Tumgik
#i love how the tree follows their respective hairstyles
2000scnt · 10 months
Text
You can love me… but you will hate me more.
•Miles Fairchild Mini Series•
Tumblr media
¡¡//foul language//mental abuse//!!
Hello!! Took a very long break, but thankfully I’m back just in time for summer break! Hope y’all enjoy this new chapter. Forgive me if I don’t quite get it right, I don’t exactly remember what my plot was, but let’s move along! Once again, please be respectful.
•Chapter 4•
The standing trees passed in a blur as the sleek car sped down the highway. The sky above was cloudy and resembled a window through the thick sea of trees. Madeline sighed as she looked out the window in content. The day was done with and her stresses were left in the dust. She bobbed her head to the music that played through her headphones.
The drive was going to take a couple of hours. Her father would’ve let her use the private jet but she liked to keep it the old way, by car. The drive was soothing for her too. The scenery was what was most beautiful about New Hampshire.
The music flowed smoothly and before she knew it, Madeline had fallen into a deep sleep. She didn’t realize that they had driven miles and hours. She was suddenly awoken by a jolt and the car slowing down on a gravely road. Madeline was dazed when she rubbed her eyes are looked around. The windows were too foggy to see, so she wiped it clean with the sleeve of her hoodie.
Madeline quizzically looked outside, it still looked like New Hampshire. What the hell? It was night now, they should’ve been in New York. The car slowly passed a gate with a tall wall on both sides protecting the grounds. Beside them stood dark alluring woods that called to her. She shivered and pulled her eyes away to look at the grandiose mansion that came into view. It looked ancient. Like it held many secrets, it was definitely older than her school.
They passed another gate and got even closer now. Madeline could see the details of it all. The mansion was haunting almost as it reflected against her window. There were many glass windows that went from the ceiling to the floor, lights sparkled from the outside from every room. The structure almost looked like a church. Very gothic. It gave Madeline chills as the car came to a stop pulling around the home. The car stopped at the front door which was small in size compared to the rest of the home. Two planters beside it.
Madeline pulled out her headphones and stuffed everything into her bag. She looked at the rear view mirror. “Where the hell are we?” She questioned.The driver didn’t answer. Great, now his vow of silence didn’t come in handy. Madeline huffed and look at the door handle. She fought herself on opening it, what if her father sent her to a rehabilitation center for troubled teens… that quickly? She didn’t want to doubt it.
Madeline nibbled at her lip when suddenly the front door was opened and out walked an older woman wearing plain grey clothing with a grey wool sweater. Her hair was dark grey and curled in a hairstyle like in a 20’s film. She was eerie to look at even from afar. She stood in the light of the doorway almost like a shadow. “I’ll help you with your bags, Miss, Roth.” The driver spoke suddenly, causing Madeline to jump and look away from the woman. He got out the car and slammed his door shut. It seemed Madeline had no other choice as she heard him rustling around in the back of the car pulling out her Louis Vuitton suitcase. Her dad had packed some extra things for her in the car, how considerate.
Madeline gulped in fear when the driver pulled her door open. The cold air flooded in and tickled her thighs. She looked up at him with confusion as she moved out from her seat. The cold nipped at her cheeks as she stepped out from the car. The driver slammed the door shut behind her as he pulled her case forward and her along with it. This was all happening so fast she didn’t know what was there right thing to do, so she just followed. She hugged herself as their feet crunched against the leaves and gravel. Madeline was hesitant with each stepped and looked around her noticing a lot more windows and another small door across the way from her, good to remember.
The driver stopped in front of the woman awaiting them and nodded at her silently before leaving the things there and walking back to the car quickly. Madeline didn’t even watch as he jumped into the car and hauled ass out of there. All she could hear was the roar of the engine turning and the tires driving him further away. Madeline just kept her head down as tears began to escape. She was scared and alone, not having any idea where she was.
The woman noticed her sniffling and cleared her throat. Madeline sheepishly looked up, the red around her blue pupils causing the woman to raise a brow. She slowly walked to Madeline. Not knowing what to do she stayed still in fear. But she’s of no threat, instead she softly grabs Madeline face. “What peculiar eyes you have, my dear, such a deep blue…” She lingers off with her words and then let’s her go. Madeline sniffles from the cold. The woman feels sympathy for the girl, she’s probably frightened to death. “Please, come in, I am no harm to you, I will explain why you’re here.” Madeline was hopeful now. The woman grabbed her case and began to guide her in. Madeline smiled but turned to look out into the night. She didn’t know why, she just felt like she needed to one last time. There was nothing but the road, the trees and the moonlight. She then turned back around and followed the older woman inside, in which she also gave one last look into the night, seeing something much more sinister.
••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
Madeline followed the woman into the home, a grand foyer, grand chandeliers and light fixtures that stood out and screamed wealth. Everything was extravagant. It definitely wasn’t new wealth either, it was money that had been for generations. They walked down a small hallways for what seemed a while after leaving Madeline’s luggage by the stairs to be left in her room later. Madeline had no time to question why she had a room of her own. She was still so confused she didn’t know where or when to start asking questions. “Let’s fetch you something eat, my dear, you must be famished.” Madeline couldn’t argue with that realizing she hadn’t eaten since this morning before classes.
The woman brought her to the kitchen that seemed more homey compared to the rest of the home. It was painted yellow and drawings stuck to different parts of wall, there were dishes stacked and small trinkets here and there. It smelled of apple pie and onion soup. She was left her standing as the woman grabbed some things for her that had been left from earlier what seemed. She set it on a plate nicely. She quickly heated it up as awkward silence ensued them.
The woman set the plate down carefully on the counter. “Go ahead.” She insisted. Madeline walked towards the counter and leaned against it looking down at the plate of ham, beets and some kind of mashed food. It smelled good at least. She sighed and looked up at the woman. “I need answers… Why am I here? Where am I?” She questioned. The woman weaved her fingers together and sighed. “Welcome to the Fairchild estate. I am Mrs. Grose, I am the caretaker of the grounds and I take care of Miss Flora Fairchild.” Madeline stilled. Fairchild? Are you serious? Madeline thought for a moment and then pushed the plate away quickly and stepped back. “So you’ve kidnapped me!” She accused as she looked around frantically. The woman sighed shaking her head. “I want to speak to my father!” Madeline demanded as the woman watched her. “Your father knows.” Madeline looked at the woman as though she were crazy. He’d never do that would he? He doesn’t even know these people? “How does my father know?” She questioned. “Mr. Fairchild, sent a request to your father to have you spend the weekend here at the estate as a guest.”
Madeline didn’t want to believe it. “My father wouldn’t allow this, he doesn’t even know you crazy people.” Mrs. Grose raised a brow. “I suggest you be careful with how you speak to me young lady.” She warned. Madeline huffed. “Let me speak to my father.” Mrs. Grose pointed a thin finger to a landline that stuck to the wall. “Now when you’re done with your fit, I’ll be waiting in the hallway.” Madeline watched the woman walk out the doorway and close the door behind her.
Madeline ran to the phone and frantically began to type in her fathers number. It rung a couple of times and then relief flooded over Madeline when her fathers voice was heard. “Hello? Hello?” It sounded like he was at a concert or something. “Daddy? Dad? It’s Maddy! Daddy where the hell did you send me??” Madeline cried as she clung to the phone. She was alone and stranded here with her worst enemy as of today. Could it have gotten any worse. “Oh darling! I’m so glad you made it, I was becoming worried!” Madeline groaned. “We’ll you should be worried! You’ve left me stranded with some strangers!” Her father chucked at the end of the line. “Hardly darling! Aren’t you excited to hang out with your best friend? Such a sweet boy for taking you off my hands for the weekend!” Madeline rolled her eyes, of course he’d jump at the opportunity of her not being stuck with him. “But dad! This guy is a total creep and I literally just met him today!” Her father huffed in agitation on how long this call was. “Listen darling, he sent me a cordial invitation to my secretary requesting that I allow you to stay the weekend at his home with his family, and that you both had planned it! So I thought since you’d been having issues making friends that you’d be just as excited as I am!” Madeline tugged at her hair. This dude was crazy? How did he even get the connections to be able to reach her fathers secretary? The bitch doesn’t even answers her phone calls to the office and she’s his own daughter.
Madeline was about to go off again when her father beat her to it. “Listen, we both know you wouldn’t have had fun out here with me anyway, your old man.” Madeline knew it was more just him not wanting to be a father and cheat on his mother in peace. “Just have fun this weekend, I’ll have Evan pick you up Monday morning! Enjoy my dear, call me anytime!” He hung up the phone before Madeline could say anything else. She was left standing in shock as the line went dead. She stuck it back onto the wall and sighed. She was left defeated.
Looking out the window she could see the entirety of the grounds, some stables from afar. Suddenly, the door creaked open and she jumped around to see who was creeping up on her. A tall blonde woman looked at her curiously. “Who-who are you?” Madeline didn’t mean to stutter, how embarrassing. The woman looked at her like she was a wounded puppy. “I heard you on the phone… kind of just walked into it.” Madeline looked at her cautiously. “I’m Kate, Kate Mandell.” She introduced herself. Like was she supposed to know who she was. “I’m the new governess!” Madeline didn’t understand this pilgrim rich people lingo. Kate could tell and laughed. “I’m a live in nanny basically.” Madeline ‘oh’d in response.
There was an awakened silence as they stood there not knowing what else to say. Mrs. Grose walked in just in time. She looked Kate up and down. “Shouldn’t you be going to bed yourself? It’s not safe to be wandering at night.” She warned to Kate with some sincerity to her statement. Madeline raised a brow, why was it unsafe? Kate smiled and said goodnight before walking out.
Mrs. Grose guided Madeline to her new bedroom for the next couple of days. They stepped up that stairs and Madeline halted just as they stopped at the top. The wind flowed through the small crack of the door making a whistling sound. It looked to be a darkened hallway leading to another part of the house she was sure. Madeline walked towards it but Mrs. Grose beat her to it and slammed it shut before her. “Do you always go sniffing around other peoples home where your nose doesn’t belong?” She asked with anger. “I didn’t ask to be your guest.” Madeline sneered. Mrs. Grose leaned towards her. “You should be honored that you were even brought here, child.” Madeline rolled her eyes. Like she knows who she is, all this riches wasn’t new to her, all they had was a title.
Mrs. Grose stepped away and walked down the hallway. Madeline angrily followed after her. She led her to a door beside two others. “The governess is just up the step from yours if you need anything, Flora is beside you, so be silent for her sake. And call for me, I will come.” Madeline recorded everything but remembered one thing. “And miles?” She asked, dreading having to see him again, but so far relieved that she hadn’t yet. “Just down the hall, beside Flora.” Madeline looked down the hall while chewing on her lip. “Such a bad habit, my dear.” The woman tsked. Madeline instantly stopped. “Don’t think about sneaking around. I know what it’s like for a young woman, but I will know.” Madeline almost threw up in her mouth. “With that spoiled brat? I don’t think so.” Mrs. Grose fixed her sweater as she stood straight. “He needs a woman of his status. One that will bring good fortune to his name and reputation.” Madeline almost laughed, this woman was insane. “Yeah, whatever.”
Mrs. Grose was tired of the girls attitude and bid farewell as she watched the girl walk into the room shutting the door behind her. “Brat.” She huffed as she walked away to her own quarters for the night, wondering what Miles was up to dragging this girl here. For what purpose? But she couldn’t him, he was head of the household now. She just had to follow orders.
Madeline sighed as she put her bag on the stool that sat at the end of her bed. The room was so coquette. Pink cotton pillows and a white soft linen that covered the tall bed. Little yellow flowers and purple Lilly’s embroidered on it. The tall wide window gave a view of the open grounds that seemed like it went on forever. White curtains with yellow stitches seemed heavy with dust. The floor had a soft rug that felt good against Madeline’s bare feet as she slipped off her heeled shoes.
She sighed in relief from the pain on her toes. She then walked to the closet and pull it open. There was nothing but hangers. And a small forgotten hat. It was pink with a red rose on it, shaped like a beret. “Interesting, this person definitely liked pink.” Madeline voiced as she picked it up and blew the dust off it, it was still cute. She walked to the gold freckled mirror in the corner of her room and modeled it. Pretending as though she were Aubrey Hepburn posing for vogue.
She then threw it onto the bed and began to tear off her clothing. She was tired of this uniform. She huffed and threw everything on the floor leaving her in her underwear. She sighed and threw herself on the bed. Her stomach rumbled angrily. “Fuckkkkkk” She mumbled, remembering that she refused to eat what Mrs. Grose offered. Well, she was going to sleep hungry tonight. She was beyond exhausted. Before questions and worry flooded her mind, she fell asleep to rumbling of her stomach.
Well! This is mostly a filler chapter! But good to remember a small pieces even if not important! Hope this keeps y’all fed, be prepared for next chapter where the real shit happens! Much love:)
35 notes · View notes
idanwyn-et-al · 3 years
Photo
Tumblr media
“Seven hells. Ye still smell o’ machine oil.” “...do I need to remind ya that I witnessed y’ tear into a dinosaur’s brains to fuel yer..yer earth aether?!” “Nae. Ye can see th’ remains in me teeth. Tis disgustin’.” “Gods, I love y’ so much, Idanwyn.”
6 notes · View notes
antigoneidk · 3 years
Text
Save me|arvin russel
Tumblr media
based on this request: Hey! I just came accross your Arvin Fic and I loved it very much. Could you do one where the reader’s family just moved in and they’re neighbours with the Russel’s and reader happens to become Lenora’s bestie and she has a crush on Arvin but he’s already dating but he also happens to develope feelings for the reader but he’s always cold towards her like whenever they run into eachother at church or when their families are hanging out together and the reader assumes he dislikes her but one day her parents fix her marriage with a guy and she doesn’t like cuz he’s a jerk so one time at a family dinner the reader’s dad is planning to announce her engagement reader asks Arvin for help and the sneak out to a dark hallway in the house and make out cuz they know the guy was following them and Chase him away and then they confess? Omg this was long I’m sorry lol 😅 But you’re an amazing writer. Much love♥️
a/n: thanks again for the request and your sweet words❤this took me a lot of time to write lol didn’t know that it’ll take this long.
word count: 4k
I opened my eyes, my eyesight still blurry from the nap I took moments ago. The sunlight burnt my eyes, like someone threw hot oil to my eyes. My six-year old brother moved slightly in my arms but continued his sleep. I wanted to stretch my legs as they felt sore and heavy after almost seven hours inside this car, on the other hand I didn’t want to bother the little boy that looked so peaceful and innocent in his sleep. So I leaned my head to the window and admired the trees-it seemed like an endless forest-all moving fast from where I was.
We were moving in a new city, miles away from our hometown. My parents thought it was for the best, a new start for us, new people, new experiences. I wasn’t looking forward to this change in our lives, in mine-especially this quick. I loved my routine back there, my three girlfriends, our neighbors, the park only two minutes away from our house, my little room, my escape from the real world, the old lady that greeted me with a smile on her lips every day while I was making my way to school.
I knew deep inside me that there was a reason, serious one to be exact. How did they find a house so fast in a town that I’m sure they had no idea that existed, or why they never talked about this topic in the house, or discuss it with their kids. And why they didn’t pack all of our things, why they didn’t sell the house, how did they found the money to buy the other one, why so far away from my comfort zone. So many questions were running through my mind, the pain from all the thinking making me sick.
I scanned my two parents in the front seats. They looked completely out of this world, so blank. My mum had her arm outside of the car, letting the cold air hit her fingers with the few rings that adorned them. Her hair in a ponytail-her favorite hairstyle-pulling the skin on her face a little back. She wasn’t old at all although her eyes were always tired, red, puffy, like our grandmother, her mum. However the rest of her face looked softer, giving the idea of a sweet lady, something that wasn’t so true.
I turned to the man next to her. Our dad had his one hand on the steel, the other outside of the window, his fingers holding the cigarette tight. His eyes were nailed on the road, his lips pursed the whole time, his hair pulled back, his jaw sharper than a knife, his figure tough, no emotions, a portrait of a man after a war.
They were people that hid very well love, happiness, pain, sadness, sympathy. At this point I was convinced that they never fell in love, but how they ended up together was a mystery-and that’s how it remained. Maybe there was a deep connection between the two of them and only for them. Maybe it was nothing. Maybe it was a mistake that they had to pay for-me getting into this world. Maybe it was never their choice.
Towards me and my brother there was no difference. Not that they were bad to us, or showed any sort of violence. But we never got to experience that kind of love from our parents, the warm hug after a horrible nightmare, that bright smile wherever we did good in school, the beautiful weekends with family dinners, the love between family members. It was more like a competition of who had the bigger ego, who could survive the loneliness, who could handle their emotions only to them selves.
My little brother had lost years ago. I thank God every day that he didn’t turned to a small emotionless monster but to a sensitive soul, a kind young man that had manners and shared everything with me, from a accident he had at the park to his biggest fears that scared him to the maximum. He was my weakness, my everything, the reason I stayed with our family when I had the chance to run away, the reason I want to finish school and run away with him for a future he deserves. But he was still six years old-I had to be quick.
“We are here" dad’s croaky voice woke me up from my lethargy. I stared at the house in front of us. It seemed smaller from our previous one, the style reminding me the house our grandparents live in. Also it looked old enough to get destroyed by a small thunderstorm and rip our heads in half, the front wooden door opened for everyone to enter.
“Hey baby, we’re home" his eyes opened slowly, his small arms squeezing my waist for a moment before his body sat straight, his gaze facing the building in front of us. Our parents had left the car already, leaving the two of us alone. I could sense his excitement for our next adventure in a new town-yet his fear of this unexpected change, just like me.
“It’s going to be fun, come on" I tried to sound as enthusiastic as possible to help his mood to cheer up even more. I opened the door and got out, the warm sun hitting my bare legs and arms, my black dress covering the rest of my body. I stretched my sore body, feeling my back cracking and the pain flying away. I closed the door and made my way to the inside of our new home, the pain in my stomach getting intense with every step of mine, a bad intuition holding me back.
I walked up the stairs holding his hand tight in mine. As soon as I stepped inside I wanted to run miles away. The walls were paint in a grey color, reminding me of the cloudy days where I’d stay inside my room, dreaming about life, or thinking of ways that I can change it, or wondering about my soulmate, who’s walking on this earth, breathing the same air, watching the same sky as I, how he’d look like, how he’d come into my life and drag me to places I probably don’t know.
“Can you show us our room?” I asked my dad the time I saw him standing in front of the fireplace, in the living room-I supposed this was it. He turned for a moment and scanned us from head to toe, it was a thing he liked doing often, but I never succeeded on reading his thoughts whenever he did it. Was he proud of us, was he disappointed, was he angry with the fact that he created two individuals that had nothing in common with him? Only God knew.
Without any words he got closer only to pass us and take a few steps before stopping outside a closed door, the one out of the other three that they were there. He opened the door and waited for us to enter. My brother let go of me and ran towards the room while i followed him with slower steps.
It wasn’t as big as my other one, and surely didn’t looked like the place I could ran to. I didn’t like the vibes it gave me, I was trapped in cell with no possible exit. I was sad and not in my safe place. The color on the four walls, faded yellow with a few shades of orange combined with the light outside, made it warmer than the rest of the house and more friendly-I couldn’t deny it-still I didn’t liked it.
I got out of the room and walked my way out, not wanting to spend more time inside. That’s where I found my mum and two other women-the one seemed in my age-talking. I stayed in my place keeping my eyes in them. Both were smiling, lovely people. The older lady, in a white dress and black shoes, had her short white/grey hair in a hairstyle I saw for the first time but it looked good. Her hands down her chest, giving me the impression of a woman with a hard past and strong personality that has had overcome a lot of obstacles. Her face with wrinkles mostly around the area of her eyes testified the tiredness after all of this years. The girl next to her, with a blue dress, had her red hair down her shoulders just all of the teenage girls, including myself. She had her arms next to her body and her right leg on the top of the left leg, probably because of the awkwardness or shyness. However, she watched my mother with respect and maybe in awe I wasn’t sure. And that’s when our eyes met and she smiled my way. I did too and started walking to her anticipating to hear her voice.
“Hello" I said and stood next to my mum and her. “I’m y/n"
“Hi I’m Lenora" she introduced her self, her voice calm and sweet, and extended her hand. I copied her movement and shook her soft hand, suddenly a warm wave hitting my body and relief every bad thought. I joined the rest of them trying to keep up with them for a while before starting another conversation with the new girl. I learnt a few things about her, that her mother was dead and probably her dad too even if she had faith that they’d meet one day. The day her mother died, she was a baby and Emma, the lady next to her, was the one in charge for raising her as she was the last one that saw her mother alive. She visited the church every Sunday and her mother’s grave everyday. It was a sad story of a girl that brought so much light with her appearance.
“And this is my brother Arvin right there" she turned behind her and showed me a boy, a few years older than us, standing outside of his front door and staring at us. He had one inside of his pockets and the other one next to him, bringing close to his lips every now and then so that he can suck on his cigarette. He had a hat on his head, covering half of his face. His body structure draw the figure of a boy-or a young man-that seemed distant from other human beings-also ready to fight everyone that prevent him from his goals. “He isn’t as friendly but he is a kind soul trust me. Hey Arvin come here"
He hesitated to come to us and assumed that maybe he didn’t want us there. I didn’t want to be there either but at least I wasn’t as rude as him. After a long time he finally threw his cigarette away and got closer. From the way he walked I could tell that he was the bad guy, the boy that no one messed with. And for a second I wondered if Lenora was lying to me.
“Arvin this is y/n” he took his time to check me from head to toe, not sure if he looked at me as a threat for his little sister or as a threat for himself. They don’t treat new people well, that’s what my friends have told me back in town. They will make sure that you gonna have the worst time living there, it’s in their mindset.
“Hey" I said trying to sound friendly, also distant and cold to match his way. His brown eyes locked with mine sending terror and fear to every cell of my body, my heart beating so loud, my breath desperately trying to let go of my lungs. I swallowed the air and bit my tongue inside of my mouth suddenly not knowing how to act, what to say, why he bought all those bad feelings. I wanted to move my lips, but it was like my system had shut down, not compromise with the commands my brain gave.
“Come inside, Jessica is waiting alone" he spoke to Lenora in a low adjective voice and with a strong accent, ignoring my existence now. “ It’s not right" he added after a while taking a cigarette out of his pocket. I watched as his fingers made a curve around the white death-that’s how I liked to call it-placed it to his rough lips. There was some dirt in them, his veins popping up blue against his pale skin.
“You’re right. Um..y/n do you want to meet Jessica, his girlfriend? She is just a year older than us but she would love you. And I think that she is also from where you’re from, right Arvin?” he had a girlfriend? He was able to fall in love? People that were in love weren’t supposed to be softer, kinder? All the books I had in my purple room gave me that impression of the world. Were the writers lying?
“Thank you but I don’t feel so good, probably from the trip. Maybe I need some sleep, but I’ll see you around right?” I asked.
She nodded her head with a smile and followed her brother on the opposite side. I noticed how huge influence he had on her, how she obeyed him with no hesitation, how she walked behind him like a lost puppy, how fast she got inside after he glanced back at me one more time and said something to her, knowing I wouldn’t listen to his judgment. I left the two ladies alone and met my brother outside our door, staring back at the house next to us. He had his arms crossed and a dead stare reminding me of our dad.
“What is it?” he left his arms fall and moved his eyes to my silhouette that stood next to him. I cupped my hand to his cheek and rubbed my thumb against his smooth childish skin.
“I don’t like him" he said feeling my terror, reading my thoughts. I pressed his head to my waist and hugged half of his small body, unexpectedly a warm wave of protectiveness hugging my spirit and creating a shield around us. I knew that if this young man was older he would have done a scene just because of the vibes he got from Arvin, or any Arvin. Unfortunately his petite form couldn’t help him at that moment.
“I don’t either"
______
A few weeks had passed, Lenora and I had got closer for my surprise. No that we were the same, our mindsets were completely different, our perspectives in a situation wouldn’t match as I thought they would-she was more innocent that me, with no experiences at all-yet she was the sweetest person I had met, the only one that wanted to learn about me, my interests, my opinions about certain topics, my favorite food, my music taste, my life back in my hometown, my friends.
Even at church, she was always next to me, giving me information for all of the people inside, the preacher, the couple in front of us, the older men in the back. She talked with nothing but lovely words-even for the people that had hurt her- and I really appreciated that from her.
Arvin-on the other hand-was nothing like his sister. He kept his cold-hearted manners towards me, my family. Never giving attention to any of us, usually standing some feet away with a cigarette between his lips and his signature pose, his hands inside his pockets and his head looking straight ahead.
But what attracted me to him was his way to travel with his mind and completely forget about the rest of the world. How difficult his expressions were to read, how his eyes softened for a moment, how he suffered in silence, how helpless, weak he seemed, how he was losing control and the powerful personality he present to the rest of us. I would stare at him for where the others were talking and taking notes of every of his movements in the back of my head. And he would scratch his nose, that’s how I knew his mind was back at his problems, and he would see me. And every time I would take my eyes away as fast as possible and look at the ground or my shoes, sending shivers down my spine and that unwelcoming vibe of his. However I wanted to approach him, willing to listen, help. A mysterious thing was calling me, it was scary, new, dangerous, also getting my adrenaline higher than ever, the feeling fascinating me.
“The Russel’s are gonna be here any time soon. Get yourselves ready" our mum announced leaving our room without closing the door on her way out. I exhaled loud and left my book by my side, scanning the wall at the top of me. I didn’t want any interaction with people tonight, especially with them, him. My body didn’t listen, just stayed in my bed, not eager on moving any time soon, paralyzed. I was shaking in the thought of being in the same house as him, his aura was bad for me, and especially my little boy that had so much in his mind but couldn’t express them how he wanted, like a grown man.
I put on my white dress and let my hair down. With every second that passed I said a prayer for something to happen and this dinner to get canceled-just what I was doing when I helped my mother set the dinner. But as soon as I heard my father talking, greeting our neighbors, I knew that it was pointless.
I greeted Lenora with a smile and a warm hug the pressure falling off of my shoulders. Then Emma and Earskell followed and after them Arvin. He was wearing his blue jeans as usual and a black shirt. He had his arms in his back pockets at the same time he walked inside giving me nothing but a short look and then smiling slightly at my parents.
I tried to avoid watching him for the rest of the night, still he was the main star in their conversation, always talking with his rough, low voice, giggling with some adult’s jokes, shifting on his chair a little when something would upset him. He had placed his arms on the table, showing his big muscles. Bet Jessica had her time of her life with those.
I couldn’t concentrate to what the girl next to me was saying anymore, or pay any attention to what they other ones were saying. It was only him that was running through my mind and how would I get him to notice me for more that just a second. How would I get closer to him, actually have a conversation like I do with his sister, how could I make him see that I am not a threat.
God, he had his way of dragging my eyes to him, be the worst person, a loser that had all my attention with no effort. An asshole that did nothing but hurting me with his awful attitude. And I would still search for him everywhere, thirsty for his hatefulness, his disdainful looks.
“Are you listening to what I’m saying?” the young boy at the corner of the room threw his pencil towards my way and hit my face, close enough to my eye. I made a grimace and put my fingers at the top of my cheek, while looking at my brother with wonder. He had his lips apart and seemed furious from where I was.
“Why did you hit me?” I asked.
“Mum said that you have to go on the living room. We’re having guests"
“Who?”
“The Russel’s and some others but I don’t know them. They look kind of scary to me"
Here we go again.
I left my room with him beside me. I tried to prepare my self, inside and out, not so much for the new people that had visited us, but mostly for Arvin even though I knew that he wouldn’t laid his eyes my way. I did have hope that one day I’d make this dream come true, but until then I couldn’t do anything else than waiting and anticipating.
When I entered the room, and while I was expecting to almost get ignored from all of them, my mum stood up from the sofa and walked to us. I saw a smile coming from her lips, something that she never did with me, my heart beating fast from all the unexpected warmth I felt from her.
“And this our daughter y/n. Come sit with us, she was studying so that’s why she was late. This is our new guests, Mr. Agapov and his son Julio” my dad introduced me to the two men, me still being in shock due to his lies and his happy mental state and not actually listen to their names. It took me some time to take my eyes from my parents and notice who they were. And I wish I never did.
Julio Agapov. Probably the stupidest guy I have ever met in my life. A miserable kid that knew nothing but how to slip under a girl’s skirt and take advantage of that for his enjoyment. He never respected a woman’s body, he didn’t know how to treat a girl right, the path to her heart and mind. He was the jerk that would whistle while you’re pass him, the boy-that thought he was a man-that changed girls like shirts, or maybe even often than that.
“We know each other, we’re going to the same school" I heard him talking. “She’s very nice girl, despite the fact that we didn’t hang out a lot. My friends always talk about the “new face" of our school” he turned to me and winked, making my stomach flip inside me.
“Well take that as an opportunity to learn things for her from now on" the older man next to him, his father, said and lots of questions passed my brain at a fast speed. Why would we get to hang out now? Why would he get to know me? What was the reason behind this? How my parents learnt for their family?
“Excuse me?” I wondered and looked at all of them. “Can someone please explain to me what is happening? Why would he get to know me now?” I asked my father and for a second he dropped his mask before putting in back on, calmly.
“You’re getting married y/n. Everything’s ready except from some small details. Julio is your soon to be- husband now and you’re committed to him and no one else”
I felt like an item with no soul like a painting that was useless and dusty hung on a wall and was getting ready to be sold. I was standing there speechless, helpless. So that was the reason for all of the moving here? For me to get out of their way with a man that surely didn’t want me far away from my home? Miles apart from my little brother that needed me the most now, my friends that were the ones that really accepted me? Shouldn’t I get to choose who I’m going to let into my life? Into me? Shouldn’t I be the only one that had the right to select my man? Shouldn’t I get to fall in love first?
“No" that was all that my voice could say under my breath. No I didn’t want Julio Agapov. I didn’t want to let this man to be my first. I didn’t want him to touch me or kiss me, hug me. He wasn’t the one I imagined before getting to bed. He wasn’t the boy I was in love with. And he never would be.
I left this crowded room to join mine in a matter of seconds. I didn’t care that it might seemed rude or anything close to that. I felt cheap and humiliated by my own family. I never expected from them to do such a thing as this. I knew that they did not care as much, and it was alright now after all these years, but this had topped the line.
It wasn’t that much long when the door opened and the person that even my imagination couldn’t handle stepped inside and the aura changed quicker than expected. Always with those goddamned jeans, his dark blue, almost black hat at the top of his head and a packet of cigarettes hanging from his right pocket.
“What are you doing here?”
Y/n had a really normal question but Arvin didn’t know the answer to it. What was he doing there? Why he went there at the first place? Wasn’t he going to smoke?
“Are you okay?” he asked in return. She looked down at her feet and laughed. It sounded funny to her how he asked this when he already knew the answer. She was getting married to a boy she didn’t want so that her parents can have less in their mind. She was feeling great.
“You don’t care" she got up from her bed and walked to the window. Y/n felt him seconds later next to her, copying her movements.
“No I don't” he agreed with her statement. Yet, he felt the need to protect her, just like he did with Lenora all of these years, in a way that he didn’t know how to explain. She was the only one that could make him feel that to his bones. There were endless nights that he would stay up and analyze his emotions just so he can find what was causing him that and how he would fight it. Every night though was like an dead end road with no possible exits.
Both of them kept their eyes on the trees across them. She felt protected now the Arvin was there with her. Her heart was going crazy, her mind went wild. He had threw all of her fears away, she was feeling nice, capable of anything. And if he would ask her to follow him in a different city, away from them, she would say yes a million times. He had an influence to her thinking, the power to control her.
“Why are you here Arvin?” he was now focusing on her and her lips that had let out his name so lovely and beautiful. It surprised him the fact that he held his breath for a moment really without knowing, unconscious of his reactions.
It didn’t take a lot for her to take the courage to kiss him, the sensation of her lips against his waking up the butterflies on her stomach. Y/n felt the four walls falling, everyone disappear and a force taking her to another dimension.
His hands pulled her waist closer to his body, her fingers travelling from his neck to his chest and back. Their tongues intertwined, their kiss turning more to a little fight. He didn’t know why. Why he was doing that and why he was feeling like that but he enjoyed it. He liked how she was leaning against his body, how her fingers burnt his skin, how his tongue explored her mouth, how he wanted more.
Her fantasies weren’t even close to what she was experiencing now. How safe she was inside his embrace, how everything seemed far away from her, how her blood was boiling through her veins, the need of more knocking at her door.
None of them knew that Julio was watching them. What his mind was thinking, how he suddenly he needed y/n his, to take revenge of Arvin, to see y/n suffer. He was a bad person that never thought of the consequences that his actions had. He was taught to always get what he desired one way or another. And this moment was one like the rest. He was going to get y/n either she liked it or not.
“Please save me” that was what she whispered to him when they pulled from each other. They both needed to save one another.
148 notes · View notes
watchmegetobsessed · 4 years
Text
Memories - Grayson Dolan
here i am, back with another fic based on a dream i had! also, i did not proofread this so im sorry for the mistakes!
summary: You are childhood friends with the Dolan siblings and you recreate childhood photos, but one recreation results in surprising consequences.
word count: 3.8k
masterlist
Tumblr media
“I can’t believe they made me do this,” you growl at your own reflection when you finish your already ridiculous look with putting your hair up into piggy tails. You look like someone who has fully lost her mind and acts like a child while being an adult. The denim overalls fit you loosely since you found it in your brother’s wardrobe, but it was the closest you could find to what was required from you. The striped shirt however is a little too tight, given the fact that the last time you wore it was in seventh grade. You’ve definitely gotten bigger in certain parts since then, but this is the only striped shirt you could find in such a short notice.
You feel ridiculous, but still excited. When the twins called you last night to ask if you’d be in recreating your old photos from your childhood there was just no way you could refuse. One, they sounded so thrilled and eager and two, you found it just as interesting and promising as them. You’ve been stuck at home for so long, you just couldn’t say no to some fun with your favorite neighbors. Growing up next door to the Dolan household has been one of the best things in your life. You instantly had two more awesome brothers and a big sister and friends you knew would always be there for you. When the twins left from home and Cam moved because of collage you were afraid you’d lose them since you stayed, only attending the local community college so you could help out the family business, but they proved you wrong. Endless video calls, nonstop texting and snapping and surprise visits whenever they came home to the family reassured that this is surely gonna last a lifetime.
Now in this messed up situation with the virus, they are all home with Lisa and being the restless goofballs that they are, there’s always something crazy they are up to and this time they made you join them.
“Y/N!” your mom calls from downstairs and though you already heard the quads arriving she lets you know the boys are here for you.
Taking your backpack that’s filled with your other childhood outfits you stomp down the stairs when you appear in the corner Grayson is the first one you spot. His eyes widen at you for a second before that shit-eating grin stretches across his face at your outfit, even though he looks just as ridiculous as you in his old, purple shirt with Sponge Bob on it and the hideous red shorts, socks pulled up almost until his knees.
“Look at you, Tootsie!” he chuckles and you roll your eyes at the nickname only he uses still. You couldn’t say the letter F normally until you were about seven, turning the word footsies into tootsies and everyone liked to tease you about that, especially Grayson. The name got unstuck by the time you turned sixteen, but not for him. He still calls you Tootsie whenever he has the chance. You don’t mind, it always awakens those damned butterflies in your tummy.
As you get to the bottom of the stairs his hand immediately reach up to curl a strand of hair from your piggy tail to his finger, playing with it a little before he lets it slip out of his grip.
“Woah, Y/N, you nailed the look!” Ethan shows up with freshly baked cookies in his hands that he probably got from your mom who is experimenting in the kitchen again. That’s her new favorite thing since the quarantine started.
“I know, right?” you grin, doing something that you meant to be a curtsey, but it turned out more like an awkward bopping.
Ethan has a black shirt on with striped pants, socks just as high as Grayson’s with his tennis shoes. They both nailed the vintage looks pretty well and you can’t wait to see their other outfits. Grayson sent you a bunch of photos last night that they want to recreate and he got you curious what will turn out of this.
Your mom walks out of the kitchen, oven mittens on her hands and she gasps seeing all three of you.
“Om my! How cute you all look!” she cheers and gathers all three of you into a group hug. “Time flies…”
“But you look just as pretty as you always did,” Grayson smirks at her and you can see her blushing. He never fails to make her feel better, one thing you absolutely adore in him.
She packs some more cookies for you before you finally leave, the quads waiting on your driveway. You go to Gray’s without a second thought, you always ride with him. Ethan used to make a fuss about it when they first got them, but eventually gave up on the fight and you guess he accepted that Grayson is your ride when it comes to the quads. You always told him it’s because you think he is a better driver, but in reality you just love sitting behind him, arms hugging his waist, thighs pressed together.
His sweet scent makes you smile as you sit behind him, waiting for him to start the quad and you often wish the way from your house to their would last longer, giving you more time to enjoy this little moment with him. Crushing on your childhood friend has taught you to savor these little things as if they are happening for the last time in life, because these are all you had and still has.
“Piggy tails!” Cameron greets you upon arriving, jumping down the stairs rocking the same hairstyle as you.
“We should do them more often,” you laugh as you get off the quad, unwillingly letting go of Grayson, going to hug her tight.
“We look fucking awesome for sure,” she grins.
The boys bring everything that’s going to be needed during the photoshoot into the pickup while you go inside to greet Lisa and the three of you girls have a quick little chat.
“Oh, I can’t wait to see the pictures,” she cheers happily, hips leaning against the edge of the counter. “I love these recreations.”
“We will look so ridiculous on all of them,” Cameron snorts finishing up her lemonade.
“We always end up looking ridiculous when we are together,” you smirk at her and she points at you nodding.
“You’ve got a point.”
Once the boys are done with loading the car you go to the backyard to shoot the first few pictures that were taken there. Ethan is responsible for the camera, Grayson controls the set while you and Cam try your best to nail the poses like on the pictures.
They turn out amazing. You all managed to recreate the outfits almost perfectly and you could find the exact spots from the photos, making it possible to nail them precisely. Lisa watches you work from the kitchen window, a wide smile on her lips and it makes you happy to see her like this. So carefree and full of life.
“Okay, we have one last photo here,” Ethan directs, zooming in on the picture on his phone. “Gray, Y/N, go to that tree.”
Nodding you follow the instructions, though you know which photo it is going to be. You adjust your piggy tails tugging on your shirt. You’ve changed from the overalls, now rocking a yellow polo shirt with high-waisted denim shorts and sandals. Many of the pictures were taken on the same day, so you can recreate more in the same outfits.
“Alright, Y/N has to sit on your shoulders and hold onto a branch.”
Gray nods and turns to you, rubbing his hands together.
“I’ll squat down, you sit on my shoulders, okay?”
“Yeah,” you nod, feeling a bit nervous. The guys used to pick you up, carry around on their back and shoulders a lot, but your teenage years made you super insecure about your weight, so you asked them to stop. They respected your choice and though you’ve successfully overcome this situation, they are still very careful around you.
Grayson squats down and you stand behind him, hesitant before lifting your leg up and planting it onto his shoulder. You freeze when his hand holds onto your thigh above your knee.
“Don’t worry, I got you,” he softly reminds you, thinking you froze because you’re afraid he would drop you, but in reality it’s because of his touch.
“I know,” you quietly say before placing a hand on his head for support, fingers digging into his now long hair before you lift your other leg up and finally put it to his shoulder. He counts back from three before he stands up and you suddenly tower over everyone in the backyard.
“Hold onto the branch!” Ethan instructs you and looking up you grab the first branch you can reach. Grayson’s hands on your thighs are basically burning and you can’t tell that it’s his palms that are so hot or your skin under his touch.
You manage to focus for a few so the picture can be taken and when Ethan says you got what you needed Grayson slowly descends so you can hop off his shoulders.
“You okay?” he asks brushing his hair out of his face once you are both standing on your own feet.
“Yeah,” you smile shyly as he brings a hand to your back, gently caressing it to let you know without words that you did great.
Once the backyard pictures are done you all load into the pickup and head into the forest, the place where you’ve had so many adventures growing up. You knew this recreating would be a lot of fun, but you finally feel like it’s all like before, when adulthood hasn’t set in, the twins and Cam were still living next door, making it easy to hangout whenever you wanted.
You take picture after picture, and not just recreations, you are making new ones, eternalizing this new memory the four of you share now.
“Alright, we have one more picture to take,” Ethan announces with a knowing grin and you furrow your eyebrows at him.
“What? I thought the one with the ladder was the last one.”
Walking over he shows you his phone, already laughing and your eyes go wide when you see the photo he wants to recreate.
“You did not send me this!” you protest as you stare down at the photo you’ve seen so many times before, but never thought it would cause you to almost have a heart attack.
It was taken of you and Gray, the two of you are sitting on the back of Sean’s old pickup, you were probably five, max six years old here, little arms hugging each other and Grayson is giving you a big smooch right onto your lips. This was technically your first kiss, if you count the innocent childhood kisses. Back then you had no idea what crushes or love were, you only knew that you liked this silly boy who lived next door and happened to have a clone, as you used to say it. Your feelings for Grayson originate from way back.
“Come on, Y/N! This is one of mom’s favorite,” Cam tells you grinning and you’re annoyed that she and Ethan are enjoying this more than they should while you are probably now as red as a tomato. Glancing over at Grayson you see that he is just standing there, looking nervous maybe? Eyes avoiding to look at you.
“I…”
“She would be so disappointed if this one doesn’t get a recreation!” Ethan nags you and he is such a rat, using Lisa against you. They know you’d do anything for her, she is like a second mother to you, saying no to her has never been an option for you and they know that too well.
You are defeated, so walking over to the truck you just simply hop on the back, trying not to look like you are about to pass out from your nerves. Ethan makes his brother sit next to you and it feels so awkward, you definitely did not think this would ever happen.
“You don’t have to do this because they are blackmailing you with mom,” Grayson whispers to you while Ethan and Cam are busy with setting the camera up.
“It’s fine, really,” you say forcing a smile to your lips, but it’s so not true and he knows it too.
“Okay, so Gray, you just lean in and… go for it,” Ethan laughs as if he is a kid again, talking about kissing like it’s a forbidden thing to even say out loud.
The two of you adjust your position, turning to each other a little before you hug each other like in the photo. Grayson looks deep in your eyes, giving you the chance to bail out, but you just stare back at him, ready to go with whatever is about to happen.
“Okay,” he whispers to himself and before you could even have a second though his lips are on yours.
Your eyes close immediately at the sensation, arms loosening around him, making the hug more comfortable as you let your lips part a little. Far away you hear the camera clicking, but it doesn’t sound real, your heart is beating in your throat and that innocent smooch slowly turns into a real kiss.
“We got it!” Ethan’s voice snaps you out right before it could take a more radical turn. Leaning back your eyes are met with Grayson’s startled face, lips parted, hands still on your waist.
“Great, great,” you mumble awkwardly, hopping off the trunk, out of his arms.
The mood has definitely changed because of the kiss. Ethan and Cam start teasing the two of you about it, but you just try to shrug it off while forcing yourself to forget what it felt like to have his lips on yours, because the more you think about it the more you crave another kiss… and another one… and another one…
It seems like Grayson wants to say something, or this is what you see in his eyes, but he keeps quiet on the way back to the Dolan house. Cam invites you to stay over for a movie while Ethan edits the pictures and you accept it. Arriving back to the house you are wandering inside feeling distant and dizzy when a hand slides into yours and pulls you back before you could walk inside.
“Wait,” Grayson keeps you back and you turn to him with a puzzled look. “Can we…”
“Just take her to your room, Gray!” Ethan shouts from the front porch with the most annoying grin on his face.
“Shut up!” he snaps back at his brother. “Come with me,” he nods at you and he pulls you towards the quads.
“Where are you going?” Ethan calls after the two of you.
“Where you are not there to be an asshole!” Gray retorts making you laugh. You hop on the quad behind him. “Hold on tight, Tootsie,” he chuckles as you wrap your arms around his waist.
You have absolutely no idea where you are heading, you’re just enjoying the ride, face pressed against his broad back, feeling the muscles moving under your cheek every time he takes a turn.
When he stops and you look around you immediately recognize the place. The little abandoned patio you found about a decade ago in the woods still stands, vines and plans have taken over it, the wood looks like it would give up if a harsh wind blew through it, but it still looks like a magical place. It was you secret place with Grayson, you came her often when you both wanted to escape from home, just sat on the dirty floor and watched the sky through the cracks of the roof of the patio.
“I can’t believe it’s still here,” you chuckle walking closer while Grayson turns the quad off behind you.
“Yeah, looks deadly though,” he comments scoffing.
“Probably been through a lot,” you smile back at him. “What are we doing here?”
Hopping off the quad he walks towards you pulling his phone out of his pocket with a nervous, but excited smirk on his face.
“I wanted to recreate one more picture.”
He hands you his phone, a photo from about five years ago shown on the screen. You both were just teenagers, the phone was put to the ground on a timer and the two of you sat in front of it in the patio, laughing carefree, he had an arm around your shoulders and you were leaning into him. It was just a random day you spent out in the woods when Ethan had a doctor’s appointment and Lisa asked Grayson to stay over at ours while they are not home. You wandered in the woods for hours and of course ended up at the patio.
“You want to recreate this?” you ask with a smile, looking up at him as you hand him back his phone.
“Yeah,” he nods with a shy smile.
“Let’s do this.”
He sets his phone up the same way as you sit on the floor in the patio, waiting for him to join you. He thuds arriving next to you as the timer counts back from ten. Swinging an arm around your shoulders you look him in the eyes as you lean at him.
The urge to kiss him is back, you want to feel his lips again so bad, but you don’t know if you should. The counter reaches the end and the phone snaps the picture, but neither of you moves.
“We should have laughed,” you whisper, feeling like his eyes are locked on yours, not letting you look anywhere else but him.
“Yeah?”
“Mhm.”
“Should we make another picture then?” he asks and starts leaning closer.
“I guess,” you breathe out right before his lips meet yours.
It’s so much more than the one you shared earlier on the trunk. This kiss is real, full of lust and longing, not something kids would share, but you are not kids anymore. Cupping his face in your hands you try to get as close to him as possible, pushing yourself to his lap and he falls back to the ground pulling you with him. You share a laugh, rolling around in the dirt, Grayson getting on top of you, kissing you again and again and you don’t want this moment to end.
“Sixteen year-old Grayson would be so proud of me now,” he smirks against your lips.
“What?” you smile at him pushing him a little back so you can look into his eyes.
“I’ve wanted to kiss you here so many times, I can’t even count.”
“Really?”
“Yeah. Like the day the photo was taken. I was just a chicken and I thought you didn’t like me back.”
“I did. I still do,” you smile, brushing his hair out of his face but it keeps falling back.
“Sorry for earlier.”
“What do you mean?”
“The kiss on the pickup. They just wanted to urge me to do something because they are done with my pining after you.”
“What? It was all a setup?”
“Yeah,” he chuckles and rolling off you he sits up and you push yourself up as well. “Ethan planned it all out, hoping I would finally do something if I’m forced to kiss you, but I honestly thought you wouldn’t agree to take the picture.”
“But I did.”
“Yes you did,” he chuckles and reaching over he tugs a strand of hair behind your ear that escaped from your piggy tails. “Want to know something funny?”
“Mhm.” Nodding you scoot closer and kiss his lips softly, just because now you can.
“Remember how fussy Ethan used to get when you’d only ride with me on the quad?”
“Yeah. Like a baby,” you chuckle.
“That was because he used to have a crush on you too.”
“What?” Your eyes widen as you stare back at him. “He did not!”
“Yes he did,” he laughs. “We had a fight over this, because he didn’t know I liked you. But then I told him and he realized he has no chance.”
“How did he just realize it? What do you mean?”
Looking away from you he seems nervous to answer you and you give him time. You know he is going to share it with you.
“He said that… He has no chance, because he just likes you while I… I love you.”
Oh how long you’ve been craving to hear those words from him! And now it’s reality, not just a daydream in your mind. Leaning closer you kiss him, sweet and slow, taking your time with him.
“I loved you too. I still do,” you smile at him and wrapping his arms around you he pulls you down with him back to the floor kissing you all over and over again.
When you return to the house about an hour later Ethan and Cameron come out running to the front porch the moment you hop off the quad, clearly waiting for something holding their breath.
You don’t say a word, just try to hide your smile while Grayson gets off the quad too and stepping next to you he laces his fingers together with you. The moment this happens Ethan and Cam starts screaming and shouting, running to you and jumping all over the two of you.
“FINALLY! YES!”
“ABOUT FUCKING TIME!”
“Oh my god, guys!” Grayson chuckles showing his siblings off to give us some space to breathe, but you don’t mind their enthusiasm. It’s cute that they were rooting for you so bad.
Lisa appears on the front porch, confused about all the noise, but then she sees as Grayson pulls you to his side, kissing the top of your head and she immediately knows what’s happening.
“You’re not joking, right?!” she gasps walking down the stairs.
“No, mom. It’s serious,” Grayson chuckles shyly and as his mom finally reaches you she embraces both of you in a tight hug, laughing happier than you’ve probably ever heard her.
“Finally! I’ve been waiting for this to happen for so long!”
“Mom!” Grayson whines, but you find it so sweet.
“We all did, Lisa,” you admit chuckling.
She invites you all inside for dinner and you gladly join. What happened today didn’t change anything in the dynamic you shared with them. Dinner is just as heartfelt and fun like it always is, or even better. When you’re done eating you all go into the living room and watch the little slideshow Ethan put together from the photos, laughing so much on both the old and new ones.
Today surely started as a day of old memories, but the new ones you’ve made are way better than any other you’ve made with your favorite siblings, especially one of them.
538 notes · View notes
brittledame · 4 years
Text
Tumblr media
Pairing: Semi Eita/Reader
Warnings: Explicit, Mildly Dubious Consent, Face-Fucking, Scent Marking, Possessive Semi, Claiming, Mention of violence/gore, Alternate Universe, Fantasy AU, Wolf!Semi, Witch!Reader
Word Count: 9.1K
Summary: After Goshiki and Ushijima are thrown into an alternate universe after getting hit by a truck, they're thrown into a generation-old prophecy to defeat the Demon King that had been terrorizing the land. Joining the whirl-wind adventure, you face off the feared Wolf at a great disadvantage. Prepared to meet your fate in order to protect your team, you never anticipated him making a move on you and for it to end in you promising yourself to him. 
Notes: Inspired by chapter 24 of Haikyuu-bu!! I started working on this in the middle of the 2nd installment to ‘Semi’s Blow Blow Up’ which I’m hoping to get out before the end of September. Also, I let Semi keep his ears and tail in this, please don’t send me to hell for that. Other than that, please enjoy!!
Tumblr media
When Tsutomu and Ushijima ended up on top of a hill surrounded by acres of green rolling-hills, the younger honestly assumed the worst had happened. The bus had hit him and now he was dead in heaven. Of-course Ushijima would be there with him, he’s probably never made a misdeed in his life, meanwhile Tsutomu was slightly shocked he’d end up in heaven after spitefully cutting his older sister’s hair off when she teased his haircut when he was younger.
No, that can’t be right, he can't be in heaven. Everything felt too real. A breeze tousled his hair and he could smell the dirt under his scuffed runners. He couldn’t be dead, meaning that this place wasn’t heaven or purgatory, but someplace else. From the odd-looking trees sporting large purple leaves and expansive Elysian scenery, Tsutomu couldn’t shoot down the absurd idea that he was in an alternate dimension.
Patting himself down, he knew he was physically fine and felt his heart anxiously pounding away inside his chest. Out of the corner of his eye, he caught Ushijima standing tall, giving the area around them a surveying glance before his olive eyes landed on his shaky form.
“Goshiki, are you alright?” His deep timbre did calm his frayed nerves, it was hard not to trust his dependable senpai.
Nodding his head, Tsutomu responds with number one question of the day: “Ushijima-senpai, where are we?”
He tried to conceal the fear in his tone, but it would seem that he failed miserably as Ushijima places a comforting hand on his shoulder.
“That truck must have hit us quite a fair way away.” Ushijima states, looking nowhere near as panicked as one should in their situation.
Goshiki gives him bewildered look, gesturing to the land in front of them.
“You think we would be fine after getting hit by a truck?” Tsutomu didn’t try to hide his hysteria. “No matter what way you paint it, this place doesn’t look like anywhere in Miyagi!”
“But there’s Shirabu.” Ushijima points somewhere over Tsutomu’s shoulder.
Half scared that he’s going to turn around and it’s some eldritch terror standing behind him, he froze in place. Although Tsutomu knew Ushijima would never put him in danger, Ushijima had no sense of danger; case and point the ghost incident. Gathering his scattered courage, he turns around and is dumbfounded to find Shirabu indeed standing before him, albeit he was now dressed in unusual garments.
“Shirabu?” Tsutomu exclaims, half relived that at least someone with a brain not solely filled with volleyball would see the insanity of their situation.
“Shirabu? No, I am not a Shirabu, I am Elf.” Not-Shirabu responds while pulling his hood off to expose comically long ears. Tsutomu could feel his mind take a temporary holiday, leaving him half-cocked and not nearly prepared enough to deal with this shit.
“We’re in an actual alternate universe…”
Tumblr media
A short trek later, Tsutomu found himself being hosted by Not-Shirabu, who was scarily similar to Shirabu - right down to his mannerisms. Tsutomu could’ve sworn that every time he asked a question about this world, Not-Shirabu fought down a grimace, but never failed to give him a short response. He was polite but was obvious about his distaste towards Tsutomu’s inherently curious nature.
“Shirabu, everyone will worry if we do not return to school soon.” Ushijima succinctly summarises their situation.
“It’s Elf,” Not-Shirabu says immediately. “You want to return to your world?”
At their nods, Not-Shirabu slumps in his chair with a hefty sigh.
“I’m afraid there’s an issue with that. I would love to get you back home, but an evil Demon King has taken over this land. I’m afraid to say that going home is out of the question.”
Tsutomu felt his heart sink at the words. They couldn’t return home? What were they going to do here for a living? They could farm, but Tsutomu is nowhere near well-read in that field compared to Ushijima. Even in this dire situation, Tsutomu was reluctant to admit defeat.
“A Demon King?” He queried, obviously fishing for information about this Demon King. Maybe there was a way to convince him to let them home?
“Yes.” Elf drily responded.
Tsutomu could feel his eye twitch at the Shirabu-like response. Even in an alternate universe, his senpai was a short and antagonistic towards Tsutomu.
Only when he was prompted by Ushijima’s nod, did he continue.
“He is a malicious being with the sole incentive is to spread misfortune across the land. It started with small mischievous deeds, such as cutting individual’s hair into odd styles.” Elf pauses here to raise a hand to his fringe and Tsutomu had to smother the laugh that could threaten his life. “Now he has moved onto terrorising villages and increasing tax prices to an unbelievable high.”
“That is no way to run a country.” Ushijima hums in disapproval.
Tsutomu clasped his hands over his head, already feeling a headache coming on. So we’re going to completely ignore that Shirabu’s weird ass fringe was the result of some Demon King that has apparently ravaged the land by hiking up tax prices? And why did this all sound like something Tendou-senpai would do? He felt latent hysteria rise to the surface again.
“I’m sorry that he got you too, Goshiki.” Elf says solemnly.
Head snapping up, Tsutomu felt outraged at the comment. He worked really hard for his fringe to be this straight. Tsutomu would swear up until his deathbed that bowl cuts were cool.
“Hey! My fringe is untouched by the Demon King. This was my choice!” Goshiki defended his hairstyle, patting at the dark strands, making sure there wasn’t any odd fly-aways.
“We can’t go home as long as the demon king reigns?” Ushijima interjects, effectively ending the argument before it started. Ushijima was all too used to being the only one to stop arguments between Goshiki and Shirabu, he knew all the warning signs.
“Yes.” Elf says with an apologetic look. “I’m very sorry. If only the summoning of the ‘Otherworldly Hero’ passed on from past generations had succeeded. They are the sole hope we have.”
A silence envelopes the room, heavy and suffocating.
Tsutomu knew that panicking would do nothing but waste valuable energy, but he couldn’t help but feel a little overwhelmed at the insane situation they found themselves in. A niggling thought heaped more anxiety onto him when it raises a good point. What if they were able to go home, what happens if time passes differently here? A day here may be twelve years back home. What would he do if he went back home and all his friends were old, his parents dead and –
Elf startles Tsutomu out of his downward spiral by suddenly jerking back with a gasp, wide eyes focused on Ushijima’s left hand holding a spoon laden with soup. The sudden motion had caused a cup to fall and clatter loudly against the stone flooring, which went widely ignored as Elf raises a trembling finger pointed at the stoic brunette.
“You’re using the spoon with your left hand. Are you –!” He cuts himself off as he rushes over to Ushijima’s side, not quite believing his own eyes. “The Otherworldly Hero!”
Tsutomu could not point out a time he’s ever heard so much emotion poured into Shirabu’s tone, he was almost swept up into Elf’s zeal before his logic kicked back in.
It was that easy?! Tsutomu internally screamed. This was just getting ridiculous at this point, honestly.
Tumblr media
After a singular trial of pulling a sword out of stone and Tsutomu embarrassing himself and losing Elf’s respect, they found themselves starting a quest. The fanboy within him was super excited that he was going on an actual quest, exactly like the ones in his RPG campaigns.
“Remind me why we need this witch again?” Tsutomu questions, much to Elf’s evident annoyance.
“We need her to get through the Mystical Woods. It's prowled by one of the Demon King’s acolytes.” Elf slides his eyes to give Tsutomu a warning look, not wanting to answer anymore questions.
Gulping at the intimidating look, Tsutomu waved away the twenty billion other questions that came to mind as they made their way towards a tall stone tower. Tsutomu wonders what the witch would look like. Would she be someone they know, or someone completely new?
At this point in the trip, he silently begging any listening deities that she’s friendly. Ushijima and Shirabu have never been the best talking companions in his world and this trip has highlighted to Tsutomu how much he’d taken Yamagata’s and Reon’s friendly conversations for granted.
The tower ahead of them slowly grew in size until Tsutomu estimated it stood at least 5 stories tall. Following in Elf’s shadow, they pause a few feet away from the base. Looking at the structure, Tsutomu was quick to notice that there was no door present. Maybe they were on the wrong side of the tower?
He was just about to voice this before Elf cups his mouth and proceeds to yell up at one of the open windows.
“Hey Witch, come down! I found the Otherworldly Hero!” He shouts, uncaring at the ruckus he was making.
Tsutomu winces at the volume, shocked at how loud Elf could get. Absent mindedly, he wonders if the Shirabu in his dimension could get that loud too. Looking back up at the window, the youngest saw a head peak out.
“What?!” A familiar voice yells back down. The head disappears out of sight before any of them could respond.
No even a moment later, a dark door appears on the once-blank wall before them. Opening, the door reveals a figure that Tsutomu never thought he’d see. He should've expected it, this situation was crazy enough as it was.
Walking out of the dark room, you come to stand out in the sunlight, confirming your identity. Tsutomu blushed when he noted your attire. You looked exactly how you did before their run, minus the dark blue dress that hugged your curves and loose hair. Not wanting to draw unnecessary attention to himself, he subtly glances to the side to catch Ushijima’s reaction to your appearance.
With his usual neutral expression, he exclaims your name with no more vigour than any other time he’s said it. Tsutomu put too much faith into Ushijima, he should have expected the lack of a reaction as well.
You give Ushijima an odd expression, looking at Elf to explain what was going on.
“Manager-chan?” Goshiki interrupted. Elf shot him a nasty look at the interruption and ended up sighing whilst rubbing at the bridge of his nose.
“They've been calling me weird names all afternoon too. Just ignore the short Otherworlder.” Goshiki whines at his harsh words.
You pique an eyebrow at the bowl-cut boy. “So I look like someone you know from your world?”
“Yes,” Ushijima answered monotonously. “You look exactly like our team’s manager.”
You hum as you mull over his words. “Curious. So that would mean you're from a world that is directly parallel to ours, a completely different dimension with shared similarities.” Your tone picked in pace and excitement as you spoke, the end of your sentence becoming a smear to the males around you.
At their collective blank looks you made an odd hand gesture in the air. “Anyway… You found the Hero?” Giving Ushijima a curious look, you completely ignore Tsutomu’s existence.
It kind of hurt for one of his kindest senpai's to outright disregard his presence. Reminding himself of parallel universes, he had to actively tell himself that you weren’t technically you.
Wow, he really hated this alternative universe stuff.
“I’ve been told as such.” Ushijima supplies, not at all weirded out by you invading his personal space to prod at his biceps.
Turning on your heel, you make your way towards Elf and throw a casual arm around his shoulders. Not at all bothered by your antics, Elf stands there as you lean against him. Tsutomu knew in his world that you and Shirabu got along quite well, that must have translated into this universe as well.
“Why are you here instead of saving the lands now that you have the Hero at hand?” Your question is a legitimate one, one that Tsutomu would’ve asked if he wasn’t scared of Shirabu’s infamous back of the knee kicks. If Ushijima was supposedly strong enough to take on the Demon King, surely he'd be able to take on one simple lackey lurking in the woods they needed to cross.
“We’re here to recruit you. You’re the only one I know powerful enough to conceal us to get past the Demon King’s pet monsters.” He patiently explains.
“Aw and here I was thinking it was because you missed me. I missed you, y’know?” You teased. Truly, you did miss Elf and all the shenanigans the two of you would get into, but you would never pass up an opportunity to needle him.
Elf simply rolls his eyes at you and shrugs the arm off of his shoulder.
“I mean it. We need you to get through the Mystical Woods without being detected by Wolf.” You frown at Elf’s serious expression, the reality of the situation dawning upon you.
“You know I’m never going to turn down a quest with you, but his senses are ridiculously enhanced. It’ll take a lot out of me.” Running a hand through your hair, Tsutomu recognised it as your nervous tick. “I won’t be much help during the final battle.”
“Don’t worry about that. You can rely on me.” Ushijima simply states but the effect on you and Elf is immediate.
The Hero’s simple words eviscerated your reservations, the conviction in his tone was all you needed to hear. That paired with the large sacred sword still embedded in stone was all it took to convince you it wasn't a fool's mission.
Agreeing to join their party, you rush to grab your wand and some other resources to assist the party later on in the journey before setting off.
Tumblr media
By the time you all stood before the ominous-looking trees of the Mystical Woods, the sun was starting to settle on the horizon, warning you that you had little to no time to make it through before night came along and the true battle began.
“Before we enter, I must tell you all that Wolf’s senses are second to none. He’ll hear a whisper, smell you an acre away, and could destroy you before you could blink.” Your warning only served to scare Goshiki. You rushed to complete your weak pep talk. “But, I’m here so it is very unlikely that he will catch us, much less even be in this neck of the woods.”
Your words did little to soothe the youngest, although he did put a brave face on. You had to stop yourself from cooing at how cute he looked with his chest puffed out and a serious expression adorning his young face.
“Hey, uh, what does this wolf look like? That way if we spot him we can seek some cover.” Goshiki suggests.
Impressed, you gave him an encouraging smile and ignored Elf snorting behind you.
“That’s a brilliant idea, good job Goshiki.” You praised, noticing the way his eyes lit up at it. “Wolf roams around in his human form as far as I’m aware of. He’s taller than Elf but shorter than Hero.”
Elf indignantly huffs at your comment, not all liking your unintentional poke at the sore topic.
“He has pale hair, it almost looks white sometimes. Oh, he also constantly has this really grumpy look on his face.” You continue to list off a series of characteristics that describes Semi to a tee. There was no doubt in Tsutomu’s and Ushijima’s mind about who Wolf was.
“That sounds like Semi.” Goshiki remarked once you finished.
Receiving blank looks from you and Elf, Tsutomu stumbled over his words as he tried to articulate his thoughts.
“Ah, well, the person you just described sounds exactly like my senpai back home called Semi.” Tsutomu let out a small chuckle as he’s hit with a funny nickname for his senpai.
“We’re going to avoid Semi-Wolf so that we can get to the castle, defeat the king and go home, right?” Tsutomu smoothly recovers.
You laugh at the odd nickname Goshiki coined.
“Semi-Wolf you say? I quite like that.” You raise your hand to cover your grin, very amused at how much the ever-serious Wolf would hate it.
Always forced to be the voice of reason, Elf clapped his hands to refocus everyone’s attention.
“We can’t lose focus now. Once we enter these trees we can’t afford to be found by Wolf, even with Witch and Hero on our side, it would be a tiresome battle if he spots us.” His grave tone quickly sobered up the party.
Taking a deep breath, you withdraw your wand, starting to draw out an intricate rune in the air. A familiar tingling sensation overtakes your body as magic begins to flow from the earth up into your fingers and into the wand.
Finishing the last line, a glowing circle with swirling line and sharp strokes stood before you. Fastening the members behind you with a heavy look, you offered them one last chance to back out.
“Are you all ready?”
All three nod back at you, already having steeled themselves whilst you prepared the rune. Turning back to the rune, you finished the casting and walked through it with the three males hot on your tracks. It evaporated as soon as you stepped through it, effectively masking your scents and dampening all sounds. Even Ushijima could sense the tangible weight of the magic casted over his body.
The woods were exactly as you remembered it from when you were a child and wasn’t claimed by the fearsome Wolf. The trees looked the same with rough and peeling bark, along with the ground looking as damp and spongy as the days you ran through it barefooted and free-spirited.
While you didn’t explicitly state that they couldn’t talk, you were secretly glad that they didn’t. It would’ve made your life much more difficult to funnel more energy into the rune to mask them, it was already bad enough that your couldn't completely conceal everyone. Your combined efforts of creeping between the threes on  light feet was counteracted by Ushijima nicking every second tree with the sword's sharp blade, creating a trail of bark.
Eyes and ears stayed vigilant even as you noticed a landmark for the half-way point through the forest. You paused at the large outcropping of rocks resembling a sleeping lady and mouth at them that it you were half-way there. Elf and Goshiki looked relieved whilst Ushijima sported the same bland look.
You were tempted to suggest a short rest before continuing through the woods, where Semi-Wolf commonly prowled. The words died on your tongue as you noticed an abnormally thick fog rapidly approach your group. Not even a blink later and the fog had consumed all visibility below the waist.
You’ve spent your whole life surrounded by magic, you knew that this fog came from an unnatural origin. You had hoped that the fog would stay at that height but those were quickly dashed when you saw it slowly creep up your body. It wouldn’t be long before your entire vision was obscured.
This was not good, not good at all.
Whirling around, you went to grab at your team’s clothing to anchor them to you. As your hands cut throw empty air, your fear doubled. You doubted that they abandoned you, it was likely the doing of the magical woods. While you loved to experiment and witness all types of magic, always keen to expand your knowledge, the magic in these woods never failed to unnerve you even as a young child.
Not only was there a predator out here, the woods were also working against you.
Considering your options, you concluded that you were rapidly running out of choices.
Calling out their names was objectively a stupid choice, but it was the best thing you could do with breaking the fragile magic coating them. It was almost a form a self-sacrifice. If you drew enough attention to yourself, they would hopefully find their way to you - or at least something would.
A few tense moments go by, each call answered with dead silence. Not even the insects and birds dared to make a sound.
Casting a tracking spell was completely off the table. Not only was the fog thick enough that you couldn’t see your hand in front of your face, it would shatter the meagre concealing magic coating them. At least it was something to protect them, it was much better then leaving them completely defenceless.
“Shit.” You hissed. Worriedly, you eye the magical fog that was becoming more oppressive, feeling like a physical weight pressing down on you.
“I didn’t know good witches like yourself cursed. So unladylike.” A deep rumbling voice sounded right next to your ear. It was close enough to for warm breath to caress your cold skin. Your skin immediately breaks into goose bumps.
Freezing, your mind descends into chaos as it crowds with worrying thoughts. The most prominent one pointed out the fact that Wolf was able to get dangerously close to you without your notice, magical fog aside. There was no doubt about who he was, there was no other that claimed the woods like he has.
You whirl around, trying to find the voice’s owner, full well knowing of whom you were seeking out. Fear coiled inside of your gut, trying it’s hardest to paralyse your muscles and haze your mind over in fear at the thought of facing Wolf alone at a disadvantage.
“You speak as if you’re a gentleman yourself, Semi-Wolf. You don’t have much room to condone my language when you have the mouth of a foul-tempered troll.” You rebuked, falsifying the confidence in your tone. Showing an ounce of trepidation in front of him would be deadly.
Eyes frantically flitting about, attempting to catch a glimpse of a shadow or anything that would reveal his whereabouts. Your eyes were met with nothing but swirling white, not a single sign as to where he could be. This whole situation had you on edge.
He chuckles at your weak jab. The sound reverberated off of the trees and felt like it came from all around you, only serving to further confuse you about his whereabouts.
While every drop of mana was precious, you thought it prudent to at least being able to see your enemy. It should at least put you on equal footing with him. Flicking your wand, you cast a spell to temporarily filter out the fog around you, creating a clear bubble around you and the menacing man before you.
Even though he looked just as you had described to your otherworldly companions, viewing Wolf not even two meters away from one’s self was always a different experience. The first feature that caught your attention was his dark eyes, iris colour similar to richly stained wood, secondly was his elongated nails coming to a fatal point. Claws sharp enough to shear through flesh with ease were paired with pointed canines exposed by his predatory smile.
Your heart speeds up as you recognised how doomed you were, armed only with your wand, half of your mana and a pouch of useless herbs. The fluffy white dark-tipped ears sitting atop his head flick at the thundering sound of your palpable fear. Wolf's smile widened at that, tail swishing side-to-side in glee. This was going to be all too easy for him.
“Found you Semi-Wolf” Your white-knuckled grip around your wand belied your light tone.
“Don’t call me that.” He growls out, eyes narrowing at you. He was not impressed at your impertinence.
You would normally roll your eyes at the needless display of anger, but you couldn’t afford to take your eyes off of his intimidating figure slowly walking around you.
“What are you doing in my territory,” he continues. You knew he didn't care about your answer, it was more so to draw this out.
Fine, you’d bite.
“We’re on a quest, so please kindly don’t interfere.” He pauses to the left of you, now not even an arms-length away from you. Your body instinctively tenses at this, acutely aware that he could take you out faster than you could cast at this distance.
“I can’t let my reputation suffer just because you asked politely to cross through. There’s consequences to encroaching my land without permission.” His tone darkens at the end of his sentence, acting as if you personally offended him by doing so.
You knew he wouldn’t let you go so easily but a girl could always dream, right?
Lowering your centre of gravity, you subtly shift your body into a fighting stance and forcibly relax your wrist. A stiff wrist would hinder casting and it would frankly be embarrassing to be taken down so quickly, regardless of Wolf being the second toughest opponent controlled by the Demon King.
His keen eyes catch onto your slight movements and he moves in kind. It appears that you’re confident enough to take him on directly off the bat and not even attempt to run away. Whether this choice was misguided or made by underestimating him, Wolf was going to make you rued the day you thought you stood a chance against him.
Not wanting to wait for him to make the first move, you immediately cast a paralysing spell. The spell missed widely as he simultaneously lunged towards you at that very moment. This back and forth of casting and dodging goes on for a while and it wasn't long before you could physically feel your mana decrease and muscles grow tired. Maybe locking yourself in a tower for months on end didn’t have the best effect on your stamina.
Knowing you didn’t have a chance in hell against him while half-powered thanks to the prior masking spell, you could do nothing but futilely dodge him and cast the occasional fire ball his way. In the back of your mind, you spared a thought to the rest of the party and prayed to the deities that they were making their way out of the woods.
An exposed root caught your foot as you danced out of reach from a swipe of his deadly claws. Time seemed to slow down as your world tilted and the ground rose up to catch your body. Catching yourself on unsteady hands, you hiss as the rough ground scrapes your palms and knees enough to bleed.
Seizing the win, Wolf walks over to your stationary form, savouring the smell of your blood on the air. It smelt sweet, Wolf licked his lips and nudged you onto your back with his foot. He briefly wondered if you would taste just as sweet. You had put up a good fight and Wolf always loved a good challenge.
Semi-Wolf cages your body with his own, his large hands trapping yours above your head, with his legs pinning yours down. At this point, you had resigned yourself to your fate. You never really thought that you’d die like this, a hot guy murdering you was always a bonus you supposed.
Bringing his face towards yours, your breath falters when his lips floats above yours. Eyes wide, you noticed the hunger in his dark eyes, a hunger that you knew yourself all too intimately. Seeing his lips tilt into a dangerous smirk, your eyes lock onto them much to Wolf’s evident amusement. He uses the opportunity of your diverted attention to closely check you out, his eyes sweeping down your form.
He vastly appreciates the simple dark gown you wore. The dress exposed enough cleavage without becoming a disaster and had a leg slit that exposed a fair amount of soft-looking skin. Wetting his lips at the delicious sight you made underneath him, Wolf knows his evaluating looks were far from one sided, he could feel your gaze burn into his skin in kind.
Making eye contact with you, he decided he was going to indulge himself just this once. After weeks of dealing with Demon King’s shenanigans and then having to come back and patrol the woods with nothing in terms of companionship, he was admittedly lonely. He also harboured a lot of frustration and pent-up sexual desires and then there you were, waltzing on in with a form-fitting dress and smelling of ripened strawberries.
Wolf leans down and brings his mouth to your neck. All that filled your mind was the different but all equally as gruesome ideas of how he could kill you in this position. Him tearing out your throat was at the forefront of your mind.
Wolf licks a hot stripe up your throat, tasting your rabbit-like heartbeat. It was almost cute how much he scared you. He was almost tempted to assure you he can be gentle if he’s in the mood for it. From how you reacted to his each and every touch, he knew his self-restraint would truly be tested tonight. He did so love a sensitive lover.
“What are you going to do to me?” Your voice shakes and serves to further spur him on. Temptingly, he brushes his lips against yours, as light as a feather and no where near the pressure you now craved.
This close up you could see the flecks of near obsidian accentuating his mahogany brown irises that swirled with unspoken promises of what he was planning to do to you tonight. He doesn’t answer, choosing to stare instead.
“That doesn’t answer my question.” Pushing him probably wasn’t the smartest decision. Then again, you never would have gotten into adventuring if you had all your wits about you.
Again, silence meets your ears as he rolls his eyes at you in response, much to your shock. The action was unexpected, completely out of character for him, judging from the gossip you’ve overheard from the townspeople.
“I’ve got a much better use for that cute little mouth of yours then asking pointless questions.” He purrs into your ear.
You very nearly swallowed your tongue, eyes wide in disbelief. Your mind was still spinning at the sudden turn the night has taken. You were ready to fight for your life, not get pinned down and get propositioned. His actions spoke leagues, he didn’t leave any room for misinterpretation of what he desired from you. As much as that thought should’ve scared you, a thrill of anticipation sparked down your spine.
Noticing your receptiveness, Wolf planned to test how far he could push you before you pulled back. Testing the waters, he bridges the short gap between your mouths and kisses you. To his amusement, you froze for half a breath before reciprocating, soft lips moving skillfully against his.
Deepening the kiss, he doesn’t wait for permission to lick into your mouth, earning him a gasp. You never really spared any thought to him before this day other than reluctant acknowledgement of his strength, that even armed with an arsenal of spells you’d still struggle to defeat him. Never in a hundred years would you think that he was a good kisser and yet here he was doing his best to thoroughly prove you wrong.
Warmth spread through your body as you tried to pay him in kind, but he was intent on dominating the kiss in every way. Your mind wondered over the thought of him dominating you in another way and your heart gave a concerning lurch inside our chest.
Semi-Wolf ends up breaking the kiss to chuckle down at you after a moan escaped. Embarrassed flush tinging your cheeks pink, you use the break to catch the breath he stole from your lungs.
“That doesn’t answer my question, Semi-Wolf.” You whisper against his lips.
“How much more direct do I have to be with you, little witch? Do you want me to say that I want to fuck that cheeky mouth of yours until you cry?” Heart palpitating, your eyes zero in on him wetting his lips, wondering what else his tongue could do. “Or maybe that I’m horny enough to fuck you regardless of your incessant questioning.”
This time you shiver at the way his deep voice seemed elicit lust to cloud your mind. Horny yourself from countless days of self-imposed isolation in your pursuit of knowledge after your last disastrous quest with Elf, you weren’t exactly in the right mind-frame to deny him.
At the same time though, who said you would make it easy for him?
“Even the big bad Wolf gets lonely guarding the creepy woods.” You goad him, eager to get a rise from him.
Rising to the obvious bait, his grip tighten around your wrists enough to hurt. Meeting his scowl with a jovial expression, you inwardly crowed at how easy it was to rile him up.
“You’d be so much cuter if you didn’t open your mouth. Don’t worry, I’ll fix that for you.” He promises darkly. His thumb presses into your bottom lip and urges you to open your mouth.
You do deny yourself the desire to bite down on his thumb, not wanting to truly make him mad. You just wanted him mad enough to take you without holding back.
Releasing your other wrist, he makes quick work of undoing his pants. Enjoying the view, your tongue licked his thumb, drawing his attention for all of a second before he presses his thumb on top of your tongue. You whine around the intrusion, earning an unimpressed look from him as he reveals his sizable length.
He nearly laughs when he hear you audibly gulp as he shucks down his pants one-handed. His slowly filling dick swelled even more at your groan from just witnessing his length. Even at half-mast he was long and girthy enough for you to wonder if he was going to fit in you.
Not liking the way your attention drifted inwards, Wolf gripped himself and gave a few tugs. To both your fascination and horror, you watched as his cock was stroked into full hardness. At this, you swore to yourself to make it fit, no matter what. There was no way you were going to pass up this once in a life-time opportunity.
Wolf considers the position you were both in and decided that it wouldn’t do. Releasing his cock and removing his thumb from your mouth, he grabs you by the shoulders and forcibly moves you into a new position. You relished the way he manhandled you, you elect to make it easy on him and be pliable for him.
Pushing a hand through his wild hair, he looks over at your new placement. Dress strewn around your legs, the side slit now exposing an indecent amount of flesh as you laid out beside him. Once again grasping your shoulder, he moves your upper body to lean over his spread legs, bringing your face towards his rigid length.
You didn’t fight him as he brought your mouth towards his cock, nor did you wait for permission to start. Wrapping your mouth around the leaking tip, you gave a slight suck before trying to take more of him in all while swirling your tongue around him. His hand moves up into your hair as you slowly make your way down his shaft, cute little mouth already stretched wide.
About half-way down your jaw was starting to get sore from how wide you had to keep your mouth from grazing your teeth harshly against him. You weren’t ready to admit defeat yet, you still hadn’t even taken him fully yet. Throwing caution to the wind, you decide to take the rest of his cock in all the way, sore throat be damned. You gagged at the feeling of him being shoved down your throat, mouth impossibly full as his hips jolt up and keep himself in as you started to pull back.
A loud groan rumbles through the air, rewarding your efforts. His fingers tighten in your hair, locking your head in place. You fight against his grip and win, coming up with a gasp and a thick strand of saliva connecting your lips to his tip. Giving him a withering glare, you lick up his shaft once, twice, before engulfing him yet again. This was for your benefit, hearing him growl as you sucked him off was just a benefit.
He watched on with delight as you forced yourself to choke on his cock, evidently he was too large for you to handle. Not wanting you to do all the work, he started to slowly roll his hips up and took control of your pace by moving you up and down his member by his grip on your hair.
Unable to take back control, you could do nothing but to let him guide you as he fucks into your mouth. This turned you on incredibly, feeling yourself become wet as he pants and groans into the still air. Distantly, you could hear his tail thump against the ground.
While fucking your willing mouth, he’s struck with a brilliant idea. Wrapping a hand around your throat, he’s now able to feel himself being deepthroated. A rush of blood left him light-headed, absolutely loving the fact that he can feel himself when he shoves his cock even further down your throat, not caring that at how you dug your nails into his hips. Your whines about him taking over only served to arouse him further, feeling the vibrations travel along his length.
He feels himself come close as you swallow around him, tongue rubbing sinuously against all the right spots. He knew it wouldn’t be long before he peaked. While he did have a fast recovery time, he didn’t want to waste a moment of not being buried inside of you. Already the smell your arousal perfumed the air, causing his dick to jump in your mouth at the sudden influx of blood rushing southward. The need to be inside of you trumped the joy he felt from you sucking him off.
Tearing you off of his dick with a slick'pop', you were completely blindsided as he throws you against the ground. His hand grasped your thigh, drawing it up as his other shears the thin fabric of your dress off. Now sitting above mid-thigh, you silently despaired about the destruction of your favourite dress. Uncaring, Wolf impatiently batted the rest of the flowy fabric out of his way, not sparing you a second look at you as he shreds your panties and runs a knuckle down your wet folds.
“I’ve barely touched you and yet you’re this wet,” he muses.
Careful of his nails, he gathers up your liquid arousal on his finger and brings it up to his mouth, tasting you. You clench down on nothing as he closes his eyes to savour your taste with a moan. If he drew this out any longer, you were going to have a spontaneous heart attack.
Squirming under him, you made impatient sound. It didn’t go ignored, grinning down at you, he brings bringing his finger back down to teasingly caress your folds, touches much too light for your taste.
“Aren’t you an impatient little thing,” Semi-Wolf drawled as brushes a knuckle against your hole, pausing over it and slightly dipping in.
A frustrate groan left your lips, tilting your hips up to chase his teasing strokes.
“Please.” You begged as he started again with the feather-light strokes.
Normally you would rather retch than beg for cock, However there was always an exception. That exception being Semi-Wolf's cock. It appeared to be the correct thing to do as his eyes flashed with something sinful, a wild look on his face.
“Since you asked so nicely…” He moves down your body, coming to a stop at the apex of your thighs.
Face so close to your core, his mouth started salivating from how good you smelt. Blowing onto your pussy, he elicits a cute squeal and ended up having to pin your legs down to keep you from kneeing him in the head.
He delivers a long lick between your wet folds and swallows your taste as he prods at your entrance. Judging he had enough fun, he delved straight in. Clawing at the soft ground under you, your chest heaved as his tongue thrus in, swirled around, rubbed against your walls and pulled out. It wasn't long before he had you incoherently begging for something, anything, yet he continued in this fashion until he had your hands tugging at his hair, careful of his furry ears, and writhing on his tongue.
Eating you out like a man starved, he didn’t stop until he felt your thighs tense around his head, signalling how close he brought you with just his tongue. He’d like to think that he wasn’t a cruel man but the nasty look you gave when he pulled away had him second guessing himself.
You were more than ready at this point. Ready to start cursing at him if he didn’t fuck you right now, you opened you mouth for him beat you to the chase. Heaving himself upwards, he presses his chest against yours, inadvertently bringing his hips close enough for his dick to slap against your drenched folds.
Gripping himself, he wordlessly slicks up his length by rubbing it through your juices. Lining up with you entrance, he barely presses in and your hands fly up to dig into his arms. Not minding the bite of pain, Wolf didn’t stop you from digging in your nails as he slowly slid in.
Reminding yourself to breath, you took shallow breaths and forcibly relaxed your muscles to help take him in, ignoring the sharp sting of pain that paired with his girth.
Shoving his engorged cock into your wet hole, he didn’t hesitate to slide down to the root regardless of how tight you were. Tears rise to your eyes unbidden as he pushes his way into you, feeling like his cock alone could split you in half. Muttering a half-assed incantation under your breath, you banished the edge of pain away, unmasking the pleasure at being so completely filled.
His thick cock that filled every space inside of you so well, that you started to believe he was made for you. The same thought went through his mind as he begins to mindlessly pound away into you, loving the way your wet hole takes him so well and tightens perfectly around him every time.
The angle he pummelled into at had you seeing stars. You raise your hips to meet his a few times before he grabs the back of your right knee with one hand, pinning your leg up against your chest. A wrecked moan rattles you as the pose opens you up more, changing the angle and allowing him to hit even deeper inside of you, now experiencing fireworks.
“You like that, huh?” He growls roughly.
You couldn’t spare the breath to answer him back with him fucking the life out of you, instead you nodded helplessly.
A pleased noise rumbled through his chest. You were such a supple little thing, taking every inch of him like you needed it, no matter the pain it initially caused you. Such things stroked his ego, paired with the wrecked expression on your face and the fluttering of your walls around his cock, he was intrigued by you. Being impressed and interested in someone with his possessive nature was never a good combination, and  he couldn’t stop himself from becoming enamoured with you while fucking you into the ground.
He litters your neck and chest with kisses, bruises, and bites that you knew would take a while to heal and vanish. The bastard was infamously territorial, you should’ve known that it would also translate into sex as well. Having half the mind to slap him for marking up, you couldn’t deny the way your heart leaped and pussy clenched around him with every rough suck he delivered to your soft skin.
He couldn’t let you go now he’s had a taste of you. He knew you would be perfect in tempering him, weathering his moods and give yourself fully to him like were right now. You already proved yourself worthy by not backing down or running away. Pupils blown wide, possessive thoughts consume his mind, devising different ways he could make you his. From the way you thrashed under him, shaky moans joining the symphony of your bodies colliding together, he conjured a way he could make you his.
Feeling him pull out was nothing of concern to your bliss-filled mind. It was when he didn’t slide back in that raised alarm. Opening your eyes, you blinked away tears from your sight to make out his proud-looking expression. Whining, you raise your hips up to force his tip to slide in further. Semi-Wolf denies you this by pulling his hips back further, removing his cock all together.
“Do you want me to continue fucking your greedy hole?” He says, eyes piercing through your soul.
Showing your frustration, you glare up at him and dig your nails into his arm, making him wince at the strong grip.
“Yes.” You hissed through clenched teeth.
He considers your answer for a short moment before moving his dick again. This time though, he merely sits it between your slick folds and rolls his hips. The position was perfect for his cock to graze against your clit, a moan slipped out before you could suppress it.
“What would you do for it?” He questions, rolling his hips again, putting more force behind it this time.
Eyes rolling into the back of your head, the constant stream of stimuli from him rubbing against your sensitive bundle was overwhelming. Seeing that you weren’t listening to him, he stopped his motions and watched as frustrated tears gather in your eyes as he ripped away your building orgasm.
“I said, what will you do for it?” He leans down to your ear, teeth gently tugging at your earlobe.
Existence now solely staked on you reaching your peak, the words rushed out of you without a second thought.
“Anything.”
He smiles at that, a shudder going through your body at the beautiful sight. He flashes his canines at you, happy that you wouldn’t need any convincing.
“I was hoping you would say that.” He presses your mouths together in a relatively chaste kiss. Confused, you kissed him back with vigour and chased his lips when he drew back. “How about becoming mine?”
A flash of heat sears through your body at his question. Mind going in a hundred different directions, it gets thrown around into different scenarios. First you were making out, fucking and now he was asking you to be his? You literally just met the guy. While yes sex with him so far has been immaculate, you couldn’t just swear yourself to him at the drop of hat.
All these thoughts should’ve been enough to deter you, to encourage you to finish yourself off and walk away. Instead, the horny part of you overrode all common sense. A strong, attractive partner by your side with a drool-worthy dick? You didn't need anything more.
Hands cupping his cheeks, you graze your thumb over his bottom lip and pull him closer.
“Yes. Now fuck me before I finish myself off.” His eyes flash at your threat, promising you hell for that.
Sealing your fate, you fasten your mouth over his and slip your tongue into his mouth as he grabs himself and lines up with your entrance and thrusts back in like he never stopped.
Pace faster than before, you arched you back as his cock presses into you, feeling impossibly deep. Unforgiving now in his thrusts, he didn’t hesitate to make himself a place inside of you, needing you to feel him even when he was finished.
It felt like your veins were filled with molten magma as he repeatedly hit all your sweet spots without even trying. All of your arousal and pleasure amassed into a tightly coiled ball that sat low in your gut and grew with every growl and thrust he gave. This time you protected it with all your might, you’d most definitely curse him if he pulled the same stunt twice.
Wolf buried his head into the crook of your neck, panting into your skin as he pistons himself in and out of you, chasing his own orgasm to no end in sight. Scraping his canines along the column of your throat, you shudder around his cock and tantalisingly squeeze him. Rewarding how sensitive you were, he attaches his mouth to you and buries his fangs into your flesh.
It felt like a supernova went off of inside of you the very moment his teeth pierced your flesh, flinging your head back fast enough that you almost knock yourself out as Wolf fucks you through the most intense orgasm of your life.
His hips don’t falter their pistoning as you tighten up immensely, feeling like a second skin from the way you gripped at him. Blood filling his mouth, he greedily swallowed every drop of the sweet substance, not at all surprised that it tasted just as sweet as the strawberries you smelt like.
With one last thrust, he pulls out and gives himself three rough tugs before he finally spilled all over your thighs. He very nearly purrs at how he solidified his claim over you, his scent seeping into your skin strong enough for any non-human person with a decent nose would know exactly who you belonged to.
Tumblr media
“Will you grant us passage through your woods now?” You asked, sarcastic words shattering the silent atmosphere that enveloped your bodies as you both recovered.
“Maybe. Depends what you’re scheming.” He glances over at you from the corner of his eye, not bothering to turn over.
“We’re going to take down the Demon King.” Semi-Wolf chokes on mid-air and whirls around to face you, propping himself up on his elbow.
“Are you serious? If you had started with that, I would’ve walked you guys through and joined the fight.” You bite your tongue to stop yourself from laughing. This whole time Semi-Wolf wasn’t the dangerous servant of evil you had him pegged for, instead he was begrudgingly guarding these woods. He must being doing it for something, albeit you didn't know what for.
“What did he do to warrant your anger at him.” You were blatantly curious. It wasn’t often that you were wrong in how you perceived someone, plus it was interesting to catch a glimpse into the life of someone who was close to the maleficent Demon King.
“He said my wardrobe was hideous.” Wolf grumbles under his breath.
“I’m sorry, what? I couldn’t hear you.” You grin at him while cupping your ear and leaning in close. You had heard him perfectly fine, it was just fun to see this side of him.
Teasing him was much too fun, you were already getting comfortable around him. Who could’ve guessed he would be all soft on the inside? Elf was going to get a kick out hearing that. Whether he’ll believe you or not is entirely another story.
Annoyed, Wolf bats you away as you laughed at the pick blush betraying his stern look.
“Doesn’t matter. There’s no way you could lose with me helping.” A different, more gentle sort of warmth fills you at his claim, no matter how self-assured it may come across to some.
No longer wishing to antagonise him further, you simply hum in response. Not giving it a second thought, you slip your hand into his.
“Ignoring the fact that you destroyed my favourite dress,” Wolf had the common decency to look ashamed, withering under your harsh glare. “Were you serious when you asked –”
“Yes, I was serious.” He cuts you off. A nervous look replaces his serious one, scratching at the back of his head as he contemplated his next words. “Look, it wasn’t a smart move to do that to you in the middle of… yeah. I don’t know what came over me, but I couldn’t stomach the thought of you being someone else's. It's weird how connected I felt with you in that moment."
Looking away from the tree he was studying to avoid your gaze he was met with your stunned face painted a soft pink.
“You’re an idiot.” You say bluntly. Okay, he was definitely not the big monster you were led to believe. You almost felt like a fool for being so scared of him at the start.
“Hey!” He indignantly shouts, squeezing your hand as punishment for your insult.
“I’m joking, I swear it. It was a dick move but I forgive you.” Suddenly feeling shy, you look away from his intense eyes, not liking the way it felt like he could read your very soul. If Elf were here he’d probably scoff at you being demure after -
“Crap, my party! They probably think I’m dead.” You hurriedly get up and brush off the debris from your now short dress. A slight breeze picked up, causing you to shiver at the weird sensation of it caressing your bare legs and reminding you of the cum drying uncomfortably on your skin.
Ripping a piece of your sleeve off, you make quick work of cleaning yourself off as Wolf tugs on his pants. Seeing the way he eyes your legs, you narrow your eyes at him, shaking your head when he feigns an innocent look.
Giving the small glade one last look over, you both set off into the now clear woods. It took what seemed like a short eternity before you broke the tree line of the other side. On the other side, you find a pacing Goshiki, a bored-looking Elf and a peacefully dozing Ushijima.
Looking over at your sudden appearance, it took one sweep of Elf’s perceptive eyes to know what exactly had went down during your disappearance. You blush as he raises an unimpressed brow at you, ignoring Semi-Wolf’s presence by your side out of pure spite.
It took a bit to convince them that he was here to help and help he did. Armed with the scarily one-minded Hero and one pissed of Semi-Wolf, the crimson-haired Demon King didn’t stand a chance against them.
69 notes · View notes
stainedglassthreads · 3 years
Note
How about, for the headcanon meme: Talon, Rita, and Papyrus? OvO
Hoooo boy 
Talon
(Technically everything about him is both a headcanon and canon buuuuuuuut--)
Headcanon A:  realistic
Hair is an extremely important thing in Greshan and Angran societies. Growing it out to different lengths or putting it in different hairstyles can convey information. But in Angran tribes specifically, touching or doing someone else’s hair is an extremely intimate act, reserved only for immediate family and your betrothed.
His younger siblings used to do his hair, but there was a long span of time where *no one* did it. Once he finally trusted Elian and Nania enough, they’d have some meet-ups where they didn’t do any sparring or anything, just relaxed and did each other’s hair. 
Headcanon B: while it may not be realistic it is hilarious
He acts like Elian had all these stupid ideas when he’s much more rational but there was at least one incident where he grabbed a goose or phoenix, climbed into a tree with it, and tried to fly by jumping out of the tree as the bird flapped wildly. 
He denies it ever happened, but Elian and Nania both saw. They Know. 
They know he’s a melodramatic goof. 
Headcanon C: heart-crushing and awful, but fun to inflict on friends
When Talon met Elian, his kindness threw him for a loop, and got him to re-evaluated the path his life was taking. Ultimately it made him much happier and well-balanced. But if Talon had never met Elian, he’d have basically no positive influences in his life, and become someone really awful. Had he met Elian in a battle instead of when they did in comic, he might have just killed him, never knowing what good friends they could have been, in another world, another life... 
Headcanon D: unrealistic, but I will disregard canon about it because I reject canon reality and substitute my own.
He’s descended from Rue. In the AU where he somehow survives thousands of years, when Rue eventually gets better she tries to make up for what she did to him in the past because he is a fun person to fight! Those are so so rare!
Rita! 
Headcanon A:  realistic
(spoilers for season three but) I love her and Jet’s friendship. I like to imagine that she just hyperfocuses on some stream or coding a program/hacking Dark Matters on her coms, but the group’s heading off somewhere, so Jet just. Picks her up in his arms and carries her after them while she’s still typing and rambling because she’s Tiny and he’s Huge, and while she’s rambling about it sometimes he’ll respond with “Yes.” “No.” “I am not familiar.” But he tries to keep up with her because in Tool’s of Rust he mentioned how following her train of thought is great exercise. 
Idk I really just like Jet carrying Rita around places while she talks at a mile a minute while doing five other things, this chaotic whirlwind of manic energy in the arms of the most stoic guy you ever met. Great dynamic A+ 
Headcanon B: while it may not be realistic it is hilarious
She tried to join Dark Matters once thinking that ‘it’d be like in the movies!’, brought absolute chaos to the establishment for like a week, and then got bored and left, but still keeps tabs on all the ‘friends’ she made there by hacking into the highly secure Dark Matters database, and sends them memes. No one knows WHAT to make of her. 
Headcanon C: heart-crushing and awful, but fun to inflict on friends
It wouldn’t surprise me if she had an exceptionally lonely childhood growing up and Juno was her first ‘real’ friend. She seems to think and speak entirely in pop culture references, not to mention she’s leagues better at programming and codes than anyone else in Hyperion City, even the CIA-equivalent organization Dark Matters. Perhaps her genius and general though process scared other kids away, and when she met angry, bitter, defensive Juno, she thought ‘oh, he’s like me!’ and latched onto him because they both needed a friend, even if they had their respective ways of hiding it. 
Season 3 spoilers but this might also be why she’s so desperate to help her friends and fix their problems for them, she’s so weird but they won’t leave if she’s a useful kind of weird. 
Headcanon D: unrealistic, but I will disregard canon about it because I reject canon reality and substitute my own.
She’s very smart... she’s cagey about both her age and her last name... She’s bi... She is a woman from the 1800s who was very smart and inquisitive but barred from participating in the science community and them got bitten by a vampire only instead of ever becoming a famous scientist she kept getting distracted by hot people and penny dreadfuls and traveling to try ‘exotic’ food but kept picking up so much knowledge she’s completely gotten her knowledge of the past all muddled up iN THIS ESSAY I WILL--
The Great Papyrus! 
Headcanon A:  realistic
I don’t know how realistic it is but I still REALLY love the ‘Gaster is Papyrus’ theory and am sorely disappointed that to this day, I’ve only found TWO stories that explore it :( 
Headcanon B: while it may not be realistic it is hilarious
Papyrus' powers are strong enough to destroy the Barrier, the only reason he doesn’t know is that he’s simply never tried. There are a lot of things he doesn’t know he can do simply because no one else can do what he does and so he’s never known to try. 
Headcanon C: heart-crushing and awful, but fun to inflict on friends
Going with the ‘Papyrus is Gaster’ theory, the reason Papyrus has no friends is that whatever power caused Gaster to be forgotten is still in effect, albeit it’s worn off a bit. The only way people can legit remember him and his depth and capability is through Determination, so Undyne, Flowey, and Frisk/Chara. But for those who don’t... he’s a weird tall kid(?), he’s Sans’ brother, he’s that Royal Guard Wannabe. They can only remember who he is in connection with other, more memorable people and concepts, otherwise he’s a stranger, barely an acquaintance. 
Even Sans doesn’t remember him. This is his brother, and he knows he really admires his brother and thinks he’s cool for... some reason... but he can’t quite recall what those reasons are. He doesn’t remember his brother’s favorite food, eh, it must be spaghetti, right? He’s making it all the time. He thinks his brother likes japes and jokes so he’ll make the laziest puns. His brother really wants to capture a human, but he’s not quite sure why, so he’ll ask the human to play nice so Pap can meet them and do... whatever. He’s happy, right? He looks happy, but Sans feels like he’s not quite doing... enough... What’s missing? 
Headcanon D: unrealistic, but I will disregard canon about it because I reject canon reality and substitute my own.
Papyrus doesn’t become a police officer or a chef or any of the ‘popular’ headcanons on the surface. (Defund the police.) He becomes a superhero.  He rehabilitates all his former enemies. He’s Batman now, but less broody and just as dramatic. Flowey is roped into being his side-kick. Flowey complains a lot but secretly loves being a superhero. Undyne is his fellow superhero, the Spear of Justice.  Everyone loves them. Fuck you. 
8 notes · View notes
onepiecehcs · 5 years
Text
i have a cold, so to distract myself from my headache i made this
Nami swears in Swedish and the crew has since then picked up some of the language, but only words and no grammar so no one can actually speak it.
It drives her up the wall so much that eventually she gives in and gives them lessons.
“HELVETES JÄVLA FAN-”
She dropped a book on her toe.
Sanji + French = Zoros imminent doom
How,, can a human being make those sounds???
Law has pale patches on his skin that are an aftermath of Amber Lead.
So many people have mistaken it for vitiligo, but since the majority of the world still thinks that Amber Lead was contagious, Law doesn’t mind the misunderstandings.
The majority of pirates are almost always wearing some kind of jewellery, mostly in the form of earrings or necklaces.
It’s rumoured that Fire Fist Ace has a tongue piercing.
Only the Whitebeard Pirates know for sure if that is true or not.
Usopp and Sanji are responsible for the haircuts on the Sunny.
You may think that Franky should be one of them, but he can’t be trusted with a pair of scissors close to anyone’s head but his own.
He is killer at braids and hairstyles that doesn’t require sharp objects though, along with Usopp.
Nami and Vivi regularly talk on the Den Den, to keep in contact. They also write letters to each other.
They are in a long distance relationship!
Nami has promised to take her out to sea with her someday and be Gay Pirates Together (+ the crew.)
Speaking of Nami, she gets the most tattoos of the crew. I’m leaving it to your imagination to figure out how she looked after the timeskip.
Zoros ankle scars get questions and stares whenever they go to the beach
He either doesn’t answer, or gives an answer that just leaves you with more questions.
“I don’t like wax after that whole debacle.”
Each and every Heart Pirate has a tattoo somewhere on their body.
Penguins tattoo, for instance, is like Aangs arrows, except black, and twisting around his limbs like a snake, ending at his neck, and without the arrowed ends.
Shit I forgot about Bepo. Uuh, he is physically incapable of getting a tattoo, so he’s actually the odd one out in that aspect.
Both Kidd and Killer sound like extras from the movie “Brave”.
Edward Newgate Speaks With An English Accent And Nothing Can Convince Me Otherwise.
I mean “Newgate”??? Have you ever heard anything more,,english???
Thatchs’ full name was Edward Thatch. He started introducing himself with only his last name after joining the Whitebeard Pirates.
He definitely got teased for it.
Some people are genuinely worried about Marco flying south whenever they land at a winter island.
Ace could can play the fiddle.
The crew discovered this about a week before him joining them.
Marco is bisexual and so was is Thatch.
Vista can and will pull out flowers from his sleeves by the dozen just to startle you.
Haruta is Top Prankster on the Moby Dick.
April is a terrifying month for each and every Whitebeard Pirate.
Whenever Nami sees a rowan tree with a lot of berries, she will instantly know that the next island they stop at will be a winter island ( a Swedish children’s rhyme goes like this: Det blir extra kallt när vintern är här, om rönnen har ovanligt rikligt med bär!” It basically means that if a rowan tree has a lot of berries, the following winter will be unusually cold.)
Chopper, in his usual form without the hat and not counting the horns, is exactly 4.03 feet (123cm) tall after the timeskip.
Kidd doesn’t drink coffee for health reasons, while both Marco and Law, two Actual Doctors, cannot function without at least three cups of coffee in the morning.
There is a type of mermaid that can keep growing until they are approximately the size of two navy battleships.
These mermaids are later found to actually not be another type of mermaid at all, but are in reality a whole Other Species distantly related to the sea kings.
If the Strawhats ever meet one Luffy is immediately dead set on making them join the crew.
I say them because not only are there males as well as females, but they travel in pods!
If Ace had lived, he and Nami would have become great friends, partly thanks to their mutual love of felines.
Robin loves birds, and is fascinated by Marcos and Pells devilfruits.
Devilfruit users eyes do the cat thing where they glow when the light hits them right.
Ace and Marco look terrifying whenever they use their powers in the dark.
An incredible number of pirates are superstitious
The scale looks like this: Usopp—Ace—Luffy.
In other words: This sure that ghosts exist—I don’t really believe it, but I respect it—That’s complete and utter bullshit.
The wall above Usopps’ bunk in the guys bedroom on the Sunny is covered in his artwork.
Jinbe took one look at the Strawhat crew and thought, “These children need an uncle,” and then became the Best Uncle To Have Ever Graced The Five Seas.
In a modern au I personally think that Rouge would have been from either Quebec or somewhere in France,,,so.
All I want to say is that the thought of Ace speaking and knowing french is,,,*chefs kiss*
And that’s it.
1K notes · View notes
tomsrebeleyebrow · 4 years
Text
heavenly yours (part 1/3) | th x fem!reader
Tumblr media
Heavenly Yours – a chaotic series 
PART 1  |  PART 2  |  PART 3 | epilogue
Summary: Up in Heaven, Tom and (Y/N) have known each other since their youngest age as angels. They quickly began being inseparable, and maybe developed feelings but without ever confessing. One day, Superior Angels thought Tom’s convictions were being too big for Heaven. Fearing he could bring out a revolution between all angels, they took the decision to banish him of the Kingdom. Forever.
Pairing: Angel!Tom x Angel!Fem!Reader (will evolve)
Warnings: peaceful fluff, light PDA but nothing too crazy (did someone say sexual tension?) then total angst at the end so you’ve been warned!
Words count: 5624 (bless my soul and hands)
A/N: Hey there! Okay I’m really excited because my first mini series is now out!! 🙌🏻 I got this idea long time ago because Tom being King of Hell is hot, am I right?! 🔥 But I wanted to create a nice plot around it like how was everything before Faith turned the tables and how the reader will deal with it and other stuff, so here is a mini series of THREE PARTS taking place in an alternative universe (au)!! Hope you guys will enjoy it, I’m open to your constructive critics and opinions 😌💕
masterlist | series masterlist
Heaven.
The place we humans want to go and live in for eternity when we pass away. The afterlife everyone wishes for. Beautiful and peaceful. Heaven’s gates welcome you only if you deserve it, and your past life as human is erased from your memory. And then begins for you a new step of your existence: being an Angel.
Angels are known as being the definition of divine perfection created by God. They are gentleness and sympathy for others, gifted with a heart as pure as spring water. Dressed all in immaculate white, each one receives a pair of wings at their arrival; big and majestic, with feathers as soft as silk. No one in Heaven is imperfect. No one. An angel can’t and could never be imperfect… except if they break the Holy Laws.
(Y/N) doesn’t remember her life of Earth. Nothing. None. But this never scares her, quite the opposite. The day she arrived in front of the gate of the Hereafter she was not alone. Someone else stood next to her, dressed all in white like her. It was a young man, average height but with a great body and some muscles (quite in shape actually), a sharp jawline, a slightly crocked nose at the base with little freckles on it, and finally with nicely styled light brown hair that has some curls here and there. They caught the other’s eyes then both gave a faint smile.
“Hi.”
“Hello.”
A single word was enough for the two beings. One word said a lot.
« « (Y/N), Tom, my dear children welcome to Heaven. » »
Since that day, (Y/N) and Tom never left each other. Together, they discovered all the nooks of Heaven, the thousand and one marvelous places that they will call home from now on. Together, they met many other angels who then helped them to get used to the idyllic Kingdom. They also learnt how to be good angels. Together. Always. As the ‘days’ flew - abstract notion for angels because the effects of time don’t affect their physics anymore -, they started to know each other more and it was as if they have always known the other.
What a weird feeling...
How was this possible? Neither of them broached the subject because they both didn’t know the answer. At least, if there was one.
Looking at them being together is a delight for everyone’s eyes. Both are lucky and bless by the gods of beauty and when reunited, they sparkle like pure diamonds. Everybody like them, the children even more. (Y/N) and Tom don’t hesitate to take care of the young ones when they have a bit of free time, and needless to say they are good at it. And when they find themselves alone, the two angels make the most of it by taking walks in the numerous gardens and parks or by flying above the Kingdom next to each other between the clouds.
Never arguing, nor an inappropriate word. These two heavenly beings are only laughters and smiles and always here for the other. By the way, all Heaven noticed that (kind of discreetly) Tom and (Y/N) were rather touchy-feely with each other, but not in a naughty way. They hold hands all the time a lot. Sometimes (Y/N) would grad Tom’s arm and lean into it, or Tom would slid an arm around (Y/N)’s hips. There were also lots of endearments such as a caress on the cheek here or a kiss on the forehead there, and so much more. But nothing too much.
A pure platonic love.
Really?
* * * *
“Tom! (Y/N)! Look, we found more daisies for the flower crowns!”
The children run through the fields, their little arms full of varied flowers, to join (Y/N) and Tom who sit at the bottom of a blooming cherry tree. Other children also sit cross-legged near them and all linger over making flower crowns directed by the female angel. As for Tom, he sits behind her and does his utmost to braid her sublim hair while decorating it with the flowers collected by the young angels.
“It’s perfect but don’t run too fast!” (Y/N) warns them, smiling. The little ones then put all the flowers in the middle of the group before sitting too.
“Your hair is so beautiful, (Y/N)!” exclaims a little girl, her eyes sparkling in awe, “I wanna be as gorgeous as you!”
“Tom, the braid you made is stunning! You style hair so well!” a little boy next to Tom gasps, a half made flower crown in his little hands.
All this makes both (Y/N) and Tom smile. These little angels are so adorable that time flies by too fast with them.
“There, a beautiful flowered hairstyle for a divine angel” says Tom, admiring his work when done. And at that he leaves a soft peck on her bare shoulder before resting his chin on it, his face against hers.
(Y/N) chuckles, “Thank you Tom, it’s beautiful…” She strokes her long braided and flowered hair that falls on her shoulder and chest. Then she is able to smell the sweet and delicate scent from the flowers, and leaves a kiss in return on the young man’s cheek while warmly smiling into it, before rubbing her nose against it which makes Tom laugh.
“They’re being affectionate agaiiiiiiin!”
“You are sooooo cute together!”
The children snicker and squirm in front of this display of affection between the two grown angels. (Y/N) can’t help the huge smile on her face while looking at them all; wearing puffy dresses or shirts and pants, with little wings of their back that move with each of their laughs. She releases a sigh while feeling Tom slid his arms around her waist, bringing her even more closer to him. (Y/N)’s wings are closed but Tom can still feel them brush softly his face and torso.
She smells so good...
“So, who did finish they flower crown?” asks finally (Y/N) to the little group. Everybody raises the cute flower crowns above their head, proud of themselves and eager to know if they did good.
“They are all beautiful, congrats! Now, offer it to the classmate next to you.”
Following her instructions, the children look at each other before handing mutually the crown they made to a friend and receiving theirs in return, happy, and finally putting it on top of their ruffled hair. Each of them compliment the crown they got when (Y/N) slightly turns her head toward Tom.
“And here is yours, Tom.”
She spins her upper body in his direction, facing him, and places gently on Tom’s head the flower crown she just made. After adjusting it well, she looks at her work. That is to say (Y/N) is pretty talented. Her crown is generously ornamented with dahlias, gladiolus and splendid peonies, all multicolored but assembled in harmony. Some olive tree branches brighten up then strengthen the whole structure, adding a pleasant smell. The person wearing this crown is also for the viewing pleasure. Tom is radiant, all smile thanks to his friend’s gift. The colorful flowers highlight his brown curls of hair, as for his almond eyes and freckles sparsing on his nose. A quiver runs through (Y/N)’s body up to her wings. She couldn’t stop herself and arranges some strands of wild hair on his forehead, then cups his face between her soft hands.
“It suits you very well…” she whispers.
“I trust you and your skills more than anything, angel face” answers Tom, with soft eyes.
He puts his hands on (Y/N) ones for a moment, then snuggles his face in her right palm while leaving kisses on it. His lips are thin and a bit rugged but kind of soothing at the same time. They never break eye contact for a single second. No word exchanged. Just a look at each other, like when they met, is sufficient to communicate and they are the only one who know how to interpret it. In these moments they are in their own bubble, hiding from any curious eyes. Their surrounding long forgotten, they vowed (wordlessly) since the beginning to continue and cherish one another. Tom ends this moment a little too soon and takes (Y/N)’s hands in his, kissing them.
“It’s time to go back home, kids” he speaks to the little ones while watching them all.
After short protests, the children finally stand up one by one while brushing out dust from their clothes, and wait for the two adults before going back inside the Kingdom. Tom gets to his feet first and helps (Y/N) in return, still holding hands. Both soothe their large wings, under the children amazed eyes.
“Come on, let’s go home children, and stay together” points (Y/N) out.
The little angels gather together and start to walk. Tom and (Y/N) follow on their heels, hand in hand as usual, and keep moving to the first houses in sight of the Kingdom.
* * * *
The day comes to an end. The sky darkens little by little to let tones of stars take their place on it. The fresh breeze of the night ruffles (Y/N)’s face and hair while they walk back to their respective homes (needless to say holding hands, right?). The streets gradually clear out and they could hear their footsteps echoing in the quiet night. Both angels like taking a walk this late because everything is calm, peaceful. Tom and (Y/N) don’t live together, but their houses are obviously next to each other. Because in Heaven, each angel has their own space of living, except children who must live with an adult angel until the Superior Angels pronounce them capable of living alone.
Ah, Superior Angels… Tom could stand them less than before since recently, with all their rules, laws - or whatever they call them - for everything, but he couldn’t say that, oh no. Feeling something else as joy and compassion is forbidden in Heaven, yes, FORBIDDEN. It is one of the first Holy Law of the Hereafter, saying:
« « All Angel worth of the name will only be able to feel joy and compassion for the other. » »
But the one Tom couldn’t put on with any longer was worth than that:
« « All Angel will never feel more than brotherly love towards another Angel.
All Angel will never think about succumbing to carnal sin, definition of the damned underworld of Hell, at the risk of becoming a fallen angel and being forever banish for the Kingdom of Heaven. » »
Brotherly love. Carnal sin. Hell. Fallen Angel. Banished. These words don’t stop resonating in the mind of the young man. Every day. Every night. He tries forces himself to never forget them, especially in (Y/N)’s presence. But how can he resist her? Recently he feels like a weird sensation awaking deep inside of him, something unknown that keeps encouraging him to protect her but mostly keeping her to himself. He couldn’t bare the idea of some other male angel being near (Y/N) or acting way too familiar with her.
She is mine and mine only.
But what to do? He couldn’t risk and put her in danger by his fault. But these urges are more and more intense as the days pass, and Tom finds it harder every time to handle them. When he was alone at home his mind rambled in strange places that even himself didn’t know he could imagine. And strangely it was not as displeasing as he thought it would be.
“Tom, we’re here.”
The tinkling voice of (Y/N) brings Tom out of his wandering thoughts. They are, in fact, in front of the young woman’s door and barely two meters away from his.
“You’re all right, Tom?”
“Why would I not be all right when you are with me, my angel?” answers Tom with his signature toothy smile.
“You looked like… lost deep in your thoughts? If something worries you, don’t hesitate to talk to me about it. You know I will always be here for you…” carries on (Y/N), squeezing the hand Tom is holding.
“Ah… true to yourself, as always.” Tom snickers, a little smirk growing on his lips, and taking both her hands in his to kiss the top. “But don’t worry about me, I was just thinking about… things, that’s all.” Then he leans into her face and drop off a tender kiss on her cheek.
“What do you mean by “things”?” whispers (Y/N) in return, curious, in his ear. Their wings stretch little by little in their back to then brush themselves against the other’s creating like a cocoon around them, safe from too many indiscreet looks from other angels.
“My angel… I don’t want to involve you in anything, it would kill me to-”
“Don’t talk like that, Tom” interrupts (Y/N), “I don’t like it when you say these kind of things… You are all I have here…”
Don’t say that… Stop…
“Doll face, you don’t understand…”
A shiver travels Tom’s body at these words. His breathing begins to accelerate like his heartbeats. Tom couldn’t stop peppering her cheek with tons of kisses, he needed this, he couldn’t help it. Then he takes his hands back to put them on (Y/N)’s hips, holding her against his body. (Y/N) lets out a little whine of surprise while putting her hands flat on Tom’s chest, which is way closer than before. Never did she stop him to touch her. She appreciates having him next to her a lot and can’t go without it anymore. However she gets goose bumps while feeling Tom’s kisses move along her jawline to then reach the other cheek he neglects since now. That is definitely something new to her. She is aware of the sudden redness of both her cheeks and her heart getting carried away. Then (Y/N) follows Tom’s face and rubs hers on him like a kitten pleading for affection. The man’s hands starts massaging her hips and his thumbs draw circles as he goes up her waist, then back to her hips again.
“Tom… I-I feel weird…” stumbles (Y/N) in a squeak.
“Me too princess, since a long time…” answers Tom. “You are the most important person to me (Y/N) and for anything in this world would I be separated from you. But recently, there is… There is more. I can’t stop myself and think about you nonstop, I can’t go without you…”
Tom’s arms wrap even more around (Y/N)’s luscious body to now embrace her into him. The face of one nestled against the neck of the other, and vice versa. An embrace full of affection they have for each other. (Y/N) squeezes Tom against her and she is able to feel and hear both hearts pound wildly. Her body heat rises more and more, what was happening to her?
“Tom, I-”
But he interrupts her by raising his face from the crook of her neck, and places it in front of her own visage. Their nose brush together like their wings since the beginning with half closed eyes, liking the closeness and their tangled breathing. Their lips too brush and they wait for one thing...
“(Y/N), darling...” whispers Tom in a sigh. He hurries to stroke her face again, feeling her soft and flawless skin on his palm, before keeping his hands on her jaw and sighs, “I love you.”
And Tom finally succumbs to his deadly temptation but right now he couldn’t care less. Their lips finally touch and assemble like two perfect puzzle pieces. It is impossible to stop, this sensation is too strong and the temptation even more irresistible. The kiss starts being slightly more intense, with more open mouths and tongues than before. But Tom doesn’t want to go too fast. At least, not now. His goal is to show to his sweet (Y/N) how much she means to him before anything else, wishing she will accept his feelings. And it seems like so. (Y/N)’s mind is clearly troubled, she knows what is happening but she doesn’t want to stop. But Tom decides to end it - before he completely loses his self-control - but most importantly not to be seen.
“I love you so much (Y/N) and I promise to protect you until the end of the world.”
His declaration squeezes her heart. She nibbles on her bottom lip before taking Tom’s face again between her slender hands and leaves a short peck, full of meaning, on his thin lips slightly swollen from minutes ago.
“Me too Tom, I love you more than anything.”
Their hearts beats in unisson. Tom can’t help the smile on his face, large and as bright as the sun, and makes (Y/N) swirl in the air because he couldn’t contain his happiness. (Y/N) lets a joyful giggle out before holding back not to wake the neighbour angels up. The two angels, in love, stare at each other sparkles in their eyes like never since they arrived in the Kingdom of Heaven long time ago. They wish this moment would never end...
“I promise we will make it work, darling, I promise you.”
* * * *
The days passed, looked the same and flew by again and again.
Ton and (Y/N) continue to act as if nothing happened between them a few weeks ago. But sometimes their show of affection are a little… more daring like they used to be; a kiss on the corner of the lips or more “tight hugs”, but it was still rare kind of. Tom makes sure of keeping these intimate moments indoors, one-to-one, hidden from everyone. It is out of the question to let this be known by others.
Then one day - and more previous ones full of thinking about it -, Tom comes to pick (Y/N) at her house to share a meal for midday, as they usually do and when properly seated in the middle of a nice garden with their food ordered, he begins:
“Darling, I decided to go and talk with the Superior Angels after our meal. I asked them for a meeting and they agreed to it for today.”
(Y/N) straighten out her face from her food and raises her brows, blinking twice, “Why?”
“Just to explain and prove them that an angel can be in love with another one, that’s it.”
“But Tom, you know like me that we transgressed the principal rules of Heaven! What will happen if you tell them clearly we love each other? We don’t really know what they are capable of!!” answer (Y/N) kind of agitated, making her best to keep her voice as low as possible.
In fact nobody knows a lot about the Superior Angels. Apart from maintaining Heaven in order and deciding who is allowed to enter the Kingdom, it was often said that their sentences could be harsh and horrible. The young woman can’t just leave Tom go by himself.
“I’m coming with-”
“That is a solid no, doll face. Don’t worry, I will never say your name. I wanna make sure they will listen to what I have to say first and then I will improvise depending on their answer.”
Tom takes (Y/N)’s hands, placed neatly on the table, and kisses them like he loves to do and whispers:
“I love you (Y/N) and you know that. I promised I will protect you and make sure to keep my promise until the end.”
“I love you too so much Tom, so much…”
(Y/N) kisses back his hands and each knuckles while smiling. But she couldn’t help being scared for him.
After finishing their meal and chatting about lighter subjects, they walk a little in the garden they ate and then in the city, looking at some shops, stopping to talk with other angels and enjoying their share time.
Later they arrive in front of a large wrought iron front gate in solid gold. They could make out a long alley surrounded by big trees on the other side, without seeing too far away. And not a single sound. (Y/N) swallowed hardly because of the… strange atmosphere. She knows they arrived. Then she gets closer to Tom and slides her arms around his shaped body. The young man could smell her hair, as sweet as it have ever been while kissing on top of her head.
“Relax (Y/N), it’s me who should be stressed and not the other way around, right?” he smirks, sliding his own arm around her shoulder to keep her close.
“I know that but I can’t help it! And…” She interrupts herself and again, the silence reigns around them both. “This place makes me uncomfortable…”
Tom tightens his grip on her to reassure his poor lover. “Darling, don’t worry. Knowing you are mine is my biggest strength…”
(Y/N) cuddles up to him, her face pressed against his neck, also smelling his natural scent. This always calms her down.
“Please, be careful Tommy.”
“Yes, dove, I promise you.” Tom then tenderly kisses her forehead, “Once it’s over, I’m coming back to your place, is that all right?”
(Y/N) nods vigorously her head without saying a word, still nestled into him. She leaves here a quick peck before loosing her grip and cupping his face in her palms, massaging his cheeks while staring at each other. She knows she couldn’t let the three words slip out her mouth here so she chooses to tell him with her eyes. Tom understands straight away and stared back at her beautiful orbs.
“Me too, (Y/N). Me too.”
When they separate, Tom pushes the gate open and gets inside the enclosure where the Superior Angels were waiting for him. He breathes in one last time and, before the gate would close behind him, he turns around and sends (Y/N) another smile. She sends one back at him while sending him a flying kiss with her hands. He then walks away and in a snap he disappears into the fog. With no wish to linger here any longer and alone, the young woman goes back to the main street, in which she is sure to find people.
* * * *
5pm. 6pm. 7pm. 9. Then 11. Midnight is about to strike and still no sign of Tom. (Y/N) doesn’t know what to do. She is pacing in her living room nonstop for two hours now, agitated and panicked not knowing where her lover is.
“But what is he doing?!” she asks herself, biting her fingernail. “Please, tell me he’s safe!!”
Unable to stand still for another minute, she decides to go where they split path. (Y/N) leaves her house in a hurry and doesn’t care about the angels she bumps into by accident - to whom she still excuses herself but only a few time.
Again in front of the golden gate, the silence from earlier this day is still heavy. Just before she loses her courage, she opens it and ventures inside the place.
The atmosphere is almost unbearable. No sound from anywhere or anything. No one, not even a single bird or butterfly. (Y/N) keeps walking and enters the fog she saw Tom disappearing into, and finds herself a bit disoriented. Then voices, finally! Relieved she continues walking towards them - still blind - and after a few meters, she steps out of the thick fog.
“Where am I?...”
Hidden between gigantic oak trees, (Y/N) catches sight of an impressive stoned structure. While approaching it, carefully, she sees no door but a beautiful arcade as a doorway. Choosing to stay as quiet as possible, the young woman walks to it from the side and listens carefully. The voices are clearer now.
« « You persist with your talk, angel. » »
« « How dare you? » »
« « You have no right to speak about this kind of topic. » »
The voices are not familiar to (Y/N), none of them, so she deduces they are to the Superior Angels. The tone of their voices are plain but still severe, emotionless, and don’t seem to appreciate what is happening. (Y/N) is out of breath. Was Tom still with them?
« « Superiors, this angel has been corrupted. » »
“But you don’t understand!”
(Y/N) jumps by hearing this voice that she knows so well. A smile finds again a way through her face before she leans slightly to see more. And then she sees him. But what she sees now makes her previous smile congealed then melted into horror. Tears start to blur her vision. Tom is actually kneel down on the stoned floor, surrounded by at least ten Superiors Angels who levitate around him. His beautiful and strong wings now tied up, the rope way too tight because it visibly compresses them. His hands are also tied up and placed in front of him, fists tighten up. His usual relaxed face is no more and replaced with so much pain and… rage.
“Angels CAN love each other! This is as obvious as we once lived on Earth! Can’t you understand?!”
« « Did you forget the Holy Laws of our Kingdom, angel? No angel can show more than brotherly love to another one. » »
“I already know your stupid rules but they hurt us all! Why couldn’t we simply love each other?!”
Tom’s voice lets appear all his emotions at once and known. (Y/N)’s hands begins to shake. She feels deep inside that all this will not end as they wish it for.
« « Loving with Love is similar to only crave for the other’s body. All Love is a sin, the thirst to desire the flesh of the other and you, angel, want us, Kingdom of Heaven, to give our morals up to the damned temptations of the Kingdom of Hell? That will never happen. » »
« « You have been corrupted, angel. » »
« « And we thought you were perfect and worthy of the wings we gave you. » »
“I don’t care about the wings!! Free me and I will prove you that the Love I feel is not morbid!!”
Tom struggles with the rope to tempt and free himself but the Superior Angels’ control is too powerful for him. He can’t stop and think about (Y/N) to give himself some strength, he’s doing this for both of them, for their love, and to make everyone experiences this delightful feeling called love. He gritted his teeth by irritation.
« « Love is a sin. » »
« « And your wings are the proof of it. » »
One of the Superior Angels comes closer to Tom, still flying, and takes violently one of his wings to open and show it. Tom whines from this painful move.
« « Look. Your feathers are darkening, angel. You have been corrupted. » »
(Y/N) couldn’t see well what the Superior Angel is talking about but her tears run on her cheeks. Her breathing trembles, her hands sweaty as her entire body.
Please stop it.... Don’t hurt him...
Tom turns slowly his head toward the inside of his wing displayed to everyone, and he sees some feathers being more grey than immaculate white.
Now there are more than before…
And suddenly, as if by instinct, he feels her. His pained look turns discreetly toward the entrance of the structure, and then he catches sight of her. (Y/N), his sweet (Y/N), his love, hidden behind the wall supporting the arcade, in tears in front of what is going on. It was the first time he sees her like this, fragile and scared, and he wishes for anything but looking at her like this because of him. Tom lets escape a short sigh and he too wants to cry. But he stays stronger, for her, and regains his senses.
“You are the one corrupting us all. How can you imagine a second that we can find happiness by living alone? You decide if we are worth it to stay, then put us in a single house to lock us up in your too perfect Kingdom! Oh and of course we live our little life like the good brainless angels we are and we do the same everyday! That is not what life is supposed to be! I’m sure life was way better than this on Earth! We should be free of our acts like-”
« « Enough. » »
« « You talk too much, angel. » »
« « Your words are as corrupted as you are. » »
« « Who is the other angel you corrupted? » »
“I never corrupted anyone! And it’s called mutual love!!” screams Tom, rage leaking out from all his pores.
« « A name. » »
« « Now. » »
“Never!!!” retorts him.
« « Could it be Angel (Y/N)? » »
« « Did you corrupted our (Y/N)? » »
“Leave her outside of all this!! She knows nothing about it!!” Tom’s heart tightens at his own words.
I will protect her.
« « Our (Y/N) is perfect. » »
« « She is unique. » »
« « Never could she be corrupted. » »
“She is way too perfect for all of you and your stupid world....” whispers Tom between his teeth.
(Y/N) kneels down on the cold ground too, her legs trembling so much she couldn’t stay on her own two feet. What is going on right now is the worst scenario that could have happened. And she couldn’t do anything. Tom protects her with this own will, like he promised, and she hasn’t enough strength to stop her sobbing anymore.
“Oh Tom… Please let him go…” she cries her face pushed on the wall, her voice distorted by her tears.
« « We can’t tolerate your presence in our Kingdom anymore. » »
« « You have no right to be here anymore. » »
« « You have been corrupted. » »
Here it is. The end is coming. Tom had a suspicion since the beginning that if thing were not going well as he planned, it would be definitely over. He couldn’t care less about what are saying the Superior Angels anymore. And a single thought matters to him right now: seeing the face of his gorgeous (Y/N) one last time. He still contains his tears because making her even sadder than she is would finish him off. He wants her to be strong, like she always is, whatever happens. So he lets his gaze fall on the entrance arcade and she is still here, shivering like a newborn doe, red eyes and her cheeks wet. Can he just wish to have her in his arms one last time...
They gaze at each other and (Y/N)’s tears pour down her eyes even more. Her handsome angel is in pain, suffers an obnoxious martyr but she also suffers with him. Tom’s visage tries to be reassuring even when the ropes around his wings squeezes them badly. Its grip is a total pain, hurting some feathers but mostly the skin they are covering and he hisses at that. But still looking at her, he attempts to tell her not to worry about him and that, even if the worst is about to come, to keep living. (Y/N) shakes her head violently not daring to think what would happen to Tom. She just could imagine a second being away from him, even less for eternity. Her stubbornness makes Tom smile, exhausted, because her (Y/N) is so like this all the time. But the gods decided another faith for them.
And the sentence is pronounced.
« « Angel Tom, you are this day deprived from your angelic position and are now a fallen angel. » »
« « Your wings will be removed. » »
« « For breaking the Holy Laws, you are not welcomed in Heaven anymore. » »
« « For being corrupted, you are not welcomed in Heaven anymore. » »
Tom and (Y/N) still stare at each other until the end.
« « For giving in to the temptation, you are this day banish from Heaven. » »
« « Forever. » »
Before the Superior Angels finish the sentence’s statement, Tom whispers his last words to (Y/N), hoping she will get them by reading on his lips.
I love you… and will always love you, forever, my princess.
(Y/N) puts a hand on her mouth to conceal a painful sob. Her other hand grips her white dress to her heart’s lever and bites her bottoms lip to contain any sound that could come out. And before it is too late, she removes the hand from her mouth and whispers back to him:
I love you too so much and will love you until the end of the world...
Tom’s eyes glisten, tears finally ready to flow but he keeps them a bit more. He smiles for the last time.
« « Heaven is not your home anymore... » »
« « ... but now are the Depths of Hell. » »
(Y/N) feels her blood freezing. Tom lets his last sigh out and closes his eyes, facing down. Once the sentence done, a muffled sound comes out from the stoned ground and suddenly its opens itself under Tom’s hurt body and it is thrown inside, letting himself fall like a dead body. (Y/N) sees him fall and it is now too much for her to handle. She tries standing again, keeping her balance with the wall and starts to run to where she came from, behind the trees, like her life is on the line. Her sobbing finally escape and echo in the sorrowful night, then she gathers some speed before flying away, high in the air. The warm tears contrast with the cold air that slaps her face as she beats her wings harder and faster. The clouds disappear when she brushes past them.
Tonight she lost everything.
And her afterlife in Heaven will never be the same anymore.
🏷 Permanent tag list & mutuals 💖 (get notified)
@allegra-writes @tom-holland-is-spiderman @detroitbydark @blissfulparker @farfromhaz @xxtomxo @worldoftom @charismas-world​  @stiles-banshees​​ @americaxo17 @zabdisamor @princezzariel @mcuassemble @thatweirdomimic @juliebean247​ @harryhollandwhore @spiderbibby​ @intiate03 @himynameishooman @bookworm06 @flowerboyparker @miraclesoflove @eridanuswave​​ @jillanaholland @mendes-marvel @biebsmylife95​ @i-cant-hangout-im-drumming​ @tsh-darling​ @popbubblegumpop​​ @fanficscuziranout​
🏷 Heavenly Yours tag list 🕊🔥 (get notified)
@shayminisshiny @skymoonandstardust​ @blissfulparker​ @sectusempried @iwastornsincethestart @the-professional-procastinator​ @bloodyscarlet​ @loxbbg​ @biebsmylife95​
430 notes · View notes
doctors-star · 3 years
Note
writing challenge prompt: apricity - the warmth of the sun in the winter. (Pairing Peter/Alex/Ruth if you fancy it)
prompt list
apricity - the warmth of the sun in the winter
The farmyard looks like it’s on fire. Great coiling, curling masses of steam are rising off it and ascending heavenward, for all the world as if a large dragon had set up shop beneath the chickens’ feet and is now puffing away to itself. The steam is solid silver and grey in the midmorning light, swirling on invisible thermals like Degas’ ballerinas, and edged with sunlight that is altogether too bright to look at.
He is looking anyway.
His eyes are scrunched up with an intensity usually reserved for awkward texts and inscrutable hill forts, brow furrowed and creased over heavy, dark brows. He’s got one hand on his hip, the other wrapped thoughtfully around his chin; his feet are planted squarely in boots coated in solid, cloying mud. He looks immovable as an oak tree, there in the farmyard. The world around them could end, he thinks, and Peter would still be standing.
Peter shifts, hand moving from chin to forehead to form a slight shield against the vivid wall of brightness. His sleeves are rolled up and it is possible to watch his muscles shift under his skin, as has been impossible for the past few weeks of seemingly endless rain. It has been cold and wet and miserable for all of January, feels like, and the dawn of February has not given them much cause for hope; but now, the rain has stopped, the clouds cleared, the mercury in the thermometer made the effort and risen above five degrees, and Peter has his jacket off and sleeves rolled back right away, as if this is the only sunshine he expects this year and he had better appreciate it.
In fairness, it is Britain. Stranger things have happened.
And anyway, Alex can understand the idea. He is, after all, watching Peter as though the man might disappear; as if this is his only opportunity to lean propped up on the cart in the sunlight and see him, sleeves pushed back and squinting and lit up by light and steam. How very long the winter has seemed.
Alex leans back a little and folds his arms, glaring into the east a little more himself, to look the same way as Peter. Ruth - of course, of course they are watching Ruth - is talking with great animation to their flock of chickens, hands on her hips as she chides them. They keep ducking about around her feet rather indignantly, dipping their heads with their strange stop-motion movements to tap their beaks unenthusiastically against the frozen ground as if to say why aren’t you feeding us? we cannot possibly be expected to feed ourselves in this weather! And Ruth is laughing at them, with the sun behind her head and behind the trees so that the rays are oddly defined; segmented spikes, like a great art deco sunburst. 
“I will not feed you,” she is telling the birds with stern amusement. “You do not need it. It is a glorious day, at last, and you can go and enjoy it. And eat all the other things who are out enjoying it, too. It’ll be good for you. Lazy sods.” One of the chickens, the buff-coloured, famously bad-tempered one, darts forward and then struts nonchalantly away towards the pig sty. Ruth sputters an indignant laugh, jaw dropped in surprise. “Did you just peck my shoe?” she cries after the retreating bird, who puts on a burst of speed. “The audacity!”
Alex can feel the grin that’s lodged on his face; Peter, face still screwed up against the light, snorts inelegantly and she looks his way and beams. “Are you no longer a chicken authority?” he asks her very solemnly and sympathetically.
“My shoe has been pecked!” she informs him, rather redundantly, but it makes them both grin all the same. “They’ve lost all respect for me.” She watches the other chickens follow the vicious ringleader towards the patch of grass by the pigs where they peck morosely at the grass and dirt as if they don’t expect to find anything and reckon they’ll have starved by lunchtime. The various worms and insects which have ventured to the surface to enjoy the rare sunlight and which are now being snapped up by the sharp, aggressive movements of the chickens appear to do little to make them feel better.
“Get free-range chickens, they said,” Peter sighs, not unhappily. “It’ll be so rewarding to watch them hunt for themselves, they said.”
Ruth turns back to him, hand dropping from over her eyes, to laugh. Then she tilts her head on one side, offering him a lop-sided smile. “Are you alright?” she says. “I’m sure the camera crew would lend you some sunglasses until we film, if we haven’t got any thirties specs - face all screwed up, you look like a gargoyle.”
“I’m feeling great, thanks,” Peter says, voice all level and dry to make her laugh. “Really complimented and supported too. Have we actually got any proper shades, though? Alex’ll love them - he likes pretending he’s in Top Gun.”
“I do not,” Alex protests automatically and without a great deal of conviction.
Peter and Ruth turn to the sound of his voice, faces open with pleasure and slight surprise. “Oh, hello lurker,” Peter says cheerfully. “Was wondering where you’d got to.”
“I do not pretend I’m Tom Cruise,” Alex tells Ruth firmly, ignoring the lurker comment. She raises her eyebrows, one finger pressing against her mouth in futile prevention of a smile, and waits with interest for him to elaborate. “That - that bloke in The Mummy,” he finds himself saying, snapping his fingers as the name escapes him. “He’s got to wear sunglasses at some point, hasn’t he? I’ll be him.”
“Who, John Hannah?” Peter says, chirpy and obtuse with a grin from ear to ear and his hand cupped around his eye to shade against the February sun. Alex sends him a mock-withering glare and his smile somehow widens; Ruth laughs, bright and affectionately evil. “You do kind of look like John Hannah, you know,” Peter says, very deliberately reasonable.
Alex points at him warningly. “I’m going to take that as a compliment,” he tells Peter’s smirk, “but you know I was talking about the other one. O’Connell,” he says, snapping his fingers again in triumph.
Peter tuts and shakes his head sadly. “Nope, the hairstyle will out - you’ll have to be Hannah and I-” he places his hand on his heart like an old-timey Shakespearian actor about to monologue his way through a half-hour death scene, “-shall be O’Connell.”
Alex spreads his arms in indignation, appealing to Ruth in supplication for aid; as expected, she laughs at him.
“Ruth can be whatsherface. Evie,” Peter adds happily.
“No, no, I’m being Lara Croft,” Ruth corrects. “I want to run about in temples and have a mansion and a butler.”
Alex nods, conceding this point. Peter wanders over and places one large, sun-warmed palm on Alex’s shoulder, gesturing at him with the other and squinting towards Ruth. Heat leeches from the sun to the air to Peter, and he presses it into Alex’s joints like a balm. It soothes and steadies, even as Peter says “Do you want Alex for your butler?”
“Oh, yes please,” Ruth says cheerfully and Alex sighs, as deliberately and falsely put-upon as the chickens. Peter snorts and hauls him closer, half hug half headlock; he goes willingly, even as he makes an effort to look hard-done-by for Ruth.
“Why aren’t there any more cool archaeologists?” he says.
“Well,” Peter says, sounding rather apologetic, “there is always…”
“Indiana Jones is a terrible archaeologist,” Alex says firmly. “Great jumped-up cowboy.”
Ruth huffs a laugh at the tired old argument and tips her face up into the sun rather than engage with its well-trodden lines. She breathes deeply, inhaling great lungfuls of warmed, clear air; against his back, Alex can feel Peter breathe slow and steady and perfectly in-time. There’s something soothing about it, in the same way that there was something soothing about watching Peter watch Ruth: it is nice to know, sometimes, that other people operate the same way he does. For a moment, there, in their long-awaited sunlight, the whole thing had been as mana from heaven, all warmth and brightness and that peculiar kind of beauty that cannot be looked at head-on. He’s not sure he had really noticed, before, how much the interminable, rainy January had worn on him, until he had been confronted by the sunshine; by Ruth’s art deco halo, and Peter’s scrunched-up gargoyle face; by truculent chickens for the laws of farm and man. And intensity of emotion can be isolating, if the moment is not shared - but it is. Ruth is breathing it; Peter is holding him a little too tight; they are all together under a sun a little too warm for the season.
“There should be more films about historians,” Ruth declares to the sky, eyes resting closed. “What’s not cool about this?”
“Right,” Alex says. “We haven’t been rained on for, ooh, must be twelve hours now. Hours of action and entertainment in this line of work.”
“What’s it mean for Candlemas weather predicting,” Peter says, shaking Alex’s shoulders slightly but letting him stand fully and lean into his side, “if Candlemas itself is disgustingly wet and rainy but the day following is worryingly sunny?”
“Worryingly?” Ruth snaps, cracking an eye open to frown at them.
Alex ignores this and sucks his teeth. “Oh, nothing good, I’m sure. We’re being lulled into a false sense of security, mark my words.
Peter frowns with deep and false concern. “Snowed in by the morning?”
“If we even last the night.”
Ruth works one glove off her hands and throws it at them, nailing Peter in the chest; he scrambles to catch it. “Worse than the chickens, you two are,” she says, fighting a smile. Peter holds out the glove and she presses her lips together and crosses the yard. Her fingers fold around the leather in his palm; his thumb falls gently to rest over her knuckles. Ruth looks up at them, all amused reproach. “Can’t you just enjoy it?”
Alex and Peter share a look, and then Peter shrugs. Alex looks back at her, and the sunlight, and the chickens and the pigs and the way her hair shines copper and Peter’s scrunched-up face and the warming, thawing ground - like spring is coming. He shrugs too. “We’ll give it a go,” he says.
5 notes · View notes
mxndoscyarika · 4 years
Text
Home (Mando x female!Reader)
Tumblr media
Requested by @karnita-mexicana: “Since requests are open what would you think of a padame and anakin type of relationship with mando and the reader where the reader is the queen of a planet and they have a secret relationship going on and it’s super fluffy 🥺👉🏾👈🏾”
Author’s note: It’s finally done! Sorry this took so long, I wanted to make sure I did it justice. Enjoy!
Summary: After weeks of anxiety, you return home to find a new addition to your life.
Warnings: none
Like my writing? Here’s my masterlist.
The Razor Crest was silent as it approached the planet of Garamonde, a planet with lush green forests spattered with some of the most advanced cities in the system. As they entered the atmosphere, Mando picked up the child and placed him on his lap. “You ready to meet someone very special, ad’ika?”
Large dark eyes looked up at him curiously.
“You better behave once we get down there,” he teased. “Ok?”
The child smiled and let out a coo.
———————————————————————
“The mines will cease operation for the time being,” you declared, seated in your throne. “It’s no longer safe for the workers. Many jobs in the development sectors will open as we continue to develop more energy efficient devices; we’ll transfer them as appropriate.”
In front of you stood royal advisors, each carrying datapads with reports on various sectors. Although they were capable of handling everything with little input from their queen, you had made it a point during your time as ruler to remain as involved as possible.
The most recent problem seemed to be the state of Garamonde’s mines. The increased snow over the recent winter meant much more snowmelt once the weather warmed up. Mines set up near the base of the mountains were at risk of being covered by mudslides and collapsing.
“But our exports-”
“Will be fine,” you reassured. “We have much more to offer than metal, and we have a duty to protect and support all workers. This is not up for debate.”
“Yes, your majesty,” they all said in unison, bowing.
Standing up, you said, “Well I guess that settles things. You’re all dismissed.”
Your gown of purple and gold flowed behind you as you strode down the hall, guards trailing slowly as usual. You never quite understood why you needed protection in your own palace.
“Your majesty!” a voice called out. You turned around to see it was Javonor Talbri, one of the advisors who’d brought up an issue with taxation. “I have the reports you wanted on this datapad. Would you like me to give them to you now, or-”
“Leave those in my study,” you quipped, continuing to walk once he caught up. Just a few more feet, and you’d be free of all the formalities and gowns “I’ll go over them later.”
“O-of course, your majesty,” Talbri replied, gripping the tablet tightly.
“I’ll be sure to have a look soon,” you said absentmindedly, entering your chambers. Closing the door on him, you finished, “For now, I have other things to attend to.”
“Of course, your majesty! Forgive any pressure I may have put upon you. I simply just-”
Sighing, you pressed a button on the control pad by the door, which blocked any sound from entering your room. Talbri was dedicated and competent, but he never shut up.
The first thing that came off was the large pin holding together your hair and jeweled headpiece. Even after years of wearing heavy headpieces and hairstyles, you never quite got used to them. At least, not enough for them to be comfortable.
You then changed into some soft pants and a long-sleeved top, both made from stretchy but durable fabric. Stiff heeled shoes were exchanged for worn-in boots with quiet soles. Digging through your wardrobe, you found your favorite cloak, a remnant of a visit to Nevarro. Well, before all the commotion began. Thankfully, it had died down since then.
In less than half of an hour, you were standing by a blue lake. Trees surrounded you, towering high and providing shade for the warm day. Spots of light littered the forest floor, much like how the buildings in the kingdom glittered during sunset. It was peaceful, but something was missing.
You inhaled deeply and exhaled slowly, trying to calm the nagging in the back of your mind. Where was he? Did he make it out of Nevarro?
The snap of a twig behind you sends your reaching for your blaster, pointing it in the direction the sound came from. This forest wasn’t known for harboring dangerous creatures, but it was better to be safe than sorry.
“Hey hey hey don’t shoot, it’s me!” a modulated voice shouts. It’s Mando, and he’s got one hand flung out, the other occupied with a bundled up...blanket?
Letting your arm drop, you let out a breath you didn’t know you were holding and placed your blaster back in its holster. You took him in, as if the mandalorian standing there could’ve been a figment of your imagination.
Fallen leaves and twigs crunched under your feet as you ran into the mandalorian’s arms, nestling your face against his neck. He still smelled like leather and the metal of the Razor Crest. The only difference was that he had new armor. Yes, finally, your Mando had come home. It was your Din. You pulled away. “I should shoot you for not sending a message to me for the past three months. Where have you been?”
“I’m sorry, I had some business to take care of,” he replied, holding you close. Well, as close as he could with the child on his other arm.
“You didn’t come home,” you murmured, placing a hand on the side of his helmet, where his cheek would be. “I was so worried. I flew all the way out here and waited for you. You never came.”
“I-I know,” he said, voice strained. “It’s a long story.” The bundle in his arms squirmed a little, drawing his attention back to it. “There’s someone I’d like you to meet, cyar’ika.”
You gasped softly as the child poked its head out of the blanket, big eyes looking around at everything. The sky, the trees, Din, and you. Your heart melted as it smiled up at you and reached out. Tucking yourself to his side, you asked, “Is this what kept you away for so long?”
He nodded. “It was one of my bounties. But it’s just a kid. I couldn’t live with myself if I turned it over and walked away. So I broke it out and we’ve been on the run since.”
You frowned. “But your creed...that means it’s...”
“It’s a foundling in my care,” he answered. “And according to the creed, I’m its father now.”
You laughed softly, stroking the child’s ear with a finger. “I never thought I’d see the day that the big bad Mandalorian settles down with a baby of his own.”
“Neither did I,” he replied softly. He looked down at you, taking in your smile and the child’s newfound fascination with your jewelry. “But here we are.”
There you were, indeed. You and Din had discussed having your own children before, but recent years left both of you stranded in your own ways. Transitioning into being a queen had drained you mentally and physically, and Din’s occupation didn’t leave much room for settling down.
“You could stay here,” y/‍n offered. “This place is pretty well hidden, and in all our years of coming here, no one has followed us.”
Din sighed and pressed his forehead against yours, keeping you close with a hand on the small of your back. Even through all the layers, you could feel his warmth against your spine.
“I wish I could,” he said, voice breaking. “But I can’t put you in danger by staying here longer than a few weeks at a time. Not until I know for sure that no one is after our ad’ika.”
Humming, you asked, “Our?”
“Yes. Unless you don’t want it? I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have just sprung it on you-“
“I’m just teasing, cyare,” you interrupted, pressing a kiss to the side of his helmet. You reached over and let the child grab onto your finger. Smiling, you continued, “I always knew you had a soft spot for foundlings. Remember when you gave me that idea to reform the foster care system?”
“Every child should have a home they can return to,” he rasped, looking down at the child in his arms. “Even if they’re not related by blood.”
“Well, this foundling is very lucky to have you.” Noting the setting sun, you added, “We should get inside, you must be tired.”
The cottage was small, but it was enough for both of you. No amount of luxury or extravagance could replace the intimacy of living with loved ones. Din immediately spotted the satchel of cooking ingredients sitting on the counter, no doubt containing everything needed to make tiingilar, a traditional mandalorian casserole dish. You knew what your riduur’s line of work entailed, and home-cooked meals were few and far between. So, you and Din had eventually formed your own tradition of cooking a meal together whenever he returned to Garamonde. The only difference was that, this time, you would be joined by the child.
You still couldn’t quite wrap your head around the thought of it; that is, the fact that your Din now had a child of his own. Did that mean you would be as its mother? Or would the lack of marriage vows mean you would simply be an outsider to his new clan?
Once the food was ready, you two would sit back to back, a way of dining together while respecting Din’s religion. Until you and he were officially wed, you were forbidden to see his face. Part of you was disappointed at that, because you didn’t know how long it would be until you and Din were married; if you would ever have the chance to at all. But above all else, you respected him, and understood the gravity of the exceptions he already made for you. Sitting back to back while eating? He didn’t have to do that; he’d had to take his meals in isolation pretty much every day. But for you, he risked having his face seen. All so you could savor each other’s presence for as long as possible.
As you ate, you could hear the child’s squeals of joy and Din’s soft chuckles coming from behind you. He would say something in mando’a and imitate the sound of a speeder before feeding the child yet another spoonful of tiingilar.
“Your mother is a great cook, isn’t she?” he mused, mostly to himself. You were glad he couldn’t see you, because you felt your cheeks burn hotter than the two suns.
When it came time for the child to sleep, you two gathered blankets and pillows to line a woven basket. “I’ll have a proper bed made for him once I return to the palace,” you said quietly, not wanting to disturb the drowsy baby. “But this will work for now. Cuun ade je morut’yc.”
Our child is safe.
“Cuun ade je morut’yc,” Din repeated, his heart swelling with affection when you claimed the child as yours.
After washing up and taking off his armor, he slid under the blankets, lying on his back. The sheets rustled as you followed him onto the bed shortly. Although you both couldn’t see, you easily fell into comfort. His presence was familiar and soothing as you practically melted under his touch. You could feel his entire body relax underneath you, weeks of tension leaving him.
“You should stay,” you said softly, head resting against his chest. He was so warm and gentle, a stark contrast from the beskar armor he donned. “It’s safe here. You and ad’ika would have my entire military’s protection.”
“Even if we didn’t have our ad’ika, you know I wouldn’t be able to,” Din said, his unmodulated voice sending shivers down your spine. “Your people wouldn’t approve.”
Lifting your head to face him, you asked, “Do you really think they won’t approve?”
You cradled his face in your hands, tracing the stubble lining his jaw. The curtains in the bedroom were drawn closed to block out any light, giving Din the safety of removing his helmet. Your thumb pressed lightly against his plush lips, feeling his warm breath against your fingertip. Kissing him between each word, you pondered, “Do you really think they’ll disrespect their queen’s choice? Disrespect their king and their child?”
Din groaned softly, his hands wandering south. One arm remained secured on your hip while the other pressed you against him, sliding under your shirt. “You’d like that, wouldn’t you? Me as your king, and ad’ika as our heir.”
89 notes · View notes
billie-ford · 4 years
Text
Tumblr media
1
Days Gone By
6
Houston. The biggest city in the state of Texas and the second largest in the country. But more intimately, it was the home of Billie Ford. She was known well throughout the countryside of Houston and even into the inner city as the kid that went the extra mile. A star runner on the high school track team, destined to make state. The friendly mechanic that willingly made house trips and sometimes took a hot meal as payment. The devoted wife and mother, the lively younger sister known for her exuberant energy. The street she lived on for more than half a decade was once known for it’s exuberant energy too; music bumping from almost every open window and a potluck every other week. It was now a decrepit wasteland. One of the first cities to fall when the virus broke and when it fell, it fell hard.
Every inch of public road was cluttered with debris, abandoned cars, streaks of blood and dead bodies - roaming or not. Music would not be heard on these streets ever again - unless you chose to count the mindless humming from Billie every now and again. Despite how sparse supplies had grown, Billie couldn’t bring herself to leave. Having already abandoned her once warm, loving home, she was now holed up in a strangers house on the other side of the city. Boarded up, furniture pushed against windows and a makeshift bed of sheets and couch cushions positioned messily in the center of the living room. Yet she couldn’t bring herself to call it quits, no matter how ghostly it had gotten in the last few months. Something was keeping her here, and she just couldn’t describe what it was.
(six months since the fall)
“How long will you be?” 
Despite his name, Hunter Hammond was no scavenger. He was a meek man, all five-foot-nine of him. Abraham used to tease him when their families got together for a dinner, joking that Billie had managed to fuse her bisexuality and marry both a man and woman all in one. Hunter never liked Abraham too much.
“I’ll be as quick as I can but who knows what those streets look like now.” Billie tightened the laces of her boots before standing and slinging a backpack over her shoulder. Just behind Hunter, their son Devin played with plastic cars in their couch cushion bed. His smile and bubbly laugh was a constant reminder of what the world had been once, and for both Billie and Hunter it gave them hope.
Billie cupped her husband’s cheek, pressing a tender kiss to his lips. “Back before sundown. I promise. C’mere sweet boy,” she kneeled down and kissed her toddler on the head, breathing in the scent of his cloud-like curls. “You take care of your ol’ man for me, m’kay?” The boy smiled and nodded.
“Board this right back up.” She gave Hunter a stern look as she moved the furniture from the back door, their backyard a quiet enough escape to the road behind them. “I mean it. The second I’m out.”
“Don’t worry, I got you. Come back to me safe, Bill. I mean that.”
Hunter had shut the door before she could give him a second look, the sound of the couch scraping on the other side signaling she was now trapped on the back porch. She took off down the patio stairs, through the neighboring backyards and through the small line of trees that shielded the house from from the main road.
Billie liked to call them walkers. They reminded her of how her dad used to walk when he had knee surgery and ended up with a walking frame for a few weeks; hunched over, slow, lazy. Her father was an intimidating man - strong and stern, a frequent yeller who, just by cracking the buckle of his belt, had Billie stood straight and ready to accomplish any command. But even Abraham Sr. didn’t scare her as much as those things did. Her father could be reasoned with if you showed him enough respect; they could not. The howls of sorrow trapped inside distant memory disturbed her more than when they ran her way, jaws chomping and drooling for a taste of human flesh. Something she had only seen in her brother’s horror movies, and even those couldn’t prepare her for the sights she had seen. It was the humanity lost somewhere within them - that’s what terrified her. She remembered the first time she caught wind of the pandemic beginning to break across the globe; her ear just barely picking up the sound of the radio over power drills and welders.
She hadn’t been able to find Abraham since things really went to shit.
The military did what they could when things started to get out of control, but even they had families to protect and sticking around to maintain order just seemed foolish. Multiple trips were made to the Ford residence with no luck; Cupboards were barren, clothes strewn about and that picture he had on the mantle of the two of them one Christmas was busted out of its frame. Despite her excuses - he didn’t have time to come for me. they were in trouble. he did come by but I was already gone. he’s still around, we just keep missing each other. - she couldn’t kill the eating thought that he just left her. His baby sister, abandoned. He broke his promise. Subconsciously, that was the biggest reason she kept one foot in Houston - he was still coming back for her. But with every day that passed with no sign of life, the hope that he was still close - and breathing - faded further and further away...
7
The camp was far beyond the rest of civilization. And good for it. The tops of buildings looked like shoe boxes interwoven with visibly abandoned streets in the far distance, gray in comparison to what it once used to be. This flat plot of land had barely been touched by human hands when it was found; turned up dirt and rock accompanied by machinery and port-a-potties. A construction sight soon to be turned into a number of vacation homes, that much they gathered from the weathered sign stuck in the ground at the base of the hill.
Breakfast ended an hour ago; watery eggs with sparse salt and bitter potatoes. Everyone was busy now, in the full swing of their day; taking buckets of dishes to the river to be washed while another group returned with wet laundry to hang dry.
“You should let these grow so I can push them to the side. You don’t really want all this hair in your eyes do ya, hun?”
Jane Ford, forty-two, a high school swim coach in what now seemed to be another life now sat in her husband’s tattered flannel and blue jeans tucked into yellow hospital socks. With her eldest between her knees, she snipped away at the atrocious bob the child had given herself a year prior. Her bangs stuck out every which way and no amount of water, time, or prayer would set the needle straight hairs into place. Jane huffed in defeat and dropped the comb and fabric scissors into a cup at her foot.
“I like it like this, momma.” The ten year old stated while playing with the torn ear of her stuffed bunny, given to Jane as a baby shower gift from her aunt. The dirty old thing brought her comfort more now than ever, a reminder of her favorite - well, her only - aunt.
‘You hug this little guy every single night. And wherever I am I’ll be sure to feel it.’
“Leave her hair alone, darlin’. If she likes it than she likes it.” Abraham watched his girls while sipping a black coffee, occasionally looking out into the horizon to scan for survivors or otherwise. “We Fords have the tendency to look good in whatever hairstyle we’re rockin’.” He winked at his daughter who grinned.
“Tell that to your tenth grade mullet.” “You still had a crush on me didn’t ya sweetheart?” “Oh, stick it!” “Last time I did we ended up with the twins..” “Ew, dad!”
He howled with laughter and beckoned his child to come towards him. She jumped up into his lap and he tussled her wet hair, the act earning him a curse from his wife. He pressed a kiss to the side of her head and took that moment to thank God. His family, all five of them, were together and secure. But every thankful thought was followed by the sudden sorrow he felt for his first family; his baby sister. Big Bad Bill. 
He was a military sergeant and when he was called to duty the only thing on his mind was getting this issue under control. He only evacuated the quarantine camps when he had absolutely no choice and by the time he reached his home in the suburbs it was too late to go the inner city. She was just too far away from him. He couldn’t count on all fingers and toes how many times he’d been down in that area since then, practically swatting her home the second he could. Empty. She had taken the photo of them from his high school graduation on her fireplace.
Despite the “no man left behind” attitude instilled in him during boot camp, he just couldn’t bring himself to believe that his sister was still alive. She was tough, but she wasn’t survive-life-or-death-situations-tough. She was just a mechanic.
A familiar shrill voice followed by marching steps in the gravel snapped him out of his pity party. With a groan, he shooed his daughter away to play with the other kids before standing to meet the five-foot-two hurricane that was Marizol Espinosa. “Dios mio Abraham! My Rosita should have been home days ago!” The group he had sent out nearly three days ago had yet to return and despite the majorities silence, everyone was a little worried about their return. Marizol was not one of the silent ones.
“Te quiero fuera. Out there. Searching for them.” A manicured hand rested on a jutted hip, the other pointing a bullet like index into the ginger brutes face. Jane’s eyes flickered between the two cautiously as she busied herself with cleaning chunks of dark hair from her lap.
“Mary, I wouldn’t have sent the group that I sent if I didn’t think they could handle their hides. Give em the day darlin’, I’ll radio in from time to time and if nothin’ still I’ll send a crew after em.”
“Oh dios- get more people lost! Or killed! You listen to me jengibre...” As she opened her mouth to grill him with undoubtedly ruthless insults, the radio on his belt crackled with life. A female voice just barely came through. Abraham gave Marizol a smug grin.
8
“I’ve always loved you, and made you happy...and nothing else could come between...but now you’ve left me, to love another...you have shattered..all..of my dreams..” Breathless, Billie trudged along the side of the road as the afternoon heat caused beads of sweat to rolled down her jaw. With daylight running low she was worried this would be another unsuccessful supply run, having already searching multiple stores and homes throughout town. “You are my sunshine. My only sunshine..you make me happy when skies are gray..you’ll never know dear- fuckin’ hell it’s hot.”
She came to a stop outside of a gas station. A run down shack of a business that she had been to multiple times for a cigarette and a beer during her commute back home after work. But with its busted out windows and disregarded hoses it looked to be a completely foreign shop.
In and out quickly was the plan, and smooth enough it went. She packed what she could; in her months of scavenging she learned quickly that if you looked for things where those things weren’t meant to be, you could find what you needed. With a bowie knife in one hand and a half melted snickers from the cash register in the other she wandered the aisles freely, skimming underneath shelves for stray cans and water bottles. As she was preparing to leave, check today off as a successful enough day, one too many walkers began crowding the door from which she came, falling through busted windows and disemboweling themselves on shards of glass. She took down what she could with her bowie, hoping to clear a way to the road but for every one she killed two more crowded in its place. “Fuck.”
Searching hastily with a newfound feeling of vertigo, she spotted the employee exit behind the counter. A pipe had been lodged into the handle and bent outwards, trapping it shut. She cleared the counter, shivering at the feeling of rotting hands skimming the back of her arms before forcing the pipe out of place and slamming the door shut behind her. Her footsteps echoed off the walls as she searched her bag for a flashlight, her knife wielding hand still raised defensively.
“Grab them!”
Billie felt the sharp pain of a shoulder in her spine as she was tackled to the ground, her cheek crashing into the cold pavement and the wind escaping her lungs as her knife slid feet away from her grasp. She was frisked for her weapons, her bag tore violently from her shoulder as a knee remained snug between her shoulder blades.
“You one of the bitches that jumped us?” “Huh!? No!”
The cool metal of a gun barrel met her temple and she stuttered, “I ain’t here to hurt no one! I’m just stuck! On the bible, man!”
“What do you mean stuck?”
“There’s an ocean of them dead fools out that door behind me- gotta be packed to capacity by now. Man can you get off my back you’re hurting me!”
She was hoisted to her feet as a lamp clicked on. The room lit up in a small yellow glow, revealing a number of people surrounding her. To her left, brunette hair was pulled back under a military cap and tan hands secured in fingerless gloves held a glock steady to her head. Latina. Her glare was strong, eyebrows knitted as she trained her sights on Billie.
“There was a group in here yesterday. They locked us in.” In front of her, a young asian boy sat on a railing. They were in a garage. “Think you can help us out of here?” The man previously kneeling on her spine asked. He was the stockiest of the group; dark skinned, a gap tooth, and a flat cap concealing a bald head. 
She didn’t have much of a choice. Either they all got out or none of them got out. “I can try once your friend gets that barrel off my cheek.” She huffed. A delivery truck sat begging to be used in the middle of the garage. A full tank but no keys, they say. Luckily for them, Billie didn’t need keys. She looked towards the latina, and only after the asian boys pleas did she lower her weapon.
After she jimmied the lock for a while, Billie got the door open and jumped into the driver seat, the latina following her every move as she popped off the connector to the ignition. She looked down to the only other woman and quirked a smile, “you wouldn’t happen to have a bobby pin would ya, hun?” Deadpanned, she dug into her hair and retrieved two bobby pins, slapping them into Billie’s hand who muttered a thank you. In seconds she had the pins poked into each hole of the connector and the truck growled with life. First the lights, brightening the room even more but she refrained from turning the engine, alas, suffocating them all with toxic fumes. Billie turned to the woman below, already used to the bitter gaze she sent her way. “You get the door open and you’re home free.”
“You should come with us.” Once stepping out of the truck she was greeted by the man that had tackled her to the ground, now smiling at her apologetically while extending a hand to shake, “call me T-Dog.” The latina huffed in protest. “She’s useful, Rosita.” Rosita.
“I would love to but uh..I got people waiting on me.” “They can come too.” “There’s no way you’re getting this truck up that road.” “We’ll wait.” “We can’t wait for some stranger, we’ve got people worried about us.”
“I could go with you!” It was the asian boy again, short black hair now covered with a baseball cap. He approached Billie with a smile that rivaled T-Dog’s. These weren’t people that Billie would coin as survivors - all but Rosita maybe - but here they were anyways. “I know my way around the city. We can pick up whoever you’re with and head back to camp.”
“So there’s more of y’all..?” “Loads.”
Rosita shook her head again. “No, no. That’s too many more mouths to feed and we’re already low on supplies.”
“Actually, Rosita, I don’t think supplies will be an issue...”
A voice echoed from within the newly unlocked truck, the sliding door disconnecting the storage space from the front seat now wide open. They followed the sounds of his footsteps to the back door where it was then unlocked from inside, flew open with a loud clang, and revealed stacks upon stacks of unopened cans, bags of chips, and soda. The man - the eldest of the group - smiled down at them, particularly Billie. “That solves that problem young lady.”
“Look at that,” the asian quipped, “we’ve got food for a few more mouths, someone who knows their way around a sticky situation, and you got us to watch your back. Sounds like wins all around to me!”
Everyone seemed to be in agreement of letting this squirrely stranger and her mystery companions join the group, all but Rosita, who had Billie wondering if she had cut her off in traffic one time.
“She helped us when we needed it, Ro,” he reasoned, “she didn’t have to.” He seemed keen on having Billie join them but she just shrugged; made no difference to her. Even the older man, who looked to have been on a fishing trip before they got locked in here, threw in his two cents. “Always room for a survivor.”
“I’ll tell you what,” Rosita squared up to Billie with folded arms. “You get that door open and you get to come back with us. Bring your boyfriend or whatever. Bien?”
“Gracias, a-mee-go.”
If you looked for things where those things weren’t meant to be, you could find what you needed. - Billie’s Law. 
Billie knew garages like the back of her hand, and she knew of the spare clicker that came with every garage system. It was a shot in the dark, hoping the door would even work if she found it, but she searched high and low despite it. Even despite Rosita’s smug bark of ‘we looked for it already’. Like a dog on a scent she overturned garbage cans and tools boxes all while she watched impassively. No clicker. But underneath a uniform coat, beneath a stack of scrap metal, was a car jack, and Billie knew more than a few ways to use one of those.
With a loud bang and a rustic whine, Billie managed to jam the jack underneath the door enough to bend it and gave the handle a few pumps to lift it all while T-Dog and Rosita readied themselves to bash the skulls of any unwanted stragglers. She managed enough space to roll under and the asian boy quickly followed, keeping an eye out for her while she finished the job. Eyes stinging with sweat, Billie picked away at the lock while disembodied moans approached her, silenced by the lead pipe her new comrade armed himself with. The door was finally freed in minutes; they were free and she had a new home for her baby boy.
“Looks like you’re ours now.” The boy smiled again. “Glenn.”
She shook his hand, her grip firmer than his. “Billie.”
5 notes · View notes
galmaborn · 3 years
Text
Tumblr media
okay so here’s that promised post about 𝐁𝐀𝐓𝐔𝐔𝐀𝐍 𝐂𝐎𝐔𝐑𝐓𝐒𝐇𝐈𝐏/𝐖𝐄𝐃𝐃𝐈𝐍𝐆𝐒 but it’s under a cut because it got crazy long & no one wants all that on their dash.    not all of these traditions are still around, but some are & others are slightly altered.
𝐇𝐀𝐈𝐑𝐒𝐓𝐘𝐋𝐄𝐒 & 𝐁𝐑𝐀𝐈𝐃𝐒.    some of the traditions about hairstyles are a bit outdated & not really popular anymore, but there are still some (who have long enough hair) who follow them.    in the past, those who weren’t interested or open about being courted by another would always wear their hair in some form of updo that may or may not have included braids.    anyone who kept their hair in sort of half-down, half-up styles were potentially interested in a romantic relationship, & anyone who kept their hair loose was fully open to being courted.    once one was being courted by a potential suitor, they would always wear their hair up in public, but typically down in private with their partner.    this also worked out because generally those with longer hair wore it up when they were working, & so they weren’t interrupted in their work by those looking to court them.    those who were married wore marriage braids, which consisted of two small braids at the back of the head & a larger braid between them.    often not all of the hair is braided to leave a sort of backdrop for the marriage braids or they’re all twisted together into an updo.    these braids represent the uniting of two people, & two families, into one cohesive unit.    during weddings, one parent from each family would braid one of the smaller braids & then their partner would braid the center one.    in cases where parents could not be present, generally someone close to each of the wedding party would participate in the braiding.    out of all of the different hairstyles, the marriage braids are the ones that are still rather common on batuu.    mostly, they’re only worn during wedding ceremonies or anniversaries & some still feature the braiding as part of those ceremonies.
𝐊𝐄𝐘 𝐂𝐀𝐑𝐕𝐈𝐍𝐆.    to show interest in courting someone, generally men (but anyone of any gender could), would gift them a very uniquely hand-carved key to symbolize their possession of the only key to their heart.    mostly, the key was carved from wood but some got more creative & carved it from chunks of spire, shaped metal, or even knitted or wove the key.    typically, it would include some symbol related to both parties such as part of a family crest, some object important to them, or something to do with their occupation & would also have the person receiving the key’s name engraved somewhere on it (usually in their native language).    accepting the key would begin the start of their courtship & denying it would result in the key being burned & usually the one who carved it attempting a more elaborate key design.    the key was a way of showing off their skills, & even those interested in the courtship were free to decline accepting the key as a way of truly testing how dedicated their potential partner is.    often, the key would be incorporated into a necklace that the receiver would wear in public as another way of signifying that they are currently being courted.    this isn’t still super popular, but a lot of those in the more artistic industries do participate in it.
𝐒𝐂𝐀𝐑𝐕𝐄𝐒.    so like i’ve said before, weaving is a highly respected art on batuu, so it makes sense that it both plays a part in the courting process & wedding ceremonies.    at some point during courtship, as a symbol of love & also how seriously one is taking the relationship, couples will often gift each other a woven scarf.    in the past, it was expected that each half of the couple would weave their own scarf, but nowadays most just buy them from the market or have them custom made.    the scarves would generally be in the favorite color of the receiving person, & included a lot of elaborate designs that usually symbolize events that have occurred during their courtship or anything they feel has progressed their relationship or holds a lot of importance in it.    a lot of the time, the couple would be the only ones able to truly interpret the scarf’s design.    sometimes the scarf would even include a romantic poem stitched into the inner side for only the wearer to read.    these scarves would somehow be incorporated into the couple’s wedding attire.    some wear them as intended, some cut them up & gift pieces to their families, & some weave them into socks or headdresses.    most scarves gifted these days are far less elaborate, but it is still a really common tradition, especially in relationships where one party is a native batuuan & the other is an off-worlder.
𝐃𝐀𝐓𝐄𝐒.    it was expected that one would pick up their date from their home regardless of where they lived or where you were going on your outing.    you going to the cantina at black spire but you live in galma & she lives in peka?    too bad, you’re taking your speeder all the way there & back; there’s no meeting halfway.    you were also expected to always bring a small gift, usually flowers or something sweet from the local market.    this got lost as batuu became more criminally oriented & practicality overtook what was previously seen as just good manners.    there are a good many, mostly those from families who have lived on batuu for many generations, who still adhere to this, particularly the part about bringing gifts.
𝐖𝐄𝐃𝐃𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝐃𝐀𝐘 𝐈.    yeah you saw that right, batuuan weddings take place over three days.    the first day is a big welcome party for anyone coming from other planets & just to help the guests of both parties get to know each other before the big day.    typically the party takes place in the evening & after the wedding rehearsal (if there is one).    the family/friends of one half of the couple will typically make all of the food & serve, but this isn’t necessarily part of modern batuuan weddings.    there’s also usually a lot of drinking involved.    a tradition that hasn’t stood the test of time as well is that of the friends & family of typically the bride will have a series of tests for their potential partner to undertake to prove their worth.    this used to be full on braga bear hunts & feats of strength & such, but became modernized to just embarrassing acts like singing love songs in front of everyone or having their clothes stolen & hidden from them.    obviously, this isn’t limited to being only between brides & grooms.    anyone is welcome to test either partner regardless of gender.    there’s not really anything particularly formal about the first day, it’s mostly about partying & having a fun, lighthearted time with each other.
𝐖𝐄𝐃𝐃𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝐃𝐀𝐘 𝐈𝐈.    the actual wedding ceremony & reception takes place on this day & not much else.    some ceremony traditions include the couple not seeing each other until the ceremony, their vows including poems that they’ve personally written for each other, tying a single ribbon to the trilon wishing tree together, & asking the black spire for good blessings & safe travels in their future.    often, there will also be a very young, potted trilon tree that guests are free to tie their own ribbons onto as good wishes for the couple.    the plant will usually be placed in the couple’s home & eventually planted outside of it.    the reception afterwards is either catered by both families of the couple or by an outside party.    the ceremony & reception are also timed in order to have fireworks at the conclusion or, for those who cannot afford fireworks, a chance to do a bit of stargazing.    the stargazing in particular is meant to evoke an appreciation that in a galaxy this expansive, the couple managed to find each other.
𝐖𝐄𝐃𝐃𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝐃𝐀𝐘 𝐈𝐈𝐈.    a last chance to give gifts, say goodbyes, & such before the couple leaves on their honeymoon.    this usually consists of a brunch provided by the family/friends of the other half of the couple.    it’s a chance for the couple to spend more time with their guests as a married couple than they likely had time to during the reception.    sometimes, the food is themed to the planet the couple will honeymoon on.    just before they leave, the couple will release a pair of pipa birds as a blessing for safe travels & a sign that they will always return to the place they were married: batuu.    in the past, it was expected that each would capture their own bird but in modern times the birds are often raised domestically.    it’s considered to be a sign of a marriage that won’t last if the birds fly in different directions.
𝐖𝐄𝐃𝐃𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝐂𝐎𝐋𝐎𝐑𝐒.    they are always bright, bold colors & typically on the warmer side of the spectrum but it isn’t out of the realm of possibility to have a cooler themed wedding.    red wedding attire is considered to be symbolic of a passionate relationship & good luck.    orange symbolizes vitality & a long-lasting marriage.    yellow is for a happy & adventurous marriage.    blue is life-long loyalty & stability in the marriage.    traditionally, the warmer colors were popular because they symbolized the inevitable rising of batuu’s suns & the hope of a new day & fresh start they bring with them.
𝐖𝐄𝐃𝐃𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝐀𝐓𝐓𝐈𝐑𝐄.    typically, dresses & suits aren’t overly elaborate.    this has changed a bit with time & the introduction of more marriages between batuuans & off-worlders, but batuuans are just more practical people than anything.    the usual colors are listed above & i also mentioned the inclusion of scarves gifted during courtship, but the couple will also wear bracelets or necklaces with beads amounting to the number of months they’ve been courting.    the beads are typically a light blue with other colors symbolizing different events such as the proposal, first kiss, first date, etc.    each couple chooses the other colors for their beads together so they could literally mean anything & only each other would know.    
1 note · View note
iitsbambam · 4 years
Text
How It All Began ~ Part 2
 Start here! :  How It All Began ~ Part 1      
           I was awakened by a few resounding knocks on my door.
          “Get up cadets!” A female voice spoke. “This morning's training starts in ten minutes! If you want breakfast you better hurry up and get outside!” She advised.
          I placed my hand flat over my stomach as it grumbled lightly.
          “Damn I’m hungry,” I whispered to myself.
          I heard the same voice bounding down the hallway, repeating her same warning. And she was smart for it, food would pull any of these cadets out of bed. Including myself.
          I sat up and proceeded to stand up and stretch before turning around. My bed had been made a mess throughout the night with my tossing and turning. I looked over to my backpack that I must have knocked over in the night as it was laying carefully on the ground.
          ~Should I change?~ I thought to myself. But quickly decided against it seeing as I was going to end up sweating anyways.
          I grabbed a brush from my bad and combed through my hair, tying it up nicely when I was done. I then tugged my boots onto my feet and tied them tightly so I wouldn’t trip in training. I grabbed my cadet jacket that was laying messily on the bed and pulled it over my arms.
          ~I really need to clean this mess up~ I thought as I quickly made my bed and put my backpack over my desk chair.
          Once that was done I approached my door and proceeded to turn the golden knob. It clicked as it unhooked from its hinge, creaking as the door was pulled back, and I soon stepped into the hallway.
          As I began walking to go outside I noticed the hallways were much brighter now. Things around us were much more visible as light shone through the windows. There were a few framed paintings on the walls as I walked along. Beautiful imagery of trees, sunlight, the landscape we lived in. I couldn’t help but wonder if these were taken in or outside of the walls.
          I paused as I saw a beautiful painting of an ocean. Or was it a river? My practicality made me assume it was inside the walls. But the water seemed never ending in the painting. The sun was peeking out brightly over the blue water, reflecting over the surface. There was no way this was inside the walls.
          Was this a way to excite us? I’m unsure. But it sure did excite me, and made me want to see what outside of the walls had to offer.
          I reluctantly began to walk away from the enchanting painting. As I continued I turned my head and glanced out a passing window and saw as all the cadets were outside already, stretching and talking with a few of the older scouts.
          I guess I was late.
          Shit.
          I tried to quietly run to the door that would lead me to the training area. My footsteps were quiet but my movements were quick, and I was almost there when someone grabbed my arm and pulled me to a halt.
          “(Y/N)! Good morning! Good to see you! How are you doing?” Squad Leader Hange happily spoke.
          I turned to look at her face and was slightly stunned. She had a cheshire cat smile across her face, and to add to that her goggles made her eyes look abnormally large.
          I stepped back and she released her arm as I saluted her.
          “Good morning Squad Leader Hange,” I spoke with a soft smile. She passively waved me off.
          “Oh you don’t need to do all that foo foo formal stuff, just call me Hange,” She spoke as she extended her hand out to me.
          I reluctantly shook it. Not because I wasn’t welcoming of the idea of having a more laid back superior, I just wasn’t used to it. Throughout training we were taught to be completely respectful of our superiors. Always salute when greeted, always speak to them in their formal titles. Don’t joke, don’t act childish.
          This was certainly new.
          “Ok...It’s nice to meet you Hange,” I softly spoke with a smile. She squealed slightly before pinching my cheeks.
          “Awe! You’re so cute! You remind me of my Albert,” She proclaimed, slight sadness lacing her voice. “Bless his poor soul.” She wiped a small tear from her eyes.
          ~Albert?~ I thought, scrunching my nose in confusion.
          I laughed awkwardly and patted her arm as my face was stretched in odd directions.
          Luckily, my savior arrived as someone pried Hange away from my face.
          “C’mon we need to go start preparations for today’s experiments,” A concerned voice spoke. I looked up to see it as none other than Moblit.
          “Yes! I almost forgot, (Y/N) would you like to join us in our preparations?” Hange asked me, that cheshire smile returning to her face.
          “I would love to Co...Hange, but I have training this morning which I’m sure I’m already super late for,” I spoke regretfully.
          “Well poo,” She declared. “How about after your training I’ll take you to see my recent inventions, hm?” She practically pleaded, as she was filled with a sudden burst of excitement.
          “Ok I’ll meet you then,” I agreed, giving her a thumbs up. She smiled at me wildly, but then almost immediately changed expression into one of seriousness as she turned sharply on her heel.
          “Come Moblit, we have discoveries to make,” Her voice boomed down the hallway as she walked off. Moblit ran behind her, trying to catch up while whispering under his breath ‘please give me a break.’
          ~Poor guy~ I laughed lightly at Hange’s antics. ~I have a feeling we’re going to get along quite well.~
          “Shit!” I exclaimed, realizing how much time I wasted.
          ~I’m in for it now, I’m in deep shit. Deep, deep shit~
          I quickly ran outside. I strode across the training field to where the rest of the recently ‘graduated’ cadets were still standing. They all turned their heads to stare at me. I shyly turned my head down slightly and stood on the outer part of the group.
          “Ah, so we have a late riser,” A voice spoke. I searched for the source of the voice as I watched all the cadets eyes, following an unseen figure approaching me.
          An older looking man appeared as he confidently walked over to me. He was relatively tall and sported an odd hairstyle. I glanced at his attire, which was nothing unusual to other military members I’d seen, he had a cravat that was tucked into a collared shirt. He had his regiment jacket on with the wings of freedom shining bright in the early morning sun.
          “Late to training with me? The infamous Oruo Bozard? Tch,” Genuine shock exuded out of him as he turned around and walked back in front of the group.
          ~Wait, Oruo Bozard? I remember that name. But from what?~
          Suddenly it hit me. All throughout training at the cadet base, Eren went on and on about the members of the Special Operations Squad, otherwise known as the Levi Squad, and how incredibly talented they were. Not going to lie, I tuned out after about the tenth time he brought it up.
          I peered around a fellow cadet’s shoulder and saw a short girl, not much older than us, with red hair, sporting the same regiment jacket as her comrade. I watched as she raised an eyebrow cocked towards her arrogant friend.
          ~That must be Petra Ral!~
          Shock filled me. Two members of the Levi Squad were personally taking the time to train us. Now I kind of did feel guilty for being late.
          “To make it clear, you cadets aren’t even close to my level,” Oruo spoke cockily.
          I rolled my eyes. ~Nevermind.~
          “And if you want to get even close to me, it’s going to take a lot of work,” He continued as he sized up one of the smaller recruits. And damn did that recruit look terrified.
          “A lot of work,” Oruo reiterated as the young cadet looked down at himself, panicked.
          Oruo, after intimidating the young cadet for what seemed like ten minutes, turned his attention back over to me.
          “And you sure as hell won’t make any progress by being late to training,” He concluded. Getting oddly close to me in an attempt to unnerve me.
          “Alright, why don’t you stop flirting with the girl Oruo,” Petra joked as she placed a hand on his shoulder, pulling him back slightly.
          “Is that jealousy I hear Petra dear? If you want me all to yourself you just have to say so,” Oruo flirted, eyes narrowing in an attempt to look more sensual.
          Petra pulled her hand away from his shoulder as if he were made of acid. Her nose scrunching up in disgust.
          “In your dreams,” She sneered. He winked back at her and she scoffed, trying to hold her composure. But it was quite obvious with smoke practically shooting out of her ears, that would not last long if he kept that up.
          “Moving on,” She stated clearly as she glared at Oruo. “What my comrade here was trying to explain was that this training is very important. We all know that you guys were forced to come early. So we’ve tried to prepare a more difficult training course than you’re used to, to prepare you for our next expedition.”
          Shuffling of feet in anxiety was heard next to me. You could practically feel the fear in the air surrounding us as Petra continued onward. The idea of an upcoming expedition is exactly what we’d all been dreading. All of us blissfully unaware of when we were actually departing from the comfort of inside the walls.
          “So now that that’s covered let’s get started, ten laps around the perimeter of the base to warm up,” Petra commanded.
          A few groans were heard but we all began to jog. Right as I began to pull away from Oruo and Petra’s location I heard Petra scold Oruo.
          “You’ve got to stop with this act, is it your attempt at mimicking the Captain?” She questioned.
          Luckily I missed his response as I got furth enough away.
          ~So that’s what the Captain is like? I sure hope that’s not true, I wonder how Petra handles two Oruo’s in the squad.~
          I chuckled to myself and looked up towards the building as I rounded a corner. And I could have sworn I saw a figure surveying us as we ran. Chills ran up my spine, feeling as though the person’s stare was shooting through me.
          But by the time I came around for my second lap the figure was gone.
~~~~~~~~~~~
          After a long day of cleaning our gear, practicing with our 3DMG, listening to detailed lectures, and much more ‘fun’ stuff, we finally finished.
          The sun was still up, barely holding on to it’s morning light as it prepared to descend into darkness as night loomed on.
          We all trudged up the dirt path back to base. There we’re so little of us. Such a small, inexperienced group of cadets, and I didn’t even know any of them. I recognized a few from training but I had never properly spoken to them, let alone introduced myself. My chest ached for my friends that I missed dearly.
          ~Hopefully I will see them soon.~
          A loud panting was heard from next to me. I looked over to see a female cadet that was struggling to breathe, from what I assumed was our exhausting training session.
          “Are you alright?” I asked her politely, patting her back lightly. She looked up to me and abruptly stopped in place. Then she snapped.
          “No! I am not alright. Goddammit, I am going to die. DIE!” She screamed at me. Her eyebrows scrunched and her lip quivered before she fell to her knees and held her head in her hands.
          “I was supposed to join the Military Police and bring my family to the inner walls,” She weeped as she choked on her words.
          I looked at her with wide eyes. I was frozen. Unable to form words as my brain seemed to have malfunctioned.
          How could I comfort her? I can’t tell her she’ll be able to transfer into the Military Police because we all knew how unlikely that was. How could I tell her things would be alright? When I didn’t know if they would.
          Commander Erwin said that it all depends on how someone reacts to a titan, but even then it’s not a sure thing. And I don’t think she would even make it that far, not in the state she’s in.
          A scoff was heard ahead of us.
          “Then just leave, you’re useless to us anyways,” One of the cocky male cadets spoke. She began to sob harder.
          ~At least she doesn’t have a rock for a brain. What a brute.~
          I glared up at him and he put his hands up and turned around before continuing back on his way.
          After he left I knelt down and soothingly ran my hand up and down her back as I fought with myself over the right words to say.
          I thought about the male cadets' words. And although his execution was terrible.
          He was right.
          “Then go home,” I told the girl softly. She sniffled as she peered up at me through her reddened eyes.
          “If you can’t do it, that’s ok, go home,” I continued. “Give up.”
          ~Please fight back, tell me I’m wrong~
          “Why are you saying this?” She countered, her eyebrows furrowing in defense.
          ~Bingo~
          “Because you have two choices, neither is wrong but it’s yours to make,” I challenged.
          “You can go home and be with your family and hope there won’t be a repeat of what happened in Shiganshina,” her eyes darkened as I spoke.
          “Or. You can stay here and fight with me and we can fight to change the world we live in,” I spoke passionately. “Fight beside our comrades, fight strongly, and with purpose.”
          I watched the conflict in her eyes arise. She struggled between choosing the easy path and the difficult one. Go home to the warm embrace of her family but have to face her failure. Or push onward. The same struggle I’ve fought with ever since I arrived here as well. Hell, I was almost trying to convince myself from giving up through helping her.
          After a pause she wiped her eyes and stood up. She brushed the dust off her knees and held her head up high, a new sense of purpose in her mind.
          She made her decision.
          “What are we waiting for then,” She croaked out, her voice deepened from crying. She didn’t look at me as she followed the path the other cadets had previously been.
          I sighed deeply.
          ~I’m starting to sound like Commander Erwin. I’ll give him a run for his money in inspirational quotes~ I quietly laughed to myself.
          I slowly lifted myself from the ground, my aching body fighting against me. Once I stood I raised my arms and stretched my back, wincing slightly as cracks sounded from up and down my spine. 
          I sucked in a breath and began walking down the path but a familiar sensation came upon me as I felt the hair on my back stand up. I immediately looked up to the window where I had seen the mysterious figure before, and there it was again.
          I squinted in a failing attempt to get a better look but it was too far for me to make out who it was, but someone was definitely there. Watching.
          As I continued walking the sun glared in my eyes and when I got back to some shade the figure was gone just as quickly as before.
          “Who the hell is that?”
~~~~~~~~~~~~
          After we all returned and cleaned up, one by one we made our way to the dining hall to eat. And damn were we all craving any sort of food to consume.
          I made my way down the long hallways but soon found myself drawn to a large doorway that was slightly cracked open, voices heard from inside. I couldn’t help my curiosity as I pushed the door slightly.
          It squeaked and I paused, praying no one heard me. As I hoped their conversation continued smoothly, I peeked inside to see a group of four people sitting at a small table, drinks in hand.
          I saw Petra, lightly sipping at her drink, sitting next to Oruo who placed his feet on the top of the table in an attempt to look more laid back and ‘cool.’
          I struggled to refrain from scoffing.
          There were two more people sitting across from them. They must have been Levi Squad as well.
          ~Dammit, what did Eren tell me, dark hair, big nose…Gunther Schultz~ I thought as I identified the man.
          Strength is well known throughout the Survey Corps, also known as the most reasonable and good in stressful situations.
          ~And the other one…~ I thought as I scanned my eyes over the other figure. ~Blonde hair...starts with an E...Eld Gin!~ I smiled in a cheerful manner when I finally remembered.
          Known as a man of few words. But when he did speak, it was in your best interest to listen.
          Captain Levi’s second in command.
          “How could he do this?” Gunther proclaimed as he slammed his drink down on the table. “I mean they’re kids? Most haven’t even seen a titan in their lives and he expects them to survive when he throws them in the field lacking months of training?” He scoffed and placed his palms over his eyes.
          “Well if they’re not prepared now they’ll never be, hm?” Oruo spoke before taking a sip of his drink.
           “Cause your one to talk, the fine fearless soldier who pissed his pants on his first expedition,” Eld sarcastically remarked. Oruo’s eyes widened in shock, his cheeks flushing in embarassement. 
          “Cut the shit Oruo, they’re kids, they shouldn’t have to be prepared now,” Gunther’s anger rose with every word, nearly lunging at Oruo.
          “Ok calm down,” Petra’s steady voice spoke. “I get what you’re saying Gunther, but although I hate to say it Oruo is kind of right.” She cringed at herself for actually agreeing with the man. Oruo’s face returned to one of confidence.
          “Not too late to proclaim your love for me Petra, I’d have no problem warming your b…” Oruo was stopped as Petra slammed her hand over his mouth. A small tint to her cheeks as she did so.
          “As. I. Was. Saying,” Petra articulated in a slow staccato. “A few months isn’t going to make much of a difference Gunther. Although I agree that it’s unfair and it’s unfair that most of them were probably forced into this regiment. If they weren’t prepared a month ago they won’t be prepared a few months from now when they reach their proper graduation.” She finished sorrowfully.
          A look of defeat fell upon Gunther’s face as he slowly seated himself back down. A drawn out sigh falling from his lips as he ran a hand down his face.
          “I just don’t understand why Erwin would do this now. There’s no change in our expeditions. Our losses are the same. And we’ve never taken cadets early like this. Let alone forced cadets to join our squad early like this,” He said, tiredly. “We won’t be able to protect them all.”
          My face was sullen.
          Never taken cadets early? Gunther filled me with questions. Questions that may be left unanswered. How could he do this to us with no purpose? No purpose to our very probable losses? Was it true?
          Each one of them held a regretful look on their faces. Confliction filling their eyes as well.
          ~Is everyone in the Survey Corps conflicted?~
          And Eld stayed silent with the others. Stoic in expression but silent. Until…
         The door creaked. I watched as all their ears perked up.          
         “What was that?” Gunther questioned. I watched as Eld’s eyes slowly made their way towards the door where I was standing.
          I quickly sidestepped away from the door, away from view as well as unable to see them. I held my breath hoping I didn’t get caught.
          Silence.
          “I’m not sure, but dinner is probably ready,” Eld finished bluntly. I breathed a sigh of relief. Until a chair pushed back.
          “Great, cause I’m starving after a whole training day with the recruits,” Petra’s said. More chairs began to screech against the floor and I ushered myself down the hallway and around the corner before they could spot me.
          The thought of food re-entered my mind and my stomach growled.
          Dinner.
~~~~~~~~~~~
          Dinner was a godsend.
          The lackluster potato soup and bread felt like a four course meal of wondrous assortment after a hard day's work.
          I even watched as a few cadets attempted to steal each other's bread. And I would be lying to say I didn’t try as well.
          But I succeeded.
          We all sat back in our seats and relished our meal. The meal hall being boastful and loud with all the Survey Corps members jostling around.
          I took notice in the fact that the loud, happy manner everyone presented themselves in seemed to mask what was really there.
          Or the lack thereof.
          For there were way fewer members than I would have expected. In comparison to the Garrison this seemed half the size.
          ~This couldn’t be all of them, could it?~
          “Cadets!” Petra’s friendly voice rang as she approached our table. “As I can clearly see…” She paused as she looked over our mess of a table where the food was scarce.
          “You’re done with dinner,” She laughed. “Now I need you to come, the Commander needs to speak with you in his office.” She finished.
          All of our backs straightened up, and the relaxed looks on our faces turned to ones of intensity.
          “Oh, and don’t worry about cleaning up,” She waved us off as we began to lift our plates. “Oruo willingly volunteered to help you guys out.”
          She looked over to Oruo with a poison like smile on her face as he groaned in annoyance. She motioned in the direction where the Commander's office was held and we all followed.
          Every one of us walked in silence. Wondering why he needed to see us.
          Was he sending us back? Were we going home? And on and on.
          I pitied the cadets who held hopeful looks on their faces.
          “Here we are,” Petra announced as we waited outside the door. “He’s waiting. Go on in.” She gave us a reassuring smile as she waited for us to enter.
          No one moved. A few glanced at each other quickly, waiting for someone to grow a pair and turn the golden doorknob and enter.
          So I did.
          And we all haphazardly ushered our way into the room.
          “Good evening Cadets,” Commander Erwin’s deep voice spoke.
          We all spoke, “Good evening Commander.” Saluting as we spoke. Our right fists rhythmically pounding against our perturbed hearts.
          “Tch, brats.” A voice spoke.
          My eyes were quickly drawn to a figure that stood off to the side. Arms crossed, peering at us through squinted and uninterested grey eyes. Black hair falling loosely over his face. The light from the sunset illuminating his well defined features. Regiment jacket around his shoulders. He looked us over and soon his eyes met mine.
          My eyes were locked on his. And then I realized.
          The man in the window. This was him. The same stance. I could feel his cold stare digging into me.
          “I’d like to introduce you to someone before we begin our debriefing,” Commander Erwin spoke.
          ~Debriefing? How come?~
          My mind filled with questions but I couldn’t tear my eyes away from the mysterious man.
          “This,” He continued as he motioned his hand towards the bored man. “Is Captain Levi.”
          We all stiffened.
          Immediately saluting again. This time towards the Captain.
          And he lazily rolled his eyes at us.
~Sorry this took so long! I think I’m going to make this four parts instead so buckle up! Can’t wait to see you in the next chapter! Much love!~
3 notes · View notes
Text
Ghosts live on
It was a common enough legend; every small town had their own and Helsingør was no different. The foreboding abandoned castle didn’t help much either, but it was something for the occasional tourist to take pictures of. The children were told the story as bedtime stories and then in school in the form of Shakespeare. He may have called them a fictional city, but the name “Elsinore” stuck around like a loving nickname for the locals.
No one lived in the castle anymore. Out of respect and fear of what happened to the family of seven who lived there once. The Hansens. A good rich family who moved out when their youngest daughter of ten years nearly died in the forest at the outer parts of the small town. The castle now stands desolate, empty of all except the remnants of that family and the ivy that quickly took over and claimed it. They had an old caretaker whose job was to handle the children but he was let go before they all left when his bad hearing nearly cost the life of the youngest. He still lived near the castle gates and no one had the heart to make him clear off. After all, he only wanted company and the occasional conversation.
This whole incident didn’t help the case for the stories. Of course, the townspeople dismissed the whole “legend” as a simple story meant to keep children from wandering too far from home. The poor family was only an unfortunate coincidence. But everyone had a little fear in their heart
It was a beautiful small forest and a popular place, but you could never spend too long in it. It wasn’t safe was all the explanation people could provide when asked. How could they explain the off- feeling they felt when they went deep in? The urge to just remain in there, walking amongst the woods and trees going off the familiar path and follow the array of flowers that littered the place. people swore these plants seemed to be in bloom even in the harshest of winter. Bright dots of pansies, rue and daisies almost buried under decaying leaves and snow, but sure enough still there.
There was a stream that ran through the forest and led to a pond which looked almost like a picture. Reeds on the sides, little fishes and frogs shining near the surface in the light. It seemed other worldly. There was a large tree fallen tree across the stream near the mouth of the pool. It was almost like a gate keeper, covered in moss, ferns and multiple little critters crawling over the rotting holes created by time. The pond was a lovely place especially during summer but of course, no one stayed there for long. No matter how hard you tried, you couldn’t see the bottom of the pond. the water was clear but almost a never ending dark blue in the centre. It was safer to just not swim in it. There were stories of dead bodies being thrown in by murderers who will never be caught, people falling in, never to be seen again. Only stories they tried to reassure themselves, but it only strengthened the fear when the youngest Hansen almost drowned in the connected stream.
She lost balance walking across the fallen tree and fell on the stream side. The caretaker was with her and when she didn’t surface, he quickly went after her after. He’d searched frantically for her and found her floating unconscious lightly underwater a little way down. He quickly brought her up.
She recovered of course, but many say she had a chance only because she hadn’t fallen into the pond itself.
There was a family who lived in the castle. They weren’t royal, but Shakespeare took some artistic liberty. The tale of a nephew killing his treacherous uncle to avenge his father, the six haunting deaths in the castle were almost traditional. Almost each province had their own haunted mansion of unusual deaths. But the part of the legend that scared the town most was the fate of Ophelia.
A young woman, still a girl even, driven mad by the unlawful death of her controlling father by the hands of the man who used her like a throw-away doll. Her brother, who, like everyone else, could not look past the simple pretty face put on for the public and see the light of intelligent and awareness.
Ophelia went to the same forest, picking flowers and singing to herself and the trees around her. The trees who didn’t care who she was, didn’t judge or remind her of the rules she must follow to be a proper lady in her short stifling life. They just listened and silently appreciated. They didn’t care for her mad dances, her occasional screams between verses when she saw see the body of her father laid out flashing, the phantom blood still warm against her unstained hands. Her mind quickly pushed it out and she focused on the flowers, still singing to the trees.
There's rosemary, that's for remembrance; pray,
love, remember: and there is pansies. that's for thoughts.
There's fennel for you, and columbines: there's rue
for you; and here's some for me: we may call it
herb-grace o' Sundays: O you must wear your rue with
a difference. There's a daisy: I would give you
some violets, but they withered all when my father died…
She sang on and on, stepping daintily on the fallen tree and dancing atop it. Little jumps, turns and small twirls. The damp moss and slick wooden bark making slips almost inevitable, yet she danced on, for once in her restrained life, careless of any consequence. Falling wasn’t even a fear anymore, after all how could she fall when she felt so light? So, when the final slip did happen, she didn’t feel like she was falling. Ophelia was floating. She was free in the water, the coolness of it finally calming her. The clear water looked even clearer around her. Small fish tickling her hands and face as they swam around her. She felt peaceful. But she’d lost her flowers. Well that wasn’t good, she’d worked so hard to collect them! She looked frantically and saw they all were up at the surface, floating as free as she was. She could almost grab them.
Ophelia tried to reach for them, but her heavy dress felt heavier, water soaked up entirely. Now she felt the fall, the heavy drag pulling her and keeping her down. Ophelia tried to push herself back up, from the bottom of the pond. It was a lot deeper than it looked.
She looked around, the then clear water, now quickly growing murky by all the mud she was kicking up. The fish were gone, had enough of their home being disrupted by this outsider. She was alone and she couldn’t see. She tried to kick herself up again, the cool water now did nothing to chill the intense burn in her lungs. Her legs were entangled by hornworts, hardy pond plants that didn’t let go easily. Her large dress floated around her, restricting movement even further. Pulling whatever she could grasp, it eventually became too much effort, and she gasped for air. Instead muddy water flowed through. She was losing conscious quickly, she had to get her flowers, Laertes was waiting for her, she’d picked rosemary especially for him. and Hamlet, oh Hamlet would never receive her rues, they were such lovely ones. He would have loved it…
Ophelia’s body was found by the servants who went searching for her. Large torn pieces of dress fabric were floating alongside a bundle of wild flowers. But when they dove to retrieve her body, the pond bed seemed almost unreachable, going deeper and deeper still. Eventually they had to return with only the remains they found afloat.
There was a family that lived in the castle. But the story of revenge, murder and madness was all part of legend. No one knows really how they all died but it was so long ago. Fear is the hardest thing to kill though and it is said to never go into the forest on the anniversary of Ophelia’s death. They say she still haunted the pond, hoping to drag other souls along with her for company.
Little Clara Hansen was asked by other curious kids as to what happened to her. Most of them weren’t allowed to go into the forest on their own. Their parents explained it was only for rational safety reasons, “You could fall off a tree! Who’d help you if you break your leg in there?”, “Strangers could steal you away.” And the most common one, “You could fall down a hole and we’d never find you.” All ridiculous, the kids declared. Of course, the real reason was because Ophelia wouldn’t let you leave! They all knew the end of the story. If she saw any kids wandering in the forest, she’d keep them with her forever! Ophelia loved to have little children to dance and play with all day and night.
Clara said she didn’t have any particular urge to dance around or sing with anyone in the forest. She didn’t even see any ghosts. Just some walkers on the path and her caretaker alongside her to make sure she doesn’t get lost. Of course, they went off the path when she saw some lovely columbines and wanted to pick some for her father.
The caretaker followed her, listening to her talk about all the different types of plants she’d learnt at school.
“By the way, did you know that bamboo is the fastest growing wood in the world? I can’t remember the number, but it grows loads in a day!” she interrupted to boast of one of the facts she’d learnt.
The kids marvelled for a moment, exchanging further plant facts they had learnt before pushing her to continue.
Clara had reached a small pond area and exclaimed in delight at all the little fishes that swam in the clear blue water and reached to cup one into her hands. She leaned forward and as her hands touched the water, almost all the fishes swam away frantically. She tried to at least catch one but it was almost as if someone had grabbed hold of her and was pulling her gently. She could see her face fully now and it looked…weird. Different. She looked older…? Her hair was a lot longer. It was also black and curly but maybe that was just the water and light being weird. Maybe it had grown, and she just hadn’t noticed. Oh, she could do cool hairstyles now like her older sister Nora did!
Suddenly she was grabbed from behind and pulled back. Completely startled, water went flying from her hands right into caretaker’s face.
“Please be more careful there! You almost fell in!” he said.
She walked around the place as he set up a small blanket for them to sit on when she’d get tired. Clara didn’t go too close to the pond again, but explored the different plants growing. By the end she’d managed to pick many flowers and long leaves to take home as a trophy. The sun was now overhead and a warm stillness set in the area. The caretaker decided to lay down for a while and soon fell asleep on the blanket. Clara had relaxed before, sitting and talking to him. she was all keyed up now to just…do something! Anything was better than just sitting and sleeping around!
Clara spotted the fallen tree laying across the stream. The caretaker had said not to go on it because it wasn’t safe. Something about rotting wood and instability. But she wasn’t that heavy, surely the wood could take her. She imagined the pretty pictures she’d seen where girls in nice dresses swished their feet on water, sitting on moss and mushroom covered trees trunks. They looked like fairies. The water was so cool as well when she’d reached in before. Clara looked back at him. Light snores indicated he was truly asleep and not faking it. Just five minutes and then she’d come back, he wouldn’t even have to know.
She quickly went up the wood and looked at the stream. She could see the bottom, light sand glistened like sea glass. Small water plants danced around. It would just about come up to her chest, she decided and stepped up on the wood.
It had rained the day before, so it was a little damper than she expected but it was so smooth! Having kicked her shoes off before, it felt so weird feeling the moss snaking around her toes, tickling her. Clara grinned and walked until she’d reached the centre and sat down, facing the pond. It looked a lot bigger from here.
“Hello there.” A voice called. Clara turned her head sharply, startled to see there was a woman in the pond, swimming around. She had such lovely thick hair, like the reflection she’d seen before and a kind smile.
“Would you like to swim with me? The water is lovely and cool.”
Clara hesitated. Of course, Nora had told her not to be alone with strangers. She looked back at the caretaker, still fast asleep. She technically wasn’t alone.
“Sorry but I’m not supposed to go into the pond.” She hoped the woman wouldn’t leave because of her. She seemed nice.
The lady laughed and swam up to her. She was able to walk as soon as she reached the shallow ends and sat next to her on the wood. “Alright then, I’ll just join you then.” She looked even prettier but…
“why are you wearing a dress?” Clara asked. It was a beautiful dress even soaking wet and dripped water making the tree trunk even damper. But it wasn’t good for swimming.
The woman shrugged. “I was just walking around and saw the pond. Thought it was good enough for a dip. No one else really swims in here anymore so I suppose its like my personal pool.” She grinned. “Hey, if you want, it can our little pool! Our special pond.”
Clara beamed. A pond! She pictured coming here every afternoon now, sitting and talking with this lady, collecting flowers and maybe even berries in summer! It sounded wonderful, except… “what about Nero?”
The woman snapped up. “who?” she seemed panicked, worried almost. Clara pointed at her caretaker.
“Nero. He takes care of us while Mor and Far go off for business.” Now eager to show off her knowledge, “did you know Nero is a Latin name and it means timekeeper? Its so weird but makes sense I guess cause he’s always looking after us but he’s super strict about time ‘cause we need to go to bed at ten maximum.”
The woman relaxed a little, staring at him sleeping. “I had a friend like that. You know, his name also meant timekeeper. He was a good guy.”
They chatted a little longer about the meaning of names and Clara’s family.
“So you have an older brother? How does he treat you?”
“well, he’s kinda mean ‘cause he hides my toys but then I tell his friends embarrassing things about him and he always turns so red its funny!”
The woman was a quiet for a while. She smiled again, a little sad. “It’s strange, I had a brother too. He was always picking on me, but I knew he loved me. I loved him too. Maybe if things were different.”
“What do you mean?”
She smiled, “It doesn’t matter anymore. Anyway, I’m gonna go back in. You’re welcome to join whenever you wish.” With that she stood up and dived back in. Clara immediately stood up as well and looked for her. It was almost as if she had vanished.
Somehow Nero was still asleep. Poor guy must’ve been tired. Besides a little dip in wouldn’t be too bad right? It wasn’t like she was alone anymore…
The lady suddenly emerged up, splashing water joyfully. Startled, Clara gave a shout and fell backwards into the stream. The cold shocked her for a brief moment she could do nothing but stay still. She could hear distant voices. Squeezing her eyes, she tried to kick herself up. The water wasn’t that deep last she checked, and she did have two swimming lessons. So why was she having such a hard time getting back to the surface? Frantic now, she tried to swim back up but her feet seemed trapped by something.
The plants had wrapped themselves around her. they seemed to be growing and soon were folded around her arms and torso. Clara tried to tear them off but no matter how she tried, they kept growing. Why were there so many, she didn’t see this much before. Clara looked up. The surface looked so far off… where was that log?
The woman appeared in front of her. Relief filled her as Clara reached for her, expecting her to help her untangle this mess. But she just stared. She seemed different…her pretty dress was torn now in places and floated around her. Her skin seemed a pale blue-greenish colour. Her lovely hair diminished in wild knots and plants tangled up in it. she looked…menacing. It almost looked like there were even some holes in her face. Clara restrained from screaming at the sight.
Maybe this was all because she was underwater. An illusion. How long has she been under? She kept pulling plants off her. Where was Nero? He must’ve heard her fall. He’ll get her.
Suddenly the lady appeared beside her. She had a blank face and stared at Clara. Almost as if observing her as she struggled.
Nero awoke with a startle as soon as he heard a loud shout and a splash. He rose to see ripples in the stream which almost stilled immediately. He stared for a second before seeing air bubbles rising.
Shit.
“CLARA!”
Blood was now pounding in her ears and all she could hear was her own heart-beat going insane. Her chest was burning. She’d stopped kicking, her body growing tired from staying upright. She was slowly losing conscious.
No no nonononononononono this can’t be happening. She can’t die yet, not like this! She still had school to go to, her best friend was waiting for her, her brothers and sisters, oh God, her parents, they’d be so angry at Nero even though none of this is even his fault! He’ll be fired and then no one would play games with Andy or listen to Emily when she’s upset, and…and…
The woman has a strange expression, almost guilty. She leaned close to her face, gently cupping her cheek and finally gave a gentle kiss on her forehead. Her lips felt cold and slimy and Clara’s eyes closed as the woman went under.
She sat up coughing up water and looked around. She was sitting on soft grass, the sun still shining as she shielded her eyes. Nero was right there beside her, patting her back to help any remaining water come up. Clara lunged at him, wrapping her arms around him and burying her damp face in his shoulder. They sat there as she loudly cried the rest of the water out for around fifteen minutes. He quietly picked her up when she had calmed down to sniffles.
“How about we start to head back now?”
After she nodded vigorously, they began walking back home. Clara dared to look back at the pond again and she could see the woman, standing in the water, watching them leave. She never looked again. And she never went back to the forest.
Of course, a quick explanation was given about the drenched clothes. But she didn’t mention the woman. Clara didn’t know why but she felt if she did, it would… be worse. Make it real. Better to just say she fell in for a brief while until Nero got her out.
Of course, a few weeks later, she told the other kids in the town what really happened. They were the only ones who believed her when she said she thought it was Ophelia.
22 notes · View notes
aj-artjunkyard · 5 years
Text
Trials Of Apollo Oneshot Series CHAPTER SIX
Takes place after the burning maze. Spoilers!
Meg propped her red high-tops up on the wooden table, engorging herself in a greasy chicken wing. I myself reclined on the sofa next to her, chewing on the best tasting fish I’d come across in a long time. The aurae brought whatever food the demigod, legacy or ex-god would like best. In my case, it was a typical ancient greek dinner - grilled fish with a small side dish of olives and olive oil. It reminded me of the old days, the heavenly smell wafting from my mother’s kitchen (minus the olives of course, as they had not yet been invented) while young Artemis and I played with nymphs, climbed trees and held archery competitions. Granted, my mother usually added a garnish of ground ambrosia, but that was slightly too impossible for me in my current state. Still, the thought brought tears to my eyes. I missed my sister and mother, more than words could describe. I managed to blink back the moisture welling up, but I was still glad we dined alone.
Our table looked pathetically desolate compared to the tables around us, which held fifteen demigods each. No one really wanted to talk to those who had pulled their respected leader into a quest which had gotten him killed. So, with our backs to the crowd, we ate in thoughtful silence (at least on my part) until Meg stirred me from my nostalgic reverie.
“You think Ella will finish the book thing in time?” Meg asked, pulling a chicken bone from her mouth and flicking it across the table.
“The Sibylline Books.” I corrected.
“Same difference.” 
“That’s my line.”
“Will they be ready or not?”
I sighed with exasperation at the impatience of my master. 
“I do not know.”
Meg rolled her eyes. 
“You never know anything.”
“Hey! I know as much as my father has left intact in my memories, and that is not my fault.”
Meg ignored my defence, and leaned over to my plate to prod my fish in the eye. 
“That’s gross,” she said, screwing up her face.
“Yes,” I agreed. “It is in fact disgusting to poke someone else’s food when they know you haven’t washed your hands.”
“Not that, dummy.” She pointed at my forkful of fish, which was halfway to my mouth. “That.”
I rolled my eyes and took another bite. “What’s wrong with it?”
“It’s hardly cooked.”
“It’s grilled.” 
Meg stuffed her face with another few bites. Her mouth was so full I was surprised she could still breathe. “Aren’t you supposed to put batter on it or something?” She asked, spraying my face with spit and bits of chicken. I grudgingly wiped it off. 
“Is there anything you Americans don’t deep fry?” 
In response, Meg lifted her feet off the low table, swivelled around and dropped them heavily onto my legs. She was now lying the length of the sofa while half-draped over me, pinning me to the soft cushioning. “Ow.”
She snorted at my discomfort, then continued to inhale her meat. 
My mind wandered around the possibilities of ever seeing my family again. My uncle Poseidon, who had always been my favourite uncle (although my only other uncles are either titans or Hades, so I guess that doesn’t come across as much of a compliment, but it is). My good friends, Hermes and Dionysus, who were always up for a good prank on Ares or ready with a bottle of wine after an awful day (but remember, alcohol is bad, kids. We only drink it because we are each over 3000 years old. Do not attempt until you are the same age, no matter what Dionysus tells you). My sister, the sharp huntress whom I would defend to the death. My mother. Sacred Sibyl, I missed my mother. I missed her warm hugs, her sweet honeysuckle scent, her soft, caring voice. I couldn’t stand the thought of never feeling her comforting presence again. I had to get home.
I woke, drenched in cold sweat and gasping for breath. ‘Blasted nightmares,’ I thought, desperately trying to rip the sheets off myself with shaking hands. My legs were still partially entangled when I attempted to stand, resulting in me thumping loudly to the floor. I grasped around in the dark for the small bedside table to help me stand. When I found the edge, I began to pull myself up, but the table tipped, sending me back to the hard floor and spilling its contents onto my head. The digital clock that clattered beside me read 01:38. I growled at it and stood, despite my quaking limbs. My nightmares had wildly unsettled me in ways I wouldn’t tolerate. ‘You’ll never hang onto those memories’, they taunted. ‘Give it a week and you won’t even remember their names’. 
“Shut up, shut up!” I hissed to myself. I began wondering, stumbling towards to bookshelf at the end of the long room. ‘What kind of brother forgets a sibling?’ “Stop.” ‘What kind of son?’ “Stop it!”
I began to yank old, dusty, leather bound books from the shelf, looking for anything with my name on the front. I needed to remember me. Anything. Anything at all. Finally, a large black book with the emboldened golden letters ‘APOLLŌ’ printed on the spine caught my attention. It was a few inches thick and the cover was almost as wide as my chest. Eyes widening, I harshly ripped the book out from its place, the sudden weight bearing down on my weak arms almost causing me to drop it. I did not wish to make any more noise than I already had. I wrapped it in my gangly human arms and lugged it out the door. 
I cannot say I knew where I was headed. I simply needed to get somewhere, to feel the crisp night wind sting my skin into feeling anything but numbness. I found myself marching up a hill. The extra muscle exertion distracted me from my troubles, so I kept climbing. A good way up the hill, I started to feel the pull of the familiar. Temple Hill. I scanned the assorted statues and . There was no particular order, other than ‘most important at the top’. Further on, a massive red crypt loomed, decorated with flames and human skulls. The name Mars Ultor came to me, but I overlooked it. My mind was so busy with rushing thoughts and doubts that I feared any more information might make my brain explode.
My fingers fidgeted with the tears and rough leather texture of the book in my grasp. I felt as if a band composed of nothing but timpani were performing a drumroll in my mind, getting more and more intense with each passing second. Unable to stand still for much longer, I bolted to my right, keeping my head down and following whatever path was under my feet. 
Maybe the last scraps of my godly essence guided me to the place it felt most at home. My mind was caught in such a flurry of panic that I barely noticed I was climbing marble steps until the steely cold shocked my unprotected soles. I was in an circular, open room held up by bronze pillars that were rimmed with gold. A golden dome sat over my head, and an array of my favourite items littered the right side of the room - a golden bow, a quiver stocked with arrows, an elegant grand piano. In the middle of the temple, an altar sat, waiting for sacrifices. I padded to the back of the room, my bare feet echoing on the smooth marble. Sliding my back down a pillar, I sat and heaved the book open. I was too flustered  to have possibly read a word, but the pictures soothed me. There were a few century-old ink sketches of the 'Apollo Belvedere’ in Rome, next to a modern Polaroid marked ‘Latona and Her Children, Apollo and Diana, carved 1874’ I smiled at the tranquil scene. Mother rarely appeared as such now, certainly not after the invention of many modern braid styles (she got me to teach her how to use Instagram so she can ‘see the videos all those pretty young ladies post’ and learn new hairstyles. She’s admittedly very talented. We tied on our self-held Let’s See Who Can Braid Their Hair The Fastest completion). A tear dripped onto the picture. I turned the page.
This one showed the ‘Diana as Huntress’  statue in Berlin. Artie always huffed about her statues, said they were ‘Too dramatic’. She questioned why she, a seasoned hunter, would ever stand around and wait around for the wind to blow the right direction just so she could look cool to the monsters charging at her and her girls. She can say what she likes, but I know that she prefers it when sculptors include her dogs. Just a thought for any artists out there, looking to gain Diana’s favour *wink*. I grinned at the thought of her thirteen year old form pouting up at me. The memory was fuzzy, but still clearer than usual. I turned the page again.
Again and again I flicked through photos of my relatives, skimming over the paragraphs just enough that it reminded me of their names and their relationships with me. Hermes/Mercury was my impish best friend, who I’d vowed to love for eternity. Hera/Juno was my stepmother who caused my mother and siblings nothing but pain, but somehow we respected each other enough to eat cabbage together and compliment each other’s hair. Dionysus/Bacchus was the ultimate party-man, often inviting me to play for his revelries. 
I turned the page once more. This time, I was met with an image that spanned the length of the two pages. At the top of the page, black threatening letters spelled out ‘JUPITER, FATHER OF APOLLO’ and in smaller writing ‘St Petersburg, Hermitage Museum’. Even from glancing into those blank, marble eyes, my anger spiked. ‘There he is’, I thought, ‘sitting all smug on his little stupid throne-’ I admit, my thoughts turned to bitter toddler-like insults. But looking at the god responsible for my misery made me want to throw the book across the temple and storm away. So I did just that. The book smacked into the alter (which tipped) and thumped open onto the floor cover side up, the crusty pages wrinkling under the force. I left the hook where the golden bow had hung empty as I went.
Twang!
The arrow just inside the red circle of the target, and I mentally awarded myself seven points. Not that it mattered. Judging by the moon’s position in the inky sky, it was now 3am - I had been at Camp Jupiter’s open-air archery range for almost two hours. No one else had been here when I arrived, and I was glad it had stayed that way. I needed time alone. To stew. I had first come out with the intention to ‘practice’ (still an alien concept to ex-flawless archers such as myself), but now, this long into the session, I was only blowing off steam. Channeling my frustration into every loose of an arrow, imagining the target as everyone who had wronged me over the course of this forsaken punishment. My knuckles tightened. My eyes narrowed. My shoulders tensed. 
Twang! An arrow buried itself deep in the flesh of Commodus’ shoulder.
Twang! A wooden shaft protruded from Caligula’s throat.
Twang! Blood seeped through the mauve suit surrounding Nero’s manipulating, insensitive heart.
Twang! Zeus howled in pain at the arrow embedded in his sternum.
Twang! Python writhed in agony, agony he deserved-
“Apollo!”
I yelped and my shot went wildly off course, flying high with no power or distance, and landing in the grass in front of the target with a thud. Whipping around, I was about to tell whoever it was to GO AWAY when I was met with an equally startled young man, dressed in pyjama bottoms and the signature purple Camp Jupiter t-shirt, with the gold letters SPQR emblazoned boldly on the front. He quickly raised his hands in a placid manner, showing that he meant no harm. Nevertheless, I remained on guard. There had been a few who had not exactly welcomed the bearers of Jason’s coffin warmly, and this had been a close friend of the son of Jupiter. I feared I could not take this particular demigod in a fight. Even though he looked to be not much older than myself, he towered above me - perhaps a few inches beyond six foot tall, which made my lanky 5”6 feel minuscule. He had handsome asian features and soft brown eyes that I wagered could shift from kindness to anger in moments. He wore jet black hair in a military cut, making him seem like the world’s youngest army general.
“Frank Zhang.” I nodded to him once before turning back to my anger outlet. I was in no mood to talk. Not after loosing any way to contact my family. Not after loosing my memories to oblivion. Not after loosing Jason. Not when I knew he could react violently, as some already had. And if his heritage and blessing from Mars went against my mortal pathetic self, I doubted I would last more than ten seconds. Thankfully, he did not look like he came to pick a fight. He came forward and stood beside me silently, watching as I drew back the bowstring. I felt his eyes bore into me, assessing my posture, my strength, my balance. It was off-putting. That, dear readers, is why my arrow went rogue. It wasn’t my fault. It thunked into the wooden leg that held up the target. I felt my cheeks redden. I glared at the stupid arrow, willing it to pick itself up and hover over to the bullseye. Unsurprisingly, this did not happen. It stubbornly stayed where it was, planted in the wood. 
I really hated having an audience for my failures, especially if the audience was a child who had once hoped and prayed for me, the Great Golden Archer, to be his father. I doubted Frank felt such a longing anymore. I glanced at him from the corner of my eye. He was smiling sympathetically at me, having witnessed my disgraceful excuse for a shot for the first time. I decided that Gaia coming back and swallowing me whole at that exact moment would not have been protested against.
“Here,” Frank said calmly, reaching towards me and adjusting my grip on the bowstring. “You’re gripping the string too far up your fingers. You don’t want to make a fist around it.” He peered down at my feet. “And you’re too tense. Relax your stance a little.” I obliged, already seeing my stupid mistakes. My cheeks seemed to heat up even more, and I found myself resisting the urge to bury my acne-ridden face in my hoodie. Frank seemed to notice, and backed off, instead ambling over to a small supply shed where he scooped up a bow and a fistful of arrows. I kept myself occupied from the daunting future that would have Frank humiliating me by nocking another arrow. This time, I tried to take on board what advice I’d been given.
I angled my left foot closer to the direction of the target, so I took on a more open stance, then checked my fingering was correct. Taking a deep breath, I used my back muscles to push my shoulder blades together as to take the strain off my arm and shoulder muscles - an unforgotten golden rule of archery. I drew back the bowstring until I reached my anchor point (the index finger touching the corner of my mouth), and fired. Twang! Not a bullseye, but well within the first yellow circle. I grinned in delight. Success was a rare feeling nowadays.
“Good job.” He congratulated quietly, grinning and turning to his own target. We both drew our bows.
After about ten more shots, and four bullseyes on my part (how many frank got is not relevant, moving on), Frank suggested we go back inside.
“It’s early,” he said, rubbing his eyes and letting out a yawn. He started walking down towards the fifth cohort’s barracks, so I followed. “We should get back. Jason’s funeral is later, and you’ve barely been to sleep.”
“How did you know?”
Frank scratched the back of his neck and smiled awkwardly.
“Well, you made a bit of a racket when you were leaving the barracks. What with the whole…falling and throwing books and stuff…”
Yup. The ground was more than welcome to swallow me now. I stuffed my hands in my pockets as I felt my acne-riddled face turn tomato coloured for the umpteenth time that morning, and glared at the grass.
“Apologies.” I muttered. “I panicked.”
“Yeah, you seemed upset so I told the others to leave you alone. I thought maybe you wanted some peace and quiet. But you were gone for ages, so I came to find you.”
I shot him a questioning look. ‘Why?’ He read my mind. 
“It’s my job as Praetor to make sure everyone’s safe,” he explained, his chest puffing out slightly at the little self-reminder of his recently increased status. “And, it sucks. To loose people, I mean.”
I looked up at the Roman. His eyes were shimmering with tears, but he looked me in the eye anyway. He wasn’t afraid to show emotion, which was a rare trait, especially in the legion, but one I had always admired. 
“I only knew him for a few hours. Why do I feel so awful?”
“Because Jason was a great demigod. The greatest. He made an impact on everyone he talked to.” -Frank gestured around the camp- “He really made an impact here. Especially with the loser fifth cohort.”
“He-he told me to fulfil his promise. To build temples for every god in the pantheon.”
“Yeah. He could be like that. Noble, even at the worst of times. But that’s not the reason you’ve been drilling holes into the archery equipment for an a few hours straight.”
I answered with all the intelligence of someone who hadn’t slept since 1am. 
“Huh?”
“I didn’t think to check here first,” he said. “I went up to your temple.”
I got flashbacks to my toddler-esque temper tantrum.
“Ooh. Yeah…”
“Yeah.” He responded in a tone that said ‘been there, done that, got the t-shirt’. “Families are messy.” 
“I miss them.”
“That’s normal. Bitterness is normal. You aren’t being overdramatic.” 
I smiled at the confirmation. 
“Thanks. It means a lot.”
We were back at the barracks. Frank smiled at me one last time and patted me on the back, before lumbering in. I followed. 
I slept soundly the rest of the night.
I walked, lead-legged, up Temple Hill. The whole camp was eerily quiet. Jason’s body had been given proper honours, and the legion had been given the day off from duties. I couldn’t stand the prying eyes of 200 kids for much longer, so, even while I had only gotten four hours of sleep and was weighed down with grief, I travelled to the only place in the camp that was truly ‘mine’. 
Tired and weary, I plopped down on the seat of the sleek, white grand piano. I ran my fingers across the smooth fallboard for a solid minute of distracted silence, before lifting it to reveal the ivory keys. They were chipped and yellowed and seemingly out of place compared to the stark white of the piano itself, were inevitably out of tune. I played a short scale, opened up the lid and tightened the loose turning pins I had hit, then continued with my scales. I repeated until I was positive that every key was in perfect harmony, which took all of ten minutes.
Satisfied with the tuning, I took a deep breath and splayed my fingers out on the keyboard, and played a tune that inspired grace and felt to me like a ballerina daintily dancing on water. After a second, the fingering flowed into my memory, allowing my hands to glide elegantly across the piano while I stared over the rim and through the gaps between the temple’s pillars, and into the distance. The sky was clear and perfect blue, and the warm breeze swept gently through my hair. I remembered sitting with my mother on Delos, our shoulders touching as together, we played two parts of the same harmony. Like two streams running down a mountain, weaving around each other and sometimes intersecting to make one stronger melody. My heartbeat calmed from the stress of what was now everyday life to me. Peril, danger and death.
A jarring dissonance of notes jolted me back to unwelcome reality. I rolled my eyes glared at the pudgy young demigod beside me.
“You know, there are ways to make your presence known without scaring flocks of birds away.”
“Yeah I know,” Meg replied shrugging. “But it’s not as fun as watching you jump ten feet in the air.”
“I wasn’t scared! I knew you were beside me!”
“Uh huh,” she grunted, turning her attention to the keys and banging a few more notes without mercy.
“I just tuned those, you monster.”
Meg smirked. Then she ordered me to shift over on the bench, and practically bounced down in the middle, leaving me with one leg hanging off the side.
“Teach me that one. The one you were playing.”
I was too taken aback to argue it’s difficulty, especially for a beginner. I thought we had long since given up on the piano lessons (Meg was not very good), and even if we hadn’t, this tune was graceful and elegant - not words commonly used to describe Meg McCaffrey. But I admit, I missed playing with someone. And so we began.
“Why don’t you watch me first, try to absorb as much of the tune as possible before I teach you the left hand.”
Meg tried to hide her smile.
“Yeah. Whatever.”
Bit of a shorter chapter this time. Sorry for the long wait, I started writing out several completely different chapters and never finished them because they just weren’t good enough. Also, the point about ‘No romance’ in these chapters still stand. Frank and Apollo were written as a kid and an adult becoming good friends, NOT BOYFRIENDS. 
18 notes · View notes
kingofthewilderwest · 5 years
Text
Things I Fucking LOVE About VLD S8
Katie watching freaking Defender of the Universe and marveling at how Pidge’s voice actor sounds.
Katie Holt looking adorable wearing ponytails.
Mrs. Holt totally momming Katie.
GIRL’S SHOPPING DAY GIRL’S SHOPPING DAY GIRL’S SHOPPING DAY!!! Getting together Nadia, Ina, Allura, Pidge, and Romelle?!!
Pidge and Nadia being such gaming nerds.
Pidge exploiting her fame as Pidge and dressing up as freaking Darrell Stoker / Retro Pidge. Like you have no idea how much I wanted to scream in happy seeing her with the old outfit and hairstyle, this is such a blessing. SUCH a blessing holy crow.
Tumblr media
Allura wearing one of her old outfits from the 1980s too! So many DOTU references this season!
Coran is having way too much fun with Lance.
Lance and Keith chilling out together on top of the lion watching the sunset and having a good convo. Look how far these two’s relationship has come. Look at them. It’s so good.
Dinner with Lance’s family is so pure.
The visuals with Allura and the tree are so beautiful.
Cute photograph moment! 
There’s an entire episode dedicated to Honerva’s past, showing her struggling emotions now that she’s remembering everything that’s been, showing her internal conflict and struggle, giving us a clear and deep understanding of her hurt and hate.
Baby Lotor is fucking adorable. Like look at that kid. Look at those big eyes. Oh my gosh he’s adorable. 
Lotor’s past is painful and it’s exactly the sort of crap I expected. Received no affection from his father. Was pushed into a Galra empire that didn’t value mercy. Watched the place he cultivated destroyed. Exactly the sort of thing I was expecting from his past to lead to his current state of mind as we meet him in S3. It shows how he’s someone who wants to revolutionize the empire, but is someone whose mind and ideas have been clearly influenced by his culture and upbringing.
I like how the robeasts have been developed throughout the series. How they clearly evoke the past ideas from DOTU/BKG of turning biological creatures into mechanized weapons. How the first season starts with Voltron doing lots of single episodes one-on-one fighting the robeasts, akin to the 1980s show. How the robeasts grow into an increasingly great problem by S8, and are now piloted by brainwashed Alteans. It’s a legitimately cool progression and makes the robeasts feel like a threat even while not repeating the same episode format over and over.
So many Altean warrior ladies on the forefront of Honerva’s forces.
“The Prisoner’s Dilemma” is a fan-fucking-tastic episode all around. One of my favorites for this season for sure.
It starts with Voltron, the ATLAS, the rebels, and the MFEs working together to take down a base. This is an amazing fight moment. It’s showing how far everyone has come since the start, how much they’ve grown, and it sings. And it’s showing REALLY cool team coordination. This is like. All around epically cool I fucking love it.
Matt Holt and his ponytail <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3
I love how this episode focuses on trying to end the Galra Empire’s remaining power but also trying to show mercy to the Galra. I love how it shows a Galra leader who’s had help from Voltron before still being doubtful - and how more acts from Voltron bring him around. It takes time to convince someone who’s been part of the Galra Empire that Voltron is okay to ally with - and it shows how the Voltron Coalition is gaining ground.
There is some serious nice creepy tension in this episode.
KEITH BLASTING THROUGH THE DOOR WITH EPIC BIG GUN!
Tumblr media
I love how Lance’s characterization feels like they took him and turned him more into his DOTU self over the course of the series. Honestly, as with all of them! The characters grow into those positions and selves.
“Battle Scars” is probably the episode that got me the most emotional. Olkarion is a planet and culture I loved, too. Watching it fall - watching that beautiful planet actually get destroyed along with many of its citizens - was painful. This is a good way to show Honerva’s power and the high-stakes dangers of her actions.
The idea of Pidge watching the past to learn what happened was a cool narrative effect, and also had good long-term story arc development since she learned how to track the robeasts, too.
Also amazingly good lesson / theme for that episode.
“The Grudge” is another cool episode that’s got the unique twist of the Paladins relying not on their typical weapons, but on having to be resourceful with the minimum. Another good, original premise.
Acxa and Veronica. Acxa and Veronica. Oh my gosh Acxa and Veronica. Acxa and the rest of the MFEs. Acxa and the humans. It’s so great. Acxa saying everything and it’s coming out SUPER edge-lord and everyone’s trying to figure out how to handle it. 
Tumblr media
I fucking love Ina Leifsdottir. I love her personality so much. And I’m 99% sure the writers intended her as autistic representation and I think they did a good job with her.
Okay but this season really has a lot of fun with the MFEs. They don’t steal the show and take too much time, but we get a GREAT sense of personality from them. Rizavi and Kincade together is a delightful combo. I love her energy and love of action. I love his nerdy passions. They’re so fun. 
Let’s be real: one thing Voltron does consistently well is that, no matter how much screen time we have with a character, we get a GREAT sense of their personality, and we love them. There are so many different, lovable, often quirky personalities in Voltron. It’s so rich with its character personalities. I love how there’s a broad cast of characters and yet I can still connect to them all.
I appreciate how S8 wrapped up the story of Lotor’s generals. It would have been easy to have them die, just be casualties, and not have them or their narrative go anywhere. Instead, we get a wrap-up. They’ve been through a lot of twists, turns, and confusing life choices. Now they finally find a place. I like that Lotor’s team (who followed a man who was extremely misguided but wanted some good things) ended up being able to find a productive cause in the end. 
SPACE GALRA LESBIANS RETURN!
I honestly love the dynamic of ATLAS + Voltron. The Castle of Lions is really cool and I felt extremely sad and nostalgic when they lost it. But ATLAS + Voltron has a legitimately awesome sci-fi, mission-oriented dynamic. The Castle of Lions felt like there was always a home, whereas ATLAS gives the sense of being in space on a journey and mission. It gives me Vehicle Force Voltron vibes, ESPECIALLY with the inclusion of the MFEs.
Speaking of the 80s show and retro Voltron references, we got Merla!
This season focuses a bloody fuckton on Allura, but it shows a lot of depth and conflicted thoughts with her. It shows her as a woman of power. It shows her as someone tempted with problematic solutions or darker powers. It shows her loving, being loved, finding family, and marching ever-steady onward with her purpose. There’s a lot of complex psychology with how Allura’s handling these latest events and it’s written in a way we can understand exactly why she’s making the choices she does, good and bad.
“One... two... three... ALUMINUM!”
I love how Sam Holt overall gives Slav good respect for his more “superstitious”-esque approaches to things, and also valuing Slav for his powerful mind and abilities.
Lots of things from earlier seasons get remembered - Olkarion, Slav, Matt Holt, Shay, the Balmera, and more - and continue to play out in the final conflicts.
I legitimately love seeing Voltron team up with ATLAS in its transformed form. Shiro and Keith working completely equally. Keith’s become a fully-fledged leader. Shiro’s got hoards of respect and leadership power. Together everyone coordinates and kicks butt.
HOW have I not mentioned the visuals yet in this season? This was the most colorful and visually appealing season in Voltron YET - and we’ve been given season after season of really beautiful images. I love how, even though Voltron is set in SPACE, which is so full of voidness, we get so much color and light and appealing color pallets. Voltron is a visual delight.
“Day Forty-Seven” has got to be one of my favorite episodes of this season, if not a stand-out for the entire series to me. Some people might feel differently about this episode than me, but I honestly find it so unique and fun. It’s legitimately hard to try to write an episode following one camera for twenty minutes, while also telling a coherent story. And yet it DOES. We get a good narrative - while at the same time it feels so REAL. “Day Forty-Seven” gives us the ability to watch the entire ATLAS crew work, and allows us to watch Voltron from an outsider’s perspective as they go on dangerous missions - without the music, fanfare, camera angles, etc. And it’s so amusing getting everything from a dog carrying a camera around to Rizavi being upset that yeast is part of the documentary. And it shows so many characters and character dynamics and a sense of a full crew where everyone knows each other. And Rizavi and Kincade together are such a DELIGHT. And oh my goodness I could gush incoherently about this episode for a long time. It’s so much fun.
Tumblr media
Keith and Hunk stuck on a musical ride. Love it. 
The bargaining Pidge and her mom do!!! The Holt family photograph!
Epic arm wrestling competition is epic. And I love how it all started because Shiro felt abashed being called “old.” Poor guy’s still in his 20s! And I love how it turned into all of Team Voltron CELEBRATING THE FUCK out of Shiro winning. Like, these guys have fought countless dangerous foes across the universe. And these dorks get over-the-top excited at Shiro’s accomplishment of winning an arm wrestling competition at a fair.
I laughed so hard at the Warden talking about how he found a purpose in arm wrestling.
The Voltron team joining up with the original Voltron team was pretty cool. I also love how it was animated where we would see the original Team branching off like apparitions out of Voltron, or how we’d see the pilots in the cockpit fading from one to the other.
Allura and Alfor reunion!!! I think this was done right. I am not a fan of stories where a character seems to lose someone, only for that person to magically be brought back. In this case, given the location of where Allura and Alfor unite, we know they’re not going to be able to resume a life of father and daughter. It’s a temporary reunion, and it happens a VERY LONG time after we’ve suffered through all of Allura’s pain in VLD about leaving Alfor behind. It doesn’t compromise the integrity of all the seasons that have come before it about their loss of Alfor and the Alteans, but it also gives us a touching moment of Allura seeing someone she’d never thought she’d see again.
VLD S8 shows that people aren’t cut-and-dry “always evil.” It shows how it’s a complex combination of your environment and your choice. Zarkon isn’t someone who is innately evil pure and simple, nor is Honerva, nor is Lotor. It also makes sure to remind us of the power of choice. Zarkon and Honerva also aren’t JUST victims of the entity - S8 reminds us that they pursued quintessence and poor choices that led to further bad consequences, too. And just because someone might not have been a villain with alternate choices, and just because someone DID become a villain... S8 reminds us that they still took this particular path. It doesn’t erase that Lotor might have wanted to make some positive differences, but turned into a villain. It looks at the complexity of people, how they have both goodness and badness within their potentials. And... it lets it be shown that just because you make a bunch of bad decisions doesn’t mean that it’s impossible to leave those choices and turn around. People aren’t “just evil.”
How have I not yet mentioned I love the uniforms that the Paladins wear when they’re not in their Lions?
THE ATLAS-VOLTRON FUSION. THE ATLAS-VOLTRON FUSION. THE ATLAS-VOLTRON FUSION. THAT IS AWESOME AS FUCK!
Tumblr media
The S3 idea of alternate realities gets brought back in QUITE the way as Voltron chases Honerva through many realities.
I appreciate how Honerva spends so much time trying to find the perfect reality... and when she thinks she’s found it, it doesn’t do what she wants. It’s exactly what we would respect she’d reap. You can’t just tear across space and time to find happiness. At the same time, we can also feel her pain. 
Okay but Honera? I love her armor in this season too. Man I just. Love lots of what people wear this season.
I love Allura’s send-off. I love that the stakes got so high in VLD that we had to lose a main character, but not in a way that felt like a painful death. I love that Voltron was willing to give us a concrete ending where there’s no “going back” to the way things were before. I love that they still give us a sense of hope and growth even with the hurt of losing a main character. I love how it takes Allura, who always had such a strong sense of responsibility, and act on that responsibility in the most responsible and selfless choice possible. I love that she got to embrace every Paladin and say how much they mean to her. I love that they cried. I love how this was done. That’s a proper send-off, one filled with heroicism and selflessness and responsibility and power and strength and emotional pain and also a sense of HOPE.
There are some fucking powerful quotes this season.
I love how we got Altean Lance? Like honestly, when I first heard fans theorizing about it, I thought it was wishful fantasy and the typical desire for AU characters. But the way this was incorporated into VLD actually in canon was really cool.
I love seeing Pidge create Chip. DOTU REFERENCE!!!!!
I love how the Galra Empire has been shown fracturing for seasons, and how it’s finally come to a point Keith can naturally talk about needing change - and it’s believable to think that the Galra would now be open to this change happening.
I love seeing the entire team together after everything’s ended.
I love how in S2 characters talked about defeating the Galra Empire would mean that Voltron was no longer needed. I love how the writers stick with that. I love how the Paladins choose to retire from being Paladins, but intentionally go forth to make the universe a brighter place - there’s still so much to do. I love how the lions themselves choose to fly away. 
I love seeing their selfies. I love that they intentionally make sure Allura’s in their Paladin team reunion selfies. I love seeing how the characters age. 
Tumblr media
I love how Keith’s hair just keeps growing.
I love that ENORMOUS fucking Vehicle Force Voltron reference with the Holts! Holy crap! I’m actually seeing characters like Cliff and Wolo in the background!!! And given the premise of Vehicle Force Voltron seeking out a new planet after humanity has contacted alien civilizations, it feels entirely fitting that this is how Vehicle Force Voltron gets incorporated into the VLD timeline.
I love how the Holts, such a POWERFULLY BRILLIANT family, are the people who keep exploring technology and build the next round of Legendary Defenders.
I love seeing how Hunk’s passion for cooking isn’t treated as trivial. It’s treated as a means of creating intergalactic peace and happiness. He uses it as a way to treat the Alteans with kindness when they’re prisoners on the ATLAS. He uses it to create a culinary revolution after Honerva’s defeated. Hunk is revolutionizing society and making an enormous positive difference because of his passion. That’s majorly epically awesome like fuck I LOVE it.
I love everyone’s endings, honestly. I love how Lance chooses a quieter ending. He wanted a lot of glory as a fighter pilot at the start of VLD S1. He grows into someone so much more mature. Now he’s someone who understands he’s impacted the universe. He’s willing to talk to Alteans at school and spread positive messages with the people in his life. But he’s also taking quiet time for himself. The homesick boy from the early seasons isn’t feeling that more - he has a concrete embedded home to return to, valuing family ever onward. And it’s all embedded in him surrounding himself in the memory of people like Allura he’s held dear. It’s bittersweet and one that happens when someone you love is gone, but it’s not a sad ending, and it’s one that will turn into a lot of happiness, peace, and meaning. This boy’s got a good ending.
I love that we even see where Krolia and Kolivan end up.
And dude. Keith continuing to work with the Blade of Marmora but turning it to humanitarian relief??? This guy’s amazing. So amazing.
I’m a Sheith shipper but I never expected a canon-concrete Sheith end game, so I’m totally happy seeing Shiro’s ending. They gave this guy the happiness he needed. This is someone who’s been trapped in war for so long. He’s had to work so hard without break because of the necessity of defending the universe. This is someone who can finally leave the battlefield and rest. Anyone who thinks for a second Shiro and Keith are any less close just because it’s not romantic is kidding themselves - their relationship shall be as pure and close and powerful and deep as always. And we get an on-screen gay kiss! An on-screen queer marriage!
This is a good ending in that it wraps up all the conflict... but it gives us a look at the hope of the future for everyone’s lives. 
I’m here to spread positivity and excitement for the good Voltron Season 8 did. A show doesn’t have to be “perfect” (nothing’s perfect) to be awesome, meaningful, and enjoyable. This show has been SUCH a wonderful ride, start to finish, and I can’t be more grateful to have been an audience member for this story. It’s going to last as one of my favorite animated series of all time.
493 notes · View notes