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summerwritesfics · 2 years

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🔥❄️You Know You Could Tear Me Apart, Put Me Back Together And Take My Heart

Pairing: Hanzo Hasashi/Kuai Liang Length: 9031 Words Rating: Mature Warnings: Vampire AU, Vampire!Kuai Liang, Vampire Hunter!Hanzo Hasashi, Vampire!Bi-Han, Separation anxiety, Implied Codependence, Breaking and entering, Violence, Graphic Description of gore, Blood and injury, Holy water burns vampires, Torture, Past Torture, Flashbacks, Amnesia, Implied/Referenced Suicide, Vampire turning, Mentions of blood drinking, Narrow escapes, Biting, Hurt/Comfort, Whump, Tending to Injuries, Implied sexual content, Sex offered in exchange for help, Distrust, Manipulation, Implied/Referenced murder, NSFK (Not Safe For Kuai), Poor Kuai has a bad time in this one, Hanzo is trying, Quan Chi is a bastard, Bi-Han is trying. SubScorp Week Day 1: Vampire AU

SubScorp Week 2022 Masterlist

Notes: SUBSCORP WEEK 2022 BABY LETS FUCKIN GO!!!! ^^ But yeah it’s been a long time coming, and I’m excited we’re finally here! I’m starting off the week being really fuckin mean to Kuai Liang, but tbf I am relatively nice to him (at least by my standards) for the rest of the week, so make of that what you will. Title is from “Shivers” by Ed Sheeran.

Kuai walked through the dark empty halls, silent beside his soft footsteps. It had only been a few months since Bi-Han had left for a mission, a mere blip in their timeline, and yet he missed him already. This house was already too large for just the two of them, but for just one? Well it was positively lonely.

Tomas would not be back for another week or so, when Kuai would be due to feed. He had practically begged his friend to stay with him while Bi-Han was away, but Tomas had insisted he couldn’t. Too many responsibilities and too much risk of being asked why he was spending time in a mansion known to be inhabited by vampires. He already had to hide the fact he was willingly letting Kuai drink from him. Kuai understood, even if it meant he was alone for now.

He hoped Bi-Han would return soon. He was often leaving for missions, but these usually didn’t last more than a week. When he’d told Kuai this time it would be several months, Kuai was naturally concerned. This was the longest they’d been away from each other and while Kuai knew his separation anxiety wasn’t normal or healthy, it was hard to not experience it over his only constant companion of over 500 years.

He couldn’t really leave the mansion either, despite Kuai and Bi-Han never posing a threat to anyone, the people of the village still distrusted them simply for being vampires. Bi-Han had made it clear that if Kuai ever left the safety of their home, he would likely be hunted. If it was true or not, Kuai couldn’t say, but it definitely added to his anxiety.

He just wasn’t sure what to do with the time alone. Over the 500 years they’d lived in this home, he’d read through every book in the library multiple times, picked up multiple hobbies, and he was starting to run out of ways to keep himself amused.

Maybe I’ll read again, he thought as he navigated the dark corridors, or maybe I’ll start a new tapestry, I havn’t done one in a while… or maybe-

This thought was cut off by a very loud creak from down the hallway. Odd. The house was old but generally didn’t creak for no reason. He stayed still and listened. There was another sound, and another, and another. It sounded like footsteps.

Someone else was in the house.

Bi-Han?

It was the only explanation. None of the villagers ever approached, let alone tried to get in. Maybe Bi-Han had come home and Kuai had missed him entering. It had happened before. Kuai quickly made his way down the corridor to the room the sounds had come from. It was one of the lounges, strange, as they were probably the last places Bi-Han would enter the home from.

“Hello?” He asked aloud as he walked into the room. He was surprised to find it was empty. But I swore I heard someone. He walked further inside, and asked “Bi-Han?” There was no reply. He turned his head, wondering if the lack of vision in his right eye meant someone was hiding out of his line of sight. “This isn’t funny.”

Still, silence was the only thing that answered him. Did I just imagine it? Gods above, maybe his loneliness was getting to him more than he believed. He sighed, turning back to leave the room.

A man was stood in the doorway.

A man who was definitely not Bi-Han.

He was wearing yellow armour, limbs spread to block Kuai’s exit, a chain with a kunai attached to it in his hands. His long hair was tied back in a bun, and he stared at Kuai impassively, but critically. Like he was waiting for Kuai to react. Kuai took a step backwards, the man did not follow him, just stared. Kuai took a moment to look a little closer, to see if he could find a clue to who this man was and why he was here. There was a little symbol on his uniform, a small scorpion, and Kuai suddenly understood everything.

The Shirai Ryu. A vampire hunter.

He turned on his heel and made a run for the window. If he could open it and climb down, maybe he could escape. Bi-Han told him never to leave the mansion but this was an exception right? He couldn’t stay here with a vampire hunter. Reaching the window, he found that the latch had a padlock on it. What? When did this happen? Did Bi-Han do this?

He heard a whistling coming towards him and he ducked out of the way before he was struck by the kunai. He looked back in time to see the man reeling the kunai back to him. This was his chance to get away. He darted towards the man, shoving him as hard as he could. Sometimes he forgot his own strength as a vampire, as soon as his hands hit the man, he went flying back into the wall of the corridor.

Kuai practically leapt over him, running down the corridor. He just needed to get to one of the doors, then he could get out. He’d make his way to Tomas’ home. He didn’t know where he lived but he’d find it. Tomas would help him, he’d find a way to get to Bi-Han.

It would be fine. It would all be fine.

“Get over here!”

Seconds later, there was the sound of flesh being pierced, a sharp pain in his hip, and then the echo of his screams.

He looked down, the kunai was buried into his hip, blood seeping out around it. He reached a shaking hand down to grab it, only to find the chain attached suddenly wrapped around his entire body. A hard tug and they constricted, tying his arms to his torso. Another hard pull had him falling onto the floor.

He looked down at the chains, pulling against them and hoping his strength could maybe destroy them. As he tried, the chains flashed orange. Enchanted. Of course they would be. It didn’t stop him from trying.

He heard footsteps approach as the continued to struggle. Hands grasped at him and moved him until he was on his knees. His squirming continued, until an arm snaked around his chest, pulling him flush against the intruder. Hot breath his his cheek as the man lent in.

“Calm down,” he softly instructed. “I do not wish to harm you.”

I have a kunai in my hip!

“What do you want?” Kuai chose to question instead, trying to wriggle out of the mans grasp.

“Your brother. Where is he?” The man asked. Kuai could feel himself start to shake, what did a vampire hunter want with his brother? What had his brother done? Kuai could feel his intakes of breath quicken, please don’t take Bi-Han from me, please. A hand was suddenly on his head, stroking his hair. “Shh, I won’t hurt him either. I just need to know where he is.”

“I don’t know,” Kuai admitted quietly, hoping it would make him leave faster. “Please. I really don’t-“

“Ah, you found him,” a third voice cut in, and Kuai’s head snapped to where it had come from. How had two people gotten into his house without him knowing? This second man made the hairs on Kuai’s neck stand. Pale, bald with strange red tattoos, and Kuai had the strange sinking feeling he had seen him before. “Hello there Kuai Liang.”

“How- Do I know you?” Kuai asked. He didn’t remember this man, yet there was a sickening feeling of déjà vu that he just couldn’t escape.

“Interesting,” the man muttered, tilting his head. He didn’t elaborate on what exactly was interesting, he just bent down to grab Kuai’s chin. “My name is Quan Chi, and this is my associate, Hanzo.”

Hanzo was still gently stroking Kuai’s hair as he said, “we’re looking for your brother, if you tell us where he is, we will leave you alone.”

“Why?” Kuai asked, keeping his eyes locked on Quan Chi. I know you, why do I know you?

“That doesn’t matter.” Quan Chi’s fingers dug into Kuai’s chin. “Just tell us where he is.”

“I can’t,” Kuai whispered. While it was true, he genuinely couldn’t tell them where Bi-Han was, he also didn’t want to. Hanzo seemed genuine enough in his desire to not hurt Kuai, despite the weapon still in his hip. Quan Chi on the other hand? When he looked at him, he got a terrible feeling.

Quan Chi sighed dramatically. “Very well, we’ll do this the hard way.”

His hands were down at Kuai’s shirt, plucking at the buttons and undoing them, pulling away the fabric. Kuai jolted back, pushing further against Hanzo. This didn’t deter Quan Chi, who just continued his work.

“What are you doing?” Hanzo asked, tightening his grip on Kuai trying to still him.

“Getting the information we need out of him,” Quan Chi hissed as he finished undoing Kuai’s shirt and revealing his bare torso. “Just focus on keeping him still.”

Quan Chi reached into a pouch on his belt, feeling around. He pulled out a glass bottle of what looked like water. Quan Chi held it up for Kuai to see. There was a small cross on the bottle, and Kuai immediately understood what it was.

Holy water.

No, no, no. Kuai began to struggle again, as Quan Chi took the top off the bottle. Hanzo shifted his arms to hold Kuai more effectively. He pulled Kuai back, so his head was on Hanzo’s shoulder. Kuai wanted to hide his face in Hanzo’s neck but also didn’t want to let his eyes off Quan Chi.

Quan Chi broke out into a grin, holding the bottle over Kuai’s chest and slowly tipping it. He was drawing it out, delighting in Kuai’s fear. When he finally tilted the bottle enough for water to come out, he held it so only a single drop came out. It splashed down against Kuai’s skin and the pain hit straight away. It felt like his skin was burning, being melted away like acid as the single droplet rolled down his chest. He cried out in pain. He hadn’t been in pain like this since…

Since…

Since when?

“Where is Bi-Han?” Quan Chi asked causally, but Kuai was too confused and in pain to answer. Quan Chi snarled in frustration splashing more of the water on Kuai’s chest and causing him to scream more. “Where is he?”

“I-I don’t-“ Kuai was cut off by another splash of water, more of that unbearable burn that had him bucking in Hanzo’s arms and screeching uncontrollably. “Please!”

“Shut up brat.” Quan Chi held a hand over Kuai’s mouth as he poured more holy water onto him. Why was that familiar? Had someone said that to him before?

“Shut up brat, it’ll be over soon, just take it.”

He remembered… something. As Quan Chi continued to demand an answer, throwing more water onto Kuai’s chest when all he got in return was screaming, Kuai’s mind began to drift. It was like those few words were a key, unlocking a door to a memory.

A long lost memory, kept somewhere in the dark recesses of his mind.

----------------------------------------------------

Kuai Liang had no idea where he was or what was going on. All he knew was he was tied down to a rough solid surface, someone was touching him, and it felt like fire was being forced into his veins.

He was screaming, throat raw, so he must have been screaming for some time although he couldn’t remember doing so. He kept his eyes closed, too scared to open them and see what was being done to him. There was a pulse inside him, a new wave of pain hitting him again and again. Rough uncaring hands grabbing parts of him and forcing more and more of that burning into him. He was naked, he could feel that now, as a hand pressed against his chest, and repeated the action again. He was in agony.

“Stop!” That was Bi-Han’s voice, somehow louder than Kuai’s screaming. If his brother was here, why wasn’t he stopping this? “Stop this now!”

He could hear struggling, like someone was holding Bi-Han back. At least that explained why this wasn’t being stopped. Hands pressing into Kuai’s sides, and he wasn’t sure how much more could be forced inside him. He felt full, like if he took any more he’d burst at the seams.

“What’s wrong Bi-Han?” A second voice asked, and Kuai could tell from how close it sounded that it was the same man touching him. “I thought you wanted to be with him again?”

“Not like this!” Kuai could hear his brother sobbing between his breaths. Bi-Han never cried, whatever was happening to him must have been bad to reduce his brother to tears. “Please, don’t do this to him!”

The man tutted, hand pressing down on Kuai’s stomach. Nausea overwhelmed Kuai, gagging on nothing.

“You wanted him back, I am delivering on my promise to you.” Everything hurt, the hand continued to push down on Kuai’s stomach. He wanted to be sick but given he kept dry heaving there was clearly nothing to dispel. “It’s not my fault you didn’t clarify or inquire how I was going to do it.”

The hand moved from his torso, and pushed down on his forehead. If he’d thought he’d been in pain before, it was nothing compared to the feeling of burning in his brain, setting off almost every nerve in his body in the process. His scream was louder than ever, so much so he could barely hear Bi-Han’s protests anymore. A hand clamped over his mouth, muffling his screams dramatically.

“Shut up brat, it’ll be over soon, just take it,” the voice hissed at him as Kuai tried to quieten down. He sobbed into the hand as the voice spoke in a faux caring tone, “there you go, that’s a good boy.”

Kuai felt like he was going to pass out, the pain shooting from his brain and down his spine. He was shaking and crying. The hand pushing on his mouth felt like it would suffocate him. Bi-Han was still screaming, Kuai wasn’t anymore far too close to unconsciousness to be able to.

Suddenly, the hands retracted, and didn’t return to him. The pain slowly dissipated, turning to a dull ache rather than the searing anguish it was previously. He panted, hiccuping as he tried to calm himself down. He felt a hand caress his cheek, and he realised that even though he’d stopped screaming, Bi-Han hadn’t.

“What have you done?” Bi-Han’s voice echoed, he sounded completely wrecked. “What have you done to him?”

“I saved him.” The hand slapped Kuai’s cheek a few times. He was too dazed and confused to pull away. “I would think you’d be more grateful, Bi-Han. I brought your baby brother back to you!” The hand finally stopped touching him, and Kuai attempted to open his eyes, although closed them just as quick, his eyelids just felt so heavy. “Kuai Liang is alive again. Granted, he’s had some… Changes. But they are a small price to pay for his return, are they not?”

“But he-“ Bi-Han choked slightly. Kuai tried to open his eyes again, his vision was blurred, and the room was spinning. “He’s undead. He’ll… He’ll outlive me now.” The room started to focus, but only a little. Only enough for Kuai to make out a figure standing above him. “Who will look after him when I’m gone?”

“There is a simple solution to that.”

Kuai could just about make out the dark toothy grin on the mans face. He reached down to his belt, pulling out a shiny object from a sheath. Even without full vision, Kuai could tell it was a knife. The man held it out in his hand.

“You know what you have to do, Bi-Han.”

----------------------------------------------------

“I don’t think he knows anything!”

And just like that Kuai was back in the present. Completely limp, and pressing his face, damp from tears, into Hanzo’s neck. He chanced moving his head just enough to look down at his chest, his skin had almost completely been stripped from his chest, leaving red and raw wounds that looked like burns. They would heal, he knew that from experience, but it would take time and no doubt scar.

He knew that from experience? What experience? He couldn’t remember but he knew he’d had one. The scar on his face and loss of sight in his right eye was testament to that. Bi-Han had always been vague, only ever saying Kuai had been accidentally splashed with holy water. The memory he’d just experienced, and the nagging feeling he knew Quan Chi, made him start to wonder if there was something more to it than his brother cared to mention.

“Kuai Liang,” Hanzo softly prompted, and Kuai looked at him with bleary eyes. “Do you know where Bi-Han is?”

“No,” was all Kuai could reply before his head slumped back down against Hanzo. Why was he relying on this man for comfort? He’d just held him down while he was tortured.

“We won’t get anything out of him,” Hanzo directed at Quan Chi. Kuai tried to look where he was, but only moving his head until Quan Chi was in his peripheral vision. He looked extremely pissed off that his torture session had been cut short.

“Very well then,” Quan Chi sneered, his displeasure laced his tone.

His hand jerked suddenly, splashing the last remaining holy water over Kuai’s torso. He screeched as the last parts of his flesh that hadn’t been burnt began to melt away, and the wounds that were already there were further added too. Hanzo held him close to him, leveling Quan Chi with a glare.

“My hand slipped,” Quan Chi explained with a shrug, although both Kuai and Hanzo knew damned well that wasn’t what happened.

“It’s okay, I’ve got you,” Hanzo claimed, once more running his hand through Kuai’s short hair. How was the vampire hunter the one showing him kindness? Hanzo glared up at Quan Chi and finally asking “So, what are we meant to do now?”

“Whatever do you mean?” Quan Chi asked, while examining his nails.

“About Bi-Han?” Hanzo pulled Kuai to him a little tighter. “We’re no closer to finding him, he could be anywhere, and we can’t just sit around here and hope he turns up again.”

“Well, that’s very simple, Hanzo.” Quan Chi turned his back to them and began to walk away. “We make it so he has to come to us.”

“And how exactly do we do that?” Hanzo questioned, eyes glaring holes in Quan Chi’s back.

“Oh, isn’t that obvious.” Quan Chi turned back to them, looking Kuai up and down. “We take something precious to him.”

They didn’t need to ask what the precious thing was.

“You…” Hanzo started, his teeth bared. Kuai swore he felt his grip on him get a little tighter. “You can’t be serious.”

“Of course I am,” Quan Chi said matter of factly. “He is the most important thing in Bi-Han’s life. If we have him hostage, Bi-Han is bound to come to the rescue.” Quan Chi bent over, and in a patronising voice said “isn’t that right, baby brother?”

“No,” Hanzo gruffly replied, shifting both himself and Kuai slightly so he was in front. Kuai didn’t understand why this man was suddenly shielding him, but he was grateful for even the slightest mercy. “He has nothing to do with this and you have hurt him enough.”

“Are you, or are you not, meant to be a vampire hunter?” Quan Chi spat, and Kuai peered over Hanzo’s shoulder. He stood back up straight, arms crossed but hands clenched. “Is it not your job to kill these creatures?”

“I kill those who have become a risk to human life, which he is definitely not.” Hanzo’s arm accidentally made contact with the holy water burns on Kuai’s chest. Kuai yelped, and Hanzo reached back to steady him. “I certainly don’t torture them, which given this interaction is clearly what you want to do to him.”

Why was Hanzo suddenly defending him like this? Maybe he hadn’t realised how badly the holy water would hurt Kuai. He guessed there was some moral difference between hunting and eliminating vampires that had gone rouge, and torturing one that had kept away from humanity.

It was plain to see that Quan Chi did not agree with this assessment, his hands on his hips and looking down at the two of them with distaste.

“Do you really think that thing wouldn’t tear you apart given half the chance?” Quan Chi asked with dismissive wave. “All vampires are a risk to human life.” He broke out into a cruel grin, worse than any he’d given before. Kuai shuddered, he’d seen that grin before. But where? “I would think you would know that better than anyone else, given what vampires did to you family.”

The noise Hanzo made was inhuman, a mix between a gasp and a snarl. “Do not speak of that.”

“Do you really think this creature would have shown them any mercy?” Quan Chi continued, delighted by Hanzo’s reaction. Kuai’s head was spinning. He was trying to pay attention to the argument, but his mind was wandering again. I know him. I know his face. Why? From where? “He is just like the rest of his race, remorseless, a monster.”

“Even if he was, it wouldn’t give you the right to torture him.” Kuai could hear them still going at it, but he was zoning out again. Quan Chi. That smile. There was something he was missing.

“Oh what does it matter?” Quan Chi spat. “He’s just a vampire, he can hardly even be considered sentient.” He took a step forward, but Hanzo was on his feet before he could get too close. “Oh. You can’t actually feel sympathy for that beast can you?”

“Find another way to locate Bi-Han,” Hanzo warned lowly. “Because I am not letting you take him.”

There was an extremely tense silence, before Quan Chi said “I was so sure you would not betray me.”

Kuai blinked, Quan Chi’s voice seemed to echo in his head.

“I need to be sure you won’t betray me, Bi-Han.”

And like that, another memory, buried deep, sprung back to life.

----------------------------------------------------

His head felt dizzy. Like it was too heavy too keep upright. His limps were completely useless, it felt like they’d had the bones removed from them. He could hear people talking, but his hearing was muffled, and he couldn’t make out who they belonged to or what they were saying. Had he been asleep? What was happening?

His eyes were closed, but he tried to figure out his surroundings from what he could feel. He was next to a warm solid mass, head tucked against a scratchy fabric. He could feel movement, a soft rhythm that seemed to go up and down. He could also feel something shift beneath him occasionally, gently bouncing him. Oh. Was he sat on someone’s lap? That would mean the movements were breathing and the leg he was sat on shifting.

But who’s lap was he on?

He felt a wet hand touch his torso, realising he was at least topless, yet that thought was quickly dispelled when the pain hit him. The fingers traced down his side, smearing the liquid down him, and leaving a burning sensation across his skin. He whimpered in pain, squirming as if that could help him get away. Another arm snaked around him, keeping him steady.

“Don’t move,” a voice above him commanded, and Kuai gave up his attempts, just sobbing as those wet fingers dug into his skin. “That’s better, it’s easier when you don’t struggle.”

“Stop!” That was Bi-Han’s voice. The demand caused the drying hand to let go of Kuai. He heard what sounded like water being disturbed like something was being dropped into it, before the newly wet hand was back on him, and the burning started again. As Kuai sobbed, he heard Bi-Han call again, “I’ve done everything you’ve asked! Please just stop.”

“You have, but there is still much for you to prove.” Fingers were drying up again, removed from him, only to be placed back against his skin. Kuai could feel his body quake, managing to get enough strength to reach up a hand to grasp the man’s clothing. “I need to be sure you won’t betray me, Bi-Han.”

“I won’t,” Bi-han claimed, “please, I’ll do anything!”

“Yes, you will,” the voice calmly replied, wet hand stroking down Kuai’s chest and drawing another pained mewl from his lips. “But I need to be sure. Kuai Liang will stay with me until you can prove yourself.” Kuai felt the knee underneath him jostle him, causing him to bounce slightly. “Then you both can go off and happily live the rest of your immortal lives.”

Immortal lives? What did that mean? Kuai didn’t know and didn’t have time to really question it as the hand was dunked back in the liquid and then back on his body. What was this stuff? Acid? Why was it hurting Kuai but not this man? He wasn’t wearing gloves, it definitely felt like skin touching him. He let out another pained moan, causing a chuckle from the man.

“Please, he’s been through enough.” Bi-Han sounded defeated, and Kuai wanted to cry. His brother was headstrong, always fighting to the bitter end. This was not the same man Kuai knew.

“He will have had enough when I say he has.” As if to emphasise the point, the man grabbed Kuai’s hair, yanking on in hard and making him gasp.

Kuai heard Bi-Han’s breathing turn heavy, as he bit out “go to hell!”

Any joy Kuai could feel at hearing Bi-Han’s temper return to him was stolen when his head was painfully pulled all the way back. He heard a growling above him, and warm breath hitting his face.

“Open your eyes.”

Kuai knew the command was aimed at him. He tried to comply, blinking as he tried to adjust to even the dim light of the room. His vision cleared, and he got a good look at the man looming over him.

Quan Chi stared down at him, cruel grin plastered over his face, and a bowl in his hand.

He tipped the bowl, a clear liquid splashing down onto the right side of Kuai’s face. As soon as the fluid hit his face, he knew it was the same one that had been on Quan Chi’s hand. Whatever this liquid was, it felt like it was eating away at his flesh, and that wasn’t even to mention it hitting his eyeball. As he screeched, he tried to jerk away, but Quan Chi’s hand kept him in place. His vision was fading in his right eye, and closing it did nothing to stop the burn. His arms flailed, trying to grab hold of Quan Chi’s hand to make him stop. Even over his own screams he could hear Bi-Han just as loud.

The fluid stopped spilling, but the pain was still there. He sobbed, chancing opening his eyes. He couldn’t see out of his right eye at all, and all he could see in his left was Quan Chi’s face, still with that chilling grin.

“Shh, now,” he spoke softly, his kind tone betrayed by the look of pure evil over his face. “I’m sorry to hurt you like that, I wouldn’t have to if your brother would just behave himself.” Quan Chi carded his hand through Kuai’s hair and he whimpered, wanting nothing more than to get away from this sadistic monster. “There you go, rest, I’m done for now.”

“Please, Quan Chi,” he heard Bi-Han beg once more. “I’m sorry. Please just leave him alone.”

“This is all very simple Bi-Han. Just do exactly what I say, and you will get your brother back in one piece.”

----------------------------------------------------

“So is this how you repay me for all I’ve done for you?”

Kuai blinked, realising he was back in the present. Hanzo was still stood in front of him, stretched out to protect him. He was still in the chains, and while he tried to wriggle out, they caught the mess of raw flesh that was his chest currently.

“You owe me, Hanzo Hasashi,” Quan Chi continued. Kuai couldn’t see him anymore, but his tone told him everything he needed to know. “I saved your life! I am helping you get revenge for what happened to your family! Does that mean nothing to you?”

“None of that matters,” Hanzo growled, slowly reaching behind his back, trying to find the kunai inside Kuai. “Regardless of what you have done for me, I am not helping you with your sadistic game.”

“So be it.”

Quan Chi charged forward, and Hanzo ducked out the way, grabbing Kuai and hauling him out the way as he did. He pulled the kunai out of Kuai and let the chains fall away. Quan Chi lurched in Kuai’s direction, attempting to take ahold of him. Kuai fell backwards, pulling his leg back and kicking out directly at Quan Chi’s face. There was a snap, and Quan Chi was thrown backwards. Kuai scrambled to his feet, helped by Hanzo, as they both watch Quan Chi come back out of the daze Kuai’s attack had sent him into.

Quan Chi reached a hand to his bleeding nose, clearly broken by the force. When he stared down at the blood on his hand, Kuai could see his eyes widen as he bared his teeth. The look he shot Kuai from there was pure venom.

“You’ll pay for that, brat.”

Quan Chi disappeared into a portal, and before Kuai could contemplate what had happened, someone was grabbing him from behind. A hand went to cover his mouth, but as if on auto pilot, Kuai went on the offensive. He bit down on the hand as hard as he could. Quan Chi’s howl was extremely satisfying, but short lived as Hanzo managed to wrestle Kuai from Quan Chi, and as he did he threw a strange metal ball on the floor.

As it hit the wood, it cracked open and plumes of smoke began to seep out. Hanzo took Kuai’s hand, pulling him away down the corridor, as Quan Chi coughed and spluttered, slowly being enveloped by the smoke.

“We need to leave,” Hanzo announced as they ran, “where’s the nearest exit?”

“We can’t leave,” Kuai protested, struggling to keep up with Hanzo’s pace. “Bi-Han told me never to leave.”

“I’m sorry, but as long as Quan Chi is around, you aren’t safe here anymore.” Kuai felt Hanzo squeeze his hand. Logically, he knew Hanzo was right, but that didn’t make the prospect of leaving the only home he knew any less terrifying. “Which exit?”

“Front door will be the easiest,” Kuai said. He’d suggest a window, but given that Bi-Han gone behind his back to put locks on some of them, he couldn’t say which where able to be opened.

Hanzo didn’t say anything else, just continued to guide Kuai to foyer of the mansion. Thankfully, the front doors only had a few latches, which Hanzo was able to open easily. They ran down the pathway, through the gates, and did not stop running until they were out deep into the woods.

They came to a clearing, at which point Hanzo finally released Kuai’s hand. Hanzo’s gaze landed on the burns on Kuai’s chest, and he grimaced. Kuai had to admit, they were bad, and still hurt like hell but he knew they wouldn’t kill him. Besides, he had bigger questions to answer.

“Why did you do that?” Kuai asked, clutching his hands together in front of him. “Help me, I mean.”

“I may be a vampire hunter, but like I said, I do not kill for no reason, and you have given me not reason to do so.” He stepped forward, looking regretful now regarding the injuries Kuai had sustained. “I’m sorry about the holy water, I didn’t know he was going to do that.”

“And the kunai?” Kuai pouted, because that was definitely a deliberate choice.

“You tried to run, I needed to secure you,” Hanzo claimed, looking further down to see the wound in question bleeding profusely. “In retrospect, I regret doing it the way I did.”

Kuai looked away, it sounded like an excuse. But then Hanzo had helped him get out. Gods he was so confused.

“Kuai Liang, I know I haven’t given you much reason to trust me,” Hanzo started, gently placing a hand on Kuai’s cheek. He coaxed Kuai to look at him again. “But I need to find your brother. I believe he has information on the death of my family, and it is my belief that the safest place for you is with him.” Kuai closed his eyes, he really did want to be with Bi-Han. “We need to find him as quickly as possible.”

“It will be day soon,” Kuai pointed out, feeling nervous of how open he was out here. “I can’t travel in the day.”

“I know,” Hanzo said, gently stroking Kuai’s cheek. “I have a friend who lives nearby, we can lay at his until the day has passed.” Hanzo’s eyes twitched. “It will also give me a moment to look at your wounds and care for them, it is the least I can do for my part in you receiving them.”

It could have been a trap, and Kuai wasn’t completely sure if Hanzo had good intent. But when he considered the alternatives, either continuing on alone or going back to the mansion and potentially Quan Chi, he realised he had no choice but to put trust in Hanzo.

“Okay, where is your friends house?”

Hanzo smiled, taking Kuai by the hand again, and leading him through the woods. They didn’t speak, not really, only Hanzo reassuring Kuai that he was okay when he got jumpy. It had been so long since he’d been away from the mansion. The closest to the outside world Kuai got was the gardens. Those were walled in, carefully curated by Bi-Han and himself. The woods by comparison were wild, out of control. Bi-Han had warned him not to explore them, and he was starting to see why. Thick branches of the trees curling like claws making him uneasy.

He didn’t remember much of his life before he was turned, but he did remember something happened to him in the woods.

Something terrible.

He didn’t want to think about that right now, the memories that had already come back to him this night were terrible enough. He really did not need more to confuse him further.

Not to mention, he could see a house in the distance.

It wasn’t run down exactly, but the garden was overgrown. Does someone really live here? It felt almost like just an extension of the woods.

Hanzo knocked on the door, looking over his shoulder nervously as if expecting someone to be following them. His attention was taken back to the door when it opened, revealing a man standing on the other side. His eyes were cloudy, and Kuai recognised the reason from his own eye. The man was blind.

“Kenshi,” Hanzo greeted, and Kenshi’s eyes widened in recognition but his mouth was tight.

“Hanzo, it’s a bit late for a visit isn’t it?” Kenshi replied, and Kuai suddenly understood why he was a bit standoffish. It was late at night, at least for humans.

“I know I’m sorry, it’s a long story,” Hanzo started, pulling on Kuai’s hand to bring him closer. “I need to lay low for a night, I have a vampire with me, and we need shelter before daylight comes.”

“A vampire?” Kenshi sounded surprised, but he still stepped away and let them in. “A curious companion for you to have, Mr. Vampire Hunter.”

“Like I said, long story,” Hanzo muttered as he guided Kuai into the small home. It wasn’t as fancy as his mansion, but he supposed that was to be expected.

Kenshi hummed, shutting the door behind him. “So, does your vampire friend have a name, or is he just the vampire?”

“My name is Song Kuai Liang, Sir.” Kuai bowed politely, but then realised how stupid that was to do. Kenshi smirked and chuckled however.

“Did you just bow?” Kenshi questioned, and Kuai made an embarrassed squeak. “No need to be embarrassed, believe me, you are not the first.” Kenshi held out his hand in the general direction of where Kuai was. Kuai scrambled to greet it. “It’s nice to meet you Kuai Liang, my names Kenshi.” As he was shaking Kuai’s hand, he tilted his head. “You do not happen to be one of the vampires living in that mansion on the hill, would you?”

Kuai hesitated, before replying with “Yes sir, I am.”

“You don’t have to call me Sir,” Kenshi replied, but Kuai noticed him shoot a look towards Hanzo. One that screamed “you have a lot of explaining to do”. Still Kenshi hooked his arm with Kuai’s, using his cane to begin to navigate. “You must be tired though, I think the rest of our introduction can wait until the morn… Well, the evening.”

“Ah, thank you S- Kenshi,” Kuai let Kenshi guide him through the house, glancing over his shoulder to make sure Hanzo was still there.

“I am curious though,” Kenshi began, patting Kuai’s biceps. “You are the one who doesn’t leave home, correct? I’ve met your brother before. Bi-Han?” Wait, he’s met Bi-Han? “Gave me a story that you physically couldn’t leave the mansion.” What? Kuai stared at Kenshi for a few seconds, before looking over to Hanzo, who was looking equally confused about that. “I’m assuming from your shocked silence, that was not true.”

“No,” Kuai said slowly, trying to compute what he’d just been told. “Bi-Han told me not to leave, because the outside world was dangerous for me.”

“I see. And yet here you are?” Kenshi reached a door, opening it up. Peering inside Kuai could see it was a bedroom, curtains drawn and empty. “This is my guest room, so you and Hanzo are free to use it.” Kuai eyed the curtains wondering if they would be enough to shield him from the sunlight. “Do not worry about the curtains. My son has, ah, a sensitivity to light, so he needs the same accommodations as you. This house is safe for you.”

“Thank you Si- Kenshi,” Kuai said catching himself, and finally being let go by Kenshi.

“I hope you sleep well,” Kenshi said with a bow before turning to Hanzo. “We will talk in the morning, old friend.”

“Thank you, Kenshi.” Hanzo patted his friend on the shoulder. They stayed like that for a moment, just sort of looking at each other. It was pretty eerie if Kuai was honest. Like a silent conversation was going on between them.

Before Kuai could ask, it was over, and Kenshi was walking away. Hanzo followed Kuai into the room, closing the door behind him. Kuai wanted to ask what all that was about, but decided maybe for now, it was best to not know.

“First things first,” Hanzo started walking over to the one side of the room, and pulling out a bowl and some medical supplies from a cabinet. His knowledge of the room implied this was not his first visit where he needed medical intervention. “We need to get those burns taken care of.”

Kuai nodded, and made his way to perch on the edge of the bed. Hanzo left for another door, and Kuai heard a tap turn on and water run. Kuai felt his head go dizzy. He tried to take deep breaths. It’s water, just normal water. Not holy water. This water won’t hurt me. Calm down. Calm down.

In the name of the elder gods, calm down!

“Are you okay?” Kuai blinked, he had been so wrapped on his panic he hadn’t even noticed Hanzo come back. He placed the bowl on the bedside cabinet taking a cloth and dipping it in.

“Y-Yes,” Kuai replied, keeping his eyes intently on what Hanzo was doing with the water. “It’s just… that is just water, right?”

Hanzo paused, staring at the bowl. “It’s watered down alcohol, to clean your wounds.” He hadn’t really been around alcohol since his turning so he had no idea how it would effect him. Bi-Han had never explicitly warned him against it so it shouldn’t be dangerous. “It’s not holy water.”

Kuai nodded, and Hanzo took the cloth and went to wipe at the wounds. The concoction stung and Kuai jumped slightly. It didn’t burn like holy water would, but it wasn’t pleasant.

“Sorry I should have warned you it would sting.” Hanzo pressed the cloth onto another part of the wounds and Kuai gritted his teeth. “I just need to clean this before I put bandages on, okay?”

“Okay,” Kuai hissed as the Hanzo continued to wipe. Really this was nothing compared to getting them in the first place. Nothing to when Quan Chi poured holy water directly into his eye. Those memories. There really was more to all this than initially he realised. Maybe talking about them would help take his mind off Hanzo’s cleaning? “I know why you were looking for Bi-Han, but why was Quan Chi so intent on finding him.”

Kuai saw the way Hanzo’s mouth tightened. “You mean, you don’t know Bi-Han does work for him?” Kuai didn’t know that, Bi-Han never told him what he did when he went away on missions. Hanzo got Kuai’s answer without him even voicing it, as he added, “Bi-Han’s gone rouge the last few months, he wanted to get answers as to why. Convinced me to come along so I could get my answers too.”

“Two birds, one stone,” Kuai thought aloud. He gripped the bedsheets under him as Hanzo began to clean out a particularly deep burn. “I… remember him.”

“Remember who?” Hanzo asked absentmindedly, putting most of his concentration into his task.

“Quan Chi.” Kuai was stopped from explaining further with a loud moan. Hanzo took the cloth away, dipping it back in the water. “I don’t have many memories from when I was turned but today, when he was there…” Hanzo still only looked like he was half listening as he began to clean a new area. “I remembered some things. He was there, when I was turned. I think he was the one who did it.” Hanzo stopped in his tracks, head snapping up to gaze at Kuai’s face. “He’s also the person who did this to me.” Kuai pointed at the scar on his face. “I don’t remember much even now, it’s fuzzy, but I swear to the elder gods it was him, he was there!”

Hanzo took a deep breath, trying to return his attention to the cleaning. “How old are you exactly? I mean, how long have you been an vampire?”

“500 years.”

Hanzo’s movements slowed to a crawl as he contemplated what he’d just been told. “That would mean Quan Chi is over 500 years old as well.”

“I know,” Kuai whispered. It didn’t make sense. “Is he definitely human?”

“As far as I know.” Hanzo turned his attention from the burns to the wound that had been created by the Kunai. “He’s not a vampire, I’ve seen him out in sunlight and he can handle holy water without… well… this happening to him.”

“I know it doesn’t seem possible.” Kuai let out a breath when he saw Hanzo put the cloth down for good, thankfully done with this part of tending to his wounds. “And I don’t understand it myself, but… I swear it was him.”

“I believe you,” Hanzo assured, grabbing some padding and bandages. “I don’t have an answer for you, but I swear we will find one, okay?”

We will find one. Kuai smiled at that, although he wasn’t sure why. This man hadn’t exactly made the best first impression. But he’d helped Kuai run, he was here tending to his injuries, and offering to help him make sense of his jumbled memories. Maybe it was like in the books he read, where even the worst introduction could be turned into something beautiful.

Hanzo finished wrapping the bandages around him, and Kuai realised he had nothing to offer for his help. He had nothing of particular interest, and anything of value he had was back in the mansion. He thought back to his books, the romance ones, and tried to remember what the protagonists offered in thanks for their rescuers. There was one thing he could offer, he supposed.

“Thank you, Hanzo,” he started, watching Hanzo put all the medical equipment away. “I have nothing to show you my graditude for helping me.” Hanzo finally looked over, and eyebrow raised like he didn’t know where Kuai was going with this. “However, the books I have read suggest that, my body is an acceptable offering to you.”

Hanzo suddenly choked on the air, coughing loudly and covering his face. Kuai got the feeling that wasn’t a good reaction.

“I- oh- Kuai Liang,” Hanzo spluttered, removing a hand to fan himself. “That… Those books you’ve read, they aren’t exactly a good indication of what is expected of you in this situation.” Hanzo composed himself, before sitting next to Kuai on the bed. “Me accepting that offer would be inappropriate.” Kuai bowed his head. God obviously that was a stupid thing to say. Hanzo placed his hand under Kuai’s chin and tilted his head up. “Please do not take this as a rejection of you. But you are in a vulnerable state, and I wouldn’t want to do anything to you that you would regret.”

“I understand,” Kuai tried to not sound upset, in reality he was actually somewhat relieved. He knew he’d had sex before his turning, but he’d not had it since. The closest he’d come was a kiss from Tomas, which Bi-Han had quickly broken up. Hanzo was right, Kuai wasn’t exactly thinking straight right now, and the likeliness was that if Hanzo had said yes, the little trust he’d begun to build up would have been shattered.

Maybe he shouldn’t feel bad he asked, at least this was another sign Hanzo was trustworthy and had his best interests in mind.

“We will find your brother, but until then, I swear I will do everything in my power to protect you.” Hanzo sounded so sincere, it reminded him of whenever Bi-Han promised the same thing. “And you do not have to offer me anything, this is not about that, okay. This is about doing right by you and your brother.”

“Thank you,” Kuai said with a yawn, suddenly realising how tired he was now. The sun would be rising soon, he needed sleep.

“Come on, let’s sleep,” Hanzo said softly, “I can sleep next to you, if it would make you feel safer?”

“I would like that.”

They didn’t speak as Kuai lay back on the bed, feeling Hanzo settle next to him. Kuai wasn’t sure what came over him, but he flipped onto his side, and threw an arm over Hanzo’s chest. The second he’d done it, he internally panicked, wondering if Hanzo’s rejection of his advances would include this. He didn’t mean anything romantic or sexual by it, he just wanted the comfort an embrace could offer him.

To his surprise, Hanzo flipped over to face him and pulled him close to him. Kuai’s breath hitched, but soon began to calm, lulled into a sense of security by Hanzo’s body heat.

He nuzzled his face into the pillow, closed his eyes, and let sleep claim him.

----------------------------------------------------

Usually, Bi-Han would be glad to be home.

He’d come in, find Kuai Liang, and make sure his little brother hadn’t gotten himself into any danger. Then they’d sit in the study, Bi-Han making notes on his latest mission, while Kuai would be reading probably. They’d be comfortable and happy despite everything that had led them to this point.

The fact the front doors were wide open made it feel like there was a rock in stomach.

“Kuai Liang?” He didn’t waste any time walking in, panic overtaking his mind. Kuai wasn’t supposed to leave, he knew Kuai wouldn’t. At least not willingly. Had someone tricked him? Kidnapped him? Where was he?

He walked into the lounge, hoping maybe Kuai had just had a visit from Tomas and forgotten to close the door. There was someone sat on one of the arm chairs. It definitely was not Kuai Liang though.

“Hello, Bi-Han,” Quan Chi greeted, lounging lazily in the chair. He was his usually calm and calculated self on the outside, but there was a darkness in his eyes that only showed up when someone had pissed him off. His nose looked slightly swollen, and he had a bandage on one of his hands.

“Quan Chi, why are you here?” He asked nervously, taking a few steps forward.

If Quan Chi was here, where was Kuai? He doubted Kuai would have just let Quan Chi in, Kuai was smarter than to let a stranger inside their home. He didn’t have any memories of Quan Chi, Bi-Han had been sure to wipe every last one, ensuring his brother didn’t remember any of the awful things done to him while they were newly turned.

“I lost contact with you for some time, I wished to make sure you still remember our arrangements,” Quan Chi said lowly, voice trying to sound concerned but coming off as threatening instead.

“Someone requested a task of me, I needed time to complete it.” Bi-Han could feel a cold creep up his back. “I was intending to contact you after I came back.”

“Well, good to know,” Quan Chi sneered, somehow leaning even further back in the chair. “But in the future, I would appreciate a warning if your going to wander off for a long time. I gave your poor brother such a fight, it would be a shame if he had to suffer again because you are terrible at communication.”

There was bile in the back of Bi-Han’s throat as he asked “where is he?”

“I do not know, unfortunately,” Quan Chi said in a bored tone, and inspected his nails like he didn’t care. “Hanzo Hasashi has taken him hostage.”

“What?” Bi-Han hated the deviation in his own voice. “Why would… Why would Hasashi take Kuai Liang?”

“For some reason, he seems to have gotten the impression you are the one who killed his family.” No. No, no, no, that wasn’t me! He had seen the massacre, but he had not been the one to issue the blows. “Said that if you took his family from him, he would take yours from you.”

“I didn’t do it,” Bi-Han argued, taking a few steps back as Quan Chi stood up. He felt ire build inside him as he snarled “you let him take Kuai Liang.”

“I most certainly did not,” Quan Chi exclaimed, sounding so insulted it had to be fake. “I was having a civil discussion with your brother, when Hasashi came along. I tried to stop him but he used Shirai Ryu trickery against me.”

Bi-Han shook his head, the room was spinning. God fucking dammit, how had this happened again? Why did he always fail so fucking spectacularly at keeping Kuai safe? He failed when Kuai was murdered in the woods. He failed when Quan Chi brought Kuai back to life. He failed when Kuai was newly turned and tortured by that same sadist until Bi-Han could meet his ridiculous demands. And now he’d failed again.

He should have never taken this job. Fuck Raiden and his stupid fucking mission that took months! If Bi-Han had been here instead of that temple, Kuai would not have been taken.

“Oh, calm down,” Quan Chi snorted, annoyance laced his voice. “We will get Kuai Liang back. Hanzo Hasashi has rather betrayed me in doing this, and I’d quite like to get my hands on him myself.” That disgusting smirk was on Quan Chi’s face again. “You just have to do exactly what I say, like you always do.”

Bi-Han studied him. He didn’t want to work with Quan Chi, not again, and certainly not when Kuai was so heavily involved. What other choice do I have though?

“Yes, of course,” Bi-Han reluctantly agreed, looking away so he didn’t have to see that look Quan Chi always had when he’d gotten his way. “Just… Help me get my brother back, and I’ll do anything you say, I promise.”

“Good boy,” Quan Chi patted Bi-Han on the back in a condescending fashion. “Good to see you’ve learnt since the start of our partnership.”

Partnership. Fuck that.

Still Bi-Han’s eyes couldn’t help but linger on the bandage around Quan Chi’s hand.

“Do I want to know what you did to your hand?” He was expected some bullshit response, but Quan Chi made a wounded noise.

“When Hasashi took your brother, the poor thing got slightly confused,” Quan Chi explained looking at his hand with a pout. “He wasn’t sure who was trying to help him, so he bit me in his panic.” Good boy Kuai Liang. If his brother was here, he’d praise him for taking a bite out of this bastard. “Don’t worry, I know he was just scared. I won’t hold this against him.”

Quan Chi’s tone indicated he absolutely was going to hold this against him.

Still, Bi-Han had no other option at this point, he just had to hope that when they got Kuai back, Quan Chi would go back to their agreement. Bi-Han did shit for him, and Kuai got left alone.

“Where do we start?”

#subscorpweek #mortal kombat #subscorp #kuai liang #sub zero #hanzo hasashi #scorpion #🔥❄️subscorp week 2022

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frihetkanske · 1 year

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I posted 647 times in 2022

That's 632 more posts than 2021!

165 posts created (26%)

482 posts reblogged (74%)

Blogs I reblogged the most:

@dreamingbrownie

@kirkenovak

@cinnamoncountess

@designtheendless

@annievvv7

I tagged 406 of my posts in 2022

Only 37% of my posts had no tags

#grindeldore - 166 posts

#ggad - 108 posts

#albus x gellert - 105 posts

#albus dumbledore - 84 posts

#gellert grindelwald - 81 posts

#dreamling - 65 posts

#fantastic beasts - 54 posts

#the sandman - 52 posts

#fanfiction - 51 posts

#dumbledore x grindelwald - 39 posts

Longest Tag: 133 characters

#i shitpost because the government in my country really decided to fuck up about half a million peoples life with a new tax regulation

My Top Posts in 2022:

Contains slight SOD spoilers!

At this point I'm comforting myself with the thought that maybe, maybe Albus apparates to Nurmengard later in the day after their duel, probably at night, tearing through the wards like they're nothing.

To his power, they really are, and the person's magic, who put them up, is so similar it feels like coming home instead of invading his supposed-to-be enemy's headquarters.

He's ready to flee, should Gellert want to fight with him if he regrets not killing him when he stood with his back to him, so the view, that awaits him, takes him aback.

Gellert is a wreck.

He had been crying for some time, judging by his eyes, bloodshot and puffy, and the small tremors running through his body. His clothes are the same as they were in Bhutan, he didn't care to change.

His bedroom, ever so neat and well-kept, is a mess.

The desk and chair are in pieces, books cover the carpeted floor like fallen leaves cover the ground in autumn.

Did his magic explode as his anger and feel of betrayal lashed out, emotions no longer being able to kept under control? Or did he destroy everything with his two hands?

Did he really drink half a bottle of scotch on his own?

Albus had seen Gellert in many various states, but shitfaced drunk, barely clinging to consciousness is something new, and he's not sure he likes it.

Alright, let's be honest, he straight away despises this state of him.

When he steps over the threshold, Gellert looks at him with so much fear in his eyes it makes his steps halt.

"Go away," Gellert rasps out, "I know why you're here. Haven't you tormented me enough already?'

"I mean no harm, Gell." Using the old nickname may be cheap, but it does the trick. "I wanted to check on you. I was worried."

"How come? You never cared about me before. You came, spoke the words you knew I need the most, until I believed you actually meant them, then you disappeared. As visions do. Spare me this time, just this once. Please. It hurts so much. I can't."

In that moment Albus realises that Gellert thinks he's just another shadow of himself, one that promises him all the things he's craving for - his companion, support, encouragement, love, trust, to belong to him again.

He spends a good hour of proving Gellert he's real.

Reassuring his heartbroken husband that his love didn't stopped pumping the blood in his veins despite the pact being broken.

When Gellert can finally stand, Albus undresses him, helps him to change, tucks him in and holds his hand until he's asleep.

He shouldn't stay, that's the worst idea he's had since a long time, but Gellert turning to alcohol or any of his old methods of coping with pain would be even worse.

So he lays down next to him, closes his eyes, and when he wakes, it's because of ashen grey curls tickle his nose, and their bodies are pressed so close together as the mere thought of parting would tear them apart from each other's arms.

337 notes - Posted April 11, 2022

!!!SOD SPOILER ALERT!!!

I got out of the cinema a few hours ago, and I'd like to mention a few things:

1. "the summer Gellert and I FELL IN LOVE" I couldn't believe my own ears. They could have used many other expressions, like "met" or "got acquainted", but no, WB really gave us the whole truth. They. Fell. In. Love.

2. Albus's blissed out face when he sees Gellert, the way he closes his eyes, I bet he can feel him in the room even if he doesn't see him, his magic; and my darling really looks like Gellert's presence is balm to his aching soul (and a bit like he's just had an orgams but it's just me and my dirty mind).

3. Once they're touching, the fight is over. Immediately.

4. Gellert is mad about the blood pact, and doesn't even try to hide it. One does not throw himself off of a cliff unless he's seriously done with everything.

5. Did Gellert use to cradle Albus in his arms the way he does it with the Quilin?

613 notes - Posted April 7, 2022

Dream always greets Hob at the door when he comes home after several hours of teaching, until one day he doesn't.

Hob enters the apartment, confused, as he knows Dream is in there, yet cannot imagine a thing why he doesn't come to exchange their almost mandatory good-to-see-you-i-missed-you-terribly kisses.

Quietly, he makes a beeline to the bedroom, and as he steps through the threshold, he's offered the most adorable view he's ever encountered in his long life: Dream's lying between their pillows in the middle of the bed, his starlight-patterned blanket pulled up to his waist, and on his naked chest there's Jessamy, who must have returned from the Dreaming sometime during the day because she definitely wasn't here when he left in the morning, now curled up in her sleep.

"She fell asleep about half an hour ago," Dream whispers as their eyes meet. "I would wake her if I moved. She's dreaming about us, Hob, she's so happy to be with us."

Hob decides it's a perfectly understandable reason for his beloved to change their regular routine.

656 notes - Posted October 2, 2022

Jessamy Reincarnation AU

What if Jessamy, instead of entering the Sunless Lands, reincarnates after her death, and meets Dream in her next life?

Just imagine. Hob and Dream are walking hand in hand in a park, passing by a group of kids. They're all orphans, enjoying their daily outing, running around, playing catch, Dream doesn't pay much attention to them, but then there's a little girl with pale skin and raven-black hair, she's lively and cheerful and their eyes meet and the recognition sends Dream to his knees because it's her.

Jessamy runs to him so fast that she almost trips over her own feet, while Dream is already honest-to-god weeping by the time she reaches him. Their embrace would be bone-crushing if Dream wasn't scared of hurting her - he doesn't spend much time around children, you see, the last time he held one in his arms was eons ago -, and his hands are trembling as he cradles the precious child closer, not quite ready to let go of her yet. He feels Hob kneeling down behind him, a steady hand on his back, a gesture of grounding he's immensely grateful for.

"You're Dream," says the girl with such certainty that shatters his heart in two then mends it immediately again. "You're my Papa."

Another sob threatens to break from his throat and he feels like someone stabbed him in the chest with a sword, but the last thing he wants is to scare away Jessamy, who's smiling at him as if not a day has gone by since they last saw each other.

"I can be your Papa if you want me to," Dream promises, no, swears, on everything he has, "my dear Jessamy. How much I missed you."

He has no idea how much Jessamy remembers, or how a legal adoption process works, he doesn't know a single thing save that in this life he won't let any harm come to her, and she will be the happiest, most cherished child of two worlds.

[the fic based on this is now complete]

706 notes - Posted October 11, 2022

My #1 post of 2022

Vinda, casually: How much do you want Albus Dumbledore-

Gellert, tearing up already: The need to have him with me, in my life, physically, not only in my heart and my memories, is almost unbearable. His absence pains me more and more with every breath I take.

Vinda, with a frown: -dead?

971 notes - Posted April 14, 2022

Get your Tumblr 2022 Year in Review →

#tumblr2022 #year in review #my 2022 tumblr year in review #your tumblr year in review

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cowboyslikedean · 2 years

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also. i feel bad complaining but as much as i love thasmin and that they’re doing it, i genuinely rlly am not a fan of the execution so far. at points 13 came off not as awkward or unaware but as literally a bit mean. the “not a bad date!” gag just. wasn’t great.

i hate the way when yaz asked dan whether he outed her feelings (which was awful of him!! it was really really bad!! and i hate that they played it as a good friend move when she made clear to him she wasn’t ready!!) he just breezed past it without answering and asked what the doctor had said.

i hate the way they retconned out the doctor’s previously established character development in order to put a roadblock in the way of a relationship that only has an episode left to go anywhere. the doctor essentially says if i did the whole romance thing i would do it with you but i can’t because i can’t have things like that i can’t get attached i can’t be human like that so let’s just be friends, and i’m like. yeah this is such a sad and self destructive barrier the doctor has with their sense of self/pseudo-humanity/what love they can have or deserve. what a shame no one has already spent several seasons deconstructing that. christopher, sir, did you watch husbands of river song? or like. any of season 8 and 9? bc i’m not certain u did (hell, i actually cannot think of a 12 season that didn’t have an arc about accepting eventual loss and grief being part of what allows u to love fully)

just like. yeah i love thasmin. and i also really wish they had better writing.

#doctor who spoilers #doctor who #again i think i’m so sad about this because i liked soooo much of chris’ torchwood writing #also the way yaz is treated like she’s new or less capable or not understanding of the situation #despite being like. the longest running companion ever.#EVERY time chris wants to shoe horn in a reason for clunky exposition dialogue #drives me insane #also sidenote if chris chibnall does my darling Ace dirty i will be turning up on his lawn #lucys ramblings

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semperama · 2 years

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10+ maxiel 😳

tend

Max gives little thought to the staff. His stepmother does the hiring, and his father handles the pay, and other than his personal valet or the footman dishing out soup in the evening, Max rarely speaks with any of them. If the maid who lights the fire in his chambers changed each morning, he doubts he would even notice.

He notices the shock of dark curls among the roses, though. He notices long fingers buried in dirt, cuticles stained black. He notices the wide smile when the man looks up from his work in the flower bed, murmuring his respects to the young lady on Max’s arm, the latest in a long line of eligible women Max’s father has been shoving at him.

“Who are you?” Max asks, while the woman on his arm has the good breeding to pretend he is not being rude.

“Daniel,” the man says. “The new gardener.” He does not say ‘sir’. He does not get to his feet. Max should be embarrassed, or angry, but instead he nods, tongue-tied, and whisks his companion off down the path, resisting the urge to look back.

If he goes out to garden alone the next day, it is only because the weather is pleasant, and he would rather read in the sun. If he sits on the bench by the pond and watches Daniel work over the top of his book, it is only because he wants to make sure this insolent new employee is doing his job properly, not lazing about when the lord of the house is not at hand.

The old gardener was ancient. Max’s valet is nearly his father’s age. The footmen in the house are teenagers. Daniel may be older than Max, but not by enough to matter, and Max hasn’t been around men his age since he finished school and came home to help his father run the estate. He made few friends during his studies, and none of them close enough to come for a visit. Of late, only women come calling, and none of them have managed to catch his fancy, despite his father’s increasing impatience.

Daniel’s skin is brown from the sun, and his thin shirt is always dirty. He hums to himself while he works, too loud and off key. When one of the servants from the house passes by, on the way to this errand or that, he calls out to them by name, lifts a broad palm, and they always greet him with smiles in turn.

He fills Max’s thoughts more than any woman ever has. Max lays his head on the pillow at night thinking up excuses for walking the grounds the next day. A bad mood can be lifted by one of Daniel’s smiles, and a good mood destroyed if Max fails to engineer a reason to run into him.

One morning a maid calls him down to the parlor, and Max finds Daniel pacing there, cap balled in one hand and curls wild. When Max walks in, Daniel smiles, his shoulders relaxing as though he’s relieved. “Mr.—” he starts, but Max shakes his head, mortified.

“Max,” he says. The idea of his father’s name on Daniel’s lips makes his skin crawl. “Call me Max.”

“Max,” Daniel says uncertainly. “Don’t think your father’d like that.”

“Then don’t say it in front of him.” Max steps further into the room, glances back at the door as though he fears they will be interrupted. As though the lord himself might walk in.

“Alright.” Daniel smiles, a softer one than Max has seen before. “I came to ask for the afternoon off. There’s a—”

“Fair in town,” Max interrupts. “I believe the others are off at two o’clock. Were you not given the same courtesy?”

“I hesitated to ask,” Daniel says, “since I haven’t been working here long.”

It surely is a question for Max’s father. But he is always encouraging Max to take more of an active role in managing the house, and surely he wouldn’t care about a gardener when all the house staff will be in town. “I don’t see why not,” Max says, “as long as you return in the morning as usual.”

Daniel’s grin widens, the corners of his eyes crinkling. “Of course. Thank you.”

He starts for the door, and Max feels a strange panic rise in him, a need to say something to keep Daniel here for even a moment longer. This is the longest they have spoken, and he has no way of knowing when they will speak again. Here among the velvet drapes and antique couches and silver tea sets, Daniel’s roughness is all the more appealing, and as he walks past Max, Max can smell warm earth and sweat and sunshine, and it makes his chest ache, his heart race.

“Are you coming?” Daniel says, and Max startles as if he’s been slapped.

“Excuse me?” he says.

Daniel hovers in the door, eyebrows raised. “To the fair? Will you be there?”

“I—” He never goes to these things. They are not meant for his class of people. But the way Daniel is looking at him, fond and expectant and somehow familiar, Max knows he can’t say anything but: “Yes. Of course.”

“Then I’ll see you there,” Daniel says, and pulls his cap back down over his curls. “Max,” he adds, with a nod and a wink.

Max watches the doorway for long moments after he leaves, his face hot, like he has done something wrong. He’s done nothing wrong. Nothing.

He goes upstairs to decide what to wear. If it takes longer than it should, no one has to know.

#maxiel #f1 #ficlet #my writing #i saw tend and thought gardener #sorry if this is only tangentially related to the prompt

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commonwealthoccurences · 3 years

Text

Companions React: Sole Breaks Down

Request: “Could I ask for companions comforting a sole that’s usually an emotional rock, that they hadn’t seen this vulnerable ever? Like they come back from being away and just crumble into a sobbing mess. Pretty please?”

Note: *bangs spoon against pot* come get the hurt/comfort. CW: Mentions of unnamed characters deaths.

The setting:

Upon Preston’s request, Sole took off to a distant settlement to reorganize their resources, set up defenses, and bring them into the trade route. These excursions usually took about a week or two, so Sole could make sure they were fully stable before returning to Sanctuary to attend to their other duties. With this trip, however, they requested their companion stay in Sanctuary; they could handle this on their own, and the companion deserved a break.

Two weeks later, Sole returns, shoulders weighed down by their pack, ladened with goods the settlers had insisted they take with them. It had been a tough week, though that wasn’t really a new thing in Sole’s book, or anyone’s, really. Unfortunately, Sole hadn’t been able to predict the fact that some sort of disease would run through the tiny settlement while they were there, taking several of the members with it as it left.

They scrubbed at their skin in a nearby body of water every morning of those two weeks, rubbed raw and pink as a result of Sole’s quietly hysterical distress. They wanted no trace of settlement on them. There were elements of guilt in their relief to return home, but with returning home came the fact that they were safe enough to reflect on their weeks away from Sanctuary. There seemed to be no hiding from what had happened.

Sole got through the main street of Sanctuary well enough, sending nods to passing settlers, with a brief stop to drop off some of the food they had brought back with them with their local merchant; he would give it away to those that dropped in throughout the day. Once they made it down the road and to the entrance of their home, they felt the dam break. Their hands shook as they pulled the door open and moved inside, doing their best to ignore the tears that began to trickle down their face.

(*Gage’s scenario takes place upon their return to Nuka World’s Fizztop Grille)

Cait:

Cait was waiting just inside, having taken up residence in Sole’s living room with Dogmeat.

She went to make a joke about Sole being late, but when she looked up, she lost the words quite quickly

Sole’s shoulders were shaking, and it was quite obvious that they were trying to hide that they were crying, but it was impossible to not see

She practically tripped over herself to get to Sole, who was acting casual by rearranging the items in their back they had set on the floor

Her desire to comfort and protect Sole overrode her hesitance for physical affection and she found herself hugging Sole far too tightly than she should’ve

But it was partially panic on her end that caused her to grip them so tight

“Christ, what’s a matter?”

The only sound Sole made was a choking whimper and Cait gripped them even tighter

Curie:

She reads the distress in their stance the moment they cross the threshold into their home

Similarly to Cait, she gets up from where she’s sitting immediately, but stops short of Sole

“Oh, goodness. Are you alright?” She reaches out but doesn’t quite touch them, not wanting to intrude

Sole shakes their head, unable to disguise their very obvious distress

“Physical or emotional?”

Sole opens their mouth to say emotional and gets out about half the word before choking on their own breath and curling forward into themself

“Would you like a hug?” Her voice is quieter this time.

Sole nods and she brings them in for a soft hug, rubbing their back

Danse:

Danse is far more emotionally intelligent when it comes to other people’s feelings than people give him credit for

He’s seen it happen before; soldiers compartmentalize their emotions as much as they can, for years even, but everyone has a breaking point

And sometimes it’s over something one might consider small, like breaking a dish, or sometimes it’s loss that brings them to their knees, as it would anyone

Regardless, he’s known all along that one day Sole won’t be able to suppress their emotions anymore

When they come in crying and shaking, looking defeated, he’s unsurprised. Sad in an inevitably knowing sort of way

He gets up and walks over, taking their pack from their hands and helping them shed the heavy jacket that was weighing them down

He requests they sit and takes off their boots before going to get them a glass of water

He doesn’t say much, considering he doesn’t have much to say, but he’d much rather show how he cares via actions rather than words, anyway

Deacon:

He’s somewhat similar to Danse in the fact that he knows Sole’s going to need to break at some point, however it’s in less of a “I’ve seen this before” attitude and more in the fact that he can relate

But Sole has an easier time trusting than he does, so he knows their break is coming at some point, whereas he knows that there’s never going to be a point where he allows someone else to see what Sole is allowing him to witness

So when they stand there, defeated, looking over at him like a lost child, he simply opens his arms

He’s not one for hugs, but he makes exceptions, and it seems this is one of those situations that calls for an exception

When they sob into his shoulder, he pats them on the back and replies with a simple, “I know, Boss. I know.”

Gage:

Gage is chewing at a piece of dried Mirelurk, grimacing at the salty taste.

Sole makes their way across Fizztop Grille, dropping their pack carelessly next to one of the couches.

Similarly, they drop down next to Gage where he’s sitting overlooking the rest of Nuka World, not saying a word.

After a moment, punctuated by a very obvious sigh, Gage looks over at Sole. He chews contemplatively for a moment, “You and me both. Wanna talk about it?”

Sole shakes their head and Gage responds, “Cool.”

He pats them on the back, admittedly, awkwardly and a bit too harsh to be comforting, but it’s Gage

He’s doing his best

Haylen:

Haylen has Dogmeat in her lap chewing at a Radstag bone, her hand running mindlessly over his fur

She doesn’t jump up when Sole comes in, cautious at the idea of spooking them

“Sole,” She calls out, shifting to move her feet flat on the floor

When they don’t respond and instead sniffle, she’s motioning Dogmeat off her lap and stepping towards them

“Everything alright?”

Sole shakes their head and she presses her lips together in worry, “Anything I can help with?” another shake of Sole’s head

She brushes their hair away from their face with a soft, “Oh, Sole.” and brings them into a light side-hug

Hancock:

He really does like to think he keeps his cool easily, but he really doesn’t in this case

Sole’s crying and that’s not something he thought would ever happen

“Whoa, whoa. Talk to me, what’s going on, Sunshine?”

“Bad day.” Sole chokes out

He suppresses nervous laughter, knowing it can’t just be that, but lets it go and instead puts an arm around their shoulders to pull them in for a tight hug, snug and reassuring, with his other arm finding their waist

MacCready:

He’s alert immediately, thoughts jumping to them being hurt, and potentially fatally so

Considering he thinks its an emergency, he’s in front of them and examining them for injuries within seconds

Sole doesn’t protest for the longest time, but eventually they grab ahold of his wrists and shake their head

He stops for a moment and looks them over again before sighing; this is something he doesn’t know what to do about

“Sit. You’re going to collapse if you’re not careful.”

When they’re seated he helps them shrug off their coat and sits nearby, not pressuring, but available if they want to talk

Nick:

Nick’s view is similar to Danse’s, and he isn’t quite surprised when they come in crying

He sets the pen he was writing with down and shifts back in his chair, opening his arms for a hug if they want

When they cross the room he wraps them in a hug and rubs their lower back, trying his best with the awkward angle him sitting provides

“You need to take time for yourself.” He recommends, but other than that, he remains mostly silent

Piper:

The queen of panic, despite her best efforts

She’s used to tears because of her experiences with Nat, but not from Sole of all people

She does something similar to Mac, where she checks them over briefly, before she realizes this isn’t a physical injury that’s hurting them

She’s competing with Cait when it comes to tight hugs, wishing she could protect them from whatever’s bothering them so

A sympathy crier, she has to blink away her own tears

“Let it out, Blue. We can talk about it later, okay? Everything’s gonna be just fine. I swear.”

Preston:

Preston’s not sure how to handle things, considering how used to Sole being a rock he is

He knows it’s not quite right, considering he knows other people view him the same way, and it’s incredibly difficult being the one holding it together all the time, but he’s still genuinely surprised when he sees they’re crying

He knows what to do when he realizes what’s going on, though; exactly what he wishes he could request from someone else

He brings them into a hug and mumbles reassurances; that they don’t have to be the tough one all the time, that their emotions aren’t weakness, and that everything’s going to be okay

X6-88:

A fan of mutual silence, X6 helps them get comfortable and brings them into their room; he’s always viewed quarters as the safest place to be, both in the Institute and when Sole gave him his own quarters afterwards

He helps them into bed, making sure they’re comfortable, before asking if they have any small injuries they need addressed before settling in

If they say yes he cleans and dresses their wounds as gently as possible before settling into bed near them, a respectable distance away, but within reach if they need, and begins reading a book Sole left on their nightstand

He knows it’s hard to be alone when you’re being attacked by emotions, but they don’t seem to want to talk about what’s going through their head quite yet; instead, he rubs their back and encourages them to cry it out

#Fallout 4 #Fo4 #Companions react #headcanons #hcs #hurt comfort #fanfiction #mild angst #Cait #Curie #Deacon #Paladin Danse #Gage #Mayor Hancock #Nick Valentine #RJ MacCready #Preston Garvey #X6-88 #Scribe Haylen

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takamishinko · 3 years

Text

footprints and doubts

this is the longest piece we’ve written so far and it drained the living crap out of us :,D but hope u guys enjoy !

pronouns: gender neutral

warnings: nothing really other than jealousy, angst, and crying, self thought cheating

a/n: r/n is region name btw

________________________________________________________________

honestly you found it hard to believe that little ol’ you from r/n could befriend let alone become someone important to ajax. the great tartaglia, 11th of the fatui harbingers, his name itself could strike fear into anyone. yet here you were, standing next to him with your hands intertwined with his at the lantern rite festival. you would give the world to him if you could, you loved him so much. he was so different from your last significant other who had been unfaithful towards you.

‘you’re just too boring.’ they had told you apathetically. you frown thinking about it.

you felt ajax gave your hand a small tug, "hey y/n why don't we go over there? looks like chef mao is cooking up something good." he spoke with a cheery grin on his face.

you snap back into reality as you felt his hand pull you out of your thoughts. you gave him a terse nod and the two of you made your way to wanmin restaurant.

after waiting a while in line, the two of you were next. chef mao looked up and practically shat himself at the sight of the male next to you.

“hello y/n! i hope you’ve been enjoying the festival, " chef mao spoke nervously, his eyes gliding to the male next to you, “y...you too sir childe.” he sputtered out. right, ajax was the one who tried to destroy liyue not too long ago after all. you shook your head, right now you were with ajax, not childe.

"woah woah woah. calm down chef, you know that’s history now. besides, i’m just here to enjoy the festival with y/n." ajax assured, sheepishly rubbing the back of his head.

you gave the chef a slight smile and spoke,"don’t worry chef. i’m sure he doesn’t have plans other than being with me tonight." you teased.

the chef sighed in poorly concealed relief and returned to his usual self as he took your order. ajax ordered the specialty for today, the crystal shrimp. after a small wait, the two of you waved chef mao goodbye after he gave you two your food. the warm dish let out puffs of steam and glistened under all the light of the lanterns due to it's crystal clear skin, there were 4 in total, the wrapping for each was folded into the shape of a flower. they were so pretty, you almost felt bad for eating them.

sitting down on a nearby bench, the two of you enjoyed the crystal shrimp while making small talk. the crystal shrimps were delicious themselves but it felt better to enjoy them with someone you loved.

after finishing the food, you and ajax had a great time. you guys played a few rounds of theatre mechanics, ruijin was pleased at how skilled the two of you were and rewarded both of you with hefty prizes. upon bumping into zhongli, the three of you decided to enjoy some tea with him. after bidding farewell to the funeral consultant, the two of you released some xiao lanterns and watched as they floated into the night sky.

feeling a bit tired, the two of you then decided to relax and take a walk instead of participating in games. as you and your boyfriend were strolling around the harbour, something, or someone caught his gaze. you look over to where his eyes were trailing to.

oh.

a beautiful young lady dressed in a white dress with a cecilia tucked into her golden blonde hair and a puffy companion floating by her side waved at ajax. her smile brighter than the sun and her movement as graceful as the moon. her honey glazed eyes shone with familiarity and glee at the sight of him.

of course you recognized this girl. she was none other than the otherworldly traveler, lumine. she fought alongside the liyue qixing and even the adepti to defeat the great osial. the people of liyue spoke about her often, everyone knew how she had also earned the title of honorary knight in mondstadt and defeated one of the four winds despite her young age.

you were once again brought back into reality when ajax spoke, "hey babe ill be right back okay? i wanna catch up with lumine real quick."

you felt his hand leave yours, the warmth dissipated with it. you felt an uncomfortable feeling bubble up as you watched your boyfriend run to someone else, leaving you alone by yourself to stand in the sea of lanterns and people.

it didn't feel right.

you stayed in place with a dejected look for a while waiting for ajax to return but he was taking a while so you decided to go check what was going on with him.

"-but then teucer decided to do it anyway!” you hear ajax’s boyish voice ring out with amusement.

as the blond and the redhead laughed together. you couldn't help but think about the two looked enchanting with each other.

you shook your head and decided to make your presence known. "ajax-"

ajax perked up, "oh! babe sorry to keep you waiting let me introduce you. lumine this is my partner y/n!" ajax exclaimed with a cute grin.

you gave lumine a small wave and spoke with a polite smile, "it's a pleasure to meet you lumine."

"it’s nice to meet you too y/n.” lumine replied cheerfully.

now that you’ve got a better look at the blonde, she's so much more beautiful than you could have ever imagined.

her velvety blonde hair fell gracefully, her porcelain skin was practically glowing without a single visible blemish, her golden eyes shone with beauty that rivaled cor lapis. to wrap it up, her short stature was presented with grace and poise. all in all, everything about the blonde was nothing less than perfection.

everyone loved her and you could understand the reason behind it very well. gorgeous, kind, and righteous, the hero of every region everyone respected. you couldn’t help but wish you were like her instead of your boring self, without a vision, without any standing out achievements either…

you started to space out while the two started up a conversation again, thinking about the feelings you were currently having. why were you feeling like this?

"hey babe we should get going! it's getting late." the voice of your lover broke you out of your thinking.

you were overthinking a lot today huh. "oh. we probably should get going then."

"bye ajax! bye y/n! it was really nice meeting you." lumine said with a pearly smile gracing her features. she then walked off to find her floating companion who was near a food stall inhaling dish after dish of food.

wait.

ajax..? he wasn’t childe or tartaglia to her, but ajax. you didn't know how to feel upon hearing the real name of your boyfriend slip out of the blonde. you knew how secretive ajax could be when it came to his family and personal life so the fact that lumine knew his real name put a feeling of unease within you.

the way home was pretty quiet, you didn't want ajax to notice that you were feeling off. you felt so guilty for having these feelings about him and lumine but you couldn’t help it. your last relationship had practically trampled on your ability to trust others, you could never tell if someone was lying to you or being truthful. you contemplated telling him how you felt but you decided against it, you’ve never been great at expressing your feelings after all. however, after a while of him blabbing about random topics, you couldn’t curb your curiosity any longer and realized you wanted to know more about your lover's relationship between him and lumine.

after a while of peaceful silence, you let out a small breath, "hey ajax?"

“yes y/n?"

"who is lumine… to you?"

ajax perked up at the sound of the blonde's name, "lumine? she's a good friend and a formidable opponent of course. it's been a while since i’ve fought with someone who could keep up with me on the battlefield!" ajax spoke with enthusiasm.

you felt a twinge of pain shoot into your heart at the tone that your lover used when speaking about the blonde. did he speak like that when he was talking about you?

"oh… i see. she must be a very powerful person then." you replied with feigned glee.

ajax noticed that you were in low spirits, "why? is something wrong?" he questioned with slight worry.

"no! i'm alright. i was just curious because you two seemed… close." you lied. you weren't ok, but you didn't know how to tell him. probably because you didn't even know why you felt such-

envy

that was what you were feeling. not petty jealousy or sadness, you were envious. envious of lumine. her beauty, her strength, her personality, everything. the feeling consumed every inch of your body and dyed you green. your insecurities swallowed you up and spit you out, rendering you vulnerable against the little demons that poked at your thoughts.

when the two of you got home and freshened up, ajax practically passed out the second he lied in bed with you. on the other hand, you stayed wide awake, stuck thinking about the way lumine and ajax interacted. the smiles, the laughter, the fond looks they gave each other plagued your mind, rendering you unable to sleep. after a while of staring blankly at the ceiling, you groaned and carefully lifted the sheets to not wake your lover and got out of bed to make yourself a cup of tea. you used the tea leaves you bought from pops kai, the calming properties of the tea always helped you when you felt down.

"they're just friends, don't overthink it, just friends, just friends." you whispered to yourself, trying to give yourself a sense of reassurance. after finishing the tea you got back into bed, it was hard but you eventually fell asleep next to your lover.

next morning, you were woken by the sound of your boyfriend walking around in the living room doing something. it was only around 7am so you were wondering why up so early as he usually woke up at 8. you groggily walked out of the bedroom.

ajax noticed you and smiled fondly at the cute sight of you rubbing your eyes. "good morning babe, did i wake you up? sorry about that, i was just getting ready to go train."

"oh. by yourself?" somehow, you had a feeling of where this conversation was headed.

"no, with lumine, we made a deal yesterday to go to yaoguang shore today to fight some ruin guards and hunters for materials!" he chuckled.

lumine. lumine

the name echoed in your mind like a mantra. you were aware of his weekly spars with the blonde but today would be the second day he went out with her this week. a part of your heart told you to stop him, another part told you to let him go. in this internal battle, you chose the latter and let him go. after all, who were you to stop him? it's not like you could be the one to satisfy his thirst for battle, only someone like lumine could.

you were having a day off due to the lantern rite festival, but to be honest it's not like you needed the money. with the amount of money ajax had he could probably support you and your next 4 generations. with your spare day, you decided to clean up the house because it was a bit messy due to teucer playing around the day before.

while cleaning up you found a spare xiao lantern that teucer was supposed to release when he came over. since you had spare time you decided to set another lantern yourself, it would be a waste to not use it after all. as people say, during the lantern rites, put your wish into a lantern and set it into the sky for it to become true.

"i wish to stay with ajax, till death does us apart."

you only hoped he felt the same way about you.

you put the note in the xiao lantern and set it off into the sky, you watched with sentiment as it floated away towards the clear blue sky.

you had a hard time focusing on the task you were doing for the rest of your day so you decided to take your mind off things and go take a look around liyue harbour to see if there was anything worth checking out, or buying.

liyue harbour contained the usual, the fragrance of grilled tiger fish wafting from the stand next to where you would usually buy your groceries, the kids messing around near the boats, and you even met xiangling who tried to offer you her new recipe of jade parcels but you kindly refused.

after that you went to give the adorable little pharmacist, qiqi, a visit. she was under the cashier stand like usual, you gave her a little pat on the head and asked for the usual medicine you buy for ajax.

you then bumped into zhongli, who was also strolling around. the two of you chattered about the festival and other shenanigans before bidding each other farewell. the amount of history about liyue and its traditions the man was familiar with would never fail to surprise you.

there wasn’t really anything left for you to do in the harbour so you started to head back home. not far away from the liuli pavilion you saw a familiar redhead talking to the owner of mingxing jewelry with a shorter figure standing beside him.

upon closer inspection, you noticed it was ajax with someone else at a jewelry shop looking at the items. it was none other than lumine standing next to him. you watched as lumine picked out a piece of jewelry from the stand that would look so well on her. the gem glowed it’s colour under her smile and looked more fitting than ever. weren’t they supposed to be at yaoguang shore?

without second thought ajax bought the jewelry in lumines hand and put it in a gift bag with a look of tenderness. your heart dropped to the pits of your stomach, you felt as if the world was crashing down on you. your breathing quickened and your heart palpitated at alarming rates. every little insecurity that was planted in you had finally finished blooming. was this really going to happen to you a second time? was once not enough for the entertainment of the gods?

that was when he saw you, standing only a little bit away from him holding the items you purchased for him and the fresh groceries you were going to use to cook dinner for him.

ajax’s eyes widened in surprise upon seeing you, “y/n!? why are you he-” he was tense, you noticed, just like your ex-lover when they were caught.

you tried to regulate your breathing and spoke, “stop.” you managed to say, cutting off ajax before he could finish his sentence. he flinched at your dull tone.

“y/n! i know what you’re thinking but i promise we were just-” ajax hurriedly tries to explain.

“don’t. i think i've seen enough childe.” he frowned at the use of his moniker.

your lips trembled, water collecting at the bottom of your eyes. ‘don’t cry. don’t cry, don’t cry.’ you repeated in your head, you didn’t want to appear weak in front of the two. your ajax who you loved so much, who you cared for so much, who you were planning to spend the rest of your life with, is now buying jewelry for someone else after lying to you.

“i was foolish this entire time, of course. instead of someone like me, a visionless nobody you would choose her over me. you’re just like-” your voice cracked as you forced the words out of your tightened throat.

“y/n it’s not like that! please just let me explain!” ajax pleaded urgently. he hated that you were talking bad about yourself.

after gaining a smidge of composure you decided you couldn’t be near the two, “no need childe, i understand. now if you’ll excuse me, i'll be on my way.” you muttered and brushed past the two.

“wait y/n!-” he reached out to grab your arm before the blonde next to him stopped him.

lumine sighed and spoke up after staying silent, “let them go for now. leave them alone for a bit, they need some time to think. it’s understandable why someone would be upset if they saw their lover with someone else like this.” she comforted before patting him on the back.

“yeah. i guess you’re right...” ajax murmured with a crestfallen look. he regretted not communicating with you, otherwise this wouldn’t have happened. he should’ve cleared up any suspicions you had and reassured you. he knew about how you weren’t confident due to your last relationship. gods, he felt like he was worse than your dirtbag of an ex.

you walked towards your home slowly trying to process what just happened. your tears already ran dry and you didn’t think more were able to escape from your eyes. the fading sunset seemed so blurry yet peaceful. somehow, instead of walking home, you ended up near yaoguang shore which happened to be the spot you and ajax would go to often. his name brought bitter feelings back as you remember the events that just happened but you took a deep breath and sat on the sand across from the shore. you listened to the sound of the ocean, the waves dousing the sand it touched. you took notice of the starconches laying on the sand.

feelings of melancholy welled up inside you. these are ajax’s favourites. the blue shells reminded you of his eyes. his lovely eyes were the blue of the waves of the sea, they crashed into you and pulled you into them. you could spend all day swimming in the infinite hues until you drowned.

you buried your head onto your knees and let out a pained cry you’ve been holding in. here, where no one can find you, where no one can hear you. only the ocean will hear your troubles and worries, you hoped it could wash them away and you could forget about them forever. you sat there in peace by yourself for what felt like hours.

you sighed and decided that you should get going, but to where? you didn’t want to see ajax if he’s even going to be there at all. maybe you could crash at zhongli’s place…

just as you were about to leave you heard a familiar voice behind your back. “y/n!” it was the man you loved, ajax, sprinting to you with the same gift bag he was holding in his hands at mingxing jewelry.

you turned around to look at him. your hair was flowing in the wind with the sunset behind your back. to ajax it was the most beautiful sight he had ever seen in his life.

“i knew you’d be here.” ajax spoke with relief.

you looked away from him not knowing how to feel right now about your “lover” and stayed silent.

“y/n. i swear it wasn’t what it looked like, i would never do that to you. lumine and i really don’t have anything going on in between us, i chose you as my partner and i plan on keeping it that way for the rest of my life. in fact,” ajax murmured while opening up the gift bag he was holding. it was a bracelet with a fine piece of noctilucous jade in the middle with cor lapis fragments decorating the border of the blue gem. the jewelry wafted with fragrances, the morning dew smell from a qingxin, the classical smell of the harbour from a silk flower and lastly the everlasting aroma of violet grass.

“do you like it? lumine and i picked it out for you at mingxing jewelry for our upcoming anniversary. i just wanted her opinion on what to choose for you. this was one of the most beautiful pieces that they had. i heard it took a super long time to make, oh! the jade in the middle will also make the bracelet glow in the dark! pretty cool huh?” ajax smiled as he lifted your wrist to put it on you.

at a loss of words, you lifted your head up at the male and gave him a soft smile, “thank you ajax… i love it, it’s perfect in every way possible.”

“just like you.” the redhead spoke fondly with a grin on his face while softly stroking your hair.

“oh shut up you flirt.” you tried to hide your smile as you both giggled on the beach with the sunset dripping behind you two.

after a while of being engulfed in ajax’s arms you spoke, “ajax, i want to apologize for jumping to conclusions about you and lumine. i..you know about how i find it hard to trust people sometimes but it was unfair for me to do that to you, i know you would never cheat on me.” you spoke, hugging him tighter as if he would leave if you get go.

“y/n. don’t you dare think for a second that i’ll leave you for someone else ok? you’re the only one in this world that i want and it’s staying that way. i don’t care if you’re visionless, or if you don’t have any achievements whatsoever. i still love you so so much.” ajax exclaimed as he buried his head into the crook of your neck.

you felt a certain warmth as your face flushed. how did you end up with someone as perfect as ajax. you lifted his face with your hands and pressed your lips against his. he deepens the kiss and your heart melts.

“thank you ajax. i’ll always be by your side too, no matter what happens. my love for you has no ends.” you speak with pure affection as you nuzzled your face into ajax’s soft yet firm chest.

ajax feels his face heat up and he quickly speaks, “c’mon now, let’s go home, i can’t wait to taste your cooking after running around all day today.”

the two of you walked together on the beach, hand in hand, leaving footprints and doubts in the sand.

________________________________________________________________

special msg from my dear editor: hey lol - @kamihara , my works wouldn’t be nearly as good if it weren’t for them so go give them a follow please :)!

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jasontoddiefor · 3 years

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Title: would you be so kind Ship: obikin Second: Ten years ago, Obi-Wan Kenobi met Anakin Skywalker, a charming young mage from Naboo, but as fate willed, they could not be together. A decade and thousands dead later, Alderaan’s High Court Sorcerer meets a Forger and his excited apprentice. AN: I forgot to post this on tumblr apparently, but here’s the first chapter of my second long WIP I am working on!

Then

The ship was crammed, filled to the brim with people clinging to one another, staring either at the home they’d lost or the home they hoped to be sailing to. Hundreds of ships had left Dromund Kaas already, carrying refugees across the ocean to safer harbors. The tension was high and sharp enough to cut as they sailed away from the doomed country and only relaxed when the pressure of the country’s shields finally left their shoulders.

“An awful sight, isn’t it?”

Anakin startled, instinctually pulled his coat around himself. Were he in a better shape, he would have lashed out immediately, winds, bindings, blood—

But the power flowing through his veins was too constricted, caged like a wild beast. Instead, Anakin just turned to look at the person who’d addressed him. An old woman with snow-white markings and long lekku stared at the dying country just as he had moments before, grief and resignation painting a sorrowful picture. “I never thought I’d leave this place. Did you?”

Wordlessly, Anakin shook his head. No, he certainly hadn’t thought he’d ever leave this place again. He’d been ready to be buried under the ashes of marble altars, not see this new dawn.

“I was born here, married too. All my children were born within the boundaries of this country and perhaps that is the reason they all left,” the woman continued. “I am glad that they weren’t here. If I think about what could have happened to them were they anywhere near the capital… I apologize; I hope you don’t mind my rambling. You looked like you needed company. Are you traveling to Naboo?”

He opened his mouth to reply, to give an affirmation, but stopped. He hadn’t quite thought where he’d go, except as far away from this place as he could. Naboo was certainly an option; Padmé would be glad to see him, he was sure. She’d take him in without asking a single question and defend him against the storms that were sure to come.

But Padmé was his friend and Anakin couldn’t allow her to shoulder his burden.

“No,” Anakin heard himself saying. “I’m not traveling to Naboo.”

“They are quite defenseless right now, yes, you are right. The fact that it’s the first stop of this ship is tempting enough for most to disregard what troubles might find them there.” The woman nodded in understanding. “I’ll be going to Alderaan myself. My eldest lives there, and in a country as strong as that, a tragedy like this can’t strike.”

She turned to look at the remains of Dromund Kaas again. The coastline used to be covered by beautiful large trees; his Master used to tell him how vital they were for its defense.

Now there was nothing but ash and darkness. Even here on the outskirts, where it had taken the longest for the remains of the catastrophe to reach, nobody was safe from it. Dromund Kaas had been in a pitiful state after the last war, which had made it an easy place to hideaway in. Alderaan might be stronger, the blooming center of magical education, but Anakin doubted they’d be able to defend against an attack like this. Nothing could save them from an attack such as this.

But Alderaan’s distance to this cesspit of disease was enough to provide a different kind of security.

Thousands of refugees would search for safety there, and Queen Breha was as cunning as she was kind. No one would be turned away and Anakin could slip in just right with them.

“I’m going to Alderaan as well,” Anakin replied.

The woman looked him over, then she beamed as if she were a young child and not already among the older members of her species.

Her smile was the first Anakin had seen in weeks. “Looks like we’ll be traveling companions then! You must tell me your name, young friend. I’m Raya Tano.”

She held out her hand and Anakin awkwardly shook it with his own left.

“My name is—”

Now

“Anakin Skywalker! Your automaton is ruining my kitchen!”

Sighing, Anakin let the spell sink back into the metal and settle into it. So much for working on his commissions today. A quick glance around the workshop told him that it was not one of his automatons running wild. Artoo was currently charging up and Threepio was keeping himself busy cleaning up. All the other small automatons Anakin crafted when he was bored were either asleep and charging or hurrying around the workshop, washing up the floors and putting away the tools Anakin had been using.

Anakin tugged off his gloves and threw them to a tiny and eager little automaton before picking up his softer everyday gloves. The leather was still quite resistant and had more runes stitched into it than most people dared to weave into one cloth, but they were nowhere near as excellently crafted as his work gloves. The dragonhide gloves were worth a fortune and so they never left his workshop unless Anakin had to. Anakin watched the little automaton put the gloves in their usual compartment until he could hear the click reassuring that the lock was in place. At first, that had only been a measure against thieves as he hadn’t had much to his name, but by now, it was a habit.

And it discouraged Ahsoka from stealing them for her own projects.

Anakin walked out of his workshop and crossed the courtyard to the small cottage he called his home, finding a kitchen in disarray, Raya standing on a chair with a small red automaton attempting to clean the floors.

“Look what a mess it’s making!” Raya said accusingly. “Instead of polishing my floors, it’s dirtying them!”

“I can see that,” Anakin hummed. He waited until the small automaton had reached his feet, then he bent down and pressed his hand flat on its small back, stopping it. Ahsoka’s handiwork was getting better; this little guy had kept moving for a while despite her absence. Anakin had no idea what the formal apprenticeship for forgers entailed, when they ought to hit what milestone, but he was willing to bet that Ahsoka was years ahead of her peers. Her spells were strong, her rune work fantastic, and very few actual weaknesses were left to explore in her automatons.

But Anakin was still a Master and Ahsoka only an Apprentice. Her work was not yet good enough to keep out foreign interference. Without much thought, he deactivated the automaton completely.

“This was your granddaughter’s handiwork,” Anakin commented. “She’s improving in leaps and bounds.”

Raya huffed and stepped from her chair. “I’m glad to hear that, but weren’t you meant to teach her control?”

“I am,” Anakin said, the argument an old and fond one. They returned to it frequently, mostly to annoy the young Apprentice. “And were she still as much of a mess as three years ago, she hardly would be able to craft such a fine automaton. Can’t do anything about her manners.”

Especially since she’d become a teenager. Anakin didn’t remember being as much of a pain as Ahsoka could be.

“And here I was thinking Masters were supposed to teach their Apprentices a medium of decorum.”

Anakin snorted. “Yeah, well, that’s what she has you for, doesn’t she?”

Raya’s expression softened. “That she does.”

Anakin sometimes wondered how Raya managed to stay so kind and calm when the world had taken so much from her. Her husband, country, her children— and yet she still stood straight, caring for the fellow traveler she’d never allowed to leave and the granddaughter that had been dumped on her with just a warning for Ahsoka’s generally explosive tendencies.

“Where is Ahsoka anyway?” Anakin asked, looking around the kitchen as if she would jump out in the open any moment. “I sent her on an errand earlier this morning, but she hasn’t returned yet.”

Unfortunately, Raya couldn’t tell him either. “I have no idea where that girl is running around—”

“Anakin!”

Speak of the dark and it shall appear. The door was thrown open and Ahsoka rushed inside, tracking even more dirt all over the floor, causing Raya to throw up her arms in defeat in a way Anakin knew meant Ahsoka would be left with all her favorite chores for the next week.

“Welcome back, Ahsoka,” Anakin said. “You’re late.”

“Yes, yes,” Ahsoka replied and rolled her eyes, obviously disinterested in what he had to say. “I got all you asked for and ordered the new metals, but look at this!”

Ahsoka raised her hand, revealing a ripped-off poster. It was tasteful in design, fine cursive writing on light blues, gold ornaments in the corners and, of course, the royal crest right in the middle of it.

Her Majesty the Queen of the Kingdom of Alderaan, Breha Organa, invites all Alderaani Practitioners of the Mythic Arts to attend the festivities in the capital of Aldera—

“Absolutely not,” Anakin said before he could even read the rest of the text. “We’re not going to Aldera to some festival.”

“Why not?” Ahsoka shot back. “It’s no summit, but it would at least be something.”

Her bitterness did not go unnoticed. Ahsoka had begged for months to attend this year’s summit. Every five, all magic practitioners gathered on Tython to exchange notes on their craft and pretend they were not also discussing the politics of their respective countries, forging alliances and the like. Anakin hadn’t been to the last summit, it having been just after Dromund Kaas, and the one before were tainted by the memories that followed, no matter how sweet the time had been. Ahsoka, of course, had begged to attend this year’s one, but it would only be foolish and reckless. He couldn’t just walk into the biggest gathering of mages in the whole continent and expect to get out of it without anyone realizing who he was, asking questions, concluding what he’d done.

Anakin had too much to hide, too much to lose, and he wasn’t going to risk his little Apprentice for it.

Not that Ahsoka knew any of that and wasn’t in the least satisfied with Anakin’s reply and immediately made her displeasure known.

“What would you even want to see there?” Anakin asked, trying to downplay how entertaining such an event was. “It’ll just be all the posh court sorcerers showing off with their fancy focusing crystals. It’s utterly boring and uncreative.”

“Like you wouldn’t use a focusing crystal if you had one,” Ahsoka muttered, arms crossed. “It’s just— there’s nobody else around here who can do magic. And all you ever do is work on machines.”

“Which requires a lot of concentration as it’s not just the manipulation of one aspect, but—”

“—but many, yes, yes, I know the speech,” Ahsoka said and dutifully listed all elements that went into their craft. There was a reason why not many forgers existed. Most mages lacked the talent, patience, and education to learn this craft, or were just plain afraid that they’d permanently damage their ability to use magic at all.

And with the speed technology was evolving and magic weaponized to terrifying new heights, not too many people still had use for forgers. Where two-hundred-years ago, you wouldn’t have gone out to hunt a dragon with a simple sword, but only with one crafted by a Master forger, nowadays you didn’t necessarily need one. Battle magic was on the rise again, especially with more and more countries growing uneasy, peace treaties falling apart. Combined with the threats from the northern continents, it was no wonder people cared less and less about expensive forgers when they could mass-produce and enchant simpler items.

“I just hoped you’d allow at least this,” Ahsoka finished. Her shoulders dropped. “Should have known better. I’ll go finish my readings.”

Ahsoka turned around, her shoulders still hanging, her head low.

Damn it.

Anakin knew that she was doing it on purpose. His Apprentice was cunning and had learned how to play into his every weakness. Slowly she marched into the direction of the door, dragging her feet behind her for effect and dramatics.

Raya raised a brow at him. She usually stayed out of Ahsoka’s tutelage, knowing next to nothing about magic herself, but even with his past being little more than a mystery to her, she could read him better than anyone else.

“Urgh, fine,” Anakin heard himself say. “Fine, we can go to the festival.”

Ahsoka turned around quicker than light and jumped up. “Yes!”

“But that means you’re not going to bring up the summit again!”

“Yes! Of course!” A moment later, Anakin had an armful of an apprentice. “Thank you so much, Master, you’re the best!”

Once she let go of him, she went to hug Raya and hug even her dirty automaton to her chest, still radiating happiness. “I need to go pack my bags immediately!”

“The festival is not for another week—”

Ahsoka obviously didn’t care. So caught up in her joy, she rushed upstairs, heading to her room to start packing. It shouldn’t surprise Anakin that she was so motivated. Ahsoka was a person who thrived on interaction, being surrounded by other people. While the people of their village were friendly, none of them were mages or even just sensitive to magic. It was one of the reasons Anakin had decided to stay without too much fight. But growing up so far removed from other mages had made Ahsoka twice as curious to meet others.

The thought made his stomach churn. He’d have to give Ahsoka formal lessons about their trade now, just if somebody asked questions that were too pointed. She’d also need a bit of the know-how on how you usually interacted with other mages and which pretentious bastards to call sorcerers before they threw a hissy fit. All these capital folks were much too sensitive about terminology after all. Anakin had never bothered to tell her the differences before, but Ahsoka would kill him if she accidentally embarrassed herself because he hadn’t seen it fit to instruct her properly. Forget teaching Ahsoka how to improve her automaton, the next week would be full of etiquette lessons. Skies, there’d be people trying to steal their spellwork too. Had he even mentioned that kind of theft before? Anakin honestly couldn’t recall.

“Already regretting it?” Raya asked, her voice just a touch amused.

“Just a bit,” Anakin replied.

“It’ll be good for her,” Raya said, convinced and confident enough for the both of them. “And good for you as well. I’ve known you for years now and you’ve never even brought a friend over. I’m not going to be young forever, you know. I do expect to be introduced to your future spouse at some point.”

“And this is my cue to go packing as well,” Anakin announced and followed Ahsoka up the stairs with Raya’s laughter following him.

He had no intention of being with anyone, ever, unless he could find glamours that held up even when majorly distracted. On his way up the stairs, Anakin caught a look of himself in the window, saw black vines curling around his neck, inviting someone to take a closer look.

It was better this way.

#obikin #star wars #anakin skywalker #obi wan kenobi #ahsoka tano #fanfic

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wastelandlovingscenarios · 3 years

Note

crushing companions reacting to f!sole being caught under the mistletoe by someone who ISNT him?

omg, that’s so funny to think about. some are longer than others so i hope you don’t mind (also i got a little carried away). please enjoy! ❤️

i feel like i moved away from the topic but yknow.. ☠️

christmas/new years reacts are still open!

somehow, he was dragged into this and had no choice but to attend upon soles request, not being able to say no due to his obvious crush on her. now he was here, mindlessly listening to the chattering of the person who accompanied him during the party, being absolutely bored out of his mind despite the liveliness of the party. as the person continued on, words not being absorbed, his eyes scanned the area for sole, wanting to at least see her once during the whole event and hopefully strike a conversation before it ended.

he expected to see everything; her chatting with some people, maybe putting out some food, or playing with the kids, but what he didn’t expect was to find her under the mistletoe with someone else. someone that wasn’t him.

Danse:

his world stopped for a mere second, all his surroundings becoming blurred as he focused on the scene the raveled before him, unknowingly holding his breath while he did so. his mind slowly processed what was happening and once it completely settled in, a wave of genuine irritation and jealousy began to crash over him. danse being danse, he tries to keep his emotions under control as best as he can. on one hand, sole has the freedom to do anything and everything with anyone she pleases with... and on the other? he wants to pull her into his arms for him and him only.

as the person leans in for a kiss, he leaves no room for debate as he unconsciously rushes his way there, unable to cope with the idea of his precious crush sharing such contact with someone else. sole would yelp in shock as she was pulled away from the person without explanation. he ignored sole’s questions as he dragged her to a quiet corner, not thinking straight.

his eyes stayed on the individual, glaring at them silently with a displeased look as if sole wasn’t staring up at him with the most confused expression. the protective hold on her wrist never detached, the grip still as tight as when he first grabbed it.

she coughed to get his attention and his gaze immediately fell on her, forgetting that he had dragged her without a reason. he would be struck with horror, his heart stopping at the realization that he had done so without registering it. “so, uh. mind explaining what that was for?”

his face would go completely red, his mouth opening to respond, but much to his dismay, nothing came out. the words became tangled in his throat as he tried to come up with anything to cover him from the truth but eventually came to the conclusion that there was no way he could save himself at this point. swallowing nervously, he slowly slid the hand that grabbed her wrist to enevelope hers and with a flushed expression, he knew he had a lot of explaining to do. no better time to do it than christmas day, right?

Deacon:

if someone were to ask deacon why he was so afraid to fall in love again, this would be the exact reason why. he didn’t like the familiar feeling that began pooling in his stomach and the unwanted envy and insecurities that began to surface. instead of showing his discomfort, he smiled through it all and excused himself from the conversation, quickly sneaking up on them. he didn’t have a plan, but he knows damn well that he could at least make one.

before the person could lean in for a kiss, he’d pop out of no where, cutting the individual off even before they had the chance. with a “panicked” expression, he’d grab sole by the shoulder before she could let a word out, ignoring the confusion on her face. “charmer! i just came here to say...” he stopped for a moment, giving her the longest stare as the awkward silence began to build up, “..that you look great today, partner!”

she would send him a look of disbelief. “seriously, deeks? all that just to say i look good?”

“someone’s sounding a little ungrateful during the holiday season, tsk. a thank you would be nice.” he shook his head disapprovingly, both ignoring the individual that watched them dumbly, unsure of what to say. he then pointed to the door behind him while keeping a disappointed expression, “also, dogmeats totally destroying your vault suit.”

“he’s WHAT?!” sole nearly yelled, covering her moth instantly as she received stares left and right. with a paled expression, she’d laugh nervously and run towards the other way, excusing herself in a hurry. “sorry, gotta go!”

deacon would smile and pat himself on the back at the accomplishment of his mission. the person would be left dumbfounded at what just happened. “uhhh..”

with a smirk, he’d turn over to the individual and look up back at the mistletoe that hung above them. “so you gonna kiss me or what loverboy? these lips can’t wait forever.” and just like that, the person immediately shook their head and left the area with an embarrassed expression. he scoffed as he watched them drag away to another area of the party. that’ll teach them not to mess with him.

now he just needed to find another lie to tell sole when she realizes that dogmeat wasn’t at all destroying her vault suit but was instead sleeping by the fire.

Maccready:

maccready is many things; petulant, angry, and absolutely jealous to his core and does not bother to hide it. he disregards the person he’s talking to, immediately stomping off towards soles direction without a word spared to the individual that accompanied him. sole would hear the loud footsteps behind her and would turn around upon hearing the noise, seeing a red faced maccready making his way to them with the biggest scowl ever. the person would raise a brow, absolutely bewildered at macs behavior as they stepped forward in attempt to shield sole.

“hey man, you good-“

“take a hike, buddy.” mac shot back through gritted teeth, his tone full of venom. the persons confused and concerned expression would soon turn into a surprised one, full of disbelief at the words that left the mercenary’s mouth. before they could respond with just as much attitude, sole would stop the situation from escalating, a sweet tone in her voice.

“okay, okay. take it easy.” she cut in between the two heated individuals and slipped her hand in macs own, instantly earning a surprised and flustered from him. she looked at the person with a apologetic smile, “i’m sorry, please give us a moment.”

and just like that, she’d pull him to a more private area of the party, folding her arms with a demanding expression.

“what the hell was that?”

mac would try to pretend as if he was irritated, whining quietly but loud enough for her to hear. he’d throw his arms in the air dramatically in response, letting his emotions take over the best of him. “they were gonna kiss you!” then he began to panic more, realizing the position he dreadfully put himself in with little to no ways to take him out. “i mean- uh- they were gonna- i was-“

“so what if they were gonna kiss me?” she raised a brow, a small smirk forming on her face as she pieced together what was happening. “what then?”

“i- i-“ he began stammering, unable to find excuses this time around. he mentally beat himself up, instantly regretting the fact that he allowed his emotions to take control of the situation instead of his mind. ultimately, he gave up as soles eyes bored into him, his voice dying down into a quiet whisper. “i-i don’t know.”

sole would let out a laugh, entertained by his reaction, leaving mac a blushing and embarrassed mess as he looked towards the other direction, hands stuffed in his pockets. “don’t laugh at me.” he murmured, face growing more red.

she would immediately stop upon request but the smile on her face never left as she stepped forward, placing a hand on his bicep. “if you were trying to let me know you liked me, you got the message across.” mac grew rigid at the words that left her mouth but made no attempt to deny them, knowing the truth of it , “and just to give you a straight up answer..” she tiptoed and placed a quick kiss on his cheek, his eyes widening upon contact. he felt himself freeze at the softness of her lips.

“i like you too.” she whispered against his flushed skin and he nearly fainted from the intensity of the situation. what a way to celebrate christmas.

Hancock:

everyone knows hancock has it absolutely bad for sole, so for someone to approach her in such a brave manner secretly ticked him off. he saw the stupid ass smile that plastered that persons face and he wanted nothing more but to slap it off them. he’d look at the person accompanying him, holding a finger up to shush them for a moment with force, “hold that thought, sister/brother. got something i need to take care of.” and he’d immediately make his way to them, not wasting a precious second.

“sunshine!” he’d call out to sole with open arms and a smug smile, immediately attracting her attention away from the individual who wore an irritated expression upon seeing hancock. her face lit up with happiness, a grin stretching across her cheeks. “hey hancock!”

hancock would throw an arm over soles shoulders, gazing lovingly at them as she giggled. “looking beautiful as always, i see.” he chuckled at the redness forming on her cheeks. “so how’s my favorite girl doing?”

they’d continue on their conversation as if the other person wasn’t currently in their presence, wanting to continue where they left off. the endless compliments and inside jokes made them uncomfortable, unsure of what to do or say at the moment. “um hello?”

sole would smile sympathetically upon seeing the irritated expression on the persons face. “oh, sorry. got a little distracted.” hancock would cut in with a smirk, feeding off the persons reactions. “sorry brother/sister, we’re busy.” he pointed at the mistletoe above them, going straight to the point and sole let out a surprised, “huh?” with a flushed face. “now scram before i make you do it.”

the person cursed under their breath and stomped off elsewhere, leaving hancock satisfied and accomplished. sole would shyly look up at him. “so did you mean what you said or was that to help put me in a more comfortable position?”

he looked down at her, thinking for a moment but smiled warmly to ease her tension. “a mix of both, sunshine. if you’re still up for that kiss, i’d be more than happy to do so with your permission.”

she would become more flushed at his response but would grin happily. “you didn’t need a mistletoe to kiss me, hancock. i was more than willing to if you felt the same.”

“guess now we know, huh?” he’d whisper softly and tilt her chin up, slowly closing the distance between them both.

Nick Valentine:

nicks smile faltered in response, his eyes observing the scene before him for a little while. something in him throbbed with pain at the way the person smiled at her confidently as she stood still, not rejecting his offer and he took that as a sign that she allowed it. he excused himself from the conversation politely before it could happen and walked out of the room without a second thought to allow himself to have a breather. the muffled holiday music would fall on his ears as he took a seat on the patio, quietly attempting to push away the idea that sole was indeed having fun with someone else.

lighting up a cigerrate, he quietly watched the christmas lights that lit up the street with a sigh and took a drag, wanting to get the thought out of his mind as soon as possible. perhaps he’d head on back to diamond city as soon as he was done with his cigar, hopefully having the courage to thank sole for inviting him with a smile. nick wouldn’t realize how much time had passed or how long he’s been out in the cold until he heard a voice calling out his name faintly behind him.

“nick?” he’d look over his shoulder and immediately throw the cigar on the ground, stepping on it upon realizing who the voice belonged to. composing himself, he’d address her with a forced smile.

“hey there, doll.”

sole would smile back at him and stop in her tracks, looking at the empty spot near nick. “is this seat taken?”

“not at all. never taken for you.” sole giggled softly and sat near him, giving him some space. he quietly removed his jacket, placing it over her shoulders and she chortled, sending him a small thanks in return as she pulled the coat closer to her body. a silence surrounded the two for a moment before he broke it, not wanting to appear suspicious. “what brings you out here, doll?”

sole thought for a moment before responding, “i just came here to check on you.” she said with a worried smile, “i saw that you weren’t around and well.. they told me you just suddenly up and left the party, so i just had to check.”

he smiled, a warm feeling filling his body. even at times where she was occupied by other things, she still cared about his well being. “i’m doing just fine, no need to worry. besides, i know you’re busy with your date, so i wanted to give you some space.”

“my.. what?” she was pulled back at the words that left his mouth but then responded quickly upon realization, “oh! you mean the person you saw me with? no, no, nick that’s a misunderstanding!” she laughed. “they were just doing that whole mistletoe tradition thing, yknow. where they kiss and stuff... but i’m pretty sure you know about it.”

he gazed at her as she continued to speak, pausing in between as she processed her thoughts. she stared at the ground. “i didn’t kiss them though. i rejected them and told them i wasn’t interested.”

a sudden flood of relief washed over nick and he let out a breath he never knew he was holding, the dreading feeling in his chest immediately turning into nothing. “is that so?”

“yeah. i had other plans too, so it just wouldn’t work out either way.” she smiled with a blush, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear. he looked at her with a curious expression. “did you manage to get around to those ‘other plans’?”

she blushed and scooted closer to him, leaning in to place a kiss on his cheek softly, immediately sending him to shock. his eyes fell on her the moment he realized what was happening and felt something inside him whir loudly. once she pulled away, she grinned at him shyly with a completely flushed face. “i have now.” she beamed happily as he touched the spot where she kissed, a smile of his own growing. “merry christmas, nick.”

he pulled her in, wrapping both his arms around her and kissed her temple lovingly as he whispered.“merry christmas, sole.” sole let out a pleased sigh at the contact, melting into his embrace.

Sturges:

sturges would swallow with a small, forced smile, trying to hide his discomfort in front of the eyes of others. much to his luck, he was great at doing that. his eyes would remain on her, not being able to avert it elsewhere no matter how hard he tried. despite his strange change of behavior, he’d still try to contribute the the conversation he was held hostage in, but give shorter replies, uninterested. a series of ‘uh-huh’, ‘yeah’, and hums would leave his mouth instead of well thought replies as he continued to focus on the scene nearby.

once sole presented a sign of discomfort that he was well aware of, he’d immediately excuse himself as apologetic as possible, quickly pacing to her. as he made it closer to them, he’d speak with a friendly tone, not wanting to make the situation worse. “hey now, is everythin’ alright here?” his eyes would flicker from sole for a while and then to the person who stood in front of her, a scowl on their face as they looked straight at him. he didn’t mind; if it meant irritating the person away from sole as far as possible, then so be it. he had no plans to leave now and he definitely wasn’t going to do so, even at soles commands.

“yeah, it’s just fine.” they said with an annoyed tone and sturges would reply with just as much attitude. “i wasn’t askin’ you.” he would then turn back to sole who smiled at him with relief, and he knew he made the right decision. “i’m okay, sturges.”

“i hope this fella wasn’t botherin’ ya too much, sole.”he commented loud enough for them to hear and their face went red with anger as they shot him a glare. “whatever, man.” and would stalk off towards the other direction with mumbled insults.

he’d sigh disapprovingly as he watched the person walk off childishly and then look back at her with a smile. “you okay, sweetheart?”

“of course i am. i was about to tell him off anyway.” she smiled happily at him and he felt his heart melt at the sight. “i’m glad you stepped up and saved me the trouble though. i really appreciate it.”

“no need for a thank you. i just did what was right.”

sole laughed and tiptoed, resting a hand on his cheek and before sturges could react, she placed a lingering kiss on his cheek, closing her eyes in bliss as she did so. once she retreated, she caught the familiar crimson that dusted his cheeks and giggled at the surprised expression on his face.

“my way of saying thank you since you won’t accept it and, uh..” she pointed at the mistletoe above them and he smiled nervously, letting out a shaky laugh. “gotta follow the tradition, yknow?”

“well, ain’t that a lovely way to say thank you.”

she nodded, taking both his hand in hers and stepped closer so that he could hear her murmur. “hope you don’t mind me saying thank you like that from now on.”

he leaned his forehead on hers and chuckled. “not at all.”

Preston:

preston would immediately show reaction to it, his smile dropping completely and his eyes widening in what seemed like terror and devastation. the words around him would become nothing but static and the music would be blurred as he felt time slow down. he knew sole deserved the best, but deep down, he hoped he was the best for her and maybe this was just the answer he was waiting for all along. with a heavy heart, he’d look away from the scene before it could happen and grow uncharacteristically silent throughout the whole conversation. he didn’t even bother to spare a second glance and tilted his hat down, afraid of what he’ll see.

when sole approached him later that night during the party, he jolted and automatically felt his heart drop as he met eyes with the one person he had it bad for. he tried his best to pull a smile but failed miserably as it looked absolutely forced.

“hey preston, not enjoying the party or something?” she said quietly, taking a seat next to him on the couch. the concern on her face meant she was picking up the unusual signs he was exhibiting and he felt panicked, knowing there was no escape.

“just not feeling it, that’s all.” he responded, looking back down at his drink on in his hand.

“we both know that’s a lie, preston. i can see right through you.” well it was worth a shot. “mind telling me what’s on your mind?”

he thought for a moment, wondering if it was worth telling sole about his feelings at this point since he had already gotten his answer. maybe he could fake it with a smile and carry on with the conversation casually in hopes that she’ll eventually drop it or maybe he could excuse himself elsewhere for the rest of the night to think to himself. instead, he just let out a deep breath and put down his drink.

“mind if we talk outside then?” sole smiled and nodded, standing from the couch and offered him a hand to help him up. they exited the building and walked down the quiet streets of sanctuary, side by side. sole remained quiet, waiting for preston to break the silence instead of forcing it out of him.

“you know what i’m about to tell you, i hope it doesn’t change anything between us.” he filled the stillness of the air and felt a small hand gently grab his bicep to stop him from walking any further. he looked back and caught the reassuring smile on her face. “you know it won’t change anything.”

he looked down at his feet, a blush forming on his face. “i know.” he breathed, “ i know it wont. you’re not like that.” she let out a hum of agreement.

“i guess.. i guess i was just upset that i saw you with someone else under the mistletoe.” he murmured, voice dying down the more he spoke, “and that i lost my chance.”

sole looked at him, baffled for a moment. “lost your chance? what do you mean?” he picked up his head to gaze at her with a defeated smile, lightly scratching the nape of his neck. “to tell you i like you, i guess. seems like someone already beat me to it.”

“what?” she looked confused and stepped forward, trying to explain herself, “preston, you’ve got it all wrong. i didnt kiss them! i left to go find you after i checked up on a few people.”

he stood there, wide eyed while trying to process the words that left his mouth and he realized in horror that he based off things due to his assumptions. “i- uhm, excuse me? you didn’t uh-“

“no, i didn’t kiss them preston and well, you could say i know who i want.” she grinned happily at him with a blush on her cheeks, keeping her hand on his bicep. he felt his heart beat loudly against his chest and he was caught off guard upon registering what she meant. “oh. oh!” a smile slowly grew on his face as he beamed at sole, holding both her shoulders in excitement. all signs of devastation and sadness immediately washed away as if it wasn’t there in the first place. “that’s - that’s great! oh my god! i-i don’t know what to say!”

“you don’t need to say anything.” sole laughed and moved her hand to his cheek, brushing her thumb over his skin. “just kiss me. you know, a celebratory one.. since it’s christmas and as my way of saying i feel the same way.” he nodded, leaning in to connect their lips.

“of course.”

Gage:

as if this party wasn’t bad enough already; the person talking was annoying the shit out of him and now the only person he’s ever had a crush on was being hit on by some low life. his scowl that was already there would only deepen more upon seeing that unsettling scene but would watch from afar, hand ready on his gun just in case some funny business were to arise. as much as he wants to put a bullet right between their eyes, he resists, waiting for some kind of signal from sole to give him the go.

without looking at the person who accompanied him, he’d speak gruffly, his expression absolutely twisted in anger. “shut the fuck up, will ya?” and they did, slowly sliding away from him in fear. he kept his eye on her, patience running thin as they grew closer to sole by the second. the second their hand stroked her arm flirtatiously, he snapped and made his way to them without a second thought, hand already drawing his gun.

“youd look better with a smile.” they commented as sole rolled her eyes, obviously unintimidated by their behavior. the sound of a gun cocking behind the person would stop her from responding and she’d peek behind them, seeing a furious gage glaring at the back of their head. the room went quiet, watching the scene before them but not daring to butt in, knowing gage was a tough one to take down. after all, they knew the safest route to this was for sole to take care of the situation before it escalated.

“and you’d look better with red,” he threatened, pressing the gun harder against the back of their head. “lots of it.”

the individual would turn a deathly white as they shook in fear, paralyzed. through stuttered words, they’d try to explain themselves, “i-i-its a tradition, the mistletoe! it’s - it’s just something w-we do every ch- christma-“

gage would shoot the mistletoe above them and sole watched as it fell to the ground, broken into pieces as sole sighed at the sad sight. “stupid ass tradition if ya asked me.”

she’d sigh and fold her arms, tapping her foot almost impatiently. “gage, quit it.” she demanded with an irate expression, “leave it and let’s go.” when gage refused to withdraw the weapon, sole sent him a sharp look. “now.”

and just like that, the person would let out a breath as gage retreated, mumbling some colorful language under his breath as he made his way to sole. they both walked past the silence crowd and once they made their way far enough from the party, she stopped in her tracks and faced him with a smirk. “jealous much?”

“i ain’t jealous. that was just getting’ ridiculous and embarrassin’.” he commented, looking elsewhere with a scowl.

“sure you weren’t.” she teased, earning a glare from the raider, “can’t deny that you wanted to kiss me though and you definetly wouldn’t think that tradition was stupid if you were under the mistletoe with me instead.”

he rolled his eyes and walked past her, wanting to hide the growing blush on his cheeks. “shut the hell up and keep walking, boss. we ain’t ever gonna make it back to nuka world with all yer blabberin’.” he stayed silent, knowing well that whatever sole had just told him was utterly true to the core and there was no absolute way he could deny it.

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dxmmymxmmywrites · 4 years

Text

What You Do to Me

Kakashi Hatake x F!reader Smut

Warnings: oral sex, suggestive themes, lots of swearing, mention of violence/death

Cheers to the first story for the horny blog. Let’s see how this goes. Plot here follows an ANBU reader that is returning home. They are referenced as female, but could be any gender in a dress. Hope you enjoy 🖤

————————————

The leadership position was an honor— one you had fought tooth and nail for, even. You stood apart in how willing you were to climb to the top, to become the best of the best. However, it had its downsides.

You struggled making genuine friendships. You could be polite, sure, but so many people didn’t seem worth the effort anymore. It was easier to catapult all of your efforts into your training and work life.

It did make the good friends you had all the more special to you, though. You loved them dearly, and time and time again they proved their loyalty to you. Thankfully it didn’t waver whenever you were away for extended timeframes.

You had been sent away for an assassination. Somewhere nearly across the map, in a remote scavenger village where trouble had been brewing for the Hidden Leaf Village politically. It had done a number on you. You could recall the screams of the warlord’s wife when she found him in his bed with his throat cut.

As you settled into the routine of being home again, you found solace in Kurenai Yuhi. She was the friend that had been with you the longest, since the academy. You witnessed each other’s growth throughout your short lives and had been there to celebrate with and uplift the other whenever needed. That being said, she had also been quick to notice the subsequent depression that fell over you after your latest mission.

“When was the last time you went out?” She asked you flippantly.

You had come over to her home for tea the moment you had turned in the paperwork to the Hokage’s office. You shook your head.

“I’m here now, aren’t I?”

She flicked your shoulder. “That’s not what I meant. Honestly! For fun. Something that doesn’t keep you holed up in your apartment. You know, with people.”

You gave half a laugh. “You’re scheming.”

“And if I am?”

You sighed. “You’ll rope me into it somehow. Just nothing too wild, please.”

She says it’s for your own good, and she’s probably right. Kurenai arranges dinner at a local bar with your peers, and the other jonin accept their invitations quickly.

Maybe it wouldn’t be so bad. These are people you really loved and appreciated. It would be good to let loose for a bit. And then Kurenai comes to your door to get ready with you as promised, and she throws black fabric in your face immediately.

“WHAt the fuck—?” Scrambling, you take it off your head and your eyes bulge.

It’s a beautiful black dress. Nothing outrageously fancy, but simple and refined without looking like you were trying too hard. You snorted, and Kurenai called out to you from the bathroom.

“Kakashi’s coming, too!”

“Goddamnit... Kuri—“

“Just try it on! I promise it’s not itchy. And you look good in black.”

And as it turns out, you did. The dress hugged you in all the right places without suffocating you, and fell loosely just above your knees.

You and Kurenai looked at your body in the mirror almost surprised.

“Okay, I really like it a lot.” You admitted with a small smile, and she gave a playful smack to your ass.

“I told you!”

...

Everything falls into place accordingly, and as you both approach the bar, you can feel a familiar fire burning in your chest.

You were happy to have time with your friends, but you were itching to see one in particular. You hadn’t seen Kakashi since weeks before you left to execute the assassination.

God, how to describe how you felt for this man and where to begin? He was within your circle of true companions, many of whom you’d known since childhood. But Kakashi— he was different.

You’d admired him from afar as children, intrigued by his protege-level talent, until you had been roped into Gai’s shenanigans along the way. In truth, you think you shocked him by not being so intimidated by his prowess.

Ultimately, you could see he was lonely. You’d had your own losses yourself, but it was hard to imagine everything he had endured. You gained an honest respect for him, and you’d protected him beyond your time together in ANBU. But nothing could deny the pull you felt to him, or how much you wanted to be the person to put a smile on his face.

...Even if you couldn’t see it.

As you wait with your posse, your eyes find him first when he is (of course) the last to show up. You can’t help but observe him greedily when no one else notices, and you can’t help but stand a little taller when you notice his brows rise when he takes in your dress.

And from there, the night is history. You all pile into a cramped booth and order several rounds of drinks and food to last the night. Everyone has something to contribute, laughing, teasing, and bickering the night away. It warms your heart; finally,

you feel like you’re back home.

Your mentality becomes stronger too as you feel the warmth from the sake hit you. With precise aim you manage to toss a piece of sushi into Gai’s mouth from across the table and your audience applauds.

Yet despite your sport, you can’t ignore the looks Kakashi has been giving you even before you laughed in triumph. He’s been particularly quiet for some time, but you can’t tell if it’s the booze or the atmosphere getting to him.

When the waitress comes to gather your third round of empty drinks you can feel your mood shift. She’s a lovely girl,

thin and with pretty doe eyes. You can’t pick it up through the noise, but she makes a comment to Kakashi and you can make out a smug smile through his mask. He holds out cash between two pointed fingers to her, and she happily takes it and bats her eyelashes at him.

Something begins to boil in your blood. It wasn’t like you to get jealous— that couldn’t be it. But you swear you see his eyes dart to follow her hips as she leaves. And it irritates the living shit out of you.

You’d yearned after this man for what? Your entire adult life? How dare he. Disregard the fact you had never had the guts to confess to him.

Fuck him. Fuck him and his pretty eyes, and his stupid soft hair, and his feathery laugh—

God, you were in so deep. Your seething turns into pouting in your head. Sitting on the sidelines sucked.

And even still... something in your resolve is building. It could be impatience, or the fear you were nowhere near drunk enough to pull this off and forget about it if it went sour. But as the waitress eyes him from the bar, you excuse yourself to the restroom while the attention is on Asuma at the other side of the table.

With Kakashi on the outer seat, it’s easy to carefully but firmly hoist his vest into your hand so you can easily whisper in his ear.

“Outside in five, Hatake.”

...

He could easily find you when he got outside to see you weren’t directly by the entrance. You had snuck into the side alley to patiently wait, like a cat waiting for a mouse to show itself from the underbrush.

Your nerves are broiling over while you idle, and the heat in your gut is burning you alive. But just as you’re ready to talk yourself out of it, he sneaks around the corner.

“This is some rendezvous, don’t you—“

He can’t even finish before you’ve swiftly backed him against the wall. You hold his wrists firmly in place by his shoulders, though you’re aware he could quickly break your hold if he tried.

“What the hell’s wrong with you Kakashi?” You pitifully laugh. “Do you think I’m not paying attention to you?”

Your words are more vicious than the defeated sound of your voice.

He playfully arches an eyebrow. “So, you have been watching me?”

“Of course I’ve been watching you, jackass! How could you even— but I know we’re not— but still—!”

Your resolve is quickly dissipating while his expression becomes more amused. Damn him.

“I think that was a confession if I’ve ever heard one,” he calmly adds. You glare at him.

He thinks he’s won, and gets ready to leave, but you press your knee between his legs. He can’t move, and there’s not enough pressure beneath his crotch to hurt, but he then has your attention.

“Do you have any idea what you do to me, Hatake?” You dangerously whisper to him.

Now, you see him sweat. His eyes look away, and that won’t do. Not anymore.

“Every night I was away, all I could think about was you.” You breathe into his collarbone, kissing over his clothed neck until you reach his flushed ear.

“Y/N—“

“I’m tired of playing games. You know how much I want you. Only you.” You suck on the lobe of his ear and grin when you feel him inhale sharply.

Your hands fall down to his hips and grip them harshly to ground yourself. With closed eyes, you have to steady your breathing to calm yourself. “If you don’t want this, tell me. You don’t have to.”

He’s ripped out of his haze by the sincerity of your tone. In the dim light, you can see him pull his mask down with a finger to take you in fully. His smile is so breathtakingly, beautifully raw.

“I do want you, and all of this. Now kiss me already.“

And like that, your heads are tilted and your lips are locked. The fire in your belly explodes to the rest of your body and you feel it amplified every time you touch him.

He moans deeply when you begin to push against him, reveling in how this wasn’t a dream. One of his hands cradles the back of your head through your hair, and you grin when the other trails down to grope your ass.

You gently rub your knee into his crotch, and he keens while you run your hands up his toned stomach and over his tight chest. When you’re to his face, you lower your knee to push your hips together and pull his hair as you slip your tongue into his mouth.

He submits to you willingly, openly, and freely. And it drives you wild.

Your kisses become more desperate as your tongues interlock, and he feels up from your thigh to your ass when you wrap a leg around him for balance.

His grip tightens around the back of your legs. “Jump,” he says, breathlessly.

You smile. “No.”

The wild look in your eyes sends a shiver down his spine.

He goes to ask you why, but then you’re on your knees in front of him and he swears he double-takes. You pause when your hand is at his zipper and he swears he’ll scream.

“You can stop me at anytime.”

“I don’t want to! Please,” he rasps, fingers trying to find purchase at the top of your head.

His begging sends the heat within you straight to your core. So you indulge, and pull down his pants and underwear enough to let his cock bob out into the night air.

He hisses at the cold initially, but almost chokes when he feels the flat of your tongue press against his cockhead. Your eyes are dark with a sinister lust when you stare up at him, and it takes his breath away.

“Fuck, Y/N, please,” he whines, his voice catching.

You flick your pointer finger up and trail it from between his balls up his entire length, not removing it from his now fully erect shaft.

“Please what? Use your words baby.”

He bucks his hips forward trying to get close to your mouth again.

“Please Y/N, blow me,” he pants. “Fuck me with that pretty mouth of yours.”

Did you wickedly grin once more? Probably. But you close your eyes and take his entire cock down your throat at once and he nearly seizes.

You start at an agonizing pace, making him wanton and needy for you. But just as he’s tiring, you speedily lick your tongue around his shaft and deeply suck him, making him yelp in the process.

“AH!— Holy shit!” He gasps and tightens his grip on your hair.

You hum around his cock, happy with his response, and he gives you a low, drawn out groan to follow. It’s enough to distract him while your hands hook around the back of his thighs to hold him in place.

You run your nails down his thighs just as you begin to swirl your tongue over his sensitive head, and then you take him as far back into your throat as you can once more.

Kakashi’s eyes are rolling into the back of his head, completely at your mercy and enjoying every minute of it. His silver hair frames his pearlescent skin so well in the darkness, which must contrast well with the weeping cock in your mouth.

You come up for air, and give him fast, sticky pumps as you look up at him cheekily.

“How are you feeling handsome?”

“S-So good, holy fuck.” He tries to catch his air as well, but he shakes his head. “Please, let me fuck your mouth. You feel so fucking good, please let me.”

Who were you to refuse?

#Kakashi #Kakashi Hatake #naruto #lemon #Kakashi x reader #Kakashi lemon #x reader #kakashi hatake x reader #kakashi hatake x reader smut #kakashi hatake x reader lemon #kakashi smut #dom reader #dom female reader #smut #sub kakashi #kakashi x reader smut #kakashi x reader lemon

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hunters-of-the-wastes · 3 years

Text

RATS OF NEW AMERICA: THE CORPSE RAT AND THE JACKRAT

Scientific Name Rattus mortife and Rattus Felix Origin/Ancestry Black Rat (Rattus Rattus) Fancy rat (Rattus norvegicus domestica)

It seems that everywhere you find a group of humans, you'll find a clan of rats hiding in the shadows. This history seems born out of opportunity for the rat, but human's have done their part to help them get around the world rather easily. This commensalism - a relationship where one species benefits, but the other receives little or no harm - is probably the result of the sloppy nature of humans. The flagship rat species, Rattus Rattus, once originated in India, and while some of its cousins hung around on forest edges and fields, many found a living chasing down humans and loitering around their encampments for scraps. In more modern times, Rats are everywhere – at least everywhere that humans are. In almost every big city in the world, rats are eating human rubbish, breeding in human buildings, and running through city streets.

Even after 200+ years of nuclear fallout later, the relationship between man and rodent, be it good or not, has changed little. Even if the rodent's in question have. . . Scourge of the world, the pestilence bringer, the ever-present yet hardly welcome. Many titles are given to the Corpse Rat, a large deadly rodent-like creature found within the deep darkness of caves, sewers and chasms surrounding New America. Oversized version's of pre-War Black Rat (Rattus Rattus) , large eyes allow them to see in near pitch black, low light conditions, and their large ears are perfectly tuned for listening to the sounds of prey who stumbled too far into the darkness.

Opportunistic omnivores that feed on all matter of filth as well as the sick weak dying or already dead, their disgusting diet causes their saliva to usually be laced with a cocktail of often quite dangerous pathogens, most of which are unknown to even science. Even if prey was too survive the initial attack, they are doomed for a slow, painful agonizing demise by horrible disease. Despite however their nonexistent dental hygiene and highly aggressive nature, Corpse rats are fairly low down in the subterranean food chain kept in check by Corpsecleaner centipedes.

However they have been known to travel above ground at night to attack wayward children, unsuspecting wildlife and loose pets. As a result they are often killed on sight and are often one of the common animals in New America to have bounties put of their heads.

In addition to the Corpse Rat, another large rat species makes its home in the New America landscape. However unlike its more aggressive cousin, this one makes it’s home in the comfort of a couch curled up in a lap, then a dank dirty sewer.

The North American Jackrat, so named for their behavior of slapping their foot on the ground like a Jackrabbit when they are content, are the result of the North American rat population being tainted by the radioactive fallout from the onslaught of atomic warfare. However unlike Corpse-rat, Jackrats, once derived from Fancy pet rats (Rattus norvegicus domestica) , do not exhibit the same aggression that plagues their relatives, and instead have been domesticated as companions, adored and loved for their independent and loyal behavior, and high intelligence.

Not much separates the Jackrat from the Corpse-rat in terms of appearance. Much like the Corpse-rat, prolonged exposure to radiation has caused Jackrat to also double in size and age, with them growing to be the size of a medium sized dog, and where as their ancestor use to live only 2-3 years in captivity, Jackrats live almost triple that, ranging ages from 8-10 years, with the longest said to be almost 15.

One of the main differences in appearance between the two rodents is body-type. Jackrats are naturally a bit more smaller and more “plump” then Corpse-rat, with Jackrat having a rounder face, slightly rounder ears and a more healthy look to them, lacking a natural loss of fur and diseased look which is prevalent in Corpse-rat.

They also behave differently, as Jackrats are highly social animals, while Corpse-rat tend to be on the more solitary side outside of breeding pairs. Because of this, Jackrats can be housed together regardless of sex, as males are not all that aggressive towards one another. The same can not be said for the territorial Corpse-rat, who usually act intensely aggressive to any sex regardless. Being derived from fancy rats also gives Jackrats the ability to come in many forms of pattern and color, similar to those found in pre-war domesticated rats, that are not found outside in wild rat populations out-side of uncommon colors or morphs. Jackrats can also be taught to co-exist with other household pets, where as Corpse-rat are aggressive to anything and are more likely to kill then bond with their house-mates.

In comparison of the two animals, as in other pet species, a variety of colors, coat types, and other features that do not appear in the wild have either been developed, or have appeared spontaneously in Jackrat. Any individual rat may be defined one or more ways by its color, coat, marking, and non-standard body type.

In addition, many other variables separate Jackrat from Corpse-Rat

Corpse-Rat have a longer tail about the length of their body, While Jackrat's tail is half the length of their body.

Corpse-Rat are more slimly built then Jackrat, who have a more sturdy body-type

Jackrat have a more slanted, rounder face. Corpse-Rat have a pointed snout

Jackrat have larger ear's then Corpse-Rat.

Jackrat tend to be a rather large murid and can weigh twice as much as a Corpse-Rat

Both types can breed throughout the year if conditions are suitable, with a female producing up to five litters a year. Similar to common pre-war rat's, Females are capable of becoming pregnant immediately after giving birth, and can nurse one litter while pregnant with another. Compared to wild Corpse-Rat, Jackrat are shown to mate earlier, more readily, and for a longer period of time over their lifespan.

Corpse-Rat and Jackrat are opportunistic omnivores, similar to their ancestors. However Corpse-Rat are know to feed on all matter of filth as well as the sick weak dying or already dead, making them more carnivore then omnivore. Jackrat are considered true omnivores, eating a wide range of foods, including seeds, fruit, stems, leaves, fungi, and a variety of invertebrates and vertebrates. They are generalists, and thus not very specific in their food preferences, which is indicated by their tendency to feed on any meal provided for cows, swine, chickens, cats, and dogs.

Both species, have acute hearing, are sensitive to ultrasound, and possess a very highly developed olfactory sense. Their average heart rate is 300 to 400 beats per minute, with a respiratory rate of around 100 per minute.

#What is sought is most often found if it is truly sought: World Information #Fallout #Fallout 4 #Fallout AU #Fallout World Building #Fallout 4 fauna #fallout fauna

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havenoffandoms · 3 years

Note

Hello and congrats on 800 followers!!! Could I ask for an Eskel x female cat Witcher!reader with prompts 3 or 5? Thanks 😊

Hi anon! Thanks so much and thanks for this really fun combination of prompt. Here’s my little silly take on cat!witcher!reader x Eskel. Hope you like it.

Send your prompt requests here.

Cat!Witcher!reader x Eskel: “it’s really not that complicated” (prompt 3) and “we could get arrested for this” (prompt 5)

“Would you hurry up, wolf?” you urge your travel companion as he struggles to pick a simple lock, “it’s really not that complicated, for the love of the gods.”

“You try and pick a lock in a tight space with little to no natural light,” you hear the witcher known as Eskel snide back. A guttural groan pushes past his lips as he tugs on the lock in his frustration. “Fucking thing!”

“Oh, get out of my damn way,” you snap at him as you squeeze yourself into said tight space, elbowing Eskel in the ribs as you wriggle up to where the lock is resisting the wolf witcher, “here, watch an expert at work.”

“Why am I not surprised that you Cat witchers know how to pick locks?” Eskel punctuates his words with a pointed eyeroll.

“At least Guxart taught us some street smarts. What do you bring to the table, your theoretical knowledge of monsters? Your working knowledge of poetry? How’s that gonna help, you gonna bore the guards to death by reciting a couple of verses?”

“Fuck you.”

“Make me,” you hiss in response, but your mood quickly brightens when you hear the familiar ‘click’ sound as the lock yields under your nimble fingers. You pull on it harshly and manage to open the trap door, your only escape out of these dungeons. “Hah! Where does that take us?”

“Sewers, judging by the stench,” Eskel remarks, his nose scrunching up in distaste. You can’t help but agree with your companion on this one. “Beggars can’t be choosers, I guess.”

“Let’s go, then.”

With the agility worthy of your namesake, you jump down yet another hole tight and land on your feet and hands. You keep this position long enough to assess your surroundings, your yellow-green eyes picking up every movement without needing to use a Cat potion. Unlike Eskel, who is probably downing one as you wait for him to follow you into the sewers. Once you are satisfied that there is no immediate danger, you rise to your full height and silently slip along the humid walls. You hear rats squeaking in the distance and scattering as the sound of Eskel landing next to you spook them.

“Any idea which direction we should be taking, street-smarts?”

“Well, the exit was north-west of our cell, so I’m gonna take a wild guess and say we should be heading that way,” you point in the direction you were referring to, “you got your swords?”

“Duh,” is all Eskel offered in response, “do you think so little of me?”

“Do you want an honest answer to that question? C’mon, we’ve wasted enough time waiting for you to drink that stupid Cat potion.”

You ignore Eskel’s grumbled response and take off without another word. You and Eskel have known each other for years. You first met on the path after he saved you from a particularly aggressive female wyvern. The beast was in heat and very territorial, and she did not appreciate anyone interrupting her mating rituals. There had been no contract on her head, you just happened to have the worst of luck. After Eskel saved you, he could hardly believe that he was not only standing face to face with a witcher from the School of the Cat, notoriously responsible for the creation of a famously vicious breed of emotionally-volatile assassins, but face to face with a female witcher no less. Your school often trained women, but very few of those were put through the trials and even fewer survived. You managed to beat the odds. You’re exceptionally good at what you do, which is why you and Eskel got along so well.

After months of travelling together, and after a boozy night following a successful contract, you and Eskel became lovers. At first, it was purely physical, but as the months bled into years you realised that it was nice to have someone to go back to after an exceedingy shitty year on the Path. You started to miss Eskel after prolonged periods of not seeing each other and that’s when you admitted to yourself that it had stopped being purely physical a long time ago. You couldn’t let Eskel know, though. It would only get to his head. That’s why you settled for the tough love approach instead. It worked fine. Eskel had yet to run away.

Your train of thought is interrupted when you hear the familiar hiss of drowners in the darkness. You and Eskel simultaneously unsheathe your swords and brace yourself for an attack. One drowner sneaks up on Eskel from behind, but you notice it first out of the corner of your eyes and blast Igni in its face. In the meantime, Eskel hacks off the arm of another beast before running his silver sword through its abdomen, killing it with one powerful thrust. In the distance, you hear the echoes of more drowners heading your way.

“Shit. We need to fucking hurry.”

You run blindly through the labyrinth of underground tunnels. The truth is that neither of you knows where the exit is, or if there even is an exit. There has to be, you reason, the sewers always lead somewhere. Traditionally to a river, at least. There had to be an exit, or else the underground tunnels would be flooded and you would be swimming in shitwater by now. The fact that you aren’t is a fucking sign right? Right?

“There? You feel that?” Eskel suddenly speaks and instantly every hair on your body bristles in anticipation.

“Feel what?”

“A draught.” Yes. You do feel it now that Eskel mentioned it. “Follow me. Turn to the left.”

You follow Eskel through the sewers, and to the relief of you both, you’re running away from the nest of drowners rather than towards it. Under any other circumstance neither of you would’ve shied from a group of drowners, but you were trying to escape and not draw more attention to yourself. Some other witcher, one that was preferably not wanted in Temeria, could take care of that one.

“We’re getting closer,” you say when your nose picks up the smell of fish and seawater, “we’ve almost made it.”

You and Eskel reach an opening several frantic minutes later, at once out of breath but also relieved that you managed to find your way out of those dungeons. It’s dark outside, which will help you and Eskel escape without raising too much attention, or so you hope. You both manage to exit the sewers soundlessly. Even Eskel with his impressive size manages to stealth his way past guards and civilians alike. Not as flawlessly as yourself, mind you, but you weren’t one to brag.

Well, maybe a little bit, but there would be time for boasting later.

“Hey look, there’s some horses there,” you tell him, your voice too quiet for any mortal ear to pick up but you knew Eskel could hear you loud and clear.

“No. I need to get back to Scorpion.”

“Oh good gods - really? Eskel, we don’t have time for this. Scorpion is stabled near the city gates… at the other side of fucking town.”

“I’m not leaving Scorpion.”

With that, Eskel takes off in the opposite direction, leaving you to ponder whether you should follow him or go your own way and hope that your paths will cross again eventually. Fuck it, who are you kidding, you wouldn’t let that idiot risk his life for a stupid horse on his own. Well, if he gets caught you might just let him ride it out for a while… you know, just to teach him a lesson.

You follow Eskel’s trail, making sure to remain unseen. Your hand reaches up and touches your witcher medallion, shaped in the form of a cat’s head, something you’ve done since the trials to ground you, to calm your nerves. After what felt like the longest fucking chase ever, you see Eskel pressed against the wall of the stables that you recognise as the place you two had left your horses in two days ago when you first arrived. Eskel peeks around the corner, checking for guards, and when he’s satisfied that he hasn’t been spotted he climbs up the side of the building at a surprising speed. You curse under your breath, but follow him up onto the roof of the building.

“You know we could get arrested for this?” you tell him once you reach the top. Eskel raises an eyebrow, a mocking grin tugging at the scarless corner of his lips. Anticipating his smartass remark, you hiss: “I’ve just sneaked out of a dungeon, I don’t fancy another trip through those sewers.”

“Don’t worry, this won’t take you long.”

“Me? Whatever do you mean, me?” Your eyes land on the chimney and its opening, too narrow for Eskel to fit through, but not too narrow to fit… you. Oh, the bastard was going to pay for this. When you turn to glare at your companion, all you can see is the protruding lower lip and the pleading eyes.

“No…”

“Please? Scorpion means the world to me.”

“What about me?” you snap, forcing yourself to look away or risk falling for Eskel’s pretty face all over again, “don’t I mean the world to you?”

“Of course,” he says, his tone growing softer, “and I’m sure if the situations were reversed, Scorpion would do the same for you.”

“Urgh, fine!” you eventually relent despite the absurdity of Eskel’s last comment, “but you owe me for this.”

To this day you don’t know how you and Eskel didn’t get caught sneaking a massive war stallion out of the stables, nor how you two managed to escape the guards at the city gates. It certainly made for an interesting story that winter when you and Eskel travelled back to Kaer Morhen.

Lambert relentlessly teases you for ‘growing too soft’ and ‘being wrapped around Eskel’s little finger’, but when you see the open adoration written plainly on Eskel’s face as soon as he and you retreat back to his room, well, you simply don’t find it in yourself to truly mind all that much.

#eskel x reader #eskel x you #eskel x y/n #cat witcher reader #havenwrites #prompt list #send requests #requests open #eskel #the witcher #reader insert

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galacticlamps · 3 years

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hey no pressure to answer this but I'm really curious about some of the stuff you've said recently about Four's era kind of. avoiding looking backwards/being emotional and I was wondering if you had any more thoughts about that? I feel like it hits the reason I struggle to connect with Four but I can't put it into words myself o:

aw man, I actually have a lot of thoughts on this, but I've never bothered writing them down before, because I didn't see why anyone else would care to read them. I'm gonna enjoy answering this either way, but can I also say no pressure to read it all? Because I'm really sorry if this is like, way more than you bargained for but I want to make sure I elaborate on everything I say enough that people can understand why I feel this way, and that I'm not just coming from a place of negativity - so I know it's gonna wind up being long.

the short answer is I totally agree he's hard to connect to, and I think it's down to a combination of the way he fits into the show/his status as the longest lasting and most iconic version, and the show's to-do list while he was in the role.

Also, I won't tag it, even though I'm really not trying to say I don't like him (because I do, just not as much as all the other Doctors).

Long explanation starts here, enter at your own risk:

I'll just go ahead and say my most controversial Four opinion right at the beginning, shall I? It's not terribly important, but I wind up thinking of it often these days, for obvious reasons: I feel very reminded of Four's era when I hear arguments against current (Chibnall) Who. For the sake of clarity - I mean the real arguments, not the stupid 'not my doctor' misogynistic bs, but the people who point out that we don't know the main characters as well as we should given how long we've had them. Somehow, the focus has shifted (to what exactly, I'm not sure - I think hindsight will help with that, and seeing how he wants his era to end will of course give us a perspective we always already have on every show runner who isn’t the current one).

And that's the gist of why I find it hard to get invested in Four - somehow, despite being on television for the longest, I feel like I have seen the least moments showcasing Four's distinct character out of any other Doctor, before or after him. And, thinking it over, I think there are two main places where that feeling comes from:

1) Four as the "Default Doctor"

Before I watched the classic series, I was always slightly confused about what made Four the most iconic version of the character. I'm sure at some point I looked it up and saw that he'd been on the show the longest, and I knew he traveled with some companions that were so popular even I'd heard about them before I ever watched anything pre-2005. But I also think it goes past how long he was on the show, or how popular the show was in the 70s vs in the 60s or the 80s, for example. I think a lot of it really does have to do with the fact that Four's character could very much be described as the 'default' version of the Doctor as a whole. I'm not trying to say he doesn't have his own character traits, but his main traits are very Doctor-y things that really have to be part of every version of the character, just in different doses. He's strange and otherwordly, always intelligent but sometimes arrogant and insufferable about it, sometimes silly and comical about it. He's curious, and cares enough to get involved with helping people in the various places where the Tardis lands, but also aloof enough to maintain an air of mystery so that most people he meets don't know he and his friends are time travelers, and they don't form attachments to the places they pass through easily. He has a strong sense of right and wrong, and a desire to see things set right. The problem is, I don't know a single Doctor those things couldn't be said for, and then I run out of things to say about Four that seem like major parts of his character.

I realize that might sound a little biased, but even outside of how I personally compare Doctors, Four seems to get this treatment. Think of the short little epitaphs we often see defining and describing each Doctor, especially the classic ones. They aren't always the same, but you can usually guess what a person will say about 1 though 8 if they're only given a few words to identify them, either in a line on the show or a 'canon' short story or a social media post or whatever - One is known as the "grumpy grandfather" or something similar, Two is the "cosmic hobo," Three becomes the "Bond Doctor," Five usually gets something in the vein of "polite dad doctor," Six is the rude one, Seven is the chessmaster, Eight is the Romantic. But Four? How often is Four's description about his character, and how often is it about his appearance? Teeth and curls? The Scarf? The Jelly Babies or the Robot Dog? I don't think I'm imagining it when I say that more than any other Doctor, Four gets identified with superficial traits as his defining feature, rather than things that tell you at least a little about that Doctor's particular character traits, whether or not they're an accurate description for each incarnation.

Of course, there's a positive side to this too, and more than anything else, that has convinced me I'm not imagining it. I know one of the show's original creators (at the moment, I can't recall if it was Verity Lambert or Sydney Newman) is said to have admitted that Tom Baker's portrayal of the character was closest to what they originally had in mind when creating the series. And even if that turns out to be one of those flattering remarks used to market a new Doctor (I have no recollection of when the quote was from, during or after Four's run), it makes a lot of sense - Pertwee was the Doctor when the show went in an entirely unique and self-contained direction, Troughton's job was to continue the story but take the character into new territory, rather than trying to play Hartnell’s Doctor. On the other hand, Tom Baker really did come into the role at a point where it was possible, and even preferable story-wise, for the Doctor to fit into the original idea for the character, and just because I personally would prefer someone who is only one of many versions of a character (which was also not the case when Four was written, he was one of just 4) to stand out from the others more starkly, that doesn't mean that it was a bad choice to make him more generic.

This actually links up kind of nicely with my second big bullet point:

2) During Four's run, the writers were focused on lots of things that weren't character development.

Four's era had a lot going on, and his writers were on the whole pretty game to take the show in new directions and pour their attention into committing to that, which I will never really condemn for Doctor Who. I believe quite firmly that the show's ability to change so much is one of its strongest points, and even though I develop obvious personal favorites, I'm always pro-changing it up every so often, and I don't even want my favorite eras to go on forever. I've also been surprised by what I did like on this show many times, so I rarely know what direction I want it to go in, but even when I'm not as in love with one period as I could be, I'm never really put off by it because I know at any moment it could turn into something I happen to really vibe with.

So I'm not trying to criticize the fact that the show did go in so many different directions while Four was the Doctor, but I think it's important to remember just how much was going on at the time. For one, they pulled the show all the way out of the earthbound/UNIT focus that had been a staple for years at that point, and eventually changed it back to baseless wanderings through space. They also experimented with more interlinked stories than the show had ever done before at that point - first with the way every story in Four's first season led directly into the others, and then later with the introduction of Series-long arcs (Key to Time) and smaller multi-story arcs (E-Space Trilogy). While all this was happening, they also spent a good chunk of Four's era delving into themes & tropes - like the run of Gothic Horror stories, some of which involved directly adapting parts of existing classics like Frankenstein and the Phantom of the Opera, and figuring out how best to incorporate everything that goes along with that. Later on, they had Douglas Adams at the helm, and even though the show had always been funny, Comedy became a more focused element of the show than it ever had been before. And throughout all this, there were always periodic stories taking us back to Gallifrey (or Skaro) and really really expanding on the lore/backstory/world building/whatever you want to call it.

One of the reasons I like how often Doctor Who changes is because I know it can't be all things to all people at all times. It's real job is to tell episodic, self-contained science fiction stories, and once you have a stand-alone plot and characters for the current adventure, there's only so much room in a serial for whatever else you want to put in - and when Four was the Doctor, there were a lot of other things they wanted to incorporate, so I don't think it's unfair to say that character insights often took a backseat to those other priorities.

The thing that illustrates this the most clearly for me is Four's Companions' entrances and exits - because those moments are some of the simplest & easiest ways to get all the characters to show some emotion and open up about how they really feel about one another (and themselves!), even if they don't usually do so. And Four has so many companions, it should be easy to get some insights into his character through those relationships, right? But then you think about it.

To address the entrances first: Four inherits Sarah Jane from Three (and on top of that, she already knows about regeneration, so it isn't quite the Big Deal with a sideplot about trusting the 'new' Doctor that it was with Ben and Polly or even Rose, for example). Harry Sullivan gets invited along as a prank that gets out of hand. Leela invites herself aboard, Romana gets assigned to Four, and Adric sneaks into the Tardis as a stowaway. He meets Nyssa and Tegan as Four but doesn't really travel with them until he becomes Five, but even then, Nyssa’s planet gets destroyed so she has nowhere else to go, and he supposedly intends to return Tegan home from the start.

And the end result of all of this is, we never once get to see Four meet somebody and decide he likes them enough to ask them to travel with him. Companion introductions are usually moments where we can get a glimpse of the Doctor's real feelings - we see who they admire, and how much or how little they struggle to admit that to the person. We hear what they think is worth it and exciting about the life they already lead in the Tardis, and how they'd convince someone else to join them. But with Four, we miss out on every opportunity for even a small moment like that. Yeah, Eleven's long-awaited scene with Amy or his multiple offers to different Claras were probably too much to hope for at this point, but even the smaller emotional beats of One inviting Vicki along or Two warning Zoe about the dangers would've been stand-out moments for someone like Four, who so rarely shows us how he feels.

Then when you look at the exits, it's almost worse (in terms of missed opportunities for character development, I mean) - because every single one of Four's companions leaves voluntarily, and usually, without any great threat/pressing reason/difficult choice for them to go. Including K-9. Twice. Now, I’m not trying to say all companions need to be tragically and permanently ripped away from life on the Tardis like the modern show frequently does, but Four’s era really seems to have gone out of its way to steer clear of anything that could’ve been emotional or revealing. UNIT, the Brig, Benton, and Harry all disappear without acknowledgment, and Romana I literally dies and regenerates offscreen, with no explanation and hardly any comment on it ever given onscreen. There’s so little resistance on all sides when companions exit the show, mainly because there’s so little time spent on their decisions and the aftermath, so naturally it winds up carrying a bit of an implication that leaving the Doctor isn’t really something most companions are all that unwilling to do, and that can cast a shadow of doubt over the rest of their relationship as well, especially when it was never something the show focused on too much in the first place.

I feel like it's important that I point out - I'm not trying to say there wasn't any emotion when Sarah Jane or Romana left, and I'm not trying to argue that those relationships weren't as important to the Doctor as other Doctor’s companions, because I think we all know they were, or at least, were supposed to be - but I do think the writers in Four's time were significantly less interested in spending airtime proving that than those of some other eras were.

Four is a rather private and unemotional Doctor, and I get that, but there’s a difference between a character being unwilling to open up to other characters, and writers choosing not to foreground that character’s inner thoughts and values in what they present to the audience. Plenty of other Doctors keep things to themselves or put on a brave faces for their companions, but a lot of the time, their writers will use that to highlight the contrast of even a few short moments where the audience, if no one else, gets to see through that - but with Four that doesn’t seem to have been something anyone was interested in doing.

That’s why the companions entrances & exits stick out to me as so significant - even if you don’t want the plot of the show to revolve around them or the Doctor’s relationships with them, those are natural points that present themselves as easy opportunities to spend a little time showing us what’s going on in the Doctor’s head and in his heart - and you’d think, if you had a character who didn't like showing their emotions and admitting to missing people, and you wanted to give the audience a glimpse of how much they really do care for their companions - because that level of character depth was important to you - you might put them in a more difficult/tragic position once or twice, just so you could be excused if they did let the facade slip. So when all of Four’s companions decide they want to leave him, we loose yet another easy opportunity to gain some insight into how Four feels about people, on top of the ones we’ve already missed at their entrances.

That's why I put this all under "the writers had other priorities" - I think it's less of a question of Four's character vs any other Doctor, and more just a side effect of what we see on screen. One isn't known for being the most open Doctor ever, but we still get to see how sad he is that Ian and Barbara left when he talks with Vicki after they're gone. Most people wouldn't say Victoria is the most important companion to ever be on the show, but after the plot of Fury from the Deep is wrapped up, we have several scenes devoted to her departure, and the only reason to include them is because of their emotional weight. In other words, we never would’ve gotten those scenes if Fury was a Fourth Doctor story, presumably because it wouldn’t have been deemed important enough.

Four's episodes definitely acknowledge (and even at times, directly state) how much he cares for his companions, but for a run so long there are shockingly few moments when the audience gets to see him reflecting on that, and it can't just be that there was never any time - it also had to be that it wasn't on these writers' radar as much as it must have been for, say, whoever decided we needed those shots of Three driving alone in the sunset after Jo leaves, just to underscore his loneliness.

I don't think showcasing the main characters' relationships or inner thoughts, feelings, and emotions was ever a main priority of the people creating Four's era, but hey, those are the kind of trade-offs writers need to make when they want to do something different with a long-running show - plus, loads of people love Four's era and his character, so it can't have totally backfired. Maybe a lot of fans of him and his companions are specifically the kind of people who like to see characters they're told matter to each other in the actual source material, and enjoy having the freedom to fill in the gaps about their relationship in their own imagination - I do genuinely admire people like that. But personally, I think I needed there to be a little more to latch onto in order to feel like I really knew Four, which is why, even though I find it impossible to actually rank all the Doctors, he's always the one I feel the least attached to.

I don't think he's a bad Doctor and I don't even really like calling him my least favorite, even though I know he has to be. I just feel like, somehow, I know him the least - and since I think all 13 Doctors are genuinely good and interesting characters, that automatically places all the ones I feel I understand better and more deeply ahead of him, before I even get into which ones I happen to vibe with the most. Even in Eight’s one movie or Nine’s one season, I feel like we see more of what's going on in their head and in their heart than we do after years of Four, which made his run a bit disappointing for me, honestly.

I know that to some degree, the obvious answer is that I should go look at his EU stuff, since those are the kinds of gaps fans and storytellers are most likely to seize upon, but I haven't done that too much for Four. In general, I'm driven to seek out extended universe books and audios when there's a character I'm already really attached to that I just want more content for, not out of curiosity about characters I know less well - that's why I've listened to more audios with Donna Noble than with the Eighth Doctor. Of course, there's also a financial element to that, since EU stuff is harder to find in libraries and streaming services - if I'm going to spend money on something, I do kind of want to know it'll be something I'll enjoy enough to return to, instead of just listening to it once to learn more about a character. But who knows, maybe at some point in my life when I'm less concerned about rent, I'll have time to get to know Four better.

Right now, I've only come across him in the EU when he appears in a multi-Doctor story - I like those for the same reason I don't super like Four's TV run: I enjoy getting to hear what the Doctor thinks of their other selves, and how being confronted with their past or future affects them personally. His cameo in Deleted Scenes was nice because even though he had to be prompted into action by Sarah Jane, it demonstrated how much he values both her and Jamie. The only story from his own range (Fourth Doctor Adventures) that I've listened to is Fate of Krelos/Return to Telos because I knew it tied in with a TV episode I liked (and I’ll be honest, it was on sale). Obviously, I enjoyed going back to Two & Jamie in that audio, but even before we got to their part I was already appreciating the dynamic he had with Leela. That relationship is a whole other issue I have with Four's era on TV, of course, but I also find that racist & colonial 'civilizing the savage' plot to be so hard to believe coming from someone like the Doctor, who does nothing but travel through time, appreciating and valuing people and cultures that are supposedly "less advanced" than his own, that I can't really see it as anything other than bad, out-of-character writing from some white english men. It strikes me as such a plothole I try not to hold it against the character, even though it does seriously affect my ability to enjoy a lot of his run.

In Krelos though, they start the audio getting ready to go fishing, which I thought was friendlier and more domestic than Leela and Four usually were in the 70s - and, when they find something of Jamie's in the old console room, not only is Four clearly affected by it, but Leela's able to call him out on it and ask questions about Jamie and the past, and he manages to answer several of them and dwell on it a bit while still being appropriately mysterious - which again, I thought was both a) more of and b) better than their relationship as seen on TV.

I feel like most of Four's Big Finish stuff is probably (hopefully) similar in terms of showing deeper, more developed (and yes, less racist) relationships between Four and his companions, but I can't quite say I'm invested in him enough to actually put in the work to find out.

On the brighter side, since I hardly ever rewatch Four’s stories, I can say that any time I do wind up seeing one, I’m automatically sent back to the first time I ever watched classic who, since it’s much fresher in my mind for those stories than the ones I return to frequently. So even though I didn’t grow up with Four (I was born in the 90s), I do sort of understand what it’s like to go back to those for nostalgia alone.

Between that and the multi-Doctor stories, I think I do alright at finding ways to enjoy him, but no, I don’t think I’ve ever found a way to properly connect with him as a character.

#honestly thank u for the q #sorry for the essay tho #part of it is i've thought about this so many times i cant tell what i had to explain and what it was safe to take 4 granted #also i know i said my most unpopular opinion was about comparing it to the current era #but on an entirely unrelated note - i hate the scarf #i know thats probably like sacrilege or something but it's true #im fine with everything about it except how long it is #if it's gonna be that long it needs to be doubled up more #i spent so many Kinda Boring 4 episodes just being stressed about how much of a tripping hazard it was #and literally wondering what kinda bacteria it was picking up on all these planets' floors he was dragging it all over #that's def my lamest complaint but still #i dont wanna stress about the safety of a scarf when im supposed to be focused on an episode #yeah sometimes when you've watched almost 60 years of a show one or two plots get repetitive or boring #more direct & engaging character development = a good distraction from that #scarf hazard = bad distraction #god i hope this ramble makes sense #im in no position to tell anymore

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