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justlookatthosesausages · 4 years ago

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“Lift the Spirit” :: a post-Frozen 2 Elsamaren fanfic

Chapter 4: On the edge of the abyss

“You are… Going to fight with those?” Muttered Ryder.

“Yep.” Smiled Anna with a proud pout.

“Those are… Yours, Kristoff’s and Eydis’ weapons?”

“Yep.”

“Should I be concerned if you three ever get angry at me?”

“...Yep?”

They looked at each other, then burst out of laughter.

“Come on”, giggled the Queen as he closed the chest. “It’s time to eat.”

He followed her to the spot where their extended family was relaxing, and Eydis was already serving lunch.

Ryder sat happily between Anna and Honeymaren, who had Elsa on her lap.

“Ahh, the powerful trio of the three strongest women of the country!”

The referred women frowned in confusion.

“Excuse me?”

The brown-haired man grinned. “Well, Maren is the tribe leader, Anna the Queen of Arendelle, and Elsa the guardian of Ahtohallan. So yeah, you three are the most amazing women I’ve ever met.”

There was a silence, and they exchanged unsure gazes.

Ryder blinked. “Unless one of you doesn’t identify with the term ‘woman’? It’s fine then, just ask me and I’ll change.”

Anna chuckled at his kindness. “I think we’re good with the woman appellation.”

He sighed. “Okay. Cool. Sorry for panicking. I’ve spent a lot of time with Olaf on last Yule, and he kept talking about genders and pronouns, and…”

Honeymaren tapped his shoulder affectionately. “You’re doing great, Ryder. Here, take some soup before you have a cardiac arrest.”

Anna and the brunette laughed openly, however Elsa remained quiet.

Despite her blatantly essential duty, she couldn’t help but think that she was less important than Honeymaren and Anna, who had game-changing roles that required more leadership than her. Also, they had to manage people, while Elsa had to manage magical beings. Those were just as stubborn as humans, if not more, but at least Elsa could feel their emotions and presence anytime. All of their exchanges were sincere, transparent. There was no way to be lied to in such a relationship. With the Northuldra and Arendelle, on the other hand… Not that the blonde considered them fervent liars, far from it, but one could never know about a human’s real opinion. Elsa had been Queen for 3 years, and in that experience, she had learned that people - especially male politicians - weren’t always trustworthy.

She got jolted out of her thoughts by Eydis heavily sitting down next to her, and the princess sighed longly.

“There. I hope you will all like it.” Smiled the little blonde, despite a clear stress, to the Northuldra present around them. “Bone at the teeth.”

They nodded, and Elsa chuckled discreetly. “It’s ‘bon appétit’.” She whispered to her ear.

Eydis frowned. “Isn’t it what I said?”

“Never mind.” Smiled her aunt.

They all drank their soup in silent content, and it was quite good, which they didn’t miss to tell Eydis.

The princess started to daydream, looking in the horizon at the beautiful landscape they could admire from here. She saw two Earth Giants smile at each other as they exchanged their positions, switching to watch over the Northuldra land and prevent any surprise attack.

“Auntie?”

Elsa stopped staring at Honeymaren to turn to her niece. “Yes?”

“How does the Earth Spirit works? I just saw two Giants communicate with each other without even saying a word.”

Elsa grinned, and followed her gaze. “That’s because they use magic, just like I do when I communicate with them. We could call that telepathy. The Giants even have a way faster system to talk between them, as they are parts of one and only Spirit.”

Eydis nodded longly. “So, it’s like a hive mind?”

The blonde smiled at her cleverness. “Yes, exactly. Well, I’d say more like… An archipel. Because the Giants are like the visible islands on the surface, who actually are connected to each other in one and only land underneath.”

Anna snorted. “You spend way too much time with Nokk. Water metaphors are heavy.”

Honeymaren intervened as well. “Nah, that’s just Elsa. She’s a bookworm and her metaphors are constant.”

“Uhm, I’m sitting right here.”

She indeed was on her lap, and the brunette held her closer for cuddles, proving that this was just tease.

“Anyway”, Elsa said, turning to the Giant who was guarding the place they were looking at on the horizon. “That’s Pebble.”

Anna laughed openly. “Oh gosh, sorry, but… Damn, the names you give them. See? That’s the proof you spend too much time in the water.”

“No, that’s the proof that he spends too much time with Nokk. They keep playing together. And in fact…”

She closed her eyes and frowned slightly as she focused, tying a mental bond with the Giant despite the long distance. Eydis watched as the magical being named Pebble turned a bit to their direction, like he got called.

“Yeah, that’s what I thought.” Chuckled Elsa as she opened her eyes again. “He was hanging with Nokk before arriving for his shift.”

“That’s cute.” Commented Honeymaren, though the Snow Queen couldn’t tell if she was referring to the Spirits being good friends or to Elsa casually sharing a mind connection with a 12-meter tall being.

“Hey, Maren, speaking about bookworms, did you read the novel I gave you on last Yule?” Asked Anna.

“No, not yet. But it’s in the hut. On the nightstand, actually.”

Kristoff snorted at his wife’s intentions. “Are you turning the camp into a book club?”

The redhead laughed. “No. And no mockery! You know that the times I go to the Arendelle library on Wednesday nights are the only time of the week when I’m leaving you at peace.”

Kristoff smiled. “I love hearing you rambling about your recent readings on Thursday breakfasts, though.”

The Queen grinned lovingly.

Elsa was happy to see that Anna had made friends with townspeople. Arendellians were very open minded and knew how to forget that she was their sovereign to casually chat about novels with her in a public building.

“So, Honeymaren, are you going to join the book club once you’ve read her novel recommendation?” Laughed Kristoff.

“Oh, no, it’s not really my kind of thing anyway. I’m not much into reading.”

“Wait, what?” Frowned the redhead. “But you’ve finished several novels I told you about though.”

“I know. It’s because Elsa is the one reading them. She reads them aloud to me at night. I can’t resist it, she has the softest voice in the world.”

“Aaaaawwwww.” Melted Anna.

Elsa blushed, a bit pouty. That was a private habit…

“She does have a soft voice.” Admitted the redhead. “The kids want her to read a bedtime story everytime they can. Well, Isak at least. Eydis says she’s too old for stories now.”

She gave a look at her daughter behind Honeymaren and Elsa, and the young blonde grumbled.

“Though, the other night, she was listening to the one we told her brother. You’re still a fan, aren’t you?”

“Mooom!” Frowned Eydis, grumpy.

“Who wouldn’t be a fan of stories? You know, I’m certain that even animals love stories. You should see when we talk around the campfire. It’s like the entire Forest stops living to listen carefully.”

She even remembered the occasions when Elsa talks about her day to the reindeers, and the same phenomenon happens every time: rabbits, birds and squirrels gather near to listen to her from behind the bushes. Nevertheless, Honeymaren refrained herself to share this enchanting trivia with the others, because she realized that her wife was tense since she had talked about the reading sessions. She caressed Elsa’s back gently, and kissed her bare shoulder. The blonde looked down at her, and their eyes met. She gave her a forgiving sigh, but her azure blue irises sparkled as a warning. Honeymaren grinned, her lips stretching but still in contact with her skin.

They finished eating happily, until Anna stood up and slapped her thighs in both determination and excitement. “Alright! Let’s go scout around the camp.”

Kristoff blinked. “Can’t we take a nap first?”

“Heroes don’t nap.” Huffed the redhead.

Honeymaren giggled. “She’s kind of right. Also, I’m not saying we should tempt the devil, but if we walk around, it will give the possibility for Victor to attack, and we’ll catch him at his own game.”

They agreed and stood up along. “We’ll make two teams. I’ll go with Eydis and Elsa down the valley.” Suggested the Northuldra leader. “You two, with Ryder, across the woods.”

“Excellent.” Beamed Anna.

As they parted ways, she walked up to Honeymaren. “I trust you earnestly, but please make sure that Eydis is safe.”

“Don’t worry.” Assured Honeymaren, winking. “I’m responsible.”

Elsa scoffed sarcastically.

“What?” Frowned the brunette.

“The very first thing you taught my niece was to climb to trees, and how to hang up upside down with her legs without falling.”

Honeymaren gasped. “And isn’t that a practical thing she still uses today? That she could use in this very battle? It is, so stop staring at me like that.”

The two sisters eye-rolled. Eydis intervened to defend her aunt.

“I still thank you for that, actually. It’s not the kind of thing I’d learn from a princess royal training routine.”

“See?” Flinged Honeymaren.

“Eydis, you’re not helping right now.” Said Anna.

“I will keep an eye on your daughter, fire head. I promise.”

The princess turned at the nickname. “Hey, by the way, why do you call her ‘fire head’?”

Elsa giggled. “Because when she met your mother, it was the first time she ever saw someone with ginger hair. Nobody in the Northuldra tribe has such a hair color, you see?”

“Oooh.”

“This isn’t the only reason.” Precised Honeymaren. “When I have fight practice with Anna, her face gets all red from the effort.”

“My face doesn’t get all red. My cheeks are like, slightly more red than usual, at most. If you tease me one more time with that, Maren, I swear that we’ll have a training session right now and it will get very real.”

Ryder laughed behind them. “Liar. You secretly love that nickname. Because it sounds like a war title.”

Anna shrugged in admission, and Eydis grinned. It did have a ring to it.

She also noted how Ryder, Anna and Kristoff called Honeymaren ‘Maren’, while Elsa went for ‘Honey’. This family was really weird. She sighed.

“Shall we go, then?”

=======

“I just want to be a cooler uncle than Honeymaren to Eydis.” Insisted Ryder.

He never had gotten the chance to talk about that topic, because his niece was always around when he saw Anna and Kristoff in Arendelle. Now that they were in separate teams, it was the perfect time.

“Just tell me how!”

Kristoff laughed openly at his struggle. “It’s not something that we can advise you on, my friend. You’ll have to trust your instincts on that.”

“You know, the coolest aunt badge is already taken by Elsa.” Giggled Anna, sarcastic.

“Figuratively and literally.” Grinned the blond.

Ryder gave them a death stare as they all walked among the trees. “Can’t you help me instead of being sassy?”

Kristoff shrugged. “To be honest, Eydis is starting her teenager crisis years. So anything that we adults say to her is never ‘cool’ enough. She’s a bit indifferent to Elsa’s powers now.”

Ryder widened his eyes in shock. If she found the Fifth Spirit mundane, how could he ever compete?

Cogs turned in his mind as he thought of something.

“Having a digestive walk in the Northuldra woods, your Majesty?”

Suddenly said a voice behind them, and all three startled and turned around.

Someone was approaching, at a low and assured pace. It was a man, given his silhouette, and he seemed old, but also fit, like a retired guard.

“Are the Arendelle’s castle gardens too small for your taste? Not that you belong there anyway…” Said the mysterious man in a low voice.

He was wearing a dark purple cape, almost black. As he walked to them, and they were standing still, he took off the hood. Now they could see his face, that he didn’t plan to hide; Victor Eiglatson in person was standing in front of them.

“You…” Frowned Anna.

In her mind flashed images of his threats, his arrestation, his assaults described by Kristoff, Honeymaren, Elsa and the Northuldra, and, more importantly, the two innocent men who had died after his first attack.

“You will pay for what you have done!” Shouted Ryder, and he approached the old Arendellian.

Victor flicked his right wrist up to down in the Northuldra’s direction, and a dark slime blow hit his head from above. In a swift shock, the man groaned and fainted, falling head first in the grass.

“RYDER!!” Exclaimed Anna.

She then twirled to the enemy, her long red hair waving with her like a mane.

“I’ll have you killed for that!!”

Victor eye-rolled. “Calm down, Queenie. He’s only unconscious. I’m not gonna waste my magic on some random guy. You, on the other hand…”

Kristoff followed his gaze. He was strictly staring at Anna.

“Why are you interested in me?” Hissed the woman in question.

“That’s really obvious. You’re the Fifth Spirit’s biggest weakness. I’ll have her at my feet once I’m done with you.”

Anna frowned at his plan. She also wondered why he didn’t call her Elsa, but pushed that thought away to focus on clenching her fists.

“Well I’ll beat you up, you old--”

Kristoff’s arm stopped her in her momentum. She was strong, but he was even more muscular, so he easily held her in place.

“You’ll have to go through me first.” He threatened.

Victor didn’t even flinch at his sentence. “That can be arranged.”

He flipped his wrists, and a burst of dark slime spluttered out of his palms. Two liquid monsters formed on each side of him, and started running to them. He cackled like a maniac as they immediately ran for their lives before the creatures touched them with their long crooked fingers.

Kristoff was dragging Anna along his run, but soon understood that there was no need; she was even faster than him.

He gave a peak behind to check if there were safe, and saw to his biggest fright that the arm of the closest creature changed of form. When the goo assembled at the end of its fingers and solidified in the shape of a long blade, Kristoff’s heart leaped.

“WATCH OUT!”

He tackled Anna, and they rolled in the grass to dodge away from the attack. They stumbled to stand up, and he stared at the monster which had its blade planted to where they had been standing, now struggling to take it off. So it was solid.

Since when could they do that? Did they evolve? Did Victor learn from his past mistakes? Was he able to upgrade his creations, just like Elsa did? He gulped in apprehension.

The second creature quickly made him come back to reality; it used the same technique, but with both arms. Two black slimy blades cut through the air, whistling in the woods, and the two Arendellians jumped back to avoid being sliced in half.

They hadn’t plan this walk correctly, and Kristoff looked around to search for anything that could be used to repel the enemies.

The King then saw a trunk on the ground next to them, and he ran to it. He quickly valued his actions: he could use a fallen tree, right? He wouldn’t disrespect Nature, for this was a dead tree anyway. Kristoff nodded to himself and put his right foot on the trunk, then grasped with both hand the thickest of its branches. It was so wide his thumbs didn’t even touch his fingertips, but he managed to pull and pluck it out with a loud grunt.

Immediately, he twirled around and started to swung the branch in the direction of the creature.

He could effectively stop the left blade of the creature, but it got stuck in the wood, which surprised both him and the monster. It didn’t wait for another blow, though, and made its second blade sing in the air, aiming right at his throat. Kristoff frowned, and thought faster than light; he grabbed his stick with his hands in reverse order, and moved it towards the creature’s elbow moving in his direction. In a swift shift, the monster accidentally planted its blade in its other arm. Looking a bit dumb now, it had both arms tied together, and Kristoff pushed its body with a strong blow of the branch.

The monster fell on the ground. It then was confused on how to stand up now, with its arms like that, and it looked like it was punished and sitting with handcuffs on.

Anna grinned at the state of the enemy, and when Kristoff turned around, panting, his happy brown eyes suddenly widened in terror.

“What?” Said the redhead.

“Duck!!”

In any other context, Anna would have allowed herself a joke about the animal. Now wasn’t the time. She shrieked, curling down, and Kristoff jumped above her crouched body to slam the head of the monster who was about to spike his wife.

The racquetball-like move was given with all his strength, and the creature was stunned, losing its balance and falling backwards. Anna stood up slowly, looking at the two outperformed monsters. She breathed out with a gasp at the shock to have been close to death, and stared at Kristoff from head to toes. She made a pause to admire his muscles glistening with sweat, and his intense stare due to adrenalin.

“Gods I love you.” Sighed Anna, staring at him with arousal.

They stared at each other, and walked the meters separating them with their gaze lost in the ocean of the other’s, like the entire world had ceased to exist around them.

The approaching steps of the enemy brought them out of their reverie. Victor clapped his hands slowly with sarcasm. “Waow, truly effective, your Majesty. But you’re aware that you can’t beat them, right?”

He snapped his fingers, and the stunned creature toddled up, standing up again, while the other saw its arms vanish, then be created again. It went on its feet too.

Kristoff twirled his thick branch around, ready for round two. However, it now was covered with black magic ink, so he dropped it in a disgusted wince before he would get infected.

The Queen whinged at how they now were defenseless again.

“Why didn’t we take the weapons we brought?!” She exclaimed, blaming herself. “I’m so stupid, stupid, stupid!”

“Now is not the time for self-undervaluation, feisty.”

Anna grumbled, for he was right. She immediately placed her hands on each side of her mouth, lifted her head and sang the Spirits Call, as loudly and clear as she could. It rang in the woods and filled the air.

Victor burst out of laughter.

“What are you trying to do, nightingale? The Spirits cannot interact with my magic. Those are basic Nature rules.”

Anna gave him a side look that was overcharged with sarcasm. “I’m aware. Elsa, however, received Ahtohallan’s blessing. You’re screwed, Eiglatson.”

He shivered at her confident teal blue eyes. She wasn’t bluffing.

The old man looked around frantically, now fearing the worst. They had split up in groups, but Elsa could arrive in no time. He gritted his teeth and made his creations disappear with a hand flick.

“You’ll regret this. Deeply. Next time, I’ll have no pity.”

He stared at Kristoff and his wife, and turned around, running away. The blond frowned, not agreeing to let him escape. He ran after him, following his dark cape floating in his move, dashing through the woods. The King followed the man for a long time until the cape suddenly vanished, like it was made of the same goo than the monsters.

“Shit.” He muttered.

He had been fooled. This was an illusion. He grunted loudly, and punched the nearest tree in disappointment.

Anna helped Ryder stand up, and looked at where her husband had been running, wondering if he had managed to catch him. Though, she thought, Victor had magic, and if he was as skilled at Elsa, he would be able to disappear without a trace if he didn’t want to be followed. She knew how effective that was.

“Did he hurt your head?” Worried the Queen. “Did your skin get touched by it?”

“No, I’m okay. I had my hat on, thankfully. I knew that it would save my life one day.” Chuckled the Northuldra nervously.

Ryder retrieved his balance, when suddenly something blurry and white arrived at high speed right next to him, and he shrieked with a jump.

“ANNA!”

The blonde grasped her sister’s arms in less time that it took him to blink.

“Are you okay?! What happened? Why did you call?!”

Before Anna could even answer, Elsa counted only two persons out of three, and inspected the woods. “Where is Kristoff?!”

Gale arrived in a woosh, and made a noise, looking down at Elsa. Kristoff was okay, they said, but angry because he couldn’t catch the enemy in time.

“I’m fine, Elsa.” Assured the Queen.

“Okay, good. Good.”

“Can you please put me down now?”

The Snow Queen blinked in confusion and realized, in her panic, that she had been holding Anna by the arms like a clamp. The younger sister was stuck in her grip with her arms rigid along her body, her legs hanging in the air.

“Oh, sorry.”

She put Anna on the ground, and the redhead smiled sadly. She took Elsa’s hands in hers. “Breathe. It’s okay. He’s gone now.”

“But I couldn’t catch him!” Hissed Elsa, upset.

“I know.”

“Now we know how he looks like, and his fighting style.” Said Ryder, angry as well, so he switched his mind to an analysing mode. “Anna, tell me everything that had happened while I was unconscious. I’ll inform the warriors, and we’ll prepare.”

“Yes.” Encouraged Anna. “And this time, we will have our weapons at the ready.”

She put her hands on her elder’s cold shoulders, resolutely.

“Elsa, our next encounter with him will be the last. I vow to it.”

=======

Anna cracked her knuckles once they all gathered in the armory hut.

“Okay. Briefing the Northuldra, check. Updating their positions, check. Ours, check. Now…”

She rubbed her hands excitedly, and Elsa lifted an amused eyebrow when she recognized where she saw that expression.

“...Weaponry.”

With an excited - and a bit evil and scary - laugh, she opened the chest that they had brought on their wagon.

“Isn’t it a weird that a Queen who swears to be a pacifist and to never lead her kingdom to war is this thrilled about a battle?” Mocked Honeymaren.

“That’s because you haven’t seen my armor.” Winked Anna. “Also, a lady got to be busy. My hobbies include fight, what can I say?”

She opened the chest wide for everyone to observe, and took out weapons one by one.

To Kristoff, she gave his axe, and it shone in the soft light of the hut, its cheek and blade bright blue. The whole head that was normally made of the finest Arendelle metal had been crafted in ice, and could only had been done by one person. Elsa smiled proudly and admiratively, as her work of art got enhanced by the sun rays and floating dust that surrounded the weapon when Kristoff happily made it twirl.

“Perfectly balanced. As always.” He winked to the Snow Queen.

Elsa blushed. They bantered a lot about ice, and spend a considerable time talking about harvesting and such, but when he complimented her unique customizations, she felt a bit shy. But she deserved that praise; she had spent a lot of time on crafting the ideal addition for their weapons. She smiled bashfully and nodded, approving that her ice blade married perfectly with the wood haft. Victor’s monsters could be killed by her ice? Let it be so. But with some elegance, please.

Elsa’s eyes looked down at the grip that had Arendelle crocuses engraved on it, while Kristoff held the axe with both hands to inspect it. The blonde then congratulated herself on the density of the ice, which she could feel in the air from where she was standing. The back of the head, that had a hammer poll, looked more solid than anything despite its transparency. Since Ryder had laid eyes on the axe when Anna had showed it to him before meal, he couldn’t help imagining how Earth Giants themselves would be groggy if they got hit in the face with it.

Anna smiled and bent down again to pick up the next weapon. To Eydis, she gave her mace, whose numerous spikes shone so well that they seemed like sparks. Magically sharp, actually even sharper than razors, the blades glittered in the same way than Kristoff’s axe head, with a beautiful transparency that also scared by its density. Eydis’ mace had a classical grip, but all eyes were obviously staring at the top of it; it alternated between a blade and a spike, making it a fearsome item.

Honeymaren grinned. “So, your weapon of choice is a mace, uh? That’s a nice nod.”

“A nice nod?” Repeated Eydis. “To what?”

“Well, with what happened with Thor years ago. Did you pick this one because you’re at ease with hammers?”

The princess snorted. “Maybe. It’s handy in every meaning of the term.”

Just like her father, she spun the weapon in all ways once Anna gave it to her. She hit the air around in several expert ‘woosh’s, practicing her moves.

“I like the way it feels during fight.” Grinned Eydis.

Ryder widened his eyes at the sight. Yep, she was her mother’s daughter. However, when he saw the careful gaze that Anna was giving her, he could tell that Kristoff was definitely the one who approved on this mace. Nevertheless, Ryder would bet that Anna simply sighed and shrugged when Eydis asked for permission to make this her weapon.

The Queen returned to the chest.

Finally, she took the last weapon, hers, which was to no one’s surprise but to everyone’s honest impression, an enormous sword.

While the Northuldra siblings gasped in admiration, Kristoff sighed longly. “You had to bring your biggest sword, uh?”

“After seeing Victor Eiglatson earlier, I absolutely don’t regret it, dear.”

Honeymaren’s jaw dropped, and she came closer to observe it. Anna made quite a show when she tried it out. Obviously, the whole blade was made out of ice as well. Elsa smirked from where she was. It shone around as Anna wielded it, and even reflected on the wood walls of the hut. It was, out of the three weapons, the one with the biggest amount of ice, so it made a great impression.

Honeymaren was impressed as always by the beauty of her wife’s magic. Though, despite all of that, what impressed her the most was how effortlessly Anna was lifting the sword. It was an impressive work of art that surely weighed more than Honeymaren would even expect. How the heck did she make it seem effortless?

Eydis gasped excitedly. “Awesome! I never got to see this one close before!”

When Anna put it down against the wall of the armory hut to look for their battle outfits, the princess eyed the sword with envy, walking to it.

“Can I borrow it to try it out? With auntie’s ice blade, it’s gorgeous.”

Anna turned around and was about to give her answer, but Eydis, in her iconic nerve, already lifted the sword up. She rose it to see the cross-guard closer, but the blade was way heavier than she thought, and the weapon tilted. With a yelp, she lost her grip, and the sword fell forward to the floor.

“Holy hell!” Muttered the princess.

Anna smirked as she caught it. “I was about to suggest you to not lift it. This sword can’t be wielded by anyone, sweetheart. There is a reason why Elsa custom-made it for me.”

She approached her astonished daughter. “Only I am able to use it. It actually took a lot of training to master my moves. Also, see how long that grip is?”

“Yeah, it’s longer than any sword I’ve ever seen.” Murmured Eydis.

“That’s because it’s a two-handed sword. You lifted it with only one, so it was a foregone conclusion.” Smiled Anna.

She placed it back against the wall.

“So you put both hands on the grip?” Asked Eydis, curiosity and enthusiasm making her voice high.

“It depends on the move or feint you intend to make. Most of times, I place one hand on the grip…” She showed it to her. “And the second one on the pommel.”

Her hands now covered the pine green grip and the pommel proudly engraved with the Arendelle crocus. With its green hilt and its purple round hilt end in each hand, it gave the Queen an astonishing aura by reminding the flag’s colors. She demonstrated the easy twirls that this two hands position allowed to do.

“It’s the most beautiful sword I’ve ever seen.” Exhaled Honeymaren, in awe.

Anna smirked proudly while Elsa blushed with a soft smile.

“Elsa made it entirely for me.”

As if the entire ice blade wasn’t enough of a hint, the rain-guard - which, just like the grip, was made of high quality leather dyed green - had a embedded snowflake symbol. It was the upper half of the snowflake, and it gave the feeling that it introduced the upcoming blade to sight when one observed the stunning weapon. The scabbard, which Anna had discarded next to the chest after she proudly made the sword sing by taking it off, was breathtaking as well. All along were traced drawings that seemed to have been made by both Elsa and Anna. Honeymaren wondered if they had been crafting it together, and easily imagined them giggling as they did in a warm sharing moment.

“Why a two-handed sword, though?” Asked Ryder.

“I suggested it to her since that stubborn idiot refuses to use a shield.” Smirked Elsa.

“A really good suggestion.” Said Anna, who preferred to ignore the derision.

They went out of the hut for Ryder to show them the staff that he would be using. None of the Arendellians commented negatively on how simple his weapon was compared to them. First because they were nice and enough open-minded to not judge ahead, and second because all three of them actually knew the aching pain that followed a hit in the shins. Ryder didn’t train often, but had won a few rounds thanks to that. From what they had seen, Victor Eiglatson wasn’t wearing any armor, and that might even be the blow that would take him down. After all, the most effective attack is the one one doesn’t expect, and Ryder was an expert at sliding down to hit weak spots.

While they were outside and Elsa and Honeymaren started to chat a bit further, Eydis came close to her mother.

“Will auntie be okay? During the fight?”

Anna frowned. “What do you mean?”

“Well, I’ve never seen her truly be mean in her blows. She’s not very direct. She’s a bit scared to be offensive, no?”

The redhead blinked as she stared at Eydis, then suddenly laughed loudly, her head wiping back. “Oh dear, you truly have no idea, do you?”

“What?” Grumbled the princess.

Anna coughed as she tried to retrieve her breath. “Yeah. Right. Sorry. You can’t know, because Arendelle and Northuldra have both always known peace since you were born. So you’ve never seen her actually fight.”

Eydis was upset by her mother’s giggles. “What is so funny?”

The Queen smiled. “Let me search for an example… Well, you have a big snowball fight with her at every Yule, uhm? Remember last year when you asked her to stop holding herself back, to have an actual challenge, and you came back to the castle exhausted?”

Eydis scoffed. “It’s not that amazing, I remember I got to touch her once or twice with a snowball.”

Anna smirked. “Because it was a game. Now imagine what she does when it’s a fight. Did you see Elsa pick up snow from the ground when she, for once, didn’t force herself to slow down?”

The little blonde widened her eyes at that realization. Elsa had been crafting those snowballs out of thin air. “No.”

“Did you see her being out of breath, just for one second?”

Now Eydis gulped. She had been able to hit her aunt several times, but was panting once the game was over. On the other hand, her aunt was perfectly fine.

The princess got suddenly aware that she had been fooled all along. Elsa had only pretended to be hit to make her happy. How dumb was she to not have understood this before? Her aunt was astonishingly athletic, she knew it. Once, she had seen her race with Nokk on the fjord shore and she had been running faster than them. And they have the shape of a horse.

Eydis’ jaw dropped. “Okay, now that is just creepy.”

Anna nodded with a smirk. “You don’t have to worry any second of her abilities on a battlefield. She could kill us all in our sleep, trust me.”

Kristoff approached to put a hand on Anna’s shoulder and a kiss on her cheek.

“I’m gonna go train with Ryder, we’ll see you later.”

He was happy for such a context, and his wife snorted. “Don’t wear yourself out. It’s better if you’re in good shape for the upcoming fight. Be careful, okay?”

The blond man smiled at her care. “I will.”

He followed Ryder to the training area, and not even two full seconds later, he tripped over a root, and almost fell to the ground.

Eydis burst out of laughter as her father grumbled. Anna remained serious to not make him feel ashamed.

“Damn, I lost my ice harvesters reflexes.”

“Too many king activities?” Teased Ryder.

“If you want, I can show you how to use an axe again.” Laughed Eydis.

“Don’t mock me, you two!”

Eydis bit her lip to hide her smile.

“Sorry. Well, I’m not gonna lie, you taught me all I know about resourcefulness in the wild and how to be an ace at ice harvesting. So I can’t demean you.”

Kristoff gave her a smile, then rejoined Ryder.

Anna went to Honeymaren and Elsa, where the brunette was preparing her bow for the battle.

She was intrigued when she approached the leader.

“Wait, don’t you usually have a bigger bow? Where’s the one you hunt with?”

Honeymaren smirked. “Judging on sizes, your Majesty?”

Anna snorted. “Of course not.”

The Northuldra made the bow twirl left to right and back with her hand on the grip. “This bow is a warrior one, that’s why the size is different.”

“Uhm, excuse me, a what? As much as I love this name, I’m confused. Why ‘warrior’?”

The brunette smiled. “It’s the type of bow. You know, they come in all shapes and sizes, just like people…”

“Stop with the tease, dummy.”

She got a smirk in return. “The one you see me use during hunt is a long bow. Very long, in fact. It’s optimized for stealth, with a light wood and silencers on the string to be as discreet as possible. We also craft them that long because we use them from a very far distance. With those features, we do not frighten the animals, and therefore are respectful of Nature. We have a more tender meat as their death was quick and without fear.”

Anna gulped at the powerful statements.

“This one...”, said Honeymaren, lifting the bow she was holding. “Is quite exactly its opposite. Notice how its wood is way shorter and curved three times, even at the tips. It’s optimized for fighting. I’m not a fan of what it represents and the context it’s used in, but it’s very effective. As we stand closer to the target, we don’t need a long bow, and this size allows faster recharge.”

“A bow for warriors on the battlefield…”

“Yes. Its unique asset is its main default, however. As we can’t draw the bow very much because it’s shorter than the usual, it only is for close range.”

Anna blinked, retrieving from those incredible details. She then smiled. “Don’t worry. I’ll give you a window to shoot.”

“I count on it.” Smirked the brunette.

She went to pick up new material in the craft shed to change the grip of the bow and make it brand new. On her way, she passed by Eydis, who was staring at the stunning collection of bows all hand-crafted by the tribe.

“You don’t have those bows in Arendelle, uh?” Grinned the proud leader.

Eydis puffed. “Even if I did, I can’t buy a single thing in the kingdom without thinking of mother, anyway.”

“What, she scolds you when you buy useless things? A bow is far from being useless.”

“No, because there’s her face on every coin.” Snorted the princess.

They both laughed.

“She never scolds me for anything I buy. I could ask a chocolatier for my weight in candies and she would even encourage it.”

They laughed again.

She saw that Honeymaren had sit down at a table to extend a band of leather and cut the parts she needed. She would be using the dagger she had at her waist, and that all adult Northuldra were wearing constantly, for how multifunction it was a for a people living in the wild.

“Hey, could you do the trick again?”

Honeymaren, who was about to simply take the dagger of its sheath and casually use it, smirked. She untied the leather pouch, twirled it in the air, then placed her wrist under it to make it spin around, and took out the dagger with expertise and elegance. The whole movement had been smooth, and Eydis’ eyes sparkled.

“Never gets old.”

Honeymaren waved her eyebrows and turned the knife between her fingers before getting to work.

A few minutes passed, and Eydis admired all the weaponry. Several ice arrows were on a table near the wall, and she approached her hand.

“Waow, those are superb. Look at the very precise and intricate heads…”

“Don’t touch that!” Exclaimed Honeymaren, rushing to her niece.

Eydis’ admirative eyes switched to angry ones. “Damnit! Why can’t I touch anything?!”

“Language.” Scolded Anna from afar.

“Sorry, Eydis.” Said the Northuldra leader with a pout. “Those are extremely sharp. Elsa upgraded them since the last time I used them, and even myself have to be very careful when handling them.”

She slowly placed them back in her quiver, and wondered why she had been leaving them there. Northuldra children could have hurt themselves… When they joined a whole stack of others in her quiver, she realized that in fact, Elsa had been crafting new ones after their meal.

She admired her wife’s dedication and work on their weapons. Each of them had been enhanced with Elsa’s unbreakable ice. Their efficiency against the monster would be unprecedented. Even Ryder’s staff was covered with a thin layer of ice to strengthen it, keeping the traditional way of fighting.

When Elsa had announced that she would be using a spear entirely made out of ice, and she had crafted it under their eyes, Honeymaren’s knees had almost buckled at the flashing image of how attractive her wife would be when she would fight with it. The spear was blue - obviously - and had - as usual - intricate details, for Elsa couldn’t help being extra. The shaft had all the colors of the Spirits spreaded on it, with the four diamond shapes and their symbols proudly displayed along. The head of the spear wasn’t the classical one but a four pronged trident, inspired by the four Spirits’ harmony. The blades were long and placed facing each other two by two, forming a round cross and looking like the cardinal points. Anna had made the remark that if she crafted this quadrident spear while on Nokk, she would look like Poseidon, but Honeymaren didn’t get the reference.

The odds for the fight were really good. Honeymaren smiled proudly and positively when the two sisters joined them.

“With Elsa’s expertise, we will defeat Eiglatson in no time.”

Anna wanted to support her positivity, but she shivered. “‘Next time, I’ll have no pity’, he said. I just hope that we will be strong enough. May the gods be on our side.”

Elsa nodded, then suddenly widened her eyes. It was like she had remembered or realized something out of nowhere.

“We will be prepared, Anna, don’t worry.” Assured Honeymaren with a firm leader voice.

They all agreed. Anna suggested to help Honeymaren refine the Northuldra warriors’ strategy, and Eydis to sharpen their weapons.

Elsa was the only one not to move, and she remained oddly silent, staring down.

Anna turned to her, and lifted an eyebrow, about to ask what was wrong.

“I need to take a moment alone before the fight.” Said the blonde, forcing herself to smile. “I’ll take a break in Ahtohallan.”

Her sister nodded. Elsa certainly needed to recharge in every meaning of the term; as an introvert with a bubble of calm, and a magical being with the ancient glacier. She had noted long ago how better the Snow Queen’s mood was after meditating in the magical source.

Honeymaren watched her lover go, slightly suspicious. But she shrugged and walked with Anna to the hut where they had spreaded a giant map on a table.

“Okay… Strategy thinking…” Mumbled the redhead, and Honeymaren got amused by her pout. “Maren, do you consider yourself lucky?”

The Northuldra leader snorted. “Well, I got to marry a Spirit who also is the most beautiful woman in the world, so… I certainly am.”

Anna eye-rolled comically. “I meant, if we make a back-up plan based on chance, would that be in your favor or not?”

“Yeah, sure.”

The Queen stared at Honeymaren, because now she had been silent, and the distance separating them from the hut was long, so that would soon be awkward between them. Anna noticed that the brunette was fidgeting with something on her left hand, but didn’t get to ask.

“You must think that I’m a hopeless romantic, uh?”

Anna smiled. “No, not at all. I mean, yes, you really are, but I don’t mind it, if it’s what you’re afraid of. I find your couple adorable. And you know already how Elsa’s happiness deeply matters to me, so to know that she’s living a perfect married life with you fills my heart with joy.”

Honeymaren smiled. “I’m the thankful one, I swear. You know, she changed my whole world.”

She rose her hands, showing the woods surrounding them. “First, by freeing the Forest, and then, by teaching me on her first night in the camp that constellations had names. It was barely hours after I discovered the existence of stars. Imagine how overwhelming that was.”

“I easily do.” Grinned Anna. “She’s a real nerd. I’ve known her for such a long time - I can’t say my whole life, that would be lying - and she still teaches me stuff about science and physics. It’s crazy coming from someone who also defies those laws with magic.”

Honeymaren chuckled tenderly.

“Once, she crafted a sextant for a little girl in the village.” Continued the redhead.

“A sex… What?”

Anna burst of laughter.

“It has nothing to do with sex. It’s a navigation tool, based on the position of stars.”

“Oh, I see. Old Northuldra told me that our people used to watch the stars to find their way.”

“All people used to.” Smiled Anna wisely.

Honeymaren nodded. It was also true figuratively. Elsa was the brightest star that ever shone to her eyes. She could follow her everywhere, like her true north. The brunette fidgeted with her ice ring again at the image of her wife giggling when she ran after her stunning figure in the fields, and Elsa turning around with a smile that warmed her heart like nothing else did.

“Mareeeeen…” Called Anna’s voice, probably not for the first time, and finally succeeding in bringing her back to Earth.

“Oh, sorry, you were saying?”

When she turned to the redhead, she was smirking. “Uhm, correct me if I’m wrong, but the hut is that way, no?” She said, pointing the other way.

Honeymaren blinked and look at where she was heading. Three more steps and she would bump head first into a tree.

“Y-yes, yes, I was… I’m coming.”

She cleared her throat, and followed her smiling sister-in-law to where she was supposed to go.

=======

When they went out of the hut more than two hours later, Anna stretched next to Honeymaren, then she suddenly heard a neigh in the distance.

She saw a familiar horse, gleaming between the trees, and trotting through the camp in their direction.

“Oh, hi Nokk!” Smiled Anna, waving. “What are you doing here? Isn’t Elsa with you?”

She then saw that someone was on their back, but not seated like they rode them; that person had been picked up and transported.

Nokk stopped walking in the middle of the camp, about twenty meters away from them. Honeymaren’s eyes widened at the platinum blonde hair of the of woman.

“Elsa?!”

The blonde groaned, shook her head and massaged her forehead. She forced herself to sit up, but she clearly had difficulties.

“Elsa, are you okay?!” Panicked Anna, staring at the blonde.

Nokk neighed loudly.

“I’m fine.” Murmured Elsa, getting down from the Water Spirit with as much composure as she could.

Nokk neighed again, insistent.

“Okay, I may not be.” Muttered the Snow Queen, and only the horse could hear that.

She let go of Nokk’s neck and lurched along the path. Anna and Honeymaren had come close, sensing that something was wrong.

“Elsa, you’re usually pale, but now you’re white as a sheet. What happened?” Worried her sister.

“Do you need help to walk?”

“I can walk, it’s okay…”

Honeymaren didn’t insist, noticing how stubborn Elsa was. However, as her and Anna gave way for her to walk through the camp, her knees suddenly buckled.

“Elsa!!”

She collapsed to the ground, and Honeymaren rushed to catch her. The blonde fainted in her arms, her head dropping back, and Honeymaren lifted it up.

“ELSA!!” Screamed the brunette a second time, starting at her lover’s face with alarmed wide eyes.

She shook Elsa’s body desperately. She pressed her ear to her chest to hear if her heart was beating, but her own heart was beating so fast that she couldn’t focus on the right sound. To make it even worse, Anna had fallen to her knees next to her and was breathing faster and louder each passing second, inspecting her elder’s face.

“ELSA!!”

The Snow Queen didn’t respond, still unconscious, her eyes closed. Honeymaren kept her hand behind her head and fumbled at her belt with the other. She grabbed the knife at her waist and drew it in one swift move, then contrasted with that speed by delicately placing the blade under Elsa’s nose. Time seemed to hang in the air while both Anna and Honeymaren stared desperately at the metal, until it covered with condensation. Elsa was breathing.

They both sighed heavily, their shoulders slumped. They now were sitting on their heels, gripping the blonde’s body. Honeymaren shook her arms.

“Please, please open your eyes, Elsa. Please stay with me. Please stay with us.”

She shook her body again, and Elsa blinked tiredly, opening her eyes very slowly.

Honeymaren gasped and held her tight, muttering a long line of prayers and gratitudes to the world for bringing back her wife. As she hugged her, she felt the ice and snow clothes under her fingers, and she only realized then that it should have been the best clue to know that she hadn’t left them; the magic fabric would have melted away otherwise.

“I like it when you hold me in your arms like that…” Muttered the voice of her lover next to her ear.

The Northuldra leader detached from the hug, and kept her wife in her arms, but away enough to stare at her face.

“What happened to you??”

The Snow Queen’s weak features twitched in a smile. “I found the password, Honey…”

“What?” Blinked the brunette.

“‘Only time itself will tell’... Kronos. It was Kronos.”

Anna and Honeymaren remained silent in confusion. What the hell was she talking about?

“Kronos… The greek god of time…” Murmured Elsa with a weak, almost imperceptible voice.

She however had an obvious sly smile, and Anna blinked.

“Wait, what? What are you talking about?”

Had her sister gone mad? She sounded delirious.

Honeymaren, on the other hand, had connected the dots. She shook her head, as stunned as Anna, but for a different reason. She sighed at the brilliant mind of her wife.

“You’re incredible, Elsa, I swear… In all meanings of the term.”

The blonde allowed herself a grin despite her lack of strength.

“Would someone care to explain?” Frowned Anna, upset that she was missing something that clearly was important.

“The code word that would unlock the repressed memories of the previous Fifth Spirit… It was ‘Kronos’.” Said Honeymaren.

Elsa felt happy as the two people she cared the most about exchanged a gaze with huffed smiles. Though, when their eyes reverted to her, her forces left her; her eyes turned up again and she plunged back into darkness.

=======

When Elsa regained consciousness, she slowly opened her eyes, recovering her sight in blurry steps. She first saw the floating blue candle jars hovering just below the ceiling of the hut. So she was in her bed. At the idea, a feeling of warmth invaded her heart. She then saw, as her vision sharpened, Honeymaren looking at her in distress, then deep relief as she sighed when she saw her wife smile.

The brunette cuddled next to her and pressed her forehead to her temple.

“Thanks Ahtohallan, you’re alright.” She murmured.

“Actually, what happened is Ahtohallan’s fault…” Pointed out another familiar voice, filled with reproach but also concern.

Elsa’s smile went larger as she turned her face and saw her sister bent over her as well on the other side of the bed. Anna’s sarcasm left her face to quickly be replaced by happiness when she crossed her elder’s gaze.

“Hey you.”

The blonde winced. “Actually, it wasn’t entirely Ahtohallan’s fault.”

Anna sighed. “Yeah, once again you had to go to far, and now you regret it. Seriously, is she this alluring? Is the need to know the truth like a drug or something?”

Honeymaren and Elsa chuckled.

“Gotta say, the Spirits call can be breathtakingly beautiful sometimes. I can’t imagine how attractive it is when it comes from the source itself.” Admitted the Northuldra leader.

“And in addition to your dorky snoop personality…” Smirked Anna.

“Says the one who keeps asking me about gossip!” Gasped Elsa.

“Well, at least, I’m not risking my life when I ask!”

Elsa eye-rolled. The sisters grinned, and hugged each other warmly.

“You scared me a bit there.” Murmured the Queen against Elsa’s ear.

“It’s a good thing you’re used to my drama then.”

“True.”

After Anna detached from the hug, Honeymaren stared at her wife in a scolding expression.

“You really shouldn’t have done that! Don’t make me quote the song. When will you finally...”

Her frowned eyebrows suddenly shot up, the rest of her sentence vanishing in her throat as she realized what she was doing. “Oh no. I shouldn’t be angry at you. You could have died, and I’m lucky enough for you to be alive…”

Elsa’s hand quickly slid on the sheets to hold hers. “You’re my wife, Honey. That’s what married life does. You get deadly worried about the other.”

Anna winced at the word ‘deadly’.

“You care about me with all your soul, and you’re angry because you weren’t there to protect me.” Continued Elsa.

“So you agree that it was extremely dangerous.”

The blonde winced. “Yes.”

“Your hella curious personality will be your undoing, Elsa.” Grumbled Anna.

“Without my curiosity, we wouldn’t have known about Runeard’s plan!” Reminded Elsa coldly.

The two other women couldn’t deny it, and remained silent.

Honeymaren sighed in an upset way. She didn’t like how Elsa purposely went to Ahtohallan alone right when she figured the code word, because she would definitely have prevented her if she was accompanied.

She passed a hand in her wife’s hair, retrieving her smile.

“So the previous Fifth Spirit was a nerd as well, uh?”

Elsa frowned as she was sitting up with her elbows.

“Why do you say that?”

“Oh, don’t go ‘anyone could have guessed the Kronos password’. You know that none of us would have found it. Did you see memories of him making jokes about Orion’s belt?”

Elsa slapped her arm, and she grinned.

“Those jokes would be so bad that he probably put them in his repressed coded memories, though.”

She received another slap, and this one was stronger.

“Well, I’m glad to see that your regained strength.” Laughed Honeymaren, rubbing her bruises.

Elsa couldn’t help but smile, and shook her head.

“Can you stand up?” Asked Anna.

“I think I can.”

She however put her hand in Honeymaren’s stretched one, just to make sure that she wouldn’t fall if her knees buckled. Nevertheless, she could step easily through the hut, and even started to go outside. As a double reward, the Northuldra who were working near the hut turned to her and beamed to see that she was okay. Elsa smiled back, and she felt infinitely better. Now that she knew all the truth and was replenished, she felt ready to fight Victor.

“You know, I wouldn’t be surprised that Ahtohallan gifts each Fifth Spirit with sarcasm, drama and nerdiness.” Smiled Anna’s voice behind her as she and Honeymaren got out of the hut.

Elsa gave her a stare. “Don’t encourage her.”

The two women simply shrugged, amused. Though, Elsa’s sudden serious face changed the mood.

“Actually, let’s go back inside. We need to sit down.”

“Uhh, what? Are you okay?”

“I’m alright. But I have to tell you all the truth about Victor Eiglatson. And it’s best if we do it privately.”

The Northuldra and Arendelle leaders exchanged a worried glance, and followed her back inside, closing the door behind them.

Elsa then proceeded to explain that they got a lot of things wrong about him, as they sadly expected.

“He has been planning his revenge on the Fifth Spirit for years. Longer than any of us three was born.”

“This is a really spooky introduction, thank you very much.” Commented Anna, her eyes wide.

“I’ve had access to every single memory that the previous Fifth Spirit had been ashamed of and hiding, even to himself, and…”

Elsa shivered. That meant a lot coming from her. Honeymaren understood now that her weak state wasn’t only because going far in the secret past had impacted her magic; it was an emotional wreck as well.

“I’m gonna explain it from the very beginning.” Told Elsa. “So, first of all, Victor Eiglatson had a wife, called Niks.”

Her sister puffed. “How could a man like him have been married?”

Elsa gave her a stare.

“Anna, I love you with all my heart, but I’m begging you to not interrupt me until I’m finished.”

The redhead pouted in a sullen expression, and Honeymaren bit her lip with a smile. ‘Let her continue’, she said with a gaze.

“Victor and Niks both were merchants, who traveled around the country, and they both had dark magic.”

“What? How??”

“Anna…”

“Okay, okay, I’m quiet.”

Elsa resumed.

“While Victor kept it low profile, Niks kept using her dark magic for larceny. Robbery, bullying… She kept wielding her powers for evil ends. One day, they were delivering supplies to the Northuldra, and she had threatened the people during the night. The Fifth Spirit had noticed, and spied on her to see if she would do it again. He saw her doing it repetitively each night Victor and her had stayed in the camp, as they had asked for board and lodging for a week.

Two days before they left, the Northuldra leader told her that he knew what she was doing. He warned her, stating that the next time she would use her powers for such acts, he would have to punish her. She didn’t take him seriously at all. On the following night, she blackmailed a young mother and her child, saying that she would send monsters and hell on the poor family if they didn’t give her half of their crops by the next time they would do business here. The Fifth Spirit saw everything. On the morning after their departure, he followed their caravan, and…”

The Snow Queen interrupted her story. It was a bit sudden, so the others wondered what had happened.

“He…” Elsa stopped to gulped. She took a few seconds, then retrieve the needed courage. “He killed her. He killed Niks with his ice and snow magic.”

Anna and Honeymaren let out synchronized gasps. Anna’s hand flew to her mouth. Elsa closed her eyes and lowered her head.

“I saw everything. I mean, it was in ice statues form, but… Still. And as he used the same magic than I do, I could almost… Feel what I saw. He impaled her in one go.”

Honeymaren’s throat tightened, a ball forming in her throat, and she guessed that it was the same for Elsa. She placed a tender hand on her shoulder, and the blonde squeezed it tenderly. After a breathe in, she continued.

“Victor saw everything. He was boiling with sorrow and rage. He wanted to kill the Fifth Spirit right away, but he froze his lower body and walked away, returning to the camp. He said that it was what needed to be done.”

Elsa’s hands had returned in her lap, and she clenched her fists nervously.

“He didn’t even apologize. Victor had spend the day screaming and shouting until the ice melted with the heat of the sun. Once it had vanished, he realized that he had to bury his wife properly before setting off to the camp to murder the Northuldra leader. On her tombstone, he swore to avenge her, and built a plan. Only, when he came to the Forest days later…”

She looked up at the ceiling, like she could see the sky from where they were.

“The mist had fallen.”

She shrugged sadly. “He tried all he could, poured all his magic into his efforts, but it was in vain. As you know, only Anna and I can open the mist. Only the Bridge can. Only the Fifth Spirit can. And the Fifth Spirit… Had just died in turn.”

Elsa looked at the wall absentmindedly as she remembered the ice statues. “Victor learned about his death through rumors as he came back to the kingdom. He noticed how some soldiers were hateful towards the Northuldra, and he enrolled in the army to train for the day the mist would lift. He planned and planned and planned, and his dark magic got better and darker each passing year. The only thing that separated him from his revenge was a wall of smoke.”

Her eyes lifted to Anna. “Years later, he learned that I was the Fifth Spirit. In fact, that we both technically were. He started to shout to everyone that we did not deserve to be Queens of Arendelle for that reason. You know the rest. He got sent to prison for such words, but he escaped with magic. His goo monsters slipped through the bars really easily…”

She once again couldn’t help but let out a little bit of admiration for his creations, despite some disgust.

“It was less than a month ago. He had trained a lot since. But… Despite hating the Fifth Spirit with all his soul, and his promise to avenge his wife’s death... He actually doesn’t plan to kill me.”

Honeymaren gave her a look that meant ‘Let me guess, it’s way worse?’

“His goal is to rip my magic out of me.”

The two other woman widened their eyes in utter astonishment. And to make things worse, Elsa kept going.

“He cleverly thought of that because with his research, he understood that the Fifth Spirit reincarnation is a cycle. Ahtohallan gives the ice and snow powers to a new person each time the previous dies, for them to be the only one to read her memories. And if he kills me, the chain would not stop, it would simply continue. However, by absorbing my magic, his revenge will be complete.”

Anna had at least a hundred of questions burning her lips at Elsa’s statements. Yet, the elder lifted a finger.

“Wait, that’s not all; I also saw a memory on his frieze that wasn’t there the last time we checked it with Honeymaren. It was the most recent one. From this afternoon.”

She gave a pause, and gulped. “He’s planning to attack Ahtohallan’s tonight, and rot it to the core with his goo magic.”

The two women let out the same gasp, quickly replaced by a deep groan. No one would touch Elsa, and no one would touch Ahtohallan. For Anna, the magic glacier was the source of her magic and who she was and had allowed her to be fully proud of her identity. For Honeymaren, it was this and even more; Ahtohallan was her deity, a representant of the sacred laws of Nature, and she would never let anyone profane the entity that the Northuldra worshipped since forever.

“We’ve got to unite all of our forces and prevent him from crossing the Dark Sea.” Stated Elsa with emotion.

A silence fell, and she looked at them with sad eyes.

Anna didn’t dare to react verbally yet.

“Uhm… Are you finished?”

Elsa sighed. “Gosh, I hope so. Yeah, you can talk.”

“Well, I don’t even know where to start.” Exhaled the Queen.

“The only thing I retain from all of these news is that I call dibs on the first shot to Victor’s heart.” Grumbled Honeymaren, fire in her hazelnut eyes.

“Honey, no.” Calmed Elsa. “Violence is not the solution. I mean, of course we’re going to fight him with all our forces, don’t look at me like that, but we’re not going to kill him. This is not who we are. He’s the murderer, not us. He will have to face justice.”

Honeymaren sighed in a pout. Elsa was right.

“M’kay.”

She didn’t seem so convinced, but admitted that shooting arrows at a human’s heart wasn’t really the way to show a good example.

Anna passed a hand in her hair, and tucked it behind her ear. “So… People with magic can… Rip magic out of other magic people?”

Elsa gave her a sad look. “I didn’t even know it was possible until today. And I’ve been exploring the abilities of my magic since the Great Thaw, so for nearly 20 years. Never would I have thought that I could extract magic out of someone’s soul…”

A silence floated in the room. Honeymaren and Anna exchanged a gaze, not daring to ask the question. Finally, Anna did.

“And… Do you think that you…”

“No. I would never do that. I don’t want to learn how to do it, and I never want to do it.” Stated Elsa, her voice firm and strong.

Her azure blue eyes had been so intense that the two other women got stunned by it, then they had grateful smiles. Elsa had god tier powers, but never would she commit such an act.

However, guilt roamed the Snow Queen’s body as she remembered that the previous Fifth Spirit, on the other hand, had come to a decision of this gravity.

She looked down as she passed her hands on her arms, curling a bit on herself. “First my grandfather… Now him… I’m tied to criminals.”

“Don’t say that!” Exclaimed Anna.

“He killed, Anna. My previous incarnation killed someone.”

“He’s not you. You are not defined by his action. You’re you own person, even if you have identical powers. You’re no evil, Elsa. Do you hear me?”

The redhead had been grabbing her sister’s arms for impact, but also to make her stop cowering.

“You’re literally the most gentle, nicest person I’ve ever met.”

Elsa blinked sadly. Honeymaren nodded firmly next to Anna, and passed a soft hand in her hair and along her face.

“Yes, you are, snømus. Would I have made a murderer my wife? I don’t think so.”

A snort escaped Elsa’s sad lips.

With the way her sister and lover were holding her, she could cry instantly, so humor was a good way to prevent that. She took a long inhale, and stood up.

“Yes, it’s no time to get emotional. Victor is cruel and reckless. Tonight we face him with all that we got.”

The Snow Queen walked to the entrance of the hut, opened it, and turned around to face the two women who looked at her in undeniable awe. With the light passing by the wood slits and the candles projecting blue hues on her face, she looked like a fierce Valkyrie on the warpath.

She gave their stunned faces a big grin.

“Let’s suit on.”

A second of impressed silence fell. Anna let out an amazed puff. “Waow, look at who’s all confident about conflict now. Who are you and what have you done with my forever insecure sister?”

The blonde gave her a judging look. She had just ruined her epic attitude.

“I’m not saying that negatively.” Assured the younger. “Only… Damn, you’ve become such a badass. What happened to you?”

Honeymaren put a hand on Anna’s shoulder.

“She married me.”

Elsa smirked.

=======

Anna helped Eydis to put her armor on, then Elsa helped Anna with hers. Sometimes, the redhead had so snap her sister back to reality, because she was admiring the beauty of some steel pieces and taking a lot of breaks.

“Elsa, you’ll get plenty of time to admire my armor once I have it entirely on.”

“Yeah, sorry. Am I too slow?”

“No, it’s fine. It’s actually touching that you love it so much. I like to have your opinion on those kind of things. But right now, I’m starting to lose my balance.”

Elsa hurried to place her boot correctly. She then asked for Anna to turn around to tighten her brigandine. Anna had a proud grin as she stood with her hands on her hips while Elsa was busy.

“With it, there’s no way those monster’s dark slime will touch my skin.”

She was about to turn to look at Elsa, when an annoying noise came from her neck. “Damn, my gorget keeps squeaking. Can you do something about it?”

Elsa turned once she was done with the bodice.

“Well, my magic may do a lot of miracles, however ice and snow are everything but oily. So I’m afraid I can’t.”

“I was talking about actual grease, dummy. Do you have some?”

“Oh. Yes.”

Anna smiled as Elsa went to get some in the shed. It was funny how, long ago, the Snow Queen would never have dared to use her magic for anything, and now it was her default option.

“A Northuldra is using it next door, he will bring it back. Apparently, Kristoff have the same problem.” Smiled Elsa. “I know it’s a good sign, but when was the last time you two wore armors?”

“It’s not that it’s rusty”, defended Anna. “They are pure work of art from Arendellian’s best craft people. But they need some… Restoration?”

The blonde grinned. She kept helping her sister place the armor’s pieces one by one, picking them up from the chest where only hers had remained. Her smile faded when she saw how red Anna’s face had gotten when she lifted the faulds and was about to place them.

“What is it? You seem uncomfortable.”

Anna looked away with a little pout. “It’s nothing.”

“No, it’s something. Your freckles almost are disappearing under your blush. What’s wrong?”

The Queen looked at the faulds. “They’re very large, aren’t they?”

Elsa blinked in incomprehension. “Uhh… Yeah, they’re meant to go around the waist and hips to protect them. So, by definition, they are.”

“No, I mean…”

She was unable to finish her sentence. Elsa frowned as she tried to understand. “You mean your hips and waist are very large.”

Anna looked away again, and nodded silently. The Snow Queen put away the faults in a brisk move, which the redhead interpreted as revulsion. That’s why she was confused when both her hands got seized in hers.

“Anna, look at me.”

The redhead had startled at the touch, and she turned to her sister. “What?”

“You can’t possibly be saying that you don’t like your body, right?”

The teal blue eyes went down. “So you agree. You think I’m fat too.”

“Oh Ahtohallan, no, Anna, hey, look at me.”

She quitted holding her hands to place soft palms against her cheeks. Anna looked at her, and she was on the verge of crying.

A silence passed, and Elsa’s gaze switched from one eye to the other.

“What if you are.”

“Excuse me?”

“What if you’re fat?” Said Elsa.

Anna blinked. It surprised her so much that her tears went away.

“Yeah, what if you’re fat. Does it matter?” Asked Elsa.

The redhead blabbered. “Well, of course it does!”

“No it doesn’t. Stop me if I’m wrong, but I’m pretty sure that Kristoff has seen you naked a couple of times or more, didn’t he?” She asked, half-teasing.

Anna blushed. “Uh, yeah.”

“Did he ever say anything negative about your body? In 10 years of marriage?”

“I… No, quite the opposite.” Muttered Anna. “But he could be lying.”

“Oh. Sure. So, allow me to ask: when was the last time Kristoff has ever lied to you?”

Anna was speechless. Why was Elsa so good at this? How did she knew exactly which arguments do use? How did she knew precisely what Anna had to be reassured about? The elder sister brushed her cheek with her thumbs to take her out of her thoughts.

“Anna. You gave birth to two beautiful, amazing children. Your body changed from that. There is nothing more normal in the entire world. Nature gave you the space to bear children.”

As if those touching words weren’t enough to wreck Anna’s entire soul, Elsa’s left hand went to Anna’s lower belly. “You carried life. Life is the most beautiful thing in the world. Don’t you think that life deserves as much space as possible? And you carried it with love. Love is the most important thing in the world. Don’t you think that love also deserves as much space as possible?”

The redhead’s lips trembled, and she could barely talk as they stretched in a smile.

“Y-- Yes.”

“Then cherish each and every single ounce of your body that fills that space today.”

Anna’s eyes closed and her tears fell, then she launched herself in Elsa’s arms for a tight hug. It was truly tight with her armor, but the blonde couldn’t care less. She closed her eyes as her little sister’s doubts faded away, and she could almost feel how lighter her soul was.

“Thank you so much, I… I…”

Anna had troubles breathing, and gasped over her shoulder.

“Hey, take your time. It’s okay.” Elsa said gently, rubbing the back of her hair.

Anna soon detached from the hug to rub her tears and sniff. “I should stop crying though, or this armor really will get rusty.”

Elsa smiled. The Queen stared at her resolutely.

“You know, you often say it for yourself, but I swear that I don’t know what I’d do without you.”

“Nonsense. You rule a kingdom. And are the most admired monarch of Arendelle’s history.”

A silence passed, and they looked at each other with sighs, until Anna stopped sniffing. Elsa picked the iron piece from where she had left it.

“Now, can I please put your faulds on?”

“Yes.”

They kept going with smiles, continuing component after component.

“Can you promise me you won’t tell anyone about what just happened?”

Elsa smirked.

“Sure, don’t worry. I’ll take your secret to the greave.”

Anna stared at her sister, then down at the piece of armor she was holding around her leg, then stared at her again, and this time in a judging way.

“Was that a pun?”

Elsa wheezed, not able to retain herself. “It was a good one, admit it!”

“I can’t freaking believe that my sister just made a joke about a grave. Oh my gods. Hey, stop laughing. No, don’t fall to the floor. Elsa!! Put the greave back on my… Ugh. You’re impossible!!”

She grunted as she placed the piece herself, shaking her head at her elder’s giggles. With the shake, the gorget squeaked, which made Elsa howl with laughter even more. Actually, the blonde’s laugh was so contagious that Anna laughed as well.

“That really was an awful joke. I hereby declare, Queen Anna of Arendelle, that you are not allowed to enter the kingdom’s territory anymore. We don’t tolerate this bad humor.”

Elsa snorted. “Oh, come on. Everyone knows how acclaimed I am in Arendelle. People would riot if they don’t hear my stupid jokes from time to time.”

Anna sighed dramatically. “Granted.”

“You wouldn’t get rid of me that easily anyway.” Smirked Elsa.

Anna kept going on her drama.

“I know. That’s my burden. Being stuck with you as my sister for my whole life.”

She turned to the door when she heard Eydis come in the hut to pick her gauntlets.

“Eydis, could you come over here please?”

“Why?” Frowned the princess, wondering what her mother was talking about from behind the changing screen.

“Would you grab your mace and kill me? I can’t stand Elsa anymore.”

The girl knew her mother’s ramblings enough to understand that she was joking, and didn’t even lift her head from the gauntlets she was tying up at her wrists.

“Sure. Do you want to be knocked on the head or in the face?”

The sisters laughed.

“Gosh, she’s a future mercenary.” Chuckled Elsa.

“She’s actually aiming for ice harvester mixed with sailor.” Shrugged Anna.

Soon, they were finished. “Come on, let’s go outside so I can admire it in the sunlight.” Beamed the Snow Queen.

=======

“So now you’re the one in need of a tissue. Do you need one?” Grinned Anna. “We probably packed some.”

Elsa breathed in and out heavily as she blinked to chase her emotional tears.

“You just look… So great, in this, Anna. I’m…”

She let out a noise that was a mix of a gasp and a squeal. “I’m really proud of you.”

The Queen of Arendelle smiled widely at the compliment. “Thank you, sis.”

Anna’s armor was entirely polished with a matte golden color, and it made her look like a stunning legend. The absence of reflections gave her a serious aura and the detailed finishing touches showcased her. Each joint of the metal and seam of the reinforced garment were engraved and embroidered with ivy motives. On both of her shoulder pieces were drawn Arendelle crocuses, one in green and one in purple. Her plackart proudly displayed the kingdom’s flag, and it married perfectly with the gold color of the whole outfit.

Gods, was it hard for Elsa to not burst into tears at the whole sight.

She approached to wrap her arms around the redhead. It was rare that Elsa was the one to initiate embraces, so it meant a lot to Anna, and it warmed her heart.

When they finished hugging, Elsa held the face of her little sister in her hands, sniffing at her beauty. “You’ve become a wonderful woman, Anna. A passionate Queen, a devoted mother, and a hero with a heart of gold.”

The redhead snorted modestly. “You’ve only seen me in that armor for like, two minutes.”

Elsa shrugged. “And yet, I can attest you that you would look way better on a Joan of Arc style portrait than I’ll ever do.”

Her younger laughed. “This might be the best compliment in the world.”

“Looking really good, Anna!” Approved a voice behind them, and they turned to see Honeymaren with a thumb up.

Anna giggled and thanked her with a comical curtsey.

“I’ll join you in a moment, I’m gonna suit up too.” Informed the Northuldra.

“Okay.”

She disappeared in the armory hut, and the Snow Queen smiled when her eyes landed on the redhead again. “With Kristoff and Eydis, you three look absolutely amazing. This really looks like the Arendelle flag was brought to life.”

Anna smiled. “Let’s hope that it will fly forever, then.”

The exchanged a gaze, their eyes sparkling with emotion.

Elsa looked over to where Kristoff and Eydis had been standing, and the sisters spent a long time talking about the specificities of each. Kristoff’s one definitely was a mix of a knight armor and an ice harvester outfit, while Eydis’ one seemed like a miniature of her mother’s, but in silver. With her blonde hair, she was really pretty. All the armors, in their own way, demonstrated how talented Arendelle’s craftspeople were.

“I like how we got those armors made to measure.” Said Anna. “It allows easy movements, while it assures efficient protection.”

“Yeah, it’s…”

The blonde’s answer vanished in her throat. Elsa suddenly disconnected from reality as she stared behind Anna, but it was like she was staring at nothing. Or rather, at something divine.

“Hey, are you with me?” Said her sister, snapping her fingers in front of her eyes. “Did your brain fry in Ahtohallan or what?”

Elsa didn’t respond. With a frown, Anna turned around to follow her gaze, and when she saw Honeymaren step out of the hut, it was like the Forest itself had stopped its activity to stare in awe.

The brunette was wearing a traditional war outfit only wore by Northuldra leaders, and it suddenly became very clear to Anna why Elsa hadn’t been able to make words. Anyone had to admit that Honeymaren was giving a stunning impression with that attire. Anna’s jaw dropped when the brunette took a few steps outside and looked over the tribe with a stare that made her aura matching the one of a falcon, except that her eyes were filled with pride and care for her people. The redhead then realized that she was looking for Elsa among the crowd that was staring at her, and when she finally recognized the platinum blonde woman behind Anna, her satisfied smile went larger in a beam. She made her way to her, and the Queen wondered if Honeymaren was ready to see up close the ravenous look that Elsa was giving her, and if Elsa was strong enough to not faint right when the leader would be breathing near her.

With amusement, Anna’s eyes darted from one woman to the other, and it was certain now that Elsa had never seen Honeymaren wearing that outfit. Which made sense, given the current peaceful times.

It was a mix of a tunic and an armor made of hard leather. The latter fabric clearly had been reinforced with an unusual thickness that was reserved to battle gear, and Anna was impressed by the details that however had been drawn on it. How much time did the Northuldra have spent on this? It required a lot of expertise and talent for a tribe that only used manual tools. Several bands of lighter leather crossed Honeymaren’s torso and fell from her shoulders to land on her hips, both holding her weapons and assuring that the flexible armor would stay in place. A large band of thick leather crossed the leader’s belly and juxtaposed her traditional belt, to which was still attached her usual dagger. Beautiful darker pieces were covering her forearms so she could easily protect herself from the blows, and Anna noticed the sames on her thighs and shins, tied above her tunic. Her left wrist was protected on the inside as well, the leather also serving as a guard to avoid any injury when archery is involved. The outfit was objectively magnificent with all its practical yet sophisticated pieces, all dyed with different natural colors that made it soar. Some were pitch black, others a deep brown interlaced with ochre bands - which highlighted her chestnut eyes - and others, especially her tunic, were bright beige.

Honeymaren had completed the outfit with her bow in her back and her quiver at her waist, and it looked like she was ready to slay. In fact, Anna was almost considering the idea to let her go to battle on her own and take care of everything. Who could stand up to her?

Elsa let out a noise when her wife arrived to her level, and it betrayed the fact that she had forgotten to breathe for a moment.

“H-- Hey-y… You.”

Both Anna and Honeymaren bit their lips to hide their giggle at Elsa’s rare fluster. For a very articulate person, she seemed to have lost all her vocabulary.

“H-Honey…”

She tried to say a full sentence, but was simply unable to.

Bruni trotted nearby and squeaked, and Anna smirked. Was it to admire the Northuldra leader and compliment her outfit, or to check that the Fifth Spirit wasn’t on fire?

“Are you okay?” Grinned Honeymaren, teasing, though a bit concerned. Now wasn’t the time for Elsa to faint again.

“I-- I’m beautiful. I mean… I’m not... I’m super-- I’m great.”

Anna giggled, but she managed to hide it behind her palm. Elsa was too busy staring deeply at her lover to even notice it.

“Breathe, love.” Smiled Honeymaren, passing her hand along the blonde’s cheek.

One could think that this would make her arousal even deeper, but the brunette actually succeeded in taking Elsa out of her transe. She gulped as she retrieved her normal behavior.

“Yeah, uhm… Uh… Let’s get ready, shall we?”

She coughed and turned around, inviting the others to follow her.

“Auntie, what will you wear for battle?” Inquired Eydis, running a bit to go walk next to her, her mace bouncing on her shoulder.

Her little eyes were sparkling as she imagined the most amazing armor possible. Elsa recovered from her fluster and looked at her niece with a smirk.

“Why, my work outfit of course.”

As she walked, and there was no need for her to stop nor slow down, she flicked her wrists up in unison. Gusts and twirls of glittering magic appeared from her palms and went in two ways. One move went down from her wrists and added layers of protection to the casual white tunic she had been wearing. The other move went up like embers of ice that floated in the air, which then deposited on her bright white outfit like petals. The magical dust formed new shapes on her shoulders, knees, chest, belly, hips and shins, creating the most perfect ice armor. It couldn’t be more custom-made, and it obeyed each and every motion she made, being comfortable and ergonomic. It also was incredibly beautiful with its breathtaking details and decorations, once again reminding the four other Spirits. Most of the parts were diamond-shaped. Despite the whole piece of art it made, its transparency didn’t fool anyone; the armor was sturdy, if not more than regular ones. Elsa admired her own work.

“...With a few additions, I’ll admit.” She smiled.

Honeymaren’s chestnut eyes got lost at the sight, having not missed any of the show while she walked on Elsa’s other side. That was, for the lack of any other word, a divine transformation. Her eyes filled with tears. Were they due to emotion or because the outfit was bright white and gave the feeling to stare at the full Moon herself? She blinked to dissimulate them.

“Not very stealthy, but I guess what we’ll have to deal with it.” Shrugged Honeymaren, to joke about it and switch her mood.

She giggled when she received a white-covered elbow nudging her ribs.

Elsa shook her head, then looked at the horizon. Her gaze now was more focused than ever.

“Okay, Victor. You wanted to face me? I’m not alone anymore. Here we come.”

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rosa-berberifolia · 5 years ago

Text

New Edition|Stranger Things x Reader|eventual Jim Hopper x Reader|Part 1

A/N: Hey y’all. Here is a rather shitty Stranger Things reader insert that I’ve been sitting on for a while. It’s mighty long, so I think I’m gonna break it up into 4 or 5 parts. This part takes place between seasons 1 and 2.

Warnings: some reference to sexual activity...i don’t think anything else.

Word Count: 2525 about there

El knew the difference between dreams and visions. This was a vision. This was someone contacting her. And the voice that called to her was not her own. She got out of bed and went to where Hopper was sleeping. She used her power to shake his whole body so that he woke with a start.

“Jesus, kid! You okay?” He asked wiping the sleep from his eyes, and immediately concerned that El was waking him at three in the goddamn morning.

Next thing either of them knew they were walking through the woods by the cabin with flashlights looking for something.

“Where are we going, kid?” Jim asked in whisper.

“We are following the voice.” El said cryptically.

“Uh - what voice?” He wondered out loud, pretty sure that the only thing he could hear out crickets.

“Shh!” El commanded looking off at a large tree a few meters away. The pair stalked quietly to it. As they rounded the other side of it, they both gasped at what they saw.

An unconscious woman was half hanging out of the tree, her legs still inside. She was naked and covered with the goo that acts as the barrier between realms. Both Hopper and El recognized the crevasse she was coming from as a doorway to the Upside Down.

‘Help me!’ The voice called out to El again.

“Help me get her out.” El said as she picked up one of the woman’s arms and started to pull the body out of the tree. Hopper took the other arm and pulled too, getting the woman fully out of the tree. Hopper stopped in his tracks though when he saw the markings on the woman’s wrist.

“El, look!” He whispered harshly. Even El was taken aback by what she saw.

002

The two had taken the woman back to the cabin. El managed to put one of Hopper’s shirts and some shorts to cover her naked body. They put her on the couch and then sat and waited for the woman to wake up and tell them what the hell was going on.

It was only maybe half a hour before the woman stirred.

///

Y/n’s eyes blinked open into a dimly lit space. It was too bright to be The Dark Place, she decided. She looked around, the light actually hurting her eyes. She froze the second she spotted a young girl with curly hair sitting near her. And then fear gripped her when she saw a large man sitting next to her protectively. But after Y/n’s eyes adjusted to the light, she recognized the girl as the one she was calling to for help.

"Who are you?” El asked stoicly.

“I’ll ask you the same.” Y/n croaked out with her voice that she had seldom had a need for. The tension made her jaw twitch, which did not go unnoticed by Hopper and El.

“I am Eleven.” El said as she showed her 011 to Y/n.

Y/n frowned. She was upset that, firstly, the experiments with children had continued after she had left. She was sad that more poor children were treated the way she was. But then a pang happened in her chest as she remembered the few kind things that she had been told in the facility. That she was one of a kind. That she was special, because she was the only one who could do what she could. And now, obviously that wasn’t true. And not just once, but nine times. She therefore, was not special. And that made Y/n feel - what? Mad? No, this was different. This was a new feeling to Y/n.

“Why were you in the Upside Down?” El asked. But Y/n just looked at her confused.

“Upside Down?” Y/n asked cocking her head, not knowing what El was talking about. Preparing to show the girl some of what Y/n was capable of, Y/n said, “This is where I was.” And then, looking El directly in the eyes, Y/n projected images of The Dark Place into El’s mind. It was something she could do with other psychics. After a moment, Y/n broke the bond. El nodded.

“I call that place the Upside Down.” El explained. “Why were you in there?”

“Let me show you?” Y/n asked, and El nodded. Their eyes met and their minds melded.

Y/n started at the beginning. She grew up in what she called The Metal Place, but El knew it to be the Facility where she grew up too. There were people there, and one man she called, ‘Dad’. They asked her to do things that started out harmless enough; guess the picture on the back of a card, move an item across a table. Soon they got her to go to The Dark Place and then tell them about it. To try to have visions about things other people were doing, and then report back (but she was never able to). Eventually the tasks became harder and harder, until one day she had a vision that saved her. If she stayed with them at The Metal Place, eventually the task would be so hard it would kill her. So she ran to the only other place she knew. The Dark Place. And she was there for a very long time. It was only now that she decided to come back because The Sleepless Bad was getting too strong.

“What’s The Sleepless Bad?” El asked and Y/n showed her images of a huge spidery like creature that seemed to be made up of just shadows. When Y/n finished showing El the images of her past there was a silence while El thought about what she had just been shown.

“What are you thinking, kid?” The man broke the silence. Y/n looked at him warily.

“This is Hopper, by the way.” El explained noticing Y/n’s severity towards the man. “So you have visions?” she asked quickly.

“Yes. I can.” Y/n admitted. And then, as if on queue Y/n felt the familiar pain in her forehead. She went to put her hand to where it hurt, but it hit her full force before she could reach it. Suddenly Y/n’s eyes seemed to roll to the back of her head before her face grimaced, showing all of the pain that she was in. El and Hopper could tell that Y/n wasn’t breathing while this was happening. They both sat up in surprise at the sight in front of them.

Y/n lay underneath the large man named Hopper who held her in his arms. Neither had clothes on. Their lips constantly pressed together, and their bodies moved together in sync, like a wave.

Then Y/n gasped, taking a much needed breath, and her eyes came forward again. Her jaw twitched again.

“What was that?” Hopper asked confused.

“A vision.” El said as she figured she knew. Y/n just nodded.

“Is it like that every time?” Hopper asked inquisitively.

"Its worse when I fight it. Try to avoid seeing the visions. It’s just...worse.” Y/n explained.

“What did you see?” Hopper asked. But Y/n truly didn’t know what she saw. All of the actions in it were new to her. She had never seen anybody do them before. She didn’t know what they were for.

“I-I don’t know what its called. Or what it means.” She said slowly.

“Show me.”El gently ordered. But since Y/n knew that Hopper was in it with her, she decided to show El only the actions, and not the face. First she showed what the heads were doing. The image of lips pressing together over and over.

“That’s kissing.” El said matter of fact. Hopper choked on his breath.

“Excuse me, what?” He said startled.

“What is kissing for?” Y/n asked.

“It’s how you show someone you like them.” El explained. Then the two locked eyes again and Y/n showed her the waving bodies. El looked away quickly, a deep blush creeping onto her face.

Hopper saw this and he had to ask. “What is it? What’s going on?”

“I - I think that’s sex.” El murmured quietly.

“What the hell?!!” Hop all but yelled. He stood up quickly and took a dominating step closer to Y/n. But she seemed unfazed by the gesture.

“And what is sex for?” Y/n asked plainly. But El could only blush deeper and look to Hop, who was really the only one of the three to have experience in the action.

“It’s not for you!” He said loudly, pointing at El. “It’s for grown ups who are in love. No one else.” He said sternly before muttering something to himself, stalking over to the kitchen, going into the fridge and pulling out a beer.

Y/n measured the man’s words for a moment before she had another question. “And what is love?”

El smiled, thinking about Mike. “Its when you more than just like someone.”

“Like how I like you?” Y/n asked her. El smirked. “No, its when you want to be with someone. When you would put their needs before your own. When you want nothing more than to spend time with them. To see them smile. Y’know?” But Y/n could only shake her head. She had no idea what El was talking about.

“Who were the people in your vision?” El asked just out of wonder. Hopper came to sit down again, this time with a beer in hand. Y/n didn’t answer, she just watched as Hopper got comfortable in his chair again. “Were you in it?” El continued. Y/n’s eyes met hers bashfully for a moment before looking down to the floor. “Who else was there?” She pressed. Y/n smiled shyly trying to hide the redness on her cheeks. She hoped that neither had caught her quick glance to Hopper, who was currently taking a sip of his drink. El saw it thought. But she resolved not to say anything.

“Do you always have visions of people doing that?” Hopper said, annoyed that this was the subject matter of the conversation they were having with El, a child. Y/n looked up at him with a furrowed brow.

“My visions are of what is around. They are usually of The Dark Place or The Sleepless Bad.” Y/n explained like it was obvious.

“Would you excuse us for a minute?” El asked Y/n who just nodded her response. El and Hopper left to go out onto the porch. Y/n suddenly felt that pain in her forehead again and her eyes quickly rolled to the back of her head.

“I think we can trust her. Please let her stay!” El all but begged Hopper. He leaned on the rail of the porch and ran one of his large hands through his hair before huffing. He lulled his head and sighed defeated. “Fine.”

///

The morning after, El and Hopper came out into the living room perplexed. The night before El had made up the couch for Y/n to sleep on, but now she wasn’t there. Even more confusing was that when they went to the kitchen, all of the dishes from one of the cupboards under the counter were strewn about all over the floor.

Hopper just sighed, already fed up with the house guest, and started to pick up the dishes on the floor. El, for a brief moment was scarred, thinking that the woman ran away. But she had a hunch, and quietly tip-toed over to the cupboard. Hopper stopped to watch as El slowly and silently opened the cupboard.

Inside was exactly what El thought it would be. Y/n laid there, curled up, cuddling one of the couch cushions, sleeping away. El looked back to Hopper with a smile. And Hopper could’t help the smile that threatened to grace his lips at the sight of the woman hiding in his cupboard. She looked so small and delicate. Vulnerable even, and Hopper couldn’t help but feel like he wanted to protect her from everything. But that feeling was shaken away as El shook the woman awake. Y/n woke with a start, grabbing El’s wrist defensively while shooting upwards, hitting her head on the counter above. El and Hopper chuckled as Y/ let go of El to rub her head where she hit it.

“It’s time for breakfast.” El said happily.

///

The three sat at the table eating together. It had been silent, so Hopper, who was uncomfortable in it, broke the silence. “So, you can see the future?” He wanted confirmation.

“I can see the present and the future.” Y/n explained matter-of-fact.

“But not the past?” El asked. Y/n shook her head.

“If you can see the future, can you see the winning lotto numbers for the next pull?” Hopper asked almost joking.

“Lotto?” Y/n asked confused.

El explained, “Its like a guessing game where you can win money if you guess the right numbers.”

“You want me to try to have a vision?” Y/n clarified, looking at the two. Hopper nodded before taking a puff from his cigarette. All of a sudden Y/n look turned from curious to condemnation. Hopper noticed and he gave her a concerned looked before looking worriedly to El.

“No.” Y/n said curtly. “That’s not how it works.” Then she shoved as much toast into her mouth as she could.

“We are sorry.” El started after a moment, trying to get Y/n’s gaze to look meet her own. “We didn’t know.” Y/n’s chewing became less angry and slowed down. She sighed a long breath before stopping entirely. Her jaw twitched like it did the night before. Then she nodded, acknowledging El’s apology. El smiled and went back to her Eggos. But Hopper just sat there looking at the two girls confused out of his mind as to what the hell just happened.

///

Y/n was enthralled with show that was playing on the TV as El was when she first came. The three saw on the couch mindlessly staring at the screen. One of the characters, named Y/n, was able to wiggle her nose as a cute gimmick. Y/n turned to Hopper and El.

“Like this?” Y/n asked before wiggling her nose just like the character on the show. El giggled, but Hop felt a tickle in his heart, thinking that it was just the cutest thing. He didn’t want to admit that he liked having the woman around. She picked up on things quickly. Figuring out things about the current culture just by watching television and reading what few books were around the cabin. He suspected that she must have something like an idetic memory.

“Should we call you Y/n then?” Hopper chuckled. Y/n’s face lit up like a disco ball. She nodded enthusiastically. “Okay then. Y/n it is.” He sighed contently, “I like it. It suits you.”

Y/n couldn’t help the blush that crept up onto her cheeks.

#stranger things imagine #stranger things reader insert #jim hopper imagine #jim hopper x reader #eleven x reader #eleven imagine

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puckinghell · 5 years ago

Text

Lover | Josh Anderson | drabble

Note: I decided not to edit so have fun with my mess. Ignore the cheesiness I don’t usually have these feelings so idk how to deal with them.

---

It’s June, 2019, and this is not the kinda night you’d been picturing.

It’s not like you’ve got any kind of claim on Josh, but you can’t stop the sour look from crossing your face when you watch him mingle.

You should’ve known that it wasn’t just a fun little hang out with friends, like he said. Should’ve known it would turn into a house party; it always does, in all the years you’ve been his best friends, and there’s been many of them. Why would you assume it to be different this time?

A little voice whispers in the back of your mind, loud enough to sound over the booming music that is slowly but steadily increasing your headache.

Because we’re different this time.

But you don’t really know that for sure, is the thing.

You’ve been friends with Josh for many years. In fact, there’s nobody else you know better than him, and nobody gets you like he does. Sure, you harbored a crush towards him for the past three, but he never acted like he was interested in you that way, and so you’d never entertained the thought of making anything happen.

Until he kissed you.

And that’s why things are different, now, or so you’d thought.

“You look like you just swallowed a worm.” It’s Seth Jones, because of course it is. All Josh’s other friends, who you love so dearly, are too oblivious to notice such a thing.

“Am not,” you huff, although you figure he can’t be off by much. “I just think it’s funny how...” You stop yourself. Seth is looking at you with one eyebrow raised and his expression borders from curious to amused, and you don’t really want to start talking shit about Josh to one of his teammates.

“He’s not into them, you know,” says Seth, because he’s apparently the only hockey player with a working brain. “He’s being friendly, but nothing more. You’re the only one he’s going home with.”

“He’s already home,” you snap, but it’s mostly to try and hide the embarrassing flush that has found your cheeks, or the way Seth’s words eased a tension in your shoulders you weren’t even aware you’d been carrying.

Seth simply rolls his eyes, and when he says “What am I going to do with you two” there’s nothing but fondness in his voice.

“Do you really think...” you start, but he interrupts.

“Yes. Now please go to him.”

And so you do, mostly because you don’t really know what else to say to Seth.

Josh is laughing at something Zach Werenski is saying, Zach’s girlfriend giggling along too, and you can’t help but smile. He looks relaxed, beer in hand, eyes sparkling, in a way that he never seems during the season.

Summer has been good for him.

“Hey,” you say, when you approach. Your voice is soft but Josh’s head snaps up immediately and his smile widens.

“Hi, babe,” he answers, extending his arm to wrap around your waist and tug you into his side. “You know Zach’s girlfriend, right?”

“Odette,” you nod with a smile, “nice to see you again.”

“It’s been a while!” Odette says easily. “I can’t wait to see more of you once the season starts! You’ll fit right in with all the other WAGs.”

This makes you raise a questioning eyebrow at Josh, who looks like someone caught him with his hand in the cookie jar.

He leans in a little closer so he can whisper against your ear; “I might’ve been bragging about you being my girlfriend, I hope you don’t mind.”

“I don’t mind,” is the first thing that comes to mind, and then, the second: “You never mentioned to me that I’m your girlfriend.”

Realization dawns on his face and at first he seems embarrassed, but that quickly changes to smug. “But you don’t mind.”

“Girlfriend sounds better than lover,” you shrug, because that’s what Josh had first referred to you as, and his laugh rings clear through the room.

“I had another question,” he says, then, changing subjects. “Boone was talking about wanting to crash on the couch tonight, do you mind?”

You shrug. “I don’t, but it doesn’t matter, it’s your apartment, your call.”

Josh’s expression falls. “It’s our call. This place is yours, too.” His arm tightens around your waist, and he looks genuinely worried when he asks: “Everything that’s mine is yours, you know that right?”

You hadn’t, but it does something funny to your heart and all you can do is nod.

It’s in that moment that you know you’ve loved him for three summers, but you want to love him for many, many more.

----

It’s December, 2020, and you’re not sure what to do with this situation.

“Josh, we can’t leave the Christmas lights up,” you say, horrified. “Christmas was 3 days ago!”

Josh simply rolls his eyes. He’s sitting on the couch with his feet kicked up, his eyes fixed on the television, and he seems annoyingly unbothered by your oncoming mental breakdown.

“We can leave the Christmas lights up to January,” he says, “this is our place, our rules.”

You stare at the tree; it’s decorated beautifully, mostly because you told Josh where to put the ornaments. Last year, you’d let him do his thing, and you ended up with a tree that was only half decorated, because he forgot to do the back.

Not that anyone can see the back. But it’s the thought, that counts, as it is with this decision.

“My mother is gonna have a heart attack, when she comes over,” you warn him. Josh shrugs, still not caring.

To be fair, your mother is so completely infatuated with Josh it’s like she loves him more than you love him; she’s always fussing over him, always telling you to take better care of him cause he looks tired and saying how lucky you are.

Which, you know, thank you very much.

“Our place, our rules,” he simply repeats, then he pats the couch and pulls his bottom lip into a pout. “Come cuddle me. I’ve barely seen you over Christmas.”

That’s not not true; the entire Anderson family came over for Christmas and you wanted it to be as perfect as possible. Dinner alone had taken you three days to plan, buy groceries for, then cook, and eventually clean up.

You sigh but give in, because Josh is pulling his puppy face, and you can’t say no to that face.

With a thump, you fall next to him on the couch, and instantly his arm curls around you and pulls you into him. Like magic, the stress is starting to lift away from your body, just the familiar smell of Josh’s musky cologne enough to make you feel at peace.

“Stop worrying about your family,” Josh mumbles. “They’ll be fine.”

It’s not even surprising to you that Josh read you like a book; he always does. It makes it feel like you’ve known him for 20 years, even though the way your stomach flutters when he smiles makes it feel like you’ve known him for 20 seconds.

You’re not as close with your family as Josh’s is with his, and you were glad that they got Christmas and yours got New Years. Christmas is your favorite holiday and it wouldn’t have been as perfect as it was, without Josh’s family there.

“I’d much rather have your family over again,” you complain, and Josh shakes with quiet laughter.

“They’re your family too, you know,” he says. “That’s one of the upsides of being my lover.”

You smack him with a pillow. “Stop calling me that.”

“Stop being dramatic,” he teases, and you’re about to smack him again but then he’s pulling you into him and he’s kissing you and you forget why you were annoyed with him.

His hands wander under your shirt and you release a breath, the Christmas lights long forgotten, when suddenly he pulls away.

“Be my wife.”

“What?”

There’s a loaded silence in the apartment for a few seconds, Josh’s bright blue eyes staring into yours like he’s trying to tell you something with just a look. When you don’t answer - you don’t even think you’re breathing - he sighs.

“Sorry, that’s not exactly how I planned it.” He sits up, extends his hand and helps you to sit up too. “I had a grand proposal planned, actually, during New Years. But now you just said to stop calling you my lover and I just...”

He smiles, a lopsided shy grin that melts your heart.

“I just want to call you my wife, instead.”

You frown. You want to be his wife, more than anything, but you don’t want this to be a spur of the moment thing. You want, no, need him to be sure about this decision.

“Are you sure, Josh?” you pry, because of that. “Have you even thought this through?”

Josh grins, scrambles off the couch then and runs to the bedroom, only to return with a little red velvet box in his hand.

He kneels before the couch and puts the box in your hand.

“Y/N,” he says slowly, “I was going to ask you in a few days, but I think I’m physically incapable of waiting any longer.. Will you please marry me?”

He opens the box and the ring is so beautiful, so you, that tears immediately jump into your eyes.

“Yes,” you whisper, “yes, Josh, of course.”

You leap forward and he catches you, because of course he does, because he’s been doing that since you met years ago, since before you knew you loved him, since before he told you that he loved you.

“My wife,” Josh whispers, his tone confused, as if he himself can’t quite believe what just happened.

You sniffle and pull away, stroking some wayward locks down as you beam up at him.

“Fiance, first, I guess,” he grins.

“Still better than lover,” you decide, and then you kiss him.

---

It’s October, 2021, and the room is bustling with life while you’re having a mild panic attack.

It’s just, the thing is, if there’s one thing you wanted to get right, it’s the vows.

“It’s gonna be a mess, Odette,” you whine, fumbling with your dress.

“Stop that,” she says, fixing something in your hair. “You look absolutely beautiful, Y/N. Josh is gonna forget how to speak, when he sees you.”

“He’s not very good at speaking anyway,” Kayla, your sister, says teasingly. “I know you worry about your vows, but they’re gonna be so much better than his, it won’t even matter.”

“It’s not a competition, Kay,” you chastise her, even though it kinda is.

Josh made it one, when he came to find you last night and mumbled, voice silk like honey, into your ear: “My vows are so great you’re not gonna remember yours.”

You slapped his butt when he ran away, giggling hysterically because he’s apparently a fifteen year old girl.

The bridesmaids gather around, Odette squeezes your hand and Kayla pretends she’s not crying already, and then it’s showtime.

Nerves are flying so high you barely remember how to walk, and you almost think you won’t make it down the isle, when suddenly, everything clicks.

You’ve seen a lot of chick flicks, romantic movies. You read a lot of books. But you never thought any of that stuff was true, never thought the world could disappear by looking at a person.

But then your eyes find Josh at the end of the isle, and he smiles, and every cliche you’ve ever heard is here, you’re living them all at the same time.

You don’t know how you manage, but you’re walking, and all your friends and family are there, and Josh is smiling, and when you’re standing in front of him, you don’t even have to think about your vows.

They flow out of you because they’re nothing but the truth.

“Something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue.

Well, Josh, my heart’s been borrowed and yours has been blue, and I know for a fact that Boone is wearing an old suit, so I guess all we need is the something new.”

The crowd laughs, and a loud “hey!” sounds from the general direction where Boone is sitting.

“But then again, I guess this whole thing is new for me. When I met you, I knew you were my soulmate, but I never thought I would get to have this. Never thought I would get to love you the way I do, and to have you love me back, like only you can.

I never thought I’d end up here. But all’s well that ends well, Josh, because I ended up with you.”

Josh smiles, but it’s a watery smile, his eyes a little misty, and you have to swallow away the lump in your throat.

“So I swear to be overdramatic, and true to you.

I swear to laugh at all your dirty jokes, the one’s so rotten you don’t even tell them to the boys.

I swear to fuss over any injury the medical staff has already sweated to patch up, and to let you kiss me when I’m sick, despite that being really gross.

And I swear that, at every table, I’ll save you a seat, and to only ask you to fetch me drinks 9 out of 10 times.

And I swear to love you, even at times where you don’t think anyone could. Always.”

There’s a silence in the room and then it’s Kayla who speaks.

“She won, Joshy.”

He laughs, squeezes your hand before turning to your sister.

“You know what, she probably did, but let me get my shot, okay?” He takes a deep breath, and you can tell he’s nervous - why is beyond you, you’ve been his since the very first time you saw him - but then he catches your eye and a calmness flows over him.

“You know, I’m not the smartest tool in the shed. I know hockey, and not much else.

And yet, when I met you, I knew. So clearly, so surely, I knew that I was never going to live a life without you. I didn’t know in what capacity you’d want me in your life but I knew I was going to fight tooth and nail to worm my way in, and I guess I succeeded.”

He grins.

“I’ve always been a stubborn asshole, as you lovingly tell me nearly every week.”

You roll your eyes, but mostly to hide the tears.

“So, I just want to ask you a few questions, really.

Can I go where you go? Can we always be this close, forever and ever?

Because I know there’s a lot of people I want to take me out, but there’s only one person I want to take me home, and it’s...”

He pauses, smirks, mischievously.

“It’s you, darling, my lover.”

You pretend to kick him and the crowd laughs, but really, you’re not annoyed.

It feels like you’re incapable of ever being annoyed again.

Josh looks around, squeezes your hand again.

“Ladies and gentlemen, will you please stand?”

Everyone obeys.

“With every hockey induced scar on my hand, I would like to take this beautiful, magnetic force of a woman to be my wife, my partner in crime, my ride or die, my everything.”

You smile.

“And I would like to take this man to be my...”

You pause, build suspense, know Josh knows what’s coming as a lazy smirk crosses his face.

“... lover.”

Then his lips touch yours and nothing has ever been more right.

#josh anderson #columbus blue jackets #nhl imagine #nhl one shots #josh anderson fic

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spc4eva · 4 years ago

Text

Mandokar: Chapter Two

Summary: Clan Vizsla returns to the Tribe and Senaar settles into her new life.

Word Count: 15,125

Author Notes: Just some more info about the Anaxian race that I've created!

An offshoot of the Sephi race, removed by generations of evolution based on Anaxes' climate. Appearance: Humanoid, sub-human, differentiated by long pointed ears (longer than most Sephi) which are hyper sensitive to the forests that they dwell in. Skin tends to be tan to dark, though there are a few fairer skinned Anaxians. Sunlight is powerful, despite the forest, which is why the melanin in their skin tends to be strong to act as a buffer when they leave the woods or are in glades. Eye hues range in earth tones, mostly brown, but a few are green. Gold is another color, while a bit rare and considered blessed amongst the people. Royalty almost always has the golden eyes. Hair color is also dark, from jet black to medium brown. Blonde, red, and light brown hair is almost unheard of and incredibly unnatural amongst Anaxians. On average, they get to the same height as humans, but tend to be more slender and willowy. Anaxians eyes work well for the dim lighting of the forest acolves and long nights. They have the ability to see in little to no light, but not utter darkness. Due to their lighter bone structures, Anaxians are quicker and more agile than other races, making for spectacular warriors should they have the inclination. Light footed from years of hunting in their forests, they are exceptionally gifted with stealth and able to fight with acrobatic feats. Despite these abilities, Anaxians have the drawbacks of being more frail than other humanoid races. For their speed and stealth, they are more easily overwhelmed by strength.

Goddess Marks/Tears: markings on the skin of Anaxians which are similar to beauty marks. Rather than be dark, these marks are the size of tears and shaped the same. Sometimes they are also referred to as petals. Each mark is gold, humming with a shimmering iridescence which is contrasted by an Anaxian's dark complexion. Most Anaxians have between 5-10 marks, though those descended of purer bloodline - ie. nobles or royalty - often have more. They are not tattoos and are on an Anaxian from birth. Those that possess a lot of them are considered 'Chosen' by the Goddess, especially if the marks play out in a more purposeful manner than just sporadic petals against the skin, placed randomly. Some Anaxians get more tattooed on them in an attempt to seem more special and it's not uncommon. However, the tattoos don't have the same glow as the natural marks. Often Anaxians will use the tattoos to link their marks together in designs.

Note: Anaxians are not long lived like Sephis. They live 80-100 standard years on average. Anaxians do not reach sexual maturity until 20 years old, taking a little longer to grow through their adolescence into adult bodies.

Anaxians are also not well traveled. They don't like to leave their home planet often. Pure Sephis often call them forest bumpkins, so there's a little love lost between the similar races.

Most of Anaxian culture was inspired by wood elves from Lord of the Rings with a mixture of Celtic heritage.

Inspiration photo for Anaxians (and Sena specifically) is this

Crossposted on AO3

The helmet was more comfortable with the padding, but she wasn't forced to wear it much around the ship with her aliit. Senaar Vizsla. She repeated it numerous times in her head, staring at the ceiling as she cocooned herself in a pile of blankets on the floor. Hux, her buir now, told her not to dwell too deeply on what had happened on Anaxes. He'd said that nothing could be done and carrying that in her heart would just hurt. When she asked about her papa, he explained that he was marching far away, but one day she'd see him again. He taught her the prayer to say every night before bed and that more names would join her papa's, but it was her duty to remember them and love them. Sena was fully committed to becoming Mandalorian, even if she was a bit nervous and frightened by the shock of everything that had happened. Be strong. Papa would be watching and she had to make him proud... buir and ori'vod too.

" Sen'ika ," Paz entreated, drawing her attention as she leered at the ceiling of the ship, hiding in her blankets as if it were a toasty little garrison. Hyperspace was cold, much colder than most of Anaxes' yearly climate. "Come sit over here."

Dragging her blankets with her, helmet nestled against her tummy, she sat beside Paz and eyed what he was working on. Set in front of him was the rifle he had used during their escape from Genmaris. Now, it was in several pieces, he had a cloth and swatches of cotton, many of which were stained with blaster residue. He was cleaning the weapon.

"Have you ever taken one apart before?" Paz inquired lightly, gazing down at her with icy blue eyes. Despite how shockingly pale his eyes were, they were still kind and warm. He had short blonde hair, messy from his helmet, and was probably not much older than her despite his height and fitness.

"I know how to take the slide off of my pistol, but I've never taken it apart like this," Sena admitted, cheeks burning as she wondered if she was severely behind in her knowledge. What if the other children made fun of her? What if she was stupider than kids a lot younger than her? Would her buir disown her? Take the helmet back and tell her to get out?

"Most firearms are the same aside from the coils in buttstocks of rifles and shotguns," Paz eased, sensing the girl's worry. "You will need to know not only how to fire your weapons, but how to clean them and assess any issues you may have while firing. Weapons are our religion, so we must take good care of them to protect our people. Now, let's begin-"

Paz showed her the various pieces of the rifle, the charging handle, the bolt, where cartridges were loading. There were bits of information that were familiar, as there was some overlap from what she knew about her pistol. Having her hands on it, manipulating the pieces, putting them together and taking them apart - everything clicked rather swiftly. The visual and physical method of learning, rather than out of a holobook, took repetition and application. The distraction was greatly appreciated and Sena was keen to prove that she was a quick learner.

They moved onto a blaster, Hux dropping down from the cockpit, cocking his head as Sena cleaned the weapon. "I thought I told you to clean them," he said, directing his attention toward Paz.

"I can help!" Sena insisted quickly, before Paz even had the chance to offer.

"I thought she should begin her lessons," her vod retorted, stiffening under the tart gaze of their buir .

"Teach yes, but don't let her do all the work. I assigned you this task," Hux reminded him duly, looking to Sena next, who jolted erect under his pale gaze. "Let your ori'vod finish the rest. Come along, there are many things you need to learn, ad'ika."

More distractions. Scampering up from her blankets, she followed her buir deeper into the ship and away from Paz as he was left by the armory. This part of the Kote was filled with weights, a pull up bar, a sparring dummy, thick padded mats, and other work out items. " Buyca ." Bucket.

Sena slipped it back on and fiddled with her belt, making certain that her belt was tight enough to keep the extra material from her clothes from tripping her up.

"I am going to test your strength and endurance levels," Hux alerted her. "I know that you had some training in combat."

"A little," Sena confirmed, but knew her knowledge certainly quailed in comparison to Mandalorian standard.

Hux began prattling off exercises. He started with pushups, which weren't too hard. Sena was tiny and her limbs short. She ran around through the woods often and handled her own body weight. Capable of pushups and a few weak pull ups, she hung upside down from the bar like a monkey, braid swaying behind her as her buir remarked quietly to himself. Apparently, she was not too bad off, her excursions outside of the castle leaning well with her heritage as an Anaxian. Small, compact, ready to spring like a viper; she was putty to be molded. Her hands had callouses from where she'd climbed trees, tearing the soft palms and pads. Her feet were rough from trolloping barefoot, which would ease the pain of wearing boots and the callouses that would form on top of her soles.

And the girl could run. Around the drill shed floor, without reprieve, puffing out of her vocoder and using the boxes as obstacles. The original doubt that Hux had about taking a princess in was vanishing. Even if she might feel a little out of place amongst the Mandalorians due to her upbringing, Ardryll had not lied about her being well suited for training. The right disposition could be developed and she still had many years ahead of her before she would become a hunter. Most of all, the girl was eager to prove herself, hanging onto every word that came out of Hux's vocoder, the analyzer picking up the earnesty and excitement in her voice.

They had five more days on the ship before they were to touch down on Vorpa'ya and rejoin the Tribe. Even if the child was tired, she got up early and helped out as much as she could. It was plain she didn't know how to do many mundane tasks, given that servants had done this for her during the course of her short life. The Vizslas were patient with her, having to teach her how to turn a burner on, how to properly fold her clothes, how to wash them, how to tidy up after herself, how to be more considerate of those she was sharing space with. Hux was thankful they had the ship to do this on, glaringly aware that the girl would be tossed right into training with peers of a similar age and set before the Council before the Tribe welcomed her.

Hux's nerves faded, glancing fondly over in the direction of the plum helmet as the child bent over with his son, trying to stitch together where they had cut up her shirt in an attempt to take it in so it wasn't so baggy. Her fingers quaked and she gasped again, pricking her thumb for the umpteenth time. Despite fussing at his son before, Paz took to the girl like a womp rat to filth and was thrilled to have someone to take under his wing. It was difficult not to and Hux grudgingly admitted that to himself often at the kid's heart. She didn't give up. Settling back in his spot by the table, he wondered what Sova would have thought of the girl.

She would have loved her, he reasoned silently. Anaxes was gone. Having turned the news on in the cockpit long enough to hear about the sweeping of the Empire through the galaxy, his insides had gone cold when he saw the information regarding Anaxes. After resisting the Empire, there was a reactor failure in one of the shipyards that detonated a stockpile of hypermatter. Whether this was accidental or the locals had decided that they wouldn't allow for Anaxes to be used as a pivotal anchor point, Hux could only speculate. All that remained of the planet was an asteroid belt, wiping away the beautiful forests that Genmaris had been tucked along. As far as anyone was concerned, the Anaxian princess had been on the planet during the cataclysm.

Her anonymity was more important now. Her long ears and Goddess Tears would be easily recognizable.

Damn Jetii, you knew. You knew all along what was coming and how she'd have to be hidden , Hux cursed. Originally, he had been vexed by the arrangement, held by his debt to the Jedi. Take a princess and make her Mandalorian? He'd scoffed at the idea, but knew in his heart he couldn't abandon a child to an abysmal fate. There had been many others who had likely died on Anaxes, but Hux couldn't have saved them all. At least one would live to have a family and he could have a hand in raising her. Paz had already detailed that the little bird had attacked a trooper like a rabid massiff, flying out from the shadows and puncturing the small exposed bit of his throat. While still clumsy, the girl had managed to buy Paz time and kill the soldier. Potential . The girl had a lot of potential.

That potential was shadowed by her naiveness, but she'd grow wiser with age.

"I look lumpy," Sena had her shirt on, the poor stitching bunching up around her midsection and zigzagging where she'd not kept the line straight.

"Could use some work," Paz admitted honestly, pinching at the fabric to attempt to tug the bundling seams down. "Don't worry, there will be clothes that fit you amongst the Tribe. You'll also get some leather beskar'gam , which we'll put the jai'galaar eyes on."

Jai'galaar eyes or shriek-hawk eyes were the original clan sigil of the Vizslas. It had been used for the Death Watch in the more recent years, disparaged and spat upon by many other Mandalorians for the Sith that Hux's brother Pre had unleashed on their home world. Originally, Hux had helped try to retake Mandalore, before realizing how wrong he had been about forcing the Resol'nare on people who wanted to live peacefully. His own commitment did not circumvent how sacred he held the lives of Mandalorians, even if they were considered dar'manda . Pre had not agreed, saying that the dar'manda would submit or die.

After being spared by the Jetii , Arydryll, he removed the blue and white paint of the Death Watch and returned home to his son, uprooting their life and moving amongst the Tribe where they were accepted with open arms under the condition that they did not remove their helmets. This dedication to the Resol'nare attracted him; the ideal lifestyle he had hoped for all of Mandalore. Yet, he knew their little covert was one of few and he cherished what they had found. Here, he could live as he wished, but without forcing it on those who did not possess the same dedication to the Resol'nare. Hux did not want glory or to partake in the fight against the Empire, he desperately wanted peace. Here, Paz would be able to learn and supply for his people. There were always threats, as being Mandalorian came with its own clauses, but the covert had escape plans if the need for relocation arose.

" Sen'ika , go work on your combat drills on the practice shed floor," Hux thrummed eventually as the girl continued to fiddle with her awkwardly sewn clothes.

"Yes, buir ," she answered obediently, trotting off without needing to be asked again.

Paz tilted his helmet, staring over at his father. Questioning.

Once the child was safely out of earshot, he let out a low sigh. "We will be landing soon and you know what'll happen. The Council will want to meet her and then introduce her to the Tribe," the man started, earning a nod of comprehension. "We will not be telling them where she is from."

"We are going to lie to the Tribe?" Paz asked, voice hitching in disdain.

"No, we are going to omit information. The less people that know who she was and where she is from means the Tribe shall be safer. Anaxes is nothing but rubble and asteroids. No one shall see her face aside from us until she marries and by that point, no one will be looking for her. Until then, it is for the Tribe's best interest that we are as nondescript as possible in regards to her heritage."

"Understood... Have you discussed this with, vod'ika ?"

"Yes, she fully comprehends the importance of being ambiguous with the Tribe. As far as they know, she's from Naboo."

"A little Naboo child who can jump and do acrobats better than the rest of them?" Paz pointed out, harping upon the natural gifts lended to her from being Anaxian.

"It explains her accent and education. They will not start her training out too difficult, as they'll want to test her to get a better idea of what age group to place her with. She still has a lot to learn in order to be as well prepared as others her age."

"Hm," Paz hummed in disagreement. "Maybe in Mando'a and hand to hand combat, but she knows how to hold her own. The others will come quickly enough."

"Keep a close eye on her. There will be an adjustment period, even if she is doing well with just the both of us," Hux warned. In the privacy of the Kote , she felt comfortable with her new clan. Amongst the Tribe, she'd be faced with unfamiliar helms, various trials, and an entirely new setting. He worried how she would react, that the comforting embrace of the ship being ripped away from her might cause her to falter. It was all she had come to know after leaving her home world and acknowledging her past life was dead. Even the most resilient children needed time to recover and whilst she was putting on a brave face, it would only take one misstep for her emotions to finally catch up with the swift pace she had set. Hux was expecting a breakdown of enormous proportions in the coming days.

"Of course, she's my vod'ika . I'll not let anything happen to her," Paz swore, the oath so deep and intended that Hux smiled. This was the Way.

Vorpa'ya was coated in lolling hills rustling with tall green grass. Not a tree in sight, the plains spreading onward, and the sun pelting down across the landscape to catch the glimmering shift of the wind through the grass. So open and exposed, so strange and unfamiliar as large brown herbivores meandered the grass. They had four pronged horns that cradled their faces, mooing quietly as they gnawed on the vegetation and trotted along. Despite the sun's glare, the temperature was mild and the wind chased away any discomfort the sun's smile might provide.

Dome shaped homes littered the largest hill, cresting upon it like little green dimples. The steel had been thatched with grass, which grew tall and swooned in the wind. From above, the houses would be impossible to discern from the rest of the rolling land of Vorpa'ya. Between the homes, the people milled around - the Tribe. Beskar helmets painted in various hues, visors shifting between T and Y-shaped, and daily life gliding forward, seemingly untouched by the war that ravaged the galaxy. The people were not ignorant to it, as each Mandalorian donned at least three weapons a piece, the hunters even more, but they were careful, meticulous, and on guard. Any day, their little village could be disrupted and they were prepared to fight and escort the children far away to relocate the covert.

Following awkwardly between Paz and Hux, Sena's head swiveled around. Visors tilted toward her, noticing the new bucket amongst their Tribe, and greeted her aliit in kind with, " Su cuy'gar " and " Su'cuy " from a few very small children who did not wear helmets. Even if this was not the comforting forest, Sena's heart burned in her chest, warmed by the atmosphere, and she smiled stupidly beneath her helmet as she offered a few little waves to children running underfoot. Some attacked Paz, forcing the trio to stop as a child collided with her shins.

"Hello," Sena chimed, looking down into the bright blue eyes of a twi'lek boy.

"You're new! Who're you? I like your bucket. It's a pretty color," the boy was no more than five and tugging at her trousers.

"My name is Senaar," she bent down toward the grabby hands and picked him up, a little surprised by how much he weighed. She'd already committed, so she huffed him up onto her hip and let him tug lightly on her long, black braid. "What's your name?"

"Zim!" he squealed, palming her helmet and pushing his brow against hers. Sena knew that this was a keldable kiss and was exchanged between family and lovers, but didn't know what to do when a child was doing that to her. The big blue eyes opened, pinning her reproachfully, and he butted her more forcefully - demanding reciprocation.

"Bonk," Sena muttered, offering him a small headbutt.

Zim giggled delightedly.

"Run along now, ade. Lalli is undoubtedly looking for you little womp rats," Hux scolded, but there was no spice or menace in his voice.

" Sen'ori , come play with us later?" Zim asked quickly, knowing the moments he had with her were numbered to the second.

"Uhm," she was bending down to put Zim back on his feet. "If it's allowed..."

Paz gave her a reassuring pat on the back. "I can show you the town and nursery later," he told her, Zim galloping off with the other younglings before they were allowed to continue their passage amongst the covert. "Do you have a lot of experience with children?"

Her cheeks burned and she shook her head. "Not really. There weren't that many kids around... there. And if there were I wasn't really allowed near them. Not because I'd get in trouble, but mostly just social standards. No little cousins or anything like that."

The nicest thing about this village was that there were so many people to talk to, to not treat her like a princess, and estrange her due to her status. People always dreamed about being a princess, but most of her friends had been written in the pages of books. Everyone in Genmaris had been wary about offending her, even though Sena tried not to come off as rude or cold. Just the brush with the children made her ecstatic, because she'd never experienced anything like it. Little Zim had forced himself into her arms and stolen two keldable kisses and he barely knew her. What would everyone else be like?

"You'll get the hang of it. Zim was rather taken with you," Paz assured her.

"I hope so. If we have time, I think I would like to go to the nursery," Sena insisted, licking her dry lips beneath her helmet as they approached the largest domed structure, which was located at the epicenter of the camp. Two grand doors were propped open, leading into a cavernous room that pelted warmth. Situated in the center was a circular hearth where pale white blue flames lanced up the rim, stabbing up like daggers toward a range hanging from the ceiling that filtered any smoke and helped contain the immense heat that wafted from the fire. Seats were arranged against the wall, curving into the structure in the form of benches, where dozens of adults could sit around the forge.

Dozens were not there now, only a few. Immediately, her eyes sought out the most imposing of the crowd, a broad Mandalorian in soot black painted armor. He had a hammer in his hand, pausing to watch them carefully, his visor framed by white so that it was distinguishable from the darkness of the rest of the armor. On the other side of the forge was a female with a golden helmet, who appeared to be helping him, the crown fringed with short horns.

"I have not seen that helmet in a long time," the black-painted Mandalorian declared in a deep, resonating voice that echoed throughout the hall like ocean waves crashing against a rocky coastline. "A Foundling, Vizsla?"

" Elek , Smith," her buir stepped forward, brushing his hand along her shoulder and bringing her forth with him. "Senaar."

Uncertain of what to do, since she was no longer a princess, she simply stood there stiffly. Her helmet wasn't reading the Smith's voice very well, coming up as unknown.

"She is Mandalorian?" the Smith inquired, cocking his head slightly.

Sena was getting better at reading body language. Despite the fact she had seen Paz and Hux's faces, they tended to still move around as if they were wearing their helmets. Body language spoke volumes and the questioning turn of a helmet was already ingrained in her brain. She still had to learn the other nuances.

" Cin vhetin ," Hux offered simply. "I have renamed her."

"Welcome to the Tribe, Senaar of Clan Vizsla," the Smith greeted, visor skimming over her frame. "It appears you are in dire need of proper attire. Armorer, could you please assist in getting our new vod outfitted?"

The golden helmeted female stepped forward, bending down slightly to lift Sena's arms and take a few measurements. Her fingers picked at the atrocious stitching that Sena had managed and she murmured quietly to herself. "I should have things that fit you, vod . Come along."

Despite the encouragement from the young woman, she threw her head toward her buir , who gave her a nod. Allowed to follow the Armorer, they entered a back room in the hall. Considerably smaller, but chocked full of supplies to include various ingots of steel, most of durasteel, some of beskar, cloaks, boots, trousers, shirts. This was a supply closet, most of the attire dark and earth toned. A warrior's armor was where their personality was displayed in the colors in which they chose to paint it. She noticed that the Armorer's bucket was not painted, but shimmered gold. Sena wondered what color was beneath hers, but hadn't thought to touch the plum paint.

Pulling a few tops out, the Armorer decided which size would work best and began to create a pile for Sena. Boots, socks, underwear, and gloves were added to the ensemble. Finally, she pulled a few leather vests out, tightening it around Sena's frame to make certain it fit.

"This will be your armor until you can hunt and earn your own," the Armorer explained, adding leather vambraces and leg pads. "Get changed up and I will show you how to adorn them."

Sena was worried that the Armorer would wait nearby, but the female was discreet and stepped out of the supply closet to let Sena change in privacy. Discarding her frumpy, borrowed attire, she swapped it for clothing that fit much better. The pants were a little long still, but at least they didn't require a belt to keep up. The fabric was dark brown like dirt, the neckline curving up to hide her throat entirely. With gloves, knee high boots, a belt, with pouches - she stood there awkwardly trying to figure out what to do with the cuirass.

"Armorer?" she called tentatively, the gold helmet popping back in the doorway at the sound of her name.

"See these here?" the Armorer touched her gloves to the loops on the suit she was now wearing. "The armor attached to these points. Let's begin with the cuisse and greaves," sitting her down on the bench, she began strapping up the leather pads over her thighs and against her shins. "The cuirass or heartplate straps in on its own. Since it is not steel, it'll be a little tighter than beskar. Next, we have your vambraces, which will act as a point of defense. This is the first item you should craft of beskar," she tied the laced, the leather polished, but missing any of the tiny buttons that Hux had on his. "And your pauldrons will be where your clan sigil is displayed. For Vizslas, that is the shriek-hawk eyes."

" Ori'vod said he would help me paint it. Am I allowed to paint the leather? I don't want to get in trouble-" Sena's fretfulness caused her to begin babbling much too quickly, earning a light chuckle from the Armorer.

"The armor is yours now. You are allowed to paint it, though leather does not hold the paint as well as steel. During your training is it very likely to chip and peel," the Armorer informed her kindly. "But you should add the shriek-hawk eyes."

Sena wagged her head in agreement, thanking the Armorer before picking up her bundle of clothes and her extra set of boots. Hugging the supplies to her chest, she trundled out of the supply room to see a few other Mandalorians poking around. People had wandered into the hall. Immediately, they looked toward her, causing her to freeze where she stood and drop a boot. The sole colliding with the ground echoed throughout the cavernous hall and interrupted all conversation. Sena wanted to faint, shaking like a leaf.

Bending down, she battled with the edge of the boot before managing to snag it and toss it back on top of her pile. All but running over to Paz, she tucked toward his side and glanced around anxiously. Sena wasn't shy, but she'd also never seen Mandalorians before the Vizslas and now she was in an entire village of them. On top of that, she wanted to impress them and not make them regret taking her in. The sheer weight of wanting to be as good as possible made her quiver anxiously a bit. Being a princess wouldn't win her any brownie points and as far as they knew, she was from Naboo.

"Much better," Paz said, looking down at her new clothes and armor. "A full Mandalorian now, vod'ika -" he elbowed her lightly, nearly sending all her belongings flying from her hands. "The Elders want to meet you. Let me hold these for you and then we'll get the chance to drop them off at home."

Elders? They sounded mighty important. Sena swallowed the impossibly large lump in her throat and gave Paz a mute nod, passing over her supplies. She gave herself a minor pep talk, rationalizing that this couldn't be anymore intimidating than the vipers in the court. Even if she was unable to see their faces, at least they'd all been rather cordial with her until this point. Direct, straightforward, no beating around the bush. It was so unlike the climate she was accustomed to and while she liked it, she felt woefully ill prepared. Being guarded was so much easier, as was not taking most people at their word.

Arranged in the seats nearest to the forge was a council of seven - to include the Smith who sat amongst them. Most of the members had on armor, though there were two Elders, so old and fragile looking, that they did not don any armor. One was a woman who looked like a shriveled up prune, her skin hanging around her face so loose that it was difficult to tell if there were scars amongst her riddled countenance. Dark brown eyes perceived her, lancing right into her own, despite the visor that obscured Sena's.

The patriarch had a kinder expression, his face not resembling a crinkled up tissue. His skin was dark, sagging pale brows over wise irises. Braids of snow rain down his scalp and around his shoulders, a pink scar dragged along his left cheek like a bolt of lightning on a blackened field.

Four others; a female in cyan armor, a male in orange, a male in crimson, and a male in blue and white. Each one had various markings, designs, and spots differentiating their beskar. From the years of wearing the beskar, there were gouges, scratches, and marks that they wore proudly. Vambraces varied, as did weapons, and despite the fact that people said that all Mandos were the same, modulated bucketheads, Sena saw a huge difference between each of them. Not just because of their varying colors, but the manner in which they had painted designs, or highlighted the scratches with paint to make the scars pop, or the variance in design of the cuirasses as the style had improved over the years.

"Senaar of Clan Vizsla," the patriarch had a husky voice, so deep that it sounded as if it had been dredged out of the depths of Trask's oceans. "The Tribe welcomes you as our newest addition. My name is Rhenx and I am the Alor of the Tribe."

Alor sounded important, but in her nervousness, she couldn't recall if her buir had told her what it meant. "The pleasure is mine, Alor ," she retorted, still a bit too quickly, but was thankful her voice didn't fail her. The least her courtesy training could do for her was not make her sound like an idiot in front of the most important people in the Tribe. They were judging her at that moment, she was certain of it.

Rhenx gave an encouraging smile with pooled heat in her tummy and eased her shoulders. "Polite. Perhaps you could teach your aliit some manners,” he remarked, drawing a few laughs from the Elders flanking him. “Tell me, vod , what is your ambition?”

This was a question she had not been prepped for, the helmet heavy on her head as she tilted slightly to the side and considered him for a moment. Better to think than to spew nonsense. “To have a home and family. To belong ,” the answer was simple and yet it was all she could hope for now that her papa was gone. She’d not have many friends before and she hoped that she could change that here.

“Not of great prowess? To be the best hunter?” Rhenx mused, his questions making her heart thump in her chest as if she were a rabbit being eyed by a wolf.

Had she chosen the wrong words? Shuddering a breath slightly, she knew she couldn’t rescind them without looking stupid. “That too, but those come after,” she retorted, cheeks heated beneath her helmet, thankful for the mask to hide her abysmal expression.

Rhenx bellowed a laugh, making her jump. “Where did you find this one, Vizsla?”

“Naboo.”

Devoting his attention back to her, Rhenx offered another obliging look. “You have had a long journey, vod. We look forward to seeing you excel here. The Tribe is now your family, we take care of one another, protect one another. You will learn our ways and one day provide as your buir provides for you.”

Out of habit and because it felt natural, Sena bowed her head respectfully and took her leave. She couldn’t get beside Paz quickly enough, feet hastened and heart beating erratically until they had left the pressure of the hall. While the meeting with the Elders had gone much more easily than she had been expecting, she had a feeling that they’d be watching for the days to come. Until this point in her life, there had been little expectations of Sena other than to sometimes be at the right place at the right time. Taking advantage as a princess, she’d been able to shirk many duties and get away with mistakes that normal people would have been reprimanded for. There was a tiny bit of regiment in her from the little combat training she did have, but drawing upon her week on the Kote she knew that laziness and indignance would not be tolerated. Even if she was only 13, Sena was not stupid. Her frivolous years until this point were just that; until this point.

Tingling like bad food in the pit of her tummy, she considered what might happen. Part of her was fretful that she wouldn’t fit in and that she’d be detrimentally behind the others. Not in academics, because she’d studied with tutors, but in combat. They literally breathed blaster smoke like oxygen.

“You’re quiet, vod’ika ,” Paz observed as they continued to bask in the glow of the sun, heading to the edge of the town. She saw a few of the cattle grazing in the distance, otherwise just an empty landscape that seemed as if it could fall into the sky. Despite having found it pretty before, Sena was suddenly anxious at how open and scarce it was. Nowhere to hide. No shadows. Just open. “Are you alright?”

“Nervous,” Sena admitted quietly, tearing her eyes away from the moors as they paused in front of a house.

“You did well. If Rhenx likes you then there’s little to worry about,” he assured her, punching the code into the door: 568768. Hissing open, he allowed her in first.

“But I didn’t do or say much,” she pointed out, stepping down into the main dwelling area or karyai . The large chamber was not only the kitchen, but the den, dining area, and communal resting area. She noticed to the flanks of the karyai that there were doors to other rooms, assuming that these were bedrooms and a fresher.

“You weren’t a blubbering mess and you were concise and honest,” Paz countered, shutting the door and ripping his helmet off. Running fingers through his helmet curls, he cocked a smile at her that took the edge off her anxiety. “The rest you’ll have to prove, but you showed tenacity today. Seems your princess training helped a bit.”

“I felt like a blubbering mess.” She still did, clinging desperately to her clothes as if they were her last semblance of sanity. Everything was so glaringly real now. On the ship, she’d been toiling through hyperspace and with the idea of the Tribe. In theory, it all sounded magnificent. In reality, she was terrified of letting the aliit down or the rest of the Tribe. There had been moments in her life where she worried about letting papa down, but she’d never cared much for what others in the court thought of her. They had never been this close of a community. Sena expected if she made one slip up the entire village would know and talk about her behind her back. Call her a dope or an idiot.

“See, this is why I’m glad I only have one brain cell. You’re thinking too much, Sen’ika .”

She jolted, turning her head to look at her vod and let out a pitiful whine. “I don’t want to disappoint anyone.”

“Were you ever this worried when you were a princess?”

She shook her head.

“Being a princess seems a lot more difficult. Just be yourself… minus the royalty thing, but you catch my drift,” Paz gave her a small pep talk, bending down to affectionately butt heads with her helmet. “Come around here. The guest room is yours now. There’s not much in it, but you can make it your own-” he pressed a hand into her back and began guiding her across the karyai and toward the first door on the left. “We can set up your own code too. Buir likes to snoop.”

They deliberated quietly on a code for the door before Paz set it. It didn’t strike Sena that he also knew her code, but she didn’t mind either way. What did she really need to lock her door for when she was amongst a village of Mandalorians? Just as he’d claimed, the room was nondescript. Decorated simply with a full bed, a dresser, a single night stand with an alarm clock, and a closet. There was a window which gazed out on the fields. The room itself was the size of a powder room in Genmaris Castle and lacked all the refinement and grace of her old chambers. No wood, no warmth from the shimmersilk drapes, nor the stash of holobooks or paperbacks. Putting her belongings on the quilted comforter, she reached up and pulled her helmet off, thankful to finally be able to smell and feel the atmosphere on her face.

“The windows are shaded, so no one can see in,” Paz gestured to the glass. “Class begins at 0500 every morning except weekends. For you, that’ll be at the Junction House. Physical training starts the day, then academia, followed by a changing schedule of marksmanship, weapons courses, and other specialized courses like reconnaissance, basic medical, starship lessons… There’s a lot to list, but it’ll be handed to you piece by piece. Tomorrow you’ll get a holocard with the schedule as it changes week to week. Days end at 1500, with the exception of specialty lessons you might have once or twice a month. After end of day, you’re allowed to do what you want. Some people continue training, some people slack off, others help around the village… Ah, and there’s a Foundling shift roster. Once a week you’ll be tasked with watching the ade . But you’re always allowed to go more if you want.”

Sena listened, nodding as she thought of the other children she’d known who had gone to boarding school. The regiment and timelines seemed similar to that, though the classes being offered here sounded way more exciting. “What do you do after classes?”

“I don’t have as many classes anymore, since I’m older and just completed my First Trial. When you’re 16 you’ll also attempt your Trial if you’re ready,” Paz revealed.

“ 16 ,” Sena gasped in horror. “That’s only 3 cycles away!”

“The Tribe will not make you do your Trial if you’re not ready,” Paz placated, but it had the opposite effect.

“Then I’ll look like an idiot ,” Sena balked.

“You better train hard then. No more running off in the woods, shirking your duties,” he smarted, making her frown.

“There’s not even any forests to explore,” she pointed out disdainfully.

“Good thing. Less distractions,” he grinned, turning back toward the door. “Put your things away and then we’ll go check out the village. Maybe you’ll even get to meet some of your vod before tomorrow.”

Giving her the first real private moment since leaving Anaxes, she sat on the edge of the bed and palmed her eyes. This was life now. A mundane room, no books, no friends, and no clue on how to do anything. That had been obvious on the ship when she’d not realized that there wasn’t a magical clothing fairy who picks up after her. Or that she actually had to make food when she was hungry and not just ask for it. Or that people didn’t like when you were a little messy. Drawing in a shaky breath, she stood up and began putting her clothes away. A new beginning. She really had to give it a try and put her heart into it, because otherwise she had nothing else. Here, she would learn life skills; how to defend herself, to supply for others, to feel a part of a community, and to build a life. Until this point in her life, Sena had never really thought much of the future aside from what she didn’t want to do, like marry Rathas. Each stride was taken day by day and her ambitions were nothing more than mischievous fun to be had around the castle.

Was she upset by the guidance? No, she wasn’t, but it still made her hands shake. There was no papa to defend her choices, to wash away any bad she might’ve done. Hux had already told her that she had to own up to what she did, even if she made a mistake. Honesty was paramount.

After putting her belongings away, she picked her helmet back up and went out into the karyai . Paz held up a piece of… dessert? She didn’t know what it was other than it was layered densely, flat, and appeared to have nuts and fruit in it. “ Uj’alayi ,” he told her, offering her a piece as he scarfed his own down.

Her stomach rumbled, reminding her that she’d not eaten much since getting off the ship and they’d been eating rations. Real food was such a comforting sight that Sena nearly cried. Biting her tongue to keep herself from being dumbly emotional over cake, she picked up the sticky pastry and enjoyed the sweetness, the syrup, and the kick of spices that warmed her palate and hummed in the back of her throat. The uj’alayi was amazing. However, her gloves were now coated in stickiness. Big eyes turned toward Paz, he chortled as he washed down his cake with water.

“Wash your hands,” he reminded her, as if it were so obvious - which it was - but she hadn’t thought of it just standing there like a dope.

Coming around the counter, she scrubbed her gloves free of the syrup and picked her helmet up from where she’d set it down. “Do we get to eat that everyday?”

“Our teeth would rot right out of our heads,” Paz chortled. “ Uj’alayi is a treat. Bhone delivered this to us - the Elder in the cyan armor.”

“Oh, that was very nice,” Sena remarked, slightly disappointed that the cake was not a part of everyday cuisine. If she were still a princess, she could demand that it was. Here, she’d just look like a petulant brat. “How would I say thank you? Do I send a gift back or-”

“You could just thank her next time you see her. You’d really impress her if you said it in Mando’a. ‘ Vor’e’ would work.”

“ Vor’e ,” she repeated quietly, hoping that Paz hadn’t just told her how to say something rude to the Elder, but knew she had to trust in his guidance. He was one of few people she was somewhat familiar with around these parts and one of even fewer whose face she could see. Taking in a deep breath, filling up her diaphragm as much as she could muster, she turned her eyes to Paz. “Alright! Let’s go do things. Now it’s your turn to show me around.”

“The village isn’t half as large as Genmaris and you knew that place better than the back of your hand. Won’t take too long and then we can stop by the Nursery,” Paz picked up his bucket and slid it back on.

Donning hers, they went back out into the village where Paz escorted her past the huts and toward the big hall that they’d entered first. That was the Foundry - the important place where all the Tribe gathered and also where armor was forged. Radiating out in a spiral where the other important buildings, which were larger than the residential homes. These included the Junction House, the School, and the Nursery - where all the children to teenagers would spend their time during typical academic hours. The Den was where the hunters met up, dropped off what they’d earned, and had a few drinks time willing. The Cache was another supply location, but it was mostly groceries and miscellaneous housing items. There was also a small mechanical hut with spare parts for the few ships the Tribe had and Med-Deck where the doctor lived. Otherwise, training that did not occur in any of the aforementioned locations were done out in the fields surrounding the village.

Circling back around to the Nursery, they spent a little time with the children before dinner, the tykes throwing themselves at her when they found out that Ori’vod Paz now had a sister of his own, leading them to assume that she’d be just as fun and amazing as him. The expectations made her a little dizzy, unable to heft the kids quite like Paz could, but she did manage to tumble on the floor with a few of them. Zim had all but claimed her as his own, demanding headbutts every spare second she had to breathe. So, for those brief couple of hours, she forgot about how nervous she was about her first day of school and meeting the other kids her age. According to Paz, her class was aged from 10-14.

When they returned home, Hux already had food ready on the table, looking at them expectantly as gloves were removed and hands were washed. Plated before her was an orange-red curry, the spices making the hairs in her nose curl. The meat and sauce was piled on top of a grain. Since she was hungry, she began spooning it into her mouth, immediately regretting what she had done as her tongue went taut and began to burn as if both suns of Tatooine were sitting upon it. Eyes watering, it took every ounce of willpower not to spit it back out, the other two Vizslas watching on with absolute mirth and delight as she reached for her drink. That didn’t do any better, because even that was spiced.

Panic began to set in as she panted, blinked over and over again as her chest ached.

“Giving you a heturam? ” Paz grinned to her contempt.

“If you’re hungry, you’ll eat it,” Hux barely looked up from his own food.

She managed to turn over the rice and push some in her mouth which helped with the burn. Neither of her aliit were bothered by how spicy the food was and she wondered if her buir had purposely made hers hotter just to get a kick. By this point, her entire tongue was scorched of any taste buds, allowing her to force down a few more bites as her throat rebelled. How had they gone from uj’cake to this?

Ending the day with a shower, she wandered over to her window, her headband off and her ears finally free. Gazing out, she noticed how the moonlight dappled the grass and turned it blue like back in Genmaris. She thought that it was rather pretty how the wind would tangle its fingers through the tall fronds, scattering them in rippling ethereal waves as the moonlight highlighted them. There were no birds, no songs to look forward to in the morning, but then again… Sena was the bird now. Clinging to the edge of the window, she lingered, wishing to open it but afraid that someone might pass by and see her face.

Papa, I miss you.

---

Bzzt. Bzzt. Bzzt.

It was the most Goddess awful sound she’d ever heard in her life. Rolling over, she eyed the alarm clock which read 0430, blinking its red lights at her, indicating that it was time to get up. Groaning, she slapped it a few times, trying to get the atrocious noise, that sounded akin to a loth-cat being strangled, to stop. Finally, she found the button and clicked it off, rubbing her eyes as they quickly adjusted to the dim light of the room. Dawn was just on the horizon, but it was not time for sunrise for another couple of hours. Sena hadn’t slept well, her anxiety hitching with the hours and when she finally had shut her eyes, she had only gotten a couple hours.

Changing from her pajamas - a simple pair of leggings and a t-shirt - she traded them for her jumpsuit and began fumbling at the armor. Her fingers weren’t dexterous at it yet and she kept eying the clock, realizing she was taking much longer than she should have. Tying her boots too tight, she grabbed her helmet and ran out of the room, forgetting her headband and having to turn back around to get it. Paz was already about to leave and she was frantic, sprinting to the counter to grab a piece of toast before forcing it down her gullet. Some food was better than none.

Oh, Goddess. Only 5 minutes.

She shoved her helmet on her head and ran out of the house. Her brother was already gone. Whipping her head around she started for the Junction House, her stomach balling up, bile rising in the back of her throat as she slipped into the room just as the bell chimed. Sena was momentarily relieved until she realized she was standing by the door while the rest of the class was neatly arranged in a formation on the padded mats. A pair of adults looked her way, her fingers clasping together in front of her to prevent her from shaking.

“Vizsla?” the male adult, in juniper blue armor inquired, his visor accented with holly red.

“Y-yes, sir,” she stammered, stepping forward after counting 10 students sitting on the ground.

“ K’olar! We haven’t got all morning,” the male informed her, gesturing sharply, his voice powerful and commanding.

Sena stumbled forward and waited expectantly.

“At attention,” he sighed, shaking his head at her.

“Att-” she’d seen guards and knights snap to attention when she and papa passed by them. Comprehending what he was asking, she jolted, heels together, spine erect, chin leveled, and shoulders back.

“And here I was thinking Hux would’ve prepared you for this. Not surprised another Vizsla is lacking brain cells.”

“Give the kid a break. It’s her first day,” the other teacher chimed, a female mando in polished sage green armor. Sena decided she liked this mando better.

“Learn fast or fall hard,” the male snipped.

“As long as you get back up,” Sena said in a very, tiny, tiny voice.

“What did you say?”

She stiffened, realizing she couldn’t just speak when she wanted. This was a very strange concept to her. Only speak when asked a question or given permission. Before, she’d been allowed to blabber to her heart’s content. Now she was afraid.

The female mando chuckled. “Relax, adiik. Thak, cut it out with the theatrics unless you want Hux to find you later and beat you into the wall,” she soothed, turning around and tilting her visor toward the rest of the students. “Class, this is our newest Foundling, Senaar of Clan Vizsla. I expect you all to accept your new vod with open arms and help her learn the ropes. Senaar, do you have anything to say?”

Turning around, she glanced out amongst the unreadable visors of her peers. The rest of them were wearing leather armor as well and for once, she wasn’t the smallest one. “I just want to… say hi,” the words came out sheepish and she floundered, having not prepared to be put on the spot like this. So many other children her age. So many chances to create friendships she’d never experienced before. So many chances to kriff it up. A few giggled at her, which did nothing to calm her erratically beating chest. Licking her lips, she clutched her fists and hoped that this would end soon.

“Xivi, I am tasking you with looking after Senaar today and helping explain anything she might not understand during the lessons,” the female teacher declared, giving a meaningful glance toward a girl with a bright yellow bucket.

Sena didn’t have to be a mind reader to see the slight dip in shoulders, the disappointment of having to babysit. They thought she was going to be dead weight for a while.

“Senaar go stand beside Xivi,” the mentor ushered her off.

Joining the other girl, her cheeks burned beneath her helmet as a few watched her step by. The moment she was beside her, Xivi tilted her head slightly. “Where are you from?”

“Naboo.”

The girl sighed .

Kriff. What was wrong with Naboo? Grinding her teeth, Sena waited apprehensively, solid as a statue and absolutely unmoving as the teachers, Thak & Nibak, started morning warm ups. After spreading the kids out, they began with stretches so that they wouldn’t hurt themselves. This was easy enough to follow along, as were the minor exercises that followed after. Lifting her head while doing push ups, Sena was startled to see that she was actually doing quite well. A larger girl, more than a head taller than her, was struggling to get the form down. Sena supposed that her own compact form and being light due to her race assisted in the ease of these body weight workouts. She was able to push out just as many as the boys were.

“Nice form, Vizsla. Go a little lower next time,” Thak paced between the students, giving her a nod of acknowledgement which made her let out a breath she hadn’t realized she had been holding.

“ Elek ,” she huffed, making certain that she addressed the adult properly.

“Aya, go down to your knees and keep pushing if you’re struggling,” Thak moved onto the girl who was just in front of her. “Proper form is more important than doing full push ups.”

Most of the girls were on their knees by now, trying to shove the mats beneath them, as Sena finished off her last 10. Sitting up and tucking her legs beneath her rump, she glanced around.

“Was your weekend too long? Did you eat too much uj’alayi? ” Thak craned down, scrutinizing a boy with a midnight blue helmet. His voice was pensive and sharp, angry almost. “Just because you have days off doesn’t mean you’re allowed to slack! The future of the Tribe is here and you can’t even push out 40? Disappointing. On your feet!”

Sena jetted up, bouncing slightly on her heels as she wondered what was about to happen. By the depressed postures of the other students, she had a feeling that they were about to be punished.

“Seems you all need to run off your sweets from this weekend-” his proclamation was met by numerous groans. “ Uur! I’ll hear none of it. Last one to return after five laps of the covert will be stuck with cleaning duty tonight. Viinir! ”

Buckets swiveled and feet pounded like a stampede of bantha as her peers began rushing out of the entrance. Sena nearly tripped, sputtering after them as she followed the pack, comprehending that the laps were around the village’s perimeter. Filling her lungs with air, she trotted past and set her eyes to the front. Of course she wasn’t going to be last, but she wondered if she could manage to be first. What would happen if she was the best? Did the first place winner get a reward? The loser had to clean, so she supposed at the very least she’d get bragging rights.

Kicking her legs out beneath her, she sailed forward and caught up with a boy with an unpainted helmet, the silver beskar catching in the dull blue morning light. She didn’t speak to him, didn’t greet him, but focused on beating him. That way she could go home and tell Hux what a great job she had done. Running was easy, after all, she’d done it plenty of times in more hazardous landscapes, dodging roots and rocks, hills and nooks. The grass was nothing , nor the little mounds and rises they crested and sloped across.

Five laps ended with her fighting the silver boy for the lead. Her heart burned, soaring high like a bird, her eyes stretched wide as she panted and strained for victory. Thak and Nibak were waiting by the doors, the man having his arms crossed as he tapped his foot. “Hurry up!” he intoned, despite the fact that they were the first ones back. “Djarin. Vizsla. Good job, go get a drink of water and wait for the rest of your vod. ”

She grumbled slightly, disappointed that he’d called the boy’s name first. Heading back inside, she picked up her water bottle and flipped the straw up, shoving it into her mouth and quenching her burning throat with the lukewarm liquid. Her helmet turned toward Djarin, who was also sipping at his water. “Nice job. Next time I’ll beat you,” she said hoarsely, but in good spirits. Running was probably her favorite exercise to do aside from climbing.

“I wasn’t trying,” the boy retorted peevishly.

Sena’s smile wilted on her face. “Neither was I,” she snarked, trying to sound impressive, but her voice squeaked, absolutely betraying her. Cheeks and ears heating, she sat down and muttered to herself. What was his problem? No sense of honest rivalry? She wasn’t given the time to come up with another snide remark, but she was thinking about it - imagining how she could have clapped back at him, all the clever things she could have said in place of the stupid one she’d blurted out.

Other classmates were trailing back in, huffing and puffing, in much worse shape than the victors. Amongst the last to trot in was the girl, Aya - who had a bright hot pink helmet - and a boy called Vowr whose helmet was a splotchy grey, as if the paint had faded and he hadn’t bothered to touch it up. Routines phased into hand to hand combat, which she was quite nervous about.

Paired back up with Xivi, they observed the teachers explaining simple throws and strikes, telling them to draw their punches today and aim for center mass. Eventually, they let the young teens turn back toward each other.

“You’re fast,” Xivi commented as they began going through the palm strikes. Thrust, thrust, parry, turn.

“I like running,” Sena shrugged, catching the strikes on her vambrace as Xivi continued her routine.

“Yeah but no one is Djarin fast. Gave him a run for his credits today,” she snickered, moving into a defensive position so that Sena could start her own offensive turn.

“Really? He said he wasn’t trying,” she smiled a bit at Xivi’s words. Thrust, thrust, parry, turn.

“Course he did,” Xivi snorted, shaking her helmet. “How old are you?”

“13. And you?”

“14,” Xivi answered. “I was a little bit worried about you, but you seem to be in good fitness.”

“Thanks, that means a lot to hear that,” her cheeks flushed at the compliment.

“Little word of advice though. Careful about trying to best Djarin.”

“Why’s that?”

“He’s top of the class and has been for a while. Only Kedth has come close in some aspects and the two have fought over it. Had a few duels to settle the matter-” she cleared her throat, stepping back slightly as Sena’s strike slipped through her guard and hit her chest. “Anyways, unless you want a shebs kicking, I’d advise against it.”

“I don’t think I’m nearly that good, but thanks for the warning. If I can just beat him at running, I think I’ll be pleased,” she admitted, clenching her fist and opening it slightly. Despite being good at physical activities, she doubted she’d come close to any of the other kids in varying subjects. There were too many topics for her to be naturally gifted with them all and she wasn’t an airhead who believed her princess upbringing made her any better. In fact, it should’ve made it worse, but at least Xivi was rather nice now that she’d warmed up to the Anaxian.

Combatives ended and they were given a short recess to get more water, have a snack, and file into the classroom. The topics of the day were geometry, galactic history, and Mando’a. Sena found the academics to be simple enough, though the Mando’a she had to take a considerable amount of notes. Most people in the room could string entire phrases together, even speak it fluently, and she was putzing around in slight confusion. Xivi leaned over a few times to translate. Lunch time came and they were allowed to go back to their homes to eat with their helmets off.

“How’s class?” Paz asked her, their buir not home for lunch.

“Not bad, actually,” Sena revealed, chucking a dopey smile at her vod. “I honestly thought it was going to be worse.”

“It’s only the first day, but try not to lose that shereshoy . You might be chipper today, but you’ll get sore eventually,” Paz reminded her in good nature.

“Sore?” she scoffed. “I’m Anaxian, made entirely of sinew and muscle, wind playing through the trees, and verdant shadows. A little running and push ups isn’t going to break me.”

“ Nayc , you’re Mandalorian now,” Paz disagreed, tossing a look over at the clock on the stove. “A stupid, grinning pointy eared Mandalorian, but one nonetheless. Prove to your aliit that you’ve got a few brain cells. Oya! Don’t want to be late. Thak won’t be so nice to you if you pull that stunt again tomorrow.”

“Nice?” she squeaked in disbelief.

“You don’t want to see Thak when he’s angry.”

“He seems angry all the time!”

Paz chuckled, guiding her back out of the house as they put their buckets on. “He’s aggressive, not angry. See you after class, Sen’ika.” He gave her a slight head bump and they parted ways.

Classes after lunch consisted of marksmanship for the remainder of the day. The others were allowed to go through drills, but Nibak pulled her aside to test where she was. The sage green mando had her disassemble a few different weapons, which Sena was comfortable taking apart and putting back together. She fumbled a little bit with the coil in the buttstock of the rifle, her muscles straining as she shoved it back in, but otherwise thought she moved at a smooth pace. Not too fast, but also not dragging on.

“How well do you know how to shoot?” Nibak inquired after they went through the weapons.

“I know how to shoot a sidearm well enough, but I’m not that familiar with rifles and shotguns,” she answered honestly. There was no point in pretending she was good at it just to eat her words when placed on the range. “My buir showed me how to take them apart.”

“As he should have,” Nibak hummed, picking up the rifle. “We’ll start with this. Come along.”

Following the teacher away from the rest, who were doing dime and washer drills, they left the Junction House and headed out toward the range on the outside of the village and nestled down in a valley. Burms had been created out of soil and dirt, a line of target dummies set at varying distances. She noticed that some of them were droids, which could probably be turned on to move around and simulate live targets. Nibak set the rifle down on the block, muzzle down range, and handed Sena a cartridge.

“Start with prone, which will be down here,” she got down on her belly, propping herself up slightly with her elbows, pretending to have a rifle seated against the pocket of her shoulder.

Sena got down on the grass with her and cocked her right leg, which helped steady her balance and lifted her up. After getting a nod, she picked up the rifle, her arms quivering slightly at the weight.

She found herself struggling to hold the weapon upright, fumbling the cartridge in, before sliding the charging handle forward. Nibak noticed her struggling. "Tuck your elbows in more, you can slide down lower in order to plant more firmly." Following the instructions, Sena found a more comfortable position, her finger flat against the side of the weapon as she waited for more instructions. "Aim for the target at 100 meters and fire."

Switching the safety off with her thumb, Sena set the cheek of her helmet against the buttstock, surprised to find that the curve fit perfectly, locking into place. Her visor adjusted swiftly to the sight picture, listing the muzzle in the direction of the target a medium distance away. Drawing her breath, she squeezed the trigger at the bottom and the weapon kicked with the fire. She blinked a few times, her shoulder absolutely raw from where the high powered rifle sat. Teeth rattled, she licked her lips and glanced at Nibak.

"Good shot. Control the kick more so that you don't lose sight picture," Nibak eased, nodding for her to continue.

Sena fired a few more times before her shoulder began to shake.

"Are you alright?"

Grinding her teeth, she gave a mute nod, not wishing to seem weak, but kriff it hurt. Felt as if she'd been kicked by a bantha. Volleying off a few more shots, they swapped over to the shotgun and Sena felt herself absolutely dreading have to fire it. Leaning into her shot, her grip slipped and she dropped the gun. Nibak darted forward, shoving her back away from the hot weapon, and yanked her by her raw arm. Sena was unable to stop the howl from escaping her mouth.

" Verd'ika ! Dank farrik how much do you weigh?" Nabik hissed, snatching up the shotgun and switching the lever to safe.

Sena's hand palmed her aching muscles. "A normal weight," she muttered, realizing she was a normal weight for an Anaxian. Not a human.

"You can't be more than 30 kilos," Nibak continued to fret, realization dawning on her. "Your shoulder-"

"I'm fine!" Sena spat irritably, upset that her arm hurt and not wishing to be treated differently.

"Are you human?"

She sucked her teeth, having hoped that this wouldn't come up. Until now, everything else had been manageable, even the hand to hand combat. "No." Would Nibak pry?

"That is important information, verd'ika. Will you tell me what race you are?"

She shook her head. "Sephi offshoot," was all she could supply.

"Lighter bone density," Nibak sighed. "This will affect your training."

Her stomach dropped and she pulled her hand down. "I feel fine. I can keep going. I can-"

"Stop lying, verd'ika . Trying to push your body past its breaking point will only get you and your vod killed in the future," Nibak started, her voice hardening and becoming crisp. No longer was it nurturing or warm, Sena quailing and sitting back on her heels as she waited to be yelled at. Instead, Nibak just shook her head. "Every Mandalorian has different strengths. You will need to play to yours. You are quick, verd'ika . You will still need to qualify with a rifle and shotgun, but we will make exceptions to spread your testing out to prevent injury. Come along, we are finished for the day."

Even if Nibak had been reasonable in what she said, Sena's head sagged, trailing behind her teacher as she knew for a fact that others would notice her getting special treatment. She tried to blink back tears, but supposed that the helmet did her a favor in hiding them as they stung down her face. She held her lips to prevent her mouth from sniffling. Her first day and she'd already been sorted out and told she would be inferior in certain aspects.

The class was released for the day and Sena slunk back home, not feeling up to doing anything as her shoulder hurt. Peeling off her bucket and pauldrons, she tugged down her sleeve enough to see that a nasty bruise was spreading along the inside pocket of her shoulder beside her pecs. A frustrated huff parted her lips and she rounded, kicking the frame of her bed as hard as she could. The fit was followed with a lance of pain up her leg, radiating from where her foot connected with the steel. At least it distracted her from the pain on her shoulder.

Moping in her room, she didn't go out for dinner, hearing a knock on her door. How could she face her aliit? Word probably traveled fast and they'd know that she would never be able to wield a rifle or shotgun in an adept manner. That was a huge part of an arsenal. If she couldn't even heft a rifle, it meant she'd never be allowed to touch heavy machinery for fear of it breaking her.

The door puffed open, despite the code she had set on it, recalling duly that Paz knew it. She snatched her blanket up, pulling it up to her chin and keeping her back to the door. "Was the day that long?" he teased. "Sen'ika?"

"I'm just tired," she grumbled, her voice cracking from how parched it was from sniffling like the biggest baby in the galaxy.

"I heard you did pretty well today. Almost beat Din in your morning run-" Paz preened, sitting on the edge of her bed. "But you need to eat to keep up your strength. Even if you're not hungry, you should try to put down some of it. It's not as spicy tonight." He patted her shoulder, making her suck in a sharp breath, her body betraying her before she could purse her lips. "Wha- Are you hurt?"

Her eyes began burning again, her teeth clenched as tight as a vise grip as she tried not to cry. Why was she such a wimp? "I'm fine."

"Senaar, if you have an injury we should put some bacta on it. You still have to go to training tomorrow," Paz was definitely frowning now, but she didn't turn to look at him. "Let me look."

She grumbled petulantly, but her brother didn't move. Instead, he waited until she was done grousing, throwing glares, and then sat up yanking down her shirt to show him the darkening bruise.

"Dank farrik how did you get that?" he cursed, eying the nebula blossom against tanned skin.

"I was testing weapons with Nibak and one was a high caliber rifle. The kick bruised me and then I dropped the shotgun and she asked if I was human. Obviously, I couldn't lie or she'd think I was severely underweight. Now they're going to treat me different. I-I-I just told them I was a Sephi subrace, but now I can't do the same things as the others-" the words splattered out of her mouth ineloquently, absolute word vomit as she felt the bitter tears burn in the corners of her eyes. "I was doing so well today and then this happened."

"So?"

Her mouth dropped open and she glowered at him. "So? What do you mean? I'll never be as good as anyone else if I can only use pistols!"

"You're really worried about that?" Paz was staring at her honestly, his icy eyes snaring her gold. "What good are you broken? Your first day here and the teachers are already talking about your potential. No one is perfect at everything, this is a minor setback. Focus on your strengths. You're fast and can move silently, that's a skill most Mandalorians don't have - at least not naturally, they have to work for years to have that. In the meantime, stop beating yourself up over it. Your teachers are here to help you grow in the right direction and will tailor your training accordingly. Do you want to keep shooting these weapons until you fracture your shoulder?"

She shook her head.

"Then stop worrying," he reached up and ruffled her hair. "Want to know a secret?"

"What?" she muttered.

"I sucked at reconnaissance and stealth. So terribly that I thought they weren't going to let me attempt my Trial. You know that little stunt you pulled back in the castle?" he was alluding to when she'd stabbed the stormtrooper. "I could have never done that. You are as silent as a shadow and jumped several meters like a nexu. Dush'shebs ! You'll make an amazing kyramud one day."

"You think so?"

"I know so. But only if you eat your dinner and keep on top of your studies and practice," Paz reminded her. "Let's get some bacta lotion for that bruise."

"And food," she added, feeling a little better after Paz's pep talk.

Sena's schooling continued and she took what Paz had told her to heart. You couldn't be good at everything and dwelling on her deficiencies would just cause her to get into her own head too much. Didn't help that this Djarin kid seemed to be good at everything, but Sena tried to ignore this fact and focus on her own training. Xivi became a fast friend and her partner for most combat drills. The canary yellow mando swiftly fell in step with her after classes, where they would practice Mando'a, since it was Sena's roughest academic subject. In exchange, she helped Xivi with her running and tried to teach her more acrobatic maneuvers with obstacles. For Sena it was easy to leap, duck, dodge, and adjust on the fly - be that midair or on the ground. This agility was quickly noticed and Xivi yearned to have even a shred of Sena's ability.

It became common knowledge that she was Sephi, which wasn't entirely true, but she didn't discredit it. She couldn't fully participate in some live fire activities, Thak let her fire a few times before putting a pistol in her hand, telling her to sharpen those skills instead. Part of her desperately wanted to be able to saddle up with one of the cool ambien rifles, but her shoulder twinged in memory of how badly the initial kick hurt her. Sidearms didn't bother her and she had a decent shot, increasing her draw and hipfire with the progressing weeks.

Mornings were her favorite, hoping that Thak would make them run so she'd get a chance to try and best Djarin. The silver mando never spared her, or anyone, many words. He kept to himself and Xivi said he'd always been like that. Sena wondered why, since they were all vod and being reclusive did nothing but make the others dislike you. Did she dislike him? She didn't know him. Though the few words she did exchange with him were mostly terse and fuelled by their rivalry in fitness.

But everything wasn't sunshine and rainbows. Falling into step quickly, adjusting with her peers, and finding a niche to occupy, she swiftly saw the weakest links amongst their group. Had she not been Anaxian and a wild spirit who had trolloped through the woods, Sena expected she might've been more ill prepared than she was. The girl who had difficulty with push ups on her first day, Aya, was amongst the struggling. Her magenta bucket was easy to pick out and it was like a beacon for Thak to hone on and chastise. Sena actually felt bad for how much the girl was picked on, told to improve... but that pity quickly faded. She'd caught Nibak offering extra lessons after their final bell, only for Aya to decline and say she was working on her own. Still, there was no improvement and she continued to get reamed out by Thak.

Eventually, about two months since Sena's arrival, Thak began comparing Aya's failures to other students. Particularly her.

"Senaar has been here for two months and she's already outpaced you, Aya," he scolded as she continued to struggle with push ups. "A Sephi Nabooian has outpaced you."

She wondered if she should have been offended by the way he said Sephi, but supposed it didn't matter since that actually wasn't her race. Everyone knew she was featherlight by this point as Nibak had told them that no one was allowed to use full strikes during combatives for fear of someone breaking something. If the teacher's words were meant to be motivating, they weren't, and Sena's cheeks burned with embarrassment for both herself and Aya.

Following class, she found the magenta bucket and tapped the tall girl on the shoulder. "Aya..." she cleared her throat, trying to muster her princess voice so she was as polite and courteous as possible. The girl turned, tilting her helmet down impassively - the telltale taut and bitter line of her shoulders clear. "Xivi and I are going to do some obstacle course runs today if you want to join us. After we practice Mando'a. You're more than welcome to join us today and any other day."

Aya was utterly silent, so silent that Senu realized she'd barely heard the girl speak before. Finally, "Do you think I'm laandur ?" her voice came out hot, Sena's helmet immediately picking up on the fury in the girl's voice.

"What?" Sena squeaked, throwing up her hands in a submissive manner. "N-no, I just thought you might-"

"That I need to run more? That I'm fat and slow? That you, an aruetii , could show me the ropes?"

She had not expected this at all, her jaw dropping at Aya's harsh words. Aruetii ? Aya had called her an outsider. "I'm trying to be nice!" she screeched, her patience vanishing like smoke dissipated by a strong gale. "I never see you practicing after class and Xivi and I are always outside. I thought maybe you wanted other people to work out with."

"Like I'd choose you or Sunshine to help me. You can't even shoot most weapons. You're not exactly the shining example of mandokar . At least I can handle an entire arsenal, vaar'ika ," Aya snapped, jabbing a thick finger into Sena's chest, making her stumble back. "Let's see where all the running gets you when I snipe you across the hill."

"Kriff! Fine, forget I asked," Sena hissed dejectedly, turning away and leaving Aya to her fuming. Her own heart burned, chest heaving as she stomped back home. What the hell was her problem? Did she really think that Sena was being snide? That inviting her out was going to be nothing but a chance for Xivi and her to laugh behind their buckets? Then, on top of that, Aya had gone right for the kill and insulted her. This was the first time in her life that someone had rejected her like that and Sena was trembling with unbridled rage. Had she done the right thing? Could that conversation have gone better?

"Woah look out over here, we've got a wild mythosaur on a rampage," Paz hooted as she opened the door to their karyai and continued to trundle in.

"What do you know about that stupid pink bucket, Aya?"

"Aya?" he arched a brow, setting down his blaster that he had been cleaning. "I heard that she's having some issues with her fitness."

"I invited her to join Xivi and I after classes and she bit my kriffing head off!" She plopped down across the table, removing her own blaster, deciding she should clean it while she was there.

"Hm," Paz hummed, thinking about the subject for a little while before speaking again. "She's sensitive about it. Her buir didn't return from a hunt a few months before you arrived. It's been worse since then."

The blood rushed out of her face and she felt her ears sag slightly beneath her headband. Sighing deeply, she pinched the bridge of her nose. "I was trying to help her," she said quietly. Now Aya's reserved nature, the quiet answers to Thak, and Nibak's offer being turned down were making more sense. "I didn't know."

"How could you, vod'ika ? You did the right thing and tried to help her, but respect her decision to take the time she needs," Paz eased before shifting the subject. "So, I heard from the pipeline that your marks are quite high."

"Well aside from marksmanship since I can only really shoot this thing-" she bared the blaster which was already in three pieces. "Academics aren't that difficult and Xivi has been helping me with Mando'a."

"A humble princess? You surprise me again, vod'ika ."

Humble? Papa had told her that bragging about your accomplishments would just make people dislike you. Plus, Sena knew that school and marks didn't make up for real experiences. The real tests would be the Trials which were a few years off. She could only hope that she'd be prepared enough to make an attempt at 16. Given her comfort with the current regiment, aside from her disappointment in marksmanship, Sena was hopeful that she'd be able to make it there in time. "Not humble, just realistic," she groused, blushing at her brother's words. His praise was hard earned and he always knew the right things to say to brighten her mood even when it was abysmal.

"I wish I had that many brain cells," Paz snorted.

" Gar mirsh solus ," she countered, drawing a guffaw from him.

"Xivi teach you that one?"

"She taught me all the rude things first so that way if someone insults me, I know," she grinned, but sat back and considered what had happened. Even if Aya had lost her buir , she hadn't needed to take it out on her. Sena lost her papa and entire life as she knew it and wasn't ripping people's throats out for offering to help. Whatever. It was over and Sena had done the right thing in being the bigger person.

At least, that's what she thought.

Come morning, after their initial work out, they were paired up for combatives. Partners were switched around, so that people would be on their toes not facing their typical match up. Sena was loomed over by Aya, which was fine, all it was was grappling today. Most would just be mounting, a few tosses, and domination positions and the mats were padded. If Aya was still mad at her, she could vent her frustration and Sena wouldn't blame her. Squaring up with the girl, she knew this wasn't going to go in her favor. This wasn't free fighting where she could try and coil around Aya like a snake to try and win, it was a set of maneuvers and Aya would win because she was bigger and heavier. Heck, nearly everyone in there would be Sena except for 10 year old Terri.

Well, hopefully this goes by fast, she thought tartly, glancing over a Din and Oyiin who flanked them.

Aya lunged first, trading a few weak blows before they toppled to the ground. Sena fought for a dominant position, but was little more than a hissing loth-cat kitten as Aya picked her up by the scruff and flung her against the floor. Air whoosed out of her lungs, but Sena recovered before the girl could mount her. She rolled out of the way, rubbing her neck where she'd collided. Not a big deal. People often forgot how small she was and underestimated their strength. Aya hadn't fought with her before, so it'd be a little touch and go.

Grappling again, Sena swiped her foot under Aya, sending her thumping down and mounted. The girl twirled, asserting dominance and flipping their positions. Sena squirmed, writhing in her grip, managing to slip the hold like an eel and jump to her feet.

Thak and Nibak were across the room, correcting tosses. Back with her boots on the ground, Aya parried again and did something that Sena was not expecting. Her fingers grabbed the front of her cuirass before Aya checked her into the ground. All air was driven from her lungs and her head spun, choking for breath as a sharp whine crackled through her modulator. Aya mounted while she was dazed and pushed harder than she needed too to restrain her collar, air still not pooling in her lungs.

"Hey. Hey !"

Her ears were ringing, each blink hazy and spinning as she registered the magenta bucket casting a shadow over her. Everytime she closed her eyes, the world returned in a slow, foggy shape and Aya almost appeared as if she had two heads.

"Get off of her!"

Aya was shoved off and she was finally able to sputter, greedily sucking at air as she tried to process what had just happened.

"Didn't realize. She's laandur -" Aya was speaking, crossing her arms as if she hadn't just used an illegal toss and choked the air out of her partner.

"She barely weighs 30 kilos. What did you think would happen when you sat your fat shebs on her chest?"

"Watch it Djarin or you'll be next."

"What's going on over here?" Nibak trotted over, glancing between the boys and girls as Sena scrambled, finally able to sit up as the blood rushed back to her face.

"I'm ok!" she squeaked, not wanting to get Aya in trouble. The girl had already been through a lot and tattling on her would just make it worse. "Aya bested me. Knocked the wind out of me, that's all!"

Nibak tilted her visor toward Aya, letting the tension hang in the air, before shrugging slightly. "Be careful, Aya. You know that your vod is smaller than everyone else."

"I know, I'll be careful next time," Aya promised dolefully.

Nibak departed and the pairs split off again, Djarin turning away and grumbling quietly to himself. His wary visor kept glancing back, as if he were expecting Aya to make a second attempt to hurt Sena. With Ninak now watching with a hawk-like gaze, the lesson continued without any further issues. They were allowed their recess before moving onto academics. Whatever frustration Aya had wanted to vent had been allowed and Sena had covered her shebs by not saying anything. Again, she thought it would get better, that the girl had gotten her revenge, but found herself becoming the fixations of microaggressions.

From bumping into her desk, to pushing by her every chance she got, to even yanking on her braid once, Aya did not relent. How in kriff's name was this equal to being insulted? Sena hadn't intended on insulting Aya, so what was her problem? Come the end of the school day, she was grousing to herself, trying to walk it off and be the bigger person. Eventually, Aya would realize that she was being a brat and would leave her alone. If she were back in Genmaris, she would've punched Aya already, but she still felt bad for her. Aya was probably a nice person and was just going through a tough time, Sena could certainly relate.

"Hey," she stopped just a few houses down from the Vizsla home. Turning, she caught the glint of Djarin's silver helmet in the sun. "Why didn't you say anything? Aya has been torturing you all day."

"It's fine," Sena shrugged. "I know she's still echoy'la ."

"She choked you this morning," he reminded her flatly.

"Not difficult seeing how big I am," she brushed it off.

"What did you do?"

"I asked her if she wanted to join Xivi and I for our practice in the evening. She got rather upset, so I dropped it. She must've thought I was being contemptuous, but I just wanted to help her get her fitness up. We're all vod , we've got to help each other out," she explained, taken aback that Djarin was actually interested. This was the most he'd talked to her since she had arrived. Otherwise, they exchanged taunting rebuttals while trying to outpace one another in their exercises.

"And that warrants choking?" Din inquired dryly.

"I'm not upset. Just let it go. It's not a big deal. She'll probably go back to normal tomorrow."

"And if she doesn't?"

Sena paused, having not considered this option. What if she became Aya's punching bag to get out all those frustrations? Pursing her lips she let out a sigh, which crackled through the vocoder. "I'll deal with it. Thanks for the concern, but I'll still kick your shebs in the morning run tomorrow."

"Yeah right."

---

Also here's your translations!

Vod - Sibling/Comrade/Brother/Sister Jai'galaar - shriek hawk Buir - parent Vod'ika - little soldier/private Aliit - clan/family Su cuy'gar - You're still alive; greeting Su'cuy - Hi Sen'ori - big bird; respectful older sibling name for Senaar Elek - Yes Cin vhetin - blank slate Beskar'gam - armor Ori'vod - big sibling Alor - leader Karyai - living area/main area of Mandalorian home for eating and resting Ade - children Uj'alayi - dense, sweet Mandalorian cake Vor'e - Thanks Heturam - mouth burn; highly sought out in Mandalorian food and indicates VERY spicy food K'olar! - Come here! Get over here at once! Uur - Go Viniir - Run Shebs - butt; ass Shereshoy - lust for life that is Mandalorian Nayc - No Oya - Let's go! or lit. Let's Hunt! Dush'sebs - badass Kyramud - Assassin Laandur - weak; highly insulting Auretii - outsider Mandokar - the right stuff; for Mandalorians Vaar'ika - pipsqueak Gar mirsh solus - Your braincell is lonely Echoy'la - grieving, mourning

#big brother paz vizsla #paz vizsla & oc character #the manadalorian fanfic #the mandalorian fanfiction #oc mandalorian #growing up mandalorian #din djarin x oc

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dreamstormdragon · 4 years ago

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Doc Hero Preview

Chapter 1: Critical Moments

Beep… Beep… Beep…

Alright, connecting the artificial trachea.

It was very delicate work that Lance was performing. Work that where every move he made counted… that where even the smallest mistake could lead to complications later on.

However, he did not let the fear of mistakes hold him back. This was too important.

His eyes narrowed in focus as he kept his hands steady, moving and connecting parts together with a special set of forceps and sutures. Despite the barrier between him and his project, his movements were still as delicate as they usually were.

Complete focus, despite the sounds of rock and roll spilling from his colleague’s side of the work room. As far as Lance was concerned, Anthony wasn’t even there with how focused he was… Least, until he knew when he needed to ask for help.

“Anthony?” Lance called, breaking from his concentration but not looking away from his work. “Can you start the vent for me?”

“Got it. Comin’ right over.”

His colleague dropped what he was doing, hurrying over to Lance. He stopped for a moment to marvel at what was being created within the sterile barriered work area. It was small, but the artificial tissue and muscle were built to expand and grow.

A perfect lung.

It didn’t match the references of its organic counterpart, made up of a fine white artificial tissue but everything else about it was correct.

“Wow… You’ve really out done yourself this time, Lancelot. It’s incredible.”

“It will be if it works and doesn’t collapse like the last one did.” Lance quipped, still keeping his eyes on the lung. “Vent?”

“Right, right, comin’ up.”

Anthony connected a ventilator to the artificial trachea, starting up the machine as soon as it was secure, joining Lance’s side once more to watch.

Moment of truth… Please… Work… Breathe.

It went quiet as they awaited the results, Anthony and Lance not even realizing they were holding their own breaths, the tension rising.

Soon, air forced its way into the artificial organ… expanding and contracting… breathing.

It was breathing.

It was quiet for another moment before both men let out a cheer, bumping shoulders to one another.

“YES! IT WORKS!” Anthony laughed.

“It works… Thank goodness…” Lance sighed in relief. “It really works.”

Anthony grinned, giving one of Lance’s shoulders a good squeeze.

“You did it, Lancelot. Way to go, man.”

Lance smiled thinly, a small chuckle leaving him. It was a success and he was quite proud… but there was still work to be done.

He set down his tools in the sterile environment, withdrawing his hands from it.

“Keep it clean. I need to go check on our patient.”

“Will do. Ryoko is coming by later, right?”

“Yep. After work as always.”

Lance let out another sigh of relief, heading down the hall towards the area of his lab that led to his actual home.

He was making progress. Slow and steady… but progress all the same.

Just hang on Nozi.

Uncle Lance is gonna make it all better.

oooooo

The first thing he noted was a car wrapped around a tree. Around it, were other cars that were either tipped over onto their sides or in one case, completely flipped upside down.

Alright, four cars in total, just like we were warned.

Kuro took a deep breath to steady himself before looking to his comrades.

“Alright, we’re looking at a mass casualty situation. Ebony, what’s that status on our backup?”

“ETA is five minutes.” She replied, already hurrying over to one of the cars.

“Perfect. Alright.” He hefted a duffle bag over his shoulder. “Dominic, you're with me! Connor, get started on that car!” He thumbed over to the turned over sedan. “You and Ebony can handle THAT.”

“Got it, Kuro!”

“Sir yes sir!”

Kuro nodded before breaking into a jog, Dominic right behind him.

As they approached the car, they took note there was severe damage to the front end. Dents and scratches, the windshield covered in a spiderweb of cracked glass.

A silhouette in the front seat slumped over against the airbag, blood splattered against it and the window.

Kuro winced, praying for the best.

“Let’s get them out and start triage.”

Dominic nodded, grabbing ahold of the door, pulling at it… the metal crumpling in his fingertips. Within seconds, he pulled the door clean off the car with ease.

Kuro stepped around him, pressing his fingertips to the patient’s neck, feeling for a pulse.

After a moment, there was the distinct fluttering of a heart beat.

He let out a sigh of relief.

“Alright, let’s pull them out.”

“I got the neck brace.”

It took a bit to maneuver the patient out but once they were, it was right to work from there.

“Unconscious female, mid twenties.” Kuro noted as they examined the patient.

Dominic grimaced, feeling the arm that had been pressed into the side of the door.

“Broken arm, definitely.”

Kuro passed him a splint from their kit as he went about checking the patient for head injuries. Her pupils dilated normally as a light was passed over them.

“Pupils are reacting normally. Can’t rule out head or neck injuries entirely till we get her back to the hospital. Let’s keep an eye on her-”

“DANGIT!”

Both gave a puzzled look before glancing over to where Ebony and Connor were. They were having a difficult time pulling their patient from the car.

Kuro shook his head, turning his attention back to the patient.

“Go help them. I’m gonna check the car for IDs.”

“Just don’t get blown up.” Dominic smirked, before hurrying over. “Hang on!”

“Had it happen once, don’t want it again!” Kuro snapped back before hurrying back to the car. Keeping the warning in mind, he checked for gasoline leaks before proceeding to rifle through the woman’s car.

He found a purse, digging through it before finding an ID, reading it over.

Alright, Leslie, we’ll take good care of ya.

Now, if backup would just GET OVER HERE ALREADY!

He took another deep breath, nodding to himself, running back to his patient, keeping an eye on their vital signs. After a few moments he took a glance up towards the rest of his team again.

“How’re things looking over there?”

Dominic scoffed as he lifted the car onto its side, allowing Connor and Ebony to pull the driver out.

“As best as we can.”

The patient let out a groan as they were pulled away from the wreckage.

“Ugh…”

“Hey, can you hear me?” Ebony asked.

“Mgh…Y-Yeah?” They grimaced.

“Good. Do you know what day it is?”

“Tuesday- look, why is this relevant…?”

Ebony and Connor exchanged a look. The patient gave them a glare, crossing their arms.

“Just turn the car over and I’ll-”

“Nope. Look, let me get a better look at you. Sides, this sucker ain’t going anywhere.” Connor nodded to the vehicle.

Dominic merely held up the door he had to tear off when he flipped it back over.

The patient took one look at their car before letting out a frustrated growl.

“Are you freaking kidding me!?” They pushed themselves up. “No, get your hands off my CAR-”

“Sir, please, stay still.”

“GET OFF OF ME!”

They moved to throw a punch, only for it to be blocked with ease. Connor gave a reassuring look… though his gaze was fierce.

“Lie down and let me check you over. If you're fine, sure, go ahead and get up but you're not leaving.”

“Fine, fine, FINE…”

“Look, I promise I’ll take care of ya. So, just try to relax until backup gets here, got it?” Connor assured as he got to work. “You remember what happened before the crash?”

“Yeah, some broad was sleepin' in the middle of the freaking road…” The patient growled. “The other driver swerved to try not to hit her then I slammed into them then… Yeah. I don’t remember what happened after but if that stupid broad wasn’t in the road I’d be FINE.”

“Mm-hm.”

Connor felt the patients ribcage as they let out a sharp gasp.

“You’ll need a chest x-ray at the hospital and you're definitely not going anywhere… Sleeping woman, huh?” He looked around. “Are we missing a patient?”

“No, why?” Kuro asked.

“He said there was someone sleeping in the road. A woman. That’s how the crash started.”

Kuro looked up from his own patient, concerned. He reached into his pantleg pocket, pulling out a radio.

“This is Curacion to Dispatch, over.”

“We hear you. What’s going on?”

“Tell backup we have a missing patient. Woman who was supposedly unconscious on the road. Might be inebriated and wandering the forest around the shoulder.”

“Copy that.”

He put the radio away, looking around one more time. Sirens were cutting through the air now as the rest of their backup arrived. More paramedics were pouring out of the ambulances, a few hurrying his way. He quickly relayed the patients stats before pushing himself up to his feet.

He heard a yelp from his left as he whirled around, breaking into a sprint.

“What’s wrong?!”

“DANGIT! KURO, GET ME A HAND OVER HERE!”

Ebony and Dominic had the last patient laid out, putting pressure on a massive wound in his chest, a neckbrace holding his head still.

“Good heavens, what the heck happened to him!?”

“Glass from the windshield pushed into him by the airbag.”

Kuro flinched before he got to work, assessing the young man’s vitals.

He noted the way the young man was breathing, looping his stethoscope over his shoulders.

Respiration is low… loss of blood… needs to be treated before shock can set in.

He quickly got a saline drip started before beginning to administer first aid.

He waved over one of the other first responders as their backup got to work assisting them.

“Get this one ready to go along with the woman!” Kuro barked, his eyes blazing with determination.

“And the missing one?” The first responder asked.

“No clue. Connor, the guy say what she looks like?”

Connor eyed the patient he was treating.

“Heck if I remember… Black hair looked pretty… Had something kind of... Kinda like that chick’s arm.” He thumbed over to Ebony, pointing to the silvery metal of her prosthetic.

“So, we’re looking for a missing amputee, got it." Connor nodded before looking to his comrades. "You heard ‘em!”

“Alright, move out! Dominic, Connor, I’ll take over here, you go with search and rescue. Report back if you find that girl.”

“Sir yes sir!”

“Ebony, you're with me. Let’s get this guy ready to head out.”

“Got it!”

As they hurried out, Kuro glanced back towards the woods. The sun was setting, lighting the sky a blaze with its colors, the treeline casting ominous shadows along the ground.

He should have been relieved, though his stomach was doing somersaults.

Something about this just didn’t feel right.

If she was in the road when the accident happened we should’ve found signs of another person. Blood, hair, a mangled body if the first car is anything to go by.

I just pray wherever she is, that she's alright.

----

Hi guys! Welcome to the first preview for my next book Doc Hero, coming November 15th. :)

#Doc Hero #Original work #original writing #writeblr #author #Kuro Saijo #Connor Hendrix #Ebony Hendrix #Dominic Maddox #Doctor #paramedics #medical fiction #sci-fi #urban sci-fi

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hitchell-mope · 5 years ago

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(Third film. At Evie’s house. Mal has very recently just fainted in midair due to fatigue, turned back into a human, and fell through the sky, landing upside down by her legs on a branch in a tree located in her sister front garden)

Evie (looking disapprovingly you at the elder demigod): you’ve not eaten since breakfast have you?

Mal: if by “eaten” you mean “surreptitiously take swigs of booze from my hip flask intermittently throughout the day” then yes

Evie: I do not

Mal: ohhhh. Then no. No I have not

Celia: and you couldn’t have been more obvious if you tried

Uma: Ceels is right. I saw you. Twice.

Mal: damn you guys sure know how to raise a girl up. Help me down?

Evie: you can fall perfectly well all by yourself

Mal: urgh, fine

(With a little struggle and a quick, extremely high pitched yelp, she shifts off the branch and falls to the ground and land on her back with a pained grunt)

Evie: now was that so difficult?

Mal: dad will judge you eventually. And he may not be so merciful.

Evie: A. He’s not my dad. B. Get up before you’re clothes are dusted beyond repair

(Just then Uma shrieks and throws a frog off her head)

Evie (snickering): really? You’re scared of frogs? Isn’t that part of you powers. Communication with sea life?

Uma: yeah sea life not pond life that jumped up bastard is not my guy

Evie: funny, I’d have thought you’d like them consider you’re dating one

Uma (laughing mirthlessly): and don’t you share blood with him?

Evie: urgh don’t remind me

Mal: hate to break up the familial bonding but is anyone scared and/or allergic to locusts?

Celia: no

Uma: no

Evie: no, why do you ask?

Mal: because a swarm of them is headed this way

(She’s right. A huge cloud of locusts are speeding right towards them. Mal takes out the sceptre and sets it into the ground, sending the swarm away from them)

Celia: what the hell was that about?

Mal: oh I think I have an idea

(Back in the forest)

Harriet: what the fuck

Cj: Jesus

Harry: what is that?

Hades: cinders.

Elsa: what?

Adam: well. You did say I was hiding behind religion

Ben: speak properly or not at all

Adam: you saw the movie, you’ve heard the stories and you have been to church

Jay: you’re joking!

Adam: why would I joke about your imminent destruction?

(Back at Evie’s)

Mal: this is gonna sound patently ridiculous, (she whacks a frog off Uma’s head), but I think, oh god how do I put this? I think

Celia: Red Sea?

Mal: yes! Ohhhh thank god for the youth

Celia: I’m thirteen

Mal: I was hatched old kid.

Evie: what do we do?

Mal: block them

(Back in the forest)

Gil: what do we do

Ben: block them

Adam: if you’d left those things where they belong this wouldn’t be happening

Ben: what?

Adam: it’s an environmental reaction to their abominable presence

Ben: it’s Maleficent!

Adam (snarling): exactly

(This is when “the plagues” happens. After the song the onslaught is still happening)

Uma: fuck lot of good that did genius. Any other bright ideas?

Mal: who has the ember?

Her sister and cousins: YOU DO

Mal: right! Yes. Of course. Hands in. Chop chop

(They all put their right hands over the ember and it starts to glow)

Mal: you've caused our friends pain and fear/we've had enough now disappear

(Nothing happens)

Mal: it’s not gonna work if you’re not gonna help. Again

The sisters rotten and the sisters Facillier: you've caused our friends pain and fear/we've had enough now disappear

(The onslaught ceases. The rogs and locusts turn to ash. Back in the forest the raining fire wafts away)

Ben: Mal

Jay: who else?

Harry: uhhhh, Uma, duh

Lonnie: Uma wishes she was as cool as Mal

Elsa: Lonnie, please, not now

Lonnie: ok. Cool. The girls are at Evie’s house right?

Jay: yeah

Lonnie: good. This Uma chick is with them yeah?

Carlos: ...yes...

Lonnie: aces. I want some words with her

Ben: Lonnie don’t please

Lonnie: no, Ben, I’m sorry. But this chick abducted you, tried to kill you, hypnotised you and tried to capsize the boat the entire student body was on. I think that warrants a dragging. Don’t you?

Harry: if you hurt her

Lonnie: what are you gonna do jar jar? Flirt at me? Yeah didn’t think so. C’mon guys. Oh Ben. Love the wings and the beard.

Ben (feeling his teeth with his tongue): I think I got fangs as well

Lonnie: can you believe this guy. King of an entire nation, almost pure magic and still inordinately adorable. How does he do it? Not as adorable as you though Gilly

Gil: YAY!

(Harry growls in irritation. They start to move. Unbeknownst to them Adam whisked away by purple smoke. Back at Evie’s palace she’s itching to get inside. Sadly for her. She’s got a clingy reptile hanging on to her ankle)

Evie: c’mon M let go. I could always kick you into the foliage?

Mal (reassuming her regular form): I have a bad feeling about who’s waiting for us in there

Evie: it’s Doug. My Doug. I’m sure he’s fine.

Mal: sis look. The way you reacted to seeing Doug in the mirror. It’s gonna be a lot worse to seeing him like that in person.

Evie: so you obviously don’t me all that well then “sis”

(She stalks off inside the house)

Mal: sadly I do know that well. (Turning to the Facillier’s) look. I’m not expecting you guys to go in there with us

Uma (already heading inside): way ahead of ya

Mal: you’re eager

Uma: don’t wanna miss the kaboom

(Inside the house. Evie’s poking and prodding Doug’s dude futilely)

Evie: c’mon sweetie stop playing around it’s time to wake up now

Uma: not as fun as I thought it was gonna be

Mal: she’s in shock. Once her body and brain catch up with each other. It’ll be horrible

Uma: but it’s a sleeping curse. She knows how to wake him up.

Mal: she’s emotionally involved ok? Like I said. Body and brain haven’t caught with each other yet

Celia: oh no

Mal: what?

Celia: uhhhh nothing. Hey, Uma, why don’t we go see the pool?

Uma: what’s that

Mal (following Celia’s line of sight and cottoning on): yes! The pool! The pool is great. And the hot tub is just what someone like us needs after a day like today

Celia: exactly so c’mon sis. Let’s go for a dip

Uma: I’ve spent a year in the ocean. I don’t need to go back into some more water. Now what are you trying to keep me from?

Celia and Mal: it doesn’t matter

Mal (telepathically to Celia): keek her away from the couch (verbally) I’ll try and pry Evie off her man

Uma (her voice very small): no

Celia: ohhhh fuck

Mal (walking over to Evie and gently trying to pull her away): c’mon kiddo. You need a breather

Evie (thickly): no, I’m not leaving him

Mal: you need to eat, you need to drink. If you’re stressing out you’ll be no help to him.

Evie (stubbornly): I’m not leaving

Uma: WHY IS THERE ONLY ONE OF THEM!!!!!!!!!!

Celia: and there we go

Mal: c’mon you can’t help him when you’re like this

(She starts pulling Evie away from Doug. Evie starts screaming and crying begging Mal to leave her there. Celia tries to do the same to Uma who starts screaming and crying demanding to know why only one twin is on the couch. Eventually it gets too much for the temporary queen)

Mal: ok that’s it. Both of you FREEZE. That’s better. Celia. Reconvene in the kitchen

(In the kitchen)

Celia: what is her problem? It’s a curse. She knows what to do. True loves kiss. It’s not that difficult

Mal: well it is if you have their combined dating history

Celia: yeah she dated the dick that’s trying to kill us. Juice please. Thank you. Merlot? Really?

Mal: my hip flask ran out. Fry up?

Celia: sure. Wait what do you mean combined dating history?

Mal: Doug is amazing and kind and attractive and will defend those he cares about to his final breath. But Dopey’s son.

Celia: ohhhh. He’s like dizzy.

Both: kid of a sidekick

Mal: and here. The social hierarchy was: Prince, Princess, hero, heroine, sidekick

Celia: poor guy.

Mal: yeah. So you’ve got. Brainwashed girl who feels compelled to throw herself at a royal douchebag. Douche bag ghosts her. She’s heartbroken, despite me jay and Carlos spending days trying push her to the better and accurate option of Doug,

Celia: as you do

Mal: right. Then you have Doug. He’s Harry Potter and lifes Dudley Dursley

Celia: what

Mal: I’ll let him explain that reference. Anyway. Because of what they’ve each gone through separately. They’re wracked with insecurity. Because there’s that niggling feeling that they’ll get heartbroken again

Celia: so what do we do?

Mal: I need to be the responsible big sister and kick her ass into gear

Celia: and me?

Mal: put a blanket on Squirmy he looks cold and try to make sure your sister doesn’t burn this place to the ground with us inside

Celia: smart plan

Mal: hold on I’m getting a call. Mal here. Jay. You found him! Oh thank god. Good that’s good. Whoever said that about my son needs a kick in the dick. Oops. Sorry hadie. What? Bastards. Squirmy’s here. Asleep and aortaless. But he’s here. Dizzy’s fine. That’s just Celia whooping. Merlot. Well the hip flask ran out. Yes I did. I know I should’ve. But I didn’t. Mom and————whatever she does to him he’ll survive and isn’t her fault. Ohhhh. Oh yeah. Yeah. I froze them. She’s heavy. Not good. At all. Oooh I dunno. Two hours. Surprise? Oh I see. This is why you didn’t FaceTime? Thought as much. Well. See you when we see you. Love ya. Bye. Got all that kid?

Celia: essentially, yeah

Mal: good. Now take Uma’s sword off her. Knowing her she’ll start swinging the nearest weapon once she’s reanimated

Celia: and Evie?

Mal: oooooh. Put a protection spell on Squirmy in case the windows shatter

Celia: done. Ready?

Mal: god no. But when have I ever been?

(They go back to their positions and Mal unfreezes the sorceress and the sea witch. Immediately the two of the resume their breakdowns. Uma peters our first and dissolves into tears. Evie keeps screaming at Mal to let her go until her voice goes horse)

Mal: are you done?

(Evie grumpily shoves Mal off her and stalks outside to the back garden)

Mal: Uma what about you? Need a drink (Evie lets out a skyward scream and the windows all shatter to dust)...Celia honey, could you be very very helpful to your very very tired cousin and clean up the glass?

(Her right eye twitches and Celia reverses tne damage)

Mal: thank you. Uma. Drink?

Uma: mhmm

(She sits Uma at the kitchen island and pours her a glass of wine)

Mal: thought you might be fed up with grog and muskat. The I’m more partial to rosé but red is Gil’s favourite.

Uma: I’m s. Suh. Rry (Celia elbows her in the ribs) I’m sorry

Mal: why? You were stuck with you’re mother for a year. That must’ve been hell for you. At least you know who what was unconscious for it. But you remember everything. If anything it should be me apologising to you

Uma: you said that back on the ship

Mal: and I’ll keep saying it until you tell me to shut it

Uma: Mal

Mal: yah?

Uma: shut it

Mal: ookay

Uma: what’re you gonna do about her?

Mal: I’ll let E cool off then try to talk sense into her.

Uma: shouldn’t it be easy though? TLK. It worked with you and beasty boy last year. So why can’t she.

Mal: I have literally just filled Celia in on their joint history. You wanna know why she’s distraught, ask your sister. Now. Drink.

Uma: mm this is good

Mal: beats grog don’t it?

Uma: yeah. More?

Mal: sure

Celia: I’ll just take a lil snifter of brandy

Uma and Mal: dream on kid

Celia: bitch

Mal: we’re you’re family

Uma: we’re allowed to be

Mal: you know. If Grimhilde hadn’t sent Evie after us. And I hadn’t, you know

Uma: yeah, we could’ve teared the isle up.

Mal: two sets of juvenile delinquents

Uma: one massive conflagration

Mal: more?

Uma: ehhhhh. Go on then

(This is when “old fashioned” happens. After the song Mal stops and looks outside)

Mal: I should probably go check on her right?

Celia: you do that and I’ll stay here

Uma: under the watchful eye of your older sister

Celia: fuck

(Mal goes outside to Evie who’s sitting in the gazebo)

Mal: hiya.

Evie: what’s wrong with me?

Mal: how much time have ya got?

Evie: I’m being serious here. A year and a half with Doug and I can’t say it.

Mal: it took me a while to say it to Ben

Evie: six months. Compared to eighteen that’s pretty damn quick.

Mal: Don’t measure your own relationship with you’re own boyfriend by mine and my fiancé’s. Remember what Professor Porter said in science class. No two people are alike

Evie: Archimedes Q Porter is a living remnant of the Victorian era. And as such. He is full of shit half the time.

Mal: oh c’mon sis. Porter was your favourite teacher. After the other guy got done for exam favourtism. Good job on that by the way. Never liked him. Smarmy ass little bastard.

Evie: it was Doug who told on him. There was literally no way in hell chad got a 100% on a test he never studied for. It also got Royston booted off the board of governors.

Mal: finally. So. Wanna talk it out?

Evie: no. It’s just that

(She sighs. This is when “safer” happens. After the song Evie looks at Mal in shock)

Evie: what?

Mal: don’t kiss him. Let him slumber. When we off the maniacs the curse will end and Doug will wake up. Of course he’ll be heartbroken. But at least you won’t have failed. Right?

Evie: how, how COULD YOU! I can’t just leave him like this. He’s my boyfriend. I love him!

Mal: and there’s your answer. Ouch! Ooo!

(Evie just slapped her around the face. Then she hugs her)

Evie: you’re a bitch you know that right?

Mal: yes. I think you may have mentioned it before

Evie (pulling away): a giant scaled covered purple soon to be shedding bitch

Mal: and your fourth fifths of the way to becoming a suburban housewife

Evie: why is that an insult?

Mal: I dunno. Saw it on a britcom. Noe go. Go girl go. Save your Robert Phillip

(Evie lets out a happy shriek and rushes back into the house)

Vision!Ben: you did a good thing

Mal: just hope the end result is desirable for all concerned.

Ben: understandable. Doug is one if you’re closest friends.

Mal: he’s first and foremost Ben’s in the entire goddamn world. It’ll kill Ben if he doesn’t wake up. Now if you’ll excuse me I gotta go out some ice on my ol’ cheek here. Sorceress packs a punch.

(She walks back to the house. In the mirror world Doug and vision!Evie have arrived back at the mirror in Evie’s workshop. With a front row seat to his own unconscious body)

Evie: she’s here! Oh yes finally

Doug: oh thank god.

Evie: there’s probably still time for a small amount of and I’m looking at your face and I’m seeing that there isn’t.

Doug: I’m sorry. It’s just that I know your true form is me. It’d just be too weird

Evie (same time as him): too weird. I understand. Physical manifestation of your girlfriends subconscious who’s true form is yourself isn’t exactly the greatest claim to fame is it?

Doug:...please don’t make me answer that

Evie: ah yeah. The clone incident. (Perking up). We should replicate that

Doug (talking over her): no we shouldn’t. Never again (he walks right up to the mirror). C’mon E. Please. I know you can do it. Please.

Evie: it will work

Doug: you don’t know that. Neither of us know that. (To the real world). Please Evie. Honey. Just say it. Say something. Please. Or just a kiss. It doesn’t even need any gravitas. Just shove our lips together. That’ll do it. Just please do something. She’s hesitating

Evie: that shouldn’t be happening. C’mon kid. Do it. Oh god. I’m so sorry sweetheart. This is where I leave you

(She turns back into Doug, jumps out of the mirror and cuffs Evie around the back of the head)

Evie: OW! What was that for?

V!Doug: hesitating.

Evie: I’m scared. I love him. But I’m scared.

Doug: oh good god almighty. You’re impossible you know that right?

Evie: mhmm.

Doug: you know what? Fine. Bimble however long you like. I am going back into the mirror and comforting your boyfriend. Auf Widershein

Evie: I’m so so sorry. You deserve better

(In the mirror)

Doug: but you’re the best.

V!Evie: it could take some time dear.

Doug: so what do we do?

Evie: we wait

(This is when “say something” happens. After the song, in the real world, Evie crouches down beside Doug)

Evie: how do I start this? I guess I should just come right out and say it. I love you. And I’m sorry. I’m sorry you’re going through this. I’m sorry I let you stay here. I’m sorry I didn’t stay. And I’m sorry if you ever thought I didn’t love you. Because I do. And I’m kicking myself for letting you stay here. I should’ve brought you with me. Screw the twins you’re more important (she dodges a vodka bottle) NOT NOW UMA! I’M SPILLIMG MY HEART PUT TO MY BOYFRIEND HERE IF YOU DON’T MIND! Idiot girl. The fact of the matter is. You’re the best thing that ever happened to me Doug. I’m sorry it took so long for me to say it. That’s on me. Not you. I love you. I always will.

(This is when “never knew I needed happens”. After the song, she kisses him. In the mirror vision Evie kisses him as well)

V!Evie: see you on the other side my dear one

Doug: you too

(Doug fades away from the mirror world and wakes up in the real world with a jolt. He sits up, strokes Evie’s cheek and pulls her into a hug)

#disney descendants #zendaya!mal

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unityghost · 5 years ago

Text

All Cretans Lie

Part 24 of Post-Asmodeus Sabriel Feels. Here thar be angst, mateys.

This story is based on a prompt from @commonercommenter, who suggested:

The voices start to fade, start telling Gabe to hate himself less and less. He finds he’s compelled to do it himself.

Thanks, commonercommenter!

At the moment I'm not taking prompts, but suggestions are welcome. Thank you for reading! Please take note that there are subtle references to sexual assault in this story.

Perhaps Gabriel should have been horrified, or frightened, or - at the very least - just a little bit concerned.

The truth was that he had anticipated this, no matter how much he didn’t want it to happen.

He confined himself to bed that morning, trying to ward off a splitting headache. He knew he ought to drink water, but couldn’t bring himself to move. That he had been up much of the night, caught between vivid nightmares and vague but terrifying images he couldn’t quite recollect upon waking, didn’t help any of what was going on.

When he hadn’t exited his bedroom by lunchtime, there was a knock at the door. Gabriel couldn’t make himself sit up, but he managed to turn over when the door clicked open.

“Don’t mind me,” Gabriel muttered. “Just a headache.”

“Uh-huh.” Dean moved closer to the bed and peered down at Gabriel. “You know, Gabe, just because Sam isn’t here doesn’t mean you gotta hole up in your room.”

“Excuse me?” With all the appearance of effortlessness he could manage, Gabriel pushed himself up onto his elbows. “Pardon my audacity, headmistress, but I have no plans to swaddle myself in misery. I prefer to think there’s a difference between being neurotic and being lazy.”

“Hey look, come on, I didn’t say that.” Dean sat down on the edge of the bed. “I know you don’t need Sam to spoon-feed you. Just thought I’d check in.”

Gabriel groaned and edged into a proper sitting position. He massaged his temples. “I’m fine. Are you looking for help with something? Translations? The Sunday crossword? Leftover coffee that’s gonna go to waste if no one drinks it? Because I’m up for - ”

“Why don’t you just tell me what’s the matter, huh?”

Gabriel froze, then looked away. “I …”

“Even if it’s just that you’re missing Sam. I know it can be a little - ”

“All right, give me some credit, will you? I think I can keep my separation anxiety under control for a couple of days. You know what’d help? A fistful of Excedrin.”

“Are you sick or what?”

“I’m not sick.” Gabriel paused. “Not technically. More … uh …”

Dean waited.

Finally, Gabriel sighed. “Don’t freak out. It’s my grace.”

“Yeah?” Dean sounded unperturbed. “What’s wrong with it?”

“I mean it’s … I mean … right now, it’s …” Gabriel cleared his throat. “It’s not there. It’ll come back,” he added hastily, without meeting Dean’s eyes, “It will. I promise. This happened a hell of a lot with Asmodeus. Made sense: he’d take a truckload of it and suddenly it had a mind of its own, fighting back, in some kind of panic mode. Spring into action so hard it hurt. Then, other times, it was as resigned as I was.” Gabriel’s shoulders tensed. “Can’t say that made him too happy.”

Dean took a few seconds to process what Gabriel had told him. Then, slowly, he nodded. “I just made some lunch. I know you don’t have a strong stomach right now but if your grace is down for the count then you should have something to help get it back in gear.”

“I know. I know I should.”

“Here, come on, come out to the kitchen. Jack’s gorging himself on pizza. You should have some. Or something lighter, if that’s what you want. Come hang out with us.”

“I’m not much fun at parties right now.”

“Jack wants to feed you.” Dean got to his feet and clapped Gabriel on the shoulder.” Come on, buddy, get up.”

No, Gabriel thought, neither of them really wanted him there; and if Jack thought otherwise, he’d quickly recognize his mistake.

Gabriel closed his eyes.

Shut up.

He opened them again.

No one’s lying. No one’s delusional.

“Are you a hundred percent on that?” Gabriel asked Dean.

He’ll say yes.

“Yeah, we’ve been saving you a seat,” Dean told him.

And he means it.

It had been months since Gabriel’s arrival, months since Sam had begun telling him that it was possible to get better - to shake off at least a fragment of his self-abuse, so that the pain became sometimes, and not always; to have fewer dreams, fewer attacks of memory; to ask for help without the fear of violence or derision.

“All right,” Gabriel agreed. “Just … give me a few minutes.”

“Come out when you’re ready. It sounds like you’re sure this isn’t anything to call Sam over.”

“Let the kid have his downtime.”

“Ah, sure, yeah, downtime. Look at all the fun he’s having over in Tulsa.” Dean pulled his phone from his back pocket and, after a few seconds of scrolling, held it out so that Gabriel could read Sam’s text messages: Had to tell them I learned to be “respectfully dominant” toward my wife from my preacher dad. And then, half an hour later: I’ve been prescribed a double dose of prayer; take twice a day.

“Ha,” said Gabriel, “Gross. What is he doing?”

“Masquerading as a religious fanatic so he can get an inside look at what’s going on with kids under ‘Satanic influence.’ Their parents keep ending up dead, which is apparently all it takes for the kids to snap out of it. Not a pretty picture.”

“And is Cas putting on the same show?”

“Probably not as convincingly. Sam’s really good at looking remorseful.”

“And Cas has a penchant for looking confused. Proud of them both. It’s not every day you find that kind of raw talent.”

“So what do you need from me, then?”

Gabriel tensed. “You’re not pissed. That’s … appreciated.”

“All right. We’ll be waiting for you.”

“Consider me officially RSVP’d.” Gabriel forced himself to stand. His head stung, but he wasn’t dizzy or nauseated. “I’ll be out in a minute.”

While Dean was gone and Gabriel was getting dressed, he took inventory of his body - not to assess the effects of gracelessness, with which he was sorely familiar, but to better understand his response to Dean’s invitation to Sam’s absence, and to the question of, What are they going to do to me so long as I’m useless?

Over these last several months he had learned to read each one of them. It was anything but a smooth or rapid process, but Gabriel knew that he wouldn’t have fallen for Sam’s imaginary repentance in a house of prayer - because by this time, he could recognize when Sam was being honest. He could recognize when Dean was being honest. Neither of them had the time for diplomacy, Castiel couldn’t help being frank, and Jack had the colorful forwardness of any child.

There’s nothing to be scared of, Gabriel told himself, just to see whether he could identify his own sincerity.

And there it was. Wherever the assertion had come from, it was likely correct.

“Uncle Gabriel!” Jack exclaimed when Gabriel came into the kitchen. “Dean made pizza.”

“Dean made pizza,” Gabriel agreed.

“You should try some.”

“I … should not. Because I’m not hungry enough to take advantage of his masterpiece.” If that’s okay, he considered adding, but didn’t. “Gonna grab, I don’t know, an apple or something.”

“Uncle Gabe.” Jack looked somber. “You really should. Sam says that - "

“It’s fine,” Dean interrupted. “Guy’s just not up for it. We have apples.”

Jack shrugged. “Okay.” He bit into the slice of pizza, shut his eyes, and made muffled sounds of delight.

“He’s having a religious experience,” Dean told Gabriel.

Gabriel smiled. “I’ve been responsible for some of those, and I wouldn’t disagree with you.”

He spent most of the rest of the day locked in his bedroom, per routine; but, a few hours after lunch, decided to search one of the medicine cabinets for something to relieve his headache. He found two separate bottles of aspirin, one two years past its expiration date and the other unopened.

Gabriel hesitated. If someone noticed that he’d had the gall to take from an untouched bottle of medicine …

But there was what Gabriel told himself, and there was what Sam would have insisted upon.

Within half an hour, the headache was nearly gone.

That evening, he got a knock on his door. When he opened it, Sam smiled at him.

“Oh!” Gabriel was surprised. “I didn’t think you’d be back until tomorrow at least.”

“No, this wasn’t a hard case. Just some witch with too much time on her hands.”

“And I hear you’ve become quite the thespian.”

Sam laughed. “You’re doing okay?”

Gabriel hesitated, and Sam’s face fell.

“Turn that frown upside-down, soldier,” Gabriel said. “I’m not falling apart. But - you didn’t talk to your brother, by any chance?”

Sam looked worried. “He gave me some pizza but … not really.”

“Oh. Well, okay - don’t freak out, all right? Because there’s no need for it. But. When I woke up this morning …”

Sam folded his arms, watching Gabriel with fear in his eyes.

“When I woke up,” Gabriel finished, avoiding Sam’s gaze, “I didn’t have any grace. And it’s fine, it’s - it’s happened before. It’s always come back. Always. If it can rebound when I’m in Hell, having it ripped out of me like a tree root, I figure it’ll be fine. I mean, not fine, just - in flux. Not permanently gone.”

Sam frowned, contemplating, searching Gabriel’s face. “You look like you don’t feel good.”

“I’m not the usual picture of health you see every time you come into my room to mop up vomit in the middle of the night, but I’m in one piece.”

Sam bit his lip. “Sorry I wasn’t here this morning.”

“Don’t be. I survived. You know I always do when you need a break from - ” Gabriel paused. “From routine.”

Useless.

Gabriel stiffened. The word, the thought, had come out of nowhere - a hand clawing its way from what appeared to be an otherwise undisturbed grave.

He swallowed. “Anyway, don’t worry. There’s no problem. I’m …”

Nothing.

Not nothing, Gabriel pleaded with himself, No, that’s not what they think. With grace, without grace, that’s not how they -

“Well,” said Sam, “How’re you feeling?”

Gabriel found himself unable to speak.

Here it was again: that thick, dark feeling that swallowed him up, held him down, and gagged him. That putrid warmth coloring the normal with the sinister and contaminating the benign with the grotesque.

Memories, Gabriel told himself; these were memories. Don’t be afraid. Stop being afraid. It’s okay.

Alarm passed over Sam’s face. “Hey - ”

“Um - ”

“Gabriel.” Sam took him by the wrist. “What happened? Why are you shaking?”

“It’ll stop,” Gabriel told him, but didn’t pull away. “It’s just the shivers.”

“I’ll sit with you.”

Gabriel shuddered, overcome by something like fear, or relief, or uncertainty, or perhaps all three at once. “And I won’t fight you on that.”

Sam led him to the bed, lowered himself so that they were side by side, and gripped his shoulder. “I wish I could tell you I know what that feels like.”

“Oh, trust me, you really don’t.”

“When it happens … is there anything that pulls you out a little bit?”

Gabriel shrugged. “I’d like to say that you do, and you do, but it’s still there; it hangs around until it gets bored.” Then, worried that Sam would think he was ungrateful: “But it’s better than being alone. Really. A thousand times better.”

Sam offered a sad smile. “But you don’t tell anyone when it happens, do you?”

“Why should I? It’s just a feeling. It’s not real. I have to wait, that’s all. No need to call for help.”

“It is real,” Sam objected. “The feeling is real. The next time you - ”

“I know, Sam.” Gabriel closed his eyes and rubbed his forehead. “It’s habit. Instinct. I don’t want to ask for anything.” He looked up at Sam. “Ever.”

“I know.”

Gabriel was overcome with a sudden chill, so that he shuddered once more. His heartbeat hadn’t slowed at all. An unexpected surge of nausea washed through him.

“Calm down,” Sam said softly. “You’re practically seizing.”

Gabriel shrugged Sam away, and left the room as quickly as he could without actually running.

“Gabriel, wait!” Sam followed him into the hallway, where Gabriel began retching.

“Oh crap, hey, no - ” Sam rushed him into the bathroom and helped him lean over the toilet. “Easy, easy does it. You’re okay.”

Gabriel’s breath came in cold, shallow gasps. In his graceless state, he vomited and let Sam hold him in place as it happened.

“I know you don’t care,” Gabriel sputtered. “That you don’t care about how much grace I have. I - ” He heaved again before he could finish.

That was the food that Dean had given him, Gabriel recalled. Dean had expected responsibility that Gabriel couldn’t exercise.

Gabriel couldn’t be trusted - not with their food, not with their hospitality, not with their kindness. He had unwritten the peace of earlier, had spoiled the maybe of “Let’s have lunch together,” defaced the possibility that things were going to be okay.

“Sam, I thought - I - I asked for - ”

He had asked for what he wanted, asked for their food, stolen their medicine -

“Gabriel,” Sam said softly, “Just relax.”

Sincerity made no difference. However genuine their concern and kindness might be, there was no guarantee it would last. Impatience was always waiting in the shadows; Gabriel could smell it just as he could smell his own vomit then and there. Their affection and dedication was like the aspirin he’d removed from the cabinet earlier: there was a cutoff that Gabriel had acknowledged in the past, an inevitable conclusion that he had somehow managed to dismiss lately.

“I didn’t mean to,” he whispered. “My grace isn’t - I’m sorry - ”

He should not have allowed himself access to I think it might be okay. Instead, he should have continued waiting for what had to come eventually. When they made up their minds that he was a burden they simply couldn’t handle anymore, the waiting game - which was a special kind of torture - would at least be over.

Gabriel shivered and gagged.

“Breathe, all right?” Sam sounded as though he was trying hard to remain calm himself. “I’m right here; it’s okay, Gabriel.”

He would be in danger if he forgot his place. He shouldn’t have permitted himself to forget that he was their sick patient, their delinquent foster child, their pet that just couldn’t seem to be house-trained.

The end, Gabriel reminded himself, was long overdue.

“Slow down,” Sam instructed, gently lowering him to kneel on the floor. “Just - I don’t know what I did. I’m sorry.”

Gabriel should have reminded himself that the others were poisoning themselves by touching him, by speaking to him, by listening to his voice, by acknowledging that he was there at all.

“Sam,” Gabriel choked, vomit still clinging to his lips.

“Yeah, hey, what is it?"

“I - I haven’t told you everything, and - ” He paused, waiting to see if he would get sick again.

“You mean about Asmodeus?” said Sam. “I know that.”

“You don’t, though; you haven’t seen any of the worst. You don’t realize just how - ”

“No,” Sam said firmly. “We’ve talked about this before.”

There was nothing left for Gabriel to vomit. All that remained was him, only Gabriel - and that couldn’t be gotten rid of. “I’m better, or I’ve been feeling better; I go back and forth, Sam, and I just don’t know!”

Sam guided Gabriel upright. “Let’s go lie down. In my room. Okay?”

“I don’t know,” Gabriel repeated.

“Come here.” Sam half-carried him out of the bathroom and back down the hall.

“All right,” Sam said, easing Gabriel onto the bed, “There we go. I gotcha.”

Gabriel, still trembling, wrapped his arms around his middle and pulled his knees toward his chest.

Sam sat on the edge of the mattress and peered down at him. “If I scared you - ”

“You didn’t. I - that feeling, it wouldn’t stop; it wouldn’t go away. I feel sick and I can’t control anything right now, and I - Sam, I’m not just trashing myself for funsies. There’s a reason I say you shouldn’t care about me. There’s a reason I’m so convinced of that, Sam. Dozens of reasons.” He swallowed, tasting the remnants of vomit in his mouth. “It’s just that you think you have no proof of it. Dad knows why you’d believe something like that after everything I’ve put you through, but all I can do is cram the really, really effed-up shenanigans as far away from you as possible. Because there are whole lifetimes I just can’t talk about. They’re too humiliating, and - and I can’t let you see what he - what I - ”

“You don’t have to, but you can.”

“And,” Gabriel continued hoarsely, “You’re just going to have to take my word for it. This is the one thing you can trust me with, because I was there. I can’t be wrong about what he made me do.” When Sam didn’t reply, Gabriel went on: “I know this is hard for you to hear. And I’m sorry. You just - if you want what’s best for me, for all of you - I don’t know, I guess I deserve the pain of whatever’s in store for me. Why not let myself get hurt, right? You’d think I’d be eager to let it all happen, wouldn’t you?” His breathing began to shallow. “A slow death. A little more of this here, of me lying on your bed with you looking at me like you’re about to cry; and then I’m worried about what’s best for you, and if I can’t trust myself then I’m wrong and you’re the one with your priorities straight. Sam - when the Cretan tells you all Cretans lie, what the hell are you supposed to believe? This is the most confused I’ve ever been and I can’t figure out what to do with any of what’s tearing at the inside of my head.”

Sam took a second to consider his response. Then he answered, “A few of my law professors brought that up in seminars. The Liar Paradox. I used to tell my professors that whichever way you look at it, that guy couldn’t’ve been a Cretan at all. Which means he has no authority.” Sam offered his hand. “That means there are answers. Somewhere. You just gotta think creatively.”

Gabriel’s throat tightened. “So then what’s the answer?”

Sam took his hand. “I don’t know.”

If Sam was made aware, if Sam could witness some of the depraved acts in which Gabriel had engaged - not because he’d wanted to, and yet they had still happened, every one of them - he would not allow this to continue.

Undoubtedly, Sam would think twice about giving up: he felt he had to keep his promise to protect Gabriel, to nurture Gabriel, to show love he probably had to convince himself he really felt. But he would choose to end it, because Sam couldn’t ignore what he knew, in his heart of hearts, to be right.

Sam squeezed his hand. “You can talk to me, you know.”

Gabriel kept his eyes averted. “I just did.”

“If you’ve got more to say, I’m here.”

“I always have more to say.” Let go. Let go of his hand.

“I have a question,” Sam said softly, and Gabriel caught the hesitancy behind his words. Maybe it was now. This was as good a time as any; Gabriel had, after all, just implored Sam to make it swift.

“Listen,” Sam murmured, “Hasn’t it ever crossed your mind that maybe I worry you’ll give up on me too?”

For a few seconds, all Gabriel could take in was the voice in his head - let go; let go of his hand - and then his mind went blank for a few seconds, and finally he heard what Sam had just told him.

“Uh,” said Gabriel, “No.”

“What about the other day?” A twinge of discomfort flickered over Sam’s face. “When I spazzed out about the - ”

“About that self-destructive young whippersnapper who ran into the middle of the road? I just wanted to help you.”

“Well, sometimes I figure there’s no reason you’d want to do that, and maybe you’ll eventually see why I think so."

Gabriel tried to assess his own response to Sam’s confession. On the one hand, he wasn’t very surprised: Sam’s relationship with himself was hardly more impressive than Gabriel’s. Even so, the very idea was almost laughable - but also sickening, and Gabriel felt some of the nausea resurface.

“Shut up,” he told Sam. Then, after a moment’s hesitation: “Are you lying? Part of me hopes you’re bullshitting me. Part of me hopes you’re the non-Cretan.”

Sam shook his head. “Dean’s given up on me before. The guy who knows me better than anyone. If that’s my metric, then ... “ He looked away before returning his attention to Gabriel and forcing a smile. “Kind of proves me right, doesn’t it?”

“No offense to your brother, but his patience is on the low end of the bell curve. And I know he’s sort of your hero, Sam, but the only one who has the final say in who gets to give up on who isn’t Dean.”

Sam shrugged. “I was just trying to make a point. We’re not really talking about me.”

“Aren’t we, though? Because I feel like self-revulsion has become a tautology with us."

Sam frowned. “What?”

“It’s like we’re throwing it back and forth. In fact, I - Sam, it’s almost as if you’re trying to take it away from me. Like if you keep on hating yourself enough, there will only be so much left for me.”

“What makes you say that?”

“It’s like you go grabbing for it. Except - and you should know this by now - there’s an infinite supply of that ugliness to go around. It doesn’t matter how much you try to take on; there’s always going to be more for me. For all of us.”

Sam fidgeted. “Yeah. Fine. But that has nothing to do with anything. Not right now.”

“I don’t want you to get the idea that this isn’t about both of us. There’s so much wrong with me, but I’m not an idiot. I know why you’re so good at what you do.”

For a few moments, Sam was quiet. Then he asked, “You want some water or something?”

Gabriel recoiled.

“Would you like some water?” Sam amended.

There were a few moments of silence. Then, eyes trained on Gabriel’s hand clasped in his, Sam said, “I don’t know how to read you. Sometimes you seem all right, but I can’t be sure, because what would I do if I got it wrong and didn’t think to check in and you …” He swallowed. “What if I miss something?”

“What if you do? It isn’t your responsibility to take my vitals every day.”

“Gabriel, you know what I mean. If something happened to you, just because I looked away for a second, I …” Sam trailed off.

“Nothing’s going to happen to me.” Gabriel knew Sam needed to hear him say it. “And even if it did, it wouldn’t be your fault.”

Sam shifted his gaze to his lap.

“You’re not stupid,” Gabriel pressed. “You know I’m always going to come running to you when things get out of hand. Plant my feet beneath your window, throw some pebbles, get down on one knee, give a speech. I don’t even have the capacity to - ” Here Gabriel paused, because it was precisely this that had soured the afternoon.

Sam looked back at him. “To what?”

Gabriel was suddenly overcome by a memory that turned his stomach again: Asmodeus, holding him down, as a second demon raised Gabriel’s arms and pinned them to the floor so that he couldn’t defend himself. This, Asmodeus knew, was a more effective method than any magical restraints could have been. Magic didn’t have a voice. Magic didn’t have a body that could be clawed, punched, and bitten to no avail. Magic robbed Gabriel of only so much dignity, because with magic there was no hope; there was no wasted combat, no maybe I can get away from him that bled through resignation to the inevitable. When Gabriel was attacked, he flailed under the foul illusion of possibility.

It didn’t matter how safe Gabriel might be now. That feeling, that awful feeling, had lessened in frequency, but increased in intensity whenever it returned. There was no safety. There couldn’t be. The closest Gabriel might come to being truly safe was to ensure awareness that he would never be safe.

“Hey,” Sam said quietly. “What’s the matter, Gabe?”

Gabriel gritted his teeth. The ceiling blurred. “I don’t know.”

“Listen, your grace will come back, and even if it didn’t we’d - ”

“Have every right to throw me away.”

“No."

“And when it’s good to go, I’m a valuable asset, so if someone finds that out and comes looking for me and offers you payment - ”

“I told you that’s not gonna happen. Gabriel, none of this crap is worth your time.”

“Doesn’t matter. I’m giving it my time. My time is running to these questions with open arms. I can’t stop it. I can’t stop myself. He was - the memories are too strong.” Gabriel blinked and felt a tear glide down his temple and into his ear. “I can’t fight them.”

“I can help!”

“You are helping. You’re at the helm; you have been since the beginning. You started digging through the rubble at ground zero. And I - and - ” Gabriel let out a tight sob. “You need to lower your expectations, Sam. If you think you can change me then you’re only going to end up blaming yourself.”

“Okay.” Sam slid his hand out of Gabriel’s and lifted him upright. “It’s fine. You’re fine. You’re safe; everything’s okay.”

Gabriel squeezed his eyes shut but allowed Sam to hold him close. “You and Dean and Cas - you’re good at fixing things. You’re the world’s handymen. You’ve got wits as your wrench and the universe is a blocked sink. But I …”

“Gabriel, we’ll figure it out.”

“Things come back so fast; a - a memory, and then something in that memory - it leads to another memory. Sometimes I remember things I didn’t even realize I remembered. So I hear these voices telling me to clear out before it gets too late, and the next thing I know he’s telling me about how no matter where I am, he’ll always be with me - inside of me. And then I start thinking about how I gave in when it all got to be too much. Which makes me think of the things he did, the things he made me do, the things I let him do.”

Sam tightened his grip. “You didn’t let Asmodeus do anything.”

“I could’ve at least tried to stop him, though; it just - after a while it felt like there was no point in trying anymore. But where’s the honor in not fighting back? How can I forgive myself for going down just because he told me I would lose? I believed him. I couldn’t help it.”

“That’s not - ”

“Except I don’t think I could have won, because I … because … Asmodeus was stronger, yes, but there’s more than that. Asmodeus was right. I know that’s not what you think, and I believe you - at least sometimes. I just - I know it. The same way I know my grace, and when it isn’t there. It’s automatic, Sam; it’s in my blood at this point. I just know he was right, like I know glass will break when it falls. He was right about never being able to escape, never being enough for him, for anyone; never being quick enough to give, and being greedy enough to take everything he had to offer, pretending like I deserved any of it - his food, his love - ”

“Don’t say it like that. He didn’t love you.”

“And so what if he didn’t? Is that better? What does that say about me, that he had me locked up for so long and never even learned to love me? It’s like I told you, he was right. The proof is there, Sam, right in front of you. You see it every day. What have I done to show I’m worth anything more than what he said I was? He saw me as - ”

“He saw you through his eyes. I have my own. And for all your talk about weakness, you certainly haven’t stopped trying to fight back against me.”

That surprised Gabriel. “Nobody’s trying to fight you. I’m just … I need you to … to know what I am. That’s all. For my sake. And for yours too. So that I’m not thrown off when it happens, and you don’t keep forcing yourself into the pain that you do.”

“‘It’ has nothing to do with this. And I’m not in pain. But you are. Which isn’t your fault. It’s not because you’re not trying, or because you can’t get better. It’s because anyone, even you, even any of your family, or any of us, would’ve had to put in the same work you are after being put through so much torture.”

Feeling slightly frantic, Gabriel pulled away. “Wrong. You went through it yourself, Sam, and you’re miles ahead.”

“It was different, and I’m different, and I’m not not still a mess; you know that. You’ve seen that, Gabe. And also, you were there a lot longer, and when you got out you had more you had to face, and - I don’t know,” Sam finished, suddenly helpless, “Just cut yourself some slack, man.”

“I’m trying,” Gabriel grated out, “And I can’t.”

“Not yet, maybe.”

“I can’t, Sam, because I - because - ”

“Because what?”

“Because I shouldn’t.”

Sam didn’t say anything for a moment. He watched Gabriel, studying his face, building an answer from whatever he saw there.

Then, at last, Sam said: “You never have to talk about what else he did to you. Not if you don’t think you can. That’s fine. But you have to trust that I know it was his fault, not yours. Those thoughts, Gabriel, those memories - they can haunt you, they can hurt you, but they shouldn’t make you feel guilty.”

Gabriel remained silent.

“I need you to trust me,” Sam continued. “I know you usually do. You’ve got to take that a step further. Whatever I hear from you … it’s not going to make me think you’re disgusting. No one - not him, not you - can change my mind about that. Do you know why?”

Still, Gabriel said nothing, just looked at him.

“Because I know I’m right,” Sam told him. “I know it like I know glass breaks when it hits the floor.”

Gabriel’s breath shallowed.

“It’s okay,” Sam said. “It’s all gonna be fine. It’s just me right now.”

No more of this, no more crying, no more crying, please -

Sam laid a hand on his arm. “Relax.”

There had always been uncertainty. Not once had Gabriel allowed for a unanimous vote in his mind so that Sam’s declarations of loyalty could be accepted, beyond reasonable doubt, as wholly honest.

Now, looking into Sam’s face, something shifted. For a moment Gabriel felt the same sense of absoluteness, the same unquestionability, that he knew every time he thought about his own worthlessness.

For a fleeting second, the verdict became obvious.

“Just for tonight,” Sam told him. “Just for tonight, let me help; don’t ask why. Just for today. We don’t have to worry about tomorrow.”

“I don’t know,” Gabriel stammered for the third time. “I don’t - I don’t know. I can’t figure it out.”

“You don’t need to right now. There’s a lot to figure out. I know that.”

“It’s not; it shouldn’t be. I know I don’t deserve this, and I know I can trust you, and I can’t make them work together.”

“They aren’t working together. One of them’s a lie and we can toss it.”

“What if I know it isn’t a lie?"

“What if I know it isn’t a lie?”

Gabriel stared at him for a moment, and then turned away as he choked on another strangled sob.

“Gabriel, look,” Sam said, “As much as I want you to learn to trust yourself, this definitely isn’t the right time. If all you’re thinking is that we don’t want you here, or that you can’t get better, then you need to come to one of us instead of taking your own word on blind faith. I hate to say it, but if the question is between trusting what I tell you and what you tell yourself - what Asmodeus tells you - listen to me for a while. Only me."

Gabriel kept his eyes averted. “I can’t.”

“Yeah. Exactly. You have to let me take charge a little bit, Gabriel. Until you can stop being so violent with yourself. Not like - I don’t need to watch your every move, and you don’t have to tell me what you’re not ready to. That’s fine. All I’m saying is if you’re not sure who’s right about you, assume I know what I’m talking about. Just trust me, is all.”

“Sam - ”

“Try. Just for tonight. There’s no contract. Just try.”

Gabriel wiped his eyes with his sleeve. “I don’t - ”

“You don’t have to know. Not right now.”

Gabriel stared at him bleakly, feeling numb. Then he leaned into Sam and allowed himself to go limp.

Sam held onto him. Neither of them spoke.

“Don’t make me tell you,” Gabriel muttered at last.

“I won’t. Remember? You called me out on that. And I’m glad you did.”

“I might never, though. I might never be able to.”

Sam hugged him more firmly. “No worries about that.”

“I - ”

Sam remained still, waiting.

“For tonight,” Gabriel whispered.

“Yeah. That’s all.”

“Okay.”

It was then that Gabriel realized that some of the terror had begun to abate. His head hurt, but he no longer felt sick.

There was darkness around him, darkness inside of him, but no darkness in Sam’s embrace.

More importantly, there was no insincerity. Just for tonight, the language of Sam’s touch could be read as easily as anything else.

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winterfrostlovetriangle · 5 years ago

Text

Old Friends

Part 2

Summary: Tom and Tessa’s back story told in flashbacks. Kudos to anyone who gets the Stephen Colbert interview with Tom reference.

Warnings: Mentions of death and some angst.

Masterlist

Part I | Part II | Part III

*Italics are flashbacks.*

*gif not mine*

“Dad, have you seen my shoes? I can’t find them!” My voice echoed through the quiet house.

Walking into the kitchen, my dad gave me a cross look. “Tessa Nicole,” he snaps. “How many times have I told you not to yell in this house?”

“Sorry, Dad,” I mumble, grabbing my missing shoes and lunch bag from his outstretched hands.

“I’m sorry, love” he sighs. “I didn’t mean to snap. Your Mum had a bad night again, and I’m just tired. I know you didn’t mean to be loud. Please remember that the doctor told us not to upset Mum in any way” he says gently bringing me into a hug and kissing the top of my head. “I love you very much, Tess. Now, get a move on before Tom leaves without you.”

“Bye Dad,” I said giving him another hug before running out the door.

“Come on, slowpoke. I almost left without you. Quit dawdling!” Came a very familiar voice.

I stiffen at my friend's words, only making me more agitated. “Whatever,” I say quickening my pace so I was walking ahead of him.

Lost in my thoughts about my mum, I feel a tug on my elbow. “I’m sorry Tess, I didn’t mean it. I was only joking with you” he apologizes.

I glare back at my friend when he is suddenly on his knees in front of me with an exaggerated look of contrition. A smile tugging at the corners of his mouth, doing a poor job of hiding it.

“Please forgive me, T! Please? I couldn’t stand it if my best mate stayed mad at me,” he yells. His hands shot up in the air. “Forgive me fair maiden,” he says with a wink.

‘Don’t give him the reaction he is looking for,’ I think to myself trying not to crack under his charm.

“Drama queen” I huff, turning quickly around.

(You see, Tom and I are childhood best friends. We moved next door to the Hiddleston’s when I was five, and he was six. We became friends instantly and would get into lots of trouble back then. We both had a love for the theatrics and loved to put on plays together for our families. Our friendship has grown as we have. And now as teenagers, we were still very close.)

Tom pulls at my best elbow again, causing me to face him. “Come on, T? What’s wrong? You can tell me,” he tells me. His bright blue eyes, now clouded with concern.

I sigh in resignation. “It’s not you, Tom. Of course, I forgive you. I-it-it’s my mum. She’s not doing well, and the doctors don’t think she has much time left” I sob.

“Oh Tessa, I’m sorry.” He pulls me into a big hug. “Come here,” he says letting me go and grabbing my hand instead. Tom starts walking away from the school grounds that I didn’t realize we had already arrived there.

“But what about school? Won’t they know we’re missing,” I ask half-heartedly, allowing him to guide me across the street to the park.

“Don’t worry, we’ll be fine. Besides, my friend needs me, and you, love, are more important.” He replies.

We sit under our favorite tree in silence.

“Wanna talk about it?” He asks. Tears well up in my eyes again, and Tom brings me into another comforting embrace.

“I’m just so afraid we’re going to lose her. Dad...wi-will be so devastated if she goes,” I choke out before I start blubbering again.

Tom holds me and gently rubs my back until I calm down.

“I don’t want her to die, Tom” I whisper as I start to collect myself.

“I know. I wish I could tell you it will all be fine, but I can’t. I can tell you two things. One: never give up hope. She may still recover and will be back to her old self in no time. But you ignore that she is ill. And two: I am here for you. I always will be,” he promises with a kiss to my head.

*End of flashback*

I am woken out of my reverie by someone bumping into me. “So sorry” they offer. I give a slight nod and smile in acknowledgment. I decide that I need to keep moving so I am not accidentally caught staring at Tom. I walk across the room to the small bar and take a seat on the far side. I ask for a cup of tea to help calm my nerves. (I don’t drink, ok?) I take a few sips before slipping back to my past.

*flashback brought to you by time skip*

Tom and I were now at Uni together. We were somehow accepted to Cambridge, both for the same majors. We had each decided on drama school because we had a love and proficiency for it, however, our parents encouraged us to try college for a bit. I almost decided not to go because of my mum, but her health miraculously started to improve, much to everyone’s amazement.

Because we were in the same program, Tom and I were still inseparable. My roommate, Ruby, would tell you it was because we had a thing for each other. I tried to explain to her that we were best friends, but she would laugh and continue to tease me.

That fateful day our friendship changed. The day that she met Tom, was the day that my world turned upside down. Clarissa St. Clair, ugh! (It pains me even now to think of her.)

One warm spring day while Tom, Ruby, and I were lunching outside in the square, Clarissa comes waltzing by and trips right in front of Tom. (She twisted her ankle “accidentally,” but who is kidding? It was done on purpose.)

Anyway, Tom being the gentleman that he is, helped her up. He actually carried her to campus infirmary...seriously?

After that Tom was always talking about her or inviting her to hang with us. It was annoying…she was horrible; neither of us liked each other and she made it clear that Tom was hers and she didn’t want me tagging along with them. So I did. I began to distance myself from them, always giving excuses about needing to study or helping Ruby with homework.

“You like him,” Ruby stated one afternoon during an outside study session. I knew she wasn’t asking.

“What? No, I don’t we are, um, we're just friends. Nothing like that,” I replied.

Oh please, I see the looks you give Tom when he’s not looking. And you get bloody jealous when they are off by themselves. I mean Tom super hot, and any girl in their right mind would fall for him” she sighed dreamily.

Um, ew!” I exclaimed. “I do not have feelings for that boy. Try and focus on studying, Ruby. Exams are tomorrow,” I sigh looking back at the textbook with a nagging feeling.

“Hey, Tess! You and Ruby, want to come to the cinema with us,” Tom asks running up beside us.

I begin to say yes when I chance a look at Clarissa who is glaring at me from behind Tom. “Sorry mate, Ruby and I have to study. Maybe next time.”

“That’s what you said the last time...you okay?” He asks. I don’t need to look at his face to know he’s disappointed.

“Fine, we just really need to study.” I counter. “Go have fun.”

After that, Tom stopped asking me to do things with him and his witch of a girlfriend. I was sort of glad, but at the same time, it hurt that he stopped coming around. I missed my best friend terribly!

Two years later, graduation day had arrived. I had done a lot of thinking in those last years at University. Sadly, Ruby was right - I had feelings for the man I knew I couldn’t have. Today, however, I was feeling bold and decided to tell Tom how I felt about him. I went in search of him, but after about 30 minutes of looking, my resolve had diminished. Collecting myself before returning to my dorm, I propped myself against the nearest tree. Today was not turning out how I thought it would. First of all, my parents weren’t coming to the ceremony. Mum had taken a tumble and wasn’t fit to leave the house and Dad didn’t want to leave her. Like any good daughter, I told them I understood and didn’t mind at all. Not true… And secondly, I couldn’t find Tom. I didn’t think my day could get any worse until I heard giggling and some sort of smacking noise close by. I followed the sounds and saw Clarissa and Tom making out. My day was now ruined! I turned around quickly and headed back to my room before I had time to start crying.

The ceremony came and went. Before going back to change out of my dress, I found a bench and sat thinking and admiring the school grounds.

“Tessa?” asked a voice behind me. “Can I sit?”

I sighed and nodded yes.

Hey, I’ve been looking for you everywhere. What’s wrong?” He asked.

I laughed and he raised his eyebrows in question. “I’m fine. Just wished my parents could have been here today,” I said half telling the truth.

“Sorry, Tess. I understand...but you’re not telling the whole truth. I know when you’re lying. There’s something more. Come on you can tell me.”

“Don’t you dare tell me you know me. You haven’t been around the past two years. I...oh go find your girlfriend and leave me be,” I shouted.

“But T -“

He was cut off again by the ringing of my cell. “Excuse me,” I said walking off to answer. “Hey Dad, was what’s-

“It’s your mum, Tess,” he cut in.

“What’s wrong?” I asked.

“She’s...she’s gone, love.”

*End of flashback*

I shook myself, coming back to the present. I wiped the tears that had fallen, checking my makeup in my compact. Suddenly, we were all being asked to take our seats. I headed towards the second room when someone grabbed my elbow. I gasped in surprise, thankful to see my costar walking next to me.

“Oh, Marcus. It’s you. You scared me.”

“Sorry, love. You looked a little lost and thought I’d accompany you inside so we can sit next to each other.”

“Thanks,” I said with a smile.

Marcus O’Conner - what a sweetheart; always trying to make me laugh or put me at ease. He was my on-screen love interest...well, we did try briefly off-screen too but found we were better as friends.

We found our seats and the evening began. There was one more category to announce before mine and I was so nervous. Marcus sensed my anxiety and gave my hand a squeeze. I squeezed back and felt myself relax a little.

And the winner for best leading male actor is…Tom Hiddleston! Everyone began to clap. Tom walked right past me, thankfully not noticing me. I watched him walk up the stairs to receive his award.

‘Man has he grown’ I thought. His snugly fitting suit showing off his perfectly pert “English countryside” ‘Mmm...wait, what!? I should not be having those thoughts about a man haven’t seen or spoken to in ten years! Especially not after the way I treated him.’ I felt so wrong and very scummy right then and shifted in my seat to distract myself from my thoughts.

“And I’d like to thank…” he paused. I froze for a second but quickly recovered.

“Oh, dear. Please don’t have let him see me,’ I prayed quietly.

I tried not to look up, but I couldn’t help it. Our eyes met for a moment before I looked away, suddenly finding my hands more interesting. I could feel his gaze lingering on me as he finished.

Music played and the presenters for my category walked to the mic. Marcus nudged me, bringing me back in to focus. I cleared my throat and sat up straighter.

And the winner is…Tessa Faraday!!

#tom hiddleston #tom hiddelston x reader #fluff

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yurtletheturtlehenderson · 6 years ago

Text

S.T REWRITE - S1:E7; Chapter Seven, The Bathtub - [Pt. 3 - FINAL PART]

A Will Byers x Reader Series

While on the run, Y/n uncovers a startling truth. Eleven struggles to contact Will and the party joins forces with Joyce and Hopper.

Warnings: unedited (kinda?)

||Reader's POV||

The sun had set behind the trees by the time the chief's car pulled up in front of the Byers home. Strangely, it feels like years since we were last here when it had only been three days ago. As we all exited the vehicle, three figures emerged from the house; Nancy, Jonathan, and Ms. Byers.

"Mike. Oh, my God. Mike!" Nancy exclaimed, running towards Mike.

He stepped forward and she engulfed him in a hug.

Grabbing him by the shoulders, she pulled away. "I was so worried about you." She scolded.

"Yeah, uh... me, too." He said awkwardly.

Nancy's eyes trailed over to El and an odd look crossed her face and she tilted her head slightly.

"Is that my dress?"

El looked to me not knowing what to do and then back at the older girl. For some reason, and what I can only assume to be my state of mind and being under so much stress i begin to chuckle, finding the whole situation kinda funny.

+++

"Okay, so, in this example, we're the acrobat."

We had all made it inside and currently, we were all gathered around the living room. The boys, El and I were sitting on the floor surrounding the coffee table while the others were seated on the furniture. Mike had drawn up Mr. Clark's diagram of the flea and the acrobat and was catching everybody else up with what we've learned so far. They all stayed quiet for the most part -occasionally jumping in to ask clarifying questions which we were more than happy to answer - and listened intently. I, however, remained quiet. I was still trying to process what had happened during my encounter with the men. I was also transfixed in the living room around me. Wondering how the once welcoming and cozy second home had changed so drastically.

"Will and Barbara, and that monster, they're this flea. And this is the Upside Down, where Will is hiding. Mr. Clarke said that the only way to get there is through a rip of time and space,"

"A gate," Dustin interjected.

"That we tracked to Hawkins Lab"

"With our compasses,"

"And El's help of course," I added, smiling at El who shyly returned it.

The others exchanged confused glances.

Dustin took this as his cue to talk.

"Okay, so the gate has a really strong electromagnetic field, and that can change the directions of a compass needle.

Hopper spoke up for the first time in a while.

"Is this gate underground?"

Surprising us all, El answered almost immediately. "Yes."

The two made eye contact. "Near a large water tank?" He asked.

She nodded and her gaze dropped to the floor. "Yes."

Beginning to feel more on edge, I spoke up, my voice faltering. "H-How do you know all that?"

The man said nothing and only kept his gaze. Mike looked to the drawing. "He's seen it."

I frowned at his odd behavior and I didn't try to hide my confusion and anxiety from him, I then dropped my gaze to my hands, growing tenser at the thought that these horrible people could be out to get me.

Ms. Byers spoke up, addressing El. "Is there any way that you could... that you could reach Will? That you could talk to him in this--"

"The Upside Down." El finished.

Joyce's voice fell into a whisper. "Down. Yeah."

El nodded her head yes.

"And my friend Barbara?" Nancy spoke up hesitantly. "Can you find her, too?"

I could see the confidence build in El and it was then that I knew she was willing do everything she could to help us.

+++

We were all gathered around the dining room table, watching with bated breath as El attempted to find Will and Barb. She had breifly explained that she could sometimes find people telepathically somehow. She required white noise, hence Will's walkie was on the table, switched to a blank station so static filled the silence and she had her eyes closed.

Nancy had offered a once torn up photo of Barb sitting on the edge of a pool as a reference for El. What felt like minutes passed and suddenly the lamp overhead flickered and El opened her eyes. Her voice was hoarse.

"I'm sorry."

"What? What's wrong? What's happened?" Mrs. Byers stuttered.

El was blinking back tears and her voice broke. "I can't find them."

+++

El had excused herself to the bathroom, probably to catch her breath. I just hope she wasn't blaming herself. The rest of us are still at the kitchen table, processing everything. My attention was pulled to the boys when they began elaborating more on her powers.

"Whenever she uses her powers, she gets weak." Mike said.

My head perked up at this.

"The more energy she uses, the more tired she gets," Dustin added.

I've had a lot of time to think about what had happened and what I had done earlier today and in that time I could never help but assume that however, whenever El got her powers, I got mine. Whatever it may be, we must be connected somehow.

I recalled that in the short time I've known her and seen her use her powers, I've seen the toll it takes on her.

If it makes her weak, that must have been why I passed out earlier... my body had never grown accustomed to the exertion.

"Like, she flipped a van earlier."

"It was awesome."

"But she's drained."

"Like a bad battery."

I sat there, my eyes glued to the floor as I listened to the boys unknowingly talk about the similarities between me and El.

I felt a pair of eyes on me and I hesitantly lifted my head and briefly made eye contact with the chief who seemed the slightest bit suspicious of me. I quickly looked away and tried to focus back on the group.

"Well..." Ms. Byers stuttered. "How do we make her better?"

"We don't. We just have to wait and try again." Mike said.

"Well, how long?" Nancy asked.

Mike shrugged his shoulders weakly. "I don't know."

"The bath." El's quiet voice grabbed everyone's attention and we all turned to see her standing just outside the kitchen.

"What?" I asked.

"I can find them." She seemed very hesitant, almost afraid of what she was going to say next. "In the bath."

+++

Well, this is happening.

We really are calling our science teacher at ten o'clock on a Saturday and asking about sensory deprivation tanks and how to build them.

That won't be weird at all.

Nevertheless, we all watched nervously as Dustin stood by the phone and made the call.

"Mr. Clarke? It's Dustin."

"..."

"Yeah, yeah. I just, I... I have a science question,"

I cringed, unable to imagine any scenario in which this would pan out.

"..."

"Do you know anything about sensory deprivation tanks? Specifically how to build one?"

I run my hands through my hair.

"..."

"Fun."

I furrowed my brows and then sighed defeatedly before putting my face in my hands.

"..."

"You always say we should never stop being curious. To always open any curiosity door we find. Why are you keeping this curiosity door locked?"

I couldn't help but let a small chuckle escape, slightly impressed he threw Mr. Clarke's words back in his face and I looked back up.

"..."

All of the sudden Dustin motioned for something to write on and with and Jonathan grabbed a spare notepad and a pencil and Dustin sat at the table, listening to the instructions and writing them down.

"Uh-huh... uh-huh. How much? Uh-huh. Yep, all right. Yeah, we'll be careful. Definitely. All right, Mr. Clarke. Yeah, I'll see you on Monday. I'll see you on Monday, Mr. Clarke bye." Dustin quickly trailed off and was quick to hang up the phone.

"Do you still have that kiddie pool we bobbed for apples in?" Dustin asked Ms. Byers almost immediately after hanging up.

"Uhh, I think so, yeah."

"Good. Then we just need salt. Lots of it."

"How much is 'lots'?" The chief asked.

Dustin took a look at the notepad and looked back at the chief.

"1,500 pounds."

"Well, where are we gonna get that much salt?" Nancy asked the question everybody seemed to be wondering.

+++

The school. It was the chiefs idea. We all headed to the school, taking separate cars.

The chief and Jonathan went to the shed to grab the bags of salt, Mike and Nancy were getting the hoses while Dustin, Lucas and I set up the pool in the gym.

"Damn, this thing is heavy." Dustin panted as we both rolled the folded up kiddie pool to the center of the gym.

Together we undid the ropes holding it together and attempted to unfold it. After much trial and error we finally were able to get the pool set up. The water temperature had been tested just as much as the bouncy of the egg to determine if there was enough salt.

The finishing touch; Will's walkie switched on to static nearby. Finally, we were ready.

Ms. Byers and and I had helped El into the bath. She had just taken off her shoes and socks as well as the digital watch Mike had given her almost a week ago. Ms. Byers and her seemed to have constructed a waterproof blindfold with ducttape and goggles from the science lab.

We all sat nearby, ready in case she needed anything and it was almost chilling to watch her float on her back. Suddenly, the lights in the gym flickered accompanied by the sounds of the electricity surging and lights went out. We all looked cautiously towards the ceiling before looking back to El.

Seconds felt like hours when suddenly, El spoke. Her voice broke, she sounded fearful.

"Barbara?"

My heart began to faster once more.

El's breathing became frantic and the lights flickered once more.

"What's going on?" Nancy asked worriedly towards us.

"I don't know." Mike said, just as panicked.

"Is Barb okay? Is she okay?" Nancy asked frantically to El.

El began whimpering.

"Gone. Gone. Gone."

I looked to Nancy, who brought a hand to her mouth to mask her sobs. My heart ached for her.

My heart was pounding by now. My hands were shaking.

Ms. Byers immediately reached a hand out to El and held her hand, and rubbed her arm comfortingly.

"It's okay. It's okay. It's okay." She cooed.

"Gone. Gone!"

I felt like I was stuck in the middle of a storm, unable to move. Unable to help. Useless. Waiting for the worst.

"It's okay. It's okay. Hey. It's okay." Ms. Byers was doing everything in her power to calm the girl.

Even the chief gently grabbed her other hand to try and soothe her.

"It's okay, we're right here. We're right here, honey. It's okay. I got you. Don't be afraid. I'm right here with you. It's okay. You're safe."

||3rd Person POV||

Eleven found the wave of panic dissolve into nothing as she heard the distant echo of Joyce's voice reassuring her.

For the first time she felt somewhat calm in this horrifying place. Suddenly she saw something the distance.

It was a small hit roughly her height, made from large sticks and branches. It was decorated with flags and a painted sign that read

《•••》

"Castle Byers." El muttered.

My eyes widen in shock and my eyes were glued to the girl in front of me. Terrified of hearing the word "gone".

My heart was pounding so hard I could hear it in my ears. My fingers grasped the edge of the pool and my knuckles began to turn white.

《•••》

Eleven slowly approached the fort, scared of what she might find. But she knew she had to. She needed to.

After everything everyone had done for her. How kind Mike and [Y/N] had been. She felt she owed it to them. Facing her fears she brought her hand up to the blanket entrance and brushed it aside as she stepped inside.

There he was. Drenched in sweat and slime and shivering from the cold conditions, laid Will Byers unconscious, but clinging to life.

She lowered herself to the ground and sat on her knees.

"Will."

《•••》

"Will?" El asked hopefully.

I let out a breath I didn't know I was holding and everyone around us gasped.

《•••》

In his life-threatening state, he saw the girl kneeling before him and like a mirage, his mind chose to see the girl he grew so fond of.

《•••》

"[Y/N]?" The voice over the walkie talkie echoed all throughout the gym.

My heart stopped and I felt everyone's eyes on me and everyone gasped.

The voice, the sad and broken voice of Will Byers crackled over the radio saying my name causing me to stare at the walkie talkie.

My eyes became glassy and my vision blurred.

He's alive. He's alive and that all that matters.

"That's Will! Tell- You tell him... tell him I'm coming."

《•••》

Eleven spoke the words that echoed in her brain. She grasped the boys hand shook it ever so slightly.

"No, but she's looking for you. Your mom... she's coming for you. Everybody is looking for you."

Finally gathering enough strength to open his eyes, he looked to her and spoke.

||Reader's POV||

"Hurry."

His voice echoed through the gym once more and we all watched feeling helpless.

Ms. Byers began feeding words to El once more.

"Okay. Listen, you tell him to... to stay where he is. We're coming. We're coming, okay? We're coming, honey."

We heard whimpering on the radio and suddenly El shot up, gasping for air making us all jump back. She scrambled backward into Ms. Byers arms and she softly calmed the girl down.

Tears were now freely falling down my cheeks as I try to process everything that just happened.

"Oh, okay, okay. I've got you. It's okay. I got you. I got you. I got you, honey. You did so good. Are you okay?"

I quickly attempt to wipe my tears away with the back of my sleeve as I watch everything unfold. I wanted to be strong for El.

For Will.

+++

Tag List: @fuckwaad @aimee-lucass @iblesstherainsdown-in-africa@miscellaneoustoasts

DM me if you want to be added!

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jack-andthestalk · 6 years ago

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Our Son, Chapter 4, Foundations.

By the time myself and Willie were up and showered the following morning Jamie's jeep was gone from outside his cottage. Good! I thought I would just ignore him for the rest of my time here, we could resume our contactless parenting as soon as I got back to Boston. Willie and I wandered down to the main house for breakfast, checking over plans with Jenny for her imminent big day and catching up properly with Ellen. It was soothing to be in their company, no matter what had happened with Jamie and I, the women in his family had loved me unconditionally, which for me with no real family to speak of assides from Lamb well it was very much reciprocated and appreciated !

As the morning wore on, Ellen and I moved out to her garden to do some weeding and choose the flowers for Jenny's wedding bouquet, Willie came to help 'Gwanny' but really causing more destruction than anything else, digging up flowers and turning the watering can upside down drenching himself in the process, I was just finished pruning Ellen's rosebush when I felt a shadow looming over me.

I didn't turn to see who it was, I heard Ellen say "Ach Jamie, there ye are mo Graidh will ye clip that top rose for me there, Claire and myself are too bitty to reach it". He didn't respond but suddenly I felt his big body reach above my head and clip the rose Ellen was speaking off. He was right behind me now, I could feel his breath on my back, "what have ye planned then Jamie?", Ellen enquired. "Ye have a look of purpose about ye" I heard him exhale. "I was thinking we could go for a ride Claire", he said ignoring Ellen's question. His voice sounded gruff and hoarse as if it hadn't been used much.

I dug my hands into the clay below the rose bush, wishing I could sink into it and disappear altogether. I felt completely exposed by our argument the evening before, I couldn't bring myself to turn and look at him, instead I just answered "il get Willie a dry jumper and he will be ready to go with you" I made to stand from my knees, "I dinna mean Willie, I thought just you and I would go, Mam will be fine with willie?" He obviously had looked at Ellen for approval as she was nodding vehemently at me saying "oh aye, me and Willie are due to start making some scones, are we not Willie?"

I swallowed the lump threatening to build in my throat. Why the hell was I such an emotional mess, I didn't want Ellen's sympathy, she must know about how Jamie felt about Willie's conception. I was mentally spent from it all. "no thank you Jamie, I want to finish these plants for your mother and...", A hand gently rose from behind me and rested on my shoulder, "Please Claire." A plea.

Ellen was watching the two of us curiously now, what she had first thought was as a simple invitation to go horse riding, was now apparently something else completely. She took another look at Jamie and seemingly made up her mind. " Go Claire", she said softly, "the plants will bide", a simple tilt in her head and a pleading look in her eyes, told me she was asking not telling me to go.

I turned to look at Jamie, his blue hooded eyes, watching me intently to see what I would do. "fine", I said with resignation, " I'll need to wash my hands".

Once we got to the stables, Jamie began mounting a horse he referred to as 'Donas', I looked around wondering why he wasn't saddling a horse up for me when he stretched out his arm indicating for me to mount Donas with him. I didn't move to join him but merely looked at him sceptically, "where is my horse?", "Its easier if ye ride with me".

I hissed back,"don't be ridiculous I am perfectly capable..." he gave me a grave look, "i dinna say ye were not capable but we have a bit of ground to cover and it will make it easier as ye are not familiar with the route". He outstretched his arm again, his eyes met mine for a second, please. "Fine", I murmured and took his hand. I settled myself between his legs but did not allow my body to rest against his, leaving a polite distance between us. He just wrapped his arm around my stomach and hoisted me into his body, "Ye will nay be too comfortable if ya ride like that, rest against me, aye".

“Where are we going?” I asked sometime later, I was lulled by the heat of his body and his strong arm wrapped around me, his other arm managing the reigns easily, the muscles in his arms twisting and turning, guiding Donas.

“I have something in mind I wanna show ye” he said gruffly. With that he used his strong thighs to squeeze Donas down a grassy pathway I had not been before.

We were riding for well near an hour, my little knowledge of the Fraser lands told me we were near coming to the border of those lands, or what I remember to be the border. All of a sudden Jamie turned Donas and we trotted through a small clearing of trees before mounting a hill, once at the top Jamie stopped Donas tied him to a post on a fence and said we would walk from there.

I could see it almost immediately, it was the a half built house, little more than the foundations but all internal walls were well on the way to show the outline of each room, whoever was building it had started to clad the external wall with the most beautiful natural stone that I knew to be very similar to the stone used on the tower in Lallybroch.

Jamie turned to me and put his hand out to help me down the hill, he turned to look at me, as I carefully traced my hand over the beautiful stone fronting the house, "the stone is it from the main house?", "Aye, its from the tower, it was a wall that had crumbled and I kept the stone for this", he said pointing at the house, "Its beautiful Jamie, are you doing all the work yourself?", he looked pleased at this, "Aye, when I can..I usually spend the weekends doing it..there is nay rush as such..I hope to have the roof on before winter though and then I can start thinking about windows and such".

I nodded, "well give me the tour then!" Jamie looked so pleased with my interest, my heart nearly burst looking at him. He took great time in walking me through each room and why he had chosen its position, for the light or a view. When he was finished I turned to him and said "its lovely Jamie, I hope you have many years of happiness in it". He looked at me bewildered, "its nay for me Claire...Its for Willie!"

"for Willie?" I asked incredulously.

“Mmm aye, well I ken he lives in Boston” he looked at me earnestly “and no matter what ye think of me Sassenach, I would never interfere with that”. He kicked stones forming the foundation, “but when he gets older and feels like maybe spending a bit of time here or having a place to bring his own family, I want it to have made it for him .., somewhere he can come.”

"Jamie", I said in almost a whisper, "its such a wonderful thing to do, Willie is so lucky", I realised he was still looking at me intently, "I have no brought anyone up here asides you, Mam and Da", he smiled then and said " I brought Willie up once, and he told me he would prefer a treehouse". We both laughed at that. "C'mere he said there is one more thing I wanna show ye", he led me to the back of the house where there was the foundations of another dwelling, much smaller, perhaps a garage I thought. It had the outlines of three rooms, and one tiny room, which was either a closet or maybe a washroom. I noticed on the blocks that were lying ready to use in centre of the dwelling, sprayed in some sort of paint was the words 'CB bedroom' and 'CB Kicthen', I supposed they were to identify where the various blocks were to be used. I looked at Jamie curiously "this is rather big for a garage?", he shook his head "its no a garage" a smirk forming on his lips, "its a granny flat" he said proudly.

Confusion written all over my face, he nodded in my direction and said "for you Sassenach", I shook my head as if to say I don't follow, he turned away to fiddle with a piece sticking out of one of the half built walls. "I ken that if Willie comes home from Boston either with a wife and kids or just for College, he will want you to come too aye, at the very least at holidays and such? so I thought it best to have yer own, so ye wouldna be on top of the other". My mouth was hanging open agape, "ye will always a place here Claire", he said softly. I literally was lost for words "Jamie I don't know what to say, I..I..".

He smiled pleased that he had left me speechless, "ye dinna need to say anything, I hadna planned on showing ye it until it was finished but after last night...weel I wanted to explain to ya", Jesus was I going to cry again? " Claire, what I said last night came out all wrong..I ken the truth of how Willie came to be" he looked into my eyes and they were so soft I could have drowned happily in them, memories of our night together written on his face, "I was worried that someone who didna ken, or didna know us!", 'Us', "would someday tell Willie that he was only the result of a one night thing, which in practice may be true", he smiled ruefully, "But we ken you and I, that there is more to it than that, Aye?"

I nodded my head in agreement. "Yes" I said weakly, he continued "So when Da talks flippantly like that, I get worried that he will say something in front of Willie and he will no ken the truth from us, so he will get the wrong idea".

He moved to an arms reach in front of me and tentatively touched the back of my hand, "I couldna ask for a better mother either Claire, I hope ya ken that?", his eyes searched mine to see if I believed him.

"Yes, thank you Jamie", My eyes were filled with tears but I was determined he would not see me cry again.

We eventually made our way back to the stables on Donas, the atmosphere was lighter between us, we were joking and happy to be in each others company. It was so long since I had seen this side of Jamie, probably the last time I was here, before we had the strains of co parenting affecting our relationship. Jamie was pointing out various landmarks on the Fraser lands, when he slowed Donas and pointed to a cave hidden up high on a hill, "do ye remember that cave Sassenach?", A knowing smile formed on my lips but I added rather noncommittally, "yes something familiar about it alright"

He stopped Donas and rested his chin on my shoulder, the act was so intimate, my heart started beating madly in my chest, I hoped he didn't notice. Even though there was no one around us for miles, he bent down and whispered into my ear "that's where ye pinned me down and kissed me for the first time, aye?" was he flirting?

I snorted "I did not pin you down", you Mr Fraser, made up an excuse that you had lost something in that cave and made me go with you to find it, when you got me there, you put your foot out tripping me up and YOU then pinned me to the ground"

I could feel his chest vibrating behind me, "Aye weel" he said lightly, "ye clearly enjoyed yerself cause I see ye have no forgotten one single detail Sassenach".

I reached back to slap his thigh.

By the time we reached the paddocks I was fully resting my body on Jamie, his arm strong around my middle holding me there. In the distance I could see the figurate of a woman leaning against the paddock fence, looking out at the direction we were coming. I could tell she was smallish with long blonde hair.

"Who is that at the paddock Jamie?"

He hesitated in answering, sighing first, "Eh..that'll be Laoghaire, Sassenach".

#Jamie Fraser #claire beauchamp #willie fraser #laoghaire #causethatishowjamierolls ourson #the lallybroch library

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bossubao · 6 years ago

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The Queen and the Huntress

A/N: Both characters portrayed in this fanfic do not belong to me, but the wonderful developers of Warframe, Digital Extremes. After seeing an artist on Twitter do their renditions of certain frames together, I was struck with an incredible desire to write something to get my feels out and I officially ship Ivara x Titania (sorry Oberon, I love you but these two are just mmph.) Sorry to those of you who are staring at a wall of text - first time posting on tumblr so forgive me. Rating: M for sexual content. Read at your own discretion.

-------- This was no regular mission.

In fact, the trip to Earth felt more a “vacation” if you didn’t count the vast number of troops stationed on its surface and the sickly green areas they inhabited. The commander was less-than-pleased by the plea for a few days’ reprieve from the slew of deployments and missions, due to the fact she needed her for infiltration sorties. But when the huntress remembered the bullshit that happened a few days ago, her response was a flat out ‘no’ even though she wasn’t the one who requested the break.

“Titania,” she finally spat out, waving her hand over her head at the razorwings buzzing in front of her face and above her head. “Would you please tell your damnable butterflies to sit still for two more seconds?” Light laughter filled the air along with her impatient fingers drumming on the surface of the navigation console.

“I cannot blame them for wanting to be free of this cramped space.” Cramped space referring to the drop ship otherwise known as the ‘Liset,’ one of many variations of the agile craft. Ideally, it would be enough to hold an adult and a small child let alone two full grown women and some pesky flying insects. They couldn’t complain when their commander gave them permission to use it given the fact other missions were still being conducted at their time of departure. “Tell them to wait. I don’t want to crash us coming in.”

“Whatever pleases you, Ivara.” Titania, one of the Earth guardians and responsible for a large portion of its vast forests. Also responsible for a begrudgingly approved leave and benefactor of this journey.

Piloting the Liset was actually far easier than expected, if only for the first portion of the journey. Preset protocols included activating anti-heat shields and adjusting flight patterns to bring it into the upper atmosphere. This part always remained the same no matter which planet (or moon) they chose. The huntress tapped a few buttons before taking a hold of the controls herself – nothing more than a holographic projection digitally connected to the fine-tuned mechanics of the ship itself. It gave the driver full control, which she had no problems with given her mission records. You could give a wrench to a MOA to bash against something and that was harder than bringing the craft to a gentle landing.

Of course, if they planned to leave the Liset on a normal docking platform and not somewhere in the middle of the Void-forsaken forests.

Ivara spotted a clearing in the middle of the tangled forests below. Far enough from prying eyes… it’ll have to do. She pulled the ship into a hover and with a careful hand managed to land with only the smallest of bumps. The woman switched off the engines and stood up only to find a pair of slender arms wrapped around her shoulders from behind. “You’ve brought us close, thank you Ivara.”

Her ire grew along with the heat in her face when Titania kissed her cheek. “Would you please get off me? We’re here now.”

Not a second after the ramp dropped did the forest guardian vanish from sight. Ivara rolled her eyes and walked to the back of the ship to pick up her gear. Even though they had a low chance of running into stray patrols, she felt safer with her basic arsenal. She strapped Quiver – a strange contraption holding several half-fletched arrows – to her arm and belted a full, regular quiver of regal-looking arrows at her hip. Artemis Bow proved better equipped to dispatch targets but for the purpose of energy conservation and not needing it out here, Daikyu fulfilled that role perfectly. She slotted a few deadly looking blades in the casing on her other thigh and a dagger to her boot. Okay, maybe she was being extra safe and too careful for a supposedly ‘safe’ trip.

The muggy air hit her like a charging Juggernaut. Despite growing accustomed to it on her hunts it took a few seconds to adjust from the cool, clean cabin air. It was quiet, not the kind that made the hairs on the back of her neck stand up but the kind of quiet she enjoyed when alone. Her travelling companion wasn’t too far away – her razorwings were a dead giveaway – and Ivara found her hanging upside down from a branch. Hair as vibrant as cadenzas swayed with the breeze and electric blue eyes bore mischievously into her dim cyan ones. Ivara kept her eyes focused on her face instead of trailing higher to the jewel situated between two perfect swells. “You looked prepared for a war, huntress.”

She quirked an eyebrow. The pixie (well, currently in humanoid form) wore nothing more than a simple, collared tunic with a V dropping down to her navel, skin-tight pants that left just enough to the imagination, and leather boots that actually looked like the most practical out of her entire ensemble. Compared to Ivara’s mini-arsenal, Titania danced around with not a single weapon in sight. Honestly she didn’t need anything if she already had weapons at her disposal; the deceptive, glowing creatures fluttered idly and a couple actually landed on the huntress’ arm. The huntress shook her head as if warding off intrusive thoughts - old observation habits were starting to get to her. “I’m always prepared. This is the bare necessities.”

The pixie gave her a reassuring smirk. It was unfavorably attractive and Ivara knew without a doubt Titania had ulterior motives bringing her here. “You are in my domain, you need not worry.”

Still, she didn’t cave in to this one instance of indulgence. “I’m just here to be sure you return safely.”

The woman folded her arms over her chest and frowned deeply. The razorwings buzzed a little more in Ivara’s ears. “I am a guardian of this forest. I need no protection.”

“I’m well aware.” With the way Titania carried herself among the flora, it was hard to imagine her anything but that. “I don’t want to have Commander Arans-Oxford hide me if something did happen, since you asked for me to accompany you here and not the other way around. Not that I had any intentions of letting it happen in the first place.”

Heat suffused her cheeks without her approval when the taller woman drawled in a plethora of cute noises and slung her arms across her shoulders. Ivara looked away pointedly but knew without a doubt her current companion enjoyed her embarrassment. “Aw, is little, grumpy you worried about me getting hurt? I’m actually quite flattered.”

Ivara was a mistress of the hunt, a title no one else held for good reason. But when compared to what Titania did to dedicate herself to the forest – suddenly her esteemed pride felt smaller than a kuaka’s claw despite the compliment. She closed her eyes briefly to regain control of her composure and give her face enough time to cool off. “What are you looking for here anyway?”

“A particularly rare strain of a flower.” She watched in mild disbelief as Titania peeled away and vaulted herself into a perfect arc up to a nearby tree. “You’re serious.”

“I am.” The deadpan tone was about as humorless as Titania could get, which was actually impressive given her lighthearted personality most of the time.

Ivara pinched the bridge of her nose at the steadily growing headache between her eyes. A part of her was a bit miffed they were here for one particular thing, and a larger part wondered what exactly it was about this particular plant that warranted time off to search for. “Okay, so you’re telling me we asked the Commander for a full two days off, specifically for a trip to Earth in some god-forsaken remote location that isn’t even mapped throughout history…To. Look. For. A. Flower.”

“Is there any difference when spending time lounging in the recreational rooms or polishing weapons on breaks? Everyone has different priorities, mine simply happen to be with Earth-related activities. So yes, it is to look for a ‘flower.’”

“I suppose not.” Ivara could feel them teeter on the edge of a dangerous line, one she had no intentions of crossing intentionally lest she feel the wrath of the pixie. And as far as she knew, it would not be a pleasant experience. “Why couldn’t we do something else like go on a hunt? I feel like they would be at least a little more enjoyable for the both of us.”

The pixie scowled and came an inch of the huntress’ personal space. Titania made no effort to hide her annoyance. “Are we not here on my terms?”

Ivara frowned visibly, arms crossed over her chest. “We are, but wasn’t it you who said I needed a break? I prefer hunting for game, not for plants.” Which was a complete lie in itself; the huntress knew for a fact the forests and its inhabitants were one and the same - an enticing flower was about as deadly as a mother kubrow looking for her missing pups. And though she never voiced it, every expedition they came on together to Earth always brought new knowledge she soaked up like a sponge.

Of course Ivara had learned long ago how to keep a good poker face, so Titania was none the wiser in assuming the truth despite her age and the huntress knew she struck a raw nerve.

“Is that what you really believe, huntress? I was under the impression you were a clever, smart woman, but perhaps I was wrong.” Before she could reply, the guardian flew off and blew a burst of orange magic into her face. She coughed on the surge of – quite literally – pixie dust and waved her hand to dispel some of it.

Regret filled her stomach. She hadn’t mean to upset Titania – the forests around herself resonated with the pixie’s anger and she felt the air grow thick with hostility. From agreeing to shepherd the woman to Earth and accompanying her when even Oberon wouldn’t, she though she did enough a favor for her. Ivara wiped her face with a hand to clear her mind. It would do no good to dwell on such thoughts and she cast Prowl. It wouldn’t do much to actually keep her safe from the trees itself since she was the only ‘foreign’ presence but if it gave her some measure of comfort, then she’d hide herself in her illusions. Ivara gave the Liset a longing glance, the last place of sanctuary she could have taken, before slinking off to track down the pixie against her better judgement.

Most of the last two days consisted of trekking across canyons and rivers through the thickest and densest parts of the forest. At one point she considered turning back to send a message back to her commander about a possible extension on their break, but the longer she went without seeing the pixie the worse her anxieties got. Ivara spent a good portion of her trek keeping track of the traces Titania left behind, which proved near-impossible when the woman was capable of flying. It was a miracle she even managed this far - she thanked her experience with tracking kubrodons on Orb Vallis. Ivara paused at a particularly large trunk and set down the large condroc slung across her back. The pesky bird nipped at her feet when she stopped to rest one time and without a second thought slew the beast before it could so much as let out another squawk. Titania was still nowhere in sight and she let out a long, tired sigh. Tracking like this usually meant a few day’s travel, but Ivara probably covered more ground in two days than she could have in a week’s time.

The huntress collapsed on her rear and leaned carefully against the hard, gnarled surface. Long ago she abandoned staying in Prowl and simply traveled as she normally would. This far out she wouldn’t encounter any Grineer and it was better to conserve her energy reserves for other situations. When was the last time she exhausted herself to the point of losing concentration? Perhaps in her earlier days when she was keen on learning the ways of the hunt.

Ivara’s shoulder stung at the painful reminder of missing a hold while scaling a cliff side. Times like those she wished the damned woman couldn’t fly. Thankfully she didn’t fall to her demise, but being thrown back into a jagged surface wasn’t a pleasant experience, especially when the sharp edge cut deep enough in her skin to cause some worry.

A familiar buzz filled her ears and she glanced about herself. Glowing eyes scanned the surroundings when she noted a solitary razorwing flying aimlessly in the air. She pulled her lower lip in a quiet whistle, high pitched enough to the frequency she knew the creatures would recognize. Immediately the razorwing changed its path and it zipped around her excitedly like a kubrow seeing its owner after days away.

The thought warmed her heart.

“Heya,” she whispered, letting the razorwing land on her outstretched hand. She knew this one, Kalani, and it fluttered its wings in response. “You hungry?”

She gestured to the tied up, dead condroc and it landed on its body. Kalani didn’t seem terribly interested as it came back up and landed on her arm instead. “Know where your owner is?” It flew back into the air, flying off in one direction and hovered as if to wait for her to follow along. Seemed her small break was already at its end. Ivara grunted and lifted the condroc back over her good shoulder and trudged along. The trees grew thicker here, enough to block out the sunlight completely and she found herself relying on the myriad of plants around herself to guide the way. Mushrooms she’d never seen before sprung up at the base of the trees and the flowers glowed like fireflies. The razorwing disappeared through a narrow crevice in the rocks nearby, and the huntress followed it through.

Cool air enveloped her. It was a tight fit, one she could barely make sideways. It forced her to carry her meager gear and bounty in her hands. The passage wall to her back scrapped at the wound and she hissed quietly – it was undoubtedly infected thanks to her negligence, but it remained low on her current priority list. Slowly but surely the path widened and Ivara could walk normally. They came to a large, wide cavern, vines above weaved together tightly enough to form the protective alcove yet loose enough to let the last rays of the day filter through. She watched Kelani fly off to the solitary figure in the middle of the spring at the other end of the room. The space itself was gorgeous beyond words – wildly vivid colors from bright blues to shining teals emanated from the surface of plants she never saw before. Water trickled in from an unknown source and echoed in the cavern with soft splashing. Even the spring itself seemed to glow with unbridled magic.

Still, this paled in comparison to the beauty at the center of it all.

The huntress’ breath caught when Titania glanced in her direction. She was as bare as her first day in this world and thankfully remained mostly submerged. Ivara kept her eyes averted, dropping her cargo close to the water line, but not enough for the blood to stain crystal clear water.

“Kelani told me you brought a gift for my razorwings?” She took a seat on a nearby rock, setting her extra gear down before beginning the process of unstrapping whatever weapons weren’t still attached. She figured this was Titania’s intended destination.

“Wasn’t sure if they preferred bird or rats. I figured it wouldn’t matter either way. Sorry if it isn’t fresh, I killed it yesterday.” Ivara watched as Titania’s weapons buzzed over the kill excitedly, tearing into its flesh like a hungry pack of wolves.

“You even took the feathers off.” Her voice sounded closer, echoing like an ethereal presence.

The huntress shrugged. “Standard practice.” She winced and let out a quiet, pained groan when she twisted her arm to get her hood off. The wound had gone from a dull ache to full-blown pain no matter how much she tried to avoid overdoing it. Any other injury she could take care of in an instant but the ones on her back always suffered the worst of care unless Trinity was around. The sound of water swishing and soft footsteps kept her gaze courteous, but a gentle hand brought her to look Titania dead in her eyes. “…..you’re hurt.”

She fought off the urge to roll her eyes, instead remaining mostly indifferent or as much as her pain would let her. “It’s a small wound.”

“Lies.” The accusatory hiss sent a fresh wave of guilt through her stomach. She didn’t stop the hand going up to her forehead and the frown on the other woman’s face deepened. “You’re feverish. Let me see it.”

“I’ll be fine.” She jerked her arm away from Titania’s hand, only to instantly regret it in the next moment. She refused to make a sound, the muscles in her neck tightening to keep her voice under control. Pride was her strength and her pitfall. Ivara found herself staring up at the woman who began hovering a few inches off the ground. From this angle, she really did look like a proper, regal queen of the forests, with the way her razorwings perched on her arms like a crown inlaid with gems.

“Ivara, I’m not asking. I need to see it.”

Ivara scowled, blue eyes glazed over but still determined and fierce as ever. Could she, for one second, stop being such a stubborn woman? “I said I’m fine.”

The air hummed with magic and she had the sensibility to flinch when a perfectly manicured hand cupped her chin a little more fiercely than she anticipated. A bolt of heat rushed to her core but it dimmed when her back pulsed and throbbed - she couldn’t ignore it anymore. “Ivara.”

The huntress was a woman who prided herself on being the mistress in the shadows. But when the forest guardian commanded her so, she felt her willpower crumble as easily as Gara shattering her Mass Vitrify. She stood defiantly for a few seconds more before shoulders sagged and she broke eye contact with Titania. “Be careful.” Her voice finally cracked – weak, husked, exhausted. Everything she didn’t embody normally all in two words.

Dexterous hands wasted no time in gently prying her hoodie off but her shirt needed to be cut open to bare her back. Titania hadn’t been kind to her precious article of clothing when the sounds of fabric filled the air - damn it, she went through a lot of trouble to get that. It was a special shirt she had embroidered with the conservation emblem from The Business on Fortuna. The crisp air kissed her skin but did little to soothe the blistering pain. “It’s – what hit you?”

The questions, all the Hunhow-damned questions. “I slipped.”

Titania came around and gave her a skeptical look. Ivara stared at her blankly. “I’m as serious as you looking for your flower. I miscalculated a hold.” Was it just her or did the air feel warmer now?

“You are a skilled and cautious woman, Ivara. Mistakes are not in your arsenal. What would cause you to lose your focus?” Her stomach turned uncomfortably as a lump settled in her throat. Admitting her feelings equated to giving into the enemy, something Ivara swore to never do as long as she lived. But the thought of upsetting Titania had settled on her mind so heavily it affected her better judgement and resulted in the convoluted mess she put herself in. And it only happened when said pixie was involved.

“Huntress, answer me.”

I can’t. Not directly at least.

“You are being ridiculous. Fine, we’ll play your guessing game.” How ironic. “Was there an Eidolon?”

“No, you and I both know I am capable of handling it without breaking a sweat.”

“Did you forget something back at the ship?”

“I wouldn’t be here so quickly.”

“Had a patrol wandered in the area and ambushed you?”

Her head spun. When did standing become so difficult? “I Prowled my way through here. And you of all people would know if there are intruders”

“Ivara. Enough of this. Tell me what happened.” Said woman was tired of this – tired of the endless questions and accusations like she committed a heinous crime. She hated standing there being indirectly chastised like a child for a ridiculous thing as a scratch. She finally snapped, and the fury resulting after spoke volumes of her conditions.

“I felt worse than a pile of kubrow shit for making you upset, alright?!”

The cavern fell silent, as if shocked by the very notion that Ivara, a tough but soft-voiced woman, was capable of commanding roaring armies in a single line. Titania retracted her hand from the huntress, fearful any more contact could provoke a worse response. “It’s been eating at me all Orokin-damned day and I’m tired of it. That’s why I brought the condroc, because I wanted to make amends. That’s why my shoulder is busted, because I’m so sick to my stomach I can’t think.” Ivara hated doing this. She hated every time she exposed herself to the pixie that it made her irrational and feel out of her own skin. It just wasn’t her.

Ivara leaned forward on her knees, breaking out in a cold sweat as she finally succumbed to her ailments. She’d never felt so drained in her life and wanted nothing more than her bed aboard the Orbiter. Even the Liset sounded more welcoming than here.

“….huntress.” Ivara didn’t budge when Titania called for her and tugged at her arm. “Ivara, please.”

She shook her head and attempted to shut out the headache pounding in her head. “Leave me alone for crying out loud, its cold.”

“Don’t go anywhere.” Not like she had anywhere to go to begin with.

Titania zipped through the tree line, tapping into her connection with nature to seek out the herbs she needed. Ivara needed. She’d been upset with the huntress, yes, but due to her stubbornly pragmatic ways. When the pixie took off, she figured Ivara was capable enough to track her down and keep up but after two days and just now seeing her, it never struck her something went gone wrong. Her razorwings spread out in a fan when they approached an area she knew intimately when Oberon came to her with injured beasts.

She didn’t even know if it would work for the woman she left back at the cavern…

The forest guardian struggled to carry Ivara over to one of the large mushrooms instead of laying her on the bumpy ground. She fell unconscious shaking and sweating as the fever completely overtook her. Titania never saw Ivara visit the medical ward for flu medication, or even show signs of illness in the time she knew her. She became a pillar of sorts for the pixie, putting up with her silliness and whims, indulged in her temptations and desires, but never once let herself fall into poor health.

Her mind broke when she heard soft whimpers slipping from Ivara’s lips. Each one stabbed her in the stomach far worse than Ash’s Bladestorm, twisting her gut until she refused to sit by and watch her break the fever on her own.

She was sick, terribly sick and still tried to be strong. Even now the huntress remained curled up as small as possible as if to keep herself from being an inconvenience to Titania. What did she do to deserve such devotion?

“Thank you….” Titania whispered her gratitude – would have shouted and jumped for joy if not for the lump lodged in her throat – and collected the precious medicines in her hands when the razorwings brought them over. She gathered in her arms a myriad of plants, fruits, and herbs all of which with no actual names but she knew their properties for conditions similar to Ivara’s situation. The flight back to the cavern felt like an eternity, but within minutes of returning had a salve ground and prepared. The huntress was deathly pale with clammy skin; the wound needed to be cleaned.

Using the upturned side of a modest sized mushroom cap, the pixie scooped up some of the water from the spring and carved out a bit of nearby moss to bring to the archer’s side. Ivara was half-conscious, watching Titania move around with glazed eyes and tried to sit up when she approached. Titania pressed her hand firmly on the small of her back and forced her back down on her front. “Rest.”

Like a loyal servant obeying their queen, she stilled and closed her eyes. Seeing Ivara so compliant and submissive made her stomach churn.

“This is going to hurt huntress.” Titania soaked the moss to wipe the wound clean, trying to be as careful and quickly as possible when Ivara seized up. It was worse, far worse than she led on and yet remained silent through the entire ordeal. When every trace of dried blood, and anything that looked remotely close to bringing further infection, disappeared, she applied a generous amount of the multicolored paste over her back and massaged the area around the wound to encourage absorption and healing. She picked the cleanest moss to serve as a makeshift bandage, applying them before finally letting Ivara be.

She still looked worse for the wear, but better than an hour ago. A little bit of color returned to her cheeks and her eyes looked less hazy than before. The forest guardian pulled a weak smile when Ivara reached out. Titania held the huntress’ hand in her own, bringing them up to place feather light kisses to each knuckle. Her voice was hoarse, wrought with sleep thanks to the salve. “Thank you Titania…”

"Sleep, Ivara. Sleep." Titania combed her fingers through silver locks, coaxing her huntress into the welcoming arms of unconsciousness. While it was strange for her to care for another person, it came to easy and naturally with Ivara like she had done it all her life. She wanted to share her joyous discovery, to surprise Ivara and point out the trip was worth the trouble getting here. But when her eyes alighted on the woman next to her, a rueful smile crossed her features. It felt far less significant when her favorite person laid by her side completely incapacitated. Even worse so when she realized she had been the source of the huntress’ injuries and tumultuous thoughts.

She really does love me… even if she, and I, are blind to it. For once in her life, Titania regretted letting her emotions flow so freely. Had it not, Ivara wouldn’t be here suffering so much.

Dim eyes fluttered open. The first thing to come into focus was Titania’s troubled expression – eyes squeezed shut and breath light. The next were their hands brushed together. No matter how hard she tried to piece her memories together, everything remained a heavy fog and rather than fight it, she let herself rest against….whatever it was underneath her. All she remembered was arriving in some kind of cavern and her back in pain –

Ivara took a deep breath slowly, surprised by the lack of pain across her back. She flexed her shoulders carefully only to find nothing out of the norm and took advantage of a moment to sit up. They were on some kind of broad plant with ferns serving as makeshift bedding. She reached back and carefully touched her wound covered in some kind of soft, squishy material. Had Titania taken care of her? The telltale wispy, white light dancing across the floor said night, so how long was she out?

The figure at her side stirred, shifting in her sleep and murmuring in discomfort. Instinct prompted her to take one of the pixie’s hands and rub soothing circles on the back of it – a habit she picked up whenever Titania found herself in Ivara’s quarters and stealing her bed for sleep. Something about it being softer than her own, though the huntress knew it was because it belonged to her.

“Ivara?” Blue orbs fluttered open, confusion written across her face. “Ivara…!” This time more ecstatic when it finally sunk in. Ivara nearly fell off their perch when Titania threw herself at the archer, arms wrapped tightly around her shoulders and face buried in her neck. “You’re awake. Thank the Lotus.”

“…..how long was I asleep?”

“A couple of days. Your fever finally broke hours ago.” Titania sat back on her knees and heels, but lingered close. Ivara wanted nothing more than to kiss and wipe clean the flash of guilt across delicate features. “I’m…… I was worried.”

“You have every right to blame me. Had I not been so careless, you wouldn’t have to go out of your way to take care of me.”

Ivara met Titania’s gaze with remorse, but Titania spoke up before she could. “It’s not your fault. We both made mistakes. I would never blame you, and…” She tucked a strand of her hair behind her ear, looking away shyly.

“-you know I won’t as well.” ‘Sorry’ didn’t fit in either of their vocabularies. Forgiveness was something Ivara rarely gave except to the few she felt deserved it, and the indirect admission of such was enough to make Titania’s stomach flip-flop and fill with butterflies more excited than her razorwings. She beamed, bright enough to pull a small, although resigned, smile from the huntress. “I took some time to fly back to where the Liset is and radioed back to command. Commander Arans-Oxford wasn’t pleased, but she said to take however much time necessary for you to make a full recovery before we return. She also wants a full physical to be sure you’re well.”

Ivara flexed her muscles and twisted and turned to test her body. It took all of Titania’s willpower not to stare shamelessly especially since the woman had just recovered from a potential, life-threatening injury. “I feel fine.”

“I used a small variety of plants with basic chemical properties to stop bleeding, encourage healing, break fevers, and numb pain. I’ve had to reapply it every few hours to ensure max efficacy.” She leaned in to press a soft kiss to the corner of Ivara’s lips before she could open her mouth and protest. “No, you were not a burden. I wanted to be extra careful. I prefer my favorite person well and whole.�� When the huntress’ cheeks colored and she didn’t protest, Titania fought off the urge to steal another kiss.

“It’s weird.” The forest guardian blinked in confusion. “I mean, being taken care of. I’m… not used to it.”

“Is it a bad thing?”

Ivara shook her head. “No, not at all.” Cyan eyes looked away, hand running through her hair. “I don’t mind it if it’s you. Trin’s okay, but she’s all business. With you, I feel like it means a lot more.”

Titania raised an eyebrow at the huntress. Why wouldn’t it be? “For now, just simply relax and let the medicine work its magic.”

Ivara watched as a svelte form jackknifed through the water gracefully. It turned out Titania’s affinity for flying translated well to swimming, a trait she envied deeply. The following days they spent making sure her wound healed properly and in turn it forced her to lay on her stomach so she wouldn’t aggravate it. The pixie refused to leave her side except to hunt down sustenance, most of which comprised of fruits to supplement whatever provisions the huntress originally brought. Despite the rough start the entire affair did feel more vacation-like than she expected. The quiet splashing allowed Ivara to doze off for a few moments until the sound of Titania’s footsteps caught her ears. “I’ve never seen you so at ease, huntress.”

The white-haired woman maintained a carefully neutral expression when she peeled open her eyes. “I have nothing else to do but lay here.” She almost missed the mischievous glint in her companion’s eyes.

“I can think of a few other possibilities…” Ivara swallowed thickly at the sultry tone, her body heating pliantly to her voice. The only one who was capable of tempting her.

“Titania, no.” Damn the shaky hesitation in her voice! Ivara’s breath caught when the woman loomed closer still and cupped her cheeks, lips parted tantalizingly enough to make her want to sample a taste. She knew exactly where this would go if she caved in and debated whether or not it would be worth possibly reopening her wound. “Didn’t you say yourself I needed to rest?”

Titania completely ignored her when soft lips grazed her own, the sweetness coating them prompting Ivara’s tongue to dart out and swipe a quick taste. She suspected the extra affection and ‘pampering’ had been to coax her into a more reasonable mindset, which worked unfortunately. Titania knew how to have her way, and the huntress obliged more often than not. “You won’t need to move…much.”

Given their current height differences, Ivara hardly had to move an inch when the pixie closed the gap and meshed their lips together. She was sweeter than a ripe fruit and more fragrant than a flower in full bloom. Every time she surprised the huntress with a kiss, it left Ivara’s nerves tingling and fingers itching to hold her in place. Most times her desires warred with her morality. Titania reassured her that her and Oberon, while protectors of the Earth from hostile forces, were not predestined or slated to be together. She even enlisted Saryn, a fellow warrior against the slew of infested creatures that broke out from Grineer containment on Earth, to convince her there were no romantic interested between herself and the fae king. They were all there to uphold their oath and duties. This time was not one of those self-doubting moments. She wanted the pixie, both in mind and body.

Little did Ivara know, she was Titania’s present and secret weakness. How could she resist such a confident figure? What she lacked in social grace spoke volumes when she hunted, and it made the pixie salivate from the power coiled up neatly in such a convenient form. No one understood her kindness and thoughtfulness, and she – to some extent only Titania could sense – craved the physical and spiritual connection often deprived from people who practiced her craft. Unwittingly, Ivara spoiled her with more attention than she ever asked for, let her do what she wanted without complaining (much), and worried about her well-being more than her own. Titania rarely showed her appreciation of that companionship.

“Lift your hips.”

Ivara felt her cheeks flush and it spread like wildfire across her skin. The command sent little jolts of electricity down her spine in a way she didn’t know before. She wasn’t sure if it was simply the magic in the air, the unknown herbal medicine in her bloodstream, or simply the husk in the pixie’s voice that compelled her so. She pulled her legs close underneath herself when Titania disappeared from her sight. Deceptively dainty fingers dug into her hips while silky legs gently nudged her thighs apart and warmth settled between them. With how much privacy they had, the huntress felt comfortable remaining nude and it wasn’t until now she became hyper aware of that fact. It was easier for the pixie to indulge in the sinful succulence that was the white-haired woman. Slender digits traced sensitive flesh at the apex, stroking an already burning flame into a scorching inferno no one else could douse but the woman pervading every inch of her mental space.

Ivara bit her lower lip when Titania dragged a solitary finger down the length of her slit, breath catching in her throat when it circled a swollen clit in painfully slow laps. Her muscles burned with need when another finger slid between wet lips, adding pressure but never pushing past to where she needed it most. She was putty in her hands, content with being her prey and her body responded to the advances with that clear message. Why was she so receptive now of all times? Perhaps all the extra attention and the lack of any threats left her little to do but find somethings else exciting to fill the peace.

"What did you - ah! - do to me?" More pressure built between her thighs the longer her partner denied her relief and she fought off the desire to clasp them shut or else squeeze Titania to death between them. The slim form of her lover pressed against her back - mindful of the injury - and teeth sank into the crook of her neck to draw out a low groan from the huntress. Pain wasn’t something she enjoyed, but Titania knew how to mix it well with the pleasure. "That flower I sought... It's nectar is rumored to be the sweetest, but also a power aphrodisiac. I was curious as to its effects."

Well, it certainly worked because Ivara didn't mind having the queen of the forests lord over her poor body now.

Titania’s head spun from how submissive Ivara became under her touch. It fueled her own desire and she trailed kisses back down to strong thighs, canines scratching smooth skin and earning a soft sigh of approval. “Ivarrra….” The effect was instantaneous – the huntress let out a not-so-quiet whimper at the sensual roll of her name. It was a sound the pixie craved to hear more of, to fill the air with nothing but her pleasure. Her eyes flared with magic, rationality fighting her primal instincts to feast on her prey.

“I want to hear you, huntress.”

Ivara bit her hand when Titania finally slid her finger into velvety depths and shuddered at whatever the pixie muttered in her native tongue (probably curses of some sort). Her impatience won out over her control and she tried to rock back against that hand only to find it stilled completely.

“Do not move.”

Frustratingly so, Ivara complied. She was rewarded with not just one finger, but two stretching her walls out just enough to have moans clawing her throat. She withheld giving the pixie the satisfaction of her vocalization and Titania responded in kind by seeking out the very thing that would make her snap. Every thrust, every kiss, every second that rolled on drove the huntress closer and closer to the edge of a yawning abyss threatening to swallow her entirety with mind-numbing pleasure. Her lover worked her into a messy pile of flesh, bones, and raw lust that left her sweating from head to toe.

Ivara’s mind went pleasantly blank when a third finger was added.

She seized up when they spread apart just enough to make her feel absolutely full.

“Come for me, Ivara…”

A guttural, high-pitched moan ripped her throat apart when Titania added her tongue to the mix, sucking on her clit with the perfect amount of pressure to shatter her world into a brilliance of light and stars.

Titania purred and yowled like a kavat when Ivara’s hand threaded through her hair. Her body ached in a way nothing they did previously could compare and she hummed her approval to the delicious soreness between her thighs. They curled up comfortably in their small nest and as much as she hated it, they dressed to keep themselves warm since the alcove didn’t provide anything in regards to heat retention. Cuddling with the huntress was all that mattered – there was something comforting and reassuring about their bodies intertwined as tightly as the vines above them. “I prefer you like this so much more, Ivara.” The huntress’ chest rumbled with quiet laughter.

That was such a pleasant sound, like the harmonious cacophony of the forests’ creatures in the morning.

“I spoil you far too much.” Titania craned her head up to meet those magical eyes. Ivara quirked an eyebrow. “What?”

“You’re actually really pretty up close.” Pink tinted her cheeks and the huntress scowled, looking away nervously.

“Why do you keep saying such things Titania?”

The pixie giggled, wrapping her arms loosely around a slim waist instead of answering the question. She buried her face in the crook of Ivara’s neck and kissed the tanned column of flesh idly. Why was it that now she felt so… attached, possessive, and even in more love with the huntress? Was it an aftereffect of the flower's nectar? Perhaps it was the fact possibly losing the one thing she cherished so much made her all the more appreciative of the time she spent with Ivara.

“Stay with me.” The white-haired woman blinked in confusion, uncertain of what the pixie implied. “I meant it beyond just being my lover. You are more than just that to me, huntress.”

She remained thoughtfully quiet, as Titania waited with bated breath. “Are you-“

“I am.”

A longer stretch of silence followed. The pixie propped herself up on her elbows on either side of Ivara. She hovered just above her lips and steeled her gaze. “It is not a light proposition, nor can I guarantee your safety but I feel more ill without you by my side. Would you still consider it…?”

Conflict flashed through her eyes, Titania could see it and she felt selfish for asking so suddenly. But she needed to know and wouldn’t be satisfied until she had her answer, even if she had to wrench it from her in the most painful way possible. Ivara was independent, self-reliant, and a terrifying force to be reckoned with. When it came to stealth, Loki held the title of being the fastest while Ash sought his targets with swift, pinpoint accuracy. But the huntress had droves of patience and could spend any amount of time behind enemy lines without being detected once. She moved seamlessly through the ranks of troops and stole precious data from right under the noses, or put them to sleep before cleanly disposing them in a more permanent fashion without leaving behind a trace.

Titania couldn’t see anyone else being a more perfect fit for herself.

Finally, she replied quite simply. “I already come to Earth quite often. It would only be fitting.” The pixie’s heart soared. “As long as Oberon and Saryn permit it.”

She waved it off, kissing Ivara fully on the lips. Chaste yet still full of affection. “If I am capable of accepting Nekros with Oberon and Nova with Saryn, I’m certain you make the most sense.”

Ivara almost knocked her out bolting upright. “Wait, Nekros? And Nova?”

“Does it surprise you that much?”

The huntress gave her a deadpan look. “Yes, it does actually. I may have suspected Nekros, but Nova…”

Titania simply smiled and shrugged. “You understand where I come from then.”

Saryn was their neuro-toxin specialist, a haughty and confident woman with a tough exterior to stand up to. Nova was a molecular expert - she could manipulate their enemies with a tuning fork if she wanted but she was graceful, quiet and shy. Curiosity baited her into how the pair even worked together, but Titania's presence at her side kept them for another rainy day. Perhaps this wouldn’t be such a bad idea after all.

When she took one step onto the ramp leading back up into the Liset, a loud explosion caught her attention from behind. She recognized that noise belonging to Grineer troop ships deploying their cargo and she glanced up into the cockpit of the ship. No doubt Titania heard it as well and she came down to meet her. “I’ll check.”

“No.” The firmness in Ivara’s voice stopped her dead cold. The huntress drew a single arrow from the quiver at her hip, infusing it with magic and notching it expertly. She drew it back, aimed high in the sky before firing and letting her mind go with the arrow. Once she had control, she kept it on a steady flight above the canopy. She passed several smaller ships and a Bulkor, frowning when the arrow embedded itself in the hull of one of them and the impact sent her reeling back into her mind. Normally she would just let go, but the potential number of soldiers they carried had her a bit stunned. Why were they in this part of the forests? This was far from any permanent post or encampment unless –

“They know,” Titania hissed lowly as the surroundings resonated with her ire. Ivara suspected she did a little recon of her own, and somehow the both of them hadn’t gone entirely undetected. She placed a hand on her shoulder, lips pulled in a thin line. Parts of her started vanishing into transparency. Titania bared her fangs, magic coiling in her hands. She was about to show them why she was known as the guardian of the forests, and why size didn’t matter. “We hunt?”

Ivara nodded once before disappearing into Prowl. “Of course, my Queen.” The little term of endearment made Titania’s heart flutter.

“We hunt.”

#warframe #ivara #titania #lesbians #i ship these two so hard #no shame #sorry not sorry

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