#I am quite proud of it too and it didn’t get much attention on a03 but I’m def down fordoing more!

[jokerscrazybrilliant]

Survive - Chapter 3 - (Captain Rex)

Chapter 1 · Chapter 2 · Chapter 3 · Chapter 4

Story on other platforms:

A03 · Quotev

________

Not for the first time in my life, I found myself in the middle of a war. But not the kind of war I was used to. It all began when I wiped the training mat with Fives' face in front of all his brothers. This led to him serving me a cup of caf which I thought was a peace offering but turned out to be not entirely caf. Kix ended up having to pump my stomach and spent an hour lecturing both Fives and I on the dangers of consuming anything that goes in a battleship engine, no matter how much either party might've deserved it. Since I couldn't have Fives one upping me, I ended up sneaking into his barracks and shaving off most of his beard, making him look utterly ridiculous and having him walk around with his bucket on for most of the time until it grew back. He then returned the blow by breaking into my quarters while I was away and painting his signature five on all my clothes. I did not confront him, instead borrowing some standard issue blacks to wear until I could get more robes with the next supply run. But carefully, I plotted my revenge. "I thought revenge wasn't the Jedi way?" Kix commented while searching for the necessary tools for the operation. "Let's call it justice then. You gonna help me do this or not?" I raised a brow at him. "Of course." I smiled deviously. "Then let's get to work!"

***

The plan was set in motion. I was grinning, quite proud of myself as I sat, eagerly watching the doors in the ship’s mess hall, surrounded by the usual group of idiots. I had informed everyone in the squadron notto touch the caf machine today, and even with the numerous displeased grumblings and complaints, everyone was on board with the plan. Everyone except for Fives, of course. “Nim, are you even listening to me?” A voice insisted on drawing my attention away from the mess entrance.

“Not really Echo, why, have you said something important?”

He sighed, shaking his head in amusement. “I guess not.”

“I hope Fives gets here soon, I’m tired of waiting and I have to get to the med-bay soon.” Kix complained, pushing away his empty tray.

“Speak for yourself, I only just got here.” Echo said, shoveling food into his mouth as if to prove his point.

I grinned at the boys’ usual antics before turning back to look at the newest arrival, who was making his way to the caf machine. My eyes grew wide in realization as Rex went to press the button. Everyone but the captain! I stared in shock, my mouth about to form a shout before his hand made contact with the machine, electrocuting him immediately. He yelped in surprise, staggering backwards before composing himself quickly.

Turning around slowly to face the mess full of soldiers that had just witnessed what happened, his face was a combination of emotions as he searched the faces in front of him. “Alright, which one of you boys is responsible for this?! Fess up!”

It was chaos. Kix was giggling like a mad schoolchild beside me, and Echo had his face in his arms while trying not to choke on his food from across the table. Fives, who had stepped into the mess hall at the most opportune moment, was heaving on the floor, tears in his eyes as he took in the situation, obviously knowing it was I who was at fault. The other men were at varying degrees of delight, some simply laughing, while others, like hardcase, were shouting in joy, slapping the table loudly.

I was silent, face stonelike as I rose from my seat. “It was me captain, I am so sorry, it wasn’t meant for you – It was meant for that bitching lunatic!” I lost my composure as I pointed at Fives, only making him laugh harder. “I warned everyone else but I guess I forgot to tell you.”

The captain faltered as he looked at me, temper dissipating as he raised a hand to rub his face wearily. “That’s okay commander, didn’t realize it was you.”

“You can taze me back captain, it’s only fair.” I walked up, looking from him to the caf machine earnestly.

He chuckled lightly, “That won’t be necessary.”

I shook my head adamantly, “No, it’s only fair.” I quickly stepped in front of him, jamming my hand down on the caf machine before he could say anything else, letting out a small grunt of pain at the shock as the electricity buzzed painfully through the entirety of my body. I twitched on the floor, unsure of when I had fallen. The captain stood over me, offering me his arm.

“Are you alright commander?”

“I’m alright.” I choked out, chest still constricted in pain. “I may have fried my every last brain cell, but I’m alright.” I grinned as I realized he was laughing at me. “I am glad, however, that you find this amusing.”

His laughter only increased as he helped me up to my feet. “Permission to speak freely, commander?”

“Of course.”

“Are you certain the Fives is the lunatic?” I laughed at his words.

"Oi! I just fried myself on your behalf, you ought to show me at least a little respect.” Finally, the pain subsided and I quickly became aware of all the eyes that were on us. I cleared my throat as I devised a new plan, seeing as how the old one backfired so spectacularly. "May I borrow your gun, captain?"

His eyebrows furrowed as he took it out of his holster, handing it over slowly. "I'm almost afraid to ask why?"

My eyes locked on Fives, who registered what I was thinking a moment after I answered Rex. "I owe someone a little payback."

Fives immediately turned around and bolted out of the caf, but I was right behind him, setting the weapon to stun as I went, the caf full of soldiers cheering me on. Kix followed after us to make sure neither of us killed each other, and Echo followed after him to record it on his holopad.

My chase was cut short when we ran into Master Skywalker in the hallway. Immediately, I straightened myself as if I had been taking a stroll the entire time, flashing him an innocent smile. "Anakin." I dragged the last syllable of his name in a singsong, “What can I do for you?”

"Hello Nim. If you've had your fun, we need you on the bridge for a mission debrief." His eyes roamed over all the guilty party, from Fives, who was cowering in an entryway, to Kix, who was attempting to hide behind me, to Echo, who was trying to discreetly put away his holopad, finally settling back on me with an amused grin. "I'm glad to see you're finding your place here."

I nodded with a small chuckle, relieved when he turned and walked towards the bridge ahead of me. I turned to give Fives a threatening glance on my way. "I'd watch my back if I were you." I hissed as I passed by.

We quickly made our way up to the bridge, where Ahsoka was waiting, and Captain Rex had somehow beaten us there.

Anakin wasted no time in explaining the mission to us. “We’re being sent to the Quell system to aid Master Aayla Secura. As I understand it, her Jedi cruiser is damaged beyond hope of repair, so we need to prepare a ship to dock and evacuate anyone we can. Rex, prepare the men, Snips, go with Nim and make sure that ship is ready by the time we arrive, I’ll meet you at the gunships. Let’s have some fun!”

***

Thankfully, we hadn’t been too far from Quell, so before long I was onboard a gunship with Master Skywalker, Ahsoka, and Rex, on our way to board Master Secura’s ship to help with the droids that had overtaken them.

I watched as a stream of rocket droids powered by duo jets made their way from the separatist ship to Master Secura’s, landing on the surface and cutting their way in. “Those droids are boarding Aayla’s ship!” Anakin called over the noise. One of the battle droids landed on our gunship, ripping into the cockpit. “Take care of that clanker! I’ll be onboard Aayla’s cruiser.”

“Master! Are you sure that’s the wisest thing–” Anakin ignored Ahsoka’s comment, and I watched with awe as he jumped down, landing on the back of a super droid as it made its way to the ship.

Master Diya had been a great Master who liked to encourage creativity in problem-solving scenarios, however he usually carried the stoic air you would expect from an esteemed Jedi Master, and wasn’t usually so unorthodox. Master Skywalker, as I was eagerly learning, was entirely the opposite. He faced everything as he was, an overwhelming swirl of emotions attitude and power. And he cracked jokes as he did it.

I turned to look at Ahsoka with excitement in my eyes. “Your master is fun!” I exclaimed.

“Yes, but it gets him into troub–” I missed the rest of Ahsoka’s comment, turning to leap after Anakin, eager to join the action. I managed to land on my feet on the back of a super droid, slicing it in half before hopping down onto another, and another, before finally landing on Master Secura’s ship.

I hopped down into the ship after Anakin, slicing through battle droids as we went. “I see you followed my example.”

“Couldn’t let you have all the action.” I grinned at him as we went through several more droids. Ahsoka made her entrance before long, Rex and his troops following after her. “Glad to see you could join us.” I flashed her a quick grin before deflecting a shot back at a droid, then slicing it and the one beside it.

“You shouldn’t encourage him you know.” Ahsoka teased as we made our way to Master Secura.

“I heard that!” Anakin called, taking out the final droids separating us from the Master and her troops.

“Nice entrance, Skywalker.” The Twi’lek turned to greet us. “How do you plan on getting us out of this mess?”

“I have a ship docking in the lower hangar as we speak.” Anakin responded, grunting with effort as he stabbed his lightsaber to the hilt into two droids at once.

Quickly, we led the path to the port, ship shuddering around us as it took more hits than it could bear. “We made it!” Ahsoka exclaimed, extending the docking port. We quickly ran down the corridor but an explosion sounded, making me turn to watch as Master Skywalker force pushed us out of the reach of the blast.

“It’s too late!” He turned to try to face the blast as the doors shut between us.

“Master!” Ahsoka and I shouted in shock, quickly getting up to try to find him. I opened the blast doors slightly as she searched for his form.

“I found him.” She sliced a hole in the doors and we pulled him through, quickly getting him onboard the ship so we could detach. Ahsoka and I carried Anakin to the med-pod as Master Secura headed to the bridge, hopefully to get us to dock with the Resolute.

“Ahsoka, get an oxygen mask on him while I turn on this med-droid.” I quickly gave her a task to occupy her while I fiddled with the med-droid, searching for it’s on button. “Kix is much easier to wake up.” I mumbled, recalling the pleasant memory of dousing him with ice water and wishing he were here. He’d know how to calm Ahsoka down. How to calm me down, too. I thought to myself, conscious of the unrest that surrounded the force around me.

The droid finally powered on and began working on Anakin, beginning its scans and attempting to stabilize him. I gave Ahsoka’s shoulder a little squeeze as she stood back to let the droid do its work. “He’ll be alright.”

She gave me a little nod but didn’t speak, watching her master with anxious eyes. I felt the ship shift around us, and my brows raised of their own accord. Making my way into the hall, I found Rex working on a repair panel. “Did we just jump to hyperspace?” I asked, observing how he handled his hydrospanner less than expertly.

“Not sure. Just trying to repair the shields.” He said, accidentally shocking himself and letting out a frustrated huff before trying again.

I folded my arms and leaned against the wall, watching in amusement. “Need some help there, captain?”

He turned at my teasing tone, but unfortunately his helmet obstructed whatever expression he held underneath it. “I think I’ll manage, thanks.”

I laughed as he shocked himself again, “Just let me help.” Leaning down beside him, I took the hydrospanner from him, taking his place in front of the panel as he moved to the side slightly. “Besides, you’ve been fried enough for one day.”

“Yeah, thanks for that.” He watched as I began repairing the damaged panel easily, blushing lightly as I laughed again in embarrassment.

“Sorry… It was an accident.” He chuckled at me, shaking his head.

“It’s alright, I’m just messing with you.” My grin didn’t fade as I kept working at the panel. “How are you so good at that?” He piped up after a few silent moments.

I shrugged easily, thinking I must’ve appeared to know more than I did. “I like starships.” Completing the repairs, I replaced the panel as Master Secura rushed past us, Ahsoka following her into the cockpit.

“That seemed important.” Rex commented, and I nodded as we stood to follow after them.

“Karabast.” I mumbled to myself as the flashing screen showed us heading directly for a star.

“We need to shut down all the power circuits so we can reset the coordinates.” Master Secura commanded.

“But that will cut off Anakin’s life support!” Ahsoka protested the orders.

“I don’t like it any more than you do, but it’s a risk we’re going to have to take.”

“We don’t have much time.” I interjected, preparing for being thrown out of hyperspace. “Let’s do this.”

“Switching off primary power units.” Ahsoka informed.

“Ready to shut off auxiliary power.” Master Secura said from her spot beside me.

“On three. One, two, three!” Master Secura pulled the lever, turning off the remaining power to the ship and throwing us violently out of hyperspace.

The ship shook around us and Rex, who had been attempting to hold onto the chairs in front of him, was tossed backwards, slamming into me, throwing us both against the wall and taking Master Secura with us.

“Switch the power back on! What are you waiting for?” Commander Bly shouted back at us in panic as we came up on the star.

Master Secura reached through the force, switching the lever back on just in time for us to miss the star, Rex and I crashing onto the floor as the gravity came back on. “Ow!” I complained loudly, untangling myself from him and staggering to my feet, helping him up as well.

“Sorry commander, are you alright?” He brought up his hand to the back of his helmet embarrassedly as he apologized.

“I’m fine, but man your armour hurts.” I wheezed, rubbing the bruise I could feel already forming on my side from where his elbow had slammed into me.

“Well, we’re not gonna crash into that star, but we’re definitely going to hit that planet.” Ahsoka pointed out of the viewing port in front of us. With the state our ship was in we definitely weren’t going to have a smooth landing.

Gritting my teeth, I braced myself as we began our descent into the planet’s atmosphere. The shields lasted well enough that the ship didn’t break apart until we hit the ground, flames rising around us. “Everyone out!” Rex shouted, Master Secura and Ahsoka going to get Anakin while I helped Cameron, who had been injured in our escape, out of the shipwreck.

“I – I’m alright commander, thank you.” Cameron gave me a little nod of thanks as I let go of him slowly, letting him find his way to where we would set up camp.

Commander Bly scouted the area as the other troopers set up the campfire and I helped set up a small protected area for the injured Anakin to rest in. Rex searched the ship for anything we could use but unfortunately the med-droid was damaged beyond repair.

I watched as Master Aayla and Ahsoka argued about leaving Master Anakin behind. While I understood Ahsoka’s worry, I also understood that Master Secura wanted to use this opportunity to teach the young padawan to learn to control her attachment. I could sense the anxiety Ahsoka was pouring into the force from concern over her master. I related to it, having gone through similar experiences with my own master, and when I ultimately lost him, it was excruciatingly painful. Having gone through that myself made me appreciate what Master Secura was trying to do for Ahsoka.

They seemed to have settled their dispute before coming to join the rest of the group, Commander Bly holding out a wooden carving he had found while scouting the plains around us. It showed some sort of people, surrounded by what looked like giant trees. “General Secura, look. We're not the only ones here on this planet. There has to be some kind of – something here.” Master Secura took the carving from his hands before strange guttural screeches drew our attention to our surroundings, soldiers flicking on their helmet lights, my hand drawing near my lightsaber on my belt. “That doesn’t sound too friendly.” Rex commented from next to me, gazing into the plains with his gun drawn.

“No, not at all.” I murmured. I squinted my eyes but found nothing, then opening myself to the force. I couldn’t sense anything too close, and satisfied, I stepped back to where Ahsoka kneeled in front of Anakin’s form. “Be strong, Master. Just a little bit longer. Rex and Nim will watch over you.” She told him. “It is time to go.” “Don't worry, kid. The commander and I will take good care of him.” Rex told her, helmet tucked beneath his arm. When'd he take that off? Master Secura turned to us. "Alright, both of you keep your locators on. We should be back by daybreak with whoever, or whatever, lives on this planet." "Got it, General Secura." Rex gave her a nod. “Hey, kid. Good luck." He gave Ahsoka a small smile and she returned it before they headed out in search of giant trees, and whatever help they could find.

“Hey Rex?” I spoke, still watching their retreating forms in the distance.

“Yes commander?”

“What if the trees are normal sized and the creatures are just really, really, small?” I turned to look up at him, pleased to see him grinning widely at my asinine suggestion.

“The thought had occurred to me, commander.”

I moved to sit in front of the fire, glancing at Anakin to make sure he was still breathing. “Are you really going to keep calling me that? No one else does.”

“Doesn’t matter to me what everybody else does, sir.”

I nodded sagely at this. “I respect that. I just wish it didn’t mean you kept calling me ‘commander’.” I kidded lightly, grinning as he sat down near me. “Fives didn’t even bother trying with that.” I chuckled, thinking of how easily Fives had abandoned all protocol when we became such quick friends.

There was silence between us for a while, and I could see him mulling something over in his mind before he turned to look at me, finally speaking up. "I’ve been meaning to say, commander, that I’ve noticed the way you treat the troopers in our battalion. Like they're your equals. That kind of treatment... It's rare. And it means a lot to those men. It means a lot to me. So, thank you." I glanced away from him for a moment, trying to maintain my composure and stop the flush from creeping into my cheeks, before turning back. "I know that what we're fighting for is important but sometimes... I can't help but feel like they deserve more. Deserve better. I see someone like Kix and – he's such a dreamer. The fact that war is the only life he's ever known, it just doesn't seem fair."

"All due respect sir, but we were bred for the sole purpose of this war." The firelight reflected in his golden eyes, giving them a fervour I’d never seen before. I nodded. "I know. But you're still people." He held my gaze meaningfully before turning to look into the fire in front of us. "You're one of very few who see it that way." He shook his head, lost in thought as he stared into the crackling flames, and I resisted the urge to say anything else. “You should rest, commander. I’ll take first watch.”

I shook my head at him. “I’ll take first watch, you rest!”

He huffed out a chuckle at my stubbornness. “While I appreciate the sentiment, I know I hit you pretty hard back there.” I immediately stopped nursing the bruise on my side. I should’ve known he would notice it. “You should rest it off for a bit, then I’ll have my turn.” He pushed before I could protest that it was nothing.

Sighing, I stood up and found a small area across the campfire from him. “Fine. But don’t let me sleep too long.” I lay down on the uncomfortable dirt and tried to find some peace in the silence of the nature around me.

***

A low predatory growl in the distance woke me before the nightmares could, and I bolted awake, holding my lightsaber at the ready.

“Everything alright, commander?” Rex asked from opposite the campfire.

I scanned the plains in front of us carefully. “Something’s out there.” I spoke quietly.

“Clankers?” I shook my head and he turned to see if he could spot anything.

“Something else. A creature of some kind I’d guess. And it’s not alone.” I got in a defensive stance, my back to Rex and his back to mine as we stood protectively in front of where the injured Anakin lay.

A large creature jumped at me from the shadows, and quickly I activated my lightsaber, slashing it, causing it to take a few steps back. I could make out a fierce beak, a dark feathery mane, and four taloned feet. It tried to swipe at me again, but I slashed it again, this time successfully cutting into the flesh of its leg, causing it to whimper and run off as I heard blaster shots behind me.

Whirling around, I found another of those creatures standing over Rex. It had him completely pinned down even as he tried to get a shot on it. Quickly jumping over it to land near its face, I slashed at its beak, and it backed off immediately, running after its counterpart.

“Are you okay?” I extended an arm to Rex, and he took it, nodding at me gratefully as he got to his feet.

“I’m fine, but those things will be coming back. And I’ll bet they’ll bring their friends with them.”

I nodded in agreement, staring after the creatures. “I hope the others are doing alright out there.” Quietly we sat back down, more vigilant than before as we waited for whomever returned first, the creatures or our friends.

***

It was well into the next day before we saw any more action. Rex was walking around the perimeter again when Anakin awoke, grunting as he tried to sit up. I quickly tried to get him to lie back down. “Master, you need to rest!”

“I can’t rest. They’re coming.” I helped him stand and turned as I sensed the creatures from the previous night approaching.

“Rex!” I shouted him a warning and he responded immediately, gun drawn as the two creatures stepped into the clearing. Rex managed to shoot the first one down before it could do any damage but the other one pounced on him, knocking him down before heading for me and Master Skywalker. I quickly tried to put myself between him and the creature and push us both out of its path as it charged. It overshot us and quickly found its bearings, preparing to charge again before a small furry being jumped into the clearing, tying a rope around the large beast’s legs and trying to pull, attempting to trip it.

Ahsoka followed it into the circle, and I turned to Anakin, figuring the others had a handle on things. “Are you alright, Master?” I asked him, laying him down gently and checking him over to look for any additional wounds.

He hacked out a cough before responding. “I’m doing great, can’t you tell?” I grinned at his signature sarcasm, glad he was well enough to find his wit.

“Of course, Master Anakin.”

“Master!” Ahsoka ran up to us, having successfully dealt with the large beast, and knelt next to Anakin, seeming relieved to be back by his side.

“Good to see you, Snips.” I smiled and backed off to give them privacy before we loaded Anakin onto a stretcher to carry him to whatever civilization Ahsoka had found.

Turning to find Rex cradling his arm, I raised a brow in concern. “That thing got you?”

“Just a scratch.” He shrugged it off, moving to stand next to me as we watched the creature who arrived with Ahsoka introduce himself to Master Skywalker as Wag Too in Basic.

“I guess those trees really were giant.”

“I guess they were.”

#Captain Rex #Rex x reader #rex x you #The Clone Wars #Star Wars #Fanfic #Fanfiction #Clone wars #Clone trooper rex #Clone wars fanfic #Clone wars fanfiction #Clone wars Rex #Star wars fanfiction #star wars fanfic #rex clone wars #captain rex x jedi reader #captain rex x reader #captain rex fanfic #captain rex imagine #tcw rex #tcw captain rex #tcw fanfic #tcw oc #captain rex x oc

[morgana-ren]

A Little Respect (Shigaraki x Reader)

Summary:  Life is hard for a outlaw down on their luck. Especially hard when you're cold, starving, and desperate. As fate would have it, the League of Villains just might take you in. If you can survive their temperamental leader, that is.

Rating: This particular chapter is E for everyone but Shig is rated R for Real Fuckin’ Rude. Mild cursing and sexual innuendo from Dabi. Will advance in rating as the chapters come out.

A03 mirror if you prefer to read it there

Sorry guys, it’s not the Filthy Smut™ I promised earlier but I got an idea at like 3am and wanted to get it out. 

Tomura Shigaraki does not like you.

Wait, that’s an understatement.

Tomura Shigaraki does not like you at all. It might even be fair to say he hates you.

From the moment he first saw you, he was decidedly unimpressed. Beady, vermillion eyes narrowing in irritation, lip twitching almost indiscernibly behind the shadow of his hand-mask. He’d only looked you over for a brief moment before casting down his judgement, deeming you unworthy of his attention.

It didn’t matter to him that you had taken time out of your day to be here. Seems a bit ungrateful, if you were honest. After all, he was the one looking for new recruits, not you. That was why you were standing awkwardly in the middle of this dingy bar that smelled like cheap liquor and ashes, prostrating yourself before this man-child in hopes of a job. Yeah, you’d seen him on TV and heard of his exploits, but nothing could quite capture the sheer arrogance of the real thing.

He had turned his nose up at you so easily, ripping his focus from you without a second thought. When he spoke, he didn’t even bother addressing you. You were a waste of his time. He instead turned to Giran who stood nearby, sucking down his cigarette as if the acrid smoke filling the bar didn’t add unnecessary drama to the already tense atmosphere.

“Where do you find this trash?” Shigaraki waved you off, mind already made up that you were nothing but a nuisance. “This NPC is really bottom of the barrel.”

His uneven, scratchy voice only served to spike your agitation. Admittedly, you were a proud one on occasion, but this was outright ridiculous. This low budget comic-book-villain-reject looking fuck was calling you trash? Now that was funny.

Giran had moved to speak up on your behalf, but you just couldn’t help yourself. You’d always had a hot temper and an even bigger mouth. It had gotten you into trouble quite a bit, and it was probably responsible for the current financial predicament and various bruises you found yourself saddled with now. Despite that, you had a really hard time controlling the venomous thoughts that came out of you. Sometimes, it just tumbled out before you could consider stopping it.

“What’s with all the hands? Compensating for something? Or is it just a fetish?”

Giran flinched as the words left your lips, mouth closed in a grimace as he exhaled the smoke from the most recent inhale through his nose. You knew you were making his job difficult, but this second-rate walking lotion commercial had already made up his mind, right? You didn’t feel you had much to lose.

Shigaraki visibly stiffened, fist clenching into itself as he held his thumb out to the side. You’d made him mad. What a bitch.

“Rude and bratty with no manners. I’m starting to think you just dumpster dive and bring whatever you find at the bottom to me.”

Even though his tone was sharp and held an edge that hadn’t been there previously, he still refused to look at you, even as he flared at your disrespect. Your antics hadn’t been entirely unappreciated, however. There had been a slight chuckle from the figure standing beside him. A man with charred skin and striking blue eyes with wild black hair was looking you over, eyes glimmering with amusement.

“I like her.”

“You would. You’re just as annoying as she is. But at least you can be useful on occasion.” Tomura scoffed, visibly irritated now as he tapped a long, pale finger on the wooden surface of the bar.

“I really think you ought to give her a chance, Shigaraki. I honestly believe she could be beneficial to your organization.” Giran gestured to you, maintaining a nonchalant smile. You knew he got paid either way, but he did consider himself a professional. He’d work his magic until this breathing temperamental tantrum decided he’d had enough, and then it would be back out on the streets for you.

“We don’t need another loser in our party.” Shigaraki crossed his arms over each other, pointer fingers carefully hovering above the fabric of his black shirt. You knew what he could do, what those fingers were capable of. One grip on your bare flesh and calling you fish food would be generous.

You found it unfair that kind of power had been given to such an impudent dick.

Giran motioned for you to step forward. “Go on, show him.”

You rolled your eyes but obliged, moving into the forefront of the room. You felt like a dancing monkey, but if it would put money in your pocket and food in your mouth, you’d play along. Even if it meant kneeling for one of the biggest jerkoffs the underworld had to offer.

You closed your eyes, focusing for a moment before releasing a breath and bringing your hands together. Light began to shimmer in front of you, swirls of color blending, stitching and intertwining. Bright flashes of blues, reds, and yellows formed a pattern and came together, slowly taking form. Seconds later, a perfect recreation of All Might was standing directly in front of the bar, mimicking his stereotypical pose. The mirage turned its head to the toward the villainous duo seated nearby, legendary smile gleaming in the dim bar lights. It raised an arm, giving a thumbs up.

“I am here!”

The voice was so loud and lifelike that Shigaraki recoiled, looking absolutely feral. His eyes shot open, widened in a mixture of confusion and rage. He had lurched himself half-way out of his chair, posed to lunge at the imposter before him, hands at the ready and poised to attack. “What is this shit?”

A small smile cracked on your face. You focused again, summoning another illusion from the air, this one comprised of mainly blacks, whites, and reds. It wasn’t long before a flawless imitation of Shigaraki himself appeared behind the illusory hero, creeping up behind it, hand outstretched and reaching. It made eye contact with the authentic Shigaraki, grin spreading past the boundaries of the decomposing hand placed over his face.

“Not anymore you’re not.”

The duplicate’s hand made contact with the All Might mimicry, all five fingers pressed against the blade of its shoulder. As the spindly fingers dug in, All Might’s uniform and skin began to decay, spreading and unweaving the flesh and muscle until bare bone was visible beneath as the body began to decompose rapidly. Tendons snapped and plasma leaked to the floor, sending the usually impervious hero to the floor in a whimpering, grimy mess.  Soon enough, All Might’s likeness was nothing but a whimpering pile of dying, ashy viscera beneath fabricated Shigaraki’s red sneakers.

Eventually the illusion faded, and not one person spoke. It took effort for you to hold back a triumphant sneer. Your little production had been no Hamlet, but it garnered the desired result no less. The real Shigaraki was paralyzed in place, eyes still glued to the spot on the floor where the fake All Might had perished, as if he couldn’t believe his eyes.

And he was right, he couldn’t.

Real All Might was still out there, traipsing around and being a massive pain in someone’s ass, but Giran had hinted to you that something like this might get Shigaraki’s dick hard. His hatred of All Might was all encompassing and exploiting it might give you a fighting chance. Apparently, he had been right. You had a feeling that if you let him, Shigaraki would just keep staring in disbelief until someone actively shook him from his stupor.

“I couldn’t get your voice quite right but it’s the best I could do on short notice. I’ve never met you before today.”

You were the first to break the silence, since everyone else with the exception of Giran was dumbfounded. Might as well get the ball rolling. Either you were in or you weren’t, and if you weren’t, you had a corner store to rob before it got too late.

Achingly slow, Shigaraki turned his head back to you. You couldn’t quite get a read on him, not with that giant hand on his face, but judging by the fact that his hands were shaking, and he looked murderous, the prognosis didn’t look too good.

“What is it?” He hissed, copper eyes narrowing on you. “Your quirk. What the hell is it?”

“Illusion. Tricks of light and sound. Basically, I can mess with light and sound waves temporarily to create whatever vision I desire.” It sounded way cooler than you explained it like that. “I can’t do it on a large scale, and I have to understand the exact representation and mannerisms of whatever it is I’m creating if I want it to be accurate, hence your voice. Also, they’re incorporeal. I can’t create a physical form.”

Shigaraki was staring at you blankly. You’re losing them. Play it up.

“Other than that, I can create whatever I want. As long as it’s not too exhausting, I can hold it for a while too. As you can see, there’s not a whole lot else I can really do with it since the visions can’t actually touch or be touched, but it’s great as a distraction.” You shrugged, letting your shoulders slump as you realized just how ridiculous this entire situation really was. “I figured maybe you could use it for subterfuge or something.”

“Doll, you have got no imagination at all.” The blistered one spoke up again, simpering mischievously. “I can think of plenty- “

“Shut up!” Shigaraki growled, flexing his hands by his sides and clearly not in the mood for either one of you. His invasive stare was studying you again, eyes resting a little too long on your face to make you comfortable. You wanted to make another smart-ass remark, but Giran smelled that a mile away like a dumb-shit detecting bloodhound and opted to speak first to keep you from ruining your chances.

“So? What do you say?” He leaned over, smashing the butt of his cigarette into a nearby ash tray, waving away the excess smoke that rose. “You think that’ll be helpful?”

You could see deep frown lines and the shadow of a scowl on Shigaraki’s face. He didn’t answer immediately, choosing to glare you down instead. You weren’t sure you wanted to be a part of the League anymore, anyway. Not if it meant working under this broody, angsty little-

“She can stay.” He turned, storming out the doors without sparing you a second glance. “But if she gets on my nerves, I’ll dust her.”

Well, a job is a job, even if your new boss is the world’s biggest blowhole. If it meant a warm place to sleep and clothes on your back, you’d take it.

“Guess we’ll be working together. See you around, doll face.” The scarred guy gave a slight indifferent wave in your direction before heading out through the exit. You weren’t quite sure how to feel at the moment. It wasn’t exactly the definition of a warm welcome, but then again, you were working with a criminal organization that was currently at the top of Japan’s most wanted list. You couldn’t really expect a hug and a welcome tour.

Giran, on the other hand, seemed ecstatic. He slapped you on the back, grinning wide and no doubt pleased at the bonus commission he’d be ringing in. “See? I think that went great!”

“That was great to you?” Your brows furrowed in confusion. That had to have been one of the single most awkward experiences of your life. The infamous Shigaraki had the charismatic presence of a flaming pile of dog shit.

“Definitely. He didn’t even try to kill you.”

Your mouth dropped. “That’s a thing that happened? That’s a fuckin’ thing that happened and you didn’t tell me?”

“Oh yeah. The last two I brought his way didn’t sit well with him either. About 2 minutes into the meeting and he tried to kill them both. Would have been a real mess if it hadn’t been for Kurogiri stepping in.”

You rolled your eyes, huffing out an exaggerated breath. “Thanks, man. A warning would have been nice. I know he’s temperamental and all, but it would have been good to get a little bit of notice if I had to get my affairs in order.”

“Oh, come on, it’s not so bad. He’s an alright guy. A little rough around the edges but he’ll grow on you. Just try to keep that mouth of yours in check?” He smiled nervously, reaching in his pocket for another cigarette.

“Yeah, ‘cause that’s worked out so well for me in the past.”

“You’re a smart girl. You’ve can do it. Just do your job and stay out of his way if you can.” He flicked his lighter, inhaling the smoke deeply before turning to you again. “The last people I introduced to the League worked out well for him, and while he talks a lot, they seem to get on just fine. I know Shigaraki can be difficult, but maybe you’ll find some comfort in the others.”

“They’re villains, Giran. How amicable can they really be?”

He laughed, giving a small shrug. “I don’t know. You’re technically a villain, and you seem fine to me.”

You opened your mouth to speak but stopped short when you realized you didn’t exactly have a retaliation to that. “Fair.”

“Come on, let’s get your stuff and get you settled in here. No sense in keeping anyone waiting.”

“Your paycheck, you mean.” You side-eyed him, following him out through the bar doors.

“Yes.”

#shigaraki x reader #tomura shigaraki #Shigaraki #bnha

[exhaustedfander]

Can I request a Moceit fic where Janus is trying to impress Patton, it fails each time, but they get together anyway?

Here ya go! This was a fun one to write, I absolutely adore these two! Feedback and reblogs are really appreciated, have a nice day/night! 

a03 link

My writing masterpost

word count: 2,196

To Woo Morality [Moceit]

It was stupid, really, to think that winning Patton’s heart would be an easy endeavor. It’s not as though they’ve been on the best of terms for most of their existence, indeed they’d been considered enemies for some time. Just because Janus was now accepted by Patton and he’d received an apology card from Patton for everything that had been between them – it really was a nice card – didn’t mean that they were immediately on the best of terms.

Janus didn’t mean to fall for Patton. Any positive feelings he’d felt for the moral side in the past had quickly been pushed to the back of his mind; Jesus, Janus should’ve known better than to think repression would work. But now that they’ve been spending a lot more time with one another, Janus can no longer ignore the affection that blooms in his chest when he’s in Patton’s presence.

At first, he’d been under the impression that even if they were becoming friends, Patton would want nothing to do with him in a romantic-sense. They’d just be pals, and Janus’s heart would just have to burn a little more with each passing minute together. Except…recently, Janus has noticed a shift between them. It could be in his head, though he highly doubts that, but it seems as though Patton has seemed somewhat more nervous in his presence. It’s little things, hands accidentally making contact earning a blush, lingering hugs that the moral side just seems to melt into, passing glances that clutch at Janus’s heart and a look in Patton’s eyes that he prays is admiration.

For some time, Janus has been telling himself that perusing Patton is a horrifically bad idea. He and the others are by no means on good terms. Logan tolerates him as far as he’s aware, but he has impersonated him a few times now. Things are decidedly very shitty between him and Roman, and conversations between him and Virgil usually end in hissy-fits. Remus has been a friend to Janus for some time now, someone who while strange and quite a bit to deal with also knows him better than most, so having his company is somewhat of a relief. He’d like to tell Remus of his feelings for Patton, but if he knows his friend, and he does, it will only end in an onslaught of teasing and Remus running to Patton blabbering. That just won’t do.

The idea of the others knowing of his feelings for Patton was something that, truthfully, concerned Janus. They're fiercely protective of their fatherly figment; who wouldn’t be? It had held him back, thinking of how they’d react. But it’s those moments of hesitation, lingering hands, lingering eyes that push Janus over the deep end. He’ll seduce Patton or die trying. The only question is how.

Janus’s first attempt is a gift. Nothing fancy, but rather innocuous and simple in case things go belly-up. Unfortunately, they do.

“Aw, Jan, you’re too sweet,” Patton coos, holding up the frog stuffed animal with a gleam in his eyes that Janus foolishly sees as promising. Patton sets the plushie down and wraps him in a tight hug.

“I’m so lucky to have such a good friend!” Yikes. That’s not quite what Janus was hoping for.

“Likewise, I’m pleased to call you my friend as well,” Janus says as he pulls away, far smoother than he assumed the words would come out. “I’m glad you like it.”

And then, Janus is back to scheming. The only problem is, he's never been very good at scheming. Sure, he might seem like the type to pull together an elaborate plot, but most of his best work is done on the fly. But impressing Patton can’t be improvised, he tells himself angrily, passing the length of his bedroom, it has to be perfect. So he thinks. And he plans. And he overthinks.

“A picnic?” Patton asks, excitedly. Janus grins, already proud of this plan.

“Yes, if you’d like to join me,” Janus offers, suave. Yes, this will be fine.

“Well, I’d love to, kiddo,” Patton says energetically, and Janus tries his best not to wince at the “kiddo”, “Only…you’re talking about picnicking in the imagination, right?”

“Yes, of course,” Janus replies.

Roman and Remus’s realm is the perfect place for a romantic picnic. With lush, rolling hills of green and skies as blue and beautiful as baroque paintings, it’s the best place Janus can think to woo the moral side. There are fantastical beasts, most of which harmless, at least on Roman’s side of the imagination (save for the dragon witch, but she hasn’t been seen for some time). They’d be sure to steer clear of Remus’s more unruly section of the realm. But then he catches the look on Patton's face.

“Is there a problem?” Patton huffs, fiddling with the end of his shirt. Goodness, that’s not a good sign.

“Oh, I’m just worried it might upset Roman,” Patton explains, “I know you two still have a lot to work out. And Remus’s side…well, I’m not too sure if I want to encounter anymore of the horrific monsters that live there. Once is enough for me.” Damn it, why did Remus ever have to drag Patton on a quest, and why in the world had Patton agreed?!

“Ah, that’s…understandable.” Janus set the picnic basket down, trying to hide the hurt that was surely showing on his face. For a liar, he sure was getting bad at masking his emotions.

“Oh, Jan, I didn’t mean to make you sad! I’d love to still have the picnic, if you still want to. Just somewhere else, maybe?” Janus does what he can to hide how deflated he feels, nodding and forcing on a smile.

“Sure, Patton. The common room, or one of our rooms, perhaps?” Janus flinches as Patton grips onto his wrist. His grasp isn’t hard or painful, just startling.

“C’mon, let’s go to the common room. Maybe someone else will want to join us too.” Janus couldn’t shake the hurt that sentence provoked if he wanted to. Even so, he picks up the picnic basket again and allows Patton to lead him away.

Later Janus sits at his desk, his head in his hands. Why does it have to be so hard? Why can’t his efforts be enough? He’s seen it, surely, he’s seen a twinkle in Patton’s eyes that has to mean something. Or maybe he’s just been far too optimistic. Perhaps the idea of Patton having any interest in him is absolutely preposterous.

Plans flutter through Janus’s mind, gifts he could give, attention he could provide him, but none of it matters in the end. It’s all sure to fail – god, when did he get so depressing?

Janus sighs looking at the clock: nearly 12 am now. He’s been holing himself up in his room since the picnic. At least Patton seemed to be having fun, and Logan even joined them for a bit. That certainly didn’t thrill Janus, but the smile it brought to Patton was something he couldn’t discredit.

Reasonably, it’s too late for a snack. But he’s also imaginary, and moreover, doesn’t really give a shit.

He doesn’t expect to find Patton in the kitchen and considers turning on his heel before the moral side catches sight of him.

“Oh, hiya, Janus,” he greets, friendly as ever, “What are you doing up so late?” Janus bites back a sigh, walking into the kitchen and eyeing Patton.

“I could ask you the very same question.” Patton giggled sheepishly.

"I suppose you could. I couldn’t manage to fall asleep, and I’ve always heard warm milk might do the trick,” Patton explains, holding up a mug, “But boy, this stuff’s nasty. It’s no cowincidence I’ve never been much of a fan.” Janus chuckles lightly, leaning against the kitchen counter. “So, what about you? What brings you to the kitchen this time of night?” “Same as you, I suppose,” Janus says, hoping Patton won’t challenge his vagueness, “I found difficulty sleeping.” That isn’t entirely untrue. Perhaps it was because he was getting lost in his failed plans, but Janus still hadn’t been able to sleep. It seems that Janus has lost his desire for a snack, as seeing Patton is only upsetting him more. He doesn’t want to be like this, so at the mercy of his emotions, and it’s driving him near-insane.

“I think maybe I’ll try again, though. Goodnight, Patton.” “Wait.” Janus pauses in the doorway, turning back to see Patton worrying his bottom lip.

“Is something the matter?”

“No, no. Nothing like that,” Patton sounds uncharacteristically anxious, something that strikes Janus as odd, “I just wanted to…thank you, I guess.” Janus quirks an eyebrow.

“Thank me?” “For being so sweet lately,” Patton clarifies with a flickering smile, “I mean, you’ve been so nice, getting me things, and having a picnic, and just sitting and talking with me as much as you do. Things were so bad between us for so long, I know I’m a lot of the reason why –.”

“We’ve already had this conversation before, Patton. It’s okay,” Janus interjects.

“I know we have, but it doesn’t make me any less sorry. But I feel really lucky that we get to hang out as much as we do now. It’s really nice, you make excellent company.”

Janus half expects himself to fall into a love declaration right then and there. Patton, always so kind and well-meaning, is thanking him for all the extra work he’s been putting in trying to get Patton to notice him. Evidently, he has noticed him, just maybe not as much as Janus wants. It’s selfish, he realizes, to desire so much, so soon. He needs to stop his futile attempts to win Patton’s heart and simply enjoy what he can get.

“It’s not nearly the same as everything you’ve done for me,” Patton splutters, pulling something out of his pocket and pressing it into Janus’s gloved-hand, “But I made you this.”

Janus looks down at the blue and yellow bracelet, the two colors woven tightly together. Janus half expects to start weeping because, yes, this is a friendship bracelet, but it’s also something that Patton has made for the others, but never him.

“I hope you like it,” Patton says nervously, messing with the sleeves of the cardigan tied over his shoulders. Janus slips the bracelet onto his wrist and, in a very un-Janus-like fashion, engulfs Patton in a tight embrace. Patton lets out a sound of surprise before sinking into the hug, pressing his face into the crook of Janus’s neck.

“I love it,” Janus breaths out, feeling like the luckiest side in the world just to be holding Patton, “Thank you.”

“Of course, I-I’m glad you like it,” Patton manages to sputter out. The hug drags on far too long to be considered platonic. Neither men let go.

“Janus…” Patton trails off, letting go of Janus’s back and instead cupping his face in his hands. Janus could feel the moral side’s hands beginning to tremble. He waits a moment, wondering if Patton has more to say, feeling as though his heart might just beat out of his chest before it's unanimously decided action will speak much louder than words.

The kiss begins feather light, just the slightest brush of the lips before Janus’s fingers dig into Patton’s curls, pulling him as close as possible. There they stand in the low-light of the kitchen, kissing and holding onto one another as if the other might disappear if they let go. Unfortunately, the need for oxygen eventually arises and the two part briefly, smiling wide. Patton ducks his head against Janus’s chest, still holding close to him.

“Wow…” is all that Janus can think to say. Patton giggles.

“Wow is right. I was so worried that you didn’t feel the way I did.” Janus chuckles lightly at that, carding a hand through Patton’s hair.

“That's funny, considering it’s not like I’ve been trying to get your attention for some time.” Patton let out a noise of confusion before catching on.

“Oh, Jan, honey. You could’ve just told me.” Oh, he already likes the sound of Patton calling him “honey.”

“In all fairness, you could’ve told me yourself.” Patton laughs again, pressing his lips to Janus’s again, lighter but much of the heat is still there.

“I guess you’re right. We were being silly, dancing around each other, huh?” Janus hums in response, a content, relaxed sound. “Why don’t you try and get some rest now? You sound tired.”

“Come with me,” Janus requests. It’s suddenly so easy to ask, so easy to show Patton how much he cares for him and desires to be in his company. “You look quite tired yourself.”

“Okay, Jan,” Patton says, releasing him from his grasp before lacing their fingers together. The pair walk hand-in-hand to Janus’s room, both smiling wider than they have in quite some time.

As it turns out, Janus’s plans were not a complete waste of his time. He’s relived there’s no need for anymore scheming, though. He’s got everything he’d ever been searching for.

=+=

#moceit #romantic moceit #patton sanders #Janus Sanders #Janus deceit sanders #deceit sanders #fluff #getting-together #a failed attempt at wooing patton that manages to work out in the end #they're soft and cute #sammy writes #my writing #exhaustedfander #exhaustedfander writes

[lilacmoon83]

Dashing Rose: A Finding You Always Vignette

Also on Fanfiction.net and A03

Chapter 10: A Kingdom Restored

"Hurry up Hiss! Get as much as you can!" John cried in a panicked tone, as he attempted to get as much gold and jewels from the treasure room into a travel case as he could.

"Sire...trying to carry this much gold will slow us down considerably," Hiss warned.

"It's my gold! And I'm taking it! I won't let that little retch give it to the filthy villagers!" John cried, as he threw another tantrum.

"Yes Sire…" Hiss said in exasperation. Together, with no small amount of effort, they attempted to carry a large chest out through the back entrance to the palace. He felt Hiss stall though and turned, wondering why he had stopped.

"Why are you stopping? We need to go!" John urged, as Hiss looked beyond him so he turned to see what he was looking at, only to find Fandral in his path, along with Rose Red and their army.

"The gold in that chest belongs to the people," Rose said, as she pointed her blade at them. Hiss cried out and put his hands up, dropping his end of the chest. John cried out in pain, as it fell on his foot and he launched into another tantrum, which continued with him sucking his thumb. Fandral shook his head in amusement, as John once again made a fool of himself.

"Dwarf! Dwarf! Where are you!?" he cried out.

"Oh, do you mean this bloke here?" Fandral asked, as he set the stone statue of the dwarf down in the garden.

"What? What did you do to him!?" John cried.

"You didn't think we'd be ready for him this time?" Rose asked.

"Yes...he hurled a spell at us and we reflected it back at him. The result was his own demise," Fandral replied, as John and Hiss were placed in shackles by their men.

"You can't do this! This is my Kingdom!" John complained.

"Wrong...this was never your Kingdom. You ruled when I was too young to do so and then conspired to steal everything from me!" Rose snapped.

"You let the library fall into horrible disarray and for that alone, you should be punished," she added.

"You taxed the people to death and stole all their hard earnings. This gold will now be returned rightfully to them," Fandral agreed.

"The people have chosen Rose Red as their Queen and you have just been dethroned, John," Zorro said.

"Take them to the dungeon," Fandral ordered, as they were taken away, with John kicking and screaming. Rose sighed, as he slipped his arm around her waist and she leaned her head against his chest. They had done it. The Kingdom was theirs and though there was still so much to do, for tonight, they would rest.

~*~

"So it's happened...Rose Red has regained her Throne," the aging man said. He was the Duke of Andresia and his family had long served the crown of Andresia. Yet his family's hopes and aspirations of gaining the crown themselves had never come to fruition. However, under King John, his family had grown even wealthier and powerful. He was a greedy, reckless King and it had allowed them much power behind the scenes and opportunities to take from the royal coffers as they pleased.

"Relax Renard...she may become Queen, but she is still young and naive. She'll be easy to manipulate," his wife, the Duchess, said. Unlike his portly appearance, she was very thin, even bony in appearance, with sharp features, making her look quite homely.

"But her husband could be a problem, Silvia. He is an outsider and has wisdom in his considerable years. Not to mention, he is nearly impossible to take down by force," he replied.

"Then we endear ourselves to them and work quietly in the background. Tomorrow, we meet our new Queen and we must gain her acceptance," Silvia replied and he couldn't disagree. Their way of life and continued tenure in power depended on it.

The palace staff was overjoyed once Rose and Fandral returned to the castle, especially with the news that they had taken back the Kingdom and John was in a prison cell where he belonged.

The servants and staff eagerly presented them with a large chambers, ready for them, with fresh linens and flowers from the garden. The room was also chosen specifically since it overlooked the gardens. The gardens needed serious attention, but Rose welcomed that work to come, just like she was eager to work to restore the library.

But for tonight, Rose and Fandral were relaxing together in their victory. So when she came out of the washroom, in a long, sexy red nightgown, she wasn't surprised to see her husband ready with a bottle of fine wine from the cellar. He had shed his shirt, much to her delight.

"I can't believe we did it…" Rose said in awe, as they looked out the window at their sprawling Kingdom. There was much work to be done, but this was the start of what she felt would be a wonderful, happy life together.

"There were times it seemed impossible, but we did it, my angel," he said, as they toasted and enjoyed a glass of wine together. Rose rested her head against him, reflecting on everything they had been through.

"And this is just the beginning," he agreed, as he kissed her tenderly. Their passion became overwhelming and it was a surprise when he swept her into his arms, before carrying her to their new bed.

~*~

The next few weeks were a whirlwind of happenings and developments in their Kingdom. Preparations for Rose's official coronation ball were underway and complete renovations of the palace were being done. John had let everything fall into terrible disarray.

Rose split her time between the gardens and the library with her staff. The garden quickly flourished under her watchful care and the entire, vast library, though it took weeks, was clean and dusted. Organizing it was years of work ahead, but it was a task that Rose relished.

While she did that, Fandral had his own task of training and developing a strong military. Though John wasn't much of a threat, he knew better than most, that there would always be threats out there and they could come from unexpected places. He devoted his time to making sure their Kingdom would be protected from outside threats, as well as inside threats. And on that afternoon, he would walk in on a very real threat on the inside and see his beautiful wife handle it with the prowess of a true Queen.

"Your Majesty...I knew your parents well," the Duke said, gesturing to their portrait, which had been returned to its rightful place in the Throne room now that John's had been removed.

"And while what you are proposing is an amazing humanitarian effort, it will ultimately bankrupt the Kingdom," the Duke said. He bristled when he heard that. This man was talking down to his beloved and chiding her as if she was a naive child. He was about to interject with indignation, but wouldn't have to.

"You mean bankrupt your special interest projects that do little for the people and launder what should be charity money right back into your own pocket?" Rose asked, stunning him and the Duchess to speechlessness. Well...almost speechlessness.

"Your Majesty...surely you are not accusing us of such heinousness," the Duchess replied in aghast.

"Oh I don't know...if I were to have an audit done of your financials, would I find anything to back up my accusations?" Rose asked, silencing them further. He smirked, knowing that this silence spoke volumes. He came to stand beside her Throne and she looked up at him with a smile.

"You have a choice," she stated.

"Your considerable wealth is largely made up of the unfair taxation that was pressed upon them by my evil Uncle.

"What was unfairly taken from the people by all will be returned to them. You can choose to repent and actually serve the people in your posts or you can choose imprisonment," she said, stunning them.

"If you choose the former, know that you will be monitored closely by aides appointed by me personally to ensure there is no corruption," she continued.

"I remember enough about my parents to know that they would have never tolerated your treason. And probably would have just removed you. I am giving you a chance to be better. Capitulate or go to prison. Those are your generous choices, considering what you have done to the people under my Uncle's rule," she said sternly. Fandral smirked at the looks on their faces and he couldn't help but add to their misery.

"Kingdom of Andresia...our benevolent, wise, and beautiful Queen, Rose Red," he said reverently, as he bowed to her and kissed her hand.

"I think you can do better than to kiss your Queen's hand, my handsome warrior," she said. He pulled her into his arms and kissed her passionately and almost indecently in front of their captive audience. She smiled dreamily at him when their lips finally parted.

"Um...that will be all, Duke and Duchess," Rose said, as she dismissed them and her husband kissed her again.

"Well…I see you are taking quite well to your new Throne," a voice said, as the couple parted their lips and found a dark skinned woman before them, wearing a light blue shimmering gown.

"Are you…" Rose started to say. The woman smiled kindly.

"Your intuition serves you well, Rose Red. I am Hermes," she replied.

"We are honored to meet you, Goddess," Fandral said, as he bowed respectfully.

"Oh please...no bowing necessary, at least, not from my champions," Hermes said, as she waved her hand and they reappeared in the library.

"I know...it's in a sad state," Rose said nervously.

"That's not your fault and I see you've already had it cleaned. That in itself is an undertaking," Hermes said.

"I am very eager to make this library something to be proud of again," Rose replied. Hermes smiled.

"And I know that you will and that your love and commitment to each other will extend to your commitment to your duties to the library and your people. My niece is usually the one that champions true love and I champion knowledge. But it is good to know that my champions just happen to share a powerful true love as well," the Goddess explained.

"We will strive to bring prosperity to this Kingdom and due diligence to this library," Fandral promised. Hermes smiled.

"I know you will and I'll see you at your coronation, Your Majesties," she said.

"You're coming to the coronation?" Rose asked in surprise.

"Of course...and I'll be dropping by plenty from time to time," she promised. They smiled at her.

"We look forward to it," Fandral said, as Hermes disappeared.

"I shouldn't be surprised, you know," he said.

"Surprised by what, my love?" she asked.

"That a Goddess would choose you to champion. It makes perfect sense," he replied, as she looked down shyly. He caressed her cheek and kissed her tenderly. As their lips parted, he happened to look up and spotted a book on one of the shelves they were standing beside.

"Can it be?" he asked, as he picked up the book.

"What is it?" she asked.

"It's an Asgardian history book...yes, it's all here," he replied, as he flipped through it.

"It's a beautiful language...can you read it to me?" she asked.

"If you'd like," he replied. She nodded.

"I want to know everything. We haven't had much time, but now we do and I want to know it all," she said. He smiled.

"Well...then we better get started," he said, as took her hand and they made their way up to their chambers for the evening...

#Snowing #Snowing AU #Fandral the Dashing #Rose Red #Dashing Rose #Snowing parallel #romance #adventure #AU #Dashing Rose: A Finding You Always Vignette

[wait-for-the-snitch]

Avoidance

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read on ff.net a03

Ben faces Chewie face to face, and the Wookie has some choice words

Somehow, Ben thinks, he preferred to face the entirety of the Resistance over Chewbacca.

Not that it should have been that much of a surprise. His father’s partner is a terrifying creature, if opposed.

Not that Ben got on the wrong side of Chewie often. Sure, he would tease the Wookiee as a kid, and have Chewie growl loudly at him, but other than that, Chewie had always been a surrogate uncle to him. He had sat on the Wookiee’s lap as they flew through the Galaxy on his father’s various smuggling missions when he was younger.

And when he was older, and allowed to, he would sit as a co-pilot with the Wookiee. 

It’s some of the few good memories he has with his father. Back when he was still allowed to go on those trips. Later on, his father started leaving him behind.

He might not have been interested in smuggling, but he enjoyed the time that he spent with his father during those trips. But the lack of interest in smuggling meant Han thought Ben didn’t want to come anymore. And so, the trips stopped, and so did the bonding he had with his father and Chewie.

Somehow, despite being on the same base as the Wookiee, Ben’s managed to avoid him. Not that it’s that hard to do. It’s rather easy to tell when the Wookiee is coming down a corridor from the growling. No other Resistance member makes their presence known as Chewie does.

But what he wasn’t accounting for was for the Wookiee to corner him, in the canteen one day, between his training, and time spent in his room trying to avoid the Resistance members from judging him.

He’s sitting beside Rey and the pilot Dameron. Honestly, he’s shocked Poe is as forgiving as he is. Ben did torture him trying to find out about the map to lead to Luke. But he’s one of the first to approach Ben, not scared of what he can do, or what he has done, and offers his friendship.

Ben’s thankful for it, knowing he doesn’t deserve it, but grateful for it anyways. It’s clear the pilot is quite popular on the base, especially with the female population. And one of the few who seem resistant to his charms is Rey, which Ben is extremely grateful for. 

Not that he’d ever vocalize it, but it’s nice to know that she doesn’t feel the need to flirt back. They’re friends, and he knows if she wanted, she could date the man, or even see him casually if so inclined. But she doesn’t seem interested, and definitely doesn’t act the same way around him that she does with Ben.

It’s also why he’s so preoccupied that he doesn’t sense the Wookiee coming enough to leave before he gets here. He’s busy staring at Rey as she tries to apply the force to cut her apple with her knife. She has a delicacy to her that he can’t quite describe, and he feels like he could get lost, watching her.

And before he knew it, Chewie is at their table and sits down beside them. He gives Ben a look, and Ben knows he’s disappointed that Ben has been avoiding him for as long as he had.

His mother is too forgiving, and Ben thinks it’s the human in her, that’s compassionate and forgiving. Chewie on the other hand, has no reason to forgive him. Ben killed his partner, the man who was his family. He doesn’t deserve his forgiveness, even if it were offered.

Rey seems to sense the tension, and asks Poe if he wants to go talk to Finn about some mission they’re going on, which he isn’t invited to. He’s asked for information, but he’s not allowed to partake in any of their operations. Not that he expects anything else. He’s still a liability. And suddenly, Ben is left alone, with a Wookiee that may or may not want to kill him.

Chewie growls at him, and he can tell the Wookie is angry at him. Confused why Ben did what he did, hurt that he didn’t take his father’s offer. He could have just left. He didn’t need to have carried out the choice he did.

“I know it doesn’t mean much, but I am sorry,” Ben swallowed. “I was wrong. I was so wrong Chewie.”

Chewie growls again, “He loved you. He only wanted you to come home.”

“I was afraid,” Ben said, “I wanted to come home. I missed him so much. I missed going on trips with him and you. And I was afraid if I came home, he would shun me again.”

“You hated those trips,” Chewie growled at him. “You broke your father’s heart.” 

“I hated the smuggling,” Ben clarified, “I liked spending time with you and him. Instead, I got left with the droids while my parents were busy working.”

“Do you think that’s an excuse?” Chewie grunted.

“Of course not,” Ben agreed. “It’s not an excuse. Nothing excuses what I did. That I killed my father.” His voice broke, and he tried to stop himself from looking vulnerable. Not with all the Resistance Members trying to understand what was happening.

“All he wanted was for you to come home,” Chewie growled.

“I wish I had,” Ben said softly.

“He would have been proud of you,” Chewie grunted, after a moment. “You brought down Snoke. You’ve crippled the Resistance. And you fly well enough to make him proud.”

Ben swallowed deeply, trying to stop himself from breaking down. 

“I’m sorry, Chewie. I’m so sorry,” Ben said again.

“It’s okay, little one. Your father would be happy to know you got here in the end. We all know he was less than perfect. I could hardly fault you for the same thing,” Chewie grunted at him.

The conversation ended there, as Chewie focused his attention on his food. It still confused Ben how they were all so forgiving. So ready to accept him back into his life when he was undeserving of it. But somehow, they made him feel welcome back. 

He had taken them for granted before. Their love wasn’t explicit, but he sees know that it was there in the little things. Like how his mother always checked in on him before she went to bed. How his father tried to bring him back tokens from his trips. How his uncle pushed him so hard because he believed in Ben.

It would take some adjusting to, but maybe, just maybe, he would be okay.

#reylo #reylo ff #kylo ren redemption arc

[emmaspirate]

The Birds

A/N: As always, thank you to my betas, @o-u-a-timer​ and @lenfaz. True goddesses! We’re getting into it folks, hope you enjoy. You have no idea what’s coming!

Summary: Meet Emma Swan: mother, detective, and angel. She’s just trying to get through her eternal afterlife in one piece. Naturally the universe has other plans for her. When a murder occurs in the divine community, she must enlist the help of angels and demons alike to help crack the case. Enter Killian Jones, a mysterious demon who has every intention of making Emma’s life a living hell. Angel/Demon AU. 

A03

Chapter I/Chapter II/Chapter III/Chapter IV/Chapter V/Chapter VI

Chapter VI: Smiles Like a Fist

“Show me a hero and I’ll write you a tragedy,” - F. Scott Fitzgerald

So the crazy lady, Zelena, knew her name. She knew Emma’s name and apparently had come to the residence of murder victim, Lily Page, to see her. And if she was Regina’s sister, that meant she was old, and age meant power. So, the powerful, unhinged demon had come seeking her out.

Fantastic.

Fantastic and utterly predictable really, because she was Emma Swan. She was Emma Swan so of fucking course the powerful, unhinged demon had come for her. A unicorn could pop out of the closet and start singing folk music and she wouldn’t be surprised after everything she’d witnessed.

Hook clearly hadn’t gotten the “Emma Swan is a glutton for cruel and unusual punishment”, because he looked floored when Zelena said her name. “What do you mean you’re here for her?”

Zelena gave him a beautiful, if slightly crazed, smile. She peeled herself up off the floor, having fallen when Hook had used his dark mind magic on her. “I mean I’m here to see Emma. Size her up. You hear so much about her these days.”

Emma had had just enough of Zelena dancing around the topic. “Do you want to tell me the hell you’ve been hearing about me? Or do I need to make you?”

Zelena laughed; an airy, dainty noise that seemed at odds with her personality. “You really don’t know! My how far you’ve fallen! I supposed you can relearn all the tact you’ve clearly lost. He’ll be in for a shock, that’s for sure. You aren’t at all what he’s expecting.”

Something in Emma snapped, and with a growl and a wave of her hand Zelena had flown backwards and through the wall. Emma followed after the red-headed projectile, and stepped into the living room. “What who is expecting?” Emma asked as the demon stared at her, covered in drywall and plaster.

“Power is definitely there, although not as much as I’d have thought, given what I’ve heard.”

Emma vaguely registered her wings unfurling from her back as her hands began to glow with white-hot energy. Her gaze stayed fixed on Zelena as she moved closer. “Don’t test my patience; I don’t have much of it,” she rasped.

“I’d listen to her, Zelena. She can be quite nasty when she doesn’t get her way,” Hook chimed in. Emma chanced a glance behind her to find him leaning against the wall, calm and collected. The only part of him that wasn’t wearing that nonchalant mask were his eyes, which blazed with an excited fury. There was clearly a part of him that was enjoying seeing Emma like this.

Demons had different reactions to angel’s ethereal states. Most looked on them with a form of disgust, or disdain. There was also the ever present envy at that which they had lost. Very rarely, demons appeared to take some sort of satisfaction in the ethereal state. Some enjoyed a challenge, others simply appreciated the raw beauty and power that came from such a metamorphosis. It was as though it gave them a sort of high, an adrenaline rush.

As she watched Hook watching her, she sensed that satisfaction, that paradoxical high one can only get from being in proximity to something they hated. At the very least, he clearly approved of her knocking Zelena around a bit.

Smiling, Emma turned back to the woman in front of her. “Let’s try this again. Who sent you?” Emma growled.

Zelena laughed. “Sorry darling, I don’t make the rules. There’s a new chess piece on the board, and, unfortunately for you, he’s not ready to reveal his identity. Anyways, where’s the fun in that, when the game has  just started?” Then Zelena’s eyes flickered back to Hook. “From one pawn to another, I can’t wait to see who gets a checkmate first. Best protect your Queen, Darling, they’re coming for her head.”

Whatever Emma had been expecting, that wasn’t it. She’d been expecting a fight, an argument, some sort of clash, not for Zelena to play coy. So when a flash of dark magic filled the room, Emma did nothing to stop the demon from fleeing. One minute she was sitting in front of Emma, and with a flickering of the lights she was gone. Emma stared at the place she’d been, dumbfounded, for what felt like hours.

Hook’s voice pulled her out of her reverie.

“Swan, they’re gone. They’re all gone,” he called, voice sounding distant and panicked.

Emma turned towards him in a daze. “What’s gone?” "The pictures."

“What do you mean she escaped?” Regina bellowed, and Emma fought the urge to roll her eyes.

Luckily, Hook was speaking, and so she was saved from saying something she’d probably regret. “She didn’t really escape, seeing as how she was never really prisoner, if we want to get technical.”

Regina threw her arms up in exasperation. “Yes, you morons let my psychotic half-sister get away, but sure, let’s get technical.”

The lights surged as Emma turned her attention to the female demon. “Oh cry me a freaking river, Regina! Yeah, she escaped, I messed up, I’m well aware of how much a fuck-up I am. Could you please not remind me? As far as I can tell, all you’ve been doing is sitting on your ass while the rest of us try and find a killer.”

“Sitting on my ass? Don’t forgot who sent you on the path to identifying Lily Page. Without me, you and your pretty-boy brother would still be wandering around in circles,” Regina’s voice had shifted into a growl.

Emma didn’t even know why they’d come here. Hook hadn’t wanted to, saying that he preferred to stay as far away from the Queen as possible, but she had insisted. Why had she insisted?

“Sorry we’re late, the rain held us up,” Emma heard her brother’s voice call as he and Mary Margaret entered the room.

That’s why she’d insisted, because she thought they could all meet up. The station was too busy during the day to discuss things like this. She also figured she shouldn’t announce to all of Boston PD that she was basically suspect number one.

Although at this point, it seemed like a better alternative.

“Speak of the devil,” Regina interjected, voice morphing into a purr. She seemed amused with herself as she went to sit at her desk.

Mary Margaret flinched visibly when she took in the speaking demon. Emma’s best friend and Regina Mills had never really gotten along, which, quite frankly, made sense given how opposite they were. Still, Mary Margaret did was she always does, and threw a smile on her face, even if Emma could see how forced it was. “What did we miss?”

Emma opened her mouth, but Hook interrupted her, saying, “The rain held you up?” It sounded like it was the most implausible thing in the world when he said the words.

“Yes?” David replied hesitantly. She could tell her brother was still wary of the demon, which made her a little proud if she was being honest. Wariness meant that he wasn’t being attracted to the darkness within the two fallen angels.

Hook was off in his own little world with that piece of information. “It wasn’t supposed to rain today,” he muttered, clearly not talking to anyone in the room.

Emma waited for him to elaborate, but he simply took a seat in on Regina’s couch and looked perplexed. “Anyways,” Emma began, not really knowing where to start. “We went to Lily’s,” she offered.

David’s eyes flickered from Hook over to her, his interest clearly piqued. “Did you find anything?”

That drew Hook out of his stupor. “Oh, Mate, did we ever,” Hook laughed.

Emma wanted to hit him upside the head at how gleeful he sounded. The entire car ride home he’d been cracking jokes and innuendos about the entire situation as though it wasn’t the end of her world. She knew he was just trying to make her feel better, or he was just completely incapable of taking a situation seriously. Regardless, some of the comments had made her smile (“if anything we can frame the superintendent!”, “we can’t do that”, “why not?”, “it’s illegal”, “you’re no fun and he’s still my prime suspect), but now was not the time. “It seems that, for the past ten years or so, Lily has been stalking me.”

David started. “She stalked you?”

“She had hundreds photos of me plastered on a wall in her apartment. You all made appearances in a few as well.”

David looped his thumb through the belt band on his jeans, and began to gesticulate in the air with the other. It was his cop pose, and he was using it on her. “You’re sure? And you swear you had no contact with her after foster care.”

Emma sighed. “Not that I can remember. I promise, David.” She needed him to believe her, his opinion was everything. She was pretty sure if he didn’t, she’d have a complete and total mental breakdown in Regina’s office.

David nodded. “Where are the photos?” There was something in his voice that Emma couldn’t quite figure out.

“They’re gone.”

David sagged visibly, and at first she thought it was disappointment, but, no, that wasn’t it. It was relief. She’d misinterpreted that pose earlier, that wasn’t his cop pose, that was his big brother pose. In her defense, they were very similar, you could only tell by his eyes which one he was executing. One said no one messes with me, the other said no one messes with you. “That’s good,” he whispered so lowly she knew that he’d forgotten everyone else in the room had heightened senses.

Emma’s heart plummeted at his words. She should’ve known, and, deep down, she probably did, that David would give up everything to for her. His money, his time, his job, his morality, his life…

His light.

And she was certain she was literally the worst angel ever, because she’d caused her own brother, her good brother, to consider choosing darkness over light. It was almost comical how bad she was at the one job she was eternally committed to. Good job, Emma Swan.

“No, that’s bad,” Emma stated firmly, as though she was chastising Henry.

She received confirmation that David hadn’t realized they’d heard him when his ears pinkened. “I just meant that it’s good that we don’t have any evidence that might incriminate you.”

Emma pressed a finger against her temple. The part of her that was fiercely dedicated to her own self-preservation, to not going back to jail, was telling her to nod and drop it. The angelic part of her was telling her to make her brother see the light if she had to shove his face in it. Then there was the part of her that wanted her brother to know that she wanted him to take care of himself, that he couldn’t destroy himself trying to save her.

That part of her always won.

“But we do have evidence to incriminate me, and that means that you have to take me in.” Emma held out her wrists for the cuffs and did her best to suppress the bile rising her throat because of the dejavu that was occurring. “It’s your job and that’s okay,” she tried to smile at him, but it probably came off as a grimace.

“Okay, let’s calm down for a second. I’m sure there’s another option here,” Mary Margaret, ever the optimist, supplied.

“I agree with the bird,” Killian smirked as he stood up from the couch. Mary Margaret shot him a withering look but he continued. “You’re being an idiot, Swan,”

Mary Margaret looked affronted. “I didn’t say that.”

“Aye, but you meant it. We’re all thinking it.” Emma saw Regina nod out of the corner of her eye. “Martyring yourself, while in character for an angel, is about the dumbest idea you’ve had.”

Emma felt genuine anger bubbling up inside her, anger that she didn’t quite recognize. There was the familiar brand of annoyance she felt whenever Hook opened his mouth, but there was something else. “Don’t speak to me like that. He needs to turn me in, it’s the right thing to do.”

Hook gave her a cold smile. “You lot and your obsession with doing the right thing. What does that even mean; the right thing? There’s lots of ways to build a boat, Swan, but I don’t think there’s a right one.”

Emma cocked her head. “Pretty sure there is. He’s a cop, it’s his civic duty to turn me in when I’ve done something wrong.” Out of the corner of her eye, she saw David flinch, and Mary Margaret took his hand in her own. She knew her brother was probably uncomfortable with the way the conversation was going, but she turned her attention back to Hook.

The demon raised an eyebrow. “But you haven’t done anything wrong.”

“You don’t know that,” Emma fired back instinctively. How many times would she deny that he knew anything about her? Until she believed it?

Hook rolled his eyes like he was addressing a fussy child. “Yes I do. Now stop being so utterly ridiculous. He’s not taking you to jail.”

She hadn’t realized they were slowly circling one another until she was planted in front of David and Mary Margaret. His dismissal of her concern caused whatever rage was brewing to spill over. “Why are you trying to corrupt him?” she yelled. Emma noticed Mary Margaret shift so that she was in front of David, blocking him from the conversation that was quickly going south.

That, finally, caught him off guard. “What?” He sounded genuinely confused at her question, like it was the most out of place thing he’d ever heard.

Emma’s voice came out in such a ferocious tone she didn’t recognize it as her own. “He’s not becoming dark, I’ll see to it.” It didn’t sound like she was trying to convince Hook. Across the room, Regina took a step backwards, eyebrows raised in surprise at Emma’s anger.

Hook shook his head exasperatedly. “What are you saying, do you hear yourself? That’s not what this is about.”

Emma’s anger calmed slightly at his seemingly genuine confusion. “Then what is it about?’

The demon threw his arms up, fed up with the back and forth. “This is about punishing the right person. Angels are all about right and wrong, don’t you think we should take this slow? Make sure we catch who really did this? Isn’t that what’s most helpful to your brother’s morality, rather than having him make a hasty decision because you’re scared.”

He had her right up until his last two words. Her anger returned and she bellowed, “I’m not scared! Why are you so concerned with keeping me out of jail?”

“Because you’re more useful to us out here then you are in there,” he shouted. It was a half-assed reason that he’d clearly come up with on the spot, and she could see him thinking about it two seconds after he said it. He seemed satisfied though, because he gave her a self-assured nod and stared her down.

Emma felt her body deflate as all of her anger seemingly evaporated. She knew there was more to it then he was letting on, but she finally understood how irrationally upset she was getting. She had thought he was challenging her, trying to pull her brother to the dark side. It had been instinctual, some long buried reflex, and now that the sensible part of her brain had kicked back into gear, she felt kind of bad. She still wasn’t convinced that David turning her in wasn’t the right thing to do, but she figured it may be useful to have her aiding them for a bit longer. “Fine,” she sighed.

“Fine?’ Hook asked, surprised.

“Fine,” she affirmed as she took her turn sitting on the couch.

Regina was the one who broke the awkward silence that ensued in the moments after, not that she made it any less awkward. “Well, now that you two are done having your lover’s quarrel,” David made a move to say something at Regina’s words, but Mary Margaret placed a hand on his arm. “Perhaps we can all discuss what to do next like adults.”

Mary Margaret rolled her eyes and moved to sit next to Emma. “By all means, Your Majesty, why don’t you tell us what you had in mind.” Mary Margaret took Emma’s hand and gave it a light squeeze, and the blonde placed her head on her friend’s shoulder.

“Well, Flower Child, my sister said she was working for someone. I think we can all guess who it is.”

“Arthur,” Hook muttered sourly at the same time as David said, “I didn’t know you had a sister.”

Regina shot David a glare. “Forgive me for not mentioning my crazy half-sister when you and I were braiding each other’s hair at girl’s night.”

Emma’s brother crossed his arms over his chest and sighed. “Well where is she? I’m sure we can get some information out of her.”

“I let her get away,” Emma supplied, lifting her head up. “I wasn’t ready and she slipped away through the darkness.”

David’s eyebrows furrowed. “How does that work? How do angels and demons even square off if you all can just run away anytime you feel like it?”

Emma was beginning to feel exhaustion creeping back into her bones, even though she’d just rested last night. Apparently it hadn’t been enough. She was pretty sure after this whole ordeal was over she’d sleep for months. A week had already left her wiped.

Perhaps sensing her exhaustion, Hook answered her brother’s question. “It’s a bit complex, mate. When we’re fighting, our magic sort of neutralizes one another. Say Swan and I were going at it,” Hook winked at the innuendo. “Her magic would wrap around my dark aura, if you will, and block it. Mine would do the same to hers. We can still teleport a few feet, but not long distances, so our fights end up looking like a game of tag as we move back and forth.”

David scoffed. “I don’t know how you managed to make it sound so dirty, but I think I get it. So, because Emma wasn’t ready she wasn’t blocking Regina’s sister?”

“Exactly. When we’re engaged in a fight, neither of us is going to let up on the block we’ve made because it would give the other person the chance to escape, or show weakness.”

“So how does it end?”

Hook paused, his eyes flickering over to Emma, asking her if it was okay to continue. She nodded. “Most of the time, one of us dies.”

David swallowed visibly. “Got it,” he whispered softly.

Mary Margaret moved to his side and began to rub his shoulder reassuringly. “It’s not going to come to that, no one is dying.”

Regina clapped her hands together. “The hippie is right, no one’s dying. We just need to figure out our next move.”

Hook, who had slowly been making his way over towards Emma since he’d last spoken, chimed in. “I should think it was obvious. Zelena said their was a new player in the game, but that he wasn’t ready to reveal himself. It’s probably a safe assumption that the ‘he’ she was referring to is Arthur.” He perched himself on top of the armrest of the sofa Emma was sitting on as he spoke. Hook’s voice turned into a snarl when he said the man’s name, and she got the impression there was some tension between the two.

“We can’t know that for sure,” Mary Margaret replied.

Regina began to pace slowly. “No, we can’t, but it’s the best bet we’ve got.”

Emma sighed. She really didn’t care, but she figured it’d be important to know later, and so she asked, “Who’s Arthur?”

Three pairs of eyes looked to her in disbelief. Only David stared at her like it was a valid question, seeing as how he was probably just as confused as she was.

“You don’t know who Arthur is?” Regina asked, and at any other time, her shock would amuse Emma.

“Does Arthur have a last name?” Emma tried to keep the frustration out of her voice, but she knew she was failing. It felt as though every nerve in her body was exposed. She wasn’t unconvinced that if someone breathed the wrong way, it might set her off.

Mary Margaret was also seemingly off put by Emma’s apparent lack of knowledge. “Arthur, as in the Arthur; ruler of demons, keeper of law and order -”

“Complete and total sociopath,” Hook muttered from beside her.

Sensing the fact that Emma still had no idea who they were talking about, Regina let out an aggravated sigh. “Do you live under a rock? Even Ms. ‘I sleep in the woods and talk to birds’ knows who Arthur is.”

Emma’s best friend shot Regina a glare. “We should keep in mind that Emma is significantly younger than all of us. She hasn’t been at this for very long, we need to cut her some slack.”

Before Emma could cut in, Regina was speaking again. “Fine. Hook, care to get Ms. Swan up to speed? Seeing as how you were around when Arthur rose to power.”

Hook didn’t even spare Regina a sideways glance, attention completely on the woman at his side. “Are you familiar with the Knights of the Round Table?”

Emma nodded absentmindedly. “Sure, I saw Sword in the Stone when I was a kid.” Hook stared at her, waiting for her to catch on. After an embarrassingly long time, she finally did. “Wait, that’s who you’re talking about? The guy who pulled Excalibur from the rock? King Arthur?”

Hook rolled his eyes. “The details of the Excalibur business have been greatly exaggerated by the man himself. But, yes, Arthur, King Arthur, Supreme Overlord Arthur, he has a penchant for titles, not unlike Her Majesty,” Hook winked and Emma allowed him a smile. “Whatever he’s calling himself these days, is now the ruler of all of the demon population.”

Emma paused and let that sink in. That was one hell, no pun intended, of a position. “What does that mean exactly? Ruler of the demons?”

Hook sighed. “Nothing really; it’s mostly an excuse for him to surround himself with riches and hole himself up in his palace. However, if there’s a serious crime that’s been committed in our community, he steps in to inflict punishment. He’ll occasionally butt in if he thinks that one faction of demons has grown too large and eliminate a few of them. He’s also quite corrupt,”

Emma’s brother laughed. “He’s a demon, isn’t that to be expected?”

“We may be an immoral bunch, but we have a code and a certain brand of integrity. We were all angels once too, and if we’ve retained nothing else, we’ve kept that sense of pride.” Hook paused and Emma saw Regina nod out of the corner of her eye. “Arthur is different. If he thinks you’re powerful, he expects you to play by his rules. Not to mention that, not only can his favor be easily bought, but he expects you to do so. It’s amazing the levels that man will stoop to. Unfortunately, his presence is somewhat necessary, because otherwise we’d all be running amuck. Demons lack the ability to police themselves the way angels do I’m afraid.”

Hook smiled at Emma and damn him if he wasn’t charming as hell. “All that’s fine, but what would he want with me?”

Hook paused and cocked his head. “Probably has something to do with the rain.”

“What?”  

The demon smirked. “When you came to New York to question me, it was raining. It wasn’t supposed to rain that day. It wasn’t supposed to rain today either. You’re doing it.”

Emma stared at him blankly, still lost. “I’m doing what?”

“You’re causing the rain.”

Mary Margaret piped in with “Is that even possible?”

Hook’s eyes did not leave Emma’s face. “I’ve seen it a handful of times, usually in angels much older than you. It requires a great deal of power, and I’m not sure I’ve ever seen someone do it unconsciously.”

Emma crossed her arms in front of her. “It’s probably just a coincidence,” she muttered.

Eyes still on her, Hook shrugged. “Maybe.”

It all happened very quickly after that. One minute Hook was staring at her and the next his hand was extended towards David, and her brother was gasping for air. It took her a millisecond to process that the demon was choking David.

She was on him a moment later.

The lights surged so brightly, Regina had to shield her eyes. Emma grabbed Hook by the lapels of his jacket and threw him against a marble pillar with so much force that there was a sizable crack. She heard the windows shatter, but she didn’t take her focus off Hook. “Don’t touch him,” she screamed.

She was literally about to end his existence, when Mary Margaret’s voice called her back down to earth. “Emma,” her friend screamed.

Emma looked towards her distress, only to find that her friend was staring at the ground under Emma. The angel looked down and saw one long scorch mark that extended past her in Hook’s direction. “What happened?” she muttered. She looked back towards the windows and realized that all the glass had broken. It wasn’t uncommon for that to happen; when ethereal beings fought, a lot of energy was generated. What was weird about this though was that the glass was on the inside of the building. Normally, it fell on the outside, as the force made pushed everything out and away from whatever creature it was coming from. This made it seem like she’d been pulling something towards her, like something wanted in.

“You were just proving my point,” Hook replied, entirely too smug given that he was laid out across the floor.

Emma started towards him, but Mary Margaret held her back. “Emma, Emma stop!”

The blonde gestured wildly at Hook, who was standing. “He almost killed David.”

Mary Margaret closed her eyes as though she were on the verge of losing it too. “Don’t worry, I intend to address that later.” She shot a pointed look at Hook over her shoulder. Turning her attention back to Emma she asked, “Do you know what happened?”

“I knocked Hook on his ass.”

Mary Margaret shook her head. “Emma the thunder was so loud it broke the windows. Lightning struck at your feet.”

Emma looked back at the scorch marks, dumbfounded. “Lightning?”

Apparently Hook had no sense of self-preservation, because he spoke up. “I was right. It was you controlling the weather,” he said as he smirked at her.

Emma shoved past her friend and got in the demon’s face. “Don’t go near my brother again.” Her voice was not a yell this time, it was a growl.

The smile slowly dropped from his face as he took in the magnitude of her anger. “Swan, I wasn’t actually going to hurt him.” His voice was low, soft. He was speaking only to her.

She backed up, unwilling to relent. “You really think I’d trust you? A demon?”

Hook stared at her, seemingly hurt and confused. He clearly could not grasp why his actions had made her so upset. She guessed it had something to do with the fact that he’d probably lost any and all ability to care for another soul. Hundreds of years looking out for only yourself will do that.

“I’m billing you for the damage to my office,” Regina called, breaking the silence.

Emma huffed and turned away from Hook. “Can we please figure out what we’re doing next?”

The male demon cleared his throat and answered her question. “It seems that there’s only one option.”

Emma did not look at him. “And what’s that?”

“We need to go see Arthur.”

Emma pulled her coat a little tighter around her body. Not for the reasons a woman normally pulls her coat a little tighter around her body, mind you, but because it was January in New York City. The cold didn’t really bother her all that much, but she figured she should at least give the illusion of being human. The shift dress and go-go boots she was wearing didn’t provide much in the way of warmth, and her peacoat was laughably unsuited for the weather. She tucked a piece of her blonde bob behind her ear and continued down the road. It wasn’t a far walk from the Church to her tiny apartment uptown, and she was looking forward to having a good, hard sleep after the day she’d had.

It’s amazing how quickly things can go to hell in a few short blocks.

She felt it before she heard it, a shift in the air that could only mean trouble. She sensed a dark force taint the space around her, and it wasn’t long before a piercing scream had her sprinting towards an alley. She couldn’t see anyone else on the street, and when the screaming stopped the only sound that could be heard were her heels hitting the pavement as she ran.

The scene that greeted her when she finally reached the source of the commotion was as horrific as to be expected. A woman, probably a prostitute given the way she was dressed, had been stabbed several times and left to die in the snow. Her shallow breathing was the only indication that she was still alive. Next to her, a young boy, perhaps six or seven, was clutching her hand and sobbing quietly.

Emma approached the pair cautiously, and when the boy caught sight of her, he looked up with frightened eyes. She could see he was debating on whether or not he should run, but he continued to hold onto his mother for dear life, unwilling to leave her side.

She knew she shouldn’t intervene; it weakened her and using her powers pushed her further down a dark path. She was walking a fine line as it was, and it was slowly beginning to dawn on her that she was most likely going to end up repeating past mistakes.

But she couldn’t let this boy watch his mother die.

Emma pulled off her gloves and kneeled down beside the dying woman. Flexing her fingers, she felt light magic begin to flood her body and emit from her hands. Death wanted the mortal in front of her, but Emma was nothing if not determined, and she wouldn’t let it take her. Having as much power as Emma did came with a few perks; holding death at bay being a major one.

The angel and the boy watched as the woman’s wounds slowly closed up and her breathing returned to normal. She was still unconscious, but all that would be left as a reminder of her ordeal was the blood still staining the pavement. She’d have no recollection of what had happened to her, only that she’d passed out.

Her son was a different story.

Emma looked at over at the boy who was staring her with unhindered wonder. She almost wanted to smile at the pure amazement that was slowly overtaking his features. She’d always had a soft spot for children; they were so untainted by the tragedy of the world, and they believed without fear of disappointment. That was the ultimate pain of her current state; she could never have children. Humans could never know the secret of the divine creatures that stood beside them. The truth had to be protected.

She raised a finger to her lips, a silent warning that no one could know what had happened here.

When the boy mimicked her actions, Emma smiled.

Emma shot up, gasping for breath. She squeezed her eyes shut in an attempt to expel the images that were haunting her head. Her dream had that same memory like quality as the one she’d experienced a few nights ago. That wasn’t possible though; the time periods were centuries apart if not more.

There was something else too; the boy in her dream had seemed so damn familiar. When he’d done the shushing movement a feeling not unlike dejavu had come over her. She’d seen it before, she’d seen it recently.

The homeless man in New York.

He’d seemed so excited to see her, it was as if he’d recognized her, and, apparently, he had. Will had seen him too, so he wasn’t an apparition. He was a real person, and they’d met before. She just had absolutely no recollection of it.

It wasn’t until that moment that Emma realized that something was amiss. She distinctly remembered coming home and falling asleep. It had only been four in the afternoon when she’d gotten back to her house, but the exhaustion had hit her like a freight train. She was certain that Henry would be worried about her, but she’d make up some excuse and he’d be fine. That’s what she’d told herself when she crawled into bed.

Except she wasn’t in bed, she was on her couch in the living room. She had no memory of moving, and as she looked down she realized that she was covered in dirt and that her clothes were tattered. “What the hell?” she muttered as she stood up to further examine herself.

If she were human she would’ve missed it entirely; the room was pitch black and without her superhuman vision she wouldn’t have been able to see. She wouldn’t have been able to see the message written on the wall behind the couch. She wouldn’t have been able to see that it was written in a bright scarlet substance. She wouldn’t have been able to see that the substance was the same color as her hands, which were stained red. She wouldn’t have been able to see the words that sent her stomach dropping towards the floor.

“Nesir Sah Roivas Eht.”

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[exhaustedfander]

First Comes Love: Epilog

a03 link

1  / 2 / 3 / 4 / 5 / 6 / 7 / 8 / 9 / 10 / 11 / 12 / epilog

word count: 1,898

“Is that the last of the boxes?” Logan asked, leaning against the wall. Remus scoffed from where he was on the floor, opening a box of cups and plates.

“Hell no. There’s still a fuck-ton in the truck; go on lazy bones, get going.” Logan shook his head, sending Remus a teasing glare.

“Is that a very nice attitude to have with your husband?” He asked, knowing it made Remus’s heart skip a beat every time he said it. Even after being married for a few months, the word ‘husband’ threw him like nothing else.

“C’mon, Dragonfly.” Logan sighed, though more out of fondness than exhaustion.

“Fine, but only to get you to shut your mouth,” Logan said, opening the door and heading back to the moving truck.

“Hey! Who’s being mean now?” Remus called, but Logan was already outside.

In actuality, Remus knew there was no way they were going to manage to fully unpack, at least not tonight. But they’d do the essentials, and likely order pizza after being too tired to make dinner.

They’d been looking for houses the moment they were engaged, eager to have a bit more space for whatever – or whoever– came into their lives in the future. Finally, Remus had an office where he could write in peace and fill it with as much horror memorabilia as he wished without cluttering their shared space with posters and action figures. Remus’s latest novel was a best-seller, which certainly helped cement the fact that purchasing a house was exactly what they wanted to do.

Remus looked around the still fairly empty living room, aside from a few pieces of furniture, knowing it would soon be filled with clutter and liveliness. It was homey, really, genuinely homey. He’d always thought people were being dramatic when they walked into a house and said they just knew it was perfect for them, but that was exactly how he’d felt the moment he’d walked in. He could see himself living in it instantly, could see Logan with him, and somewhere down the line, kids.

The house wasn’t huge, but it was nice, and it felt right, and there was even space to put in a garden in the backyard. Remus couldn’t believe he was considering taking up gardening of all things; he’d sworn to himself he wouldn’t ever become so painfully domestic and cliché, but he couldn’t make good on that promise.

He thought back to the years before Logan when he and Roman were apart and he felt like he was alone and scattered to the wind. It was almost impossible to contemplate now, having been surrounded by so much love, unlike what he thought he’d ever be able to receive.  

Remus could hardly recognize his past. The man he’d been lived on in memories, but they were fading more with each passing day. Remus didn’t necessarily like to consider his life before Logan a blur. There were certain people he’d considered friends at the time, and accomplishments he was at least a little proud of, but all of that paled in comparison to what he had now.

“Are you alright?” Remus peaked up from the box he’d been staring absently into, seeing Logan standing beside him with a look of concern in his eyes.

“I’m fine. Great. Like, really, really great,” Remus announced a dopey grin on his face.

“If you’re so ‘great’, then why have you stopped helping me? You were just chastising me a moment ago,” Logan said, before pausing, a concerned look creeping onto his face. “Remus, what’s the matter?”

“Absolutely nothing,” Remus said, offering Logan’s extended hand and making it to his feet, “I’m just feeling particularly sappy right about now. Have I told you how beautiful you look today?” Logan chuckled lightly.

“I’m wearing a stained T-shirt, my hair’s a mess, frankly we’re both quite a mess.”

“And yet you’re still the prettiest thing I ever did see,” Remus said with a smile, wrapping his arms around Logan and pulling him close.

“I could say the same about you,” Logan said, pressing a kiss to his husband’s lips before pulling back, “Now, why don’t you help me finish unpacking some more, and then we can both be as sappy as you’d like. After all, you were just complaining about my lack of intuitive.”

“Sure,” Remus agreed, “Yeah, okay. That sounds good.”

The couple takes in several more boxes, unpacking a while longer, and set up the TV before settling down on the couch and ordering some pizza. The days ahead would include a fair amount more of unpacking, but for now, they were content with the work they’d done (and too tired for much more).

“Still feeling particularly sappy, are we?” Logan asked once they’d finished their dinner and were sitting together watching a film neither of them were paying too much attention to. Remus blinked; unaware he’d been staring.

“Yeah, I guess so,” Remus said, grabbing Logan’s hand and lacing their fingers together, “How can I not? I mean, look at you.”

“What’re you up to, Mr. Knightly-Sanders?” Logan asked, his voice light and teasing, though there was a hint of suspicion that made itself present. Remus pressed his free hand to his chest, gasping like a dramatic starlet.

“I can’t believe you! I’m complimenting you, and profess my boundless, unyielding love for you,” Remus paused to press a drawn-out, slow but passionate kiss to Logan’s lips, “And you doubt my intentions?”

“I doubt your intentions when you get that look in your eyes,” Logan said pointedly.

“A look? Whatever do you mean?” Remus asked batting his eyelashes.

“Remus.”

“Okay, fine. I’ll just go ahead and ask.”

“By all means,” Logan said, “What is it that you wanted to discuss?”

“Can we get a dog?” Remus asked, his eyes almost comically wide, “Pretty, pretty please?” Logan sighed.

“We just started moving into the house today. Life is fairly hectic at the moment.”

“We don’t have to get one tomorrow,” Remus pointed out, “Just soon. C’mon, Dragonfly, we talked about getting a pet before.” Logan nodded.

“Yes, I suppose you’re right.”

“And we could train them to be a watchdog! Wouldn’t that be the coolest! Can we get one Logan, please!”

“…Maybe.” Remus grinned widely, climbing into his husband’s lap and kissing him senseless (Remus knew that ‘maybe’ was a surefire yes. Within a few weeks, they’d have brought home their rescue German Shepard, Duke, who Logan became incredibly fond of almost immediately).

Once their movie had finished and the pair still sat together in a tangle of limbs on the couch, Logan spoke up.

“What’re you thinking about?”

“Huh?” Remus asked, peaking up from where he’d been lying on Logan’s shoulder.

“You’ve been quiet. What’s on your mind?” Remus smiled, snuggling back into Logan’s side and laying his head back on his husband’s shoulder.

“Absolutely everything. How much I love you, and how fucking happy I am being with you, and how right this house feels. I didn’t think I was the type to get such a domestic happy ending… did you ever think this would be you? Married, a house, sappy as all fuck?” Remus already knew the answer, but he couldn’t help but ask.

“No,” Logan said, running a hand through Remus’s frazzled hair, “No, not at all. I didn’t have any kind of expectations like this for my life. And yet here we are, and I can’t be more pleased with how things have turned out. I love you too, my dear, more than anything.”

“Remember when you claimed you were ‘emotionless’? That wasn’t that long ago.”

“Claimed? I don’t know what you mean. I’ve never felt a single emotion in all my life.” Remus laughed, loud and unabashedly happy, weighed down only slightly from exhaustion.

“Oh, how silly of me to forget. I’m married to a robot.” Logan hummed, laughing lightly as he pressed a kiss into Remus’s hair. “A robot with a fantastic ass.”

“As I am a robot who feels absolutely nothing, that statement means nothing to me.”

“Oh yeah?” Remus asked, a teasing infliction infiltrating his voice. “So you don’t feel anything when I tell you you’re the smartest, most beautiful, most incredible, best robot husband in the world and that I love you more than anything?”

“Of course, not,” Logan lied through his teeth, though he couldn’t suppress the smile be broke out into when Remus kissed him. Remus smiled, yawning as he leaned against Logan. “Tired?”

“Mhmm. You’re comfy.”

“Our bed will be far more comfortable than my shoulder.”

“Maybe,” Remus said, already beginning to shut his eyes.

“I refuse to sleep on the couch in our first night in this house,” Logan said, moving Remus off of him and making it to his feet. Remus whined at the loss of contact before Logan grabbed his hand and helped him up.

“Come on, we’ve got a lot more unpacking tomorrow. We need to rest.” Remus let out another groan before allowing Logan to lead him out of the living room and start getting ready for bed.

Within minutes, Remus was back in the security of Logan’s embrace, lying in their darkened bedroom beginning to drift off.

Some level of unfamiliarity still buzzed in the air. Sleeping for the first night in a new place is always an odd experience, even if it’s somewhere you want to be. But Remus knew that soon the familiarity and comfort of their apartment would be replaced with this house, and all of the new memories they were sure to make.

As he clung tightly to his husband, Remus pondered all that had led up to this moment, and all that lay ahead. He wasn’t usually the type to have grant expectations for how life would turn out. For so long, he’d had so little left to hold on to. Hope was a fleeting thing; and yet now, Remus couldn’t help but look forward to what the future had in store.

He thought of what life would be like with Logan from here on out, married, tending a house together, soon owning a dog, and somewhere down the line, adopting children. Remus had been so sure for so long that such a future lived on only in the minds of the delusional, but here he found himself, hoping for those very things.

Less than two years ago, Remus had been at a point where he had so few people to turn to and nothing that particularly excited him in life, and now he had Logan, his brother, and the wonderful friends he’d made.

Soon, he’d be walking Roman down the aisle just like his twin had done for him, seeing him marry his emo nightmare and get his very own fairytale ending. And if his suspicions were correct – and they most certainly were; he’d caught Patton browsing Jeweler websites – Patton and Janus would soon be engaged too.

Remus drifted to sleep, lying against Logan’s chest and whispering a final exhausted declaration of love before being greeted with unconsciousness.

And in the morning, when the sunlight shone through the window, illuminating the half-furnished bedroom with boxes on the floor in all its glory and he saw Logan, hair ruffled from sleep and eyes bleary, he’d feel just the same he did the morning he decided he wanted to marry him.

 The End

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