#give Vi a mom figure you cowards

[a-gal-with-taste]

Hey!! I wanted to say that I think your writing is lovely, truly. Could you please do a Vander x fem!reader? I’d love to see Vander notice Reader struggling with her lungs, and notices his smoking is only making it worse, though she never says a thing about it? And maybe the kids are concerned too, noticing how her health is going down. Thank you for your time and have a lovely day!

First non-Silco request, let's goooo! Love me some crimerat, but it's nice to shake up the pace every so often. I'm still working on writing Vander's character, I'm not familiar with him as I am with others, but I hope you don't mind if I use this to practice writing with the hellion-kiddos of the underground. I rewatched Episode 1 and had to squeeze them on into a story

Vander X F!Reader

Warning: Language, serious illness, minor blood, hurt/comfort, tobacco usage and second-hand smoking. Also first time writing some characters, so apologies if they seem ooc

As soon as the kids came to know they were safe, would be fed, and had a warm bed to return to at night, they were off running. Away, yes, but now that they knew they had a place to return to, they always did so, after a long day of wreaking havoc in the Underground.

Today was one such day, and considering the lateness of the hour was beginning to make those in the shadows more and more bolder, locating the children was becoming a greater necessity by the minute. "Mylo, I'm taking your picks for a week unless you tell me where they went." You said in your best parental-tone, earning a squawk and frantic shake of spiky hair as he continued to insist he didn't know.

"Clagger..."

"I dunno either! I thought it was our turn hiding, I didn't think to look." The boy flushed, reaching up to adjust his just-too-big googles in his sheepishness. You sigh, and wave a hand in assurance, pausing as you glanced down an alleyway. Premonition, and frankly, experience led you to glance further up, through the oversized pipes and gears jutting out between buildings... "Can you climb, or do I have to come get you?" You called up, your voice bouncing along the metal as it echoed upwards.

Violet, of course, hopped down without further ado, despising the very idea of help. "Tattletale," The older child snarled at Mylo, giving him a small shove that you halted with a look as the boy whined. "Hey now, be nice. You can pick up the game tomorrow." Turning back to let the two simmer their attitudes down, you squinted as you gazed up through the pipework, calling again, "Powder...?"

A beat, before a tiny hum sounded, an anxious tune that made your heart twist even as you rolled up your sleeves, voice calm as you called up, "Okay sweetie, I'm on my way, don't worry..." Holding out an arm as Violet quickly steps up, face twisted in determination, and independence, "No, Vi, I need you on the ground. Keep these knuckleheads from disappearing again, alright?" Said-knuckleheads let out twin indignant sounds at the idea of babysitting, but the pink-haired girl gave a sharp nod, fists tight at her sides as she leveled a gaze upwards to the jungle of pipes and metal her sister was stuck in.

After scanning the bars and pipes for a minute, you took a short running start before leaping, using the momentum to step off onto the building wall, and haul yourself up to the first level.

There was a beat of anxiety in the air as the children heard your rasp from that action alone. "I-i can go get Vander..." Clagger offered, starting to back up, but a tiny whine from high above made him stop. "Don't leave me! I-i can get down on my own, I promise-" "No, sweetie, you stay right there." You ordered, after catching your breath, taking a sharp inhale through your opened mouth before balancing with years of skill and survival on the pipeline. "Nearly there, okay? Just hang tight, monkey..."

You don't know when the rasping started, but the kids, primed and conditioned to take every new development with a mountain of suspicion, noted it instantly. At first taking it for sickness, Violet had been quick to hustle the other children away whenever you were in the room, peering suspiciously as if you were collaborating with your germs on how best to spread and compromise the youngsters health.

Anxiety for her flock soon included anxiety for you, leading her to reach out in little ways. Water shoved into your hand at a seconds notice. Running errands in your place, grunting and growling away your insistences that it was your job to carry the heavy objects. The other kids picked up on it too, helping out in their own, little ways to prevent from hearing the uncomfortable sound of your labored breathing, but no one said anything.

At least, no one said anything that made it's way back to Vander. Which is what you preferred, knowing the man already had more than enough on his shoulders, you didn't want the children to race off and worry him with what's probably just the consequence of a life down in the undercity.

"Hey, spidermonkey. Climbed a bit too high?" Your joke comes out as a wheeze, but the pinched, anxious look on Powder's face melts a bit at your joking tone as you balance on the thin catwalk she's huddled on. Thankfully not as high as you anticipated, but after taking a moment to catch your breath, you hold your arms out which leads to her instantly latching onto you. "... 'orry," She whimpers into your ear as you need another moment to catch a breath with her arms locked around you.

"Don't sweat it, sweetie." You said, turning your cheek to press a quick peck to her temple. "Listen, how about you get on my back, we'll climb down, and then later we'll stop by that food stall you like. I know her bread rolls are your favorite..."

The blue-haired girl was already perking up, and she couldn't restrain a giggle at your pout and heavy sigh at the end. "I'd like yours too, if you didn't burn 'em!"

"I make them crispy, thank you very much."

Another few chuckles that calmed her down some, but her grip around your neck was still iron-clad as you secured her heels on your hips, standing up with hitched breath as you gazed down. Violet was staring up, on the verge of mutiny as she met your gaze while you caught your breath from the trial of simply hoisting a girl onto your back.

Taking a small breath, ordering your lungs not to start a rebellion that could doom you both, you whispered to Powder to hang on tight, before hopping down to the next pipe-level.

A squeak from behind as you staggered, hand catching yourself on rusted metal as you let out a soothing hush. Another breath, ragged more than the rest, before you dropped another two levels, catching yourself on a oil-slick pipe.

"S'okay, we're okay..." You had to take a minute to close your eyes, breathing slowly as you kept your body still and calm. Then a hoarse cough suddenly yanked from your lungs, one that couldn't stop, and you slipped.

"Shit!" "Oh no!" "Powder!" "Language!"

Somehow, you landed on the ground with Vi racing to tug the immobile girl from your back, as you pressed your palm to your mouth to stifle the cough. Your knees were stinging smartly from the impact, after managing to catch yourself at a lower level before, ungraciously, dropping down the rest of the way. But your chest was feeling some true pain from the laboring task, and as you finally managed to suck in a wet, but stable breath, you pulled your oddly sticky hand from your mouth...

"... I killed her, there's BLOOD!" Powder's screech made your ears ring as you quickly curled your fist to hide the evidence from the kids crowding around you, but it was too late. "N-no, kids, really, i'm..." You wheezed as you raised yourself on shaky legs, and even though he looked pale from the sight, Clagger immediately reached over to help you up onto your feet. "I'm fine..." You finished lamely.

"Bullshit, I'm telling Vander." "No." You said to Violet immediately with a frown, looking at other the kids firmly. "I... I know some guys. They can take a look at what's up with me. Do not bring this to Vander unless I bring it up with him, understood?" The casting of glances between the four made you nervous, and you put on a stony expression as you held your hand out, pinkie extended.

"Swear it, or I'm hiding your lockpicks, wrist-wraps, tools and no food stall trips. For a year." Each kid, besides the equally-stony pink haired one, gawked at your gall. Begrudgingly, Mylo and Clagger stepped up, too attached to their precious, sometimes questionable passtimes to risk losing them despite their worry for you, but Violet held Powder's hand to keep her at her side. Your frown deepened as you saw the mutiny in her icy blue eyes. "Vi..."

Jaw tensing, and hand tightening around Powder's, the girl whipped around and raced off. Knowing exactly where she was going, and knowing you had zero chance to even begin to break the distance between you two, you stood, and began walking back to the tavern to face the music...

-

The music was quite lovely, actually. Vander already had your favorite album playing in the background as you staggered in. That always put you in a good mood, which is why he always played it when you were about to have an argument.

You didn't feel betrayal when you saw Vi give you a glare as you walked in, still holding a worried looking Powder. Ushering the boys along, you saw the eldest give an uncertain glance before she finally moved her sister and brothers back to the door to the basement, leaving you and Vander alone in the tavern. Weekday, so it wasn't surprising, but you could imagine him ushering out a few remaining patrons before you walked in.

"I'm already planning to see someone," You announced quietly as you took the barstool closest to him as he was wiping down the counter. "Maybe go up to the Lanes for a bit, get some fresher-air."

"Were ya going to tell me? Or just shove off?"

You frown at the accusation. "Van, of course I would've told you. I wouldn't run out on you and the kids like that." The larger man huffed a bit, reaching for his pipe abandoned behind the counter. "Right, you wouldn't run off but ya would keep the kids from telling me you've been hackin' out a lung after every jog."

Smoke soon arises as he raises the pipes to his mouth, bushy brows furrowed as he raps his fingers on the counter. You swallow, and open your mouth to reply, but you speak only with coughing. Your partner immediately swears, slipping around the counter to put a hand on your back to try and help clear your airways. "Shite, poppet..."

After a moment, your coughing returned to hoarse breaths, and your reached behind you as Vander's large hand traveled up to your shoulder. Covering his with your much smaller own, you swallow and turn to look at his worried, pinched expression. "... It's the pipe, Van."

A slow blink, and you sigh, again needing to swallow air before you can speak again. "I know... it's stressful, taking care of all of us. Taking care of this city, much as we can. I know you don't have many things to cool down at the end of the day but... I don't have the lungs you've got, from the mines."

"... ya saying I caused this-" "No." You said, firmly as you squeezed his fingers with your hand. "No, I'm sure this has been a long time happening, honey." Where Vander grew in the deepest, darkest parts of the underground, you lived on the Lanes, practically within view of Piltover. The air was still tinged with the toxins, but the salt of the harbor had been clean enough in your youth. Since your departure into the undercity, you knew your body would have to get used to the clogged, dense air surrounding you, that others seemed to inhale with little to no problems, having been born into it.

Your body either had to get used to it, or rebel, and unfortunately, it looks like it was firmly the latter camp.

The pipe was put out, but he didn't remove his hand from your shoulder. "... I should've known better." "And I should've said something. We're both dumbasses," You assured him, turning in your seat to cup his face, giving him a small smile as you gently scratched at his beard to get his attention. His eyes flicked up to yours, and though he didn't turn warmer, you leaned into that hand that softly cupped your cheek.

"... You've gotten paler." "Long time from the sun." "... You said you knew some guys." "I'd trust at least two with the kids. I'll be fine, back up and running in no time."

He sighed, and his thumb gently brushed at your cheek. "'M sorry. I should've noticed." "Again, I should've said something. Dumbass parent we are, making the kids need to point it out for us." There was finally a small smile at that, and you turned, pressing your lips to his palm. "Vander, I'll be okay. We'll figure something out, we always do."

A small nod, as he made the quiet suggestion of asking the Enforcers for a favor. As the peacekeepers between the two, he had the best chance of not getting laughed at for such a request, but you still found yourself hesitating. "... Let me try my guys first. We can see what Topside might be able to help me with then, okay?" A beat, then you smiled gently at him, and he finally closes the gap, bringing you into one of those deep, enveloping hugs that immediately warmed you down to your soul.

"'M sorry," He stresses into your hair, and you hummed, swallowing another round of hacking to murmur assuringly. "I know, honey, I know you are..." Suddenly, if not for your man's grip of you, you would've gone flying from the lunge Powder gave as she finally got sick of eavesdropping, eager to be close to you. You heard a muffled apology for today's stunt as she buried her face into your side, and gave a small sigh with soft assurances, running a hand through her hair before glancing up at the others.

"... c'mon boys, bring it it." You ordered with a small smile, your two sons hesitant, but still quick to latch on to you and Vander.

You held them for a minute, hiding a smaller cough behind your fist as you glanced over to Vi, who was watching with a stern expression and arms crossed tightly over her chest. You would never be able to replace the mother she lost, she had always made it quiet clear, but you still gave her a matronly soft smile, letting the invitation hang in the air between you two.

"... I'm not saying sorry for tellin'." She insisted in a grunt as she latched onto the pile, all six of you together before an uncertain future. You could only chuckle, for a moment, lungs free from coughs as you whisper back to her, "Good, because I was planning to thank you."

#give Vi a mom figure you cowards #shes 100% a daddy's girl but she needs that positive female influence in her life #first time writing Vander idk how i did? #i think a B- #he's good but not my favorite but i hope i did him justice #my writing #vander x reader #arcane vander #arcane powder #arcane vi #arcane mylo #arcane clagger #vander x you #arcane #lol arcane

[ericsonclan]

The Truth Behind the Lie

Summary: Violet shares the secret of why she pretends to be blind with Prisha.

Word Count: 4609 

Read on A03: 

“Truly a lovely day for a frolic through the countryside,” Prisha noted as she and Clementine walked their horses out of the paddock. The morning air was crisp in their lungs, seeming to hint at the opportunities the rest of the day held. Tragically they would be confined to the tents for most of the day in meetings with Lee and the rest of the leaders of the revolution, strategizing how they would deploy the troops within the next crucial months. For the moment though, they were free to do as they wished and the pair had decided to spend their time taking a morning ride together to celebrate their last few days near New York before they would need to move on.

Clementine nodded happily at Prisha’s words, stepping into the stirrup and lifting herself onto her horse with a light grunt. They were preparing to ride out from camp when they noticed Brody walking in the direction of the paddock. “Brody!” Clementine called with a friendly wave. “Care to join us?”

“Actually, I did come here looking for you, but not to join,” Brody answered, stopping beside Clementine’s horse. “You both have visitors. I bet you can guess who,” Clementine and Prisha shared a look before looking back to Brody who had a playful grin on her face. “That’s right: the Mason siblings. All three of them,”

“Three? They brought Willy to a military encampment?” Prisha asked in disbelief.

Brody nodded. “They said he begged to come along,”

“We’d better go meet them,” Clementine turned her horse away from the open fields to the camp. “They’re by the main entrance?”

“That’s right. Have fun you two – gotta make the moments count before we head out from here,” Brody teased.

Neither of them bothered to answer as they rode off. There was no point trying to deny the infatuation both of them had fallen into with the older Mason siblings. Both had snuck into the city whenever they could spare the time and run into their fellow soldiers more than once while in the company of their respective Mason. Trotting through camp, both Clementine and Prisha couldn’t help but feel excited at this unexpected visit. As they neared the front entrance smiles broke out on their faces at the sight of their visitors.

Louis and Violet were in the midst of an improv game of hopscotch. Lines had been drawn in the dirt and Louis and Willy seemed to be competing for some sort of stakes, jumping excitedly from square to square while Violet’s eyes stared blankly at the ground, a small smile on her face at the sound of her brothers’ merriment. Their attention turned to Clementine and Prisha as the pair approached and they ran up to meet them, pausing just short of running into the horses.

“Clem!” Louis exclaimed, his grin growing as he looked up at her.

“Good to see you, Lou,” Clementine replied, pulling her horse to a stop.

“Violet,” Prisha inclined her head to the blonde lass. “A pleasure as always,”

Violet simply nodded, clearly too flustered to do more.

“And I’m here too!” Willy exclaimed, popping out from behind his big brother. “Are those the horses you guys ride into battle?”

Prisha smiled fondly down at the lad. “In fact they are. I’m happy to say this girl has been with me for two years now, my right hand in every fray,” She gave her horse an affectionate pat, her fingers drifting softly through its black mane.

“Mine’s a bit younger but she’s got enough fire in her to face down all the redcoats herself,” Clementine bragged, pleased when she saw Willy’s eyes widen in wonder.

“Wow! Did you ever get to jump them over anything during battle? Like an exploded crater or a whole line of enemy soldiers?”

“Maybe we shouldn’t overwhelm Clem and Prisha with all these questions, buddy,” Louis said, holding his brother back from stepping even closer to the horses and giving his hair an affectionate ruffle.

“If you’d like, I could actually give a tour of the grounds,” Clementine offered. She loved showing off all that the revolutionary troops had accomplished so far and doing it in front of Louis was an added bonus.

Willy’s eyes practically bugged out of his head at that offer. “For real?” He looked up at his brother, tugging on his arm frantically. “Can we get a tour? Can we, can we, can we?”

“I wasn’t planning to say no,” Louis chuckled, sending a wink Clementine’s way before stepping forward to help her down from her horse.

“Wonderful! We’ll just drop by the pasture first then I can give you the full tour. Prisha, Vi, are you interested too?”

Prisha considered it for a moment before noticing the expression on Violet’s face. Though her eyes were downcast, it was clear at a glance that she was distraught. Continued public attention and the need to continue her blind charade would only aggravate her further. “I believe we shall be turning down the offer, but thank you, Clementine,”

“Alright then. We’ll see you two later,” With that Clementine walked off with Louis and Willy in tow, leaving the pair alone.

Hopping down from her horse, Prisha walked over to Violet and gently took her hand while keeping her other on the reins. “I was thinking a ride through the countryside would be just the thing to brighten my day this morning and I can think of no better company than you. Would you care to accompany me?”

“Y-yeah,” Violet murmured, glancing up at Prisha briefly before her eyes took on a blank glaze once more. She was quiet as Prisha guided her over to her horse, her only noise a small gasp as Prisha took hold of her small waist and helped lift her up onto the back of the saddle.

Climbing up herself, Prisha glanced back at the object of her affections, reaching for her hand once more. “You’ll have to hold onto me to avoid falling off as I plan to move rather quickly. Is that alright?”

“Sure,” Violet’s hands slipped round Prisha ever so softly, her fingers tentatively taking hold of the edges of Prisha’s uniform before tightening.

Prisha felt her heart flutter at the gesture. Clearing her throat, she tried to maintain her decorum. “Alright, here we go,” With a flick of the reins and a light tapping of her heels they were off, riding past the camp and out onto the open fields. Prisha had explored the surrounding area time and time again for both strategy and pleasure. She knew just where she wanted to take Violet: a secluded pond just a mile or two off the road, surrounded by a grove of oak trees that provided plentiful shade on even the hottest days. The ride was too brisk for conversation and Violet still seemed lost in her own thoughts so Prisha focused on getting them there as promptly as possible, relishing the way the wind blew back the wisps from her face as they continued at a gallop.

About a quarter hour later they had reached the grove. Slowing her horse down, Prisha continued at a walk until they reached the pond. Prisha dismounted, looped the reins over the nearest branch then helped Violet dismount as well. Taking Violet’s hand, Prisha slowly led her to the tree closest to the pond, making sure she had comfortably settled against the base of the tree before taking her own seat.

Violet still appeared perturbed; her brows knit together as her mouth pulled down in a frown. It was clear even now that they were alone the reason for her nerves had not gone away. That must mean one thing: she was nervous about saying goodbye. Prisha had been dreading it as well. She had always been able to cut previous romantic ties with ease, citing her career and her calling as reasons she must move on. But in this case, Prisha found herself loath to dust off her usual farewell speech. She didn’t want saying goodbye to Violet to feel rehearsed. It needed to be authentic. Prisha cleared her throat to begin. “Violet, I-”

“Prisha, there’s something I need to say!” Violet spurted out, her eyes widening and falling when she realized she had interrupted Prisha. “Sorry,”

“No, please continue,”

“Prisha, I… I think I should enlist,”

That statement caught Prisha entirely off her guard. “What?”

“I should enlist. All the reasons I had for faking my blindness seem like shit now and I can’t just let all of you leave and stay back like a coward,”

“If this is some ploy to ensure that you end up in the same unit as me, as much as I appreciate the sentiment there’s no way I can ensure-”

“No, it’s nothing like that! Just- just listen, okay?” Violet looked up at her love with a grave expression. Prisha nodded and she continued. “I never told you the story behind why I pretend to be blind. When we first met you called my bluff right away. I was so busy being fucking terrified that you’d tell everybody my secret that I never brought it up. Then when I started, well,” Violet spluttered a bit on her words, cheeks flushing, “When I started falling for you I didn’t want to talk about it either. I was afraid you’d be ashamed of me, of what I had done,” Violet’s eyes were on her hands which were nervously playing with one of the ribbons upon her dress.

Reaching out, Prisha gently took her hand, rubbing her thumb against it. “I could never be ashamed of you,”

Violet’s eyes brightened a bit at that statement before dimming. “Just wait and see. I guess I better tell a bit more about my family for all this to make sense. I bet you figured out that Louis and I aren’t related by blood,”

“A complete shock,” Prisha noted dryly. “But continue,”

“Louis is General Mason’s son. After the first Mrs. Mason died, my mother married his father. She’d already had me and Willy at that point. My father had passed away. I don’t have much to say about him except I’m glad his corpse is floating somewhere at the bottom of the ocean. But yeah, my mom married Louis’ dad and for a couple years everything was good. But then my mom got sick and, well…” Violet let out a shaky breath, “She died too,”

“I’m so sorry, Violet. It sounds as though life hasn’t always been kind to you,”

Violet shrugged, not meeting Prisha’s eyes. “I get by. I have Willy and Lou. That’s all I really need for family,”

“And General Mason?”

“I never liked him. When my mother was still alive he put on an act in front of her of being a caring father whenever he bothered to show up. Most of the time he was away on business trying to get even richer than he already was. But when he was home and my mother wasn’t around, I saw the way he treated Louis: always pushing him, always trying to make him do things he didn’t want to do, be things he never wanted to be. And when Louis didn’t do as he said, he told him he was a disappointment. One time I heard him tell Louis that it was his fault his mother died, that something about how he was born broke something inside her and made her sick for years. Hearing the way he spoke to his own son… I fucking hated him,”

“How did he treat you and Willy? Was it more of the same? If he hurt you…” Prisha paused, uncertain what she would threaten, but she wished to threaten the man.

Violet shook her head. “It was never like that. For some reason, he cared most about excellence in Louis, I think because he was his blood. With me he mostly let me do what I wanted and took me on hunting trips and stuff when Louis ran and hid. He always liked that I was good with a gun. Said I was a born shot. But I didn’t see much of him really. After my mother passed away, he was barely ever home. And then the revolution started, and we never saw him at all. He took Louis with him for a while. They were gone a couple weeks and then all of a sudden Louis was home. I asked him what happened, but he wouldn’t tell me. His father was furious. I heard them fighting one night in the study when he came for a visit. The next day he rode back to rejoin his unit. He doesn’t visit anymore,”

Prisha listened silently, all the while softly stroking Violet’s hand which was clenched tightly round her own. She was glad to learn more of Violet’s life even if it saddened her to hear much of it. “I’m sorry, Violet. You deserve a better father than him,”

“There’s more to tell. We haven’t gotten to the whole blindness scam, remember?” Violet gave a wry, bitter smile, her eyes locked on the still, quiet pond. “Louis had been home for a few weeks. I had gotten sick a little while after he returned since I chased Willy out in the rain to get him inside when he wanted to watch a thunderstorm. He didn’t get sick at all. Figures. I got sicker and sicker. Couldn’t even lift myself out of bed. Felt like I was gonna die. That’s when a letter came, one from General Mason. He said I was to join the 55th regiment and serve under him,”

“He didn’t know you were sick?”

“He hadn’t even bothered to check in. Anyway, I was far too sick to read or answer any letters, so Louis answered it for me. And in that letter, he lied. He wrote that I was gravely ill and that the illness had left me blind,”

“Louis was the one who started the lie?” Prisha asked in disbelief. He didn’t even seem capable of a fib.

“Yeah. I was pissed when I found out what he’d done. I told him the lie was utter shit, that there was no way I was going to pretend to be blind for the rest of my fucking life. I told him he had to write to his father and tell him the truth and if he wouldn’t then I would do it myself. Louis grabbed all the ink, quills and papers and tossed them all out the window, knowing I was still too weak to even make it downstairs. That’s when I snapped. I told him he wasn’t going to make me out to be a fucking coward the same way he had done to himself,” Violet’s shoulders shook a bit as she let out a stuttered breath. “That right there’s the worst thing I’ve ever done,”

“He clearly forgave you,” Prisha gave Violet’s hand a gently squeeze. “Your brother loves you,”

“Yeah, but you can never take words like that back. Those words broke Louis. He started crying and he told me everything: why he was banished from the 55th regiment and why he couldn’t let me join,” Violet paused, flicking a piece of grass from her skirts. “You’ve met General Mason,”

“Yes,”

“People say he gets results,”

“I tend not to approve of his methods,”

“You’d be in the minority then,” Violet sighed. “Louis said that in the weeks he was with the 55th, his father ran the men ragged. Battle after battle, never a moment to rest before marching onto the next conquest. At every battlefield more died than Louis could keep track of, but they’d always win. More troops would be sent for and it would all start again. Lou spoke to his father, asked him why he pushed so hard, said there must be a better way to win our freedom than by sacrificing the lives of all we were trying to save. General Mason replied with some flowery bullshit about the price of liberty and the glory of sacrifice,” Violet scoffed. “I knew all he cared about was power and glory, but I didn’t think he’d kill so freely for it. I was wrong.

Things came to a head between Louis and his father after the last battle Louis fought in. It was a small skirmish, but they managed to capture a handful of redcoats. General Mason believed they had valuable information on the movements of nearby British troops, but they wouldn’t talk. He told Louis to kill one of them as an example to scare the others into being more cooperative. Louis refused. He was sent home the next day. He said that night in the study his father called him an embarrassment and a coward. Just like I did,”

“Louis knows you don’t feel that way,”

“The timing couldn’t have been shittier though. Louis had one more thing to show as well: a letter General Mason had already sent back after he heard I was blind. It was short, just two sentences long. Very well. Do your best to see she is married off respectably and briskly. Now that I was blind, he had no use for me as part of his household. I was a broken tool, just like Louis,” Violet shook her head, her eyes bitter. “Knowing that, I vowed I would never allow him to use me again. He had already thrown me away, so I wasn’t about to risk my life on the battlefield in some sort of sick service toward his glory. So I went along with the charade. I pretended I was blind in front of everyone expect Louis and Willy and that’s been my life for the last few years,”

“Violet,” Prisha’s voice was soft, her expression somber. “Thank you for sharing all of this with me,”

Violet shrugged. “I had to. I couldn’t have you go away and not know the reason I keep up this whole shitty lie. You…” Violet looked down, her voice a mere mumble. “You mean too much to me,”

Prisha felt a rush of emotion shoot through her entire being at those words. She feared her own voice might betray her as she tried to summon the courage to speak. “You mean a great deal to me too, Violet. I admire you immensely, the way in which you carry yourself, strong, confident, not giving a damn what the world might have to say about you. Hearing your story, I understand how you came to be so wondrous just a bit more. And I know I show an ease with flowery language that might make it seem as though I say such things regularly. But believe me when I tell you, Violet Mason, I have never been so enchanted by any other,”

Violet’s eyes were larger than ever at those words. She looked almost frightened for a moment before the spark of Prisha’s words lit something deep within her own eyes. “The things you say about me… I don’t see them in myself. But I want to. And that’s why I want to join the revolution. Back when I decided to take on the lie about my eyes all I knew about the war was that General Mason was invested in it for his own ends and I didn’t want to give him anything. But meeting you and all the other soldiers has made me realize it’s so much more than that. You have a purpose, something bigger than yourselves that you care about. You’re all working together to build the future you hope for. I want the world to be the one you dream it will be. So I want to fight too,”

“Violet,” Prisha cautioned, “This is not a decision to be taken lightly. Your life may very well be forfeit should you take it on,”

“I know. But that’s exactly what all of you are doing each and every day you fight for freedom. General Mason was just bullshitting when he talked about liberty and sacrifice, but with all of you it’s real. I see how passionate Clementine gets when speaking for the war effort. I watch how passionate you are each time you talk about what’s being done here and that someday you’re going to do the same thing for France. If I stay here just because I’m scared of what could happen out there, then I’m the coward. And I don’t want to be. I want to be the version of me I see when I look in your eyes,”

The thought of Violet working side by side with Prisha thrilled her. If Violet joined, then they wouldn’t be parted. They could spend each and every day together, riding horses, running drills, planning for the future. They would have each other’s back in battle and see the beginning of this new nation hand in hand. It was a beautiful, perfect dream… but a dream nonetheless. It only took a moment for Prisha’s expression to wilt as she shook her head. “Violet, everything you said is beautiful, but I think we both know it cannot be,”

Violet’s brows knit in concern. “I know I’d have a lot to learn, but-”

“It’s not that. I’m certain you would be an exceptional fighter. But it’s for that very reason I cannot allow you to join,”

“That doesn’t make any sense,”

“Normally it wouldn’t. But as much as your heart on the matter has changed, your circumstances have not. If you were to join the revolution and perform admirably it would indeed put you side by side with Clementine and I on the battlefield, but only for a moment. Then your father would hear of your achievements and want you fighting by his side instead, as the trophy you were so loath to be. And considering his tactics, your life as that trophy would most likely be short-lived indeed,”

Violet bit her lip, looking aside. She knew what Prisha said was true but the dream was loath to die. “You and Clementine have sway in the army, don’t you? You both work for General Lee – that has to hold weight!”

“It certainly does, but not enough to veto the whims of a general. And should General Mason claim he wished his daughter to fight by his side, Lee would have no choice but to fulfill such a seemingly reasonable request. I admire the drive within you to join us in our cause, but Violet, I will not knowingly endanger your life when the path to its end lies so clearly before us,”

“So what do I do then?” Exasperation and desperation mixed within Violet’s voice. “Continue what I’ve been doing, which is nothing? I can’t keep living like that, Prisha! I won’t let avoiding death at General Mason’s hands mean I don’t live at all!”

“There are other ways to serve, Violet! Join the war effort like Aasim has done! Raise funds, gather supplies, write in support of the revolution! There are plenty of things needed beside soldiers. Smuggle contraband, gather intelligence, but please, I beg of you, lay this idea to rest! As wonderful as it would be to have you by my side, I need you alive. I could not bear to lose you,” Prisha’s hands were shaking as they gripped Violet’s.

The blonde looked up at her soldier in concern. “Prisha,”

“You mean more to me, Violet, than I daresay most anything does on the expanse of the earth. Perhaps some part of me has been holding this back but… I love you, Violet. That’s the long and the short of it,” Prisha’s voice quavered as she said those words, her eyes bright and vulnerable.

“Shit. I- fuck, that’s no way to start,” Violet shook her head slightly as though trying to clear her thoughts before her eyes once more met Prisha’s. “I love you too, Prisha. I think we both just fell into it without either of us really knowing what’s going on, but as crazy as it all makes me feel, I’ve never been happier,”

“Then be mine,” The words had passed Prisha’s lips before she fully realized what they were. Both of them froze, awestruck by the words.

“Yours?” Violet’s tone was barely above a whisper.

Prisha nodded. She had meant those words even if her tongue had outpaced her mind. Taking Violet’s hands, she kissed them before placing them upon her heart. “I want to be with you, Violet. I know for a time that will mean my words are the only thing that will reach you while I myself am a far way off, but my love will be present in each and every phrase. And once this war is over, we can be together again as we are now. Together in the new world that will just have begun,”

A soft smile overtook Violet’s face, her joy abundantly clear. “Prisha, if you want me, I’m yours. For as long as you’ll have me,”

“I do want you,” Leaning forward, Prisha captured Violet’s lips in a passionate kiss, the force of it driving Violet’s head against the tree. Violet let out a hiss of pain and Prisha immediately withdrew. “Are you alright? I-”

“Don’t stop,” Cupping Prisha’s face, Violet met her lips again in a deep, lasting kiss. Everything stopped within that moment, the silent ecstasy of the moment crystallizing in that one kiss. It became another and then another, small, longing, stolen kisses till both of them drew the shortest distance apart to catch their breaths, their foreheads still touching.

Prisha found herself lost in the beauty of Violet’s eyes even as she struggled to gather her thoughts. Then one clear memory broke through. The strategy meeting. It would be starting soon. “Violet, we…”

“Have to go. I figured,” Violet nodded softly before closing her eyes and leaning in for one more kiss. “Alright,” She rose to her feet, dusting some stray blades of grass from her petticoat. “Are you busy all day?”

“Throughout the morning. But perhaps in the evening I could call upon you?”

“Supper?”

“It would be my delight to join you for it,”

“Knowing Lou, he probably already invited Clementine. We’ll make a night of it then. Enjoy every moment we have before you go,”

“I think that’s a splendid idea,” Prisha let her hand brush lightly against Violet’s before taking it. “The faster we return to camp then the sooner I’ll be done with my duties and can see you again,” She led the way back to her horse, unlooping the reins and turning it round. Violet was silent, clearly loath to part after all that had just transpired. Prisha looked up at the slant of the sun. There was still some time. “Perhaps a quick ride round the meadows before we turn back,”

Violet’s eyes brightened at the offer. “Definitely,”

“Well then,” Prisha got onto her horse herself before offering Violet her hand. “Shall we?”

Nodding, Violet took her hand and with a small grunt hoisted herself into the saddle behind her. “Let’s ride,”

With a flick of the reins they were off, Violet’s arms tightly wrapped round Prisha’s waist as they galloped through the countryside. There was still much to come for both of them and neither was naïve enough to believe it would all be easy. But instead of goodbye a bond had been formed this day, one they knew would sustain them through whatever they might face till the day they could once again be hand in hand and never let go.

#twdg #fanfic #clouis #twdg privet #twdg louis #twdg clementine #twdg willy #twdg prisha #twdg violet #hamilton-ish au

[mydarlingvioletine]

‘Just a Puppy Crush’

Ship(s): Violet/Clementine

Media: The Walking Dead Game (Season 4)

Summary: a zombie-less modern AU in which two dorks finally get together with the help of their friends.

                        Chapter 1

It started out with an invitation Violet found on her desk. A light purple envelope, her name written on it in beautiful calligraphy.

                 Well, it started a little bit before that.

Violet missed her alarm. And six of the backup ones she had set in advance. Her mother had left early for her shift at the diner and her father didn’t come home last night, so she slept peacefully and uninterrupted.

Until she lazily stretched out with a yawn, eyes opening and landing on the alarm clock across her.

                     7:20

She hardly had time to register what it said before the alarm started angrily beeping again.

        “Holy shit… Fuck… Shit!” Violet scrambled to get up, smacking the top of the alarm clock to silence the robotic screaming. She threw her sheets to the side, grabbing her jacket off the door hook on the way out.

While vigorously brushing her teeth, she looked down at her phone.

            15 missed messages from Pain in My Ass.

[ur uber is Here… am outside]

[got your drink & bagel, where are u?]

[viiiioooooleeet]

[ v i o l e t ]

[did you put the key in a different spot?]

[coward.]

Violet scrolled through the herd impatiently, getting to the latest messages, about 15 minutes ago.

[violet please fucking get up i didnt do my english homework i need to copy off of you marlon won’t let me copy his anymore]

[fuck i have to go i cant be late to pre-session but I’ll have brody come check on you to see if you can make the late entrance with her! ill keep your breakfast with me im sure mr. everett wouldn’t give a shit if you ate in class. i do it all the time]

          As if on cue, there was a faint, nervous knock on the door. God bless Brody.

“Be right there!” Violet shouted, quickly throwing her work messily into her backpack. She grabbed a couple dollars off the kitchen table for lunch, threw on her boots, and booked it towards the door.

     "Hey,“ Brody grinned at the shaggy-haired, droopy-eyed messy Violet in front of her. "Someone woke up on the wrong side of the bed.”

Violet grimaced, mumbling to herself as she ducked into the passenger seat of Brody’s truck. She caught a glimpse of herself in the rearview mirror, and pulled up the hoodie of her jacket to cover her shame.

         The drive felt like forever, with Brody’s insufferable choice of music. Who still listens to Coldplay? In 2019? Violet was too grateful to complain, and clenched her jaw to hold her tongue.

Brody tried to hold a conversation, but Violet was too out of it to contribute anything other than nods and the occasional “mhm.”

      “Then Marlon was mad at me! I can’t believe that guy. I swear, if he wasn’t my best friend I’d…” Brody’s voice petered out as she pulled into the school parking lot, backing into her spot next to Louis’ car.

Violet immediately jumped out, gave a quick “thankyousomuchioweyouone,” and booked it towards the front doors of the school. The front desk ladies were distracted, so Violet was able to sneak past them and make her way down to the math wing.

            106… 108… 110!

Relieved, Violet peeked through the window, seeing Marlon’s pathetic excuse for a haircut as confirmation that she was at the right place.

     She tried her best to quietly open the door as to not interrupt the class and draw attention to herself, but wasn’t surprised when the door noisily creaked open, everyone’s heads turning towards her.

Really, Ericson? Ever heard of WD 40?

Violet shyly ducked her head, placing herself between Louis and Aasim. Before she could say anything, Louis placed her coffee and bagel on her desk, a patient smile on his face.

         Violet was able to manage a “thank you” while she was scarfing down the bagel. Cheeks full and a dab of cream cheese hanging on her top lip, it’s safe to say that she did not expect Clem to approach her desk at that moment with the worksheet she’d missed.

“Hey, Vi,” Violet’s head jerked up, meeting eyes with Clementine. Embarrassed, she took a tissue and wiped her face, swallowing before she took the worksheet from Clem’s hands. “Grabbed this for you.”

        “Thanks,” Violet managed to stammer, giving a sheepish smile while pulling her pencil case out of her pocket. Clementine hadn’t moved.

Violet tensed up, waiting for Clem to make a comment on her appearance or tease her. Instead, she placed an envelope on top of the worksheet, uncertainty embedded in her actions.

         "Uh, that’s for you. I’m having a birthday party tomorrow night at my house.“ Clem pushed the envelope towards her with emphasis, and cleared her throat nervously. "You don’t have to come if you don’t want. It’s on a Friday night and I know you probably have pla-”

“No,” Violet interrupted her, her voice louder than she anticipated. She received an exhausted look from Mr. Everett. “I’ll totally be there.”

      Clementine immediately perked up, a dorky smile on her face. “Awesome. Oh, and it’s gonna be a sleepover. You don’t have to stay for that.”

Violet frowned, cocking her head and looking at Clem under a suspicious lens. “You don’t have to invite me, y'know.” She sighed, placing the envelope back into Clementine’s hands. “I get it.”

        Clem froze up, visibly upset. “No, fuck. I really want you to come. I just didn’t know if that was your kind of thing.”

Violet, unconvinced, lowered her eyes and took a sip of her coffee. Cold. The heat of Clem’s hand covering her own was a nice contrast to that.

            Wait.

“I want you there,” Clementine insisted, squeezing her hand between her own. The heat from the touch quickly flushed to Violet’s face, her pale skin unable to mask the blush that covered it. “Please come.”

     Louis and Aasim exchanged an annoyed glance at the useless sapphics. Mr. Everett had stood up and taken an interest to their conversation at this point.

“Clem, go back to your seat please,” Mr. Everett cleared his throat, to which Clem recoiled, dropping Violet’s hand. “Violet is more than capable and doesn’t need hands-on help.”

       Clem, face red and flustered, ducked her head and moved back to her seat in the front of the classroom. “Sorry, da- I mean Mr. Everett.” She squeaked, glancing over her shoulder one more time at Violet, uncertainty and sadness on her face.

Mr. Everett continued the lecture, but Violet was too busy staring out the window. She was completely zoned out. She figured she’d just get the notes from Aasim later. She saw Louis give her the occasional worried glance out of the corner of her eye, and kept her focus on the kids playing in the courtyard.

  ��   The class couldn’t have gone any slower, but eventually the bell rang, and all the tension that had built up in Violet’s muscles was relieved.

She didn’t know why this class stressed her out so much. She was pretty good at math, only the second highest grade in the class behind Aasim. Mr. Everett made her feel uneasy.

     He wasn’t a bad guy. Quite the opposite, really. He was a fun teacher who had gone to great lengths to help Violet out with her work. A little by-the-book, but a big sweetheart.

   Plus, he picked on Louis a lot. So he was pretty likeable in her eyes.

Clementine had gone up to Mr. Everett and they were now talking, Clem dropping the classroom decorum to tug on his arm and take a $5 dollar bill out of his wallet for lunch.

        Violet didn’t realize she was staring until both of their gazes landed on her. Startled, she pulled her hoodie back over her head and started gathering her books as quick as she could. She could hear distant murmuring, but couldn’t make anything out.

Her panic was interrupted by Louis swinging an arm around Violet’s shoulders, holding an almost identical envelope up in front of her face, but it was green.

     "If it’s about transportation, I can pick you up. C'mon, the Vi I know and love would never miss out on a chance to get her ass handed to her in Super Smash Bros.“ Louis teased, earning a playful punch on the shoulder from Violet.

"Yeah, right,” Violet rolled her eyes, looking over at Aasim to see he also had one, but orange. “You going?”

       "Nah, my moms are taking me camping this weekend.“ Aasim chirped, a glint of mischievousness in his voice. Noticing the curious glances from his two friends, he cracked an evil grin and spoke one word. "Campfire.”

“Smokey the Bear, Aasim,” Violet giggled, shaggy hair falling in front of her eyes. “What can you do to prevent forest fires?”

       Louis laughed while Aasim rolled his eyes, picking up his backpack and swinging it over his shoulder. “I’ll see you guys at lunch.”

Aasim was gone for what seemed like half a second when Clementine appeared at her desk again, followed by Mr. Everett. Violet froze, her grip on her books tight.

      “My dad wants to introduce himself. Not as Mr. Everett, but as ‘Cool Dad Lee.’” Clem raised her hands to make air quotes, while Le- Mr. Everett held out his hand to shake Violets’.

        Bewildered, she shook his hand.

“Hello, Violet,” Mr. Everett looked happy, glancing between Clem and she. “I’ve heard a lot about you.”

      That line earned an elbow in the stomach from Clementine. Violet, still frozen, gave a robotic laugh.

“Oh, I wanted to tell you to ignore that part of the envelope where it says 'presents mandatory.’ My mom is a bit of a smart-ass.” Clem snorted, before cocking an eyebrow over at Louis. “Not you though, rich boy.”

       Louis gave her some finger guns, a big, goofy smile on his face. “Respect for that.”

The second bell rang, interrupting the conversation. Violet threw her backpack over her shoulder, and shot a glance towards Louis. “Fuck, Ms. Martin is gonna be so pissed.”

       "I’ll write you a pass. Don’t worry about it.“ Mr. Everett pulled a notepad out of his pocket and took the pen that was perched on Clementine’s ear. "Just.. try to make sure he actually gets there.” Mr. Everett gestured to Louis, who gave a mock gasp at the implication.

“Will do,” Violet promised, grabbing Louis by the neck of his coat. “I’ll uh.. see you two tomorrow night.”

      “You’re coming?” Clem squealed, her eyes giving away how happy she was. Violet nodded sheepishly, looking back at Mr. Everett before dragging Louis out of the classroom.

“I like that girl,” Lee stated, capitalizing on the blush that had taken over Clem’s cheeks. “Reminds me of someone.”

     Clementine rolled her eyes and crossed her arms, tapping her foot impatiently as he made up a pass for her. “That’s good…”

Lee tore off the front page of the notepad, and held it high before giving it to Clem. “You have my blessing.”

Clementine’s flustered state turned into a fit of anger, as she jumped up to try and grab the pass out of his hand. “Shut. Up.” Clem grabbed onto the slip, wrenching it out of his arm. “I introduce you as my Cool Dad and this is how you repay me?”

      Lee chuckled, putting the pen back behind her ear. “If you think I’m bad, just wait ‘til Carley sees her.. Oh, boy.. Her cheeks are gonna be red from all that pinching.”

Clementine huffed and stomped out of the classroom, putting all of her weight onto her prosthetic foot, so it noisily clattered. She kept up the noise until she knew she was out of ear shot, and smiled to herself, bunching the bottom of her sweatshirt up in her hands.

          Her seventeenth birthday was going to be perfect.

#twdg #the walking dead game #twdg violet #twdg clementine #twdg louis #twdg aasim #twdg ruby #twdg brody #twdg spoilers #twdg s4 #clementine x violet #violet x clementine #violetine #violentine

[illyriantremors]

Beneath the Stars Chapter 20

Chapter: I II III IV V VI VII VIII IX X XI XII XIII XIV XV XVI XVII XVIII XIX

AO3 Linkage

Summary: Feyre waits with Rhys and her sisters at the hospital to receive any news from the doctors about her dad. When her mom finally shows up, Feyre is forced to admit some deeply painful realities about her life and decide where things go for her next.

Chapter 20

The four of us sat in the hospital waiting room outside of the ICU while the doctors worked on dad. I had no idea what they were doing. Even as his kids, they wouldn’t tell Nesta and I anything until mom got there.

Rhys rubbed circles into my back, kneading the muscles to rid them of tension. Nesta sat across from us a mask of stone cold indifference. It wasn’t until her head tipped over onto Cassian’s shoulder that I realized just how wrecked she really was.

An hour passed. Every time a nurse or a doctor went past the waiting room doors, my heart lurched in response. But no one came. No one said anything. Until finally…

A faint clacking coming up the linoleum floors, growing louder as it approached, told me she was here. I barreled out of the room before she’d rounded the corner and mom engulfed me in her arms.

“Oh honey,” she said and I cried all over again into her shoulder, shocked by how good it was just to hear her voice. How much I had missed it and never once admitted it, not even to myself.

Elain walked up behind mom and touched my head. We pulled her into the hug and when I looked over mom’s shoulder, Nesta was watching us.

“Nesta,” I croaked. She joined us and you would have thought she and Elain had been the ones who hadn’t seen or spoken to mom in nearly seven months, they clung on so hard.

“Mrs. Archeron?”

A doctor in head to toe scrubs pulled us out of our happy moment and back to the stark reality of the situation. Our teary smiles dissipated.

“I’ll be right back,” mom said. She and the doctor left and we were resigned to wait once more, this time with Elain joining us.

“Oh Feyre, the dress looks lovely on you,” she said with some of Mor’s eternal cheeriness filling her cheeks. “Although, I don’t recall giving Nesta a dress with, uh, are those paint stains?”

I blushed and looked at Rhys before I could think better of it. His lips pursed to one side and I could practically hear his thoughts pounding inside my head.

Cruel, wicked thing.

“I’ve had quite the night,” I said and left it at that. Elain beamed at me.

“I’ll bet. Tell me about it?”

And so Elain’s optimism kept us all distracted while we waited for mom to get back. I told her about Starfall, about how perfect it was. Rhys and Cassian chimed in with additional details where necessary until a good picture of the night had formed, explicit paint sessions excluded.

“He’s in the clear.”

All of us jumped up when mom came back to the room. My chest expanded with glorious, glorious air at the news, but one look at the hard line of mom’s face and I knew there was worse news to come.

“Would you gentlemen mind excusing us?” mom asked, looking to Rhys and Cassian.

“Of course,” Rhys said. Cassian nodded at me with a little salute. I think he winked at Nesta, but Rhys stepped in front of me and wrapped me up in his arms so I couldn’t entirely tell. “All you need to do is call, okay?”

A warmth spread through my chest. Call - and he’d be there.

“Thank you, for everything.”

“Always, darling. Always.”

After a quick kiss, the boys left. Mom didn’t have time to give Nesta and I a wary eye as she sat in one of the chairs. Elain closed the door for added privacy from a watchful nursing staff.

“How’s he doing?” I asked outright. “Tell me everything.”

“He’s not good,” mom admitted. “Alcohol poisoning. He blacked out at some point after he vomited. The doctor said another hour, maybe even a matter of minutes later and he might not have made it.”

A broken gasp pitched out of Elain as she took a trembling hand to cover her mouth.

“But he’s okay?” I pressed ignoring the urger in my foot to rattle against the floor. “The doctor said he’ll be okay now?”

Mom regarded me thoughtfully. I recognized the look. It was the one that said, Feyre, your favorite stuffed animal is still in tact, but Nesta spilled juice on it. It was the one that said, Feyre, you can go to college if you want, but you can’t afford it. It was the one that said, Feyre, your dad’s alive, but he’s still dying.

“He’s going to have to stay in the hospital for a while. They’ve stabilized him for now, but it’s gonna be a while before his body recovers enough to get back up. But even if he pulls out just fine…”

Mom sighed, rubbing between her eyes with her forefinger and thumb.

“Girls, your father isn’t coming home when he gets released from the hospital.”

“What?”

The only one still standing, Nesta growled at my objection. But I didn’t care.

“He has to come home. Where else is he supposed to go? Who is going to take care of him if he doesn’t come home?”

I still didn’t understand. Even as I said the words, I still didn’t get it that I couldn’t take care of him. It broke my heart to confront the reality that I alone was not enough to save my father and never could be.

My mom quickly scooped up my hands in hers and then looked down in horror like she wasn’t sure this was allowed anymore now that the initial high of being reunited was over. But I let her hold me. I would have let her do anything in that moment because I was so tired of trying to figure things out on my own even though I didn’t understand.

“Nesta, Elain,” mom said. “Can you girls step out for a moment? I need to… speak with Feyre.”

“Oh please,” Nesta said. “We should be able to-”

“Nesta, now.”

My sisters left the room and then we were alone. Mom didn’t seem to know where to start. She opened her mouth to speak several times and just kept closing it at the last second until finally I think she gave up and just started saying the first thing that came to her mind.

“Feyre, I know I don’t really have the right to step in right now and rearrange your life again.”

“No, you don’t,” I said, grateful she was admitting that much.

“But regardless of me and you, your father isn’t in a good place and he needs help. I think it’s time we gave that to him. It’s time I gave that to him.”

“Where will he go?”

“The doctor referred me to a few local rehabilitation centers he’s found good success with. Assuming I can get your father on board with it, I’d like to have him admitted for therapy. It’s his choice in the end, but I think after this… I think he’ll be amenable to it. He loves you too much to carry on like this knowing you found him almost… well.”

And there it was. We had finally gotten past the point of no return where dad was too drunk to stay alive and I was too incapable to do it myself. I felt like a failure.

I wondered if maybe mom had stayed if it would have been different, but my heart knew that wasn’t true. We were always going to get to this point sooner or later. I just didn’t like facing the fact that we were, that it was so inevitable and I was powerless to stop it.

But I guess some people have demons too big for others to chase down. Rhys had shown me that much. People can build you up and help you climb the mountain towards recovery, but it’s up to you whether or not you reach the top and go down the other side. Dad hadn’t done that yet.

And in some ways, I still hadn’t either.

“Why did you leave?” I blurted. Mom didn’t immediately answer, though her grip on me stilled entirely. Her skin felt so cold in the chill of the hospital. “Why did you leave? You never called, texted, wrote a letter, emailed. Nothing. Why?”

A tear fell unbidden on my cheek. Mom watched it as it fell.

“You said I made you sick. Is that why? Do Nesta and Elain-”

“No, no, honey.” Mom shook her head very firmly and leaned forward. “No.”

She was still clutching my hands in her lap.

“I was a coward, Feyre,” she said. “I left that night out of blind fury, anything to get away and take back my own life and I forgot you in the process even as I swore to keep you safe from him. I failed you. When I woke up the next morning, I thought you would be there. I had it in my head that since your sisters had followed with me, you would too. When you didn’t, I panicked. I remembered what I had told you in my anger and it terrified me how silent you were. In truth, I didn’t call you because I was too afraid to face the reality of how horribly I had failed as a mother and that you wouldn’t forgive me, and I was right about my assumptions for several months it seems. It is the single worst crime I have ever committed.”

The words cut like a knife buttered to slaughter and my tears were the blood hot and heavy on its blade.

“But I needed you.”

“I know, sweetie,” mom said, pushing my hair out of my face. She was crying now too and it broke her voice into a miserable existence. “And I am so, so sorry.”

But she was here. She was here now. It was something. I had thought about this moment so many times since summer and I thought I would want to kick and scream and fuss at her forever until she suffered, but those three words contained all the pain and misery of a lifetime of suffering she had endured with dad, suffering I probably didn’t even know the half of.

I am sorry.

Maybe there was something to her story that I didn’t know. Maybe she had run away from the things that scared her just as I did. Maybe we were two people in exactly the same position, just traveling in opposite directions.

I grabbed her, throwing myself into her lap and clinging on for dear life.

“Don’t go, don’t go, don’t go - don’t leave again,” I sobbed.

“I’m not going anywhere. You have me,” she said. “Always.”

“What about dad,” I asked, looking up at her while she stroked my hair. “What does that mean for us?”

She looked so grateful that I had said us and not me that she almost smiled.

“I don’t know yet, honey. But we’ll figure it out. Together. I promise and this time, I’m not going to break that promise.”

A feeling of a new beginning washed over me, for her, for dad, our family. He needed this and mom was right. It was time. Everyone deserved a chance to get better. I wanted that chance too.

“Mom?”

“What is it?”

“There’s something I want to ask you.”

“Name it.”

xx

#myfic #beneath the stars #beneath the stars: a feysand fic #bts #feysand #feyre #rhysand #feysand fanfiction #acomaf #acomaf fanfiction

[ericsonclan]

A Bruised Heart Part 2

Summary: Prisha learns more of Violet's past.

Read on A03:

For Chapter One Click Here:

“Violet, you can’t keep storing chicken nuggets around the bar,” Prisha sighed as she leaned down to grab the plate of chicken nuggets that were hidden in a lower cupboard.

“Why not?” Violet crossed her arms for a moment before snatching some of the chicken nuggets now set out on the bar.

“Because it’s making everything smell like chicken!” Prisha gestured to the bar around her.

“Isn’t that a good thing?” Violet grumbled. Her words were slightly muffled due to the chicken nuggets in her mouth.

“Not when my customers are bombarding me with the same question night after night!” Prisha’s voice rose. With a groan she reached up above the bar to grab some of the glasses that needed cleaning. Once she had successfully gotten them down from the shelf, her eyes caught something. Although her view was slightly blocked by her arm, she noticed Violet flinch, her face falling as she turned away.

“Violet,” Prisha started, but Violet immediately turned around.

“I need to go,” Without waiting for her girlfriend’s response, Violet disappeared into one of the back rooms of the diner.

Prisha’s eyes stayed locked on the hallway leading into the back rooms. She knew that Violet’s home life had been bad, but it was clearly worse than she’d thought. Prisha was in the middle of deciding what the best course of action was when a customer sat down in one of the seats.

“Give me a beer,”

Prisha looked over at the man before grabbing the drink.

The man’s face twisted in confusion. “Why does it smell like chicken around here?”

Prisha let out a tired sigh. It was going to be a long day.

---

A couple days passed since the fight and Friday rolled around. Prisha had let the days slip by feeling like it wasn’t her place to initiate the conversation. Prisha stifled a yawn as she walked through the front door of the diner. She was surprised when she heard two voices coming from one of the booths. It sounded as if they were in an argument. It only took her a moment to recognize that the voices belonged to Louis and Marlon and only a few moments more for Prisha’s curiosity to get the better of her. As she walked toward the source of the argument, the words began to become clear.

“Why did you let Vi go by herself!” Marlon shouted. His emotion had gotten the better of him and without realizing it he had risen up from his spot at the booth.

“I offered to go along with her, but she told me to back off.” Louis’ voice had a softer tone to it, concern hidden within its layers.

“Still, what if that bastard is there again?” Marlon slammed his hands on the table.

Louis’ eyes locked onto Marlon’s then looked away. “She isn’t meeting her mom at the trailer this time. If you saw the look in her eyes this morning, you’d realize that she really wanted to be left alone.”

Silence fell between the pair of friends before Louis got up from his spot.

“I need to get to work. We’ve just gotta trust Violet,” Louis’ expression made it obvious that he was trying to convince himself as much as Marlon with his words. With that he walked back toward the kitchen.

Marlon fell back into his spot with an angry groan. His eyes widened in shock when he saw Prisha. “Prisha!” He straightened his posture. “What are you doing here?”

“I came in early today and overheard the conversation.” Prisha took a seat across from Marlon who looked surprised by her action.

“Then I guess you know what we were talking about,” Marlon leaned forward, placing his elbows on the table.

“Yes,”

“I just wish her old man would pay for what he’s done. Last month when… shit. I haven’t seen it that bad in a while.”

“That bad? So it was worse than I thought.” Prisha’s eyes looked sad as they focused on the table. Her words made Marlon pause, realizing that he was delving into topics that weren’t really his business to share with Prisha. “Let’s just say it got bad enough for her that she would stay at my house, Louis’ or Mitch’s place some nights in the past. But that’s all I’ll say.” Marlon looked down at his watch, cursing under his breath. “I gotta go. Got a delivery halfway across town.” With that he left the table, giving a short wave before disappearing towards his truck, leaving Prisha alone with the new information and her many, many thoughts.

Prisha’s mind seemed consumed by that conversation as she continued the different daily tasks that needed to be done around the diner. She knew Violet wouldn’t be showing up today anyway. It was one of her days off. The day continued in a blur, the morning quickly turning to afternoon and the afternoon slowly changing into early evening. Prisha was in the middle of cleaning one of the shot glasses when she felt her phone buzzing in her pocket. It had completely slipped her mind to put it in the break room this morning. She should probably wait until her shift was over, but the thought kept bugging her until she gave in to her curiosity and checked to see who had texted her. It was Violet, asking if she could drop by Prisha’s apartment after her shift was over. Prisha looked at the text for a moment, wondering what had prompted her girlfriend to send it. With a few quick taps Prisha sent her response, her focus quickly returning to the bar in front of her.

---

It was around ten when Prisha’s double shift was finally done. Violet showed up at her place a short while after. The two sat on Prisha’s couch together. Violet seemed like she was preoccupied with the idea of whether or not to bring up something while Prisha waited patiently.

“A couple days ago when we had that stupid fight about chicken nuggets...” Violet paused, her attention turning from the floor to Prisha, “I know that you saw me flinch.”

Prisha remained silent at the statement, unsure whether Violet had any more to say or not.

“So, I thought that you’d understand it better if I told you why,” Violet scratched the back of her neck, trying to find the courage to continue the conversation. “Growing up, my dad was never really around all that much. Or I guess he was, but he’d always be drunk out of his mind. Most of the time he’d just yell at me or my mom and we’d take it and move on with our day.” Violet’s voice was softer than usual, almost fragile as she continued. “But sometimes he’d get pissed off for no reason and he’d turn his anger on my mom or me, getting a couple good hits in before we could get away,” Violet took a shaky breath. “My mom never said anything and I was too much of a coward to do anything about it. So I took on some habits from it instead. I’d always try to hide and figure out how I could dodge his mood swings. Sometimes I was successful and other times… not so much.” Violet shifted on the couch, trying to get in a more comfortable position but after a few failed attempts she decided to focus on her explanation.

“Eventually when I was old enough I decided to get the fuck out of there and move on. But I guess I’ve never fully been able to get free of it. Most of my money that doesn’t go to my shitty apartment’s rent or student loans goes into my savings account in hopes of maintaining some sort of independence. The rest goes to my mom to make sure that she can get by. I guess what I’m trying to say is I still have some of those habits from all that shit in my past. That’s why I flinched.” Violet looked up at Prisha, her eyes strangely apologetic.

Prisha looked at her girlfriend for a moment before wrapping her arms around Violet, pulling her into a gentle and tender hug.

Violet’s eyes widened for a second before her arms slowly wrapped around Prisha’s back.

“I’m so sorry, Violet. I wish I could’ve been there for you back then to help ease your pain,” Prisha felt Violet shake within her arms. “But I’m here for you now. No matter what it is, be it big or small, I’m here for you. To help you and be there for you in any way you need.”

Violet felt overwhelmed by Prisha’s statement. She tried to come up with a good response but was only able to nod silently. The two stayed there in that moment for a minute, finding comfort in the hug before Prisha pulled away and looked down at Violet.

“It’s getting late. If you want, you can stay here tonight.”

Violet looked up, surprised by the offer. She processed it for a moment before nodding.

Prisha’s smile grew at Violet’s acceptance. Soon the two of them were getting ready for bed. Violet didn’t think that she would be staying the night, so Prisha had offered to let her borrow some of her PJs. Violet awkwardly accepted, quickly realizing how different their PJs were. Prisha’s pajamas ended up being pretty roomy on Violet, the bottom of the pants extending a few inches past where they should. Not to mention that all of Prisha’s PJs happened to be silk. Violet had only stayed at Prisha’s place once or twice before and it had always been on the couch. So naturally Violet started to make her way over there when she heard Prisha’s voice.

“Violet, what are you doing?”

“Going to the couch,” Violet pointed over at the couch while she looked at Prisha.

“Oh, well you don’t need to sleep there. I was thinking when I offered that you could sleep in the bed with me. I mean, you are my girlfriend.”

Violet’s face immediately heated up at Prisha’s statement. She stood frozen for a minute before making her way over to the bed without a word. When Violet had slipped under the covers she ended up slowly but surely sliding further and further into the depths of the bed. “Prisha, I think I’m getting eaten by your bed,” Violet mumbled as she slipped even further underneath.

Prisha chuckled at Violet's statement while she joined her under the covers. The two lay in bed together, both of their faces turned to face each other. Prisha and Violet looked at each other, each of them getting lost in the other’s eyes when suddenly Prisha lifted up her hand and gently brushed the top of Violet’s ear. Violet felt her face heat up at Prisha's gesture. Slowly Violet’s hand reached for Prisha’s under the covers. Prisha’s smile grew. “We should probably go to bed,” she whispered before turning off the light. Violet’s thumb softly rubbed Prisha’s hand. The two cuddled together, basking in each other’s warmth as they both fell asleep.

#twdg #twdg violet #twdg prisha #twdg privet #twdg louis #twdg marlon #fanfic #angst with fluff