#you give your son armor and you hope it is enough. you tell her her drawings are beautiful and you hope it is enough.

[swedisheek]

his ass is NOT mentally stable 🙅‍♂️‼️ (just legitimately teared up and felt awful about qsmp eggs)

[hopelessromantic5]

King Arthur happens to be traveling through Ealdor the exact day the citizens decide they’ve had enough of Merlin.

Labeling him too dangerous, they tied him up on the pyre in the center of town.

As long as Merlin had been alive, he’d never seen this pyre lit.

He would’ve just gotten himself out of this situation with his ‘gifts’ if it weren’t for his poor mother.

The villagers would never let her live in peace if he magically disappeared.

No, this was the only way she could go on living, even with a broken heart.

He didn’t fight. He didn’t really hear much of what they spit at him. But he could hear his mother wailing at him, to save himself, to do whatever he must do.

He’d resigned himself to an early death.

Tom, the town representative, started spewing some righteous words at him. New Religion words that didn’t quite make sense to him, but that’s to be expected. He is, himself, a creature of the old religion, if prophecy is to be trusted.

“Do you have anything to say for yourself, serpent?”

Merlin opened his mouth to tell his mother that he loved her, but he stopped short.

In the distance, he could hear a sound.

The beating of hooves on hard, cold dirt.

Visitors were approaching.

It must be fate, he thinks.

As the horses drew closer, the villagers slowly turned their attentions away from him.

Merlin simply hung his head, letting the Earth he loved so dearly decide which way his life would swing.

“What is the meaning of this?”

A calm, steady voice came from behind him. Deep and concerned. Merlin wished he could see the man.

“My lord,” Tom bowed, as well as he could, which was strange.

Upon realization, Merlin’s eyes nearly bugged out of his head, were these visitors noble? They never had nobility stay long enough to make comments on anything, only ever just passing through.

“I asked you a question.” The voice said again, with all the authority of someone who’s used to using it.

“This man is a sorcerer, sire. We were just-“

“What has he done?”

“Sire?”

“What has this man done to call for these extreme measures?” When no one answered him immediately, he rephrased.

“Surely there must’ve been a crime committed?” As if it’s a question.

Merlin’s mother pulled herself out of shock and brought herself forth.

“He did nothing, sire.” She spoke firm and unmoving. She must’ve seen hope in this man that Merlin had yet to lay eyes on. “He’s only ever used it for healing wounds and helping our gardens in the winter. Please have mercy on him, my lord. He is my only son.” Tears started falling as her voice broke. She finally met Merlin’s eyes again and he smiled at her, weakly.

“So this man-“

“Sorcerer.” Corrected Tom. What a dick.

“This man, did nothing but heal you and help you survive and this is how you repay him?”

Again no answer.

The man seemed to gesture at Tom, walking towards the town elder, and bringing him finally into Merlin’s line of sight.

The doomed boy nearly gasped.

Silver and red bled together in the sun, armor and finery melded like roses in white sand.

The man-the lord…the knight? He had golden blonde hair, that shone like it’s own light.

Blue eyes made even more obvious and striking surrounded by unblemished, sun-kissed skin.

“You seem to be leading the horde. Tell me why?” No, answer. “Cut him down.” A command. The stranger’s face was a hard, blank line.

Funny how, even then, he didn’t feel like a stranger. But Merlin was in no state to remember it.

“My lord, I do not think that would be wise. Your father was the one to wage war on magic-“

“I am not my father. Cut him down.”

Merlin swallowed. Uther Pendragon was the only person in his mind that waged the war on magic, that began the purge. Which means this man could only be his son, Prince Arthur.

What a prince he was.

Well, King, now.

No wonder every person in the vicinity practically dropped to their knees upon his arrival. They’d all heard stories of ‘The Just King’ that now reigned over Camelot. Giving whatever he could to his citizens that needed it most, never turning anyone away who seeks shelter. Merlin had heard the same as everyone else. Seeing the King in person now, he was in awe.

“I will not endanger the lives of all who live here.” Tom turns back to Merlin with the lit torch.

Merlin held his breath, but the second Tom turned away from him, the King pulled his sword. It made the loveliest sound as it left the sheath.

The sound of salvation.

Tom had the tip of a majestic blade directed right at his throat, as the King spoke again.

“I said, cut him down.”

The look on the King’s face was one that could kill.

Merlin wondered momentarily why he cared so much.

Finally someone from the crowd stepped forward with a knife and began to cut away Merlin’s ties.

Hunith leapt forward and engulfed her son in a hug, while also somewhat holding his body upright.

He did not want to let go, considering he thought he would never get to hug his mother again. But the entire village was watching them.

As was-

“What is your name?”

It was phrased as a question but spoken like a command. Merlin knew it was directed at him without opening his eyes.

He did, reluctantly, release his mother and turn to the golden King, facing deep blue eyes head on. Never cowering.

“Merlin.”

The King must’ve seen something in him. Something every other person was blind to or chose to ignore, simply because he was a peasant. He took a step closer and Merlin could hear the tiny tink of metal pieces on his shining armor, as he did so.

“Well, Merlin.” He said, as if trying it out for himself. “Seeing as I’ve just given you your life, I’d like to ask a favor.”

Merlin’s curiosity was peaked, to say the least. King’s didn’t ask favors, they took whatever they wanted.

King Arthur did not wait for a reply to continue.

“I’m in need of assistance. And I could use someone with a gift like yours, specifically.”

Merlin narrowed his eyes in minuscule doubt. Doubt of intentions, doubt of his safety.

The King somehow knowing his exact thoughts said

“Of course you would be permitted to come back when you are needed. And when I have accomplished my goal, if you wish, you can leave. I will not keep anyone against their will. I am simply offering.” A small smile played on his mouth. Flush pink lips. He also held up his hands as if to say ‘I will not harm you’.

Merlin’s gut told him to follow this man.

Terrifyingly, his intuition told him to follow this man, practically a stranger, anywhere. Everywhere.

Merlin felt a pull he’s never felt before. In the moment, he assumed it was immense gratitude for saving his life.

Merlin turned to meet his mothers eyes, he already knew what she was going to tell him.

“I think it will be good for you. To get out for a while.” She smiles softly.

“Will you be alright?” He whispered, glancing at the crowd still gathered around an unlit pyre.

“I’ll be fine.” She grabbed him in a bear hug, like she always did. “And if they boot me out, I’ll come find you.”

Merlin sighed into her shoulder.

“Alright.”

When Merlin turned back, the King had turned his eyes to the ground, giving mother and son a moment of privacy.

Merlin was starting to warm to him already.

“Can I pack first?”

King Arthur met his gaze then, doing that half smile thing, again.

“I suppose.” He nodded. “But don’t dawdle we need to move if we want to make it back before sundown.”

“Yes, sire.” The title which usually held reverence and respect, was laced with sarcasm. He didn’t seem to think twice, as he strode away towards their hut to gather his things.

If Merlin had looked back, he would’ve found a fully beaming King looking after him and about six knights with faces of complete shock.

And perhaps, one knowing mother.

[dumbkiri]

𝕯𝖗𝖊𝖆𝖒𝖊𝖗 𝖔𝖋 𝖄𝖔𝖚

𝐇𝐞𝐥𝐚𝐞𝐧𝐚 ���𝐚𝐫𝐠𝐚𝐫𝐲𝐞𝐧 𝐱 𝐁𝐫𝐨𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫!𝐑𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐞𝐫

𝐑𝐄𝐐𝐔𝐄𝐒𝐓𝐄𝐃

"Can we have a twin of Aegon be the rider of Balerion? I know Balerion dies and cannot fly even with Viserys, but I want him to be a supported for the Blacks because...yeah! Also give him a sword of fire like Dondarrion has too! I know incest is weird to write, but Helaena needs someone to appreciate her!! Not a lot of detail, but pop off with this one! "

Not very knowledgeable on HOTD, but I tried!

The doors to the council room pushed open with an eerie creak paired with the sounds of heavy footfalls of a grieving father and husband. Dressed in his black armor with red accents and his sword, Hellfire, strapped to his waist unnerved the council. The presence of [Name] Targaryen hushed his grieving twin brother instantly.  

Aegon quieted down his anger upon witnessing the emotion flowing off of [Name], his lilac glare pointed at the floor in deep thought as he walked up the steps. This emotion [Name] conveyed hadn’t been new to Aegon, it reminded him of the time [Name] demanded their father to give Helaena’s hand to himself. 

Their father, Viserys, laughed in his face…the old man hadn’t laughed in awhile like that and it unnerved the twin boys. But Viserys’ laugh turned into a cough and he cleared his throat out saying, “Your brother is getting married to Lady Jeyne, [Name]. Helaena is all yours and will be soon.” 

[Name] has always wanted Helaena, their odd sister and claimed that, ��Nobody is willing to understand her, but I am. She should be with me.’ That madness subsided with Viserys’ joyful laugh and reassuring words. This time was different. Their father wasn’t here as king or here to calm him down with hopeful words. No, it was just him. Aegon, the drunken twin…the weak king. 

He watched his twin walk up to the table and stopped at the foot of it. [Name] leaned over it and set his palms on the smooth surface. Clearing his throat and looking straight ahead, at no one in particular this time, he asked every council member, 

“Why were our wives and children unguarded at the dead of night?” 

His calm words  didn’t quite match the fire in his eyes, but the sudden echoed roar of Balerion outside of King’s Landing stirred the council fully awake. Alicent looked around the table and waited for someone to answer her son’s question. She couldn’t put the dangerous eyes of her son on herself...or Cole.

But fear seeped into the very essence of her wretched soul. Helaena walked in on a terrible deed between the queen dowager and the lord commander. Alicent knew that [Name], his gentle words would convince Helaena to tell him every detail of this night. Helaena never held secrets away from her older brother, she always confided with him in everything. 

The rest of the men didn’t speak either and Tyland kept his mouth shut. The outburst he received from Aegon was unmatched to [Name]’s, the rider of The Black Dread. He wouldn’t be stupid enough to speak against the dragon rider that had a god of light guarding him. 

“A little bit ago, I was with your brother, Aemond,” Otto spoke freely, casting a smooth glance over at Criston Cole, “but before that, Cole and your brother were conversing together. I sent Cole away to his watch to have a word with Aemond.”

[Name] dragged his eyes over from his grandfather to Cole and asked, “Did you go back to your post, Lord Commander? Answer this question correctly, I fear that Balerion didn’t have his full for today.” 

Tension was high in the room and Balerion never seized his loud roaring that sounded closer with each minute. Cole shuffled in his spot next to Aegon who looked up at him with suspicion. The rest of the council looked at the Lord Commander wondering why [Name] fixated his lilac eyes so hard on Cole.

“I was abed, my prince.” Cole said without looking [Name] in the eyes. 

“And where were your men? Why weren’t there any guards patrolling the floor my family slept on?” The rising tone, the boiling anger in his throat made his voice raspy. His open palms closed into tight fists as he continued to ask, “Why is it that the moment you send the Watch to sleep, our sons were left at the cruel hands of murderers!” 

His left hand slammed against the table making glasses clink in their place. 

“Your white cloak,” [Name]’s voice knocked down in volume, not seizing up for anyone to speak between his breaths, “is stained with the blood of Jaehaerys and Rhaegar. I will figure out a punishment befitting you once I clear my head.”

Alicent swallowed the lump in her throat and tried to reason with her usual kind son, “[Name], this doesn’t-” 

“You will speak once spoken to, mother,” His eyes slowly moved over to her fear stricken ones and she knew why she was getting his hostility. His biting words covering her in flames eating away at her guilt, “Helaena told me what happened tonight. Everything I need to know. For being such a godly woman and criticizing every move the Blacks make, I’m disappointed in the actions you took tonight.”

He straightened out his back and addressed everyone at the table, “Tonight will teach everyone here a lesson.

“The Night’s Watch will stay at their post, guarding the royal family to their very last breath. They will have patrol times and stick to it. If their Lord Commander comes up to them with a release, the Night’s Watch will turn into stone and keep their post. Their job is to guard the royal family, protect the castle. I will not have another incident like this one. I will not have my wife witness such a heinous act of child murder. 

“As for the rest of us, before we return to bed, we make sure there is a knight in or around our presence. I want you to fall asleep to the sounds of clinking armor knowing that there is a knight outside your door or on your floor patrolling. I want us to sleep peacefully and…”

“Rhaegar…he was faster than I was,” Helaena’s tears slid down her cheeks, “he was braver than I was. I didn’t see this, I-I couldn’t stop him. Our little boy ran in to save Jaehaerys and he wasn’t scared. He held the dagger you gave him on his nameday and scarred one of them. Then while he was choking at that man’s hands, he said his last words, “My father will burn you in the blackest hells, ratcatcher. He will.””

[Name] paused hearing Helaena’s voice in his head, he couldn't cry right now. Rhaegar was only seven years old and the boy fought back to save his family. His little boy had run in to save his family's lives because no one else was there, not even himself. 

“-and not worry about ratcatchers.” 

His stance faltered and he fell back into the chair at his side. His gloved hand wiped at his face to shake away the tears that threatened to spill from his eyes. Helaena kept speaking to him, her words haunting him, 

“Jeyne grabbed her remaining daughter out of her bed and Daenerys held tightly onto my dress while I snuck Viserys out of his crib. The two of us ran away from that horrible sound with our children, leaving poor Jaehaerys and Rhaegar behind. Jeyne kept crying as we ran for our lives, kept asking where the knights were. Where were they?” 

“I don’t know,” [Name] felt like she was asking him, ‘where were you?’ and he wanted to say out flying Balerion in the night. But she knew he flew Balerion out in the night because he had the need to patrol around that time. And no one would see him or Balerion when the beast itself blends in the darkest sky. 

“Helaena, is there anything else you would like to tell me?” He asked before he would storm into the council room and demand for answers. 

His wife looked over at Daenerys cuddled up in her father’s arms with tear tracks stained on her young face. Helaena didn’t know if she could tell him about their mother’s…activity with the Lord Commander. But she didn’t need to because Daenerys mumbled something in his chest. 

[Name] stirred and moved his daughter to look her in the eyes, “Say that again, Dany. I didn’t quite catch that.” 

Daenerys looked into his eyes and said, “Grandmother…she was with the Lord Commander.” 

Helaena watched the confusion morph her husband’s face and he nodded his head, “Well yes, Ser Criston Cole is in charge of watching over your grandmother.”

Daenerys shook her head and clarified as best as a child could do, “He wasn’t guarding her, father. He was in her bed.” [Name]’s blood ran cold. The reason why Jaehaerys and Rhaegar died was because Cole didn’t want the Night’s Watch to-

“Helaena is this true?” He looked over at his sister-wife and she nodded her head with her eyes on the floor. His heart dropped to his stomach at this revelation. His skin crawled with the act of deceit. His mother called the Lord Commander to her chambers, thus allowing the release of the Night’s Watch on the royal family. 

“Rhaegar looked like you, father, fighting back that man” Daenerys sniffled and wiped her eyes with her small hands, “he wounded the ratcatcher. His eye is scarred, sort of like uncle Aemond. I think…I think Rhaegar knew his end, but he wounded his attacker so you could find him.”

“Of course he did,” [Name] whispered and hugged his daughter to his chest, pressing her face into the crook of his neck where she cried some more. Of course Rhaegar did that, he never went down without a fight. He was taught to protect his family, to harm those that pose a threat to them. But [Name] never taught his first born to think for himself. Think about a life Rhaegar could live for. Instead his son sacrificed himself to buy time for Helaena and Jeyne. 

“I’m sorry, my girls,” [Name] choked out, his tears finally cascading down his face, “I wasn’t there for you. I could have stopped it, I could have saved you from those bastards. Dany, your brother could have still been alive if I had-”

Daenerys moved her head and tilted her chin up, her gaze piercing his soul, “I know it’s not your fault, father. You were flying out with Balerion like you always do every night. Rhaegar knew what he had to do, I don’t blame you for his bravery.” 

Bravery. Not death. Daenerys saw her older brother as a brave child that passed away with honor. Not as a little boy with a dagger, weak to a full grown man. He looked over at his wife and she nodded her head in approval. Helaena could never blame [Name], she knew if he were present, he would have slaughtered the ratcatchers. 

“Helaena, Daenerys,” [Name] looked at his daughter then back to his wife. With gritted teeth, he said, “Cole will face consequences for releasing the Night’s Watch and I will find the ratcatcher that killed Rhaegar. This I promise to you.” 

“What about…mother?” Helaena cautiously asked her husband. She saw the turmoil in his eyes and he handed Daenerys over to her arms. Then he stood up and brought his sad gaze over to Viserys sleeping in his crib.  

“Mother will feel guilty all her life for this moment,” [Name] began walking away and said, “I hope it drives her mad.” 

“Brother, tell them that this idea is madness! We cannot allow our sons to be dragged across this city for show!” Aegon’s voice filled with hurt brought [Name] out of his misery and he looked at the table.

“What idea?” He sat up in his chair and Otto looked over at [Name] carefully wording his sentence out. 

“We will honor Prince Jaehaerys and Rhaegar by showing the cruelty of Rhaenyra’s actions to the people. This will-” 

[Name] shook his head and looked at Otto, asking, “Wait, Rhaenyra did this? She was the one that ordered our sons to die?” 

Alicent looked down at the table and folded her hands together, “We don’t know for sure, but-” 

“That’s a serious accusation that will not be taken lightly. Did she or did she not order that Prince Jaehaerys should die?” [Name] demanded, his hand itching to spill some blood. His anger was getting the best of him, eating away at his best traits. 

Everyone remained quiet at the table until Aegon shot up from his seat, raging with fury. [Name] didn’t notice that Cole had left the room. “Of course she fucking did! She’s a cunning little bitch! I want her to answer for the crimes she committed against us!” 

[Name] couldn't believe it. Rhaenyra would never cause the same pain she felt when she lost Lucerys to Aemond on Helaena. But he wanted answers, “I will fly to Dragonstone tomorrow morning and demand for answers.” He stood up from his seat and stopped short in his path. “I’m not going to start a war, not yet. I will confront my sister and ask her about this crime.” 

“She’ll lie to your face!” Aegon shouted, spit flying viciously out of his mouth. 

[Name] looked over his shoulder and scrutinized him, “People cannot lie easily with Balerion in sight. You pissed your pants when he didn’t choose you, so imagine what others will do.”

He walked a bit more and one of the guards opened the door for him. Then he set his hand on the door, he kept his eyes forward and addressed his grandfather, “A Hightower shouldn’t speak on Targaryen traditions. My son is going to be honored only by his family and burned by Balerion. His bravery isn’t a spectacle for King’s Landing and I won’t have strangers mourning him. His body has been defiled enough along with Jaehaerys. I don’t see why we have to show them our pain, sympathizing with us isn’t enough reason for them to peek into our lives. Anyone who touches Rhaegar’s body…will die.”

……

After his talk with the council, [Name] found himself in his bed with his two girls and baby boy. Viserys had been busy climbing on Helaena with cute babbles while Dany cuddled up against [Name]’s bare chest. “I am going to Dragonstone to ask our sister if she had anything to do with this. I’m leaving early in the morning, I would like everyone to join me.” 

“You’re going to visit Aunt Rhaenyra, father?” Daenerys sat up with a hopeful gleam in her eyes. “That means we can fly on Balerion together.” [Name] nodded his head and brushed her long hair behind her ears. 

“But what if she thinks it's a sign of war?” Helaena asked.

[Name] cleared his throat and said, “They’re scared of Vhagar as it is, I don’t think they want to fight Balerion as well. I can win that fight easily against her motherly dragon. Rhaenys would be my worry for Balerion. But that’s beside the point, I’m there looking for answers, not a fight.”

Helaena looked down at Viserys and the two year old smiled at her. “I’m afraid to fly with him.”

[Name] sat up and cleared his throat, “I can have Viserys’ strapped to my back while-”

“I meant Rhaegar,” Helaena murmured and looked away from her family. Meanwhile [Name] sighed and knew his plan for having Rhaegar honored by the Blacks instead of the Greens was going to have a bad effect on his wife. But he couldn’t do it. Jaehaerys would be shown around to the people, but not Rhaegar. Not his boy.

“I can fly with all three of them, Helaena. Balerion is big enough to carry all of us and it’ll be no big deal for him.” [Name] reasoned, hoping his wife would look at him. 

“I can ride with Mother,” Dany offered with a sweet smile, “if she wants me too.” 

Helaena looked back at her daughter and returned the smile, “Yes, of course little one. Are we also taking their dragons with us?” She looked at [Name] for clarification. She knew what his big plan was and this would cement the fact. 

“Yes, that is the idea of it,” He whispered back, afraid she would reject it. Moving out of King’s Landing to Dragonstone is a risk he was willing to take to keep his family alive. He wished he only did it sooner. 

“Okay, I trust you.” She leaned forward and pressed a shy kiss on his cheek. This action had Daenerys giggle with a blush on her face. [Name] bristled at the action himself and awed at the expression on his daughter’s face. Though they experienced a terrible night, his girls were able to show a bit of comfort and happiness. 

He held back his tears and longed for Rhaegar to return. Longed for his family to be complete again. Helaena saw the tears in his eyes nonetheless and she placed her hand onto his face, “We should rest, we have an early journey ahead of us.” She released his face and picked up Viserys, putting the babe into his own bed with his young dragon laying at the top left corner.

While she settled the boy, [Name] slid out of bed and pulled out the logs from the fireplace leaving it only a kindle now. The room darkened exponentially and he made his way back to the bed at the same time Helaena did. Dany pushed her father over to the middle so she could share him with her mother. With Helaena on his right, she cuddled up against his chest, her head laying on his shoulder. Daenerys on his left hugged his arm tightly and the little girl went fast asleep with light snores. 

The fire crackled a few times before dying out completely, letting the full moon being the only source of light in the room. [Name] stayed awake thinking about tonight. He thought about looking for the ratcatcher when his girls fell asleep. He already had Rhaegar wrapped and prepared for the flight to Dragonstone. Perhaps he wanted to torture his mother a little bit longer before he left too. 

His eyes felt heavy with sleep, shouldn’t be long until his eyes shut for the night. Then he heard a few clicking noises of baby dragons. He lied still and saw two silhouettes climbing up his legs. Then the two baby dragons made their way to Dany, they made small noises until they settled right next to her body. One curled up next to her stomach and the other laid on his arm where Dany held on tightly. 

“My love,” [Name] whispered and turned his head slowly at Helaena. His wife stirred then blinked her eyes a couple of times. “You have to look at Dany, Helaena.” He whispered again, hoping not to scare the two hatchlings near his daughter. 

Helaena noticed his stiff body and she cautiously moved herself upward, peering down at the scene her husband was fawning over. “Moonlight and Nightmare…Rhaegar’s dragon is sleeping with her too?” 

[Name] shook his head with a teary grin, “Even in death, our boy is watching over his twin. I don’t know what to say right now besides that. I…There’s so many words I want to say, Helaena. I know you said it’s not my fault, but if I just stayed-”

Helaena put her hand on his chest then moved it upward to wipe the tears from his eyes. “It’s not your fault, [Name]. Please stop blaming yourself. You are a great father, you raised a strong boy who protected his family. You raised a strong girl who speaks with praise, not blame. And I know how Viserys is going to grow up too.”

“You…you had a dream again?” [Name] asked and relished her warm touch. 

“I’m a dreamer of you, my love,” She smiled with glee, “and yes, it was beautiful. Our family finds peace in the North, not sure how, but we do. And our family never stops growing. Dreamfyre and Balerion grow accustomed to the cold and have clutches to support our growing family. All is well with the Targaryens that move up North, my light in the darkness. Now please, let us rest, we need not worry about our future anymore.” 

She pressed a light kiss on his lips and his head fell back onto the pillow. He closed his eyes and followed her order. Yes, she had a vision and she loved every second of it. She couldn’t wait to move up North. To have her husband create a grand alliance with Cregan Stark, the Wolf and the Dragon. This alliance will bring an end to this war between the Greens and the Blacks. 

After the war ends, she would be surrounded by five children and even more grandchildren. And the amount of dragons flying in the North would scare any Southerner that threatens the North. 

Yes, this vision was beautiful. After all, any vision involving [Name] always has been.

[bloodyinkandquill]

Windforce x Reader cuddling/sleeping

drabble time!! as mentioned last time i did one of these DO NOT request a drabble i do them when i really want to they will be rare and again i don’t do them if requested:]

—

“Why do you do that?” Windforce questioned in her normal booming tone of voice. She was talking in reference to you preparing to sleep, putting on comfier clothing and fluffing your pillows.

“Why do I… sleep?” You asked in turn, with a confused quirk of your head as you questioned her question.

“Yeah, you don’t need to do why do you? I don’t see any point to it,” She replied with a huff. It is true you didn’t need to but you enjoyed doing so, it was a nice break and it was warm and comfortable.

“…Well how about you try it and maybe you’ll see why I like it!” You suggested with a smile, you weren’t sure if she’d agree but hey it was worth a shot.

Much to your surprise she grumbled and plopped down on your bed. Luckily she wasn’t in her bulky armor at the moment instead in more casual clothes, a black tank top and gray sweat pants, her outfits when not in her armor were usually monochromatic you noticed. You smiled at her happily sitting next to her on the bed, reaching up to give her a small kiss on the cheek, she blushed a bit looking away but kept her stoic expression.

You pulled back the top blanket, it wasn’t that cold so you figured the one would be fine, besides it was the fluffiest and therefore comfiest blanket. You gestured for her to get under it with you which she did somewhat awkwardly. You laughed slightly but got situated yourself.

“So, what do we do now?” Windforce asked voice gruff as she readjusted, having already dispersed her wings since she could much like her son could.

“Well we could cuddle, and then try and sleep,” you suggested with a slight hopeful tone.

“What does that mean?” She asked surprising you by her not knowing what cuddling was.

“It’s like uh- here let me just,” you cut yourself off man handling the deity to be on her side arms around your back going over your shoulders your own arms wrapped around her waist as you nuzzled into her neck, the hight difference was very obvious in this position but you did your best to also tangle your legs with hers. It was more comfortable than you thought honestly, since she’s such a strong buff woman you figured her mussels would make her less comfortable to cuddle but you were pleasantly surprised by being incorrect. “This is cuddling, is it alright?” You asked checking to see if she was comfortable.

“You’re telling me I could have been holding you like this the whole time?!” She shouted in a not quite mad voice, it made you laugh that she enjoyed it so much making you finish snuggling into her head in a comfortable position. She readjusted slightly too to be more comfortable herself and held you a tad tighter, but not enough to squeeze you.

“Okay just close your eyes now and try to not move, let your body relax, and be comfortable, try to also not think a bunch, just let your mind wonder but don’t think too much about what comes to mind. That should let you fall asleep,” you instructed trying your best to explain how sleeping worked. She made a sound of understanding, okay well it was a grunt but you figured it meant she understood, as you closed your own eyes softly.

It was very comfortable and you felt so safe in her arms, the only odd thing was her lack of heart beat, you supposed it made sense but it was still creepy to hear nothing in her chest. Eventually the two of you both fell asleep, warm and close.

A few hours later when you woke up you could tell she was still asleep, you tried to very gently pry her arms off and wiggle your way out of her grasp, unluckily it roused her as one of her eyes opened staring you down intently.

“You are not going anywhere,” Windforce practically commanded, you let out a noise of protest and she just squeezed you closer, you wriggled again to no avail. You sighed giving up on fighting to get out of her arms, you were the one who suggested this now you have to deal with her not wanting to stop.

—

hope you enjoyed! had fun writing it, tried to be neutral with the readers words and actions but i couldn’t help but project myself on them sorry lol, anyways im going to take an hour nap now im tired

[prophecyofwinter]

Se Riña Qilōni Iprattan Se Jēdar | VI

Aemond Targaryen x Reader

Summary | Saera Targaryen daughter of Jaehaerys I ran away from Westeros to escape her fate. 45 years later her daughter Y/N Targaryen, with invitation from King Viserys wishes to go back.

Tags | Angst, Slowburn (Hot&Cold), TargCest, Smut, Standard ASOIAF content, Aemond and Reader are First Cousins Once Removed, Reader is Self-serving, Terrible Sibling Dynamics, Fluff tags to be added

Special warnings | Violence against women, Incel-like behavior, descriptions of injuries

Word Count: 3.6k

Author Notes | I have put up a poll to get readers feel for a certain story direction, please give it a quick vote! Poll here

Prologue | Chapter V | | Chapter VII Masterlist

Chapter VI | Love Thy Sister

“What do you think of her?” Alicent asks her son, looking up at him from her cushioned seat. Alicent hoped by telling Aemond to take the girl for a walk she’d feel welcome enough for the time being. Even though she is legitimized as a Targaryen, she can leave at any time. If she does not feel welcome, she may take herself and her titles back to Volantis. Back to the whore house her mother is from and disgrace the Targaryen name just as her mother did, and the blame would be put on Alicent.

“I suppose she is a good conversationalist… as beautiful as they say her mother is.” Aemond looks down at her, he rubs his hand along his jaw. Aemond knows his duty that was forced upon him, Alicent does not doubt this. 

However, she has influenced him to have a greater distaste for bastards. Of course, she doesn’t expect nor want Aemond to put his biases to the side, but for the safety of the Targaryen name he must learn to push it down for her.

“Continue to keep her happy, if you wander-“ 

“I am not Aegon if that’s what you are implying.” Aemond interrupts her with one of his quips. Alicent rubs her temples with a sigh, in her mind she knows Aemond would never do such a thing, but you can never be fully sure with young men. Aemond places his hand on Alicents shoulder, bringing her out of thought and she looks back up at her son.

“She knows what she is and I can deal with that.”

—————

The sun has sunk below the horizon and you stand with your hands gripping the stone of your balcony. The light breeze pushes your loose hair to the side, tickling your cheeks. 

The past 5 days have been repeating each other, waking up, fitting into tight clothes that you still can’t get used to, breaking your fast alone, taking brisk walks through the gardens; you’ve taken to needlework to fill up your time, still not good at it. Ending your days eating dinner with Vaegon, he insists on sitting next to you instead of on the other side of the table, you’ve gotten tired of telling him otherwise. 

Your only real interactions have been with Aegon, he manages to find you in the gardens every day. It has become routine at this point. Small conversations where he stands a little too close and rests his hand on your lower back. Your brother was fuming behind the two of you, but alas there was nothing he could do. 

Perhaps Aegon simply got a kick out of your brother's reaction; in that case, you don’t mind at all. 

Aemond hadn't bothered to even acknowledge your existence. You haven't seen him, heard him, smelled him, tasted him, touched him. All your senses are absent of him! 

Your head had been so full of ideal situations, that you didn’t consider living an isolated life in a foreign land! You had to push down girlish thoughts and take charge for yourself!

“Are you done with your childish games sister?” 

You were knocked out of your thoughts by Vaegon resting his armor-covered hands on the back of your shoulders. You tensed up at the contact, your stomach instantly became uneasy. 

“Your fantasies didn’t work out. No prince to whisk you off your feet as we pretended when we were children. Only a maimed icy boy who doesn’t love you.” He begins to gently massage your shoulders. Disgust rises on your face with your fists so tight your nails may draw blood.

“And you do?” You do not turn to look at him, simply at the night sky.

“More than that freak could.” He laughs resting his chin on your shoulders and moves his hands to caress your arms. This pushed you far over the line. You turned around and pushed him back with full force, it didn’t do much but push him a foot back. Frustrated at this failed attempt you slap him making sure to claw his skin with your nails. 

You hadn’t meant to dig that deep. Vaegons scream was in true carnal pain, he held his cheek with blood flowing from between his fingers. You had scarred him from cheekbone to chin. You looked down to your hand and you could see the skin you tore off beneath your nails. You looked back at him in shock, your mouth went dry as you couldn’t think of any words to say. 

“You fucking cunt!”

You saw your brother's eyes turn from purple to black as he ran to grip your neck with both hands, knocking the wind out of you. He was crushing your throat and his hand armor was cutting deeply. 

“Va-vaegon plea-“ you begin to claw at his hands as you choke out words. 

“I will not come second to some pompous cunt! I have worked all my life to prove myself worthy of you! Yet you whore yourself out to the first cock that fills your self serving cunt.” He shook you around with gritted teeth, not seeming to care about the sting and blood from his cheek. “You stand there and mock me in the gardens and let that whore of a Prince touch you, am I the only one you won’t fuck?!”

Black spots started to form in your vision, he was trying to strangle you to death, and you could see it in his eyes. 

You whisper something weakly enough that he cannot make out. He leans in hopes of hearing words of submission to feed his sick fantasies.

You gargle up the saliva that you cannot swallow and spit directly into his ear. He instantly jumps back and pushes you away. He falls on his ass getting away from you. You erupt in laughter even when your spine makes contact with the stone balcony you laugh through the pain.

Vaegon is at a loss for words, tears start to form and threaten to fall down his face. Humiliation is all over his face, you have permanently scarred his face. Maimed him as he laughed at Aemond for being. This scar was not gained honorably, not in a battle, not because he was punished, not from protecting a damsel in distress. He gained nothing from it.

He let a woman, his sister, swipe him so brutally. It made him even less of a man in the eyes of everyone. 

No mother to comfort him, not even a whore to console him, the only person he had was his sister who was looking down on him.

Laughing at him. 

Your laughter died down, small giggles escaping your lips still. The lack of air to your head and raw adrenaline diluted the pain you should be feeling at the moment. You walked over to your brother, looking down at him as he looked down at you moments ago with his hands on your throat.

“I am greater than you now brother, you are still a bastard. I could have you hung and spiked on the walls. However, it breaks my heart to see you like this.” You say softly with a joking tone. Vaegon continues looking up at you with a rage behind his eyes.

“If it would serve as compensation. You can have the privilege of standing guard at mine and Prince Aemonds marital chambers on our wedding night. As a parting gift.” 

Vaegon instantly stands on his feet and scoffs with a baffled expression. Suddenly, the weight of his crimes against a noble hit him hard, and he rushed out of the room to escape to who knows where.

You stood there for a few moments, absorbing your grand victory. You didn’t care where he ran, who he ran to, what he was going to do after running. Your breath was heavy and your lungs began to feel like they were struggling to take air in.

Just as your adrenaline calmed down it rose back up with anxiety. You rushed over to your mirror and looked at your neck to see bruises already forming and where his armor had cut your neck. How could you explain this? Someone will see your bruises and see Vaegons cheek and put it together. 

You hadn’t noticed the tears running down your face until you looked in the mirror, you looked in disarray. 

The pain started to shock through your body, finally registering the violence Vaegon put onto you.

Your throat felt like it was closing up, the pressure from your corset made the rising bruise on your lower back hurt so badly you feared you might empty your stomach on the floor. 

You saw the blood trail on the floor and your eyes moved over to the balcony and there was a small pool of blood in plain sight. You looked around your chambers for anything to clean it up. You froze by the sound of knocking at your door followed by your door opening. 

You hear the sound of crashing and liquid splashing on the floor. Someone rushed to your side who you recognized to be Mela. She knelt by your sitting form and held your arms gently. 

“Princess! What happened?! Who hurt you?!” Mela attempted to talk calmly but the urgency of the moment raised her tone. 

You don’t know what happened, all of a sudden everything came crashing down onto you. You were crying so hard you couldn’t form any words, your throat and neck hurt even worse with all your heavy breathing. Stuttering out incoherent and unfinished sentences with hand gestures that meant nothing. 

Mela stood and held you close to your chest like a mother would, and you held onto her arms and cried. She yelled something at Ellyn and the girl rushed out of the room, the door left wide open potentially for anyone to see. The pain of being manhandled by Vaegon started seeping in and all of a sudden your whole body started hurting, you couldn’t tell where it was coming from; you only knew it hurt. 

“Shhhh, Let me see Princess.”

Mela lifted your chin and gasped at the state of your neck. She lightly touched one of the fresh bruises, even the lightest touch made you whimper and flinch away. You couldn’t breathe without pain shocking through your body which made you cry more so tears never stopped streaming down your face. 

A barrage of footsteps approaches the open door to see Mela holding your sobbing body. Immediately a maester is by your side, gently pushing Mela away to see your injuries. You close your eyes to think the pain away, and a few gasps follow when your neck becomes exposed. 

“Gods be good, who did this Princess?” The Maester touched around your neck to examine the damage. You couldn’t think, the feeling of eyes on you, the pain in your neck, the pain in your lower back tightened by a corset.

You claw at the back of your dress just wanting to tear it off. Mela stops your hands to pull you onto your feet, your groans of pain don’t stop her at all. Ellyn moves behind you to loosen the layers of your dress. You let out a deep sigh of relief when your corset is removed and your body almost fully collapses into Mela.

Your lower back is revealed with the removal of the corset and you hear gasps of sympathy from the other maids in the room. Mela has you against her in a way that your breasts aren’t revealed to keep some form of modesty, even if it’s just maids and a maester.

“Gods… what has happened here?!” Alicents voice sounded through the room, her voice painted with concern. 

“I’m not sure my Queen, she’s in too much pain. She won't speak.” The Maester said without turning to Alicent still looking around at the newly discovered bruise. The Maester leaves the room to hopefully get some kind of ointment or cream to soothe you.

You looked up at Alicent and she looked down at you, biting at the skin of her thumb. 

The small part of you that isn’t in pain feels humiliated, this was your triumphant moment over your brother. But here you are, crying so hard you can’t speak, naked from the waist up, multiple people gawking at your injured limp body. You can barely even listen to the people around you, blood is pumping through your ears. 

A nightgown comes over your head and you move your arms slowly to fill the armholes. By the feeling of the fabric you can tell it’s not one from Westeros, it’s one of your own from Volantis. With these, your back could remain open instead of being rubbed with cloth. You watch Alicent move her hand to caress your hair gently, looking at you with an expression you can’t make out. Sympathy? Pity?

Alicent leans down and murmurs something to you.

“Was this Aemond?”

You shake your head no and the queen lets out a sigh of relief and does one wipe of your cheek with her thumb. You made an earnest attempt to squeeze out any sound through your tightening throat.

“Vaegon-“ you pointed to the blood near the balcony, the hand you pointed with still had his blood and skin on your fingers. 

“Where is her brother? Find him!” Alicents voice rises to yell at the guards nearby. She leaves the room with haste to go off to who knows where. 

You are guided onto a couch deeper into your chambers to allow room for a maid with water and cloth to gently dab your neck. You try your best to contain your whimpers to not humiliate yourself further. Another maid grabs your hand with a wet cloth and cleans the hand you scarred Vaegon with.

After some time the Maester reentered the room with a jar of some kind of ointment. You hope the cream provides some instant comfort, anything to relieve your aches. Tears still streaked down your face, the pain still ever persistent, but you held your whimpers down still.

“Alright Princess, I’ve retrieved an ointment made of arnica. It should help with the aches and inflammation.” The Maester hands the ointment to Ellyn, she quickly replaces the maid behind you. You move your hair away to expose your neck.

Everyone besides Ellyn begins to make their leave to give you privacy now that their duty is done. You close your eyes and let out a sigh of relief when Ellyn starts to gently rub the bruised area on the back of your neck. However your eyes don’t stay closed for long; as the door opens for everyone to make their leave, a soft ‘My Prince’ in unison makes your eyes instantly open. 

Aemond enters the room with long strides, passing by servants without care. He was wearing his normal black leather, eyepatch, and sword still at his side. Ellyn stopped applying the ointment to stand up, and give a small bow to Aemond with a customary ‘my Prince’. 

“Mm. Give it here.” Aemond holds out his hand to be given the ointment. He scans the room to see the blood has not yet been cleaned up.

“Clean that up and make your leave.” He hums, Ellyn quickly hands him the jar and grabs a cloth. 

“Aemond...” You whisper to not force your voice. You jump at the feeling of Aemonds ungloved fingers applying ointment to the back of your neck. Aemonds touch struggles to be gentle, his hands are roughly textured, and you can tell he hasn’t had to be gentle with much before. 

“I caught him.” He said in a normal tone. You look to the side, your eye area red and cheeks still wet from your never-ending crying. A look of confusion grazed your face under your pained expression. 

“I walk in the gardens at night. I heard him yelling, I saw him push you. I figured he would run.”  Aemonds fingers moved to the side of your neck that was exposed to him.

“Do not take it as much. A bastard boy attacked a…Targaryen. A high crime, it was simply duty.” He talks like he doesn’t care, truly unreadable... Almost like the hardened guards that are on duty in front of the black wall in Volantis, but not quite that extreme.

But here he sits, doing his best to gently rub in ointment into the bruised necklace painted into your skin. You can’t help but give him a slight smile, Aemonds eye flickers up and moves right back down. 

Without being able to speak more than a word or two, you and Aemond sit in silence. Even when he turns you around to get the front of your throat.

You got the opportunity to look at his face closer than you ever had. Your eyes traced his red scar, your sight stopped by his eyepatch but it continued below; on down to his sharp strong nose which huffed out deep breaths occasionally; to his pink lips, straightened in focus. Of course, his most important features to you, his one good eye, a beautiful shade of purple, pointed down looking at your neck and ever so often flicked further down when he needed to get more from the jar. His platinum white hair was tucked behind his ears so he didn’t get any in his face while leaning down.

This wouldn’t last. You knew that. Soon he would remember reality and pull back once again.

“Turn back around, I have to get your back.”

Your view of Aemond is torn away by his hands twirling you back around. He makes a ‘mmm’ sound and rubs the excess on his fingers on the middle of your open back. Leaving you rather confused until he speaks.

“Your lower back is covered by your nightgown. I have to pull it down.”

You jump a little at the idea of being almost fully naked in front of him, even though the sheer fabric of your nightgown left nothing to the imagination and left most of your skin open to the air. It’s the implication of it all.

“Gods, Calm down. I will only be seeing your back, nothing I won’t see soon enough.”

Aemond pulls at the sleeves of your nightgown and slides it down as low as it can go as you are sitting down. Even though he is behind you and can’t see your breasts you feel the need to cover them with your arms, but you resist. 

Aemond starts to apply ointment once again, he presses a little too hard and a gasp gets caught in your throat, and flinch away. Aemond grasps your hips to still you and bring you back.

“I’m sorry. Let me try again.”

You nod and hope that he’s more gentle this time. This bruise was a single large long bruise straight across your lower back so it made it harder to comfortably touch it at all. He was as gentle as he could be, it would hurt regardless. 

You had to make it through the pain yourself. Focusing on making the pain go away in your head. The first thought that came to your head was how intimate this position felt compared to the others. The lower back felt like one of the more intimate locations to touch between two people. Yes, Aegon touches you there occasionally but you only allowed that because you knew Vaegon was looking. 

Aemond doing it felt different. Even if it was just him helping you. His touch brought pain with it but it still somehow got a shiver up your spine that was pleasant in its own way.

He applied the ointment rather quickly, you snapped out of your thoughts when he began to bring your nightgown back up your body and you slipped your arms through the strapped sleeves.

“You should sleep soon, you will heal faster,” Aemond spoke, rubbing your arms from the back. You froze when you felt his breath on the back of where your neck met your shoulder. Your heart starts beating fast as you can almost feel his lips disrupt the peach fuzz on your skin. 

Suddenly seconds later Aemond abruptly pulls away physically and emotionally, just as he did before. He stands and briskly walks to your chamber door, on his way he taps onto a table to put your attention to a goblet and pitcher. 

“Should aid with sleep.” 

You didn’t even get a chance to process anything. You swore you still felt his touch on your skin, it made you shiver. Aemond shut the door all but gently, leaving you alone with yourself. You sighed at the loss of touch and Aemond ran off once again.

You wouldn’t see Aemond for a few days once again.

You pushed yourself up onto your feet with a sharp pain. The ointment helped but it didn’t help with sudden movements. You hobbled over to the table Aemond gestured to. You studied it briefly before pouring the substance into the goblet. It was a cloudy blue color, you weren’t sure what to make of it. You reluctantly took a sip, your body wanted to reject it instantly. It tasted extremely bitter with an undertone of honey. It must’ve been put there for a reason so you at least finish the cup. 

Not being able to drink anymore you blow out the bigger lights in your chambers, leaving the smaller ones still lit. You started to feel drowsy, deciding to commit to lying down. Getting under the covers trying to get comfortable, you decided it was too hot under them and pushed them to the side to only cover part of your body. You found a single position that didn’t put extreme pressure on your bruises and instantly fell to sleep.

—————

🏷️: @toodlesxcuddles @yourwonkywriter @blackgirlmagicforever @knyam

comment or send an ask to be on the tag list!

[sanyu-thewitch05]

I need more messed up female reader inserts. More ambitious, manipulative, unapologetically cut throat characters. So for this next idea I have a Male Yandere General X Female Reader Noblewoman.

General premise…reader Darling is a noblewoman whose family took in a slave mother and son during young childhood because they looked more unique compared to other slaves on the market. (I have no idea what type of era this is set in, but maybe this is more fantasy based?) Darling is a prodigy and sees the slave son (whose the yandere) natural gifts at combat/weaponry, so convinces her father to make the boy into a soldier for their family to use to win favor of the royal family. Darling manipulates the boy for years, knowing full well his romantic feelings for her. She promises to marry him  and give him his freedom, as long as he keeps climbing the military ranks, winning battles/wars, and contributing to their noble family name. Darling knows that doing this will ensure an easy bargaining chip with the royal family and the general people that her family deserves to be “rewarded” for their contributions to the kingdom. In other words, Darling wants to be future Queen, always has, and she’s seen poor yandere as nothing but a pawn. After yandere comes back from latest brutal war, he hears the news of Darling’s engagement to the crown Prince. Heartbroken and betrayed, he snaps and launches a coup (which is quite easy because the kingdom loves yandere more than the royal family), granting Darling’s wish of becoming future Queen…just not the way she imagined…And Darling will always be the apple of his eye, but maybe she should “earn” and “fight” her way up to Queen from slave, just as he had to fight from hell and back all his life from slave to king. Couple goals, am I right?

A/N: Finally finished this ask! I hope you like the twist and many hints within this. BTW, this is more tame and doesn't have smut. It does have a happy ending though. Anyway, I hope you enjoy reading this!

TW: Mentions of drugging

You were always meant for greater things. Luckily, you have a plan as to how to get it. First, you must work your way up the nobility ladder until you reach the prince. Then, seduce the prince and bear him children to secure your throne. But that takes time, and time is limited when you're a human. So you took a shortcut and used the latest Elve slaves to help you. The son, Rhys, around your age (14), possesses great potential, not only in magic but in swordsmanship. So, you convinced your father to put him in knight school. Behind the scenes, you make false promises of freedom and marriage to him.

The one condition he has to follow is to keep climbing the military ranks and contributing to the family name. He believed it like a fool, and soon enough, he became your personal knight. A knight in shining armor or a white knight in a way. Rhys was always around you. Which led to him witnessing your most vulnerable moments.

"Milady, wake up. My lady!" Rhys whispers, secretly using his magic to float up to your levitating body.

"Hm?" You moan, waking up and realizing your body is floating several inches into the air.

"You were doing it again."

"Sorry, Rhy."

You think of a feather slowly falling, and you're on the mattress again. Rhys climbs onto the bed and sits next to you. He lets you climb into the safety of his arms for sleep.

"Please don't tell anyone, Rhys," You say, resting your head on Rhys's chest.

"I won't, milady," Rhys says, rubbing your head until you go to sleep.

The next morning, your mother took you to a cottage in the wilderness near the Elves's kingdom for your 16th birthday.

Then, one brutally hot summer day in your delicate 21st year of age, war broke out with the Elf kingdom. King Faenelis of the Elves used magic to fight the war. This created a problem for your kingdom, and so Rhys, other elves, or mages were sent to war. Admittedly, you missed his presence around the manor. You missed him teaching you things about his culture. You missed the gifts from the forest he would give you. But, good news came, and your dream came true. The prince of your kingdom, Prince Calion Veranda, proposed to you at a ball you attended after a night of drinking, dancing, and mock swordfights.

You immediately moved out of the manor and began your life at the castle. You were so happy with the prince that you forgot about the war until it arrived at your doorstep.

"Kill the prince, but spare the girl!" A familiar voice screams, the sound of footsteps coming towards you.

"Go into the tunnels and keep running. I'll find you!" Calion whispers, pushing you away.

You run into the tunnels, and your brain rings from the sound of water dropping and hearing your own footsteps. The tunnels seem never-ending. Suddenly, as if you're losing your mind, whispers start to echo through the stone walls.

"My love, come back."

"I'm here for you."

"I can hear you."

"I feel you."

"I know you."

"Did you really think you could run away?"

"Ooh! Would you shut up?!" You scream, making everything go silent.

Drip. Drip. Drip. Dri-

"Found you!" Rhys says, his milk-white hand pulling into the walls.

You open your eyes and see a more rugged Rhys standing in front of you. His muscles are bulging through the silk white, and green royal clothing.

"Hi, my queen," Rhys says, grabbing you by the chin.

"Rhys, what are you doing? You're going to ruin our family name," You ask, looking him in the eyes.

Those silver eyes mock you.

"I came back and launched a coup with the support of the people. Don't worry, your family is safe. But this kingdom is going to be ruled by me and renamed into Faeranda. It's all your fault. You know, I heard about your engagement and came for you," Rhys monologues, pointing his sword at the crystal wild violet necklace around your neck. "You still wear this necklace? I thought your parents-no! Your father told you not to wear that. What did they say, "Don't wear anything that woman gives you." 'sounds familiar, doesn't it?"

"Don't bring grandma into this!" You yell, pushing his sword away from your neck.

"A crystal wild violet for a girl born on the first of May," You and Rhys repeat, making you shocked at what you said.

"Now I see why your little prince was so eager to marry you despite your dirty family secret. You asked your grandma for advice. And advice she gave in the form of a pink bottle. Like mother like daughter."

"That's impossible, she's dead."

"Dead? Ha, don't make me laugh! You forget your parents made your personal knight. I've read your diary. I managed to break the spell you put on it. I know that three times a week and on certain holidays, you would go to a cottage in the woods housing your grandmother. All covered for by your dear half-witch mom."

"..."

"You learned magic. You know spells, curses, and hexes passed down through generations of your maternal line. You have a grimoire, a personal and family one. You wanted me out of the way so you could get the prince you never had a chance with. But guess what? Your prince is dead, and I'm the new king. You're going to be my queen."

"Rhys, you're crazy."

"You wouldn't want to break dear grandma's heart, would you? While organizing for the coup, King Faenelis, my father, found your grandma, and she told him her deepest wish was for her granddaughter and daughter to have a safe place to live and practice magic. With me as king, I'll bring a new age of magic to this kingdom. Your grandma can live with you again. You can see the cousins and family you never saw in public. You can feel no shame when your magic slips up. You could ride your broomstick whenever you want."

Rhys made a tempting offer. Sure, he killed the prince you drugged to get, but Rhys being king had many benefits for you. You knew what he wanted in exchange, and you had to grant it.

"I, Y/N L/N, break the physical and magical chains placed upon you and your family. You are free," You say, using magic in front of Rhys.

Silver chains appear around Rhys's body and dissolve into dust. You feel the suppressed magic of Rhys and back away. He summons a ring with a bloomed rose design for the green amethyst. Rhys puts it on your finger, and the elf magic flows through your body. A chain appears around your wrist, and a handle in Rhys's palm.

"What have you done to me?" You ask, feeling weak.

"I made you my slave. You're going to have to work your way up from slave to queen. You have to earn my trust. Don't worry, it's temporary. You'll be free after your true self," Rhys replies, pulling the chain so you crash into his chest. "I love you. We're going to have a great wedding with an even bigger after-party."

You hide your face in his chiseled chest. Both of your feet slowly levitate until you're hugging him midair. Being with him always made your magic act out. Then again, it was for the best. You were so tired and wanted to let it go wild. With him, you could do that. You could always do that with Rhys. It was one of your dirty secrets.

[snobgoblin]

HOLA

can i know how the M6 would react to meeting Reise for the first time? (in your opinion ofc)

ohhhhhh my god good question..... I'm gonna take this ask into account with this

Asra- overall he's happy that Danny's happy. he's not quite sure how he feels about him being Lucio's son, too, though. but he doesnt let it show. after Julian (doctor who delivered him) and Lucio (his other father) Asra would be one of the first to see him. he's Danny's best friend! of course. he would show the baby little magic tricks and oh god no Asra you can't levitate the newborn

Nadia- she really isn't sure how to respond. the ask says she's the worst with children and I'm willing to bet that's because she'd do some shit like ask her servants to give a baby caviar or something 😭 she seems really out of touch sometimes /affectionate. ANYWAY she is handed the baby and formally welcomes him to Vesuvia, and the world for that matter. Nadia did you just give a tiny infant a diamond necklace

Julian- his first time meeting him would've been When He Was Born since he is Danny's doctor. he's the best with kids. he was happy to watch the baby while Danny recovered and Lucio soothed him. it's really a bittersweet experience with him... he's brought life into this world. but... people have also died in his care. during the plague... many children did. funny being a doctor, huh? it reminds him it isn't all bad. anyway this mother hen ass was telling him tall tales the whole night. who needs sleep when there's a baby to entertain

Muriel- absolutely uncomfortable. really really not sure how to respond. he's awkward enough with adults. what are you supposed to do around a tiny baby? it doesn't help that this is Lucio's baby. but he tries not to hold that against him. he would refuse to hold him because he isn't sure how and he's terrified he would drop him. he's also CONVINCED he would start crying the moment he did anyway (I think it would be a different story if it were say, his or Asra's baby. but this is someone he doesn't know all that well that had a baby with Lucio. it's awkward)

Portia- OHHHHHH she is so ready to make a new friend. HER FRIEND MADE A PERSON!!! THATS LIKE... A PRE MADE FRIEND. she's great with kids. the initial meeting is Exciting and maybe they have to tell her to calm down so she can hold him. but after that she'll often have him over and he'll take naps with Pepi in her pillow pile. OH on first meeting she's mad they didn't tell her ahead of time because she would have made him little baby clothes

Lucio- oh this man is PUMPED he MADE A PERSON WITH the person he loves more than anything are you kidding??? that's awesome. with a very heavy heart he takes off his arm's armor so he can hold him, that's definitely a hazard with all the sharp edges. anyway holding him was probably the first time he's ever shut the fuck up in his life, he was just speechless. he does want him to grow up faster though so they can get to the fun stuff that's definitely too rowdy for a baby but. in the moment, it's nice. Mercedes and Melchior are definitely very curious about him and at first he's like WHOA WHOA OKAY because they bite people but they do fine with Reise surprisingly

OH OH ALSO BONUS DANNY: it's really bittersweet for him because he knows Capra will never get to meet him. a lot of his family was lost to the plague and it's a shame he won't get to have that. but. for the moment he's really hopeful for the future. he loves nature and this is a part of that!! he wants to see where this goes. Also Good Lord He Is Glad It Is Out Of Him

[bihansthot]

So, I wrote a little something, it’s just some relaxing time with the Lin Kuei girlies, a little suggestive maybe but no ratings apply. It’s self ship so don’t get too excited but you can pretend it’s you if you want. Hopefully this will help get me out of my writers block! Any feedback is always welcome thanks lovelies!

I sigh with relief as my aching body slips into the welcome warmth of the hot springs, enjoying the luxuries of the Lin Kuei’s main temple. I have been sick all week thanks to my youngest son bringing home the flu from school, thankfully my flu shot from last year seemed to help and I was able to keep it going for the most part but today my body had had enough. I sink up to my chin in the blissful, restorative water before I hear soft footfalls, I don’t think much of them though.

“Lady Sol, I didn’t mean to disturb you, I didn’t know you were here,” I hear a soft voice call.

“Sektor, it’s fine, come sit with me,” I call my husband’s second-in-command over, we’re quite close and I’m quite fond of her company.

“Again my apologies,” she repeats and slips gracefully in next to me, close but not too close to feel uncomfortable knowing I had not grown up with public baths as she had.

“How are the new initiates doing? Bi-Han has been so busy getting ready for his brother’s wedding that he hasn’t said much,” I crack an eye open to glance at the female warrior.

“It’s going well, the new recruits are shaping up to be worthy of the Lin Kuei name,” Sektor relaxing as if she suddenly remembered she could be herself with me.

“How’s Cyrax? I haven’t seen her in a few days, she usually works with the twins on Wednesdays.” I reply a bit worried about her whereabouts.

“Apologies my lady, I was away on a mission this week, I thought the Grandmaster would have told you,” Cyrax suddenly appears before joining us in the relaxing water.

“Honestly he might have, I don’t listen to everything he says on the best weeks and poor Shixue has been sick with the flu all week and gave it to me and my brain has been a quagmire,” I respond apologetically.

“Are you feeling any better?” Sektor asks, her warm lips pressed against my forehead checking for a fever. “You feel warm still,” she frowns.

“Sektor I’m in a hot spring, of course I’m going to be warm, I’m fine now, well except for my stomach but that’s tolerable,” I try and assuage her worries.

“Are you pregnant again?” Cyrax chimes in, her brown eyes suddenly lighting up.

I laugh loudly, “I hope not! The egg hasn’t even hatched yet, though Bi-Han would be thrilled if I was.”

“He does love children, you wouldn’t think it with his abrasive personality but I’ve never seen him happier than when he became a father,” Sektor remarks sinking back into the water.

“You can give him one next,” I laugh and splash her lightly.

Her face goes as scarlet as her armor and she starts sputtering, “my lady I couldn’t possibly I mean what are you talking about he’s my Grandmaster and your husband!”

“Sektor I’m not blind, I know your feelings for him, it’s fine I can share him again,” I smile at her and give her shoulder a reassuring squeeze.

“And I can be an auntie again!” Cyrax exclaims flinging water everywhere in her excitement.

“I can’t win against you two can I?” Sektor laughs before sighing, “how do I tell him though?”

“I can if you like, or, or better idea, you just join me in bed one night and we’ll seduce him together! He loves seeing Sareena and I together, I’m sure he’d go crazy for the two of us,” I grin at her feeling confident in my plan.

“M-my lady? The two of us? Together? With the Grandmaster?” Sektor’s voice rises in octaves as she continues.

“Well yeah, we share Sektor it’s all a big package, you don’t get Bi-Han without me too,” I explain.

“I-I understand and that’s perfectly acceptable I’m just afraid my lack of experience may displease you both,” she blurts out flushing deeper.

“Oh don’t worry about that, Bi-Han will LOVE that and I’ll help you out,” I smile softly feeling the tired knots finally leave my body.

“Too bad I’m not in love with the Grandmaster too, I’m feeling left out!” Cyrax pouts playfully before draping herself across my lap.

“At least you have the kids to keep you company though,” I laugh and pinch her cheeks lightly.

“There’s always Syzoth,” Sektor ventures trying to cover up her perpetual blush.

“He is cute, but I think I’m more into girls these days,” Cyrax hums.

“Thank you for volunteering my other partner,” I shove Sektor playfully, before the three of us can get into a massive water fight we hear heavy footfalls.

“Qin are you in here?” Bi-Han’s deep voice calls out.

“I am but I have company pervert so no peeking!” I call back sticking my arms over the girls chests as they both try and sink as far in the water as possible.

“Who’s in there,” he asks sounding a bit annoyed as if he wanted some alone time.

“Sektor and Cyrax are keeping me company,” I reply.

“Oh, good I just wanted to check on you since you don’t feel well and I was worried you’d feel too lightheaded. Don’t stay in too long, Bingbing is looking for you for a bedtime story, I tried but nope it’s gotta be Mama,” he explains before turning to leave.

“Well ladies, looks like I’ve been summoned, Sektor come by tomorrow before dinner and we���ll work something out,” I give her a wink before standing up and grabbing a towel, I dry myself off and follow after Bi-Han who waited for me.

“What business do you have with Sektor?” He asks, brows furrowing with curiosity.

“You’ll find out sooner or later, but I think you’ll be pleased,” I smile and stand on my tiptoes to press a kiss to my husband’s cold cheek. I pull on layers of warm clothing before donning my fur-lined robe and heading back into the bracing cold to read to my daughter.

[blessyourhondahurley]

Suptober day 31 - This Bliss

A fluffy domestic day in the life of a happy, settled, married, post-hunter Dean Winchester and family.

Suptober prompt: Trick or Treat

(Read on AO3)

As the coffeemaker blurts out its last few brewing burbles, Dean snags the pot and pours himself a tall, fragrant cup. They've been experimenting with flavored blends recently, a project that Cas has gotten really into after Charlie sent him a gift basket of assorted coffees and teas for his “birthday” last month. Thanks to four decades of sludgy diner joe, Dean maintains pathologically low expectations for his morning cuppa, but he's finally comfortable enough in his masculinity to admit that the salted caramel spice variety they're drinking this week is fucking stellar, especially with a dash of cream. He adds that dash now, then shrugs and stirs in a little sugar as well. Why not treat himself?

There's a scuffle behind him, and he turns just in time to see Sam and Eileen stalking through the kitchen, arguing silently. He hasn't yet mastered the finer points of sign language, but somehow he catches “screwdriver”, “watermelon”, and “recycling bin” and decides not to inquire further. They disappear together through the door to the garage, still gesticulating furiously at each other.

Dean smiles at their backs and takes a seat at the kitchen table, He has another sip of his coffee and unlocks his phone. The villagers in his Animal Crossing town need his help with a fishing tournament today. He casts his line and waits.

“–en we'll ask Dean!!” is the only warning he gets before his kids burst into the room. Jack's in the lead, looking distressed. Claire is half a step behind, sporting the world-weary smirk she likes to wear like armor.

As soon as they're in front of him, they both start talking at once, and it's impossible to understand anything they're saying. Dean puts out his hands above the table, palms facing down, and lowers them slowly, a sign for calm down. Their voices trail off in perfect sync.

“Okay, let's try that again, only maybe this time actual communication can occur?” Dean points at his son. “Jacky, you go first.” Claire jolts, her mouth falling open like she wants to protest, but Dean turns his pointing finger upwards to indicate wait. “You'll get your turn, hon. I promise.”

“Claire says I'm too old to trick or treat tonight!” Jack says plaintively. “I'm only five!”

“Yeah but you look twenty-f–” his sister butts in.

Dean cuts her off with a barked “hey!” Mollified, she makes a zip-it gesture across her mouth, crosses her arms, and waits.

Jack continues. “Am I gonna get in trouble if I go out tonight? I don't want anyone to be mad at me! You and Dad said I could, though! My costume's all ready!!” He's giving the most puppiest of puppy-dog eyes, and as he finishes speaking his piece, a single perfect tear wells up and runs down his cheek.

Dean reaches for his son's hand and gives it a reassuring squeeze. “Claire-bear?” he prompts.

“I just don't wanna see the kid get his hopes up for nothing,” she says grimly. “He doesn't exactly look like your average first grader. People don't take too kindly to grown-ass men tryin' to scam them out of their Kit-Kats.”

“I get it,” Dean acknowledges, giving her a nod.

At this apparent confirmation of Claire's point, Jack looks like his heart is crumbling to bits in his chest.

“Hang on now, buddy,” Dean continues before the kid can work himself up to a full-blown meltdown. “Your sister's just looking out for you. But she hasn't spent as much time in Lebanon as we have, so she doesn't know that everybody's gonna be expecting you at their houses tonight. I saw Marta at the post office the other day and she said to tell you she's got a jumbo-size 3 Musketeers with your name on it.”

Jack is smiling so wide now it looks like his face is gonna split in half. Dean turns to Claire. “In fact,” he says, eyebrows raised, “I'm absolutely certain no one would mind in the least if Jack brought his big sister out with him this year. Whaddaya say, kiddo? You wanna scam some Kit-Kats with us tonight?”

His daughter likes to think she's a hard-ass, a firmly closed book, but Dean watches the emotions play across her face as she tries and fails to suppress her excitement at the prospect. She's still adjusting to peacetime, to post-hunter life. They all are. He and Cas like to grab every opportunity they can find to let their kids be kids for a change.

Claire is still struggling to find the words that will simultaneously convey both I don't give a shit about anything because I'm a stone cold bitch and yes please please please take me trick or treating tonight but Jack doesn't bother waiting. He grabs his sister's hand and starts tugging her down the hall, free-associating ideas for her costume as they go.

As their voices fade from his hearing, he gets up to freshen his cooling coffee. While he's at the pot, he reaches into the cupboard overhead and pulls out Cas's favorite mug, the sky-blue one with the cartoon bees all over it. He's just tipping a dollop of cream into each cup when his husband shuffles in, looking rumpled and delectable in his bathrobe and ratty slippers.

Dean presses the warm mug into his seeking hand and wraps an arm around his waist.

“Morning, sunshine,” he says with a soft smile. He nuzzles Cas's extravagant bedhead and breathes in the warm smell of the skin behind his husband's ear.

“Good morning, beloved,” comes the rumbled reply. “What were the kids talking about? They seemed agitated about something.”

“Claire's gonna come out with us tonight. Jacky's helping her figure out her costume.”

Cas takes a deep drink of his coffee and hums happily. “That's nice.”

“Mm-hmm. She's super excited about it, but she'd never admit that. Gotta keep up the tough cookie facade.”

“She reminds me of you at that age,” Cas says with a grin.

Dean snorts a laugh. “Yeah, I was a tightly-wrapped little basket case back then. Closet case, too, I guess. Took me a lotta years to become who I really am.”

Cas finishes off his coffee and sets his mug on the counter, freeing his hands to pull his husband close. “Indeed,” he rumbles as he starts to trail a line of kisses up Dean's neck. “You've matured into an exemplary father, a wonderful husband, and a magnificent man. And on that note...” Cas's morning stubble rubbing against the thin skin of his throat gives him the shivery tingles, like it always does.

“On that note?” Dean prompts, his voice breathy and tremulous.

“The children will be occupied with their costumes for the next hour or two,” Cas observes. His hands move down to gently cup his husband's ass. “I think you should take me back to bed.”

Dean flashes back for a moment on all of those basket-case years when he was too scared, too exhausted, too repressed, too busy expecting to die at any minute to bother dreaming about a happily ever after for his story. He never could have imagined anything this good, anyway. Safe in his home, warm with the knowledge that his family is nearby, he walks hand in hand with the love of his life back to their room.

[yellowmagicalgirl]

5 headcanons from a Trollhunters AU of your choice?

So there's this AU that I've had vague ideas about for a while, a roleswap where I swap all the canon ships (not counting Word of God ships and ships where we never see one of the characters). Do note that while the canon ships are getting swapped, the only canon ship that definitely gets together in this AU is Jlaire. (Staja and Darby are both maybe's, but I'm leaning no because IDK how much sense they'd make in this 'verse. Everything else is a NOTP for me.) (Also due to the amount of canon ships, you get more than 5 headcanons.)

Stricklake: Waltolomew is Jim's dad. Jim's bio mom walked out on them when Jim turned five - she accidentally saw Strickler in his true form, and she just wanted to escape. She was concerned that Jim wasn't human either, and she didn't want anything to do with him. (She was right that Jim wasn't fully human, though that didn't manifest as anything other than a very mild iron allergy until he got possessed by Morgana.) Meanwhile, Barbara is a local doctor who ends up getting roped in after she sees too much going on with the local teen defenders, and also after she ends up as Jim's foster mom when Strickler went missing.

Jlaire: The last battle between Kanjigar and Bular took place in a slightly different location, one that Claire was able to ride her bike to. She picked up the amulet and wasn't detected as quickly as Jim was in canon due to Strickler not going into the women's locker rooms. This allows her to have just enough time to learn to fight without Bular killing her for not knowing her way around knives like Jim does. Jim, meanwhile, has recently had the truth of his heritage revealed to him. If he serves the Janus Order well enough, then he can undergo the ritual that could make him a polymorph. (He never goes through the ritual but gains the ability anyways thanks to Morgana.) In the latter half of season 1, he became Team Trollhunters' man on the inside because he can't accept a world where Gunmar reigns (and also because Claire is very pretty in her armor.)

Dromura: Nomura became Kanjigar's apprentice, and while she didn't 100% expect to become the next trollhunter, she is miffed that this human girl with no fighting experience became the next trollhunter instead of her. She also briefly had a fling with Draal, who's human form works with Barbara under the alias of Dr. Aalbregt. Nomura once tried to get Kanjigar and Draal to meet in the hopes that Draal would change sides, but Kanjigar claimed that the impure was not his son. Ouch.

Staja: I'm not saying that Aja is the school bully, but she is rivals with Claire & Mary for popularity, with Claire & Mary being the femme popular crowd and Aja being the star quarterback. (Aja and Darci were neighbors growing up, so they're slightly more cordial.) She also teases Eli, but in a more friendly way since he's her little brother's BFF (and also Eli might have a crush on Krel). Eventually, the Tarron twins + Eli find out the truth. Steve on the other hand is the slightly spoiled heir to House Palchuk of Akiridion V. Seklos help us all.

Nanavex: Varvatos used to babysit Darci and the Tarron twins, sometimes at the same time, because he lives near all of them. He taught them to fight and can tell that something is going on. He doesn't know what. Nancy's son, husband, and daughter-in-law were all killed by the Zerons, and she was left to raise her grandson on her own. Between this and

Darby: I just can't see Darci getting the gravity cursed hammer, and I also can't really see her using a bow in this AU despite her using it in my seasonal amulet AU. I'm gonna say that instead she stole a fancy looking flute from the museum at the end of the second battle of Killahead. This flute was actually the flute that belonged to the Pied Piper, and it allows her to control small animals... and also goblins, because of the long-running raccoon joke. Mary never gets quite as involved in trollhunting as the others do due to being squeamish around violence, which causes her to grow distant from Claire and Darci. The coup happens earlier, Toby makes a cool bracelet for her, and Mary is selfish enough that she decides to befriend this foreign weirdo in order to get cool bracelets. (Due to the coup happening earlier, the two supernatural groups meet earlier. Toby gets to meet Vendel, who is more impressed with him than in canon. Vendel also likes Toby better than Steve.)

Stuart x Gwen: "The bounty hunter (Stuart) you (Morando) sent after us (Steve, Nancy, and Toby) became part of our found family." Meanwhile, I have two potential takes on Gwen. The first is that she's an untrustworthy rogue agent, willing to sell alien tech but also willing to sell secrets to whomever she thinks can get her the best deal. The other is that I replace Gwen of Gorbon with Guinevere, who was an alien all along in this 'verse, and Arthur thought that this foul creature killed his wife when he saw her in her true form. (In the latter case, there would be parallels between Guinevere/Arthur and Waltolomew/Jim's bio mom.)

send me an au and i’ll give you 5+ headcanons about it

[strangedreamings]

HOTD S2E3 (spoilers abound)

I like that they buried the twins together. In together, out together. Rhaenys counseling Rhaenyra was also good.

Ah, Criston. The Peter principle made flesh. Dude, your impatience is gonna get you killed (keep at it).

Once in a while, one of the Greens gets the group braincell and actually makes a good point. Of course, it never lasts.

Rhaenyra and Mysaria. Emma is killing it this season, they need an Emmy and a Golden Globe (and whatever other awards they're eligible for), they make you believe the pain Rhaenyra is feeling with their voice alone.

Rhaenyra asking her stepdaughter/first cousin to take her two youngest to Pentos. I can understand why but I gotta side with Rhaena on this -- if she had a dragon (i.e. been of use in this war), Rhaenyra never would've considered sending her away. When is she gonna get Morning? (Or is the rumor true and Rhaena is going to be combined with Nettles and thus get Sheepstealer? God, I hope not. We need more WOC on this show, not fewer.)

I swear, Caraxes is the only dragon I can recognize from any distance, because of his neck. Harrenhal. I hope we see its destruction someday, I wanna see dragonfire melt stone. I think this scene of Daemon looking for whoever's in the castle is supposed to be tense (there's no music, it's like the show is holding its breath), but all I feel is bored.

I love Ser Simon! (I've loved his actor for years now) He's pragmatic, a trait that is far too uncommon in Westeros. Also, he's funny -- he pledges his loyalty to Rhaenyra then immediately tells Daemon the dinner menu.

Daemon, quit being so goddamn picky about your form of address. "King consort" isn't a real title anyway. :P

Ser Simon isn't going to survive this season, I'm sure. Hell, he might not even survive this episode if he doesn't stop calling Daemon "your highness."

"The throne?"

"It's a big chair made of swords."

Daemon, you're a little shit (mixed) but I love your sense of humor.

Oh yeah, Alicent has a brother. He was in the pilot, right? He's pretty, which is a blessing and a curse in Westeros. Dude, if you had any brains at all, you'd leave Westeros and never return. Your sister and father are full of shit, you'd be better off without them. Ugh, I listened to him say three words and I already hate him. He sounds like every rich man's son talking to someone socially beneath him. Criston, the concept of friendly fire doesn't exist in Westeros but I'm counting on you to introduce it.

Can I just say I love how Criston's Hand of the King chain is worn? It looks to be attached to his armor. It stands out more than just a pin would have.

Dornishman? Oh, right, this is before Daeron II, so everybody still hates Dorne, got it. Add "racist" to Gwayne's other shitty traits.

Criston, you're really fucking pushing it.

As much as I hate Alicent, I think Olivia deserves all the awards too. Alicent is barely keeping things together and Olivia is doing a great job showing that.

Was the raven/crow eating Cheese's eye truly a necessary shot?

The music as the army leaves KL is really good. Ramin is at the top of his game this season (as always).

"It would be treason." My girl Rhaenyra, standing up to these men who want to set her aside.

I love Corlys and Rhaenys together but I know Rhaenys has a ticking clock over her head. Rook's Rest is coming soon. If not tonight, then next week.

Rhaenyra sending her three youngest away. It's sad that Aegon III and Viserys II probably know their nannies better than they know their parents. Rhaena and Baela had a good moment but damn, we need more from both of them, the writers aren't giving us nearly enough.

Aww, Helaena smiled at Jaehaera and it was so sweet.

"I forgive you," Helaena tells her mother.

For what, Helaena? For fucking Criston when he should've been protecting your son? You're forgiving Alicent for that? I know you're her daughter and I know you've got a big heart but seriously?

Aegon II is wearing his namesake's armor? That armor is 130 years old, surely it's out-of-date by this point. And how far are the writers going to take this "I have no identity of my own" shtick?

I hate Larys but his actor is compelling. Looks like it's promotions for everybody this season.

These new Kingsguard knights are pathetic.

Ulf the White, huh? I'm THOROUGHLY unimpressed. Also, would it have killed the hair department to, you know, give him the white hair he was known for?

Oh good lord, Aegon II goes whoring and runs into Aemond.

Full frontal, really? I think the show is trying too hard to go viral this season. Shocking moments need to be earned and (except for B&C) this show just hasn't done that yet. (No shame to Ewan. Like Nicola Coughlan, I'm sure he wanted to be able to look back on this year in the future and remember how hot he was.) Did the color of Aemond's sapphire change? It's not as blue as it was last season (or maybe that's just the shitty lighting).

Baela should've barbecued those assholes.

Oh, Rook's Rest has been mentioned! The countdown has begun in earnest.

Young Rhaenyra and Jaehaerys? Daemon, your subconscious is fucked up. But hey, a guilty conscience is better than no conscience at all.

So that's the famous Alys Rivers? What the hell was that voice? She doesn't sound like an adult at all.

"Killing her would be easier." Mysaria, honey, you are so right but if she did that, we wouldn't need the promised third season.

Rhaenyra, your crush on Alicent is gonna get you both killed.

She's dressed as a septa? I can just hear the Rhaenicent fans now.

I'm 99% sure this didn't happen in the book. *side-eyes the writers* Don't start going off-book now, you know what happened to GoT.

"though not before I killed you." Rhaenyra, you could've threatened her in a letter, you didn't need to do it in person.

I can't stop staring at the beadwork on Alicent's gown. HOTD's costume department could teach a thing or two to Bridgerton's.

This is getting us nowhere. Rhaenyra, this was a very dumb idea. Get out now before Alicent (who couldn't keep her voice down if you paid her) calls the guards.

You know, Rhaenyra, if your family didn't insist on naming EVERY THIRD BOY Aegon, you wouldn't have this fucking problem.

"... you know what Aemond is." A loose cannon with mommy issues? Just saying.

Ugh, they're ending it there? No tense moment of Rhaenyra getting the fuck back to Dragonstone?

Yep, we're definitely getting Rook's Rest next week.

[lya-dustin]

All is bliss

Chapter 48

Cw: Butcher’s Ball, childbirth complications, hallucinations, attempted murder

Gif by @daemonsdarksister

Taglist @mercedesdecorazon @alexandria-millie @watercolorskyy @darylandbethfanforever9 @ewanmitchellcrumbs

Their men were laid out as if they had been killed at a feast.

They have been like that in every village they have marched through these four days.

A grotesque thing Aemond is glad he isn’t walking through.

Because his mission is of great urgency, he attacks only if he must. House Darry folds at the sight of him and Lady Darry tearfully asks him to spare her infant son after Criston obliterated her husband and eldest sons in battle when they first marched out of Kingslanding.

Criston’s hand shook as if remembering an ill prophecy and agreed no harm will come to those who surrendered.

Something he hadn’t done when they set out. Had the chill of the Stranger in the air caught to him too?

Crossed Elms proves that nagging feeling right.

Their enemy had more men, fresh horses and every advantage they lacked.

Save for a dragon.

Archers attack them in woods unknown to them, Aemond is not spared as he tries to evade them in the air.

Vhagar’s too large and old to perform like a younger and sleeker dragon.

And they knew that.

So he and Cole call for a parley, just enough to buy them time.

“If I strike my banners, do you promise us our lives?” he asked the three of them.

Three seasoned and grizzly commanders, such men bore scars and dents in their armor enough to make Cole look green as grass.

Aemond felt like a squire pretending to be a man. Like the little boy who used to wear Daemon’s winged helm as he stand before Ser Garibald Grey, Pate of Longleaf ,now called Longleaf the Lionslayer, and Rodrick ‘Roddy the Ruin’ Dustin.

Men who won the Fishfeed with only their wits and skill.

They have no chance against them even with Vhagar.

“I made my promise to the dead,” Ser Garibald replied. “I told them I would build a sept for them out of traitors’ bones. I don’t have near enough bones yet, so…”

No.

They choose to fight on knowing their victory is assured.

If he dies he will die with Aemma’s name in his lips, like all the knights in the songs.

Ser Criston answered, “If there is to be battle here, many of your own will die as well.”

The Northman, Roderick Dustin, laughed at his words, saying, “That’s why we come. Winter’s here. Time for us to go. No better way to die than sword in hand.”

Ser Criston drew his longsword from its scabbard. “As you will it. We can begin here, the four of us. One of me against the three of you. Will that be enough to make a fight of it?”

It won’t, they won’t give in. They know better than to let them live.

So Aemond interrupts with the thing that may make them change their mind.

“The King is dying, our mother’s own cupbearer poisoned him after her brother failed to kill me. Queen Aemma, the queen you fight to liberate is nearing her time. If you let us go you have my word that her son will be named king and I will not move a finger to take what is hers by right.” The prince regent said hoping to make them change their minds.

“We know, we took down your ravens and your riders. The question is, how do you know that?” Red Robb Rivers and his sister, Alysanne Blackwood, asked coming down the ridge with their archers.

Oh, they were fucked.

“Dragon Dreams, I have been plagued by them for the past five nights. The king in his bed weak by the poison and the queen in hers as she brings forth her babe.” He lies. Better blame his Valyrian blood than tell them the witch is in his mother’s employ. “For all I know both my brother and his wife are already dead and the babe with them.”

The men are divided about it, but those of the north, especially the silver haired Crannogman with eyes as green as Vhagar’s flames seem to believe him.

“The First Men have Seers too. You may go, but only you.” Roddy the Ruin said, thank the gods for the Northman and their superstitions.

“Go, your brother needs you more than I.” Criston said as Aemond looked at him for the last time. “Godspeed, your highness.”

Vhagar is scarcely in the air when what’s left of their men and the Lord Commander are killed by a rain of arrows.

Garibald Grey would later call it Butcher’s Ball.

The babe is taking its sweet time to come.

The queen has been in labor for a day, and the midwives and maesters are close to giving up.

She has walked up and down the hall, she has been given castor oil, she has been moved by the midwives on the blanket and nothing is working.

“There is a way.” A maester suggested as Silverwing echoes her rider’s scream.

There is no real need for it, not yet.

But the queen knows the whore is the reason her son is half dead in his bed.

If she’s gone, Aegon will live and so would her two younger sons.

The only way her family is safe is if all of Rhaenyra’s family is dead.

They see will see you as you are, the dead princess whispers behind her as blood runs down Alicent’s hands.

Yes, they will, they will see a mother who would do anything for her children, the queen bites her tongue lest they think her mad.

Her aunt went mad, Denyse who was committed to the Motherhouse for fear of shaming them.

They would lock her up too ,if they knew.

“No. We cannot.” Gerardys and Orywle are of the same mind on this.

If she dies any chance for peace is gone.

If she dies like her namesake did, Aegon will be known as her killer.

But her family will be safe from her and that is all that matters.

Queen Alicent chooses to override them. “The king’s heir is at risk, if we wait longer both she and the babe will be lost.

If we must choose, we need to choose the king’s son over his mother.”

There is clear horror in their faces as she says this.

Even Alys cannot hide it in hers.

“Your grace, will you not reconsider it?” the aging midwife pleaded with her. The same woman who helped bring Aemma into the world now being told to help them take her out of it.

“If we do not decide now---” the queen pretended to care for her gooddaughter's wellbeing and yet she is interrupted by the all too familiar roar.

Aemond.

She had told Alys not to summon Aemond, why had she gone against her wishes?

If he is here he will choose her.

How can she save her family if they refuse to let her?

“Maester Orwyle, do what you must to save the prince.” The queen ordered and the man did as ordered.

He can hear screams, those of his men and Aemma’s in Silverwing’s roars ringing in his ears as he rides his coal black horse like a madman.

Aegon was weak but not dying, Aemma was having trouble delivering their babe.

His mother had ordered for them to save the babe at the cost of it’s mother.

This was the news he received the moment he arrived.

We have lost the Riverlands, was all he had to say in turn.

It would be a mercy if Aegon died now.

If Aemma died with their babe, Joffrey would be made king with his Lady of Runestone beside him. Nothing would stop Daemon from burning the city to the ground nor his men from sacking it.

If Aegon died, but Aemma lived, Aemond would be king and have the upperhand in negotiations.

There would be other children and even if she is left barren she had three brothers and two cousins to provide heirs for House Targaryen.

They would wed and all will be righted before winter sets in.

“Whatever you do, save the queen.” He orders as he raced against time.

It helped both were in the same suite of rooms saving him the trouble of having to choose which bedside he goes to.

Her screams bring a chill to his bones not unlike Criston’s and his men’s.

“If you fail to save the queen I will kill all of you myself.” Aemond runs to her instead of his brother.

Aemma cries out for him, covered in sweat, blood and tears.

They were going to cut her open. Mother had given the order.

The moment Aemma is safe, he will have her placed under custody.

His mother had very knowingly committed treason, but that look in her eyes speaks of madness.

Madness he’s never seen before.

“I’m here, Aemee, I’m here.” The prince takes her sweat covered hand and kissed it as if it would will her to keep fighting. “You can’t leave , not when I’ve only just returned, sweet girl.”

His reputation be damned, he won’t leave her and he won’t let his mother kill her.

[techsbrowneyes]

I had this ready to post days ago, but I couldn’t think of a title and I tend to procrastinate when it comes to proofreading. Anyway, here it is, another Bad Batch AU one-shot :)

Summary: An outbreak of fever has swept through Pabu. The Bad Batch and Phee venture off-world for medical supplies. They encounter a familiar face and must put their differences aside if their mission is to be successful.

Title: Old Acquaintances

Word count: 5,289

“We’ve been through this,” Phee said firmly. “I’m coming with you and that’s final.”

“This mission holds certain risks,” Tech argued. “I do not want you or the baby in danger.”

They stood outside the Marauder in the warm morning sunshine, Tech growing weary of this argument, Phee standing with her feet planted apart in a sort of battle stance. He knew she was going to win. She had several valid points, and his few paled in comparison.

An outbreak of fever had swept through Pabu. There was not enough medical supplies to go around, hence why the Bad Batch and Phee were going off-world on a supply run. It was vital that they retrieve these supplies and get them back here immediately.

The fever didn’t seem to affect the older population. It was the children who were suffering the most, and Phee was afraid Racer was going to come down with it. She thought taking him off-world was the best option. Tech thought so, too, but he was uncomfortable with the idea of bringing his son to a hostile planet.

He had other motives, too, for giving in. He didn’t like being apart from Phee or his son. They were his world now, just like his brothers and Omega. Without them, his world was a dark place. There had been a period of time he was separated from his family, and he didn’t care to repeat the experience. Those days had been the very definition of lonely.

Phee settled her hand on his shoulder. “What are you worried about, baby?” she said softly. “Hmm?”

“I hardly ever worry,” Tech said.

“Really.”

“Worry is a state of anxiety and uncertainty that hinders critical thinking. It is essential that I remain rational at all times if I am to keep you, our son, and my squad safe.”

She quirked a brow. “So you never have those moments where your belly gets twisted into knots and you can’t sleep?”

“That is correct.”

“Huh.”

“However,” he said, getting her attention, “there have been a select few occasions. For instance, there was a brief moment my airways ceased to function after you informed me you were pregnant with our son.”

Phee laughed. “Oh, Brown Eyes, you do amaze me.”

Crosshair emerged from the ship. He was dressed in his old armor, which he’d modified a bit to match the rest of the squad’s. Out of duty for their brother, and sentimental reasons, the squad had kept his kit. They had always clung to the hope that he’d return to them someday.

“The baby is asleep,” Crosshair announced.

“Why must you always call him a baby?” Tech asked. “He is one year, three months, and four days old. He has left infant-hood.”

“Why must you always get technical?”

“It is my nature. Why must you always look so dour all the time?”

Phee shook her head. Tech knew she found the squad’s sibling banters to be amusing. Not having any siblings of her own, or none that she was aware of, she didn’t quite understand their dynamics.

Crosshair suddenly straightened. An odd look came over his face. Tech found this change intriguing. Wanting to see what had affected his brother in such a way, he turned and saw a pink-skinned Twi-lek coming towards them. He could see why Crosshair was so transfixed. She was lovely, and she walked with her shoulders back, a purpose to her stride.

“Doctor,” Phee greeted.

“Mrs. Genoa,” the doctor returned in a warm, accented voice. “I cannot tell you how much I appreciate what you are doing.”

“We’re happy to do anything we can. Doctor, you’ve met my husband. This is his brother, Crosshair. Crosshair, Dr. Elayna Ro’tala.”

Elayna smiled at Crosshair. “It is a pleasure to meet you.”

Crosshair just stood there, looking dumbstruck.

Elayna presented Phee with a datapad. “I comprised a list of all the supplies I need,” she said. “The ones of utmost importance I listed at the top. I’m afraid some will be difficult to procure.”

Phee passed the datapad to Tech.

“Not to worry, Doctor,” Tech said. “We are quite resourceful.”

“We will get you those supplies,” Crosshair promised.

Elayna nodded gratefully. “Do what you can. And good luck.”

Tech was about to tell her there was no such thing as luck, but Phee nudged him none too gently in the side with her elbow. She knew him well.

“Thank you,” she said to the doctor.

Tech had to get the ship prepped for take-off. He went inside and took his usual place in the pilot’s seat. By the time he had warmed up the engines, the rest of the squad had arrived, making quite a bit of noise—mainly Wrecker—as they set their gear down and got settled. Tech wasn’t worried that the noise might wake Racer. The child could sleep through just about anything, even a storm. He was like his mother in that regard, except he didn’t snore. Tech kept that bit of knowledge to himself.

Echo claimed the co-pilot’s seat.

“Let’s go,” he said. “The quicker we get those supplies, the better.”

Phee touched Tech’s shoulder. “Plot a course for Tatooine, Brown Eyes,” she said. “I have a few contacts there. They might be able to provide us with the supplies listed, or with the names of other sellers.”

“Are these people reputable?” Echo asked.

“Probably not.”

Hunter settled down in the seat behind Echo’s. “As long as we’re not double-crossed, I don’t care who they are,” he said.

“Isn’t Tatooine controlled by the Hutts?” Omega asked from the doorway as Tech lifted the Marauder from the landing pad and headed for space.

“Jabba Desilijic Tiure, to be exact,” he answered.

“Who’s he?”

“A powerful crime lord we don’t want to cross,” Hunter answered. “We’ll go in, retrieve our supplies, and depart as quickly as possible. Tatooine is far from hospitable and I don’t want to overstay our welcome.”

As they entered space, Tech prepared to make the jump to hyperspace. Tatooine was not his first choice, as it was hardly what he’d call a civilized planet, but the Empire was less likely to be present.

And then there was the black market. Its less-than-discreet presence on Tatooine made the planet another prime candidate. Most of the supplies Elayna requested were generally easy to procure—on the Core worlds, that is. The further you drifted from the Core, the more improbable it became to find them unless you turned to less reputable sources.

“Have we got enough credits to get what we need?” Echo asked.

“About five thousand,” Phee answered. “It’s all I could scrape up in such a short notice.”

“Echo could play the part of a droid again and we could sell him for more credits,” Wrecker suggested.

Echo balked at the idea. “No,” he said firmly. “I am not doing that again.”

“Even for sick children?”

Wrecker had struck a nerve, because Echo’s shoulders drooped. He let out a little sigh.

“I suppose I could allow it just this once. Let’s just play it by ear, okay?”

After they were underway, everyone went to their own corners of the ship. Wrecker dozed. Hunter and Echo conversed quietly. Crosshair cleaned his rifle. Racer continued to nap, and Omega studied up on Tatooine, wanting to know all the facts about the hot, dry planet that was more or less unfriendly.

Phee sat up in the cockpit with Tech, dozing like Wrecker. Tech watched her. He’d memorized every detail of her lovely face, but he was still fascinated by her. He had never known what he was missing in life until she filled the empty gap. Many times he considered himself fortunate that he’d gotten this chance to love and have a family of his own, something he hadn’t ever dreamed was possible. He’d always considered himself just a soldier.

Now he was a husband and a father.

Tech smiled tenderly at his wife, then picked up his datapad and decided to do his own research on Tatooine. Omega had the right idea. The more they knew about this planet, the more confidence they would have in navigating it. 

And the quicker they could get in and get out, the better.

The plan was for the squad to separate into two groups. That way, they could work more quickly and be back at the ship before night fall.

Hunter led his group through the crowded streets of Mos Eisley. He had directions to one of Phee’s contacts, who ran both a legitimate business and a shady one.

Omega, Echo, and Wrecker trailed closely behind him. Omega was eager to see the sights, but she knew better than to wander off. She did, however, spout off facts about the planet she’d learned during her studies. She was beginning to sound like Tech. Actually, she’d picked up a trait from each of her brothers, but that wasn’t surprising. They were family.

Hunter listened with half an ear while he kept an eye on their surroundings. He didn’t trust any of these characters. They looked like the kind who’d turn on you real fast if there was a reward involved.

He knew the squad was on the Empire’s radar. They’d made enough noise over the years to merit a bounty over their heads. He only hoped luck was on their side today and they could get the mission done before any trouble arose.

“This is the place,” Hunter said, leading the squad down a narrow street. Tucked away at the end was a shop. It had a sign over its door stating it specialized in rare and valuable finds. It was probably a ruse to cover up the more illicit business going on behind closed doors.

Wrecker went in first, just to make sure it was all clear. Hunter followed and found himself in a dark room filled with shelves of junk—old speeder parts, vaporater parts, various bits and pieces that had no significance. There was absolutely nothing of value.

Phee would probably know what was valuable and what wasn’t, he thought.

A Rodian came out to greet them.

“Greetings,” he said. “Can I help you?”

“He has shifty eyes,” Hunter heard Wrecker whisper.

Hunter cleared his throat. “We’re looking for specific supplies. We were told you might be able to help.”

“Maybe,” the Rodian allowed. “What kind of supplies you be looking for?”

“Medical supplies.”

Hunter presented him with the datapad. The Rodian looked it over and handed the datapad back.

“I can get you those supplies, sure. But it’s gonna cost ya.”

“And I’m prepared to meet your price. We need these supplies urgently.”

The Rodian leaned forward. “How urgently?”

Wrecker stood up to his full height in order to present a more intimidating presence. He wanted to make sure the Rodian didn’t plan on swindling them just to get a better deal.

The Rodian spared Wrecker a glance, gulped, then looked at Hunter again. “Give me twenty-four hours,” he said.

“How about one,” Echo said firmly.

“Listen, pal. You’re asking a lot. It takes time to scrape these kinds of supplies together.”

“These supplies are for sick children,” Wrecker said. “You don’t want to let sick children die, do you?”

The Rodian snorted. “You think I care about that?” He paused, tapping a long finger on his chin as if thinking it over. “Three hours,” he said finally. “That’s the best I can do.”

“Deal,” Hunter said, before either Echo or Wrecker could protest. He didn’t want to press their luck.

The entrance door slid open, admitting another customer. Except it wasn’t. The Rodian’s eyes went as wide as saucers.

“Well, fancy seeing you here.”

Hunter spun on his heel, his hand going for his knife. Fennec Shand stood in the doorway, smiling coolly at them. Hunter immediately jumped to conclusions and assumed she was here for them, to collect the bounty over their heads.

Out of the corner of his eye, he saw the Rodian slinking away.

“Roony, take one more step and I’ll have to reconsider taking you in warm,” Fennec warned.

The Rodian froze.

“That’s better.” She returned her unflinching gaze to Hunter. “You’re doing business with the wrong kind. This one’ll stab you in the back the moment you turn away.”

“Didn’t have much of a choice,” Hunter said frostily. “What are you doing here?”

“Roony here has made a lot of powerful enemies. They’re paying me handsomely to bring him in.”

“You’re not touching him. Not until we get the supplies we need.”

Fennec sighed tolerantly. “I’ve seen the bounty over your head, sergeant. The moment I let that greedy little Rodian walk away, he’s not going accommodate you. He’s going to turn you in. Consider yourself lucky I arrived when I did.”

“Are we supposed to be grateful?” Echo grumbled.

“Anyway, how can we trust you?” Omega said. “You came after me once, remember? For all we know, you could turn us in to take all the credits for yourself.”

Hunter doubted it. He figured Fennec for the honest sort. Roony was her target, not the squad. She was only here to do a job she was being paid for.

He met Fennec’s gaze. “He’s all yours,” he said.

She nodded. “Thank you.”

But she didn’t get a chance to apprehend her quarry. Roony activated a switch that set off an ear-splitting alarm. It drove Hunter and everyone else to their knees. He covered his ears, his auditory senses overwhelmed enough to cause him pain.

Wrecker took charge. He located the source of the alarm system and put it out of commission with a well-placed punch.

Hunter sucked in a breath as a semblance of quiet was restored. It took him a moment to recover.

“Damn,” Fennec cursed. “That no-good swine!”

“We can’t let him get away,” Omega cried. “He’ll turn us in!”

That prompted Hunter into action. He bolted out the front entrance and started running, using his enhanced senses to guide him. This took him left into another ally. As he reached a junction, he almost ran into Fennec, who’d come from the opposite direction.

“He’s headed for his ship at docking bay twenty,” she said. “Let’s try and cut him off.”

“Right,” Hunter agreed.

She took off and he followed close on her heels. They came out into an open market and had to push their way through a crowd of civilians, some who shouted angrily at their retreating backs. Hunter kept his senses peeled for the escaping Rodian, whom he was very eager to get his hands on. If Roony contacted the Empire, the entire squad would be put in jeopardy. He was mostly thinking about the kids. He didn’t want either of them in danger.

“This way,” Fennec said breathlessly, taking a left.

They arrived at the docking bay, but it was too late. The roaring of engines made Hunter’s heart sink. He drew his blaster and fired a few shots at the ship lifting off. Unfortunately, his DC-17 was useless in this instance.

Fennec, however, was armed with an MK sniper rifle. She made a quick but calculated aim at the engines and squeezed off a round. A small explosion reverberated through the air and Hunter looked away, but only briefly. He turned in time to watch as the ship made an ungraceful landing.

“Nice shot,” he said.

“Thanks,” Fennec said. She shouldered her rifle and nodded. “Shall we?”

Hunter made a go-ahead gesture with his hand, and the two of them started for the ship.

The hatchway opened and Roony stumbled out, waving away smoke and coughing. Fennec grabbed his shoulder in a tight grip.

“Sorry to foil your escape plans, Roony,” she said, not sounding sorry at all.

Roony spat something in his native tongue. Hunter didn’t need Tech’s translation skills to know that the Rodian was cursing them out.

“You won’t get away with this,” Roony snarled. “Soon, I be free and rich.”

Hunter got a bad feeling in the pit of his stomach. Impulsively, he drew his knife and pressed it threateningly against the Rodian’s neck.

“What did you do?” he snarled.

The Rodian cackled. He said something else in his native tongue.

Hunter glanced at Fennec for help. “You have any idea what he’s saying?”

Fennec’s lips thinned. “No, but I think you’re about to have company.”

“No deal.”

Tech watched as his wife’s usually calm demeanor wavered.

“What do you mean no deal?” Phee said angrily. “I offered you a fair price, Deeno. I thought we had an understanding.”

Deeno, a balding human with a blotchy complexion, shrugged. “What you ask of me is difficult. My prices will be higher.”

Tech wanted to step in and employ a good dose of diplomacy to make the merchant see reason, but Phee seemed to be holding her own just fine. She probably wouldn’t like it if he interfered.

Racer watched intently from the carrier Tech wore. He considered this a good educational experience, although he doubted his son actually cared about the details. He was just interested in watching his mother.

“Listen,” Phee said, pointing a finger at the merchant. “There are sick children who need these supplies badly. If you won’t do business with me, I’ll find someone who will.”

Deeno scoffed. “With what you’re offering, I very much doubt it.”

Crosshair stepped forward and glared down at the merchant. “Is that your final decision?” he asked in a calm, cool voice.

“I stand firm,” Deeno answered.

In one fluent motion, Crosshair grabbed the merchant by the back of his head and slammed his face down into the counter. Deeno spluttered as blood gushed from his broken nose.

Racer clapped his little hands and laughed, amused by his uncle’s unwarranted display of violence.

“Now let’s try that again,” Crosshair hissed. “Or should I start breaking fingers?”

Deeno whimpered. “No, no. I’ll have your supplies delivered to your ship,” he promised. “I’ll even give you a discount!”

“Good. That’s what I like to hear.”

“Was that really necessary?” Phee asked Crosshair after they left the shop sometime later.

“It got us the supplies, didn’t it?” Crosshair said.

“That tactic may have worked on Mr. Deeno,” Tech said, “but I very much doubt you will get the same results should you try that method on a more obstinate individual.”

Phee led the way through a busy street. With the noon hour upon them, the heat was almost unbearably hot, the sun blistering. Tech adjusted Racer’s hat. He was concerned about him getting a sunburn.

 Mos Eisley was quite an interesting place. It was a melting pot of various species with different backgrounds. Tech was sure almost every being he passed was running from something—a rough past, perhaps even the Empire. If you were looking to lay low, this was certainly the place to do it.

They passed a merchant selling exotic flowers. Tech paused to purchase one, then quickened his pace to catch up to his wife and brother. The two of them were now arguing about the correct way to conduct business. Phee liked doing things in an orderly, diplomatic fashion. Crosshair still believed a bit of violence was the best way to seal a deal.

“While you are debating the finer points of business, take a moment to appreciate this beauty,” Tech said, presenting the flower to his wife.

Phee’s furrowed brow softened as she smiled. “How lovely,” she sighed. She leaned in and kissed Tech’s cheek, careful not to smother Racer. “Thank you, Brown Eyes.”

Crosshair observed the exchange with a thoughtful frown. “Is that how you woo a woman?” he asked Tech after Phee walked away.

“Among other ways,” Tech answered. “Would you care to be educated?”

“Come along, boys,” Phee called.

“Coming, love.”

They continued on their way to the docking bay where they’d left the Marauder. There they were going to rendezvous with the rest of the squad, assuming they had been successful in procuring the other half of the supplies.

Tech’s comlink pinged. He unhooked it from his belt and thumbed it on.

“Tech, we’re going to have company,” Hunter said gravely. “I need everyone to get back to the ship pronto.”

“What company?” Tech asked, just as two Imperial cruisers appeared in orbit. “Never mind.”

Crosshair’s gaze darkened murderously as he gazed up at the sky. “Permission to engage the enemy,” he said.

“Negative,” Hunter growled. “We’re getting out of here.”

“Copy that,” Tech said. “We will be at the docking bay momentarily.”

Phee’s brow furrowed with worry. Tech knew she was thinking about Racer when she reached for him and lightly touched his leg. He understood, because he didn’t want Racer put in the middle of a hostile situation, either.

To avoid that gut-wrenching possibility, they picked up the pace and made haste for the docking bay. The arrival of the Imperial cruisers had put a lull on most activity. Tech noticed that the streets were no longer teeming, but practically empty. It was almost eerie. Still, it gave him and his companions a clear path to their destination.

They rounded a corner and he immediately drew back when he saw a squad of stormtroopers marching down the street. He and his companions ducked into an alleyway, safe from prying eyes.

“They have already initiated a sweep of the port,” he said. “It may be more difficult to reach the docking bay.”

“We are superior to them,” Crosshair said. “We can take them.”

“Negative. The odds are stacked against us. If we engage one squad, we will risk exposing ourselves to the rest of their forces.”

“The odds are always stacked against us.”

Tech unstrapped Racer from his carrier and passed him to Phee. “They will not be looking for you or the baby,” he said quietly. “There is an alternate route to the docking bay. It should take you to a back entrance the Imperials will not be monitoring.”

“What are you going to do?” Phee asked worriedly.

“We will also go an alternate route.”

She shook her head. “I don’t like splitting up like this.”

“If you are seen with us, your safety will be compromised. It is better this way, love.”

Phee cupped the back of Tech’s head and raised her face to kiss him on the lips. “Don’t do anything reckless,” she said.

Tech sighed. “I will try to be as cautious as possible,” he said.

“You know what I mean, Brown Eyes.”

He gave her a gentle push in the right direction. “Go. We will be reunited shortly.”

“Now what?” Crosshair asked sulkily, after Phee disappeared from view.

Tech made a few quick calculations in his head. “The Imperials will be carefully monitoring all docking bays. We will need to create a diversion to lure them to a different point.”

“I thought you didn’t want to engage the enemy.”

“Not head on, no. I was thinking more of a hit-and-run.”

“Goody,” Crosshair said sarcastically.

Tech and Crosshair started off in the opposite direction of the docking bay. He wanted to contact Hunter and relay his plan, but he didn’t want to run the risk that the Imperials were monitoring all comm traffic. He couldn’t risk jamming their signals, either. As of now, the Imperials had no visual confirmation that Clone Force Ninety-nine was even here. He wanted to keep it that way until the last possible moment.

Tech and Crosshair kept up a steady pace, making use of back streets and alleyways. They encountered not a soul. The inhabitants had all tucked themselves away behind closed doors to avoid trouble with the Imperials patrolling the streets.

Tech wished he had all his gear. As of now, he was only armed with two DC-17 blasters. There wasn’t much damage he could do without his thermal detonators and EMP grenades. He would have to improvise. Since the squad almost always improvised, that wouldn’t be a problem.

“Someone is coming,” Crosshair hissed.

Tech drew his blasters and set them to stun. He and Crosshair pressed their backs against the wall and waited, watching the corner intently. Tech’s fingers tightened on the triggers.

A white cloth appeared.

“Don’t shoot,” came Wrecker’s voice.

Tech lowered his blasters. “You can come out,” he said, and Hunter, Wrecker, and Echo came around the corner.

“Did you lose the kid?” Crosshair asked.

“No,” Hunter answered. “I sent her back to the ship to get it prepped for take-off. The rest of us are going to create a diversion to give her more time.”

“Ah,” Tech said. “Great minds think alike. Cross and I had the same idea.”

“Now what?” Echo asked. “We haven’t got much, just a couple of blasters.”

Tech rubbed his chin. “I took the time to study the port’s layout. There is a power grid on the outskirts of the port, about four klicks south from our current location. If we can utilize it to create an explosion, that will be the diversion we need.”

“Well, boys,” Hunter said. “Let’s go make some noise.”

Phee arrived shortly at the docking bay without encountering any Imperials. She found the supplies they’d bought from Deeno, waiting to be loaded onto the Marauder. This surprised her. The man was not known for being prompt or reliable. Apparently, threatening him had worked wonders.

She decided her first order of business was to get the supplies loaded. She wasn’t leaving here without them, threat or no. These supplies were what they’d come for.

She unstrapped Racer from his carrier and set him down on his own two feet.

“Now don’t go wondering off,” Phee warned. “Stay close to Mama.”

Racer plopped down in the shade cast by the Marauder and was content to play with the sand. She kept an eye on him as she opened the hatch and got to work. She wanted to make sure he didn’t eat it.

As she turned to start moving the crates, she saw Omega and a stranger come in through the back entrance. Normally, Phee would be suspicious of people she didn’t know—especially people who were armed—but if Hunter trusted Omega with this woman, Phee supposed she was an all right sort.

“You made it!” Omega said.

“You lose the boys?” Phee asked.

“Oh, no. They’ve gone to create a diversion. I’m supposed to prep the Marauder in case they need a quick extraction.”

Racer got to his feet and toddled over to Omega. “Up!” he demanded, tugging at her pants. Omega stooped down and picked him up.

Phee looked at the stranger. “Who are you?” she asked.

“Fennec Shand,” the woman answered. “I’m here to offer my assistance. Omega is an old friend of mine. Who are you?”

“Phee Genoa.”

Fennec stared curiously at Racer for a moment. “Who’s the little one?”

“This is Hunter,” Omega said, giving Racer’s forehead a kiss.

“Junior?”

“Stars, no,” Phee said, amused Fennec assumed Hunter was the father. “That one isn’t my type. No, I married the brains of the lot.”

Fennec seemed satisfied by the answer. Her reaction was telling. Phee wondered if Hunter was aware that Fennec was interested in him.

“If you want to offer any assistance, we need to get these crates loaded,” Phee said, getting back to the task at hand.

“Are they important?” Fennec asked, already moving to pick up a crate.

“These are medical supplies. A lot of sick children are depending on them.”

While Phee and Fennec worked to get the crates loaded onto the Marauder, Omega powered up the ship. Racer was content to sit in the co-pilot’s seat.

As Fennec was getting the last crate, a thunderous boom shook the ground under their feet. Phee looked up and saw a mushroom cloud blooming in the sky.

“There’s the diversion,” she said.

She headed inside the ship as the ship’s comm pinged. Omega switched it on.

“Uh, we’re in a bit of a situation here,” came Echo’s voice, raised to be heard over the sound of blaster fire. “We’re going to need a quick extraction.”

“Copy that,” Omega replied enthusiastically. “We’re on our way.”

Phee planted a hand on her hip. “I swear. We’re always getting those boys out of trouble.”

“I’ll be leaving now,” Fennec said, touching Omega’s shoulder.

“Oh, do you have to?” Omega asked.

“I’ve got matters of my own to attend to.” Fennec nodded at Phee. “Mrs. Genoa. It was a pleasure to meet you. See you around, kids.”

As soon as she disembarked, Omega lifted the Marauder from the ground and headed in the direction of the thick, black smoke billowing into the sky. Half the Imperial forces looked like they had been called in to deal with the situation. That wasn’t a surprise, considering the boys’ reputation.

“I see them,” Omega said.

Phee did, too. They were engaged in a full out ground assault—and holding their own just fine, by the looks of it. She couldn’t help but be proud despite the gravity of the situation.

“I’ll land in front of them.”

Omega brought the ship lower. The deflector shields took most of the enemy fire, giving the rest of the squad ample cover for a safe retreat.

Tech breezed in. “That is sufficient,” he told Omega. “I’ll take it from here.”

He switched places with her and swiftly maneuvered the Marauder away from the scene of battle.

Phee didn’t think they were in the clear. The moment they entered orbit, they were swarmed by enemy fighters. Wrecker took to the gunner’s deck to hold them off until Tech could get a clear pass to make the jump into hyperspace.

“It’s getting hot back here!” Wrecker growled.

Several systems flashed red. Tech banked left to avoid taking damage from the enemy fighters in pursuit.

“Hang on,” he said.

The ship jerked and rattled as the shields took enemy fire. Phee didn’t know how much more it could take, but she had full confidence in Tech’s abilities to get them to safety. She touched his shoulder.

The moment he saw an opening, he quickly made the jump.

“Whew,” Omega said. “That was a close one.”

“Too close,” Hunter agreed.

“What happened back there?” Phee asked.

“It doesn’t matter. None of us has a scratch on us. Let’s just get back to Pabu so we can deliver the supplies to Dr. Ro’tala.”

Elayna was waiting for them on the platform when they got back to Pabu. She was delighted and full of relief when the squad filed out, each carrying a crate of medical supplies.

“This is wonderful,” she said. “Thank you very much. I appreciate this more than words could ever say.”

“It was our pleasure, ma’am,” Crosshair said warmly. He followed her with one of the crates, eager to help.

“Another successful mission, I say,” Wrecker said. “I’m starving now. Anyone wanna get some food?”

“Count me in,” Omega said.

“Race ya!”

Tech watched as the two of them bolted off, then turned his gaze to Phee. She was holding a sleeping Racer in her arms. Racer had conked out an hour into the flight.

“I don’t know about you, but I’m pooped,” Phee said. “Let’s say we go home and relax.”

“Relaxing is all good and fine for some beings,” Tech said, “but I couldn’t possibly sit idle for too long.”

“I know. Humor me, though. I like spending quality time with my boys.”

She was in a sentimental mood. Tech understood what she needed. Since it made her happy, he would willingly spend the rest of the afternoon being idle. Admittedly, he was a little tired himself. He’d had enough excitement for one day.

He offered her his arm. “Shall we?”

Phee took his arm and smiled. “Lead the way, Brown Eyes.”

[dandelion-wings]

Trying to shake a little rust off after a writing hiatus, which means some random scenes as warmups! This is, in theory, from the latter half of the "Jean marries the prince of Khaenri'ah" AU, if I go with a particular thread I'm still debating--whether or not to go with multiple false identities and have Diluc be, at first, in disguise himself. I like identity porn, okay. >> I'm just not sure if it has a plot function. But since I haven't written the main story yet, I can play about freely!

---

When Maram steps out of her private chambers, her son is in her receiving-room, pacing back and forth across the floor. His head jerks up at her entry; there's a brief flash of light in his eyes, the cold pale-blue gleam of Cryo, clear in the left, fractured and flickering in the right. Her heart seizes, as it always does, at that sight.

But he masters himself, reins in the shadow of the Abyss creeping up through him, drawing himself straight in a gesture so reminiscent of his father that Maram almost smiles. Almost, because the stiffness that has become natural in her husband is a warning-sign in her son. His shoulders are held with a rigidity that comes from more than the armor, a tension that's all defensiveness, little as he'd like to know she sees it there.

"What troubles you?" she asks him, beckoning him to join her as she steps up onto the low dais at the center of the room. The benches at the sides are more intimate, but when he's this tense, she doubts that she could make him sit down.

"Diluc," he says, following her up. He takes a formal pose, standing at attention before her like any other knight, but she can still see the tension humming through him in his hands clenching and unclenching at his sides, the samll shifts of his weight. "Jean's bodyguard, her Dark Knight- he was there when I went to visit the horses this morning. He didn't tell me, but I remember how he was with horses. Mother, I would swear that it's him."

Maram's hands tighten on the arms of her chair, and she leans forward, nearly as tense as he is. "Is that so?"

"I'm almost certain. It would explain quite a bit. But if he is Diluc…." Below the hollow crackling that the armor gives his voice, Maram can hear the raw edge of distress. "How could I have missed it for so long?"

She can hear the other questions beneath that. Has Diluc changed so much, or has he? Is his memory failing him, or worse yet, his love for the boy he knew? The last shivers through his tone in unspoken terror.

"I have long suspected that mask he wears of holding some enchantment," Maram says firmly, to banish those fears. Her son's mind may go, someday, but never his heart. She trusts in that. "It must be one of concealment. He said he took it from the Fatui, and their spying would benefit from that sort of tool."

He breathes out a sigh that isn't quite relief, but his voice shakes less when he answers, and his chuckle is almost real. "That would explain why he insists on wearing something so hideous. Even Diluc wouldn't sport such an unfashionable trophy without a good reason."

Maram relaxes a bit herself. But not entirely. "Now that you know, love, would you like me to kill him for you? If I do it myself, you don't have to lie to your wife. Formidable as he seems to be, my Wind Glede and I are his equal, and I know how to take a man by surprise."

"No!" He rocks back on his heels in shock and horror, armor grating on itself. "Why would you do that? That's the last thing- that's hardly necessary."

Because she wants to kill him, Maram doesn't say, and had hoped he might allow it, though she'd already known that would be his answer. Her son's heart is his greatest strength, but also his greatest weakness.

"Your father would have ordered it. He's hurt you once, and we'll take no more chances with you if we can avoid it."

"No," he says again, more firmly, regaining his composure. "He's here to guard Jean. Our court is enough of a threat to her without taking away one of her protectors. He has no idea who I am, and I intend to keep it that way."

"And how will you do that when your curse comes to an end?"

"I'll handle that when it happens." He chuckles, and Maram feels her heart ache anew at the false blitheness of it.

As his Queen, she could overrule him; as his mother, she dares not to. Her heart has always been her greatest weakness, as well. If she does lose him to his people's curse, as he's so certain that she will, she doesn't want him to go still angry at her for her actions.

If she does lose him to that curse, to the darkness that first gathered in that wounded eye, she can always wait until he's gone to kill Diluc Ragnvindr for his betrayal.

[fimproda]

I failed at posting a chapter every two weeks – so here's what I wrote 'til now

What it says on the tin.

I usually post a new chapter of Constellations every two Mondays at 5 pm CEST, which is... now, and after five successful updates (if you don't count July 10th, when I was forced to update at like 8 in the evening because of the DDoS attack on AO3), I'm thrilled to announce you that I'm back to my old ways and I can't keep a regular posting schedule for my life.

But I feel magnanimous today, so here's what I wrote until now, and let's hope I can get back to you as soon as possible with the full chapter.

Sooo... enjoy!

6. Phoenix

Cassian almost swallows a mouthful of feathers before Isatis shoves him away.

He sputters, his wings flapping to account for the sudden change of trajectory, and turns around to shoot a dirty look at the colorful parrot that has just raced past him.

Isatis, that white-feathered, golden-armored, High-Lord-mated bastard, just laughs at him. “What, you’ve never had to dodge a bird in your life?” he says, his lips curving in the kind of smirk Cassian has had to beat out of his Illyrian recruits countless times during the centuries. “Don’t tell me you haven’t got those in Illyria.”

“In Illyria, birds dodge us,” Cassian bites back in response. “And besides, there’s nearly not so much air traffic in our lands as there is down here.”

Isatis crosses his arms on his chest. It’s a showoff pose, only taken by someone who wants to flaunt their wing strength when they’re floating thirty feet above the ground―and, if that weren’t enough, the ground is also the top of a hill. “When you’re learning, better to dodge a bird than to fly against the northern wind,” he remarks in such a know-it-all tone, Cassian wants to knock his teeth out of his mouth. “Is that why you’ve all got such weathered faces?”

“Stop bullying him, Isa,” Thesan calls up at them from his spot at the edge of the cliff, closely followed by Nesta shouting, “Keep bullying him, Isa!”

With another shit-eating grin directed at Cassian, Isatis angles his head downwards and asks, “So I’ve got your permission to bully your mate?”

“It’s great entertainment!”

“It’s distracting,” comes the echoing reply of the only other Peregryn in their company, a no-nonsense female who has been Emerie’s physical therapist for the past month and is currently standing on Emerie’s right, checking that there’s nothing wrong with her wings. “I won’t allow your childish bickering to destroy all the good work I’ve done on my patient.”

Azriel, on Emerie’s other side, quips up with, “Come on, Willow, that’s an insult to the actual child here.”

Nyx still chuckles at the comment, stuffing one of his chubby fists in his mouth and smacking his other hand on his mother’s nose.

Feyre just sighs and gives Nyx his pacifier instead, while Rhys, with a last kiss on his mate’s forehead, detaches himself from his wife and son and joins Thesan in his assessment of the situation.

Even from this up high, Cassian can see the wariness in Rhysand’s eyes.

The two High Lords and the High Lady were the first to get here in the morning, working tirelessly for hours to set up wards and alarms in case someone in Illyria got wind of Emerie’s healing and decided to crash her first-flight party. This is also why all the operations related to Emerie’s recovery have been done in either Velaris or the Dawn Court, and why they’ve chosen the Dawn skies to bring her airborne for the first time in literal decades: it’s too soon to make it public, to announce to the entirety of Prythian that the past can be undone and the Illyrian females are always going to land on their feet, no matter the abuse and torture their male family members decide to bestow upon them.

For now, it has to be kept quiet.

The first thing Rhysand had Thesan do after the High Lord of Dawn confirmed that he’d be able to heal Emerie’s wings was sign a non-disclosure agreement, which is now locked in a hidden drawer inside Cassian’s office at the House of Wind, bearing the signatures of everyone who’s involved in this whole thing in some way, shape, or form. Even Moana’s name is on that sheet of paper, given her friendship with Emerie and the fact that she saw Emerie in the early stages of her journey; the Valkyries, instead, have been kept in the dark, also thanks to Emerie’s absence from training ever since her very first visit with Thesan.

(A snickering Rhysand, in all his official garb, had to tell the priestesses gathered in the ring atop the House of Wind that Morrigan wanted Emerie all to herself for a while―a thing which both females strived to make true, if Mor’s endless tales of frequent, toys-assisted, bed-breaking sex were anything to go by).  

Alas, the non-disclosure agreement was just the start.

Rarely, if ever, has Cassian had to process so much paperwork in his five centuries of life. Rhys is usually the one who has to deal with all that clerical work, but since Emerie is technically in Cassian’s direct employ and not Rhysand’s, it’s his duty this time around.

Thank the gods, Nesta is more than happy to lend a hand―sometimes both hands, sometimes her mouth―when his own aches from having to hold a pen for hours on end.

He’d much rather hold a sword, and he’d much rather not have to keep as many secrets as he’s keeping now.

The one titled Operation Phoenix, for starters―which Cassian still thinks is lame, but Rhysand looked so proud of it that he didn’t dare to protest―but also the upcoming Phaos Treaty, which is way less lame and actually pretty cool―and with good reason, seeing as it came from Helion, though Cassian has no intention to admit that to his brother’s face.

The past years have taught him that upfront honesty is always the best decision to make when you’re in a safe place to do so. That things would have gone down in an infinitely better way if he’d told Nesta that they were mates right at the start, if Rhys had made Feyre aware of the true risks related to their son’s birth, if Az and Mor had addressed their issues with each other before the five centuries mark. It’s why he not-so-secretly whooped in joy when the three High Lords announced that they’re going to go public with the Phaos Treaty as soon as possible, and that the formal alliance of the three Solar Courts will be broadcasted not only to Prythian, but to all the other Fae and mortal lands outside their little island, as well.

Unfortunately, this also means that they have to prepare to face backlash from the Seasonal Courts at the very least, with Autumn leading the charge; as far as Cassian knows, though, Rhys has already contacted Lucien on the matter, and the latter assured him that he would step into his diplomat’s clothes once again and serve as Night’s liaison with the other courts.

(For some reason, Rhys seemed positive that Lucien would report to Helion, too―and, in an even weirder way, Feyre agreed with his every word. It’s unusual that those two see exactly eye to eye on political issues, and Cassian is left to wonder why. Lucky for them, he has other things on his mind).

This, of course, generates other paperwork.

Right here and now, Cassian determines that, next time he sees Helion, he’s going to ask him to enchant his pen to write in his place. He will have to drink an entire pot of honeyed tea every hour to soothe his throat from dictating the words aloud, but better that than having to stop fingering Nesta because his hand is cramping up.

Cursing, he shakes his hand in the air.

All this thinking about cramping has made it real.

Isatis, asshole that he is, takes note of that and says, “Your lovely mate leaving you high and dry?”

“Sucking me dry, is more like it,” Cassian retorts, and is surprised when the Isatis lets out a genuine laugh. He blinks, taken aback, and then asks him, “What have I done to you that’s making you act like such a prick?”

Isatis raises a perfectly groomed eyebrow at him. “You think I’m acting like a prick?”

“Why, are you not?”

Isatis raises the other eyebrow. “Trust me, if I were acting like a prick, you would know it.”

“Whatever,” Cassian dismisses him with a scoff.

“I’m not acting like a prick,” Isatis goes on, heedless of Cassian’s comment. “I’m acting territorial.”

Let me know if you have any ideas on what will happen next!

[lifetimeshipper]

New Life, New Obstacles

Chapter 18

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

It's been 3 days and no sign of Strongarm or Steeljaw coming out of her room and no one has gone in there. Magnus was walking around the scrapyard when he walked up to the others, "Still no sign of Strongarm or Steeljaw?"

"No, it may take a few more days," Arcee replied as she walked over.

Magnus sighs, "I hope he doesn't do it too much, there's only so much a femme like Strongarm can handle."

"I'm sure she would let him know when it's enough," Arcee replied trying to comfort the commander.

"But will he listen?"

"If he can stop himself from striking her while under that snake femme's spell, he will listen to her when she tells him when enough is enough. He loves her and would never harm her."

"You're right. I know I need to trust Steeljaw more."

"You have a reason to be weary, but you also need to try to let go of what happened in the past," she replied as she remembered her own fears of a certain femme. "It's going to be hard but you can get through this."

"I know, and I know I need to get along with him and trust him for Strongarm's sake, and since he is my son-in-law now."

"When he comes out next time try to get him to go on a patrol with you, in case Strongarm may need a little break. I'll keep watch over her."

"Good idea."

Just then they see Steeljaw coming towards them, he was heading to the Energon stack to get some Energon for Strongarm and himself.

"Hey, Steeljaw," Arcee greeted, "We were starting to wonder if you were ever going to come out," she teased.

Steeljaw chuckled, "Well, Strongarm and I have been busy, but we're both low on Energon now so I came out to get some."

Arcee gently elbowed the commander causing him to speak up, "Um, I would like for you to go on patrol with me, Steeljaw. So we can talk."

"Uh sure, just let me give Strongarm the Energon," he replies while heading off back to Strongarm's quarters.

Strongarm was already asleep when he walked in. Steeljaw walks over to her and covers her up before motioning for Magnus to come in, "Strongarm, wake up," he says caressing her face.

"Just give me five minutes, Steeljaw," she mumbled tiredly.

He chuckles, "Your sire is here to see you."

Strongarm went to cover herself only to realize that she already was. "Hey," she greeted sheepishly as she slowly sat up, holding the sheet over her.

"Hey. How are you feeling?"

"Better," she replied wishing that she had her armor on, "Is everything alright?"

"Yes, I just wanted to see how you were doing and I want Steeljaw to go on patrol with me so we can talk."

Steeljaw hands her the Energon, "Drink up and go back to sleep, I'll be back in a bit."

Taking the Energon she casts a weary glance at her father. Please don't say anything to get him agitated. She begged him.

Don't worry I won't.

Good, stay safe.

We will.

"I love you,"she told both of them before lying back down to get some sleep.

They both smiled, "Love you too."

Steeljaw followed after Ultra Magnus as they left the scrapyard, noticing Arcee heading towards their quarters.

"Steeljaw, for starters I want to apologize for all my actions towards you, for not trusting you."

Steeljaw stayed quiet for a moment, trying to get his thoughts together. "I know about what happened to her mom, so I understand why you're so worried, you don't want to lose her as well."

"Strongarm told you?"

"A little bit, but I mostly got it from her thoughts."

"Yes, the sparkbond, you can see everything she's thinking about."

"We know everything there is to know about each other, and I kind of know all I need to know about you."

"Like what?"

"You're the leader of the Wreckers, you left them to take care of Strongarm. You wanted to keep her safe from the D.J.D, whom you've battled against on several occasions, and that it was them that took your mate away."

"You've been studying."

"If I may ask, how did you become the leader of the Wreckers? Other than someone to keep an eye on them, what made you qualified?"

"My rough leadership skills and being able to handle them."

"You must have had a good teacher."

"The best I know."

They drive on to continue the patrol.

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

Arcee walks into Strongarm's quarters and wakes up Strongarm. The femme opened her optics to look at the other femme, "What are you doing here?"

"Just came to check up on you," she replied, "How are you feeling?"

"Pretty good."

"Steeljaw's been keeping you up late?"

"Sort of, but don't worry he still makes sure I get plenty of rest."

"Good," she said with a smile, "And plenty of Energon I hope."

"Yes," she replies with a smile.

"So, what's having sex with a Wolf-Con in heat like?" Strongarm spits out the Energon she was drinking and coughs, "Sorry, I was just wondering," Arcee laughed, "Are you okay?"

"Yeah. Not sure how to answer that."

"Sorry, it was out of the blue. You don't have to answer if you don't want to."

"Well, there's really not much to tell."

"I guess it's not that much different from normal sex, you just have more of it. I bet his tail comes in handy," she responded with a smirk.

She giggled, "Yes it does actually, he used it to pleasure me a couple of times."

"I bet it's a nice little change, and different. I think everyone's wondered what it's like to have a tail. It would be a nice way to pleasure yourself if your mate is away," she sighed. Wheeljack was also on a patrol with Bulkhead and Thunderhoof.

"It is." Arcee looked up to see Metalsound leaning on the door frame, "Now we can have some girl talk now that Steeljaw's away for a while," the dark femme added as she walked into the room, closing the door behind her.

"Hey, Metalsound. How are you doing?" Arcee asked.

"I'm awesome," she replied as she sat next to Strongarm.

"That's good. I'm glad to see you're also making a fast recovery."

"How have you been, Strongarm?" Metalsound asks.

"Pretty good, a lot better actually."

"Considering we haven't seen you in the past few days. Have you tried walking around any?"

"No, when we weren't having sex we were sleeping so no chance really to get up and try to move around."

"We can try now. Should that be okay, Arcee?"

"I don't see why not," Arcee replies with a smile. Metalsound offered her servo to help Strongarm out of the berth.

"Let me get my armor back on first."

"Right."

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

We kind of figured that one would be able to communicate with their parents through the parental bond. Thought that they would have a special bond of their own.

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

Chapter 1

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