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lxdymoon0357 · 2 years

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Hello I was wondering if u did crossovers bc I got a crazy idea. What if u did a cross over with the villainess is a marionette, villains are destined dj die, and the way to protect the female lead? Like she is Penelope’s sister and she keeps getting transported in other worlds by mistake? And they’re all Yandere fore her? U obviously doing have to do this but this is just a e crazy idea 😅

(cool idea, but it's just blood.... Also Ashil passed his test and lived because I wanted him too!)

Crossover:

Villains are destined to die X Villainess is a marionette X The way to protect the female lead's older brothers X Reader HCs

※You were the only sister of Penelope, you both were extremely lucky and grateful to be taken in by the Eckhart family, they treated your sister nicely as well, but unlike your sister, you had a special power that is to move between three world where you’re meant to make people meet destiny, or something similar to that, your mother explained it to you, but you were very young to understand anything.

※ You grew up being a beloved child by your mother, sister and the people of the Eckhart duchy, you were seen as the kindest, prettiest and a gifted child by all.

※You met many people, including the royal rat with rubies for eyes, Vinter Varnandi, Yvonne and Ecklies, you quickly managed to form a dear companionship with each of them and quickly making them yanderes for you.

※You were quite close with your sister and hated the people in the manor for treating your elder sister badly, often triggering your power and transporting them somewhere and when they would come back they would either be dead or badly hurt.

※You formed a big companionship with Callisto, the crown prince who later on fell for Penelope and kept her close with him to keep you near him as well.

※You grew up healthy and grifted loved by your trashy brothers, you father, your annoying servants, your lovely sisters and many more people.

※When you grew up, the Eckharts learnt about your power and all your family loved you, then it was time to train your power, upon moving to one of the places you ended up bruised and fainted in a huge garden, when you woke up there was a beautiful man sleeping in a chair next to you, he looked extremely regal; He had short blonde hair with blue eyes and pretty lips with lashes, as you sat up in bed someone held your shoulder and slowly fluffed up your pillows, it was a girl who looked similar to the man sitting in the chair, she was one of the prettiest lady you had ever met, she had long blonde hair with shining blue eyes with pretty lashes and red lips.

※You later on learned their names, Cayena and Rezef Hill, they both were half siblings and the next emperor and princess in line for the throne

※You quickly managed to befriend them both, those two would spoil you rotten and also tried to keep you with them for as long as possible, you also met Cayena’s fiancée and half-brother, Raffealo Kedrey and Ethel Hill, both of whom you also happen to quickly befriend.

※They quickly became big yanderes for you, and upon learning how you got here and your power, they decided to slowly teach you about it, but not let you leave them, which was a big thing. They thought to keep you with them, while letting you visit your family for a few days every five months.

※So, once when Rezef was training you, you accidently ended up in a large, bloody field in someone’s arms, as you as you fell in their arms you fainted from exhaustion, but before you fainted you saw black grey hair with red eyes.

※As you woke up, you were in a huge red room completely bandaged, as you sat up you saw the door open, with three people entering, the man whom you saw before with a younger version of him and a gorgeous lady with blonde hair and ruby red eyes, with plump, red lips and a sharp face. The man who caught you was named Lant Agriche, his younger version was his son, named Dion Agriche and the lady was his beloved daughter, called Roxanne Agriche, you had ended up in the manor of Black Agriche.

※Lant had saw you falling from the sky and quickly caught you before you fainted in his arms, he saw your face and was mesmerized by it?...You don’t understand but that’s what Roxanne said, he brought you back to the manor carrying your princess style shocking everyone there, seeing the head of the family holding someone so tenderly, even more a beautiful person.

※You quickly took over the head’s heart as a dear child and he decided to make sure you were kept as safely as possible only letting a few people see you when you were knocked out for the days, them being only Sierra and Ashil, and maybe Roxanne on days when Lant was in very good mood.

※Ashil would describe you to Roxanne, Roxanne when she first got to see you was mesmerized by you, you were very pretty. She would constantly try to make Lant happy so he would let her see you.

※Sierra on the other hand would look after you, along with Ashil who would try to find some books on how to cure you fatser.

※Everybody in the Agriche manor wanted to see you, the lucky servants would tell about you to other servants who were asking them about you, everybody was curiously waiting for you to quickly heal so they could also see you and meet, including Grizelda, Fontaine, Maria, Jeremy, Charlotte, Dion and many more, I mean who wouldn’t be if they saw Lant carrying someone so tenderly.

※Now back to the present, as you sat up and saw the three come in and take a seat on the chair near your bed, Lant immediately put his hand on your shoulder and laid you back on the bed, while the other two sat on the other side.

※As the doctor came and checked up on you and gave you shots, Lant held your tiny hand in his, often using his other hand to stroke your hair and warm face with tenderness, which shocked the other two more.

※You quickly became the favorite between the Agriches, Dion loved you so much, you got gifts, sweets, treats, party invites and much, much more constantly.

※But you were also kept locked up in a room for hours on end, unless Lant would visit you with a beaming smile on his face, you were kept like this in the Eckhart manor as well, so it didn’t faze you.

※You would then by taught by the three family how to use your power and learn about it, so they can make a place where you power won’t work so you can’t teleport away from them anymore.

※Other than this type of behavior, you loved your families very much, you introduced everyone to each other, Roxanne, Cayena and Penelope got along very well always talking shit about someone they don’t like, Rezef, Callisto and Dion also became good friends often teaching each other if they tried to get to close to you their favorite torture methods, Jeremy and Reynold made a normal companionship and Sierra and Ashil became very close with Yvonne and Vinter, they would be the kindest to you and the most patient with you as well.

※You would often unknowingly cause arguments between the families, especially Rezef, Ashil, Callisto and Dion when you said your favorite brother was Ashil, he became a bit cocky for some time to the others people of his new found families and his own family.

※Everyone accepted each other, mainly because they all enjoyed blood, you would mostly be in the eyes of Lant, Dion, Ashil or Callisto, no one else because they all fall prey to your puppy eyes.

※They all end those people’s life in the most horrific way, the ones who tried to hurt you or get you away from them in any way.

※They love you so much, aren’t you happy having such a large family!!!

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tobiasdrake · 4 days

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I've been pretty down on the anime today so in the interest of fairness, I just want to say that there are some amazing filler episodes out there. One of my favorites is Z episode 174: "Goku's Perplexing Problem!? The Dragon Balls are Taken Back!"

This episode takes place during Goku's hunt for the Dragon Balls following Dende remaking them in the Cell arc. Perfect place to add in some shenanigans episodes to fill time.

This is Vodka. He is a fucking guy. XD He's a filler character Toei originally created for the 22nd Tenkaichi Budokai, where he was Pamput's shady manager. He returns here with a master plan: Use the Dragon Balls to outlast Cell and create a mafia empire.

To that end, he's hired the assassin Taopaipai, who stumbled on two Dragon Balls and tried to pass them off like he has any idea how to find the rest.

Conveniently, those two Balls act as a magnet to attract a solution.

Vodka tries his hardest to do his best Evil Emperor WELCOME TO MY LAIR shtick but it just. It just isn't happening. Goku is not conducive to dramatic menace even from the best of villains. Ask Frieza.

And his hired killer keeps upstaging him when he's trying to look cool.

This is just fun. They even animated a lip quiver and voiced a guttural whining sound. Vodka's such a great filler villain. XD

For his part, Taopaipai doesn't recognize Goku because of his Super Saiyan blondness but once he knows, he realizes pretty quickly that he wants no part of this.

Realizing that hahahahaha absolutely nothing good can come of trying to fight Goku, Taopaipai quickly switches gears. Instead of fighting Goku, he presents him with a game.

If Goku solves the puzzle rings, he gets to leave with the two Dragon Balls that they've collected. But if he fails, he has to turn over his Dragon Balls. A fair wager.

Oh, and so that Goku can get comfortable, they bring him a chair and Taopaipai takes his coat.

His coat... holding his Dragon Balls and the Dragon Radar. Taopaipai and Vodka then leave Goku to concentrate on his puzzle in privacy.

Taking their two Dragon Balls with them. This is such a clever ruse. While Goku sits here, attention focused on these complicated little ring games, Vodka and Taopaipai snatch up all three Balls and fucking bail. By the time Goku realizes they're gone, it will be too late.

I love that big triumphant grin on his face as he basically says, "And now we piss ourselves and run like hell."

It takes Goku the better part of the night to crack these puzzle rings.

But, just before dawn, he's able to solve the very last one.

Not that it matters because this was all a distraction, right? The Dragon Balls are long gone.

But Goku doesn't know this was a trick. In fact, Goku never finds out that this was a trick. Once he's finished, he goes off to report his success.

And then takes his Dragon Balls and leaves! Goku won this entirely fair and not at all rigged wager! Good for him!

This is fucking brilliant. This is where Toei really excels: Their strong suit has always been coming up with wacky shenanigans for characters to get up to when they aren't doing important plot things. They're not great with continuity and their fighting leaves a lot to be desired but their shenanigans writing is top-notch.

#dragon ball #dragon ball z

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sweettee18 · 1 year

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Star Wars Imagines #4

Note – there is Stockholm syndrome in here. Just to let you know.

And I will put two of my canine Chimeras in here, Bagheera and Calcipher.

Warning: Mention Of Attempted Sexual Assault

It all started with a walk in the marketplace until you were attacked by one of your fathers’ trusted royal council members, for your father was ruler of Coruscant. You thought your life would end there until a Sith saved your life and nursed you back to health, and a bond began to form between the two of you.

You don’t know how long it has been since you were attacked by one of the council members in your fathers court, Jaron, who was infatuated with you, but you rejected his advances. And then, out of nowhere, you were saved by the unknown figure, dressed in black. The last thing you saw before you lost conscious were a pair of eyes like fire, staring back at you as you felt yourself being lifted up off the ground. It could’ve been hours or days since then. When you opened your eyes, the first thing you noticed was that everything was dark, with the exception of blue luminescent light over you.

As you sat up, you’ve felt a jolt of sharp pain on your left side and you hissed as you felt that uncomfortable feeling where the pain was coming from. You looked down and saw that your sides were bandaged and looked to your right and saw that your clothes were cleaned and folded up in a chair. You called out for Bagheera, your trusted and faithful companion, who is a Chimera, a creature that can transform into a bigger counter-part of itself, which has antlers and a stinger. Bagheera popped up his head over the bed frame, looking into your direction. “Bagheera, I’m so glad to see you.” You said as you try to reach over to pet him, completely forgetting that your left side was still hurting. Then a voice spoke to you out of nowhere, “Careful my Lady, you have broken ribs.”

You immediately looked around and saw no one. But as soon as you turned to your left, in a dark corner, you saw the same pair of eyes staring at you from before you lost conscious. You were scared out of your wits, but you know those eyes belonged to a Sith. The figure reached his gloved hand out to you and said, “Be still, I will not hurt you.”

“Who are you and why did you bring me here?” you asked, still frightened. The figure replied, “You don’t remember what happened two days ago? You were attacked and I fended him off.” “Two days ago?!? That’s how long I’ve been unconscious?” You thought. Then you asked him, “Where am I?”

Again, he replied, “You’re in my shuttle, which has an invisible cloak on it, so no one is able to see where we are or track us.” Again, you try to sit up, but it was too painful for you to move. You started hissing at the feeling, and that’s when the figure got up from where he was and revealed himself to you in the light. Not once you thought you’d never meet a Zabrak up close before, so this was the first time you’ve seen one personally. This Zabrak was all red with black tattoos all over his face, not to mention all over his body. And horns that were grown around his head. And you must admit, he was very scary looking, but for some reason, he spoke to you very gently. “I assume you know who I am.” he said to you as he approached.

You couldn’t say anything because you were too scared, so the only thing you able to muster out in a whisper, “You are Darth Maul, the Emperor Palpatine’s apprentice. I won’t say anything, I’ll just tell my folks I haven’t seen you.” You pleaded as you tried to scoot up on the bed he laid you in, but again, the pain was excruciating. As you did so, he placed his hand over yours and said, “You need to be still, you don’t want to rip open your bandages.” he said cautiously .

When you stopped moving, you looked over and saw there was a table, where it had a tray of food that looked as if it were just made. And almost immediately, that’s when you heard your stomach growl. The Zabrak Sith raised his right hand up and the tray levitated towards him, and said as he handed it to you, “I knew that once you woke up, you would be hungry.” You took the tray of food and thanked him and you nervously ate your meal.“Don’t eat too fast, I don’t want you to choke.” He said as he watched you take a bite of your food. You looked up at him and nodded.

As soon as you were done with your meal, he took the tray and placed it to the side and turned back at you and asked, “Did you know the person who attacked you earlier?” You looked at Maul and replied, “Yes. His name is Jaron and he is one of my father’s council members in my home. He had been chasing after me ever since I was maturing from adolescence.” You said with a taste of bitter disgust in your mouth.

“I don’t know what’s going to happen once I return back there, but luckily, one of my sisters, has the ability to know if you’re lying with one touch of her hands.” You said as he looked at Maul. Then he asked, “Is your father aware of the situation? Have you told him?” You shook your head and said, “I don’t know if he will believe me, but once I get back home, I will have to tell him what happened. For Jaron will do whatever it takes to make sure I keep my mouth shut. but I’m determined to not be silenced ”

Darth Maul looked at you and asked, “Do you want me to go with you? I don’t fear your father, even though he is ruler, and he could easily have my head, I will stand by your side.” You were shocked hearing this from a Sith, then he looked over at Bagheera and asked him, “What do you think?” Bagheera barked in agreement.

You stayed with Darth Maul for another two days. During those two days, you begin to fall in love with him, even though it was short notice. You two got to know each other much better during your stay there until it was time for you to return home. You both rode on Bagheera as you approach the gate. Upon seeing you, the guards called out for the gates to open and let you in. As soon as you two entered, some of the citizens were shocked to see that a Sith was right behind you, as you approached the courtyard of your home. Your father, your mother and your sisters ran out to greet you, but then stopped when they spotted Darth Maul.

As he dismounted Bagheera, your father shouted out to him, “What have you done to my daughter? Why is she bandaged up?” You calmly said to your father, “Father, it wasn’t Darth Maul who did this to me, but one of your trusted councilmen that stands over yonder”. You pointed at Jaron and everyone stared at him. Darth Maul helped you dismount. Bagheera lowered himself down for Darth Maul to help you dismount him, carried you bridal-style to the medics and said to them, “Be careful with her, she has broken ribs.”

Your father walked up to Jaron with the look of anger on his face as he whipped out his light saber, for he was force-sensitive. Jaron lifted up his hands, as he begged, “My Lord, I don’t know what she’s talking about! I swear! That Sith has brainwashed her! He’s trying to turn her against you,and everyone that she cares about! To make her his apprentice…” “SILENCE !!” Your father commanded as he called your younger sister to him. “Let’s see who is lying and who is truthful.” He said, addressing to his younger daughter, whom you told Darth Maul about.

Your sister immediately grabbed his head with her hands, and as she was doing so, some light came out of her hands. It wasn’t hurting him, but he was resisting her. Within five seconds, she released him and looked at her father and said, “It’s true, he attacked my sister.” Everyone in the courtyard gasped in shock. Almost immediately your father called the guards, “Have this man be thrown into the cells down below until his trial date!” he commanded, and they obeyed. They picked up Jaron and dragged him away to the lower levels of the palace. As this was happening, Darth Maul addressed to the king, “It seems that my work here is done, I will take my leave. You don’t need to give me a reward.” The king looked toward the Sith, and replied, “I thank you for bringing my daughter home safely and tending to her.” Darth Maul bowed his head and walked out of the courtyard and back to his shuttle.

Night fell, everyone in the palace began to settle down into the rooms to rest for another day. As soon as the maid tended to you and left the room, you looked out the window and you thought to yourself, “If only I told him how I felt.” as you thought this, your other Chimera, Calcipher, walked right in with a rolled up scroll tied to his collar. He hopped onto your bed and gave it to you. “What is this?“ You asked as you took the scroll and unrolled it, and it read–

My lady,

I don’t know how many times I wanted to tell you this during your stay as I was tending to your injuries. During our time we were getting to know each other, I began to grow feelings for you. I know deep down that you feel the same way. I do hope that you are willing to give us a chance.

I will let you rest and think it over. I will be waiting for you, if you choose to respond.

Sincerely,

Darth Maul

You held the note to your heart as soon as you read what it said. Then, at the corner of your eye, you noticed movement. You did your best to lean further to the window as you looked down toward the trees. There behind one of them, you saw Darth Maul looking up at you.

You waved at him and he smiled at you as he saw that you got his note. You smiled back at him and and you put up the ‘one moment’ gesture with your hand as you left your bed, remembering that you had to move slowly because your sides were still hurting a bit.

At first, he was confused, but then he saw Calcipher actually walking on the wall outside your window, and witnessed him changing into his Chimera form. Then, he saw you crawling out of the window, climbed on top of Calcipher’s back and carried you all the way down to ground level, doing your best not to make a noise and did not want to alert the guards or you parents.

You dismount Calcipher and walk toward Maul and the two of you hugged each other with him being careful not to squeeze you too hard. And that’s when he bent down and kissed you. As you two pulled away, you said to him, “Yes, I want to give us a chance.”

Deep down, he was ecstatic to hear your response that he wanted to jump for joy, but he kept his composure and kissed you again. So before he could say anything, you said to him, “I overheard my father talking about you, and he considered making you my bodyguard. He plans on sending for you tomorrow. We have to keep our relationship secret.”

Darth Maul replied, “And that’s what we’re going to do until then.” You smiled at him as you embraced each other in another hug. You didn’t want to let go of him, but you had to, for you didn’t want to risk either of you getting caught together. You run and get back on Calcipher’s back, and he carried you back to your room through the window and shrunk back to his dog form. You looked down the window and waved at him, and he waved back and disappeared into the trees.

Throughout the whole night, you knew that you couldn’t wait to see him again and looking forward to what the future holds for you both.

Hope you guys enjoyed this fanfic. Don’t forget to like, comment and follow. You all have a great day. 😊

#Starwarsfan #star wars fanfiction #darth maul x reader #Star Wars imagines #Darth Maul X royal Jedi reader #StockholmSyndrome #Chimeras

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idoodlestuffsometimes · 1 year

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Hello

Would you be willing to add the descriptive text underneath the brothers keeper AU pictures? My computer is not allowing me to know what the photos say.

Oof sorry for that issue. My compromise lately has been to put shorter descriptions of simple drawings under the pic and the description for comics in the ALT text because they're so dang long. But I gather that's still an issue, huh.

I guess I can start putting it under a read more? I know that's annoying in its own right, but they're so long I don't know what else to do

As for the most recent story post, I'm afraid I can't currently mess with it because it's at the center of an open ticket with tumblr support staff. If you've noticed the original post acting funky, with various pieces disappearing or reappearing, including the ALT text, that's why. I was trying to fix a technical issue myself before getting staff involved. I will have to look into adjusting the image description once the ticket is resolved. The ALT text should be functioning for now, but that doesn't mean it always plays nice with everyone's devices, so for now, I'll post the description here:

[IMAGE ID: Page one of a black and white comic for the Brother's Keeper Owl House AU. PANEL 1: In the foreground, Belos' gauntleted hand grasps the arm of his throne. "Emperor Belos!" Calls Kikimora. At the far end of the throne room, she enters through the enormous door with Caleb in his wheelchair. PANEL 2: "I have brought Lord Metanoy to answer your summons," she says. Her clothes and hair are in disarray, marred by tooth marks, and her expression is exasperated. Beside her Caleb is pristine in a formal tunic and half-cape, mirroring Belos' robes. He sits with arms crossed, glowering. PANEL 3: Belos, wearing his horned mask, sits on his throne atop a raised dais at the end of a long carpet. The throne room is cavernous and filled with pipes and clockwork. Scouts line the room, standing at attention. Off to one side, one of the scouts is pushing a cart bearing a crystal ball. Kikimora and Caleb stop before the throne. "Very good. You are dismissed," says Belos. "And take all the guards with you; I want to be alone with my brother." Kikimora bows. "Of course, Emperor Belos." PANEL 4: "Giving Kikimora trouble again I see," Belos says, his eyes behind his mask looking vaguely annoyed. Caleb shrugs. "I don't know what you mean. Any good assistant should know that madmen bite." Behind them, the scouts leave through the door, leaving behind the cart bearing the crystal ball.

PANEL 5: "I hope you had a good reason to have your little lapdog lackey drag me all the way down here." Caleb complains, glowering over his shoulder, presumably at Kikimora's back. Belos is standing up now and raising his staff, casting a spell. "Hmm," he says. /End ID] [Image ID: Page two. PANEL 1: Caleb looks up as the ripples of the spell pass over his head. "A silence spell? What did you bring me here for that you don't want overheard?" PANEL 2: "There was highly unusual visitor at the Coven Convention today," answers Belos. He is walking down the stairs to his throne to join Caleb below. Caleb is twisted in his chair to watch the crystal ball, which has just turned on. It is projecting an image in the air of Perry Porter announcing a news report. "Extra excitement today at this year's Coven Convention with the outbreak of, not one, but TWO witch's duels!" exclaims Perry. "The second duel was a battle between Head Coven Leader Lilith Clawthorne and the Owl Lady." PANEL 3: A close-up of Caleb, unhappy. "The Clawthorne sisters fought?" "However," continues Perry off-screen, "the true interest lies with the FIRST duel." PANEL 4: "Reports confirm that one of the two duelists was not a witch at all, but a HUMAN." The projected image shows Luz, nervous, fists clenched, at the center of the convention center arena. PANEL 5" "A HUMAN?!" cries Caleb. His eyes have gone wide with shock. Belos stands beside him. "After all these years, another human on the Boiling Isles," he says, "And there's something else." /End ID]

#brother's keeper au #doodlereply

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dankmyfarrik · 2 years

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Eternal Sunshine of the Spottles Mind | Chapter 2: The Fallen Angel

Masterlist | Taglist | Next Chapter

Summary: An alternate universe where the only thing that happens differently is… well, the Emperor wins. And Luke wakes up with a mysterious scar on his temple.

Read it here:

(Personal Preferance)

Archive Of Our Own

Or below the cut

Warnings: slightly bloody fight and mention of war.

They were nothing but flashes really. Feelings. Emotions.

The voices, the faces, the overwhelming need to feel… something. But Natus could never place what. He saw two suns rising above the sand and the face of an old man who's mouth moved but he couldn't hear the words. The sand got into his shoes and in between his toes as if it belonged and always was there. There was a small, lowly hut and a rusted doorknob. The smell of cinnamon and seasonings. There was an older couple sitting at a table—they smiled at him.

What was always the worst were the feelings.

Compassion. Love. Forgiveness.

And oh, it called him—the light.

Light. Light. Light.

He jolted awake in a cold sweat and ran to the fresher, vomiting up nothing.

Another nightmare.

His head was pounding, and his eyes felt sunken into his skull. But the guilt of it all was the hardest to shake. It crawled and leached into his skin. After all the work that was poured into him by his master, those feelings would try to grab ahold of him while he slept. Cowards.

He was too weak to stop it.

Natus let the anger rise and bubble forward and buried the guilt and doubt. Today was not the day.

He glanced at the outfit already set out by the dresser, tailored for just this occasion. Because today he would become Darth Natus.

—

Din fled.

He checked over his shoulder an embarrassing amount of times but the Crest's ramp finally closed behind him. The second he was out of range, he was launched into hyperspace to begin the most complicated series of jumps the rust bucket would allow. If the Empire did want to follow and kill him for how he treated the blond, at least he could give them a headache first.

Once the swirling stars encompassed the viewport, he leaned back into the chair and attempted to pinch the bridge of his nose. The helmet made the action impossible and awkward, but it helped him focus.

He just assaulted an imperial lord. And then walked away. With his head attached to his body.

Then he thought about the kid, and prayed to Maker Din didn't use up all of the Empire's mercy.

Din exhaled and pulled up the star chart, eyes searching over desolate locations in the outer rim. There were about five habitable worlds that would work, and he picked one at random. Then he added Sorgan's coordinates to the end of the jump chain.

—

"Shit," he mumbled, "planet's taken."

The inked stripes of an ally shock trooper blazed across her bicep. And he knew he had to fight or leave.

Din noticed her presence the moment he stepped through the trading post—hoping to glean some information about the surrounding area and lodging from the server. But his question was answered.

The shock trooper sat at the table with her side facing the entrance. And there was this moment—a blink, half glance—and with that, they were both aware of their presence.

For a moment, he thought both the rebels and the Empire were now after him, but why would they send just one shock trooper when they typically dropped in groups of five? There were no shortages of volunteers for the alliance—he heard the grumbles about the Empire even from the outer rim.

Unless there was more backup waiting just outside… but a quick glance at the bloodhound setting on his helmet disproved she had any help.

He sat down at the table to her side—gloved hand taught and angled towards the blaster on his thigh. Din was a Mandalorian; he did not have to apologize for doing a job (or three) for the Empire - he just followed the credits, and currently, they paid the most. It wasn't personal. But Din didn't feel like explaining that to her. There was also the knife in his boot, but bending to grab it would take too long…

The waitress caught his gaze and began to come closer. If this broke into a firefight, he could flip the table to shield her…or the duresteel could take at least a few more hits… And he thought of the beskar sitting in his ship wasted in the cantoona.

He could take the hits if needed, but there was no more allies waiting outside. The other customers—an old man, a twi'lek father, and his daughter, and a small group of men too into something playing on a fuzzy holo to notice—were not going to back her in a fight.

So she was alone.

His left pauldron was in tatters, and the durasteel in the middle front of his chestplate was too bent and thin (thanks to the mudhorn) to offer any protection. But if he angled his body correctly, he could let her get the first shot before taking her out with one clean pull of the trigger. Or at least give him enough time to flee.

"Welcome, traveler. Can I interest you in anything?"

"Nothing for me thank you. But I was wondering…" he trailed off, glancing past her. His gaze caught on what those people were watching on the rusted, low connection, holo.

Natus.

He wore elaborate robes—sterile white with long belled sleeves, with gold-laced trim and a black sash draping diagonally across his side. An emensive collection of military pendants were displayed on his chest. He was walking down an aisle with an army of thousands surrounding him. ATST's were bearly noticeable in the distance, and behind that, even larger weapons.

He was beautiful. And terrifying.

Reality fell back upon him, and—despite hesitating for only long enough for the waitress to raise her brows in curiosity—it was too late.

Din's head whipped back to the shock trooper's table, but there was only an empty stool. He nearly jumped to his feet to track her down, away from civilians, but then:

"I'll have a spatchka."

She was sitting across from him with a shit-eating grin.

"Alright, one spatchka for…"

"Cara," her eyes never left his visor, "Cara Dune."

"It will be straight out," the woman smiled and turned on her heel.

"You know, Mando," Cara leaned back on her stool and flattened her palms on the table, "I judged you too quickly."

Din didn't respond but tilted his head.

"I thought you were just another low-ranking imperial lap dog," Din snapped his gaze to her, "which!" She held out her hands plaquatingly as if to somehow lessen the insult, "you may very well be. But!" She pointed to Natus on the holo, who looked to be giving some form of speech, with the army raising their fist in the air, "you've met him. Haven't you."

—

Cara sipped at her spotchka while they spoke.

"I saw most of my action mopping-up after Endor. They sent us in to scavenge the remains of ships, identify bodies…" She trailed off, for once not able to look into the visor, "A lot of hope died that day."

The holo flickered again, showing the expanse of the Empire and then cutting back to the blond and the cruel quirk of his lips.

"Luke was our poster boy—he blew up the first Death Star without his targeting lense." She went on about the impossible odds of the shot - and Din had heard the same speel many times before. It was the last time the alliance made considerable ground against the Empire, so naturally the stories would circulate and evolve over time. He didn't blame them.

But now, and Din didn't know why the news felt as world-shattering as it did, he had a name for the face. Luke. His name was Luke.

"Then he went on some solo suicide mission into the next Death Star. The fame probably made him cocky. He was just one man against Vader and the Emperor. Well, the Emperor saw his opportunity, and now… well now Luke's just a puppet."

"I saw things there that I can't explain."

And in that one sentence, Cara understood his inference and seemed to share his confusion, although her eyes revealed something more intertwined with pain.

Luke must have been her hero.

Her jaw clicked, "I don't believe it. Just a trick of the lighting to make them seem powerful. It's just another manipulating war tactic. Properganda."

Natus stood—wind sweeping his hair and robes—the army of thousands bowed.

Dune's jaw clicked again. Luke was a flicker of light and hope that was snuffed out—a fallen star that crumpled into itself only to rise again. But when a star falls, it only displaces the system. Natus darkened the galaxy.

Din punched the button off a tad too harshly. The screen disappeared, but the image burned into his mind. Thoughts of the child alone—left with them—bubbled up again, but he pushed them down. This was his chance to enjoy a quiet life.

"Why are you here?" He asked.

"Let's call it an early retirement."

Din looked to the empty space where the screen was moments before and told himself a retirement sounded nice.

—

Din decided to stay even after he and Dune took out the raiders.

The village was safe and the people were nice.

And Omera… well, he liked Omera.

"Thank you," he found himself saying once again, "you are too kind."

"It's nothing, really. I should be thanking you." She set down a plate on a large stone where he was standing. They both paused for a moment looking across the slow winding river. The puffs of smoke from the village twined above the tree line in the distance but was lost to the equally grey sky.

There was a cool breeze as the season changed, and goosebumps sprinkled across her arms. He handed her his cloak and she smiled—wrapping herself.

With the cape gone, the empty holster at his side was more pronounced, and Din sighed. He hadn't felt like he needed his blaster. He took a full breath and released it, the calmest he had been in years.

Some of the dried leaves shuffled under her foot and she reached down, placing a grey stone in his gloved palm. Din shifted it around in his hand, feeling it's texture.

Weapons were a part of his religion and yet, his blaster was sitting on his nightstand. His pulse rifle was packed away. He gave a knife away to a youngling.

He threw the stone, and it skipped along the water before finally going under for good.

"Mandalorian," she started, and he turned toward her, "the hunting party is leaving at first light if you would wish to join us again?"

"Another bore?"

With the raiders long gone, animals were the most interesting thing they required his assistance with. And they didn't need him; Omera was fine on her own. But he thought she liked seeing him.

"Yes, it's leaving marks on some of the trees."

"I'll take a look."

"Until then," she stepped closer, "you could stay with me if you wanted."

Din knew she would offer soon. And he should accept and settle. Safe.

But he saw blue in her brown eyes.

She placed a gentle hand on the rim of his helmet. Din was tempted to let her… but a memory intervened.

Take off your helmet.

No one ever tells you no?

The thrill he got was more powerful than hunting any bounty or bore. A lonely impulse of delight. That's what drew him to the stars, why he kept his creed all these toilsome years.

"I'm sorry, I hope you find someone, someday, deserving of your love."

—

After goodbyes, the Crest coughed to life, and he reached out to the controls…

The silver ball was missing.

And Din knew he could never truly be at peace until he found what happened to that small green youngling.

With less fear than how he arrived, Din punched in the coordinates to Navaro.

—

Visiting the armorer always reminded him of his parents.

The sparks flew, and he heard their screams and saw their faces in the beskar reflection.

He could have kept himself as far from the Empire as possible—but now he was strapping beskar to his body and flipping through pucks of imperial bounties.

"I must warn you a full cuirass will draw many eyes."

He knew.

"Those were cast in an imperial smelter," Paz hissed from the shadows, "our numbers dwindle, and we hide from the same people you get your beskar from!"

"Hypocrite," Din snipped back but kept his gaze forward on the smelter. He ignored how that stung.

"Silence!" She called before it broke into a fist fight. "Paz Vizla, is it not wise to utilize the resources you have?" His brother stayed silent, "When our numbers are strong and we are no longer scattered, would you agree aiding the empire in any form would be treason?"

"Yes."

"Until then, we are able to grow in the shadows—stranded but surviving. We all live as both hunter and pray. Pray knows when it is wise to run and stay hidden. A hunter can decern when it is time to reveal themselves and attack."

"This is The Way."

—

The moment he stepped into the cantina, everything went silent. Until…

"Mando!" Karga bellowed from across the frozen room.

"Look at you—what a sight indeed!" He tapped the spotless beskar where a dent used to be. "You know, some people were mighty jealous and put a bounty on your head, but not me!"

Din froze. "A what?"

"Oh, nothing to worry about, my friend, I don't know how… but it was wiped off our chart—never seen anything like that before." He shrugged, "But, it's official, you are the best in the business, and to the winner goes the spoils!"

"So you have more work for me?"

"Indeed! Take your pick."

Din fisted through the pile of pucks—noting that all imp rewards were naturally more lucrative—but one, in particular, stood out. The criminal didn't seem to be of importance other than stealing something from a star destroyer (idiot), but besides the imperial signet indicating exactly who wanted this person, there was a smaller star towards the bottom of the chain code.

Din had always gone exclusively by price and the level of inconvenience when picking a puck, but, for a flash of a memory, he thought the child may have had the same star next to his chain code. When Din tapped it, sure enough, the drop-off instructions led to the Descant.

"This one."

"Just the one…? Really Mando, there is a better—."

Din stood with the puck in hand and left the cantina

—

The Gamorr air was stale even with the helmet's filters. Din found himself in the dark, off the beaten traffic of the city. Clotheslines hung overhead, and he sifted through them, following the prints glowing from his helmet's filter.

A sewer pipe creaked, and he softened his footsteps. The beskar made him lighter and, in turn, quieter and more efficient—it felt good to reclaim a bit more of the precious metal for his people.

A large speeder barreled by, illuminating the alleyway, painting the walls with the shadows of the hanging clothes warped in steam. The light revealed a sheet of durasteel haphazardly leaning against a trash collector.

The footprints dead-ended there.

Din clicked off his blaster's safety and threw the sheet across the ally. The quarry lunged from their pitiful hiding spot—brandishing a small rusted blade. The first strike was effortlessly deflected with the vambrace, and the blade snapped. But the impact left the blaster to fire in between their feet - burning a spot in the floor.

At the sound and bright light, the quarry jerked back in fear. Din rammed the beskar helm into their temple, and they went careening backward with a cry, fumbling for purchase against the ally wall.

The beskar really didn't allow for a fair fight.

Before Din could catch them with the grapple, they were scrambling out towards the street, leaving drops of blood and a trail of urine.

He followed them easily. The Empire wanted them alive, and so Din shot their ankle, and the quarry hit their back hard on the road. Din advanced, stepping onto the curb. The bounty clawed backward, scrapping their hands onto the jagged rocks of the cement. But as soon as he took another step forwards, they flung their hands out towards him—fingers stretched as if desperately reaching for something, eyes knit closed in concentration. Odd.

It lasted for less than a moment before light illuminated the road, and another speeder thundered by.

He dragged the remains to the carbonite before the pulse was gone completely—the compensation would be the same.

—

Din decided the Descant was too clean to ever feel comfortable living and working on. And too murderous.

"The beskar suits you well," Natus called across the floor.

Din approached with the carbonite slab trailing behind his gait. His posture strong and confident, the bright light reflecting across the armor.

But he didn't speak—because he didn't need to. And maybe because he was slightly afraid his voice would waver even with the vocabulator.

"Hm," the blond's eyes trailed across the quarry, obviously taking note of its poor condition. Then he turned to the trooper standing next to him, "send this one to Gideon."

They nodded and took the slab of carbonite with them, slowly disappearing out of earshot.

And then Din was left with Natus.

"You removed a bounty on me."

His lips ticked upwards, and his blue eyes shimmered in amusement.

"Mandalorian, I have a proposition for you."

Din thought for a moment this interaction would repeat their last. But the blond simply reached out and handed him something.

A puck.

Din took it slowly, rotating the object, trying to feel the texture through the gloves. It flickered to life and he examined the bust and information on the sides.

"Not as elusive as the last one. I'm sure you'll make quick work of it."

"What do you want from me?"

There was a gold shimmer in his eyes when he said, "Be my hunter. You'll always have a job, and I'll make the credits worth your time."

Din was tempted, but he remained still. He had come back for a reason (a reason other than blue eyes).

"And I'll let you see the child."

The decision made itself, really. Din gave Natus a curt not and swiveled on his heel, cape brushing the all too high boots.

"Oh, and Mandalorian."

Din stopped and half turned.

"Slightly more alive this time."

—

Natus never liked the lower levels of the Descant. But it was his ship and part of his duty to the Empire. So the elevator descended lower.

The doors slid open to reveal quite the scene.

He had to instantly doge out of the way from getting punched—of course, the troopers let the prisoners get this out of hand.

Then, only a few feet away, a trooper buckled like a doll as another escapee knocked them in the helmet with a chair arm.

"Enough."

Natus caught the two scums where they stood, and gently put the floating chair arm to the ground. He exhaled in annoyance at the Twi's look of defeat. The attempt was pitiful.

They were held to kneel with the force.

"Last words?"

"Some Skywalker you are!" They spat, struggling to move and breathe. "We actually had hope you'd save us."

Natus thought the force had reversed for a moment because it was a struggle to claim air. His eyebrows bent in confusion, but for the most part, he just felt… sad.

"Put them back in their cells."

He stumbled back into the elevator, sucking in a ragged breath, trying to compose his complexion.

—

The next morning Natus awoke with a headache and ran to the fresher to vomit up nothing. He watched his reflection as he gripped onto the basin till his knuckles turned pink; then, he wiped off the smear of blood on his temple.

Taglist

STARWARS LORE

~Gamorr: The planet those green pigs are from. It's apparently mostly farmland so I did make up the 'city' part.

~ “A lonely impulse of delight” is from the poem An Irish Airman Foresees his Death. It’s really beautiful and explains a WW2 pilot's motivation for flying even when he is not affected by the outcome of the war. I used the poem as a base for Din’s character for these first couple of chapters.

See you next time!

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saturnsstufff · 3 years

Text

Epolouge: The Empress

Warnings: slight NSFW

"Thena, sweetie, you can't play with that-" Techno warned to his child, moving the wrapped sword away from her tiny hands.

"But Daddy- you said you'd teach me!"

As Athena got older it was obvious she shown sides of taking after her father. Her curiosity in weaponry, speech, and body language told you that much. But, to be honest, you didn't mind.

You would admit, after being away from the toxicity of the empire, and the people it entailed, life was much simpler, and way more humble. It was homey, something far more than the large palace was. Instead of large marble floors, tall lengthy walls, and perfect matching fabrics, the cozy cottage home Techno and you built was made of warm, strong logs, wooden floors that gave off a warm glow, mismatched blankets and curtains that hung with care, showing they were frequently opened and closed. It was perfect for your small family. You adored it.

After the fall of your kingdom and the near escape you all had, life was hard to adjust to. Techno was distant, scared he would lash out at you again like he did in the library. You wanted to tell him it was ok, that it was a terrible misunderstanding between the communication, and the people holding the letters. Yet, the way he grabbed you still had you hesitant. You could still remember the first few months within the tundra.

Your eyes watched the brute cut more logs. The way he moved the axe, you wouldn't have expected him to be a once prestigious emperor. Instead he looked like a boy far past his years- someone overly exhausted.

The baby in your arms was easily fast asleep. Warm and cozy from the near fireplace, and if that wasn't enough, her mothers arms and chest opted as a warm cushioned resting place.

The past month was hard, both mentally and physically. Between the tension techno and you had, and the fear of Athena getting too cold from no true shelter, you both were at your wit's end. Thankfully Techno and Phil worked to built a small shelter. Something you could rest Thena in, well the three of you worked to build a more suitable home for a family.

The rocking chair you were seated in offered a soothing place to think back on it, of course your thought's were disrupted when Tech walked back inside the home. Logs over his shoulder for the fire, not wanting it to die out and bring the tundra chill into the home.

"Did she fall asleep finally?..." he asked softly, setting the logs down. Although he walked over to the two of you, he didn't rub his finger on her cheek like he normally would, he probably had sap on his hands from the wood. Something that was now normal.

Your smile came easy to his tone "yeah, she zoned out pretty quickly after she ate. You were right about rice cereal, she's not as hungry anymore" your eyes went up to meet with his. His smile was just as gentle as yours. "Where did you even hear about it?"

"I was curious if it would... I was trading in the village and I herd it from a elderly woman" he explained, moving to the sink to wash his hands off.

Your curiosity perked at this.

"You did?"

He hummed and wondered back, sitting on the couch, still respecting the space you wished. Just because you two were married didn't mean it was all sunshine and rainbows. Things were still healing, you still got weary around his touch after the library incident, and he was still blaming himself for the years you were alone. He didn't feel like you could forgive him so easily- he knew you shouldn't.

"Mhm. She saw me looking at a small plush and rattle. She asked if I had any children or if they were for a friend... I explained I had a fussy infant... she kind of laughed and told me a few ways to avoid it..." his cheeks went pink as he glanced away.

It was easy to believe Sarah tampered with the letters, the tech in the letters was cold and distant about children. Where the one you laid with every night cooed, and played with his daughter, eager to show her the world. One thing he did for her almost made you break down in tears.

Due to fleeing for your lives, Athena no longer had toys, blankets, or anything she needed. She even lost her plush, the one she slept with every night. When she was particularly fussy one night, you explained to techno why. Of course he was saddened too, he didn't wanna hear his little girl cry, no parent did. So the next day he found some scrap fabric and sewed together a small Pig for her. You would always remember how eagerly she pulled it into her arms.

In the end. It was easy to see Technoblade was a family man.

When night time rolled around, you were thinking back on all the nights techno held you close. After his return you both slept with a bit of distance between you. The first night you both were tightly within each other's arms, too scared to loose each other again. But after that something about laying tightly like everything was ok didn't feel right. So the two of you kept a bit of distance, easily a hands reach away if needed.

Tonight however, you wanted tech to hold you. You wanted old times back, the endless giggles, the warm arms, slight smirks, his nose in your neck content with life. You missed it so much.

So when Techno crawled into bed, you fallowed in suit, but instead of crossing over him for your place by the wall, you sat atop straddling his waist. The action alone was enough to make him pink, and curious. His hands didn't rest on your hips, rather you guided them to rest there yourself, showing it was ok for him to touch you.

You could feel how hesitant he was. He didn't want to scare you, drive you away farther than you already were.

"Princess... what are you doing?" He asked softly, admiring your form above him, dearly missing the sight deep down.

"Tech I miss you... I miss you holding me, making love to me, whispering how much you love me... I miss how close we were..." you said slightly pained.

He drew a slight breath, the air coming out shaky. "Darlin'- Princess... look... I miss it too... But I hurt you... I accused you of sleeping with Orion, i also assumed you hated me... It made me draw my sword to you... it made me Grab you-" he was cut off by you.

"And I forgive you... it's in the past... we can move forward... I mean... I'm assuming you wouldn't do it again..." you said slowly, watching him discard your hips for your hands.

"Ill never raise a hand, or blade to you again... never again... God's I love you too much to even think of hurting you like I could have... Your all I have..." he said softly, tearing up slowly. Thinking back on it, he hated how he acted, he was hurt and took it out in rage, he took it out on the one person who endlessly loved him.

After talking out how you two truly felt, you tried to make love again, the action felt odd, yet long awaited, Both of you desperate to feel one another after so long without each other, but sadly when Tech moved you under him, you watched his eyes well with tears before he fully broke down in tears.

Their may have not been physical intimacy shared, yet the wounds of words, and actions began to slowly heal, and it all started with techno burring his face into your chest, his sobs drowned out by the wild wind outside the cabin.

Your thoughts were shaken from your mind as you watched your daughter try to charm tech into teaching her sword play.

"You promised!" She said, hoping it would budge the stubborn Brute.

"Yeah, well I promised your mother a new ring too and all she got was another one of you-" he said scooping Thena up into his arms, holding her upside down to get her to laugh.

"Yeah well she can take Ares back! I don't want a brother!" Thena said, sounding like she meant it. "He’s annoying and he always cries at night" she explained, finding her reasoning good enough.

"It sounds like you when you were his size" you said with a smile, stepping up beside your husband, almost eye level with your child. "Ares is young, he'll grow up and get quite darling. Crying is his only way of communicating he needs something" you explained, moving your head so you were somewhat looking her in the eyes.

When tech started to tickle her, it brought smiles to you both. Over the years her giggle, and laugh had become your shared favorite sound. Athena was so innocent and pure, she was the only hope that had survived the darkness of the empire. Luckily out of that darkness came a stronger relationship between you and Tech, even if it took time to develop again.

Without the empire down his throat, he had become much more relaxed. Even his voices seemed to dull down quite a bit. Not only that, but with his son born he felt more at home than he ever had.

This was, and always will be better than what you suffered. This was the life you and Technoblade deserved, after every tooth and nail fought for normality, this was rewarding. This was home.

#techno x reader #techno x you #te #technoblade x you #technoblade x reader

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gingerale2017 · 3 years

Text

Exhausted

The dress didn't look right on Cinder. It was a deep shade of blue, like navy, and reached to her feet with silk straps on her shoulders. She was glad there wasn't much of a neckline since there wasn't anything to show. The front was riddled with dark blue gems. Overall, the dress was very comfortable and flexible, but it didn't look right when she stared at it from the mirror. Iko said it looked wonderful, Tressa agreed, and Kai said she looked stunning. But still, something was not right. Maybe it was because she hated wearing dresses.

An automated voice asked for permission to enter. Cinder accepted and began to pick up her mess.

"Hey Cinder, it's time for jewelry!" Iko singsonged while walking in, bringing a chair.

"Can you put it on quick this time? I'm going to be late," Cinder replied, reluctantly sitting down in the chair Iko brought.

"The later the better. If you come late, all the attention will be on you and you will be the star of the ball. All eyes on you, what a dream," Iko pulled a drawer open near the sink and pulled out a gold necklace with a small sapphire gem, "Oh isn't it beautiful? I was going to give it to you for your next birthday, but I couldn't wait that long."

"Iko, do you have the ring?" the android nodded and pulled out Cinder's engagement ring from her pocket, "Thanks."

She stared at Cinder accusingly for a little bit, "What's wrong?"

"Nothing. Why?"

"You look like something terrible is going to happen tonight- oh wait, I know!" she smiled wickedly, "You're nervous."

"I am a little bit. Because this time I'm being announced as Kai's fiancee instead of personal guest or Queen of Luna slash girlfriend," Cinder fiddled with her gown.

"You've done this twice already, how is this one going to be any worse? C'mon! We're late!" Iko grabbed her arm and paraded out of the door, "I really wish that you and Kai were introduced together like last time."

"Weren't you the one who wanted us to have glorious introductions?"

"Yeah... But it would have been so cute with you guys together, the Emperor and his future Empress! Wait, do people call you 'Your Future Majesty'" Iko made air quotes on the last line.

"Don't give them ideas."

"Ooooh, we're here! Me first!" her eccentric blue-haired friend paraded behind the line of other special guests waiting to be introduced. Cinder was surprised to hear Scarlet's name be called; she thought Scarlet left early for the ball. She must have been sidetracked or something.

When Iko was introduced, Cinder felt a rush of butterflies fly through her stomach in waves. This was the most nervous she'd been, and that's including the time she was a drenched mess trying to save Kai from a fatal marriage.

She was the last of the long line, just how Iko wanted. She forced herself to take a breath as they called out her title.

Cinder found it a bit annoying that everyone who rushed to greet her still called her by 'Your Majesty'. She was growing tired of correcting them. Her friends rushed to be with her and catch up on things. Overall she had fun and had no idea why she was nervous. Kai and Cinder danced for three songs before Iko came to steal her for a quick makeup fix. She then danced with Thorne, Wolf, and Jacin. It was really nice.

At the end of the night, after the Annual Peace Ball was finished, she felt like collapsing on her bed. Of course, that was exactly what she did before Iko came once again to put away the dress. The android didn't want it to wrinkle.

Cinder lazily put on a shirt and sweats that were sleep worthy and made her way to Kai's room. This time when she collapsed, no one interrupted her.

"Long day, love?" Kai asked.

"Hmph" she muffled under the pillow. She heard him move towards her to hold her.

"Yeah, me too. Next time let's not stay up all might discussing whether you should wear socks to bed."

She chuckled and raised her head to speak, "Next time don't wear socks to bed, it's so weird," Cinder noticed the bags under his eyes. Kai honestly looked more exhausted than she was.

"You look so bad," she shifted so that her head was turned on the pillow and looked at Kai, "Did you do anything tiring today?"

He considered while closing his eyes. Cinder swore that he was falling asleep, "Kai?" she poked him with her toe.

"Mmm, I haven't been sleeping well, to be honest," he peeled open his eyes and she was mesmerized by the copper-brown.

"Then I should let you sleep instead of running my mouth."

"No, no, I want to hear you talk and to cuddle with you," he words came out very slow like it was hard to say each syllable.

"No, Kai, you're very tired, you need to rest. You can barely keep your eyes open. Here," Cinder pulled her own aching body up and got out the bed. Kai whined when she left his grasp. She opened the sheets as far as she could and pointed at it, "climb in so you can be more comfortable. I'll help you."

"I'm not that tired, love."

"Trust me, you are. Now get it in so we can both sleep," she argued softly.

"Ok," he crawled into the sheets and settled down. Cinder climbed in until he was holding her in his arms and placed her head comfortably on his chest.

"Yeah, I am very tired," admitted Kai. She chuckled. Time passed by just them enjoying each others warmth and presence. It wasn't until his breaths became more relaxed she realized that he fell asleep.

Cinder laughed silently. He was always the first one to sleep out of the two and she found it somewhat hilarious. For no particular reason. She then found herself falling out of consciousness, and she let herself dive into the depths of sleep. Excited that she'll wake up in his arms and have another full day with the love of her life.

Okay, half of this was not even kaider but its ok. I just wanted a reason for Cinder to be tired (that's why she didn't feel right). Please comment and vote and if you have any prompts/requests never be afraid to ask! Have a good day and be safe!

-Angie

#kaider #wattpad #newwest fic #fanficton #the lunar chronicles #rampion crew #queen selene blackburn #linh cinder #emperor kai

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jiubilant · 3 years

Note

21 for a daedric artifact of your choosing, OR an important piece of enchanted jewelry one of your OCs has......🔍👀

21. silence insp: [x]

In Solitude, at summer’s end, Viarmo sits down with a friend.

They often dine together at this hour, in the headmaster’s hearthroom, in front of the wide window that looks out to sun and sea. They eat sparingly today. The table between them is well-stocked with sweet and bitter: honeyed oats, hot tea, apples poached in sunlight and cinnamon. Eggs on sour rye. Salt in the shaker. Sugar in the bowl.

A fitting spread, Viarmo thinks, for their last breakfast.

“I’d better be at the docks by—noon, let’s say,” says the Archmage, his smile comfortable and calm. He spears a slice of apple with his fork. “Or the Queen will send someone to drag me, I expect.”

Viarmo does not smile.

“Four months,” he says, half in wonder, half in pain. He slowly shakes his head. “It took you four months to be named an enemy of the state.”

“Anything worth doing,” says the Archmage, “is worth doing quickly. Pass the salt?”

“If you pass the sugar.”

The scrape of the sugar bowl across the table. The gentle tap of the salt-shaker.

The banishment, Viarmo thinks, won’t stick. They both know it; the Queen is fond of them, and sympathetic, and her get-thee-gone is meant more to protect her court wizard than to punish him. But the Emperor’s proscription is a different matter. Not that old Mede is likely to send assassins to a man for tying up trade in far Haafingar, not with the number of knives ringing his own throat right at home, but Viarmo worries. He spoons a lump of sugar in his tea. He stares at the man across the table, watches him chew, imagines him cold and still in some Colovy cell—

“Vjar?” The Archmage, warm and alive in Viarmo’s hearthroom, raises his eyebrows. Leans across the table. Taps the rim of Viarmo’s cup—clink-clink—with his fork. “Vjar. Are you going to drink this, or caulk the ceiling with it?”

Viarmo blinks down at his tea. His sludge. He’s spooned in half the sugar.

“Dramatist,” says the Archmage, not unkindly. “Here, let me—let me show you something.”

He works off one of his plainer rings with difficulty, leaning back in his chair, then casts it carelessly across the table. It rolls butter-smooth and straight past cups and cutlery, bright as a coin, then—inexplicably, to Viarmo’s eye—curves from its natural path, wobbling like a wagon-wheel back to the Archmage’s waiting hand.

Viarmo, dragging his thoughts from the dungeon in Colovia, tries to look more interested than ill. “Is it weighted?”

“No.”

“Spelled?”

The Archmage smiles. “Yes. But that’s not why it comes back.”

“Something in the way you rolled it, then,” says Viarmo, resigning himself wearily to his part in the play. He musters a smile. “Let me try.”

The Archmage drops the ring into his hand.

It’s warm, Viarmo thinks, blinking in surprise. Not warm like gold that’s sat awhile against skin, but warm as a living thing itself—with a pulse, almost, a thready thrick-tick-tick in his palm. Abruptly fascinated, he turns it over in his hand. “What’s the spell?”

“With that on,” says the Archmage, “you could slam your fingers in your viol-case and feel nothing at all. Maybe a pinch.”

Viarmo raises an eyebrow.

“Heard you swearing earlier,” says the Archmage. He smiles a little nervously, then glances out the window at the sun. “Go on. We’ve got—five minutes or so.”

Five minutes, Viarmo thinks. The sunlight shines cold on his face. Five minutes.

He rolls the ring.

The ring rolls off the table.

“I’ll get it,” says the Archmage at once, which is ridiculous—but he’s out of his chair, easing himself stiffly to the floor, before Viarmo can protest. He left his cane, Viarmo thinks, in the bedroom. He should fetch it for him. Five minutes.

“The trick of it,” the Archmage is saying, blithe and calm as ever, “is that there’s no trick at all.” He’s crawled under the table, the old spider, talking all the while. “It’s—it’s a long-standing superstition among mages, actually, the ring-rolling. If you wear an enchanted piece awhile, like a, well, like a ring, it’s supposed to take to you. You in particular. Not to personify. It’s something to do with—harmonic resonance, or magicka signatures, I don’t know. But when you roll your ring away, it rolls back”—he bumps his head on the table, rattling the cups, then reappears by Viarmo’s knee—“if it wants to.” A thin twitch of a smile. “Because it wants to.”

Viarmo considers this.

Then he reaches, with a fond, faint smile, to thumb the Archmage’s hair behind his ear.

“Do you rehearse your little allegories, Ravi,” he asks, his fingers brushing the other man’s cheek, “or do you spin them off-the-cuff—”

He stills, realizing what he’s looking at. The Archmage, kneeling by his chair. Looking anxious. Holding a ring.

“Argonian custom,” he says.

Viarmo hears his own voice, thin and small, as if echoing from a great height. “Yes.”

“This way no one knows any better,” says the Archmage. “Keeps your, ah, your reputation intact. Institutional credibility. Popularity with wealthy dowagers. You know. But maybe someday we can do it properly,” he says, speaking faster now, “a, a real handfasting, with—banns and bells and all. With hatkicks. If you like.” The ring twists and trembles in his hand. “Or maybe you’ll throw this in the, the—in the canal in a month or two, I don’t know. I don’t—I don’t know, it’s mine, it might not even fit—”

“Yes,” says Viarmo.

“—but, you know, I thought,” the Archmage continues, his voice hoarse, “I thought—you make me think, that’s the trouble.” He smiles then, helplessly, like a harpist struggling with several strings. “I thought, well, why shouldn’t we do all the things that stupid young men do—”

“Yes,” says Viarmo.

They stare at each other. A bird flits past the window.

The Archmage, his face careful and still, clears his throat. “Yes?”

Viarmo smiles.

“Well. Not all the things,” he says, “that stupid young men do.” He folds the Archmage’s hands, very gently, between his own. “It’s been fifty years since I could do a hatkick.”

A short silence.

“What if I held the hat,” says the Archmage, straight-faced, “very close to the floor, say, ankle-height—”

“Five minutes,” Viarmo reminds him. He opens their hands and looks down at the ring, blinking back a glad and grievous ache. “Let’s see if it fits.”

It does.

[elder scrolls writing prompts]

#skyrim #microfic #oc tag #viarmo #ravi #LOVE this prompt. am working on two more that are more in line with what you were asking

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3laxx · 3 years

Text

Giggly Confession

Luz had been familiar with crushes to that point, with crushes to males, females, and others. She had known what the fluttering feeling in her belly felt like, she was familiar with the way her face would heat up and her mind hiccup and fall out for one, two seconds before her thoughts would start running again. --- The confession goes a little differently.

I thought, what if Luz didn't destroy Hooty's awkward and kind of creepy FNAF inspired Tunnel of Love? What if she got to confess her way, not Hooty's way? What if there was less angst between the two sweet girls and more in the past? Enjoy~

Ao3 / FF.net

---

Burying her head in her arms, Luz groaned. This was going all wrong.

She had wanted to be cool for once, suave and actually sweet, not overbearing.

Unpleasant memories bubbled up within herself, as she remembered how the last time had gone when she had tried to woo one of her classmates.

Luz was bouncing on her chair impatiently.

If she had had friends, she would’ve probably rambled to them unstoppably, but since she was sitting alone, she was trying her best not to combust on the spot.

She had dressed up and bought chocolates and everything. She had even tried putting on Mami’s perfume, even if it had gotten in her mouth and she had spent the rest of the morning washing that out. But now she was ready.

She had hidden the chocolates in her bag and waited for school to end, to surprise her crush after the lesson.

Maybe they’d even go to the cinema with her. To the new Azura movie to which she had already bought the tickets!

This had cost all her lunch money for the week but that was worth it, probably.

Finally, the teacher wrapped up the class and Luz was free to go. As quickly as her legs could carry her, she sprinted out into the hall and to her locker, to get some last-minute things before meeting them outside.

As expected, he was hanging around on the steps after school, because his bus always came a little later. He was sitting surrounded by his friends and sunbathing in the late May sun. Luz always felt her breath catching in her throat when she saw his soft hair shining like that.

She hiccupped shortly, before straightening up and puffing her chest out.

She wanted this to go perfectly, and she didn’t want to lose it to nerves.

Putting on a brave smile, the twelve-year-old went down the steps and approached the group of friends, waiting for them to notice her. His friends did first before he looked up and a small smile ghosted across his lips.

“Hey Luz.”, he greeted and she steeled herself.

“Hi Noah.”, she smiled back and his friends started to notice her clothes. Small giggles sounded but Luz couldn’t hear them because his beautiful blue eyes were staring up at her and her only. Quickly, she slid the bag from her shoulders and pulled the chocolates out, holding them out to him.

“Uhm… D-Do you wanna go out with me?”, she finally choked out, and silence laid over the group like a blanket. Luz swallowed as his smile vanished.

“… With you?”, he clarified and Luz gave a small nod, still holding the chocolates. She had checked everything. He was kind enough to greet her in the halls, he was single and she had done everything right… Right?

His friends suddenly erupted in laughter. Cold dread started pooling in her stomach the longer she stood there, the longer he wouldn’t give an answer.

“You do know the boy is supposed to ask, right?”, one of his friends brawled and Luz pulled up her shoulders.

“Yeah, but, I thought-”

Noah then got up, snatched the chocolates from her hand, and snorted at her. He was standing a good head taller than her.

“I don’t wanna go out with you.”, he clarified and his friends sneered and cackled at the sad display she was putting up by now, “But thanks for the chocolate.”

“Look at her all dressed up!”, a girl got up now, pointing at the good blue button-up shirt that she had only worn once to a wedding, “If you wanted to impress him, you would’ve gone for a dress. Don’t you have a dress, Noceda?”

Another round of giggles went through a group before a boy from behind Noah chirped up.

“Luz in a dress wouldn’t impress anybody, Fiona!”, he laughed and Luz’s shoulders pulled up more as her eyes filled with tears. The worst was that Noah started laughing along with them.

He had always been so nice to her. He had actually greeted her, and he had even thanked her once when she had held the door for him. He had never been mean to her, like the others.

His friends got louder now, attracting the attention of multiple other students just leaving school and waiting for their parents or buses.

“Ew is that perfume you’re wearing?!”, a girl closer to her now shouted and made an act of getting closer to her, to which Luz responded with something she had never done before. She gave the girl’s shoulder a rough shove, causing her to fall against Noah. The boy in question stumbled and they fell back. Before they could even get back up, Luz had already grabbed her bag and bolted down the stairs and out of view, accompanied by the laughter of the group and some students around them, running all the way home until she burst through the front door with tears in her eyes. For the first time in her life, she was glad her mother wasn’t home.

Sniffling, Luz shut the door and leaned against it, her bag slipping to the floor. She couldn’t show her face around school anymore, for sure. She couldn’t even look at anyone anymore.

But her mother wouldn’t let her take a sick day tomorrow.

Sniffling and wiping her eyes, she finally dragged her feet up the stairs before her phone chimed, making her pull it out. The calendar had sent her a notification that the Azura movie would begin in an hour. That only made her sob harder when she flung herself on her bed, desperately asking herself how to skip tomorrow.

“I don’t wanna be made fun of again…”, she mumbled, keeping her face obscured by her hands rubbing over it. The incredibly cheesy song in the background droned in her ears like a headache and she heard something mechanic going on, probably these scary animatronics Hooty had apparently thrown together to make this happen.

She had had to listen to students mimicking her shaky voice for weeks, and some even had thrown chocolates at her or sprayed their parents’ perfumes that they had stolen from their bathrooms around. They hadn’t stopped sneaking cheese strings into her pockets until a month later.

“Did you, uhm, say something?”, Amity suddenly asked and when Luz looked up, she felt like a foolish twelve-year-old again who thought she could woo the prettiest guy in school. Or like the eleven-year-old who had tried serenading her crush in the school’s talent show, by singing a love song and staring at them the whole time, with their friends suddenly catching on and starting to whistle in the middle of the performance while her crush had sunken into the chair deeper and deeper the longer Luz’s performance had gone on. Or like the hopeful seven-year-old who thought she could maybe get a playdate with the coolest girl in her class.

Whenever Luz fell, she fell hard and fast. She had already fallen hard when she had been five and had met a nice boy in kindergarten who would always play ball with her. She had announced to her mother that she would be marrying him later, but when she had pitched that idea to her crush, he had begun crying and ran to the swings.

It had come to no surprise to her that she had fallen hard and fast for Amity as well. They had been friends, colleagues, god knows what other awkward platonic titles Luz had given her in her mind until she had saved her from her parents’ abomaton. She had looked so cool, jumping down to the destroyed stage from above, swinging like Spider-Man, and her hair fluttering in the momentum. When she had turned to her and asked her if she was okay.

She knew exactly she had fallen for Amity head over heels the moment she had stared at her standing up to her parents while fighting the scariest thing Luz had ever faced until then. She wasn’t even that scared of the Emperor. Because she had somehow known he would stop before eliminating her. She had known he would talk more, that he would seek a deal, that he would be the diplomat she had known him to be, not a brute unstoppable force.

She had felt her heart drop when Amity had thrown herself between danger and her, but oh man had she felt her chest compressing the moment she had asked if she was okay.

From there, it had only gone downhill, fast, and Luz had become more scared the deeper she fell. Only when Amity had kissed her cheek, she had known she couldn’t make a fool of herself again.

She couldn’t make another George, Liana, Kim, or Noah out of Amity.

This time she had wanted to make it right.

Because this time she was sure Amity could like her back. No, this time she knew Amity liked her, maybe more like friends.

Staring into those beautiful eyes, like before, sent shivers down Luz’s spine. Gulping, she shook her head.

“N-No, I didn’t say anything, Amity.”, she whispered and instantly, the girl’s expression turned concerned.

“Are you okay?”, she asked and Luz’s breath hitched. It sounded just like back then, on the stage in her parents’ factory, “You look pale.”

Her lip quivering, Luz shook her head and finally managed to break their eye contact, wrapping her arms around herself.

“N-No, it’s fine.”, she finally choked out, waiting for Amity to break out in loud laughter when she looked up and followed the girl’s gaze to a sign Hooty had put up. Through the haze of her tears, she couldn’t even make out what it said.

Sniffling, she hugged herself tighter and tried ignoring Amity’s concerned gaze. Finally, she felt a hand on her shoulder. No laughter followed.

“Luz, something’s wrong, isn’t it?”, a soft voice asked and the girl flinched. This didn’t sound like laughter.

“… It’s-… It’s just that-… This is super embarrassing…”, she mumbled finally and Amity caught her gaze when she looked up. There was a smile on her face, but not an amused one. Just, soft and warm and so reassuring that Luz wanted to fall into her arms and forget this ever happened.

“You know… If I wasn’t kidnapped, this would be kinda sweet, actually?”

Before Luz could say anything, she heard a string being plucked. A guitar?

Her gaze shooting up, she saw an arrow plunging into the water next to them. Another followed. Luz looked up and suddenly, she spotted a lot of arrows.

“Woah, what the hell?!”, quickly getting up and grabbing the first best sign she could reach on the side, she held it up before Amity and her, the arrows embedding themselves in the scrap wood Hooty had hurriedly put together for this ride.

“Hooty! Be more careful!”, she yelled, but the house demon didn’t seem to listen. The arrows stopped and Luz threw the makeshift shield away, sighing heavily when she dropped back down next to Amity.

Only then, she worked through what Amity had said.

“Wait, you think this is sweet?!”, she suddenly exclaimed and immediately shrunk back when Amity flinched at the volume of her voice.

“Well, yeah.”, the witch tried, then she grimaced, “Without the, you know, deathly traps.”

Groaning, Luz leaned against the backrest of the stupid Hooty-swan-thing and rubbed over her face.

“Let’s-… Let’s just get this stupid ride over with. This was Hooty’s doing. I’m so sorry, Amity.”

A shadow flickered over the other girl’s face and she settled next to the human, slanting her lips.

“Yeah, you’re right. Us, dating? That’d be stupid… Right?”, a slight quiver in Amity’s voice made her look up. The witchling was pulling her knees close now to rest her chin on them and wiped at her eyes, avoiding Luz’s gaze at all cost.

Once again, like all the times before, Luz felt her heart sinking, and cold dread pooling in her stomach.

“No, I mean-…”, she gulped. She had messed this up so many times. She would choose the right words now. She had to, “Amity, this Tunnel of Love was Hooty’s idea. It’s-… dumb and embarrassing and absolutely not how I wanted to do it.”

Amity’s watery gaze turned back to her and finally, Luz rediscovered her bravery to get this off her chest now. Mirroring Amity’s seating position, she pulled her knees close as well.

“I wanted to do something else, but I wasn’t sure what to do yet and Hooty just-… Went ahead.”, gulping, she continued, somehow managing to hold Amity’s gaze, “I wanted to-… To be sweet and cool and-… Not ridiculous. I didn’t want you to laugh at me and now look what Hooty got me into. He kidnapped you and put together this-…”

Grimacing, she made a choking sound, finally managing to put that little smile back on Amity’s lips. The witch chuckled and Luz managed a smile as well. This was the first time her crush would laugh during a confession and not make her bad.

“You wanted to-… To ask me out?”, Amity finally mumbled and Luz nodded, hiding her nose in her crossed arms.

“Yeah… But I wanted to do it my way and-… This is not my way.”

Sliding closer, Amity’s hips bumped against hers and suddenly, she was really close. Luz’s breath hitched, like so often around the pretty witch, and she looked up to meet her gaze again.

“… What would’ve been your way?”, Amity asked and Luz shrugged, suddenly feeling all the heavy dread in her stomach again.

“Actually, I don’t know. Every time I tried to confess to someone before, they would just laugh at me and call me cheesy and over the top…”, tears welled up again but Luz managed to push them down and talk around the lump forming in her throat, “I probably would’ve gotten you chocolates or something.”

She received a small bump against her shoulder from Amity’s and looked up again, to see the witch smiling and offering her hand. Luz took it.

“I’d never laugh at you.”, she promised and Luz felt a giant boulder rolling off her heart, breathing through.

“Think you can allow me a second attempt?”

Grimacing, Amity giggled and nodded, trying not to look around too much and see the horrifying animatronics Hooty had put up.

“Yeah. Let’s get out of here?”, she offered and Luz looked up to see the boat had stopped on a pier, probably a long time ago already. Getting to her feet, she pulled Amity up with her and helped her onto the steady ground again, before shuddering when she looked back down the Tunnel of Love.

“Uh, thank Hooty, but we’ll, uh-… Be going now.”

The house demon appeared from the water and Luz tried so hard not to be weirded out by the over-eager bird anymore.

“But what about the-”, he began, but Luz waved it off.

“Thank you so much for that, uh, but we’ll get out of here now, okay?”, her gaze flickered around before she suddenly pointed in a random direction, “Look a bug!”

When the house demon turned, she tugged on Amity’s hand and gave her a shaky grin, whispering.

“Let’s get out of here.”

The two girls turned and ran, giggles carrying them all the way to the back door of the basement, before climbing out and running along the shore to get as far away from the Owl House as they could. Giggling and laughing, they propped themselves on their knees, before Luz straightened up again and offered her hand to Amity.

“I know a place, come on!”, she grinned and the witch readily grabbed her hand, her fingers slotting so perfectly between Luz’s.

“You wanna go to the Grom tree?”, Amity guessed and Luz groaned, laughing and rubbing over her face with her other hand.

“Noooo, I wanted it to be a surprise!”, she whined and Amity giggled, shaking her head and putting her other hand over their connected grip.

“I’m sorry, I’m sorry! I have no idea where we’re going!”, she laughed and Luz grinned, before tugging her along. The run broke into a jog and finally a walk, as they approached the nearby cliff with the giant, towering tree they had created when defeating Grom.

Sometimes, when she had visited this special place between Hexside and the Owl House, Luz had asked herself if Grometheus was still trapped in there, but she supposed his bits and pieces had found their way back to the Glandus ruins beneath Hexside.

“Ta-dah! The Grom tree!”, she led Amity on the cliff who had playfully closed her eyes before, watching her open them and act surprised.

“Luz, I didn’t know you would be bringing me here!”

They giggled almost maniacally when they ran up the slope to the tree, before Luz picked some grass and flowers in her jog and spun around Amity, hiding whatever she had picked (she hadn’t exactly looked), before walking backward.

“Alright, this is completely unplanned, but I’ll make the best of this.”, she promised and Amity laughed, softly halting her in front of the tree before Luz could walk into the massive looming trunk that was towering over them in multiple levels of height.

“I think it’s very sweet and fitting.”, Amity confessed and Luz giggled again, before breathing through.

“Everything is so crazy right now, and I have no idea what my future holds.”, she softly squeezed Amity’s hand who was blushing by now, smiling like crazy, “But it would be so cool if you were in it.”

Luz finally pulled the little bouquet out behind her back, grimacing when Amity giggled. She had effectively missed all the flowers she had been aiming for, so she just threw them away and brushed off any leftover grass on her pants, before pulling out a glyph to conjure a rose.

“So, uhm, Amity Blight-…”, gulping, she held out the rose and the witchling carefully took it, still grinning at her so sweetly, Luz thought her heart might stop, “Do you wanna go out with me?”

When Amity laughed, Luz felt no dread in her stomach, and no shivers down her spine. She didn’t feel a lump building in her throat and she didn’t feel any fear or pain.

“Yes!”, she giggled and Luz found herself grinning like mad.

“Okay!”

Amity played with the rose before Luz finally let go of her hand, blushing when she realized they had been holding hands all the time now. She patted her thighs, then she caught Amity’s gaze again.

“And, uh, now?”, she found herself asking. After all, she had never come this far and didn’t exactly know how to proceed from here. Amity was blushing, too, and shrugged cheerfully.

“I don’t know!”, she laughed, making both of them pull up their shoulders awkwardly before Luz motioned to the tree as an offer.

“We could sit down here, and uh, I didn’t bring a picnic but we could, well, talk?”

Amity nodded to that and they settled down before Amity hesitatingly took her hand again.

“This is still kinda scary when I do it consciously.”, she mumbled and Luz nodded, looking down to their interlaced fingers.

“Kinda…”, looking back up, she smiled at her new girlfriend, “But I’m sure we’ll get used to it!”

The witch giggled and put the flower down on her lap, before leaning over and leaving a soft, feathery kiss on Luz’s cheek, before leaning back and smiling.

This time she didn’t feel like running away.

“Yeah, I’m sure we will.”, she smiled. Grinning stupidly, Luz squeezed her hand, before Amity leaned against her and nestled her head in the crook of Luz’s neck, looking out to the Boiling Seas, “No matter how scary, this is really nice, too.”

Luz couldn’t agree more. She hummed and leaned her head against Amity’s, looking out to the steam rising from the body of water in front of them.

For the first time, she hadn’t been laughed at. At least not with bad intentions. She had laughed with Amity, a lot, at their silliness and unexperienced stupor. But she hadn’t felt bad laughing a lot this night.

This was a first and she hoped she’d still have a lot of moments with Amity in which they could giggle so much she thought she couldn’t breathe anymore.

Or maybe it was just the cotton candy-haired goddess that stole her breath, she couldn’t decide.

---

Let me know if you liked it!

#toh #the owl house #amity blight #luz noceda #lumity #fluff #cute #confession #alternate ending #s2ep08 #knock knock knocking on hooty's door #toh spoilers #spoilers #s2 spoilers #fanfic #my work #adorable

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minmotl · 3 years

Text

Ch. 69: Sui Zhou Touches Tang Fan’s Lips As They Sleep On The Same Bed

Context: Continues from Chapter 68. Tang Fan, Sui Zhou and the other men are headed back to the Imperial City and Tang Fan knows that his punishment for letting Yin Yuan Hua get killed will be severe. Sui Zhou tries to help him but is helpless to do so, and Tang Fan plans for him instead, touching and warming the man’s heart.

*Note: Liang Wen Hua is Yin Yuan Hua’s direct supervisor and the both of them have been trying to sabotage Tang Fan for the longest time.

Introduction Post | Masterpost

—

Highlights under the cut

Tang Fan smiles slightly, and then finds a chair next to the bed to sit down on. The red swelling on his face has already faded, so this action naturally looks elegant.

“What do you think will happen?” he asks in return, wanting to hear his good friend’s thoughts.

Sui Zhou is highly skilled in martial arts and has a firm, strong body, so even after sustaining severe injuries, now that he has laid down for so many days he is more or less recovered. Now, as he sits leaning against the side of the wall and chats with his good friend, this is instead another type of rest.

Listening to Tang Fan’s words, he then says sombrely, “A lot of people already think that you are in the Zhang Ying’s camp, but from what I can see, Wan An has been wanting to switch him out and so he definitely won’t sit in the ministerial position for long. Once he leaves, you’ll have to face Liang Wen Hua on your own, but in today’s court there are a few different parties that are competing fiercely with each other. Although Liang Wen Hua and the Chief Minister Wan An are close, but Liu Xu and Liu Ji do not look upon Wan An favourably, you still have a chance.”

The bunch of them have stayed in Gong County for a month, and at this point, Sui Zhou still does not know that Zhang Ying has been assigned to Nanjing, and also has no idea how accurate his premonition is.

“So what you mean is, I should depend on Liu Xu or Liu Ji?” Tang Fan asks.

Sui Zhou nods, “In the internal courts, today’s leading three elders, aside from Wan An, are Liu Xu and Liu Ji, these two men. Liu Xu is righteous and blunt, while Liu Ji is used to patronising others, and they are certainly no easy people to get along with. However, Liu Xu is the Emperor’s teacher and even he has to address the man as Dong Liu-xiansheng. The respect he has for the man is apparent. As for Liu Xu himself, he can appreciate capable young officials, so if you can gain his protection, you will not need to be afraid of Liang Wen Hua.”

And within the internal courts, although Liu Xu tends to be arrogant, compared to others, his personality can be considered one of the better ones. Moreover, he often advises the Emperor to work hard and serve his people. The only thing is, Liu Xu has a bad temper and likes to lecture others. If he sees someone he does not like, no matter if that person has done something good or bad, he will still lecture them from a higher moral ground. This has garnered the resentment of others, and so his relationship with others in court is not good. He tends to spread rumours to the disadvantage of others, which is why he, Wan An and Liu Ji are discussed together in the same sitting.

***

Tang Fan only laughs bitterly at his words, “This is a good solution, but on me, this doesn’t really work.”

Sui Zhou frowns, “Why?”

“My teacher and Liu Xu hold old grudges against each other, detesting one another. They cannot resist but want to triumph over the other. With Liu Xu’s character, do you think it’s possible for him to protect his enemy’s student?”

“There is deep enmity between them?” Sui Zhou asks.

Tang Fan, “Not quite to that extent, but you are also well aware that the both of them have bad tempers and believe in that they know best. You know this, it is easy to determine who the winner is in a physical fight, but between scholars, it is challenging to see who wins. I am not certain how their conflict came to be, but in any case, I once saw my teacher throw water from a cup at Liu Xu with my own eyes, and he said that Liu Xu is just as this water, that he is dirty and hard to deal with.”

Sui Zhou, “…”

Well, since they have already come to blows, it is probably impossible for them to become friends in this lifetime. And Tang Fan, as Qiu Jun’s student, if he approached the man, judging by Liu Xu’s personality, it is not difficult to imagine how Tang Fan will be humiliated as a result.

This method indeed will not work. When he thinks about this, Sui Zhou too is a little helpless.

He is the zhenfushi in charge of the Northern Administrative Court, and although the official hat he wears on the top of his head is Rank Five qianhu only, the rank he has when compared to civil officials of the same rank is very different. Not only do Rank Five civil officials need to give way to him, even the seasoned elders in the internal court will have to stop and exchange greetings with him when they see Sui-zhenfushi.

Moreover, he is also related to Empress Dowager Zhou, while the Emperor trusts him immensely. For him to keep progressing upwards is not a difficult thing.

And yet, for Sui-zhenfushi who holds so much power, he is unable to do anything for his good friend’s career problems. On the surface, it seems that this is due to the entirely differently systems that govern the promotions for Embroidered Uniform Guards and civil officials.

However, Sui Zhou believes that this is the result of him not being powerful and strong enough. If he had the power and authority that someone like Grand Tutor Sun Ji Zong has now, even if Liang Wen Hua wanted to sabotage Tang Fan, he would have to reconsider and they would not be stuck in this situation where they can only react to changes.

Tang Fan sees his frustration and instead comforts him, “You do not need to be like this. I know you are doing this for my own good but whether or not I continue to be an official, this is not under yours or my control. I have already done my best at the things I need to do and have no regrets. You don’t have to worry about things that will happen in the future. We should live in the present, and there will always be things to worry about tomorrow!”

Sui Zhou hears this and does not know if he should be reassured by how open-minded Tang Fan is, or worried that he is so nonchalant.

Then again, if Tang Fan was the the type of official that went after status and power, focusing only on promotions, then the both of them would unlikely have any common interests or views, or become good friends.

It is commonly said that there is a everything happens for a reason, and if you lose something you will also gain something. Although it is impossible for everything to go smoothly, but they headed into Marquis Gong’s tomb, meet bloodthirsty, merciless and ferocious tomb-guarding beasts and originally thinking that they would have to die down there, and they ended up returning safely. This is already a fortunate thing; hey really should not ask for too much.

In any case, he has plenty of savings and when it comes to that, Sui Zhou can definitely afford to take care of him. All he has to do is think of ways to make Tang Fan stay.

Sui Zhou does not realise that unconsciously, he has already been influenced by Tang Fan’s casual, broad-minded attitude. The way he used to regard life in a strict and narrow manner is also slowly changing.

If it was before, he might have gotten angry at Tang Fan’s lack of ambition and competitive drive, and the way he does not seem to want to work with anyone else, but right now, he instead understands Tang Fan and acknowledges his friend’s perspective towards life.

This is because Sui Zhou knows that it is not that Tang Fan does not want to progress upwards, that he doesn’t work hard. It is that he has already done his best within the limitations of his capabilities, and he does not want to force things. He prefers to let things come as they will - he works with the determination of wanting to work towards maintaining peace in this world, but as a person, he is happy being himself and will deal with things when they happen.

To be able to be friends with him is the other person’s fortune.

“You’re right,” Sui Zhou’s mouth curves upwards, and his heart eases.

He does not know when it started; when he looks at this person and thinks about him, his eyes lose the cold and hard edge usually present when he looks at others, and what’s left behind is a light layer of happiness.

***

“Guang Chuan, after we head back, you better make a trip to Yuan-zhenfushi’s. He has been with the Embroidered Uniform Guards for so many years and though he does not think much of power and status, he is definitely not someone who will let others step on him. Since he let you command the whole of the Northern Administrative Court, this means that he obviously is impressed with your abilities and is intent on making you his successor. If you can obtain his complete approval and you absorb all of Yuan Bin’s power and connections, then even if Wan Tong returns, he will not be able to touch you easily. At that point you would control the Northern Administrative Court firmly, and naturally will not be afraid of Wan Tong.”

“And,” Tang Fan sits on the bed and bends at the waist to remove his shoes and socks, then hugs the covers and lies on the bed as he plans for Sui Zhou, “You are Empress Dowager Zhou’s grandnephew and the trust that the Emperor has for you is not lesser than the trust he has for Wan Tong. After you return, you must remember two things and you will be able to stand firmly before the Emperor. No matter how Wan Tong tries to sabotage you, he will not be able to do anything to you.”

Sui Zhou raises an eyebrow, “I’m all ears.”

“Firstly, no matter what the Emperor wants to do, you must not oppose him. If he asks for your opinion, you must not respond. Whatever he says, you do, unless it clashes with your principles. Secondly, after Wan Tong drags Yuan Bin down, you must ask for leniency for Yuan Bin. If the Emperor asks you for a reason, you should say that you are willing to serve him as Yuan Wen served the previous Emperor. Not only will the Emperor not blame you if you say this, but he will also pardon Yuan Bin, and be closer to you as well.”

The Cheng Hua Emperor has plenty of bad habits but at the same time, he is also rather soft-hearted and nostalgic. However, he is also an Emperor and emperors do not prefer their subjects to oppose them day in and out. With this type of personality, the Emperor is indeed a very contradictory person.

Although Tang Fan has only seen the Emperor in person a few times, from the descriptions of people who often interact with him such as Sui Zhou and Wang Zhi, it is not difficult to deduce the Emperor’s character.

What he has just said to Sui Zhou can be regarded as him guessing at the Emperor’s thoughts and this is taboo. If it wasn’t someone like Sui Zhou who he is this close to, Tang Fan will definitely not say any of this.

Sui Zhou naturally understands and his heart warms as he enjoys this treatment.

“I understand, thank you.”

“Between you and I, is there any need for thanks?” Tang Fan smiles.

At night, Tang Fan sleeps rather restfully and these problems have obviously not affected his mood.

Sui Zhou, however, is unable to sleep.

Tang Fan took the initiative and asked to sleep on the inside so that he would not accidentally press on Sui Zhou’s injuries if he tosses and turns. He is lying on his side and his back is almost pressed entirely against the wall. Sui Zhou feels uncomfortable on his behalf just looking at him, but Tang Fan is still able to descend into his dreams.

Sui Zhou’s gaze is sombre and he looks quietly at Tang Fan for a long while, then reaches out to touch that handsome face.

His fingers land on the other’s lips, but he only lightly caresses for a moment. The touch is not made out of lust or want, only respect and sincerity.

Before he met Tang Fan, Sui Zhou was actually incredibly lonely inside.

The Sui family members are not able to understand why Sui Zhou entered the Embroidered Uniform Guards, and in their eyes, Sui Zhou should have emulated his older brother, working hard at the imperial examinations, helping the family to forge a path of honour which will allow them to get rid of the reputation that says they relied on their external relatives for status. Although the authority the Embroidered Uniform Guards wield is great, they have a terrible reputation as well. If he had received an empty title, that’s one thing, but being called a dog to the imperial court, what is this?

However, Sui Zhou does not need anyone to understand him. He is like a single, long wolf, moving forward on a path he has set his heart on.

And then he met Tang Fan.

A person who genuinely wants to help him to plan and strategise for the future.

To be able to attain such a soulmate, what more can he ask for?

He can only reciprocate with everything he has.

The bright moonlight peeps in through the window and lands on Tang Fan’s face. This illuminates his beauty and makes him look like an immortal, unlike a common man.

Suddenly, Deity Tang moves his lips, as if saying something.

Sui Zhou’s curiosity is piqued and he moves closer, but he ends up hearing Tang Fan mumble, “Crab roe… tofu soup…”

Sui Zhou, “…”

Tang-daren’s imposing and noble image has been shattered.

===

Notes:

*今朝有酒今朝醉，明日愁来明日愁 - An idiom that literally translates to ‘I will get drink on alcohol today, and worry about tomorrow when tomorrows comes.” Means to live in the present and worry about things when they happen rather than in advance.

#tsomd #cheng hua shi si nian #cheng hua's fourteenth year #the sleuth of ming dynasty #成化十四年 #tsomd novel #fanzhou #tang fan #sui zhou #suitang #translations #so romantic sui zhou!!!!!

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starksvixen · 3 years

Text

Both Good and Evil

Summary: Darth Regius has a mission sent down from Emperor Palpatine. Entice Anakin Skywalker to the Dark Side using any means possible. But as the two draw closer, learning more about their pasts, they realize the balance of both good and evil.

Warnings: Ends with angst, darker themes, LONG ASS FIC

“Careful, Anakin, too harsh of a swing and you can hurt yourself!”

You tuck a bit of your bottom lip underneath your teeth as you look at the hologram of the handsome young Jedi training with fervor, his blonde braid gently swaying with each swing of his saber.

“I’m glad you find him attractive, you’ll need that...” a general says from behind you.

“And why is that?”

“You’ll need to use your...sexual capabilities to draw him over.”

Turning towards the bitter old man, the sharp static nips at your fingers as the dark Force flows through you, imagining his throat slowly closing under your grasp.

“You will not comment on my capabilities again unless you like your little hands there, General,”

Throwing him to the ground, you ignite one of the tiny dagger like lightsabers concealed in your corset and send it straight into the General’s head. A soft sizzle and subtle smell of pennies fills the air as you analyze the Jedi from his hologram state.

Anger fills his stature with each calculated swing, a certain glint in his eye. One that obviously hungers for revenge. A weakness, something to prey on.

Something to lure him to the Dark side...

You feel your eyes flutter to a close, the world around you turning to static as you feel for his dark energy. Then you find it, the tiniest of sparks. Before you can prey upon it, your eyes are forced open, a voice echoing from behind you:

“Who are you? How did you get into the Jedi temple?”

There he was, lightsaber raised, fear in his eyes. A fight he knew he might not win against the renowned Darth Regius.

But as you look around your surroundings, it seems as if he was on the ship with you, standing as if he had boarded minutes ago.

“I could ask you the same thing, how did you get on my ship?”

He refuses to answer, the words on his tongue fighting against his lips, a stoic face to hide his fear for the vixen of power standing before him. You cock your head softly to the side, walking closer to him as you feel the dark static you feel pulsing through your veins exuding from him.

“You want revenge, I can feel it. You want power and to feel free from the shackles the Jedi Order have locked on you.”

“You’re wrong!”

His voice wavers, his saber drops the slightest touch, his shoulders ease. The idea tickles his ears as it runs like a mad man throughout his train of thought. Slowly, you bridge the gap drawn between the two of you, holding out your hand towards him.

“Show me your pain. And I can show you freedom.”

You can see the switch in his mind, feel the light side burning you with its touch as an even more real burn makes its way towards your extended hand. The connection ends as the lightsaber lands, leaving singed skin and grimaces.

But you saw it, the Dark side taunting him, pulling him in slowly.

He just needed a little push.

You sit in your black armchair, looking at the stars as they whiz by, your tongue enveloping the bitter coffee as you sip it.

“How did you know I wanted revenge.”

You smirk as you place the cup back on the saucer that delicately balances on your lap. Turning your head, you quirk an eyebrow at the shirtless man before you, obviously roused from sleep.

“Well, good evening to you too,”

“Answer the question.”

A soft chuckle bounces across your throat before you lift your small cup and take another sip of coffee.

“Why the Force of course,” you say softly, looking out at the stars once again. “You’re taught that the different sides of the Force are just that, different.”

“Because one is used for evil and the other good.”

“But the Force doesn’t determine that, the person wielding it does. Some don’t choose either side, some choose to be the balance. Like how you were prophesied to be. The Jedi Order is delusional, thinking that balance means goodness restored.”

His eyes widen softly with interest, his shoulders releasing themselves from the cords that hung them close to his ears. You gesture towards the chair in front of you, to which he slowly takes.

“Listen, Anakin, I understand the Order is your entire life. But there is so much you don’t know, what they’ve kept from you. Because balance is not one way or another. One cannot exist without the other. You’re prophesied to bring balance to the Force, not be the Order’s puppet.”

“But that balance means the fall of the Dark Side, that’s what I was meant to do.” he says, his face contorted into confusion.

“Not necessarily. While yes, I do believe you will be the fall of the Sith, the Dark Side will always be around. I believe you are not a sole vessel for goodness. You are a vessel of great complexity, holding both good and dark in your hands.”

Silence fills the vessel as your gaze is drawn back towards the stars. You feel his eyes on you until he fades away, yet another connection broken.

“Jedi are swarming the ship! We need to evacuate!”

Grabbing your lightsaber, you secure it to your corset filled with saber daggers, their handles at the ready. Rushing out from your room, you look at the battleground before you.

“There she is! Darth Regius!”

A group of young Jedi’s yelled this as they ran down the hallway towards you. But as you pulled the handle from your corset, relinquishing the burning blade, they ran like chickens.

“(Y/N)?”

Turning around quickly, you’re met with a stunned Anakin, his lightsaber at the ready. Without hesitation, you take the first swing. As confusion interrupts his beautiful features, you project a message through the Force.

Look like you hate me. Wouldn’t want your master to find out about our little chats now would you?

Quickly, forced hatred plasters onto him as his strikes become more and more aggressive. As his force becomes harder and harder to block, you become more frantic. No way were you about to let a padawan bring you down, even if he was your mission.

Without a thought, your next swing strikes him in the face, causing the smallest of scratched burns to form. With a gasp, you watch as he reels back from the blow, a small smirk coming on his face.

“You owe me a rematch,”

With that, he runs away with his other Jedi as the entire ship cheers in defeat of the Jedi attack. Everyone around you chants your name, but you don’t have the same fervor. Instead, your mind replays the moment over and over again, one sentence coming out in front it all.

He finally trusts me.

"Why trust me?” you ask softly from your desk, different forms needing to be signed glaring at you under harsh light.

“I don’t,” Anakin replies, his lightsaber humming with each swing as he twirls it around with accuracy, pacing back and forth in your room.

You stop what you’re doing, laying the pen down straight against the papers before standing up. Anakin stops his twirl pacing, looking towards you as you hold out both hands to him.

“What are you doing?”

“Giving you something to trust.”

A few minutes pass as you hold your position in front of him, your hands beginning to shake under the weight of vulnerability. Eventually, he drops his saber somewhere unseen, and the calloused hand as well as metal seamlessly slide into yours.

You project your worst memory, Emperor Palpatine murdering your parents. They were meant to keep his child safe alongside you, raising the two of you together so you would become dyad’s in the force, a perfect storm of darkness.

But then the child ran away.

A dyad unmade.

A deal broken.

The tears fall as you hear their screams, the buzz of a lightsaber silencing them with one fell swoop.

“Come, child,” his gravelly voice echoes.

Filled with fear you follow, the memory ending, leaving you reduced to tears in front of the boy you had just barely gotten to know.

“You’re...young, like me?” Anakin says shakily, looking at you with unshed tears. “I was always told you were older.”

You shake your head, shaking the tears away, shaking the pain and loss off your heart.

“I worked hard to survive. Be the child Palpatine lost or face the same fate as my parents.”

“Have you tried to escape? Call for help from the Order?”

“They are the reason my parents are dead!”

You harshly pull your hands away from his, the broken and war torn fingers digging into your own hips.

“A Jedi saw Palpatine’s child and helped him escape, to bring him away from the dark side. That Jedi signed my parents’ death warrant...”

Turning your back to him, you sigh, lifting a shaking hand to wipe away any sign of weakness left on your face. But another wave of sadness hits you as something different enters your mind’s eye.

Anakin, his nightmares, her dead body, the slaughter, all of it. It plays in your head like a nightmare before his force slowly withdraws.

Your body disobeys your mind as you twist to the broken man in front of you.

“You’re not the only one who’s lost someone.”

Walking over, you wrap your arms around his neck and hold him close. His strong arms wrap around your waist as you chuckle softly.

“We’re both pretty fucked up, huh?”

“I guess we are,”

A knock on the door makes him suddenly disappear, leaving only the shape of him in your curled arms.

Warm water drips down your skin as you struggle to see through the steam in your small refresher. You reminisce on the months that had passed. What began as long talks across galaxies became long talks across bedrooms. You knew you had a job to bring him to the Dark side, how dangerous a connection to him could be. You repeated the mantra every night. Slipping on the silky robe you placed on the black marble counter, you walk out to your bedroom to find Anakin sitting upon the silk sheets.

His padawan braid was gone, his dull beige robes replaced by dark leather that showed off his frame quite well.

“I see they’ve let you graduate, Anakin.”

“Finally...”

“I told you that they wouldn’t understand your power, that they would hold you back,”

A scoff comes from the man, causing a smirk to come from you. Walking towards him, you gently lay a hand on his cheek where the smallest of scars lays on his handsome face. As you analyze his features, the way his eyes look at you full of lust and adoration, you slowly lay down, laying a gentle kiss on his plush lips. Your hands make their way into his hair as his hands pull you closer to him by your hips. Slowly, your lips break apart but still stay closer together, your mumbles tickling his lips with each word:

“You should grow out your hair, it would suit you,”

A soft smile, one that only you got to see (but you never knew that) appeared on his face as he gently pulls your hand away from his scalp.

“You flatter me too much,”

“Only because you deserve it.”

His gaze falls, guilt pushing his shoulders to cave in towards his chest. Your heart shakes, threatening to break. Taking a step back, you take a deep breath as you turn towards the doors of your refresher.

“You deserve the truth...” you whisper.

Slowly, you turn back towards him.

“I was tasked to bring you to the Dark side. Emperor Palpatine is part of the Sith, he is not who you think he is.”

His eyes widen at your sudden divulgence, only to be quickly filled with anger.

“So all of this time you’ve been manipulating me?!”

“No! Nothing I ever did was to manipulate you!” you walk closer to him. “Because I found not a broken boy but a strong man meant to carry out his prophecy. Please believe me!”

Anakin pushes you away with the Force, an evil glow filling his eyes. You had done your job, but never had you felt worse.

“Well, I guess you completed your task.”

And with that...he was gone.

#anakinskywalker x reader #anakin x reader #anakin skywalker x reader #jedi!reader #darksidereader #darkside!anakinxreader #unburnt!anakinxreader #skywalker x reader #starwars #star wars #star wars x reader

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ibijau · 3 years

Text

Suyao’s happy evil life in Japan, because I think they deserve that / also on AO3

warning for jgy having some very condescending views about Japan and its culture

The damn house wasn’t even haunted, Jin Guangyao thought as he performed the ritual. It had been abandoned for a few years, certainly, and it had a certain creepiness still clinging to its walls as a result, but that was nothing that a good deep cleaning and more recent furniture couldn’t solve.

Not that Jin Guangyao would say as much. If the tradition in Japan dictated that abandoned houses had to be cleansed before they could be used, he’d do just that. Business was business, and it wasn’t impossible that a pre-emptive ritual ensured no future ghosts would appear there. And even if one did, he’d come up with something, blame it on the family, on some fault in the landscape. It wouldn’t even be a lie. This house’s fengshui was a complete disaster… but he wasn’t being paid for that, and he didn’t particularly like this lord. The man had made disparaging comments against Su Minshan more than once, and Jin Guangyao had made note of that.

He wasn’t about to do Awata no Seimei any favours. In fact, Su Minshan and him had already agreed that they’d make the man pay more for the exorcism, even though they didn’t particularly need the extra money, not the way they’d done their first year. But then, in that first year, they wouldn’t have dared to aggravate someone as high ranking as Awata no Seimei, supposing they could even have gotten such a patron in the first place.

It had been hard, that first year, but neither of them were the sort to give up just because things weren’t easy. Besides, they’d had to survive, if only to spite the enemies they’d left behind.

Inflamed at the memory of that shameful flight, Jin Guangyao stomped a little harder than strictly necessary, which appeared to catch the attention of his spectators. Good. Let Awata no Seimei think he was working hard to purify that house he’d bought, it would justify the higher price.

It was mid-morning when Jin Guangyao decided he’d put on enough of a show and could announce that the house was now safe for ordinary humans. As soon as he stopped the ritual, Su Minshan rushed to his side, offering some cool tea, one of the local types that Jin Guangyao had become so fond of. As he drank, Jin Guangyao realised he was parched. It was still early enough in the day, but the heat was rising fast. It would soon be unbearably hot and damp, making Jin Guangyao regret that he’d wasted so long on this empty ritual.

“Master Kin Kouyou, what a splendid ceremony,” Awata no Seimei said in a too deferential tone that Jin Guangyao despised for reminding him of his own. “You have my thanks for your help, I could not have asked anyone else. Truly, there is no one else who would do as well as master Kin Kouyou.”

Jin Guangyao shot him a cold look. Before he could try guessing what Awata no Seimei might want from him next, Su Minshan came to stand between them, arms crossed on his chest, towering over the nobleman.

“Zongzhu just conducted this ritual for your house,” Su Minshan barked. “Please understand how draining this is, the house had been left untouched for many years, and there were traces of a fox spirit in there.”

Well, there were fox droppings in one of the bedrooms, Jin Guangyao thought, biting his cheeks not to grin. He couldn’t laugh in public, not when he was supposed to be exhausted from his great fight against evil, but the look of horror on that noble lord’s face at the mention of a fox demon was priceless.

“Of course I am grateful to master Kin Kouyou,” Awata no Seimei said. “I will make no further requests today. Then, regarding the master’s dues...”

“Don’t bother Zongzhu with that either,” Su Minshan snapped. “Come see me tomorrow, and I will deal with the payment. Zongzhu isn’t to be disturbed with such trivial matters. Zongzhu needs to retire now, unless you have any real reason to keep him here.”

Awata no Seimei didn’t. Between Jin Guangyao’s growing reputation now that the emperor himself had hired him and Su Minshan’s attitude, those nobles knew to keep conversations short. It had worried Jin Guangyao, at first, the way Su Minshan couldn’t bother being polite to these people, but in the end this played to their advantage. People expected foreigners to be a little odd, and the locals seemed to enjoy knowing that however talented those two Chinese cultivators were in magic arts, at least they had better manners.

Having finished their business with this old house, Jin Guangyao and Su Minshan headed back home. Awata no Seimei, quite generously, offered them the use of a pair of kago, which struck Jin Guangyao as rather suspicious. The man definitely had to have another service to ask of them, and probably one they wouldn’t enjoy performing. An onmyouji he’d become friendly with had warned him that some of those important people could become overdependent on divination and rituals, and Awata no Seimei seemed just like the sort who would ask the heavens what he should have for breakfast.

It sounded very annoying, Jin Guangyao thought as he stepped onto the travelling chair, but until Awata no Seimei actually started making requests, he wasn’t above taking advantage of the man’s generosity. The less he had to walk in this heavy, wet heat, the better. And he could tell that Su Minshan was getting uncomfortable, scratching his chest often. Summers were hard on him here, especially with his condition.

Eager to distract the other man from his discomfort, Jin Guangyao started chatting with him while their kago were carried along the streets of Heijou-Kyou, asking what else they had on their schedule for that day.

“Music lessons for the disciples this afternoon,” Su Minshan said, hands clenched over his knees in a futile effort to resist the itchiness. “Aside from that, nothing much.”

Jin Guangyao hummed, letting his gaze rest on the scenery. He’d been told that the city had been modelled after Chang’an, and many people had asked him if it looked as good as the original. Having never visited the capital at home, he always had to invent some polite lie about Heijou-Kyou having its own grandeur, but privately he wasn’t impressed. The original was always better than a copy, except in one specific case… and that case was sitting on a kago next to his own, suffering because of this country's climate.

“Minshan, take the rest of the day off,” Jin Guangyao said after a little while. “I’ll deal with the music lesson, you should have a fresh bath and rest. You’re really feeling bad today, aren’t you?”

Su Minshan looked away in shame, but nodded shortly. If it had been possible, Jin Guangyao would have reached out for him and taken his hand to comfort him.

“I’m fine,” Su Minshan said. “There’s no need to trouble yourself, I can take care of the disciples.”

“And I’d rather you take care of yourself,” Jin Guangyao countered. “I like teaching them, anyway. They’re good children.”

About half the disciples they’d recruited for their new sect were sons of minor nobility, because that paid, and because it never hurt to have connections. But a few were youth of genuine potential, who had in them the making of true cultivators, if they applied themselves.

The noble boys only came to study some of the days, and were sent back to their parents after lessons. The true disciples lived in their house, so they could be taught proper cultivation without inducing jealousy in those spoiled little princes who would never even come close to forming a golden core. Two of those boys Jin Guangyao had straight up bought from their family, something he couldn’t decide how to feel about. But they’d have been wasted as peasants, and they were grateful to their masters, and…

And Jin Guangyao wondered sometimes if this was what it had felt like for Nie Mingjue, picking the lowest person he could see and bringing him higher than others. Knowing you could change someone’s life was a potent drug, and it made Jin Guangyao want to fight to maintain their current position, so he could keep doing it. He’d been on the receiving end of pity for so long, he quite enjoyed being the one who could bestow it upon others at last.

“Do take the afternoon off,” Jin Guangyao insisted. “And I’ll send Haruto to buy some refreshing treats. He’ll be so happy to be of service to you, don’t refuse him that pleasure.”

“But…”

“Don’t refuse me the pleasure of spoiling you, either,” Jin Guangyao said, and with that Su Minshan could only nod meekly, defeated.

They reached home soon after. A light lunch was served to them, after which Jin Guangyao ordered that a bath be prepared for Su Minshan. Haruto and Minato, the two peasant boys, acquitted themselves of that task before going to prepare for their afternoon class. Jin Guangyao too went to prepare, but only after making sure that Su Minshan had everything he needed, and that the room they shared wasn’t too unbearably hot. Mostly, he enjoyed having someone to fuss over, something Su Minshan always resisted a little out of some fear he’d be relying too much on Jin Guangyao and become a burden.

A ridiculous notion. Out of everyone Jin Guangyao had ever allowed close to him, Su Minshan was the only one whose company had never once felt like a weight on his shoulder. Right from the start they had been equals, their temperament matching, as well as their hunger from more than the world was willing to give them. Jin Guangyao's few loved ones had all held him back, Qin Su with her unfortunate parentage, Lan Xichen with his principles, Jin Ling with the threat he represented... but Su Minshan had always been the perfect person to stand at Jin Guangyao’s side, and now they could do so openly.

The afternoon lesson passed quickly. Due to the humid heat, the boys were a little less attentive than usual, but then again so was Jin Guangyao. He was only too happy to free the boys for the day. Jin Guangyao only took a moment to send Haruto, his favourite student, on a few errands, while he went to do some accounting.

He’d been carefully managing their finances since they’d arrived in this country, and finally things were looking up. Jin Guangyao hoped that in a year or two they might buy a small house in the mountains, where he was told summers were fresher. Hopefully, he might get parts of the expense dumped onto some idiot prince or other, in exchange for teaching one of their dull witted sons. Back at home it wouldn’t have worked, because people understood money couldn’t buy cultivation, but here… here, any idiot with gold to waste thought they would learn magic.

It was fine to scam these people, Jin Guangyao told himself. Taking advantage of powerful men was nothing at all like those people who had sold his mother fake cultivation manuals. He wasn’t hurting anyone. Or at least, no one that particularly mattered.

When Haruto returned, Jin Guangyao took it as a sign he’d worked enough for the day. He thanks the boy for his effort, and gave him a few of the just purchased treats to share with the other disciples. The rest he took with him as he went to the room he shared with Su Minshan. As always he knocked on the wall to announce his presence, using a certain code between them so Su Minshan would know he didn’t need to cover himself.

When he came in, Su Minshan was sprawled inelegantly on a futon, and desperately fanning himself, his ruined chest glistening with sweat. He looked so miserable like this, though his face lit up when Jin Guangyao put down a box on their low table, and opened it to reveal some fresh shaved ice.

“I could kiss you,” Su Minshan said, all but crawling to the table.

“I hope you will,” Jin Guangyao retorted, picking some of the shaved ice with a spoon so he could feed it to the other man. “I also have some cold noodles, and some rice wine.”

“You are a god among men.”

Jin Guangyao laughed, and started chatting about their students, the ones in which they placed true hope, the ones who were there only for their parents’ fortune. Su Minshan was delighted to hear they might be able to buy a secondary house. With his thousand holes curse, heat and humidity were particularly hard on him, sweat and friction chafing his skin nearly to the point of bleeding sometimes. They really needed that house in the mountain, Jin Guangyao decided. He'd start looking very soon, and maybe drop a word to one of his richer patrons to ask for advice on such a purchase.

For now though, the two men enjoyed their shaved ice, then moved on to some delicious cold noodles. The local food was different from the one back home, but it was something they'd both taken to rather well, unlike that blasted climate. Then, after eating, they started drinking their wine, and the two men found themselves chatting about the place they would always call home, even if they should live in Japan for a thousand years.

“I wonder how A-Ling is doing,” Jin Guangyao mused, staring into his cup of wine. “Poor boy, he must have run the sect to the grounds by now, unless someone more competent got rid of him.”

“Maybe your enemy killed him,” Su Minshan retorted. “If they couldn’t get you, at least they’d get your next of kin.”

Jin Guangyao grimaced. “Probably. After all, they got Qin Su and that little idiot Mo Xuanyu, why not Jin Ling as well? Unless…”

“Unless?”

Jin Guangyao hummed thoughtfully. “I’m still wondering who it could have been,” he said. “I had my enemies of course, but there aren’t many who could have been bold enough to come after me like that. They all hated me of course,” he added with a joyless laugh. “But hate is not enough to go after a man who will slaughter your sect if you stand in his way. It takes a certain type of man to stand up to someone like me.”

“Could have been Lan Wangji,” Su Minshan predictably suggested. “Righteous prick, he didn’t particularly like Nie Mingjue, but he’d avenge him just to feel morally superior.”

“The fact that his lover was brought back certainly is suspicious,” Jin Guangyao conceded, sipping some wine. “And he never particularly liked me, either. To be fair, I don’t think he likes anyone, except that murderer. Still, I’m not sure he would have let Mo Xuanyu kill himself, he does have principles. No, I have another theory.”

“I’m listening.”

Jin Guangyao smiled, and poured more alcohol for both of them, letting the liquid flow as slowly as possible, allowing the suspense to rise a little before he dropped his bomb.

“Jiang Cheng,” he then said.

Su Minshan blinked a few times, frowned, then severely nodded, glaring at his cup of wine.

“It would make sense. Good way to make sure you don’t get rid of his idiotic nephew.”

“Our idiotic nephew,” Jin Guangyao corrected, who had put too much effort into becoming a Jin to disown his last direct relative, even if the boy really took more after his other uncle. “And everyone knows he’s obsessed with finding Wei Wuxian, right? I wouldn’t put it past him to just take things in his own hands and bring back the man who killed his sister, just for a chance to kill him himself, once he was sure no one stood in the way of A-Ling’s inheritance. Too bad he didn’t count on Lan Wangji. Ah, I almost wish I could go back and check on conferences now, it must be quite the show.”

The thought of Lan Wangji and Jiang Cheng, who had always hated each other, forced to act half polite even though they both wanted to lock down Wei Wuxian and keep him to themselves… it might have been the wine, but Jin Guangyao couldn’t help chuckling a little. He was so glad that he didn’t have to deal with that sort of mess. For this alone, he was almost grateful to his mysterious enemy.

It was an odd feeling, actually, but Jin Guangyao had come to enjoy his life here, in this foreign land. It wasn’t as good as home, nothing compared to the near absolute power he’d held back then, but… but his eyes fell on Su Minshan, naked from the waist up, looking in a rare good mood, and he smiled. There was definitely something to be said for this simpler life they had here. There was so much less scheming to be done, fewer enemies to deal with, and Jin Guangyao was finally free from the looming menace of Nie Mingjue’s resentful head hidden in his secret room.

Life here really wasn’t so bad.

“You know who it could have been?” Su Minshan asked, grinning like a fool, his cheeks flushed from the heat and the wine.

“Who?”

Su Minshan beamed, the way he usually did when sharing a nasty story about the darker secrets of Gusu Lan.

“Think about it. Someone who would have wanted to avenge Nie Mingjue. Someone who might have been able to wander around in other sects without attracting attention to collect information, because nobody cares what he does. Someone who Mo Xuanyu might have met before, who was there when Wei Wuxian came to Jinlin Tai to accuse you…”

Jin Guangyao, who had expected his lover to blame Lan Xichen, burst out laughing.

“I think you’ve had too much to drink, Minshan. Really? You’re accusing Nie Huaisang now?” Just saying it out loud, Jin Guangyao laughed louder. Nie Huaisang had never had a single idea of his own in his entire life, and didn’t even get along with his brother when he’d been alive. Su Minshan might as well have blamed a very stupid dog. “That poor boy, I bet he would have taken my defence to the end. I almost miss him, you know.”

“No you don’t,” Su Minshan retorted, which made Jin Guangyao laugh again.

“I do! Ah, Minshan, let’s get a cat and call it Huaisang.”

Su Minshan scoffed, and reached out for the wine, only to find they had already finished it. It was probably for the best, if they were so drunk that they could consider the possibility of Nie Huaisang being their secret enemy.

“It’d have to be a fat cat then,” Su Minshan grumbled, stretching in a way that called attention to his chest. It was funny, Jin Guangyao thought sometimes, how he should have been disgusted by the effects of the Thousand Holes curse, but wasn’t at all. “ And one too lazy to even run after mice, or do anything but sleep in the sun, or else the name won’t fit.”

“Minshan, you’re so mean,” Jin Guangyao fondly said, taking the other man’s hand and pulling on it, wanting to go to bed now and enjoy some more this very mean-spirited man he was lucky enough to share his new life with. “Please, never change.”

#suyao #jin guangyao #su she #mo dao zu shi #mdzs #evil boyfriends heck yeah #living in evil domesticity #jau writes

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poge-life · 3 years

Text

The Cut } Finn Shelby chap. 3

Chapter one chapter two

Things were slowly going back to normal in Birmingham. The Longfield's had returned to Small Heath two days after the wedding, not wanting to be away from business any longer.

David had informed Penelope that she and James would be going with him to meet Vincente Changretta, as Tommy and Camden would be away on business. Whenever David had business with Tommy, he would send Camden since he would be the one looking over the books for David's businesses and knew he would do what's best for business.

Finn and Isaiah were to search Mr Changretta and his men when they arrived at Charlie's yard to make sure they wouldn't be carrying anything. Penelope was sat on John's right with David sat in the middle with Arthur on his left and James on the end; Charlie and Curly a little further back.

Finn moved to stand behind Penelope as Isaiah was behind Arthur and David.

"You asked for a meeting out in the open," Arthur started, "fresh air and the fine aroma of shit."

Penelope and John let out a quiet laugh at the oldest Shelby's choice of words as James spoke," 'neutral ground' you said."

"This is hardly neutral ground," Vincente replied, looking around Charlie's yard. Penelope leaned back in her seat as Finn placed a hand on her shoulder, "well, it's what you've got."

"So, por favor," Arthur spoke, purposely speaking Spanish, "please sit down."

"Where is Thomas?"

"He got called away," David answered, "I'm one of Tom's most trusted advisor's, so you'll be doing business with me."

"He said he'd be here." Vincente spoke, hostility in his voice

"Yeah, he's busy." Arthur answered

"And we just told you he got called away, "John spoke, "what do you want?"

It was clear to everyone that no one wanted to be here. Penelope knew Arthur, Michael, and Camden had set fire to Angel Changretta's restaurant the night before Tommy's wedding to prevent him from attending with Lizzie.

Penelope knew that no one crosses the Italians unless you have a death wish. The Changretta's took their vendetta seriously. And Penelope hoped no one said anything to piss Vincente Changretta off.

"There has been peace between the Peaky Blinders and the Changretta family for two years now." Vincente spoke

John had interrupted the man by asking him if he wanted tea and Penelope shared a look with her brother, knowing John would be the one to piss off Vincente.

"We don't want fucking tea!" Vincente spat, "we want an explanation."

"Well, I'll have fucking tea, "Arthur said, pouring himself and James a cup

"Explanation for what?" David asked, lighting a cigarette

"The Little Venice restaurant on Forge street was burnt down," Vincente said, causing James to interrupt him this time, "no. Couldn't have been us. We were at a wedding."

"You burnt it down to stop my son from being at that wedding." Vincente replied.

"Forgive me, Mr Changretta," Penelope spoke, "But what do we have to do with your son's restaurant burning down? When Lizzie happens to be a very good friend to all of us. And we wouldn't do anything to ruin her happiness."

"A woman has no business speaking without being spoken to."

Finn's grip had tightened on Penelope's shoulder as James and David sat up straighter, "Mr Changretta, it would be wise for you to advise your men to watch how they speak to my daughter."

Vincente turned to face the two men, speaking in Italian before turning back to face the table, "You are such big boys now. And such a beautiful young woman. But once you borrowed clothes from us to look like men."

"And we repaid you for that," James spoke, "we always repay our debt."

"How's the tea, Arthur? Is it..."

Arthur and James dumped their tea out before answering, "it's cold."

Vincente turned his attention to David, realizing he would be getting nowhere with John and Arthur, "Tell Tommy that we pay him whatever he asks us to pay. We stay out of the city and off the tracks."

"But you tell him from me," he continued, looking over at Penelope, "that my son will walk with any woman in this city. Any woman he chooses. Even if that woman works for the Emperor, Thomas Shelby. Even if that woman is already with a Shelby."

James quickly stood up at Vincente's words as Isaiah moved closer to the table and Finn moved to stand next to her instead. David let out a dark chuckle as Penelope stood up and grabbed onto Finn's hand, "You'd find that your son would not get past my brother, Mr Changretta."

"And if he wishes, he will walk with the woman he loves." Vincente spoke, looking between John, Arthur, and David.

John leaned forward to pour himself tea before speaking, "You know, it would be hard for your son to walk anywhere with a bullet in each knee, wouldn't it?"

Penelope shut her eyes at John's words, tightening her grip on Finn's hand. John just started a war with Vincente Changretta. And she knew nothing good would come out of it.

Vincente stood up straighter as David shared a look with Arthur.

"Too much," Vincente had pointed at John, "you said too much, my friend. Sabini said 'Suck and Swallow'. But no. Too much. I spit."

Vincente spat at John's feet before walking away as one of his men started cursing in Italian, smashing one of the chairs to bits. Penelope sat down on her chair as Finn gave her hand a squeeze, letting her know that he was there.

The Italian's were prideful men. They valued family and loyalty over everything. And John knew that. He was told to let David and Arthur handle the business. But he let his pride get in the way.

"Isaiah," Arthur spoke, "Put two extra men on our pubs in Nechells."

"James, tell your brother to go to London and have him take a few blinders to the casino's and pubs." David spoke before walking away

"We're not scared of fucking eyeties anymore." John told his brother

"Don't tell Tommy about the chair and clean this fucking shit up." Arthur said, following after David as John called out after him, "We're not scared of fucking wops!"

"You're a right fucking idiot, John," Penelope spoke, turning to face him, "you just threatened to shoot his son in the knees. You know how serious they take those threats. You just started a war."

Penelope stood and turned to look at Finn, "Pop around our house later? I have to go to Mum's office before heading over to see Cam."

Finn nodded his head before leaning down to give her a kiss. Penelope fixed his Peaky cap before giving him a peck, making her way through Charlie's yard.

James followed after his sister, wrapping his arm around her shoulders, "what do you have to talk to Cam about?"

"One of us has to tell him what John did because if Arthur or Tommy does it, you'll know Cam will no doubt try to kill John himself."

The older boy nodded, knowing she was right. The Longfield's had no business nor problems with the Italians due to them being temperamental so Cam and David did everything in their power to make sure there was no bad blood between the two families and since ⅗ Longfield's were at the meeting, the Longfield's were now involved with the Italians.

"Pol's gonna kill John," James mumbled, opening the car door, Penelope following, "If dad doesn't do it first."

Penelope made her way through Shelby Company ltd, walking past Michael's office towards Camden's before backtracking to stop in front of Michael's, turning to face him.

Said boy was sitting at his desk, cigarette in hand as he looked at Penelope who had a smirk on her face, "What?"

"See you and Willow made up." Penelope answered, walking into his office as she looked around, only being in his office once

"What makes you say that?"

Penelope walked over to the desk before bending down before leaning down to pick up Willow's bra, holding it up for Michael to see, "because I bought her this for her birthday."

With that, Willow slowly stood up from her spot behind Michael's desk as he closed his eyes in defeat as she gave a little wave, "Hi Penny."

"You're lucky it was me and not Tommy." Penelope smirked, looking between the two, knowing she had something on them now.

"Why are they lucky it was you and not Tommy?"

The three turned to see Camden and Tommy standing in the doorway. Willow quickly snatched her bra out of Penelope's hand before the two older man could see it and let Isaiah know, even though Willow knew Penelope was bound to tell him.

"You two wanna tell them or should we wait for 'Siah to be here, too?" Penelope teased as Willow and Michael looked at each other.

Penelope was having a field day with whatever she knew about them and Tommy and Camden could tell, the big grin on her face giving it away.

"Penny caught us together and knew Tommy would make a bigger deal about it." Willow sighed, avoiding eye contact with Tommy and Camden.

"You left your bra on the floor, didn't you?" Cam smirked, leaning against the door, causing Willow to go red as Michael let out a sigh. Penelope struggled to hold her laugh in as Willow sent her a look.

"Don't let it happen again here." Tommy spoke, the couple nodding

"Polly said that you should call her. There's been some trouble." Michael told his cousin, causing Penelope and Camden to look at each other

"What trouble?"

" I'm guessing the stuff she doesn't like to tell me about." Michael responded, irritation laced in his voice

Anybody could tell Michael hated that Polly wouldn't let him be involved with the business, despite being one of the people Tommy trusted the most. Penelope wasn't a blinder nor involved with Tommy's business but she always knew what was going on. Mainly because Camden would tell her what was going on; Finn doing the same when he was allowed to be involved.

"Cam, I need to talk to you." Penelope said, walking to his office. Camden was one of the book keepers for the company, dealing with David's business that he did with Tommy and Alfie Solomans.

Camden sat in his chair as Penelope flopped down on the couch in his office, taking many naps in her brother's office.

"What's going on, Pen?"

"John fucked up, Cam," She spoke in a quiet voice, "we had that meeting with Vincente Changretta about Angel's restaurant. And John threatened to put bullets in Angel's knees."

"He fucking did what?" Camden exclaimed, looking over at his sister. Camden had a short temper. Everyone knew that. The war caused it. Camden had been tortured and held captive during the war before being let go. He didn't speak for weeks when he came back to camp. Only telling them when the tunnels collapsed. Camden was the protector of the family. After thinking he would never see them again; he always made sure his family was safe. And now that John had possibly started a war with the Changretta's and involving his family?

"Mr Changretta said there was nothing we could do to prevent Angel from being with Lizzie and John said it would be hard to do that with bullets in his knees." Penelope exclaimed, running her hand over her face as she looked over at her brother. Camden's hands were curled into fists and he was clenching his jaw to the point where the muscle in it twitched.

"What did dad do?"

"Told James to tell you to take a few Peaky boys to London to watch over at the pubs and casinos." She answered as Camden nodded

"I don't want you and James involved," Camden started, "you let dad and meself handle this. You two are to stay out of this."

Penelope nodded as Tommy walked into Camden's office, causing Penelope to roll her eyes, "Sure Tommy. Come right in."

Tommy didn't even bat an eye as he responded to the blonde, "I own the building Penny. I'll do as I please."

Penelope rolled her eyes as she laid down, shutting her eyes for a moment, "C'mon. Meeting at Polly's."

The blonde let out a groan before begrudgingly following after her brother and Tommy. Walking past Michael's office, Willow called her in, causing her to turn and walk into the accountants office, "What?"

"Just letting you know that I wouldn't want to sit in any of the chairs in here for a while." Willow avoided eye contact with Penelope as she spoke, causing Michael to choke on the whiskey he was drinking.

"Oh, I'm sure that's what Willow sounded like earlier." Penelope laughed, running out of the office before either could say anything.

Penelope greeted Finn with a kiss as she walked through the betting den and into the kitchen that connected the Watery Lane house to the building they used for bets on race day. David was sat at the table with James, Arthur, and Polly as John was standing by the mantle.

"Thanks for coming Finn, "Arthur spoke, "Now fuck off."

Finn rolled his eyes before walking through the den, being stopped by Tommy and Camden, "Finn, you can stay."

The red head immediately slunk to his girlfriend's side, the blonde wrapping her arm around his back, leaning into his side.

Tommy took a breath before looking at his younger brother, "Sit down, John."

"You cut Angel Changretta, even though Arthur and myself told you to apologize." David spoke, causing Penelope to nearly give herself whiplash at how fast she turned to look at John.

That was it. John officially started a war with the Changretta's. Dragging her family with them.

"Polly told you to compromise," Tommy looked between his older brother and aunt before looking back at John, "you chose not to listen to Mr apologize or Mrs compromise, and now I've got an Italian walking around my backyard saying he's going to kill my brother."

"So, what should we do, John? Do we apologize? Or do we compromise?" David asked, leaning towards the boy as Arthur spoke up, "it was just something he said as a joke."

The Shelby boys never like disappointing David. He was practically their father, as theirs ran off before Finn was even born. Letting David down was one of the worst feelings ever.

"Yes, but he's your brother too, Arthur." Tommy commented, "And I don't want to start a war over something John said without meaning it."

Penelope noticed that James and Camden were unusually quiet, considering they always had something to say but Penelope thought it might have to do with the fact that her family wasn't directly involved with this business.

"So, should we apologize in Italian or English? Or should we just ask them which fucking language they prefer? I'm not clear."

"You said while this business was going on in London, you wanted peace here." Arthur said to Tommy.

The three Shelby brothers wanted nothing more than to be done with the Italians but they all wanted three different ways to solve the problem.

"And the only way to guarantee peace, is by making the prospect of war seem hopeless," David spoke as Tommy agreed, "If John apologizes once, you do it again and again and again. Like taking bricks out of the wall of your fucking house."

Tommy turned to look at Arthur, "Do you want to bring the house down, Arthur? If you're soft on rebellion, it'll grow."

"Bloody 'soft on rebellion' " Arthur scoffed

"You did the right thing, John. Now, we go to the offensive. We take two of Changretta's pubs, we take them tonight."

"That's it?" Polly scoffed, " For Christ's sake, why?"

"Because we fucking can! Because we fucking can, and if we can, we do!" Tommy yelled as Camden agreed, "And if we lift our heel off their necks now, they'll come at us. Remember, these are the bastards that wanted Danny Whizz-bang dead!"

Arthur had turned away from the conversation at this point, not wanting to hear anymore. Tommy had noticed and scoffed at his older brother, "You're getting soft, brother. Soft and weak. Save the bible for Sunday's, eh?"

Everyone knew the reason behind Arthur's change of heart. Linda was a very religious woman and she was practically forcing Arthur away from the only life he knew.

"Finn, I need to get to Hockney, then home. It's been a long day." Tommy said to the youngest Shelby. Finn nodded his head, pressing a kiss to Penelope's head before making his way out of the building.

"You take the Wrexem. You take the Five Bells. You get them signed over to us in the morning. You make sure to keep the coppers away. And don't use the bloody phone, someone's listening."

David pulled out his cigarette case, offering his children one before focusing on the two Shelby's, "You didn't just threaten Angel Changretta. You did it with two of my kids present. Therefore, involving my family in this war. You cut Vincente's son. They don't just lie there and take it, like the rest of Birmingham does when it comes to you lot. An eye for an eye. They'll stop at nothing to make sure this vendetta is paid. No matter who gets in the way. Any harm comes to my family, my wife or my kids, because you two decide to go against Tommy's orders and do as you please, you won't like how it ends."

Never in all the years David has taken care of the Shelby family, has he ever threatened them. But he loved his own family more and wouldn't think twice about harming anyone who hurt his family, Shelby or not.

"Dave..." John spoke in a quiet voice. John had grown up seeking David's approval for everything. He considered David more of a father than his own.

"Do the right thing, John Boy." David told him, patting his shoulder as he made his way through the betting den.

"James, Penny," Camden spoke, causing the two blonde's to look at their older brother, "go wait in the car."

They knew better than to argue with Camden. So they nodded, saying their farewells. Penelope leaned down to wrap her arms around John, pressing a kiss to his cheek, "It'll be alright John."

The two blondes made their way out of the building, making their way to their fathers car, "Think John'll apologize?"

James just shrugged, for once not being able to determine his best friends actions, "For everyone's sake...i hope so."

Penelope was laying with her mum in her parents room as David was in his office. Penelope was watching her mother with a content look on her face as Audrey came up with designs for the dresses Grace had asked her to design for the foundation this Sunday.

The content feeling didn't last long though.

James came bounding through the doorway, flopping on top of his sister, who let out a groan at the sudden weight, "get off me, you knob."

"You don't want to spend quality time with your brother?" James teased, maneuvering so he was laying with his head on Penelope's stomach.

"Not when your fat arse just drops on me." Penelope smacked the back of his head as Audrey laughed at her two youngest children.

Growing up, James and Penelope were as close as any siblings could be. James felt the need to protect his sister whenever Camden went with their father on business; being the man of the house. James, John, and Camden had broken the nose and many bones of the boy who referred to Penelope as the 'Peaky Whore' because she was close with the Shelby's. After that, no one ever made comments about her again.

While Camden showed his love for Penelope through his words, James did it through his actions. He would always hug Penelope, have his arm around her shoulder, or place a kiss on her head; something he got from their father.

"Where's your brother?" Audrey asked, glancing over at James who was playing with the rings on Penelope's hand.

"Went with John, Isaiah, Arthur...and Finn to take the Changretta's pubs."

"They let Finn go with them?" Penelope asked, worry laced in her voice

While she was happy that he was being included in the business, she just wished it wasn't the violent stuff. She knew he could handle himself, being trained by her father and oldest brother but she knew how often the Shelby brothers got hurt. And since there's a possible war brewing with the Italians? Her nerves were at an all time high.

"Cam's looking out for him. He knows to pull him before things get serious." James explained, looking up at his sister.

Any time the youngest Shelby would come with them, James and Camden would make sure Finn was never in harm's way; knowing his brothers would be too occupied with making sure Finn was safe.

David had walked into the room and felt himself smile at the sight. Growing up, Camden, James, and Penelope would climb into the bed with them and just talk about anything and nothing. Penelope spent most nights in her parents room after her brothers got drafted for the war. And when the boys returned, they spent many nights in their parents bed, wanting to be around each other after being away for four years.

"Sweetheart," David called, causing Audrey to look over at him, "seems like our bed has been infested with pests."

The two youngest Longfield children let out yells of protests at their fathers words as David and Audrey let out laughs.

David gestured for James to move his legs so he could lay down. Audrey had placed her sketchbook on her night table as she laid on her side, alternating with her husband with playing with their kids hair.

You would think James and Penelope weren't David and Audrey's kids due to their blonde hair but David's hair was blonde when he was young, passing that gene onto his two youngest while Camden got their mothers auburn hair.

James and Camden were quite the ladies men in Birmingham. They both were strapping young men; chiseled jawlines, both with muscle from the war, eyes that every girl seemed to fall for. And they were in a gang. Any girl in Birmingham wanted to take a blinder to bed and James and Camden often agreed to it.

Penelope was also a good looking Longfield. Often were people jealous of the good looks that all the Longfield's possessed. Penelope was one of the most beautiful girls in Birmingham. She had blonde hair that fell to just below her shoulders, stunning eyes. But once she grew a figure, men often stopped paying attention to her looks and focused more on her body and tried to bed her; well those brave enough to. But Penelope never bat an eye. Not when she had one of the most strapping young men in Birmingham on her arm the last year and a half. She had been enamored with Finn since they were 10. But her feelings grew stronger as her and Finn grew up. About two years ago to be exact.

Penelope knew she always had feelings for the boy. Finn had always defended her honor growing up. Made sure no one ever spoke bad about her. Penelope was told by her mum to get Camden from Tommy's gym and she had walked in just to see Finn take down his opponent. She pulled him aside and told him how she felt. Finn feeling the same.

"Do you think John will apologize?" Penelope asked, looking between her parents. David and Audrey looked at each other for a few seconds before David spoke, "I'm hoping I talked some sense into him. But, you can never tell with John. He needs to realize he dragged us into this war. It won't just be them who Vincente Changretta targets."

"You'd think he got enough of war in the actual war." James mumbled, letting out a sigh. Penelope grabbed her brother's hand and gave it a squeeze.

James was 17 when they got drafted for the war. He was too young. Too innocent to see so much violence. So much death. He didn't talk for weeks when he came home. But he got better. John and Camden were by his side everyday to reassure him that he was safe and that the war was over.

"Tommy'll get through to him." Audrey reassured him, sharing a look with David that went unnoticed by their children.

It was the day of the Shelby Charitable Foundation Ball that Grace had been working so hard to put together.

David and Audrey led their family through the crowd as Penelope had her arms linked with her brothers. Audrey had outdone herself yet again. She had slaved many hours over various fabrics, needles, jewels, etc...

Penelope was wearing a floor length light gray dress that had jewels along the bodice and the hips with strings of pearls all along the skirt of the dress. Penelope's blonde hair was pulled into a low bun with a jeweled headband to top it off.

Grace had requested that Audrey and her had similar colored dresses due to wanting to show her thanks for everything she had done for her.

Audrey and Grace had gotten close since Tommy told them they were getting married and Grace had come to Audrey on how to deal with the lifestyle. Audrey had very often helped with blinder business, not wanting to tarnish the name of her business. Audrey had told Grace it was better to not ask questions she didn't want the answer to and to wait for Tommy to come to her about it rather than prying.

Audrey was wearing a floor length rose-gold dress that had jewels all over the dress.

Penelope quickly spotted Willow and dragged her brothers with her. Willow was wearing a floor length gown with gold silk fabric under a layer of maroon, gold, and silver jewels.

"Well, you might just be the best looking woman in here." Penelope teased, slinking to her best friend's side. Willow let out a laugh as she greeted the Longfield brothers with a kiss to their cheeks before linking arms with Penelope, leading her over to the group of Shelby men, "I do believe your mother has outdone herself once again, Penny."

John had nudged his younger brother and motioned behind them. Finn had made the mistake of taking a drink as he turned around, causing him to choke on it. The two girls laughed as they walked closer as John and Michael were patting the boy on the back.

"You alright?" Penelope asked, stopping in front of Finn. Finn nodded his head as he turned to place his glass on a tray nearby, "You look...absolutely stunning."

Penelope felt her face heat up at his words as she placed her hand on his chest, "Ever so handsome, Mr Shelby."

Finn gave her a smile as he leaned down to place his lips on hers.

"Right," Camden spoke, causing the to to pull away from each other, "That's enough of that."

Penelope shot her older brother a look as he just smiled at her. James was hiding his smile behind his glass. The two boys loved teasing their sister when it came to Finn. They often dragged the couple away from each other during events, interrupting them before they could kiss.

"Everything went alright last night?" Penelope asked, looking between the group of boys. By now, Willow and Michael had joined in as Arthur and John went to find their wives.

Camden, Michael, and Finn had looked over at James, who shut his eyes as Camden smacked the back of his head, "You weren't supposed to tell her."

"Dad would have told me anyways. Or I would have found out."

Willow looked lost at what they were going on about so Michael had explained everything to her that happened over the last few days. Including how Isaiah was also involved.

"Oh bloody fucking hell." Willow whispered, downing the rest of Michael's drink.

"Everything went fine." Camden told Penelope, "But they won't just lie there and take it. They will retaliate."

Penelope took a deep breath, knowing Camden was right. Finn pulled her tighter against her as he placed a kiss on her forehead. Penelope shut her eyes and leaned into Finn's embrace, savoring the small moments with him

"And we'll be ready when they do." Michael spoke, pulling Willow into his side. James and Camden had left to go talk to John and Arthur as Isaiah had made his way over to the group.

Penelope had perked up at the sight of the oldest Jesus sibling and sent Willow a big grin as she realized what she was gonna do, "Penelope Haven, if you say what I think you're going to..."

"Isaiah!" Penelope cheered, "Just the boy I was looking for!"

Isaiah had shared a look with Finn who just looked as lost as he was as Michael had flushed in realization of what Penelope was about to do.

"Did you take snow before you came here?" Isaiah asked, causing Penelope to shake her head, "Just thought you might be interested in what I found your sister and best mate doing in his office the other day."

Finn had turned to hide his face in Penelope's hair as Isaiah quickly turned to face Willow and Michael, "What were you two doing in his office?"

"Shut up, Penny." Willow snapped as Penelope was laughing, Finn failing miserably to hide his laughter. Michael had placed some distance between him and his girlfriend, knowing that Isaiah wouldn't want to see them touching with the information he was just given.

"I need a fucking drink." Isaiah mumbled, turning to grab one of a table. After Isaiah had processed the information he was given, he started a conversation with Michael and Finn as Penelope and Willow talked about Audrey's dresses. Willow had noticed that Michael had tensed up under her arm and turned to face him, "Mikey, you alright?"

Michael stiffly nodded before excusing himself from the conversation. Penelope looked around where Michael was staring and only saw Tommy walking into the concert hall.

"Any idea what that was about?" Willow turned to face her brother and Finn, who just shrugged, "You're his girlfriend. You tell us."

Willow sent an exasperated look to her brother, "You're his best mate. Figured you would know."

"Doesn't mean I keep a book about him," Isaiah spoke, giving Willow the same look, "got better things to do with my life then watch 'Mikey', Willy."

Finn and Penelope glanced at each other, amused looks on their faces. The couple was often present for the many arguments of the Jesus twins, the two loving to rile each other up.

"Okay," Penelope spoke, pulling Willow to her side as Finn pulled Isaiah to his, "You guys can fight when we're not in the presence of Birmingham's finest. For Grace's sake."

The Jesus siblings looked at each before begrudgingly agreeing.

Willow had excused herself to find Michael as Isaiah followed after her. Penelope turned to look up at Finn who took a drag off his cigarette. And Penelope would be lying if she said it wasn't one of her favorite sights.

Like his brothers, he also took up the habit of always having a cigarette in his hand. Penelope smoked occasionally, mainly when she was with Finn.

"You really do look stunning, Pen." Finn smiled, looking at the blonde who smiled up at him, "Despite you wearing something like this everyday, you always look very handsome."

Finn gave her a short but sweet kiss as they made their way over to their brothers, who were now joined by Michael, Willow, and Isaiah.

Finn grabbed two glasses of whiskey off a tray as a waiter was walking by, handing the second one to Penelope. The blonde placed a kiss on his cheek as she wrapped her arm around him, leaning into his side.

Audrey had nudged her husband who was talking to one of his business partners from London. David turned to look at his wife, who motioned towards their daughter.

"I don't think I've ever seen her this happy before." Audrey had a smile on her face as she watched the young couple.

"They balance each other out," David spoke, "She keeps him grounded and he keeps her on her toes."

Audrey snorted in response as she leaned into her husband, "hell, he keeps all of us on our toes. But she's there to bring him back."

"He's not like his brothers. He's not as aggressive or violent as they are. Finn thinks before he does anything. He's more of an emotional being than he is physical. She needs that." David said, placing a kiss on Audrey's head.

"I look at them," Audrey started, " and I see us when we were young. In love and willing to risk everything to be together."

Audrey's parents didn't approve of her relationship with David when they were teens. Her parents were super religious and with David's family not believing at all, they didn't want her daughter with him. But they didn't care. They risked everything to be with each other. The same way they knew Finn and Penelope would also risk everything.

The gong for dinner rang and he asked everyone to raise a toast to the king. John had smacked Finn on the back of his head as he went to raise his glass as Penelope hid her smile behind her glass as she took a drink.

Finn offered his arm to the blonde as he went to lead them through the dining hall.

"For Angel!"

Everyone heard the gunshot before they could process what happened. Arthur had tackled the man as Finn, Camden, and John had joined the oldest Shelby sibling in beating the man.

James, Willow, Michael, and Isaiah rushed over to Penelope as they watched Tommy hold onto a bleeding Grace; David and Audrey rushing over to them. James held onto Penelope as the tears started to fall, Michael and Isaiah doing the same to Willow.

Not only was that the day Grace Shelby had died but it was also the day that Thomas Shelby stopped feeling

A/N

Please let me know if anyone is interested in being tagged in any upcoming parts for this series!

#finn shelby #finn shelby imagines #finn shelby imagine #finn shelby fanfic #harry kirton #peaky blinders #peaky blinder imagine #peaky blinder fanfic #peaky blinders imagines #peaky blinders imagine

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spinchip · 4 years

Text

I Hope We Both Die

Summary: Zane sneaks out of his room and goes down to the dungeons. He talks to Vex one last time before they leave.

Warnings: Ask to tag Pairing: Gen, One-sided Friendship. Wordcount: 2100

They stay in the Never Realm two days after Zane shatters the scroll of forbidden spinjitzu across the throne room floor, releasing his iron grip on the people beneath him. There are loose ends to tie up, decisions to be made, judgements to pass in the days to come. The nights are overwhelmed by celebration, feasting and fire and colors, traditional clothing and dancing and singing and drinking until too drunk to stand- songs are written on the spot about the occasion, The Fall of the Frozen King, sung with the bellies of men in rejoice. The land exploded in revelry, euphoria and jubilation as messenger hawks swept the country- the king is dead! Their message cheered, and we are free!

They burned effigies of his silhouette late into the night, bonfires made of wood and glory charring as fire and warmth are welcomed back into the land. The bloody fear of a country cauterizing and clean.

Zane spent that night in political meetings, shackled to a chair, as his friends tried to convince the nobles not to slaughter him.

He doesn't say a word in his own defense, nothing but facts- the cave, the amnesia, Vexs manipulation, nothing more. He stares ahead, eyes unfocused, and tries not to dwell on the sick look on everyone's faces as he describes the brutality against him, how Vex broke him and scattered the pieces. The hand the cuff is strapped around is unfamiliar, and he can't stop staring at it. He’d seen his reflection once since he’d awoken, a passing glance in a mirror as he’d been escorted by two guards, and the man looking back wasn’t him. This wasn’t his body, he hadn't done those things, he couldn’t have.

But he did. The static in his mind shrieked and howled, overhwelming and loud.

Grimfax asks him to stop, and Zane looks down at his hand that’s not his hand and the ice that’s spiralings from his fingertips and confesses I don’t know how. His voice is quiet and scared and he’s been broken all in pieces and the pieces are put back all in the wrong order. Grimfax asks him never to return, and it takes Zane too long to register that he's being allowed to live. He is put under constant supervision and released to his friends, guards trailing his every move, and while statues of him burn he sits in a bedroom surrounded by his friends with his head in his hands. He doesn't talk, he doesn't cry, he just sits while they flounder around him. He feel sick and wrong and nothing they say can soothe him.

Day turns to night and he lays in bed, staring blankly at the ceiling, and when the sun rises he doesn’t move. No one has come to get him, Vex’s voice doesn’t seep through his door to prepare him for his day, there’s no morning report he must attend to. Why get up at all? Cole and Lloyd try to coax him out of bed, try to get him to eat. He can’t stomach it, only moving from his bed to sit listlessly in the fancy sitting room with his friends, silent and hurt and lost. Night comes again, the men outside his room peek open the door every hour to check he’s still there.

But he is a ninja, to his very core, they couldn't trap him if they tried.

Shadows cling to his shoulders because he asks it of them, sneaking down the halls without a sound. The guards are lax and relaxed, they scan their halls with tired eyes, they yawn and chat and joke, and it's all exploitable weakness. He slips by them easily, it’s no challenge, disgusted by their actions. His guards had been serious, and the fools that thought they could speak into his bedchamber with knives or vials of poison were caught long before they could get close. If Zane willed it, he could slip into the king's room now and reinstate his rule, all it would take is one blade.

His stomach churns and he feels sick immediately.

I made them scared, he reminds himself, they can relax now that I’m dead. My era of pain is over, I won’t harm anyone. The thoughts don’t help him, and he feels unmoored and unsure, disconnected from reality and his body.

The stairs he takes one at a time, carefully. He’d been down here only a handful of times, maybe less, when prisoners were too sickly or injured to be moved to the throne room, when their execution was too important to entrust to another. It was warmer now, a linger smell of blood as the ice trapping it had melted. There’s only one prisoner here, now.

The wood door seems almost innocent. There’s no guard down here, maybe a rotating patrol that would be in at some point, but for now Zane can walk right up to the cell and peek inside.

Vex isn’t asleep, sitting up in bed as staring watchfully at the door as he listens to Zanes approach. He blinks at the sight of him, owlish and shocked.

“My Emperor.” He says dumbly. They’ve stripped of his armor and status, plain clothes hung unfamiliar and strange off his frame. The bed is quaint, nicer than anything they’d provided before, with a thick blanket to keep out the chill. A lamp sits on the floor, lit by a flickering fire. It’s the only light in the room other than Zanes eyes.

“Vex.” He says, surprised when his voice drops an octave on instinct, deeper and more menacing.

The man surges from his bed to the little window between them, "My Emperor." He repeats, devoted and reverent and slimy, "You’ve come to release me. Now is our chance, they are drunk from their celebration, they have underestimated our strength! We can reclaim your throne!”

Vex rambles and his voice is like honey, a soothing balm on the frayed and raw edges of Zanes mind. Familiar and comforting and constant. The storm in his head calms, a rush of relief to the all consuming shame and disgust, the sick unreality he’d been stuck in slipping away with each of his advisors words, and Zane lets his head thunk to rest against the bars. His eyes close while Vex fills the silence with promises of power and retribution, drawing the tension out of his shoulders sentence by sentence. Specific words are lost, his voice running together and fuzzy and tranquil in a way that settles the static threatening his eyes. Zane had tuned out, but his eyes snap open when Vex’s voice trails too close.

"It can be like it was before." he vows, power hungry and opportunist, only a slab of wood away.

Zane studies him for a long moment and Vex doesn't flinch under his eyes, confident in Zanes loyalty. Why else would he come, if not to free him? if not to ask him to help him take back his throne? "they asked me what they should do with you." He says instead of freezing out the lock and letting him go, his voice reverting back to normal, “After they allowed me to live, after I told them all you’d done to me, they asked me what punishment I would pursue.”

Vex draws back, taking a step deeper into his prison.

"They asked me if they should execute you."

Frost crawls up the bars where he clutches them between his fingers, and Vex tracks them with wide eyes, “Execute..?” he breathes, shaking his head, “Is it evil to speak? You'd condemn a man for his words? I held no weapon!” Vex argues instantly, scrambling away from him as the implications for his late-night visit sink in. there was no one here to protect him.

“I was your blade.” he tracks Vex’s movement with his eyes, staying still as a statue as his element overtakes the cell.

“And what a blade you were,” He sneers, back pressed against a cold stone in fear, “How you reveled in bloodshed, I didn't ask you for that. My hands are clean. Who is the beast among us, truly?” he throws, and it hurts to hear more than Zane expects.

He stays silent, years of one-sided conversations engrained in his code so deeply he doesn’t know how to respond.

“And now you've come here to execute me. Your final act as my emperor. What's another stain upon your soul?” Vex grabs at the lamp, holding it close to ward of the encroaching chill even if the cold hadn’t bothered him in years, “And how poetic, that am I destroyed by the monster I created.”

That stings, white hot and painful in his chest, “I am not a monster.” He says, and cant hide the hint of desperation in his voice. His friends had promised him he wasn’t. He cracks the ice forming around his fingers, wrenching his hands from the bars and tucking them beneath his armpits to chase away the frost, “I told them to spare you.”

Vex doesn’t shiver, staring with dark eyes across the space between them, “That doesn’t sound like the ruler I know.” He says, stunned.

Zane feel something in him crack. He grins and it’s all teeth, raw and unkind, “The ice emperor is dead.” He informs him sharply, clenching around himself and hunching his shoulders, looking Vex directly in the eyes. “You are the last of his regime, and it will die with you, whenever that may be. The formling Chief and the King will speak tomorrow to pass your judgement.”

“Why are you here?” Vex flings in response, body tense, “Why have you come?”

Zane has an answer, it crowds behind his teeth and no matter how hard he tries he can’t swallow it, “Because I love you.” the confession tastes like blood, “You were all I had. I trusted you, my greatest friend.”

Vex spits, “If that were true, you’d unlock that door.”

“You deserve this.”

“I hope you die.” Vex tells him, venom in his words that burns across Zane's mind.

He slams into the bars, ice cracking out violently from the wood and stone, and Vex yelps, “I am already dead.” he snarls, anger threatening to sweep away his rational thought. Vex flinches, unused to the ire of the Ice Emperor, frost nipping at his toes.

Silence draws, and Zane pulls away from the bars again. The frost recedes, “I’m leaving tomorrow. I am going home, and this will be the last time we see each other.”

Vex doesn’t say a word, glaring at him between the bars. Heartbeats pass in the quiet, his internal clock ticking before Vex breaks, “What do you want? A goodbye?” he asks hotly, “I never cared about you. You were means to an end.”

Zane doesn’t want a goodbye, not really. He wants Vex to tell him what to do. He wants direction. He doesn’t know how to decide for himself anymore. Years and years on that throne, whispers from Vex’s silver tongue, attack Vex would advise and Zane would jump to it. He did nothing but listen to the whims of his general, he obeyed without question while believing all the while he was hearing a friend. He wants those years back. He wants to recognize himself in the mirror, to know the man looking back, to… to…

He wants to let him go. He wants to listen to Vex’s voice and allow it to wash out the pain, the confusion, the shame. He wants to forget all of it. He wants to believe Vex is his friend, he wants to believe he wouldn’t hurt him.

But he did.

And now all he wants is to kill him.

“Goodbye.” He says, instead of skewering him to the wall. It’s closure, maybe.

He takes the stairs back to the main level two at a time, and when he sneaks back into his room he stagger in, exhausted. He slips beneath the covers half a second before the guards check back in on him, feigning sleep, and when he opens his eyes again he has to turn away from the sunlight cutting across his face- it’s morning. He’d slept through the night. They’ll be gone before the Formling Chief makes it to the capital, he won’t know how Vex’s story ends. He finds, surprised, that it doesn’t really matter.

He’s going home today.

#zane julien #vex ninjago #ninjago #ninjago season 11 #ns11 #spinchip fic

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siennahrobek · 3 years

Text

Initially, Obi-Wan thought that sleep would assuredly allude him.

Perhaps he underestimated the trust and affect his troops had on him and how exhausted he really was because he slept fairly soundly through the night.

He was still surrounded by troopers by the time he woke up, although he was fairly certain that there significantly less numbers of them. Although it was a bit of a challenge with position, Obi-Wan tried to meditate a little before the next disaster would inevitably occur. It was only a tad successful as he kept going back to thinking about Anakin. And right now he just…couldn’t.

Afterwards, he got dressed, complete with his old armor pieces and left the barracks to get to work.

“Greetings, Master Kenobi,” Cin Drallig nodded at him as Obi-Wan walked onto the bridge. There wasn’t many present; it was mostly a skeleton crew, but they paid him little heed. Next to the battle master stood a clone trooper from the meeting before, one of Obi-Wan’s 212th boys, Menace.

“General,” Menace welcomed.

“Master Drallig, Menace,” Obi-Wan nodded at the both of them.

“The boys and I have encrypted and encoded a way for you to get a message to the other Jedi generals that are scattered across the galaxy,” Menace explained as he pulled up a map of the galaxy, planets already highlighted. Obi-Wan presumed that was where jedi and their troops had been positioned. “As long as we know where they are stationed, we can get it to them and encode it so only a Jedi would be able to access it. We made this option just in case there are any activated chipped troopers around or natborns who are loyal to the Empire.”

“That was rather fortuitous of you,” Cin glanced at the trooper, curiously but he projected gratitude, something a little odd from the battlemaster but it was no less appreciated.

“Just precautions sir.”

“Alright, we have to figure out exactly what information we need to send to the others,” Obi-Wan said as he followed Cin and Menace down the halls which ended up being to an office. Was it his? At this point, he wasn’t really paying attention and most of the office rooms looked virtually all the same. This one had been recently packed with communications equipment and a holotable for good measure.

“The basics will be key,” Cin replied with a hum as he closed the door behind them and tied back his longer hair. “We will have to divide it up between what to do when running from activated soldiers or what to do when communications have been shut down so they can’t receive the orders to active the chips.”

“Constrain natborn officers, no communications aside from jedi, which will come up in about three days,” Obi-Wan listed.

“That is a fair chunk of time,” Menace admitted as started to open up and turn on the machinery around the room, as well as the data blockers for outside communications, just incase someone would try to butt in on the networks. “Can they avoid the Empire for that long? We don’t know which forces that the emperor has now or how quickly they will go after those they cannot get a hold of.”

“If they come across conflict, leave immediately,” Cin suggested as made his spot off to the side. “Getting too close to activated chips will active any clones they are around. But we did warn many jedi. The Empire Forces have to be fairly diminished if they understood those warnings. I can’t imagine the new government is completely on it’s feet yet.”

That was true. Even though the Republic had been slowly shifting into something less democratic over the course of the war, it was still a fairly big change, and a lot of things would have to be restructured. There was also the issue, for the Empire, of those who would fight back against its creation or not agree with it. That may buy them some time, he mused.

“But we do need to plan quick, because I’m sure it won’t be long before they are organized and mobilized enough to chase us,” Obi-Wan added, sitting down in one of the chairs next to Menace. In front of him was a little desk area. “If they haven’t realized that Kamino specifically isn’t responding because of this, they will figure it out soon.”

“How about we make a list?” Menace suggested, his gaze flickering between the two masters.

Obi-Wan nodded and his hand shuffled around the desk to find a data pad. Putting it in front of him, he grabbed a utensil and created a list.

“Alright, so first and foremost, the clones are chipped, proximity to activated chips activates others. Activation can also be verbal but only from the Sith. Block all communications available to clones,” Cin started quickly as Obi-Wan immediately wrote down the thoughts on the datapad.

“We can send Healer Che’s information on where the chips are as well, if anyone has the equipment or skills to start taking them out,” Obi-Wan added, the pencil flipping around his fingers to momentarily point at the battlemaster. They both nodded in response.

“Two; the Republic is gone, an Empire has rose. We are being hunted and killed as we are claimed to be traitors. Confine any officers loyal to the Empire until further notice,” Cin continued

“If you have inactivated clones, keep them away from conflict with others, due to the proximity thing,” Menace included, flicking on a few more nozzles and switches.

“If you are around activated clones, get away as quickly as possible, stay low or get away from them if you can,” Cin added, eyeing Menace, carefully. The clone’s presence filled up with a moment of quiet grief and disappointment.

“I’m sorry,” Obi-Wan whispered, unable to meet his eyes.

“Don’t be, it’s not your fault sir,” Menace swallowed harshly but shook his head. “We can’t save anyone yet without a real plan.”

“Contact,” Cin started up again, a little hesitant to keep going as he looked between the two. “Contact will be reestablished within a couple of days, once we get to Kamino. If you have a long range holotable, use it, but keep your comm on you. There will be a coded message to indicate if communications come from us.”

They paused.

“I think…I think those are some good basics, hopefully they can survive until then,” Obi-Wan sighed, jotting down the last of the notes.

“Battle master Drallig and I can get these coded and sent out fairly quickly,” Menace said, gently taking the datapad from Obi-Wan’s hands.

“It’s a start,” he echoed.

***

“I believe it is about time we talk,” Padme said, her face flat with one hand rested on her stomach. Her greeting was desperate and although not exactly unkind, it wasn’t very patient either. Obi-Wan glanced around and let out a silent sigh. This was not going to be a pleasant conversation. One that he didn’t particularly want to have.

He had been working with the other masters and clones to figure out where to go and what to do next for some time. He knew this conversation was coming. He was just dreading it.

Obi-Wan just swallowed and nodded in defeat as he turned to face the pregnant woman. “Alright. But I think it would be best if we would keep this conversation rather private. The 501st survivors and much of the 212thhave been following me like ghosts and they certainly don’t need to hear this.”

Padme’s expression was something of confusion, but she consented, and they found themselves in Obi-Wan’s former office. It was still technically his office, he supposed, but others had been using it since the evacuation. One could tell by all the paperwork and things that cluttered it more than it already was, the things that he knew were not his or Cody’s. He locked the door behind them and let Padme sit on the cot in the corner. He dragged a chair over to her to sit himself, although he could not find a position that was comfortable.

“I suppose we can start with what happened with Anakin,” Obi-Wan said, a bit quietly. He did not want to talk about this right now, not at all. He wasn’t ready for this; he was hardly wrapping his own head around what had happened. His heart clenched harshly in his chest, and he was sure his throat would close up. Taking a shaking deep breath, he tried to continue to speak. “What, exactly, do you already know?”

“Ahsoka called me, telling me there was an attack on the Jedi Temple,” Padme confessed, shaking her head in disbelief. “She told me that Anakin had turned to the Dark Side, that he was killing younglings and leading brainwashed clones to kill everyone.”

Her tone was incredulous and unconvinced, not that Obi-Wan could exactly blame her. He was not even sure if he believed it, and he was there. It seemed impossible. He knew Anakin struggled with some of the jedi tenants, especially that of attachment, which Obi-Wan had tried to talk to him about, to reach out. But Anakin had been closing off more and more as of late. That didn’t mean he could have ever have seen this coming.

Perhaps he should have. Was he so blind?

“That…that would be accurate,” Obi-Wan choked out but did his best to keep his voice constant and steady with as much as patience as he could lacing it.

Padme stood up suddenly but then wavered and leaned against the wall for support. He leaned forward, ready to catch her if she should fall. She steadied herself and straightened her back to stare down at him. “That is absolutely ridiculous,” she announced with such confidence even he almost believed it. “And you know it, Obi-Wan! He is your friend, and he would never do such a thing; the Jedi…”

“If you start blaming my people while we are fleeing for our lives, please refrain,” his own voice continued to be soft but there was a steel bone underlaying it, that made no room for challenge.

“Anakin would never do such a thing,” Padme repeated firmly and shook her head. He closed himself off to her in the Force, he didn’t want to know what she was feeling. He wasn’t sure if he could handle her feelings along with his own. “He has been worried and stressed but that is only because of…”

“Because of what?”

“He’s been having nightmares…” she started slowly, eyeing Obi-Wan as if that would give her some insight, some answers on what was happening. “About me, dying in childbirth.”

“Nightmares,” Obi-Wan repeated numbly. “That is what he was so worked up about? He didn’t come to me or anyone else about them. And he knows how dangerous pregnancies are in this sort of situation. He should have known to talk to the healers about it.”

He should have talked to the healers. At least doctors, someone. Generally speaking, people didn’t just die in childbirth, not on Coruscant, certainly not a prominent senator. No one would ever deny her prenatal care, no matter who the father was.

Even if the father was a jedi.

“He was probably afraid,” Padme glanced away.

It was as if Anakin didn’t know anything of the Jedi at all. The Jedi would have never turned Padme away for pregnancy care or information, Force around, the Jedi wouldn’t turn anyone away who came to their steps in need of help with pregnancy. Force sensitive or not.

“We are getting off track,” Obi-Wan shook his head with a small sigh. He ran a hand through his hair. He just wanted… honestly, he wasn’t entirely sure what he wanted. He supposed he wanted this to all be his own nightmare, one he could just wake up from. One where none of this was real. “Padme, I don’t know how to convince you of what Anakin has done,” he continued. “He led an attack to kill everyone in the Temple, he led an army of brainwashed clones. He murdered Temple Guards and younglings just trying to escape the battle. He fought mewith the intent to kill, rambling about the failings of the jedi,” Obi-Wan stressed, leaning forward. “Master Drallig said he called himself Darth Vader which let me tell you, is a Sith name. All I could feel in him was desperation and fury.”

“You’re wrong,” Padme insisted, her eyes blazing into something so passionate, it nearly hurt to look at. Her loyalty, although her perhaps commendable to an extent, was difficult to work with. Difficult when she wouldn’t believe the truth. He knew it was hard to swallow. He was still in that process. “He is good, there is good in him, of course there is. Something else must be at play.”

“Something else?” Obi-Wan asked, his own voice echoing confusion. He couldn’t imagine much else being at play, his former padawan, his brother, had intended on murdering everyone in the Temple, all those that thought he was their family. All those that thought he cared about them. He had nearly succeeded. If Cody’s chip hadn’t been activated when and where it was… Obi-Wan nearly shuddered at the prospect. He sighed and shook his head again. “I love Anakin. And even after all that he has done I still love him; I will always love him. But I am not blind to what he has become now. I was blind before, not seeing it; only seeing what I wanted to, the good person I thought he could be, the person I thought he was.”

“He is that good person,” she persisted with a sound not open for debate.

Obi-Wan was tired, even the several hours of last night’s sleep would not erase all of the time he had been awake, active, fighting for his life and the lives of those around him.

“Tell that to the younglings that he cut down in front of his former padawan,” Obi-Wan’s hand waved out in emphasis. He hated bringing Ahsoka into this but Padme cared about the young Togruta, probably nearly as much as Anakin used to as well. “Or the 501st troopers who were forced to lead an attack on the Temple, on the Jedi, against their own free will.”

The young woman just stared at him, and he knew that she didn’t believe him. He didn’t think she would ever actually believe him without seeing it for herself.

The fact that Anakin, of all people, would lead a forced brainwashed army to fight people they never would have in their right minds seemed ludicrous.

“Okay, we are at an impasse,” Obi-Wan slumped back a little in his chair. He took a commlink out of his pocket and let his fingers sweep over it, absentmindedly. “Perhaps a break from this line of conversation may be beneficial,” he said slowly, giving Padme the time to sit down on the cot once again. “I think…we need to also talk about your pregnancy,” Obi-Wan added slowly. Padme placed a hand on her belly, protectively.

“You mentioned…you mentioned I could die from this,” Padme replied slowly, her eyes meeting his in a massive flurry of concern and fear. The conversation was not over about Anakin but for now, for now what he had said would have to do. He didn’t know how much longer he could try to help her in that scenario. “So, Anakin was right, I’m going to die in childbirth.”

“It’s not that simple. There is a lot that is included,” Obi-Wan shook his head. How to explain something that he only knew the basics of? Perhaps a professional was best to be in order “Look. Let me call my friend Bant. She is a healer, and she will be able to answer most, if not all, of your questions.”

Without waiting for an answer, he sent his friend a message who near immediately contacted him back, relieved that he had found their wayward patient. Apparently, Padme was not supposed to be out of the medbay. Obi-Wan imagined they would want to monitor her, considering her pregnancy and situation. His comm beeped again.

“We’ll be there in a couple of minutes.”

Obi-Wan didn’t know who the other side of the we was but at this point, he would take all the help he could get.

Those few minutes were the most awkward ones Obi-Wan could remember.

The Mon Calamari walked in with another healer trailed in behind her and Obi-Wan could not even help the sigh of relief. At last. “Hello Obi-Wan, senator,” Bant greeted, giving them both a nod, her large dark eyes brimming with sympathy and kindness. Obi-Wan would forever be baffled and astounded at the amount of love and compassion his friend could hold. “Senator, my name is Bant. I am a healer. This is Healer Jayden; she specializes in pregnancies.”

“You have special doctors for pregnancies in the jedi?” Padme asked, a little taken back.

“Of course,” the doctor nodded as Obi-Wan got up to give them both seats. He ended up standing off a little to the side, often finding himself leaning against the wall for support. “Believe it or not, the jedi are not celibate,” she pointed out, even though Padme’s glance looked a bit skeptic. “And although it isn’t extremely common, jedi can and do get pregnant.”

“They do?” Padme echoed.

“Of course. Force Sensitivity isn’t always passed down, but it is more likely if one or more of the parents have it,” Jayden explained, her voice smooth and calm. It could not be said that Jedi didn’t know when they were supposed to be healers. He could only imagine how determined they must be in such an art. “Pregnancies involving force sensitivity in general can be quite difficult, but we should really talk about your case specifically.”

“Is it…different?”

“I have been briefed on a few things,” Healer Jayden said, giving Bant a quick glance as if for confirmation. Obi-Wan wondered how much she had been told about the situation, about the father. “The father of your children is former Jedi Knight Anakin Skywalker, is it not?”

“Current Jedi Knight,” Padme corrected, her voice laced with bitter undertones and eyes narrowed. Something she had picked up from Anakin, he supposed. “Unless the Jedi have kicked him out for loving someone.”

“The Jedi do not typically, kick people out,” Bant continued, her voice just as relaxed and mellow. She was taking this very well. Obi-Wan nearly felt like shaking Anakin or someonewho should know better for all the things misinterpreted, deliberately or otherwise. “Not for loving anyone or getting people pregnant.”

“Yes,” Padme confirmed, her voice subdued. “He is the father.”

“Alright. So, the father has an incredibly high number of midiclorians in his body, which is how one can determine how force sensitive an individual is. He is a very high number, more than anyone else and is very, very strong in the Force,” Jayden explained, patiently. She spoke in chunks, probably to better allow Padme to follow what she was saying.

“What does that mean for the baby? That it will be force-sensitive?”

The healer nodded but her expression was a bit grave. “In your case, certainly. Because if they hadn’t, you would probably be dead already.”

And… Obi-Wan hadn’t expected her to be so blunt. Padme stared wide-eyed.

“Skywalker is so strong in the Force that it is killing you, not to mention the darkness that is practically permeating you,” the healer continued and although Obi-Wan could feel a tad of concern with it, she did not show it outright, rather keeping a cool presence of security. “The only reason that you are still alive and as strong as you are, currently, is because the two babies inside of you are also extremely force-sensitive and are keeping you alive. It is…very complex and seems a bit paradoxical, and difficult to explain when it comes to the specifics, as well as the ins and outs of what is happening in your body.”

“So, I will not survive this birth,” Padme realized.

“The odds are not fantastic,” Jayden replied truthfully with a small frown. “But the only way you can survive is with a Jedi Healer’s help. If you stayed on the planet, you would not have survived the birth and I doubt anyone would have understood why. But we can and we will help you, Padme,” she said, taking the woman’s hand gently, curling her partially translucent fingers around the younger senator’s. “You can trust us that we will do everything in our power to make sure that you survive to see your children grow up.”

“What are the odds?” Padme whispered, staring at her hands.

“It is difficult to say,” Jayden admitted, candidly. “We’ve never had a child from someone as powerful as Skywalker before. Best case scenario you will be out of commission, maybe even comatose, for some time while your body regenerates its strength.”

If it can, went unspoken.

With her free hand, Padme brought it up to cover her mouth, letting out a shaky breath, tears starting to slip down her cheeks.

“I think you could use some rest, senator,” Bant advised, speaking up for the first time. Although Healer Jayden did most of the talking, Obi-Wan was still grateful for his friend’s presence. “I think we have a small room near the medical bay that we can use for you,” she added and glanced at Obi-Wan. “Would you mind getting her there?”

He didn’t think, just nodded. With a second thought, he didn’t really want to, he didn’t want to talk with her right now. He was just so tired and there was much to do but he knew it was right. Walking over, he helped Padme up and walked her out of the door. He led her through the halls towards the medical bay, appreciative for the silence.

He didn’t need an argument right now.

As they got to the small room, he unlocked and opened the door. “I will have some of my handmaidens come and bring things from the ship,” she whispered.

He hadn’t realized that she had brought anyone. Oh, he hoped she hadn’t brought Jar Jar. He didn’t mind the Gungan, almost liked him really, but he had a tendency to get into trouble and that was the last thing they needed.

He was about to leave when she pulled him back to look at her. “There is good in Anakin, Obi-Wan,” she announced, although her voice stayed rather quiet, just firm. “You must see it. And I will prove it to you,” her tone reflected her eyes, something fiery and passionate.

This was always going to be a tragedy, he realized suddenly.

There was very little he could say to that. He didn’t believe her but then again, he was trying hard not to think of Anakin right now. His thoughts were dominated with the survival of his people, both jedi and clone.

He had to put them first.

“Okay,” he croaked.

And then whisked himself away as quickly as he could without making it seem like he was literally running from her.

He was entirely exhausted.

The talk with Padme had last longer than he had anticipated and honestly, all he wanted was to sleep. Could he though? How much was there left to do? Then again, at this point, he wasn’t sure if there was anything specifically, he could do, aside from perhaps trying to research? Maybe?

His brain just felt full. He wasn’t entirely sure if he would be of any help.

“There you are sir,” the familiar voice and tonal individuality of Boil registered to Obi-Wan’s ears nearly a beat too late. He turned to see the clone walking up to him, a small youngling on arm.

Waxer was the one who was outspoken about loving little ones but anyone who knew anything about Boil knew he loved being around them just as much.

The thought made Obi-Wan smile and his chest warm.

Presence of people that he cared about, that perhaps cared about him, ones that he didn’t constantly have to fight tooth and nail with, were something of a relief. Just a presence to fall into that wasn’t consistently looking for lies or secrets or to tear his head off.

“How are you, Boil?” he asked, trying for a smile.

It must not have worked very well because the clone gave him an odd glance but, in the end, he just shrugged. “I’m alright, just taking this young’in to the modified creche,” he explained, gesturing to the young jedi child on his hip. “He accidently got lost and I’m bringing him back before my allotted hours of sleep.”

“Allotted hours?”

How late was it?

“Sir, it’s quite late,” Boil pointed out, answering his unasked question for him, and gesturing lightly for the general to follow. He did so without pause or thought. It was interesting, he believed, how easily and unthinkingly he would follow them. Perhaps it was foolishness but perhaps it was just trust and faith. He was in a rather short supply of that these past few days. “The daytime officers and workers are getting ready for sleep. The Jedi are hunkering down in the creche places and barracks along with the children and troopers. I never realized how cuddly Jedi could be when they sleep together,” he added with a bit of a half laugh.

The child laughed alongside with him, although a bit louder and fuller.

“We slept in piles a lot,” Obi-Wan replied.

“We like to do that too,” Boil shrugged to keep a hold on the little one hanging from him. “It’s good that your sleeping arrangements are around the men, it’s good for morale, especially at a time like this. Everyone is a little freaked out, I think it helps there is someone they can trust around during those times.”

Obi-Wan narrowed his eyes. Who taught Boil manipulation tactics?

He paused, nearly tripping at the realization.

Oh right. Hedid.

Accidently, of course. It wasn’t like Obi-Wan was giving lectures or classes on how to manipulate or negotiate yourself out of situations. But still, his behavior would be seeming to be biting him in the butt now, as his troopers were now using it against him.

Part of him almost felt impressed.

“Right,” Obi-Wan muttered.

The child hanging off of Boil, giggled knowingly. As the two of them dropped the child off at one of the places set aside for the children, Boil offered to escort him to the barracks for sleep. Obi-Wan tried to back out of it but Boil was rather adamant and then….

And then Rex showed up.

And Obi-Wan knew he was completely was doomed.

He couldn’t say no to Rex right now, not with what his troops had gone through.

“Hello, general,” Rex greeted with a bit of a wavering smile. He was trying hard. Obi-Wan suspected he had spent most of his day with the survivors of the 501st. He knew it wasn’t pretty and they were trying very hard to make sense of what had happened to them. “People have been wondering where you have been.”

“Is that so?” Obi-Wan hummed in response.

“Yes, the 501stsurvivors have been curious to know if you are coming back tonight,” he added in, thinking himself rather sly. Survivors; wasn’t that what they all were now. Survivors of a genocide, survivors of brainwashed slavery, survivors of being unmade into a vacant body.

“As a matter of fact, Boil was just escorting me to the barracks,” Obi-Wan shot back. He kept falling into this trap, he knew it. But at least this time he would not be caught floundering like the day before. “It has been quite the day, full of… colorful conversations.”

“Oh? Who did you talk to?”

“I had to have to talk about Senator Amidala and her pregnancy.”

Obi-Wan could practically just feel Rex’s stomach drop. “You…you know about that sir?”

“I probably knew about it before you did,” he muttered under his breath. As if Anakin could keep a secret like that from him, as if Padme could. Any Jedi that came across her would have known; would have sensed her pregnancy. He, of course, was the one who knew it was Anakin’s child because honestly, who’s else could it have been. But louder, instead he tried, “Yes. I’ve known about Anakin and Padme for quite some time. It is not difficult to sense her pregnancy. I do not know why Anakin thought he was being subtle or discreet. And you, captain, well, I think you could work on your acting skills a little.”

The captain just blushed hard. “My apologies sir.”

“No worries. It hardly matters,” Obi-Wan shrugged. “But talking with her, about what we had to, was rather exhausting and I will, quite frankly, be a bit glad to get some rest before the next day comes about. Because soon, we will be at Kamino and a whole new situation will arise.”

“We don’t know how much time it will be before the Empire comes after us,” Boil realized with a deep frown.

“So, we should get as much rest as we can until then,” Obi-Wan nodded at the two of them as they neared the barracks. “Because who knows how much real rest we will get once the new conflicts arise.”

***

It was the middle of the night when he had heard it.

Obi-Wan had been stuck in the near middle of a pile once again, surrounded on all sides by mostly clone troopers, the main force being the de-chipped 212th and the 501st survivors, with a few others they had rescued within the Temple before and during the siege. He could make out Inkspot somewhere, leaning against Trapper and Gearshift.

Many of the survivors, mostly those of the 501st specifically, had horrible nightmares, even so soon after the events. He couldn’t blame them; it was a horrible ordeal they had gone through. He tried to shield them the best he could, to help them sleep with less nightmares. He did his best. He didn’t dare take a look into what they contained, he feared they would just feed into his own.

For some reason or another, the scratching woke him up.

Shifting his body up carefully so he wouldn’t awake the troopers surrounding him, he glanced around at the barracks for the sound. No way he was just hearing it in his mind.

There. Some movement in the corner.

Carefully he cleared himself of snuggling troopers and got up.

Obi-Wan moved through the bodies, making his way to the edge of the pile of clone troopers until he found one of the 501st in the corner, frantically trying to scrub his armor. Not just his armor, the jedi realized, but the blue paint off of it. And there was quite a bit of it.

The trooper nearly jumped feet in the air when he realized Obi-Wan had sat next to him, his eyes wide in fear and panic.

“At ease,” he assured quietly but it did very little to ease the trooper’s anxiety. Obi-Wan reached out into the Force towards his presence.

Calmpeacesafe

It helped more than words had.

“Are you alright, Graffiti?”

The trooper looked at him, a little surprised. “You…know who I am? Y-You remember?”

Obi-Wan nodded. “Yes. Would you like to tell me what is going on?” he asked gently.

The trooper swallowed, staring down at his armor before tearing his eyes away. He couldn’t seem to keep his eyes on it for more than a moment.

“Everyone has nightmares, it is nothing to be ashamed of.”

“I do, sometimes,” Graffiti admitted, hesitant with his voice choked on tears. “It’s not even the fighting or the war or anything. I just see blank faces, marching blue, so much blue. People…people always think when terrible things happen, when blood is shed, everything is in a haze of red because blood is red. But for me…for me it was a haze of blue. Not just any blue. The 501st blue. It’s…its supposed to be something proud of, a color we should be proud of.”

Obi-Wan just waited patiently.

“I woke up shaking this morning,” he continued, his voice quivering with tears already accumulating in his eyes as he shoved the piece of armor that was in his arms away. “It was so bad I couldn’t even put my armor on. One of my brothers had to do it for me. But even then, I…. I felt so awful. I kept making excuses to go to the head and then my brothers kept making excuses for me, just in case.”

“You do not have to wear it if you do not wish to,” Obi-Wan replied gently. “Things, I imagine, are going to be different now.”

“It’s…it’s not the armor itself,” he confessed, staring down at the piece that he was holding. “I don’t think it is the armor. It’s…it’s the color,” he looked confused when he glanced at the jedi, as if he wasn’t entirely sure why he was saying this or even the reasoning behind it. “Every time I see it, I keep getting sick. I keep remembering when we were marching towards the Temple, all the blue of the amor, creating a sea of soldiers, all in time and not even…not even hesitating on what we were going to do.”

“You couldn’t move.”

“I couldn’t even think until afterwards,” Graffiti admitted the quiver in his voice growing. “I just wanted to scream. Even after we got into the Temple, I remember everything but…it’s all in this horrible blue haze that I choke on. Something I was once proud to bear, a color that I was proud of, was twisted into something horrible and evil. I know it doesn’t make any sense but…”

“Sometimes things like this don’t make sense to others or even ourselves,” Obi-Wan’s voice was quiet and calm as he looked over at the trooper. The latter had a difficult time meeting his gaze, but he finally had, tears welled up in his eyes, certainly obscuring his vision.

“I think I would rather have no paint, just be a blank set of armor like a no-name shiny again before I wear something that has been so twisted,” he whispered, running a hand along his helmet, half scrubbed of blue paint. “And isn’t that awful? I was brainwashed into being no one and now, I want to go back to being a no one again, just…slightly different type of no one.”

The jedi’s heart shuttered in his chest.

“Would you mind waiting here for a moment?” he asked, placing a hand gently on the soldier’s shoulder. “I will be right back. I think…I think I have something.”

Graffiti looked quite confused but nodded.

Obi-Wan stood up and made his way through the maze of people, towards the door. As he got to the halls, his pace quickened. There weren’t particularly many people around, but a few had caught him gliding through the halls quickly, often giving him looks that made him want to shrink back into the pile in the barracks.

Some did not seem happy to see him out and about.

He got to a storage room and opened the door. Upon finding what he was looking for, he grabbed it and hurried back. Obi-Wan came back, worked his way through the maze of sleeping men again, and set down a large can on the ground as quietly as he could. The trooper just stared at it, wide-eyed, a bit confused and certainly a lot speechless.

“It’s yours, if you want it.”

Graffiti took a moment to realize what it was. At first, he didn’t look entirely sure, like it might be a trap, but it took only a minute before he burst into a quiet sob, covering his face with his hands.

“It may not stop the nightmares,” Obi-Wan explained quietly. “But know that you will always have a place with us.”

Eventually, when he got a little more control of himself, Obi-Wan could make out a nod from him.

“I think I might need something new,” Graffiti rasped out, just barely.

“Perhaps you should make a visit to one of the creche groups,” Obi-Wan offered, shooting him a quick, warm, glance. “They are full of ideas. And they would love to see you.”

Graffiti met his gaze, his eyebrows scrunched together. He didn’t verbally reply but the jedi master had a feeling he would anyways.

Obi-Wan spent the rest of the night with him, quietly scrubbing off the blue paint and replacing it with shimmering gold.

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