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catracorner962 · 4 years

Text

Cherished After All

Cleaning up Shadow Weaver's belongings, Adora and Catra make a shocking discovery about Catra's past. A past she never knew.

Or: My take on how Catra ended up in the Horde.

It was bitter, exhausting work. Cleaning out Shadow Weaver’s belongings from the palace. Glimmer had repeatedly offered to have someone do it for them but Adora and Catra were determined to sort through the stuff themselves. It would be fine. There weren’t many items anyway and according to Perfuma it might help bring some catharsis and closure. Catra wasn’t too sure about that, but Adora agreed it would be better for them to do it and so, she conceited.

“She really didn’t have much stuff,” Adora mused, crouched in Shadow Weaver’s old room, over a single chest. Most of the items were innocuous. Several changes of robes, a handful of coins.

“Psh yeah,” Catra scoffed from where she stood, looking out the window at the gardens. “The only thing that old hag ever cared about was the Black Garnet and the last piece of that was in her mask. Which got blown up with the rest of her.” The magicat’s tail twitched at the thought, her lips curling into a resentful smile. Still….a bit of sadness lingered. A sadness Catra knew Adora harborded too. She hated it. Hated herself for feeling anything other than satisfaction at the demise of the only mother figure either of them had ever known.

She hurt you….hurt Adora. Why do you cry for her?

Even Perfuma couldn’t answer that.

Back by the trunk, Adora rummaged through belongings, throwing the robes around without much care. A book, bound in leather with First One’s writing on it.

“It’s a spell book,’ she murmured aloud. Fingers gracing the pages. “Who knows what’s in here?!”

“Adora…” Catra warned, dragging herself back to the task at hand.

“Alright, alright, I’ll give it to Glimmer,” Adora set the book down. “Maybe she and Micah can use it.” She turned back to the trunk, hand fumbling against the flat bottom of the wood.

“What’s this?” Adora curled her fingers around a small metal item.

“It looks like one of Entrapta’s recorders,” Catra peered over her shoulder. “But slightly bigger. There’s a button on it,” she pointed. The two of them exchanged the all too familiar “let’s-do-it,” look. Adora pressed her thumb into the single red button on top. A faded red light blinked, projecting a fuzzy hologram before them. Adora squinted, trying to make out the images. Only static sounded through the small speakers.

Two people...a tail? No...two tails...and? Are those…?

Adora’s eyes flitted from the static images of the hologram to Catra. Her own tail was swiping back and forth intrigued. Her ears perked forward.

No...it couldn’t be... No one knew anything about Catra’s species. She herself never expressed any curiosity in knowing...only bitter resentment at her more feline characteristics, thanks to Shadow Weaver.

“H..hello?”

Adora’s attention drew back to the two figures, one of whom spoke in a male voice.

“Is...is it working?”

The second figure, also male, asked.

The image fuzzed and spluttered, in and out.

“If...if you’re seeing this...it...it means you’ve found her.”

Adora leaned closer, the hologram slowly becoming more clear. Two male figures...two male figures with ears and tails like Catra. The one speaking...he was crying. His clothes in tatters. The second one looked no better, but he held something to his chest. A bundle.

“There’s no chance for her here,” the first one spoke in breathy gasps. “If..If she stays with us...she’ll…” The second magicat, the one holding the bundle reached out and gripped the other’s arm tightly. He too, was in tears.

“Please…,” he begged. “We can’t feed her...we can’t take care of her.. Horde Prime..he...he destroyed everything.” The magicat held whatever it was to his chest with a desperation that made Adora’s heart ache. Realization slowly dawning on her. Catra betrayed no such epiphany. Her face...showed nothing. Stone cold.

“We haven’t even named her,” the first one glanced down at the bundle, smiling through her hurried breaths. He reached out, placing one clawed hand atop of it and stroked it gently.

“Kitten,” he whispered. The second man held the baby close to him, looking directly at Adora.

“Please, have mercy on her. Give her food and a bed...that’s more than we have. And when...when she’s old enough please show her this...so...so..” he heaved for air. “So she knows we loved her.”

Adora’s own eyes sparked with tears, looking helplessly at the two desperate magicats and the thing in their arms.

“Kitten, if you ever see this,” the first one began, nearly choking on his words.

“Know that we love you. We love you so much; with all our hearts… that is why we can’t keep you. With the Horde...you...you have a chance….for some sort of life. That’s all we have to give you.”

The second magicat, the one holding the kitten, buried his face into the bundle for a moment, lifting his head eventually. Adora nearly gasped, his eyes...blotchy with tears..they were two different colors. One gold, one blue.

“We love you. We are so proud of you….we…”

The recording fizzed and went blurry. Shorting out.

“No!” Adora panicked, pressing the button fervently. “No, no, no! There’s gotta be more! There has to be…”

The hologram re-appeared. Only this time the two magicats had set the bundle down inside a small box. They each kissed it lovingly. Checking and rechecking the blanket it was swaddled in. The hologram broke out again, then came back. Only this time a baby’s face, thin with signs of unger but serene in blissful sleep, sucked at the end of her stubby tail.

A runt, Adora recalled Shadow Weaver’s exact words.

The image of Catra as an infant lingered for a moment, then the hologram cut out for good.

Adora braced herself, turning to Catra slowly. Eyes wide in shock, she starred forward as though the hologram was still playing.

“Catra….?”

“I…” she whispered. “I...ha...had parents,” she stated monotone. “They didn’t abandon me….th..they loved me.”

“Oh Catra, of course they loved you.” Adora wiped her eyes with the back for her sleeve. One hand reaching out to take her girlfriend’s.

“Shadow Weaver,” Catra’s tone shifted instantly to hatred. “She knew...she knew all this time.” She began to tremble, fists curled.

“Come here,” Adora offered, standing and wrapping her arms around Catra. She remained stiff but didn’t push away. Adora held her tightly, one hand rubbing her back carefully, the other stroking through her short hair. She could feel Catra’s heart racing and her body shaking.

“She knew…” Catra whispered, broken. Tears coming to those heterochromatic eyes...just like her father. “That bitch!” Adora patted her back more incessantly as Catra tightened her grip on Adora’s shoulders, her claws retracted thankfully...but her grip was tight, clinging.

“She knew this whole time and she never told me! She said she found me in a box, abandoned and left half-dead at the edge of the Fright Zone.” Catra was fully crying now, burying her face into Adora’s neck.

“Shhh….they loved you Catra...they loved you so much and so do I.”

Catra sniffed, sinking into Adora’s chest.

“The day Shadow Weaver found you in that box,” Adora sniffled through her own crying, “was the happiest day of my life.”

She rubbed small circles around Catra’s shoulder blades, holding her as they sunk to the floor together. “I didn’t know it at the time but it was.” She could feel Catra nod against her but didn’t say anything more.

“I should’ve known…” Catra whispered, “should’ve trusted that hag….I could’ve found them Adora! I could’ve saved them!” She adjusted her hold on Adora, slumping from a hug farther into Adora until she curled all the way in her lap. Adora held her, tenderly cradling her there the way she should’ve always been comforted. The way both of them should’ve always been comforted as children.

“You already did save them Catra. Look at you! You grew up, you became the Leader of the Horde! You saved all of Etheria! Think of how many parents get to live with their kids now because of what you did!”

Catra withdrew from her chest, face gaunt with grief but somehow still resembled that little peaceful face sleeping in her swaddling.

Adora reached a hand up to Catra’s cheek, caressing her there.

“They would be so proud of you.”

Catra smirked,

“What?”

“Those were Shadow Weaver’s last words to me,” she whispered, the hatred gone from her tone. Her voice now breathy and exhausted. “I’m so proud of you Catra. It was probably a lie.” Adora looked down at the magicat, her fingers gingerly stroking her velvet ears. She bent down, leaning over her until her lips graced against Catra’s ear.

“ I’m proud of you Catra. Your parents...wherever they are. They would be proud of you too, and they loved you.”

She didn’t know what else to say truly. What could she say? It was true. Catra had not been abandoned. Catra only curled around Adora more, burying her face into her stomach. She took the hologram device with twitching hands, holding it against her chest.

“Adora? Catra? George and Lance are here! Come say hello!”

Adora instantly tightened her grip on Catra, pulling her closer instinctively to protect her in this vulnerable moment.

“W...we’ll be right there!”

Too late, shimmer pink sparkles appeared before them. Catra shot up, hissing. Pocketing the hologram device. Glimmer materialized instantly.

“George and Lance! They’ve come to help us clean things up and…” the words died on her face as her eyes shifted between the two.

“Did...did I...interrupt something?” Glimmer asked hesitantly. She gave Adora a silent look, trying to ask what was going on without Catra noticing.

“Yes, Sparkles,” Catra grumbled, composing herself with practiced skill Adora had watched her perfect in the Horde.

“S...sorry I d..didn’t,”

“It’s fine,” Catra pushed past the princess towards the main corridor of the castle. Adora offered Glimmer an apologetic smile, fighting the urge to explain what had happened.

It’s not your place to say. It’s Catra’s.

“Catra! Hello!”

Adora watched as Catra managed a wave. Bow’s fathers threw their arms around her, hugging her tight. The magicat stiffened at first, waiting for them to withdraw their hold. They did, after a moment. Lance looked at her, brows furrowing with concern.

“Catra, honey? What’s wrong?”

Adora and Glimmer approached as Catra tried to fumble for an explanation. The two men enveloping her in a hug once more. Between the men’s loving embraces Adora watched Catra close her eyes, sniffing to suppress her tears. Her own heart inflated with bittersweet emotion watching Catra slowly return their gesture, her arms going around them.

“It’s just...good to see you,” Catra remarked, straightening herself. She offered a small smile.

---

Entrapta fixed the hologram device some days later. Adora brought it to her asking her to transfer the files from the old device to a new one. Despite Entrapta’s eager questioning, Adora did not tell her what the hologram actually contained. She eventually relented, transferring the data in a blink of an eye.

“Here you go. Just let me know how it turned out so I can jot it down for my notes!”

Adora agreed, thanking her and going off to find Catra.

Catra accepted it with a sad smile, playing the first few moments before switching it off.

“If you’re seeing this...it’s because you found her,”

Adora blinked awake, feeling around for where Catra should’ve been. She shot up, looking around in a hurry.

“Catra?!”

“We love you...we love you so much.”

Adora sighed, the glow of the hologram reflecting off the walls. Catra sat perched on their window seat. Watching unblinking at the hologram of her fathers. Adora tip-toed up behind her, winding her arms around the magicat lovingly and resting her chin on her shoulder. She placed a tender kiss on her temple.

The recording played on. Catra watched it once, then again, and again. She rarely cried when she did so. But when she did, allow the tears to fall, allow herself to be held and comforted, Adora was there for her, clutching her tight.

“If they never brought me to the Horde,” Catra whispered one night as they sat in bed, watching the image of her parents, “I...I never would’ve met you.” She pressed the hologram off. Surrounding the two of them in darkness. Catra’s eyes found Adora’s in the dark. Adora leaned down, winding her arm around Catra’s waist and pulling her close. She kissed her sweetly on the lips.

“That is true,” Adora murmured, not knowing what else to say. Catra smiled returning her kiss.

“I guess I’m glad they brought me to the Horde then. Even if it was horrible. Can you imagine if they brought me to Bright Moon?”

“You might’ve been raised a princess,” Adora giggled at the thought.

“Gross don’t make me puke.”

Catra let out a sigh, sad but content, pressing herself closer to Adora.

“I love you,” Adora murmmed. Catra answered, tucking her head under the other girl’s chin. Her tail wrapping around Adora’s leg.

“Maybe they aren’t dead. Maybe they made it,” Catra whispered after a time. “...I could find them and then...then we could find your parent’s too.”

Adora had never entertained the thought. She always assumed them dead or lost in some galaxy far far away outside Despondos.

“I’d like that,” Adora answered. “Can you imagine introducing your parent’s to She-Ra?” Adora laughed. Catra giggled too, and Adora’s heart exploded with fireworks. Making Catra laugh was something she never got tired of. They laughed the night away, imagining the thought of their parent’s meeting. Introducing each other. Giggling through their shared sorrow. Through the uncertainty. After all that was their specialty.

“Your old family, your parents.” Adora whispered, watching Catra’s tail twitch in her sleep. Trying to come up with the right words. Transforming such thoughts into speech was not her strong suit. She knew it. But here sleeping beside Catra as she slept Adora needed to say it.

“They...they brought you to the Horde, which brought us together and now...despite everything else you...you have a family again.”

Catra only continued to slumber, snoring lightly.

“Me, and Bow, George, Lance, Scorpia, Micah, Entrapta, Glimmer, we’re your family Catra and we love you. Just like your parents did.”

Adora startled, as one golden eye opened, looking at her. Catra shifted curling even smaller into her embrace.

“I love you too…..I love all of you.”

THE END

#catra #adora #catradora #spop #shera #she ra princess of power #sherafanfic #catra origins #catra angst #shadow weaver #shadow weaver A+ parenting #my writing #magicats #spop spoilers #spop post cannon

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alchemist-shizun · 4 years

Text

Eventyr

Word Count: 7058

Characters: Virgil, Janus, Roman, some original background characters

Pairing(s): Anxceit, platonic prinxiety

Warning(s): self-loathing, fire, death mention, wound mention, crying

Summary: It wasn't that exasperated move they did back in the woods, but more of a caring one, like they were carrying the most precious thing in the world to them. He did feel like he was, to them, their tenderness made him believe it with one quick glance.

A/N: Just so you know, the depiction of the mythical Hamingja is partly accurate, 80% completely made up for plot point. Basically most of this has been invented. I don't know if the hamingja title is an exact translation from Norwegian so I apologize, I tried. Anywho this is a super late present for @deetheimposter 's bday because I'm v slow and this took surprisingly a huge amount of time. Hope whoever decides to read it likes it! (Janus uses neutral pronouns here)

✾

There had never been a better time.

A low translucent mist still hovered above the dark blades of grass during the passage between night and day; the towering moon was lending some of its light so that the two lone heroes could continue their journey.

« According to the directions we were given in the last village, the so called “Molten Stone” should be just ahead. » Roman indicated right in front of himself, glancing back to his journey partner, Virgil, who was a few steps behind checking for any unwanted surprises.

« How does a molten stone even look like? »

« That's the take, friend. » he offered with a grin. « Don't think with your mind. »

Virgil started to ponder what else could there possibly be that he could think with as they ventured further in the forest.

He could see the mist quickly attaching to his boots and becoming tiny droplets of condensed air.

His feet followed Roman relentlessly, yet there was other stuff in his mind: less than an hour earlier or so, he had felt like something had been off. Virgil kept looking around for proofs and, with every turn, it was as if he caught a glimpse of some kind of entity following them.

Trying to shake the feeling off, he couldn't help but hear his family's voices reprimanding him in his head.

You're just paranoid, they would say, you're being overly vigilant, loosen up your shoulders.

His body tried to relax at best, releasing the tension in every reachable muscle, until the two friends stopped in front of a large body of water.

« This is it. » Roman trustingly affirmed.

Virgil glanced at the scene and slowly nodded, pursing his lips. « Yeah. A huge lake. Cool view, where's that rock now? »

His friend chuckled. « Right here! Don't you get it? »

Roman gestured to the water, so that the other could indulge further in his own inspection.

Virgil observed the water and realized what an odd optical illusion the lake's surface made mixed with the fog and the light shining from the- what?

Why were there warm coloured lights coming from the water?

Then he saw it.

A yellow eye disappeared behind a tree on the other side of the lake; Virgil took Roman's arm without breaking eye-contact from the tree. It was their silent understood signal to maintain carefulness, looking at each other's back.

« I don't trust this place. » Virgil murmured, his eyes wider than ever. « Are you sure they gave you the right- »

« Have at you! »

Virgil turned around to see his friend with his arm extended and his sword drawn, the pointy end right under their probable adversary's chin.

They didn't look … confident. Rather, they looked absolutely terrified, maybe even panicked: they held their hands up, their body slightly drawn backwards, eyes fixed on the blade and teeth bared. There was especially a sort of aura surrounding them, glowing in the same yellow pigmentation he had seen on their eye previously.

He only offered an intimidating expression as Roman did the rest.

« State your presence. Why were you following us? »

The person sighed and shook their head. « You have my entire purpose horribly mistaken- »

« Cut to the chase. » Virgil ordered.

They shifted their look onto him, as if they had just noticed him. « Alright then, if that's what you want. » they took some steps back and opened their arms, locking eyes with the other boy.

« It's an utmost delight to finally meet you as well, Roman Kallis. They call me Janus, I am the Hamingja that has been assigned to your generation years before your birth. You have reached the proper age for me to manifest to you and accompany you through your journey. » Janus bowed theatrically and rose only to be met with Roman's aghast expression and Virgil's … well, one thing for sure, the guy didn't trust people that easily.

« I had heard about you. » Roman recalled. « My relatives used to tell a surprising amount of tales of their quests and they would always mention you. »

« That doesn't mean we can immediately trust this … » Virgil hesitated.

« Oh, I'm an angelic being. »

« … That doesn't mean we can trust this angel. » he finished, glaring at the guardian as they smirked.

Roman pushed his friend's arm slightly. « Oh shush. So! » he approached Janus with stars in his eyes. « Are you about to take me towards important victories? Lead me to some conquerings? »

They blinked and took one step back as the boy started to invade their personal space. « More like accompany you. I normally manifest in your dreams, but I can show up here as well now. Just remember: the Norns take the final choice. »

Roman nodded seriously, while his friend wasn't yet entirely convinced.

« How are we sure you're who you say you are? »

« Virgil- »

A bright light started glowing around the angel as they levitated a few inches off of the ground. As they opened, their eyes shined a similar light.

You know anyone else that can do this?

The words echoed in his head while Janus's expression didn't change, his face still and blank.

They fell back on the ground after a few seconds.

« Are you in need of any more demonstrations? »

Virgil averted their eyes and turned around, silently resuming their journey as Roman sighed and apologized on his behalf.

That was going to be fun.

✾

Roman fell to his knees as the umpteenth village fell victim to an enemy's raid.

Flames rose from every possible surface, burning both everything to its roots and Roman's eyes; he turned, his expression dull, then he nodded at the glimmering wolf by his side.

« Let's carry on. » he murmured, trying to get back on track while having constant flashbacks of the fight he'd just lost, not caring of any wound, although minor.

Janus shifted back to his anthropomorphic form, about to disappear from the human eye, when a hand grabbed their wrist and they were forced to slow down and stay out of Roman's hearing.

« Doesn't Hamingja mean happiness? » Virgil looked right ahead of himself. « Because I'm not seeing any kind of happiness ever since you came here. »

« Please keep in mind that I do not choose the course of events, I only make sure that Roman's luck functions the way it should. »

He exhaled deeply through his nose; they mentioned luck plenty of times, but he sure as hell didn't see any fortunate events happening.

« Why isn't it functioning then? »

Janus looked over to the boy. « He looks alive to me. »

Virgil stopped dead in his tracks and stared at them. « You can't be serious. »

« I work with what I have. » Janus's eyes furrowed. « I'll have you know I do not find it pleasing to have my ways questioned. » with that, they were gone, leaving Virgil fuming with rage and yet repressing it for the sake of his friend.

He did not like them. Or their ways.

Something was wrong.

✾

It was getting ridiculous.

Roman had never been the luckiest man alive, but once he had been made aware of his conditions, he had started to become more careful about his every decision, and thus his every consequence.

So he noticed all his failures ten times more than usual.

What was the purpose of a guardian if there was no way to protect him? Was he overthinking it?

Or … had he expected way too much out of Janus?

He put his face in his arms which were resting on the wooden table of his parents' kitchen. He had come back for a scheming meeting between other relatives, but he couldn't keep his mind off of the numerous defeats he had been bearing for a while.

« There needs to be a way out of it. » Virgil stepped away from the kitchen's door and turned back to Janus who was standing in front of the fireplace, nourishing the fire with a spell. « Some sort of magic? An enchantment? »

The hamingja pondered the question.

A way to deviate the Norns themselves …

« It is highly risky. » they admitted, stepping closer to the other. « But not impossible. »

« How risky? »

« Deadly. » they looked into his eyes and detected both fright and curiosity. « It's technically quick and painless- »

« I'll do it. » Janus raised an eyebrow at him. « Whatever it is, I'll do it. »

Such determination for a mere friend.

They raised a hand towards his chest and pressed against it, Virgil felt like they were trying to take something from him like they could take his soul out of thin air.

Was he about to die? The famous life for a life deal?

Then, like nothing happened, Janus stepped away.

True, he felt slightly more tired, but nowhere near the deadly zone.

Seeing his appalled look, Janus provided an explanation.

« The only way to change someone's life is to make room for more time. What I did was take away a portion of time from your life for me to modify and add onto Roman's. »

« How much did you remove? »

« One month so far. »

« Make it a year. »

Virgil's look in his eyes didn't relinquish a slight bit of doubt. He stared and waited expectantly, ready to assist his friend with his own life more than needed.

Impressive.

« If that is what you wish. »

And so on.

Times upon times, their little unspoken secret grew behind Roman's back as events needed to be changed.

As time itself ran out, they kept adding a new amount, until little to none remained and the cycle repeated again.

If Virgil was willing to give his life for someone who saved his own, Janus was more than okay to satisfy both ends and make their protege as secure as possible.

Not that he knew any of that.

✾

« May I ask you something? »

Another victorious battle had them exhausted and resting in the safest place they found in the woods: Roman's hamingja had offered to keep an eye out as they slept.

Virgil nodded to them as they got further away from the royal.

« Why do you give your life away so easily? » Janus studied him with deep interest as it was the only thing he didn't understand about him.

Only a couple of months had passed since their appearance, yet that guy still filled a big question mark in their mind.

« Well, I wouldn't have one if it weren't for him. » Virgil leaned back against a tree as the memories surfaced. « He just so happened to be around when my village caught fire during a raid and he saved my entire family. »

« This happened some years ago, I remember I told him I would've done anything since I owed him and he simply took out his sword and named me his fellow knight. »

Ever since then, they would have gone on journeys together, becoming the inseparable battling duo they were to that day, despite the many lost fights and the very little body count.

« So yeah, all those years you took off of my life to help him, I do owe him those, thus I don't mind dying prematurely. »

« Those what? »

The two turned around abruptly and found the subject of their conversation right behind them, one thing only to be read on his face: dolence.

Roman scoffed. « I should've realized. Everything was going just too good. » he looked down and murmured. « Too good to be true. »

« Ro- »

« I can't believe both of you kept it from me. » he brushed his face with his hands as the others stayed silent. « You know what? If you really like to do things by yourselves, then so be it. »

He picked up his gear from the ground as Virgil approached him and reached out to him. « Roman, please. »

He turned around and backed away. « Don't you value your life?! Have you ever thought about how I'd feel about this? Can't I get a say in what happens to me? »

Virgil withdrew as well, too ashamed to add anything else.

« This isn't how I wanted to be guarded. » he added, he then stepped closer to Janus. « I hereby pass you up onto Virgil from now on. »

« Excuse me? »

« That's a thing that can be done, right? Like that time my uncle passed it onto my mum. »

Janus stammered in their thoughts. « Y-yes it can be done. »

Roman nodded before whispering a “then do it” and turning his back on both of them.

« I don't want you anymore. »

Without sparing them a last single glance, he ventured back into the opposite direction and disappeared like they had never met before.

Janus and Virgil shared a look, their entire purpose broken into little shards of failure.

« Just, » the latter pinched the bridge of his nose. « Do your thing. Vanish into thin air, whatever it is. I don't want to deal with you right now. »

Janus simply glared at him and started ascending, their eyes glowing a yellow light.

« Don't act like it's entirely my fault. » they said and then, in a second, they were gone.

And Virgil had never felt more alone.

✾

He came to realize he was actually glad about loneliness.

Nothingness was the perfect place to hide from the significance of anything around you, the importance of whatever grieved your shoulders.

It blended into the quiet gratitude of acknowledging you can rest after a week-long journey in the loudest place on earth.

There was a single downside to that kind of attitude: averting.

Sure, the night sky told you all you needed was sleep and your issues would vanish in a tomorrow thought.

And so the cycle repeated until you ignored parts of yourself.

Virgil had been lost in the empty reality for as long as he’d started travelling alone. He knew it was getting unbearable for his stress, so much that it plagued his surroundings and his dreams as well.

It was during one of these that Janus decided to show up and set things right for once.

Not that it went exactly how he imagined it.

He had been able to trap Virgil inside a repetitive path of the all so familiar woods and, as he tried to wake up, he noticed he couldn’t. That’s when the snake that had been following him all that time shape-shifted into the hamingja.

« Are we going to talk about it anytime soon, or do I have to lurk in the shadows? »

It was already too much.

All Virgil could see was the pained expression on Roman’s face every time he looked at Janus, he was reminded of all his errors.

He couldn’t stand it. He hated it. He hated them.

Probably even himself.

« It would be far better if you just left. »

« Left? » Janus took a step forward, their eyes squinting. « You think I can simply disappear out of your life? »

« You seem to have been doing that pretty easily lately. »

« I have only tried to lessen your pain, » they followed as Virgil walked past them, into the unknown of that dream’s reality. « Yet you don’t let yourself be healed and keep bearing a grudge. »

Virgil halted and scoffed. « Bearing grudges? » he said « To me it’s always looked like, ever since you stated your presence, everything has been going horribly. Would you blame me for a grudge? »

As he turned away, he didn’t notice Janus not following or clenching their fists.

They just wanted to do something good for once. Why did that always happen?

« If you so much wish and intend on hating me, » the scenery changed, the two were now by the edge of a cliff. They reached Virgil and grabbed a handful of his clothes. « Then do it silently. » Janus pushed him off and the last thing Virgil saw of the dream was the hamingja staring down at him.

He woke up with a yelp and had the same scene in front of his eyes, only that it wasn’t a dream anymore, there, in the woods.

« Because, much to your chagrin, I’ll always be with you. »

Janus turned, walking away from his interlocutor.

Sure, run off like you always do.

Virgil heaved himself up with his elbows. « Like I ever even needed you. » He picked up his bag and let the sword rest at his side. « You came here, watched my friend be miserable, » he abruptly cut some bushes standing in his way. « Fucked up my life. » Another clean cut on plants around him. « But I should stay quiet. » He raised his voice. « I don’t need you! »

Virgil started marching toward an unknown destination, just like in the dream.

« I don’t need anyone. »

✾

It had been a fairly uneventful week.

Virgil woke up, provided himself food, and carried on with his journey home, where he hoped he could’ve started anew, back to his family.

The truth was, he had no idea where he was going, he could’ve been walking in circles and he wouldn’t have known at all. He wanted to seek shelter in the nearest village, yet in a week there had only been the infinite forest.

Virgil kept walking, marking his surroundings so he could recognize them, were he to cross paths with them again.

There was a small clearing, where he felt drawn to the light of the day, it was almost a perfect circle on the ground drawn by the sun, a perfect place to lay down during that rather cold day.

Why not? It was so inviting.

There were mushrooms all around. Kind of like it had been there for some kind of purpose.

Virgil tilted his head to the sound of chirping birds. He was in the middle of taking a step forward when he felt a hand yanking him backwards from his cloak.

As he fell down, the image of Janus’s eyes piercing through him was displayed before him yet again.

Are you serious?

« What is your deal?! »

« Get up. » He looked as they had the audacity to simply walk away without another word.

Virgil was already fuming. « Would you mind providing an explanation to your sudden visit? » He asked, clearly annoyed, after catching up with them.

Janus stopped and turned with a smug look. « You said you don’t need me. You were about to get killed. »

« Killed? »

« That you were about to step into was a fae circle. Once in, you’re doomed. Never dare to do so. »

What a stupid move, how could he not remember? He had always been extra vigilant about this sort of thing.

Janus saved him?

« Don’t think too much of it. » It was as if they had read his mind. « I’m looking out for you to fulfill what Roman asked me to do. »

This time, the hamingja had decided to stay.

Their journey together had been silent. Way too silent not to seem impossibly awkward at first.

Virgil couldn't just stop replaying what had happened in his head, how Janus had been right there to stop him from certain death, how they had probably been watching him the whole time.

If that had been the case, why didn't they point him towards a useful direction?

Hours passed and they were already leaving the sunset behind themselves, not stopping until they had found the perfect spot to rest for the night; weren't it for humans' weakness, Janus would've travelled for the entirety of the night.

Virgil was still wondering why they hadn't left him to die yet. They could've gone back to Roman, after pretending his death had been wanted by destiny.

« Why are you so keen on guiding me if you detest me as well? » he was sitting against a tree, like any other time he stopped for the night.

« You really don't get it, do you? » Janus sat down in front of him. « I have to follow what the Norns have in store for you. If they did not intend on you dying so soon, I have to protect you. I'm bound. Or else, I'll go against them. »

« What happens if you do? »

Janus had their eyes fixed on the ground, frowning like an unpleasant memory had resurfaced in their mind.

« I get thrown in the Ginnungagap for daring. »

So they were stuck together, huh?

« Don't worry, I'll pass you up onto someone else as soon as I find a village an- »

« You want to get rid of me so badly, don't you? » Janus shook their head, exasperated. During his time alone, Virgil hadn't changed an ounce.

The boy tried to reply, rephrase at best, thinking those were Janus's actual feelings, but he was cut off rather quickly. « You want me out? I'll leave you out. »

Virgil caught himself asking them to wait, not exactly sure as to why he was.

Just as they left, the fire they had made had been put out, any light flicker ceased. Everything that felt nice left him in the complete void, alone and miserable.

« Okay. » Virgil quietly got to his feet trying to adjust his vision to the dark he so much hated. « Okay, I'm sorry. » he rapidly looked behind his shoulders as he heard the creaking of leaves way too close.

Fright and anxiety pervaded him: he disliked the dark, he hated it. Void was part of the quiet and peaceful nothingness, but it was no refuge for him, rather one of monsters that his mind created. He wanted out.

A glimmering of hopefulness.

« Janus? » he called, eyes darting in every direction. « It's not funny, please. » he retreated back to the tree trunk, arms folder close to his chest forming some sort of shield.

And so hope came.

He was lifted off his feet, suddenly mid air and watching down as an unidentified creature jumped out of the bushes in an attempt to catch a new prey.

When he looked up, still wide-eyed, he was met with the hamingja's face again, who was holding him close and away from certain death. Again.

« The truth is, Virgil, » it was only then that he noticed how his glowing spirited eyes actually sparkled up close. « You're going to get yourself killed if you stay out here alone. »

Virgil pondered their words for a short minute as they descended and he was finally put down. « What if you told me of all the possible dangers then? I won't bother you. »

How stubborn could one be?

Janus put their hands on their face. « Stop making this only about you. I'm here and we need to work together. »

That … actually was a good point.

« I just … don't want to be perceived as an inconvenience. » they confessed; Virgil had no idea where that opening up to him came from, but he decided to accept it nonetheless.

« I guess I'm going to make an effort. »

They nodded, prompting that the conversation was over so he could go back to sleep.

« It's not that I hate you. » Virgil murmured, his eyes already closed. « I only didn't want to forcibly take away something from Roman along with our friendship. »

Janus stared at him only to go back to stand guard a few feet away.

« Sleep. » they repeated, voice softer. « You're going home tomorrow. »

✾

« Could you stop walking so fast? »

« When you stop being too slow to catch up. »

« Excuse you I am not the eldritch being that learnt the paths by heart. »

Janus stopped walking at once, making their journey companion crash onto them, trip and fall backwards.

Virgil held his face which had hit the other's back. « What the Hel was that for? »

Janus chuckled and kept walking. « Stop complaining. »

I'm going to murder them.

Very regretfully, Virgil got back to his feet and made the other roll their eyes at his heavy mad stomping on the grass.

They could see an opening not too far away from them. Just a few more meters and …

A vast grey-ish blackness stood before them, any solid shape remaining from the boy's village was crumbling down to ashes, white and black and grey again, flying around and falling at Virgil's feet, almost accusatory.

Why weren't you here?

His legs felt heavy as lead, dragging themselves forward in hopes to find what he had lost without return. He was standing in the middle of the burnt down village, of what was left of his only home, the place he knew he belonged, the family he left without protection.

Janus waited, not wanting to interfere with his emotions but still feeling a sharp heart-clench with every move Virgil made in the middle of that decaying necrosis.

They strongly intook breath as Virgil sat down facing them, their eyes locked only that his were dull.

« I'm home. » he said on the brink of tears, aware that his voice was about to get crushed by the weight of his silent crying.

He hid his face between his arms, slightly shaking. Why did he not prevent that? Why wasn't he noticed? He had just been wandering around with his nonsensical issues while his family had been defending their village from an attack, probably dying by it.

He didn't want to think about the worst scenario yet.

As Virgil sorted out how to cope with the sky falling on top of his head, Janus went to do a quick scan of the area: no bones, no charred corpses, a good omen of everyone fleeing before it was too late.

They slowly approached Virgil, making their presence clear before sitting down by him. They rose their arm, their hand almost touching his shoulder, then decided against it.

The real issue was finding the right words. Even when so many disgraces had happened already throughout Janus's experience as a hamingja, it was always hard to console their protege at best.

« They're alive. » they announced, unsure of what else to properly add. « I … I could take you to the nearest village to figure this out. »

That took a reaction out of Virgil, who lifted his head enough to look at them, still hurt.

« Whenever you're ready. » they reassured, letting silence fall between them.

« Just give me a minute. » Virgil murmured.

Janus nodded, expecting him to sit there, simply waiting.

Instead, Virgil leaned on them, a silent ask for support, and they couldn't help but give it, slowly raising and arm to encircle him in a half-hug.

« Give me a minute … »

✾

With the second week of travelling coming to a conclusion, Virgil's doubts started to rise.

« Are you sure this is the nearest village? »

On his side, Janus brought their hands together, in theatrical dismay. « Oh, Norns, I'm busted. My secret evil plan has been uncovered! »

He could kind of see why he had been paired with Roman's dynasty.

« Janus. Where are you taking me? »

They sighed in annoyance. « Can't stand surprises? »

« Not after the last one. »

And there it was, the grim aura laid back on their heads.

« We're going to an elven town I know. I deviated our actual course a little. » there was a beat of silence. « I know they're very friendly with strangers there and we could also take a small break and rest. After everything that happened. »

Virgil didn't have any complaint to make against that.

« Then, by all means, lead the way. »

Not even five minutes had passed, that Janus increased their pacing and started dragging Virgil by the arm, pointing towards an arch out of the woods.

« Look! »

The banner read “Faarion” and the town looked on with nature, while still being nicely urbanized.

A swarm of little elf kids immediately greeted them. « Mx. Janus! You brought a new human? » their attention was averted to Virgil, all curious wide eyes and expectant faces.

« Uh- »

« Yes, we're possibly going to stay a few days. Now, care to show him around while I go announce ourselves to Aerith? »

They unanimously nodded and brought Virgil along with them, introducing themselves as they took him places.

Virgil looked back at him with a single murderous glance that said “I'll get back at you”, while the hamingja smirked and waved goodbye.

It didn't take long to find the town hall.

« Glad to have you back, Janus. » a smiling long-haired elf had been checking out documents at her office table. « Taking your hero here already? »

They had been remembered for how they would bring their hero to the elven town when they knew the soul was about to head to either Hel or Valhalla.

« Lovely to see you Aerith. » they unceremoniously dropped on the opposite seat. « It's actually kind of complicated this time. »

She raised her head from the documents and looked in their yellow eyes with desire to know more. « An intriguing tale. Do tell, dear. »

Janus tried their best to summarize the last few months: they mentioned Roman, the mess they made along with Virgil, how Roman passed them onto him and left without any way to trace him back again.

And then the whole contrast with Virgil, how they couldn't get through to him.

« We got to his old village, but all we found were ashen ruins and burnt down houses. That's why I decided to take him here. »

« A wise choice, indeed. » she agreed, solemnly. « Although I must say, it doesn't sound like he dislikes you anymore, does it? » Janus tilted their head. « To me, it's more of a fear of losing you as well, thus he pushed you away before he could develop something. I'd say he found himself too late. »

They didn't quite comprehended what she meant by developing anything, but they had noticed Virgil had been less hostile, if not in a teasing way, during the past few weeks.

« I suppose so. » they muttered as their thoughts drifted away. « I only … I wish to not make a mess, now that I have the opportunity to do something good. »

« You mean … »

« Yes. » they cut her off. « He's my first hope so far in millennia and I want to take the chance. »

Aerith gifted them a fond smile. « Have you told him? »

« Not yet. » they shook their head. « But I plan to, here. »

She remembered there was a place reserved to them, they used to take their souls there and explain the tragic destiny they were bound to and its reason why.

All in all, it was always Janus's fault.

Aerith gave them a small group of keys. « Go then, dear. Get settled for the night. »

✾

It was nearly completely dark outside when Janus got back to the town centre, only to find it fully decorated for the Rising Moon Festival they had forgot about.

« Mx. Janus! » one of that morning's kids took them by the hand and pulled them on the dance floor, simply swirly around.

« Hey Andiron. » they greeted. « Have you done your duty? »

« Yes! Virgil is a great listener! »

« Say, where is he? »

Andiron pointed to a spot in the back of the main plaza, where Virgil was hanging around by himself as everybody else had their celebration.

He did notice Janus reaching him.

« You survived. »

« I didn't know you lived here. »

They shrugged: it was typical of the kids to take everyone to the outside of their home. « Do you want me to show you around? We'll be staying here for a while. »

Janus sensed Virgil's discomfort with big crowds of people he didn't know; the boy acquiesced and together they keft the plaza and approached Janus's former habitation.

« Welcome to my humble refuge. » Janus bowed dramatically, which got a snort out of the human.

« You call this humble? I don't know why you would leave this. »

« Well, my parents used to live here, really. I'd be travelling around just like you. » they stepped toward the stairs.

« They … don't live here anymore? » Virgil tried, unsure of where eh was stepping with the conversation.

« They don't exactly live anymore. » they said, reaching the second floor and looking back at his companion. « It's not that bad, they're in Valhalla now. I could visit them if I wanted. »

He noticed the odd phrasing. « Do you want to? »

Janus breathed slowly, leading him to another room: it used to be their bedroom as a child, but what really enthused them was the terrace's view on the vast forest.

« I do. Kind of. But I know they'll ask me of my duties as guardian and … »

« You'd rather not? » Virgil followed them on the balcony and rested his arms on the railing.

Janus nodded. « This is why I should apologize. »

« To them? »

« No. To you. »

Virgil blinked repeatedly before turning his head to the hamingja, his eyes narrowed in confusion. « I thought we kind of settled it. »

« I don't mean our initial contrast. » they averted his eyes, rather looking down at the street lights adorning the darkness of the town. « My name isn't really Janus. I have a hamingja title that covers up what type of guardian I am and what type of destiny my humans are usually tied to. »

« My title is Sørgesang. »

They waited for Virgil to get it, they could almost hear the gears turning in his head. « Sad song? »

« Funeral chant. » they sighed deeply. « The meaning was explained pretty early, after the first few heroes that died horribly with me leading them towards inevitable death. » their body stiffened. « I … I'm apologizing because I ruined Roman's life simply by being destined to his dynasty, I'm like a curse among other hamingjas. We're usually protectors of good luck. I … don't know what went wrong with me. » they were gripping tight at the railing.

Virgil felt the urge to take their hands away, but decided against it a moment later. Maybe it's too anti-climatic?

« Didn't you tell me back then it's the Norns' work you're following? »

« Yes, but by assigning me to a family, my luck will affect the destiny they'll have once alive. » Janus started fidgeting, believing that, now that he knew he would keep trying to pass them onto someone else the quickest he could.

« So what you're trying to say is you're apologizing for your existence? »

That was the last thing they expected; they tried to retort something, but no argument felt good enough against his.

« Because that's what it sounds like. »

« I- Maybe I am, but what I really want to get to, is that I had never been lent or passed onto anyone else before. » they put their hands on his shoulders. « Virgil, you were never predestined to end up with me. This means my luck does not affect you and is not tied to your future. You're my only hope to prove I can lead someone to success. » they took his hands in theirs, trying to underline whatever they were getting at. « Just give me the opportunity. »

The moonlight illuminated the faint blush across Virgil's cheeks. « I … I will, okay. I'm sorry I misjudged you so easily at first. I hardly trust anyone. »

« That is a good quality. » Janus slowly let their hands fall at their side again, turning to look at the landscape.

I wouldn't trust myself either.

« Are those the woods we came from? » Virgil pointed towards the mass of trees that seemed to engulf the town.

They were about to respond, when instead Janus jumped off of the balcony and floated in the air in front of him, glowing like a firefly.

« Want to see for yourself? »

Virgil took the hand they offered, uncertain, and he got easily pulled up in the seemingly void. « Is this safe? » he asked, staring wide-eyed at the ground a huge amount of feet under them. « This is safe, right? » he gripped the other a bit tighter than needed.

Janus genuinely laughed as they flew to the roof of their home, placing them both on the gutters. The boy didn't stop hanging on their arm.

« If you look around yourself, you can see they're actually all around town. The one you're seeing now is the opposite direction from where we were going. »

« Mhm, definitely interesting. »

« Virgil, you're not going to die. »

« Says the one with flying powers. »

Janus got up and lifted the other by his arms. « You're not going to fall. »

« Yes I am. » Virgil blurted out, eyes darting between his only handhold and the garden they were above. Very much above.

« Don't look down. » Virgil was squeezing their hands like they could drop him any second. He obliged and was met with a soft smile. « There. You've got nothing to fear. »

Rather than dwelling on his concerns, Virgil was now lost in their expression and words, like he had been living in the dark and a new door had been opened up to him.

He took a deep breath and everything was lighter.

Perhaps because he had left all of his burdens on that roof for a while, or maybe because Janus had lifted them in the air again and they were holding him close, so they were sure he wouldn't fall.

It wasn't that exasperated move they did back in the woods, but more of a caring one, like they were carrying the most precious thing in the world to them.

He did feel like he was, to them, their tenderness made him believe it with one quick glance.

Before he knew it, his feet touched the grass, but one of his hands didn't leave the hamingja's as they walked.

« Let's get back to the festival. »

✾

Virgil came to realize elf kids were actually the epitome of smartness, the type of cunning intelligent perfect to architect schemes.

On the other hand, Janus had already understood their intention, yet they let them do their thing, knowing it all came in their favour eventually.

A couple of kids had taken both of them to dance until the two inevitably ended up moving around the plaza together.

« What's on your mind? » Janus noticed how Virgil had been unusually quiet by the moment they clasped their hands together and started swirling around; not once their eyes had met as Virgil preferred to look down at his feet.

He muttered a simple “don't know”.

Janus leaned over him, whispering right in his ear. « Don't look down. »

Virgil tried to bite away his own smile, failing horribly: how could he not in such a situation?

Their foreheads met and he breathed in. « I was wondering … is this okay? » he tightened the grip on their hands as they kept dancing. « Is this alright? »

Could we be together?

They pulled him as close as their dancing let them, careful not to bother the others present. « Do me a favour, Virgil, close your eyes. »

As soon as he obliged, he felt a hand on his cheek, while the world seemed to slow down. He wasn't paying attention to where he was stepping anymore.

Virgil instinctively leaned onto the touch, letting the other lead him until he felt soft lips against his, stealing a short kiss he wished to melt into.

« Do you feel like it is alright? »

When he opened his eyes again and saw Janus's longing gaze, he was sure of one thing.

« More than ever. »

✾

And it was going to be alright.

Months from then, they would've reconciled with Roman, who had now joined the crown's many expeditions and accepted his eventual terrible end, ready to face it after living everyday like it was the last.

At last, Aerith convinced them to stay and got their own little life in Faarion, where Virgil took up magic thanks to the alf seidr and Janus lending him some years of their immortal life.

And so they became the legend of the everlasting couple; some say, if you know where to look, you could still find them dancing in the dark of the night, singing to the stars and thanking the moon for bringing them together.

Everything was far more than alright.

#anxceit #janus sanders #virgil sanders #roman sanders #platonic prinxiety #sanders sides #fanfiction #ts fic

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courtof-storms · 3 years

Text

Exacting Vengeance, part 2

Previously: 1

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Two days later

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Alexandrea woke up with a frightful scream as they jolted up into a sitting position, sending pain through their body as they looked around, trying to get a sense of where they were. They noticed a familiar painting on the wall and calmed down a little, wincing in a delayed reaction to the pain that shot through their body a few seconds ago.

“Thank gods you’re awake.” A familiar voice said as Alexandrea turned to look for who spoke. They saw a dragonborn woman with fiery red hair and some spots in the rock that covered her body letting through a brilliant emerald hue from the scales.

“Wh-what happened?” Alexandrea asked, rubbing their head as they looked around at the bandages that covered their body.

“What happened was you almost died. Who did this to you?” The woman asked, her worry plastered all over her face.

“Nothing happened.” They lied, averting their gaze from their friend, too embarrassed to actually tell her the truth. “How did I get here?” They asked.

“You got here because Kellin carried your half-dead body here from the market where he saw you get your ass handed to you.” She told them, getting more worked up with worry as she spoke before another dragonborn entered the room. This other dragonborn had a giant hole in the rock that covered his shoulder, letting a marvelous blue hue come out as he sat down next to Alexandrea and looked over their bandages.

“You’re bleeding again.” Kellin said, pointing to the wound on Alexandrea’s chest.

“That one’s always bleeding.” They told him.

“Yeah, she’s the one I was telling you about the other day.” The woman said. Kellin nodded as he looked around and grabbed an empty phial.

“You ok if I try and analyze why it doesn’t heal?” Kellin asked. Alexandrea nodded in response as Kellin held the empty phial to the wound on their chest, letting it fill up completely before sealing it shut.

“Am I ever gonna get an answer as to who almost killed you?” Ren asked, pacing back and forth as she scratched at the rock on her forearm. Alexandrea hung their head.

“My mother…” They replied in a voice hardly more than a whisper. Ren stopped pacing and turned to face them.

“What was that?”

“...My mother.” They repeated, slightly more audibly. Ren’s expression sank and Kellin looked up from his work in surprise.

“Your mother is The Demoness of legend?” He asked, Alexandrea shyly nodded in response.

“Your mother is Elise?!” Ren practically shouted, her hair going pure white out of rage for a few seconds before calming down and pinching the bridge of her nose.

“Technically yes, I asked a diviner for help with figuring out my past before dying. According to them, she fed on my near dead body and that’s the reason for why I came back as a Risen.” Alexandrea informed, their voice a bit calmer and slowly getting back to normal as they attempted to get to their feet. Though when they tried to stand their legs were jelly and almost fell down on their face. Ren managed to catch them before they hit the ground and guided them back to the bed, making sure they were sitting before she replied.

“So, that makes everyone like you…”

“Her children in a sense.” Alexandrea said, wincing a bit as they said it. Kellin was quiet as he tried to focus on processing the new information and studying Alexandrea’s blood.

“Ok...your mom is the legendary Demoness, is that the only reason why you tried to fight her?” Ren asked, scratching the back of her neck.

“An oath I took before I died, apparently I swore vengeance on her.”

“What do you mean?” Kellin asked, looking up from his current project.

“That’s the thing, we don’t know, the diviner found my oath but it was intertwined with her essence so they think the oath is against her and for the time being, I’m going to just go with it.” Alexandrea informed.

“...Is it possible your oath isn’t anything to do with her?” Ren asked, looking to Alexandrea.

“If it has nothing to do with her then I’ll answer for straying from that path when I die.”

“That’s...not a good plan.” Ren said, Alexandrea shrugged and tried to raise their arms but pain stopped them from it a second after they started.

“I’m gonna need you to stay here for a few days Alexandrea, just until I’m sure you’re ok to move around.” Kellin instructed, his tone making it clear that they didn’t have a choice in the matter either way.

“Yes, please stay put daughter, where else would I find you?” A new voice said, causing everyone to look towards the door and see a short drow woman with scarlet hair giving a coy smirk. Alexandrea’s attitude immediately shifted to rage as adrenaline rushed through their veins. They grabbed the closest sharp thing they could and attempted to make a beeline towards Elise, although the second they had their feet under them they collapsed to the floor. That didn’t stop Alexandrea as they crawled forward with a murderous glare.

Ren jumped when Alexandrea fell and attempted to get them back on the bed and try to restrain her. Kellin shot to his feet and without hesitation put himself between Elise and Alexandrea.

“What are you doing here Demoness?!” Alexandrea shouted, dropping the knife on the ground as they tried to break out of Ren’s grasp. Kellin looked down on the small drow with his face in a scowl.

“It would be better if you leave.” He told Elise his tone cold as ice started forming under his feet.

“Aww, but if I do that then my daughter will be left with more questions.” Elise teased in a singsongy voice which caused Alexandrea to get even more aggressive.

“If you have something to tell them then say it quick or leave!” Ren shouted before whispering something into Alexandrea’s ear which caused them to instantly calm down, taking Elise by surprise.

“That’s a neat trick, emotion magic?” Elise asked, cocking her head to the side in curiosity.

“Not important, share the information now or leave.” Ren snapped, turning to face Elise. The drow woman shrugged and squeezed her way past Kellin before sitting at the foot of Alexandrea’s bed.

“First, I have a question, will you join me, my daughter?” Elise asked Alexandrea, causing the two dragonborn to jump before getting even more pissed than they already were.

“Leave. Now.” Ren said, her voice hardly more than a whisper but dripping in enough venom to kill a small town.

“I can tell you who you were before, that’s what you want isn’t it? But before I do, I want to know if you’ll join me in overthrowing the gods of this pathetic realm.” Elise told Alexandrea as they held up a finger to Ren before turning to her and shifting her face to one the woman recognized.

Elise’s face slowly transformed to an elven man with dark black hair and piercing blue eyes that were almost white with a magnificent but short beard growing out of her chin. There was a small scar right under the right eye and a small gold hoop in each earlobe. After the face took shape she began changing the rest of her body to his physique and clothes which were blue robes with intricate silver embroidery along the collar and sleeves. Ren’s expression quickly changed from anger to fear as the dragonborn woman shrunk into the fetal position.

“H-how do you know that face?” She asked, her voice trembling, as if she was on the verge of tears. Elise smiled in her new form, one that gave off a sick and perverted sense of pleasure as she made her way towards the frightful dragonborn.

“This face? It’s plastered all over your mind, like a child surrounding itself with it’s fear in an attempt to get over them.” Elise said, her voice sounding different, much more masculine and raspy as she lightly grabbing Ren’s chin with her right hand and gently made Ren look at her.

“There’s nothing wrong here, you’re safe now.” Elise told her, giving the woman a small smile before punching her across the face with her left fist. A noticeable and audible crack was heard throughout the room before Ren’s head fell to the floor with a nasty thud.

With that the atmosphere changed as Kellin’s hair went to a blue fiery hue as he let out a scream and hurled an ice ball at the shapeshifter, which seemed to go right through her head as she walked closer, her right arm changing into a sharp blade as she went to stab his right thigh. The blade went through but there was no blood and no scream of pain as it entered which confused her, causing her to look down and see that where she stabbed changed to ice.

“Nice try.” Kellin said with a smirk as he made the ice of his leg move up Elise’s bladed arm. Elise panicked, trying to get her arm free and succeeding just when Kellin would’ve landed a punch. She recoiled, looking around for a source of heat to warm up her arm and saw Ren’s hair still burning. She changed the form of all but her frozen arm to smoke and went over to Ren’s unconscious body, holding her frozen arm over the woman’s hair.

Alexandrea has snapped out of whatever spell Ren placed on them and let out a war cry before summoning blood from their chest wound into a dagger and throwing it at the frozen arm. The blood dagger hit its mark and caused Elise to screech in pain at a high enough pitch to make Kellin dizzy, causing the seven foot tall man to fall to his knees and hold his head to try and center himself. Elise noticed this and took advantage of the situation, taking a gamble and going back to her normal drow form and grabbing an empty phial before walking over to him and shoving it in one of his golden eyes. The dragonborn fell over, blood seeping from his eye into a pool on the ground as Alexandrea watched in horror, cursing themself. No, no time for that. They thought before feeling dizzy and attempting to once again get to their feet, this time managing to stay upright for a few seconds before collapsing.

“You need not worry daughter, he won’t die. The bleeding has already begun to slow down. However, he won’t be using that eye again.” Elise informed, pulling the dagger out of her arm as she felt the frozen feeling go away.

“What did you do that for? Why are you here?” Alexandrea asked through gritted teeth as they crawled towards Ren’s unconscious body.

“They were in the way, and besides, what I have to tell you is for you and you alone.” Elise said, her voice devoid of emotion or empathy as she took a seat in one of the empty chairs and looked down on Alexandrea.

“The Court of Storms. I didn’t think anyone with their blood was still around but apparently I was wrong seeing as you exist,” Elise started. Alexandrea’s expression shifted from anger to confusion as the woman spoke. “You are the last remnant of the Court left in this realm and if the nobles find out then you’ll be executed publicly and your carcass will be paraded around the streets of the city for weeks. For obvious reasons, I don’t want that.”

“How do I know what you’re telling me is the truth?” Alexandrea asked, cutting Elise off. Elise looked down and saw Alexandrea’s face now fearful and unbelieving. They didn’t want to believe her, but when they looked up at her expression and saw it was truthful, their eyes watered as small tears started to stream down their cheeks, rolling over the fresh wounds on each cheek given to them by Elise in their last encounter and causing them slight pain.

“I don’t want you to join forces with me, but I can promise that I’ll keep you safe if you come with me.” Elise told them, her voice now carrying a tender and caring tone.

“At the very least, I want you to look for me if you find yourself getting hunted by knights and peasants, although, if you come for my head I’ll kill you without hesitation.” She finished as she got to her feet and reached in between her breasts and pulled out a small clear stone with some blood in the middle of it on a leather cord before handing it over to Alexandrea.

“This will guide you to me if you decide you want to talk or hunt me down. For your sake, I hope it’s the former.” Elise said, laying the crystal in the palm of Alexandrea’s bandaged hand before leaving as the young tiefling wept in front of the unconscious bodies of her friends.

#exacting vengeance #original writing

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indigomasquerade97 · 4 years

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Brothers Abducted

@brothersapart

I like to call this little AU Brothers Abducted. Basically, the witch has gotten sick and tired of our heroes managing to find each other after she curses one of them. And obviously, sending Sam to Wellwood wasn’t enough to stop it. So, she decides to send him even farther away, to a place no human could never manage to get to.

And if anyone remembers a past entry of mine, they will recognize my boys.

...

Chapter 1 - Rescue

Let’s see you brats find each other this time!

Sam ran. Faintly orange beams streamed through the treetops as his only light, and the longer he ran, the darker it got. He didn’t know where he was running to, but he kept moving.

He had to find his family.

He stumbled against a tree, sucking in a lungful of cold air. Nothing was making sense. The grass around him was almost as tall as he was. Trees soared higher than what seemed possible. The bark under his hand felt… cold, and smooth. More akin to metal than wood.

He didn’t know how big he was, but he couldn’t have been the same size as he used to be. Or, maybe the world he found himself in was just too big. Monsters were real, right? Maybe other dimensions were also real. He didn’t know. He couldn’t recall anything like this in his fathers journel.

Shimmering leaves of silver fluttered in the breeze, each big enough to be small tarps to keep him hidden from this oversized world. What had that woman done?

Where is Dean?

He froze when he heard something nose its way through the grass behind him. Sam fumbled in his jacket to retrieve his knife. His back pressed against the tree, silver blade in hand, he faced toward the threat.

A dark shape slithered forth, three dilated eyes blinking down at the tiny child. It almost looked like a snake, but halfway down the thin body were two spindly legs. It stood up, that long neck winding through the grass to get closer. It was easily bigger than an elephant. Sam clumsily slashed at the thing. It flinched back at his fast movements, then lashed out. Sam barely jumped out of the way in time to miss the fangs that crunched against the bark.

Sam gasped when he landed on the ground. His hand had slipped against a stone, slicing through his palm. He scrambled to his feet as the snake-thing struggled against the bark, where its fangs had gotten stuck. It planted its feet and pulled, dragging a chunk of bark with it. It snapped its jaws and splinters of wood showered down on Sam. He flinched back, and its head swivelled to him. It opened its mouth, some green slime dripping from the fangs as it prepared to strike.

Hiissss-thunk!

Sam flinched back as a long wooden pole – more a tree than anything – slammed into the beast’s head, then into the tree, the other end quivering from the force. The snake slumped over, dead. Sam shivered as his eyes took in the thing. It looked like an arrow.

An arrow that was over twenty feet long.

Then he saw the arrows owner and lost his breath.

…

Jason was taking a walk through the woods to clear his head. Politics had been getting hard to deal with as of late. Ever since the pet trade scandal, the Shifter race as a whole had been in hot water, despite the fact that the Mandimal’s had had no part of it. And Jason had unfortunately been stuck in the middle of it. The United Empire had mixed reactions to his and Takota’s relationship, and Jason was not taking the attention very well.

So, he took a walk down the paths in the Silver Woods. He shivered, pulling his hood up to ward away a particularly cold breeze. It would be night soon, but he stalled. He wasn’t quite ready to head back inside yet. He just continued his leisurely walk, listening to the rustle of leaves as unseen wildlife frolicked.

It was fortunate that he stayed out as long as he did.

He paused when he caught the faint sound of a yelp out in the trees. He frowned. No one was supposed to be out so close to sunset. Hell, even he wasn’t supposed to be out. The animals that came out during the day were usually small and easy to deal with. The nocturnal ones, not so much. They could be too much even for Shifters, so it was better if everyone was indoors at night. Night only lasted four hours on this planet, anyway.

He decided to investigate and send whoever was outside back indoors. Hypocritical of him to lecture them about being out after curfew, true, but still. He couldn’t just leave them out.

The sound had come from deep inside the woods. He began hiking through the long grass, keeping his eyes and ears open. He couldn’t see anyone through the trees. But he could clearly hear them. Possibly a human, then. Their breathing was off. Panicked? Maybe. But where-

He saw movement by a tree ten meters away. He glanced over to see a Yolsnak. It was a native pest, looking much like Earth’s snakes, but with three eyes and legs. It was on its hind legs, looking ready to strike at something.

Something small, in a tattered jacket, feebly holding out a shining blade.

Jason gasped. Before he had even finished sucking in that breath, he’d swung his bow from over his shoulders, nocked an arrow, and had fired, all as the small pest began its lunge.

Jason took a few deep breaths to calm his racing spark before he stepped forward. The small figure flinched away from him, those tiny eyes wide with fright. They couldn’t have been more than three inches, if that. A kid, Jason realised. What was he doing this far outside of the U’Boltan headquarters? Where were his parents?

The kid scrambled away, becoming cornered between two roots. His breathing had become choppy and erratic, matching the rapid bada-boom of his tiny heart. Jason bit his lip and quickly put away the bow. He held his hands out in surrender and slowly sank to his knees. He was very aware of how frightening he could be to the smaller people.

‘Hey, hey, it’s alright,’ He quietly comforted, ‘I’m Jason. Where’d ya come from?’

Sam trembled, one hand scrubbing the tears away while the other desperately clutched his knife. A giant. He couldn’t even fight off that… whatever it was. How was he supposed to ward off an actual giant?!

‘N-nowhere!’ Sam stuttered, ‘Just l-leave me alone!’

‘”Nowhere”, huh?’ Jason asked, then smirked, ‘Well. Never been there before. What’s your name, kid?’

Sam stared at the giant hooded figure. Had… had he just made a stupid dad joke? What was wrong with this monster?

Although, he had stopped that snake from attacking him. And he had kept his distance, keeping those huge hands in sight. With how he was hunched over, it was almost as if he were trying to make himself seem smaller. But he was much too big to do so successfully.

As frightening as the giant was, he’d still saved him. Perhaps he wasn’t so dangerous, like his father’s journal said?

‘I-I’m Sam,’ He answered, sniffling quietly, ‘What… Where am I? I want my brother!’

Jason could practically feel his spark ache. The kid was so small and scrawny. And now there might be another one somewhere out there?

‘Okay, calm down,’ He pleaded, wishing he could just hug the poor kid, but knew it wouldn’t go down well, ‘You’re outside the Mandimal headquarters. How did you get here?’

Sam blinked. He didn’t recognize the name Jason had given him, so he instead focused on the question. He remembered that woman, holding Dean against the wall. There was a light, and suddenly he woke up in this forest.

‘You’ll never find each other!’

‘I- I don’t know,’ He wailed, drawing his knees to his chest, ‘Dean and I were at the hotel, and that woman- I don’t- ‘

Jason sighed. He hated it when children cried. And the fact that this boy was so lost and scared was ripping him apart, old brotherly instincts rearing from nowhere. Then he looked up to see the sun was dipping over the horizon. It was steadily getting darker. He didn’t have much time.

‘Sam,’ He said, cocking his head to catch those teary eyes, ‘We can’t stay here. It’ll be dark soon. I gotta get ya somewhere safe.’

‘B-but Dean- ‘

‘I’ll get people to search for him,’ Jason promised right away, ‘But right now, I need to get you out of here.’

Sam shifted, flinching when he used his injured hand to sit up. Jason blinked, so intent on the tiny child that he managed to notice the slight grimace.

‘Your hurt,’ He rumbled, then slowly held out one hand, palm up, ‘Please. I can’t just leave you out here on your own. The sooner I know you’re safe, the sooner I can look for your brother.’

Sam took a deep breath, staring at the hand that sat a few feet away. Was he actually considering this? Putting his life in the hands of a giant… he could already hear his father’s disapproving voice. Could hear Dean telling him how stupid it was.

But the giant was offering to help. And right now, he was all the boy had.

‘You… promise you’ll find Dean?’ He asked, his voice cracking.

‘I swear, I’ll personally look for him,’ Jason said earnestly, ‘I’m afraid that is all I can promise for now.’

Sam took a deep breath, then stood up. He took a few cautious steps forward, but Jason didn’t move. He hesitated once he was beside the hand. It was almost like it was just stone, it was so still. He looked up at the man, who gave him a reassuring smile. Sam sighed, then stepped up onto the hand.

The surface of the hand was strange. It gave slightly under his weight, and gave off some heat. Sam wobbled a little, falling into the centre of the palm. He could feel a powerful thrum under his palms, likely the giant’s very heartbeat. The skin was covered with calluses, showing years of hard work. Sam could even trace the faintest of scars that littered the skin. It was very similar to his father’s hands, actually.

‘Okay, hang on.’ Jason warned, then the hand rose. Sam flinched at the odd feeling. But Jason was taking the process slow, so it wasn’t too disorienting. He cupped the hand against his stomach, then slowly stood up.

‘Right, let’s get you inside.’ Jason said, then began walking.

#@brothersapart #new au #Brothers Abducted #contest entry #my writing #chapter 1

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gaasaku-fanfests · 5 years

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Devil’s Due

Title: Devil’s Due Author: darkcivet Rating: M (just in case) Word Count: 3,313 Summary: They called him a monster. They said he was a demon. So he decided to summon one to kill them all. Warnings: Character death (not Gaara or Sakura). OOC. Author’s Note(s): (The title is a working title and I’ll change it if I think of anything better.) This is a bit of a creepy one-shot I guess: I’m numb to this kind of thing, apparently. Enjoy. ^_^

Trope: Dark Gaara or Dark Sakura

“Don’t touch that!”

Gaara jumped slightly, frozen in place; his arm outstretched and his fingers curled in a coaxing motion. He wanted the cat to come to him. He wanted to touch it. So bad. Just a tiny bit of warmth in this cold, empty house he was forced to live in.

“I said don’t touch that.”

That familiar voice had the gall to repeat itself.

Breaking out of his rigid stance slowly, he forced himself to relax and stood up; Gaara supposed he had looked quite suspicious, positioned like that. He felt it necessary to look like an animal on the hunt. Stretching his muscles in an almost cat like, lazy manner, he turned to face his irate sister.

Since his growth spurt, she hadn’t been able to look down on him in the literal sense, but Temari always maintained a commanding stature compared to him, nonetheless. Even next to Kankuro, who was also taller than her, she was never of lower standing. She was the only one that took after their father in that manner. But right now, she looked extremely nervous; her wide eyes and high pitched voice angered Gaara more than the demand. She was both angered and fearful of him. It annoyed him to no end that his siblings listened to the malicious rumours of his demonic heritage.

‘How else could he have turned out so monstrous?’ People asked. ‘His mother must’ve been taken by the devil to produce a child so vile.’ It was just a silly pack of superstitious lies. But sometimes, when the moon was full and his desire to watch blood drip from an open vein was strong enough, he believed them.

Years of neglect did that to a person. When he was a child, the ignorant villagers in town would pelt him; they took their cue from the great Sabaku clan that the youngest son to Rasa was just a lunatic who would grow up useless and insane. The story that his mother had been raped and gone mad was rampant among the lower class idiots.

Not that he would expect anything else from people who still traded goats for pigs.

Gaara refrained from frowning at his sister; he was used to the backwards superstition from strangers, but for some reason he just couldn’t stomach that his blood family would stoop to such idiocy. If he was indeed related to them at all.

‘We don’t have a lot in common.’

Perhaps he was just adopted? These kinds of questions swirled around in his head for years before he gave up asking them. It was only at times like this, when one of his siblings was glowering at him and telling him to stay away from the household pets (like he was going to kill them, sheesh), that the dissimilarities between them made him question his own parentage.

He was seventeen now, and almost old enough to leave home. If he had been born a peasant, he could’ve done so long ago, but his father would not let him go until it was appropriate.

‘Bastard.’

“Did you hear me, Gaara?” Temari waved a fan toward the cat, scaring it away. “Don’t touch the animals on the compound. You’re not supposed to be near them. You’re just a-”

He was a demon in her eyes, and always would be. The demon that killed her mother.

“Fine!” He screamed, startling Temari almost as much as he startled himself with the outburst; her hand went instinctively to the curved blade she kept hidden at her belt. “You want a demon? I’ll give you one!”

He ignored the sounds of his father and brothers’ approach, mixed in with the harsh whispers of nearby servants. The only silence in the area came from his sister. Their family was rich, renown, and powerful; and even a demon child among the clan couldn’t diminish their reach.

Gaara ran toward the only place he knew could help. The only source he knew of that could help him summon a real demon.

‘And kill them all.’

.:.

There were so many books on the occult in his father’s library that Gaara hadn’t known where to start; he’d been reading about demons for a while now, looking into the fables and folklore, trying to figure out which one the villagers viewed him as. There wasn’t anything in those books that would explain away his lust for violence, his predisposition toward lighting things on fire and fascination with the way blood travelled outside the body.

Rasa had a secret stash of black magic books that Gaara only knew about because he’d followed him that one time, in the middle of the night. Perhaps he’d collected them for the same reason the redhead perused them – to figure out what he was. Perhaps not.

All Gaara knew was the pounding of blood in his ears, the anger, the hate, and the desire to tear something limb from limb to be free of this place. Blood red spots obscured his vision as he rifled through the books as gently as his foul mood would allow him to. There were a number of books he remembered that talked about summoning imps and faeries to do favours, but he didn’t need something so low levelled. He wanted to enter a bargain with something that was dangerous and foul beyond words.

‘It’s not real. It’s all fake.’

His logical mind wouldn’t allow him to entertain the idea that he was just lashing out in vain. That if demons were real and could be summoned so readily, his father would’ve done so and gotten rid of Gaara years ago. His heart just wanted to hurt something.

‘Found it.’

A scroll that felt like leather; old, worn, and yellowed, it hadn’t been maintained well it seemed. But perhaps it was older than it looked, even. Gaara stared at it, unfurling the xuan paper carefully, almost like it could break under his hands.

“How to summon darkness.” He ran a finger over the intricate kanji. The title said it all.

He smiled.

‘I have it.’

“Gaara?”

His head snapped up at the sound of his brother’s voice, echoing through the library hallways. Kankuro couldn’t see him, but he was closing in on his position. Perhaps he’d been followed after all?

“A servant saw you enter here.”

That explained it.

“You know you’re not supposed to-”

Gaara blocked out his voice, feeling a new surge of anger rise with the familiar mantra of what he was and wasn’t allowed to do in this place. He’d contemplated summoning demons before – mostly out of fun – and even cast a few fun spells that were supposed to amplify the bad mood of everyone around him.

It never worked.

But something different was rising up in his throat this time; something far more disgusting than bile. He couldn’t explain it, but this time was going to end better. He was going to get his revenge.

Hugging the scroll to his chest and feeling far more immature than he should about this, Gaara fled the library. There were preparations to make and sacrifices to perform.

Blood to spill.

.:.

‘How did I forget the full moon?’

That was why he felt different. As the sun went down and Gaara found himself mesmerised by the faint light of the moon hanging over the Sabaku compound; a place that overlooked a maze of a town of sycophant peasants. It bathed the area in a soft glow that almost calmed him down enough to knock him out of his desire for blood and revenge.

‘Nothing will come of it; I’m just going to end up having to hand this scroll back and be punished.’

He wanted to avoid the morning, and the pain that would inevitably come with it. He’d snapped. He could feel it like a cord wrapped around his throat that had broken and clung to his skin in desperation. Something inside of him wanted to rip it apart and be done with this world.

But the blood sacrifice had to come first.

Carefully, he made his way to the loafing shed in the back of the estate; all kinds of animals were kept for slaughter or milking on the grounds, to funnel the resources through the pockets of his father. It meant that he controlled even the most domestic income of the region; and fear of him kept the populous from revolting.

Gaara found the goat house quickly, tugging on the hood covering his distinctive red hair, just in case one of those nosy servants spotted him. With the scroll in one hand and a double-edged knife in the other, he coaxed one of the goats forward and grabbed the chain that hung around it’s neck. The sharp sounds of discomfort were momentary; he started reciting the words the scroll dictated, holding the knife to the animals throat as he tried to concentrate on the summons.

With eyes wide open and expectant, Gaara slid the knife across the goat’s throat, making sure to cut across the full breadth of it’s gullet; deep, steady, and clean across. The goat gargled and thrashed for a moment, but he held tightly to the chain, transfixed by the trail of blood as it trailed down the length of the animal’s shoulder, down the brisket, and onto the ground. He watched as the blood began to move against gravity and common sense, slithering along the ground; forming what he couldn’t tell.

It spread out around Gaara, encircling him. He felt panicked, suddenly wary about this new development. Nothing in the scroll had indicated sentient blood.

‘Magic.’

That had to be it. Years of searching for a way out. Months of perusing and playing with low level spells that never worked out. Now it decided to heed his fury and revenge?

Gaara groaned when he realised the blood was forming a seal; it had a shape not dissimilar from the goat he had just killed. But the blood morphed again, leaving his enclosure and coagulating and stilling in a patch of grass, as though it had not been moving under it’s own will seconds before.

“What the hell?” This was getting out of control.

“Is that really a wise mantra, given the situation?”

Gaara dropped the scroll and knife in fright, his eyes blinking heavily. A woman stood before him, seemingly having materialised over the blood, a smile on her face, hands on her hips, and wearing the most strangest of scant clothes; robes made to cover so little, it was giving him ideas.

He cleared his throat. “You’re not the demon I wanted to summon.”

She was more like an angel. With pink hair, bright green eyes, and a smile that lit up her entire face.

“Oh?” His disappointment didn’t seem to bother her. “Who were you trying to summon?”

“The Tanuki.”

“You mean Shukaku?”

Gaara nodded.

She pouted; hands on her hips, lips pursing in what he decided was a very seductive manner.

“That trickster wouldn’t know a good summons if it bit him on the nuts.”

He couldn’t help the small, nervous laugh that bubbled up inside of him. “Who are you?”

“A friend.”

“I don’t have any friends.”

“That’s sad.” She moved slowly toward him and Gaara couldn’t move away. She poked his chest. “A young, strapping lad like you must be a big hit with the ladies at least.”

He shook his head.

The girl giggled. “A virgin? Well, no wonder Shukaku didn’t answer your summons, that rambunctious whore. You’re more my type, anyway.”

This was insane. “Uh...” Gaara realised all the anger and resentment that had been fuelling this encounter, was gone. In it’s place was wonder, bewilderment, and wariness.

‘With a hint of arousal.’

But that wasn’t important.

She chuckled. “Relax. I don’t bite unless you want me to. But I’m no sex demon, so get that lascivious look off your face. I’m joking,” she assured him when started to stutter at her. “Jeez. Kids these days. Alright!” She made a show of swishing her short robes and fixing her hair. “Let’s get this party started. What, mere mortal, is that deep desire that has caused you to summon me?”

Gaara glanced up at the full moon without thinking. This was why he’d summoned her… or at least, tried to summon a demon. Legend had it that Shukaku was the demon to call for a rampage. But, this girl who looked around his age, didn’t look like she was ready to slaughter hundreds of people. Her skin was soft and creamy. Her face was angelic and happy. She even had painted fingernails and toenails to match her outrageous outfit. She might’ve looked more at place in the nobilty – albeit one with a less strict dress code. She was also very beautiful, and delicate looking. Could she even grant this wish?

“Come on, don’t keep a girl waiting.”

He inhaled deeply. “I… wanted Shukaku to, uh… kill everyone.”

She blinked heavily at him. “Kill everyone? Like, your whole family and that little village nearby?”

He nodded.

She didn’t look convinced, and he wasn’t surprised. “Death and destruction? Are you sure?”

Was he, though? This wasn’t a request he could take back.

‘Why am I chickening out?’

The girl sighed. “Look, I am a demon, but I’m not here to carelessly slaughter people. If this is what you really want – to go full dark – then you should know you’ll suffer consequences too.”

“What consequences?”

She shrugged. “Oh, nothing compared to what the humans you want to kill will experience. Their end is nigh and I can help with that, but I need something from you.” She took his hand and held it palm up. “Blood.”

Gaara cried out, not expecting the open slash to his hand; she wasn’t even holding a weapon.

She smiled humourlessly. “Call me when you make up your mind.”

Gaara sighed, rubbing his wounded hand. “What’s your-”

She disappeared; her outline faded and blurred out of existence. Almost like she hadn’t even been there. How was he supposed to call her when he didn’t know her name? And what was this consequence she spoke of?

‘Probably for the best, anyway.’

He felt the sting on his hand as though he’d just awakened from some kind of dream. What had he been thinking, summoning a demon of all things? Even one as beautiful and seemingly harmless as her. He may be odd, and crazy, and a lover of all things macabre, but he was no killer. Not today, anyway.

.:.

The days following his break into Rasa’s library, and Temari once again ratting him out about trying to “commune with the beast”, were torturous. Locked away in one section of the compound, all Gaara could do was try to stave off boredom and hunger by trying to remember what the demon girl had looked like. It seemed the longer he went without seeing her, the less coherent his memory was. The wound on his hand had festered and was clearly infected, but nobody bothered to try to treat it. One servant even gave him a bewildered look when he asked for a healer for his hand. They were idiots, anyway.

Three weeks were all it took to break him.

Deep in the recesses of his mind, tied to the cellar and dankness of his prison, he felt the demon inside cry for release. The small bed in the corner of his new “room” beckoned him and he stayed, wrapped up in the thin blanket, reciting that summons that had infected him so. The call to the demon who had ignored his invocation.

When food came once a day and through the hands of yet another faceless servant, he could barely eat. Images of the townsfolk and his blood family writhing in pain and blood were his fuel now. His desire for retribution sustained him.

Twenty-one days on from his incarceration saw him summoning again; this time using his own blood. It wasn’t enough to sacrifice some insignificant animal. He had to give of himself. As he felt his life beginning to ebb under the cut he couldn’t remember making, Gaara was startled to hear her voice in his head. Out loud.

“You’re a right mess.”

He chuckled, looking up at her from the small comfort of the bed. “And you’re an angel.”

She scoffed. “Hardly. Come.” She leaned down to pull him to his feet. “Your desire for revenge awaits.”

“Hey...”

Seconds passed in which he wasn’t sure if this was a hallucination. It was the pink haired girl again.

“I… called for you?” He hadn’t called for her, had he?

She nodded. “You cried for me in your sleep. You must want me real bad.”

He lowered his eyes to the ground, fighting the blush warming his face. She slid an arm under his to support his weight.

“Don’t go gushing just yet,” she said. “I still have a promise to keep.”

A chill swept through his body; one moment he was in a dank room and the next they stood on the roof of the goat house where he’d performed the first summons.

“Tell me.”

Her voice was just above a whisper, tickling his ear, and slightly desperate. He couldn’t comprehend her urgency.

“Tell me to kill them.”

Ah. She was eager to get with the killing. He’d summoned her to slaughter his family, to kill the townsfolk who tormented him, and leave none alive. His anger had brought him to this moment, where he was bleeding out and only the cold arms of his demonic contractor might give him some reprieve before he died.

“Gaara-”

“Kill them.” His voice was croaky but he no longer cared. Whatever infection was festering in his body, it didn’t matter – the only thing he had left was the darkness in his heart. The evil she wanted to bring out in him. That demonic nature the people in his life were sure had been there all along, waiting for an excuse to butcher them all.

The girl smiled, tilted her head slightly, and pressed her lips to her summoner’s mouth. It wasn’t a kiss, but it sure felt like one – not that he knew what those felt like. As he opened his mouth to let her in, it occurred to him that this was probably how all her deals went.

He didn’t like that.

A foreign feeling of possessive jealousy boiled up inside him; screaming and wailing sounds in the distance couldn’t distract him from the fervour he attacked her mouth with. When she finally pulled away, breaking the contact he longed to prolong, Gaara’s brain began to clear.

Burning flesh, howling dogs, screaming women and children; the pink haired devil paid no attention to any of that. She just stared at him, running her fingers along his cheek. Her nails scratched his forehead and he hissed at the pain.

Was she marking him?

Gaara glanced toward the scene he hadn’t been cognisant enough to acknowledge was his own fault. He could hear his family screaming; there was an inhuman growl echoing throughout the compound. He could see, from afar, the village burning; something born of hellfire was rampaging in the streets tonight.

His heart broke in that moment, with the sounds of innocents. And he realised with clarity, that they had all been wrong about him.

“I was never a demon,” he said, tearing his eyes away from the carnage. He could no longer bear to look upon it. Instead, his naive eyes turned hard and dangerous, staring at the woman who now held him lovingly instead of in support. His body felt invigorated – reborn. He was something else, now.

Sakura smiled, brushing his fringe, and kissing the scar she’d left on his forehead to mark their new partnership. She growled; the sound was otherworldly.

“You are now.”

#GaaSaku #gaasaku-fanfests #GaaSaku Fic & Art Challenge #fanfic #darkcivet

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frost-queen · 6 years

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All up on you (Fem! Reader x Alec Lightwood)

Requested private by: @icharleecongrevemultifandomsblog, @hanbinwsrt

You and Alec have been dating for a while, Jace and Izzy knew of course since you and Alec weren’t shy about it. They would find you making out at the strangest places. Like one time you and Alec were kissing each other in a closet, Jace would come in Alec’s room to search for a t-shirt when he opened the closet door.

“Oh, dear angel!” – Jace shouted as he opened the closet door, he closed it again as he sighed deep. He then opened it for a second time and gave the two of you a look that this was getting to much. – “Again!” – he shouted as you and Alec stopped kissing each other and laughed at Jace. – “I can’t help it that I love Y/n so much.” – Alec replied as he wrapped his arms around you.

“Just get out!” – Jace grabbed your arm and pulled you out of the closet. – “You know the two of you should better focus on hunting demons and kissing each other every damn minute!” – “We don’t kiss every minute?” – you called out annoyed that he would assume such a thing. Alec also walked out of the closet and stood next to you. – “What were you looking for anyway?” – Jace rolled his eyes as he walked passed them and took a shirt from his closet. – “What do you think?” – he said sarcastic as he held the shirt up.

“Now don’t make me come back in here and pull you of each other, we have other things to do!” – Jace called out as he made his way over to the door and closed it behind him. Alec and you busted into laughter the second he was gone. – “Damn it he found that spot also…” – you said between your laughter. Alec laughed alongside of you as he wrapped his arms around you and leaned his head on your shoulder.

Alec started to kiss your shoulder and neck as you giggled soft at his touch. – “How much I enjoy this, Jace is right. We need to get to work.” – Alec growled soft as he placed your hair from your shoulder to your back. – “I’m serious!” – you turned yourself around and Alec growled even harder. – “Come on!” – you started to pull him out by his shirt as he followed you loyal.

Everyone was already waiting for the two of you as Izzy gave Alec a sisterly look. Jace had told her how he found the two of you and Izzy had also enough of your constant kissing. Alec changed his behaviour to professional and gave everyone instructions for hunting down a threat. They all nodded and prepared for battle.

You wanted to get your things as Alec paused you by grabbing your arm. – “Promise me, you’ll be careful!” – you smiled soft as you turned your body more to him. – “Always, and besides I have a you to protect me!” – Alec didn’t smile this time as he kept looking stern at you. – “I’m being serious, don’t look for danger!” – you placed your hand against his cheek as he sighed soft. – “I promise!” – you called out as you let go of him and walked away.

Alec watched you leave and sighed deep running his hand through his hair, he then looked quick around if anyone has seen it and followed you to the entrance. Everyone was already waiting for him as he arrived with his bow hanging over his shoulder. – “No one seeks out danger!” – he said in a loud stern voice. – “If you see something, I want you to call for back-up!” – you knew Alec was speaking about you, but he didn’t look at you.

Alec than signalled for everyone to start moving as they made their way over to where the threat was. You were running in the middle as Alec took the lead with Jace with Clary and Izzy running behind you. Jace made a shushed everyone as you were close to the place, you took out your angel blade and walked slowly further.

Scanning every possible position with your eyes you felt your heart beat in your throat, Izzy unfolded her bracelet into a weapon as she kept her eyes out for danger. – “We’ll split up!” – Jace shout-whispered at everyone.

Clary and Izzy moved in an alley as Jace and Alec kept walking further, you paused for a moment and noticed you were all alone. You tried to see where Clary and Izzy were, but you couldn’t find them. – “Izzy?” – you shout-whispered as you looked around slightly panicking.

Jace and Alec had turned in an alley as they kept looking around for any threats. Alec looked brief over his shoulder and noticed you were gone, he figured you’d be with Izzy and Clary. You knew there was no other way than to continue your own, knowing that Alec would be furious if he found out, but it wasn’t your fault that they left you behind.

You kept moving around as you looked at every possible hiding spot, - “I better hide!” – you said to yourself as you knew you couldn’t afford to be hurt. You noticed a big dark tube laying on the ground as you walked closer to it. You shined your phone’s flashlight into, seeing if something wasn’t hiding in it. You walked into the construction tube and waited until the coast was clear.

Jace and Alec heard something and prepared their weapons as they tried to sneak up to it. They looked at each other and nodded quick, behind the corner Jace wanted to lash out and Alec was ready to shoot an arrow as they found a shocked Izzy and Clary. – “What the hell! Alec!” – Izzy shout-whispered as she held her hand near her heart from the fright.

“We thought you were a demon?” – Jace shout-whispered back as he lowered his blade. – “Clearly we are not!” – Clary snapped back as she had the scare of her life. Alec had lowered his bow and widened his eyes as he noticed you weren’t there. – “Where is Y/n?” – he shout-whispered to them as Izzy and Clary both frowned at each other.

“We thought she was with you?” – Izzy called out as Alec could feel his knees go weak with fright. – “So, no one payed attention to Y/n!” – he shouted angry as he hoped you were alright. Jace shushed him as he was going to give away their position. – “When was the last time anyone saw her?”- Jace, Clary and Izzy frowned as Alec was trying so hard not to lose his mind.

“I think just before we separated?” – Izzy spoke soft as Alec tightened his grip around his bow. – “Follow me!” – Alec called out as they all followed him to the place they last found you. You were still sitting in the construction tube as you held your hands around your stomach. – “Please, demon be death already… please…” – you whispered to yourself, suddenly you heard a noise and you froze.

You heard it come closer and you covered up your mouth with your hand to mute your breathing as you didn’t want to give your position away. You heard it come closer as you slowly started to back away in the tube. It kept coming closer and you could hear it walk behind you, you froze again as you hoped it would pass by.

Suddenly it jumped on top of the tube and you had to supress a scream as you were freaking out. You looked at the top and saw his shadow figure standing on the tube, you lowered yourself closer to the ground as it kept waiting on the tube. In seconds it pierced it’s claws through the plastic construction tube as you couldn’t help yourself from screaming.

Alec and the others were close to you and he froze the second he heard you scream. He felt his veins fill with adrenaline as he wanted to kill that demon so bad. They started to run towards the screams as the demon kept piercing it’s claws in the tube. You stayed as low as you could as you suddenly were hit. A claw had scratched your arm open as you screamed out in pain, you quickly placed your hand to it and noticed it was bleeding.

Suddenly the demon clamped his claws into the tube as he started to flap his wings, you felt the tube shake as he tried to lift it up in the air. You suddenly heard an arrow flow above you as you knew Alec had arrived. The demon avoided the arrow as he finally lifted the tube in the air as it was hovering above the ground.

Alec took another arrow and placed it on his bow, aiming for the demon’s body. You tried to hold onto something as you were hanging in the air. Alec shot another arrow as it hit the demon in his side, it pulled one claw out of the tube as it was only holding you with one claw. Because of the sudden movement the tube was hanging now with the entrance to the ground, you screamed again as you tried to hold your body in position.

“Y/n hang on!” – Alec shouted as he took another arrow, he wanted to shoot another one, but Izzy stopped him. – “If you shoot him now, Y/n will fall to the ground with the tube!” – Alec quickly looked at the tube hanging with its entrance at the ground as he knew she was right. You felt yourself slip away as you started to slide towards the entrance.

“Alec!” – you shouted as your feet were hanging out of the tube, he clenched his teeth and wanted to save you, but he couldn’t. – “You all distract that demon as I catch Y/n from the ground!” – Jace called out as everyone nodded at his plan. Izzy, Clary and Alec kept distracting him as Jace ran over to the end where your feet were hanging out from. – “Y/n!” – Jace shouted to you as you tried to look over your shoulder to him. – “Jace I can’t hold it much longer!” – you shouted back as you felt yourself slip away again.

“Just let yourself fall, I’ll catch you!” – Jace called out to you. – “What!” – you interrupted him. – “Just trust me Y/n, I’ll catch you! I promise.” – you looked at your hands that kept slipping away as you started to cry. – “catch me!” – you shouted at him as you let your hands go, you fell through the tube and closed your eyes ready to hit something.

Jace caught you in his arms as he nearly fell to the ground with you in his arms. Alec saw you were caught and took another arrow to finally kill that beast, his arrow flew from his bow as it hit the demon right between his eyes. It screeched loud as it vaporized into dust.

Alec started to breath out quick as he ran over to you, Jace was still holding you in his arms as you were shaking from the events. – “Y/n are you alright?” – it was only then that he noticed your bleeding arm. – “You were supposed to keep yourself save!” – he shouted at you as you buried your head deeper into Jace’s chest, ashamed of what happened.

“Give her a break!” – Jace shouted back as Alec was losing his temper. Alec clenched his teeth again as he looked at your arm. – “Y/n you promised you wouldn’t look for danger!” – “I didn’t!” – you shouted back between your tears, - “You all left me, and I did the first thing that crossed my mind and hided away, so I would be save!” – Alec loosened up his anger as he knew you would never look for danger on your own. – “I’m sorry…” – he said soft as he looked ashamed at the ground for shouting at you.

“Let’s just get her back to the institute!” – Jace called out as he started to walk away with you still in his arms. Everyone was quiet on the way back as they all felt guilty for not paying more attention to you. In the institute had Jace tended your wound as he laid you down in your bed to rest. You weren’t so shocked anymore by the events as you heard a knock on your door, you moved your head to the door and saw Alec coming in with some flowers in his hand.

“Can I come in?” – he asked you shy as he hid his face behind the flowers, you said a soft ‘yes’ as he walked over to your bed end. – “I’m really sorry Y/n for shouting at you like that…” – he started to move the flowers to his chest as he smiled faintly at you. You took a deep breath as you pulled yourself up so that you were sitting up straight.

“These are for you…” – Alec held the flowers in front of him as he avoided eye contact, thinking you would be angry at him. You extended your hand to the flowers and moved past them to grab his wrist, you then pulled him to your bed as you wanted him to sit next to you. – “I’m not angry at you…” – you replied soft as Alec had seated himself in front of you, still holding the flowers. You took them from him and placed them on your night stand.

“I … I … I thought I was going to lose you, Y/n!” – he called out as he took your hands in his. – “I’m fine…” – you replied, - “Just a scratch…” – you added as you noticed him looking at your wound. He sighed soft as he moved his hands to your cheek. – “I love you Y/n!” – you wanted to tell him you loved him too, but he had already pressed his lips onto yours.

Alec moved his hands to your waist as he laid you down, he was laying on top of you as he kept kissing you passionate. You were so occupied with him that you didn’t hear the knock on the door. – “Y/n how are you…” – Clary said but paused as she saw you and Alec making out.

Izzy and Jace stood next to her and cleared their throats loud to interrupt you. Both of you stopped kissing each other and smiled soft at them. – “Since when …? I mean … Alec…?” – Clary stuttered as she tried to come up with words. – “We leave you alone for five minutes and you are already on each other again!” – Jace called out as he rolled his eyes.

“I’m not surprised your pregnant yet!” – Izzy called out as Clary kept gaping at the two of you, you and Alec looked both at each other and smiled sheepishly as Izzy almost fainted. – “Are you serious?” – Jace called out who came closer and couldn’t believe it. You nodded soft as Alec placed a kiss against your sleep.

“Wait…what? Is Y/n pregnant?” – Clary called out as she was still confused about Alec having a girlfriend. – “Yes.” – Alec replied as he rolled his eyes soft at Clary’s slow brain. – “That’s why you were overreacting so much earlier!” – Izzy called out as she had found her balance back. Alec nodded again as he wrapped his arms around you. – “I was scared that something might happen, and it did!” – he called out a bit angry, you started to stroke his cheek as he took a deep breath and calmed down. – “But Y/n is fine and that’s all that matters!”

Izzy ran over to you to congratulate you and Alec as she was happy for the two of you. – “I am going to be the godmother, right?” – you laughed soft as you reassured her she was. Jace and Clary both joined the three of you in your celebration.

Check out my Masterlist for more Shadowhunter’s imagine’s and many more

#imagine #imagine shadowhunters #shadowhunters #shadowworld #alec lightwood #imaginealec #imaginealeclightwood #izzy lightwood #clary fray #cassandra clare #clary fairchild #jace herondale #theinstitute #mundane #angelblade #runes #parabatai #readerxalec

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stunudo · 6 years

Text

Something Wicked

A Criminal Minds Fan-fiction

Featuring: Dr. Spencer Reid x Female Reader

My Masterlist // Spencer Reid Masterlist

A/N: I decided to just start writing. I hope you guys like this fun seasonal romp! I started this while drinking, but finished it days later. So you should absolutely hold me accountable for shitty things like spelling and lack of plot. xoxo Stu

You half dashed, half crept around the crowds of people. You knew you were being followed, but you hoped your shortness would be an advantage in the masses of bar-goers decked out in their party store costumes and matte painted faces. You tried not to look back, but the exhilaration of the pursuit was getting the better of you. Finally, after the distance seemed great enough you rounded a small coffee cart and peeked over your shoulder.

The faces were all strangers, indifferent in the brisk night air. Your stomach fell slightly, you hadn’t thought you would make it. That sizzling electricity turned to pins and needles along your covered arms. Your neck snapped up, some movement in your periphery causing your senses to realign themselves. Your body lurched forward, ready to continue on your path of dodging through French Maids and Polyester Avengers.

Instead, your face fell against a soft yet reedy surface. The rags covering the torso were a mossy green, while the face peering down at you was a frozen sneer. The brown eyes shining back at you, the only redeeming feature in an otherwise menacing ensemble.

“Hi Spence.” You sputtered, the heat from your misstep tightening across your cheeks.

Before he could reply, though the smirk was evident beneath his mask. Derek Morgan’s long whistle broke through the night air. Everything came into stark contrast, the heat of your breath fogging with each slow exhale. The way your legs twitched from the sudden stop, every inch of exposed skin was protesting the cold. And a knot had formed securely in your stomach.

“Listen, I know you guys have your own thing going on, but let’s get through the night before you start getting out of hand.” Derek’s playful tone had you rolling your eyes, anything to keep them from locking on to Spencer’s again. Anything from making it obvious how much he affected you.

Garcia sauntered beside Morgan’s bulk, their arms linked, her boots heeled and rhinestoned to perfection. Morgan’s costume was simple, an F.B.I. tee shirt beneath his leather jacket. You didn’t think it was very funny post-freshman year of college, but no one was arguing with those biceps. Garcia was an 80s glam rock diva and had the lace and eyeliner to put most of them to shame. You started walking back down the promenade until you spotted them: Hotch and Prentiss in matching costumes.

Where they found them she would never tell, but Hotch had a loud zoot suit of canary yellow, while Prentiss wore a sparkling, TINY, flapper dress beneath their matching trench coats. This was the BAU after-hours, and you were excited to see them all participating. It felt weird without JJ, but you knew she would most likely be chasing Henry around in a cow costume or something equally adorable.

Finally the moment you had all been waiting for, a pristine stretch limo pulled to the curb, and a hulking driver stepped out of the front. Once he opened the back door you all climbed in, with many gawks and a couple of catcalls from the surrounding crowds. Inside David Rossi was smoking a cigar, a silk scarf loose at his shoulders over his burgundy smoking jacket.

Settled in on the bench seat nestled between Morgan and the wall, your evening had officially begun.

Spencer had felt the twinge of mischief in every glance from Y/N, it was equally spellbinding and alarming. Was this flirting? Is that why is mouth felt dry and his palms were sweaty? She wore a standard Hogwarts Robe and had Garcia do something with her hair to make it a massive tangle and, somehow, Spencer had never her found her more charming.

The party that Rossi had taken them to was phenomenal, a place unlike anything he had dared to suspect from the older profiler. The frights and the lights sent waves of stimuli through Spencer’s lean frame. The magic of pretend monsters overshadowing any memory of real dangers from their day job. Somehow, everyone was having a good time. Yet, Spencer couldn’t shake the feeling that he had a secret, one he wasn’t privy to. The confusion and shame battled through his overzealous mind.

You had been dancing, or what could be described as dancing with the proper time and space away from the crowded hall filled with slutty-what-have-yous and poorly applied grease paint. Everyone in turn had spent a few lively songs on the floor, only you had refused to leave, even when Penelope tried to signal the sacred bathroom break. Prentiss and Garcia each gave you a wilted look, but made for the winding line as a duo. Joke was on them, because you hadn’t even been drinking, much.

“So, you going to keep eyeing Reid or are you finally going to make your move?” Derek had ducked behind you to keep a particular Zombie Football Ref out of your bubble.

“If I am doing anything, Agent Morgan,” You barked against the thudding music. “Is having a good time. I am making myself perfectly approachable, wouldn’t you agree?” You wiggled your eyebrows at Derek before grinning back at Hotch and Reid by the tables near the bar.

“How does Morgan move his hips like that without losing balance? The physics of that stance don’t add up,” Reid muttered. Hotch knew his team members were on the edge of a knife tonight and with Prentiss in something little more than lingerie he felt himself slipping along a similar blade. Maybe it was the atmosphere, around every hidden corner there were dark deeds and roaming hands. Something seemed off, as if a storm was brewing and no one was seeking shelter. They were just waiting to be washed away with the tide.

Emily’s hand found his forearm as the tempo fell, leaving a current from her footfalls to the soles of his shoes and eventually racing over every nerve of his body. He followed her blindly, leaving Reid to talk to thin air. Or if he was as smart as he claimed, to go kiss the girl.

Rossi smirked in the corner at the way the night was unfolding. He nodded briefly at Morgan before turning back to the night’s hostess, a stunning and single, best-selling horror author.

The chase had been lost, nervous energy had eaten away any playfulness the night had stirred within him. Spencer was almost panicking now. Why had he come, even on Halloween these events were always too loud for proper conversation? Words and tangents, those were his lifelines in social situations. Now he was just feebly standing alone in a room full of intoxicated strangers. It was a familiar nightmare, replayed backwards and with fewer fire arms.

Just as he was going to abandon the night’s festivities, a determined poke assaulted his shoulder blade.

“Come on, Creature Feature, your turn,” Y/N’s voice was garbled with the cacophony around them. When Spencer didn’t reply, she grabbed his gloved hand and dragged him with her to the center of the dance floor. She wiggled one monster fist from his hand and then the next, shoving them roughly into the bag she kept beneath her cloak. Spencer didn’t know what to say that would convince her this was ultimately a mistake, one that would leave one, if not both, of them injured or crestfallen. So he just watched her, reminding himself that he still had his mask, that he wasn’t on display. Tonight there was just a monster standing in front of a witch, with total lack of reason and rhythm.

He was overly aware of his heartbeat and how it pulsed through his ears as if his anatomy had been reconstructed as well as his ability to form thoughts. Suddenly, his bare hand was underneath her robe and touching the warmth of her waist, radiating through her button down blouse. She raised her eyes at him, but he missed the message. She sighed, grabbing the other hand and slipping it on the opposite side. Her hands locked behind his neck, forcing his face downwards as she started to sway.

“Spence, you’re going to have to look at me, eventually.” She called up to him, there was no anger or malice in her voice, yet he still recoiled at the broken bubble of perplexing silence.

When he finally met her gaze everything rushed in and then disappeared. Noise, light, oxygen, everything seemed to shoot away from them, as if placing them in a pocket dimension, locked in only by each other’s hold.

They were the same eyes he had studied when she would ask a question or pose a theory. The same eyes that were gentle and apologetic when she had to go back to her desk. The same eyes that were playful and engaging whenever a new statistic left his mouth. But there was something else in their depths tonight. And it took everything in Spencer’s consciousness to swallow once he saw it.

You hadn’t thought it would be this difficult. Clearly, there was chemistry and yet he seemed distant if not disinterested all together. Some profiler you were. When the song changed and there was no rational reason to be clutching to him like a brace-faced teenager, you stepped back. The expectations realigning themselves in your mind so not to become overly self conscious or make a scene. Please, don’t make a scene, Y/N. But then it happened, like someone pushed you into oncoming traffic, you just reached up and took off the mask.

Spencer’s eyes bulged, distrust and shock flooding his chocolate eyes. You didn’t stop there. The second your palm wrapped around the rubber texture of his faux face, you knew you couldn’t be stopped. Once the barrier was removed and your path was clear, you pounced. Heels popped off the ground and your arms flew up, mouth latching on to Spencer’s impossibly pink lips. And you were flying.

Just as quickly as you met your target, you were both falling. People backed away, as Spencer and you went crashing to the floor, the heckling sounds of Monster Mash bursting from the distant speakers.

“Oh my god, Reid, are you okay?!” You scrambled to check on him, touching his hair and rubbing his back, attempting to dampen the pain by spreading pressure.

“Nothing broken, except any ounce of pride I had left,” Spencer moaned. Slowly you began to notice all the people staring at you both, knowing their attention would only make the matter worse for him. You reached back and grabbed his mask where you had dropped it, shoving it over his face.

“You want to get out of here?” You asked out of the side of your mouth, watching the crowd like a cornered animal watches a pack of wolves. You stood with him, half blinded and sluggish, behind you.

“Please.” That was all he had to say, then Derek and Rossi broke through the ranks, and before the amused glint from Derek’s lips could register in your mind you were ushering Spencer out through the crowd.

“Go! Spence! Go, googogogo!” You squealed with laughter when you made it to the exit, dodging the security guards with graceless flamboyancy.

You stood, breathless on the house’s front path. Spencer ditched the mask, eyes bright and mouth open. You both froze, waiting for the rush to quell.

It never got the chance, because then he kissed you.

And it was delicious.

General Taglist:

@bluecatebluecatonecattwocat @heyworld07 @thespaceprincess @skrrrrrrrrrrt @luckypop6 @dontshootmespence @veroinnumera @holding-on-to-francis @gabriellewritermua @mysticpansy @bloowulf @ultrarebelheart @braziliangirlonasharkcity @dionnaea @tenaciousaracdeexpert @fbissaderekmorgan @frietjmeloen @rt8815 @cynbx @nelbie @greytoneworld @sassyspacepizza @extremeobsessions101 @haendel-me-with-care

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beyondthelightnunau-blog · 5 years

Text

Cat and Mouse

The grey skies cried for the angelic male as he stalked towards ‘SAVIN SAMMIS’ the nearest grocery outlet. The cracked and weed filled parking lot smelled like burnt skunk much to his disgust. Only two cars resided in the lot, both seeming to be in poor condition. He wasn’t sure if they even had the capacity to run. His throat felt constricted from the collar around his throat, the ‘pet’ engraved tag consistently tapping against his skin. How dare this huntress demean him with such menial tasks! He was a god damned prince.

Entering the store, the sliding doors chimed a sweet welcome that fell off tune in his ears. How annoying. He strode into the establishment with the cockiness of a prince, after all that’s what he was. Stares were to be expected, after all it wasn’t every day these mortals could gaze upon divinity, although the judgmental looks were new, and slightly concerning. His pale fingers cupped a can of soup. Chunky. Good. Maybe she’d choke on it. He placed it into the small basket he’d picked up by the door. Glancing down at the worn parchment she’d given the bird, he searched for the next item he needed to get here. Dog bowls? Those poor dogs, he felt pity they had her for an owner.

“Stay still. Move even a centimeter and I’ll rip out your hair.” The huntress growled this, her hand taking an handful of Kram’s hair from behind, pulling back rather roughly. Kram’s vision was filled with the dark ceiling, her wings shifting and flapping uncomfortably as her throat was held exposed for the huntress. The small bird whined in her discomfort, while the huntress examined Kram’s slender throat. The cuts she gained from the thorny leash had all but healed, nothing but a few light bruises visible.

“You heal slow, good. Perhaps those marks will remind you that I am in charge. Anymore tricks and I won’t be so gentle.” The angelic wasn’t going to clarify that she only healed slowly for small cuts. Broken bones and serious injuries were healed with speed, thus her and Lark’s arms were already mended. Something the huntress was clearly ignoring. Kram also wasn’t going to clarify that she didn’t do anything. She was innocent! Still she suppose she had to pay for her brother’s temper.

Katar scrunched her face and threw the angel onto the floor, as if disgusted to even be touching the small woman. “Upstairs, first door on the left. Get me some clothes and do not wander.”

Kram parted those full lips of hers to say something, but thought better of it, by the sharp glare given to her. Something in the feline’s eyes told her to keep her mouth shut and do as she was told. Scrambling to her feet the female scurried up the staircase. The woman was terrifying. Yet in some twisted way Kram wanted nothing more than please her, craving the odd cherry euphoria she had tasted earlier. As if she were addicted to it after one taste. Pondering if the huntress had such an ability, the female found the door in question. Pushing against it, the door opened without complaint, revealing a dark interior. Bottles littered the floor and the bed which was placed under a window. There were dressers on each side of the room along with a cherry wood chest at the base of the bed.

Kram went to the chest and opened it up. Within were more bottles and a few bizarre toys. She lifted a baggie, filled with some kind of plant. It smelled weird. Placing it back her curious hands plucked a strange item out of the chest. Eight inches and thick it wormed and wiggled in her grasp, giving the bird quite a fright. It hit the bottom of the chest buzzing excitedly as it bumped into the glass bottles clanking with such noise the angelic feared the huntress would hear it’s WWWWRRRRRRRR! Kram hurriedly shut the chest with a panicked squawk and exhaled a sharp breath, while taking a quick look around. Her heart thudded with fear, although the huntress didn’t seem to notice the now soft buzzing within the chest. Kram couldn’t even imagine what horrors such a weapon could bestow. She thought for a moment it was trying to suck her soul out from her hands, luckily she’d dropped it. How horrifying. This woman truly was something to be feared. Pale and nervous of anything that drew too near, the small bird went to a dresser.

Within the dresser she found only shorts. No undergarments or shirts, so with a helpless sound she gathered these along with what appeared to be a leather jacket. Kram didn’t bother to peek around anymore, too afraid of what else she might find in this horrible room.

The small woman ran into the hall and jumped the stair banister, not willing to take the stairs. She wanted away from that room and quickly. Her wings fanned out gently, allowing her to glide down. The messenger dress she wore, floated up, revealing tight shorts and a short crop tank top. As her toes kissed the wooden floor, her dress floated back down around her thighs. She offered the clothes to the feline with a pale face.

Katar gave a predatory grin, the perverted expression something not recognized by the small cinna-bun of an angelic. “Your clothes Ma’am? I... I couldn’t find... I only... ...these...” She offered the clothes once more with a poor blush, she felt guilty for being unable to find a proper set of clothes for the woman before her.

“Alright first of all, you need to speak the fuck up. Now repeat that louder.” The huntress looked the angel up and down with a short exhale while poor Kram turned an even darker shade. “A...ah! Um... r-right! I... Your CLOTHES!” She shut her eyes as she full on shouted to the huntress, her rear pushed back, face forward as she tried to speak up as loud as possible. Katar’s ears fell flat, wincing at the angel’s new volume. Although she really couldn’t be mad, as that’s what she’d asked for.

The Huntress gave the angel a stern glare as the clothes were swiped and slowly put on. Poor Kram wilted under the intense eye contact, stuttering under her breath as she shifted her weight and squirmed. Now ‘dressed’ the feline found herself to be bored. “How do you feel about playing cat and mouse- actually who cares how you feel? We’re playing cat and mouse- and you’re the mouse.” Katar clapped her hands together, a weapon seemingly spawning into existence as a wild grin took over her face. “Rules: Stay in the house. Run.”

Upon seeing Kram’s horrified expression the huntress laughed, “Don’t worry you get a handicap- three seconds. One. Tw-” Kram twisted and fled, tripping over herself in her panic. Her wings flapping, lifting her up off the floor, the female flew to the top forty foot vaulted ceiling, looking down at the feline. A flash was all the warning the woman got as the tip of a blade barely miss her cheek and ear, embedding into the ceiling so hard it sang with power.

Kram exhaled and twisted, much like a contortionist, iridescent light chasing her hands, as she danced in the air. Without warning the light wrapped around her slender form making her invisible. Even the sound of her wings ceased, although unbeknownst to the cat, that was because she’d landed on the banister. Katar raised her hand, the blade returning to her hand.

Katar sang sweetly, “Oh little birdie~ No need to hide! I’m only going to break you a little.” Kram meanwhile didn’t move from her perch on the banister, fearful if she moved she’d make a sound. The thorny leash dug into Kram’s neck, making her cry out in pain, the unforgiving leash yanking her from the banister down to the first floor. Whatever iridescent light had been around Kram had all but gone, allowing the feline to catch the angelic by the front of her shirt. Their foreheads touched as the larger woman purred, “I didn’t say fly. I said run.” Being released the small angelic was left to fall into a heap at the huntress’s feet.

With a short inhale of breath, great big alligator tears slipped from Kram’s eyes, her breath sort and soft. She stood up sharply and she fled, weeping from the huntress. Aw, it seemed the small bird had been frightened to tears. Her soft crying breaths almost inaudible as she threw herself up the stairs towards the highest point of the church. She clearly wasn’t thinking about being cornered, she just didn’t want to be near the huntress.

Katar slowly followed the small angelic, not really in much of a hurry.

Meanwhile Lark picked a bottle of liquor, surely this was the one on the list? Ugh. What foul liquid. The male took these items to the front while the cashier tried not to laugh at him. Lark gave her a sharp glare, clearly not in the mood for human antics. He just wanted to pay for this nonsense and get out of this shitty establishment, and hopefully out of the hellish house his sister had gotten them into. The male hoped she was suffering, the little wench, for getting them both enslaved to such a foul creature. Showing the I.D and cash as instructed on the paper, he was given the grocery bags. The woman snickered, “Have a good day pet.” It took all of Lark’s self control to continue walking. He was going to become a murderer if they were forced to stay here much longer.

A Human Murderer.

“Stop your tears.” The female threw her blade into the floor as she stalked to the angel, pulling her back. The Huntress was met with bright neon yellow eyes, black veins crawling down the angelic’s face, as if she was infected with some horrible disease. “See? That was fun. Now get up.” The Huntress tossed the angelic. Kram tried to stand only to hit with that odd cherry taste. Positive energy flowed into her, and those yellow eyes returned to her normal bright green. The black veins faded and the angelic was left pure once more, no longer infected by negative emotions.

“Hmm, interesting. Well, time for dinner, Lark should be back soon.”

-Beyond the Lights Angel Au

#angelau #demon #original character #original story #original universe #torture #sorry not sorry #grocery shopping #kink shaming

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