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lovewriting-5 · 5 months

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Until Dawn

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

*Technically, Chapter 6 in game*

Chris, Ashley and I make it back to the cabin. The three of us split up and search the cabin for Sam. Ashley and I met in the main room of the lodge. I ask her “Were you able to find anything?” She says “No, you?” I say “No.” Chris runs down the stairs. Ashley asks him “She wasn’t up there?” He says “I don’t know…I didn’t see her. She must have come down here.” I tell him “We haven’t seen her either.”

We walk down a hallway as a candle suddenly lights. The three of us jump. Ashley says “Ahh! Did that just happen?” Chris says “Dammit! What is going on around here?”

The three of us walk down to the first floor and into the Cinema Room. Ashley says “Chris…(Y/N)…” I say “Sa - - What?” For some reason, Ashley chooses now to bring up what happened in the shed. She says to Chris “Chris I just want to say…what happened back there in the shed…I know how hard that was…Josh was your friend…” I tell her “Ash, I don’t mean to sound rude but can we please not bring up what happened in the shed?”

Chris looks at me with concern. He tells her “Ashley stop…” She continues “No, I want to say - - I mean thank you - - thank you for saving my life - -“ We continue down the hallway. Chris tells her “Sure Ash…Sure. I mean…I’d do it again.” I roll my eyes.

He asks me “(Y/N), are you alright?” I tell him “Yeah, I’m doing okay. It’s just hard to comprehend your boyfriend getting sawed in half.” Showing Ashley that I care that she is okay, I ask “Ash, you alright?” She tells me “Yeah, I just…dating him, it must not be easy watching that. And. Chris, I know you and him were close.”

“Let’s just find Sam, okay? That’s what we’re doing now.” Chris says. Ashley says “I mean, oh my god - -“ I say “Ashley, please stop, okay? I don’t want to think about what just happened.” She says “Chris - - (Y/N) - -“ He says “We’re finding Sam.”

The three of us exit the Cinema Room as the door slams behind us. I say “What the heck!” I try to open the Guest Room door. It opens slightly but then closes. Chris says “This is so eff-ed up!” I try and open the door again. Ashley says “That’s really creepy!”

The door to the hallway opens by itself as I see a figure walk across the other end. I scream and ask “Wait a minute. Did the two of you see that?” Chris asks “Did we see what?” I say as I point down the hall, “That, Chris. That.” He says “What ‘that’ was that?” I tell him “It was like…a see through shape. Like a ghost.” Ashley says “Oh boy.”

I tell them “I’m serious. Why don’t the two of you believe me!? I said I saw it, doesn’t that count for anything?” Chris says “We’ve been through Hell tonight. Okay? Your mind is fried. Our minds are fried. I don’t even trust what I’ve been seeing.” I look at the ground and say “I don’t know. I don’t know. I just…I saw something…” Sincerely, Chris tells me “It’s okay. You’re just…we’re all…kind of out of our heads right now. I mean we just…we gotta pull it together, okay? You with us?” I start “Chris…”

Chris says “Let’s just…let’s just keep our heads.” Ashley asks “Are we going crazy down here?” We make our way to the basement. Chris says “It’s the only place left Sam could be.” She says “I wish we could just go find everybody else, and - -“ I ask “What if Sam needs us? What if she’s in trouble?” She says, shakily “Oh god…”

The basement door opens. Chris says “Let’s go.” We walk down the stairs and are welcomed to a loud noise. An item flies out of a cabinet as there is another loud noise. I yell “WHOA WHOA WHOA WHOA YOU’VE GOT TO BE KIDDING ME!” Ashley asks “What the HELL is going ON!!” Chris and I are trying to find where the noise comes from when we hear Ashley scream. We turn around and Chris says “Whoa!” She says as she points to a rocking horse, “Oh my god that scared me!” I ask her “You knocked into it right? You knocked into it?” She says “I don’t - I don’t think so…I mean, I don’t know!! How did everything get so freaky around here? Door slamming and candles lighting up out of nowhere and that specter that (Y/N) saw - -“

Chris tells her “Ashley, I think you’re kind of ignoring what’s really happening here - -“ I ask “Don’t tell me the two of you didn’t see that translucent white figure just passing right by us?” He turns to me and says “We…We could be seeing things - -“ I tell him “I’m not imaging things!” He says “Yeah, well I saw things too! We saw what happened to Josh in the shed! And that’s what I’m worried about!” I look down at the cement floor, say “Oh…Chris…I know…I know…”

He says “You know what I’m worried about? Okay? I’m worried about Sam! What’s happened to her? If there’s some maniac out here then she could be dead too!” Ashley steps closer and says “Don’t say that! Please, Chris.”

Ashley walks over to a dollhouse. She motions us over. She tells us “Look-look look look! You can see in the windows.” Sarcastically, Chris asks “See what? Tiny furniture?” She says “No, it’s a whole scene, with dolls and everything!” I ask “Yeah?” Ashley lifts a compartment near the roof. The compartment reveals a keyhole. He says “Huh. I guess you need a key if you want to play around in there.”

Out of the corner of my eye, I see the ghost again. I point at it and say “Wait! Chris-Ashley-Chris-Ashley-Chris!! The ghost!!” They spin around. Chris asks “What?!” I ask “Didn’t you see it?” Ashley shakes her head and says “No.” A little annoyed, I say “You were looking at your phone, you dip! What are you tweeting?! Hashtag there’s a freaking ghost after us?!”

Chris says “(Y/N), calm down, okay. There is no ghost here. Ghost of what? You’re freaked out because of what happened with Josh -“ I tell them “You’re not paying attention. I saw it. I saw a ghost and it looked like Hannah! It looked like Hannah!” Ashley asks “Wait wait wait WHAT?” I add “Or-or maybe Beth.” Chris says “Jesus…What do you think they followed us up here from the séance?”

I said “I don’t know, maybe!” He tells me “They didn’t! Because ghosts don’t exist, okay?” I ask “Okay, who was talking to us at the séance, Chris?!” He says while massaging the back of his neck, “I don’t know.” All of a sudden, there was a scream in the air and an object hits the ground.

The three of us jump. Ashley asks “What did that?” Chris asks “How does a picture just jump off the wall like that?” Ashley notices something on the floor. She walks over to pick it up. She walks back over to us and I notice she is holding a key.

Ashley looks down the hall, points and says “Oh my GOD! There-look there!!” Chris and I turn around and see where she is pointing. He says “Wow, that’s…” I tell them “See?! You do see it.” He says “…that’s…I dunno…I-I just…This is fucking crazy…” He runs down the hall. Ashley says “It’s showing us the way!” She puts the key in the keyhole on the dollhouse. She says “This is unbelievable. I feel like the ghost wanted us to see this.”

Chris asks “Why?! What?!” Ashley opens the dollhouse and inside were dolls sitting in the bedroom. I ask “Whoa, whoa whoa-what is going on here?” She begins “Oh God! It’s like -“ Chris says “It’s not ‘like’ anything. That’s us. Hiding there, waiting for Hannah. Last year.”

Ashley to the dolls, “But…It’s so accurate, I mean that’s exactly where I was sitting…and that’s where Matt was…” I say “This was setup by someone. Who was there.” She says “Or someone, or something that was watching us…” I tell them “Maybe it’s a warning. I think someone…I think someone put this here to mess with us.” Ashley says “No, it has to be the ghost, it’s trying to tell us the maniac killed Hannah and Beth!” Chris says “I think it’s this bastard, and he’s…he’s just trying to fuck with our heads.” She asks “Why would he set this all up?” He says “He’s trying to tell us he’s going to come after us all too.”

The doll’s head turns to the side and the eyes open. We jump back in surprise. I say “Yikes!” The top of the dollhouse opens to reveal something inside. Ashley picks it up and it’s a diary. She says “It’s…It’s Hannah’s diary.” She turns to one of the pages and begins to read ‘I really think…Josh is doing better now that he’s out of the hospital…I saw him today - -‘ I look over her shoulder and look at when it was dated. I say “This was…before, a couple months before we all came up…”

She continues to read ‘I saw him today and he seemed…better…he’s pretty upbeat, but…he talked like he’s been doing therapy…for such a long time…guess I didn’t know, mom and dad never let on…Funny how you cannot even know your own brother. I kinda need a good cry…thinking about how lonely he must feel…’

Ashley gets to the last page then continues ‘everyone being together here…on the mountain…is gonna be so awesome…cozy fires and hot tubs…and OMG Mike…I am so psyched to spend some time with him…’ She adds “I can’t read this. It’s so sad…” She closes the diary and puts it back.

A door creaks open down the hall. I ask “What was that?” Chris says “It came from down there.” I go check out the noise. I open the door more and go through it. I am met with something. Chris and Ashley run in after me but the door closes and separates us. Chris and Ashley say “Goddammit!” Frightened, I say “Oh! Chris! Ashley!”

I bang on the door. Chris was able to get it open, he says “Nothing.” I say “But you did see it. For real.” Chris says “We saw…something. But where’d it go?” Ashley walks in and finds a lightbulb catalogue. She says “Hey…Hey, look at this. Doesn’t seem as old as some of the stuff down here.” I look at it, ask “A catalogue…for industrial lightbulbs?” Chris says “That is so random.” Ashley turns to one of the pages. She tells us “Look. One of the bulbs is circled.” I see which one it is. I say “That’s a powerful bulb.”

I find a hidden camera. I ask “Uh? You think it’s the guy?” Chris says “Well that makes sense.” Ashley says “I don’t like being watched.” I turn the camera around and ask “Better?” Ashely turns it back around and say into it, “Go suck an egg!” She turns it back around and says, “Now it’s better.”

We continue walking in the dark and damp basement with Chris leading the way. The shudders rattle. Ashley asks “Uhhh? What was that? Huh.” Chris says “Wait there’s a whole ‘nother room through here. It’s mammoth.” I say “I don’t know if I want to keep going.”

We continue walking a crumbling hallway. I ask “Where in the world are we now?” Chris asks Are you kidding me?” I ask him “Did you know this was here?” He tells us “This? This is like a whole ‘nother hotel. I had no idea this was here.”

Ashley says “I don’t think I can take any more of this.” Chris says “Yeah I’m about at my limit here too.” I say “All I wanted to do was forget last year ever happened…” He says “To be honest I’m not sure what Hannah thought she was doing.” Ashley says while looking at Chris, “Yeah…well…you know how it is when you’re crushing pretty hard on somebody…” I look down at the ground thinking of Josh.

Chris says “Great, so you’re basically saying that we put a vulnerable friend in a terrible situation and essentially caused her to run away and never be heard of again?” Ashley says “If it was you, don’t you think you would have run away? I mean who likes being made fun of?” He says “People don’t make fun of me.” She says “To your face.” He asks “What?” She tells me “Chris, we made her look so stupid, in front of all her friends and the guy she liked. I can’t imagine doing anything worse to somebody.”

I find a stack of fake newspapers that reads ‘Ex-Janitor Convicted For Arson.’ There was also a return address, ‘18th August 2014 Return Address: Quality Copy Ltd. 2100 - Clarke Ave. SW, Edmonton, Alberta, T6N 8J5.’ I say “Hey. These…are these fake? Why would anyone make fake newspapers?” Chris says “That’s a really good question.”

We keep going and come to a staircase that leads underground. Ashley says “You know what? No.” Chris turns around to look at her. He says “Ash -“ She tells him “No! I’ve had enough! I’m not going down any further into this nightmare!” He says “Ashely…I understand, okay? We’re all really freaked out too. But if Sam’s down there all alone with a maniac…and we leave? We’re basically killing her ourselves.”

I say “Guys…I’m gettin’ a really weird feeling from all this…” Chris asks “What do you mean?” I tell them “I just…I can’t shake the feeling that those fake newspapers have something to do with the guy who killed Josh.” Ashley asks “Like what?” He asks “Like it’s a…setup or something?” I say “Yeah…but…I mean, how? It’s just…it almost makes sense but it just feels like we’re missing something.”

We head into a room as the door slams right behind us. Ashley walks up to something hanging from the ceiling. She says “Oh no, you’ve got to be kidding me. Repulsive!” Chris says “This can’t be for eating.” She asks “Why the hell is it here?” He says “It’s like a goddamn grind house in here.”

I walk around and on a wall there were hooks and chains. Chris says “Oh jeez. This is so enticing.” I say “Oh boy…You think all this stuff is…his?” He says “Unless the Washingtons were into some freaky shit in their spare time, then yeah…probably.” I tell him “I’ve never seen this stuff before.”

Ashley finds a wall with photos of each of us. She says “That’s us.” Chris asks “What is this, like a fucking hit list? Christ.”

She goes into a room. We hear a machine start up. Chris and I go see where it is coming from. I ask “Hello?” She says “Oh god…it’s from last year…the stupid prank.” He says, sympathetically “Uh…This is a little…This is a little uncomfortable, huh?” She says “I’ve never seen this video…She’s just so…” I ask “So…what?” She says with regret, “She’s so excited…and alive.” I say “She has no idea.” Ashley all of a sudden sees herself in the video, says “Oh jeez.” Chris tells her “Whoa. I forgot you were such a willful participant.” She says “This is horrible. I couldn’t feel worse.” Chris tells her “You look like you were enjoying yourself.” She tells us “That’s the worse part, isn’t it? We were just playing a joke. It was supposed to be funny.” I feel tears starting to form in the corners of my eyes. I say “Yeah.” And walk out.

In the distance, I notice a red smear on a door. As I get closer, I notice that it looks like blood. I shout “CHRIS! ASHLEY!” They come walking out of the room to where I am. As they get closer, I tell them “Oh crap - look at that.” Ashley asks “Blood?!” Chris says “Might be Sam’s. Let me see if I can get this…”

Chris begins trying to open the door. He is getting it with a struggle. He says “Ungh…Got it…but…damn this thing is heavy -“ I tell him “Be careful!” He tells us “You guys gotta come through…Ash…(Y/N)…I can’t hold it…Ungh…Come on…”

In the room to the right, I spot a figure. I say “Oh!! Chris! Ashley!” They both say “What?” I tell them “I think I just saw Sam over there!” Ashley asks “(Y/N)…Are you SURE?” I tell them “I don’t know, but come on. I think we should check it out.” Chris who is still holding the door open, says “Well I’m pretty sure whoever’s bleeding came through here, okay? So we really got to get moving like now!”

I look from Chris and Ashley to the other room. I tell them “I’ll catch up to you. Sam!!” They both say “(Y/N) -“ I walk into the room as the door closes behind me. I shout “Chris! Ashley! CHRIS!!!! ASHLEY!!!! Help! I’m stuck!” I stop as I hear steps walking toward wood planks. I duck down as the Psycho walks by. Once the Psycho was far enough away, I butt scoot in the opposite direction. I then stand up and run out of the room. I open a door then shut it behind me. I walk backwards, mumbling “Shit shit shit shit shit shit shit…”

I keep backing up and then bump into something hard. I turn around real slow and scream, “Ahh!” It was Ashley and Chris. I say “ASHLEY! CHRIS!” He says as he puts an arm around my shoulders, “Hey hey hey - relax -“ I say “You guys scared me half to dea - ohmygod.” Ashley says “We weren’t trying to scare you.” I tell them “Sorry to disappoint you!” Chris says “Hey, sorry, alright - take it easy.” I tell them “The psycho. I just saw him.” He asks “What? Where? Where did he go?” I say “I don’t know! But we’ve got to be quiet! He’s gotta be…still really close.” Chris says “Awesome.”

We then hear “Please no!” I yell “Sam?” The three of us enter through a set of double doors. Ashley says “Oh, Chris. Oh no.” Chris asks “Hello?” I ask “Sam?” I walk toward a chair, cautiously and turn it around. Sitting in the chair was Sam in just a towel. I say “Sam!! Chris, is she dead? Holy shit, holy shit -“ Chris tells us “Shit. She’s not-she’s not dead.” Ashley asks “How do you know?” He says “She’s still breathing.” I ask “What the hell is wrong?” He says “I think she’s been knocked out.” Ashley says “Ohh. Oh no no no no no. This is bad, this bad!! We’ve got to get her out of here!”

Chris is all of a sudden knocked out with gas. Ashley shouts “CHRIS!” I shout “OH SHIT!!” We see that it was the Psycho. He goes after Ashley, she shouts “AHHH NO! GET BACK! Stay the hell away from me!” She stabs him with scissors in the left shoulder. He says “Oh, no nono, live and learn!” She asks “What?” He punches Ashley who gets knocked out. He says again “Live and learn.” The Psycho then grabs my wrist and yanks me toward him. He places the gas over my mouth and I drift out.

I am woken up by Chris saying “Ohh. Shit…oh crap…(Y/N)? Ash? (Y/N)!! ASH!!” I blink my eyes open and find myself tied to a chair, facing Chris and Ashley. Ashley wakes up and looks around. I see she has a black eye. I try and break free. Chris asks “Aw, Jesus, Ash - what did he do to you?” She says “I think…he hit me…” I shout “CHRIS!! ASHLEY!!” Ashley asks “(Y/N), are you okay?” I tell her “Yeah, I’m just tied to a chair. I’m happy to see you two.” Chris says “We’re happy to see you too. Shit. I’m gonna murder his fucking face off.” I ask “What is this?” He says “This is him. This is the guy who killed Josh -“ I say “No.” Ashley says “No, Chris…Oh my god no!! Oh god…Chris!!” He shouts “You murdering piece of shit! You MONSTER!” She says “Look around!! We’re gonna die! I don’t think I’m ready to die…” Trying to break free from the restraints, I say “No-one is going to die.”

Ashley says “I wish I could tell you…it’s just not fair!” Chris asks “What? Tell me what?” She says “It’s too late! Chris, what’s the point?!” He says “Stop it, just say…” I say “Ashley, just tell him!” She begins “We’re always talking around it, and now, I mean, we’ve wasted everything!” He says “Ashley…none of it was wasted.” She asks “What do you mean?” He tells her “Every second that I spent with you was the only thing I ever wanted to do with my time.” Ashley asks “What are you saying, Chris?” Chris says “I’m sorry…I should have told you how I felt.” She says “Chris!” He says “Ashley, I swear, when we get out of this -“

That’s when a saw from up above, turns on and slowly moves down. I say “Oh god!” Ashley shouts “AHH!! No! Help!” I continue to try and break the restraints. Chris says “I’ll get us out of this! I won’t let us die!” Ashley and I both scream and begin sobbing. A voice says from overhead “Hello there my special little subjects.” I freeze and look around. Ashley says “I’m so scared.” I say “Aw, shit.” Chris says “Don’t be scared.” The voice says “Oh, you should be, because here’s the twist: Chris has made one fatal choice already today,” I say “Oh no…no…” The voice tells us “and now he must make another. Chris…you can take that gun in front of you and shoot Ashley, or you can shoot yourself. Whoever is left, can live! The choice is yours.” Chris picks up the gun, points it at the saw and shoots. The voice laughs and says “Don’t be so silly, Chris.”

#Josh Washington imagines #Josh Washington x reader #Josh Washington fanfiction #Josh Washington #Rami Malek imagines #Rami Malek x reader #Rami Malek fanfiction #Rami Malek #Until Dawn imagines #Until Dawn x reader #Until Dawn fanfiction #Until Dawn

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elizabethplaid · 9 months

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Tried to duck out of library duty, because my woozy-ness is making me confused. LL-J offered to staff the town’s tag sale, which overlaps with library hours, because she thought I’d have the library covered. We tried to negotiate and juggle hours, but I felt so confused and just said eff it.

“How about I just open at 10 like usual, and I won’t bother dressing like a responsible adult?” So I’m wearing pajamas tomorrow. Well, pajama pants, at the very least.

I only got up from my nap about a hour ago, and my brain is still pretty fried. I hope it’s just my hormones effing with me (at the end of my cycle). I don’t have the energy to worry about this, right before dad’s stuff next week.

#daily notes

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howlingday · 3 years

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Cinder: (Clears her throat) I won't lie to you tonight, but this is the first time I've been on a date after sleeping with them.

Jaune: (Nervously chuckles) Yeah, well, the last time I went on a date, I, uh, definitely got fucked later.

Cinder: Sore spot?

Jaune: It's life. Good and bad. I'm just glad I'm with you tonight. See, I kind of had this place reserved for being my second date for... Well, a while.

Cinder: It seems fitting for someone with a more... unique palate. Three Lien signs on reviews?

Jaune: Four, actually, and I have a budget planned for the menu! I have enough money for two drinks, two entrees, and an appetizer, or a dessert!

Cinder: I wouldn't worry about your Lien. I'm from a rather prestigious upbringing.

Jaune: Really?

Cinder: (Laughs) No! When I last saw my mother, she was- (Clears her throat) I'd rather not discuss it.

Jaune: I'm... I'm sorry to hear that. That must have been so horrible.

Cinder: I wouldn't worry. It's like you said; it's life. Good and bad. Good being that, despite the bad, I got to meet you. Well, that, and also have the power to literally cook anything I want.

Waiter: Good evening. My name is Maxim Eff, and I will be your waiter tonight. Here is your drink menu, and allow me to start you off with some water. (Ogles Cinder) Sparkling or still?

Cinder: I'll have sparkling.

Jaune: Ooh, sparkling! I'll have the-

Waiter: Excellent choice! Please, have a look at the appetizers while I grab your water. Might I suggest the clams? They go down smooth~. (Walks away)

Jaune: Weird. But if you want clams, you can have mine.

Cinder: Ah, I knew you weren't a shellfish person.

Jaune: ...Was that a pun?

Cinder: I'm sorry, but it looked like you needed so kelp.

Jaune: (Laughing) Stop it!

Cinder: Fine, I'll stop.

Jaune: I'll be honest, I wasn't expecting you to have this kind of humor.

Cinder: Why? Because I'm a villain?

Jaune: Not really, but you are a total witch!

Cinder: (Cackles) Damn!

Jaune: I mean, so far you have been pretty magical.

Cinder: Mhm, well, how about tonight, you help stir my cauldron~?

Jaune: (Blushing) That is, uh, actually a good line.

Cinder: I thought about "adding you as an ingredient," but-

Jaune: Yeah, I get it.

Cinder: Yeah...

Waiter: Hey, there! Have you decided on your menu?

Jaune: Actually, I was thinking of doing dessert instead of an appetizer. I mean, some of this looks too good to pass up. Like this white chocolate mousse. (Looks at the menu, Rambles)

Waiter: You know, miss, we have a special tonight. Fried artichoke in a glazed honey sauce, (Pulls out a card) and my number.

Jaune: -Besides, isn't white chocolate just vanilla... Uh, is everything alright, Cin-

Cinder: One second. (Looks to the waiter) You. Are you serious?

Waiter: Dead serious. I get off at ten, and I can get you off at ten-thirty.

Jaune: What are-

Cinder: Okay, let's get a few things straight. (Stands up) One, you wouldn't make it to ten-oh-five. Two, you wouldn't live to see ten-oh-seven. And last, we still haven't been served our sparkling water. So I suggest if you value your job or life, (Summons a knife) then you take this knife, cut the bullshit, and get us our fucking drinking water!

Jaune: Holy-

Waiter: (Pushed away) Fuck! Fine! (Walks away) Don't have to be a monster bitch about it.

Jaune: Excuse you?! (Stands up) I'm going to give you to the count of five to apologize! One!

Waiter: Or what, twig?

Jaune: Two!

Waiter: You don't expect me to be intimidated by-

Jaune: (Smashes the table) Three!

Waiter: (Cowers) I'm sorry! Don't hurt me!

Jaune: (Walks up to him, Hands him Lien) Uh, here, for the table. (Walks out)

Cinder: (Walks past, Holds her extended middle finger to his face) And here's your twenty percent. (Ignites her finger) Asshole.

Waiter: ...That's a fire hazard.

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

Jaune: I'm so sorry for that.

Cinder: (Laughs) Don't apologize for him. Or at all. You were amazing.

Jaune: R-Really? Even though I ruined our date?

Cinder: Date isn't over yet, Jaune. I'm sure there's another place open.

Jaune: I mean, there's a Schneeburger close by, but-

Cinder: Mmmm, fuck me, I would literally murder for a burger right now. Let's do it.

Jaune: Uh, well, I would, but I kinda spent all my money on the table.

Cinder: Don't worry. My treat.

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

Jaune: (Eating his burger) Wait, can't you keep yourself alive with just magic?

Cinder: (Swallows her bite) I mean, yes, but would you really call it living if you couldn't eat burgers?

Jaune: No, Ms. Unicorn, I would not.

Cinder: ...How did you know about the Glass Unicorn?

Jaune: Oh, didn't I tell you about the time I punched Private Ironwood?

Cinder: You mean General Ironwood?

Jaune: Well, yeah, but- Okay, so I traveled back in time and I ran into this lady who only called herself "The Madame".

Cinder: (Rolls her eyes) Of course she did. Anyways, go on...

#rwby #cinder fall #jaune arc #arcfall #knightfall #dragon ball z abridged #dbza #Android dateteen

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charmingyong · 3 years

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Sukidesu

Genre: local!Yuta x tourist!reader (gender neutral), fluff, a dash of angst

Warnings: none

Word count: 1.9k

Plot: You went on a solo trip to Japan after your friend backed out, despite the fact that you barely knew Japanese as you were relying on your friend to be your translator. Thankfully, a local boy helped you out with his limited vocabulary in English.

A/N: in loving memory of my japan trip that got cancelled last year (eff you covid!!) Please let me know if there are any issues with the gender-neutral assignment.

gif: mine

- ❀ -

“I’m really so so sorry, Y/N. I feel so bad,” Aeri said over the phone.

“It’s okay. I’ll be fine. And I’m always down for a challenge.”

Aeri being the one who planned the trip was upset that her boss decided to be rude and have her come in for work, stressing about her presence being needed to handle a very important client. “I swear, I would have handed my resignation letter if it weren’t for the good pay.”

You rolled your eyes at her words. “Don’t say that. I’m sure we can go again together in the future.”

“Yeah, but are you really okay going alone? You don’t even know any Japanese except for like four words or something.”

She was right. You had only picked up a few words from the handful of anime shows you watched, not to mention that you knew nothing on how to read any of the writing systems. “I have the translator ready on my phone. I should be fine.” Though your confidence wavered the last second before hearing the boarding announcement of your flight, you tried to remain strong and think that everything would all work out. “It’s time for me to go now. I’ll text you when I get there.”

- ❀ -

[Memory one]

You let out a long sigh as you stared at the foreign characters on the menu board, never learning any of the Japanese writing systems. The lady owner patiently waited for you to give her your order.

“I… I don’t know,” you muttered, your head hanging low. Anything would do as long as it filled your stomach and was an authentic local specialty.

“Um hello?”

You heard from behind you. Turning around, you found a boy giving you a shy look. “Oh hi,” you politely greeted back with a confused look.

He shifted on his feet. “I uh... you help?” he offered with an unsure tone as he struggled a bit with his broken English.

“You want to help me?”

He nodded.

You smiled gratefully. “Thank you so much! I just want anything good and will add to my experience here.”

“Good?” The boy picked up and said, “I...” and lost his words before pointing at him and then at the owner.

“Oh, you want to order for me?”

He hesitated but nodded eventually when hearing ‘for me.’ “Yes.” The boy turned to the lady, placing an order with two fingers held up. The lady smiled and quickly got to work preparing the round fried food, and soon enough handed two plates of takoyaki to each of you.

You thanked her and took a bit of it with your chopsticks, eyes going wide with the flavour bursting in your mouth. “Woah! This is really good!” you beamed happily at him. “Thank you so much! And oh, I almost forgot. I’m Y/N,” you introduced yourself with a wide grin.

He mirrored it back, making him look like an angel with his healing smile. “I Yuta.”

- ❀ -

[Memory two]

“So cool,” you uttered under your breath as your eyes wandered around the vast array of Japanese sandals on the walls.

Too busy deciding which style to go for, you didn’t hear another customer enter the small traditional shop until they spoke your name.

“Y/N?” The voice was familiar, and you twirled around to see Yuta’s smile grow, relieved that he guessed you right.

“Oh! Yuta!” you smiled back. “It’s nice to see you again.”

He nodded in agreement. “Yes. How... are you?”

“I’m great, except...” your eyes traveled back to the wall.

His face fell slightly in worry. “What wrong?”

You shook your head. “Nothing bad. I just don’t know which pair to buy. They all look so good,” you pointed to the variety of sandals.

He hummed and asked, “Can I help?”

You blinked at him. “You want to?” An opinion from the local cute boy was definitely something you’d be down for.

His pearly whites were on full display as he nodded eagerly. “Yes.”

- ❀ -

[Memory three]

Just as your eyes were fixed on observing the cute little souvenirs on the shelves, you heard a series of loud knocks on the window and you jumped, being startled greatly by it. You looked out the window and found a familiar Japanese boy peeking into the shop, laughing happily when he caught your attention. He backed off to make his way into the shop.

“Yuta, you scared me there,” you laughed it off.

He sheepishly apologized. “Sorry.”

Shaking your head, you said “It’s okay. But it’s nice to see you, once again.”

He nodded and was lost in his thoughts for a moment. “Um Y/N?”

“Yes?”

“You alone?”

You nodded. “Yeah, my friend couldn’t come, and I really wanted to explore Japan. So I came alone.”

He took in your words, his brain on full gear to process them. “Can I help?”

“Help? Like how?”

He pointed at himself. “I... uh travel... you...”

It took you a few seconds before you were able to grasp his thought. “Do you want to be my tour guide and show me around here?”

“Ah! Yes. Your tour guide,” he beamed excitedly like a little child who learned a new word.

That sounded like a great idea. While you had the itinerary that you and your friend prepared, you weren’t dead set on doing everything list there as long as you were able to enjoy your time and explore to your heart’s content. After all, you were going to come back anyway with your friend in the future. And a plus point with having Yuta as a guide, you wouldn’t be struggling with your limited Japanese ability.

You nodded, your lips curling up joyfully. “I’d love that.”

- ❀ -

[Memory four]

“Yuta? Where’s-”

You had probably asked the Japanese boy a million things by now when shopping inside the variety store. Before Yuta became your traveling buddy, you had to rely on capturing the Japanese writings on your phone and have the texts translated via an app. Not to mention having to stroll down the aisles endlessly looking for a particular thing.

He showed you the ramen cups of interest as well as recommended some face masks, cleansing tissues, and sweet treats, especially matcha flavoured. “This good,” he pointed out.

You hummed curiously and put them all in your basket. “Thanks, Yuta. You’re a lifesaver.”

His ears perked up at the thought of him ‘saving your life’ and smiled proudly.

- ❀ -

[Memory five]

“You sure you’re doing it right?” you asked worriedly.

Getting lost in Japan was not on your to-do list. But it was fine to as long as you weren’t alone.

Yuta was trying to figure out how to get the tickets printed at the Kyoto Station. “Long time,” he chuckled nervously.

Going around Kyoto was apparently something he hadn’t done in a while being an Osaka man. You shrugged, “Looks like this will be an experience for both of us,” you joked.

He managed to have gotten the right tickets and you two sat in the train side by side. “Kyoto pretty,” he commented. “Very good,” he added with thumbs up.

The train began moving and you by the window made sure to pay attention to the scenery.

“Wow! The cherry blossoms are so beautiful under the blue sky,” you chatted cheerfully. “And those houses look so pretty,” you gushed, getting anime vibes from how neighbourhoods looked in them.

Yuta watched you getting excited over the sceneries, and was pleased to show you something that wasn’t on your itinerary in the first place.

- ❀ -

[Memory six]

Yuta watched you closely as you licked the matcha soft serve in hand.

You let the cold cream swirl around your tongue and hummed. “Wow, this is nice!”

He beamed, squealing as he clapped his hands from the happiness. “Yes,” he exclaimed. “My favourite,” he pointed to your cone.

The cream got stuck in your throat and you choked a little. His eyes grew concerned and asked, “You okay?”

“Yeah yeah, don’t worry. It’s just... you look so cute when you get happy like that,” you spoke a little shy.

He blushed deeply and looked away, a smile threatening to tug at his lips from hearing you call him cute.

- ❀ -

[Memory seven]

Ferris wheel.

The perfect way to end your trip by looking out into the nighttime view of Yuta’s hometown.

He sat across from you as you curiously looked at every lighting in the city. “Wow, it’s all so really beautiful, Yuta,” you breathed out.

His smile wasn’t his usual one. It was more forced, almost sad and you noticed it.

“What’s wrong?”

He shook out of his thoughts and said, “Nothing. Um... you like Japan?”

A fond smile took over your features. “Yes, very much. It’s all thanks to you, Yuta.” Your heart started aching at the memories made during your trip. If it weren’t for him, you would have struggled to get through with the littlest things.

He hummed and gave you a courteous smile before fixing his eyes out the transparent windows of the cart, silently willing himself to not tear up in front of you.

- ❀ -

[Memory eight]

Tears threatened to spill out of your eyes as you became emotional and super grateful standing in front of your personal Japan tour guide for one last time at the airport.

“Thank you so much for all your help, Yuta. It was really nice meeting you,” you smiled sorrowfully. Truth being told, you were sad that you had to say goodbye to an amazing friend made on your beautiful journey. “Let’s keep in touch. You have my contact, right?”

He nodded. “Yes. Um Y/N?”

“Yeah?”

Yuta dug his hand inside his pocket and pulled out a cherry blossom keychain. “For you,” he said, holding it out for to take.

You were speechless, not expecting a gift from him. “For me? Why?”

He was quiet for a moment before speaking up. “I like you.” His confession caught you by surprise. “I hope you come back. I... I hope we still talk...” he trailed off, doubting himself if he said the right thing at the wrong time, considering it was minutes before you’d have to catch your flight.

Slowly, your head nodded to his words, confirming them all. “We will. We will keep in touch, I’ll come back again. And I like you too,” you spoke sincerely with soft eyes.

- ❀ -

You reminisced the beautiful memories made in Japan with Yuta. It had been almost a year and the two of you were in frequent touch, talking about anything and everything in your video calls. You even learned some Japanese while he worked on improving his English.

While your eyes were focused on glancing at all the people sitting in the cafe, the door chimed open and in walked the Japanese boy that you had been waiting forever to see again.

He spotted you immediately and made a straight beeline towards you. “Y/N!” He beamed excitedly. “I’m so happy to see you again!”

You laughed at his cuteness. “Same, and you’ve gotten better speaking English.”

“All thanks to my beautiful English teacher,” he flirted boldly.

You rolled your eyes playfully at him and asked, “So Yuta, are you ready to explore my country?”

#cznnet #nct #nct 127 #yuta #nakamoto yuta #nct yuta #yuta x reader #nct x reader #yuta fluff #yuta scenarios #yuta imagines #nct fluff #nct scenarios #nct imagines #charm

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seasonsofeverlark · 4 years

Text

Pumpkin Duck

Author: @mega-aulover

Prompt: How about Katniss taking Peeta to the forest during the fall for the first time to see all of the fall colors. [submitted by anonymous]

Rating: K

Author’s note: Special thanks to @jroseley for beta-ing. :)

____________

“You smell like a snickerdoodle Sweetheart?”

Katniss slammed the door of Haymitch’s man cave and sat down. She narrowed her eyes at her mentor. She was beginning to hate anything fall flavored related, including cinnamon. Most of all she grew a distinct dislike of pumpkin.

“Peeta’s still baking up a storm.”

“He claims he’s experimenting with recipes for the bakery,” she huffed. “But the thing is he’s making stuff that isn’t sold at the bakery.”

Haymitch handed her a beer. “So what has the boy done that has you spittin nails?”

She twisted the bottle cap angrily. “This morning he said he was going to create a pumpkin flavored macaroni and cheese. Macaroni and cheese shouldn’t be pumpkin flavored. For that matter pumpkins don’t have a flavor like tomatoes, apples, or broccoli.”

Haymitch lifted an eyebrow. “Broccoli?”

“Yes broccoli,” Katniss said, putting the bottle down.

“Sweetheart, have you seen my house, I have orange coming out of my ears. I found Effie changing out my tidy-whities for oranges ones with squirrels sitting on piles of leaves. It’s not even fall yet.”

Katniss hung her head. “Why don’t we make a run for it?”

Haymitch chuckled, “Effie’s got a tracker in me she’ll find me.”

Katniss laughed. Effie always seemed to show up wherever Haymitch hid.

“Fall’s like a week away Haymitch but he’s been driving me bananas.” Peeta yesterday dragged out his wok to make fried rice with pumpkins. She shuttered. “How do you do it?”

“We find them appealing, they put up with our crap.”

Katniss grimaced.

“No you don’t have the right to make that face. You and I both know Effie puts up with my geese and the boy puts up with muddy footprints all over the floor. Besides we are nuts about them.”

Her shoulders drooped, she did love Peeta. “He is cute when he wakes up in the morning with his wavy hair all askew.”

Haymitch grinned, he handed her half of his ham and cheese sandwich.

Having the normal food calmed her down. “He says he wants to be ready for fall.”

“Why don’t you do something for him?”

“Like what?”

“You like the woods right?”

Katniss frowned she wasn’t following. “Yeah.”

“His favorite time of year is the fall, and next week the fall starts.”

“Oh take him to the woods so he can see the real deal.” She had taken Peeta to the lake during the summer but never when the leaves were changing. Finishing up the sandwich she bounded out of the door. “Thanks Haymitch.”

“Don’t mention it,” Haymitch muttered.

Katniss walked by Effie who today was dressed in a bright orange jumpsuit with a hat that looked like a pile of leaves. She shook her head but managed a smile at her former escort. “Hi Effie.”

“Oh, hello Katniss, is Haymitch still cooped up in there?”

“Sure is, the game’s nearly finished,” Katniss paused and then turned to her former Escort. Haymitch needed a break and she needed help. “Effie how quickly do you think I can get camping equipment?”

“Why?” Effie turned around. “What do you have in mind?”

“Well Haymitch gave me a great idea. I know how much Peeta loves the fall, so I thought I would take him camping up in the mountains. The leaves change colors in the mountains quicker because it’s cooler.”

“OH,” Effie gasped. Her lashes with miniature fall leaves batted quickly as her eyes became brighter. “What a darling idea? What exactly do you need?”

“Well,” Katniss said, linking her arm with Effie. “First off I need camping clothing, and I need a large enough tent.”

“Ooohhh, I know some people who can help.”

Katniss grinned. “I also need this to be a surprise. You know I cannot lie to Peeta.” Now if she could only survive the couple of days of pumpkin wreaking havoc in her life.

“That is the utter truth.” Effie said.

The next day when Peeta returned to the bakery Katniss and Effie got to work. Katniss had to make sure the path was still there. Around here the leaves were still green, but high up in the mountains the air was colder and the leaves changed color quicker.

Her father had taken her there once. She was a small child but she’d been past the trail a dozen times when she hunted in the woods with Gale but she’d never explored. After the war when Peeta came back she took a walk. She discovered the trail and everyday she cleared it little by little until she made it to the peak of the mountain. It took three days and Peeta was scared out of his mind when she came back. He kissed her hard, yelled at her, and kissed her again. Her toes curled in her old boots at the memory of that passionate kiss.

“Look Effie,” Katniss shouted excited to find the trail. When she found the trail she was overjoyed.

“Oh dear this will not do,” Effie tsked. “We need someone to make a clear path, Peeta will not be able to get through there easily. I know who to call.”

Katniss wasn’t sure about the gleam in Effie’s eyes. But true enough within a day Effie had Thom and a crew working around the clock to clear a path up to the mountain that would be even enough for Peeta to make his way up the mountain.

A few days later she was in the mudroom looking bewildered at all of the packages Effe had brought over. There were boxes dozens of them of every size and shape. Katniss wasn’t sure how she was going to keep this from Peeta. He knew she was frugal and she just didn’t buy anything.

“Katniss,” Peeta said, popping his head in her mudroom.

Katniss looked up, surprised that Peeta had come home early.

“What is all of this?”

“Nothing,” Katniss said, hiding the orange plaid shirt behind her back. Horrified she watched Peeta pick up a box.

“Looks like Effie is trying to hide purchases from Haymitch.”

Katniss glanced down at the nearest box and indeed Effie’s name was on the shipping label of the boxes. “Erm…yeah,” Katniss nodded, she fought to keep her embarrassment from showing up on her face. “What are you doing home so early?”

“Well I wanted to make some ravioli, for dinner.”

Katniss eyes lit up at the thought of the fluffy pasta filled with oozing cheese or ground meat.”

“Yeah I got an idea for pumpkin flavored raviolis. I got the ingredients at the grocers,” he began walking away. “..they had these beautiful pumpkins.”

Her smile turned into a frown. “Great more freaking pumpkins,” she muttered under her breath.

The day before the great adventure Katniss sat outside with Haymitch.

“Effie is…” Katniss said to Haymitch a few days before.

“Determined?”

“Like a general in the rebellion,” Katniss said leaning up against the porch watching Peeta and Effie talk about the upcoming fall festival.

“You all set for tomorrow?”

“Didn’t you hear what I said about Effie?”

“I’m not talking about the trek, I’m talking about the…”

Katniss looked away…she looked at her beer. She drank it savoring the brew. “Yeah.”

“You, ready for this?” Haymitch leveled a look at her.

Katniss glanced toward Peeta, “I love him, even with his pumpkin obsession.”

“Good, that’s all that matters.”

The next morning all went awry. A huge storm pulled into the mountains and a deluge flooded the roads. They were stuck inside. Katniss sat by the window looking at the rain fall.

“Katniss what's wrong?”

Katniss turned around biting her bottom lip. She wanted to cry but instead she squared her shoulders. “Today is the first day of fall but.”

“Yeah I know it’s the autumnal equinox.”

Jutting her chin out with determination she said, “We’re making fall.”

“What?”

Determined, she went to his art supplies and said, “We’re making the fall indoors.”

“Kat?”

“Get your paint box Peeta,” Katniss said, marching upstairs to an empty room. They were going to have to do this backwards.

Peeta had his paints. “Okay are you going to tell me what this is about?”

“We’re going to make a mural Peeta. Big beautiful trees, one for each season.”

“Okay,” he looked around.

The words tumbled out of her lips, “I had this entire weekend planned we were going to go up into the mountains. We were going to eat fresh game and wonder at the colors of the fall. Then I was going to give you this.” Katniss took a small envelope and pressed it into his hands.

Peeta frowned. He opened the envelope and took out the card. She watched his lips move as he read what she’d written. Katniss delighted in watching the way Peeta’s eyes lit up bigger than the bonfire she planned cooking their meals on. “You wanna try?”

Katniss nodded.

“Real or not real, you wanna try to have a baby with me?”

“Real,” she whispered.

“Real,” Peeta uttered. Tears fell down his face.

“Yes,” Katniss pointed toward the room. “Wouldn’t this room make an amazing nursery?”

Peeta grasped her by the middle and swung her around. Katniss laughed. He put her down and then said, as he gathered his painting gear. “I’m going to make us something special, butternut squash soup, oh and some pumpkin bread…to go with pumpkin spiced duck.”

Katniss scowled; she loved Peeta but she still hated the pumpkin.

#everlark #everlark fanfiction #autumn #autumn 2020 #by mega-aulover #submission

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snappedsky · 3 years

Text

Fanatics 81.2

The battle is just beginning.

*Links to previous and next chapters in reblog*

Reawakening Part 2

“Those stupid, fucking, zombie…fucks!” Johnny barks as he paces angrily around the living room. “I’m gonna hunt them down and crush them beneath my boots!”

“Nny,” Eff says, resting his hand on Johnny’s shoulder. He immediately removes it when Johnny snarls at him. “You know I love it when you’re scary and violent. But right now, you’ve got something more important to worry about.”

He motions into the kitchen where Squee is sitting at the table, Devi and Tenna next to him.

“Right,” Nny sighs.

“Leave the zombie fucks to us,” Reverend Meat says reassuringly.

“Yeah, I’m itching to smash them all to a pulp,” D-boy adds as the Night Terrors go outside and Nny goes into the kitchen. He rests his hand on Squee’s back, rubbing it comfortingly.

“How long has it been bothering you?” Devi asks.

“I don’t know, a week?” Squee replies, “at first it was easy enough to deal with. It was just Squishy Pete and the Night Terrors usually got rid of him fast enough.”

“Squishy Pete?” Tenna questions.

“But now it’s getting worse,” he continues, “I can feel it trying to surround me. Like a suffocating darkness.”

“I haven’t felt anything,” Devi says and looks at Johnny. “Have you?” He shrugs. “Kind of. I don’t think it’s ever really left me though.”

“So what do we do?” Tenna asks.

“What we’ve done every other time the Nightmare’s returned,” Squee replies, “take out its minions until it leaves us alone.”

“Yeah, but, the last couple times it hasn’t affected you this badly,” Devi points out.

“I’m fine. I just…have to hold out long enough,” he insists, “I can handle it.” The others look at him, unconvinced and concerned. Then Johnny clears his throat.

“Well, if the zombies are here then that means Zoli is too,” he growls, “I have half a mind to hunt her down and end this now. That crazy, demon bitch.”

As he starts pacing around again, muttering angrily, Squee looks at Devi and Tenna. “You two should go home. It’ll be safer there.”

“What about you?” Tenna asks.

“I’ll be fine,” he replies, “the Night Terrors are keeping watch. And if a fight breaks out, I don’t want you getting mixed up in it.”

The girls share a look. They don’t want to leave Squee alone but they get the feeling he won’t take no for an answer.

“Alright,” Devi nods and they stand up. “But if you need anything, just text me.” “I will,” Squee replies, forcing a smile. “Oh uh Nny can drive you home. Right, Nny?”

“Huh?” Johnny stops pacing. “Oh, alright, I guess. Let’s go.”

As the three of them head outside, Johnny points at the roof where the Night Terrors are hanging out. “I’ll be back in a bit. Watch the house.” “You bet,” Reverend Meat waves as Johnny, Devi, and Tenna get into the car and drive away.

Back in the house, Squee lies down on the couch, sighing heavily. He smiles weakly as Nugget curls up on his stomach before closing his eyes and rubbing his aching head.

Reverend Meat watches this through the window before pulling himself back onto the roof.

“He’s not doing well,” he states.

“He’s already looking like a husk,” D-boy agrees, “I mean, when was the last time he’s even written?”

“We need to do something or we might actually lose him,” Sickness insists.

“Why don’t we hunt down those zombie fucks?” Eff suggests, “we destroy them and capture them before they even have a chance. And then maybe we can draw Zoli into an ambush.”

“Is it a good idea to leave Squee alone though?” Sickness asks.

“We’ll split up,” Reverend Meat declares, “three of us will hunt the zombies and the fourth will stay guard.”

“Okay. How do we decide?” D-boy asks.

“Rock paper scissors?” Eff suggests.

They get ready to play when Sickness suddenly stops. “Wait. You see that?” She points down the street where a familiar young woman with very short black hair and round glasses is standing.

“Tess?” Reverend Meat questions.

“Wow, she is the last one I expected to see,” Eff comments.

“What is she doing?” D-boy asks, “just…standing there?”

“I’ll go see,” Sickness declares and hops down onto the road.

“Hey, Tess,” Sickness says as she warily approaches the zombie girl. Tess just stares at her, still and expressionless. “Zoli finally let you out for some air, huh? So, this some kind of trap?”

Without a word, Tess turns the palm of her hand towards Sickness. Black tendrils shoot out, taking her by surprise and wrapping around her completely before she has a chance to escape.

“Sickness!” Reverend Meat, D-boy, and Eff exclaim.

They leap off the building towards Tess as she starts running away, her Nightmare tendrils carrying the wriggling, struggling Sickness. She has a good head start for a couple blocks, but she can’t outmaneuver the Doughboys’ agility and D-boy tackles her to the ground.

“Gotcha!” he snarls while Eff slices through the tendrils. Reverend Meat quickly rips apart the rest, freeing Sickness. She coughs and gasps for breath before glaring at Tess.

“Oh, you’re gonna pay for that,” she snarls.

Tess doesn’t even struggle as D-boy holds her down, her glasses lying on the ground a few inches from her face.

“Careful, guys,” Reverend Meat warns, “she might have more tricks up her sleeve.”

“This was a trap, wasn’t it?” Sickness demands, “what, were you trying to lead us straight to the other zombies? Or Zoli?”

“Something like that,” Tess replies drily.

“Oof, you’re really beaten down, aren’t you?” Eff comments, lifting her head by her hair. “It’s been a while since we’ve seen you. Zoli finally decide to give you a chance?”

“I defied her once and helped Squee and Johnny,” Tess explains, “I…can’t make that mistake again.” “Mistake?” D-boy scoffs, “we’ve been helping Squee for a long time now. You just didn’t do it right.”

Tess spits angrily. “What do you guys know? You have no idea what I’ve been through! I’ve been trapped in endless darkness for years! Surrounded by nothing, just….pure nothingness! It’s maddening! I couldn’t even remember what sunlight looked like or-or any other sound than my own voice! Do you have any idea what that’s like?” The Night Terrors stare at her, speechless for a second, before D-boy croaks, “yes.” “Aw man!” Eff cries, gripping his head. “We’re sympathizing with her!”

Tess stares at them with surprise as D-boy frees her and they stand aside. She’s too stunned to even stand up.

“Of course we know that happened to you,” Reverend Meat says, “the Nightmare did that to all us every time we failed. You’re right, it is…maddening.”

“But that was before Squee freed us,” Sickness adds, “he saved us and that’s why we won’t let the Nightmare take him.” “But, just this once, because we feel sorry for you,” D-boy says, “we’ll let you go.”

Tess sighs, hanging her head. “I can’t escape.”

“Maybe not yet,” Eff replies, “but when we defeat Zoli, you might have a chance.”

She looks at them, shocked. “You’re gonna…help me?”

D-boy shrugs. “Like I said, we feel sorry for you.”

Tess looks away, feeling conflicted, before standing up and facing them. “Zoli plans to take away everyone Squee cares about. She thinks this will break him down enough to finally make him susceptible to the Nightmare.”

“Hm, so that’s her plan,” Reverend Meat muses.

“Fuck, Tess, you really are a disappointment.”

The Night Terrors look up at the familiar voice as Jimmy, Krik, Dillon, and Edgar hop down from a roof behind Tess. She immediately falls back, cowering from them.

“You know how hard we had to fight to convince Zoli to let you out?” Dillon asks, “and you had to go and do this.”

Tess tries to argue but before she can say anything, Reverend Meat grabs her and tosses her behind him.

“Well, well,” he smirks, “it’s the zombie edgelords.”

“Yeah, we’re the edgelords,” Krik snorts, “have any of you looked in a mirror lately?”

“Looking forward to getting chopped up again, Jimmy?” Eff asks as he draws to knives from his hat.

“That won’t happen again,” he snarls, “we have a few new tricks up our sleeves.”

“Great,” D-boy smirks as he draws his mallet. “We like tricks.”

Meanwhile, Johnny parks his car in the parking lot of Devi and Tenna’s apartment building and they both get out.

“Take care of Squee, got it?” Devi orders.

“Yeah, yeah,” he replies dismissively.

She starts to turn away when he calls her again. “Devi. Uh…if you see anything weird…just call me, okay?” She stares at him with surprise but he refuses to make eye contact. “Okay,” she smiles.

“What if I see anything weird?” Tenna asks.

“No, if I give you permission to call me, then you’ll call every five minutes,” Nny snaps.

“Fine,” she groans.

Johnny watches as they enter the building before leaving. He drives for a couple blocks, his eyes constantly darting around, checking his surroundings. Finally, he stops on a random, empty street and parks at the curb. He walks for another block or two before stopping.

“Alright,” he says loudly, “I know you’re there. So come out already.”

Zoli drops down in front him. She tosses back her very long, black hair as she stands up straight, sticking her hands into the pockets of her brown trench coat.

“Hey, Nny,” she grins, “you look well.”

“Why’d you wait?” Johnny asks, “why not go after the girls?”

“Psh, what fun would that be?” she scoffs, “they’re small fries, and I want some action.”

“And I want to end this.”

“Then-.” Zoli pulls her scythe out of her coat. “Come end this.” Johnny snarls, draws his knives, and charges.

Meanwhile, across the city, Zim, Dib, Gaz, Tak, and Pepito walk away from the Skool to Zim’s house.

“So, let me be sure I understand,” Dib says, “this…Nightmare…wears down its victim emotionally and mentally with annoying minions in order to absorb their imagination, rendering them into husks of their former selves.” “Exactly,” Pepito replies.

“And it’s been after Squee his whole life because of his powerful imagination,” Zim adds, “but Squee had Shmee, who came from an entity called the Daydream which is the Nightmare’s enemy.”

“Right.”

“But now Shmee’s gone, so there’s nothing to hold the Nightmare back,” Tak says.

“Yes.”

“And Squee’s kept this from us this whole time,” Gaz adds, “because he’s worried it’s too dangerous and he doesn’t want us getting involved.”

“Yeah.”

“Well, then, our path is clear,” Zim states, “obviously we gotta help him. So how do we do that?”

“I don’t know,” Pepito sighs.

“Well, how have they stopped the Nightmare before?” Dib asks.

“They destroy its minions,” he replies.

“Then we’ll do that,” Zim declares.

“But we don’t know where they are,” Pepito points out.

“Then we’ll hunt them down,” Tak suggests.

“But we don’t know what they look like.” Everyone’s quiet for a second, as they consider their situation.

“You said Squee’s being tormented by some kind of stress toy,” Gaz says, “and whenever it’s destroyed, it gives him a moment of peace.”

“Yeah, but it’ll keep coming back,” Pepito replies.

“Well, then, we’ll just keep destroying it until it gets the message.”

“Gaz is right,” Dib nods, “right now Squee is hurting and the best thing we can do for him, as his friends, is be there for him.”

“Well, then, what are we waiting for?” Zim demands, “let’s go to him!”

“We’re literally on the way to the car,” Tak points out, aggravated.

They hurry the rest of the way to Zim’s base to get in the Epic and fly to Squee’s side.

#invader zim #invader zim fanfiction #johnny the homicidal maniac #johnny the homicidal maniac fanfiction #iz jthm crossover #myart #myocs

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korra-the-red-lion · 3 years

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Unnatural Affairs. Chapter 2: Let the Good Times Roll.

When I woke up the next morning, my eyes were achy and itchy. Falling asleep after spending most of the evening crying might have had something to do with that. I groaned as I reached for my glasses, deciding that I definitely needed a shower. I grabbed my soaps, shampoo and conditioner, flip flops, towels, and headed towards the communal shower area.

Luckily for me, there was no one here when I got there. I turned on the water, letting it heat up as I set up my things. I pulled the curtain across and got to washing all the eye boogies off my face. The warmth of the shower was very much needed as it ran down my body. I started feeling more like myself again as I scrubbed all the night grime off. I spent a few extra minutes, just enjoying the feeling of the warm water against my skin. If I closed my eyes, I could convince my mind that I felt great about this whole thing.

Then my stomach rumbled. I realized that I really didn’t have much of an appetite after my chat with dad and emotional break down with mom. I hadn’t eaten much of anything since lunchtime yesterday. The allure of food was more than enough to convince me to leave the comfort of the shower. I quickly wrapped a towel around both my body and hair. I gathered everything up and shuffled out of there. I peeked my head around the corner, feeling self-conscious of the fact that I had to go back to my room practically naked. I dashed back to my room and closed the door as quickly and quietly as possible. Sarah was still sleeping, thank God.

I got dressed and towel dried my hair the best I could. I didn’t bother with anything fancy today, since I was going to be spending most of my day standing in line to get my textbooks. I wasn’t going to wait around and end up spending hours of my school time there, so I planned to do it today.

I checked myself in the mirror before leaving. Just plain black leggings and a over large t-shirt that read ‘how-to pick-up chicks’ with a picture of a stick figure picking up a baby chicken. I adjusted my glasses to make sure they were straight, and I tossed my hair over to one side, trying to give it some style. I said I wasn’t going to be fancy, but I’m also not going to go out looking like I woke up from a rager.

I grabbed my purse, student card and my phone, and left the room. The sun was shining brightly overhead once I got outside, trying to squeeze out those last few days of summer. It felt good on my skin, and I thought about maybe eating outside. That would be nice.

Yawning as I made my way to the meal hall, my thoughts of my new classes and the new people I would meet wormed its way into my head. I knew I would do well in most of my classes, except for maybe some of the science ones. The issue was making friends. It’s not like I had hard a terrible time making them or anything, but my disposition ended up pushing away a lot of people. Then of course, the conversation I had with my dad popped up like an unwanted house guest. Dammit, he really knew how to get in my head.

I was practically storming as I walked into the meal hall. It was actually nicer than I thought it would be. There was quite bit of space, with nice large tables. It was also clean, which was a huge plus. Of course, move in day was literally yesterday. Maybe give it a week or so, and it would change. I walked down the stairs, letting the smell of food knock me out of my foul mood.

I loaded my plate up with hash browns, two fried eggs, bacon, and toast. I was starving and couldn’t wait to eat. I was about to head outside when I saw familiar strawberry blonde hair and I found myself walking towards it.

Shyly I approached the table where Lyn sat by herself. She was nearly dozing off in her seat, her plate empty in front of her. I tapped her shoulder, causing her to jolt awake.

“Wha’?” she blinked a few times and looked over her shoulder, smiling when she saw me. “Oh, hey Ally, wassup?”

“I was hoping I could sit with you?”

“Be my guest,” she said with a yawn. Her hair was tied up in a loose bun today, instead of that tight ponytail she had yesterday, and she wasn’t wearing the paint either, revealing all her freckles that were splashed across her nose and cheeks, like I suspected.

“How’d you sleep on your first night? Any crazy parties for you, or was the noise enough?”

I shook my head. “I’m not really a party girl, honestly. And I mean, the noise was definitely something I need to get used to. But my roommate seems really cool and at least that’s something. I was worried I was going to have a horrible roommate, like some of the horror stories I read about.”

Lyn cupped her chin and was leaning against the table as she listened to me. I wonder if anyone ever told her she had an intense stare. Even in her sleepy state, I know her focus was entirely on me as I spoke. It wasn’t uncomfortable or anything like that, more like an observation. She smirked into her hand and said, “I had one of those in first year.”

“What? Really?”

She nodded, still not taking her eyes off me. “Oh, hell yeah. She was so strange. She ironed all her shit in the room, told me I wasn’t allowed to cross the line she taped to the floor unless it was a necessity, and legit told me that I couldn’t listen to my music too loudly with my headphones in. Like, this girl was on something, I swear. Eventually, I broke down and requested to be switched out. Thank God, they moved her into a single dorm, and I got to stay. That’s when Nura moved in, and she’s awesome. We get along like PB and J, you know? I’m rarely in there anyhow, with practice and work, but still. Gotta feel welcome in your own home, you know?”

She ends with that a lot, I noted. It was endearing. I nodded in agreement. “I get that. Sometimes it was hard to um…go home after school. I don’t always get along with my dad, so it was awkward to go home.”

Lyn winced. “Shit, sorry. That’s crappy, not feeling like home is a safe place.” She sat up and leaned back, staring up at the ceiling. “Dammit, Hart, you ruined the mood.”

“No, no! You didn’t do that at all,” I said quickly. “I was the one who brought it up in the first place!”

“I was the one who was all like ‘feel welcome in your home’,” she groaned. “Listen, I’ll make it up to you, yeah? You can ask me one thing, anything you want.”

“That seems really extreme…”

She shrugged. “I’m pretty much an open book.”

I bit my lip in thought, not really sure what to ask her. I didn’t know her all that well, but the offer to get to know her better was intriguing. Still, nothing really came to mind, and I ended up shaking my head. “Can I cash it in later?”

Lyn laughed, “Sure thing, Ally.”

We ended up talking for awhile longer about general things, like what majors we were taking and our favourite bands. Just simple stuff. Talking to Lyn was really easy. She laughed for no reason and had an infectious smile. When she was excited about something, she ended up bouncing her leg under the table. I’m not sure what it was about her that calmed me down, honestly. But she did. Maybe it truly was just her easy-going nature, but she seemed like a genuine person. Eventually, I had to get going to grab my books, much to my disappointment. I knew that once school started for real, I wasn’t going to be able to hang around her as much. It sounded like she had a lot more on her plate than I did.

As we both stood, I worked up the courage to ask for her number. That way, I could at least keep in touch with her by text. When I did, her eyes narrowed as a smirk appeared on her face.

“Sure, totally, Ally,” she took my phone from me, her fingers brushing against my hand as she did. “I don’t usually give my number out to anyone, but I will for you, since you’re cute and all,” she handed my phone back with her smirk still firmly in place.

Damn, that something I wasn’t expecting. I know I was blushing, but I tried to play it cool. I got the feeling yesterday that Lyn was a flirty kind of person, but I’m not entirely sure what her whole situation is.

“Thanks. I just know once school starts, we’ll both be pretty busy,” I said, looking away. Yeah, play it cool.

“Totally, just playing, you know?”

“Ha, totally.”

She pulled out her own phone and checked the time. “Yikes, gotta head out for real, though. Let’s try and hang before classes start, yeah? I’ll see you around, Ally!” With that, she left. But not before giving me her signature wink on the way out.

I tried to stop myself from smiling, but it was so hard. She really did have an infectious nature to her.

XXX

As I had hoped, there weren’t that many people at the bookstore. The line was a little long, but not so crazy that I would regret my choice in footwear. The bookstore itself was small, with not a lot of room to navigate. The lady behind the counter seemingly was 100 years old and was certainly moving like one. The only reason why this was taking a long time was literally because of her.

I tapped my foot along to the song I was listening to. I have to say, while I don’t love the lyrics, drivers license was a pretty catchy song. I missed the days of women writing songs telling men who did wrong by them to eff off. There was something cathartic about it all. Still, can’t deny a good song when I heard it. I was pretty content to stand there idly until someone tapped my shoulder.

I looked over, but there was no one there. Maybe the guy behind just hit me by accident? Shaking my head, I went back listening to the music when I felt the tap again. Again, there was no one there. Slowly, I take one earphone out and can hear the sounds of someone whispering around me. My eyes widened in understanding horror of what was happening.

There’s a freaking ghost trying to get my attention.

Inwardly I groaned, but I kept a neutral face on the outside. Well, except for the frantic look around I did with my eyes. There, in the corner. I turned slowly, trying not to draw too much attention to me as I did.

There is a ghost, looking no older than me, with some fancy hair cut and a nice suit on. He’s got a wicked grin on his face as we made eye contact. He floated over to stand directly in front of me.

“So, you can see me after all,” he said. All ghosts have this tinny tone to their voice, as if they’re talking through a bad phone call or something.

I nodded slowly but don’t dare say a word. There are way too many people around right now.

He tilted his head in a mostly human way, until it creeps a little bit past his shoulder, like his neck was broken. “Can’t you speak? You’re not one of those mutes, are you? Not that that’s an issue, but I was hoping to get someone who could share my story.”

Sighing through my nose, I pulled out my phone and typed out a message. I can talk, just not here. Too many people. Can it wait?

The ghost squinted at the screen, clearly able to read what I wrote. He frowned as we make eye contact again.

Oh Christ. I didn’t like the look in his eyes. He looked like he didn’t agree with me one bit. Some ghosts understood that most people can’t see them and that it makes a person look insane if they just start talking to thin air, while others just didn’t care. I had a bad feeling that this one fell in the second category.

He reached over, his hand going through my face. I felt the cold sliminess as he pulled his hand back through, and it takes my entire will power to not shudder or vomit on the spot. I really hated when they did that.

I wasn’t sure if it was normal for them to be able to touch people. I honestly never looked into too deeply, as it was best to avoid talking about it at all. But not for the first time do I regret that decision from 14-year-old me. I should have just used public library sources and at least had a better understanding of these things. But nope, I didn’t want to do anything out of the ordinary. Stupid.

“Human, all I want is for someone to listen to me and tell them what happened,” he said snootily. He reminded me of some popular guy who was used to people doing what he wanted on the drop of a hat.

I shuffled forward in the line a little. There were only three people ahead of me. I turned my head slightly, pulling my earphones up, hoping to God it looked like I was talking into the mic. “Listen, buddy. I am very happy to listen to you, but after I get out of here!” I hissed as quietly as possible.

Now he looked pissed off. Once again, he reached for me, as if that would make a difference. Except this time, it does. I can’t help but violently shudder as I stumbled back, reeling from the sudden shock of falling to my death. I don’t know if it was murder or suicide, but regardless, I feel the impact as my body hits the ground. My books tumbled out of my arms as I began to hyperventilate.

Oh my God, breathe Ally, BREATHE!

How could I breathe when I feel my neck snapping, but I don’t die right away? How can I breathe when I feel my skull leaking my brains all over the pavement? My vision is getting narrow as I trembled on the floor.

Okayyoujustneedtotakeadeepbreathlikemomtaughtyouinandoutinandoutcountto7holdfor7right?

My thoughts were racing and jumbled, my breathing definitely not slowing down in the slightest. We make eye contact one last time, me and the stupid selfish ghost. He was looking down at me with absolutely no pity or guilt at all. The look he was giving me suggested that if I had just done what he wanted, everything would have been fine.

I closed my eyes and forced myself to take a deep breath, but it didn’t work. I was still hyperventilating, my vision getting spotty. There is someone next to me, maybe another student. Quite frankly, I don’t really know much at this point. I felt someone, someone alive that is, take my hand and help me towards the door.

Yup, this is exactly how I expected my trip to the bookstore to be.

XXX

I woke up in my own bed, my mouth dry. I remember going outside and telling them to give me my purse. I took my Ativan and got back to my residence with the help of someone. I seriously can’t tell you who. Judging from how dark it was, it must be nighttime. Groggily, I sat up and reached for my glass of water instinctively. Except, it’s not there. Because I’m in a dorm, not my house. So, there is no night table with my water. I forced myself to get up and head towards the bathroom.

I washed my face and mouth, taking sips of water as I do. When I looked into the mirror, all I saw was my own pathetically pale face staring back at me. Day 2 and already I failed dad. Goddammit, the school might call my parents to tell them I had a panic attack at the bookstore. How humiliating. Not even a day away from home and I fall apart.

I can’t stop the tears as they fall down my face. I feel like garbage and I know I look like it too. I break down, using the sink as support. I feel like such an idiot. My mom wanted me to take a year off, maybe do some traveling. She probably knew that the stress of being away from home wasn’t going to be great for my stupid anxiety. As the sobs rack my body, someone’s timid knock draws my attention.

Sarah pokes her head into the bathroom, a look of worry on her face. She walked right in and pulled me away from the sink, embracing me.

“I’m here for you, Ally.” That’s all she said, but it strikes me deeply. This girl barely knows me but is here in this stupid bathroom, holding me tightly. Goddamn, how were some people just that good?

So there we stood, in the bathroom. She just held on to me, whispering into my ear and rubbing my back. I couldn’t say or do anything, so I just rested my head on her shoulder until I finally felt okay enough to head back to our room together.

XXX

As expected, I had a voicemail from mom when I bothered to check my phone in the morning. Well, more like afternoon. I stayed in bed all day, wearing my sloth covered PJ bottoms and my favourite hoodie. I basically watched one movie after another, just to keep my mind off things. Sometimes you really needed to take a ‘me day’.

Sarah left after checking to make sure I was feeling better. She said something about getting some good food and better desserts to cheer me up. I gotta do something nice for her after I was feeling better.

I stared at the screen, wondering if I should listen to the voicemail when a text appeared there. I was confused for a minute until I saw it was from Lyn. Then shame filled me, stopping me from opening it. She probably thought it was so lame that I had a panic attack in the stupid bookstore.

So, I ignored it. I didn’t want the only other person on this campus who I knew to think I was some pathetic loser.

Well, that only worked until my phone lit up again, this time with a phone call. I really didn’t want to answer it, so I declined the call.

Sarah walked into the room, holding two huge bags. “Okay, so like, I got some super yum food to help you feel better.”

“You really didn’t have to do that,” I mumbled into my hoodie.

“Sorry? Can’t hear you when mumble like that,” said Sarah. She plopped down on the bed and opened the first bag, pulling out a bunch of Taco Bell. The second bag had cupcakes and mini cheesecakes in it. I couldn’t believe that she did all this just for me.

She handed me a handful of Taco Bell things. I wasn’t even sure what most of it was, since my parents and I rarely ate fast food like this. But my God, it smelled amazing. I opened one up and took a tentative bite. It was so good right now. It was like Sarah knew I just needed some junk, just salty goodness.

“Yas! I like, was hoping that would work,” she said triumphantly. She noticed my phone was vibrating and picked it up, staring curiously at the screen. “Who’s Lyn? She’s called you like, 3 times. Is she your sister?”

I shook my head, stuffing more in my face. With some difficulty, I swallowed and took my phone back from her. “I just met her the other day. I guess she heard about the whole bookstore incident and wanted to check in…”

“But?”

“But I don’t want her to think less of me…”

Sarah made a disgusted face. “Ally, if someone thinks less of someone because they have anxiety, then they need to like, check themselves. So many people have mental health stuff going on. Like, seriously girl. I think she honestly just wants to make sure you’re okay.”

I stared at my phone, knowing that Sarah was probably right. Still, I wasn’t sure I was ready for that conversation. What was I going to say anyway? Hey, everything is totes fine now. Just had a panic attack because some jerkass ghost demanded I see how he gruesomely died, except didn’t bother to tell me who I was supposed to tell. So yeah, basically went through something extremely traumatic for absolutely no reason at this time. How was your day?

Yeah, that wasn’t going to fly. Instead, I fired off a text that just said, I’m doing okay now. Thanks for checking in. I don’t really feel like talking about it right now.

There. Straightforward and easy. When I got a message from Lyn, this time I opened it. Ok, let me know if u do wanna talk. I’ll be here.

“I guess I should call my mom, huh?” I said, looking over at Sarah, who was attempting to stick a whole mini cheesecake in her mouth.

She smiled unabashedly at me and swallowed. “Oh, I think you like, should, but no pressure. If you need to take time, then like, take your time.”

I gave a little laugh as I handed her a napkin for her face. It felt good to laugh. Sarah laughed too, as she wiped whipped cream off her lips. She handed me a mini cheesecake and we both attempted to shove the whole thing in without making a mess of ourselves. I giggled as I tried very hard not to make a mess, only to end up smearing a whole streak of chocolate sauce on my face somehow.

Sarah wasn’t much better off, with whipped cream on her nose this time. We ended up taking silly photos of each other and drank a ton of the pop she brought from Taco Bell. We ate and joked around for the next little while, until I finally worked up enough courage to listen to my mom’s voicemail. I excused myself and told her I was going to make the call.

I sat outside, the afternoon sun warm on my face. I don’t love the idea of making this call out in the open, but I didn’t want to kick Sarah out of her room either. It is what it is, I guess. I opened up my voicemail and listened to mom’s message.

“Hey, baby. How are you doing? Dad and I got the call and I just wanted to make sure that you’re doing better? Was there something that triggered it? Or did it just happen out of the blue? Either way, just call me back so I know you’re doing better now. Love you, Alexandra. Bye-bye.”

I scrolled to my mom’s name on the call list and hit call, listening to my phone ring in my ear. She picked up after the third ring. “Hello? Alexandra, is that you, baby?”

“It’s me, mom.”

“Thank goodness! Are you okay?” I could hear the concern dripping from her tone.

“I’m doing fine, yeah.”

“Okay, I’m glad to hear it. Can you tell me what happened?”

This was the part I wanted to avoid but knew I couldn’t. I shifted to get more comfortable and told my mom everything that happened. I wanted her to understand that everything about the whole situation was basically non-consensual. If I had the choice, I never would have spoken to that stupid preppy ghost in the first place. I wondered if my dad was listening in as I explained it all. I honestly hoped he wasn’t.

There was silence at the other end while I waited for mom to take it all in. I didn’t realize I was holding my breath until mom said, “Okay.”

I sighed in relief.

“It sounds like that was…different? They’ve never done that to you before, right?”

Kind of think of it, no. That was different. Of course, when I was younger, I would just speak to them normally anyway. But that? I’ve never had a ghost do that to me, ever. I’ve never felt so violated before. It was strange…

After talking to mom a bit longer, I finally hung up and laid in the grass, looking up at the clouds. Was there something about this area that made them stronger, maybe? I really shouldn’t be thinking too much about it, but I also didn’t want that to happen again. Maybe I could walk down to the store tomorrow and see if they had anything that warded off spirits. I might also do some research, just to make sure.

So much for being ‘ordinary’, huh?

#unnatural affairs #ua #original story #original fiction #ally holland #lyn hart #mystery #spooky #ghosts #depiction of death #tw panic attack #sapphic lead #romance

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itsatinylove · 4 years

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Tamlin: After the War

Before the war, the Spring Court fell. After the war, the Spring Court almost ceased to exist. Tamlin, the High Lord of Spring, was still there and amongst the ruined lands and buildings, there were families who were unable to flee, affected by the devastations their court had experienced. It is time to rebuild.

Warnings: Tamlin's POV + a little bit smutty + Takes place after #ACOFAS, spoilers may be included.

I do not own this image.

CHAPTER 1

Tamlin felt the chair threaten to collapse underneath his weight, but he was too tired to move. His limbs ached with every movement, causing the chair to croak even louder. Even if the chair collapsed, he would likely allow it and collapse alongside it. It would be easier than standing up and much easier than skinning his latest catch.

A rabbit no larger than a house cat lay across the kitchen counter. While rabbit was not his favourite meat, it strolled into the house with a broken leg, its eyes wide with fear and pain and Tamlin decided to put it out of its misery. It was a bonus that he did not have to hunt any more today.

But the thought of skinning the rabbit, preparing its meat, cooking and then eating it seemed like far too much effort. Starvation often seemed like a better option these days.

Snapping him out of his thoughts, he heard light footsteps enter his home. He needed to remember to repair his broken down wards, but then again, he didn't care who entered his home.

It wasn't Rhysand, not again. It wasn't Lucien either. It was lighter. Quicker.

And then he heard a female scream.

Tamlin rushed out of the kitchen and into his foyer to find a female faerie trembling in the corner, in front of her, a grey wolf baring its yellow teeth. The wolf's growl echoed to the house.

The faerie and the wolf turned to look at Tamlin, one set of eyes filled with fear and the other set were the eyes of a predator.

Tamlin transformed into a beast, a form he was more comfortable in lately. He matched the wolf's growl, deep and low, preparing for a fight that will no doubt, end with him burying the wolf. The wolf bowed and fled the manor. He was relieved, he had had enough of death.

The faerie remained in the corner. Silent, but he could still hear her heartbeat racing. He transformed back into his skin, his eyes traveling over her.

She was not entirely high fae. She was shorter than the average female fae and her ears were slightly longer. Her big eyes were darker than the night sky, but still, they were filled with fear. A look Tamlin was all too familiar with.

She was grasping her left arm with blood leaking through the fingertips on her right hand.

Tamlin walked towards her and she attempted a step back, pushing herself deeper into the corner. Tears threatening at the corners of her eyes.

He raised his arms in surrender and walked away, "Follow me to the infirmary, I can heal your arm there."

To his surprise, he heard her racing heart follow him.

He sat down on the stool beside the small medicine cabinet, hoping it made him seem less threatening. Slowly, she released her hand and offered her still bleeding arm to him.

As gently as he could manage, he cleaned the wound. It wasn't caused by the teeth or claws of the wolf.

"I fell." She whispered, wincing as he disinfected the wound. Her body was still trembling.

Tamlin nodded and gestured his large hand across the wound. Her tan skin instantly healed. The touch of her skin tickled his senses. It had been months since he'd seen anyone, friend or foe.

With wide eyes, she bowed slightly, "Thank you, Lord Tamlin."

Tamlin shook his head and left the room, leading her back towards the open front door, "There's no need for that."

The faerie followed him out of the room and stopped at the doorway to the kitchen. She stared into the kitchen at the dead rabbit still sprawled across the table.

"I could prepare that for you, or clean up a bit, to say thank you." She said, her chin raised.

Tamlin sighed and shook his head once more, "There's no need for that either."

She looked around the manor, noticing the wreckage that he once called a home. The furniture was either broken or scattered across the room. The floors were dusty. The vines that once covered the outside of the manor, now crept inside. The windows and doors were either open or shattered and a cool breeze constantly made its way through the manor. Whistling. Laughing. Howling.

"No offense, my Lord, but there does seem to be a need for some cleaning," she rolled up her shredded sleeves and walked into the kitchen, "And I don't accept favors."

Tamlin sat down on the same chair he so reluctantly stood up from earlier and watched as this female skillfully skinned the rabbit in two swift moves. His eyes searched her hands for signs of scars or calluses. There were none. Her build was small, too dainty to be a warrior, at least not a successful one.

Noticing his focused stare while she sliced chunks of meat into cubes, she mumbled, "I'm kitchen staff, or, I was."

"From where?"

She bit her lip and turned her back to him to light the stove fire, tossing the meat in some spices while the oil heated.

"From where?" he asked again, his voice edging on a growl.

"The Court of Nightmares." She said as her voice was drowned out by the sound of sizzling meat.

CHAPTER 2

Tamlin launched out of the chair once more, his right arm gripping both of her arms against her body and his left claw threatening at her neck, “What are you doing here?”

His deep voice rumbled through her, “Please,” she whimpered, “Please, don’t hurt me.”

Tamlin released a low growl as he felt the fear inside her, “What are you doing here?” he asked again.

“I don’t know, the door was open, that wolf was chasing me and I was inside your house before I could decide what to do next.”

Aside from her already escalated heart rate, Tamlin could sense that she was not lying. Slowly, he retracted his claws and backed away, “You’re a far way away from home.”

“That’s not my home, it never was,” she exhaled, stirring the meat. The smell of the cooked meat made Tamlin salivate. It had been months since he had a proper meal. “Please don’t send me back, please don’t tell him that I am here. I ran away after the war, while the borders were open, while everyone was still distracted. I have been on the run ever since.”

Tamlin noticed her clothes were filthy, her face was gaunt, not for fear, but for a lack of eating, a lack of sleeping. He settled back into the chair, “Why did you run away? I hear the Night Court is not as bad as I once thought it was.”

“Perhaps,” she said, plating the hot meat and setting it down in front of him, “But the Court of Nightmares doesn’t get the same treatment the rest of the court gets, least of all Velaris.”

Tamlin resisted the urge to eat as a million questions flooded his brain at once.

“Eat, while it’s still hot.” she said firmly and Tamlin found himself picking up a piece of meat and throwing it into his mouth.

The tender meat melted in his mouth and before he could swallow, his mouth demanded more. He grabbed a few more pieces and shoved them into his mouth. The corner of the female fae’s mouth turned upward into the slightest smile before she quickly turned around and fried the rest of the meat.

She filled his plate once more and he kept eating, he had barely taken a break to breathe. Perhaps rabbit meat wasn’t that bad after all. She plated the last of the meat and offered it to him. Her thin arms reminding him of his manners.

He cleared his throat, swallowing the last of the garlic and peppery taste that lingered in his mouth, “You,” he gestured to the chair on the other side of the table, the chair shifted outwards. She sat down quickly and he pushed the plate towards her, “Eat.”

She protested but Tamlin heard her stomach growl in response. Her cheeks reddened. He pushed the plate towards her once more.

“Thank you, Lord Tamlin.”

“You need a kingdom to be a Lord and my kingdom barely exists, please, call me Tamlin,” he said, leaning back into the chair, resisting the urge to rub his belly, “What should I call you?”

“Kaira.” She mumbled in between chewing. She ate quickly as if the food may escape.

Tamlin stared at her, watching her every move. He watched her jaw as she chewed, her throat as she swallowed. He watched her small fingers pick up each piece of meat. But mostly, he watched her eyes, trying to make sense of why she was here and whether he had it in him to send her back out there, with no weapons.

Her eyes stayed focused on the food and when she reached the last piece, he waited for her to look up at him. She licked her lips slowly, savouring the flavoured grease and looked up at him.

Her eyes were wide, waiting for him to say something. He knew he couldn’t send her out there. Alone. There were monsters in the woods that had on occasion, nearly killed him. Plus, as a female, she had the added threat of fae males. “Stay the night. There’s plenty of room. Finding a bed that isn’t covered in dust and rubble might be a challenge.”

“Thank you.” was all she said before standing up quickly and washing the dishes.

Tamlin sat for a while longer, watching her move around the kitchen, the fullness in his stomach making his body heavy.

Suddenly, he awoke as a splash of cold liquid splattered across his face. He growled loudly and watched the female fae retreat against the kitchen wall, an empty jug in her hand.

“You were having a nightmare.”

“That’s none of your business.” Tamlin growled again, wiping his sleeve across his face. He stood up, aware of how he hovered above her and how her heart rate increased.

She looked around quickly, “You were wrecking the kitchen, I was afraid you might bring the whole house down.”

Tamlin looked around and noticed the shattered plates and mugs. Pots and pants were lying across the floor and the cupboard doors that had remained fixed to the cupboards were now blown off their hinges.

His nightmares have become increasingly worse and so have the physical effects. Gone were the days where he would wake up and vomit out every bad thought and feeling. The vomit had been replaced with uncontrollable power shredding everything around him and he had no idea how to stop it.

“I won’t do it again.” She said quickly, the jug shaking in her hand.

Tamlin loosed a breath and said quietly, “It’s okay, just glad one of the pots didn’t hit you in the head.”

“I am very fast,” She said confidently, “Although that cake dish came really close.”

A smile crept onto Tamlin’s face, an unfamiliar feeling. He nodded politely, turned around and went to his bedroom.

CHAPTER 3

As usual, Tamlin tossed and turned, unable to find a peaceful sleep. Whenever he awoke, he swept his senses through his manor and sensed Kaira in the second floor bedroom, before falling back asleep.

As the morning sun reached his bedroom, he awoke once more, and searched for her. The bedroom was empty. He swept through the manor quickly, sensing her presence in the kitchen.

He bathed and pulled on a clean set of clothes, after all, he had company. It was improper for a High Lord to wear clothes soaked in blood and soil.

The small kitchen table was already set. A cup of steaming coffee on one end and a plate of pancakes.

"I am sorry, I didn't have much to work with. Your pantry is quite empty." She said quickly, "But I found some honey."

Tamlin shook his head and gestured casually, "You didn't have to cook."

"I like to earn my keep. I told you, I don't accept favours."

Tamlin scrutinised her clothing. They were of Night Court fashion, albeit torn and worn from her months on the run.

"I would like to offer you my services as kitchen staff. I can cook and clean and help you clear out the rest of..." she gestured to the rest of the house.

"I have no money, which is why I have no staff." Tamlin said easily, drizzling honey on a pancake before rolling it up.

"I require only a safe space to sleep."

"Sounds like slavery." He said, shoving two pancakes into his mouth. It would be nice to have pancakes every morning, and a clean house.

"Pay me when you can." She countered, leaning against the table, meeting Tamlin's steady stare.

Tamlin closed his eyes as the sticky honey travelled along his taste buds. Seduced by the idea of prepared meals, he agreed. "Fine. But you're not my servant. You're just helping me out. And I will pay you."

She nodded quickly, turning around to start cleaning the kitchen.

"Sit down, have a pancake, the house has been in ruins for months, it can last another ten minutes," he said, in between gulping down the hot coffee. He didn't care that his mouth was stinging from the heat, the coffee was dark and sweet, exactly as he liked it. "One of the closets upstairs will have clothing that should fit you. Help yourself to it."

Kaira smiled at Tamlin. A genuine smile. A smile of gratitude. Tamlin nodded awkwardly, unaware of how to receive it. He shoved another pancake into his mouth.

A few days went by and each morning, he was presented with coffee and pancakes, which they ate together in silence. As soon as they finished, Kaira would start cleaning and Tamlin would leave, to survey the damage to his court and hunt something she could prepare for dinner.

He crawled through the woods in his fae form quietly, towards a deer rustling in the bushes, unaware of his presence, unaware that it would die. He transformed into the beast the animals feared and lunged towards its throat, killing it instantly.

He carried the deer towards the centre of his court. His heart ached at the ruin. Empty homes stood tall. Vendors' stalls were ravaged. There was nothing left in Spring Court. The flowers refused to bloom and the grass refused to grow.

Tamlin knocked on one of the doors and a female faerie opened up quickly, "Lord Tamlin," she beamed, eyeing the deer on his shoulder, "Come inside, please. Elisa please put on the kettle."

"I won't be staying," Tamlin responded, "Thank you for the offer." He offloaded the deer onto the table and smiled slightly as he watched the three children's excitement.

"This is too much."

"Please share it then, with Eric, from across the way. I will be sure to bring some more as soon as I can." Tamlin said, and with a quick bow, he left. He couldn't bear to see the gratitude in their eyes when he knew that all this destruction could have been avoided. He didn't have time to linger on it. There were more families to feed, more animals to hunt.

He walked into one of the few active vendor stalls, the owner perking up immediately and bowing, Tamlin nodded politely.

"I need some basic pantry items," Tamlin said as he looked across the limited shelves, "I have no money, but I could trade you these rabbits."

The shop owner shook his head almost violently, "No, my Lord, please, take anything you need, you have done enough for my family."

"One rabbit, for your trouble."

The shop owner took the rabbit and mumbled his appreciation until Tamlin left the store with a box of eggs, flour and some other essentials the shop owner so kindly recommended.

He returned home to find Kaira standing on a chair, shearing the vines off the inside of the dining hall. Of the two walls that were initially covered in vines, only a handful remained on one of them.

"Do you mind getting the corners?" she said stretching up to the corners, her hand still a far way away, "Oh, you brought eggs!" She jumped off the chair was elbow deep in the box within seconds, "Eggs, rice, flour, salt," she squealed with delight, "Tonight, we feast!"

Tamlin smiled slightly, unable to hide his excitement at the meal she was bound to create. He swept his hand across the walls and all remnants of vines disappeared immediately.

She looked up at him, her brows furrowing in the middle of her forehead, "Are you telling me you could have done that this entire time?"

Tamlin stifled a giggle and she flew at him, punching him on the shoulder, "Asshole!" followed by, "Ouch!"

He walked throughout the house, gesturing at the walls, willing the vines to either retreat or disappear. "I forgot I could do that."

Tamlin ran a hand through his golden hair and grunted as his fingers got tangled in the knots. He missed Alis. She used to wash, brush and trim his hair. All he did now was wash it and tie it up in a bun.

Kaira grabbed her chair and dragged it toward him, "Wait here." She ran upstairs and returned with a brush and then ran to the kitchen, returning with some oil, "This has been bothering me since I got here."

She climbed the chair and slathered his hair in oil, gently trying to brush out of the knots and then when that didn't work, she attacked the knots with the brush and Tamlin feared his scalp may pull right off. "It's beyond repair!" She shouted angrily.

"Cut it off, then," he said, wanting anything except for her to continue to try brushing it.

She leapt off the chair and returned with a pair of scissors moments later, "Sit down."

The High Lord of the Spring Court obeyed her and sat quietly as she cut off his long tangled hair. It was comfortable having someone touch him, talk to him, it almost made him forget how everything had changed.

"Perfect!" She exclaimed and pulled him towards the mirror in the living room. He stared at his reflection. It had been centuries since his hair was cropped short. His eyes wandered to Kaira's reflection. Her black hair was long, pulled into a bun similarly to the way his had been. Her cheeks were fuller than when he first laid eyes on her. Her eyes still black, reminding him once again of the night. The Night Court.

"What did you mean when you said the Night Court does not care for the Court of Nightmares, isn't it the same thing? I have heard plenty of things about the secret city of Velaris, since it had been exposed." Tamlin said, thinking back to when Lucien first arrived back in the Spring Court, gushing about the secret city of Velaris, indirectly gushing about the manner in which Rhysand ruled.

"The Court of Nightmares refers only to Hewn City and does not fall under the ruling of Lord Rhysand, it does, but he doesn't seem to exercise that rule." She said, rubbing her hands through his hair to loosen the stray cut hairs.

He resisted the urge to purr, suddenly understanding why cats always presented him with their bellies, "I don't understand."

"Hewn City is ruled by Keir, The Morrigan's father." She continued, making eye contact with him in the mirror.

"Why?"

"It's where all the monsters live. It's where Nightmares are created. Rhysand sent them there to live by their own rules, protecting the rest of his precious court, especially Velaris." She spat.

"You don't seem like a monster." He leaned back into her hand, hoping she'd continue brushing her hands through it.

"I was born in Hewn City. My mother was exiled there after having an affair with a married high fae. I was the product." She ran her fingers along his scalp, scratching softly and Tamlin exhaled loudly. His mind spinning with this information and the sensation travelling through his scalp.

"You couldn't leave?" he managed, resting his eyes for a moment.

"Keir wouldn't let me." Her fingers froze, "I was his..." she hesitated, pulling her fingers out of his hair, "One of his playthings. Against my will."

Tamlin's eyes shot open just in time to see her leave the room.

CHAPTER 4 - Kaira

It had been a few weeks since Kaira exposed that piece of her history to Tamlin. The shame still clung to her skin, everywhere where his hands had been. She wished desperately she could wipe the memory away.

She willingly allowed herself to be drugged, knowing what would happen next. The drug, at least, helped her escape the body that she had no control over. The one time she refused the spiked drinked, she experienced everything and now, she still remembered screaming. She remembered kicking. She remembered everything.

She saw the way Tamlin looked at her. His eyes filled with pity. She didn’t need his pity. She survived Keir. She survived Hewn City.

Her mother always told her the same thing, No one is coming.

It was then that she realised she didn’t need saving. She would save herself. She had only ever had herself to rely on. No one is coming.

Pulled from her thoughts she heard the floors creak as he slowly approached, clearing his throat in preparation of the few words he would use to address her. “Good morning, Kaira.”

She smiled to herself. Three words. He must have slept well. “Good morning, Tamlin,” she replied, rinsing her hands before drying them with a kitchen towel, “You’re up earlier than usual, breakfast isn’t quite ready yet.”

Tamlin looked down at her, shifting his weight from one foot to the other. Kaira knew her presence equally comforted and frightened him, much as his did to her. “Sit, it won’t be long. You can have your coffee in the meantime.”

She brewed a fresh cup of coffee and placed it in front of him, he nodded quickly. A man of little to no words. She preferred it that way, it meant she could do all the talking.

She turned her back to him and faced the stove, cracking the eggs into the pan and watching them carefully, but not as carefully as he watched her. She felt his eyes on her.

She had heard rumours about the High Lord of Spring. She had heard about the beast that lurked within him. The rage. The lightning fast reflexes. She had heard that he was handsome. He was everything rumoured and more.

She set the eggs down in front of him and as expected, her chair shifted outward. His invitation to join him for breakfast was always open, but unspoken. “Could I use your library?”

Tamlin met her gaze and nodded quietly, “Of course. You’re welcome to anything in the house.”

“It’s locked.”

“After breakfast.” He mumbled in between forkfuls of eggs and fresh bread. She couldn’t help but smile. Tamlin always ate as if it were the most delicious meal he had ever tasted.

He led her to the library in the middle of the second floor and unlocked it, handing her the key. The walls were lined with books from top to bottom. Dust settled on every open surface.

Kaira ran up to the shelves. It would take her months, or years to read every book available. A treasure trove of knowledge and places to escape to. “Is there a ladder?”

Tamlin shrugged and shook his head, “No. I never needed one.” A smug smile playing on his lips.

Kaira narrowed her eyes at him, “Well, you’re helping me build a ladder or I will be disturbing you every hour to come and help me reach a book.”

A soft laugh escaped him, his green eyes sparkling, “I will get you a ladder.” His eyes shot to the desk in the room and within a second, he was at the desk, shoving a small brown leather notebook into his jacket pocket.

Kaira knew her place and usually she wouldn’t ask, but the High Lord’s cheeks were flushed and she couldn’t resist teasing him, “What’s that?”

“Nothing,” He grumbled, straightening his jacket, no doubt willing the colour out of the cheeks.

“Doesn’t seem like nothing. Does the High Lord of Spring enjoy reading smut?” She asked playfully, “Don’t hide the smut from me, I can handle it.”

“The High Lord of Spring enjoys writing smut,” He answered, his face breaking into a smile as his cheeks, once again, reddened, “But, there’s some smut up there,” he pointed to the top shelf, “If you can reach it.” Before he turned around and left.

Chapter 5

Rhysand, as usual, ignored the front door and winnowed into kitchen. Tamlin found himself relieved that Kaira was still asleep, he quickly threw his magic through the house, concealing her as best he could while maintaining eye contact with The High Lord of the Night Court. The High Lord that left Kaira hopelessly alone in the Court of Nightmares.

"Nice hairdo." Rhysand said in way of greeting.

Tamlin inhaled slowly, feeling his temper rise. "What do you want this time?"

"Came to see how you were doing, making sure you eat your monthly meal. Just being a good friend, since I know Lucien hasn't been visiting." Rhysand drawled, inspecting the clean kitchen, "Have you got company?"

"Get out." Tamlin ordered as he felt his claws pushing against his knuckles.

"Is that how you treat your only friend?" Rhysand replied with a smile, "I came to share good news, that's what friends do, isn't it?"

Usually Tamlin would let Rhysand ride out whatever it is he needed to. Often times it was the simplest of insults. Other times he felt Rhysand's power creeping out, threatening to strangle him. However, Tamlin sensed that Kaira was waking up. Her energy shifting around her bedroom.

"Make it quick, Rhysand, I have places to be." Families to feed, thank to you and your mate, he thought, but now was not the time to fight. He needed Rhysand to leave before Kaira came downstairs. His magic wouldn't conceal her from exposing herself and he couldn't lock her in her bedroom. He'd learned his lesson when it came to locking people inside, even for their own protection.

"Feyre and I will be welcoming a beautiful baby boy soon. All the High Lords are invited to the blessing of the birth, as per the tradition. Consider this your invitation and keep yourself available on the eve of the new moon." Rhysand's lips curled upward, exposing his straight, white teeth. It was technically a smile, but it brought no joy. Not to Tamlin, at least.

Tamlin caught his breath at the news and took a few seconds to control his voice, "Congratulations and as per the traditions, I will try my best to be there. Now if you don't mind," he said, standing up and escorting Rhysand towards the door, "I have places to be."

"I'll leave the way I arrived." Was all he said before winnowing out of the manor.

When he was out of earshot, Tamlin felt his aggression climb through his chest and escape his mouth in a roar. He heard glass shatter, but he kept roaring.

Feyre and Rhysand would be welcoming a baby boy. A life that could have been his. Should have been his.

Moments later Kaira appeared downstairs, in nothing but a dressing gown, armed with a contraption she fashioned out of an old milk bottle, a sponge and a spring. She would fill it with water and spray it at him from afar, whenever he had a violent nightmare.

"I'm fine." He growled.

"House says otherwise." She replied, lowering her water shooter, gesturing at the mess he'd created.

He glowered, silently. His mind racing through the news he had received and whether he could find a way to miss the ceremony.

"What was Lord Rhysand doing here?" she asked, tightening the belt on her gown. Her long hair was loose, falling in curls on either shoulder, meeting in her exposed cleavage. He lowered his gaze. "I could sense him, but thank you for the concealment spell, I don't think he sensed me."

"He wouldn't, he was too distracted by his own gloating." Tamlin replied, swiftly gesturing at the mess and sweeping it into a pile in the corner.

She raised an eyebrow at him expectantly, tapping her foot. Tamlin nearly smirked at her audacity.

"He was here to formally invite me to the blessing of his upcoming offspring."

She stood quietly for a moment and Tamlin turned to face her, "Are you going to go?"

"It's tradition for all the High Lords to be present." Tamlin said, his jaw tightening on every syllable.

"You should go."

"Why?" he grunted.

"It will make them uncomfortable and I think that's a good enough reason." She replied, a smile spreading across her pretty face. "In other, more important news, if you're interested, I have a few ideas on how you can help your court. I don't mean to overstep."

Tamlin looked at her expectedly, aware that she'd launch into an explanation whether or not he asked for it.

"You may not have money, but you have treasures. As you know, I cleaned out your basement last night and found collections of jewels and jewellery that would make even the richest of fae swoon. You have paintings painted by High Lords. You have skulls belonging to Yechins."

"What's your point?" Tamlin asked aggressively, his temper still coming down from interacting with the High Lord of the Night Court.

"I bet Lord Helion would love a painting painted by his mother. Amren would pay anything for those jewels. And the skull, there are healers in the Day Court who use it as part of enchantments. It's the reason Yechins are extinct."

Tamlin looked at the Kaira sitting across from him, her hands waving wildly as she spoke, "I didn't even know any of that was down there. My parents never got a chance to tell me what any of it was worth."

She sat quietly, surveying him in the same way he surveyed her moments before. "Mine didn't either. My mother was dead before I hit puberty. It's all in your library. Don't you read?"

Tamlin looked up quickly to see a playful smile spread across her face and against his better judgment. He smiled back. "My apologies for not having a moment to read when I was learning how to rule an entire court, as a young boy, after my parents were brutally murdered in front of me."

Her eyes flashed with sorrow and regret.

"I'm sorry, I'm joking, I mean it happened, but it was centuries ago." Tamlin stuttered.

"You're not good at telling jokes." She said, the smile returning for a moment, "Centuries or not, I'm sorry for your loss."

"I'm sorry for yours." He replied.

"Anyway, come and see what I have done." She stood up and walked away, her dressing gown hugging her hips. Her barefeet stepping without making a sound.

Tamlin followed without question as she led him to the basement that he had not entered in years. She waited at the door for him to unlock it, as he had done the night before for her. He wrapped his hand around the lock and felt it pierce his skin. His blood trickled into the lock and the door creaked open. Instead of sniffing in the smell of mold as he had the previous night, the basement smelled of lavender and detergent.

He stepped inside. Kaira had rearranged everything, dusted everything and polished everything. The items that were once piled on top of each other had been arranged in rows, small pieces of paper stuck on each of them.

"I tried a cataloging them. Whoever organized it before did a great job. It took me a while to figure out their methods, but once I cracked it, it made perfect sense. The name of each item. The date obtained. The estimated value. It's all here."

"My mother." Tamlin whispered, leaning down to observe a Yecchin skull.

"Your mother what?"

"My mother used to spend her days down here." Tamlin lifted the skull, "Is it just the one?"

"You have three." She replied, grabbing his wrist and pulling him towards the opposite end of the basement. Her hands were small, barely wrapping around his own wrist, but she was determined, pulling him with a force he could not deny. "Look at these paintings?" she pointed at each of them, "Painted by one of High Lords of Autumn. Painted by Lord Helion's mother. Painted by The High Priestess Parreeah."

"They are beautiful."

"I know, I wish we could hang them in the dining hall instead, but one painting could feed a hundred families for a month." She said, gently touching the frame of one of the paintings, "This was my mother's favourite flower."

Tamlin stared at the black flower that only grew in the darkness. "The Creha flower born in the Night Court."

"I wish I could paint." She said, her eyes caressing each painting as if she were able to appreciate each stroke.

"I find myself being glad that you can't." He smirked.

CHAPTER 6

Tamlin cautiously approached the Summer Court boundary. Aware that as soon as he set foot across the border, they would sense his presence.

Approaching Lord Tarquin seemed to be the best choice. Summer had always allied with Spring and Lord Tarquin was a young Lord eager to build relationships with other High Lords. While Tamlin may not be the High Lord he was hoping for, he seemed to have the same values and ultimately want the same goal, whether or not he believed Tamlin felt the same way.

As expected, two guards arrived the instant he crossed the border and led him to Tarquin's estate.

"To what do I owe the pleasure?" Tarquin greeted as his sentries escorted Tamlin into his receiving room.

Tamlin bowed his head slightly, "Tarquin."

"Please, sit down. May I offer you some tea? Or something harder?"

"A cup of tea is fine, thank you." Tamlin sat down in the offered chair as Tarquin gestured for his servants to prepare the tea. The tea arrived almost instantly.

"I will get straight to it," Tamlin started, "You must be aware that my court is struggling. Thousands of families were left homeless before the war had begun, a thousand more after the war ended. Male fae who supported their families lost their lives or limbs and my court needs money to rebuild. More than money. But money is a good start."

Tarquin quietly listened, his eyes kind and soft, "We are also rebuilding after the war and while I don't have much to spare, I will help in whichever way I can."

"I'm not here for charity."

"Call it a loan then." Tarquin replied sternly.

"I have come to make a sale. I believe you might be interested in a painting of the rare deep sea creature, Tiloper." Tamlin started explaining as he had earlier rehearsed in front of Kaira.

"The Tiloper has only been seen by a handful of people, all of which are members of my family." Tarquin replied quickly.

Tamlin waved in the air and the painting appeared. Tarquin's gasp was audible.

"Gifted to Spring, to my mother, by your cousin, Wessem."

"Poor sod, he was in love with your mother until the day she died,” Tarquin smiled, “You're selling your mother's treasures? Her gifts?" His brows furrowed.

"For the sake of my people, she'd have it no other way."

"I'll take it." He replied, his lips curving into a smile. A smile that Tamlin could reciprocate.

The High Lord of Summer, along with Tamlin's asking price for more than one painting, gifted him with tools, wood and stone, to aid the rebuild of the shattered homes. He also promised to send workers as soon as his cities have been rebuilt.

Tamlin arrived at his manor, a rare smile spread across his face as he already smelled the stewed lamb.

Upon nearing the manor, he sensed another presence. Kaira was not alone.

Lucien.

He entered the dining hall and found his old friend and emissary, Lucien seated at one end of the newly repaired dining table. Kaira was quietly seated on the other end.

Lucien turned to face Tamlin, he raised an eyebrow towards Kaira, "What is this?"

"Who."

Lucien raised both eyebrows.

"Kaira is a guest of mine. She's free to come and go as she pleases."

"Where did she come from?" he asked.

"I don't enjoy being spoken of as if I'm not in the room." Kaira snapped and Tamlin stifled a laugh, shaking his head slightly. Lucien looked at Kaira, a smirk spreading across his face, "I like you."

Kaira smiled. The same smile that Tamlin could not resist, he watched as Lucien smiled back at her.

"I'm needed in the kitchen, please excuse me." Kaira announced, standing up quickly.

"Do I want to know?" Lucien asked, his metal eye swiveling around to watch Kaira rush towards the kitchen.

"Stay for dinner." Tamlin said, pulling out a seat and settling into it, "I am aware of the upcoming baby, you no longer need to avoid me."

Lucien flinched, "I wasn't…" he stumbled, both eyes suddenly focused on a deep claw mark in the dining table.

Tamlin shrugged, "I have good news. Say you'll stay."

Lucien swallowed and nodded gently. Tamlin waved toward the table, the lamb stew appeared, along with three sets of crockery and cutlery. Kaira entered the room with wine and glasses. She hesitated at the table and Tamlin gestured towards the third dining set. She sat down quietly, fiddling with her hair, "My apologies, I hadn't a moment to neaten my appearance…"

"You look… Nice." Tamlin mumbled and Lucien smirked, his eyes darting between Kaira and the High Lord of Spring. Kaira's cheeks reddened slightly.

"I have gold." Tamlin announced, "Not an enormous amount and nothing near to what I lost, but enough to sustain a few families for the year, if spent wisely."

Lucien sat back in his seat, his frown line deeping while chewing. "I would recommend you start with families along the Autumn border. They are the most vulnerable given their location."

Tamlin nodded, "I agree. It would help if I had someone to help me get things back in order. As you know, I am not the best at communicating my intentions."

"You should hire someone." Lucien replied distractedly while helping himself to another serving.

"That is exactly what I am trying to do."

Lucien stopped mid chew. "Oh."

Tamlin shook his head, "It's fine. I understand."

"I'll do it." Lucien quickly replied, "But I'm not coming back to Spring. I'll do it as a friend, if you'll have me."

Tamlin nodded, his eyes lighting up in a way Kaira had never seen before. She smiled inwardly as she finished her plate.

CHAPTER 7 - Kaira

Kaira awoke to the smell of freshly baked bread. She jumped out of bed. If Tamlin was trying to bake again, there was a good chance the kitchen would be on fire. She took the stairs two at a time, and landed loudly on the floor, sprinting her way to the kitchen.

She reached the kitchen and skidded to a halt. There were two faeries in the kitchen. One female and one male faerie, both with pale skin and deep blue hair pinned back. They turned around to look at Kaira and she prepared herself to run.

"Ms. Kaira, please have a seat at the dining table. Lord Tamlin is waiting. Breakfast will be served in a minute." The female faerie explained happily, her round eyes were friendly and Kaira felt herself relax, slightly.

She trudged her way to the dining hall and found the High Lord of Spring slouched lazily in his chair, his fingers gently caressing the scars he'd left in the table as if remembering the reason behind each and every one of them.

"Good morning." Kaira announced with a bow.

Tamlin raised an eyebrow at her, "Morning, sit. I'm starving."

Kaira sat in the chair extended to her. Her hands folded neatly in her lap as the pale faeries brought scrambled eggs, freshly baked bread and hot coffee. Tamlin thanked and excused them.

Kaira stared at the food and Tamlin stared at her curiously. "Are you okay?"

"Are you firing me?" she asked suddenly. Her eyes focused on her lap.

Tamlin's brows folded in a crease, "What?"

"You hired kitchen staff. I'm your kitchen staff. Or I was. Are you firing me? Did I do something to upset you?" she asked, her voice nearing breaking point. Deceiving her as she tried to maintain a mask of coolness that the high fae so easily managed.

Tamlin sighed loudly and shook his head, "No, of course not. I can afford kitchen staff with everything we have sold and I figured you may not want to live as my servant."

"What am I supposed to do now? Where am I supposed to go?" Kaira asked, her voice just an octave higher than a whisper.

Tamlin pulled her chair toward him, "Kaira, look at me," She looked up at his green eyes, "You can stay or go, but I'd like it if you stayed. Help the staff. Walk the grounds. Fix my furniture. Do whatever you want, because you want to, not because you're paying me for a place to rest your head."

Kaira nodded, entranced by his eyes, by the High Lord's kindness, by the fact that most of the time he only spoke a handful of words to her. "If I'm not needed in the kitchen, then let me hunt. For the families who can't do it themselves."

Tamlin straightened his back, "Can you hunt?"

Kaira shook her head, "I can try."

"Can you use a bow and arrow?"

She shook her head again, "But I'm really good with a knife, and I'm quick."

"That I have seen," Tamlin breathed, concern etched across his face, "But a knife requires you to get extremely close and I would rather not purposefully put you in harm's way."

Kaira felt a warmth rush into her cheeks as it did whenever the High Lord said anything kind directed at her. She brushed it away. "I just want to be useful."

He nodded thoughtfully. "I can teach you how to use a bow and arrow, and how to build snares. We can start after breakfast. I promised a few families meat before the end of the day."

Kaira saw the exhaustion in his eyes, in the way his muscular shoulders slouched. She knew, from the screaming, that he still had nightmares. Most times a simple spray of her water shooter would wake him and he'd fall asleep after complaining about her methods.

After breakfast, Tamlin grabbed a bow and arrow and dragged her into the woods. She stayed close to him, a sense of safety surrounding his body. No animal dared attack the male who so clearly had a beast lurking beneath his skin.

Tamlin stuck out an arm, stopping her in her tracks, he glanced at her quickly and put a finger to his lips before pointing into the distance.

She followed his finger and saw a rabbit, much like the size of the rabbit that she prepared for him on the night they met. He took a step behind her, careful not to make a sound and positioned the bow in front of her.

She held the bow the way she'd seen others hold a bow and felt Tamlin's hand adjust her position. His calloused fingers rubbing against her soft skin. She reminded herself to focus.

Carefully, he drew the bow, leaning down and placing his head on her shoulder, he closed one of his eyes and whispered playfully, his breath sending a shiver down her back, "Aim for the rabbit."

She felt her lips curl into a smile before inhaling deeply, focusing on the rabbit and releasing the arrow.

The arrow landed less than a foot away from her and the rabbits sprawled. Tamlin, to her surprise, threw his head back and laughed loudly. His deep laugh echoing throughout the woods.

"You're scaring off all the animals." Kaira whispered aggressively.

Tamlin contained his laughter, but the smile remained on his handsome face, "Let's try again."

"Asshole."

"Lord Asshole to you." He replied and she found herself giggling.

After hours of attempts and failures, Kaira landed an arrow in the head of a rabbit. She jumped in celebration, startling a flock of nearby birds.

"Come and collect your trophy." Tamlin called out and she ran toward the rabbit.

Upon reaching it, she was struck by the rabbit's still open eyes. She dropped to her knees and felt its warm body. A body that had a life just moments ago. Taken by her arrow.

Tamlin's heavy arms wrapped around her as he sunk to the ground alongside her. Scooping her closer towards him. "It's okay, it's okay." He whispered as he gently wiped her tears away.

Kaira hadn't even realized she had been crying. "It doesn't feel okay."

"I remember my first kill.” Tamlin replied, “Come with me." He pulled her to her feet walked her back towards her horse. He lifted her onto the horse and transformed into his golden beast. He ran ahead and the horse followed as it was trained to do.

They reached the city centre and Tamlin quickly fell back into his own skin. He gently led the horse through a run down part of town where every house was a shade of mud brown or concrete grey.

He knocked gently and a faerie male opened the door, leaning on a walking stick, "My Lord, please come in."

Tamlin gestured for Kaira to enter first and then followed after with the rabbit in hand.

A gaunt female faerie eyed the rabbit and Tamlin handed it to her. "How can we ever thank you enough, my Lord."

Tamlin waved her off and smiled politely.

"Mummy," a voice cried out from the bedroom, "I'm so hungry."

The female faerie smiled broadly, "Come inside and greet the High Lord and his guest, darling. He brought us some food, mummy will cook it up quickly. Don't you worry." She struggled to skin the rabbit and Kaira stepped forward to offer her assistance. Skinning and slicing the rabbit in a few quick strokes.

The small faerie boy came out of the room, his skin tight around his bones and Kaira swallowed back tears as the little boy's eyes widened in excitement at the meat being presented to him.

"Would you like to join us for dinner, High Lord?" the male faerie asked.

"No, thank you Liyo. I'll bring some more meat tomorrow."

The male faerie bowed his head quickly, "You know we have been trying to grow our own food, but nothing is growing. It's not just us either, none I have spoken to have been able to grow anything. My Lord, we haven't just been waiting…"

Tamlin interrupted him, "I know. I'm aware. I didn't for a second think you were just waiting or expecting me. The lands are not fertile, but I'm working on it." Tamlin stiffened as he received a hug from the little boy, "She caught the rabbit." he said, gesturing to Kaira and the little boy leapt into her arms.

Kaira's throat tightened tighter than the boy's grip on her. Releasing only as Tamlin lifted her to help her back onto her horse. Instead, she wrapped her arms around him. Just for a second. Inhaling his pine scent enjoying the feeling of resting her head on his strong chest. He ran a finger through her hair and she thinks she felt his lips touch the top of her head.

They rode back in complete silence.

CHAPTER 8

"There's a magic rake in Hewn City." Kaira announced over breakfast.

"A magic rake?" Tamlin rubbed his eyes. It was too early for riddles.

"A magic rake. When nothing would grow in the Court of Nightmares, Keir made a deal with someone, I don't know who, and they gave him this rake. We each spent weeks, raking up every piece of land in Hewn and days later, everything we planted grew, even without adequate daylight or adequate water. Two things we were short of at the time." Kaira explained, shaking off the fear that came with the mention of his name.

"You think it will work here?" Tamlin asked, watching her pick at the edges of her nails.

"It's worth a try. Kheir could ask for anything from a pocketed favor to begging on your hands and knees. You won't know until you ask."

Tamlin's stomach recoiled at the thought of willingly entering the Court of Nightmares.

"He doesn't need the rake anymore. There's been a constant supply of fruit and vegetables since we raked the grounds." Kaira said speedily. Her voice was unsteady.

Tamlin nodded slowly, he knew he'd have to try. For Liyo, for his people, being able to grow their own produce would change their lives substantially.

"Don't drink the offered tea."

"Why?" He asked, watching her pick at a loose strand on her sleeve.

"Poisoned. Slightly. Uhuk."

"I'd smell it." Tamlin snarled.

"Not in the quantity used. It's just meant to slow you down slightly, giving Keir the upper hand should he need it. He'll be offended if you reject. Ask for water instead."

"He doesn't poison the water?"

Kaira shook her head, "It's easy to sense in water. Even just a drop. He can't risk his guests finding out."

Tamlin stared at her, waiting for her to look up and make eye contact with him. But she never did. He wondered what horrors she experienced in her time there and then shook the thought from his head as he felt his rage building. He made a mental promise to shred Keir apart. Limb by limb and make him regret everything he had ever done to her.

Tamlin arrived at the boundary of the Court of Nightmares, Hewn City, what he had previously thought was the Night Court in its entirety, having never had the opportunity to explore it further than the palace.

Keir sat on his throne, a look of satisfaction plastered over his face.

"The High Lord of Spring seeks me, tell me, are you still pining over our dearest High Lady, Feyre?"

Tamlin ignored the multiple sets of eyes that were all focused on him. On his reaction to her name. "I'm here on official business, Keir. My grounds have not been able to produce since Calanmai did not go as planned."

"Or at all. I believe you were too busy fighting over dearest Feyre." Keir hissed, and with a change of tone, quickly added, "Could I offer you some tea?"

"No, thank you."

"It's impolite not to accept." Keir countered.

"Water would be lovely, thank you." Tamlin replied, willing his claws to stay inside as he looked upon this man. Kaira's words echoing in his mind.

Plaything.

"I was busy fighting in a war, alongside the people who ran my court into the ground. But regardless, Calanmai isn't for another few months and I'm unsure my people will make it that long." Tamlin steadied his breath and raised his chin, "Name your price."

Keir giggled with pleasure, "Oh I love it when the High Lords need me. Take the rake, and know that you owe me."

Tamlin closed his mouth as he felt his teeth sharpen, he wanted to rip out Keir��s throat but there was enough rivalry between Night and Spring and his court could not afford to lose this opportunity. Thousands of lives depended on it.

Tamlin nodded and the rake appeared in front of him. "How do I know this isn't any old rake?"

"I am far too excited to make you pay for it."

Tamlin walked out of the palace, rake in hand, determined to leave this court as fast as he could. Just before he winnowed away, he noticed the front of the palace was lined with Creha. He picked one and disappeared.

CHAPTER 9 - Kaira

Tamlin had been gone for a couple of days and Kaira was beginning to worry. She was well aware of what the Court of Nightmares was capable of. She saw the anger in Tamlin’s eyes when he left, she saw his claws release when she mentioned Keir. She wondered, for a moment, whether he’d kill Keir. Though she had warned him not to. They needed the rake.

She paced around the manor but pacing seemed to slow everything down further. So, she baked. She baked a giant chocolate cake and decorated it finely. It took hours.

She felt his presence before she saw him. He always arrived like a hurricane. A whirlwind of power and muscle, too big for whichever room he found himself in. The ground he landed on seemed to bow in fear.

He held out the rake, half a smile playing on his lips. But it never reached his eyes. She exhaled in relief. "What did he want?"

Tamlin shrugged. A casual gesture, but she knew those big shoulders carried the weight of thousands of families, alone. "A favor. We'll have to see."

Kaira mimicked his casual shrug, even though a favor owed to Keir was the worst thing she could imagine. She watched as his eyes peered over her shoulder and settled on the cake. His mouth dropped open slightly.

Kaira couldn't hide the pleasure she felt watching him salivate while staring at the cake - for a moment, she envied the cake. "You want some?"

The big warrior nodded enthusiastically, the rake disappearing to whichever space he deemed safe enough to hold it. He pulled out a chair and sat down, looking up at her.

Kaira sliced a piece of cake and presented it to him. He brushed his hand across hers and a Creha flower appeared in the palm of her hand. She felt her eyes well up, and looked at him. He smiled at her, his hand lingering on hers, before pulling it away and taking a bite of the cake.

Kaira blinked back tears and cradled the flower in her hands before grabbing a small glass and filling it with water for the flower to settle in. She set it down in the darkest corner of the kitchen.

When she turned back to Tamlin, he had devoured half the cake. Chocolate ganache smeared across his chin and fingers and yet he leaned forward to slice off another piece. He looked up at her guiltily, “Was anyone going to join us?”

Kaira giggled lightly and walked over to him. She leaned down to quickly place the gentlest of kisses on his hard jaw. "Thank you for the flower."

His green eyes met hers for a moment and something stirred within her. Before he could say anything, she asked for the rake, "I'd like to get started, we have lots of ground to cover, who knows when he'll want it back."

Tamlin held her gaze for a second longer before throwing back another piece of cake and fetching the rake.

After a couple of days, the once muddied soil was covered in green. A hope of fruits, vegetables and a variety of flowers sprouting from what seemed to be barren land. After a few more days, families were able to pick their own home-grown tomatoes. Eagerly telling Tamlin this as he presented them with whatever animal he hunted for them that day.

Tamlin arrived at home glistening. His smile broad, his eyes tired, but joyful. There was something else. A look Kaira couldn't place. She stood up from their own vegetable garden and took off her gardening gloves and hat. Smiling curiously as he approached her with that unknown look.

"It worked." He whispered when he reached her.

She laughed, "I know." and pointed to the tomatoes she had just harvested. His laughed wrapped around her own as he leaned downward and kissed her. Gently at first, their lips touching softly against each other as he laughed into her mouth.

She looked into those green eyes and hungrily pulled him closer for another kiss. Harder. She wanted more. So did he.

He lifted her up, effortlessly and pushed her against the wall as his lips crashed into hers. His tongue desperately seeking hers as his hands firmly gripped the underside of her thighs. She felt a heat between her legs and wrapped her legs around him tightly, pulled his body up against hers.

Her body felt like it may explode. Every second his lips left hers, she thought she may die. She pulled him closer. She didn't need to breathe. She needed him. The undersides of her thighs were on fire, burning against the feeling of his strong hands. Every inch of her body needed him. On her. In her.

He pulled away, his green eyes flashing brighter than she had ever seen them before. She attempted to pull him back towards her. She wasn't ready for it to stop.

"Do you feel that?" he asked breathlessly, quietly, "I knew it.”

“Knew what?” she asked, leaning towards him to place kisses along his neck.

“Kaira, you're my mate."

She knew it too. She could feel it. In her bones. In her heart. She could feel it in the air she breathed. She needed him.

She pushed him away and watched as hurt flashed across his sensitive eyes. "You need to eat. You need to eat." She mumbled and a small laugh escaped him as he leaned down to kiss her cheek, her neck, her lips.

"Go. To. The. Kitchen." She managed, her breath stolen by the feeling of his lips on her throat, "I need to make you something to eat… Unless you don't want me to?"

Tamlin pulled away from where he had been kissing her neck and looked into her eyes, "Offer me that tomato."

Kaira burst into a fit of laughter. "I'm a skilled chef and you want me to offer you a tomato as our mating meal?"

"Offer me the tomato." He said again, biting his bottom lip and Kaira bent over to pick up a tomato. Rubbing it against her shirt to clean some of the soil off.

"It's dirty." She laughed, offering it to him.

"I don't care," he said before biting into the tomato more enthusiastically than she had ever seen anyone eat a tomato. The juice ran down his chin and Kaira grabbed his shirt, pulling him downward so that she could lick his neck, his chin, and eventually his mouth. Tamlin growled with pleasure as he lifted her into his arms and winnowed her into his bedroom.

Kaira sat on the edge of her bed. Her body threatened to explode if he stepped an inch closer.

He didn't step.

He kneeled.

She looked down as Tamlin, the High Lord of the Spring Court kneeled in front of her, a lesser faerie, a mixed breed. He opened her legs and placed them over his strong shoulders. Maintaining eye contact with her the entire time. His tongue traveled up the inside of her thigh and upon reaching the top, he hungrily, viciously, licked her. Kaira's body erupted within seconds, but he wouldn't let go. She moaned loudly, calling his name, which only made him hungrier. For her. To taste her. To feel her writhe underneath him.

"I need you inside me." She begged.

Tamlin couldn't resist the offer. He peeled off his pants, exposing his considerable length and climbed on top of her, entering her gently, but she pulled him toward her, desperately. She kissed his neck, inhaling the smell of his skin as he pushed himself deeper and deeper inside her.

She dug her fingernails into his muscular back, urging him closer. He still wasn’t close enough. He pushed deeper, biting at her neck while doing it, moans of pleasure escaping her mouth.

"I love you." She whispered and he growled as his body came crashing down on top of her.

He pulled her towards him, "Say it again."

"I love you, my mate."

Tamlin pulled her on top of him and pulled downward as his mouth wrapped around her nipple, she felt him harden again just as she felt herself pool. She had heard of the rumors of the sex frenzy after finding your mate but she didn't expect this.

CHAPTER 10

"Come with me, please come with me." Tamlin begged as he rolled over to look at his mate. She lay on her side, staring at him dreamily, no doubt the same way he looked at her. He stroked her face gently, tracing the shape of her nose, her lips, her jawline and felt himself harden again.

It had been a few days since their mating bond clicked into place but his need for her hadn't lessened at all and the idea of leaving her at the manor while he attended a blessing ceremony for his ex-fiance and her mate's upcoming baby, sent him into a fury.

"I don't want to go to the Night Court." She whispered, tracing circles on his chest. Scooting herself closer and closer to him. He knew what they would end up doing in just a few moments.

"I won't let them hurt you." He said, trailing his hand down her sides, and gripping her behind.

"That's what I'm afraid of. You'd rather die. And I can't have that either." She whispered into his mouth, placing soft kisses all over his face, driving him crazy with love, with lust.

"You're my mate and soon, if we can pull ourselves out of this bed, you will be my wife, my High Lady. I want you at my side." Their bodies were up against each other now, and he could feel his excitement growing.

"I don't want to see Kheir." She whispered quietly, the light leaving her dark eyes for a moment.

Tamlin felt his claws piercing his knuckles.

"I'm sorry." she whispered again.

He kissed her tears away, and pulled her into his chest, "It's okay, I'll be okay. Even if you're not at my side, I'll know you're mine. Here. Safe. Waiting for me and all the things I plan to do to you."

A small smile returned to her lips as he pulled her close to make love to her again.

Tamlin reached the Night Court with little to no enthusiasm. He trudged in. Politely greeting his fellow High Lords who had been offering help to rebuild Spring Court.

Feyre and Rhysand appeared, eyeing him suspiciously, undoubtedly waiting on him to make a scene. They thought him a monster and while he knew that at one stage he may have been, he thought by now they would have realised that he was no longer a threat.

He thought of his own mate and his anger subsided. Something else increased and he shifted awkwardly in his seat to hide it.

Feyre and Rhysand politely greeted everyone except him. It wasn't surprising. She rubbed her big belly and he wondered for a moment whether that should have been his child. Surprisingly, the thought repulsed him. His heart belonged to one female only and she was probably asleep, in the sun, probably naked. He felt something deep within him ache as he hardened. A pleasure building deep inside him and washing over him. He smiled inwardly, knowing exactly what she was up to. He cursed under his breath, envying her hands, and the access they had to her body. Tamlin shook his head and tried to focus on calming himself down. Not from anger this time.

Before the blessing ceremony started. He glanced around the room once more and swept his magic beyond it. Members of all the courts and beyond were present, including Lucien. But there was no sign of Keir. Tamlin breathed a sigh of relief, he was unsure he would be able to control the rage he would feel directed at the male.

The High Priestess addressed everyone and initiated the ceremony with a prayer. She offered Blessed Water to Feyre who eagerly took the required three sips, offering the last sip to her mate, Rhysand. Something tugged at Tamlin’s soul. Something was pulling at his skin.

The High Lords were instructed to gather around the couple to be blessed and recite the Prayer of Blessed Birth in unison. Tamlin had been to one blessing ceremony before. It was equally as tedious.

He looked around, his eyes darting towards every entrance as if expecting a danger to materialise.

"You seem happy." Rhysand drawled pulling him away from his thoughts.

Tamlin mustered up a look of interest, "Congratulations again." in between sips of tea. He sniffed around the food, he wasn’t interested in meals eaten without his mate.

Rhysand bowed his thanks, "Your happiness, has it got anything to do with the Night Court fugitive you have been harboring?"

Tamlin felt his blood run cold. He bared his teeth and Rhysand let out a low laugh, "You think I didn't sense her when I was there? Your glamor was too late. I can smell my own within an instant." He said, flashing his own teeth, "Kaira, right?"

Tamlin swallowed, he couldn’t attack Rhysand here, what good would it do. He looked around, the Shadowsinger and the other bat brute watched him closely. Tamlin was outnumbered, as usual. "Please." He begged.

"Grown quite attached, have you?" Rhysand laughed, "Well, don't worry about me. She belongs to Hewn, not my jurisdiction."

"She belongs to no one." Tamlin growled, unable to keep his claws inside.

"That's between you and Keir." He replied, pouring himself a glass of wine.

Something was wrong.

CHAPTER 11 - Kaira

Kaira stretched out her arms and legs, the enormous bed feeling empty without her mate. It had only been a few seconds since Tamlin left, but she felt the pull at her mind, at her soul, searching for him. She slipped her hand below the sheets, closed her eyes and thought of him and his sultry mouth.

She wondered whether he could feel her pleasure all the way in the Night Court.

She dragged herself out of bed and wandered into the kitchen, the female faerie, Muri was busy preparing her breakfast. Kaira greeted her happily, joining her side to wash some of the dishes, “My Lady, please sit down. I will bring you your breakfast in just a moment. Don’t bother yourself with the dishes. Moti will get to it.”

Moti, her brother, as if on cue, waltzed into the kitchen, a smile plastered on his face, “Good morning, my Lady.”

Lady was still a term she was getting used to. She looked down at the ring, one of the treasures his mother kept in the basement. Tamlin had gifted it to her in the middle of the night, when he dragged her out of bed and made her his wife.

She sat down at the kitchen table, staring at the empty seat where her mate usually sat. It wasn’t recommended that mates be separated this early into their mateship. She knew why. Every part of her screamed for him and she tried quieting it down, afraid it might alarm him and worry him.

After breakfast, she strolled into the library. She would bathe and clothe herself afterwards, she had absolutely nothing else planned for the day and her High Lord mentioned that he had acquired some new reading material for her.

The library was as she left it, except, on the desk lay the small leather notebook. The same notebook she had once seen him hide from her. Cautiously, she approached it. Unsure of whether he had left it out for her to see, or accidentally.

Gingerly, she ran her finger along the leather. Her curiosity pounding loudly in her ears. She lifted the cover. She would just take one peek. Just read one word. Just to see.

She lifted the cover and glanced down.

I knew you’d snoop. Keep going.

She giggled to herself, filled with pleasure at the thought of him.

She opened the notebook entirely.

There once was a girl who entered my life She was small, quick and skilled with a knife My love is beyond measure Dedicated to her pleasure As soon as I could, I had to make her my wife

“Ha, I made you my husband, you asshole.” She laughed out loud, her cheeks flushed at the thought of her big beast sitting down and writing this. At the thought of him knowing she’d read it.

There was screaming coming down from the kitchen. Muri was screaming. Kaira rushed downstairs, tucking her dagger beneath her gown. Quietly, she peeked into the kitchen. The floor was covered in blood, her breath caught in her throat.

“Where is she?” she heard someone, a male aggressively shout. “Where is Kaira?”

“I’d rather die.” Moti whispered before screaming, his screams drowned out by that of his sister.

“Stop!” Kaira shouted as she entered the kitchen. Moti was lying on the ground, the blood belonged to him, streaming out of an open wound as the male hovered over him with a knife to his neck. Another male leaned over Muri, ripping her skirt upward. Kaira recognised the look in his eyes, she knew what he’d do to her.

Muri stared at Kaira, her eyes wide with fear, “Run, my Lady!”

Kaira recognised the male’s insignia. He was from the Court of Nightmares. He was here for her. “Let them go and I will come willingly.” her heart was pounding in her chest as she watched the life drain out of Moti. “If you continue hurting them, I will run, and I will escape and you’ll go back to your king empty handed. Your choice.”

The male stood up, a cruel smile spread across his face, “I do love a game of catch.”

“Do you enjoy it as much if you lose?” Kaira countered.

The male stepped towards Kaira but was stopped by the other whispering something. They released Moti and Muri, grabbed Kaira and winnowed.

To Hewn City.

To Keir’s palace.

Kaira stood in front of Keir on his throne as she had done many times before. Bile traveling up her throat.

“My pet.”

“Fuck off.” Kaira snapped.

“You seem to have made yourself quite valuable to the High Lord of Spring, which makes you even more valuable to me.”

She didn’t need to look around to know where the exits were. She spent countless nights mapping the palace, planning escapes. Escapes that almost always got her caught and then punished. Punished by the male who sat in front of her.

And now she was back. Trapped. As she was for so many years and she heard her mother tell her again.

No one is coming.

CHAPTER 12

Tamlin felt fear overcome his entire body. Something was wrong. She was in trouble. Tamlin grabbed Rhysand’s shoulder, spinning him around to face him and pushing him up against the wall. “Where is she?” Tamlin growled, his claws digging into either side of the wall.

Rhysand released his wings, pushing them away from the wall, releasing Tamlin’s claws, “I dont know.” He bared his teeth. “But my guess is that Keir collected what is his.”

Tamlin transformed into the golden beast and felt the strength of the other five High Lords pulling him back, away from Rhysand’s neck. Tamlin fell back into his own skin and winnowed away. Something was wrong.

He landed in the Court of Nightmares outside the palace, the doors of the palace locked, he roared, “Open. Open. Open.” He kicked the doors, the metal bowing under his force and reforming instantly, he kicked continuously, screaming, his throat hoarse, “Open.”

Lucien appeared next to Tamlin and wordlessly started attacking the door as Tamlin had done. The doors opened and Tamlin ran inside, faced with Keir on his throne, Rhysand on the other with Feyre in his lap. Behind him, his entourage, a mixture of scowls and smirks directed at Tamlin. And then, at Lucien.

“Where is she?” Tamlin growled with what was left of his voice.

“How does it feel to have someone you care for threatened? How does it feel knowing she is a prisoner to a monster?” Rhysand spat.

“I never hurt her, not intentionally.”

“I don’t care what your intentions were!” Rhysand shouted, “I felt every bit of her fear. Imagine she was your mate. Imagine the shared pain. The shared fear.”

“Where is she?” Tamlin asked again, his head spinning slightly.

“Hope you enjoyed the tea.” Keir voiced and Tamlin cursed under his breath. “She is where she belongs, in my chambers. My little plaything.”

Tamlin launched himself forward at Keir but he was pushed back by a blow to his chest. Eris stood before him. The High Lord of Autumn arrived with Eris at his side. Lucien threw himself in between Tamlin and Eris, releasing his dagger in time to deflect another attack.

Tamlin roared loudly, “Why?” He steadied himself as he felt the effects of the tea, “Why do you want her?”

“I will admit it was all just for a bit of fun, taking back what is mine… But, Lord Tamlin, why are you willing to go to these lengths for a mixed breed, a servant?”

Tamlin transformed into his beast once more. He would rip out Keir’s throat. He would rip out all of their throats.

“One more step and I will kill her.” Keir said, standing up, Kaira appearing in front of him, pinned against his body, a dagger at her neck. “One more move, Lord, your choice.”

Kaira stood quietly, her eyes resigned, glazed over, until they met his own. She writhed in his grip as he slid a hand down from her neck, into her dressing gown. The rage burst out of Tamlin’s chest, sending furniture and paintings into a whirlwind around the room. Rhysand winnowed his pregnant mate out of the room and Keir loosened his grip as he shielded himself. Kaira pulled a dagger out from underneath her gown and stabbed it deep into his abdomen. Tamlin pounced but was met with The High Lord of Autumn, Beron who froze in his tracks, as Rhysand appeared, shielding Tamlin from Beron’s attack.

Keir pulled the dagger from his abdomen and lifted it as Kaira crawled away, he pinned her to the ground and climbed on top of her. The Morrigan appeared behind Keir, another dagger shoved into his abdomen. Keir turned around and swiped his dagger at his daughter. Tamlin reached Keir and attacked, dragging his claws through Keir, ripping his skin apart, again, again, again, until the body that was left, was unrecognisable.

He stood up, drenched in blood. Lucien at his side. Beron and Eris had fled. Rhysand stood up and faced him. The High Lord of the Spring Court and the High Lord of the Night Court stood face to face, once again, covered in blood as they did when they were boys, unwillingly crowned as High Lords and enemies.

“Let me in.” Rhysand whispered, “Please.”

Tamlin searched the room for Kaira and found her and The Morrigan staring down at the shreds that were left of Keir.

“Let me in.” Rhysand asked again. “Let’s end this war between our courts.”

Tamlin cracked open his mental shield for just a sliver of Rhysand to slip through. He felt Rhysand's sticky darkness wrap around his mind and lead him into his own.

Tamlin felt every bit of regret the High Lord of the Night Court felt. He felt the rage. The love for Feyre. He felt the same exhaustion he felt. The same fears. Rhysand showed him everything, all within the few minutes they stood in silence.

Rhysand slithered out of his mind and Tamlin found Kaira in his arms, nuzzling her head deep into his chest. Repeating the same thing over and over.

“Someone came. You came.”

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hearteyes-for-killmonger · 4 years

Text

The Stereotype of Ariel

The 7th installment of The Hearteyes Zone, a supernatural series of oneshots.

You're standing on the otherside of the unchanging door into another dimension. A dimension of reduced sight and sound. To enter requires unlocking said door with the key of curiosity.

Erik Stevens is about to take the plunge. For one man, the exit may forever be distorted and out of reach..

..in The Hearteyes Zone

----

🎶 Di cuttlefish fled an di di wata turn red wen Vanity meet Mr Hammerhead ow awful dat day wid terrible dread dat old maid of Mer shi dead 🎶

"Wah mek yuh insist pan singing dat depressing song," Marin signed from beneath the water as she watched her curious best friend closely with her large dark black eyes. Her long black kinky hair was in two tail-length ponytails, wrapped artfully with twine so that she wasn't completely blinded and wrapped in her own tangled web of hair when she swam.. she'd gotten enough of that when she was young. Absentmindedly, her strong tail flipped back and forth as she floated, nearly breaching the surface. She wasn't bold enough to stick out like Nautilus.

Nautilus was already halfway out of the water, her ample waist still submerged as she looked about in every direction. She should've seen a ship coming by, it's why she'd come.. There was always a ship passing through about this time. Maybe she was too early. Based on the position of the big yellow starfish in the sky, it seemed that was the case. "Marin, Marin, Marin," she smiled. "Yuh kno mi majored inna Mer History at Great Coral yuh it di song of warning an it part of fi wi history as a people wah mek nuh sing it proudly?"

"Because it's awful!" Marin spun. "Who makes songs bout dem people being murda by hungry sharks? Plus a warning ave neva stop yuh from being curious," Marin signed.

"Yuh kno dat old merchild nursery rhyme Sleep Stonefish actually bout di poison epidemic of 154?"

"There yuh guh wid dem deh human years eff mi neva kno any betta I'd tink yuh use history as a excuse an yuh actually interest inna observing humans cuz yuh wish fi be one," Marin signed. "Is that why you always come here to watch the ships?"

"Yuh tell mi. Notice yuh always here wid mi Marin," Nautilus retorted.

Marin nodded slowly with a click that meant, "Touche."

"Wah mek yuh nuh eva use yuh lungs," Nautilus asked for the millionth time. "Nuh like anyone's round yuh cya practice yuh human speech it just mi yuh an whulla dis space," she spun, diving to refresh herself in the water before resurfacing. She slung her butt-length locks and two whipped over her shoulder as a few others hit her own face.

"It burns wen mi use mi lungs," Marin frowned. "Mi nuh like breathing oxygen. Plus eff word get back I'd be judge suh haad."

"It only burns cuz yuh nuh dweet enuff.. an who cares yuh suh gud at chatting like a human!"

"I care," Marin signed with attitude. "Humans evil. That's wah mek wi stay away!" Nautilus seemed to forget that she escaped a lot of ridicule since she was a Great Coral Scholar. Marin, however, had no excuse.

"Well evil or no.. mi wa fi si a ship an den wi cya guh."

---

Erik was semi-lit from the complimentary wine left on his tiny desk when he left his cabin to walk about the ship, though he was tipsy his sea legs were sturdier than most sober sailers. He was no stranger to cruises having taken one every year through his friend's traveling business for the past few years. Erik always got the best deals. This year was Jamaica and Erik planned to spend as much time as possible on a beach butt naked surrounded by cuties. He couldn't wait until the ship docked so he could finally get back to some authentic Caribbean food. In the meantime, he hit up one of the onboard food stations and picked up an apple, banana, slice of pizza, and some fries before carrying it all to the massive deck to enjoy while looking out at the expansive sea. Everywhere he looked, he just saw blue rippling water. No land in sight and though he was ready to see land again, the view gave him peace. Families moved around, their voices and conversations carrying. Some played in the big pools, some walked by, and some sat, either eating or enjoying the scenery.

Allowing himself to daze lazily at the water, he stared into the space where the sky met the sea. It was then that he saw briefly, something abnormal in the water. He quickly focused his eyes, but nothing was there. Had his eyes been playing tricks on him? He stared and stared at the spot in question. No one seemed to be paying any attention, but he knew he wasn't crazy. Tipsy, sure. Crazy, no chance.

Right before he gave up looking, he saw a strange movement of the water as if something were lurking. His mind went to sharks and he squinted as if it would help him to see better. As minutes passed, he decided to google it. He also needed to get closer to the edge of the ship so he stepped out to feel the air and the wind and see the water with no barrier but the the one set up for the safety of passengers.

How can you tell if sharks are in the water?

He found a video.

Immediately he sighed deeply, eyes shut. Looking back to the spot, he figured it was indeed a shark. Maybe there were a few. He hoped so. He wanted to see them, maybe a fin or something.

He listened closely to the wind hearing the artful cadence of a beautiful voice. Someone was singing and they sounded hella good. He wondered why he could hear it and where it came from.

"Hey yuh," the musical voice called. He looked left and right and behind him, seeing no one outside with him at the moment.

"Hey yuh cum wi si yuh battam half," the voice came again and he looked down to the water, his eyebrows shooting up into his hairline. There was a beautiful woman, topless, and bobbing in the sea. Her wet skin shined, and though she was brown like chestnuts, her skin was somehow pale.. sun deprived. Her thick long locks framed her striking face which seemed a bit wider than the average face. Her eyes were huge and round. Her pupils were large. Her nipples.. were nonexistent from where he stood as were her areolas. "Hey, cum dun here let mi ave a luk at yuh," she called again.

"Girl...," Erik stared. "Why you in the water, you know there's sharks in there? AND.. How you plan to get back up," Erik asked, confusion keeping him from asking the real questions like why are you naked to begin with?

"Nuh tell anyone up deh mi live inna dis sea! ....Yuh really ave two legs?" She looked overly excited. "Marin," she called. Her teeth were sharp as if they'd been carved

"What are you," Erik squinted. "You a real mermaid?"

"Yuh kno of us! 100% mi authentic," she grinned flipping up her tail up in pride.

"You don't look like no damn Ariel.."

"Suck ya mudda. That's a stereotype. Yuh humans all ignorant, yuh inna di carribean! "

"Nah nah, I'm saying you look better," he rushed, saving himself. Erik was shook to his core. She had the insults on lock as well as human speech. He looked at her tail as she showed off. It was like a back end of a dolphin or shark, smooth. Erik flinched before steeling himself. This was unheard of and though he was a little afraid, he was definitely intrigued. "Jump dun an let mi si yuh legs," she called again with a splash.

He looked back and waved for her to hide when he saw a man coming near. She'd gotten the hint because when he looked back she was gone. It was a good three minutes before the man left and Erik stared at the water.

"Hey mermaid," he called, "...Yo!" Seconds later she appeared, but not alone. There was a second mermaid who surfaced silently, her deep and scary eyes on him. "Aight so y'all speak English... What's y'alls names?"

"Nautilus," the first one responded watching the other who remained mostly covered by the sea.

"Marin," the second one replied, her voice as alluring as the first's. He felt himself getting caught in their spell and hit his hand on the rail to snap himself out of it.

"I'm Erik," he paused feeling the ache. "You know I can't breathe underwater.. and if I jump.. I'll probably drown."

"Jus dive.. Mi wi ketch yuh mi swear," Marin assured.

Erik knew he couldn't pass this once in a lifetime chance up. Without any further deliberation, he climbed up and hauled himself off the edge of the cruise ship toward the water. As Marin promised, she'd caught him and brought him back up to the surface where he could breathe. With a long gasp he rose and splashed before looking around for the two creatures. He could feel something touching his legs, grabbing his feet and instinctively, he kicked. Quickly Nautilus surfaced.

"Yuh neva haffi kick mi mi just curious mi neva meet a human!"

"My bad. I never met a mermaid.. mermaids..... Y'all don't eat humans do you?"

Marin and Nautilus exchanges looks.

"There's a saying dat 'tuh eat a human yuh inherit dem evil' an wi Mer people shun evil," Marin spat.

"So we evil huh," Erik tested looking into her dark eyes. They were totally inhuman. "....I can see that. Go ahead. Ask me anything you wanna ask me."

"Wah food yuh eat? Weh yuh accent from? Yuh wish yuh had less legs... or more? Yuh sing?" Nautilus fired them off. Erik answered between strokes as he spit and kicked water to catch up with his ship and noticing this, Nautilus held onto his hand to help speed him up. They alternated between swimming underwater and breaching the surface so that he wouldn't die but they wouldn't be seen. "Yuh ship wi reach Jamaica soon."

Erik's legs were getting tired.

"I hope so. All this swimming, I'm finna get a cramp."

Marin grabbed his other hand so all Erik had to do was focus on not choking on water.

"Wait," Erik coughed not wanting to arrive so quickly and end the magic. He hadn't fully gotten to process the experience. The two mermaids paused allowing Erik to bob in the ocean and breathe. He took a second to catch his breath. "So.. I've always wondered something.."

Marin ducked back beneath the surface, uncomfortable above it.

"Aren't mermaids supposed to seduce humans and pull them to their death?"

"Wah type of information duh dem feed you! Dem deh a di sirens!"

Erik gaped realizing he'd offended Nautilus. "I'm sorry, that was ignorant. But one more question.. How do you.. uh.. Do merpeople have.." Briefly he made on ok sign and stuck his finger through it.

"Wi ave mating parties weh di male of fi wi species wi drap fi him buddy from inside fi him bady wi mate belly tuh belly. There's a slit inna mi belly an mi pop out di child."

"So you're mammals," Erik tested. "We could probably mate. We already share partial dna."

"Mi nuh sure.. though mi a scholar an knowledgeable bout human culture.. mi naturally curious."

"So. Am. I," Erik paused looking her over. She looked strange but she was still strikingly interesting to look at and he was very curious. Reaching out he cupped her breast and it was like a blank globe of flesh, probably purposeless. She did not react. When he squeezed it she only looked down in confusion. Certainly no nursing would occur if they were able to reproduce. "I wonder if you'd conceive if we put our genetic codes together."

Marin signed to Nautilus, drawing Erik's attention. He had more questions in his eyes. He didn't know they used sign language to communicate.

"Mi nuh reckless mi a risk taka," Nautilus smirked pulling Erik underwater. He was snatched and submerged, his sensitive eyes screwing shut tightly. Nautilus reached out and her hands were scaly to the touch as Erik felt them on his face. Slowly he opened his eyes, the saltwater stinging them until he got used to it. He had to be brief in getting his dick out as he hadn't gotten a good breath of air. He kicked slowly to keep from sinking and watched as the majestic mermaids swam around his waist circling him like sharks, half dolphin and half woman. He observed their forms up close with his fingertips as they surrounded him, searching for the 'slit' they mentioned. He couldn't feel it. Sensing his intention, Nautilus stopped in front of him and led his penis into what appeared to be her belly button. Of course, her anatomy would be completely different. She'd said that merpeople fuck belly to belly. Erik never thought in a million years he'd be getting fish pussy. He knew better than to say it. Still, for some fish pussy.. it felt pretty good. He lost the breath he was holding and almost choked.

Erik pointed to the surface and his mouth and the mermaids looked out stealthily before pushing him up. After a long intake of air, he re-submerged himself and grabbed Nautilus by the smooth rubbery waist, making sure to chuck her bellybutton pussy like he would any other one. He was giving her the experience, though he didn't dare lick it. He could tell that she took it all as first hand research. He wondered honestly if she could get pregnant. She wouldn't be the typical baby mama.

Let's find out, he thought releasing himself easily into what she referred to as her slit. It was what she'd agreed to afterall. She too wanted to know. When they parted, her bellybutton shrunk down and hid as if being covered by her own flesh. He had a lot to learn. She swam away quickly like she'd just heard her mama pull up in the water. He blinked as she'd swam down so far her couldn't see her. The light didn't reach that far. Marin was still there and she pushed him up from the water to breath again before pulling him back under and dragging him the rest of the way to the island. He swam to shore and pretended he was the type of nigga that just swam fully clothed because he had the urge. He could deal with the odd looks appraising his soaked apparel, afterall they hadn't just had mermaid sex. He needed some fresh filtered water and some fruit after all the salt he felt like he'd swallowed.

---

It happened that Erik decided to cruise to Jamaica and the Caribbean for the next few of cruises as well, hoping to spot the mermaids once again. He'd never tell of his experience. No one would believe it anyway. Each time on the ship, he go to the edge where he could see water and call their names but they were nowhere to be found. After 3 fruitless years, Erik finally accepted that it was indeed a once in a lifetime sighting.

Until the next year came along. He told himself it would be the last year and then he'd be traveling to Singapore. He drank his wine and danced and ate onboard as usual, enjoying himself and ready to get to shore to connect with the friends he'd met in previous years. When they reached that familiar point in the sea, he went out again, watching the water. The sea was so beautiful.

"Nautilus," he called expecting no answer. He didn't get one. "Marin," he called. Still he only heard the wind. He stood there taking in the air and the clean smell. He stood there for about ten minutes. Just he'd dazed out, he heard a small splash. Looking down, he saw what looked like a sponge. He squinted and on closer inspection, he saw that it was hair. Kinky, bushy, afro hair like a lily pad on top of the water. "Marin," he called again. The eyes finally appeared. Dark, large eyes. The small face lifted from the water and Erik was shook to see a small and ghastly looking version of himself with sharp teeth in a grin.

What could've been a nightmarish moment sent him leaping over the side of the ship into the sea to embrace the young merboy for Erik knew exactly who he was.

"Yuh kno mi cool inna di sea cuz mi fada ave 2 legs. Nuh bady steps tuh mi," the young boy gloated. Erik couldn't contain himself. He had the mind to stay in Jamaica just to know his son.

"Is that right," Erik grinned, fretting over the merboy who was more at home in water than Erik could hope to be. "Lemme see that strong tail of yours. What your mama call you?"

"Shad," he said showing off his tail. He wasn't long like his mama, but Erik knew he'd surpass her greatly someday in size. He looked half-shark. Erik thought it was the dopest thing. He just wished he could share his son with the world, but he knew better.

"Nuh stress it dad wi inna two different cultures mi wi be fine," Shad said reading Erik's mind. He was already so much wiser than any human baby, developing at an accelerated pace. He was like a pre-teen. Erik knew Shad's place was in the sea with people who could protect him. Nautilus' head popped up subtly from the water, her signature locs identifying her to Erik.

"I'm a visit you," Erik promised rubbing Shad's mass of coils. "I swear.. Look for the ship.. every year."

---

And thus Erik Stevens was submerged in a new world. A dimension unexplored. A dimension only found in...

The Hearteyes Zone.

@muse-of-mbaku @goddessofthundathighs @panthergoddessbast @thadelightfulone @misspooh @marvelmaree @youreadthatright @forbeautyandlife @theunsweetenedtruth @bidibidibombaclaat @myboyfriendgiriboy @dameshaemonique @blackpantherimagines @vikkidc @hidden-treasures21 @mysidefanting @hold-me-like-a-heart-beat @syndrlla97 @winteroflife @thotyana-in-this-hoe @texasbama @gingerylimonte @princessstevens @magic-madness-heavensin @wawakanda-btch @scrumptiouslytenaciouscrusade @wakanda-inspired @blackgirloneshots @thegucciwaffle @thiccdaddy-mbaku @drsunshine97 @purplehairgawdess @indigoxsummers @cccccx1 @dynastylnoire @iamrheaspeaks @blowmymbackout @they-call-me-le @theblulife @raysunshine78 @sheisexcellent @fd-writes

#the hearteyes zone #erik killmonger x oc #erik killmonger imagine #erik killmonger smut #original

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callsignbaphomet · 4 years

Note

Ok, ok, few misc questions. What's it feel like for a werewolf who gets shot/stabbed/etc by silver? You said the parasitic Dae CAN fuse but don't need to to give bonuses, does fusing like, increase the bonus given? Is it kinda like a trade off in that sense? Is there any kind of visual tell to know someones fused with a parasite? On Legion again, do they always get sent out in groups? Solo? Depends? What's each of your ocs particular set ups? Is any of ALL I've asked, stuff yaint thought of yet?

About as horrible as it would for anyone actually getting shot and/or stabbed but 10 times worse. As a side note there IS healing magic that can be used to supress pain--yeah, that don't work for them when it comes to wounds created by pure silver.

Even if the individual has an insane pain tolerance like Angelus does it'll still knock him on his ass.

If it's not silver they can for the most part power through it like nothing happened.

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

Linking for Parasites and Hosts is high risk, high reward. Everything gets a huge boost but like I said it's risky as Linking for too long decays the human body. Two souls/psyches can't be held within one body as it overwhelms it.

You can tell someone is linked by the pupils. They get very uncomfortably huge.

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

Depending on the operation is how many go but it is strictly forbidden to go alone and people have been reprimanded for doing so.

Like not only would you have Jelani pissed the fuck off at you while bitching you out, you'd get slapped with a suspended ID (think of it as an unpaid suspension) depending on how dangerous and how important the operation and information was/is.

If it's a covert op (intel gathering) the minimum are 3 in the field and 1 at comms, there's 2 more standing by at a safehouse.

Wet works (assassinations) and the mark is human and doesn't know what's about to hit 'em a team of 3 are in the field, 1 in comms and 2 standing by. BUT if the target does know and is prepared, even more so if they are non-human, then a team of 6 are in the field, 1 in comms and 3 on standby.

Black bag operations (secret operations nobody can know they were even there) there's 4 in the field, 1 on comms and 4 on standby.

Then there's the classified sites. That's a whole other mess and a half. For those a whole ass team of 6 to 8 in the field is needed. Usually 2 in comms, there really aren't any standby agents nearby because these sites are a ridiculous high level clearance and the only two people in the world that can grant clearance are Jelani and Aleksey.

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

Each person knows the simple ins and outs of most weapons around, there's obligatory training every so often for refresher or to learn of new weapons. However they all have weapons that they most feel comfortable with.

Trevor is an expert marksman and is the lead agent of Ghost Team (snipers/marksman). He's also a trained pilot and can fly basically anything.

Angelus is a master arcanist specializing in offensive magic. If it's of a magical nature and it kills he's the go to for it. He heavily favors SMGs specifically the FN P90 which is his absolute favorite and shotguns. He's part of the Trickster Team which is all the archanists.

Ginger is also a master arcanist and is the leader of Trickster Team. She mostly specializes in defensive magic. Just like her bff she's got a thing for shotguns.

Abigail is the Yūrei Team leader. She's right at home with silenced and scoped single shot rifles. What's her specialty? Flanking. You won't see her unless she wants you to. She also applies some magic as well like invisibility and manipulation. She also has this tonal spell she uses to eff up the enemy that's a teeny bit similar to something Jelani does but it's far less gruesome. She can vocalize a beautiful tune that takes over her victim's mind and she can command them to do her bidding. Only lasts for a few minutes and for now she can only hold two people under her spell.

Draugr Team's leader is Latoya. These are the muscle, the heavy gunners, the suppressors. They walk around with heavy af weapons like it's nothing. If it's heavy artillery that woman can make excellent and effictive use of it. Her favorite type of weapon is the LMG.

Xiomara is the lead of Specter Team who are effective hackers. Basically the techies. Need a security system fried? Documents stolen from a server? Edited videos? Doxxing? Online tracking? Deleting online trail? Anything nerdy that may involve keyboards? Xiomara, Katya, and Thor are your go to for it. She mostly hangs back as she doesn't actually have to be in the thick of things but she's good with any AR.

AJ favors SMGs and handguns. Like Mahmud and Angelus he's speedy af and can run the entire AO and back without breaking a sweat.

Mahmud is all about lighter ARs so he doesn't get weighed down because he just has to go fast. He's part of Wraith Team (cqc/b specialists).

Manami is also a heavy gunner and anything that's not an LMG just won't do. She's also part of Draugr Team. She's a Berserker so she can also use her naginata.

Bombs! Explosives! Need some bomb disabled or wanna put a bomb in a car that'll go off when the driver puts the key in the ignition? Shaine's your gal. She freaking loves any and all things that go boom really loud. She's an absolute expert on all things bombs. She's leader of the Revenent Team aka the bomb squad. She'd happily run around with an RPG but that's not conventional so whatever else she can get her hands on is okay it's just not as fun though she will absolutely use weapons that can add a grenade launcher to it.

Tre is actually the leader of Wraith Team. Surgeon with a shotgun and a Seer which is super helpful. All he has to do is touch an item the enemy has held in order for him to see where they're coming from and what weapons they'll use.

Loke is an overall weapons expert. Like put any weapon in his hands and he'll use it to maximum efficiency and he's sort of the non-official field medic. He often plays the role of pointman and is the lead of Lich Team which are the 'jack of all trades' it's just that in his case he mastered all the guns and is actually excellent in every and any role he's placed in. His expertise of sniper rifles is second only to Trevor. Only knows 1 spell that his mother taught him when he was a boy and can use it if they're overwhelmed. As a Berserker he has access to a bow with infinite arrows, an axe and a shield.

And then Jelani who is the Acting Lead Agent, as well as second in command and will actually become THE head of Legion. He doesn't HAVE to be in the field but he loves being there and let's face it he's a bit of a control freak and wants to be there to make sure shit goes accordingto plan. If plan A fails you can bet he's got plans B through Z ready to go. Excellent strategist, like his brother an excellent tracker. He's part of Lich Team and is excellent with any weapon but his favorite are carbines like the M4. Lightweight and easy to use and reliable. Jelani isn't exactly who you'd look to for magic but he has one or two tricks up his sleeve. He can grab anyone and whisper to them in an unknown language to make them fall into a sort of coma like state but they're awake. In that state the victim will follow Jelani's every command and once he let's go they're brain dead. He's not a Berserker but he can materialize a weapon similar to his mother's, a glaive. It's just made of a different material. He's use of magic is a whole nother mess tbh.

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

I hadn't thought of too much info into Parasites yet as they're a relatively "new" thing that I redid. Actually if I'm being honest I scrapped almost all info and all Daefiernos and started again when I got rid of a character a few years back so they took a backseat until I started really getting into developing AJ. A few details of Parasites I hadn't thought of yet so these were useful 💞 I just get fixated on a thing and everything else takes a backseat lol

#Legion tag #theonedayking #reply

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lady-divine-writes · 5 years

Text

Coldflash - “Not All Endings Are Happy, but We'll Give it a Shot” (Rated PG13)

Summary: Len is going through some changes - big changes. But instead of facing them in Central City, he's running away - from his life, and from Barry. Barry doesn't mind Len running ... as long as he can go with him.

Written for the @coldflashweeks Valentine’s Day Exchange, and @sparroet prompt 'A merfolk au. It can be either or both of them. Something with a happy ending preferred'. I actually wrote both prompts given, but the other story is turning into a monster, and it isn't ready yet. It'll go up when it's done :)

Read on AO3

“You runnin’ again?”

Len, shirtless at the end of this weathered grey and abandoned dock, stops undressing at the sound of Barry’s voice. Len hadn’t heard him approach, too focused on making plans to pay attention to what might be sneaking up behind him. But he also couldn’t care less. Because if it wasn’t Barry - if it was another meta out on the take, or some rival back from the dead looking for revenge - that might solve his problems for him.

But no. It would have to be Barry.

It’s always Barry.

Len shakes his head and rolls his eyes at Barry quoting his least favorite movie of all time – X-Men. That was the movie they saw together the first time Len ever hid out at Barry’s place. Barry thought Len would like it. He figured since Len talked like a comic book villain, he might be into it. But Len hated it. He hated the story, the plot, the reformulation of the characters and the weakening of their origin stories. Basically, the franchise sucks in Len’s opinion, but that’s besides the fact.

Barry chose a quote from that movie to irk Len.

And to prove a point.

Barry knows Len hates that movie because Barry knows Len, inside and out. Not just the big ticket items – the things that any Tom, Dick, and Harry can find on a rap sheet, during a Google search, or splattered on the front page of newspapers across the country, but the tiny, arguably insignificant things as well.

Barry knows that Len’s favorite color was blue long before he ever got his cold gun.

He knows that Len’s favorite cake flavor is German chocolate, even though he eats red velvet now.

He knows that Len’s routine is like a religion to him, that diverting from it tends to set him back a few days.

He knows that Len’s a bit on the obsessive side when it comes to how he keeps his things and where.

He knows how Len takes his coffee – black with a heaping dash of whiskey.

He knows that Len became a pescetarian a few months or so ago (which should have been a huge clue that something was up), even though his diet mostly consists of French fries and beer.

He knows why Len wakes up at night drenched with sweat and panting as if he’d been drowning in his sleep, his head forced under water until his chest is about to explode, then yanked out in the nick of time, long enough to get a single taste of fresh air, just to be plunged again.

Barry knows whom in those nightmares is playing Russian Roulette with Len’s air supply, whose sinister laugh Len hears ringing in his ears before Barry’s voice seeps in and rouses him from his sleep.

Barry knows these things because they’re the things a lover would know.

But the biggest secret Len has been carrying - a secret he’d kept from his sister, his partner, his team on the Waverider - Barry didn’t discover until recently. Which is one of the reasons Len has yet to turn around and face him. Because Len knows that the eyes staring through the back of his neck are filled to their lightening depths with hurt over him keeping it for so long.

Len could use it to get what he wants, to make Barry go away, but he cares too much about him to exploit that.

Barry is right, of course. Len is running. And since he recognizes it’s a dick move, especially after sticking around this long and allowing Barry to make assumptions that he hadn’t reconciled with, he’d hoped he could slip out of Central City without Barry noticing.

No such luck, but at least he gave it a shot.

“Sorry, Red,” Len says, back turned to the man he never wanted to say goodbye to. But that’s why he has to. Barry has become more than a lover. He’s become an anchor, someone Len has begun to rely too heavily upon. That makes Len weak. And Len can’t afford weaknesses. “Time’s up. You know the motto. One and done.”

Barry scoffs. “Yeah, well, one and done was about six years ago, so don’t give me that crap.”

“I know. That’s why I have to go. Gotta stop throwin’ plans out the window until I end up behind bars … permanently.”

“But why would you end up behind bars?” Barry moves forward, stepping carefully along the worn wood of a dock so old it shouldn’t be able to support their combined weight. “You gave up robbing ATMs.” He glances at Len’s cold gun, sitting at Len’s feet, wrapped tightly in some sort of plastic cocoon and ready to go … like its owner. “Didn’t you?”

“Yes, Red. I gave it up,” Len groans, sliding his pants down his legs, taking his underwear with it, mildly concerned about what Barry thinks when he looks at him now. You can’t tell what he is when his skin is dry, can’t see the scales that erupt up his legs like gooseflesh if he even so much as thinks of water, nor the excruciatingly painful fusing together of his bones when they become a single fin. Isn’t that how the fairytale goes? The mermaid gets to have legs as long as she stays on dry land, but the second she touches water, she turns into a fish.

As it turns out, those fairytales may have been documentaries.

Only then does he realize he’s thinking of the movie Splash and groans again.

He’s getting too old for this crap.

“So, why are you leaving?” Barry asks, using his voice to conceal two more creaky steps.

“To save you the trouble.”

Barry takes another step, but Len does, too, dropping over the side of the dock and into the water. Barry rushes to the edge, determined to have his say before his boyfriend swims off and leaves him. He scans the calm, dark water, counting the seconds until his boyfriend emerges. There’s no guarantee that he’s going to. Even with his cold gun and his duffel waiting for him at the end of the dock, there’s a fifty-fifty chance that Len said, “Eff this,” and took off without them. That thought makes Barry’s heart hurt. He knows for a fact that STAR Labs can whip up something that will help Barry track Len under water, but the fact remains …

… if Len left Barry behind, he doesn’t want him to follow.

Caught between racing back to the lab and jumping in after him, the subtle sound of splashing grabs Barry’s attention and he sees Len’s head bob to the surface a few feet away, the bulk of his body shrouded by the water. Barry smiles, relieved that he has a chance to change Len’s mind. His voice trembles with it, but he can blame that on the chill air.

“J-jeez! If you’d told me this was a pity party, I’d have brought a cake. Maybe some streamers.”

“Nice one.” Len wipes a hand over his shaved head and down his face – a hand covered in silvery-blue scales. They catch what sunlight diffuses through the clouds and wink at Barry, and Barry can’t help thinking how beautiful they look, how delicate, how ornate – such a stark contrast to his stern, rough-around-the-edges Leonard Snart.

“You know, there isn’t a place in the world better equipped to deal with metas than STAR Labs.”

“Thanks but no thanks. I’m not interested in becoming a part of your little aquarium.”

Barry chuckles. “Interesting choice of words.”

“I’d rather deal with this on my own.”

“And what exactly qualifies you to do that?”

Len sighs, this witty banter that has become the heart of their relationship, suddenly exhausting to him. This confrontation wasn’t part of his plan. But then, when it comes to Barry, most of Len’s plans fizzle into obscurity anyway. “I don’t think your friends down at STAR Labs would be too happy about accepting me into the fold, do you?”

“Well, you have been an ass to most of them …” Barry stops and looks thoughtfully up at the sky “… all of them, but I think, considering your turn around, they might be willing to overlook it.”

“Bullshit.”

“Au contraire. See for yourself.” Barry reaches into the back pocket of his jeans and pulls out a crimson tube, plain except for the familiar yellow lightning bolt that’s stamped on every piece of Flash tech. Len, against his own better judgement, swims closer, pulled by his curiosity … and his reluctance to leave. Barry pinches an edge of the cylinder between his thumb and index finger and gives it a hard shake. It pops open, immediately quadrupling, continuing to expand in size.

“What … is that?” Len asks, brows cinched together as the object transforms.

“This is a prosthetic tail,” Barry says proudly, holding it up higher so Len can get the full effect. “Otherwise known as a Flash Fin.”

“A … Flash Fin?” Len props himself up on the lip of the dock to examine the material, which looks like a cross between the same fabric Barry’s suit is made of and actual fish skin. And while he does, Barry examines Len. Scales, like the ones on his hands, dot his flesh in odd places like freckles, but they also travel in distinct paths up his arms to his elbows, down his spine from the nape of his neck to the curve of his tailbone, and cap his shoulders. They bring a new and exciting definition to Len’s body, putting emphasis on bones and joints instead of muscle, protecting him like armor.

Streamlining him for speed.

There’s something about that in particular that makes Barry’s skin sizzle straight to his blood.

“A-ha,” Barry says. “Cisco made it.”

“Named it, too, I bet.”

Barry shrugs. “It was kind of a group effort.”

“It’s grotesque,” Len declares, pushing off the dock and dropping back into the water.

“Harsh.”

“And what, pray tell, is it for?”

“I think you know what.”

Len locks eyes with Barry. Yeah, he knew, but he wanted to give Barry the opportunity to back out of it. “The answer’s no, Red.”

“I’m not asking.”

“You can’t come with me. We’ve talked about this before.”

“Not enough, if you ask me.”

“I told you everything I know! We went to this freaky version of Earth that was all water, I fell in, and got bit by a … a something. After that, this happened.” Len lifts his arms out of the water for emphasis. “I didn’t find out until we were home. And the time signature of that Earth? Lost for some reason. Possibly even destroyed. No way back. What else is there to talk about?”

Barry hears the bitterness in Len’s voice and he understands. Without access to that other Earth, there’s almost no chance of them finding out what happened to Len, or how to reverse it. Not unless he gives himself over to STAR Labs for testing. But coming up with a cure? That could take months, possibly even years, if ever. If the ‘fish fry process’ (as Cisco calls it) has mutated Len’s DNA for good, there may be no going back for him. And then all that time spent in the lab would have been for nothing.

But there’s another wrinkle to this whole situation. The crew of the Waverider didn’t encounter the inhabitants of ‘water Earth’ aside from Len’s attacker, and Len never saw the creature that bit him. The only evidence they had was the bite mark - jagged and made from pointed teeth, like a shark’s. There’s a chance that the inhabitants of water Earth aren’t like the half-human/half-fish incarnations of their Earth’s folklore, but completely scaled aquatic monsters, void of a discernible language, society ...

… or sentience.

They won’t know for sure until Len becomes one.

“When you met me, I was already the Flash,” Barry says. “I was known – my strengths, my weaknesses, how I became that way. And yet, we’re still learning about my abilities, my limitations. We know nothing about what’s happening to you. I don’t even know how you feel about it.”

“You belong here,” Len says, swiftly avoiding that subject. “Central City needs their superhero.”

Barry frowns at Len’s dodge. “Maybe. But I deserve a little vacation time. I think the team has things pretty well handled here. And if anything big comes up, I can be back …”

Len smirks. “… in a flash?”

“I was going to say a couple of minutes, but, whatevs. Where are you headed anyway?” Barry asks with another glance at Len’s gun, the weapon an even more sinister presence the more Barry considers its possible purpose.

“You’re always on my case about doing good deeds here on this Earth, so I thought I’d pull an Arthur Curry – become an environmental activist. Take the old cold gun up to Antarctica and fill in that Manhattan-sized hole in the glacier.”

Barry raises an eyebrow, not entirely sure Len’s not kidding. “That does sound noble. It also sounds like a big job. Maybe a little too big for one man. You might need some backup.”

“Backup?”

“Leopard seals, man. I hear they’re … vicious.”

Len blows out a sarcastic laugh. That’s his Barry, beating dead horses and never knowing when to take a hint. “Why are you doing this, Red? Why do you always have to make things harder than they need to be?”

“I want to help you through this.” Barry kneels on the dock, trying to get as close as he can to Len without pushing him away. He curls his fingers into the wood, fighting the urge to reach out and touch him, to grab him back before the swells pull him out of reach. “I want to help you the way my friends helped me. I want to help you find a solution to whatever’s going on with you. I don’t … I don’t want you to be alone.”

“Don’t want me to be alone, huh?” Len rolls his head on his neck in annoyance, his smug grin becoming a grimace. “I don’t need your pity!”

“I’m not pitying you!” Barry snaps, knowing he’s lying a little, knowing he’s bad at it.

Len meets Barry’s gaze, stares him down. “Then try again.”

Barry hears the wood beneath his hands complain, the tips of his fingers sinking in like it’s made of sand. “Okay, how about this: at heart, I’m a selfish, terrible excuse for a superhero, who’s tired of being at everyone’s beck and call, but who can’t seem to save the people in my life that I care about! The people who really matter to me! And if this … this … whatever it is …” Barry gestures in Len’s direction “… is going to take you away from me, and you’re too pig-headed and stupid to get help, then I’d rather spend as much time with you as I can, because, to be honest, I don’t know what my life is going to look like without you in it, so I don’t want to find out what that’s going to look like today!”

That final word echoes off into the distance, leaving a tense silence behind. Len doesn’t say anything, floating in quiet observation of Barry Allen, leaning so far over the edge of the dock, one stiff wind would push him in. Threads of electricity circle his fingertips, bouncing arcs off the surface of the water. But Len’s not afraid of being electrocuted.

He’s afraid he’s about to make the worst decision of his life.

“If I told you to go home, would you go?” he asks.

“No,” Barry answers quickly.

“What if I told you I was hoping you’d keep an eye on Lisa for me while I’m gone?”

“Cisco’s got that one handled. She’ll be fine.”

“I’ll bet,” Len mutters, dipping under the water – a new habit he’s developed when he needs a second to think. “What if I told you I didn’t want you?” Len swallows hard. “If I told you I didn’t love you? Would you leave?”

“No,” Barry says, the reality of those words burning his eyes. He doesn’t think Len is talking about now, but about some point in the future, when he might turn into something undefinable, something so far from human, it isn’t even Len anymore.

Something that doesn’t recognize Barry as the man he loves.

But that’s a chance Barry is willing to take, as long as they take it together.

Len nods. Then he grins. “So, you’re a selfish asshole, huh?”

“I never used those words exactly,” Barry says, prying his fingers out of the now splintered wood, “but that’s the gist of it. Yeah.”

“I guess I can live with that. Toss me my stuff, will you?”

“How about I toss you the duffel, and I take the gun?” Barry shoves Len’s abandoned clothes into the neoprene duffel, then adds his own shoes, socks, and jeans after he undresses. Len watches in amusement, slightly annoyed that Barry didn’t have the decency to go commando if he was going to crash this escapade.

At least he’s wearing a Speedo.

“Not a chance.” Len leaves the bag to Barry and snags the gun off the dock before his boyfriend can confiscate it. “What do you say, Red. Do you think you can keep up with me?”

“I’m offended you’d even ask that question.”

“Oh, and another thing.”

“What’s that?”

“That creepy tail? It stays here.”

Barry looks at the fake fin he was preparing to slip on over his legs, disappointed that he doesn’t get to take it for a spin, especially after all the tricks Cisco said he’d included. But in terms of compromises, this is a small one, so he can’t turn it down.

“Alright,” he concedes, rolling the fin back up, sliding it into the bag when Len isn’t paying attention. He jumps into the water, shocked by how cold it is when it touches his skin, marveling over how at ease Len seems hanging out in this frozen bath from go. The Speed Force inside him, at odds with the icy cold encompassing his body, kicks in like a generator to keep him warm. Moments later, the cold is not an obstacle. “Len?”

“Yeah, Barry?” Len asks, busy securing his gun to his torso with thick straps.

“Can you talk to fish?

“Barry …”

“Ooo, what about whales? Can you talk to whales?”

“Barry …”

“Because it would be awesome if you could talk to whales.”

Len grabs Barry by the shoulder. He drags his body close and kisses him hard, kisses him to feel his lips on his again, the warmth of his mouth – a warmth he no longer has, that’s foreign to him.

But mostly to shut him up.

“Don’t make me regret this, Red. Don’t you dare.”

#coldflash #Barry Allen #leonard snart #Captain Cold #The Flash #merfolk au

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