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imagineandwrite · 1 year

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𝘖𝘣𝘴𝘦𝘴𝘴𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘷𝘴 𝘓𝘰𝘷𝘦 𝘝𝘐𝘐 (𝒪𝒷𝓈𝑒𝓈𝓈𝒾𝑜𝓃 𝑅𝑜𝓊𝓉𝑒)

But We're Soulmates

Word Count: 2.1K Warnings: Please don't kill me, angst? Nothing too serious, MISUNDERSTANDINGS, I love you😁

A/N: Nuru looks like Ikeyni from Avatar

Y/N doesn't know if it's possible to punch a ghost. But the nose on her grandmother's dead face looks like the perfect target. The wind blows around her, a rumble comes with it, and she turns. The dragon from the ancestral plane sits behind her though it looks uncomfortable.

"What's wrong with you?" Y/N asks, lifting her hand to pat the dragon's nose. It huffs, and the wind nearly knocks her to the floor.

𝙎𝙝𝙚 𝙞𝙨 𝙩𝙞𝙧𝙚𝙙.

"Um, join the club," Y/N grumbles as she kicks the branch away from her leg. She looks at her grandmother, "What's going on?"

"We need your help."

"Where the hell did you come from?!" Y/N shouts, stepping away from the woman next to her.

Where the dragon was, there's a Nymerian now. Red paint on her face and down her chest to the bottom of her stomach with a white border. Her hair flows to her shoulders, parting around the horn on her head.

𝙏𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙞𝙨 𝙉𝙪𝙧𝙪. 𝙎𝙝𝙚 𝙞𝙨 𝙮𝙤𝙪𝙧 𝙙𝙧𝙖𝙜𝙤𝙣.

"My dragon?" Y/N asked, watching the woman bat away a nearby bug. This dragon lady seemed perfect for her—a loser for a failure. Nuru stepped forward, tripping over a root before bowing her head at Y/N.

"Hello, Taraji."

Her voice is soft, much too delicate for a dragon warrior. It's slow and hesitant, her accent strong, and Y/N wonders if she's been speaking English long. When she looks up, her eyes are round, doe-like. She looks innocent, yet if you look long and hard, you can see the wisdom of past lives and battles floating around her brain. She gives her opponent the illusion of innocence and surprises them with fierce strength.

𝙁𝙞𝙜𝙪𝙧𝙚 𝙤𝙪𝙩 𝙉𝙖𝙢𝙤𝙧'𝙨 𝙬𝙚𝙖𝙠𝙣𝙚𝙨𝙨 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙪𝙨𝙚 𝙞𝙩 𝙞𝙣 𝙮𝙤𝙪𝙧 𝙛𝙞𝙜𝙝𝙩.

"You can't just tell us?" Y/N asked, glaring at the ghost's fading form. Aisha hummed softly as she shook her head.

𝙏𝙚𝙡𝙡𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙬𝙤𝙪𝙡𝙙 𝙗𝙚 𝙩𝙤𝙤 𝙚𝙖𝙨𝙮. 𝙄 𝙬𝙖𝙣𝙩 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙩𝙤 𝙥𝙧𝙤𝙫𝙚 𝙮𝙤𝙪𝙧 𝙬𝙤𝙧𝙩𝙝 𝙩𝙤 𝙮𝙤𝙪𝙧 𝙤𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙧 𝙖𝙣𝙘𝙚𝙨𝙩𝙤𝙧𝙨.

Y/N deadpanned as Aisha waved goodbye before disappearing. She looked over at Nuru, who stared at her with doe eyes. Sighing as she rubbed her forehead, Y/N turned to walk back to Shuri.

"She just told me she likes seeing me struggle in fancy words."

"We need to find a way to weaken, Namor."

"Even weakened, he still gon be a problem," Riri replied, rubbing her chin in thought. Shuri sighed, wondering slightly about the Nymerian's whereabouts, "The Black Panther has never failed to protect Wakanda."

"Thought he was gone."

"My brother is dead, but it doesn't mean the Black Panther is gone," Shuri replied, just as the elevator opened and Y/N walked out.

"Chicken foot’s physiology is completely different-" Y/N explained, walking up the stairs. Nuru crawled behind her to not hit her head on the ceiling or support beams. "None of them fly or have pointed ears like him. They turn blue when out of the water, he doesn't."

"Who is that?" Riri asked, watching the new woman look around. Y/N sighed as she lightly scratched her neck. Letting out a bird call, Y/N watched as Nuru flinched before looking at her with expectant eyes.

"Nuru, this is Riri and that's Shuri. Girls, this is Nuru." Y/N huffed, watching her roommate wave at Nuru. She frowned when Shuri glared at the Nymerian.

"She's gonna help us in the fight, can turn into a dragon and shit," Y/N explained, walking over to stand next to Shuri. She smiled when Shuri wrapped an arm around her, nuzzling into her chest.

"The woman that was guarding us had water on their mouths and necks. He doesn't have that," Riri said, softly guiding Nuru away from a table covered in sharp objects.

"And before he took out your plane, he jumped back in the water," Y/N continued, rubbing Shuri's back, who nodded in agreement.

"He's breathing air and getting oxygen from the water on his skin," Riri said, voicing everyone's thoughts. "If we dry his ass out, he won't be as strong."

"Griot, we need to convert the Royal Tylon fighter into a pure evaporation chamber," Shuri spoke, lifting a screen on her beads.

"Is that even possible?" Riri asked, sharing a confused look with Nuru.

"Yes, and you two will help," Shuri said, placing different images on the screen in front of her.

"How?"

Shuri waved to a scientist to guide Riri to her station and brought Y/N and Nuru to her station.

Y/N sat at a desk in her section, wrapping a vibranium-laced string around the arrows Shuri had just given her. Nuru sat carving Nymerian tribal signs into the bow made by Shuri with a vibranium knife. Sighing softly, Y/N went behind Nuru to tie her hair in a bun when her tail wrapped around Y/N's waist.

"Why the hell is your tail grabbing me?" Y/N gasped, stumbling backward when Nuru turned in confusion. Nuru giggled when she saw her tail tighten its hold on Y/N's waist.

"It is... not tail," Nuru loosened her tail to place it in front of them. Softly, she moved the tuft of hair encasing tiny tendrils at the end of her tail. They flicked slightly looking for something to bond with.

"It is how we bond," Nuru explained, she paused in thought before switching to her mother tongue. "𝐀𝐥𝐥 𝐍𝐲𝐦𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐚𝐧𝐬 𝐡𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐨𝐧𝐞. 𝐓𝐡𝐞𝐲 𝐡𝐞𝐥𝐩 𝐮𝐬 𝐛𝐨𝐧𝐝 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐦𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐬, 𝐝𝐫𝐚𝐠𝐨𝐧, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐨𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐥𝐢𝐟𝐞 𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐦𝐬."

"Do you have a dragon?" Y/N asked, immediately flinching when Nuru glared at her.

"𝐈𝐭 𝐢𝐬 𝐞𝐱𝐭𝐫𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐥𝐲 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐰𝐧𝐞𝐝 𝐮𝐩𝐨𝐧 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐚 𝐝𝐫𝐚𝐠𝐨𝐧 𝐭𝐨 𝐡𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐚 𝐝𝐫𝐚𝐠𝐨𝐧 𝐮𝐧𝐥𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐦𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐝," Nuru denied, tucking the tendrils back in her tail before continuing her carving.

"Is it bad I don't remember much about Nymeria," Y/N whispered, ashamed she forgot her home. Nuru chuckles softly as she places her hand on Y/N's to comfort her.

"𝐈 𝐰𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐡𝐞𝐥𝐩 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐠𝐚𝐢𝐧 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐦𝐞𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐲," She smiled at Y/N, this makes her wonder. Nymerians are tall compared to humans. Riri is 5'3 at nineteen, while a Nymerian is 5'7 at eight. Y/N was considered tall to Nymerians, so it only made sense for her human form to tower over normal humans. Y/N stands 6 ft as a human and 11 ft as a Nymerian while Nuru was 10 ft.

"𝐓𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐝𝐢𝐟𝐟𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐜𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐍𝐲𝐦𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐚𝐧𝐬; 𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐬𝐞 𝐰𝐡𝐨 𝐥𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐬𝐞𝐚, 𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐬𝐞 𝐰𝐡𝐨 𝐥𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐬𝐤𝐲, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐬𝐞 𝐰𝐡𝐨 𝐥𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐨𝐧 𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐝. 𝐓𝐡𝐨𝐬𝐞 𝐰𝐡𝐨 𝐥𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐬𝐤𝐲 𝐡𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐚 𝐜𝐥𝐨𝐬𝐞𝐫 𝐛𝐨𝐧𝐝 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐎𝐲𝐚. 𝐖𝐞 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐨𝐧𝐥𝐲 𝐍𝐲𝐦𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐚𝐧𝐬 𝐰𝐡𝐨 𝐜𝐚𝐧 𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐟𝐭 𝐭𝐨 𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐝𝐫𝐚𝐠𝐨𝐧𝐬."

Y/N sits cross-legged (Indian style or crisis cross applesauce) on the floor while using a needle to withdraw some of her blood. Nuru had just finished carving and placed it to the side. She paused her explanation and watched as the purple blood left Y/N's arm and into three vials.

"𝐃𝐫𝐚𝐠𝐨𝐧𝐬 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐜𝐡𝐨𝐬𝐞𝐧, 𝐰𝐡𝐞𝐧 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐠, 𝐭𝐨 𝐛𝐨𝐧𝐝 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐢𝐫 𝐫𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐬," She continued, waiting for Y/N to look up at her.

When their eyes connected, Nuru smiled softly as she lifted her hand to cup Y/N's face. Y/N sighed in irritation before yanking Nuru's wrist away from her. She remembers Nuru was the clingy Nymerian who wouldn't stop following Y/N.

She had even cried when Y/N decided she wanted to leave Nymeria and go to America.

"𝐓𝐚𝐫𝐚𝐣𝐢, 𝐰𝐞 𝐡𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝐛𝐨𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐝 𝐢𝐧 𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫 𝐭𝐞𝐧 𝐲𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐬," Nuru whispered, wrapping her hand around Y/N's. She sighed softly when Y/N yanked her hands away.

"Do we need to bond for you to be my dragon?" Y/N asked, clearly uncomfortable as she played with a chain on her pants. She sighed when Nuru nodded.

She wondered if Shuri was okay with her bonding with Nuru.

"I'm sorry?" Shuri stood across the lab, watching the interaction before looking at Okoye.

"As your friend, I am telling you, she is not the one," Okoye's tone was sharp and though she was speaking to Shuri, her eyes were trailing after you. You were going through different blankets so you cover your body when you shifted.

"And as my sister?" Shuri tilted her head at the woman, her face void of emotion.

"Leave her."

Shuri scoffs as she glares at her friend. Okoye shrugs, continuing her sentence without care for the glare piercing her face. "I told you Y/N won't stay loyal, she will never truly love you. Her views on love and relationships are corrupted beyond repair."

"This is different, she cares for me, and no one will ever be able to change it," Shuri denies, continuing her work on Y/N's suit.

"You know your mother wouldn't want you to-"

"My mother is not here," Shuri snaps, turning swiftly to glare at Okoye. " If she were, she would've told me to listen to my heart, and my heart tells me to stay with Taraji. My mother would be disappointed in you, trying to stop me from being happy." It was silent between the two for just a few moments, before Okoye's eyes softened.

"Is that what this is? Love?" She asks, voice barely above a whisper. Her brows furrow as she takes a step forward. "Or obsession?"

"It's love," Shuri's face twisted in anger, clenching her fists to keep from slapping the woman in front of her. Okoye sighed deeply, "No, this is an obsession, and you need to fix it or it will kill you."

Shuri ignores her and turns back to Y/N's suit. Okoye scoffs in disbelief, watching Shuri put her walls up. "As wonderful as she is, Y/N is incapable of love. She'll use you and drop you off. It's what her kind do, we have the research to prove it"

"My kind?" You asked, voice breathless as you glance between the two. "I ain't know there was an issue with my kind."

Your skin burns where Shuri has touched, and the pain you feel doesn't compare to when you found out your grandmother passed. You knew it was too good to be true. If Shuri were your soulmate, she would've found a way to get to Nymeria. Straight through the barrier and into your awaiting arms.

But now, you stand at the bottom of the stairs with Riri a few steps above you while Nuru sits at the railing next to the stairs. Chuckling with your hands on your hips as you slowly pace back and forth. "You're right, my kind is known for messing around and our lack of loyalty," You grin, nodding as you crack your knuckles.

"You're right," You nod, pausing to look at Shuri. You glare at the look on Shuri's face. "No, stop crying. Y'all was just talking about how unloyal I am." You shrug as you looked over to Riri. You nod to each other before Riri guides Nuru back to Riri's station.

"But you're not," Shuri tries, attempting to hug you, but you step back as if her touch disgusts you. Pointing at Okoye with a grin, your fangs slowly sharpened, "She said it herself, and since she such an expert on my kind, she right, yeah?"

You take deep breaths, placing your hands on your face in a praying motion. Slowly opening your mouth, you fiddle with the chain of your pants. "We're just a bunch of whores. Can't keep it in our pants, legs gotta be spread, just giving the goods."

"Since you've already decided I'm not worthy enough, I'm done," You mumble, nodding at Okoye and turning to join the sad pair upstairs.

"Don't leave me," Shuri pleads as she follows after you, almost tripping up the stairs.

You scoff as you slap her hands away. Her touch, though short, leaves a cold feeling on your hand. Shuri is tempted to kneel, to plead for you to listen. Though her face is covered in tears, yours remains dry, tears never leaving your lids.

"I'll leave once this is over."

It's funny. If Shuri were Nymerian, her ears would've flattened at your words. But instead, you see the shock covering her face at your words daggering her heart. You're calm as you say it, there's no hint of anger or sadness.

You snicker as you watch a guilty Okoye leave the lab. Your eyes trail to Shuri, waiting for a reaction. Her mouth opens, but nothing comes out. You step forward, and her eyes close. You look down at her, watching as her face turns blank. "We'll win the war, then I'll go home. We'll never have to see each other again."

Shuri drops to her knees and pulls you by your hips, wrapping her arm around you and pressing her face into your stomach.

"You can't leave," She mumbles, her eyes clouded and voice breathless. Y/N gasps at the sudden grip Shuri has on her hips. Using that grip, Shuri yanks her forward into a hug. "You can't leave me. We're soulmates. Said you wouldn't leave. Were you lying?"

You purse your lips as you pry her away from you. Ignoring Shuri's please, you look around at the nosey scientists. Your glare forces them back to work before turning to walk away from Shuri.

"You're not leaving me."

Tags: @rxcently, @kgao, @6-noir, @youralphawolf72, @naomis-daydream, @lppriceisright, @ddb667, @shuriislut, @ziayamikaelson, @sakurayuki8655-blog, @nooshytushie, @aiden-presscott, @k3nn3dyxo, @oracle-code, @leekeeboo, @niyah1101

STORY MASTERLIST | NEXT PART

#imaginewrites: obsession vs love #imaginewrites: obsession route #princess shuri x reader #shuri fic #shuri imagine #shuri udaku x reader #shuri udaku x yn #shuri x black!reader #shuri x reader #shuri x woc!reader #letitia wright x reader #shuri angst #shuri udaku imagine #shuri x y/n #shuri x you #shuri fanfiction #shuri fluff #shuri udaku fluff #black panther x reader

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aveyna · 4 years

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The Seal of Approval

SUMMARY: In which Nuru liberates a seal, Yong gets adopted, Hugo is a gay pining disaster, and Varian is the sole voice of reason.

Alternatively, Nuru partakes in the age old tradition of toppling a monarchy.

[NOTE] Apparently the desire to see Varian get slapped by a seal was strong, judging by my last post.

AO3 LINK

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“Can I at least take him for everything he’s worth?”

“For the last time, no, Hugo. You cannot be rude to the king, you cannot antagonize him, you cannot make fun of his beard, and hell, you definitely cannot kill him.” Varian sighs. After their last run in with Donella and her goons, they had just barely made it to the kingdom of Equis. He is only so close to choking this brilliantly stupid idiot with those dumb goggles he refuses to wear like they’re intended to. “I’d like to sleep under a roof for one lousy evening.”

“Oh, come on, hairstripe. If not thievery, can’t I commit a little murder?” Hugo whines, placing his arm dramatically over his eyes. “What else do I have to live for?”

It’s during times like these that Varian almost wishes he could go back to the way he used to be, before he and the princess had made amends. His younger self would not have hesitated to kick this sorry excuse of an alchemist to the curb. He loves him, truly, he does. The same can be said for Nuru and Yong, but he has just about had it. He had left on this journey in-search of his mother, but instead, he was stuck on babysitting duty.

Distantly, he wonders if this is how Eugene felt with his past failures on the hot water boilers. He visibly shudders at the memory.

No, let’s not think about that.

“Then die.” Varian glares up at the taller man who was currently leaning on him. Scowling, he removes the other arm that he had perched on-top of his head.

“Don’t be so heartless,” Hugo laughs. He smirks at Varian, but it softens ever so slightly. It seems almost fond and gentle, but quickly, it is wiped off from his face. “Huh, you really do make for a very nice armrest.”

“Glad that’s all I’m good for,” Varian grumbles, brows furrowed in annoyance.

Yong jumps up, waving his arms erratically as if he needed to expend that much effort in garnering Varian’s attention.

“Yes, Yong?” Varian asks, smiling pleasantly at his shorter friend.

“You’re also pretty!” Yong says. The color from Hugo’s face immediately drains.

“Wha—” Varian laughs, but it does nothing to dissuade the complete awkwardness of this situation.

“That’s what Hugo always says!”

“Haha, no, my dear Yong,” Hugo exclaims, speaking a bit too fast and loud. He had rushed over to the pyromaniac, clamping his hands over him. “He’s got it completely wrong. I never said you looked pretty.”

“No, but I heard—” Yong breaks free Hugo’s grip, only to be interrupted.

“Boys, boys, as entertaining as this may be, we’re drawing a crowd,” Nuru says, lips upturned in a half smile. Her golden eyes are lit up in mirth. Clearly, Varian can tell she finds amusement in his misery.

He raises his head, and…it looks like her assessment was correct. Surprisingly, a large number of people had gathered, eyes boring into the strange group with varying degrees of confusion and judgment. Yong had immediately jumped at the chance to talk with some kids his age who were conspiratorially whispering to one another as they pointed towards Varian.

Yong nods, easily blending into the crowd. His expression is resolute as he earnestly listens before turning his eyes towards Varian.

His feet are nailed to the spot, unable to shirk away from the attention. He feels as if he is a fish out of water, but…he cannot move. His two so-called friends had an iron-clad grip on his arms. “Let’s hear what they have to say. Afterall, we wouldn’t want to disappointment Yong,” Hugo concedes in a mocking fashion.

If I must suffer, I won’t do it alone, his eyes seem to say.

“Varian, hey, Varian, guess what—!!” The pyromaniac looks towards his new friends before nodding in understanding once more. “They just told me something really cool! Apparently you’re famous!?”

Immediately, his reality comes crashing down. With Yong’s well-meaning statement, Varian stumbles back as if he were scathed by boiling water. He has done many things he wasn’t proud of over the course of his life. Varian…he had been hurt. He had hurt others, but, here, in this time and place, this family that he has found…it will all come crashing down. It hurts to look at Yong’s bright expression with the knowledge that it’ll soon morph to one of contempt or even pity. He lowers his head, bangs shrouding his downcast eyes.

“Hugo, didn’t Varian kidnap the Queen of Corona?”

His head immediately whips towards Nuru, eyes wide in bewilderment. What in the world—

“He sure did,” Hugo replies in a dispassionate tone. “What a hypocrite you are, goggles. You forbid me from stealing a single jewel, yet you get to commit attempted murder?”

They’re…they’re not disappointed in me?

“Way to hog all the fun for yourself,” Hugo lightly chides, glancing down at Varian in a condescending manner.

Varian’s eyes are glassy. He feels tears begin to prick at the corner of his eyes, but he hastily wipes at his face. There is so much to unpack here. Does he even deserve their understanding? Like his father and the king, he had been keeping secrets from his friends. They’d traversed across countless kingdoms and nearly died in the process. They had laughed, cried, shared good and bad moments, but for reasons unbeknownst to him, they still remain by his side.

With everything they have done by merely staying by his side, he—

Wait.

How did they find out!!?

Hugo adjusts his wire-rimmed glasses as he nonchalantly states, “Don’t shoot us that look, goggles. You’re acting like we kicked your raccoon.”

At this, Varian’s initial agitation at the infuriating man returns ten-fold.

“Why you—don’t bring Ruddiger into this!!” Varian seethes, standing up on the tips as he grabs Hugo by the goggles placed over his neck. His threat had come full-circle. Now, he is this close to murdering his fellow alchemist.

Nuru looks between her two older companions. Earlier, she had found a disconnected amusement in their bickering. She had always been alone growing up; it was hard to find someone close to her age to forge a genuine connection with. But here, with these two moronic geniuses and a kid who would most likely commit grand arson in a few years tops, she felt…included, complete…as if she were not a princess burdened with a heavy task and instead, a normal girl.

Still, it would be best to calm Varian before he gets a one-way ticket to prison. She cannot possibly understand how he thought they would never find out; the signs were obvious enough!

“You would not believe how popular books on recent Coronian news are,” Nuru articulates, thinking back to her initial surprise upon finding chapters upon chapters on Varian’s initial [clearly not one-sided] betrayal of their princess and eventual redemption. Under most circumstances she would have had him thrown out of her kingdom, but she had seen his kindness first-hand.

He had been abandoned when he was young; cast aside by those he had once admired. His problems were definitely more complicated than that, and its connections were deeply entrenched within the machinations of his kingdom and beyond, but—

If he had gone out of his way to right his wrongs, she could tell he was a good person at heart, and certainly one she would not mind to have right by her side when traversing the great unknown.

“You also talk in your sleep,” Yong mentions, eager to help out.

Varian’s jaw drops, mind reeling at their confessions. Various expressions flicker across his face, but his words…clearly do not do his thoughts justice.

“Oh, shit,” he says.

Hugo playfully goads the shorter alchemist, attempting to rile him into another argument. “I thought you said no cursing around Yong?”

The blue-eyed alchemist merely looks past the taller man and points. Curious, Hugo turns.

“Oh, shit,” Hugo hisses.

---

Underneath the sunny, brightly lit sky of Equis, Hugo…is confronted with his worst nightmare. No, even that would be too kind a word. Nothing can describe the complete loathing and disgust he feels at this very moment, not when he is face to face with the vilest person he has ever had the misfortune of encountering again. Even six years is not enough time away from this madman.

Clearly, time had not been kind to him. Not that it had ever been, if Hugo were to be honest.

Though…now he has a seal.

That’s new, Hugo offhandedly mutters, staring at the seal wearing a lavish necklace and golden crown while…still hideous, actually shoots him, unlike this man glaring daggers at him.

Nuru, however, her eyes…they are the brightest that they have ever been. She looks as if she had been struck by an arrow. Hugo looks at her, clearly disturbed at the princess’s…unusual behavior. “What. Is. That!?”

She is shaking Varian’s shoulders, eyes filled with stars as gazes at the seal in an awed reverence.

“A seal…?” Varian responds, somewhat worried by Nuru’s words, until…realization dawns on him. “Oh.”

“He’s…majestic,” she practically shouts, smile impossibly bright. “I’ve never seen anything so beautiful in my life.”

We’ve lost her, Hugo deadpans.

“What are you four miscreants doing in my kingdom?” the king of Equis, Trevor, demands as he narrows his eyes at the four friends. Quickly, he looks towards the crowd, only to have them quietly disperse, but—

Not without shooting another curious glance towards their pathetic excuse of a traveling group.

“I’m sorry about my friends, King Trevor,” Varian murmurs, casting a small glance towards Hugo and the others, as if beckoning them to remain calm and quiet. He looks at Nuru, but she has clearly lost herself to this newfound discovery.

“Clearly,” the king guffaws. “Wait, I know you from somewhere…”

His attention immediately snaps towards Varian, who is doing his best to hide behind Hugo. “Save me,” he says.

I’m sorry. You’re on your own, Varian. Hugo relents, glancing between the alchemist and king.

“You must be mistaken, I—”

“Yeah, you’re that alchemist from Corona,” King Trevor utters, voice laced in suspicion. “You’re not working for that fool, Frederic, are you? Trying to steal the secrets of my great kingdom—wanting to overthrow my rule and displace all of my people? Good, hard-working, law abiding people, might I add.”

Him? Willingly work for the king? He’d rather die.

Varian’s eyes crinkle in disgust. He may be on good terms with Rapunzel, but it doesn’t mean he wants anything to do with her father. “What, of course not!”

At his words, King Trevor marches past Hugo, red cape swishing as he levels his eyes with Varian. “You’re lying. Trevor Jr., come here—!!”

Hugo inaudibly chortles. He named his seal after himself?

“Arf,” the royal seal states, slowly moving its flippers as it waddles towards them. Its movement is so languid that anxiety begins to fester among their group until…eventually, it finally reaches the king.

“Go on,” he says, urging his pet seal towards Varian.

It turns its head towards Varian as it stares into the alchemist’s blue eyes. The alchemist cannot breathe as the seal regards him with a contemplative expression…at least, he thinks the seal is contemplating.

A moment passes, until, “Arf,” Trevor Jr. says once again.

He raises a flipper.

Yong’s hands are pressed to his face; smile impossibly wide as he awaits the royal seal’s verdict.

“Arf,” the seal barks. The flipper comes down and a resounding slap is heard.

Varian cannot believe this. Did he…

Did I just get bitch slapped by a seal!!?

“Arf arf,” Trevor Jr. huffs, head raised high as he turns away from Varian. The king’s eyes light up with a mirthless glee as he clears his throat.

“Trevor Jr. has spoken,” the king extrapolates. “He is displeased, and for this…you, Varitas, will be sentenced to death.”

“Actually, his name’s Varian,” Hugo corrects, helping Varian to his feet after he had been knocked over by the seal. He shoots a look towards Nuru, but her hands are pressed against her face, sporting the brightest grin he had ever seen on the princess.

He should be more sympathetic, but this is just too good to pass up. Sniggering, Hugo says, “Can’t believe a seal rejected you.”

Varian glares at the older alchemist, but…screw this. He is too done with this day. All he wanted was one peaceful day. Just one, but instead, here he was…public enemy number one again…and Trevor Jr.’s surprisingly hard slap certainly didn’t help.

He makes a move to retort, only for his words to be broken off by laughter.

“I think he likes me,” Yong cackles, petting the seal, eyes starry in wonder and amazement.

A whirlwind of thoughts goes off in his head; the weasel-like king seems genuinely conflicted, before casting a fond smile at the seal. He visibly sighs. “As much as it pains me to this say this, your execution…will be put off for now. Your little friend has gained the trust of Trevor Jr, so—”

No.

“He has gotten—” Time stands to a halt as Varian stares at the king in horror.

Don’t say it, he and Hugo internally scream. Yong seems oblivious, but Nuru…she has lost herself to the cuteness of the seal.

“—The seal of approval.”

Varian cringes. “Just kill me now.”

The taller alchemist merely pats his back in understanding. He, too, is visibly shaken by…the king’s choice of words. “Only if you kill me first.”

King Trevor looks towards Yong as if he were an ant. “Feel blessed, child. I do not know why, but my Trevor Jr. has taken a liking to you.”

“Do not disappointment him,” he yells at the sky, both fists curled into balls at his sides. “He is my baby; the only person in this world that I hold near and dear to my heart. Whatever Trevor Jr. says is the law.”

“I’m Yong,” the alchemist exclaims an introduction. He looks up at the king in amazement. “Woah, are you two wearing matching clothes!? That’s. So. Cool!”

The king audibly deflates, at a loss for words.

“I like your beard; it’s fancy! Do you think I’ll get a fancy beard when I grow up?”

No, no, please don’t, Varian laments. He had gone that route once upon a time. Those fingerless gloves, fanged bandana, the goatee. Yong should not commit the same mistakes he had committed in his past.

“Oh, you do?” King Trevor says, twirling his mustache. “You never know, eh, but…probably. You look just like me in my youth. Just, nowhere near as tall. Or handsome.”

“He does?” Hugo deadpans.

“Of course he does! Can you not see the resemblance, boy?” the king barks. “We look exactly alike. Why, he’s practically the son I never wanted.”

“Does this mean I have two dads now? And a mom?” The pyromaniac tilts his head in confusion. “I don’t remember them getting a divorce.”

King Trevor pauses, contemplating Yong’s words for a moment. “I guess you do now.”

“Well, eventually, I will need a successor, and seeing that I have no children, why not?” He glances at his seal. “If Trevor Jr. approves of you, who am I to judge?”

Yong’s hands are clasped together, clearly ecstatic. The sight is so blinding that Varian almost has to shield his eyes. “Which one of my parents did you marry?”

“Eh, who cares,” King Trevor dismisses.

The pyromaniac presses his hands to his face, mouth forming a silent ‘o’. “Just wait until I tell my siblings!”

“Follow me, Yoshi,” the king says, as he walks away from the other three teens. “There’s so much you must learn about Equis if you want to rule over my kingdom with an iron fist.”

“Don’t you mean kind and just?” Yong says, eyes starry and impossibly bright.

“Oh, silly, naïve Yoro,” the king chides. “You have so much to learn.”

“Hold on, you can’t take Yong,” Varian exclaims in anger, placing himself between the Yong, the king, and Trevor Jr.

A moment passes…complete and utter silence. The king raises his hand, but—

“It’s fine, Varian!” Yong beams. “Guess this is my life now.”

“No, Yong, it’s not fine—”

“Trust me,” the shorter boy says. His expression darkens, but Varian must have been imagining it. “I need to make my father proud; I’m sure you understand.”

The alchemist makes a move to run after Yong and the king, but Trevor Jr. had gotten in the way—lethargically following after the unlikely duo, but not before casting one final look of complete loathing at Varian. He shirks back on himself, the memories from the previous grueling minutes replaying in his mind.

As he watches their retreating forms disappear into the distance, Varian makes a vow. “I’ll save you even if it’s the last thing I ever do.”

“May the moon have mercy on his soul,” Hugo snarks, slightly concerned…but not for Yong. Oh no, definitely not for him.

“I’ve met the moon,” Varian responds. “Personally, not her biggest fan.”

---

Meanwhile, Hugo is waving his hand over the dazed princess. “Goggles, I think she’s broken.”

“I’ve never seen anyone so perfect in my life,” Nuru squeals, hugging Varian as she recalls the wondrous sea creature. “We don’t have anything like him back in my kingdom.”

“Have…you seriously never seen a seal?” Varian asks, dumfounded.

“When you grow up in a kingdom constantly bombarded by meteors, you…don’t get much in the way of wildlife,” Nuru responds, an intense gaze in her eyes as she jumps up. Resolutely, she looks forward, determination laced in her voice. “I’m going to rescue Trevor Jr. from that wretched king.”

“You’ll start a war if you do that, Nuru.” Perhaps it had been the stressful day that he has had. Afterall, he was slapped by a seal, only to be nearly executed. Yong was whisked away by a king, and Nuru wants to steal a seal. Somehow, his only ally in this madness was the source of his many, many migraines. Varian leans in to Hugo, sighing as he closes his eyes in tiredness. “The king will be after our heads.”

A luminescent blush forms on his face as Varian leans against him. The alchemist had always been oblivious to his attempts at courting him. That, or downright sadistic in his dismissals. He’d rather be turned down right then and there rather than holding onto false hope. Even if he were to tell Varian directly that he liked him, the alchemist, bless his poor, oblivious heart, would merely smile and say, “I like you too, Hugo. You’re a good friend.”

But now, with Princess Nuru on the hunt for blood, and Yong somehow becoming royalty, he…can make his move. Finally, this will be his one and only chance. The perfect moment to ask the shorter alchemist out on a date.

“No fair,” Nuru says, sticking her tongue out at Varian.

Since when has she been such a brat, Varian wonders in sheer exhaustion and annoyance.

“Worry not, goggles,” Hugo laughs, glancing over at Nuru as she makes a hasty [and certainly not discrete] exit. “She’s at that age when there’s only one thing on her mind.”

��Homicide?” Varian mumbles, burying his face onto Hugo’s arm.

“No. Well, yes, but aren’t we all?” the bespectacled man replies sincerely. “She’s partaking in the age-old tradition of over-throwing the monarchy.”

“Oh.”

“Absolutely right you are, hairstripe,” Hugo responds, squinting as he gazes up at the sky. Quite some time had passed; he’s sure it’s well past lunch with the insanity that they had been pulled into. “So….”

“Sooooooo,” Varian says. “Want to grab a bite to eat?”

“Hell yes,” Hugo beams.

---

After breaking away from Varian and Hugo, Nuru had made off towards the castle. Certainly, it was not easy to miss—the sight of its gaudy walls was impossible to not see even from a distance. She was never one for physically taxing activities such as running across a large populated city, but with the powers of sheer determination and spite, she was ready as she would ever be.

With a seal to save, Nuru knew she could accomplish anything.

Sneaking into the castle was easy enough…surprisingly, or not. King Trevor did not have much in the way of military or police, but what he did have…were portraits of himself. A chill ran down her spine as she avoided the smarmy gaze of the portraits, who, while a fraction as annoying as the king…did not amount to much.

“I’ll save you, Trevor Jr.,” she promises, as she crosses past yet another seal statue.

Only the sounds of her nimble footsteps break the paper-thin stillness of the castle. For a place that should be brimming with life [especially as it is the daytime], she had not seen eye or flipper of any humans or seals. The lunar princess continues to walk in silence, but there it is. She detects movement at the corner of her eye.

It is soft, quiet, as if…someone else were sneaking around. Could this be an ally or a foe? Both outcomes were possible in a kingdom with a king like Trevor.

Nuru darts behind a seal statue, waiting quietly, anxious as to whom she will possibly see. She waits and waits…

Another moment passes, but the mystery person never arrives.

“Guess I was worried over nothing,” Nuru laughs, still feeling a bit uneasy and agitated over what could have been.

“Hiya, Nuru!!”

She certainly did not jump up in surprise at the sound of Yong’s voice. If anyone asks, she…saw a spider. Yes, that was it. That was definitely, most certainly the one and only reason.

Somehow, without her notice, he had snuck past her…and has discovered her hiding place behind the gaudy [begrudgingly cute] seal statue.

“What are you doing here?” they both simultaneously ask.

“You first,” they both say.

Yong beams up at her, hand pressed over his heart. “I want to make my father proud.”

“Oh,” Nuru responds, struggling between her emotions of rescuing Trevor Jr., destroying Equis, and not disappointing Yong…which would be an inexcusable in and of itself. She’s about to say more, but the shorter boy merely pulls at her sleeve.

“Are you planning to take Trevor Jr.?” Yong is not looking at her. Rather, his gaze is directed somewhere far ahead.

“What if I say I am?” the princess inquires, arms crossed in defiance. Her loyalty towards him is great, but the seal…it beckons to her with its smart, inquisitive ‘arf’. “What will you do then, Yong?”

He is silent. Nuru feels beads of sweat roll down her face in anticipation. Another moment passes, and then another, until…Yong beams up at her with the cheeriest expression she had yet ever seen on him or any other person. “Will it make my father proud if we release Trevor Jr. into the sea?”

She narrows her eyes at Yong, searching his face for any signs of betrayal or trickery. But…there is nothing. Only a hint of mischief in his smile. “Yes,” she concedes. “I suppose it will make him proud.”

At this, Yong cackles, hands raised to his sides as one would see on a mad scientist. Maybe…he has been spending too much time with Varian, Nuru notes, slightly disturbed and yet…impressed.

---

Honestly, Hugo does not know what to make of this situation. They had been off in-search of the perfect sandwich shop [he wanted to spend time with Varian, but he wasn’t lying. It was well past three and he was starving], but…he got neither a date nor a sandwich. Instead, he was granted the fortune of sneaking into a stupid king’s castle and no lunch. He at least had Varian by his side, but…he really wanted food. Even a cracker would do at this point.

He had originally thought the princess to be prissy and snuck-up like the nobles back home, but she had quickly gone above his expectations. Hugo could nearly cry at the proud feelings he felt as he saw her sneak into the castle.

Nuru was completely insane. She was feral in her attempts to rescue this seal through and through, and he could not get any prouder.

Truly, he was proud of her. He would very much like to shake her hand under any given circumstance and take her under his wing, but now…he is just irritated and very hungry. How long they had been wandering the corridors of this castle, he does not know. He eyes glance down towards Varian, and…yeah. The shorter alchemist definitely looks to be on edge, not that the [creepy] portraits the king had ‘decorated’ the castle with have done to help.

Hell, they…had stumbled upon one room in-which King Trevor had taped his face on top of a family portrait…which he had somehow stolen(?) from the king of Corona. It was very, very creepy. He and Varian are both convinced that he is stalking the poor queen, but…that is a disturbing problem for another day. Faces blank, they both sped walked out of that room, eyes downcast underneath the watchful gaze of the Queen Arianna and his royal travesty, King Trevor.

“Ugh, where do you think Nuru ran off to?” Hugo complains, cringing at yet another excessively ornate and gaudy portrait of the king.

Varian shoots him a quick glance. “If I knew, we wouldn’t be here.”

Their steps continue across the empty castle…really, the sight is rather eerie if Hugo were to be honest. Unfortunately, their luck had just about run out. Rounding a corner, there…are two guards sporting the official crest of Equis.

“Great, just our luck,” Varian sighs. The guards seem to have heard their voices. Quickly, the younger alchemist grabs his hand before shoving the both of them into a broom closet. It’s rather small, and uncomfortable, but…hopefully, the guards will not think to look here.

“This cannot possibly be your brilliant plan, goggles,” Hugo deadpans, trying no to stammer at how close they are.

Varian merely rolls his eyes at the taller alchemist. “Oh, just shut up and kiss me.”

Hugo locks eyes with Varian, mouth agape as the goggles he wears around his neck are grabbed until he is at eye-level with the alchemist. His mind is floundering. He cannot think, cannot speak, and Varian…his eyes had always been so blue. But, they almost seem to be glowing…or maybe it’s the theoretical sparks that he had always heard about literally igniting in his head. He had always prided himself on his persona—the suave playboy act that he had crafted for himself.

And yet, all it took was for a smart, stupid, but surprisingly kind alchemist to undo all of his hard work.

He makes a move to say something, but Varian merely glares past him.

“Do you mind?” the shorter alchemist drawls, voice as sharp and scathing as a freshly sharpened knife. Hugo inwardly protests at Varian’s withdrawal, but he is still reeling. Had…Varian finally realized his feelings for him? Were his affections finally reciprocated?

“Ahem,” a guard coughs into the crook of his arm, eyes averted from Varian’s icy gaze. “Sorry for interrupting you two. Uh, carry on……”

"Lousy teenagers,' Hugo hears them say.

Varian listens to their footsteps fade away before devolving into a fit of laughter. He wipes at his eyes, grinning brightly at Hugo as he helps him out of the broom closet. “I can’t believe that worked!”

“Yeah, I’ll say,” Hugo responds, still clearly dazed. Wait…worked? Was this a setup!?

As he listens to Varian drone on about ‘The Adventures of Flynn Rider’, his face must be undeniably crestfallen. All it takes is one look for the dark-haired alchemist to immediately shut up. Now silent, the duo continues to walk across the marble floors of the castle with only the gaudy decorations adorning its walls for company.

Varian wants to break the silence somehow, but there’s something off about Hugo. His demeanor had soured, but it’s not even just that. He seems more agreeable and not at all his usual sarcastic self. There are no taunts or joking retorts. The bespectacled man merely seems to be lost in his own thoughts. It should be a welcome change, but considering everything that they had gone through this day, he cannot help but worry. He raises his head and reaches for Hugo, only to jump up in surprise at the large cacophony of wild laughter and screams coming from down the hall.

Their senses are immediately filled with the bitter scent of smoke, and…yeah. Looks like they found Yong, and…judging by the sound of rushing water, they’d bet Nuru was there with him.

Without giving it a second thought, Varian grabs Hugo’s hand and races down the hallway with him in tow.

In other circumstances, Hugo would complain. But with Varian, he would follow him til’ the ends of the earth.

“REVOLUTION!! FREEDOM FOR ALL!” Nuru cackles as she races down the hall with not just Trevor Jr. following her, but another seal with a slightly smaller crown. “We will not stand for this tyranny any longer, isn’t that right, Yong!?”

“Stick it to the man!” Yong pumps his fists into the air. He, too, has decided to partake in this bout of teenage rebellion. The hallway is billowing gray smoke, and they can hear the angered screams of…what appears to be the king.

Varian stares at Trevor Jr.

The seal stares back.

---

Somehow, despite everything, they have finally made it out of the kingdom of Equis [relatively] unscathed. Varian is sure he may have lost a bit of his sanity, but…that would not be the first time it happened. And he is sure it most certainly will not be the last.

As he looks back towards Nuru and her new seal brethren, he is sure of it.

The kingdom of Equis may have sworn vengeance against them and their descendents for generations to come, but…Varian can live with that. But what he cannot possibly understand, however, is Yong’s toothy grin. It is unsettling with just how plain cheery this boy can be. If he could, he’d ignore it. But, Yong’s incessant wide-eyed gaze will not cease until he gets to say whatever it is in that strange, strange, terrifying mind of his.

“Yes, Yong, what is it?” Varian sighs for the umpteenth time that day.

Yong beams up at the alchemist. “Do you think my dad will finally be proud of me?”

Why, I don’t know, Yong, he murmurs to himself. He had set King Trevor’s castle on fire, lied, cheated, and stolen his royal seal… “Yeah, I guess.”

“Great,” Yong chirps. “Maybe now I’ll be the favorite child!”

At this, the three older teens stop in the tracks, staring mouths agape at the would-be arsonist.

“Dad hates King Trevor,” the short boy explains, grinning up at his friends. “Something about a fireworks deal gone wrong…”

His sentence falls into obscurity. But, these are words best left unsaid.

“Well, you’re my favorite,” Hugo quips, patting Yong on the head.

“Agreed,” Nuru replies. “You can do no wrong.”

Varian looks from Hugo to Nuru to Yong.

He shrugs.

Yeah, he can do no wrong.

#Tangled #Tangled the Series #Varian and the Seven Kingdoms #Varian #Varian Tangled #Hugo the Human #Nuru Tangled #Yong Tangled #Varigo #Fanfic

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