#Arlin asking what the hell happened to him

[teehee-vibes]

Agonized over the fact that when Chip reunites with Arlin, no matter how it happens, whether Arlin is dead or alive, corrupted or stable, preserved as he was or aged by time and magic… whether it’s a moment of joy and relief at a long-awaited reunion or a heart-shattering episode of grief because Chip is too late, Chip can’t even cry about it.

#jrwi riptide #just roll with it #chip jrwi #arlin james #jrwi riptide spoilers #riptide spoilers #I guess #god I hope Chip gets saved too #he’s only 19… he should be in the club #not halfway in his grave #he’s imagined every possible reunion they could have but when it finally happens he… can’t cry #would you rather choke on sobs or fail to breathe at all #and when Arlin pulls him into a hug but he can barely feel it and there is no warmth #his skin is cold and his lungs fail him #Arlin asking what the hell happened to him #fuck haha anyway #shout out chip jrwi #no one warned me about you the way they did your co-captains and you are….. oh man. #the haunted guy ever #if anyone has earned a happy ending…. knock on wood

[quek-a-sketch]

Crown Ascending

Aka a Royalty au for riptide

In this au we focus on the Midnight Rose Kingdom, with an odd set up monarchy wise.

There was a coup years ago, overthrowing the last puppet called a king and finally the true king sat on the throne, King Rose.

You see thanks to magic embed into the kingdom and specifically the royal family, the rulers were not chosen by mere birthright. Instead a mark of royalty was passed to the next worthy of the seat, it was believed to be the person the last holder of the mark believed to be the most capable. Sometimes that was not the case, which is what happened with King Rose.

See after millennia of this, those in power overlooked the mark more and more in favour of their own self interest, or would purposefully have the heir who received the mark be untaught and easily manipulated by the nobles of the kingdom.

King Rose received his mark when the last king had died, and showed up at the castle gates to prove his claim, to ask for training. See being the son of a barmaid and a pirate, both long dead, he knew he would need training for court. He was turned away at the gate, when he refused to leave the guards attempted to jail him for treason, so he ran.

And someone was placed on the throne, one of the nobles sons, not once did he show his mark to prove his claim. So... Rose let sleeping dogs lie, wasn't very keen on ruling anyway honestly... Until he saw the kingdom grow worse and worse, plague and famine ravaged and the economic situation got worse every day.

This all collectively began the Black Rose Rebellion.

I'll get more into detail on that in a later post!!

Anyway so Rose becomes king and appoints his court to include those who helped him in the rebellion, the second son of another country's great house and a researcher from a private underwater kingdom. Oh. And he took in two children.

Elizabeth and Chip, who Arlin and Rose had found in the aftermath of the riots. Now Rose was a fierce fighter and leader, but he couldn't bring himself to turn away the two.

Anyway the kingdom THRIVED under Rose's rule, until one day...

A dark cloud settled over the castle, as if a storm had begun only over the castle itself. The earth shook with Tremors and no one could get into the castle to the king, his court or his servants. People claimed to see chunks of the castle ripped off and thrown into the sea, others claimed they saw rain thick and black like oil falling all over the castle.

Then it was gone. The castle was torn apart and ... Creatures were left behind. No one could find the king or his court, believing him to have died in whatever calamity had been placed upon them. The country mourned the loss of King Rose, the old castle quarantined off because ... Even when robbers attempted to raid the old castle, they came back changed or so ill they'd die within the day.

For over a decade the old nobles took the place of the throne, for safekeeping and because they don't dare risk appointing someone with no mark again. So the kingdom waist with bated breathe for either King Rose to return, or for someone to turn up with a mark.

What no one expected was for Drey, one of King Rose's closest cohorts, member of the old court and the second son of the Ferins to show up. He looked worn, older than his age and like he had been through hell. He took the throne from the nobles, who had become far too comfortable, and declared a nation wide search.

For King Rose? No.

For the two missing heirs, Elizabeth and Chip. Drey claimed he had fled the castle with the children before getting separated and eventually collapsing from his wounds far from the castle. If He was alive he was certain the children were, and he claimed they had the mark.

They were found easily enough, street children. Chip had been known as a liar and had been turned away from the castle multiple times over the decade, hell there were many people who falsely claimed to be Chip or Lizzie which is why Drey eventually went out looking himself, sick of being presented fakes.

Chip had begun doubting his own memories when he bumped into Drey.

Lizzie wasnt as close to the capital, having stowed away on a train with a water genasi she had befriended in the chaos. She never tried to return to the castle and when she saw Drey she punched him square in the face. To which he laughed and said yep that's Elisabeth!

Brought to the castle, something... Odd was discovered.

Both Chip and Elizabeth had the mark, slightly different from each other but both were definitely the mark

This post got super long so I'll stop for now but there's so much more to this au like gillion and jay and their whole roll in the story and how chip and Lizzie are big targets for assassination!! So if you like the look of it please shoot me an ask and I'll expland on it!

#crown ascending #jrwi #jrwi au #chip jrwi

[lizzie-and-chip-swap-au]

Chip survived the same way he did in canon, when Lizzie asks how the hell he survives he skids around what happened after the ship went down. After he describes how the thing grabbed him, pulled him down, but Arlin caught and threw him back over, he stops.

[theladyofdeath]

Unexpected Miracles {Elorcan part III}

Written alongside @throne-of-ashes-and-beauty, and a PART III to Answered Prompt {ELORCAN - part 1} and Truth or Dare {ELORCAN - part 2}.

Enjoy :)

Elide sat in the silent bathroom. She stared at the plastic stick in her hand and stared. She knew she should be having some sort of reaction. Tears or screams or even laughter.

Instead, she looked at that tiny pink plus sign and was numb.

The hesitant knock on the door brought her back to the present. “Elide?”

She didn’t open it. With as steady a voice as she could muster, she said, “I’ll be out in a minute!”

She didn’t want to move, though, didn’t want to go anywhere. Didn’t want to see him.

Didn’t want to tell him, because then it would all become real.

They’d danced around this idea for the last eight weeks. He’d bedded her over and over again, but they’d been careful every time. She’d waited and waited for her cycle, and after it didn’t come for the second month in a row, she’d stopped at the drug store after work and bought a pregnancy test.

And she had her answer.

She was too young for this.

22.

She wasn’t ready, wasn’t sure how to even process…

There was a baby inside of her, growing.

Another knock. “Hey, you okay?”

“I’ll be out in a minute!” She said again, not as kindly as before.

She could hear his footsteps trudging back through the hallway, toward her bedroom.

He’d become a permanent fixture in her home since they confessed their love to each other. She wouldn’t want it any other way…

Except for right now.

Right now she needed time and solitude to process the fact that her life was no longer solely her own.

She hadn’t even told him she’d purchased the test, just stuffed it down the back of her pants and prayed her hoodie would cover any bulk.

She was only 22. He was 28.

She was still waiting tables and paying off her student loans while she tried to get a “big girl job” in her field. He had a steady job with a great salary, benefits and a 401K. They couldn’t have been at more different stages of their lives if they had planned all of this.

Which they certainly didn’t.

With shaky hands, Elide pulled open the door and walked toward her bedroom. Every footstep felt heavy, each one draining her energy.

Lorcan was lying on her bed, scrolling through his phone when she entered. A crease of worry lined his forehead.

“Are you okay?”

She laid face down on the bed and hooked her leg over his. He ran a hand over her thigh and she nodded.

“Elide.” His voice has an edge to it.

“Mmm.” Her face was buried in her pillow.

He pulled her into his side and turned her so she was looking at him. He saw the tears on her face. He breathed, “Baby…”

She only nodded and wrenched her eyes closed, trying to stop the tears before they slipped out.

In that small motion, he knew exactly what she was saying. His grip on her slackened and he couldn’t remember how to speak, how to breathe.

She noticed the distance he put between them, whether consciously or not, and got up, beginning to pace.

The silence was the worst part.

“Say something,” she said, unable to face him. “Please, anything.”

He still hadn’t moved, just laid there, his arms limp, still resting in the same spot where she’d just been in them. “I- We- …” He ran a calloused hand down his face. “Oh, fuck.”

She laughed, but there was no humor in the sound. “Fuck,” she repeated. “Fuck. Yeah, fuck is right.” She sat down on the edge of her bed, and yanked on her hair. “Fuck!”

He scooted towards her. “Hey,” he rested a hand on her shoulder.

She jerked away and began pacing again. Her hands were pressed to her still flat stomach. “What are we going to do?”

Her voice was flat, cold — dead.

“Elide,” he climbed off the bed, reaching for her. She stepped back again. “We’re going to love this baby, more than anything. We’re going to-.”

He stopped when he noticed her head shaking ‘no’.

“I’m 22 years old, Lorcan. I can’t- can’t have a baby,” she was starting to cry, starting to hyperventilate. “I’m still a baby.” A sob tore from her. “This baby deserves so much better. We’ll be horrible parents.”

Lorcans voice was low, cold, when he asked, “You think I’m going to be a horrible parent?”

“It’s not like you had a good example of a father growing up!” She said, turning to face him. “Neither of us did!”

Lorcan only stared at her, watching as the woman he loved, the woman he thought he knew, crumbled to the ground and began to sob.

He took a step toward her, then stopped.

No, he hadn’t had a good example. He’d hardly ever known his father, and his mother was a drunk. Everything he was, everything he had, was because he had worked his ass off for it.

But now, Elide was using it as a reason, the reason, why he’d be a horrible parent.

Maybe she was right.

Without a word, Lorcan turned, walked down the stairs and out the front door.

——

Elide didn’t leave her house for 3 days. She called out of work. She didn’t answer her phone. She heard knocking and banging at her door, but she couldn’t bring herself to get out of bed. She didn’t eat, she barely slept. She just laid there, hands pressed to her stomach.

She cried. She cried and she cried and she cried. She cried until she had no more tears to cry.

But, on the fourth day, when the persistent knocking came once more, she padded down the stairs and threw open the front door.

“What did that bastard do to you?” Aelin asked, in way of greeting. “Did he hurt you? He’s dead.”

“No,” Elide sighed, completely and utterly exhausted. “He didn’t hurt me.”

“Elide-.”

“I just want to be alone, okay? Why is that so difficult for everyone to understand?”

Aelin noticed the empty look in Elide’s eyes then, the way she huddled inside the blanket she was wrapped in, the defeated tone of her voice. She reached for her hand at the edge of the blanket and when Elide curled it inside, she hesitated, but settled it on her shoulder. “No one’s heard from you in days. Rowan can’t get Lorcan to answer the phone. Whatever happened, it’s affecting both of you.”

Elide just shook her head. “No, I don’t think it is.”

“What happened, El?” Aelin stepped around her and went to the kitchen where she made Elide a cup of tea.

She didn’t say anything, just watched as her oldest friend moved around her kitchen. She didn’t drink as the mug was put into her hands. She only pulled the warmth from it.

“I love him.”

Aelin arched a golden brow. “And that’s an issue?”

Elide shrugged. “We made a mistake.”

“We all-“

“A life altering mistake,” she whispered. “I don’t….” she sighed, frustrated. “I don’t know.”

If Aelin had guessed what was wrong, she didn’t hint at it as she sat down, calmly, across from Elide. “I’m here for you, okay? We all are.”

She could only nod.

“Your boss called me today,” Aelin said, hedging the subject. Elide didn’t even look up at her. “He was calling to make sure you were okay. He also wanted to make sure you realize you can’t come back without a doctor’s note.

Doctor.

She needed to see a doctor and she needed to fast.

Elide’s eyes went from her tea to Aelin and to the sink behind her. Before Aelin could react, she was up and throwing up into the sink.

Aelin came up behind her and gathered her hair while Elide heaved into the sink. She rubbed her back, softly, slowly.

When she was done, the two girls faced one another.

“How late are you?” Aelin asked, quietly.

Elide didn’t even bother denying it. “Two months.”

Arlin’s eyes softened. “Let’s get you dressed. I’ll take you to the hospital.”

An hour later, lying on a hospital bed, holding Aelin’s hand in her own, Elide heard the sound that would change her life forever.

She heard her baby’s heartbeat.

There were no words to describe how Elide felt listening to that tiny, warbling noise. The ultrasound technician kept repeating one word “strong”.

Her baby’s heartbeat was so strong.

When she thought of strength, she only thought of one person.

And she wished he was there to experience this with her.

——

Elide swore Aelin to secrecy. She couldn’t talk to Rowan about it, unless he brought it up, unless Lorcan told him first.

Lorcan.

Elide’s mind kept drifting to him.

She had been a bitch. It had been out of fear, of course, but that was no excuse.

She told him he’d be a horrible father.

And he hadn’t tried to contact her since.

After Aelin left, once Elide promised her she’d be okay, Elide took out her phone.

“Hey,” she typed. “Wanna talk?”

She quickly deleted it, tossing her phone on her bed beside her. Of course he wouldn’t want to talk. He probably hated her.

The father of her child, that man that she loved, might never speak to her again. All because she was a terrified fool.

Lorcan would have been a wonderful father. Just like he claimed, he would love their baby unconditionally. He would protect them, at whatever cost.

He loved her.

She loved him.

She picked her phone up and typed again, hitting send before she could talk herself out of it.

She stared, watched as it changed from Delivered to Read.

She watched as the screen never altered.

No typing bubbles, no response, nothing.

Elide rolled over, gripping his pillow, inhaled the sharp scent of pepper and sandalwood, and wept.

——

Lorcan stared at his phone. It had been on his kitchen counter when the text came through, the same place it’d been sitting for four days.

He’d heard the text tones assigned to Whitethorn and Fen ring out, but they weren’t the ones he longed to hear.

And when he finally heard hers, he was over the back of the couch and grabbing his phone before he could stop himself.

Wanna talk?

Hell yeah, he wanted to talk. But did he know what to say? No. No idea.

He thought of what to text back and came up with nothing.

This was ridiculous. They were meant to be together. This was meant to happen. Two people, perfect for one another, fell in love.

And made a new love.

Lorcan grabbed his keys and hurried out the door, leaving his phone, text open, on the kitchen counter.

Rowan heard an incessant banging on his door and tossed his controller aside, running to throw it open.

Lorcan pushed his way inside before Rowan could even say anything.

Rowan just watched as Lorcan paced in his living room. He finally stopped, fell into one of the arm chairs, and dropped his face into his hands. After rubbing it for a second, he quietly said, “Elide is pregnant.”

“Oh, fuck.”

Rowan couldn’t have stopped the words if he tried.

Lorcan sighed, “Yeah, that’s what I said.”

He blinked at him. “That’s what you said? To Elide?” Lorcan could only nod. “You fucking dumbass.” Lorcan glared up at him. “No wonder she’s been a fucking wreck lately.”

His face paled. He stood. “Is she okay? What do you mean?”

“No one’s heard from her in days, Lorcan. Aelin finally found her at home today because she practically beat her door in.”

Lorcan groaned. “Fuck.”

Rowan was quiet for a moment before he clicked off his television and said, “Get up.”

Lorcan glared. “Why? Gonna kick my ass?”

Rowan hid his need to roll his eyes. “No, we're going out. You need a drink.”

Lorcan didn’t protest.

Three hours later, Lorcan had his head in his hands again as Rowan ordered yet another beer for them both. They’d taken a cab, knowing neither of them would be in a state to drive home.

Lorcan reached into his pocket for his phone but felt nothing. He patted the rest of his pockets, even getting up to look on the floor. Then he remembered he’d tossed it on his kitchen counter before heading to Rowan’s.

“I forgot my fucking phone,” he grumbled.

Rowan replied, “Good, you don’t need it right now.”

“No, you don’t get it, Elide texted me. Before I left. I never texted her back.”

Rowan glanced at his watch. “That was four hours ago, man.”

“I know, fuck.” He leaned back on the stool, far enough back that someone as drunk as he was should have fallen. “I need to see her.”

Rowan’s mouth formed a thin line. “Give her some time. She needs to sort her thoughts.”

“Sort her thoughts?” Lorcan scoffed. “What the hell does she need to think about?”

Rowan shrugged, taking a drink. “She just needs room to breathe, I’m sure.”

“Easy for you to say,” Lorcan muttered. “You’ve never been in this situation before.”

“No, man, but I’m in my own fucking situation. Aelin and I are trying to get pregnant.” The words that left his best friend’s lips shocked him. “And I love you and I love Elide and even though neither of you are dealing with it well, I am so fucking happy for you. But I am so gods damned jealous.” Lorcan could see silver lining his green eyes. “I don’t even know how Aelin is handling all of this. She got her cycle again last month and I’ve never seen her so devastated.” He paused and rubbed a hand over his face. “I know she is happy for you and Elide, but I’m sure this is killing her.”  

Lorcan didn’t know what to say. He hung his head. “I’m sorry.”

Rowan sighed, “Don’t be. It’ll happen when it’s supposed to. It’s just….frustrating.”

Lorcan nodded. “You’re both going to be great parents….when the time comes.”

Rowan looked at his old friend. “You are, too, you know. Going to be a great parent. A great dad.”

Lorcan scoffed. “Elide doesn’t think so.”

“She told you that?” Rowan asked, brow raised.

Lorcan gave him a curt nod before downing the rest of his beer.

“I’m sure she didn’t mean that,” he said, signaling to the bartender for two more.

“It’s hard to misunderstand ‘We’ll be horrible parents’ and ‘You didn’t have the best example of a father’.”

Rowan’s eyes went wide. “Oh, well...shit.”

“Yeah,” Lorcan said, nodding his thanks to the bartender who brought not only their beers, but two short glasses of whiskey as well. He grabbed his and tossed it back in one swallow. “Shit is right.”

His words were beginning to slur, his head becoming light, but he didn’t care.

“I love her,” Lorcan said. “But I’m so mad at her right now. She told me she was pregnant, and I actually got excited...until she told me she didn’t want it. Any of it.”

“She’s young, Lor,” Rowan said, quietly. “She’s so much younger than anyone in our group. She’s three years younger than Aelin and there’s an age difference between us. She’s fucking terrified.”

“And I’m not allowed to be?” He slammed his hand on the bar. “Fuck, I’m going to be a father. I knocked her up the first time we had sex. How the fuck does that even happen. She was a virgin, man.”

He didn’t realize how loud his voice had become until the bar was quiet and everyone was looking at him.

Rowan smacked him on the head. “You might have knocked her up, but she’s literally growing a human inside of her, dumbass.”

Lorcans head fell onto the bar top. “I don’t know what to do.”

“Give it time.”

“Give it-“

“Before you start on your rant again,” Rowan began, “Yes, give it time. It’s all going to work out. I promise. But, right now, give it time.”

Lorcan didn’t respond.

Half of him agreed, half of him wanted to punch Rowan in the mouth.

But he didn’t do either of those things. Instead, he reached for Rowan’s whiskey and tossed it back.

———

After another two weeks of silence, Elide began to believe she very well might be doing this whole “parenting” thing on her own.

After turning Manon and Asterin down for drinks for a third time in a row, she was coming to terms with the fact that she would need to tell everyone soon. Her clothes were beginning to fit tightly and she knew she needed to start looking for a new job. She couldn’t waitress tables at a sports bar while she was pregnant.

True to her word, Aelin hadn’t told Rowan about her pregnancy, but much to her surprise, apparently Lorcan had.

Elide was getting dressed for work, struggling to button her pants over her quickly growing bump when she heard a knock on her door. She went downstairs and found Aelin with a bag from the drug store in her hands. Her face was pale and she wasn’t wearing make up.

“Aelin, are you okay?” She ushered her inside and sat her on the couch.

She nodded and handed Elide the brown paper sack. “I was buying prenatals for you when I realized my cycle was late.” Elide opened the bag and pulled out the bag of vitamins and the little pink box. She shook it and it was empty.

Aelin pulled the small plastic stick from her pocket. Her hand was shaking as she handed it to Elide.

Once again, she was staring at a tiny pink plus sign.

“Aelin,” she breathed, an altogether different emotion overwhelming her than when she’d seen her own positive test.

This baby was planned. This baby was prayed for. This baby was expected.

She hugged her best friend, resting a hand on her flat stomach as they both began to cry.

Elide ran a hand over her own stomach.

Her baby may not have been planned. Her baby may have been an unexpected surprise. But that didn’t mean it was loved any less.

Elide kissed her cheek and told her to go tell Rowan. To celebrate and love and be happy.

After Aelin left, Elide finished getting ready, and went to work.

As Elide worked her shift, she realized she didn’t feel right. She wasn’t steady on her feet and her vision was dancing all over the place.

About the time her manager pulled her to the side to ask if she was feeling okay, Elide blacked out and fell to the floor.

The smell of bleach woke her. She knew she was in a hospital before she even opened her eyes.

The steady beeping of a heart monitor could be heard as her vision cleared.

She was staring at a white tiled ceiling.

The baby.

Her mind shot to the baby.

Was the baby okay?

Panic began to set in.

Her heart monitor began to race, the beeping to her right picking up speed.

A warm calloused hand closed around her own and the feel of it alone made her want to curl into a ball and cry, all before she even looked at him.

When she looked to her left, she began to cry. “Lorcan…”

He was on his feet in an instant, cradling her head against his chest. He pressed soft kisses into her hair. “It’s okay, baby. I’m here,” he whispered. “I’m here.”

She tried to speak, but she just cried harder. He took her face in her hands, pressing kisses to her cheeks, her forehead, her lips. “I know, baby. I know.”

She gasped, the words finally breaking from her. “I love you, Lorcan. I’m so sorry for what I said, you’re going to be an unbelievable father. Gods, you’re going to be the best father. I’m so, so sorry.”

He laid a gentle hand against her growing stomach.

“I’m not going anywhere, okay?” He said. “I’m going to be right by your side, the entire time.”

Elide clung to him, sobbing, hands shaking.

“You were dehydrated,” he said. “And way too stressed.”

She met his gaze. “I shouldn’t have-“

“You did nothing wrong,” he promised, kissing her forehead. “Okay? You did nothing wrong.”

She nodded, refusing to let go of him.

A soft knock on the door had the two of them springing apart, though Elide’s hand tightened in Lorcan’s own.

“Miss Lochan?” The doctor slipped in the room, an older woman, with joyful laugh lines on her face. “It’s good to see you awake. You gave us quite the scare.”

She could only nod. Her hand moved to her stomach. She stumbled over her words. “How is- Did anything happen to-?”

She shook her head. “No, ma’am,” she pointed to a second, quicker heartbeat on her heartbeat monitor. Elide let out a sigh of relief. She glanced to Lorcan who had a look of confusion on his face.

“What’s wrong, Lorcan?” She asked.

He leaned across the bed and tapped the top of the monitor. “If that’s Elide’s heartbeat, and that’s the baby’s,” he slid his finger to the middle, to where the doctor had just indicated, then his finger slid lower. “Then what is this?”

There was a third heartbeat on the screen, just as quick as the second one, but not quite in sync.

“Oh, that’s Baby B,” she smiled at them as if it was the most obvious thing in the world. “Just as strong as Baby A. It’s a very good sign at just 12 weeks.”

Elide and Lorcan just stared at the doctor.

The doctor’s smile faltered before a small laugh shook her delicate shoulders. “I assume that’s a surprise to you both. You weren’t aware you were having twins?”

Elide and Lorcan both shook their heads unable to find words.

“Well then congratulations,” she smiled. “I’ll leave you two to...process.” She laughed before heading for the door. She paused and said, “Oh, Miss Lochan, as soon as the IV drip empty, a nurse will be in to remove it and you’ll be discharged, but I must insist you start taking prenatal vitamins and taking better care of yourself. These babies are dependent on you and your health.” Her eyes flicked to Lorcan. “That means you take care of her, as well.”

His hand was still pressed to her belly, his thumb rubbing a soothing path back and forth as he nodded and whispered. “I will, I promise.”

With that, the nurse left, shutting the door behind her with a soft click.

When Elide looked at him, she saw tears on his face.

“Don’t push me away,” he whispered. “Let me be here with you, for you. Elide, I love you. And I want to be a good dad. Please, let me. Don’t push me away.”

She rested her palm gently against his cheek before reaching up and pressing her mouth to his.

“Never again,” she whispered.

——

Rowan and Lorcan we’re leaning against the rail of Aedion’s patio, drinking a beer and watching as Aelin and Elide passed Lachlan back and forth, much to his giggling delight.

Even Aelin was showing at this point, which meant Elide felt and, if you asked her, looked like a literal whale. She was only six months pregnant and she genuinely didn’t understand how she was going to get any bigger. She’d been blessed though, bypassing most of the morning sickness and only dealing with the constant burning feeling of her skin stretching as her belly grew. She had decided that she and Lorcan were just going to invest stock in shea butter after this pregnancy, because someone somewhere was making a shit ton of money off of her.

Lorcan sighed, not quite able to believe the beautiful woman currently kissing Lachlan’s chubby cheeks was his. That he was lucky enough to spend his life with her.

He chuckled as they watched their women. Rowan threw a glance his way. “What?” He asked, tipping the bottle back against his lips.

Lorcan smirked. “Guess you just aren’t man enough Whitethorn.”

He rolled his eyes and sighed wearily. “We talked about this already, it has more to do with Elide’s body than your sperm, dipshit.”

He raised the bottle to his lips and said, “Whatever you say to help you sleep better at night, Rowena.”

Rowan punched Lorcan in the arm. “I like it better when you don’t speak.”

“Wanna hold Lachlan?”

It took Lorcan a minute to realize Elide was talking to him.

He blinked at her, the tiny boy with golden hair smiling up at him. “I’ve never- I don’t know how.”

Rowan laughed again. “Well, you better learn, man. In a few months, you’ll pretty much be holding a baby any time you’re awake.”

“And sometimes when you’re asleep,” Aedion called from across the yard. “Especially since you’re having two.”

Lorcan tried not to be scared shitless- or, at least he tried to look like he wasn’t.

Clearing his throat, he nodded, “Alright.”

He took Lachlan in his arms, propping him against his side. The little boy looked up at Lorcan, eyes wide and alert.

“Hi,” Lorcan whispered.

Those Ashryver eyes brightened as he giggled and swung his chunky, little arms. He babbled incoherently and Lorcan’s mouth twisted up into a smile.

Lachlan reached out and put his hand on Lorcan’s cheek and patting a few times. He then grabbed onto his long hair, unbound for once, and pulled. “Okay, ow,” Lorcan winced, trying to work the chubby hand from around his hair.

“Lachy, no!” Lysandra cried, reaching for him.

“It’s okay,” Lorcan laughed, getting him to hold onto his finger instead of his. “Looks like a haircut may be in my near future.”

Rowan ran a hand over his close cropped silver hair. “Why do you think I cut mine off again?”

“Don’t you dare,” Elide said, brushing her hand over his cheek. “I love your hair. You’ll just have to start rocking the man bun again.”

Aedion winked at him from across the porch and pointed his beer at him.

Lorcan shook his head. “You tell Aunt Elide I don’t like man buns. Tell daddy, too, for that matter.”

Lachlan giggled and clapped his hands before squirming, wanting to be put down.

Lorcan set him down on the porch and Lachlan quickly crawled away, toward Aedion.

Elide groaned as she sat down next to Aelin. “Doesn’t seeing them with a baby just make you want to get pregnant all over again?”

Aelin’s face scrunched up. “Definitely not right now.” She was in the height of the morning sickness stage, though according to her, it was more like “all day” sickness. She glanced at Rowan’s crotch. “I don’t want that thing anywhere near me.”

Lorcan burst out into laughter.

“Laugh it up while you can, asshole,” Rowan grumbled.

Lysandra took Elide and Aelin inside to look at Lachlan’s newborn things, to see if there was anything either of them would like to use for their own newborns.

“You two are getting all the sleep you can, right?” Aedion asked, kissing Lachlan on the forehead. “Because I’ve been exhausted for a year and a half, now.”

“Done nothing but sleep since Aelin got pregnant,” Rowan grumbled.

Aedion laughed and sat Lachlan in the playpen in the shade. He immediately started to babble and reach for him. “Not gonna pretend I don’t know how she got pregnant, but I’ll be honest, seeing as, for all intents and purposes, she’s my baby sister, I don't exactly want to think about it.”

Rowan chuckled, running a hand down his face, and sat down in one of the iron, lattice chairs. He looked at Lorcan and raised an eyebrow, waiting.

Lorcan took the seat next to him as Aedion took another. “What?”

“You still getting any?”

Lorcan smirked. “Practically every night. Her sex drive is through the roof.”

“Lysandra was the same way,” Aedion said, grabbing another round of beers out of the cooler and passing them out.

“Lysandra was what way?”

They all turned to find Manon, Dorian, Fenrys and Asterin coming in through the back gate.

“Hey,” Aedion called. “Uh, the girls are in Lachlan’s nursery.”

“That’s nice of them,” Manon said, sitting on the swinging bench. “I don’t want to be anywhere near that mess.”

Dorian just gave her a look. “Pregnancy isn’t contagious.”

“Not chancing it.”

Dorian looked as if this conversation had been taking place quite often recently.

“Actually,” Fenrys sighed, “Probably best she does stay away, just in case. I don’t think the world could handle another Manon.”

“Don’t be an ass,” Asterin said, plopping in his lap.

Manon grinned, wickedly. “See? Another Manon wouldn’t be so bad.”

“Oh, no,” Asterin chuckled. “Fen is definitely right, he just needs to be nice about it.”

Manon gave them both a vulgar gesture as Dorian howled.

“What were y’all talking about?” Fenrys asked, rubbing his hand up the inside of Asterin’s thigh.

Aedion took a drink. “Sex during pregnancy.”

Manon raised an eyebrow. “So which one of you is getting laid and which one isn’t?” Her golden eyes landed on Lorcan and he swore there was death in them. To get out of her gaze, he got up and scooped Lachlan out of the playpen.

“I haven’t had sex in over 3 months,” Rowan groaned. Fenrys and Dorian voiced their sympathies. Lorcan sat back down and rested Lachlan against his chest.

Manon asked, “Lorcan?” He refused to look at her. “Well?”

He sighed and looked at her. “You really want to know how often I’m fucking your best friend?”

“Excuse you?”

He turned his head and found Elide, Aelin and Lysandra standing in the open sliding glass door.

There was an uncomfortable silence before Lorcan said, “Manon is asking uncomfortable questions.”

Elide rolled her eyes, not quite believing any of it. “The answer is often, by the way. Daily is also accurate. Sometimes multiple times-.”

“I’m going to puke,” Manon mumbled, to Lorcan’s pleasure. Elide pressed a kiss to his cheek.

“When’s dinner going to be ready?” Lysandra asked Aedion. “Much longer and I’m going to eat you.”

Aedion raised a brow. “Is that a promise?” Lysandra rolled her eyes. “Yes, my love, it comes out of the oven in 18 minutes.”

“Who wants wine?” Asterin asked, setting a bottle of white wine on the table. Aelin and Elide gazed at it longingly. “Okay,” she amended. “Who wants wine that’s not pregnant?”

Manon took the bottle and put it to her lips. “One of the many perks of not carrying a baby inside of me.” She drank deeply and Dorian shook his head.

“I wanna drink,” Aelin groaned. “I’m puking all the time and I can’t drink? This is going to be a long pregnancy.”

Elide sighed. “I’m okay with the not drinking, I suppose. I mean, it was alcohol that led to this, anyway.”

Lorcan snorted, bouncing Lachlan on his knee

After a few minutes, Aedion said, “Alright, who wants to come inside and help me get dinner out of the oven?”

Elide had just sat down was rubbing a hand over her belly, but said, “I can, Aedion, just give me a second.”

“No, you stay there,” Fenrys said, ruffling her hair as he got up. “We can help.” He and Asterin followed Aedion inside.

Manon lifted the bottle of wine up and said, “This has gotten too warm, come on, baby.” She patted Dorian’s cheek and headed into the house.

Lysandra walked to Lorcan and held her arms out. He handed Lachlan to her and she put her nose to his butt. “Whoa, dude. You need to be changed.”

“Ooh, make Rowan do it this time,” Aelin said, hopping to her feet. “He needs the practice.”

Rowan looked inclined to disagree, but Lysandra just waved him to follow her and they all three disappeared into the house.

Elide closed her eyes and enjoyed the feeling of the sun on her face. She listened to the sounds around her, content to stay right there for a few minutes.

The growling in her stomach told her that wasn’t an option, especially with food so close in the house.

She groaned as she stood, resting her hand on her lower back. She wasn’t sure exactly how she was supposed to get any bigger when it felt like she was already about to tip over every time she stood.

“Come on, baby,” she said to Lorcan, heading for the door. “Mama’s hungry.”

She heard him chuckling behind her. “Elide.”

“What?” She asked, turning around and freezing.

Lorcan was down on one knee.

“What are you doing?” She breathed.

“Elide, I love you,” he said, hands shaking. “I love you so, so much. More than I ever thought possible. I am the luckiest man alive to be loved by you, to be the father of your children. You are my entire world, and I cannot wait for our little family to begin. I know, without a doubt, that I want to spend everyday of the rest of my life with you. You make me so, so happy. I have no idea how someone as amazing and beautiful and kind as you loves me. I’m in awe every day. But, damnit, Elide, I’m so in love with you. I was hoping….you felt the same way.”

Elide’s eyes were beginning to water as she huffed out a laugh. “Oh, Lorcan.”

“Elide,” he said, softly, smiling broadly. “Baby, will you marry me?”

He reached into his pocket and pulled out a ring box. Inside was the most gorgeous ring she’d ever seen. It was a pear cut and the halo of diamonds around the large center stone sparkled in the light.

Elide began to cry and opened her mouth to speak, but words were failing her. Yes wasn’t a powerful enough answer and she didn’t think she could hold herself together to say anything more. So instead as he took her hand, she nodded “Yes” and he slipped the ring onto her finger.

He stood up to his full height, towering over her and leaned down to press and searing kiss to her lips. One hand rested on her cheek and the other lovingly caressed her belly.

This was happiness.

This was joy, euphoria, bliss.

This was an unexpected circumstance becoming everything she ever wanted, needed, longed for.

He took her in his arms and she felt whole.

“I love you so much,” she said through her tears. She cradled his face in her hands. “How long have you had this planned?”

He rested his forehead against hers. “A few weeks. But I’ve had the ring for months.”

Elide gasped. “Months?”

Lorcan smiled. “I’ve always known, Elide. I’ve always known.”

She breathed him in. Her boyfriend, fiancé, her future, her husband, the father of her child.

He was it.

Her future.

———

Elide woke up and she was instantly alert. She carefully sat up, leaning up on her elbows.

Lorcan was sleeping soundly, his arm wrapped under her ridiculously huge belly.

After 7 and a half months, she was so ready for these kids to be out of her.

She sat up a little higher and noticed a wetness underneath beneath her. She froze.

“Lorcan,” she shook him. “Lorcan, wake up.”

He continued snoring, obnoxiously.

“Lorcan!” She kicked him in the shin until he slowly opened his eyes, blinking rapidly.

“Huh? What?”

“Lorcan,” she said, voice growing quiet. “I think my water just broke.”

Lorcan cursed, jumping up on his feet. “I have to get you to the hospital! Can you stand? Are you okay? Contractions? Are you having contractions?”

Elide laughed, softly. “Calm down.”

“Calm down?!” He yelled. “Babies are about to come out of you, and you’re telling me to calm down?!”

She reached for his hand and the second her skin touched his, he calmed slightly. “Is your bag packed?”

She pressed a hand to his cheek and smiled. “It’s been in the truck for two weeks.”

“Diaper bags?”

“On the dining table, on the way out the door.”

“Car seats are-?”

“Already buckled into the back seat.”

He sat down on the bed next to her. He asked quietly, “They’re coming?” She bit her lip and nodded. He framed her face with his hands and pressed a kiss to her lips.

“Let’s go have some babies.”

Lorcan drove them to the hospital, anxiously making nervous chatter all the while. When they arrived, he hurried her inside, calling for a herd of nurses to help them.

As soon as Elide was placed in a wheelchair, she began groaning, clutching her side.

“Breathe, baby,” Lorcan said, wheeling her through the hallways. “Breathe.”

Contractions were horrible. It felt like her body was about to break in half, the pain so bad it was blinding, nauseating.

“Good girl,” Lorcan encouraged, as Elide did her breathing exercises.

They brought her into the room, got her changed and told her to try and get comfortable.

“Lorcan,” Elide breathed, lying back in the bed, recovering from a strong contraction. He was holding her hand with his left, hiding the fact that he was having to stretch his right one under the bed. He was fairly sure his petite fiancée may have just broken several bones as she squeezed his hand until he lost all feeling. He wouldn’t say a word though, wouldn’t complain about anything. The pain he was experiencing was nothing compared to what she was dealing with, nor the ordeal her body was about to undergo.

Twice.

“What, baby?” He asked, pushing her hair back off of her face.

“We need to let Aelin and Rowan know we’re here, can you call them, please? They can let everyone else know.”

He kissed her forehead. “Of course, baby, I’ll step out and be right back.”

She nodded and he stepped back, heading for the door. “Oh and if you see a nurse can you ask her if I can have my epidural yet?”

He chuckled, “I’ll ask,” and stepped out in the hallway. He glanced down at the time on his phone. It was only 2:37.

Leaning against the wall next to Elide’s room, Lorcan took out his phone and dialed Rowan’s number.

“Hello?” A tired, muffled voice answered after three rings.

“Hey, it’s Lorcan.”

A small pause. “Hey, is everything okay?”

“Yeah,” Lorcan said, smiling to himself, pushing his hair back. “We’re at the hospital. Elide’s in labor.”

Rowan cursed, then he heard a series of muffled noises before Aelin said, “Elide’s in labor?! I’m coming.”

“You don’t need to-“

“She’s already out the door,” Rowan interrupted.

Lorcan laughed. “Well, her contractions are about five minutes apart. They haven’t even come in to check her yet, and she hasn’t received her epidural so-.”

“LORCAAAAAAN!”

He froze. “Uh, I gotta go.”

Rowan’s voice was edgy as he asked, “What’s happening? Is she okay?”

“Pretty sure it’s a strong contraction and she doesn’t have my hand to break. We’re in room 314. I’ll see you soon.”

“See you soon, man,” Rowan said. “And hey. Congratulations.”

Lorcan smiled as he hung up the phone.

Elide was having trouble breathing as Lorcan took her hand. “You’re doing great.”

A nurse came in, smiling brightly. “Good morning. How far apart are contractions?”

“About five minutes,” Lorcan said. “Although it seems like they’re beginning to come quicker.”

She nodded, letting Elide’s contraction pass before asking her to lay back. “It looks like you’re only a couple hours away from starting to push. Are you interested in an epidural?”

“Yes,” Elide breathed. “Please.”

The nurse inclined her head, removing her latex gloves and tossing them in the garbage. After she washed her hands, she said, “I’ll go set that up. The doctor and I will be back in about twenty minutes to see how you’re progressing. Your water has already broken, but we need to wait until your contractions are about 2 minutes apart before we give you the epidural.”

Elide nodded, taking a deep breath and closing her eyes.

Lorcan smiled. “Thank you.”

He brushed her hair back off of her face as she breathed heavily. “Can I get you anything?”

She cracked an eye open. “Get these babies out of me.”

He chuckled. “I’m afraid that’s all you at this point, my love, but you’re doing so good. Do you want some ice chips?”

Elide nodded and ran a hand over her belly. He pressed his hand over hers and she gazed up at him, smiling. Her eyes were lined with silver. “I love you.”

He took her other hand in his, pressing a kiss to her engagement ring. “I love you more.”

#elide #lorcan #elorcan #tog #fanfic #fanfiction #shara writes #shelby and tara writes

[pocket-size-gay]

Asteri Tale Chapter 29 Revisiting Insecurity

I was gonna post this earlier but then I got distracted. LOL. 

   "What the hell even happened yesterday?" The bell rang, dismissing school for the day. Alex apprehensively grabbed his bag and headed for the meeting room. "Last thing I remember, I'm walking down the street after that fight, then suddenly I wake up in the computer lab and it's dark out." He let out a long sigh as the rest of the disciplinary committee filled in their seats. "This isn't like me."    "My, my Captain, that was quite impressive!" Akira jeered playfully.    "Oh, ha! Even I have my worries." Alex scoffed back unamused. "Things just keep getting stranger here." He thought over the school day as the council conducted the meeting. "Arata was clearly injured, yet he was nowhere to be seen during the encounter with Kinai." Alex leaned on his hand as he tried to piece together the gap in his memory. "And what the hell was with Saveli?" He suppressed the urge to laugh. Unlike his usual boisterous self, Aren had been very docile, skittish even, the entire day. He never made contact with Tori, rather he was obviously avoiding him. "It's only Monday and everything is going to hell!" Alex's eyes sluggishly scanned over the meeting in process, which he had tuned out while caught up in thought. BZZT BZZT    Everyone froze. "Huh?    "C-Captain?" Akira broke the silence. Alex snapped back to reality.    "Y-Yes, Yuen?" he lifted his head up in a daze.    "Was that your phone?" at the question a few others giggled around the room. Alex's eyes shot open as he fumbled around in his pockets. His heart sank as he skimmed the message on the screen. "It was only a matter of time."    "I have...'matters' to attend to, you all know how to handle things here." he responded in a harsh tone, stood and left the room briskly. Akira shut her eyes and exhaled deeply.    Once out of earshot, Alex let out a pained sigh.    "Haa, time to get reprimanded AGAIN!" his body heaved as he forced out an unenthusiastic laugh. He shuffled across the courtyard to a room lined with lockers. He opened one and pulled out a neatly folded stack of casual clothing and a burgundy hoodie. After changing out of his uniform, he peeked out the door to make sure he wasn't being watched. "Anytime I try to go anywhere lately I always run into one of 'them." he huffed and pulled the hood over his head before walking off. He didn't really need to think about where he was going. He'd made the trip so many times his legs remembered the route. The ominous dread caused each step to feel heavier than the last. As he entered the familiar abandoned building, a pair of menacing red eyes locked on to Alex. Swiftly, a sliver flicker flashed across the space between them. Still adjusting to the lack of light, Alex barely dodged in time, beside his neck, stuck in the wall, was a plain short sword with no distinguishable features.    "You better have a good reason for failing me once again!" the large figured leered down over him. Alex's body shuddered.    "I-it's no one’s fault but my own." he whimpered. The elusive man scoffed and drew his sword from the wall. "I- he was with me. I let him get away..." Alex struggled to distance himself from the imposing man. "I-I won't fail you next time!" at this the guy laughed.    "'Next time'? Who says there's going to be a 'next time'?" he taunted in a grim voice.    "I-I swear I won't f-" he stammered, his pleas were interrupted by the glint of a blade between his eyes. Alex froze.    "Heh with 'those two' the way they are, how'd you expect to accomplish anything?" the man laughed brutishly.    "T-Tiger and Ra-?" Alex started to question but stopped at the change in the man's expression.    "That 'Horse' of yours!" he growled. "And that 'Cancer' kid." He thrust the sword into the wall by Alex's face, the blade nicked his cheek as he flinched. After a second, Alex opened his eyes dubiously. "What about Syrus and Arlin?" "If he didn't have such...impressive results, I'd say he's more trouble than he's worth." he paused dramatically. "Get rid of 'that' obstacle." he ran his finger tips along the contour of Alex's neck. Reflexively, Alex jumped back, into the wall behind him. "With that pest gone we won't have any more mishaps, correct?" he gave a suggestive grin. Alex gasped, finding himself at a loss for words. "It's in your best interest too, no?" as he continued to speak, his voice developed a sickeningly elated tone. Alex swallowed hard, feeling as if the word about to come from his mouth would make him ill.    "Yes..." he uttered. "I hate the guy but even this is too extreme for me..."    "Good!" the shadowed face grinned wider revealing sharp sizable fangs. "I would hate to lose someone as...willing as you over some inconsequential nuisance." he pulled the sword from the wall once more and traced along Alex's clavicle lightly, scratching his skin. "My patients wears thing!" he declared as he gripped the handle tighter, pressing the tip up into Alex's neck. Alex held his breath, watching the figure in front of him tentatively. After a moment, he withdrew the blade theatrically, rolling it over his arm and into a concealed sheath. At this, Alex let out a deep breath in relief. "Now, BEGONE!" the man barked and turned away. Alex skittishly bowed then backed out the door. On his way out the Master's presence faded, nothing remained in the lightless building. He ran out to the main street from the series of alley ways. He winced as the bright light of the day, what had felt like hours had only been a few minutes. The heat of the sun made the cut on his face sting. He reached up to brush his hand against it. He looked at the blood coating his fingertips "I got off pretty easy this time." He reached over and massaged his shoulder remembering the last time 'he' had drawn his sword against him. A chill ran down his spine as he shook off the memory. "I REALLY don't want to go home..." he sighed then faded into the crowd as usual. "Now that Shea's on the team, I have more free time than I know what to do with." He sulked. "I really want to see Sempai, but I have no reason to go today." Alex tapped his phone, the screen illuminated to reveal no new messages.    "Hmm?" he frowned. "That's odd, normally he'd flood my inbox while I'm in class, but I haven't heard anything from him since yesterday..." He groaned. "What the hell happened yesterday!?" As he walked idly by, the scenery around him shifted. Gradually he came to his senses. His face flushed red. "What in god's name am I getting upset about?!" He stuffed his phone in his bag timidly. As he turned his face up, he spotted a recognizable house. He grimaced in shame. "You have got to be kidding me!" he grumbled aloud. "Well...I mean, I'm already here!" He tried to justify to himself as he dragged himself to the door. Alex looked up to the name plate by the door. 'Kaarlo'. Apprehensively, he knocked at the door. "What am I even doing?" he pulled back, straightened his posture and looked to his feet. Moments later, the door creaked as it opened.    "Murasa?!" Ceres's voice called out cheerfully.    "H-hey..." Alex fumbled with his hands awkwardly.    "Wait...what are you doing here?" Ceres questioned. "You know Shea has practice today, right?"    "I- uh, just wanted to hang out." Alex uttered under his breath. A huge smile came to Ceres's face.    "Come in! I'll get you a drink." he invited Alex in. Alex took hesitant steps in.    "Sorry for intruding." he recited solemnly. He lifted his head to observe Ceres as he skipped into the kitchen. "I was-uh...wondering if something came up since I hadn't heard from you all day." from the kitchen there was a loud crash as something fell to the floor. "Sempai?!" Alex jumped up.    "Ah, s-sorry..." Ceres huffed. There was an uneasiness to his voice. "Shea and I...sort of got into a small arguem...ent." Ceres stepped out of the kitchen. The color drained from his face once he spotted the cut on Alex's face. "When did that happen?..." he asked in an uncharacteristically stern tone. Alex gasped, having forgotten about the small injury he received earlier. "Who did that to you?!" in an instant, Ceres was overcome with an indescribable rage.    "I-it was an accident." Alex averted his eyes as he instinctively lied. Ceres growled in disapproval. "He didn't have that last I checked." Alex retreated back as Ceres stepped toward him. "It couldn't have been..." Ceres sighed and took a seat at the dining room table.    "You...you know, I'm here for you if you ever have troubles." Ceres stifled his anger. There was no point in taking it out on Alex.    "Ah!...it's not that simple." Alex confessed.    "Am I really that untrustworthy?" Ceres exhaled through gritted teeth.    "What? No!" Alex jumped up then pulled back.    "First my sister and now you..." Ceres leaned back in the chair and scoffed.    "N-no! I do trust you, I just...don't want you to hate me..." Alex's voice trailed off as the fear in his eyes shifted to woe.    "PFFT!" Ceres nearly chocked as he began laughing. Alex stared back bewildered. "HA! I could never hate you!" he chuckled as he spoke. Alex felt his face grow hot as he watched Ceres laugh.    "B-but you-" he stumbled to put his thoughts into words.    "I could never hate you, Murasa." Ceres announced again as his laughter calmed down. "I was only concerned about your well-being." he covered his face with his hands.    "Wh-what about..." Alex murmured in rebuttal.    "I was in a bad mood over something my sister said, I didn't want to drag you down with our petty sibling drama." Ceres snickered. Alex pouted at him.    "Wh-what's so funny about all this?" he griped, feeling mortified.    "I never would have imagined you'd concoct such absurd ideas after going without hearing from me for a single day!" Ceres squealed excitedly. Alex lurched back in awe.    "I-what! No, that's not it!" he protested. Ceres hummed to himself as he gathered a handful of first aid supplies. Alex continued to whine as Ceres carefully tended to the wound on his face.    "Don't you think that's a bit much?"    "Hush, what if it gets infected?" Ceres barked back.    "It's barely a scratch, talk about overreacting!" Alex elbowed Ceres playfully. Ceres glowered back, beginning to blush.    "Please don't hesitate to call for me if anything else happens."    "Eh? Don't get all sappy on me!" Alex jeered.    "I don't know what I would do if anything were to happen to you." Ceres whispered earnestly. Alex turned to the side, unsure of a response. Ceres finished applying the bandage to Alex's face and places the used dressings aside.    "You're way too nice for your own good." Alex hissed insincerely. "I will never understand why your sister treats you the way she does." Ceres gasped.    "Ah...well..." he stammered.    "She doesn't give you enough credit, none of them do..." Alex expressed in a severe tone. Ceres's lips trembled as he tried to hold back his smile. The both looked up to the other. As soon as their eyes met, Ceres lunged forward, pulling Alex into a firm embrace. Alex froze as Ceres buried his face into Alex's shoulder.    "Thank you." he huffed under his breath fighting the urge to cry. A pleasant warmth seethed inside of him. Without speaking another word, Alex returned the hug, gently caressing Ceres's back with his hands.

#Asteri Tale #original content #original story #original characters #implied homosexuality #chapter 29 #how do i normally tag these

[pocket-size-gay]

Asteri Tale Chapter 24 Pig

And the immediate follow-up to Chapter 23.

   The next two classes passed by at a stagnant pace. The air was heavy with tension thick enough to be cut by a knife. At the break, Kaz observed Ed more intently. "He took that harder than I meant it..." He sighed to himself. "I don't regret what I said, though" Ed was very obviously avoiding eye contact with Kaz. Kaz leaned his elbows on the desk and rested his head on his hands. "Maybe I pushed him too hard, he never wanted to be my friend in the first place." He looked down at his empty notebook page as a dull ache emerged in his chest. "He's finally fed up with me so he intends to break it off here, huh?" He swallowed hard to keep his sorrow from overflowing. Once lunch came they left class as usual. Kaz tried to catch up to Ed as they funneled out the door.    "Oi, Sevan!" he called out. Ed's body jolted but he didn't turn around, instead weaving himself into the crowd. Kaz sighed. Someone of Ed's size was easy to lose sight of in a crowd, he was fairly short. Disappointed, Kaz walked to the dining hall alone. He went over to the table at the far end that Ed usually sat at, but it was empty. "I shouldn't be surprised honestly." As he wallowed in his self-pity, he failed to realize someone other than Ed had sat across from him at the table. Kaz ate his lunch while keeping his face down. His unexpected guest let out a husky laugh. Kaz looked up to see a pair of brilliant teal eyes gazing down at him. "What do you want Murasa?" he groaned.    "Heard you and Sevan got into a fight." Alex spoke in a mischievous tone.    "What of it?" Kaz rolled his eyes. "I really don't want to hear it from you."    "He's not the kind of person to snap like that, it must have been big." Alex shrugged, his expression softened. "You should try to apologize."    "I did...he won't even let me speak." Kaz sighed deeply.    "Oh, that is troubling then..." Alex rubbed his lips in thought. "Maybe he just needs time to cool off."    "You really think that's all there is too it?" Kaz leaned on his hands, propped against the table. "Isn't this the same as Kanamura and Akseli?"    "Ha, you noticed too?" Alex laughed in a self-depreciating manner.    "Do you regret it?" Kaz asked sheepishly.    "No...I don't." Alex declared firmly. "I didn't start anything that wasn't already in the works."    "Haa, so that's how it is?" Kaz chuckled to himself. "So then, why? Why do you care what happens to us?"    "That guy never gives others more attention than necessary, except you." Alex affirmed with a sincere expression. Kaz averted his eyes bashfully.    "That's not really-" Kaz protested meekly.    "For him to go this far to shun you, you must have said something truly hurtful." Alex shurgged. "I guess I get it..." his face darkened.    "Hm? If it isn't Akseli then who could you have wronged that you would give damn about?" Kaz looked up mildly curious.    "I-I do have other friend-...okay, one other friend." Alex sneered bitterly.    "You got in a fight?"    "Well no...unlike you I didn't say anything, but if he knew I was deceiving him...he'd surely hate me." Alex frowned as he confessed his true intentions for trying to repair Ed and Kaz's friendship.    "Ah! Well I don't personally think I was wrong in what I said...he wouldn't listen to my reasoning before he stormed off." Kaz pushed aside the empty dish and rested his chin on his hands. "To be honest, I didn't present it in the best way...so he took it as an attack on his character. You know how prideful he is." he exhaled deeply then made eye contact with Alex. "I will say this though." Kaz paused to ensure Alex was paying attention. "If that guy can't handle the truth, if he isn't willing to look passed one small thing...is he really worth your friendship?" Alex's eyes opened wide in shock.    "I-it's not small..." he uttered dismissively.    "So? You never give a damn about what anyone thinks of you, yet here you are on the verge of tears over something that hasn't happened yet." Kaz grinned a little. "Who ever it is must be really important to you!"    "I-I am not going to cry!" Alex gasped and turned his face down.    "You don't want to lose him, that much even I can tell." Kaz ignored Alex's protests and patted him on the head. "Have some faith in yourself."    "That's easy for you to say...everyone likes you." Alex grumbled.    "Yet here I am, sulking over ONE guy." Kaz mocked himself.    "You two have been friends for what...eight years now?" Alex looked up.    "How's that any different from Kanamura and Akseli?" Kaz shook his head.    "There's more going on there than it appears...in your case, once you clear up things, everything should be fine." Alex shrugged. "So there IS more to it!" Kaz smirked.    "You're surprisingly nice, Captain Murasa." he emphasized the last part and giggled.    "I am not! It would cause me trouble if you or Sevan dropped over this petty misunderstanding!" Alex scoffed. "I already get enough flack about Rabbit and Tiger, I don't need you two causing me problems!"    "R-Rabbit and Tiger?" Kaz inquired. "They are?"    "Ack...crap." Alex muttered to himself. "Upperclassmen, they're in university." he stated in distaste. "Renegades, they flat out refuse to follow any orders we're given."    "Wow...I had no idea there were people like that." Kaz sighed in disbelief. "So that's it."    "Heh...yeah." Alex's eyes wandered as his mind drifted briefly. "You better patch things up for both of us." he pushed back and stood up.    "Yeah yeah, I'll try." Kaz waved dismissively at Alex. "And good luck!" he gave an exaggerated wink. Alex scoffed and walked off. "You're a strong one Murasa..." Kaz hummed to himself as he headed back to class.    In the room, Ed fidgeted in his seat. Kaz watched him pensively. "How can I get you to understand my intentions?” he rolled his shoulders, trying to relieve the stress in his neck as he thought of how to properly convey his feelings. "Argh, I've never been good at expressing myself...I never really needed to before now." The class ended quickly. "One more to go before we enact 'his' plans." Kaz sighed and shoved his hands into his pockets. An unfamiliar emotion bubbled up inside of him. "What exactly does 'he' want with Sharpe?" Unease. Kaz looked to Ed while they changed in the locker room. He wasn't frail like Arlin but he was by no means the strongest. Kaz averted his gaze once he realized he was staring a little too intently at Ed's shirtless body. Sal spotted Kaz's flustered expression and gave a small chuckle. Ed lingered in front of his open locker while Kaz rushed out first. "What is it that I'm actually worried about?" Kaz hung his head when Ed absentmindedly drifted out of the locker room. Kaz shook his head to clear the foreign emotions out of his head. Alex and Arlin walked out next. "Right, I have more urgent matters to focus my attention on..." Kaz hurried over to them.    "Oh, Yuli?" Arlin perked up in bewilderment.    "He's coming along with us today it seems." Alex gave an apprehensive grin to Kaz.    "Oh! really, what are you?" Arlin bounced around enthusiastically. Kaz rolled his eyes. Alex laughed under his breath.    "Pig..." Kaz sighed. "Why did it have to be me with that one?"    "Cool!" Arlin's eyes lit up as he squirmed around.    "Sure?" Kaz frowned, feelings slightly embarrassed at the implications of the label.    "How many others are there?" Arlin turned to Alex expectantly. "FRIENDS!"    "Well, there's twelve in all..." Alex's face flushed light pink. "You've seen Yuen and Arata...so thats leaves uh... " Alex froze when Ceres's face flashed in his mind. "T-Tiger...Rabbit, Sheep, Bird, Dog, Rat and Ox." Arlin's eyes widened in awe as Alex listed off the rest involved. Kaz turned his face down at the last name called. Alex jumped a bit when he noticed Kaz's expression.    "You know who they all are?" Arlin chimed in again.    "Ha, ha...yeah...I am in charge of the one's here after all." Alex straightened his posture triumphantly. From a fair distance away the Kouki twins, Sal, Aren and Kelly watched the boys talk.    "Yuli...that bastard." Sal grumbled.    "There are others we haven't met..." Kelly stated blankly.    "Great, just what we needed!" Jem grimaced.    "As if Murasa and Akseli weren't a handful on their own." Mini whined. Aren rubbed the bruised part of his abdomen.    "As far as we known, there's five of them and fourteen of us, statistically we are superior." Kelly assessed aloud.    "Murasa and a CLONE were able to take out Noriko, Atsuko, both Tori and Sai as well as these two..." Aren sighed and pointed to Jem and Mini. Sal turned his attention to Aren.    "No...the Arata's actually held their ground against Murasa." Jem rebuttaled.    "The sister got hurt protecting Noriko." Mini shrugged. "They both held off his attacks pretty well." she continued, motioning to Alex with disgust.    "So the kid's magic is the real threat?" Sal inqured curiously.    "Don't count him out just because they can hold him off, none of us have been able to even touch him." Jem rolled her eyes.    "Shit still hurts like hell though..." Mini groaned. Jem shuddered at the memory of getting hit by it.    "But from what I understand, Murasa himself only became violent because you two insulted him." Skai walked up behind the girls with a bitter remark. Mini slumped over.    "The last time he even tried to leave..." Tori revealed timidly. Aren swallowed hard. They turned to see the rest of the group gathered around.    "Alex's problem is with me!" Syrus groaned loudly. "Don't provoke him and he'll leave you alone."    "But he's trying to do things to Kid!" Jem protested.    "We can protected Sharpe and avoid confrontation!" Syrus snapped.    "The only ones who have openly defied Murasa are Akseli and Zeka." Sai stated plainly.    "Z-Zeka?" Tori asked in awe. "That's why she was so pissy yesterday?"    "Mm, yeah..." Sai shrugged.    "What?" Skai snapped. "Why haven't we heard about this?"    "It wasn't a big deal, I took care of it." Sai shrugged. "She won't be able to shoot her bow."    "So it wasn't my imagination..." Sal uttered.    "Y-you noticed?" Aren looked at him with a puzzled expression.    "Noticed What?" Ed, having over heard Aren's loud response and walked over to the large group.    "Ah!" Aren jumped away slightly panicked. "Oh its you..."    "Worried one of your 'friends' caught you socializing with these nerds?" Ed jerked his chin up at the rest.    "Ah! Sevan, did you and Yuli make up?" Mira smiled earnestly at Ed. His eyes shot open and his body grew rigid. Everyone but Sai looked to her dubiously.    "W-wh-what?" Ed's voice trembled. He turned his head down and grit his teeth together. "The hell are you talking about?!"    "Oh..well he's ri-" Mira pointed behind Ed as Kaz cautiously approached.    "As if, I have no need for a person like him!" Ed shouted. "Hell, I'm GLAD I won't have to look at his smug ass face anymore!" Kaz stopped.    "Behind you..." Mira finished. Ed whipped around to see Kaz staring back at him. Everyone watched as the boys looked at each other in a strained silence.    "K-Ka-" Ed started to mumble.    "S-sorry..." Kaz lowered his head, turned away and walked to the locker rooms in defeat.    "Well then..." Anya glances over the rather large group gathered. Kid push his way through to Ed.    "You can't mean that!" he grabbed Ed's shoulders forcefully. "You two have been friends for as long as I can remember!" Ed smacked away Kid's hands.    "S-st-stay out of it!" he glowered at Kid, hiding his regret. Ed took a few steps back then ran into the locker room. Gym came to an end on a sour note. Kaz kept his face down as he quickly changed and collected his things. He fished a chain from his pocket and wore it around his neck, tucking it into his shirt. Ed shoved his head into his locker and cried while the rest of the class cleared out. Alex and Arlin waited along the far wall. Kaz somberly approached them without looking up.    "That...that's harsh." Alex tried to console him contritely. "Sorry it didn't work out..."    "No...I had a feeling that was how he felt all along." Kaz spat out the words self-mockingly.    "We ready to go?" Akira came up behind them.    "Yeah..." Arlin gave a sidelong glance back as Skai and Kid came out of the locker room together.    "I could go for a good thrashing right about now." Kaz sighed. Alex exhaled loudly but kept to himself. "I'm in no position to talk, really..." They left the gym and enacted the plan. They split up into teams. Some of them acted to bluff, to catch the Guardians' attention and separate their forces into more manageable groups. That team consisted of Arlin, Akira and Kaz. Zeka faked participation but had an out if she was caught while injured, her ability. Alex was to hide and await when they fell for the feint, he'd go coerce Kid into going with him to meet the 'Master' directly at the appointed location. For some the bait took. Syrus and Skai tailed Arlin. Jem Mini and Anya went after Akira. Aren and Sal followed Kaz. Mira and Kelly were to stay behind with Kid and escort him home. Tori and Sai followed Zeka home.    "My, this feels weird." Kid laughed timidly.    "What does, Sharpe san?" Mira gave a coy smile.    "N-normally I go home with Skai...being escorted by cute girls." his face flushed red. "My parents will get the wrong idea for sure!"    "How adorable, you spend so much time with Atsuko and the twins, how are we any different?" Kelly laughed at his flustered reactions.    "Th-they're different..." Kid turned away, his face burned brighter. Alex kept a fair distance as he tailed them. "Damn it! I should have known something was up with Dunley..." he scoffed at himself in shame. "I let my guard down around her too..."    "Ha...ha...man, I feel bad for Yuli san." Kid nervously changed the conversation topic.    "Why? It's his fault for neglecting his friend." Kelly said dismissively.    "I-I don't think that's it..." Mira scratched her chin in thought.    "We must clear up this misunderstanding then!" Kid pumped his fist in the air and charged ahead.    "W-WAIT!" Kelly called out to him in a panic.    "Crap..." Mira narrowed her eyes in disbelief.    "PFFT! And here I thought this would be a bust with you two in the way!" Alex howled laughter as he chased after Kid. Kelly and his eyes met as he passed by. "Why?"    The girls followed behind but Alex was much faster than they expected and caught up to Kid before they even got close. Alex lied to Kid and lead him away from where Kaz had gone, before the girls had a chance to interrupt. Kelly and Mira split up. Mira left to warn Aren and Sal while Kelly went after Kid and Alex. The boys carried on idle banter as Alex deceived him. Kelly followed them into a run-down part of the town she didn't recognize.    Mira ran as fast as she could until she made it onto the battlefield where Aren and Sal squared off against Kaz.    "Cut the crap Yuli!" Sal roared and drew his bow. He wore a dark sleeveless coat, black boots and archery gloves. On his pants 'Sagittarius'. "You're not getting Sharpe!" Kaz sighed halfheartedly and pulled down the baseball bat he had propped up on his shoulders. He also wore dark clothing with catchers armor. Around his neck dangled a round medallion-like charm with a character engraved on it.    "Tamsin!" Mira cried out as she ran over. Sal and Aren looked at Mira in terror. "H-he took him!"    "W-who?!" Aren growled. Kaz laughed.    "Murasa! H-he tried to run off on his own...w-we couldn't...stop..ha!" Mira fell to her knees. Aren brandished his ax and tried to leave. Kaz stepped in his path and pointed his bat toward Aren.    "Yeeeah, that's not going to happen, Saveli san." he derided unenthusiastically.    "Get out of my way!" Aren yelled and readied his swing.    Alex and Kid sat in an out of the way cafe on the edge of the downtown area.    "Ah...why are you treating me?..." Kid bowed his head apologetically while Alex brought over pastries and drinks. "I-its not necessary..."    "I wanted to talk, Sharpe kun." Alex said in a sickly sweet tone.    "Oh...everyone keeps saying you're a bad person." Kid observed Alex skeptically. "B-but you're always so nice to me....I don't get it." Alex averted his gaze.    "O-oh...m-my position on the disciplinary committee tends to earn me a lot of enemies, its nothing personal!" Alex crossed his arms and watched Kid tentatively eat.    "Man, what's up with everyone misunderstanding each other lately..." Kid rocked side to side. "Wow, this is good!" his eyes lit up as he took a bit of the bun Alex had bought him. "I really hope sempai doesn't come here and see this..." Alex's eyes wandered out the window at the street. "If everyone could see how nice you are, I'm sure we could all be friends, like Kanamura san!" Kid cheered.    "Syrus, huh?" Alex huffed. Kid looked up at him,    "You use his given name too?!" Kid bounced in his chair. "You must be friends right?"    "Ah...no...we never really got along." Alex muttered under his breath. His eyes traveled across the room. They stopped when he spotted Kelly conveniently drinking tea on the other end. "You!"    "Oooooh! Why?" Kid pouted. "He's a bit abrasive at first but he's not bad!"    "Heh...if only that were the case the past eleven years..." Alex said to himself.    "ELEVEN YEARS!" Kid gasped. Alex straightened his posture.    "Shit, that came out..." he buried his face in his hands, his face tinted pink. Kid burst out laughing. Alex groaned and leaned over on the table in embarrassment.    "Heh, you're funny Murasa!" Kid squirmed around excitedly. The front door chimed as another customer walked in.    "N-n-no I'm no-" Alex stammered on. Kid started laughing again.    "Murasa?" Ed gaped. "What the hell are you doing?"    "SEVAN!" Alex and Kid shouted in unison as they turned to him.    "You look like an idiot, what is with that face?" Ed jeered. Alex lowered his head bashfully.    "PERFECT!" Kid leapt up.    "Eh?" Alex peeked up at him.    "Let's go, Sevan san!" Kid dashed over to him, grabbed him by the arm and ran out of the cafe, leaving Alex momentarily dumbfounded.    "W-wh-what...WAIT!" Alex shot up and ran after them. "If he gets away it will all have been for nothing!" Alex chased after the invigorated Kid as he dragged Ed along. Kelly followed not far behind.    "WHA- What the hell is your problem Sharpe?!" Ed whined. "Where are you taking me?"    "To clear up the misunderstanding!" Kid declared triumphantly.    "HAA?" Ed stumbled along behind Kid, bewildered by his straightforwardness. "What are you even saying?" Ed growled. "Do you even know where you are going? SHARPE SAN!"    "No clue!" Kid cheered and turned down a side street. Alex, remembering where Kaz was stationed, cut down an alleyway and scaled the walls to intercept them from above. "Ugh, I should let this happen but 'he's' going to be so pissed!" he sighed and cut across the roofs of the buildings.    Aren huffed as he pulled his ax back. Kaz batted away all his strikes. Sal growled. They were two against one so the odds SHOULD have been in their favor, but Kaz was much more skilled than either bargained for. Mira cowered behind Sal as he filled the air with arrows. Kaz dodged them all. Sal was growing exhausted.    "What's the matter Tamsin? Can't handle little ol' me?" Kaz teased, barely breaking a sweat.    "This is bad..." Mira whimpered. Sal drew another arrow in his bow.    "Heh...s-sorry to disappoint..." he sighed. Kaz charged at him, bat in hand. It was riddled with nicks from catching Aren's ax.    "~~~--!" a distant voice shouted, gradually growing louder.    "~~~~." a slightly different voice answered.    "Who would be coming out this way?" Aren groaned. Sal blocked as Kaz swung his bat. The arrow he'd drawn released from his hand towards a nearby intersection.    "You are insane! Let me go!" the pair of voices stepped into the path of the arrow. Kaz whipped around at the sound of Ed's voice.    "SHARPE!" Aren, Sal and Mira all gasped. A flash of black and silver zipped down from a roof, cutting the arrow in half before it could strike Kid. Alex lost his footing and fell flat on his face, his pronged blade dropped from his hand.    "Murasa!?" everyone cried out.    "I'M SO SORRY!" Kid let go of Ed's arm and ran over to Alex laying on the ground. Sal and Aren's transformations immediately faded and looked to each other. Everyone burst out laughing.    "What the hell was that?" Aren howled.    "Sh-shut up! My foot got caught on the gutter..." Alex grumbled in humiliation as he hopped up to his feet. "What do you think you're doing?! You could have killed him!" he hissed and gestured to Kid.    "Eh?" Kid looked around in a panic. "What do you mean?" Alex kicked a piece of the broken arrow forward. Kid stared at it perplexed.    "I-it...it was an accident." Sal lowered his head.    "Is that so?" Kaz jeered cynically. Ed looked up to Kaz then quickly turned away.    "Ah! Yuli san!" Kid cheered. Kaz turned his attention to Kid.    "What the hell could you want with him? Let's go Sharpe san." Aren snarled at Kaz. Him and Sal approached Kid then they started to walk off.    "I can't let you do that!" Kaz said in a devious tone and ran over to the three. He pulled his bat back, ready to swing.    "Yuli wai-!" Alex dashed forward but was cut off.    "NO! SAL!" Mira screamed and rushed over. In an instant, she was bathed in a auburn light. Kaz skidded to a stop as the light obscured his vision. The light twirled around her coming to a bow around her collar. She wore a copper colored dress. Over her shoulders was a tan scarf draped on her white poofy sleeves. Between the slit on the front side of her dress revealed a white underskirt with the symbol 'Virgo' on it. She swung the long staff in her hands at Kaz's face. "Don't hurt him!" CLUNK    The heart shaped top of the staff impacted him in the face, knocking him off balance.    "Ack!" Kaz stumbled back, blood leaked from his nose. Ed growled, his body tensed up and a dense mystic energy filled the air.    "H-Hiroko?" Sal turned around quickly.    "Huh...her too?" Alex hummed to himself. Kelly turned the corner, out of breath from running and grabbed Kid before he could see Mira's transformation.    "I will be taking him if you don't mind!" Kelly smirked to Alex and lead Kid away.    "H-hey, wait!" Alex tried to go after them but Aren chucked his ax at the wall, blocking his path. Alex glowered at him and invoked his transformation.    "Time to get my revenge!" Aren giggled with delight.    "Haa...what does a loser like you think you could do against us?" Kaz mocked in a suave voice.    "Not so fast, Yuli!" Sal quickly drew and arrow in his bow and aimed it at Kaz.    "Tamsin wai-" Alex dove forward trying to shield Kaz from the oncoming strike.    "I WILL FUCKING KILL YOU!" Ed screamed and transformed in an amber burst. His uniform faded, replaced by a beige trimmed white outfit. He deflected the arrow with the bow-staff in his hands, knocked Sal's bow out of his hands then tackled him to the ground.    "E-ED!" Kaz watched dumbfounded as Ed relentlessly punched at Sal. He shielded his face with his arms but his abdomen still took a beating. Ed's red eyes burned with unbridled rage. Mira lunged at them. Alex jumped in and held off her staff. "ED S-STOP!" Kaz commanded unsteadily as he undid his transformation. "S-Sharpe's gone, there's no reason for us to fight!" his voice quivered in a mix of fear and sadness.    "Sevan! Enough!" Alex pivoted on his heels and grabbed Ed by the collar of his top. "We failed, again..." he hissed in a grim tone. "Give up..." Alex pulled Ed off the bloodied Sal with ease. Aren inspected them warily.    "Wh-what the hell was that for?" Kaz stared at Ed tentatively. Ed growled and swatted away Alex's hand.    "Never mind that...the fight is over let's just go." Alex sighed.    "You really think I'll let you get away, Murasa?" Aren roared and pointed the head of his ax at Alex. Kaz stepped in front of Ed. He growled but didn't speak up.    "You, who couldn't even handle me, plan to take on the three of us by yourself? HA!" Alex scoffed. "Don't make me lau-AH?" he froze in place with a horrified expression. "Those footsteps..."    "...uh...what?" Kaz looked to Alex dubiously. Ed turned his face down.    "Why is he here?" Alex turned to look down a side street. A large figure was approaching from the distance.    "Th-that c-can't be...can it?" Sal clutched his gut as blood dribbled down his chin.    "Quit playing around, you really think we're gonna buy that crap?" Aren groaned.    "Rgh...Sav...eli d-don't!" Sal reached out and grabbed Aren's shoulder. Aren turned back to face Sal. He squeezed his eyes shut. Sal was in worse condition than he had realized. Sal propped himself against the wall and was struggling to breathe. Aren put away his ax.    "Fine..let's go." He sighed in defeat. "Next time, Mura-eh?" he looked up. Alex had already taken off running. Kaz laughed sardonically as Aren carried Sal off. Mira followed behind frantic. Ed huffed and revoked his transformation. Kaz sighed and turned around.    "I can't believe you did that..." he whispered. Ed averted his eyes.    "I am not a burden." he growled.    "I never said that you were...are we really doing this again, here?"    "You didn't want to talk?" Ed pouted.    "I-I did but this isn't the best place for us to be seen together." Kaz lowered his head. "If i remember correctly, 'T-Bone' should be in this area today."    "Haa? You ashamed of me?" Ed snapped bitterly.    "N-no...I'd never- AGH! Let's just go!" Kaz groaned and grabbed Ed's hand. His face heated up as he lead Ed to the subway station. As they passed by a side alley, something caught their eye. A large quadruped silently observed them as they passed. Its fur was light and on its head and body were black stripes. Kaz's eyes shot open. "That explains so much."    "Wh-what is something like that doing in Jap-" Ed asked fearful of the large beast.    "Don't mind that...hmm if we run we can catch the next train." Kaz pulled out his phone to check the time, still holding Ed's hand.    "How can you be so calm? There's a tig-AH!" Ed questioned frantically, cut off as Kaz gripped Ed's hand tighter and jerked him away. The beast receded back into the alley and out of sight. They ran through the street into the subway station and on the train before the doors closed. "What the hell is your problem Kaz?" Ed snarled.    "No, what's your problem?" Kaz snapped back. "You ignore me all day, you act like I don't even exist then suddenly you try to beat Tamsin to death!" he threw Ed's hand at him. "I didn't tell you to stay out of it because I think you're weak or a burden, I was trying to protect you, DUMBASS!" Ed stared back in shock. "Argh! I can't believe you! You know how your power affects your health..."    "Ah...you...really?" Ed looked down at the hand Kaz had held. Tears filled his eyes as he blushed.    "I'm just glad you didn't use it...I don't know what I'd do if you got sick." Kaz sighed and scratched his head.    "I...I'm sorry..." Ed whimpered in shame. He pulled his hands over his flushed face.    "Please...be careful from now on, okay?" Kaz slapped Ed lightly on the back. He forced a smile but his eyes showed his true feelings. "I don't ever want to lose you, Edward."    "Fine...I'm not a helpless child though!" Ed frowned. Kaz chocked back a laugh. Ed turned his head down to his feet. "Is it really that weird not having me around?" he fumbled with his hands and shoved them into his pockets.    "Huh?" Kaz snapped out of his stupor and looked to Ed.    "You were all chummy with Murasa at lunch, I thought you couldn't stand him..." Ed fidgeted.    "Oh, ha...no its not like that..." Kaz's voice trailed off.    "Oh, then what is it like?" Ed pursed his lips together.    "If we didn't make up it'd affect the 'mission' and he's already under scrutiny for 'them' as it is." Kaz said in a low volume.    "Really?" Ed pouted dubiously.    "Heh, almost sounds like you're jealous!" Kaz teased playfully with a wide grin. Ed groaned. "Ha, sorry...its not like we're strangers either." Kaz's voice wavered a bit.    "Hmm, I never heard about this...explains a lot..." Ed sulked. "How long are we talking here?"    "Well we've been friends for eight years, you and I so..." Kaz paused and thought back to when he first met Alex. "That was back when I first started as a yakuza..." -Kaz's parents were some small no name blue collar workers in Russia. They decided to try their luck in Japan to make a better life for their only son, Kaz, twelve years before. In order to help his parents make ends meet, Kaz tried to find a job but came up with nothing due to his young age. He had caught the attention of some low ranking yakuza that frequented the run down neighborhood he lived in. At first they were hesitant to let a kid join but he persisted for months, until they caved. He had just been assigned his partner when it happened. A small handicapped boy surrounded by a mass of downed fellow yakuza members. His serpentine teal eyes gave a feral impression and his hair was dirtied with blood and grime.- "What a terrible first impression to make." Kaz sighed to himself, reminiscing about the past.    "So...what, you won't tell me?" Ed barked impatiently.    "I..uh, a little over ten years ago. Why is it that big of a deal?" Kaz stared at Ed, stunned by his obvious displeasure over something he, himself thought was trivial.    "Before we even met..." Ed glowered at Kaz, vexed by the idea that there was so much he possibly didn't know about his precious friend.    "Y-you...you weren't even here at that point! Why is this a problem?"    "Why did I not know about all this?!" Ed snapped. "I thought we were friends!"    "UH! Its not that important! Its not like I'm friends with that guy we just happened to meet..." Kaz paused at the subway announcement calling for their stop. They stood in silence as they waited for the train to come to a stop and the doors to open. "There's no way I could tell you about that...you'd definitely hate me if I did." Kaz grabbed Ed's hand again as they walked off. "You're too good for a thug like me..." The pair walked silently to Ed's family estate, hand in hand.

#Asteri Tale #original content #original story #original characters #chapter 24 #implied homosexuality #kinda long

[pocket-size-gay]

Asteri Tale Chapter 21 Libra part 1

2 Parter here cuz a lot of important shit happens.

   Kelly lied in bed, asleep, as the sun illuminated her extravagant bedroom. BZZT BZZT    "Mmmn..." she groaned softly then rolled over. BZZT BZZT    "5 more minutes mum..." she moaned lethargically. BZZT BZZT    "What the...?" she finally opened her eyes. BZZT BZZT    She eyed her phone as the screen lit up yet again. "Christ it's like 6 in the mor-" She froze as her eyes scanned the plethora of messages in her inbox all with the same subject. ["Saveli and Arata are in the hospital."] There were multiple senders and they dated back to the day before, leading up to the present time. BZZT BZZT    Before she had the chance to reply, another text came in, this time from Aren himself.    "Bloody Hell! What fucking happened?" she griped and called his number.    ["Finally awake I see."] Aren's voice teased but he lacked his usual enthusiasm.    "You could wake the dead with all that!" Kelly snapped, still groggy from being pulled out of slumber.    ["Heh, s-sorry..."] he laughed contritely.    "What in god's name did you do?" she sneered under the accurate assumption that it was his fault.    ["Why is this suddenly my fault?"] Aren grumbled. There was laughter in the background.    ["He picked a fight with Murasa and got his ass kicked!"] the second voice was Sal. Kelly let out a sharp laugh as Aren yelled obscenities at him.    "That makes sense." Kelly chucked. Aren growled.    ["Ja, well Kanamura wanted us to talk about it, so you should head on over, since you're up!"] Sal said audaciously, his voice louder as if he were leaning in close to the phone.    "Pfft, whatever..." she sighed and ended the call. "It's too damn early for this shit!” She rolled her eyes and reluctantly dressed for school. She was greeted by her chauffeur and left for the early morning meet-up.    "You are up early, Miss Kelly." he commented as he drove. Kelly groaned.    "Not by choice!" she snapped. "Everything goes to hell when he's set free!" He laughed as Kelly continued to complain to herself.    "Have a nice day!" he bowed as she stepped out of the car.    "Yeah...thank you, Nicholas." she replied graciously and walked into the campus. Aside from the various members of the disciplinary committee roaming the grounds, the only students were the familiar group gathered at an out of the way table. They buzzed around the injured Aren and Tori. On the edge of the long table sat Syrus, with his arms crossed and his usual bitter disposition. Kelly walked over to them and put her hands on the hips, a few others seemed to be absent. "So the Kouki twins get a pass but you felt the need to harass me into showing up early?" she snapped at the boys who had interrupted her sleep.    "Atsuko and Noriko will fill them in later!" Sal smirked and gestured to the pair.    "They aren't without responsibility, Dunley san." Skai stated matter-of-factly. Mira looked over curiously.    "They're to meet up with Kid, if we take too long." Anya explained. Kelly sighed and took a seat.    "So what did you wish to discuss, Kanamura san?" Skai urged the conversation in the appropriate direction. Syrus unfolded his arms and turned toward the center of the group then rested his chin on his hand before he spoke.    "After yesterday's incident..." he paused to glare at Aren. "I figured we should exchange numbers, so if any of us are ever in trouble, we can contact each other." Tori lowered his head and rubbed at the bandages on his arm.    "What about Evaline kouhai, Imani kouhai and uh..." he paused trying to recall Owen's surname.    "Syvzanna." Aren asserted. Sai perked up.    "Another?" she questioned. Tori nodded.    "How can you remember is name?" he mocked Aren.    "Who could forget a guy that infuriatingly carefree?" Aren grumbled. "We could have died and he was there smiling like an idiot!"    "And who's fault is that?!" Syrus barked back. Everyone shifted uncomfortably in their seats. Syrus let out a frustrated growl then exhaled sharply. "When I pick up my sister, I'll tell them, Evaline san can pass it on." his voice seethed with rage but he controlled himself to keep on task. Syrus dug out a notebook that appeared to be brand new. He flipped the the first page. On it was his name and number. He tossed it onto the table. "Write your information, we can added them once they are all there." Sal smiled.    "Kinda surprised this is coming from you, Kanamura." he giggled softly. Syrus rolled his eyes, his face flushed slightly.    "Aw, he's embarrassed!" Anya playfully teased. Syrus groaned, his face turning redder. The group shared a laugh as they passed around the notebook.    "I thought you didn't like us?" Mira asked sarcastically as she wrote her number down.    "It's not about liking you..." Syrus sighed out of exasperation. "Had I not seen Saveli drag Arata off things could have been much worse!" he glowered at Aren once again. Tori shrunk down in shame and Aren clicked his tongue in annoyance. "You really shouldn't underestimate Alex, he's probably a better fighter than even me." Syrus slouched back and exhaled deeply. Everyone froze. Kelly who had been observing quietly finally said something.    "Since when have you called Murasa by his given name?" she eyed Syrus dubiously, asking the question on everyone's mind. His breath caught in the back of his throat once the realization set in.    "W-well...we've known each other for...about 11 years now...so..." he paused, talking about his past meant opening up to them, something he was still reluctant to do.    "Seriously?" Mira gasped.    "Just how well do you know Murasa, Kanamura?" Skai asked. Syrus averted his gaze.    "He...he knew my mother."    "Oh..." Skai furrowed his brow while adjusting his glasses.    "Eh! So you know him pretty well, huh?" Aren leaned in close with a devilish smile. "What makes that guy tick?"    "Well for one don't call him 'fat'!" Syrus sneered. "And two don't mention his family." Aren's smile grew wider. "DO NOT!" Sal laughed as Syrus threatened to smack Aren.    "So what was that all about yesterday then?" Tori spoke up about Alex's strange behavior. "He completely broke down for seemingly no reason."    "I don't actually know...it takes a lot more than that to make him crack..." Syrus's voice faded as if the last part was only meant for himself.    "There was something else then?" Kelly asked as she pondered something.    "Maybe Syvzanna did something?" Aren suggested doubtfully.    "That can't be..." Tori shook his head. "It looked like Murasa was the one acting...then he just, stopped." Syrus scratched his cheek lightly.    "Whatever Alex did seemed to have negative repercussions, he probably wasn't expecting Evaline san to butt in." he inferred aloud. Skai looked over to the entrance of the courtyard. Kid was with Jem and Mini.    "Do you think there's a possibility that they also have special power like ours?"    "Akseli created another clone of himself...that exploded..." Tori said sorely. Aren pursed his lips together remorsefully and looked away.    "Well, what did Murasa do?" Sal looked to them eagerly.    "We...don't...know..." Aren uttered sheepishly. "We could ask him."    "That's for another time." Skai declared and pointed to their oncoming companions.    "Let's try getting through today without any fights." Anya scolded. After everyone was finished, Syrus took the notebook and inspected the contents. Skai had added Jem, Mini and Kid's numbers along with his own. When he scanned over Kelly's name he grumbled under his breath.    "Or at least keep Murasa out of it." Kelly added cynically. Syrus narrowed his eyes as he glared at her. As the twins and Kid approached, Kid took off running, interrupting their silent exchange.    "Arata!?" his eyes grew panicked at the bandages on his arm. "What happened?!" Jem and Mini looked to each other anxiously.    "C-cooking accident." Tori lied cheerfully to convince him. Kid clasped his hands together in front of his face and pouted. "I'm okay!" Tori insisted and Kid finally relaxed. Aren looked down and continued to brood over what happened. Heavy footsteps followed by a boisterous exclamation.    "Since when were you all friends?" Carmen threw her arms around Kelly and Aren. Sal stuck out his tongue.    "Sorry you can't be as lovable as us?" he taunted. Aren faked a laugh. "Oh wait, no, I'm not!"    "You!" Carmen hissed and moved to grab his collar. She stopped when her eyes met Syrus's. He looked away and frowned slightly. "I'll take them out of your hair for now." Kelly sighed then got up without hesitation and followed Carmen, who dragged Sal off. Tori patted Aren on the arm. Aren looked up to him reluctantly.    "Take it easy..." he bowed his head. Tori smiled softly.    "I'm fine, really!" Tori gestured for Aren to leave. Students were arriving, so they needed to split up regardless. Carmen eyed Kelly with suspicion.    "You ever properly apologize for what you said to Syrus?" her tone was colder than usual.    "Oh, what's this about?" Sal grinned and put his hands on the back of his head.    "How would you know about that, Frost?" Kelly groaned.    "We can't have anyone talking smack about the boyfriend, now can we?" Sal elbowed Aren playfully, then furrowed his eyebrows at Aren's somber expression.    "H-he's not my boyfriend!" Carmen growled and stormed off to class. Kelly looked to Sal and rolled her eyes. She quickened her pace but kept her distance from Carmen. Sal sighed.    "Ah...I'll never understand women!" he whined. Aren continued to stare at his feet as he walked.    "Mmm...yeah I guess." he mumbled. Sal exhaled loudly and closed the distance between them.    "Dude...don't beat yourself up over it." he wrapped an arm around Aren's shoulders, his expression briefly turned serious. "You're lucky you have a friend who cares about you as much as he does, don't take it for granted." Aren averted his eyes.    "I-I know...thanks." he gave a half-hearted smile and walked in the room. "I don't need you to tell me that." Arlin seemed amused by Aren and Tori's injuries and sat proudly in his seat. Alex checked his phone before the teacher arrived. The previous day's events had no lingering impact on him as he earnestly tapped away at his phone. The rest of the class filed in the room and class began. Kelly sighed and her gaze wandered over to him as he smiled, as if in a daze. "What is he so happy about?" At the first break, Alex darted out of the door. Kelly sauntered over to Sal.    "You see that?" she pointed toward the now empty seat. Sal looked over to the seat then back to Kelly.    "Mm not really, was I supposed to be watching him?" he rested his chin on his hands. Carmen noticed them talking and walked over.    "What's up you guys...?" she said curiously. She looked to Kelly and sighed. "Don't tell me you buying his shit now?" Kelly scoffed and laughed. Sal rolled his eyes and groaned. "You could do better." Carmen teased. Sal glared at her in frustration.    "Oh like Kanamura?" his scowl morphed into a devious grin as Carmen gasped and narrowed her eyes, her face flushed lightly.    "N-no...leave him out of this Tamsin!" she lowered her voice to a whisper.    "Ah, fine! Whate-" Sal shrugged then stopped midway through as Alex returned to the room. "Holy hell, is he smiling?" Sal uttered amazed under his breath. Alex's walk was bouncier then his normal gait and he wore a relaxed smile. Carmen's jaw dropped a little as she watched along with Sal and Kelly.    "Well that's new..." Carmen murmured.    "First yesterday and now today..." Kelly hummed in intrigue. Sal looked over to Aren and Tori while pressing his hands to his mouth. They waited in silence before Hamasaki sensei walked in. Everyone returned to their seats. Kelly sighed and looked over to Alex again. He still had a modestly blissful expression on his face. "Is he really as wicked as they keep insisting?” The next three classes were uneventful. The bell dismissed them for lunch. Kurosawa sensei pulled Syrus aside as everyone left. Jem, Mini, Kelly and Sal lagged behind to eavesdrop. Mira joined in as she passed by.    "So is it my imagination or has Captain kun been actin' strange the past couple days...more specifically this whole week?" he questioned casually, leaning back on the wall. Syrus let out a deep breath and nodded.    "It's not your imagination, Kurosawa." Syrus's eyes wandered over to Alex's now empty seat.    "Do I even want to ask what you kids have gotten yourselves into?" Kurosawa pushed open the door, exposing the group hiding behind it. Jem and Mini gave wide grins and laughed nervously. Kelly scoffed and looked to Sal, who just shrugged submissively. Mira smiled innocently and rubbed her hands together in front of her face.    "You guys!" Syrus groaned. Kurosawa laughed and pushed off the wall and started shuffling out the door.    "Good to see you're makin' friends Syrus, was startin' to worry 'bout you." he gave a sly smirk and waved with one hand. Syrus gasped and bared his fangs.    "They're not my friends!" he howled but Kurosawa was already gone.    "That's not very nice!" Jem pouted as they all set off for the dining hall. Mini stuck out her tongue, while Sal places his hands on the back of his head and followed. Mira looked to Syrus skittishly, then backed off. Kelly watched him with a scowl and left. "I made my intentions clear from the start, you have no right to complain!" Syrus sighed and walked towards the dining hall alone. Inside Kelly sat in her usual spot with Aren, Sal, Carmen and the rest. Sal leaned over to Carmen, nudging her with his elbow.    "So what do you think is up with Murasa?" Sal gestured over to the dazed boy as Arlin buzzed about angrily around him.    "Tsk...no clue, I've never seen him be like this before." Carmen clicked her tongue and grumbled.    "Before?..." Aren looked over with a melancholic curiosity. "How long 'before' are we talking?" Sal blinked his eyes rapidly in shock then eyed Carmen dubiously.    "YEAH! You talk like you know him personally!" Sal grinned.    "I wouldn't say 'personally' but I guess I've known Alex for a while now...yeah." Carmen looked up reminiscing.    "You use his given name too?" Kelly cocked her head to the side as she stared straight into Carmen's eyes.    "Ah! Fuck..." Carmen averted her gaze and swore under her breath.    "What was that?" Sal teased. "Did you date or something?" At this Aren spit out his drink.    "WHAT?! NO!" Carmen growled. "God no!" Sal burst out laughing. Kelly let out an apathetic sigh. Carmen lunged at Sal, attempting to grab his neck, when someone new approached.    "Uh...D-Dunley san?" a little ways from the table was the source of the timid voice.    "Mmm, yes Hiroko san?" Kelly turned to Mira. She politely bowed then looked to Sal but quickly turned away.    "Ha!" he gave a quick thumbs up. "It's about 'that'." Carmen glared at him for his obvious gesture.    "N-Noriko wanted to talk to us...about...the other day." Mira hung her head dejectedly. Kelly rolled her eyes then looked to Aren and Sal. Aren shrugged.    "Go, be social!" Sal shoved her away. Carmen stood there unsure of how to process what was happening. Kelly got up and followed Mira.    "I-I don't feel so bad not being the only one who couldn't do it." Mira spoke up.    "Hmmm...I guess." Kelly grumbled. "Can't help but think they made a mistake."    "Wh-what? They were right about everyone else!" Mira urged.    "Mmm...yeah..." Kelly rolled her eyes.    "Just cuz we can't fight doesn't mean we don't have anything to contribute!" Mira bounced a little as she walked. Kelly sighed and looked over to Alex once more.    "'Something to contribute' huh?" she hummed to herself and turned back. The two girls stopped once they reached a table with Skai and Anya, further down was Jem, Mini and Kid harassing Syrus. Mira smiled and sat with the pair. Kelly rolled her eyes and sighed. "What is this about?" Skai clasped his hands together with his elbows on the table and closed his eyes.    "We have done some deliberating and were wondering your thoughts on Murasa?" he gave them a serious look and continued talking. "Clearly he is their 'leader'. If we hope to find out more about what we are up against, we need a plan."    "And you want to include us?" Kelly asked summing up the general idea behind Skai's long winded explanation.    "Yes." he nodded and adjusted his glasses.    "It would be too dangerous for you to get into any fights, so until then we have other things for you to handle." Anya looked over to Aren, who received considerable injuries from his encounter the day before.    "You want us to spy on him?!" Mira gasped in surprise.    "Nothing too invasive, but we need to figure out their next move before it actually happens this time." Skai ended in a groan.    "Before you arrived this morning, Dunley san, Tamsin told us that back on the first day, Murasa started acting strange after everyone had left for gym." Anya motioned to Sal with her hand.    "He has been acting weird lately..." Kelly thought aloud.    "Exactly, stick to him, talk to him even, as long as you're on school grounds he won't do anything to jeopardize his position." Skai suggested. "Up until now, he has only ever gotten violent once school was let out."    "Oh, and like Kanamura said earlier, don't bring up his weight..." Anya sighed. "He goes berserk when you call him the 'F' word." Skai laughed bitterly and clung to his stomach.    "Uh..." Mira hesitantly spoke up. "Why us?"    "Clearly there is more to it than 'You can't fight yet'!" Kelly backed her up.    "Unlikely contenders to be involved with us, or so we hope he thinks." Skai said as he adjusted his glasses.    "He's scary!" Mira pouted. Kelly laughed.    "I think I can handle this on my own, Hiroko san." she gave a sincere smile. "Maybe I will find Murasa isn't as terrible as everyone believes." Skai bowed his head and adjusted his glasses as Kelly walked back to her group of friends. On her way back, she looked to Alex "On his phone again, huh?" she giggled to herself curiously. For the rest of lunch, Sal tried to get her to tell him what Skai wanted but she refused.

#Asteri Tale #original content #original story #original characters #this is mine yo #chapter 21 #part 1