghh,” she groaned. “Can I change my mind? Home-schooling was all right; more of that, please.”

Estela leaned from the front seat and gave Liv’s knee a squeeze. “You know, I don’t think he’d ever say it, but I’m pretty sure Reggie would be really scared if he had to walk into this without you. Besides, you were so excited about starting here; you owe it to yourself to at least giving it a shot.”

Again, Liv groaned, this time even louder. “It’s so annoying when you’re right.”

“Story of my life,” Taylor laughed, while Estela smirked.

When they pulled up at the school, Reggie was already waiting, standing beside the car-park while his parents fussed over him.

“You have your phone?” Grace quizzed, checking for the fourth time since they’d set off.

“I told you, yes!” Reggie replied, and he pulled his phone out of his pocket to wave around for good measure. “I’ll send you a message when I’m ready to be picked up, I promise.”

“In that case, you just have a wonderful time, darling.” She wrapped him in a hug-- already Reggie was easily as tall as her. “Go well, and have fun.”

Liv rushed over, all smiles. Her own nerves were a whole lot less bothersome when she had the distraction of friendly faces.

There were a few more rounds of hugs exchanged-- and then, suddenly, Liv and Reggie were on their own.

“You wanna head over? Looks like people are already crowding around-- it’s probably gonna start soon.”

Reggie’s expression brightened, as if he’d been just waiting for a little push for his confidence to surge back forth. “Well, it will hardly be an auspicious start here if we miss the principal’s address. Get a move on, Livia!”

The morning passed relatively quickly. Liv placed herself next to Reggie at all times-- they’d been put in the same Grade Seven home room as requested, making him one of the eldest in the class, and her one of the youngest. The whole set-up wasn’t entirely different to the school they were accustomed to, other than the bilingual approach. They were given a small pile of boring paperwork, and outlines of what to expect in their new classes; as English was their first language, they’d be taking ‘Spanish as a Second Language’, and Liv was also excited about ‘Nature Studies’, a subject she’d never been offered in America.

As far as Liv was concerned, the most traumatic part of the session was being expected to stand up in front of a room of strangers and give a short spiel about themselves. The perfect opportunity to officially balls-up any chance they might have of making new friends, or at least that was how she saw it. She mumbled down into her chest; something about enjoying hiking and gymnastics, something about liking Batman, and animals, and then she hurriedly sat right back down with flaming cheeks. Reggie, she observed, handled the brief foray into public speaking with rather more poise. Even though he was shy-- perhaps even more than she was-- he seemed able to go into ‘school presentation’ mode, and breeze through. When he sat back down, though, his hands were shaking-- but that was for the eyes of his trusted friend only.

When the lunch break came along, Liv was ravenous; a new and challenging social situation could do that to a person. While Reggie sloped off to the bathrooms, she tested out the school canteen, emerging a little while later with a hot empanada. It wasn’t quite as good as her Mama Estela’s, but it was definitely a step up from what was on offer at her old school. Maybe she could get used to this place….

Liv watched this new world go by all around her as she ate, cross-legged beneath the tree she’d told her cousin to meet her by. Kids moved in their little circles, talking loudly, laughing. Most of them coming into Grade Seven had come from the local primary school, and many knew each-other. Liv and Reggie would be starting out on the outside… and that was daunting. She could not be more grateful that she wasn’t taking this on alone.

Or… at least, she shouldn’t be. The lunchtime queue moved on, the gaggles of kids spread out, and still Reggie hadn’t returned.

Damn, constipated on your first day. Sucks to be you, Reggie.

Tentatively, Liv approached the boys’ bathroom and, having ascertained that no one was watching, slipped in. Her footsteps were unheard, drowned out by the loud, frantic breathing of young Reggie, slumped over the sink. Alarmed, Liv rushed over. Tears were spilling down his cheeks.

“Reggie… it’s okay,” she said gently. A little unsure, she reached out a hand to rub his back, and to her surprise, he didn’t flinch away. Slowly, he seemed to regain control of himself.

“Liv…,” Reggie panted. “You know you’re not meant to be in here; this is the guys’ room.”

“Hey! Like it’s my fault you didn’t take your anxiety attack into the unisex bathroom. That’s on you.” Hmph. Ungrateful, much?

Reggie scowled, and dragged his cousin out of the toilet block by her arm. He slumped down by the wall, and scooched over to encourage her to join him.

“You’re a pain in the arse.” He was still shaking.

“It’s been said, yeah.” Liv huddled a little closer. “You don’t need to worry, okay? You’re not going to have any trouble making friends. Did you see they’ve got a chess club, and a photography club as well? At least that’ll get you talking to people.”

“That’s,” Reggie said quietly, “not exactly what I’m worried about.” When Liv looked at him expectantly, he continued. “When I was in a room with all those kids, my head just went back to being at our old school… and what happened. I know this place is meant to be progressive and all that, but that doesn’t mean that everyone’s okay. What if I think I’ve made friends with someone, and they find out about Erin, and they make it a big thing, and then some arsehole finds out….”

“Man, you’re really spiraling,” Liv observed, not especially helpfully. She wasn’t exactly surprised by what was troubling her cousin; getting into a fight in defense of his young transgender sister had completely unseated Reggie from the comfortable life he’d had at the last school. It had changed everything.

“You would too, if she was your sister!”

“Probably. But I think you should at least give people a go. It sounds like they’re really strict on any kind of bullying against minorities. Swinging back hard in the opposite direction after that fascist dictatorship.”

“Those are some awfully big words for you to be throwing around there, Livia; watch you don’t hurt yourself….”

“Hey! I know my stuff!” Liv demanded. “Do you think my tio abuelo would have it any other way? But anyway, I’m right. All the people who didn’t fit in before have come to this part of the country. Probably a lot of the kids have parents who saw really horrible things in the war; they wouldn’t want to send them somewhere that was bad like before. My Mama ‘Stel gave the principal the grilling of her life, and I bet she hasn’t been the only one. People are gonna want to make sure their kids are being looked after.”

A smile quirked on Reggie’s face as he imagined his aunt on a school tour. “I bet Tia Estela left Principal Sanchez quivering under the desk.”

“Yeah… after what happened in the last school, there’s no way they’d let us go anywhere unless they were sure it was a place that treated people right.”

Reggie knew that much. But his parents, and even his fierce aunt, could not shield himself, his sisters and his cousin, from everything. He contemplated silently, grateful for the patient companionship.

“I guess,” he said at last, “if no one gave anyone else a chance to be anything but the worst, then we’d be pretty lonely.”

“Yup. We should at least give it a shot. And if it all goes in the crapper, I’ll sic my moms on the fools that mess with us. And the freaking yeti.”

Reggie couldn’t help but roll his eyes. That had always been Liv’s answer to everything. “Livia, I hate to break it to you, but if you go around threatening people with yetis, everyone’s gonna think you’ve got a screw loose. Except me; I know you’ve got a screw loose.”

“So damn rude,” Liv growled. “Anyway, you really should eat something. It probably won’t help you feeling crap and light-headed if you’ve got an empty stomach. They’ve got arepas!”

“...I could eat an arepa,” Reggie admitted. There was only so much a young boy of thirteen could control; he couldn’t wave a magic wand and guarantee that his little sister would never be hurt by cruel, ignorant words, but he could look after himself, so that he was the best him he could be-- and the best brother.

_____________________________

USA, 2028

“You did a great job, sweetheart,” Taylor said kindly as Reggie delicately placed his knife and fork atop his small plastic plate, signaling that he’d finished. Immediately afterwards, the little boy’s small hand had dropped to his side to get a reassuring touch of his teddy’s scruffy fur. “It was nice of Big Bear to join us for dinner. Does he like lasagna as much as you do?”

Reggie yawned widely as he nodded to his aunt. He hadn’t known it was possible for a kid to be so full of yawns, but living with newborn twins had shown him just how big a tired feeling could be. “Big Bear likes to watch from the floor.”

“That’s nice of him to let you have the whole plate for yourself. We’re gonna have plenty to bring over to your mommy and daddy for them to eat tomorrow.”

Lasagna had been Reggie’s choice. This whole sleepover was to be all about him; giving him a welcome break from the stresses of being a new big brother to two babies at once. He’d been on many, many sleepovers at Tia Estela and Auntie Taylor’s place before, but this time felt different. Reggie knew that at home, his parents were busy with their other children… and in his sensitive state, it took no time at all for him to miss them.

Twins, Reggie had come to realise, were very hard work. They cried a lot… and his mommy cried a lot, and his daddy cried a lot, and he cried a lot. All crying and no sleeping was not a whole lot of fun. Reggie wanted so badly to get away from the babies, but at the same time he longed to be with his parents. However much fun it was to take a break at his aunts’ place, the worry in him just wouldn’t go away.

Side-by-side, he and Liv changed into their pyjamas. Five-year-old Liv, true to form, nattered away to him the whole time. Babies, of course, were the subject of choice.

“My moms say we’re probably not gonna get another baby. Maybe ‘cos you have two I can borrow one if I get lonely. Do you have one that you like best?”

Reggie shrugged.

“Maybe next time your mom and dad will have three. You could have all these babies like a baby army, and if someone’s ever mean to you, you will have like a hundred poopy diapers you can throw at them. No one likes poop.”

“I don’t want lots more babies,” Reggie said softly. I want no more.

“If you don’t like babies, you can come and live with us forever!” Liv suggested brightly, oblivious the the wobble of her cousin’s bottom lip.

When Estela popped her head around the corner to check on the kids, Reggie was in tears and Liv looked totally bewildered.

“Mommy, Reggie’s crying…,” she pointed out, rather unnecessarily, for her mother had already scooped the little boy into a cuddle.

“It’s okay, mijo,” Estela soothed as she gently rocked her nephew in her arms. “It’s okay to cry. This has been really hard. You know what? You have been such a good boy for Mommy and Daddy.”

Liv, not quite sure what to do, but nothing if not well-meaning, draped herself over Reggie and patted him on the back. “There, there. It’s okay.”

Estela took Reggie into the lounge room for some cheer-up time, and Liv took Big Bear. Taylor quickly joined them, and pulled Reggie into her lap for a cuddle.

“Are you feeling a bit sad, sweetpea?”

Reggie nodded. “Uh-huh. I liked it better how things were before. Everything’s different.”

Taylor gently rubbed the little boy’s arms. “Change can be really tough. It’s like you’ve got to figure out how life works all over again!”

“Yeah, it’s not nice.”

“So, it’s okay to have a good cry. We will give you as many hugs and cuddles as you need.”

“Reggie,” Liv piped up, “do you wanna play a game? That could make you feel happy?”

Reggie sniffed and nodded again. Pleased-- she had this cheering-up business down-- Liv plonked herself in Estela’s lap and leaned forward to her cousin.

“Do you wanna play… ‘Klaawyi Chase’?”

Estela intervened quickly. “Maybe something with a little less running around. It’s nearly bedtime, Livi.”

“Okay. Ummmm…. ‘Duck, Duck, Goose’?”

“Livita.”

Well, you’re no fun. Liv gave a soft huff and pondered. By her best guess, ‘Hide and Seek’ would be a ‘no’ too… especially as last time she’d hid, no one managed to find her for a full hour.

“How about,” Taylor suggested, “we have a game of ‘Fortunately-Unfortunately’?”

“I wanna play that one!” Reggie said enthusiastically. “Can I start? Fortunately, we all had ice cream for dessert.”

Liv bounced in her mother’s lap. “Unfortunately, the ice cream was smelly-feet flavour!”

“Livi!” Taylor exclaimed, rolling her eyes. Why was everything smelly-feet with that kid? “Okay, then-- fortunately, Robin Dog likes smelly-feet, so he ate all the ice cream for us.”

“Oh!” Liv cried. “I’ve got a really good one!” Hehe, Robin with smelly-feet farts….

“Unfortunately,” said Estela. “It was Mama Estela’s turn, and Miss Livita just had to wait.”

Liv turned and poked her tongue out at her mom, making Reggie giggle. He snuggled in against his Auntie Taylor’s chest, his mind far away from worries about his new role as big brother to a pair of very needy twins.

“Fortunately,” he said, smiling, “Furball was visiting, and he made us some new ice cream with no yucky flavours in it.”

“Unfortunately….”

_________________________

San Trobida, September 2035

It was the last weekend before school started, and a lazy warm day at the Montoya house. Estela was up a tree, hammering boards into what would soon be a playhouse for the kids. She’d already finished up a two-storey-high climbing wall on the other side of the yard, which, at Liv’s request, would eventually be connected to the new tree-house by a zipline. Then, there’d be a slide, and monkey bars, and a tyre swing, and a fire pole. Basically, Estela had made it her mission to put together the best backyard playground on the Costa Libertad. Taylor, meanwhile, had been busying herself with a vegetable garden, with the help of a fascinated Erin and her parents, who turned out to be quite clever when it came to soil chemistry.

Liv had been up and down her new climbing wall like a yo-yo, leaving her dog, Robin, running rings around the base and all but tripping Reggie up as he tentatively took his first steps towards ascending.

“Are you coming?”

“I’m trying! Your dog’s getting in the way.”

Eventually, Reggie managed to clamber his way up, with a little help from Liv who hauled him over the top.

“See; piece of cake.”

Reggie couldn’t quite agree, and now that he was up twenty feet, he was already dreading his descent back to solid ground. Keen to distract himself from the dizzying height, he passed Liv the rope that he’d carried slung across his shoulders.

“What do you want me to do with it?” she demanded. “You’re meant to drop one end back down….”

“I’m not going near the edge!”

“Fine. Immy! You down there still?”

On the ground, and trying to wrestle a squeaky toy giraffe from Robin’s mouth, Immy craned her neck up.

“Yeah-- but you’re lucky I am, Reggie was so slow.”

“Careful. I was careful. You should bloody well try it sometime.”

Immy rolled her eyes dramatically, but nonetheless took the rope end that Liv had lowered to her, and ran it over to Estela so the distance could be measured.

“There we go,” Liv said, after having marked the rope at the edge of the platform. “Done. Reggie, if you’re just going to look down, you might as well be on the ground. Come on-- check out the view!”

Begrudgingly, Reggie sat up properly and looked around.

“Woah.” Maybe he could see the appeal of being up so high, even if he was immensely grateful for the safety rails around the platform. “You really can see everything up here.”

“Isn’t it cool?” Liv beamed as she pointed her cousin towards the paddock behind the yard. “You wanted to see our horse? Right in there at the side of the sheltery-shed thing….”

“Oh, wow! Okay, fine, I believe you now. I guess she was just hiding earlier.”

“That’s Miel. She’s like, older than dirt; Mama Estela used to ride her when she was a teenager.”

“And she’s still alive?”

“Just about. I think she’s uh… nearly thirty? Pretty ancient. Mom found out she was all on her own after her friend died, and she bought her so she could retire here with us. She’s kind of a bitey asshole. Uh, the horse-- not Mom.” Liv quickly amended, glancing to the in-progress tree-house. “So, we’re keeping her, and if she wants to make friends with the new horses we’re getting, she can, otherwise at least she can, like, neigh rude horse words at them from over the fence.”

Reggie snorted. Weirdo.

“I’m super excited. I know Mama ‘Stel was kind of nervous about us moving over here because of how things were when she was a kid-- but it actually… feels nice. I love our new house. I love cranky Miel. I love that we’re gonna get chickens, and maybe a new friend for Robin. Even the school seems pretty good.”

Swallowing his fear, Reggie joined Liv at the railing, dangling his legs over the side of the platform.

“Yeah, I think I like it here, too. Mom and Dad seem really happy; Dad says he can make more of a good difference in the world here than in America. So, I guess that’s got to be good. Did I tell you we’re going to put a pool in?”

“You might have mentioned it. When you’ve been whining about the heat, for the hundredth time.”

“It’s so humid!”

Liv giggled. It was like being back in the tropics of La Huerta, and to her, that felt right. Granted, it might have been nicer if they could just pop on over into a neighbouring alpine region that was inexplicably right next to the hot, sticky jungle, but she really loved it.

“Well,” Reggie said, “it’s going to be great. And it should be done by the time Quinn and Michelle come to visit.”

“Do we even know whose house they’re staying at yet?”

“It should be my place.” Reggie puffed out his chest, as if to emphasise the rightness of his point. “You’re definitely getting Jake and Sean and Mikey. You can’t take all the visitors. And besides… we’ll have a pool.”

That was hard to argue with. “It’s up to the adults anyway,” Liv conceded. In the end, it didn’t matter; she was going to make the most of having her La Huerta family around even if it meant camping out in Reggie’s back yard. “But, I will be a much better San Trobida tour guide than you. I’m still showing you around.”

Reggie hmphed, and Liv laughed.

“Come on, Reggie,” she said, dropping gracefully down the side of the wall and taking up hand-holds. “I’m getting hungry.”

It was at that point that Reggie made the sobering discovery that going down, was rather more intimidating than going up a sheer vertical surface.

“Um, Liv…,” he said quietly. “I, uh, don’t think I can do that.”

“Oh!” Liv responded. “Sorry, I forgot you’re new to this. Maybe you should’ve started smaller. But don’t worry, I’ll get you down….”

“Okay…,” he murmured, clearly not remotely convinced.

“Mom!” Liv hollered, all but making her poor cousin topple over the edge in surprise. “Reggie’s stuck!”

Reggie felt heat rise in his cheeks as his sisters, hanging out on the grass below the wall at the worst possible time, burst out laughing. Like they could even get up this high to begin with.

Up in the tree-house, Estela looked up and wiped off the paint from her hands. Rescuing kids from scrapes had pretty much become her specialty at this point; twelve years with Liv had seen to that. “I’m coming,” she called back.

“I’m not exactly stuck,” Reggie muttered defensively, as his Tia Estela easily scaled the climbing wall to join him and Liv, who’d already rejoined him to offer moral support. “If I really wanted to, I could climb down; I just feel I should practice climbing up a few more times before I try that.”

“You’ll get there,” Estela said kindly. As far as she was concerned, the fact that her nephew had a realistic view of his own capabilities was only a good thing. “I’ll have that zipline going in no time anyway, so you’ll have no hurry to work it out.”

With his aunt’s back offered to him, Reggie took the cue and wrapped his long arms around her neck, and his legs around her middle. Getting rescued by one of the team of protective grown-ups? Basically, the story of both his and Liv’s lives.

“Hang on, Regito,” Estela laughed.

____________________________

La Huerta, 2034

The frigid wind howled against the cabin door, and it took all of Liv and Reggie’s combined might to wrestle it closed. Both kids were panting heavily-- and shaking like leaves-- as they nervously stepped away.

“Thank god this little hut was here, really,” Liv heaved. “I dunno about you, but I’d rather be stranded in a snowstorm with walls around me.”

Reggie said nothing, and just shivered, wrapping his arms around his own torso. He’d wrapped up-- as if his parents would let him go wandering into the colder pockets of the island without a heap of layers-- but the snow had wet his gloves through, and a chill was now spreading through his body.

“Hey,” Liv said, “we should… we should get a fire going. You look like you’re halfway turned into a popsicle right now.”

As his cousin busied herself at the fireplace-- thank goodness there was some firewood left-- Reggie fiddled with his emergency phone. His heart sank. No signal. His mom and dad were going to be so worried when he and Liv never came home….

“Uh, Liv… I think the storm’s screwed up the reception here. It won’t let me phone Mom and Dad.”

Liv looked up, and for the first time, she looked truly fearful, her usual intrepid spirit extinguished in a flash. “They’re really gonna panic,” she said softly. She shuddered. If their parents came out looking for them, it meant walking out into a blizzard, and all the danger that came with it. If she could just tell her mothers that she was safe, that she and Reggie had shelter… they could wait out the storm. Anything could happen, anything….

“Are you okay, Livia?” Reggie asked, and he handed her a heavy blanket as he sat down cross-legged in front of her feebly burning fire. “You look kind of spaced-out.”

“Hng?”

“They’ll find us; it’ll be okay.”

“I don’t want them to come and find us,” Liv snapped. “I want them to stay where it’s safe. They could get hurt or, or worse because we were stupid enough not to turn around when the weather changed.” She placed a stick too roughly, and her firewood tower collapsed, extinguishing the flame. “For fuck’s sake!”

Reggie, wisely, stayed quiet, letting his cousin fix up the mess and get a new fire started without interference. He watched her with concern as her eyes welled. “Livia…?”

She huddled close to him, but for a long while, didn’t speak.

“Reggie,” she murmured at last, “something really horrible happened a couple of weeks ago. I didn’t want to talk about it with you, ‘cause… ‘cause I didn’t even want to think about it…. It just made me feel too bad. But, uh.... I was… I was playing in the sea with Mama Estela. Just like we always do. We were just goofing off. Then, um, I got all tangled up in those freaking weeds. They grabbed me and held me under.”

“That must have been so scary….”

“Of course, Mom got me out of there. B-but there was a sea-snake in there. It bit her. It happened so fast… I hardly even saw what happened, but she suddenly just... could hardly even get out of the water. I somehow managed to haul her up out the water, but she was all limp and… and I gave her the anti-venom, and she just started having some kind of fit.. Like her body was jerking around, and her mouth was all frothy.” She gasped through a sob. “Then she… she stopped breathing, completely.” Liv shuddered as the memory filled her mind, vivid as if it were yesterday. She could feel Reggie’s wide, horrified eyes upon her. “I screamed. I screamed for help. Mama Taylor was up the beach, she couldn’t hear me. S-so I did CPR. My hands were shaking so-- so bad. And all I could think was ‘I’m gonna screw this up. I’m gonna screw this up and my mom’s gonna die’.” Her voice cracked and she sputtered through hot tears that she wiped away with her arm. Before she knew it, Reggie had his arms around her and was holding her tight. “I don’t know how long it was,” she said. “It felt like forever, but it was probably only a few minutes. Then she started breathing and I just… I cried, and cried, and cried.”

Reggie gently rubbed Liv’s back, and it soothed her.

“I, uh, I guess I always thought Mama Estela was invincible. To me, she always was. There was nothing I couldn't do either, because she would always be there to protect me. It was so close, Reggie… it looked like she was gone.”

“I… didn’t know it was as bad as that. My dad told me she’d been bitten but…,” Reggie mumbled. “You must have been so scared. Have you… have you talked to your moms about it much?”

Liv sniffed, and wiped her face again. “Yeah. You know what my Mama Taylor is like; we’ve talked it through lots, I’ve told them how I’m feeling. But I haven’t… like… had a big cry since it happened.” Until now. Now, she just couldn’t seem to stop the tears from coming. Reggie didn’t seem to mind; he just sat with her, and rubbed her back, and told her it was okay.

After what seemed like an age, her tears slowed.

“It is going to be okay, you know?” Reggie said gently. “Obviously, they’re going to come out looking for us, but they’re smart. They’ll be prepared; just like your Mama Estela was with the anti-venom.”

“Yeah…,” Liv said, her voice small. You could be as prepared as you wanted, but sometimes the world managed to stay one step ahead. The storm outside was wild and furious, battering on the roof and walls… and it was frightening. Liv could only snuggle under her cousin’s arm, and trust that whatever search and rescue party was out there would come through.

The two kids huddled together beneath their blanket, speaking little, but making their mutual support known without words. Just the squeeze of a hand through the most blood-curdling howls of the wind, and the simple offer of presence.

Somehow, the creak of the door shoved open cut through the dull roar.

“Oh, thank goodness!”

“Dad!” Reggie leapt forward and flung his arms around his father, his face lighting up further when Grace followed in behind. “Mom!”

Grace put her shaking hands to her son’s face, gently sweeping hair from his eyes. “Darling, are you all right?” Then she pulled Liv into a fierce hug, and in a moment Aleister had his arms around all three of them. “We were so worried!”

Liv whimpered against Grace’s shoulder. “Are my moms out in the storm?” She knew the answer already.

“Yes, honey. They’re out searching for you. Don’t you stress, okay? We’ve got a flare to set off so they’ll know we found you here-- and Varyyn and Diego too.”

“Woah,” Liv murmured, “you got a whole search party out.”

There was a buzzing, and the flickering of blue light, then Iris materialised.

Reggie beamed. “Hey, Grandma! So, a ‘whole search party’ is pretty much correct.”

“I will say, being able to scan for nearby lifeforms is quite handy in situations like these.”

So, find my moms and Tio Diego. Liv hugged tighter to her Auntie Grace, with no words pleading for help.

“Oh, sweetheart,” Grace said gently, stroking Liv’s face, while Aleister saw to setting off the flare. “It’s going to be just fine. We’re not far from Elyys’tel; we all fanned out from there, so no one is going to be too deep into the mountains.”

That… actually made sense. It was enough, just enough to keep Liv a step above panic-mode. She headed back to the fireplace, but as her backside hit the floor, a guttural roar rocked the cabin, and she leapt back to her feet.

“What the--?”

“You two stay back!” Aleister ordered, his voice shaking. Why, oh why, did the children want to go gallivanting out in the frozen wilderness when there was a perfectly serviceable tropical paradise right outside their front door? He was going to be old before his time at this rate….

Grace, though, was already hauling open the door, to reveal the hulking figure of the Mountain Guardian.

A growl rumbling in her throat, Arktos loomed in the doorway, looking down at Grace with a questioning gaze.

“Hello…?” she said cautiously. The gigantic bear-like creature was generally reasonably friendly…. “Did we… did we disturb you with the flare?”

Arktos grumbled, her furry ears flicking with curiosity.

“Our friends are out there in the storm,” Grace continued, certain that the yeti would understand; her past experiences had only supported the fact that this creature was incredibly intelligent-- and benevolent. “The flare was to bring them to this cabin.”

With a soft huff, Arktos shuffled backwards, and all of a sudden, it seemed as though she was surrounded by a force-field… a bubble that the wind and blinding snow couldn’t penetrate.

Understanding, Grace turned to Iris. “I think we’re going hiking again-- with a little extra help this time. Al, you’ll stay and watch the kids?”

“I--I--” Aleister stuttered. “Well, of course. Stay close to the… the bear thing.” Scrambling a little, he pulled off his outer layer and offered it to her. “I won’t have you catching hypothermia.”

And Grace stepped into the snow, Iris hovering behind her, and found shelter in the yeti’s protective shield. She looked up at the beast, now rearing up onto colossal hind legs to scout for signs of nearby human activity. “Thank you, Arktos. I guess… I guess, you choose the direction, and we’ll start the search.”

The unusual trio headed out into the storm, and within moments, they were invisible for the wind thick with snow. Aleister, a look of dumbfoundment upon his face, closed the door, and again, the cabin was quiet.

“Damn. Auntie Grace is a fricking badass,” Liv breathed, face alight in awe.

Aleister, recovering from his wife’s shock exit quickly-- he’d seen her steely courage in action enough times to just about take it in his stride, nodded. “Indeed.” He brushed the last flakes of snow from his coat, and looked around the room. “Well, I don’t suppose the wait will pass any faster with us standing around here. Reggie, did we leave any board-games here last time?”

“Uh, looks like we’ve got ‘Scrabble’?”

Well, Liv thought, I don’t have a hope in hell against these people. Should’ve left ‘Twister’ here….

Reggie sat himself down in front of the crackling fire and started unpacking the box. “Hey, Livia-- team up with me?”

He was clearly still a little worried about her. If there was an opportunity to thrash her at something, Mr Pedantic-Always-Right would take it without fail. Or so Liv had believed.

She plonked down cross-legged beside him. “Yeah? Yeah, all right.”

The two kids exchanged a high five, and Liv couldn’t help but grin. You are going down, Uncle Al.

___________________________

San Trobida, September 2035

As the car pulled up the neatly paved pathway to Aleister and Grace’s house, Liv excitedly rolled down the window.

“Reginaaaaald!!!” she hollered.

“How,” Aleister wondered aloud, “can such a small person-- and the offspring of Estela and Diego of all people-- sound so eerily like a bloody foghorn?”

A beaming Reggie followed his father out the front door. He exchanged hugs with both his parents-- and his two little sisters-- and then rushed to join his cousin on the back seat.

“Are you ready to go, mijo?” Estela checked in, suppressing a laugh as Taylor all but did a contortion act to give her nephew a hug from the front seat.

He had Liv, didn’t he? So, basically, he was ready for anything.

The short drive to the school saw the return of those pesky jitters, and Reggie knew from the way his cousin jiggled her leg the whole way there that he was definitely not alone in that. The school ground, filled only with kids their own age when they’d been there for orientation, was swarming with adolescents of all sizes-- and just about all of them were bigger than Reggie and Liv.

With an awkward hug and a kiss to her mothers in the front of the car, Liv bit the bullet and, bulging backpack in hand, stepped out into a brave new world. There was only one thing for it; Reggie would just have to take the plunge. He swung his backpack over his shoulder, and followed after his cousin.

“Welp,” said Liv, “here goes nothing!”

Reggie gave a nervous laugh and playfully bashed Liv with his backpack, putting a reassuringly silly grin on her face.

We’ve got this.

_______________________

NOTES

Little Xiraana is @mauvecatfic's baby. Check out her stories; you won't regret it!

If you read 'A Ride to Remember', you might remember Miel. She's the very same horse.

Aaaaand, the incident Liv is recounting during the snowstorm is the one you can read from Estela's perspective in 'Teething Problems: Part Two'.

#endless summer #playchoices #liv montoya #reggie hall #graleister #estela x mc #estela montoya #grace hall #aleister rourke #diego soto

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melzula · 5 years ago

Text

Secret Tunnel

sequel to Fire Lilies

pairing: Zuko x Princess!reader

warnings: lots of fluff, lots of angst, forbidden lovers au

notes: tysm for all the love on fire lilies. I hope you guys enjoy part two! once again, most of this isn’t canon to the series

summary: “Built a path to be together.”

A month has passed since you last saw Zuko, and life in the Southern Water Tribe hasn’t been easy. Your father has been worn thin preparing the nation for battle, planning war tactics and training the troops in combat. Any and all male water benders are sent to the front lines, and all bending among women is now forbidden. Your father says it’s a way to protect you, to prevent the Fire Nation from separating children and mothers, to make them believe that there are no female water benders, but to you it seems as if he’s leaving you completely defenseless. When the men are gone and the women and children remain who will stop the Fire Nation soldiers from raiding your home and burning it to ash?

Guards accompany you no matter where you go now making it impossible to sneak out, and their constant presence reminds you of the dark times that lie ahead for you and your people. Your father will be leaving soon, your bending is forbidden, and your heart longs for Zuko’s comforting presence. What you wouldn’t give to be cozily wrapped up in his warm embrace. Wherever he is and whatever he’s doing now, you hope that he‘s okay and that he hasn’t forgotten about you. Each night before bed you pray to the moon begging the spirit to keep him safe, and it is the only thing that brings you solace during your time of heartbreak.

The village is silent and the air is heavy with tension and anxieties as the men prepare for their early departure tomorrow morning. Many families have turned in early for the night to make the most out of what little time left they have with their loved ones. Downstairs the servants are setting the table for a meal of arctic hen and seaweed noodles, but you don’t plan on accompanying your parents to dinner. Your stomach is too unsettled to hold any food down, and you often find yourself too upset to eat. Instead you stand on your balcony and stare out at the endless sea before you, imagining what it would be like if Zuko were here to enjoy the view with you.

A tiny speck appears in the distance causing you to squint your eyes in an attempt to get a better look, and as the figure grows closer you realize it’s a messenger hawk with the Fire Nation emblem displayed proudly on its breast. Your body is buzzing with joy and excitement as you eagerly untie the scroll from the bird the minute it lands on your balcony. The ribbon that seals the paper closed is quickly tossed aside, and your eyes water at the sight of the familiar handwriting.

“My beloved Princess,

By the time this letter reaches you our people will be hours away from war. I haven’t been able to stop thinking about you, and each day we’re apart only reminds me of how passionately my heart burns for you. I never wanted to leave you, but I wanted to show my respect to your father. I know we are forbidden from one another, but I want to see you. If you wish to see me too then please meet me on the west end of the south pole in three days at night fall. There’s something I want to show you.

Yours always,

Zuko.”

A tearful smile curls upon your lips as you clutch the letter tightly to your chest, whispering a quiet thank you to the moon that begins to rise amongst the stars. Already your mood has improved greatly at the thought of seeing Zuko again, and you don’t hesitate to grab a scroll and calligraphy brush so that you may write back. Your message is quick and simple, it has to be if you want to send it back in time without getting caught: “I can’t wait to see you.”

You securely attach the letter to the messenger hawk before sending it back on it’s way, a hopeful glint in your eyes as you watch your note make its way to your lover. In three days you’ll be reunited with Zuko, and the thought is enough to give you the strength to get through the tough days ahead.

~~~

With the absence of your father as well as the majority of the troops only a few soldiers are left behind to watch over the village and even fewer are left to keep watch over you, thus making it easier for you to climb down your balcony and travel the journey to the west end of the South Pole. The sun is just beginning to set as you weave your way through the hidden corners of your village. You had told your mother and your nursemaid that you were feeling ill and would be resting for the remainder of the night, requesting that you be left undisturbed and unattended. They bought it, and now here you were just moments away from meeting Zuko.

The east end of the South Pole is hidden from the mainland by the mountains and provides the perfect cover for your little secret rendezvous. Zuko already stands waiting, his golden hued eyes widening at the sight of you and his legs immediately stumbling in the snow as he rushes to greet you.

“Y/N!” He exclaims before immediately lifting your figure off the ground in a tight hug. Joyous laughter escapes you as you rest your hands upon his shoulders and allow your forehead to fall against his own. Tearful smiles are exchanged, a subtle blush dusting upon Zuko’s cheeks as you gift him a delicate kunik in appreciation for his presence.

“I was so afraid I’d never be able to see you again,” you admit quietly, hands now moving to rest upon his chest as he sets you back down on your feet.

“I’m sorry it took me so long,” Zuko apologizes. “Running off unnoticed to the South Pole isn’t exactly easy, but I’d go to the ends of the earth if it meant I’d get to be with you.”

His confession earns a shy smile in return, and Zuko takes a moment to cup your face in his hands and press a fond kiss to your forehead.

“I love you, Zuko. More than anything. I’m just so afraid of this war tearing us apart.”

“That’s why I wanted you to meet me here today,” admits thoughtfully. “I’ve found a way to make sure no war ever comes between us.”

“You have?”

“I have,” he nods. “Follow me.”

Your gloved hand takes hold of Zuko’s own warm one as he guides you through the snow and towards the mountains in the exact direction you came from. Though you’re a bit confused, you say nothing and follow along until he finally stops in front of what looks to be like a cave.

“A cave?” You question with the tilt of your head. You watch in awe as a flame lights itself in the palm of Zuko’s hand in order to illuminate the entrance.

“At first glance that’s all it is,” Zuko nods, extending his hand towards the entrance and revealing how deep the cave really is. “But if you look closer...”

“A secret tunnel!” You gasp. “How did you find this?”

“Apparently we weren’t the first Fire Nation and Water Tribe couple to be separated,” Zuko smiles faintly. “I went to my Uncle for guidance, and he told me the story of the two forbidden lovers. They were complete opposites, yin and yang, water and fire, but they brought balance to each other. Their love was new and exciting for them, but unnatural in the eyes of their people. They were broken up and ordered never to see each other again.”

“What happened to them?” You ask in awe, eyes widened ever so slightly with intrigued interest at his story. He doesn’t miss the way you clutch anxiously at the sleeve of his robes, smiling ever so slightly at just how innocent and childlike your wonder can be.

“The water bender, Varrick, found this cave. At the pit of it was a body of water that went out to sea. He froze the water then created a sort of tunnel through the ice that led out into the ocean. His best friend was an earth bender, and with his help they created the remaining length of the tunnel to reach the Fire Nation with rocks from the ocean floor- they would be able to withstand the heat of the nearby volcanoes unlike the ice. He built an underwater pathway just to see her.”

“And so with each new moon the lovers would go through the tunnel and meet halfway to be together in secret. This was Varrick and Elza’s tunnel, and now it can be ours.”

“Oh, Zuko,” you utter softly, looking up into his gentle eyes as he takes both of your hands in his own.

“I’m willing to make the journey to see you. We can meet under every full moon, or every half moon, or every night if you’d like. I don’t care as long as I get to be with you.”

“Let’s meet once a week,” you agree with a nod. “I don’t think I can wait for every full moon.”

“Neither can I,” Zuko chuckles softly before leaning down to press a loving kiss to your lips. His arms snake around your waist as you reach up to drape your arms over his shoulders, savoring the feeling of his lips upon yours for as long as you can.

The stars twinkle beautifully in the sky over the two of you as you share a kiss in the entryway of your secret tunnel.

~~~

Another month has passed and the war between your nations still rages on, but it doesn’t stop either of you from meeting each week in the secret tunnel. When the sun sets and the moon begins to rise in the sky, Zuko meets you halfway and greets you with a passionate kiss. You sit and talk for hours, sometimes with Zuko’s head in your lap or your head resting against his shoulder. It is always peaceful and always romantic, and for a minute you can almost forget the war on the outside of your little tunnel.

A knock on your door interrupts you from tying your hair up in the way you know Zuko likes for your rendezvous later that night, and with an impatient sigh do you allow entry into your room. Your mother, worn and tired from the absence of your father, stands in the doorway with a giddy smile on her face.

“Mother?” You prod cautiously. “What is it?”

“Your hand has been asked for in marriage, and I’ve given my blessing!” She cries gleefully, ignorant of the way your heart sinks to the bottom of your stomach at her revelation.

“No...”

“Finish getting yourself ready, your fiancé and his family will be coming over for dinner!”

She shuts the door behind her, leaving you to stare blankly at your reflection in the mirror. You’re being married off to someone you don’t know, someone who isn’t Zuko, and your mind isn’t sure how to process the information. Silent tears begin to stream down your face as you finish doing your hair.

You have to see Zuko.

~~~

Zuko finds himself seated amongst the Fire Nation’s top generals, yet his heart is racing with excitement as he agonizingly counts down the minutes until he can see you again. This visit would be different than most because this time he planned to propose. The two of you were much too young to get married, he knew that, and he’d wait how ever long it took until you were ready. But he wanted something that would tie you together no matter how far apart you were, something that showed you just how serious he was about your love, something that assured you you’d be together forever.

But then your life had been threatened, and everything changed.

“Rumor has it there’s still one water bender left in the Souther Water tribe, and many believe it to be their Princess,” one of the generals reported. Zuko’s eyes widened at the mention of you, but he did his best to remain stoic.

“Then we’ll threaten to burn her village to the ground until she surrenders herself as prisoner. And then we shall execute her.”

“You can’t!” Zuko shouted, rising from his seat and effectively startling the men around him. Harsh glances are sent his way as the Prince slowly sinks back down into his seat like a scolded child.

He had spoken out against a war general, and now he was expected to duel in an Agni Kai.

~~~

When you meet in the secret tunnel that night your embraces are frantic and distraught. No words are spoken for a long while as Zuko holds you in his arms, but both of your faces are stained with tears. He pulls away to look at you, delicately brushing a strand of hair behind your ear before resting his hands upon your cheeks. He should have been proposing to you right now, he should have felt like the luckiest boy alive. Instead all he felt was fear and dread at the news he was about to give you.

He should have noticed the betrothal necklace delicately wrapped around your neck.

You both open your mouth to speak and deliverer your news at the same exact moment.

“I’ve been challenged to an Agni Kai.”

“I’m engaged.”

*part three

| tags: @titaniafire @dekahg @emberislandplayers @kikaninchen-2 @multi-fandomstan @eridanuswave @royahllty @lozzybowe |

#zuko #prince zuko #zuko x reader #zuko imagine #prince zuko x reader #prince zuko imagine #atla #atla x reader #atla imagine #avatar the last airbender #secret tunnel #forbidden lovers au #fire lilies

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much-obliged-timothy · 4 years ago

Text

Dad Tim & Uncle Rhys Part 7

I had an absolutely soul-crushing, exhausting day at work and needed to write something soft. This didn’t come out the way I planned at all, but that about sums up my experience as a writer. I plan to make a master post for these shorts soon! And you can find part one here!

Rhys had reluctantly accepted that he’d somehow gotten himself dragged into a weird relationship with the Lawrence family.

It was why he was currently making his way to Tim’s house. Tim had invited him over for dinner and drinks. The two did have a little business to discuss, but the whole evening was largely casual.

Rhys had considered refusing, but one look at Phoenix’s excited little face and he knew his fate was sealed. The kid had taken a noticeable liking to him, even as Lorelei tried to steal away his affection for herself. Rhys wished she’d win it already.

Still, he wasn’t as moody as he expected when he knocked on the front door. He’d been in the house only twice before, once when Tim was sick and once to drop off some paperwork for Tim to sign.

Tim answered the door, wiping his hands on a towel as he stepped aside to less Rhys in. “Hey, Rhys. It’s almost ready. Mind keeping an eye on my kid while I switch over the laundry? He keeps getting close to the stove.”

“I knew you invited me here just to babysit,” Rhys said, shaking his head.

“Just go make sure my kid doesn’t cook himself to a crisp for a few minutes,” Tim said, waving him away. “Wine’s on the counter if you want to help yourself.”

Rhys made his way to the kitchen. Phoenix sat on the floor, tattered bear tucked safely into his lap and toy gun in hand. He was firing it off at a paper target hung up on the wall on the other side of the kitchen.

“Boss guy,” he said, looking up at Rhys. Phoenix pointed at the shirt he was wearing, a little Atlas T-shirt Rhys had gifted him. “State a’ the art. I dressed myself.”

His mismatched socks and the plaid shirt he wore unbuttoned over the Atlas one, which also didn’t match, definitely proved that. “So I see. I like your shirt. Where are the glasses?”

Phoenix pointed to one cupboard. “There.” He pointed to another. “And those are the hard day glasses.”

Rhys opened the second cabinet and pulled out a wine glass. “I take it Tim calls it that?”

“Uh-huh. When dad gets a hard day glass, it means I get an extra scoop of ice cream to shut my mouth about it when mom calls,” Phoenix said.

Rhys set the glass down and uncorked the wine. He poured himself a generous helping, then sighed and poured a glass for Tim too to be polite.

He turned back and nearly had a heart attack. “Phoenix!”

He lurched forward, snagging Phoenix’s shirt as he reached for the heated oven. He yanked the boy back, wrapping an arm around his chest.

“What the hell? That’s hot! That’s very hot! It’s-” He peered at the temperature, “425 degrees hot!”

Phoenix squirmed against him, effortlessly slipping out of Rhys’ hold. “It’s warm. I just wanna warm my hands.”

Tim poked his head in. “Phoenix Lawrence, are you trying to touch the oven again?”

Phoenix held up his hands. “They’re cold. I just wanna warm ‘em, dad.”

“You’re your mother’s son, you absolute headache,” Tim groaned, coming into the room. “Your hands wouldn’t be so cold if you hadn’t left the toy gun outside all damn day. It was freezing out today. That thing is never going to fully unthaw. Give it to me.”

Phoenix handed it over and Tim turned the sink on, letting the water get hot before running it over the toy. Phoenix tried to pull himself up onto the counter to watch, but failed.

Rhys sighed as Phoenix turned to him expectantly. Some part of him was admittedly touched, as Phoenix despised being touched by almost everyone but Tim. It was a sign of trust for him, something he didn’t give away easily after the trauma he’d endured growing up.

Rhys lifted the kid into his arms, letting Phoenix watch. When the gun was returned to him, he smiled wide and squirmed until Rhys set him down. He scooped up his bear and resumed his practice shots, Tim easily maneuvering around him.

“Hey, uh, I’ve got to ask about the bear,” Rhys said, nodding to it.

“Oh. Right, a few weeks before he was born, I thought…” Tim shrugged helplessly. “I dunno, I just thought he should have some toy or something to comfort him. So I fought my way into one of the gift shops and got him that bear. Everything had Hyperion on it, nothing I could do about that. But he took right to it. Rarely goes anywhere without it, and doesn’t want a replacement. He had a blanket, too, but one of the scavengers destroyed it in a fight when they found my hideout.”

“He tore it,” Phoenix said, looking upset. “And he stabbed dad and dad bled all over it.”

Tim knelt next to Phoenix and ruffled his hair, smiling sadly. “Yea, sorry about that, pal. But we’ll find you another one, someday. If you weren’t so picky…”

“It was my blanket!” Phoenix said.

“I know, I know. Sorry I bleed when I’ve been stabbed in the leg,” Tim said. “I’ll try to keep my blood in my body and off your possessions from now on. Now, help set the table while I get the food. And if you get near that stove again, I’m going to...do...something...uh, something that’s...a stern dad thing to do?”

“That’ll show him,” Rhys said.

“Oh, shut up.” Tim stood up and began to get the food together as Phoenix tried to set the table.

“Tried” was the key word. He was too short to reach most of the tableware, and had to drag a chair around to each cupboard. Rhys finally took pity and helped him, passing down whatever he needed.

When they were done, they gathered at the table, passing plates around and piling them with food. Tim wasn’t the best cook in the world, but he’d taken to it well enough.

“Hey,” Tim said, kicking Phoenix under the table and nodding to Rhys. “Tell boss guy what you did today.”

“I almost read a whole book by myself,” Phoenix said, eyes wide with pride.

“He’ll be putting in his application as soon as he can read the questions,” Tim said, but he gave Phoenix a proud smile.

“Uh...where is he? School-wise, I mean,” Rhys said.

“Ahead in some areas, behind in others. We taught him how to read certain signs in the casino, and Ember taught him the alphabet. He’s really good at math, and verbally he’s pretty advanced for his age. It’s just reading and writing he struggles with,” Tim said. “We work at it every night. We do at least two hours of homeschooling a night.”

“You do?” Rhys was surprised to hear that; Tim had his assignments done so fast that he had to be working on them at home.

Tim nodded. “Yea. I bring him practice sheets to do while I work during the day, and we go over them at night and then do some lessons. I’m college educated, remember? I’m no teacher, but I went online to learn how to teach my kid myself. And Ember calls to do lessons with him.”

Rhys had to respect that. Tim could be so flippant sometimes that it was easy to forget how seriously he took raising his son.

“Hey, um, Tim?” Rhys said. “You’re doing a great job raising him. You’re a good employee and a good dad.”

Tim seemed surprised. “I...thank you, Rhys. Thank you.”

“He’s the best dad!” Phoenix said. “‘Cept he takes forever in the shower.”

“Brat,” Tim said affectionately.

They ate, Tim and Rhys talking their business. Phoenix was quiet as usual, not interrupting them and instead entertaining himself in a way that wouldn’t distract them.

When they’d finished the meal, Tim brought out ice cream, Phoenix’s face lighting up. Tim handed him a bowl, but he reluctantly shook his head, pointing at Rhys.

“Boss guy first,” he said.

“Me first?” Rhys said.

“Dad said guests are s’posed to get food first,” Phoenix said. He hesitated, then blurted, “But save some for me. Please.”

“I’m not going to eat the whole thing!” Rhys said indignantly. “You’d have to roll me out of here.”

Phoenix watched anxiously as Rhys scooped himself ice cream. He took a generous portion, Phoenix leaning forward a little as if he was going to complain. A look from Tim had him pouting but staying quiet.

Rhys let him sit in his misery for a moment longer before passing the bowl to him. “A thanks for setting the table.”

Phoenix smiled widely, taking the bowl. “Wow! You don’t suck, boss guy!”

“Uh, just say thanks,” Tim said with a sigh. “‘You don’t suck’ isn’t the compliment you think it is.”

“Oh,” Phoenix said. “But he doesn’t suck. Look at all the ice cream he gave me, dad.”

“Yea, we’ll just not tell your mom you ate that much in one night,” Tim said, passing another bowl to Rhys. “Schooling I’m on top of, diet I’m working on.”

They ate their ice cream, Phoenix babbling on happily about the school lesson Tim had given him today. He was trying to tell Rhys about the story he’d read almost by himself.

When they’d finished eating, they all cleaned the kitchen together and shifted out to the living room. Phoenix sat in Tim’s lap on the couch, clutching a juice box in one hand and his bear in the other.

“Be right back,” Tim said, nudging Phoenix off himself. “I just have to use the bathroom.”

He disappeared down the hallway. Phoenix sipped at his juice box before looking at Rhys.

“Boss guy, if I learn how to read good, can I help at work?” he said.

“Read well,” Rhys said. “Not ‘read good’. Right, not the point here. Why do you want to help at work?”

“So dad can sleep,” he said. “He gets up real early sometimes to get work done.” He fidgeted with his juice box. “‘Cause of me. ‘Cause he’s busy helping me. I wasn’t s’posed to listen, but I did and I heard mom tell dad he’s gonna work himself to death. I don’t want my dad to die. I wanna help him.”

“That’s just a figure of speech. He won’t actually work himself to death,” Rhys assured.

But...Phoenix was right. Not only was Tim readjusting to life outside of the casino after fighting for survival daily for seven years, but he was also readjusting to having a busy, demanding job. And on top of that, he was a single father, raising his oops kid who was suffering much of the same trauma as him.

Rhys considered it. Tim rarely missed work, enough so that when he did, Rhys knew it was serious. He came early and stayed late. He left work and schooled Phoenix at home. He really had no free time for himself. His life had become work and parenting. He had no one to watch his son for a day so he could take a break.

Shit. Rhys thought back, realizing how quick he was to dismiss Tim’s obvious signs of exhaustion. The constant coffees, the bags under his eyes, the energy drinks, the way he needed to get up and pace a bit if he sat too long, his occasional quick temper.

“Phoenix, you’re just a kid. It’s not your job to worry about your dad,” Rhys said. “He’ll be okay.”

“But-” Phoenix started.

“Let me worry about him,” Rhys said. “Do you trust me to make sure he’s okay?”

Phoenix hesitated, clearly torn. His dad was the most important person in his life. He wouldn’t trust Tim’s safety to just anyone.

But Rhys must’ve really won the kid over, because eventually, he nodded. “Yea, okay. But I’m gonna learn how to read so I can help! I promise!”

When Tim returned to the room, Rhys glanced at Phoenix. “Hey, Phoenix, there were some chips in one of the cupboards. Can you get them, please? You can have some. I’m making that call even if your dad says no.”

“Yea, fine, I already let him eat like shit. What’s one more snack?” Tim said, waving Phoenix away.

“Gotta let me, or I’ll tell mom you swore again,” Phoenix said, heading into the kitchen.

“Tim,” Rhys said, leaning forward. “Do you want a day off?”

“Huh? Nah, don’t need one. I’ll fall behind,” Tim said. “And Phoenix likes going to work with me.”

“No, I mean…” Rhys shook his head a little. “I mean from work and from watching Phoenix. Just a day. Or even an evening.”

“What, with my abundance of babysitters?” Tim said, raising an eyebrow.

“I’ll watch him.” Oh, god, he was regretting it already. But Tim deserved it, so Rhys plowed on ahead. “I’ll take him for a day so you can have some rest. He can come to my office for the day. You can sleep in, or go out or...whatever.”

“You’d do that?” Tim looked amazed. “You’d really do that for me?”

“Yes,” Rhys said. “You’re kind of a pain in the ass, but you’re my employee and you work harder than anyone else I know. And I guess we’re...kind of...friends?”

Tim sat back. “I...thanks, Rhys.” He looked down at his wine. “Maybe...fuck, maybe if you wouldn’t mind just, you know, just taking him for an hour or two, just…” He sighed. “I’m a shit dad. Just so I can sleep in one morning. That’s all I need to recharge.”

“You just want to sleep in an extra hour or two?” Rhys said. “You don’t want to go out?”

“I’ve got nowhere to go,” Tim said. “My life changed the moment Ember told me she was pregnant. Phoenix is my responsibility, whether he was an accident or not. He’s gotten so much better since we came here, but he still has a long way to go. That’s my job to be by his side through it all, even if it’s exhausting. Honestly, Rhys, I’m not ready for time alone right now. I’m still working through my own shit from the casino. Having him with me keeps me grounded and reminds me why I have to work at getting better. But I could really, really use a little extra sleep one day.”

Rhys laughed. “Sleep it is. You name the day, and I’ll come pick him up and take him into the office.”

Tim smiled, small but sincere. “Thanks, Rhys. You’re a good friend.”

Rhys was spared answering that as Phoenix came back in, pulling himself up next to Rhys and holding out the bag of chips. Rhys opened it and let Phoenix have a handful.

“Hey, why not read that book to me?” Rhys said.

“Really? You’ll let me?” Phoenix said.

“Well, obviously. You’ve got to get better at reading, right?” Rhys said, winking.

Phoenix beamed. “Dad! Where’s my book? Gotta read for boss guy.”

So they all sat together on the couch, Phoenix in between them. He read painfully slow and struggled often, but he managed through most of the book with little help from Tim and Rhys. They let him pick out another book to try, and Rhys found himself spending the night helping a little boy learn how to read, Phoenix determined even when he screwed up or got stuck.

And two days later, Rhys picked him up from the house, Tim still fast asleep upstairs. He brought Phoenix to the office, telling the boy to close his eyes and hold his hands out.

When Phoenix opened his eyes, he found himself looking at a soft blanket with the Atlas logo, and “Phoenix Lawrence” stitched into the corner of it.

The smile on his face and the fierce hug he gave Rhys made it all worth it. He was suckered into this family, and as he hugged Phoenix back, he didn’t even mind it anymore.

#borderlands #timothy lawrence #borderlands rhys #dad tim & uncle rhys #borderlands au #My writing

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headinthe-fridge · 4 years ago

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My Grandfather’s Lawyer (pt.6)

⁂ – Ushijima Wakatoshi x reader – ⁂

warning: nsfw, swearing

Summary: Your grandfather, Washijo Tanji, disowned your mother when she was pregnant with you and her hatred towards him was passed on to you. Now, your estranged grandfather wants you to leave your life in Tokyo and come live with him in his estate in the Miyagi Prefecture.

You took a day off and a 6-hour trip, intending to give him a piece of your mind before disappearing from their lives forever. You didn’t expect to see an ailing and fragile old man. Your day trip stretched into weeks and soon, you patched things up with your estranged family and warmed up to everyone -except to one: Ushijima Wakatoshi -your grandfather’s lawyer.

He thinks you have ulterior motives in reuniting with your grandfather.

You weren’t suppose to care what he thinks of you. His opinion didn’t matter.

But it did.

Masterlist

Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5

AN: As promised, here’s part 6! This was a double udpate so if you haven’t read part 5, link is above this! :))

-----

“Well, here’s something you should be afraid of.”

It’s been two weeks since your episode with Ushijima at the hospital garden. Because of your conversation with him, the moment you slipped back inside your grandfather’s ward, you immediately told him that you would stay, for a time.

Of course, your grandfather was ecstatic and his happiness made you momentarily forget you major irritation for Ushijima Wakatoshi -who, in your opinion is the greatest villain of all villains in the ‘The Story of My Life.’

How dare he? How dare he use emotional blackmail against me? You fumed.

Your cousins were elated and excited to have you as well, except for Hoshina. Not news, you were kinda expecting that. Your first problem was clothes. You didn’t bring any when you boarded the train that day but the twins were quick to help you with that. So you spent three days running around the mall, going on a shopping spree -you tried to avoid ridiculously expensive branded clothing but the twins just kept on deviating towards it.

You mentioned your financial concerns to Kuroo but he shrugged it off, saying you had 22 years worth of money to splurged -care of your grandfather. That didn’t help much with your guilt but nothing you can really do about it.

Next was your job back in Tokyo. You gave Kiyoko the heads up that you won’t be returning home, indefinitely, and the cafe manager, despite his disappointment, had no other choice but to find a replacement -which he found in Hinata Shoyou, a friend’s friend.

So far, your stay was pleasant and you were steadily building your relationship between your cousins (save Hoshina) and your grandfather. Hoshina was complicated, there were many time when you thought she was going to approach you, in a peaceful manner, but then proceeds to glare and scowl at your at the last second. It bummed you, honestly. You never had a sister (and so did she) so you wanted to reallyyyy bond with her. But, she was as stubborn and hard-headed as you are.

You asked the twins one time where their parents are and they said Kuroo’s parents are on a business trip in Singapore, their father (your uncle, second eldest) is in Sendai, managing his own business -a publication- their parents were divorced and they rarely see their mother who has her own family in Southern part of Japan. Hoshina’s are in Tokyo, securing a deal for the family business.

While your grandfather remains the company president, Hoshina’s father is the CEO and her mother the COO. Despite being the youngest son, it seems her father was the most reliable when it came to business.

So all in all, these two weeks sped by unceremoniously. Your aunts and uncles were quite excited to meet you as well. And you were relieved that Hoshina’s attitude wasn’t from her parents.

Your train of thoughts came to a halt when your phone rang. You placed down the glass of water on the countertop to reach for it in your pocket. Your cousins were all busy -of what, you didn’t know, but they all had lives before you came so accepted that fact that you’re gonna be alone for the rest of the day, while your grandfather is having his rest -you just came back from his room. As for Ushijima -well, you don’t give a damn about his whereabout. You haven’t spoken to him since the hospital incident.

“Kiyoko?” You asked upon answering but a different voice spoke over the speaker.

“y/n-chaaan, are you not coming back?” Cried the person at the other end of the line.

A soft chuckle escaped your lips. “Hey, Tooru-chan, I miss you too.”

Oikawa Toruu was your senior in high school. He was the one who got you interested in the medical field so you always looked up to him as your mentor. He is currently completing his residency at a hospital in Tokyo.

“I was about to comeback home but my grandfather got sick. I decided to stay to take care of him.”

“Please tell grandfather-chan to get well soon. Iwa-chan misses you too.”

You smiled fondly at the mention of his boyfriend. These two are quite inseparable. You talked for a while, catching up and hearing stories from back in Tokyo. You felt homesick all of a sudden, you missed your friends.

“Yeah, I’ll see you soon. Call me anytime!”

“Byebye, y/n-chan. Love yah!”

“Love you too, Tooru-chan.” You replied affectionately and ended the call. You were about to reach for the glass of water again when someone spoke.

“So, Tooru-chan, I gather, is someone special to you?”

You whipped your head around, facing the lawyer with a scowl. The man had a deep frown on his face, shooting daggers at you -well, what’s new with that?

“So the real reason why you wanted to go back to Tokyo immediately was because someone was waiting for you?”

“A respectable lawyer wouldn’t eavesdrop on personal phone calls.”

“I heard you mention your grandfather’s condition so I got curious.”

“And why would it make you curious?”

He clicked his tongue. “Well, let’s just say I was beyond surprised when you decided to stay when the last time we talked, you were vehement on going back to Tokyo. I can’t help but wonder what your grandfather promised you to make you stay. More so, he put me into work after the two of you talked privately.”

“Promised? What do you mean? And so what if he made you work, don’t you work for him?” You asked though you already have a hunch on what the lawyer meant.

It made your blood boil to say the least.

“I’m his lawyer and I am the first to know everything that he wants to do with his properties and wealth and to whom he will bequeath them.” He said nonchalantly but you knew there’s an underlying meaning. “I always remind him to work on his last will and testament but he always put it off. Then all of a sudden, right after he talked to you, he called for me to arrange the documents.”

“Look, I don’t know why you’re telling me this but I do know that the nature of your work doesn’t involve betraying your client’s confidentiality.”

“I’m certainly aware of that but that is if the client wants it to be confidential. In the case of you grandfather, he hides nothing from his family, and with you as his grandchild I know that one of these days, he will talk to you about it -that is if he hasn’t told you yet.” He explained then smirked. “Or am I right that in one way or another, you influenced him in his decisions?”

Your jaw clenched at what Ushijima was insinuating. “You keep talking in circles. If you want to say something, spit it out! Get straight to the fucking point.” You spat but it didn’t affect the man a tiny bit.

He scoffed before advancing towards you. “Why are you so angry? We’re just talking, why be so defensive?” He took another step but you held your ground. “Guilty? Tell me, is that your condition with your grandfather, to give you almost everything and in return, you will stay here?”

Anger welled up within you, churning your insides, red filled your vision and the next thing you knew, your palm collided with Ushijima’s cheek with full force. A loud slap reverberated around the hall while your palm felt numb.

You didn’t give a damn, not even when Ushijima’s eyes burned in fury as he cupped the reddening cheek.

“So after knowing that you’re a Washijo heir you think you have the right to do that?”

If looks could kill, you would be laying dead by now

But you can’t lose to him. You don’t want to lose to Ushijima Wakatoshi. “You think you can scare me? Think again. I’m not sorry I slapped you and I’ll do it again -wholeheartedly if I must, the next time you accuse me of something that never crossed my mind!”

“You’re really brave, huh.” He dropped his hand and took a step even close, staring you down. “Well, here’s something you should be afraid of.”

In one swift, his hands caught your head and whatever you wanted to say got stuck in your throat when Ushijima sealed your mouth with his in a searing kiss.

Part 7

Taglist: @thegrumpyhag @sushij1ma @valoryess @yakus-yakult @ly-nia @ushi-please @plutoglass @kokofirebangbomb @strawberryy-milkk @melanieacademy @defunkitatedmess @lunarknox @wtoshii @kyomihann @multishippers-trash-blog

#haikyuu #haikyuu fanfiction #haikyuu reader #haikyuu x you #ushijima wakatoshi #ushijima x you #ushijima x reader #ushijima wakatoshi x reader #ushijima wakatoshi x you

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ren1327 · 4 years ago

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Sweater Weather ch.5

Ben and Kenji watched Bumpy as she slept on Ben’s lap, Carmen sitting next to him to stroke her flank as she read her new manga, brown eyes scanning over each detail of the art.

Kenji had sat on the sofa and Ben flush against him, acting as the comfortable partner and lover.

But Ben couldn’t help but feel how comfortable Kenji was. How well he fit to his side. How warm this image of them with a dog and his sister relaxing in the living room was. He leaned his head back and Kenji looked away from the movie to nuzzle in his hair.

Ben wanted this to real if only to feel the comfort and trust in that single moment.

“Dinner’s ready.” Candy said as she came in, pausing to look at them and smile.

Bumpy yipped and stood, stretching before she followed Candy to her new bowl in the corner of the dining room on a soft rug.

Ben got up and Kenji followed, Carmen calling she wanted to finish the next few pages.

Kenji pulled out Ben’s chair and smiled when he sat down with a soft thank you.

Once Carmen was seated, Kenji sat between where Kosei would sit at the head and Ben.

Candy brought out a savory casserole with meat, cheese, tortillas and chili. She then placed down bowls of red rice, refried beans, chips, red and green salsa and cabbage.

“Enchilada casserole!” Carmen said excitedly, then looked at Ben from across the table. “It’s Kenji’s favorite!”

Kenji nodded and was happy to help Ben fill his plate.

Once he had a substantial amount of everything, Ben noticed they were watching him. He then saw that they were holding hands.

“Are you comfortable with grace, Ben?” Candy asked.

“I…yes ma’am.” He said and took Kenji’s and Carmen’s hands.

The family closed their eyes and he noticed only Candy and Kenji bowed their heads. He quickly closed his own eyes as Candy prayed outload.

“Dear provider and father above, thank you for reuniting our family this winter. Thank you for the safe journey of my son and our transition into our new home. Thank you for blessing us with Ben and Bumpy. And thank you for giving us so much more to be thankful for and love. And we say”

“Amen.” She and her family chorused.

Ben lowered his hands and smiled, blushing as he held back tears.

“Ben?!” Carmen asked and Ben quickly wiped his cheeks.

“Sorry. Sorry. It’s just been a while since I’ve prayed.”

“We don’t expect you to be obligated to, Honey.” Candy said and Kosei nodded.

“How you express or don’t express your faith is up to you. But thank you for joining our thanks.” Kosei said gently.

“Does your family have a faith?”

“I uh, I think we were Jewish.” He said.

“Think you were?” Kosei asked.

“Um, my mom was the religious one and um…my Uncle got work overseas so it’s uh…just been me.” He said.

“What?”

“I didn’t want to stress my uncle out and he knew I was with friends and I haven’t…I haven't even told him about Kenji to be honest. It’s been so long and I…”

“Oh, Sweetie.” Candy whispered. “and your mother—”

“Mom.” Kenji said and she covered her mouth in surprised.

Kosei sighed softly as Carmen looked from her parents to Ben, slowly putting the pieces together.

“Oh, Ben. I'm sorry…” She whispered.

“It’s okay. She’s with my dad and I know if I work hard, I can make them proud.” He said, sounding robotic at this point.

“Well, if it’s not too candid…You always have a place in this family. Even as a friend.” Kosei said and Ben smiled, wiping his cheeks again.

“I’m sorry. I made dinner awkward.”

Kenji put a hand on his and look him in the eye. “Never be sorry for expressing how you feel.”

Ben nodded as he looked down at his food. He took a bite…

And coughed hard, grabbing a napkin and holding it to his running nose and burning mouth.

“Oh my gosh!” Carmen said and gave Ben his water. “Kenji! Did you give him the green salsa?!”

“What? It’s not that hot?” Kenji said, grabbing his own napkin for Ben to switch out.

“Mijo, you’ve been eating jalapenos since you were in diapers! Mamita, get him some of the banana milk.” She said.

Carmen quickly got up and returned, twisting open a school cafeteria looking yellow bottle of milk and handing it to Ben, who sipped it slowly, panting softly as he finished it. He then whirled on his pretend boyfriend.

“You’re not human!” He said to Kenji, who was trying to hold back his laughter.

“Stop…stop laughing…” Carmen said, placing a hand over her mouth to hide her own smile.

“I reacted horribly the first time I had the green salsa too, Ben.” Kosei said. “I was sweating while pretending I wasn’t affected, then got sick later.”

“I told you not to put so much. You need to build up to that amount!” Candy said and Ben laughed imaging such a regal looking man sweating and red faced.

“Okay. Stay away from the green sauce.” Ben said. “I’ll remember for next time.”

He took a bite of the casserole and nearly melted.

“Wow…”

“One of the perks of my marriage.” Kosei joked, making Candy huff and roll her eyes with a smile.

“One of many, I hope.” She said.

Kosei took her hand. “Too many to count.”

“Ew. Mom. Dad.”

“Oh, they get to flirt, but us older folk don’t?” She asked her daughter, who giggled.

“So!” Carmen said, gaining everyone’s attention. “How did you two meet?”

“Online.”

“Friends.”

Ben and Kenji looked at each other and Kenji stuttered.

“W-well, we met through friends online…”

Ben put his hand over Kenji’s, smiling at him with steely eyes. Kenji’s mouth shut as Ben hunched his shoulders.

“Its kind of embarrassing really.” He started. “You see, he was video chatting with Sammy. And Sammy and I have been friends for so long…we were comfortable around each other. So one day, while Yaz was at a retreat, I had gotten out of the shower and was only in my boxer briefs because I forgot my clothes in my room.”

Carmen and Kosei looked scandalized as Candy covered her mouth.

Ben blushed as if it were true as he continued. “So, being so comfortable with Sammy, I was drying my hair as I walked nearly naked past her and Kenji unfortunately got an eyeful of my pale chicken legs. The scream I let out.”

Kenji chuckled just imagining the scene.

“And then I asked him for his number.” Kenji said with a shrug.

Candy laughed. “That sounds very like you, Kenji.”

“Texting Ben and calling him leveled me down. Made me want to come back just to…” He paused and shook his head, interlacing his fingers with Ben.

“He makes me happy.”

“So you two are still new to a lot of things.” Candy said. “Despite talking for three months.”

“Yeah.” Ben said and smiled at Kenji, almost genuinely. “He’s way taller than I expected.”

“But you’re just as cute.” Kenji said, making Ben blush deeply.

“Aw~!” Carmen cooed and Kosei scoffed at his daughter.

“Now, now.” He said, then turned to the boys. “Ben, I never asked. Do you prefer a separate room?”

“Excuse me?”

“Dad!”

“We understand how couples are and respect how you express your love.” Candy said. “As long as you’re safe. However, if you’ve only started being together…”

“Stop, stop this now.” Kenji said.

“I’ll be okay with Kenji.” Ben said with a nod. “He takes really great care of me and respects my wishes.”

Kosei nodded in approval of his son. “I am very happy to hear so.”

“Ben, I have to ask because it’s been bothering me…what’s that scar on your upper arm?” Candy asked.

Ben looked at the jagged scar on his left bicep. He covered it.

“It’s…from an old relationship.”

Carmen gasped and Kosei placed his glass down, eyes hard as he looked at Ben. Kenji squeezed his hand.

“What?”

“It was way before I met Kenji.” Ben said. “And I never brought it up because…”

“No, sweetheart, I’m so sorry.” Candy whispered.

“It’s fine. He’s…” He took a deep breath. “He’s gone and I’m far, far away from him.”

Kenji pulled Ben’s hand to rest on his chest. “Ben…don’t be scared to tell me things. I won’t judge you, ever.”

Ben smiled and kissed Kenji’s cheek.

“Thank you. All of you.”

Ben sat on the king sized Ben in Kenji’s room.

It was decorated in shades of red and gray, as opposed to the white and blue outside. He was dressed in an old t-shirt and pajama pants, Kenji showering.

The room was very…sparse.

It had rich dark wood furniture, plush latte colored carpet and pale pastel yellow walls that could be white in different light. Rich strawberry red bedspread and rugs and grey curtains and armchairs next to a white brick fireplace with a glass guard. There was a desk, a small table next to the large window with the armchairs next to the fireplace and with another tall, small surfaced table. The bed was in the middle of the back wall, two nightstands holding touch lamps and piled with soft velvety red and grey pillows overstuffed, but comfortable enough to leave on when going to sleep.

Bumpy snored from her plush pet bed near the heating vent, exhausted from the busy day she had.

Ben felt himself already getting sleepy as he read one of the books Yaz had bought him as an early Christmas gift. He looked at his phone

He text Sammy.

B: I told them about J

S: WHAT?!?!?! Ben, you didn’t have to!

B: It felt right. I trust Kenji.

S: Okay. How do you feel?

B: A little better tbh Like Like I have some more eyes looking over my shoulders to watch my back Idk

S: Kenji would kick his ass into next year! I WOULD TOO!

B: Thanks, Sammy. We’re heading off to the hotel tomorrow. I’ll send you some pictures.

S: Be safe! Yaz said to say she misses you.

B: I miss you too. Love you both.

S: <3

Kenji came in dressed in flannel pajamas and looked at Ben, who was still curled up on the right side with his book.

“Um…”

“It’s okay. You’re probably cold.” Ben said, pretending to read his book as Kenji draped the damp towel over the back of his desk chair.

“Are you cold?” He asked.

Ben ducked his head a bit, not wanting to make a awkward situation more so.

Kenji reached into his bag and pulled out the soft knitted blue sweater he had worn to dinner. He held it out to Ben.

Ben blinked and suddenly, Kenji blushed.

“Sorry! I’ll get you a clean one or—”

“I’ll take it.” Ben said, taking it from his hands and pulling it over his shirt.

He blushed as he smelled Kenji’s cologne on the collar and wrists. Kenji got in bed next to him.

“What are you reading?” He asked Ben.

“A sequel series of this young adult…um…It’s a little complicated, but it focuses on my favorite characters from the first series.”

“Read a bit to me?”

“You wouldn’t understand it.” Ben said. “But if you want me too, I can explain plot details and stuff...”

“Okay.” Ben said and found where he had paused. “Magnus saw hundreds of masked people in elaborate costumes dancing in unison, and around them was music that could be seen as well as heard. As if ripped from a black-and-white sheet of paper and turned into bright, living shapes, the notes floated in the air, drifting along currents of musical lines and wrapping around the glittering masks and elaborate hair of the dancers. Along the ceiling, the constellations were moving; no, they were the orchestra…”

He noticed Kenji had relaxed and was dozing off, soft snores floating from him. Ben placed his bookmark inside the page and placed it on the nightstand. He touched the lamp, and the room went dark.

Kenji wiggled closer and hugged him loosely around the waist.

He smiled and pretended this was his life, with a loving boyfriend and his family and safe and loved—

“Sorry…Brooklynn…” Kenji groaned and Ben froze. He pulled away and rolled over, leaving Ben cold and feeling empty.

#jw fanfic #jw sweater weather #ben pincus #kenji kon #kenji x ben #kenji and ben #mentions of #red scrolls of magic #camp cretaceous fanfic #camp cretaceous sweater weather

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captainscanadian · 4 years ago

Text

Love Me Blue | Bucky Barnes x Reader (Janmashtami)

My Masterlist

Series Masterlist

Summary: When you were younger, you had always dreamed of falling in love with someone who would love you like Lord Krishna loved Radha. A dream that once felt as though it was silly no longer felt that way.

Word Count: 4400+

Pairing: Bucky Barnes x Tamilian!Hindu!Reader

Warnings: MINIMAL TAMIL SONG LYRICS (I’m more than happy to translate!) & TAMIL CULTURE, References to Hinduism, PTSD, Insomnia, Endgame References.

A/N: This is my entry for @bucky-smiles‘s 3K Diversity Writing Challenge! My prompt was to write a fic with a Hindu reader. I decided to write this fic with a Tamilian reader because I am Tamilian. I was born in Sri Lanka and my mother’s side of the family are Hindu. Although I consider myself an agnostic theist, I do enjoy reading the epics of Mahabharata and Ramayana. I hope everyone had a wonderful Janmashtami. Along with Lord Krishna himself, it’s also @jalapenobarnes‘ birthday this weekend so please go shower Saran with all the love. This one’s for you, my chellam! <3 Pics are off of Pinterest!

Bucky Barnes watched curiously as he sat cross-legged on the tiled floor of your living quarters, splashing a handful of water on the bright green banana leaf that you had laid out in front of him.

Even though your apartment had a designated dining room with an oak wood table and chairs, he wondered why you preferred to be eating on the living room floor. Not to mention the way you had chosen to serve him on a banana leaf than a plate.

As much as he found it bizarre, he was also curious about the traditions that you seemed to follow. Not just through the way you ate your meals, but also the way you honored your dead best friend and the way you had filled your apartment with idols and paintings of your Hindu God. It came as a surprise to him that someone as young and well-educated as yourself could even hold onto the traditions that you had been raised with despite having settled away from your home for years.

Bucky had been surprised to find that as the decades had progressed, traditions had evolved with the emergence of a post-modern society. The way people had practiced religion had also evolved with time, but the way you practiced yours seemed to be the same as the way his own mother had practiced hers back in the day.

You did not conform to modern life for the sake of it, and he found that inspiring. The old Bucky who had always been fascinated by all that science had to offer would probably disagree with you. But having lived a whole century as one of HYDRA’s science experiments made him wish that he could return to the pre-modern society that he had been born into. He hated confirming with the status quo as much as the next guy, but seeing you made him realize that he did not need to force himself to confirm either. He could be himself, as long as he could figure out who exactly he was meant to be.

“According to my grandmother, eating off of a banana leaf is a lot more healthier than eating off of a plate. Apparently the nutrients in the leaf can mix with the food.” You explained to him as you served him some of the rice, careful not to overcrowd the banana leaf. You knew that he was unfamiliar with the dishes, but also appreciated that he was willing to try out a new cuisine at this witching hour. “She said that it’s good for the immune system, prevents intestinal ulcers, skin diseases… soothes the stomach, helps with digestion and prevents kidney stones.”

He nodded, understandably. “Right…” He agreed, not having the heart to tell you that the super soldier serum in his body ensured that his cells would constantly regenerate and prevent him from falling ill. Nevertheless, he found your endearment quite refreshing. You really did treat him like he was Sergeant James Barnes of the 107th and not the Winter Soldier, and he was grateful for that.

“We’re used to eating off of the leaf during special occasions or when we have guests.” You added. “There’s a Buddhist and Hindu philosophy... Atithi Devo Bhava. It literally means that the guests must be given the same respect as you would give to your Gods. And since you’re my guest tonight, you get the banana leaf.”

“I’m no God, Y/N.” Bucky clarified, sighing as he ran his metal hand through his greasy hair. “I’m a human being, a brainwashed assassin, a weapon of destruction who brought so much pain in people’s lives. I don’t deserve to be treated with so much respect.”

“Bucky…” You frowned at his words before shaking your head. “As the one who spent most of my life studying the life of Sergeant James Barnes of the 107th, I beg to differ. I know that you have a lot of internalized guilt about those days and I don’t blame you for that. But you can’t let the Winter Soldier define who you are. You’re more than who you used to be when you were brainwashed. It wasn’t who you were.”

“To be honest, I don’t even think I know who I am anymore…” He admitted, a truth that he hadn’t told anyone else at the compound but felt that he could trust you with.. “But I know for sure that I don’t deserve to be respected like you respect your God.”

“You should let me be the judge of that. My concept of God is actually quite different from the Abrahamic religions that you happen to be familiar with.” You protested with a soft chuckle, crossing your legs to sit across from him. “My grandmother once told me that Lord Krishna… being the God of love and compassion, he’s always present in one’s heart. Wherever there’s love, he’s always there. If there’s love in your heart, he’s there. And that makes you just as Godly as anyone else.”

“I’m the world’s longest prisoner of war who spent most of my life imprisoned in a cryofreezer. There’s nothing Godly about the life that I’ve had to live.” He shook his head. “If anything, I’m a symbol of pain and suffering.”

“Well, Lord Krishna was born in prison.” You remarked. “His life was meant to be filled with so much love… It started on Janmashtami, in a prison cell where his parents were locked up by his own maternal uncle. Even in all that pain and suffering, the betrayal that Lord Krishna’s parents had to face… they were blessed with a child who was the incarnate of the supreme God himself. All that pain and suffering led to some kind of reward, and I’m sure you’ll get yours in due time. Sri Krishna never discriminates, and he forgives those who are truly remorseful of their sins. He’s the God of compassion after all.”

Bucky could not help but chuckle softly at your words. For every word of self-hatred that came out of his mouth, you had your own rebuttal that was rooted in your faith. He was left with no choice but to accept his defeat and give in to being treated as your guest for the night. It was the least he could do other than make use of that computer he had been given to catch up with the world by looking up Lord Krishna. “So, what’s on the menu for tonight?”

“Okay!” You exclaimed, pointing to the rice dish that you had placed in the center of the leaf. “Ven pongal, basically made from rice and yellow lentils. It’s also got some peppercorns, cumin, turmeric, ginger, curry leaves and cashews that I fried in some clarified butter. That’s why it smells so good. Don’t worry about the spices though. This is probably the mildest dish I’ve ever eaten in my life.”

Bucky nodded as he looked up at you. “Do you make this often?”

“It’s a traditional breakfast food in South India, but it also makes for the ultimate comfort food when I’m missing home.” You replied with a shrug of your shoulders before grabbing the bowl of sambar and pouring it over the rice. “Now this might be a little spicy for you. But it’s the side dish of all side dishes. Sambar, basically a mixed vegetable stew with lentils and spices. Great with most South Indian breakfast foods.”

“And what about the rest?” He asked as he eyed the remainder of the delicacies that you had laid out before him. He could not deny that the warm aroma that wafted up his nostrils made them much more appetizing. Despite it being past midnight, he was starved.

“Medhu vada… deep fried lentil fritters, coconut chutney to dip ‘em in… and kesari, dessert made from semolina.” You pointed to the items as you placed them on the banana leaf. “I hope you don’t mind eating with your hand. We don’t really use utensils and I kind of forgot to pick some up. If it makes you feel any better, the right hand is commonly used to eat so…” You motioned towards his hand. “Dig in?”

He raised his eyebrow at your words. “I guess that was very convenient for me.” He joked before looking down at the food and back at you. “Aren’t you going to eat with me?”

You chuckled softly before shrugging at his question. “It’s alright, Bucky. I can eat after you. It’s not polite to eat before the guest.”

“Y/N, come on… you just said that you made all of this food because you were feeling homesick. I can’t eat all of this without you.” He clarified with a smile.

You looked down at your lap in embarrassment as you felt your cheeks heat up. “I kind of only bought one banana leaf because I thought I would be the one eating all of this food.” You told him, shamelessly. “I didn't think I would have company, not that I don’t want you here or anything. I invited you to eat but… my grandmother says it’s rude to eat right out of the serving bowls if you’re going to be serving the food to someone else. I don’t mind waiting until you’re done and helping myself to your leftovers.”

A part of him could not believe how bound you were to your grandmother’s words, especially when it came to your dining etiquette. Despite the fact that your grandmother had been someone to hold you back from your potential, he admired that you still respected her enough to follow through with the culture that she had taught you.

“Fine, then if you don’t mind…” He reached down to grab a dollop of the pongal and sambar with his thumb and two fingers, carefully holding his hand up towards your mouth. “Let me at least feed you.”

Your eyes grew wide at his gesture and you found your cheeks heating up in embarrassment once again. “Um…” You gulped, not knowing how to react to that. A part of you wanted to accept his offer, but the pitter patter against your heart mimicked the rain against your window and caused you to become very nervous.

As much as you had denied it when you were around the rest of the team, you knew that you did have a slight crush on Sergeant James Barnes of the 107th Infantry Regiment when you had first watched through the archival footage from the war. After all, who wouldn’t. At that time, you had believed that he was dead so it didn’t mean much. But now he was very much alive and sitting right before you. He was certainly a good looking man who’s smile could light up the world, and unbeknownst to you he had just lit up yours.

You had spent years studying his life, along with the rest of The Howling Commandos, in the name of academic curiosity. But you could not deny that now seeing him in person changed how you really felt about this man. Not many people who studied historical figures had the chance to see them face to face. But this had happened to you twice now, and it still felt surreal. Bucky Barnes really was sitting on the floor of your living quarters, about to feed you a bite of your most favourite South Indian comfort food. What kind of idiot would you be not to accept it?

You accepted the bite of food that Bucky had offered you, bringing your hand over to cover your mouth as you chewed. Your lips curling into a small smile as your eyes glazed over, you looked down at your lap.

For some reason, eating from this man’s hand had made you miss your father quite so much. Seven years it had been since he had passed away. You never even got to say goodbye, the last time you had spoken on the phone being an argument that you had ended abruptly by hanging up on him. Had you known what was going to happen just hours later, you would have done things differently. You would have cherished the last moments you got to share with your father. Hell, you would have even prevented him from dying the way he did. But it was all too late now.

Perhaps you suffered from internalized guilt just as much as the super soldier who sat before you, for you did feel partially responsible for your father’s death. Being an agent who was meant to save the world and all, you couldn’t even manage to save your own father. While this did once make you doubt your skills as an agent, you could not deny that you would give anything to be able to do right by the man who had raised you to be anything more than a typical Indian farm girl. But for now, all you had to do was exist for the sake of existing and accept the position that you had been given. Do the right thing, just as your father had taught you.

When you had been five years old, your grandmother had told you the story of how Lord Krishna was married to more than sixteen thousand women. She had told you that he married every woman who loved him. He loved them back just as much too, being the God of love after all. But the woman he loved the most, he hadn’t even been married to her. Radha Rani was the love of his life. She was his soulmate. Despite not being married, their love for each other was so pure and eternal.

It was then you told your father, in your childish little voice, “Appa, I want someone to love me like Lord Krishna loved Radha.”

Now as you swallowed the bite that Bucky Barnes had fed you, you couldn't help but look over his broad shoulders. Up on the wall behind him you had hung one of the many paintings of Radha and Krishna that you owned. But in that particular one, Radha and Krishna were affectionately gazing into each other’s eyes while feeding each other.

It didn’t seem like a sign to you then, but you prayed for some things to be made clearer in due time. After all, you were going to be here for a while. If Lord Krishna was really going to bless you with the kind of love that makes you blue after all of that pain and suffering, then you might as well accept it like you had just accepted that bite of food from Bucky.

“Tell me the truth, Bucky.” You looked over at the man who sat next to you on the couch, his legs crossed as he leaned against the armrest. “Why are you even up at this hour?”

Bucky Barnes looked over at you and let out a sigh, not knowing if lying to you about his insomnia would sell. After all, you seemed to know him better than he knew himself despite the fact that you had met just yesterday. While he feared that admitting the truth would cause you to become weary of him, he knew better than to lie to the woman who was in a position of authority. He had to be transparent with you, mainly because he didn’t have the heart to lie to you.

“I can’t sleep.” He admitted, biting down on his bottom lip as he sat up straight, his elbows resting against his thighs as he covered his face with his hands. “I haven’t slept properly in a while, ever since I moved into the compound really. Every night I go to bed at a reasonable time. But I still end up waking up at this strange hour because of some nightmare.”

Leaning over to rest your hand on his shoulder, you wanted to give him a squeeze. But you were quick to realize that his left shoulder was vibranium, so instead you moved your hand to rub his back. “Have you talked to Sam about it?”

Not that you would assume that his friendship with Sam was anything like his friendship with Steve. As someone who had your own demons, you knew that it was not that easy to confide in someone about something like this. But you were well aware that Sam had some experience offering support groups to veterans who suffered from PTSD during his time working at the VA back in DC. He seemed to be much more equipped to handle something like this than you were, no doubt about that. But since you were now the boss around here, you knew that something needed to be done to address the mental health of your heroes.

Bucky shook his head. “He’s always been weary of me, Y/N. I don’t think I should worry him about this. The last thing I want is for anyone to think that the Winter Soldier is still in me when he’s not.”

“Sam can be an asshole at times… but he means well. He cares a lot about his friends, and that includes you and me.” You admitted. “But I know what you mean. What you’re going through, it’s not easy. You’ve had to deal with a lifetime’s worth of torture under HYDRA, along with the whole thing with the blip. The world has changed so much that it’s not all that easy to keep up with anymore.”

He looked up at you and frowned. “I feel so lost, you know? Like I don’t know where I should start. I’ve missed out on seventy years of… life. The life that I knew before the war is gone and the life that I had since then… is full of torture and bloodshed. I’m just lost in the midst of it all.”

“Bucky, you do know that… if you ever want to talk about anything that has to do with history or what happened in the world during those seventy years, you can just talk to me about it, right? I may have a Master’s degree on The Howling Commandos but I do know a thing or two about what happened in the world after the war.” You offered, finally cracking a smile. “I can definitely help you out with catching up with times.”

He chuckled softly at your words. “Is that how you and Steve… became friends?”

You felt your cheeks heat up in embarrassment at the mention of Captain America, a man whom you had respected and aided in the recovery of until Natasha had decided to set the two of you up on a date. It was a brief fling while the two of you had worked together in DC. But once you had realized it wasn’t going to work, you had ended things amicably. While you had remained friends and you had helped him catch up with the world, things had changed so much around you.

“Yeah, I guess.” You admitted with a shrug. “He needed someone to catch him up to the world and Fury realized that he hired a history major. I think it worked out for all of us.” Looking back now, you only felt blessed to have known Steve Rogers. He was not only an inspiration, but also one of your closest friends. “And that’s why I’m offering to help.”

“But how could you help me, Y/N?” He asked. “What can you possibly do to help me come to terms with who I am?”

“Well, I had Steve read through the Internet a lot and make a list of all the things he wanted to try… like Thai food and Sherlock Holmes. I know that you’re not going on any missions right now. You’re just hanging around the compound and trying to kill time, right? I’d say… make use of the computers we have here, learn as much as you can. We can talk about it. But don’t ever think that you’re alone in this.”

The Internet was a great place to start learning, right? Surely, Bucky had been apprehensive about taking that step. But he needed to be given a little push. Thankfully, he now had you for that. “I guess I can do that.” He gave in, for he was starting to get bored of the facility’s gym.

“There is something that needs to be done about your nightmares though.” You pointed out. “This compound needs an on-site therapist. I need one. You need one. Wanda needs one. We all need one after all this crap that we’ve had to deal with.” You made a mental note to make some calls in the morning, but for now you knew that your attention should be on the super soldier. “But right now, you really need to get some sleep.”

Bucky shook his head in defeat. “I can’t seem to fall asleep in my bed, Y/N. Believe me, I’ve tried… for many nights. I guess I just have to suck it up and kill time until the morning.”

You raised your eyebrow at his words before crossing your arms against your chest. “What? Do you need me to sing you a lullaby or something?” You asked him, teasingly.

He laughed at your question before shaking his head. “As if that’s ever going to work on me…”

“Is that a challenge, Sergeant Barnes?”

Bucky Barnes had no clue how it even happened. Just twenty-four hours ago, the two of you had been strangers who had nothing in common except for the fact that you both shared a past that had been perfectly entwined somehow. But now you were sitting against the headboard of his queen sized bed in the living quarters adjacent to yours, his head resting against your lap as he shut his eyes.

Your soft hands running through his silky dark hair, you sang the words that you had pretty much memorized by now. It was a lullaby that your grandmother had sung to you when you were younger, written about how Lord Krishna himself had fallen asleep after a long day of playing around his village.

Ayarpadi Maaligaiyil

Thaai Madiyil Kandrinai Pol

Maaya Kannan Thoongugindraan, Thaalelo

Ayarpadi Maaligaiyil

Thaai Madiyil Kandrinai Pol

Maaya Kannan Thoongugindraan, Thaalelo

Avan Vaai Niraiya Mannai Undu

Mandalathai Kaattiya Pin

Oiveduthu Thoongugindraan, Aaraaro

Ayarpadi Maaligaiyil

Thaai Madiyil Kandrinai Pol

Maaya Kannan Thoongugindraan, Thaalelo

Pinnalitta Gopiyarin Kannathile Kannam Ittu

Mannavan Pol Leelai Seidhaan Thaalelo

Pinnalitta Gopiyarin Kannathile Kannam Ittu

Mannavan Pol Leelai Seidhaan Thaalelo

Andha Mandhirathil Avar Uranga

Mayakkathile Ivan Uranga

Mandalame Urangudhammaa Aaraaro

Ayarpadi Maaligaiyil

Thaai Madiyil Kandrinai Pol

Maaya Kannan Thoongugindraan, Thaalelo

Bucky Barnes had no clue how it even happened. But as he listened to the melody of your lullaby, he had drifted off into a deep slumber. When he woke up the next day, he found that you were gone. But he knew that you were the one to thank for helping him sleep after many months of waking up from nightmares.

As the weeks went by, you and Bucky had become quite close. As most of the team were gone for days at a time because of their respective missions, the two of you often found yourselves being the only ones remaining at the compound. Despite your loneliness, you somehow found comfort in each other.

Your free time was usually spent cooking up a storm in the common kitchen, and Bucky found himself frequently joining you for your meals. He had taken quite the liking to South Indian cuisine, but he had also kept his promise of making you a completely vegetarian Wakandan meal - something that he apparently prepared by video-calling the Queen Mother of Wakanda herself and asking her for recipes.

“Does this mean you have diplomatic immunity? Being the adoptive child of Queen Ramonda and all…” You had joked. “They call you the White Wolf, don’t they?”

“Did you ever have to use your diplomatic immunity?” He had asked you mockingly. “Being the daughter of an Indian diplomat after all.”

“Bucky, could you please give Queen Ramonda my regards? Let her know that Agent Y/L/N, the daughter of Ambassador Y/L/N, sends her regards and thanks the royal family for all of their help.” You hadn’t been all that familiar with the Wakandan royal family during the reign of King T’Chaka, but it was only after his death did you have the chance to work closely with them. After all, you understood the pain that they had been dealing with all too well.

Bucky was not familiar with why you seemed to know them so well. He had just assumed it must be because of your career in diplomacy before you became an agent. He did not think much of it though, at least not until he had told Shuri that you gave their family your regards.

While the truth behind your relationship with the Wakandan royal family had certainly shaken him to his core, he did not make it known that he knew about it. After all, it was a huge part of your own personal life and you were just his boss. He did not feel the need to let you know that he knew something about you that you might not have wanted you to know. But instead, he continued to learn more about you and the culture that you were raised in.

The Internet was a great place when it came to catching up with the world. He had read just about everything he could get his hands on, from history to literature and science. While he tried to keep up with how much the world had changed, he had also read as much as he could about your religion.

He often joined you on your visits to the temple in the city after noticing that you made it a habit to go there every Friday. When Janmashtami came around, Bucky had offered to help you paint footprints from your front door to your shrine of Lord Krishna.

According to your grandmother, the tradition of painting baby footprints was done believing that Lord Krishna would follow them and enter your home. You had been doing that every single year on Janmashtami for as long as you could remember. But that year, you just knew. It was the first year that Krishna had entered your home for real.

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