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dashofmonsters · 2 years

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The Long Road- Pt. 10

Male Naga x F!Reader

"So what you're saying is that elementalist are possessed by spirits that give them their abilities but no one ever knows what sort of spirit they'll get? And on top of that there's the transforming thing?" you ask your aunt after she goes a bit more in depth about elemental spirits.

Kat nods her head, "If it's any consolation mine is a nymph and it hates me. Won't help me and ever so often it likes to cause random semi-transformations. Ever gone a month with your good hand as a branch? Be happy that you got an ifrit, they're easier to maintain a healthier relationship with than nymphs."

Just as she crosses her arms small little sticks and thorns start to protrude through her hair. She makes serveral obscene comments and snaps a couple sticks off before excusing herself to hash things out with her spirit.

You lay back down in bed, feeling a mix of things when you start feeling a pang of heat in your chest. It's hotter than normal but it doesn't bother you.

"Are you trying to talk to me or something?" you ask, thinking your ifrit-spirit-whatever-it-is will hear you even though you don't think it'll respond.

The heat starts fluctuating to the point that it's uncomfortable for you to stay still. You squirm in bed till you're forced to sit up and make a courageous walk to the mirror in the far corner of the room. Isa had banned you from getting up unless you have to and right now, you really need to.

Cold and chilly, the floor offered a nice anchorage to keep yourself in check while you observe yourself in the mirror. The changes from the semi-transformation have worn off for the most part but the sclera was still red and the lines on your palms glow dimly like a distant wild fire.

It's not so bad, you think. The red is a bit jarring but the glowing lines are pretty. At just the thought of that the heat in your chest flutters a bit. You keep looking at yourself for any other changes and you find quite a few that you're sure weren't there before and one missing. Your sclera is white again but now your eyes are lined with a deep rich red. You look down your dress and see cracks of light speckling your chest. Scars you've earned as a rowdy child now glow like a crackling fire.

All these changes are so amazing and pretty and-

You make a strangled gasp when you realize what's happening. You had thought the redness of your eyes was strange and a bit scary and before you knew it the semi-transformations turned into a more cosmetic look on you.

"Ok... ok... ok... So uh... oh this is crazy but um ifrit spirit thing inside me, are you uh doing all this?" you ask.

A snuggly warmth is your answer.

"Um it's very pretty... thank you," you add.

The warmth flutters in your chest before seeping into your bones. For the first time since you got your powers you feel an overwhelming calmness. All the aches and pains you've been feeling from the exhaustion seem to dissipate in a matter of seconds and the slight rawness of your throat is gone.

You move around a little then some more then decide to try your luck and tiptoe out the room. You're met with a very crossed Isa at the top of the stairs, her arms folded.

"Is there an emergency?" she raises a brow then gives you a confused look. "What happened to you? Your eyes were red last I checked and these glowing lines are new..."

She gets closer and closer and the calming heat in your chest stirs to an uncomfortable sweating heat. Your guess is as good as anyone's at this point but you take it that Isa is making your spirit buddy nervous.

"I uh quite like these changes," you click and look down at your hands. "They're harmless and I think they're pretty."

The heat starts going back down and flutters a bit as if happy.

Isa raises a brow and before she can speak the sound of a crash can be heard from outside. You both make a mad dash towards the front door though she tries to keep you inside but it's futile. You easily jump over and dodge her tail, feeling better than ever.

You round the estate before she can and see a lump of webbing, branches, and your father. He's huffing and gruffing as he tries to stand, but the spider silk is tangled to his limbs and it keep getting caught of the branches.

"Oh for the love of the gods..." Isa hisses once she finally catches up. She shakes her head before slithering over to him and yanking him out of the pile of debris. "This is a new low for you Zale. If Silver was here now she-"

"WELL SHE'S NOT!" your father barks and writhes out of Isa's grasp. "She's stuck in the gods' forsaken temple suffering a fate worse than death all because... because that fucking bastard husband of yours was-"

"Was trying to find that remedy, I know Zale... I know. And do you think that you're the only one grieving over this? That you're the only one suffering? Your children grew up without a mother. My son without his father and I lost an entire clutch... my children Zale... You think that I don't care? Silver was like a sister to me and you dare act like I don't mourn the situation? How dare you and shame on you..."

Isa is shaking, her hands are balled into fists and her tail is scrunched up around her. "Not a day goes by when I don't think about them, but I had a child to raise and people to help. I know my Valen wouldn't want me to sacrifice my life to find him or waste away if grief. I know Silver wouldn't want that for you either. We've both done our best over the years for the sake of the children but they're grown now and we no longer have the parental responsibilities to distract us from our sorrows."

Your father nods his head and slowly lowers to his knees. Isa inches a bit closer and places a hand on his shoulder, "We don't really have the time for it now, but grieve for her while you can."

Zale looks up at Isa, his eyes crusted and straining against the harsh winter air. Tears begin to prickle the corners of his eyes as he lets out a long low sigh, head lowering.

The cold air swirls and Isa shivers as she helps your father up. He looks ill and tired as he sways so you offer your shoulder for balance. It takes a bit of time but you and Isa manage to get him inside and into the front room where George is nursing a fire while eating a large piece of firewood.

Your father stares blankly down at his hands for a moment before slipping into a quiet sob. Tears roll down his cheeks and his brows knit as he tries to fight whatever it is he's feeling. You try to go to his side but Isa stops you and shakes her head.

"Let him have this. Later you and your brother can be there for him, but right now he needs to mourn... and grieve over the terrible things that befell the love of his life," she whispers to you before quietly escorting you out of the room.

She doesn't say anything as she slithers further and further down the halls and towards the kitchen. She's carrying herself with her head held high and in such a way as if she's avoiding looking at you. It's a gut feeling but you'll put your money on the fact that it's because you look like an exact copy of your dead... no, missing mother.

Suddenly a terrible thought sinks into your mind and you feel your knees weaken, "Oh gods no..."

Isa turns the moment you hit the ground and the realization hits you like a brick.

"She's stuck in a time loop... of right after giving birth to me...?" it was less of a question and more of the terrible truth just being confirmed when Isa closes her eyes and nods.

To be stuck in such agonizing pain for even just a little bit much less years and years with no relief, no hope...

"I think both Zale and I had hoped to spare you from this, but keeping all this has only done more harm. I never meant to keep my son from his family nor did Zale probably mean to become a drunken miserable oaf. But our cruelties became our worst nightmares and we've lost the trust and respect of our children. I can only hope to make amends with my son, as I hope Zale will make amends with you and your siblings," she sighs and dips down to pick you up off the floor. "None of this I know will comfort you in the slightest, but you must address the current problems before us. Consider yourself at another time."

Isa hooks her arm around you and brings you over to one of the large tables right outside the kitchen and sets you down on the bench. She looks you over for wounds and burns while your mind turns in on itself.

The heat in your chest feels uncomfortable and sticky like the feeling you get when you step outside right after it rains in the middle of summer. You start to choke on it and you grasp at your tunic, the fabric now soaked in sweat. Isa starts to fret and frantically calls out for someone.

Calm down...

You hear someone run to your side, cold hands on both your cheeks making your eyelids flutter. There's talking and you feel a cold rag on your neck and then another on your face. The sticky heat goes down some and you're able to think a little.

Calm down... I'll be alright... eventually...

It wasn't you that needed that reassurance, though thinking it does help. Your spirit is so finely connected to your emotions that anything can offset it and you can't have that... Not with war looming over your head. You take several deep breaths in and feel for that spirit. The ifrit responds by wrapping your hands in a heat akin to one you'd get from a blanket that had just finished drying in the sun.

We've got to line up somehow buddy. I can't keep upsetting you and you can't keep upsetting me. I'm going to be an emotional mess right now, lots of things are caving in on me but my garbage life doesn't need to scare you.

You peel off the cold wet towel and see Isa and your aunt Kat talking a mile a minute about you. Kat slams her hand atop a book and shoves it at Isa who rolls her eyes.

"Elementalists can't be treated in the same way! Especially fire and water! She has an ifrit spirit and a young one too from what I've observed. The poor thing is probably as old as she is though it just fully awakened. It's-"

"Stressed, yes I think I've figured that part out," you butt in.

Isa and Kat look at you and give you a quick once over.

"They're stressed and confused, but they're learning," you pause and put a hand over your heart, "We're both learning and we both need to start training. No more putting it off. Kat can we start today?"

The fluttering heat in your chest pulsates with excitement.

Isa looks to your aunt like she's going to protest but Kat turns fully to you and smiles, "Get your staff and meet me out back."

~~~~~~~~~

You told yourself when you grabbed your staff that this would be a healthy distraction. That you just needed to work off everything in your system and you'd probably tire after half an hour.

It's now past sundown and you're up against Bralgar. You had gone toe to toe with your aunt after several rounds with her kicking your ass royally. She might not have a full grip of her element but she certainly knows how to coax it out when need be though she might suffer some inconvenient transformations.

Your orc cousin swings at you with his sheathed ax and you barely dodge it. He swings again and you manage to block is attack with your quarterstaff and push back just enough to give you room to ignite your hands.

Though he's not an elementalist like you and your aunt, Bralgar commands a strange variety of spells from the elves and human mages. He quickly places his ax back at his side and erects a magic shield on his left arm and a magic gauntlet on his right.

The fire in your palms spreads down the staff and before you're able to get into a defensive stance Bralgar surges forward and shoves at you with the shield. You manage to strike at it, fire sparking off of the magic shield.

Kat was easier to go toe to toe with but your cousin has down right kicked you ass in every fight thus so far. It's not his sheer size or strength either, but his extensive battle knowledge. Despite how large he is, he's impossibly swift and in complete control of his spells.

You try and look for that little opening. Somewhere, anywhere...

Bralgar pushes you back and swings with his right arm at you and press forward, diving low and lunging at his knees with your staff. He stumbles back and before he can right his balance you hook an arm behind one knee and pull up as you back away.

"Fuck," you hear him gasp as he falls backwards. You have to be quick because you've seen him flip back up in record time after any falls. You slam your staff against his shield and it shatters into nothingness. His concentration has broke and now you-

Shit...

Bralgar grabs your staff and yanks you down. Somehow everything got turned around and you're on the ground and he's standing with your staff pointed at your neck.

"You were overthinking again. Good try on breaking the shield first, though you should have just gone for my gut or neck. I wouldn't be able to get up if you got to those instead," he lectures you as he helps you up.

He brushes himself off and adjusts his leathers and tunic, "You have incredible stamina, I'll give ya that. Though you might want to take a day or two in between to rest your muscles since you're not used to this."

You raise a brow, "But I feel fine."

Kat laughs, "You say that now, just wait till tomorrow morning. If your ifrit is kind enough it'll keep a nice warm compress on your arms and legs."

"With how often she's landed on her back and arms she'll probably need to be checked for scrapes, cuts and bruises," Isa chimes in.

She's been sitting on the sidelines ready to administer first aid if need be. She also suggested that Kat tap out when Bralgar came over to check on her since you're aunt was growing fatigue.

"Are you done out here?" Helena pops her head out the kitchen window. "I think everyone should be back soon. Culann came ahead of time to help with dinner. Apparently everyone's pretty pissy right now so stuffing their mouths with food is a good way to prevent any arguments."

Your sister in law has a point, if it works for rowdy sailors and adventurers it'll work on these guys. You stretch and start to head in behind Isa and you aunt. You note that Bralgar doesn't join in, his eyes focused on something.

Then you hear it, the distant sound of combat. Steel against steel, guttural groans and shrieking gasps. Your orc cousin takes off in a hard sprint and you follow as best you can. Your aunt curses and chases after the both of you.

Gustav is the first you see when you reach whatever battle is happening. He raises his fists and slams this down on a golem construct that crumbles instantly.

There's a mass of them, all earthen and tar and now steels holding the together. Some are reforming as quickly as they're being taken out. It's an endless nightmare before you.

"The caster has to be nearby if they're building up at this rate. I'll go hunt them down, you... You light those fuckers up," Bralgar pats your shoulder and takes off.

You swallow hard, the last time you fought a golem you lost control. The heat in your chest becomes unbearably hot.

Calm... We're in control buddy...

That was before you knew about the ifrit, that was before talking to it, before training.

But the heat still remains, hot and near melting.

We got this, I don't want to fight either but-

A golem comes at you out of nowhere and you swipe at it with your staff. You feel your palms heat up and you fight back this feeling of terror rising from your chest. It didn't feel like yours, this feeling, this fear. That's when you finally understood, finally realized it.

You're afraid aren't you?

The fluttering heat was all the answer you needed though not what you expected. Your hands ignite when the golem starts to slowly stand. Its spindly arms twist and reform but before it gets any closer to wholeness you beat it over its head with your staff and set it on fire.

It cries out and the others pause their combat for a brief moment before adjusting their tactics. Gustav hurls a golem towards you and you barely dodge it. It shrieks at you but you light it up before it can fully stand.

Out of the corner of your eye you see the first one you fought has crumbled to sand and burnt sticks. It won't move anymore.

Again a golem is hurled at you, this time by Thurl. It's the largest yet and reeks of rot and decay. It scampers back up right after it lands, three more sets of arms forming as it elongates its impossible body.

Your stomach nearly leaps out as the golem takes a swipe at you, its grotesque hand squelching tar and rot as it hits the ground. It screams with its canine like mouth, jaw hanging wide open like it means to scoop you up right from the ground with it.

The thing is fast on your heels, not giving you time or space to act. You haven't trained for this.

Shit

You run circles around the battle, looking for anyway you could shake this creature. And then your eyes meet Silas' for a brief moment and then he's gone. Something scoops you up and for a second you think it's the construct until you open your eyes and see that you're back where you started.

"What in gods name are you doing here?!?" he yells at you before ducking down as Gohar tosses a golem towards you.

You turn from Silas and blast fire at the small pile of tar and sticks. It grasps at the air as it crumbles and burns.

"Helping obviously and-" your eyes widen and you grab Silas' arm. "Shit! Run!"

The large golem hard circuited around and is back on your heels. You're running again, dashing between trees and bushes, Silas slithering furiously behind you. His hand catches yours and he teleports you away.

When you land it's on a thick branch and in Silas' arms. You can see the battle unfolding beneath you and the construct that was chasing looks around and lets out a frustrated roar.

From here you could blast it or jump on top of it and fire it up and steer it towards the smaller ones. Plans start gearing up and you almost forget that you're in someone's arms up in a tree. You look up and for the first time since you've been together he's visibly angry and at you.

"Are you trying to get yourself killed? You're supposed to be in bed resting and healing and here you are!" his silver eyes are like cold steel on yours. His arms are shaking beneath you and it's not from the cold.

You reach up and touch his cheek but the anger in his eyes doesn't waiver, "I'm fine, better than fine. It's strange and I really don't have a chance to explain to the fullest. Even your mother gave me leave to train earlier. Silas please..."

His hands grip at your clothes and you fight to readjust yourself in his hold.

"I'll be careful, just let me fight," you place your hand over his heart and before either of you can say anything else the tree begins to shake.

The golem construct ploughed into the tree and backed up to do it again. Silas holds you tight against him.

You're at the perfect height to blast the damn thing but Silas...

"Please just let me go or at least turn me around! I can destroy it but not if you plan to hold me back!" you grip his arms and now it's your turn to glare at him.

His expression goes to one of a quiet plea, begging you not to but he relents and as he turns you in his arms the construct slams into the tree and you slip from Silas' arms. He tries to reach for you with his arms then his tail but it's too late.

The construct roars as you descend into its gaping maw but instantly regrets and lets out a loud cry as your full body ignite on touch down. It rolls around but you steer its crumbling body towards the skirmish and shout to the people fighting to get out of the way.

Everyone flails about and dodges behind trees and bushes as you land the golem smack dab in the middle of the clearing. The muddied area fizzles and pops as the construct crumbles and stumbles to a halt. You tumble out of it's mouth and rush towards the nearest bush to vomit out your stomach.

The stench is unbelievable and you retch again as you stand, small patches of fire travel up and down burning the sludge and tar off of you.

Thank you...

A large hand slams the mid of your back and another slams on your shoulder.

"That was absolutely insane you loony girl!" Thurl pats your shoulder again.

"What in the nine hells possessed you to ride its maw right into the middle of it all?" Gustav rounds and raises a bushy brow.

"She's without a shadow of a doubt Silver's daughter if she's pulling some crazy ass stunt like that," Lir adds.

"Oh aye, that's all Silver," Kat chimes in as she looks at the construct.

Everyone adds in how crazy you were and how brilliant it was that you destroyed all the golems like that but you could barely register it all. Silas had crept down from the tree and looked like a ghost. Some sort of emotions are swirling behind those eyes and all you want to do is soothe whatever fear or anxiety might be there.

You pick your way through the lot and clumps of mangled tar and sticks. Silas' gaze never leaving yours. His hands reach out to you before you even reach him and the second you touch the tips of his fingers he snatches into his arms again.

"I'm alright Silas, I'm right here," you reassure him and press a gentle kiss to his cheek.

He leans his forehead against yours and just breathes with you for a moment before he let out a breathy laugh, "You have no idea how scared I was when you fell... and when you lit yourself on fire, I was too shocked to do anything but watch. It was horrifyingly brilliant and then you steered it like a gods damn ship!"

You and Silas both start laughing as he slowly sets you back down.

"Next time we're just going to have to hold you up, aim, and fire," Luctux waddles over and you note how low his arm is hanging.

You cover your mouth as a gasp escapes your lips and the tiefling shrugs, his arm now falling out of his shirt sleeve.

"Ah it happens if I ever overexert myself. Lich problems," he turns around and removes his tunic. Scars, burns, and deep bruises litter his bare dark blue skin. There are rips and tears along his back and arms and something black oozes out of the cuts. You hear him hiss as he inhales a sharp breath and you grasp Silas' hand as you watch the seemingly carefree Luctux pull himself back together and stitch his arm back to his body.

Your stomach lurches and your heart nearly stops when he turns. His bright eyes are now a sick deathly white and his face is pale and strained. Steaks of white pepper his jet blue hair that has lost all luster. He dips his head and avoids your gaze, "Apologies if this has unnerved you."

"N-no no no not at all, I mean... It just looks painful is all and-" you stutter and to your relief Luctux holds up a hand.

"There's no physical pain, not anymore. Just a strain on my magic, it's all that's holding me together now," he bows out and quickly slips back into his tunic and dashes off gods knows where.

Silas squeezes your hand and you feel a terrible choking sensation crawl up your throat, "How terrible."

"Yes, though the story of how he came to be this was is much worse. Cavan says he owes Luctux his current life and happiness for that sacrifice. It would have been him if he didn't step in," at that Silas brings you closer to his side and lowers down to kiss your forehead.

You skootch closer and lean your head against him and he just holds you. No words are exchanged for this brief moment and you're glad of it. You linger a little longer than you intended to only peeling off of him when his stomach makes a noise.

"I think Helena, Peter, and Culann were working on dinner earlier," you tug at him.

"As nice as that sounds I know my mother will fuss over each and every single one of us before we're allowed to sit and eat in peace," he rolls his eyes and groans.

"Then we should probably..." your thought trails off as you think of your cousin running off and chasing after the caster. "Bralgar..."

You look around and see nothing of your orc cousin. Kat is just as frantic as you are now, calling for him with no return answer.

Silas looks at you with concern, "What happened?'

"He went after the caster, he said the only reason the golems were getting back up so fast is that the caster had to be close."

You and your aunt start calling out for your cousin again, the others catching on start to fan out and call for him as well.

Minutes pass by and nothing, no one. Worry starts to swell in your chest and then just as you're starting to think of every possible worse case scenario you see two, no three people... walk this way with something... someone in tow.

Between Luctux and Cavan is a limping Bralgar, his right leg bloody, his lip busted, and nose crooked and broken. Behind them, a squirming bald headed elf with skin as pale as snow and eyes as red as blood sneers at the lot through his gag.

Kat rushes to your cousin and fusses over him before rounding over the three men and kicking the elf's family jewels hard enough that every man in the group covered theirs and let out an audible wince.

Luctux passes his shoulder over to Thurl, who's taller and more capable of helping Bralgar. Silas and you decide to go ahead of the group to give his mother fair warning of what's approaching.

To his word, Isa fusses over the both of you and demands that you two wash up so she can properly bandage any cut or scrape. Silas protests and tells her about Bralgar and she quickly averts her attention to her supplies and orders the both of you to get hot water and rags.

By the time Bralgar, Thurl, and Cavan arrive your cousin is passed out. Kat and Isa sit him down and start cleaning up his wounds and you hear him growl when Isa tries to fix his nose.

Helena ushers anyone not badly injured to follow her for dinner. Culann and Peter are discussing something over pipe and ale when everyone staggers into the dining hall. Though slow, everyone tears into the food including yourself.

The old pirates grumble as they stuff themselves while Cavan and Gohar talk about what they'll do with the caster that got dumped, tied up in spider silk, and is currently being watched by Not Food.

Silas mindlessly eats whatever is put in front of him, only stopping once Culann stops passing out food. His eyes look heavy and his shoulders sag a bit so you excuses yourself and tug him out the room.

He follows, mindlessly closing the door with the tip of his tail like it's a habit. His fingers curl around yours and you hear him sigh heavily.

"One of Elli's informants said that Notus' agents would be getting closer if not already here. That caster won't be the last to come for us. There will be stronger ones, maybe even more than just one and I don't know if... I just don't want to-" Silas pauses and looks up to the ceiling as he inhales sharply. "I'm not ready for this... I don't have that confidence to fight like you do. But I can't sit by or stay behind while you and everyone else goes out and fights for our country, our home."

His hand squeezes yours and you bring it to your lips and kiss his fingers, "I'm not that confident Silas, I just want to be able to protect the people I care about. I just started training today, I just recently found out I'm possessed by the spirit of an ifrit, and that I heal incredibly fast now!"

You pull him closer to you and he awkwardly staggers a bit, his eyes a little wide.

"We both have a lot to learn, a lot to train up for, but I know we can do this. Whatever happened to the naga who so bravely faced that owlbear by the way? Was that all for show?" you pinch him and he gives you a nervous laugh.

"A little bit," he admits and you gawk. "To be honest I was scared out of my mind, but for you, I'd easily fight it again... And this time I'd win without Luctux's help."

You snort laugh and Silas pinches your cheek, "If anything I'd always fight for you."

His tired eyes light up and he dips down and kisses you gently, "I'd fight for you and so much more."

"How about you fight along side me. I'll have your back and you have mine," you smile and kiss him back.

Silas picks you up off the floor and deepens the kiss. His claws tickle the back of your neck, sending goosebumps across your body. Your hands card through his glorious silky hair and Silas melts against you.

A loud cough has the both of you jumping and looking in the direction of Cavan who's face looks both amused and curious.

"Apologies for the uh, interruption but we have a caster to investigate and we need Silas to help," Cavan points to the naga and gestures to follow.

"By help, you mean constrict him?" Silas rolls his eyes and sets you down.

Cavan only shrugs and starts down the hall.

"One of these days we won't get interrupted," Silas groans and you giggle a little, a bit less embarrassed than you would have been.

"I'll meet you up in the room when you're done. I'm going to go check on my father," you point towards the front room and he nods.

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

Your father had just started waking up when you opened the door. His eyes are crusted and his bones creak and pop as he stretches.

"I should have told you... everything," he mutters. "You, Peter, and Roslyn... I shouldn't have lied, but it felt like-" he chokes on his words and swallows hard. "Death would have been a kinder fate than what she's been going through."

You nod your head and drop to his side, "That's not the only thing you've kept from us though. Notus, your sister, the war, everything... You've kept everything from us, your own children. Why?"

"Because... because I- I didn't want to think on it anymore. I lost my dear sister, friends, and crew members to that war. Your mother lost an arm during it and Valen almost died dragging her back to the shores. She begged me to ask for peace, she begged on bloodied knees while they were cauterizing her arm for me to end the war. I did what I could and I lost my sister and my brother went mad in the process," your father grits his teeth and his nails dig into the arms of the chair.

"I suffered and then enjoyed the blessings that your mother gave to me. Three healthy children who grew up under a miserable father, lesser of a man who didn't deserve the love of his lost wife or his son and daughters. I've failed you all," tears begin to stream from his eyes and you realize through your blurry vision that you had started crying as well.

"You did what you did," you hear a long sigh and turn to see Peter at the door.

You feel your father wince and see him curl in on himself. Out of both your older siblings, Peter's been the harshest on your father. They used to get into screaming matches over him drinking so much in front of you when you were a kid. He'd dump out any liquor your father brought home or smash the bottles to prove a point.

"We didn't deserve your misery and you don't deserve any pity or forgiveness. You can't fix years of abuse but you can get better. In four months you'll be a grandfather and the last person I want my child to see is you, as you are," Peter snaps and leans against the door frame.

Your father shudders and shakes his head, "I know... Helena made that very clear when she found out she was pregnant."

Peter's brow raises but he doesn't seem overly shocked. Helena has always been outspoken.

"I-I just wanted to forget, it would have been easier. You all deserved better... I'm sorry, I really am," your father inhales a shaky breath and slowly stands. "I can't be the father you wanted but maybe... I don't want that child to live through a war... Not now or ever, no child should have to suffer my brother's wrath," his expression sobers into something you haven't seen in years. A calm deathly seriousness that has your brother shifting to stand tall.

"If I have to put Notus to rest to make sure my grandchild can live in peace than so be it. I lost both my siblings that day long ago, one has just been holding on a little too long," your father knits his brow and closes his eyes.

Peter slowly approaches him and to your surprise, hugs your father.

"Thank you... and sorry," you hear your brother murmur.

Your father shakes his head and hugs him back, "I can't make any promises but I'll fight to the death for that babe. I'll fight like I should have fought for you all, fought to be a better father."

Your brother starts to shake and the tears in your eyes sting and sizzle, your ifrit spirit overwhelmed by all this. So you decide to quietly slip out to calm yourself and you elemental buddy.

Taking deep breaths you walk down the hall and towards the stairs when you hear a a loud thud coming from the left wing. You know Cavan had asked Silas for help and you know the dangers that caster could bring...

You won't open the door, only stand outside. Just in case. The noise is coming from one of the rooms near the kitchen, a storage room you're guessing. You quickly snatch up your staff that you left behind after Bralgar got settled to have his wounds checked and fixed. You feel stupid for leaving it, a mistake you don't want to repeat.

A cry of pain from a voice you don't recognize sends a shiver down your spine and then you hear clawing at the door. The tips of someone's finger slide under it and then they're dragged back in. There's shouting then and then something slams at the door hard enough that it cracks in the middle.

And then there's silence, long and drawn out. You clutch your staff and wait and wait and wait. Minutes pass and you feel your muscles tense up and your eyes become heavy. You're tired but what if that caster tries to escape? You start nodding off, just a little and then the door splits open and the caster falls hard on his back in the middle of the floor.

He tries to scamper up but you toss your entire weight on top of him.

"Get off you bitch!" he squirms and attempts to push you off however you shove your staff against his throat and press down just enough that he stops.

"Make one more move to leave and I'll light you up like I did your golems," you ignite your hands and arms and the elven caster whimpers and stills.

Silas taps your shoulder before pulling you off and yanking the elf up into the air by his neck. You back away and the air in your lungs is gone. You've seen Silas upset before but not like this. Scrapes and deep cuts line his arms now and a large slash on his cheek is bleeding profusely. His silver eyes are as cold as steel now and his teeth are bare.

"I... I'm sorry I'll tell you! I'll tell you everything please just-" the elf's words are gargled and cut off by his choking. Silas grips tighter and tighter till the elf's kicking starts to cease.

"Silas don't kill him dammit!" Cavan shouts but you realize that Silas doesn't hear.

And then you remember, it's just like back at camp with the thieves. You slowly approach him and place a hand on his arm and with as much force as you can you start lowering it. Silas' arm shakes and he suddenly releases the elf who collapses to the floor and gasps for air.

Cavan quickly scoops him up and starts tying him back up in silk. He looks to you and then to Silas, a silent request to get him to calm down. The drider takes the caster to another room after blindfolding him leaving the halls quiet again.

"I messed up again," Silas groans. "I... he called you-"

"I've been called worse at Peter's tavern and I'm certain that during the war I'll be called many more horrible things," you pat his arm and start guiding him down the hall and to the stairs. "You're tired, I'm tired... Let's just go to bed and start fresh tomorrow ok?"

Silas nods and scoops you up. You roll your eyes and shrug as you lean against him. You'll let him hold you like this while he can, while there's still some sort of peace.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~NSFW~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Once you're both in the room and the door is closed Silas drops you onto the bed and gently presses his weight onto you as he kisses you. Your legs wrap around him as he scoots you further up the bed. His teeth tease your lower lip and you moan when you feel his weight shift.

"I'd like to see someone interrupt us now," you feel him smile against your lips as he starts to pepper kisses down to your neck.

Your breathing hitches as you giggle, "Someone can still knock or barge in."

To that you hear his tail slither around the bed and thunk down onto the ground before hearing the obvious and clear sound of something locking.

"And if they knock we can pretend to be asleep," Silas grins before nipping your ear.

You gasp and squirm beneath him as he keeps kissing you, taking his time as he holds you in his arms. His hands are constantly somewhere but always remaining above your waste or just bellow or above your breasts.

"You can touch me a bit more... just a little," you breathe and Silas snaps up.

His eyes search yours in disbelief so you take his hand and slide it a little bit lower till it right at the hem of your tunic.

"Are you sure?" his voice is shaky and he's clearly nervous.

"Yes, but my clothes stay on ok? I'm not completely comfortable with anything else but I just... I want to feel you just a little bit more. Is that ok?" you feel you cheeks heat up and your heart flutters when you feel his clawed fingers brush at your skin.

Silas nods, "Ye-yes of course... I don't think I could take much more than this either..."

Carefully Silas slides his hand under your tunic, his claws are cold and his calloused hands feel rough against you. He nuzzles up to you as he explores so slowly, kissing your neck and carefully wrapping your legs with his tail.

"You're so soft," he murmurs, his voice low and gravely.

You turn to face him and his hands run up and down your back and you press into him. You hear something like a growl and your whole body shivers. The part of his tail around your legs tightens and wraps higher and higher up your body till it's around your waste.

"I uh... if you want to, you can touch me more as well," Silas chokes and he takes your hand in his.

"Oh uh sure, but uh where?" you squeak.

Silas chuckles, " Just... uh just above my scales... I don't think either of us are ready for anything lower than that yet. I mean... I wouldn't mind I just don't think we've gotten to know each other enough for that and-"

"I know what you mean. Above the scales then," you smile and kiss his neck. You're somehow happy that you're not the only one wanting to take this part slow.

He sits up real quick and peels of his tunic and armor with impressive speed and tosses them off the bed. He's back on top, just inches above you. His hands finds its way back under your tunic as yours raise up and begin exploring him.

You've touched him many times without his tunic on but not like this, not slow and explorative and with every intention of just feeling him. Your hands travel along the long expanse of his abdomen all up to his chest and then his shoulders, tugging him back down for a kiss.

All night you both just touch and kiss and hold each other until you fall into the most blissful sleep you've had in years. Silas holds you close like usual but this time he's sitting up against the bed and you're in his coils. He wraps you up in his tail and drapes the ridiculously large blanket over the both of you and passes out.

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

Come morning the poor naga is apologizing to you and you're thoroughly confused.

"Wait wait wait all we did is kiss and cuddle, we were both fine with it. Why are you freaking out?" you ask as he slinks off to a corner of the room and bangs his head against the wall.

"That was fine! More than fine! It's what I did afterwards!" he bangs his head against the wall again.

"You mean falling asleep?" you raise a brow and slide out of bed.

"Yes! Well no! It was how we fell asleep! That position is for mates! Gods I- I'm sorry," Silas bangs his head again and again.

You roll your eyes, "It's ok, it was just a one time thing. It means nothing right? Right?"

Silas looks to you, his silver eyes are watery and bloodshot. His lips purse and then he shakes his head, "It means a lot. It means-" He shakes his head again, "No, you're right it's nothing."

You grimace and stomp up to him, "No it's not nothing, not to you. What's going on? What did that mean to you? Do you not want to tell me because it'll just be one more thing I'll have to deal with? Well guess what, at this point anything new won't surprise me! Come on, lay it on me! What ever it i-"

"It means I want you as my mate."

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sunnyie-eve · 10 months

Text

Special Bond || 4. Would you?

Paring: Paul Lost Boys x Original female character Emerson cousin!

Word Count: 1.6k

Warnings: none just cute interactions

Last: Not Scared | Next: Peer Pressure

"Aunt Lucy." Katherine goes outside to see her and the boys. "Look at you, sweetie." Lucy hugs her. "Look at Mikey and a little Sammy." Kat smiles looking at them. "I can't even see the little Kat I once knew." Michael motions to her. "Back at you." She does the same. "Well, let's go settle in." Lucy smiles at the boys so Katherine helps them. "There's no tv. Have you seen a tv? I haven't seen a TV, Mike. You know what it means when there's no TV? No, MTV." Katherine walks into a room hearing Sam complain. "Sammy, we're flat broke." Michael does his weights. "There's a tv in my room. I bought myself one so you can watch MTV in there. I only keep it on that channel." Katherine puts an arm around Sam's shoulder. "There you can stop complaining about a tv now." Michael tells him as Kat goes back to helping her aunt bring everything into the house.

When the sun went down Lucy and the boys were gonna go to the boardwalk so she invited Katherine to go along. The boys split off from the girls as they walk around chatting about what Kat has been doing. "A lot of people go missing." Lucy looks at the board and Kat sees the Security Guard's wife put up his missing poster. "Yeah." She starts to feel bad since she knew what happened to him. Lucy goes over to help a little boy alone while Kat stares at the guys' flyer. She shakes her head going over to where Lucy went talking to the little boy but sees the boys walk into the store. "Aunt Lucy, maybe someone at my job has seen his mom." She tells her so they go inside. "Hello, Max. Thanks again for giving me the day off." Kat gives him a smile and the boys see her.

Before David could call her over Maria does, "I'm gonna tell Max to stop giving you days off." She playfully glares at her. "My Aunt just moved back with her two sons. That's why he gave me the day off." She explains. "We only come in here to watch one thing." Paul says as they walk past her and puts his arms around her shoulders. "I know." Maria laughs smiling at the two as he walks her off with them. "I told you not to come in here anymore." Max glares at David who smirks before heading out with the boys. "You coming?" Marko asks Kat as she stands behind.

"Aunt Lucy, can I go with my friends?" She asks her not noticing Max smile at the two. "Sure, honey. Be careful." Lucy tells her. "Bye, Max. Bye, Thorn." She pets the top of the dog's head then rushes outside getting on the back of Paul's bike. They stop at the carousel to hang out because Star and Laddie were supposed to meet them back here. "Your aunt seems nice." David speaks up looking over at her sitting on the railing leaning back into Paul standing behind her. "24/7." She looks over at him. "Where's your cousins?" Paul asks her. "Around somewhere. Hey Star, Laddie." She smiles as they show up. "Katherine." Star's straight face turns into a smile as soon as she sees her. "Kat." Laddie gives her their handshake as she jumps off the rail.

"You coming to the cave or staying because of your family?" Marko asks as Paul gets on his bike. "I'm gonna stay. Plus you guys still need to eat." She looks over to see Michael and Sam watching the group. "See y'all tomorrow." Katherine kisses everyone's cheeks then goes over to her cousins as they ride off. "You know the girl and the boys." Michael eyes her. "Yeah, they're my friends." She walks with Sam and sees the Vampire comic. "You've met the Frog Brothers, I see." She motions to the comic. "They're odd." Sam tells her. "Be prepared to hear all about vampires from them." She tells him.

Back at the house while everyone was downstairs, Katherine's window opens. "Paul." She looks over at him and he was smiling like an idiot. "Can I come in." He asks her. "I'm still not giving you an invitation." She laughs at him. "Rude." He goes through the window taking off his jacket before jumping onto her bed next to her. "Who was on the menu tonight?" Kat jokes making Paul laugh. "Greg and Shelly." He tells her. "Greg, I don't care about." She tells him so he goes giving details about the whole thing making her want him to shut up.

Getting fed up with his babbling, she leans over kissing him to shut him up. After about a minute of kissing him, she slowly pulled back to breathe, but he pulls her back and kisses her more roughly. After a while, Paul finally lets her go to breathe. Although they broke apart, they were still close enough for their noses to be touching. Neither of them said anything and just stared at each other for what felt like forever.

"You know, you talk too much." Kat speaks first making Paul pull away and laugh. "So you had to kiss me?" He touches her face. "It was the only thing I could think to do." She laughs. "Or did you just want to kiss me again?" Paul leans back in kissing her. "Kat!" Sam shouts getting closer to the room. "Come on, let's leave." Paul gets up. "I can't and I have work tomorrow." She tells him so Paul pouts.

As the bedroom door opens Sam looks around and Paul was out of sight. Nanook growls outside the room not going in. "Nanook, stop it." Sam tells the dog off. "Who were you talking to?" Sam asks her. "Was on the phone with a friend." She lies not knowing where Paul went. He didn't go far because his jacket was still in her room. "Dinner is ready." He leaves her room and Paul shows back up. "Fine, I'll leave." He puts his jacket on. "I didn't say you have to leave. I just can't leave. I'll eat fast then be right back." She goes downstairs to eat dinner.

Paul walks around her room messing with things and looks at her photos. Still having his human traits made things difficult with Katherine. Not only that but apparently she could be everyone's mate if she chooses to be. Paul didn't want to share her with the other three though. She was his soulmate he always dreamed of when he was a human. He wanted her to be one of them so they could be together forever. He wouldn't have to worry about something happening to her during the day because she would be safe with him in the cave. "Why do I still have to have these feelings?!" He shouts at himself in his head. "But they're the reason she even likes me." He lays down on her bed turning on the tv and watches MTV.

"Oh, Katherine dear. Max got me a job so I'll be working with you." Lucy tells her as they eat at the table. "That's nice of him. He's really nice. I used to work night but he moved me to during the day so I can be with friends at night." She explains to her Aunt. "The boys you left with?" Lucy smiles at her niece. "Yes, Ma'am." Katherine finished her food going to her room to see Paul passed out on her bed. "Paul, you can't sleep here and you know that." She goes to sit by him waking him up. "I can sleep in your closet." He gives her a smile. "You're not sleeping in my closet. You're going to go sleep in your cave."

"I'll leave once you fall asleep." He pulls her to lay down in his arms. She closes her eyes as he turns off the lights and tv. "Can I ask you a question?" He plays with her hair. "Huh?" She asks enjoying the feeling. "Would you ever become one of us?" He asks hoping to hear a good answer. "Truthfully... I'm thinking about it but I'm not exactly there yet." She says making him get excited. "Well, you know how bad we all would love it if you were. Even Star wants you to." He kisses the top of her head as she drifts off to sleep.

Back at the cave, Paul looks at the boys who were staring at him. "Katherine is thinking about becoming one of us but isn't ready yet. We're getting closer boys." He tells them what she told him. "You hear that Star." David looks over at her. "If anyone is going to talk her into fully doing it, it's Paul." Star looks at him. "Why Paul?" Marko laughs. "Because of their bond." Dwayne tells him. "But you said we all could be her mates." Marko looks at David making Paul roll his eyes. "If she wants yes because her bond to each of us is different. Paul and hers... it's stronger and will be even more if she becomes one of us. That's what I was told." David explains staring down Paul.

"And I know a quicker way to make her one of us." David stands up. "How?" Star asks. "Her cousin, who has his eyes set on you, Star. We get him to drink and become one of us, she'll follow." David gives her a smile. "How would that make her want to drink too?" Dwayne doesn't understand. "In the past, she told me she's not against it because she's alone once her grandpa is gone. Both of her parents killed themselves... If we turn the rest of her family she'll have another reason." Star speaks up. "So we know what to do."

#lost boys #the lost boys #lost boys 1987 #david lost boys #paul lost boys #dwayne lost boys #marko lost boys #david tlb #dwayne tlb #paul tlb #marko tlb #michael lost boys #michael tlb #michael emerson #david powers #paul harris #dwayne stephens #marko thompson

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multifanderwrites · 2 months

Text

Previous Scene- Cleaning the Droids |

{Dining Room}

(Owen is sitting down, eating his dinner. Beru is pouring blue milk into a pitcher by the time Katniss and Luke come to sit with the aging couple. Katniss sits in the chair facing opposite Luke, in between Owen and Beru. Luke is the first to speak) “You know, I think that R2 unit we bought might’ve been stolen.”

(Owen quickly tells his nephew…) “I know the dog is-“

“A member of Aunt Kat’s team? Yeah. I’m not- I’m more worried about the R2 unit right now. I really think it might have been stolen by the Jawas.”

“Oh really? What makes you think that?”

(Luke digs into his meal) “I stumbled across a recording while I was cleaning him.”

(Owen looks at Katniss) “Did he?”

(She nods) “I was there.”

“Yeah, he says he belongs to someone called Obi-Wan Kenobi.” (Unaware of the silent exchange between Owen and Beru) “I thought he might have meant old Ben. Aunt Kat isn’t sure… as far as I can tell. Do you know what he’s talking about?” (Owen shakes his head, doesn’t want to talk about this. Luke can see the gears in Katniss’s head turning) “I wonder if he’s related to Ben.”

(Katniss doesn’t get to respond. Owen, not wanting to discuss anything about the matter) “That wizard’s just a crazy old man.”

(Katniss doesn’t know where it came from but…) “We’re all a little crazy.”

(A glare from Owen, who’s… really unhappy about Katniss- the direct extension of his stepbrother, who is the most dangerous man the universe has ever known- being the person in charge of protecting Luke from temporal threats) “Tomorrow, I want you to take that R2 unit to Anchorhead and have its memory erased. That’ll be the end of it. It belongs to us now.”

(Katniss, unable to eat because of how anxious she feels. Beru smiles warmly at her stepsister in law) “Just take your time.”

(Luke… yeah, Luke is fully aware of how much his literary aunt has been through… not just in terms of missions) “What if this Obi-Wan comes looking for him?”

*stop this talk* “He won’t.” (Owen is having mini flashbacks to the near death experience with Reva) “I don’t think he exists anymore.” (Beat) “He died about the same time as your father.”

(Luke turns his head sharply toward his uncle) “He knew my father?”

(Owen is not in the mood for this conversation) “I told you to forget it.” (Before Katniss can say anything) “Don’t encourage him. Your only concern is to prepare those new droids for tomorrow. In the morning, I want them up there on the south ridge, working on those condensers.”

*😞* “Yes, sir.” (Obvious question) “What about the dog?”

[Owen… bruh] “He’s my new hunting dog.”

(Katniss shakes her head, laughs dryly) “No.”

“I’m sorry?”

“Zip’s not a hunting dog.”

“That’s why I’ll train him.”

“You can’t teach an old dog new tricks, let alone how to hunt-“

[Owen- Lipstick in my white Valentino bag-] “Watch me.”

*I am a bitch, and I don’t care* “What the hell is that supposed to mean?!”

(Beru finally speaks up, unable to bear this conversation any longer) “Enough! Please.”

(A brief stare down between Owen and Katniss before they both go back to their food. Luke feels incredibly awkward, but he overcomes it by saying…) “I think those new droids are gonna work out fine. In fact, I… I was also thinking about our agreement, about me staying on another season.” (A beat) “If these new droids do work out… and the dog… does something… I wanna transmit my application to the Academy this year.”

(Owen is curious to hear more, and very concerned) “You mean the next semester before the harvest?”

“Sure. There’s more than enough droids. And you have a dog now too.”

“But the harvest is when I need you the most. It’s only one season more. This year we’ll make enough on the harvest that I’ll be able to hire some more hands and then you can go to the Academy next year.” (Owen sighs) “You must understand, I need you here, Luke.”

“But it’s a whole ‘nother year.”

“It’s only one more season.”

(Luke gets up from the table) “That’s what what you said when Biggs and Tank left.”

[oh my fucking god. Why is there so much poetry here? George, are you kidding me?] (Beru is saddened by her nephew’s excusing himself) “Where are you going?”

“Looks like I’m going nowhere.”

(Katniss follows) “Luke-“

“I have to go finish cleaning those droids. Maybe that’s Aunt Kat’s mission.”

(The aging couple have a conversation alone) “Owen, he can’t stay here forever. Most of his friends have gone. It means so much to him.”

“I’ll make it up to him next year. I promise. And we’ve got more help this time.”

(Beru chuckles softly) “Luke’s just not a farmer, Owen. He has too much of his father in him.”

(Owen has mini flashbacks to the moment he saw his stepmother in the arms of his stepbrother… and how much anger was on the boy’s face) “That’s what I’m afraid of.”

(Beru sighs) “You know who else he has in his blood? Katniss.”

(Owen laughs) “Why do you think I’m so afraid?”

| Next Scene- A Sentimental Moment by The Binary Sunset |

#fanfiction #the mixiverse #star wars #anakin skywalker #katniss everdeen #owen lars #beru whitesun #luke skywalker #obi wan kenobi #a new hope

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golbrocklovely · 2 months

Note

Yeah, I was making a Fatal Attraction reference. I always gave shea a bit of a pass just cuz hope springs eternal and maybe she really thought he would see she was the one. Feelings are not logical most of the time. But she suddenly started liking and commented on kat's posts using the exact words colby commented on m's photo. One could argue that is just a standard phrase, but right on the heels of Colby's comment combined with not really commenting on posts before? Don't get me wrong, idgaf about these new women. But that kinda said she was watching at least m's posts. Again, one could say it's kinda normal, but only if you're a teenaged girl, not a grown assed woman. And some the fanbase suddenly jumping on the posting what great fans they are of these women (including shea) isn't real. It's proximity to the boys. Sorry for preaching to the choir. Hope you're feeling better and that the snow didnt hit your area too hard! ~~~Wisconsin anon

see the thing with shea is she has always been crazy. she has always been like this, it just didn't seem as bad back when colby was also into her, so to speak.

when they were friends and she was weirdly pining for him, it was "fine". but now that she has outwardly badmouthed him for weeks on end, aired out his dirty laundry….. all bc he decided he didn't want to be with her and wanted to be with someone else instead, it makes her seem crazy.

not only that but she basically has said that m isn't good enough for colby which…. cmon now, girl.

i've said it before, but if she wanted to just talk about the pain she was in or how disappointed she's feeling, that's one thing. but there is a line that she has 100% crossed at this point, and it just seems pathetic for her to continue doing this shit. and now following his aunt and becoming friendly with kat… it all seems like some weird desperate ploy to get him back when she basically has already burned the bridge.

i just hope for both of their sakes she chills out, even tho now she has mentioned about wanting to start ghost hunting so……. i won't hold my breath.

and wow i got an aussie anon and a wisconsin anon. imma start racking up countries and states soon enough haha

#ask #personal #shea

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googoobabajogwick · 1 year

Text

Hot Knife Chpt. 4

description: john pleads his case which leads to more arguments and then you make your decision, also you tell your daughters about a little secret you've been keeping and more about your past.

triggers: unhealthy coping mechanisms, mini spoilers (aka some of the plot of part 4 is explained) misogyny, john getting ganged up on lol

wordcount: 6.5k

mini authors note: this chapter probably sucks but idc im sick and tired of looking at it... also very dialogue heavy.

<------>

Hot Knife Chapter Four: Follow Your Heart But It's Split In Two

“I brought the marker. I didn't want to but, you are my last hope. I can’t kill everyone myself.” John sounded desperate, “Believe me, of all people, after everything, I didn't want to drag you into this.”

“And yet, here you are.” Kat butted in.

You knew it would be impossible for him to talk with your daughters there so you excused them. The two of them were a bit reluctant but then you gave them that look. They stood up right away and began to leave the room without another word but not before Kat went behind your desk and opened the drawer. You were about to ask her what she was doing when she pulled out a bottle of vodka.

“So you don’t make her drink herself into hysterics again.” She all but spat at him.

“Christ! Tatyana, Darya, leave now.” Your tone was commanding.

They looked at you with worried eyes and left. Although they were nervous they knew you were not one to fall right back into his arms. Both women just hoped that he wasn't going to hurt you again, not physically, but mentally.

Now that it was just you and John you leaned back in your chair and took a deep breath.

“Do you drink a lot?” He asked and you looked at him with rage in your eyes.

“It’s none of your business but no, I don’t.”

“Tatyana seems to think you do.” He knew you tended to have unhealthy habits.

At this you sat up straight, feeling like a bomb about to explode.

“So let me get this straight. You break my heart, you come find me after like twenty years to what? Call me an alcoholic? Like bringing the marker here wasn’t a deep enough cut you have to rub salt in the wound?” You asked, getting louder and louder.

“No. You know I wouldn’t do that.”

“You just did!”

The thought of taking a sip of alcohol filled your brain. How you would instantly relax even from the smell. You never let it get in the way of your life or work. You didn’t drink that much in your opinion… Maybe he was right but you’d never tell him that. He opened his mouth to speak but closed it just as fast. You needed to change the subject or else you would attack him again because his face was looking quite punchable in the moment,

“Whatever. Let’s just not talk about me. Back to it, why don't you ask Sofia? I know you have her marker.” By the look on his face you could tell the answer.

“I told you, I already did, I have her, The Bowery King and others helping me. It’s still not enough.” He tried to read your facial expressions. “Please.”

He went onto explain the out Winston had given him. That he already tried to convince The Elder to let him… Go away. Which didn’t work. John just needed to get to Japan and Berlin. Lots of old names were brought up but you didn't focus on that all you could focus on was when he mentioned the Roma Ruska in Berlin.

The “family” that brought you in after your father was shot and killed. Not that you would ever refer to them as your family, that just made it appear like you and him were brother and sister… They called each other cousin, brother, sister, aunt and uncle but you never did. You chalked it up to the fact that you had a family already. These people could never be that.

You wanted to escape that place from the moment you were brought there. The only good memories from there were Jardani himself but even so, most of those memories were painful too. You spent too many years crying every night because you hated it so much. Sobbing for your father and mother in the privacy of your room. Then the whole Vladimir situation happened and deepened that hatred.

The Roma Ruska was the only part of your past you'd never told your daughters about. It was always just ‘where I grew up’ whenever you would talk about your younger years. Never would you even want to tell them about that place. John could, if he wanted to. Since your ‘family’ had seats at the table he would be able to challenge the Marquis de Gramont to hand to hand combat.

“Why should I?” You questioned back.

John could tell there was so much more to talk about but there just wasn't time, he needed your help now. He would answer every question you had if there was. There was a new resentment for you in a way, for hiding your children. He had never even considered being a dad but he did know he never wanted to be a deadbeat one.

That's how he knew your children viewed him too. He began to think about how you would've told him, watching your stomach grow, finding out they were twin girls, taking their first steps, their first words. Teaching them to drive, to read, to defend themselves, the list was endless. His chest grew tight.

“You never told me about them.” John tried to hide the emotion in his voice but you heard it. “I knew there was a reason you were throwing up…”

“You broke my heart.” Your voice was a whisper.

“I would’ve-“ He stopped as you cut him off.

“You would’ve what? Decided to be with me because you felt obligated to?”

“No- That’s not…” The man put his face in his hands.

He never really cared about you seeing his real emotions because even if he tried to hide them, he knew you could see them. This was true, and if he could go back twenty years and slap his younger self he would. In fact he'd slap the face of himself from a month ago. Then maybe he wouldn't be here, dragging you into what could possibly be the death of you.

After thinking of the math for a second he looked up at you. The betrayal in his eyes was overwhelming to look at

“You came to my house when they were what? Ten? You could’ve told me.” He was talking louder than usual.

John never got angry with you. Frustrated and upset but almost never angry. Right now though you could tell he was enraged with you by the pinch of his eyebrows and the slight snarl on his lip for a brief second but you wouldn’t be intimidated by him. Even if he had a right to be angry, you had your reasons.

“When I came to your house it was for one reason to get my favor and I had no clue you were,” You curled your fingers up and down, mockingly, “out of the business.”

“I told you—.”

“What? That you left? Sorry, I didn’t want to break the news with your wife upstairs. Hey John, remember me? Well I bore your seed ten years ago!”

He scoffed and then groaned but you continued on.

“Plus I really don’t think you’d want me to meet her, which would’ve happened if you met them. At that point we were all strangers, no point.” Your arms came up as you crossed them.

John’s grip on the arm rest tightened at what you were insinuating. Were you really that angry? To hurt an innocent woman who’d done nothing to you? That wasn’t like you at all. You ended things! He wanted to talk things through, you wanted to run away and start a whole new life.

“We could have made things work.” John insisted.

“Oh yeah like what sneaking around behind her back for visits? Hm?”

“No. Helen could have met them, you could’ve met her. I don’t know but you could have told me.”

You stood up and placed your palms on the flat wooden desk. Your body leaned towards him as you got closer. The pain meds they gave you worked well but it still stung. How dare he! How dare he walk in here and even bring up the idea of another woman helping you raise your children. Yeah you had multiple women help you raise your girls but it was different when it came to your ex and his wife.

There was jealousy and anger. In a perfect, normal world yeah maybe you, John and his wife Helen could have raised your daughters. But you guys weren’t normal. He made that very clear when you broke up.

“Let me make one thing clear Johnathan, at that time in my life I would’ve rather drown my girls than ever let you and another woman raise them together.” You sat back down and crossed your arms again, “I asked you to leave with me and we could’ve found out together. You said no and made your decision, so I made mine.”

He listened to your words. There was nothing he could say. There would be no compromise with your anger. At the time John was younger and a fool. It took him making the one single right decision— leaving for Helen— to see this fact about himself. Too caught up in his rise to fame in such a taboo career to see how all it was all one big painful reminder of all the pain you suffered. John remembered you always wanting to spend more time with him and your occasional random questions about your future and leaving.

At the time he thought they were just fun little ideas to imagine to escape the reality that he’d be leaving the next day and he could be gone for hours, days or even months. That he could die. Being away from one another all the time had caused issues in your relationship a lot in the past. The two of you fought the most while he was in the military but that was because he’d be gone for so long with long periods of no contact.

If the two of you weren’t spending all day in bed or having sex when he had time to spend it home, petty arguments would begin. He didn’t miss you that much, it was his choice to join, when he’d try and tell you how much he missed you. He’s just going to leave again, when he’d tell you he was coming home. You’d never argue with him when he had time to talk to you while deployed, that time was precious.

It was like clockwork; He’d come home, the first four days were amazing. Filled with sex, cuddling, deep conversations and going out. Then came the smaller disagreements, until you were crying and arguing all night. If he loved you, why would he leave you? If he missed you, why did he take hits when he wasn’t deployed?

Once he was out he became a hit man full time, working for Viggo. Killing. It came so naturally to him it was inevitable for him to become a preeminent assassin. Which meant the whole life was unavoidable. John was beginning to believe he’d never escape but it seemed so close and if you helped him nobody stood a chance. But then again If he survived and you didn't, could he live with himself? If one of your girls died?

Maybe John couldn't do this. Maybe he could just continue on as he has been. After that horrible first meeting about an hour ago, did he really want to do this to you? Maybe if he never fell off that roof he could do it alone but even though he’s lucky to have survived, things still hurt. He stared at your bandaged hands and now noticed the faint scars on your wrist, he almost wanted to ask but vertical cuts were self explanatory.

John couldn't look at them anymore. He’d already hurt you and it was just by showing up. Dragging you into this mess would just be causing more damage. You still had yet to say anything else but you watched him, lost in thought thinking about what to say. Finally he nodded and stood up.

“I'm sorry for coming here, I really shouldn't have.” He was willing to be the bigger person, and with that he stood up and turned to leave.

You almost wondered if this is how he felt watching you get up and leave. Probably not because the strong emotional connection wasn't there anymore. It would always be there but it was no longer that huge inferno it used to be. There were still lit embers. John was going to die if he walked out that door. Were you ready for that? It would seem after so long the answer would be an obvious yes but if you were being honest, no you weren't. You slammed your hands on the table and winced.

“John, wait.” You avoided his gaze as his hand held onto the doorknob, “A marker is a marker.”

The long haired man went to say your name but you stopped him.

“A marker is a marker, but then, we are done. Forever.” You got up. “Please wait here.”

You left the room and went to go talk to your girls and inform them on your decision. As expected they were not in agreement with you. Kat had asked if he had something against you, which he did, but not like she thought. It wasn’t really about the marker. Darya just watched while she shook her head in disappointment. Sometimes you felt like they were the mothers and you were the kid. You explained to them that sometimes, when you burn bridges, you burn the strong foundation but there is still debris.

The debris of yours and Jardani’s bridge reminded you that there were still things that needed to be talked about. Two of those things stood right in front of you. You had grown up. Yes, you were still emotional and impulsive but what you did back then was too impulsive. When you thought back all those years ago you were too blinded by anger to see that he really did want to work things out. The time had come to face your mistakes, the guilt hidden by rage. You always felt like you never got your closure, maybe now would be the time to get it. Still you would not let him off easy as it was not that simple.

Plus.. There may have been one lie you had been keeping to yourself, even away from your own daughters. The truth was, the last time you saw John was after you had gotten the news that he had fallen from The Continental roof. Yes, your reaction was genuine when he told you though, I mean, who falls off a multiple story high building and lived to tell the story besides John fucking Wick? The story had brought back feelings you thought were gone. You thought he was going to be dead. A month ago you’d say John Wick’s death would be a holiday for you to celebrate but then it almost actually happened.

Late into the night you snuck out after Algo had explained to you that he was under The Bowery King’s watch. At the time you had to see for yourself, you were always good at getting into places you weren't supposed to be, so, you snuck into his created kingdom to find your ex-lover. John was sedated at the time as you looked down on him. He looked terrible and you had to keep yourself from touching him. You saw that he was missing a finger and gasped.

“Now how the hell did you get in here?” You jumped at the King’s loud, booming voice.

He looked at you and then John.

“I'm not here to start anything, I just had to see for myself.” Your arms came to wrap around yourself as you suddenly felt very uncomfortable.

“The whole underworld thinks you to be dead. Love and grief brought him back, don’t let it bring you back.” He chuckled.

“I don’t know what you’re saying, I just had to see. He fell off a roof for Christ sake!” You didn’t like what he was implying.

“Uh-huh.” He paused for a moment, “He’s one strong motherfucker that's for sure.”

You nodded. Jardani had always surprised you, always. He always bounced back and he could always do what you thought was impossible. There was a time when you believed you were unlovable and that one could ever get past the strong brick walls you had built yourself but, he had done that as well. You smiled at the memories even though it made your heart hurt and you preferred not to think of them. John looked so peaceful and young as he slept. His chest went up and down with every breath, the only sign that he was alive.

“What is his recovery plan?” The doctor in you had to ask.

The Bowery King went on to tell you that he showed really good signs of healing and walking. He told you he had the best doctors helping out but that was a lie, because you were the best. You listened and gave some advice before giving him a small smile. When John groaned you took it as your cue to leave, not wanting to face him. With a please to the King not to tell him you were there, you left. The entire way home, making sure no one was following you. You couldn’t stop thinking about how much you wanted to reach out and touch him.

Later that night while you showered you pressed your forehead against the ceramic tiles. Your emotions were all over the place. You felt like you were going insane. How does one feel so much hatred and anger and so much love and worry at the same time. The only comfort you had was the hot water hitting your back. You knew John had your marker and if there was a time he was going to have to use it, it was now. The only thing that gave you hope was that he had no idea where you were but The Bowery King must’ve by now. You were still hidden but the thought wouldn't leave you, you just had a bad feeling.

Your daughters looked at you, their mouths agape. The anger on their face was evident. You had lied to them and that was something that was very serious between all of you.

“You do realize that's most likely how he found us!” Tatyana yelled.

“Kat is right, it was your doing that brought him to us.” Darya shook her head.

You scoffed at them.

“Enough. I am in my fifties. I don't need you two acting as if I'm the child!”

“All the nights of us listening to you cry! As kids we had to endure watching our own mother struggle, even try and kill herself all over that piece of shit man! And now, you just fell right back into his arms.” Kat was furious.

Now you frowned at them. What they said hurt and you knew their reasonings, they had to witness things kids are not supposed to. You took full credit for that and although it never spoiled your relationship, it had caused some bumps. After so many years and them reaching an age when they began to understand things healed. You'd done so many things you regretted and now seeing him and talking to him in person, it brought up a lot of feelings you had buried deep inside. You looked at your two beautiful girls who looked so much like him.

“We just want what's best for you mama.” Darya said in a soft tone.

Kat glared at her before she looked defeated and stared at the ground. With reluctance, she nodded. You were their mother, and there was no greater bond than a mother and her daughters. Their role model, their protector, their rock. If anything happened to you, they would burn down the Earth just as you used to tell them growing up. Tatyana didn't want to admit it but she was intrigued with her father, having always wondered what he sounded like or what he'd be like. Darya too.

“I love you girl’s more than anything. He was going to leave. He was going to let us be… I just can’t but, if you really don't want me to, I’ll tell him no. You two are my world, way more than he is.” You teared up.

The two of them watched you for a moment longer. Of course they wanted you to tell him no, but they couldn't, they knew how bad it would hurt you if he died and you didn't get your closure. The one minute older sister grabbed the youngers hand and began to drag her away.

“Come on Rya, we have to go pack.”

“You two aren't coming! I don't need you getting hurt.” Your eyes widened and you protested.

“You can’t stop us.” Kat said as she took her sister away.

You stood there dumbfounded. There was no changing their minds, they were stubborn just like both their parents. Your children, no matter how much you loved them, seemed to have gotten all your bad traits. Perhaps that was your doing by having children during the most stressful, horrible time in your life.

Fear gnawed at you, they were skilled but they had only ever gone after normal, weaker men who attacked their girlfriends and wives because it was easy. Never someone who’d been training their whole life and taking contracts on people who were skilled in their fighting techniques.

You stayed in that hallway for a few more minutes before going to find Algo, it would be her who would gather the women who wanted to help and those who didn’t. Though you preferred to just go at this alone with him, you knew if you could not stop your girls, you could not stop any of the women who had grown to love you and them.

It was decided that the team of female volunteers, Algo and your daughters would move to a second location somewhere out of state. There they would set up. INM was already hidden, outside the city down a long dirt path. You always said you wanted to go back to the woods and the woods helped keep it secret.

The only way people knew about it was word of mouth. You had friends in doctors offices, psychiatrists, police officers, women who just worked everyday jobs and even homeless women who just patrolled the streets of the city to watch for women in need. It was your own classified network that expanded all over the country.

You wanted to spread it out more and while there was only one physical Izanami No Mikoto the idea had unfurled farther than you ever thought it would. What helped, in your opinion, was that the network was made up of everyday women. This meant that every female affiliated with the INM had a sworn duty to help other women and children in need.

The lawyers offered free legal representation, doctors had free medical care to give, the wealthy had money to provide, it all worked out even more perfectly than you could have ever imagined. Your dream had become a reality and you would do anything in your power to protect that… No matter what and that’s why they were leaving what you felt was your home.

Any male who followed a woman there or found the place was disposed of right away. It was a female sanctuary. John would be the only one to walk away but still, he was male and knew the location and it was decided that Shizuoka would stay and run INM, while also looking for a new place to move to.

After everything was planned out you embraced Algo and Shizuoka. You thanked them for everything and being by your side through even the worst of times and most of all, you thanked them for all their help in raising your beautiful daughters. You’d be forever indebted to them. It was a tearful goodbye with Shizuoka crying out,

“This is not goodbye! We will see you soon!” She pulled you in for one more hug.

You walked with your daughters who had joined halfway through to their shared room they never grew out of. Tatyana had her own room but never slept in it, she liked to be with her sister. When they were fourteen you all redid their room together. Painted blue with two double beds on opposite sides of the room. Kat’s side was cleaner than Darya’s which came as a surprise to you.

Your quiet daughter tended to be more serious. She had a very dry sense of humor and spoke in a way that drove most who didn’t know her insane. Yet for all her more proper qualities she couldn’t put her clothes in a basket to save her life. Kat always cleaned the room, in fact she loved cleaning. You thought it was a good outlet for her as she did it a lot while she was stressed.

As you followed them into their room your eyes noticed the painted hands on the wall. It was yours, Tatyana’s, Darya’s and Algo’s. You smiled. All of you were messing around after you finished fixing up the room. Algo had the great idea to leave your mark on the wall. You would be cutting that off the wall and taking it wherever you went next. Kat laid in her bed and you sat by her feet which she placed on your lap. Darya went on and continued packing.

“So, all this? All because our father is here? I mean we usually plan things out this way but we don‘t evacuate.” Your daughter asked with a confused face as she put a couple shirts she liked in a box.

“Yeah, he’s a very wanted man. We don’t want to risk anything.” You explained.

“What does that mean for you? Like are the stories I’ve overheard true? Has he killed that many people? Have that many people died?” Kat asked. “I mean how much danger are you going to be in by helping him?”

You sighed. As they grew up you didn’t tell them much. They sure as hell didn’t know you used to kill people until they were older and found out themselves. A common game they liked to play; Why Won’t Mom Talk About Her Past? Something they played a lot much to your dismay. You told them multiple times to stop when you would catch them playing it— which wasn’t hard for you— that there were things they didn’t need to know.

Tatyana and Darya were trouble makers but always for the right reason. Getting suspended for defending someone or themselves. Finding out information on you because they were worried about you. While it was annoying— and expensive because you had to bribe the school with all your money to keep them enrolled— you knew they did it because they had good hearts.

Something you were going to inform John on when you next saw him, was that they grew up with you teaching them everything you knew about fighting under the guise of self defense. This was because you only trusted yourself to educate them the best, considering your vast knowledge on the subject. They were good but they had never seen something like this.

You gave them— for the most part considering they now help you— a normal life. They went to a private school, partook in sports, clubs, graduated early, and had a good group of friends. It was really starting to hit you just how much you fucked up showing up to see him. Your momentary lapse in judgment put your children in a world of danger they didn’t know about. You trusted Algo to keep them safe but you suddenly felt sick.

“I’m so sorry. I should’ve told you this all before I made my decision.” Your hand left its current resting place to lay on Tatyana’s knee, “I will tell you everything but I want you to know that I didn’t keep this from you to lie, but to give you a normal life.”

Although you were going to leave it up to your ex— lucky him, you rolled your eyes— you began to tell them the story of your past.

“My father wasn’t a good person. Taught me everything I knew and loved me. I didn’t get to go to school like you guys did. He homeschooled me, taught me to live off the grid.” You chuckled thinking about how crazy your biological father was, “He was a bit of a doomsayer but he had his reasons, surviving all he had. You have to remember he was born during the 1930’s Ukraine. I- I shouldn’t be defending him.”

“Why? What makes you suggest he is a bad person?” Darya looked intrigued. “You always talked about him when we were kids.”

“He was a good father to me.”

This was something you struggled with a lot. In fact you would lay in bed a lot when you and Jardani were together and express this to him as he was the one person you felt couldn’t judge you no matter what. Your father was your number one support system as a child. Always spending time with you, listening to your feelings and protecting you. Teaching you to be strong and frightening.

With such a cold mother it was hard not to gravitate to the parent that gave you warmth and love. Little did you know how cold he could be towards your mother as they both hid it well from you. As you grew older you understood why your mother resented you. She knew all he was doing, and put up with it out of love and fear but still he treated you with so much love.

How horrible; A mother jealous of her own daughter, a twelve year old at that. When you began to understand her a bit more, thanks to therapy, it all made sense in a very sad way. While your father could do romantic gestures— having random outbursts where he was quite passionate— he could only experience romantic love in his own way.

You believed to him it was easier to love you than your mother, but he did love her. Your mother was insecure, and affectionate. When someone like that is starved of the love they crave they’re bound to get jealous at the sight of any bit of kindness that's not directed at them. Sadly it happened to be her own child. You’re mother should’ve never been a mother and it’s as simple as that.

She died for him; teaching your twelve year old brain a sick way of thinking about love. Still, in a guilty way, you missed him and her even though they were horrible people. You had good stories because you were oblivious to his crimes for a long time before you found out.

“One day I ventured out into the woods of my backyard and I found him, killing a man. I ran to my room and freaked out, I was twelve. That was my father, I almost thought what I saw wasn’t real… but it was.”

“Holy shit.” Kat got up but leaned back on her arms.

“Before I could make up my mind, the cops stormed my house and my mother and father were shot dead right in front of me. He was a serial killer” Your voice was calm, though you had never told them, you yourself had come to terms with what you witnessed.

The twins watched you, intrigued. They were finally going to find out everything they wanted to know about you, straight from the source itself.

“A detective took me in for a bit. He was never home, always out and I practically lived on my own for a year until he brought me to meet a woman who went by the name The Director. She took me in and that’s where I met your father, he was the only one who could ever make me feel safe. Where I grew up was called the Roma Ruska. Due to my prior history, she trained me to be a skilled assassin alongside Jardani.” You rubbed your thighs out of an anxious habit.

“My eyes were opened to a completely second, secret world. When I was fifteen the worst event in my life took place, causing me to hate the Roma Ruska even more. I grew up taking hits with him and completing contracts until we broke up. I left, everyone thought I was dead apparently, except John and a couple others. Then I found out I was pregnant with you… The rest is history but now he’s here because he needs help and has my stupid marker.”

“What like exactly is a marker anyways?” Kat was listening with an intense interest.

“It’s a blood oath. When someone does a big enough favor for you, you give them your bloody finger print and if they ever need you to do anything for them, they bring the marker to you. It’s only complete when both parties' finger fingerprints are there. John and I gave them to each other because…” This time your voice started to waiver, “We were in love with each other. I didn’t think they’d be used this way but I was an idiot and had him complete his.”

“Why don’t you just say no?” Darya came to sit on her bed which was across from her sisters.

You sighed.

“There are two rules in that world. No business on hotel grounds and you must complete the marker, or you will be taken care off. No refusing or killing whoever has it. I used mine years ago for something small.” There was no reason to explain what the first rule was and they didn’t seem to care anyways.

“And he’s making you do this? What if…” Kat started.

“Someone else was to kill him?” Darya finished.

“You two are not killing your own father. At first he was but like I said he changed his mind and got up to leave. That’s basically all of it, so to answer your original question, it’s very dangerous. But I promise I’m good at what I do, and so is he.”

Both of your daughters stayed silent for a few minutes, taking in everything you had just said. They had millions of questions but based on your demeanor you didn’t seem in the mood to go into more details. The two women looked at each other before Darya got up and sat on Kat’s bed, giving you a hug. Tatyana joined in on the little group hug.

You let out one sob before wrapping your arms around them. These two women were your whole world, your reasons to continue on. Once they were born it was easier to forget about Jardani and everything you had been through. No matter what, you always had them, always. You pulled back to smile at them.

“I’m sorry.”

“For what? We still love you!” Tatyana hugged you tighter.

“Yeah!”

Your response was immediate as you loved them too. More than they could ever begin to believe. With a kiss to each of their heads you thanked them and promised you’d say goodbye in the morning. Lots of hugging was happening as you embraced them longer and tighter than usual. They wished they could come with you but it was just too dangerous.

It was about an hour later when you made it back to the room you left John in. He was probably dying of boredom and you laughed. Just as expected he was half asleep in the chair, looking uncomfortable. You called his name and he jumped up, prepared for anything but it was just you. He relaxed and exhaled.

“So?” He asked.

“There are some things you need to know. One, I gave our daughters a very normal life and I just had to tell them everything. Something I never wanted to do. They can fight but they aren’t experts, I taught them myself.”

“Then maybe I should leave. I don’t want to put them in danger.”

You didn’t miss the way he only mentioned them. Of course he wouldn’t care about you being in danger but at this point even you didn’t care about yourself too much. It was too late, you told him. By showing up he had ruined everything and you all would have to start new. There would be a lot to do tomorrow morning and the day was coming to an end. You told him to follow you and brought him to your room.

“Two, you’re not allowed anywhere else in this building. In fact you’re going to be the only male to ever walk out of here alive.” Your tone was harsh and your face was serious. “You can sleep on the floor because you certainly are not getting my bed.”

With that you threw some oversized men’s sleep pants and a shirt that you liked to wear at him. You were not going to make him sleep in that suit. Not for his sake though, you told yourself, but you didn’t know if you could fall asleep with him in that insufferable thing. Too formal, too fitting and not at all stretchy enough. It would be like sleeping in wet clothes in your opinion.

You hated those suits no matter how good he looked in them. John gave you a nod of thanks and you both turned to change.

Being all snuggled into bed you knew it would take forever for you to fall asleep as you were very worried for the up and coming days. You grabbed a hidden vodka bottle that was under your night stand and took a shot. A moan left your mouth at the familiar burn in your throat. You threw back another before offering it to John which he denied. You shrugged before taking two more back to back.

The buzz was a bit strong and although you wouldn’t get a good night's rest it would help you fall asleep faster than without. The silence was almost deafening as all you could hear were the sounds of your guys breathing. The two of you hadn’t slept in the same room in decades and the awkwardness was very strong. You just couldn’t take it.

“Jardani?” You whispered into the dark.

“Yeah?”

“Why did you wear that stupid suit here?” It made no sense for him to dress his best to see you.

“It's bulletproof.” He responded.

“Oh.” You winced, it still probably hurt like hell to get hit. “That’s new.”

John gave you a hum of acknowledgement to let you know he heard you. The silence settled once again but this time it wasn’t as uncomfortable. The alcohol was taking effect and before you knew it you were falling asleep. It had been a rough day and you hoped that tomorrow would be better but you didn’t have high hopes. Things were only going to get much worse.

#john wick fanfic #john wick x reader #john wick x y/n #john wick x you

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portaltothevoid · 2 years

Text

For Whom the Bell Tolls - Chapter One - Lullaby

Pairing: Eddie Munson x OFC (Kat Ramsay), sequel to Foolin’

Summary: Kat and Eddie have a moment listening to Metallica, but afterwards Kat has a horrible nightmare.

Warnings: established relationship, a sprinkling of dom!kat and sub!eddie (this is as smutty as i’m ever gonna get), use of princess, queen, good boy, sweetheart, and babe, horror elements

Word count: 2.6k

Chapter song: Lullaby by The Cure

Tag list: @madaboutmunson @munchabunch (thank you my darling beta readers!) @michele131 @riffcrusader @idiot-parade @prettyboyeddiemunson

“She’ll be home any minute now,” Linda said reassuringly.

“How do you think she’ll handle this?”

“It depends… She won’t go to Nevada. I know that for a fact. But maybe–” Linda was cut off by the sound of the front door opening.

“Hey, Aunt Linda!” Kat’s voice ran out cheerily. She was in a seemingly good mood this afternoon as she trotted over to the kitchen, dropping her backpack on the couch as she went by. When she became fully aware there was a difference in the usual routine, she stopped dead in her tracks. “Uncle Hank… uh, hi?” she spoke hesitantly.

“Hey, Kat. Nice to finally see you,” he smiled warmly at her. His face was kind, but that did nothing to soothe the anxiety that was starting to bubble inside Kat.

“Wh-what are you doing here? I mean…I thought with work, you weren’t…” Kat stammered, failing to hide her shock. Linda had been incessantly trying to get her to talk to her uncle. Always leaving out why it was so urgent, Kat started to connect the dots on her own. This was about her power.

“Kat, I know this is sudden, but we really need to talk. We need to talk about you… about your abilities,” he began cautiously. “What do you remember from when you lived here before?”

“No. I’m not talking about this,” she said sternly.

“I’m sorry, kid, but you’re gonna have to. Look, I don’t want to do this as much as you don’t want to; however, you were born with incredible abilities that we need to get a handle on. At the very least, we need to know where you’re at.”

“Why?!” interrupted Kat. “So you can use me as some top secret agent to fight your battles for you? To poke and prod me some more like I’m a lab rat? I’m not fighting in some made up war–”

“No,” Hank cut off Kat’s rant, his voice forceful. “This has nothing to do with the Russians. This threat is very real and right here, in Hawkins. We know things are only going to get worse and we need to be prepared. You need to be prepared. Hawkins will be at the epicenter of what's to come.”

“Epicenter of what? If you ever want me to agree to anything, quit bullshitting me.”

“Kat! Don’t speak to him that way!” Linda interjected, which only earned an eye roll from Kat.

“It’s fine, Linda. I’m sorry for the ambiguity. In order for me to fully explain, I need to know how much you remember from the lab.”

– – – – – – – – – –

Kat thumbed through the albums behind the placard marked with an ‘M.’ She paused when she finally found the one she was searching for. Smiling to herself, she took a moment to bask in pride for what her friends had accomplished. The day was finally here.

“Did you find it!?” Eddie asked, buzzing with excitement. He almost crashed into her when his body kept going forward past his scurrying feet.

Kat grabbed two copies of the record to show him its artwork. She was beaming. “Look at this fucking cover!” she exclaimed, holding out the record for both of them to admire. “Did you find two cassettes?” He responded by shaking a cassette in each hand. His face was lit up like a small child’s on Christmas morning. To them, this was Christmas.

Once they purchased their new music, the pair practically ran to Kat’s car. “Okay, so should we–” she began to ask.

“Don’t even bother asking. I’ve waited three months for this record to come out and I’m gonna wait any longer,” he cut off Kat as he began unwrapping the plastic from the brand new cassette. “We’ll start from the top when we get back to yours.” As Kat threw her car in reverse out of the parking spot, Eddie popped in Metallica’s new album, Master of Puppets.

When the road was clear, Kat punched the gas of her Mustang and took off towards her house with the melodic, acoustic intro of “Battery” filling her car. As the electric guitars and full band kicked in, she slowly turned to look at Eddie, her face alight with awe. He was biting his lower lip and slapping his ringed hand on his leg.

“Yes! Yes! Fuck yeah!” he shouted before proceeding to shake his head to the beat, his curls flying around his face in a blur.

Kat pressed down on the gas, letting the car’s speed match the tempo of the music. She turned the steering wheel into some makeshift guitar/drum hybrid instrument. Although this ride to the record store wasn’t a particularly long drive from her home, she was determined to shave off as much time as humanly possible.

When the first track ended, the title track of the album came in with punching riffs. The couple whooped and hollered. Kat ferociously hit her steering wheel. “Ugh, finally high quality!” she proclaimed. In the middle of the guitar solo, Kat pulled into her driveway, slamming her car into park.

She ejected herself from the car and ran up the steps to her front door, waving her hand in front of her to unlock it. “Holy shit, how fast were you driving?!” Eddie asked, shocked.

“Don’t worry about it,” Kat giggled as they ran up the stairs to her room. He just laughed, shaking his head as he followed behind her.

Eddie made a beeline right to her record player and carefully removed the vinyl from its case, delicately placing it on the turntable. When he placed the needle on the spinning record, he cranked the volume.

Together they had their own short lived concert thrashing around Kat’s bedroom. She took brief breaks to read the lyrics, while Eddie took one to light up a joint from them to share (which was nothing but a roach by the end of “Master of Puppets” second verse).

They ended up facing each other and sang the second chorus in each other's faces. Kat gravitated closer and closer to Eddie, looking him dead in the eyes as “master, master, master…” was repeated just before the instrumental bridge. He closed any remaining distance between the two of them, gripping her by her waist, spinning them into some sort of waltz-esque dance. Being somehow perfectly in sync, Kat followed his lead as they danced around the open space of her room.

With the resuming of the heavy riffs, Kat pulled Eddie to her, their bodies crashing into each other in time with the crashing of the cymbals. She created this push and pull between them while still moving him backward until his legs met her bed, causing him to fall backwards onto it.

She was on top of him in seconds. Her hands pressing into her mattress on either side of his head. Looking deep into his chocolate eyes that were alight with lustful desire as she hovered over him. She sang the lyrics to him, inching closer and closer to him with every line.

“Master, Master Where’s the dreams that I’ve been after? Master, Master Promised only lies. Laughter, laughter All I hear or see is laughter. Laughter, laughter Laughing at my cries…”

She slowly brought herself upright, so she could look down at him, until suddenly she put her mouth right next to his ear. In the most sultry voice she could manage, she whispered “fix me…” before she gave him a little nibble.

Eddie couldn’t take it anymore. He firmly grasped her hips and flipped her over. Now that she was the one on her back, he looked down at her and said in an almost chastising tone, “You keep singing ‘master’ at me like that, I just might have to act like one.” He smirked as he sank his weight down, holding her in place. His hands anchored her shoulders, adding more pressure as he leaned down. He moved one hand up, tracing the side of her neck, until he was holding her face. “Let go of control, princess.”

Her breath hitched for a split second before she caught it. A smirk clouded her features. She moved his arms away from her, taking them in an iron hold, and flipped him over once again. Having moved so suddenly, he didn’t even have a chance to react. She slid his arms up so they were extended over his head. Even though she moved her hands, pressure remained, locking him in place. One of her hands wrapped around his neck as she applied enough pressure to make his eyes grow wide. Her smirk turned into a devilish grin as she moved her hand up to close her thumb and index fingers tightly on his cheeks, pushing his head to the side and into the bed. She leaned over him again, speaking through gritted teeth that nearly grazed over his ear as she spoke. “I’m not your princess. I’m your Queen,” she said before snapping his head back so they were face to face again.

Returning her other hand back to his neck, she kissed him depravedly. All the while she never lost control over the energetic coils that bound his wrists above his head that kept him still. Her tongue brushed his lower lip before she broke contact. He let out a whimper, his eyes pleading for more. With her wicked grin, she gently brushed his cheek. Turning his head to her hand, he leaned into her touch. She went from gentle to firm in an instant as she revisited her tight grip on his face as she placed her forehead on his. “Be a good boy and let your Queen take care of you, hmm?” she asked as she slid her body down his, her hands drifting underneath his shirt to remove it.

It would be awhile before they both could really give this album a full and proper listen.

– – – – – – – – –

She looked around and saw all her friends laughing, enjoying themselves. Eddie was by her side, leaning into her as he chuckled at something that was most likely at her expense. She playfully rolled her eyes. A loving warmth surrounded the moment. All of Hellfire are scattered around the room. Steve, Robin, Nancy, and even Chrissy were there. They all joined in the laughter. A gleeful camaraderie blossomed before everyone.

She scanned the room, basking in what seemed to be a perfect moment of harmony amongst friends. Amongst the only steadfast group she’s ever been a part of. Her eyes land on a figure dressed all in white, leaning against the wall. He was watching them, watching her. It’s someone close to her age. They’re so familiar, yet she had no memory of why or how. Had she ever seen this person before?

It was then that the moment turned to ice. Happiness was drained from the room as if a full sink had been unplugged.

Everyone froze, their expressions barren and stoic. The light was being siphoned from their eyes.

She locked eyes with the man in white. Standing upright, he tapped his steepled fingers against one another. A devilish, or perhaps just evil, grin grew on his face as he clasped his hands in front of him. Goosebumps creeped up her skin. Her breathing increased in pace. Anxiety. Danger. These feelings consumed her.

“Somehow I knew we would be reunited again. Do you remember my offer, dear Katrina? Do you remember me?” His voice was calm. Too calm. It was like calm before the storm. It was the embodiment of walking on eggshells.

“W-who are you? What is this p-place?” she stammered.

“Who I am is not as important as who… As what I’ve become. Don’t you remember? Surely you could not have forgotten what you and your friend did to me?” His voice deepened as he walked towards her, his features evaporating. Or maybe they were being burned off? She watched his humanity become stripped away in real time. There seemed to be nothing left, save for a muscular structure and veins. This figure was beyond horrifying. “Remember, Katrina. Remember!” he bellowed, shaking her to her core.

The figure looked as if it was glitching between its former human self and the monster it had become. Then memories of her pre-teen years that had been long buried started coming to the surface. Her breath caught in her throat. “One,” she managed to somehow whisper.

“This world can be rid of pain, of suffering. We have the power to do that. Together. You have the power to do that. Join me, Katrina.”

“No. No. There is more than that. There’s so much more. I’ve seen it, felt it.”

“Do you think these humans are equal to you? Do you think they will always be here for you? Do you think they will not abandon you? Do you believe that you matter to them? Do you think you belong here? You don’t. You cannot defeat me, Katrina. Join me. Create something better than this. With me. With us.” She was frozen in fear. She could barely formulate a thought, never mind a response. “I’ve found you here. I will find you, both of you, in the waking world. Our worlds will bleed and then become one. Soon.”

The figure vaporized into a mist, fading into nothing. In its place, emerged a grandfather clock protruding out of the wall.

Tick. Tock.

It chimed, the sound reverberated through the walls, distorted.

Her friends that still surrounded her now stared at her. The color of their eyes faded to white.

Tick. Tock.

Chime.

Their mouths slowly opened, wider and wider. As their jaws began to dislocate, hundreds of black widow spiders emerged from their mouths. She tried to get away, she tried to scream.

Tick. Tock.

Chime.

Slowly she turned to face Eddie, trying desperately to call out his name. Slowly he turned to look back at her. His mouth opened, wider. Wider still. A waterfall of spiders spilled out, crawling their way towards her. She tried to get away, she tried to scream.

Tick. Tock.

Chime.

– – – – – – – – – –

“Kat! Kat! Wake up! Kat, it’s okay, I’m here! It’s just a nightmare! Wake up!”

Eddie suddenly woke to the sound of Kat whimpering in her sleep. He rolled over to wrap his arm around her, tried to pull her close to him, in hopes that would comfort her. She started shaking her head. She thrashed her way out of his grasp. And then she started to scream.

Immediately, Eddie was kneeling over her, gripping her shoulders to shake her awake. “Kat!” he shouted at her once more, before her eyes flung open and she gasped like she had just risen from the dead.

She flung herself upright. “Eddie? Eddie!?” she croaked. Her arms frantically searched for him. He wanted to be brave for her, but he was terrified. This had never happened. Kat never gets spooked by anything. Selfishly, for the briefest second, he was thankful she would never see the look of sheer fright that was on his face.

The instant she made contact with his body, she burst into tears. She clung to him like he was the only thing anchoring her to her sanity. Fear racked her mind like the sobs racked her body. If she let go of him, would his eyes turn white? Would a flood of spiders escape from him?

“Shhh, babe, it’s gonna be okay. I’m here, I’m right here,” he said softly, desperately trying to hold himself together, to keep his own fear from possessing his voice. “Breathe. Sweetheart, just breathe. It was a dream. Just a bad nightmare. It wasn’t real.”

When her breathing returned to normal, she moved back to look at him. She shook her head. “No, no. It’s not. It’s not gonna be okay. It– It…” her voice cracked. Her lip quivered as she tried not to sob again. “None of us are going to be okay.”

Tick. Tock. Chime. The sounds of that clock etched themselves into her mind, haunting her.

next chapter

#eddie munson #eddie munson x ofc #eddie munson fanfic #eddie munson fanfiction #vecna #joseph quinn #joe quinn #stranger things #stranger things 4 #stranger things fanfic #eddie munson x reader #eddie munson x you

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anticomedygarden · 8 months

Text

Happy 60th birthday, Percy!

ao3 link

Percy couldn't remember a time Camp Half-Blood had ever been so full.

Not even his first summer, back before the wars when the gods were so damn horny and irresponsible, were there so many people (and mythical beings) packed into the space, made even more impressive by the fact that everyone seemed to be outside on the grounds, and Percy absolutely loved it. He hadn't seen some of these people in years, maybe even decades; apparently, two half-bloods reaching 60 years old - the first in centuries if he didn't include Nico and Hazel - was a big deal.

Of course, a gathering this size was sure to attract more vile attention, and someone had already spotted a couple hellhounds prowling around the wards, but whatever. Somebody younger could deal with it, someone who didn't have creaky knees.

Suddenly, his attention was drawn to a bright blue streak racing toward the steps of the Big House.

"Grandpa!" little Clio yelled as she catapulted herself into Percy's lap. As the oldest child of Percy and Annabeth's youngest child, Clio was their second youngest grandchild at only three years old. He figured her little brother was probably being passed around somewhere in the throng of people which was how she'd managed to slip away from her moms.

"Hey, squirt," he said, spitting out a piece of her wavy black hair as she got herself situated. "Are you having fun?"

She nodded vigorously. "Aunt Clarisse showed me where to punch someone so they go to sleep, and Aunt Rachel gave me paint tattoos!" She thrust her arms out to reveal both hands covered in roses and vines, and he stifled a laugh. That was sure to go over well with both her parents.

"That's so cool, sweetie," he said while rooting around in his pocket. "Hey, guess what I have!"

Somehow, her big grey eyes lit up even brighter. "What?"

"Candy!" She shrieked at the sight of the shiny red Kit-Kat wrapper - her favorite, a trick he had picked up from his mom. He quickly unwrapped it and broke it in half. It was his birthday, after all.

A few minutes later found them playing rock, paper, scissors, both of them with sticky hands from the half-melted chocolate bar.

She giggled when he lost the fifth round in a row. "You suck at this."

His mouth dropped open. "Where did you learn that word?" Honestly, Percy couldn't care less what words she used, but kids always loved it when they thought they got away with saying a bad word.

This time was no different. "Uncle Magnus," she said gleefully.

His eyes widened in mock surprise. "Did you get to see Uncle Magnus today?"

She smiled and nodded.

Before he could question her further, Lucy, their youngest daughter, appeared at the bottom of the steps. "Dad, have you seen - oh, there she is. Clio, what did I say about running off?"

Mischief danced in his granddaughter's eyes. "Uh oh."

He laughed, knowing full well that the little girl was allowed to go wherever she wanted at Camp since no matter where she went, there would be a demigod, nymph, or some other mythical being ready to lead her back to her parents.

Then, Lucy spotted the Kit-Kat wrapper. "Dad! She's already had three cupcakes today!"

He stared Clio right in the eyes. "Uh-oh." She giggled again, and he looked back at his daughter who was glaring at him fiercely with eyes that perfectly matched her mother's. "She's my granddaughter, and it's my birthday. I can give her as much candy as I want." He started tickling her then and said a silent thank you that she was still small enough to lay down on his lap even while convulsing with laughter.

"Speaking of your birthday, there are a ton of people who want to talk to you down there." Her hands were on her hips, a habit she still retained from childhood. Anytime she wanted him or Annabeth to do something, this was the exact stance they got: pointed look and hands on hips. He caved almost every time, but then again, Annabeth had always been stronger than him.

Now, though, there was another one on his lap, giggling and wanting something completely different from him. "They can wait a little bit longer."

Lucy huffed but didn't say anything, just sat in the chair opposite him. "Where's mom?"

"I think I saw her with Aunt Piper," he answered. "Speaking of, where is your other child? And your wife?"

She waved a hand. "With Grandma." Of course they were. At 78 years old, Sally Jackson was as spry and magnetic as ever.

In fact, she was coming up the hill with an infant in her arms.

"Mom, how do you always have a kid?" he said, and was pleased to see Lucy stand up to make a seat for her grandmother.

"Oh, no, don't get up for me. I just wanted to pop up here with the baby to say hello." She waved his little arm. "And to answer your question, son, it's grandma powers."

Again, he didn't question her, though he thought quietly that Annabeth didn't seem to attract children the way his mother did.

"Nana, El!" Clio piped from her place on Percy's lap, hands stretching toward her great-grandmother. Ever since her little brother had been born, she had been fascinated with him, constantly wanting to hold him and play with him.

Lucy gave her a stern look. "What do we say?"

"Please!"

Sally gave Percy a knowing look. It hadn't been very long ago when Lucy's older brother had done almost the exact same thing.

Tamping down the odd, bittersweet feeling, he got Clio situated to hold the baby: sitting up on his thighs with his hands under hers, a watchful eye trained on them between her wild strands of dark hair. "Go ahead, mom."

Gently, Sally lowered the baby into their arms. When he was secure, Percy allowed himself to fully appreciate the moment with his family. Four generations of Jacksons, all on the porch of the Big House. One mortal, one demigod, and two legacies. He never thought he'd see the day.

Of course, this party really was special for his mother. Mortals normally weren't allowed inside the Camp boundaries, but an allowance was made for today, just for his and Annabeth's family.

Sally leaned against his chair. "I remember when you looked like that at your sister."

"Mom, I was 17 when Estelle was born."

She raised an eyebrow at him. "And? I had never seen you sit so still. You had that same look in your eyes when Paul handed her to you."

"Sure, mom." He knew she was right, but he would never reach an age where ribbing wasn't funny.

She squeezed his ear. "Hey, I wanted to tell you that we're probably not gonna stay super long."

He gave her an offended look. "It's barely even 2!"

"We are very old, son. Besides, we spent the whole day with you on Annabeth's birthday. This party is really for you demigods, anyway, and us old coots have to be in bed by 8."

So, maybe that was true. "Fine."

"Hey, I was wondering where you all were," Lucy's wife Gina said as she appeared at the bottom of the stairs. With dark skin and mischief in her eyes, she was a very distant legacy of Mercury that Lucy had met at NRU in college. "Percy, Annabeth wants to talk to you."

"Excellent." If there was one person he would always get out of his chair for, it was her. "Where is she?"

Gina picked Elias up, and Percy set his granddaughter on the ground, grinning when she took off toward the crowd with barely a 'bye-bye.'

"Last I saw, she was at the desserts table."

"Thanks," he said and started heading down.

On his way, he was stopped no less than a dozen times by various people wishing him a happy birthday, some a happy 44th anniversary of the end of the Titan War.

Finally, he made it to Annabeth and wrapped his arms around her waist. "Hey, wise girl."

"Seaweed brain!" She turned around in his arms and kissed him as if they hadn't seen each other less than a half hour ago.

"Really? In front of the food?" their oldest child Nathan asked. At 34, he had seen his parents kiss countless times yet always seemed to have the same reaction.

"Yeah, guys, come on, really?" the son of Hermes and hero of Olympus asked as he tore into a blue cupcake.

"Hey, Travis," Annabeth said, arms still around Percy's neck. Nathan had already disappeared to the gods knew where, maybe to go find his girlfriend of 10 years, and they probably wouldn't see him again for a while.

Travis waved his cupcake. "We're so old, you guys. We're all getting into our 60s! What the hell happened?"

Just as Percy was about to ask one of his oldest friends to take his crisis somewhere else, Connor popped up out of no where and said, "Okay, bro, let's go find Katie." He then led his brother away to presumably fall into hysterics in the safety of his wife's arms.

Percy and Annabeth looked at each other and burst out laughing.

Eventually, Annabeth sobered and said, "He's not wrong. When Leo asked Bianca-" Nico and Will's daughter "-to play 'Material Girl', she said, 'I'm not playing freaking Taylor Swift,' and kicked him off the stage." She gave him a pointed look. "We're old, babe!"

Percy laughed. "That was news, like, 8 years ago." It was also around that time he realized their one strand of grey hair had turned into several strands, and Shrek was considered a classic. "She might have a point about Taylor Swift, though."

Annabeth gave him her patented 'don't get me started' look, and he wisely shut his mouth.

"What did you need me for?"

She wrinkled her nose. "Oh, I just wanted you to see all this blue food!" She waved a hand toward it all, and he recognized at least a couple of his mom's dishes amidst the blue cookies, blue brownies, blue cakes and cupcakes, and blue pasta noodles. He was practically in heaven.

Annabeth handed him a cupcake and took one for herself, and soon they were walking hand in hand through the crowd that had somehow grown since he first stepped into it.

Most of the faces were vaguely recognizable, people they knew from being the two most famous and revered demigods of their generation. Others, he didn't know. He supposed they were the ones that wanted to see firsthand two demigods that had managed to live so long.

He really couldn't blame them for that.

The rest were people they knew well. Speaking of-

"Magnus, Alex! I'm so glad you guys could come," Percy said when he saw the young blond and his partner. Young was relative, of course. Chronologically, Magnus and Alex were only a couple years younger than him and Annabeth, but that was impossible to know just by looking at them. Both still looked the picture of 16.

There was something to be said there about their perpetual youth as a metaphor for the permanence of death while everyone else aged, but today wasn't the day to think about it. Besides, he liked to leave that kind of thing to Annabeth. Instead, he thought about the novel occurrence of Norse demigod einherjar in Camp Half Blood. There were some Egyptian magicians running around, too. Really put the whole Greek-Roman split fiasco in perspective.

"Yeah, we managed to slip down between meetings," Magnus said. Nearly 45 years later and the Chase Space was going strong, so strong, in fact, that they had opened up several more. It was wonderful, but it was also a lot of work. "Blitz is there now with Hearth."

"Ooh, where'd the blue cupcakes come from?" Alex asked.

Annabeth laughed. "Right over there in the pavilion."

Alex waved in thanks before dragging Magnus over to the food.

Percy turned to Annabeth. "You know what I just realized?"

"What?"

"I get a 10% discount at Burger King now." He was unreasonably excited for it.

She patted him on the back. "Good. You'll finally be able to join me."

If she thought that would rile him up, she was dead wrong. "Are you saying you want Burger King dates?"

"I'd go on a date anywhere with you." Somehow, she said it totally straight faced despite the cheesiness of the line. He appreciated it all the same. The next person they ran into was Grover.

"G-Man!"

"Percy! Annabeth!"

Man, had he missed Grover. The satyr was running an international project to get mythical creatures more involved in environmentalism, and they rarely had a chance to see each other anymore.

"How's the project going?" Percy asked.

Grover beamed. "It's going really well. We just finished planting a bunch of trees in France, and we're gonna go to Canada next to mess with hunters."

Not all of their business practices were strictly legal, but they didn't really need to be, anyway.

Annabeth laughed. "That sounds like a lot of fun."

Grover nodded.

They chatted for a bit longer until Juniper called him over to do something.

From there, they somehow made it to the activities section of Camp, and Annabeth dared him to race her up the climbing wall. She beat him, of course. Just like old times.

Next, they played a game of volleyball against some Roman legacies and won. The legacies were so excited to play with them that they didn't care a couple of 60 year olds beat them.

After that, they ran into Frank and Hazel.

"Hey, you guys," Hazel said. "Happy birthday!"

"Thanks, Hazel," Percy said. He wondered how many times he had heard that phrase today. "How are you?"

She smiled wide, exuberance only multiplied with age. "We're good. We're moving into the new house next week."

"Awesome," Annabeth said. "We'll definitely be there to help."

Hazel clapped. "Thank you so much! We'll do dinner or something, too, alright?"

At 56 and 58, Hazel and Frank were planning to retire in a few years and had recently bought a house right on the Tiber River in New Rome.

"Sounds good," Annabeth answered.

They moved on, mingling throughout the crowd. They talked to a few people, mostly the ones they knew well, and played some more games. Percy was beat badly by Clio at cornhole, but he took the loss like a champ.

Eventually, they made it to the beach, and Percy wasn't surprised to see a black haired man in a bright orange Hawaiian shirt and Bermuda shorts holding a trident on the shore.

Before he could say anything, Annabeth said, "I'm gonna go see if I can find Thalia."

With that, she disappeared back into the crowd.

"Son," Poseidon started. "It is good to see you."

A warmth seeped through Percy's chest. He and his father certainly had one of the best relationships between a demigod and godly parent in the entire Greek pantheon, and, for that, he was forever grateful. It had actually been one of the reasons Zeus loosened the rules about God's visiting their children.

"Thanks, Dad." Percy waited a moment. "Any particular reason you're here?" As good as their relationship was, Poseidon was still a god.

"Can I not just say hello to my son on his birthday?"

Percy just looked at him.

"Fine, I did want to tell you something." Poseidon fidgets with his beard, clearly thinking deeply. "I would like to revisit the subject of your mortality."

Percy supposed he should have seen this coming. He is, after all, Poseidon's favorite son that also just so happened to be transitioning into his senior years, but ever since it became clear that he wasn't going to try to overthrow Olympus with his considerable power, he had gotten used to not being asked to become a god. It had been nice.

"Dad, I don't want to be a god-" he started.

Poseidon held up a hand. "Let me finish, son." He sucked in a breath. "You know that when you were born, it was a huge scandal."

Yeah, he knew. He still had nightmares about the Olympian council voting on whether or not to kill him.

"Despite that, you became a hero of Olympus many times throughout your life, and you have come to be my favorite son. I value your life, which is not something I say lightly."

"Gee, thanks, Dad," he said sarcastically. "I value your life, too."

Poseidon gave him an unimpressed look, then shook his head as if ignoring his son's poor attempt at lightening the mood. When he spoke, Percy was surprised to hear a quaver in his voice. "I find I am deeply saddened at the thought of your death."

And, okay, Percy wasn't expecting that one. Death had always been a constant in his life, something ever present and surrounding. If he hadn't become accustomed to the thought of it, his life would have been much harder. He wasn't looking forward to it, obviously, but he wasn't afraid. It was a miracle he had lived this long, actually.

"Listen, I know I'm getting up there, but I've lived this long. Mortals today can make it to over 100." He didn't need to mention that fighting was getting harder every day, or that his knees creaked and his back ached constantly. He and Annabeth would probably retire to New Athens soon, anyway.

"I am aware, but I just want you to know that when you do die, you and Annabeth both have a place in Atlantis."

A generous offer, but they had decided long ago that Elysium was the place for them. They didn't want immortality or godhood. The only thing they ever wanted was to live their lives, and they had done that, were still doing that. They would go to Elysium happy.

"Thanks, dad, really," he said. "I'll pass that along to Annabeth." He turned, unsure what to do next.

To his surprise, Poseidon pulled him into a bone crushing hug, one his now 60 year old body would take at least a few minutes to recover from.

Poseidon pulled away. "Go, be with your family." He looked down and rubbed an eye.

Percy has to admit that his eyes were getting misty at this point, too. "Love you, dad."

"I love you, too." Poseidon turned to gaze out at the glittering sea, so Percy started making his way back to the party.

Poseidon stopped him with a word. "Percy?"

"Yeah, dad?"

"Happy birthday."

A few hours later when the sky was dark and Artemis was high in the sky with her chariot, Percy sat in the stands at a campfire, Annabeth next to him. Most of the guests had left or retired to their cabins, having to put the kids to bed or comply with camp curfew.

Some, though, were still up, and Percy couldn't help but think they made a formidable crowd despite the average age.

Carter and Sadie Kane were seated right next to the fire, experimenting with spells to see which ones could influence the hearth's magic. The flames were already so high and vibrant from the party that their magic wasn't doing much, though.

Farther down the steps were Magnus and Alex who had decided to stay the night rather than go back to Boston. They were talking to the Stolls, Clarisse, and Katie Gardener, which could only bring trouble.

Thalia and Reyna were mingling around the crowd, looking young as ever, as was Apollo, surprisingly. Or not so surprisingly, considering his own adventures as a mortal. Meg McCaffrey was also walking around the fire, throwing things in to see how fast they would incinerate.

Piper and Shel - another mortal, he noted - were talking to Jason and Leo toward the middle of the stands, and Hazel and Frank were roasting marshmallows by the fire with Grover and Juniper.

Just behind Percy and Annabeth, Nico and Will were loudly discussing the latest Marvel movie with Rachel, a debate Percy and Annebeth would surely find themselves drawn into sooner or later.

For now, Percy took a moment to admire his wife. Annabeth, whose hair was more grey than blonde now, who had laugh lines and worry lines, who had never looked more beautiful. She wore all signs of her age like badges of honor - because they were.

He still couldn't believe they had made it this far.

A soft whoosh drew Percy's attention to his left. Beside them, the god of wine had formed out of nowhere, still in a leopard print shirt and looking the same as he did when Percy was 12.

"Fascinating, isn't it?" he said. Percy noticed that the cup in his hand didn't smell like alcohol despite his sentence having ended several years ago. "Mortals, Egyptians, Norse, Romans, and Greeks, all around Hestia's hearth. I never thought I'd see the day."

Percy and Annabeth exchanged an amused glance. "Hey, Mr. D."

"Yes, hello, Peter and Annabelle." He took a sip of whatever was in his cup. "I hope you realize the magnitude of what is in front of you."

Saving them from answering, Chiron trotted up next to his old colleague and said, "It truly is a wonder." He looked straight at Percy and Annabeth. "And it's because of you two."

Percy felt his face heat up, and one look at Annabeth showed hers doing the same.

It was true, though, he realized. None of these people would be here without them.

"I've been doing this for a very long time, and it is rare that any of my students live past their teen years, yet here we are in front of so many that have lived over half a century. I wonder - how long will this last?" Chiron shook his head. "I don't know, but I pray it is permanent."

Dionysus nodded. "Well said. I trust there is room in Cabin 1 for me?"

"Of course."

With that, he stood and walked down the steps of the amphitheatre toward the cabins, away from the fire and the remaining party.

The wine god had gotten much better since the wars and even sometimes acted like he cared, but there were still the rough edges. Percy found that he liked him much more, now.

He was leagues better than a lot of other gods.

Chiron continued. "I'll leave you to the party, but I want you to think about the impact you have had on our worlds." He looked at them sadly. "We will never forget you two."

Once again, Percy's eyes had gone a bit misty, as had Annabeth's. She squeezed his hand. "We're really lucky, you know."

"Yeah," he agreed. They were.

"Hey, I was waiting til the end of the night for this. Come here." She picked up his hand and dragged him to the bottom of the steps, right by the fire. He followed her curiously, sure what else could possibly be happening today. They'd already sung happy birthday, and presents had been sent to their apartment out of necessity for sheer volume.

She looked up at the crowd. "Hey, guys! It's time."

He looked at her, suddenly scared. "Time for what?"

She didn't answer, and he was forced to wait while all of their friends climbed down to the center of the amphitheatre looking way too excited.

Then, Clarisse came around from the side with a small blue cake that looked like a brick with a single candle stuck in it, and he knew exactly what was going on.

"Come on, guys, aren't we too old for this?" he said nervously, slightly afraid that if any of these 50-60 year olds attempted to carry them, they would throw out their backs.

"Nice try, Jackson," Clarisse said. She handed him the plate. "Make a wish."

Even the non Greeks and the rest of the Seven seemed to know what was going on.

"Yeah, Percy, we all wanna see you two get dunked,” Grover said.

Percy turned a betrayed look to him. "G-Man?"

Travis spoke up next. "C'mon, hurry up!"

"Yeah, let's go!" He wasn't sure which one said that.

He looked at Annabeth next. "You're okay with this?"

She smirked. "I organized it!"

Of course she did.

Percy threw his head back and laughed, then blew the candle out without thinking too much.

A cheer went up around the crowd. "To the lake!"

"Wooh!"

And that's how they found themselves being lifted up onto everybody's shoulders and thrown into the lake, having the second best underwater kiss ever.

Tomorrow, they would go home to their apartment in Queens and return to their everyday lives, but they always knew Camp Half Blood would be there to return to, because this place, more than anywhere else, was home.

They were home.

#percabeth #percabeth fanfic #sally jackson #poseidon #my writing #my fic #pjo #percy jackson #annabeth chase #rrverse #pjoverse #grover underwood #magnus chase #alex fierro #magnus x alex #camp half blood #chiron #dionysus

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konako · 1 year

Note

I have a quick question when did Dorothy get that scar on her wrist? I always wondered why she always wore something on her one wrist, oh and funny the drawings of Donovan has him wearing something on the same wrist but he’s wearing on both of his rest.

And thank you for always answering my weird questions and I hope you have a very awesome day or night or evening!

Hi! Well, that scar in particular was yet another Generous & Brilliant offering by @lovecanbesostrange, who explored further into the backstory we were given for Dorothy's character in 5x18. The brief explanation Dorothy gives Ruby about how her parents tried to have her committed, and she was almost locked away from society. Kat expanded on it and came up with the idea.

Basically, just before Aunt Em intervened to keep Dorothy from getting locked up in a mental hospital, Dorothy was strapped to a bed — shackles around her wrists and ankles, to keep her from escaping. She struggled against the restraints a lot, and the metal of the cuff cut into her wrist, resulting in that scar. It's a tiny, but very significant mark. It speaks a lot to the shared pain and fear of imprisonment that Ruby and Dorothy have gone through. (Both in canon and, severely heightened, in DRK AU)

And I never thought about that detail! Of Dorothy's making unconscious fashion choices to cover up that particular scar. That's a nice coincidence! Look at the Hive Mind at work, there. Excellent!

#drk au

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officalroyalsofpierreland · 2 years

Text

Palais de Royal Rouge

Footman: Right this way Your Royal Highness

Footman: Your Imperial Majesty, Her- Katalina: Thank you Charles, that will be all.

Katalina: Please Maggie, no formalities. How was your trip? Magdelena: Sorry Aunt Kat. The trip was okay, I'm kinda glad to have a bit of a break from my siblings...I love them but...they are quite the handful.

Katalina [chuckling]: Consider it payback for you and Louis's rambuncious days. Magdalena: Speaking of Lou! He doesn't know I'm here right? Katalina: No darling, he just thinks he's coming home for Edmund's graduation. Louis: Mama, you asked to see-

Magdelena: SURPRISE LOU! Louis: Maggie! What are you doing here? Magdelena: Hugging you silly! I'm here for a bit cause I have dumb exams closer to your birthday. Papa and Mama say hi by the way.

@simsroyallegacy

#officalroyalsofpierreland #story #sim: louis #sim: katalina #collab #simsroyallegacy #sim: magdalena of lunaria

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the-cranck-hobbit · 2 years

Text

Beats of your Human Heart || Song of a Nightingale Pt.8

Author's note : English is not my mother tongue, I am french but I wanted to try to write in English so here we are ! (Don't hesitate to tell me about the errors…)

Pairing : Mitchell! OC x Rooster, mention of Kazansky! OC x Hangman, mention of OC × Iceman

Summary : Two years after the uranium mission, Maverick enjoys his new life. Working on his plane, drinking beer at the Hard Deck, building a limpy little family with Penny and her daughter, Rooster, his WSO's son and Blizzard, his wingman's and old friend's daughter.

Everything change the day he got a call which announces the existence of a 26 years daughter.

Discover the story of Ally and Bradley, find out if Kathleen will deal with her father's legacy, and meet Beck, the first woman graduate of Top Gun.

Warning : VERY BAD WRITING, age gap, mention of death, mention of diseases, mention of parents death, mention of s*x but nothing descriptive

It’s been about three weeks since Rooster met Ally. The first time he saw her under the dim light of the Hard Deck, Bradley didn’t see what she looked like Maverick. But then he saw her eyes. She has the exact same green eyes as Mav. But there was something different. Her eyes were sparkling, shining.

Everytime they talked to each other, Bradley was surprised by the way it was easy to talk to her. Every simple thing in life looked wonderful when she was the one telling it. They could speak for hours, time was flying and they never noticed how long they were together.

When he learned about Maverick having a daughter and that she was coming to California, he couldn't wait to meet her. He thought that perhaps, they could have a good bond, maybe he could have a new sister.

Bradley always wanted to have siblings, family was important for him. Unfortunately, his father died when he was only a toddler and his mother never got over it, and never got married again.

When Kat was born, he was so excited. He found in her the little sister he dreamed of. Even when they grew up, and she became this beautiful woman, he never saw her in any other way than his sister of heart.

The last thing he thought when he met Ally, was to fall for her. Firstly because, God, she was the ten-years-younger-Mav’s-daughter. Secondly because he never wanted a relationship.

He remembers when his father died. How it broke his mother's heart. Of course, Carole always did her best to stay strong and smiling in front of her son. But at night, when she thought that Bradley was sleeping, she used to look at some photos of Goose and cried. But sometimes Bradley was awake, and sometimes he saw her.

When he entered the Navy, Bradley promised to himself that he would never make someone go through this. He didn’t want someone waiting for him.

That's what he told himself everytime he could feel this gentle warmth in his chest when he was with Ally, everytime his heart raced when she was touching him. He couldn’t do this to her, he couldn’t make her shining smile fade away.

And having one night stand with her was not an option, because, God, she was ten-years-younger-Mav’s-daughter.

It was Goose’s death anniversary. As usual when he was in San Diego, Bradley went to his grave. When he arrived the grave was clean with fresh flowers. Maverick.

He talked to his father as he usually does, about work, about Maverick and Blizzard. Telling him the moment she could look exactly like aunt Becca, and the time she is just like uncle Tom. He talked to him about Ally, how she was, how it was fun to see Maverick trying to act like a perfect respectful father.

He hesitated to talk to him about his feelings. Even if he couldn’t name it. But he didn’t. He knew that if he said it out loud, it would pass the point of no return.

He decides to go see Becca’s and Tom’s grave. He saw Kat before arriving at Becca’s grave. When he arrived on her side, she smiled at him. They stayed a little time in silence. She raised her head and looked towards her father’s grave.

In the military cemetery where they were all resting, there were no family vaults. Admiral Kazansky died years after his first wife, so they were buried awaye one from each other.

“They could have made an effort, and buried them one next to the other. They could move her, it wouldn’t not bother her. They are so far away from each other.”

There was no anger in her voice, just regrets. Bradley looked at the flowers in Kat’s hand, then at the fresh flowers in the grave. He frowned. Kat should see his face because she answered his silent question.

“Sarah. When she’s coming for my dad she came here too. She told me that it was important for him. He always cleans my mom’s grave. So she’s still coming for her even if he is not here anymore.”

Bradley smiled thinking about the Admiral’s second wife's kindness. “Some people really deserve their tickets for Heaven.” Kat smiled and they went to Iceman's grave together.

_______________________________

San Diego, 1986

Maggie, the kind and sweet nurse, didn’t see her roomate, Becca, since she came back from Top Gun, crying and screaming as soon as she learned of her friend’s death. Becca didn’t go out of her room except to go to the bathroom to take a shower. At least, she was always washing.

So Maggie only hoped for a miracle when she knocked at the door of her friend’s room. “Becca ? There is one of your handsome pilot friends that is here to see you !” Silence. Maggie thought that Becca was not gonna answer like the other time she knocked at her door, asking her if she needed anything or if she wanted to eat.

A hoarse voice answered her. “The blonde-haired or the brown-haired ?” Maggie couldn't help but smile. Maybe there is hope. She answers quickly hoping that the man waiting in the living room is the one Becca would like to talk to. “The blond one.” Another silence.“Tell him I’m coming in five minute.” Maggie barely danced of joy and ran down the stairs.

“Becca is coming in five little minutes. Do you want some coffee?” The man answered with a polite smile. “No, thank you.” Maggie blush. He was tall with a beautiful face. His Black T-shirt and denim pants suggest a muscular body.

"I'm sorry about your friend's death." She told him with a shy smile. He smiled at her back. But his smile was cold and emotion ran through his blue eyes, but she couldn't define it.

"I'm sorry too."

She rocked on her feet and looked back at him.“And, what’s your name again, sailor ?”

“Ice” Becca didn’t really answer Maggie. She was noticing the pilot’s presence. They glanced at each other. Maggie felt like she was too much in this room. So she took her purse, saluted the other one and left.

Storm motioned him to sit down on the couch. He nodded and they sat side by side.

“It’s Viper that sent you ? Want to know how I’m doing ?” Her voice was cold. It didn’t fit her. “No one is sending me. And I won't ask you how you're doing. You look awful.”

Becca looked down and let out a joyless laugh. “I thought you knew how to talk to a girl, Iceman.” The blond man looked at her, more seriously. “I know how to. But you are not a girl. And it would be an insult to talk to you like the others one.”

She raised her head and looked at his blue eyes. Despite the pain, her heart warmed up. As always he knew how to talk to her. Without flowers or simpering. And that's one of the things he likes with her. Most of the time he was rough with words, people can take offence. But not Storm. She prefers honesty to diplomacy.

Iceman sighs. “Look, I know I’m not the one you want to see. I know you would prefer to be with Maverick. But I just wanted to tell you that if you want to talk… or not to talk. I’m… you know… I can be… I mean…” Beck watched him searching for his words and couldn’t help but be amused. “Tom, I think I’ve got the spirit. Thank you. And you’re right, you’re not the one I wanted to see.” He looked down, ready to hear her asking him to leave.

“But…” He looked back at her. “If Mav was here, we would talk about Goose, sharing stories about missions, hangovers and jokes. And we would cry in each other’s arms for hours and drown together. But if I cry just one more time, I think I’m gonna die of dehydration. I don’t need someone to drown with. I need someone who will help me to stay on the surface. So maybe Maverick is the one I wanted to see. But you are the one I need to see.”

They looked at each other. Both hearts racing. There were a lot of words that weren't said between them. Iceman didn’t know what to say. But he wasn’t very good with words. So he just whispered to her a little “c’mere” and took her in his arms.

She didn’t even try to argue and just settled in his laps, wrapped her arms through his torso and put her head against his chest. She sighs and a sweet smile that he couldn’t see appeared in her lips.“I am glad to see that I was right.” Her voice was just a breath. If the house wasn’t totally quiet, he wouldn't have heard her. “About what ?” His voice was as quiet as her.

“About the fact that beyond all these walls of Ice there is a human being.” He could feel his heart growing by her words. She was the first one in a long time who saw him. Tom. Not just Iceman. “How do you know it ?” He said in a breath. She squeezed him tighter. “Because from where I am, I can hear the beat of your human heart and feel the warmth of your skin.”

She raised her head and looked at him. She moved to sit on his laps, her knees around his thighs. She kissed him and burrowed her head in his neck, squeezing his t-shirt in her fist. He wrapped his arms around her body. They stayed like that, without talking. Only to feel each other warm.

Something changed between them this day. They didn't say anything but everything changed.

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dashofmonsters · 2 years

Text

The Long Road- Pt. 7

Male Naga x F!Reader

"It's so good to see you again, even if you look like you've been dragged through hell and back," your aunt Kat remarks as she sits across from you at the dining table in the Maher guest house.

Everyone got up stupidly early, even you, despite your lack of sleep and injuries. The guys made plans to speak with Cavan, Elli, and Mr. Maher practically all day. Cavan's fiance apparently has been working with your aunt on building her a new wardrobe and she directed Kat to you shortly after their visit.

And now she's here with an elderly woman you can only guess is your grandmother. Kat introduces you to her as Erinna's youngest and the woman begins to burst with tears and hugs you like you've never been hugged before.

"Call me Rara dear, I've always wanted grandchildren and I knew right away what I'd have them call me," your grandmother insists.

"It's true, she pinched Bralgar when he tried to call her granny," Kat laughs.

"Granny sounds too old," Rara sneers before relaxing her features. "Moving on, I was asked to come here to appraise someone's magic. A young woman who just recently nearly burned Old Wescal down?"

You raise your hand and lower your head, "I just singed some buildings to be fair."

Rara and Kat sigh heavily and groan.

"You're an elementalist. Both Kat and myself are, as was... as was Erinna. Though whatever element we specialize in seems to be up to our raising. Your mother was proficient with water, Kat here is good with earth though her control is well-"

"It's shit that's why I ended up pursuing the blade instead," Kat pulls out a small blade from her thigh holster and grins as it shines.

"I don't know how I ended up raising a couple of degenerate fight happy stab now ask questions later sort of girls but I suppose I'm to blame for giving you two so much freedom," Rara scoffs and leans her head back against the chair.

Kat shakes her head and tries to hide the look of disgust on her face. You recall the talk you had with her about Rara being out of it after Kat's father was found dead in the griffin's nest. Your mother took care of both when she was so young, did she really have a choice to stay tender? No, you've seen what happens to soft people in tough places. Many people mistook you for being one such person, but fear of speaking and fear for one's life spawn different reactions.

And you have a tendency to react with your mind, body, and soul... and now fire.

"Fire is a fickle element. It is volatile at best and at worst, down right destructive. It is the hardest to master thus those who do are highly respected for their control. The last fire elementalist in our family was your great great grandmother Calista, she was a grand master and friend to the crown. She was long lived due to her time in one of the rings of hell and did not pass till the days of Kat and your mother... but that's a story for another time," Rara sighs, the wrinkles around her eyes seem heavier and her age more prominent. Her sudden family history lesson sent an odd shiver that hit all the way down into your bones.

You felt a sudden doom and hopelessness set in. Did no one know how to help you? Were you going to be stuck with this horrible power not knowing what might set it off next? The terror shakes your body and you feel the heat rise to your palms and in a panic you fly out of your seat and run to the water basin in the corner of the room.

The water bubbles and steams the second your hands touch the surface. Your breathing is ragged and labored as you try and fight back the clawing anxiety. You hear Kat and Rara argue over something before you feel a cool brush of air against the back of your neck.

"Your power is new and fragile it seems, but not unmanageable as you probably fear. You feel it and know when it might overcome you and you react properly, that is a good sign," your Rara places a calming hand against your back and you stiffen.

"Good?" your voice cracks as you turn "Good? How is having a power I can't control good?"

"Can't control yet," she corrects you and pinches your cheek with a chuckle, stating she always wanted to do that to her grandchildren. "You haven't let it consume you or take over so there's hope. You understand that it is something to be afraid of like all elements. Fire burns but brightens and cooks. Water floods but washes and quenches one's thirst. Wind knocks over mighty forests but also cools and pollinates. And earth crumbles and splits but provides soil for our food and precious materials for building homes. Nothing is truly good nor bad, a cliche little lesson in all things as it is. We make good of horrid things and evil of comfort and unchallenged ways."

You nod your head as you let everything she tells you sink in. Her words calm you in a way you've never been calmed before. It wasn't false hope she gave you, but reality. For some reason that seems more kind than just telling you a sugar coated lie to get you to stop shaking like a net of fresh caught fish.

After a few minutes you finally peel away from the basin and let her guide you back to the table where her and Kat start on a plan to help train you.

~~~~~~~

It's nearly sundown when the guys return. They look worn and frustrated as they enter the guest house. You'd been waiting in one of the front rooms with a stack of books your Rara had come back with hours ago for you to study. You'd been reading a journal by your great great grandmother Calista when you spotted the three men shuffling back.

You heard Luctux first as he practically stomped off to his room with a few choice words echoing throughout the halls. Charlie and Silas came in next with the gnome trying to comfort your friend before sighing.

"Leave him be for a little bit laddy, he needs time...I think we all do," Charlie groans.

You slowly close your journal and before you decide whether or not you should go see them you hear Silas.

"I know he said he and Cavan had been stuck in one of the rings of hell, I just... I didn't know... He doesn't...," he chokes on the last few words then takes a deep breath.

"None of us could have even guessed, even Cavan was stunned into silence and that's saying something since getting a word over him was nigh impossible. We just have to give it time and let the sore heal now that it's been opened again," Charlie sniffs and you hear his leather boots creak and thud as he starts in your direction.

The door to the front room slowly opens and both Charlie and Silas pop in with care and caution. You want to ask how things went but with their obvious sour moods you decide to talk about something else.

"Turns out everyone on my mom's side is an elementalist," you shrug.

Charlie nods his head and crosses his arms,"Anyone with fire talents then?"

"No unfortunately, not since my great great grandmother Calista," you explain.

The sudden shock on the gnome's face has you turning to both in full. His eyes widen and his lips quiver, "Your... You're related to a grand master? The Calista? The same Calista that set ablaze the shores during the war? The great Grand Master of Fire who executed the cowardly king? That Calista?"

You hadn't gotten far in your great great grandmother's journal nor did Rara add anything else to her grand master status and her friendship to the crown. You couldn't help but to laugh at this added information because of course Calista the long lived ancestor of yours had a part in the war because why wouldn't she.

"My dear?" you feel Silas' questioning eyes on you.

"I think I've either become too used to all these revelations or I'm just too tired to care anymore. At this point I wouldn't be surprised if my father was in fact one of the pirate brothers Charlie told me about since they have the same name. Shit I don't think I'm capable of being shocked by anything else now," you bust out laughing, not scared or exhausted, but in a sort of sad and accepting way.

Silas slithers up to you and before he says anything you hold up a hand, "I'm fine, really I am. I'm just letting things happen now I guess. I can't help it if I come from a long line of elementalists or if I possibly have a murderous pirate uncle or whatever. I can't stop history or anything, I just have to accept these things and figure out what to do with them I guess."

You feel Silas's hand brush against your cheek then and he gives you a smile that could shatter and melt the coldest of ice, "You're a lot braver than I am."

"Aye, if you'd be in her place you'd be throwing a fiery hissy fit from Wescal to here," Charlie chimes in, setting the smoke weed into his pipe. "Now then lass, you said your father might be who now?"

"I doubt Mr. Zale was a pirate," Silas catches your hand and holds it tight.

"I know you want to believe that he isn't but if he is, then he needs to know," Charlie nods.

"I agree. I want to get this cleared once and for all," you straighten and feel a strange resolve in your soul. You're sick of secrets and lies and all things kept from you for what, your own good? Load of blarney since it only seems to have caused nothing but trouble.

"But how can we-"

"Luctux's map. I saw a waypoint near Melmar, it'll be a day trip there and back. I'll go and get him, along with my mother," Silas looks to you and squeezes your hand.

"Wouldn't it be best if she went?" Charlie asks.

"My father and I have always butted heads," you shake your head. "It took six years to convince him that I don't want to get married and settle down like my brother and sister. He's tried to keep me to Melmar but the more he did the more I resented him and I think he finally figured that out. Having Silas get him is a good idea since they're on good terms, that and it'll add to the pin prick in his side that I'm not there. It'll get him here with less of an argument."

Silas nods and leans in a little closer to you. He and Charlie talk about how they'll get the map from Luctux then considering his current state. You don't want to pry on what was said so you decide to think about how you'll approach your father and ask if he was a pirate.

All three of you jump at the knock on the front door and Charlie scrambles in place before marching off to answer it with all the airs of a gentleman. You hear the familiar voice of Elli though she sounds a bit out of it. Silas looks down at you and before he asks if you need help up, you're already balancing yourself on his arm ready for him to pick you up. He raises a brow.

"I've come to accept the fact that while I'm injured that I'm not allowed to walk on my own, at least while you're here," you look up at him with a smirk.

He tries not to laugh as he hauls you up, "I was actually going to let you walk if only you used me a crutch if need be since I tend to get well... a bit overbearing as Charlie lectured me about today."

"He's good people, I like him," you smile. "He's sort of like what I imagine having an uncle would be like."

Now Silas is laughing, "Don't tell him that, he'll insist that you actually call him Uncle Charlie then. Singred made that mistake and well, it confused everyone in Brakkor. Rumors started spreading of an orc adopted by a gnome family and then it got worse when we all jokingly referred to Selia as 'mom'."

Silas has another good laugh then stills when you touch his cheek, "We'll find Singred too. I talked to Kat and my grandmother...er uh Rara about him and they said they can put the word out to some people they know in other towns to be on the look out for him."

"Thank you my dear," he takes your hand in his, black claws slowly caressing your skin. "Just don't push yourself while you're still healing. I really don't want to get Mr. Zale till after your ankle is fixed but I know the sooner this is resolved the better. My mother won't be thrilled at having the go fetch him with me, but the prospect of watching you have yelling match with him will entice her."

"I was wondering about that, why do you want to drag your mom into this?" you ask.

"If we're going to be spilling secrets I think it's high time to spill them all. That and I promised Peter that I'd get them both to talk about it, it's time they both put everything behind them and stop pointing fingers. It's been weighing on me and it's not fair to keep this from you anymore," Silas' shoulders droop as he closes his eyes. He looks more tired than you've ever seen him. His pale skin is chalky and dry and the usual sheen on his scales is dull.

"It's not fair to you either if it's eating at you," you rub his cheek with your thumb.

"It's been eating at me for years my dear. I don't think we can trust each other fully with so many secrets around us... And it's not that I'm saying that I don't trust you, I do... in fact too much maybe... But what I mean is that I just don't want anymore secrets. You... We both deserve better than that," he swallows and slithers forward again.

You lean into him a bit, happy that he's starting to think of himself too and not just you. It's something that's been bothering you that he doesn't consider himself when it comes to things like trust or having standards of how he should be treated. You wondered if it was a naga thing or just him. You'd find out one way or another when you get to meet his mother.

Silas takes you to the main hall where Charlie is consoling Elli who is hunched over on a bench crying her eyes out. The gnome turns and looks at you both before shaking his head. He mouths something to which Silas nods his head at and whispers to you, "She's upset over what Luctux and Cavan had discussed about that went down in hell."

Then there's another knock on the door. Still holding you, Silas answers the door and Cavan along with his fiancé are there looking distraught.

Cavan and Silas look at each other for a long moment before the naga slithers aside to let both the drider and his fiancé in.

"I told her some of the details of what happened before but I left out a lot for reasons..." Cavan sighs, the small woman next to him places a loving hand on his arm and he relaxes a little.

"We both decided not to tell her, especially about Luctux since she- Well, in the end no one expected any of what was said to be said but here we are. Now that it's been settled our next move is to locate Singred and investigate the port towns," she adds with a sort of unquestionable finality that you respect.

Cavan and her go over to collect Elli and you see a very familiar lump of a salamander on the drider's back. You stifle a laugh but Cavan turns with raised brows, "Oh right, we also brought this little guy back. He's been eating all of our fire wood and burnt Not Food's bed. Little menace he is."

Silas smiles to himself and takes the now very fat salamander off of Cavan using his tail. George makes a gurgly noise when lifted and pads the air with his stubby arms before being set down. It's ridiculously cute and draws a strained laugh from Elli.

Before anyone can say anything you see Luctux round the corner with a weak smile, "Better to smile and laugh than mourn over something that can't be changed."

Everyone looks at him and he holds up both hands, "I'll be fine, I just didn't expect to go down memory lane today is all. I also didn't expect to be face to face with different political figures of Malredra but at least word will get out quicker and people can be on the defense sooner."

Both Silas and Cavan nod, Charlie grunts, "Aye, it was nice of Mr. Maher to round up those folks who were here attending the market. So now onto another possible horrible thing we have to clear up. Luctux, we need the waypoint map to get to Melmar. We might have an inkling on where old captain Zale is."

Cavan sputters and turns to Charlie, "The captain Zale Alswind? Captain of The Dread Maunder?"

The drider keeps and keeps talking about this captain while your stomach sinks and your heart stops. You remember the large plank of polished wood your father kept in his ship. It was mostly covered in nets and piled up ropes so it was well hidden but you remember it like it was yesterday. The paint was chipped but you could still make out the words "THE DREAD MAUNDER".

You shiver and look up at Silas whose face is ghost white and his eyes look lost. His clawed hands shake against you... did he see the same plank you saw?

"We need to get Mr. Zale here by tonight," Silas starts, clearing his throat. "Along with his son and daughter in law. She's pregnant isn't she?" he asks that while looking to you and you nod.

There's a sudden sense of urgency as he hurriedly sets you down on the nearest bench and rushes down the hall with Luctux and Charlie. Cavan looks to you and his eyes widen with a strange realization. He asks you about your father but you can only give him vague answers.

Cavan scratches his head before looking at his fiancé and Elli, "Stay here, I'm going to go get my father. If this is indeed Captain Zale my father would know, he served as The Dread Maunder's first mate."

His fiancé sighs and nods her head, apparently she's been briefed about her future in-law's family history.

When Cavan leaves you're left with the odd silence between the sisters and yourself. Elli groans and stretches her arms up, "Well isn't this peachy? Five months before the wedding and this happens! I swear if Cavan even thinks about leaving to help with this whatever it is I will pay his folks to tie him down so help me!"

Elli's sister rolls her eyes and shakes her head, "He refuses to leave Gilli unless he absolutely has to and not before we wed. I believe him, but I am concerned about how he's taking everything what with Selia's death and Singred having gone missing. He truly loved Selia and looked to her for guidance. As for Singred, he was practically like a brother to him from what I recall."

You nod your head and take a deep breath, "If possible could you look into The Blood Dragon Brides?"

"The group Selia sold out? Yes, I've heard of them but I thought most were arrested or executed in Brakkor. Why look into them?" Elli asks.

"Not all of them were brought in. She was brought down by those who escaped, at least that's what Silas told Luctux and I," you explain.

Elli nods and crosses her arms, "I'll see what I can do. Did that naga mention anything else?"

"He and Cavan were witnesses in Brakkor when Selia traded the information for her clean slate," you add.

"That helps narrows things down enough for me. There's only a small handful of people in Brakkor who have the authority to do what they did. We'll ask Cavan for more details later. Anything else you need help with?" Elli resituates herself on the bench and holds her head a little higher.

Her sister laughs, "She loves a good challenge."

"And I need to take my mind off of things," she groans.

"We need to speak with the king," you swallow hard and clutch the bench till your palms started to sting.

The halls are quiet again save for George whose little feet slap the tile as he waddles towards the nearest hearth.

"Speak with the king?" Elli asks.

You nod your head and her sister starts laughing again, "Now that's a challenge!"

"The biggest on yet. I'll either have to get really creative or really nosy," Elli eyes the floor as if laid before her was her grandest scheme.

"Why not both lovely? Get creative, get nosy, get your hands dirty," Luctux saunters back into the hall with bags packed and map in hand. "After all wouldn't you tell me that if you wanted something done right you'd do it yourself?"

Elli's eyes water a little but she blinks back any tears and holds herself up and nods, "There's an idea, it looks like I'll be busy for quite a while."

Luctux gives Elli a heart melting smile and you see just for a moment a small breech in whatever walls she just put up.

"We'll be counting on you Miss Elli," you break the staggering trance they were under and Luctux bows out.

"Yes indeed. Tell the boys I'll be waiting for them in the town square and to hurry along," he grins as he walks passed you and through the front doors.

Not moments after Charlie marches through the hall and points back with his thumb and cocks his head, "Take care of that mess will ya. I'll find Luctux in the square."

You nod and slowly rise before being gently pushed right back down by a black scaly tale.

"I'm fine Charlie, the sooner we get this done the better. And for the love of the gods please don't flirt with my mother again," Silas groans as he pulls a large jacket on and wraps a scarf over his neck. It'll be cold in Melmar now, the frost hits the shores earlier than the interior.

You quickly reach out for Silas' hand, your fingers ghosting the tips of his claws. He turns with a questioning look before leaning down to pull your hand to his lips.

"I'll be back soon my dear. Stay here, stay safe," he kisses the back of your hand before nodding to you and slithering away to leave.

It doesn't register until the doors close that that little encounter had an audience. Your face heats up when Elli and her sister give you cat like grins and giggle.

"So what's going on with that?" Elli points to you and the door and back to you.

"It looks like he's trying to court her," her sister adds.

All you want to do is crawl under a rock and pretend the world doesn't exist now, "I-i- it's not like that... I mean it is at least on his part but I.... I uh... I don't know. I spent six years running away from marriage and possible suitors because I want to travel and now that I am it's been an absolute nightmare mixed with emotions I didn't want to have and fighting, so much fucking fighting! I just wanted to get away from home!"

Elli's sister gives you short pained smile and takes a deep breath, "Cavan was the same. He just wanted an adventure and to write poetry and come back with stories that he could share with friends and family. He never expected hell. I'm sorry that you're going through this, really I am. I couldn't possibly imagine being in your shoes and being as level headed about everything as you are."

You shake your head and nearly double over as a sudden sharp pain stings through your heart. It burns and it takes everything in you to rise and run out of the house and into the fountain before your burst into flames. Elli and her sister are screaming as they run after you but pause with an audible gasp when your entire body is covered in fire that you try to reel in.

Level headed my ass, you thought. You've been keeping it all in since this morning. You tried to hold it in, tried to control whatever you've been feeling but it finally leaked out and combusted into a roiling raging fire. You'd barely made it into the fountain when you lit up, the water sizzling and steaming at first touch. You slam the rest of your body into it and dowse the flames.

A quiet cry escapes your mouth and you try to bite it back until Elli and her sister pull you out and wrap their arms around you. They say the most kindest things you've ever heard and it makes you long for your dear older sister so much that you cry even harder.

"Is everything alright, what's that burnt smell?" you hear Cavan and you shiver with a strange sense of fear but Elli holds you fast and pats your back.

"Minor lapse in magic control. New power and all," Cavan's fiancé answers as she unclasps her cloak and shields you with it.. It's then that you realized that you also burned a good bit of your clothes off.

"Is this Zale's daughter?" an elderly drider walks up behind him and clasps his hands in front of himself.

Your eyes blow up because you recognize him, it's been a while but you do. Before you can say anything he nods his head and smiles.

"It's been a long while hasn't it? I had hoped I could keep my promises to an old friend but it seems everything is coming back round. You've grown a lot since last I saw you, I'm surprised Cavan didn't recognize but you two were only a few years old last time you saw each other," the drider, no Mr. Gohar sighs as he remembers another time.

Cavan quickly looks at you and then he points, "Is she the one friend I had in Melmar?"

Gohar nods and chuckles, "Oh yes, your friend and childhood tormentor. I lost count at how many times I'd pick you up from Zale's and you'd be covered in a mess of nets and webbing, crying while pointing over at her."

You cross your arms in defense, "And if memory serves me correct I was trying to get him out of the nets because he'd kept mistaking them for webs. Roslyn would cut him down but he'd still be tangled."

"I would have gotten out if you'd left me alone," Cavan pouts and his fiancé rolls her eyes.

"Says the guy who tripped over the sheets and then got caught up in the lace I was using for a wedding dress. Oh and then there was the-"

"Alright alright, I get stuck a lot!" Cavan throughs up his hands and a couple of his spidery legs twitch.

"And you two bicker like you do when you were kids, good to see that some things don't change," Gohar grins at you before his expression darkens. "I'm sorry that it's taken this long for the truth to get to you, I honestly thought Zale would have said something by now. I never figured him a coward in the face of his own family but then there's the matter of Notus."

"His brother?" you ask.

"And your uncle, though I'd keep that bit under wraps unless you think it necessary to talk about or you can trust someone with that information," he adds.

Elli nods and so do you before wincing in pain. In your rush to flee the house you'd forgotten about your ankle and injuries. The pain is horrible as it shoots up your body and you feel that burning sensation wrap around your heart again. The pain sang to you and demanded an outlet, demanded to unfurl and burst forth so it may be know. But you wouldn't let it control you, not again.

"I... I... need to sit down... my legs and feet are...," you start to sway, smoke billowing from between your fingers.

Gohar catches you when you fall and you hear Elli ask Cavan something then her sister. You hear the rushing skitter of spider legs on stone then tile. Gohar asks you something about a room and you sort of answers and raise your arms and try to point. A door opens and you're being laid down, your feet hoisted in the air and someone making a disapproving sound.

You start to fade in and out until someone grabs hard at your ankle and you scream in pain, fire burning its way up your throat and out of your mouth. You kick and writhe as someone tries so hold you down, you don't know who, you can't see through your tears. You pass out moments later from the pain.

~~~

Something heavy weighs down your legs and chest when you awake. You rub the heavy crust out of your eyes and blink. Silas' forehead is against yours, his silver hair splayed around him and stuck to his skin from sweat. His tail is wrapped gently around you and you notice that your hurt ankle is carefully propped up on a balled up part of the tip of his tail.

You start to recall bits and pieces of last night. You remember Gohar taking you up to the room and passing out. You remember seeing a long dark green tail and hard scales and claws pressing into you as your leg is jerked up. Someone yells something, you think it was Silas or Peter... You remember the unfamiliar female voice soothing your tears moments later and an apology. Silas held you through all the pain, held you as you started drifting and eventually fell asleep.

The mumbling harsh tone of your father and the calming voices of Gohar and Peter could be heard at the door but a tail kept the door firmly closed so no one aside from her and Silas could be in here.

It takes you a moment to realize that that woman was Silas' mother. She had been working your ankle, soothing the sprain and covering the abrasions on the bottom of your feet. You'll have to remember to thank her later.

But later comes sooner when the door creaks open and a terribly beautiful woman slithers in.

"You're awake?" she asks, her voice sharp with a strange lilt.

"I-" you start coughing and Silas jumps but doesn't wake up.

The woman rounds the bed and pours a cup of water before prying you out of the clawing grasps of her son. She groans and mentions something about being clinging as ever.

"Here, drink up. It's got some herbs in it to help soothe your throat. I suspect you're not used to breathing fire. Slowly now," she holds the cup to your lips as your hands are too shaky to hold it still. The herbs are cooling and sting but in a nice way.

"Thank you, for this and last night," you grind out, your throat still sore.

She lets out a breathy laugh, her face twisting with a strange look of guilt, "You look so much like your mother, truly you do. I wish she was still with us, she was my greatest friend and yet I cursed both you and her when she passed. I placed my blame on a child who didn't know better and on a man who lost the love of his life for my own mate's missing and probable death."

She slides down until she's seated on the bed next to Silas, she combs her long claws through his hair and he scrunches his face, "I didn't want him to leave but I knew if I tried to keep him in Havu he'd resent me, leave on his own and probably would never come back out of sheer spite. He's so much like my Valen... His father and I were childhood friends, we were both close to your mother who had little to no sense of self preservation back then."

"I think I inherited that from her it seems," you hold your shivering shaking arms around your knees and sulk.

"In a different way I suppose. Silver picked fights with danger... Danger it seems, likes to pick fights with you. She was bullheaded and brasher than any of the sailors in Melmar and had a fouler mouth than them too. Zale never stood a chance. My Valen and I of course being her oldest friends picked on your father relentlessly as he made several failed attempts at courting her, though to be fair he used traditional methods with her," Silas' mother chuckles.

"Oh and on the subject of courting?" she raises her brows and gives you a once over. "I hear my son has been making several attempts at doing so?"

You wave your hands furiously and shake your head, "No no no, absolutely not. I mean he did confess to me but we agreed not to bring up anything until I was-"

"Of course he did and I assume he was very straightforward about it too?" she cuts you off and groans into her hand. "I swear I raised him and yet he somehow ends up more and more like my Valen. I'm sorry if I'm making you uncomfortable with all this. I just needed to get all this off my chest. I know he cares for you a great deal, I saw it in the way he looked at you as he held you through the healing. It reminded me so much of his father... And it reminded me of the way your father looked to your mother. Zale would have hung himself if it meant she would have lived through your birth."

A heaviness settles in your lungs and for a second you feel like the weight of the world has moved from your shoulders to your stomach. Every time you think you've banished the guilt of your mother's death someone brings it up again.

"It wasn't your fault. She knew the risks," she takes your hand in hers and you shiver at her dark gaze. Dark eyes so unlike her son's, deep and knowing of many things. "Lay down a bit more, I'll return in a bit with some broth and bread."

Silas' mother rises off the bed and slithers to the door, her long green tail trailing after her like a long veil made of leaves. The door is nearly closed when she turns and takes a deep breath, "I'm Isa by the way, little Silver."

The room grows quiet save for the chirping birds outside the window and the light pitter patter of a light rain. Silas suddenly stirs and pulls you back down to the bed in one fell swoop. You're about to argue but Isa did tell you to lay back down.

"She'll talk for days if you let her," Silas huffs, pulling you closer into his arms.

You blink and gasp, "How long were you awake?"

"When you started coughing. I almost got up but then I heard my mother. I'm glad you met her finally, glad she finally started opening up. I had no idea either that my parents were friends with your mother. I know as much as Peter does on why my mother and your father blamed each other for their losses but it's all vague. I want the truth too," Silas states as he runs his cool claws across your cheek.

Hearing that is more than reassuring to you. Soon, there'd be no more secrets, no more hiding things. You're afraid and excited, you want this done and over with. You nuzzle up to Silas and he stills, "Thank you for always being open with me, even if it's been hard for you."

Silas holds you then, his claws digging into your nightgown... nightgown...

"What happened to my clothes?" you squeak.

He chuckles and kisses your forehead, "Elli and her sister got you into this before we all got back. I saw nothing of your fair maidenhood if that's what you're worried about my dear."

You grumble and pinch his side. He laughs.

"Looks like you're getting better if you can get me like that. Speaking of which, how's your ankle?"

You hadn't given it much thought since you first saw it but it didn't hurt, even when you moved. You stretch it and roll it a little and to your surprise there's no pain, "Your mother must be an amazing healer if it's already mended this well."

"She's the best healer in Havu and Melmar," Silas says with pride. "People from Brakkor even make a journey to see her."

A line of nagging questions bothers the tip of your tongue so you start running your hands through his hair to distract yourself. You love how soft his hair is, love the feel of it. Love the... You groan and hide your face in the crook of his neck.

You're falling for him, that much is clear to you now. You like him, a lot and regardless of your family histories and you being a scary fire woman, he still loves you.

"My dear are you alright?" he asks you, that damn concern in his voice pulling at your heart.

"No..." you groan with annoyance.

"What's wrong?" more concern and now he's rubbing your back. You don't want to fall in love, not right now at least but too late. Here you are catching these feelings you are now sure of.

"I hate this," you complain.

"I know but soon you'll be back on your feet. I hear your grandmother will be helping you train too so there's that to look forward to," Silas pokes at you and you groan and mumble some more.

"That's not it... I hate... I hate that I-" you pause, your heartbeat is going a mile a minute and the heat floods your chest in a strange way. It feels like the fire magic but it's too calm for the anger you've felt, too hot for the smoke that piled at your fingers.

Think, you yell at yourself in your thoughts. Think and use your words dammit! The more you try and think, the more tongue tied you get and the worse this is starting to look.

Silas starts to move to sit up but some stupid part of you that you'll yell at later pushes him down as you straddle him. His silver eyes widen and his mouth is open in pure shock. You hate how much you've thought about his lips, how soft they are and how gentle he is when he kisses you. You hate how much you want more, you shouldn't want like this but you do.

"I hate this feeling Silas," you start, your body shaking as you fight back the tears. "I hate that you're making me feel this way."

His hands slide up your arms as he wiggles to sit up while you're still sitting on him. Cold black claws shiver as they touch you, as if you're some delicate flower or an illusion born from disparity. Either thought doesn't help the strain on your heart.

"I hate that there's so much stupid secrets and problems all around us. I hate that I feel so helpless and lost and that the only time I feel none of that is when I'm with you. You make me feel all these things that I never wanted to feel and now I'm feeling them and I hate it. I hate it so much because I don't... I don't hate it because they're for you," a tear finally falls from your eye and your rush to wipe it away but Silas kisses it instead because of course he would.

You push him back just enough that he's still just a breath away but enough for you to think, "You're honest and open and I hate it because I'm too afraid to let people in and yet you've somehow bombarded your way through. I hate it Silas, I hate that I'm even saying all this! But I don't know what else to do other than just talk my way through whatever it is I am feeling, and it's a lot."

"Then show me," he says, his voice low and thick. His clawed fingers curl around your wrists and rub lightly at the flesh eliciting a soft gasp from you. "Show me what you're feeling my dear. Show me what you can't put into words right now. Show me-"

Your lips are on his, cutting off whatever else he was going to say.

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