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#same energy as when you hit your sibling too hard and the panicked DO NOT TELL MOM
penandinkprincess · 2 years
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okay but when jaskier is traveling with one of the other wolves, he 1000% falls prey to the “see how much i can get away with with the substitute teacher” instinct 
oh no no, jaskier’s gone on TONS of manticore fights with geralt. GERALT lets him do it all the time! no, it’s never an issue at all! 
cut to like an hour later when jaskier’s been thrown into a tree and lambert is LOSING HIS SHIT BC HOLY SHIT WHAT THE FUCK WHAT THE FUCK WHAT DO I DO. BARD YOU FUCKING LIED. THAT DODGE WAS SHIT YOU HAVE N O T GONE ON A MANTICORE HUNT BEFORE YOU LITTLE FUCKING LIAR PLEASE DON’T DIE. DO NOT DO IT.
oh please, geralt’s let him drink white gull before. he drinks it ALL THE TIME. it’s FINE. 
two sips later eskel is scooping him off the floor, setting him down in the room, and STRESS PACING BECAUSE PLEASE DON’T LET HIM HAVE KILLED THE BARD. HE LIKES THE BARD HE DOESN’T WANT HIM TO DIE. ALSO GERALT WILL SKIN ESKEL ALIVE. BARD DO NOT DIE. JASKIER? ARE YOU LISTENING? I KNOW YOU’RE WASTED, BUT YOU NEED TO LISTEN. 
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aetherarf · 3 years
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Alright, I think I found one. This might be better as a funny fic than anything but that's up to you:
Tartaglia finds his puppy S/O as absolutely adorable, and when Teucer comes to visit he has to deal with the unbearable cuteness of the two interacting
Really hope this works, your a good writer and this is such a cute pairing T-T
Now THIS I can work with :D!
However I wasn't sure if I did a good job of incorporating the doggy-ness so... Meh. I tried tho
ALSO THIS IS MY LONGEST POST BY FAR CONGRATULATIONS
[[ Dog Hybird!Reader, Summary: Childe adored you, completely and utterly, wrestling with you whenever you got excited, and you were one of the few people who could keep up with his high-energy in... everything he did, really. What better way to prove his adoration than to let you meet his little brother?
Word Count: 2'899 ]]
"Hey! Stop, stop, these aren't for you."
Childe, gently, pushed you away from him by a few feet, only for you to whine at him in disappointment. "Why?" You asked, of course, you were a little disappointed, clearly, but not actually upset.
He was working on what appeared to be some kind of batter, and a few other things that were currently wrapped up, and half put away.
"I told you, Teucer is coming!" He cheered, happily, "Ah, also I'm cutting stuff and I don't fancy slicing my hand open," he added, and you, for a second, panicked... But no, that wasn't blood on his hand, just juice, and you took a few steps back, just to still be able to watch.
"Thank you," he hummed, returning to his work.
"What are you making, anyway?" You asked, looking over at the drink. "Doesn't seem very... Local."
"Or healthy," Childe laughed at himself, "It's a Snezhnayan dish called..." He hesitated, and looked over at you with a smirk, "Maybe I should leave it as a surprise for tonight..." He hummed, ignoring your pouting as he covered up the bowl of batter. "Ah, better finish up and get this put away so we can go pick him up."
He wiped off his sticky hands on a nearby towel, rushing about to finish his work.
"Can I help?"
"Nah, I just need to put this... Oomf, in the fridge," he set the heavy pot in, "And we serve later! We're going to pick up something on our way back, just in case you don't like it." He reassured, "Teucer really only eats sweet or mild stuff, so I thought this would be the best option for him... To make sure he's in a good mood and can feel safe and at home around you."
You were silently for a moment.
"Would he not like me for-" you gestured to your ears, "You know?"
"What?" Childe looked at you like you had grown a second head, "No. No, not at all. I think he's going to be curious, and... well, we're not in Snezhnaya, after all. I'm more worried about culture shock..." He walked over to you, and pressed a kiss onto your cheek, "Just be yourself, he'll love you."
Well, Childe knew his siblings better than you did, with the all of zero interactions you've had with them, so you decided to trust him.
Childe took off his apron, setting it off to the side as he washed his hands.
"Hey, how about we race to the Harbor, see who can spot Teucer first? I can get you that little trinket you had been looking a-"
The sound of the front door swinging open, loudly, was enough to tell him that you were already trying to beat him, oh, but he wasn't going to give up so easily.
...
"Ah... why... do we have to live... so far from the harbor..." You panted, exhausted from both the heat and the run. However, Childe had caught up, and had it not been for your head start, he would have most definitely beaten you.
"Because... oof... the Qixing hate me." He said, but he was grinning all the while. "Are you okay? Need water?"
You were exhausted, but you could hold off a little bit- besides, Childe wanted to make sure Teucer actually could get a taste of Liyue culture, instead of just the same as home, so you could just chug water when you were out to eat.
"Brother? Broooother?"
Your ears perked up, but Childe was already running as though the both of you had not been sprinting until your lungs could barely take in anymore air, and you followed suit after a moment, seeing Childe on his knees--Arms wrapped around a little boy with the same, vivid hair color as him.
"Brother! I thought I'd have to find you again!" Teucer said, with a smile, "I missed you! So-So did mom, and, and Anthon and Tonia..." He buried his face in Childe's shoulder.
"Oh, of course. The only reason you had to find me last time is because I didn't expect you to come." He said, almost chastising him for his previous behavior, "But this time, you'll be staying with me for a few days, and I can do everything that I wanted to do... but Aether had to do," he sighed for a moment.
However, you noticed that Teucer was staring at you, now, eyes wide... he truly had the same, blue eyes as Childe did. You knew what that look was, he was amazed, but... while, usually, there would be disgust in those eyes when another looked at your odd features, there was only wonder, and... adoration, perhaps?
"Brother?" He asked, pulling away so he could walk closer to you, you crouching to be at a closer level to the boy, "Is this-"
"Yes, this is my sweetie," Normally, that sentence was followed with a kiss on your cheek, but he seemed content to simply watch. "Don't worry, Teucer doesn't bite."
"Uhm..." Teucer looked at you, "Are you half puppy?" He asked, looking right at your ears, that you couldn't help but twitch.
"Sort of, it's more complicated, but that's an easy way to understand it." You explained, knowing going through history and the technical formation of your people was going to go right over his head.
"Can I pet you?" He asked, looking up at your ears, and already reaching up, but by instinct, you grabbing his arm, just enough to stop him.
"It's a little rude to ask, since we just met... But okay. Just know other people with ears like me might not like it, okay?" You clarified, and he nodded. You lowered your head, and he gently petted one ear... and then the other. He, very lightly, tugged on one, as though to see if it was a joke or if it was real.
"Whoa... you're so..."
Here it comes...
"Cool!" He cheered, practical stars in his eyes, "Brother! Brother why didn't you tell me about how cool they are?!" He asked, almost angry, and Childe just innocently smiled.
"It's hard to explain something like this through a letter, Teucer."
"But! You could have sent a picture!" He huffed, and folded his arms over his chest as he pouted.
"But isn't the surprise so much better?" He asked, and Teucer sighed, looking back at you... and you could only smile. It felt so odd to be talked about as though you weren't here, but...
"... I guess. I'm gonna tell everyone when I get home, though! Oh, no, wait, brother, can you come home with me?!" He asked, eyes wide. Childe just sighed.
"I'll think about it. I still have work to do, I just took a few days off for my sweetest wittwe babby bwother," he said, pinching Teucer's cheek.
"I'm not sweet! I'm strong!" Teucer held up his arms, dramatically flexing, but Childe scooped him up and set him on his shoulders, you admiring how Childe didn't even flinch when Teucer grabbed fistfuls of his hair to hold on.
"Sooooo strong," Childe agreed mockingly, "Come on, I made reservations at a restaurant. Something that'll really give you a taste of the local cuisine..."
Teucer grimaced, "Is it gonna be a spicy pepper that makes me cry? I don't like that! Anthon gave me one, saying it was sweet..." His voice grew quieter and quieter...
"Did he, now?" Childe asked, "Not that spicy, but kind of spicy. Don't worry, I'll make sure there's sweet milk you can drink to wash away the spicy taste if it's too much."
He grumbled, but he didn't fight any longer.
"Come on. It's on me, love," he gestured for you to follow and, almost comedically so, you obeyed.
You could only giggle and watch as Teucer managed to master chopsticks with little to no effort, leaving Childe flabbergasted, but then Teucer began whining as soon as he ate his first, massive, bite of food, and then teared up.
Childe gave him the promised sweetened milk... Only for Teucer to proclaim he liked the "burny food" and ate more...
And then cried for milk.
Then ate more.
And cried for milk.
And it kept going until he had eaten his meal, you barely able to stop yourself from cackling at Teucer's ridiculousness, and once you all walked back home, Childe mouthed a silent Thank You.
He really did just want the best for his brother, huh?
Eventually you got home, and Teucer, no longer dazing away in Childe's arms, declared he wanted Childe to train him... With two wooden swords, Childe taught him how it all worked, from how to swing your blade or stab it forth, you mostly just watched, curious...
"Ah," Childe froze, upon realizing something, and Teucer swung as hard as he could, hitting Childe in the side of his knee, and he fell to the ground.
"Brother!" Any excitement disappeared, and he ran to his brothers side, already crying, "Are you okay? Oh... Oh, I don't like this, I don't wanna hurt you! I don't like fighting!" He sobbed out, dramatically. Childe pushed himself up, and held Teucer close in a hug.
"I'm okay, I'm okay. But, people get hurt in fighting. It's not all just looking cool, you know?" He asked, a small smile, and Teucer nodded. "Even practicing is dangerous. Besides..." Slowly, he pushed himself up, "I have to cook dinner. Hey, love," he looked over to you, "Do you have any books you could read to Teucer? To keep him..." He eyed the boy, "Entertained?"
"Wait," Teucer said, "Can't I help you?" He said, "I hurt you... I should help..."
"Nono, I'm alright. Just a little sore, see?" He bent his knee a little back and forth, until Teucer seemed satisfied. "Besides, you might want to spend some time with your future family, right?"
Teucer looked over at you... And then Childe. And then back to you.
"Okay! But! Brother! Promise you'll ask for help if you need it!" He scolded, and Childe sighed.
"I promise, I promise." He said, petting the top of Teucer's head, "Now go, let me go cook dinner." He finally left the room, and Teucer scrambled his way to the couch, sitting down next to you.
"Do you have any stories? Oh, maybe about your family!"
You hesitated, "I, uh, think a storybook may be better. It can help you learn more about the local culture, too."
"Oh, okay!" He said, you stood up and walked to the bookshelf, skimming over for something that was at the very least appropriate for children, and maybe one you could act up...
Eventually, you found a decent one, and sat down on the couch, Teucer making himself comfortable on your lap, grabbing at the book, already fascinated at every picture within...
Well, at least he seemed easy to entertain...
...
Both you and Teucer lie on the couch, after Childe had been busy cooking, perhaps for too long, and the stories lulled you both to sleep. Teucer lie atop you, and a book rested on Teucer's torso, having been set down after your arms were too sore to hold it up, and unable to move to set it somewhere better.
Childe, oh so desperately, wanted to let the both of you sleep. Teucer seemed so happy, his little fist grabbing onto your shirt. He was about to wake you both, just so neither of you would be sore when you woke up, but he paused...
And he had an idea.
He searched around a bit, peeking out to see you both asleep on the ground, until he finally found the Kamera he had lost more than once, and finally walked his way in, holding it up...
Click.
Saved. Now, he could remember the cuteness forever, and he set the Kamera down, and walked over to the two of you, gently shaking you both awake.
"Hey, guys, dinner's ready." He said, softly, and Teucer whined, clearly having remembered the tears from the overly spicy dish that he was served earlier that day.
"No... more... spice..." Teucer whined, hiding his face into your chest.
"Aya, I cook a loving meal just like mama made, and you can only whine? Tsk tsk. Maybe I should just send you to bed."
That woke Teucer up quickly, pushing himself up, and he stared at Childe with big eyes, "You made something from home?" He asked.
"Well, as close as I could. It's a little off, but it's still yummy! And not spicy at all, I pinky promise." He held out his hand, sticking out his pinky... And Teucer stared, suspicious...
"Okay, I believe you!" He climbed off of you, pressing a little too hard on your stomach, forcing you to grunt in minor pain, and he already scrambled his way to the kitchen.
"Are you alright?" Childe asked, softly, sitting on the couch by your legs, resting his hand on your stomach, rubbing it soothingly. "You've been wonderful so far... And Teucer adores you."
You sighed.
"Just rub my tum for a second, okay?" You said, resting your hand on his. He didn't reply, just smiled, and continued to do so for a good minute or two, until Teucer began trying to serve himself, and Childe jumped up before something went wrong.
Besides that, dinner went without a hitch, Teucer dramatically telling a story about how Childe had caught a fish so massive he could barely even drag it home...
"oh really," you would hum, glancing over at Childe from time to time, only for him to chuckle, perhaps a little... Embarrassed.
Then you went to bed, and Childe tucked Teucer into the spare bedroom. You lie in bed, staring at the ceiling, ear twitching as the door to the bedroom opened, then clicked shut, Childe's familiar footsteps growing louder, and closer.
"I don't know if I can survive a whole week with Teucer." You said, majorly joking. Childe looked over at you, and he quirked a brow.
"Why?"
"He's very... playful." You said, exhausted from him practically grabbing you by the ear and demanding to play with you every second of the day.
"And you aren't?" He said, a sly grin on his face, only for you to groan, and to flip onto your side, away from him.
"Awwh... Love, baby, sweetie... You know I'm teasing. Don't worry, he's always the most hyper on the first day, and he mellows out. I can get you a hotel room if you want a day away, I could just say you went to see family or something."
"... Maybe. I'll think about it."
You loved Childe, and Teucer, but you were not ready for long-term child management... Childe management was hard enough as is!
Childe lied down behind you, wrapping you up in his arms as he spooned you, pressing a kiss onto the back of your neck.
In his comforting grip, it didn't take long to fall asleep, feeling one hand gently, ever so gently, petting your ear...
...
You woke up to the sound of the door opening, all but cuddled up to Childe, who was already sitting up, staring... with a faint outline in the doorway, that you recognized to be Teucer, you heard... sniffling.
"Brother...?" He asked, "I... I had a nightmare... and I was alone..." He shuffled slowly over to the bed, and Childe didn't hesitate, jumping up and rushing over to his brother, picking him up, and holding him close in a hug, almost rocking him.
"I'm sorry, I'm sorry... but you're safe, I promise. Do you need to talk about it?" He asked, and you could only watch... It was sweet. Childe was soft, only around you, but it seemed for family he had a different kind of gentleness still.
"I... Can I sleep with you?" He asked, wiping his teary eye with his sleeve. Childe hesitated, and looked back at you.
You smiled, "Should I go sleep on the couch?"
"No!" You both directed your attention to Teucer, "I... i mean... I want my family together."
"Family?"
"... Family?"
There was a brief silence, but Childe eventually carried Teucer over to the bed, and helped him sit down before sitting down himself.
"It's alright, Teucer... I'm right here, and..." He looked at you, waiting for your response.
"I'll be here, too." You reassured, lying back down fully, and Teucer wiggled closer to you, snuggling up to you as though you were his own sibling, and sighing.
Childe laid back down as well, snuggling up to Teucer from behind, managing to reach all the way to you, pressing both of you closer to him-you wondered, idly, if Teucer was uncomfortable, but...
"Don't worry," Childe said with a whisper, "Teucer likes being squished."
You just nodded, using one hand to gently pet the back of Teucer's head.
"Sorry for him, by the way," Childe added, "I guess he doesn't like travelling. He's never been alone for long..."
"He's alright... And he's young, it's reasonable to be scared."
Childe just hummed, shifting to get more comfortable.
"Rest well, because Teucer might end up dragging you to Snezhnaya to meet the rest of the family."
You didn't reply, just closing your eyes... Thinking.
Family, a little cutie that snuggled the both of you...
Having a family with Childe, if it would be like this...? Didn't seem so bad...
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starlessea · 3 years
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I See Red (Daryl Dixon/Reader)
Prompt: “If you hurt my brother, I’ll kill you. I swear I’ll kill you all.” Requested by @alex-sulli​​​, numbers #25 and #29 from this post.
Summary: You’ll threaten anyone who dares mess with your little brother; and Daryl is left to pick up the pieces when you feel guilty for doing so.
Words: 2078
Warnings: Language.
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Never before in your life had you found yourself at a loss for words. Whether it was rambling to Daryl during the early hours of the morning whilst he grumbled to let him sleep, or giving your father grief like it were an older sibling’s duty, you always had something to say. That was, however, until now.
Carl had his hands held up, directly in front of his face so that they were visible. He shot you a look, urging you to do the same. You didn’t. Instead, you glanced back and forth between your brother and Ron, like you couldn't quite comprehend what was happening.
"It's fine." Carl said, trying to reassure you. "I've got this."
He didn't. 
You'd been upstairs, watching over Judith whilst your father and Michonne were on their patrols, when suddenly you heard shouting coming from Carl's room. You sighed, thinking you'd have to scold your teenage brother and his friends for being too rowdy when your little sister was fast asleep in her crib. At first, you let them off the hook, but when glass shattered in the distance you decided enough was enough.
You'd bound down the stairs with the practiced heavy footsteps of an older sister, already preparing your best yelling voice. Except, rather than the row you were expecting to give, you were rendered speechless as you flung open the door.
Ron stood with his arm outstretched, pointing a pistol directly at your brother. Carl glanced back at the sound of you entering his room, and pleaded with you to follow his lead. The other boy remained silent, but shifted his weight on his feet as you glared at him. 
Ron was no killer; you watched as his hand trembled over the gun, and he chewed his lip between his teeth. He was no killer - but he was certainly an asshole.
"Put it down." You demanded, taking a few steps closer to him. "Now!"
The boy flinched as you yelled, and Carl glanced back at you nervously. You didn't care what he'd told you; there was no way you'd allow him to diffuse the situation alone. Your innocent baby sister lay asleep upstairs, and your younger brother was facing a loaded gun downstairs. You thought your father would actually kill you if anything happened to either of them on your watch.
Ron fumbled with the gun, narrowing his eyes at you like he was debating your words. You'd expected him to surrender it immediately, and let you march him home to his mother by the ear. Except, he didn't. He trained his aim on you instead, and his shoulders shook even more as he did so. You let out a bitter laugh in disbelief, and raised an eyebrow at him. He didn't back down, but neither did you. 
Carl watched the exchange as you walked even closer to Ron, until the barrel of the pistol lay flush against your chest. He didn't pull the trigger; you knew he wouldn't. You could feel the cold metal quivering against your skin, and you took it from him without hesitation. 
He let you, and took a few steps back in response to you getting even nearer to his face - so close that you could see his skin prickle from your breath on his cheek.
"If you hurt my brother, I'll kill you." You whispered, letting him feel the gun against his own torso this time. "I swear I'll kill you all." 
The boy looked down at his shoes, as your foreheads pressed together.
"You think you can pull a gun on my family?" You questioned, forcing his chin up with your knuckle. "Then wait until you see what I can do to yours."
You unloaded the gun, letting the magazine fall to the floor as you watched the bullets scatter out from it. You took a step back, and watched as Ron seemed to take his first breath. He immediately glanced over at Carl for some support, and you laughed in his face as he did so. You couldn’t believe he dared have the audacity to look to your brother for help not even minutes after threatening to kill him.
"Get out." You spat, and the boy did just that.
Your jacket caught on the handle as you snapped open the door a little too forcefully, and you growled below your breath. You'd been looking forward to returning home all day, and having some time to yourself to relax - but now all you saw was red. You kicked the door shut behind you with your boot, and grimaced at the sound of it slamming, and the glass shaking in the pane.
Daryl looked over at you curiously, raising an eyebrow where he stood in the kitchen. He was covered in grease, and you guessed he'd been working on his motorcycle whilst you were with the teenage firing squad. 
"How was yer day?" He drawled, pouring you a glass of water from the sink.
You sighed, and slumped into his chest when you reached him - letting your forehead drop against his shirt.
"I think I just threatened a sixteen year old." You mumbled there, and heard him chuckle as you did.
Daryl took a sip of the water, forgetting to offer you some first.
"Yeah, mine was good too." He replied, nonchalantly, and you hit him over the shoulder.
"Daryl-" you whined, not having the energy for playful banter.
He smiled at you sheepishly, and rubbed the back of your head, gently playing with some strands of hair between his fingers. There were oil-stains over his clothes, and he looked like he needed a shower. Though, at this moment, you didn't really care that the grease had rubbed off on you, or that your hair probably looked like coal dust.
"What did Carl do this time?" He asked sarcastically, but it made your blood run hot merely thinking about it.
"My brother didn't do anything." You snapped, and immediately regretted your tone. "It was Ron."
Daryl let out a low laugh, and you felt it rumble through his chest. He squeezed your shoulders, feeling the tension that had built up there.
"Does seem like kind of a lil' shit, don' he?"
You sighed; if only he knew the half of it. Daryl pressed his knuckles against your lower back, relieving the stress from your muscles. You closed your eyes, savouring the feeling.
"He pulled a gun on Carl." You admitted to the man, and instantly noticed as he stopped massaging your skin. "Then aimed it at me when I told him to drop it."
It was like you'd shown a red rag to a bull. Daryl went from completely loving to positively menacing in a matter of seconds, and stormed straight past you towards the door. 
"Daryl, stop-" you called out, panicked. "He's just a kid." 
You grabbed onto the man's shoulder, and he turned on his heels as you did so. His brow was furrowed, and you watched him narrow his eyes like he couldn't at all understand why you held him back.
"And kids should know their damn place." He growled, making your shiver.
You placed your hand over his chest, spreading your palm flat to feel his pounding heartbeat.
"He does. I made sure of it." You said quietly, trying to convince the man. "I'm just regretting the way I handled it."
Daryl immediately noticed the way your voice trailed off, and how your eyes dropped to the floor like you were ashamed. You weren't proud of what you did; but it needed to be done. You couldn't risk anything happening to your family - not when you'd all fought this hard just to stay together.
The man brought his hand to your cheek, coaxing you to look up and meet his eyes. You did, and he placed a soft, chaste kiss to your forehead - which you could feel him smile into ever so slightly.
"Is he still breathin'?" He mumbled against your skin, seeming to have calmed down enough to comfort you, instead.
"What-" you stuttered, before registering his words. "Yes, of course." You spoke, a little too loudly and a little too quickly.
Daryl chuckled, and wiped away some oil he'd gotten on your face with his thumb.
"Then ya handled it jus' fine."
There was a knock at your door not even an hour later. You'd told Daryl you would get it, but he bounded there before you had the chance - instructing you to stay on the couch and keep your feet up. He'd gotten a blanket and tucked you in so tightly that it felt like you were on an army base. You giggled to yourself, wondering if there was anything that man wouldn't do for you.
"Is she there?" Ron asked Daryl, mustering every ounce of confidence he had. "I want to apologise."
He scowled back, and practically snarled at the boy barely half his size but twice as stupid. Daryl was sure he could knock him on his ass as easy as the wind blowing a piece of paper through the breeze. He was scrawny, and fumbled with his hands like he couldn't dare to meet his eyes.
"Listen here, ya lil' prick." Daryl spoke, biting out the words. "Ya pull that shit again an' you'll have me to deal with."
You flipped the page of your magazine, re-reading the events from over a year ago and mumbling something about 'yesterday's news.' You tried your hardest to relax, but you had a nagging feeling that you couldn't escape from - making you feel antsy and on edge.
"Hi." Came the voice, wobbling through your living room like it was coated in a layer of shyness. "I just came to say I'm sorry." 
Whipping your head around, you caught sight of Ron, shifting uncomfortably in the doorway. Daryl stood behind him, like he was blocking any escape route he may have planned - but in reality, he looked like a grouchy guard dog having come to make sure you were okay.
For the second time today, you felt speechless, and slowly closed your magazine before tucking it underneath a pillow. Not even an hour ago had you staked your life on how intimidating you could seem, and now you were bundled up near the fire like a grandmother with arthritis. You blinked, and stood up quickly - letting the woven blanket fall to the floor and kicking it under the couch like a poorly kept secret.
"I guess I was jealous of Carl." Ron continued, feeling pressured by your lack of response. "I'll never do anything like that again. I promise."
You met his eyes but he looked away, staring at the photo frames littering your walls - and resting his gaze over the picture of you, Carl and Judith in the centre.
"Damn right you won't." You finally replied, and watched the boy flinch like your words had cut him open.
"Come here." You instructed, and he listened.
When he approached, you slumped back down onto the couch, not caring if he noticed your glossy magazine slipping out from under the pillows. You patted the space next to you, gesturing for him to sit. He did, and the two of you stared into the red flames of the fire, watching them jump and splutter in front of you.
"When we're scared, we do stupid things." You told Ron, your voice coming out a lot softer than it had done before.
You caught sight of Daryl in the corner of your eye, leaning against the doorframe like he was content to watch from afar - leaving you to finish what you'd started. He'd always have your back, but sometimes he just wanted to hang back to see where you decided to take him.
"In this new world, you only have two options." You explained, and gave Ron's shoulder a gentle squeeze.
The boy jumped a little at your touch, but soon settled into it when he realised how different it was from earlier that day.
"You can either fight it, or accept it." You said, listening to the crackle of firewood as it turned into red embers. "Fear it, or control it."
A/N For my sweet @alex-sulli who always leaves the most wonderful comments that never fail to make my day :)
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mirismuffins-ovo · 3 years
Text
Plant Palace Pt6 🌿
(Labor warning!!! ⚠️)
[time skipping a few more weeks,the pregnancy is much shorter than a normal humans due to the babies being plant types
Eddie had been at practice and John had only gotten bigger. John had finally made it through the last month of pregnancy and he was due anytime now,he was constantly aching and sore now and his belly was heavy. He was lying on the couch propped up by pillows and Bitty was lying on his soft full chest. He winced when he felt the sudden cramping,taking a deep breath and counting only to feel another contraction. All John could feel was overwhelming fear at the realization that he was going to go into labor,he tried to stand up to go to the fridge for water. His heart dropped when he felt a sudden release of pressure and the next thing he knew his pants were soaked “O-oh my god..”he hissed holding his distended stomach in pain. He didn’t know what to do,Eddie should’ve been coming home soon. John felt like he couldn’t breathe due to hyperventilating as his contractions got worse.he held the couch tightly and he picked up his phone checking Eddie would be home any moment. He dialed Henry panicked knowing that even though he was a few hours away it was for comfort. Henry had decided he was gonna come help quickly loading into his car. John feared going to the hospital. But he suddenly heard the click of the door. It had to be Eddie.
Eddie had parked the car, locking it after he got out. He felt as if something was wrong as he saw the plants on the front steps wilting again. He quickly ran inside, Bitty meowing her head off by the door. The singer just walked into the front door when he heard a strained cry come from further into the house.
Running in, he saw John clutching his stomach as he crouched above a pool of liquid that was on the floor. Small plant sprouts were starting to form all over him, his body getting ready for defense mode.
“John! I’m here, I’m here!” Eddie said, as he quickly took his guitar off and rushed to his boyfriend’s side. “I’m here, what do I do to help?” Feeling his boyfriends tense belly. “Oh god..this is happening”
John shook his head heaving heavy breaths,feeling the contractions getting worse. His vision blurring,John was already weak from the cold weather “err..bathtub?..I don’t know Eddie?!” He was filled with overwhelming fear,letting out a pained groan trying his damndest to keep from covering the whole house in thorny vines. Leaning himself more onto the taller figure.John feared he needed to go to the hospital,before he began to crown at least.Eddie had helped him up. Crying out in pain as another surge hit him,his stomach feeling tight “Hospital…lets go to the hospital” he said in a pained tone still struggling. He hadn’t expected it to hurt this badly.
Eddie knew John had a fear of going to the hospital, but if it was this bad, they had to go.
“Alright, just try to focus on keeping your vines at bay.”
All John could do was nod as Eddie scrambled for the baby bag one of his band members suggested. Once he had that on his shoulder he helped John up and started to lead him out of the house.
“Guard the place Bitty. We’ll be home soon with your siblings.”
Eddie flew down the road as fast as he could, holding John’s hand the whole time. John did his best to breathe through the contractions, his energy getting weaker by the minute. When the hospital came into view, he found a spot on the side in a tow-away zone. He’d get it out of the impound later. Grabbing his keys, wallet, and bag, he helped John, scooping him up and ran into the building.
Once inside he tried to form words but the nurses could tell what was going on. They got a stretcher for John and carried him off. Eddie followed, trying to keep a hold of his hand. They separated for a moment while Eddie was instructed to sanitize before reuniting with John. The two didn’t have to wait long as the younger male was ready when they were finally set up.
John was scared of the normal people around him but the pain was unbearable they gave him some pain killers to try to help. He held Eddie's hand tightly crying and groaning as the doctors instructed to push. John had begun to struggle to breathe,feeling he was about to pass out. He looked pale and weak,the doctors told him to stop pushing,he was too feeble. A nurse put an oxygen mask on John's sweaty face,John doing the best he could.
“Almost there John” one of the doctors said in an encouraging tone,and then the sound of a newborn crying filled the room. A doctor taking the small baby away to clean her off. John continued through the hard labor for a few more hours,but finally the last baby was born and the doctor had Eddie cut the umbilical cord of the last small newborn.
John lied back exhausted and sweating in the hospital bed,he tore the oxygen mask off his face and mumbled “lemme see them” The doctor held three small bundles they all had small light pink petals littering their heads,their hands slightly tinted with a soft green. “Congratulations,you have three little girls” John smiled and gave a soft laugh as he looked up to Eddie,before lovingly kissing each other in a celebration of the new additions to their family. The small cooing newborns lying on John's chest,Eddie scooping up one of them while the doctors left “their beautiful...what should we name them?” John felt proud of the small little babies he’d made,they were perfect.
Eddie was shedding tears as he held the 2nd baby that was born. They all looked identical, looking like perfect copies of John.
“The first born, I think Willow. She looks peaceful, serene.” He looked to the little bundle in his arms. The baby was asleep but also smiling. “This one’s Blossom for her cheerful smile.” He then looked at the youngest baby. “Her name’s Juniper.” The youngest’s leafy hair was a little more fluffy than the others.
He looked up at John who was crying, loving the names. Eddie was super proud of his boyfriend, going through this short yet fast pregnancy. He leaned down, holding Blossom to his chest and kissing his forehead.
“I love you so much, John. I’m so proud of you.”
John couldn’t help but smile,the names were perfect for the small babies,they’d smelt like flowers. John was sweaty and tired and his clothes had been drenched in it. He also knew he couldn’t stay here for long,the humans now knew who he was. John had to go through choices in his head,Henry had finally pulled up to the hospital,speeding almost the whole way there. John felt his heart flutter when little Blossom fussed a bit yawning and making a soft coo. “I love them...and I love you so much Eds” They gave each other another kiss and Henry entered the hospital room
“hey guys..oh my gosh” he spoke softly as he saw the small flower like babies excited and overjoyed at the sight. “Congratulations you two” John was happy to see his foster father. “Hey Henry,” John muttered, allowing Henry to scoop up blossom after sanitizing his hands. John noticed some nurses looking at John as they passed and got a bad feeling
“Hey sweetie would you mind going home and grabbing my big red sweater?” John smiled up at him knowing what he had to do next,he really didn’t want to but he had to. When Eddie agreed John pulled him in for another kiss this one longer “I love you” he tried to cherish these last moments. Henry caught on to what was happening,he’d planned for it too,John's mother would’ve done the same.
“I’ll be back as soon as I can. I’ll also check up on Bitty for you as well. I bet she’ll be excited she’s got sisters!” He gave one last kiss before grabbing his keys, making sure to look back at the sight as he left, smiling all the way.
The moment he got home, Bitty was screaming again. He stepped through the door, the kitty murping as she wove in between his legs. He got her food which she happily began to munch.
“You’re going to love them, Bitty. Three sisters!” He excitedly said into the place, finding John’s sweater that was in the dryer and told the kitty he would be back again.
Eddie smiled the whole ride back, excited to raise the little girls. He couldn’t wait to learn more about Abnormals and how to raise them. He hoped that they could live as a happy family, raising the girls, maybe having a few more down the road. He grabbed the sweater, walking inside and up to John’s room when he saw something going on.
Men in suits were looking into John’s room, writing things down and taking photos. Eddie was only gone for an hour, so what had brought this on? It then hit him. John’s fear: He was spotted as an Abnormal. He walked up to the room, to tell the men to back off when he saw blankets pushed around and the bed empty. There was no sign of life, no John, no Henry, no babies in that room.
His heart shattered.
The Men around him noticed him and started to ask questions. Eddie didn’t reply, but he ended up being taken away by the men, them now knowing he was involved in this new case.
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Hironette
Marinette graduated high school at sixteen before moving to San Fransokyo with Luka. With promises from both Kagami and Chloe that they'd join them in a year. Jagged and Penny both helped them find a home that would fit four. Marinette did not think he would buy them a mansion, but she really should've seen it coming. Their neighbors were the Fredericksons. A wealthy family, that Jagged had known for a while. Penny also helped them with the emancipation papers since both were sixteen and seventeen respectively.
She also helped Marinette set up her new shop right next to the Lucky Cat Cafe. The shop was ready and running after only two months, and Marinette had enough workers that she didn't even need to be there everyday. Luka was her main model while he was on breaks from his concerts with Jagged.
Marinette absolutely adored San Fransokyo, the city was beautiful and had so many places filled with creation energy. She also loved her neighbor Fred, his obsession with heros helped inspire her with a few outfits. Her and Fred hung out anytime he wasn't at San Fransokyo Institute of Science. She was surprised to find out he doesn't attend the school but all his friends do.
Fred loved the awesome girl that lived next door to him. He was constantly telling the crew about her, to the point they pretty much demanded to meet the 'angel who's cooking could end a war'.
Fred- Sure thing dudes! If we head out now we can catch her as she closes her shop! Let's roll!
When they arrive they are all confused on why they are at the Lucky Cat Cafe. Fred just snorts before entering the shop next to the cafe. Loudly announcing himself causing Marinette to leave the back room excitedly.
Hiro's eyes widened as he stepped behind Wasabi panicking to himself.
Hiro-No, no, no! I am not ready to talk to her yet!? Oh my god what do I do!?
Baymax- Your heartbeat is rising to a worrying level, and your temperature is getting higher. Should I set up a doctor appointment?
Hiro- What? No! Baymax I’m fine! I just well, I may have a tiny crush on the girl in there and I am panicking a little.
Baymax- Accessing the internet about crushes. After a brief search, I have determined that the best solution to your predicament is to tell the female your feelings and ask her on a date. Statistics have shown a fifty percent chance that she’ll say yes.
hiro-What-no! Baymax just stop!
Honey, Go Go, and Wasabi stare at Hiro and Baymax for a bit before beginning to laugh silently to themselves.
Honey places her hands on Hiro's shoulders pushing him towards MDC Boutique. She pushes him when he starts panicking again, telling him to just be himself. Marinette slimes brightly at them as they walk in, Fred introduces everyone. MArinette is immediately taken by Baymax when he gently grabs her hand, bandaging a few cuts she from sewing earlier. She gushes over him before turning to Hiro asking all about his primary functions. Hiro stutters at first before launching into a long explanation about Baymax functions and how he was made. By the time he is finished Jagged Stone is already waiting outside for her. Marinette blinks in surprise before inviting them all over for dinner.
Wasabi- We’d love to but we barely fit in my car on the way here.
Marinette-Oh you don’t have to worry about it! My Uncle is waiting for me outside, we can all ride with him!
Wasabi- What do you mean ride with him-is THAT A LIMO!?
Marinette laughed ushering them out before locking the store up. The driver opened the door greeting Marinette politely. She gets in and soon the others follow everyone but Fred, marinette, and Baymax staring at Jagged Stone in shock.
Go Go-Jagged Stone is your Uncle?
Marinette- Well not really but he kind of unofficially adopted me as his niece and it stuck. Jagged meet my new friends!
Jagged- Rock on! Anyone friends with my rockstar niece is welcome around me!
The ride is filled with laughter and jokes until they arrive at the Mansion. Luka and Penny waiting on the steps for them. Once out of the car Marinette gives Lukas a big hug, causing Hiro to frown thinking Marinette was already dating someone.
Penny and Luka greeted them happily before inviting them inside saying dinner was almost done. Marinette introduced everyone and then showed them around the manson. She stopped at their main hangout area allowing everyone to spread out. It was Honey that asked them if Marinette and Luka were dating causing them to both start laughing.
Luka- I love Marinette and her song is so beautiful. However she is not the one for me you see because I assure you everyday I am gay.
Marinette hit him with a pillow laughing telling him to stop rhyming. Before turning to them smiling and saying that they only think of each other as siblings. This piece of information lifts Hiro’s spirits and he begins talking even more to Marinette, unaware of Luka’s knowing smile aimed at him.
Over the next few weeks Marinette spends more and more time with the group. Even going over to the Institute of Science on her off days to see their experiments. Along with visiting the cafe on her lunch breaks and after she has closed.
Her and Hiro grow closer and closer, however neither can find it in them to admit their crush, which exasperates their friends to no end. That is until Marinette and Luka are involved in a terrible car accident on the way back from one of Luka’s concerts. 
A drunk driver blew a red light slamming into the side of their limo causing it to roll twice and land on its roof. 
Their driver is only knocked out on impact with a broken wrist. Marinette and Luka are not as lucky they did not have seatbelts on in the back of the limo. In the end they were violently thrown around the back. Luka comes out of it with a broken leg, left arm and nose sling with a broken rib that pierced his lung. Marinette breaks her leg in three places, three ribs and dislocates her left shoulder. Both of them are covered in bruises and bleeding. 
They are rushed to the hospital and into surgery, while in surgery the Doctors do their best to fix their major injuries before working to pull all the broken glass out of their skin. It was in the surgery that they discovered Marinette had suffered from a spinal injury as well. Jagged and Penny have them put in the same room together, but they don’t wake up the next day, in fact they don’t wake up a week later.
After a few days the Doctor determined that both of them had entered a coma, because of how badly they were injured. Everyone was heartbroken when the Doctor explained that if the two did wake up they may not even remember themselves. Then he tells them of Marinette’s spinal injury, telling them that until she wakes up they wont know if she’ll ever be able to walk again.
They remain in a coma for two months being visited everyday by their friends and family. Hiro visits consistently every day with Baymax always sitting by Marinette’s bed. After a week he begins talking or reading to her, after Baymax says that there are a few reports of people being able to hear what's going on around them the entire time. At one point he confesses his feelings to her begging her to wake up so that he can find out if she feels the same.
Luka wakes up first extremely confused. The only thing missing from his memory is the night the crash happened. Everyone is ecstatic and greets him with hugs and tears explaining what happened. After a few days he begins physical therapy, during one of his sessions Hiro is with Marinette again. This time he is telling her how he felt for her and how he would purposely walk past her boutique before they met just to see her. He holds her hand gently telling her again that he loves her. He is greatly surprised when MArinette’s hand squeezes back weakly. When he looks up at her she is smiling weakly, her eyes barely opened as she responds her voice breaking slightly.
Marinette- I love you too…
Her wake up is met with more tears especially when she realizes she can’t feel her legs. A month later they are released from the hospital both leaving in a wheelchair but only one remaining in it. MArinette is heartbroken and drops into a depressive state for a while, but Hiro refuses to leave her side. He is over every day always sitting by her while drawing up designs for a new invention, something to help Marinette feel independent once again.
Hiro creates a motorized wheelchair that can lift Marinette higher when she needs to grab something. He creates a neural transmitter that is fitted as a headband, with the headband Marinette can move the wheelchair in whatever dissection she needs. He immediately begins building it, with the help of the others. He finishes it a month later and gives it to Marinette smiling nervously. When Marinette moves in her wheelchair she begins crying and thanking him. She begins leaving the house with him more slowly leaving her depressive state. A year after they start dating Marinette introduces the entire group to the Kwami. Tikki absolutely adores them, given that they are all creation souls. Plagg warms up to both Hiro and Fred loving their loud personalities.
Fred goes crazy when he realizes that Marinette was THE Ladybug. Causing Marinette and Tikki to giggle until she points out that Luka was Viperion causing Fred to freak out more.
Luka- I wonder if he is going to react the same to Chloe and Kagami.
This caused Marinette to snort laughing hard, causing the others to join soon after.
Fred- Is seriously no one else totally stoked to find out they are heroes?!
Go Go- Fred you idiot! We were heroes too!?
Fred- Oh ya I forgot, this is still really awesome though! Like when I found out my dad was a hero!!
Marinette- Mr. Fredrickson is a hero?? Huh, I never saw that coming.
@justafanwarrior
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damn-stark · 3 years
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All the things that go wrong
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Diego Hargreeves x reader
Requested by @thornyrose463 “Can you do a Diego Hargreeves one-shot where he’s dating the female reader who teaches karate at the karate dojo next to the gym and was a karate champion in her teen years and meets his family at Reginald’s funeral and they like her because she’s a badass and great at one-liners and she ended up in the 60’s and helped Lila break him out of the asylum and he has to carry her bridal style when they go back to 2019 because she somehow got knocked unconscious during that fight scene in the snow?”
A/N- I’m sorry I couldn’t fit all you requested, but for me to do so I would have to write a whole series not a one shot and I currently can’t sorry :(
Warning- swearing, talks of violence, angst
———-
There's a difference between crazy and insanely crazy and Diego’s family was the shining definition of insanely crazy.
Now maybe you’ve should’ve heed the warning Diego gave about his family before you got to meet them that day that would lead down a spiral of unfortunate events, but you loved him and were eager to meet the family he found at points intolerable.
Now it was you who found them quite intolerable. And the only reason why was because you were stuck in the 1960’s because of said family.
And sure they seemed to like you, thought you were funny and badass because of what you dedicated yourself to, but that didn’t excuse the fact because of them not only were you stuck in some time that wasn’t yours, but they were too.
One day you’re teaching at your Dojo and then the next you're lost and alone in the 60s trying to find a way to break your boyfriend out of an asylum.
“Like to run your mouth, smart-ass?”
You stop at the sound of voices and grunting coming down the hall, thinking to yourself that it could be Diego or just some random person. You could be wasting time or no time at all going to check. And if it was him you’d be a step closer to getting out, and if it wasn’t you’d be just as you are now, empty handed and with shorter time to look.
The only reason why you even considered going to look was because you were in fact short on choices and desperate to get out—Which is why you actually needed to just check.
And when you do the first thing that comes to sight is a big man falling to the ground unconscious, revealing behind him a smaller girl with short hair and a cheeky smile on her features.
“You’re not the only one who wants out, wolf man!” She exclaims to Diego groaning on the ground.
At the sight of your long lost, apparently now long haired boyfriend you can’t help but smile, “Diego!”
His head like the girl he called Lila snapped to look at you, his eyes unlike hers showing all the emotions that ran through his mind at the sight of you. He couldn’t find himself to say much at first but he then found his words and uttered only one thing. “Y/N?!”
Your grin widens and you run towards him, grabbing his arm while the girl grabs the other to help him up—“watch my shoulder.” He grunts, turning to face you, “how’d you know I was here?”
You smile and snake your hand from his bicep to his shoulder, “You’re famous.”
He scoffs leaning closer to you in attempts to kiss you after being apart for what seemed to be ages, and misses your hand popping his shoulder back in place until he felt the short but burning pain that caused him to cry out and forget the gesture he wanted to share with you.
Well only for a second, because you then stepped up and pulled him in for a short, passionate kiss that he wanted to deepen by moving his hand to cup your cheeks and press you closer; but before he could you pulled away remembering the audience. Even if you wanted it to last so much longer.
The girl is looking away and turns to face you once again, looking now rather stressed. Letting the thought of who she was invade your mind. But you don’t ask it out loud. Instead you turn to Diego, “we have to go.”
“Right,” he groans, not hesitating to walk with you and the girl at a quickened pace. Only stopping as at the end of a hall you had turned into was three tall men with big guns in hand.
“Go, go.” Diego whispers, pulling the girl and you back to begin and run away whilst also trying to find a way out and avoiding being shot at.
“Who are those guys?!” The girl asks, taking the words right out of your mouth.
“No idea!” Diego answers before he turns to a random room.
“Why are you stopping?” You wander out loud.
“We need a distraction.” Diego throws over his shoulder before he pulls something and alarms begin to blare, not waiting to break into a run and pulling the girl and you along. “Follow me.”
He guides you to another room that leads to the lower levels of the asylum. Not to take a break but to keep looking for a way out that he nor you knew.
“Which way?” Diego asked as you all came to full stop.
“Right.” The girl threw out.
“Why right?” You question.
She shrugs, “why not?”
“Okay.” Diego whispers before once again you’re running down the halls, stopping shortly thereafter however as Diego and the girl run into a pair of policemen.
“Thank god you’re here.” The girl exclaims, pointing back the way you came in a panicked manner, “three men just tried to attack us.”
The policemen of course didn’t listen and stood to their feet to point their guns at all of you. “Get your hands up, now.”
You gasp, “wait. You don’t understand we’re not the bad guys.”
“Shut your mouth!” The police snaps, making you frown and quickly kick him back, wanting to do more but stopping as Lila finishes by knocking him out.
“Where’s you learn how to fight like that?” Diego asks the girl.
She looks away from the policeman to look at Diego. “My mother.” With no second to spare she grabs yours and Diego’s hand to pull you away with her. Finally finding a way out of the building and stepping to the cold of night. Not necessarily stopping there and instead continuing to run as more police began to circle the area. Leading you three to hide in a lonely alleyway.
Finding only a short moment of peace.
“Where have you been?” Diego finally asks you.
“Lost until now.” You answer without hesitation, glancing at the girl who didn’t give you the right vibe. “I’m glad I found you, it’s been hard.”
Diego smiles, “yeah it has, but we’ll find a way out of here soon. I missed you.”
Before you could express more, the girl interrupts you, “I’m Lila and based on how Diego’s acting, you must be his...girlfriend?”
“Uh, yeah, I’m y/n.” You look away from her and awkwardly turn to Diego.
“How lovely. And how’d you two meet? Or rather how’d you get Diego from being so grumpy all the time?”
“No time for small talk.” Diego answered for you, grabbing your hand to pull you further into the alleyway. “We have to go.”
——
“My name is y/n and as you all may know I’m the one who teaches karate at the dojo next door,” You explain kindly, studying all the new training officers and the older ones standing across from you patiently waiting for your first lesson. “And today the chief of police has asked me to come give you all a short lesson.”
Murmurs spread amongst a small crowd of new training officers, their sudden giggling like a group of little kids gaining your attention and causing you to grow curious. “Is there something funny? I teach kids who are much younger than you and they don’t laugh as much as you.”
“It’s nothing.” A younger man that appeared to be around your age spoke up, the amusement he had still very much there.
You narrow your gaze on the man, noticing in that instant he did have an attractiveness to him and his charming mischievous smile.
“Okay,” you breathe, “well I do need a partner to demonstrate to everyone so why don’t you come, uh”
His amusement falters and he hesitates to answer, “Diego Hargreeves.”
“Hmm, well why don’t you come up, Diego since you appear to be uninterested.”
“Not uninterested,” he says as he walks up with a smirk spreading on his lips “not at all.”
——
Of course things had to go wrong, you should’ve not thought otherwise. Just like how things went wrong as you got thrown here, they went wrong now when Diego, his family and you tried to find a way back home.
And of course you should’ve listened to your gut about Lila. She was never good news. You were right.
“Guys!” You call worryingly looking out the barn window.
“What?” Diego asks first, walking up behind you with the rest of his siblings in tow. “Ah, shit.”
“What? Who are they?” Klaus wanders.
“Ones the handler, the others Diego’s and y/n’s friend.”
You scoff, “not mine. Diego’s friend.”
“It doesn’t matter,” Luther interjects, “they both look angry.”
“Yeah well our brothers have that effect on people.” Allison points out.
“I’m gonna go find out what they want. You guys stay with Vanya and the kid.” Five explains, causing Diego to follow along too. Both leaving to only be seen from a distance, left to wonder what they could be talking about. Actually wanting to know what they were talking about...until hundreds or maybe even thousands of people in suits began to appear out of thin air and Diego and five were running back.
Sending Luther, Allison, Klaus and you to run back and hide behind a cart with hay, ducking your heads and hoping that the other two were fine. That this would stop and you would go home. And perhaps you had your doubts on the siblings but now you knew no one else would be able to save you. Just them.
Or really Vanya.
She flew out of the barn and blasted out a blue energy wave from within her that took all the people in suits out. Leaving the siblings, Diego, you, The handler and the betrayer that was Lila.
Who apparently as you looked over to the field, had the same powers as Vanya. Shit—at the sight of a different energy wave coming your way, Diego’s siblings and you begin to back away. Albeit not making it far as you’re thrown back, hitting your head on the ground with a painful thud that left you paraylized for a couple of seconds. Seeing nothing but the white sky above, hearing just your shallow breaths until approaching footsteps hit your ear, making you think it was Diego, but not expecting that it was actually Lila.
You groan at the sight of her and manage to get up, expecting her to say something, but having silence grow instead—“are you okay? Or have you just turned into a popsicle?”
Lila scoffs, “you ruined everything. I should’ve killed you when I had the chance.”
Feigning a smile you add, “ditto.” Before throwing your leg to kick her and send her stumbling back, but also grow angrier for a fight.
She proceeds to throw her fist towards you, but you catch it, trapping your arm with a quick move. “Don’t expect me to have some sort of remorse for you, I don’t like you.”
Lila smirks, “I don’t like you either.” She tries to grab your hair to loosen your grip, but you swiftly punch her back. Causing her to grab her bleeding nose and let out a small groan, not hesitating run forward and wrap her arms around your waist to slam your body on the ground, slamming your head against the ground again.
You try and get up but your surroundings get blurry and you lose balance, feeling everything around you spin, seeing her as nothing but a distant figure that begins to taunt you. “No remorse.”
Lila kicks you and this time everything just goes black…
——
“....wait so we stopped it?”
“My god, it’s over?”
Voices begin to register in your head as you slowly open your eyes. Waking up not seeing a white sky, but what appeared to be a high ceiling and Diego.
“Hey,” he whispered softly, “you’re finally awake, you had me scared for a while there.”
You groan, “what happened? Are you okay?”
He chuckles and let’s you go to your feet, since apparently he had been carrying you since who knows when—“we’re home.”
You blink and ignore your throbbing headache, “really? It happened? It worked?”
“Have a little faith.” You hear five remark.
You scoff, “I’m not going to lie, I actually had none.”
He huffs and begins to walk towards the living room. “I don’t know about you guys, but I need a drink.”
“Yes.” Luther agrees.
“In fact I need several.” Klaus adds happily.
“I’m in. I’m in.”
Managing a weak smile you grab Diego’s hand and spin to wrap your arm around his neck, “we’re home! I can’t wait to get back to the dojo!”
Diego leans in to give you a small kiss, “we’re home.” He pulls your hand off and guides you to the living room where the mood suddenly drops as Diego points something out. “Why is there a painting of Ben over the mantelpiece?”
“I knew you’d show up eventually.” A voice suddenly says, startling and causing you to go into an immediate fighting stance.
“Dad.” Diego mutters.
You gasp, “isn’t he supposed to be dead?”
“You’re alive?” Luther asks in a fearful voice.
“Why shouldn’t I be?” The old man questions.
“Yeah, yeah you’re right. I’m just happy that we’re home together again.”
“Home? This isn’t your home.”
Allison steps forward, “what are you talking about? This is the umbrella academy.”
“Wrong again. This is the sparrow academy.”
Footsteps approach and Diego pulls out his knife, pushing you back to only falter as the same guy from the painting walks inside the room. “Dad, who the hell are these assholes?”
Of course things went wrong. Of course!
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Moonflower
Warning: I mean kidnapping, but it’s more funny than angsty, also slight Yandere vibes torwards the end  Word count:  exactly 2222 (nice) Summary: It was a rather usual evening for you, a Gala, trying to avoid the mayor, getting kidnapped- what more could you want from your night?
This was requeste from a  phenomenal anon: Okay this is really silly, but cute to me for some reason. But could you write, like, reader is kidnapped by the Riddler as a hostage for Batman. But whether they wanna just mess with him, or if they like him, or whatever, for some reason, reader kisses Riddler. On the lips. Idk, I just think the idea is cute as well as whatever Riddler's reaction would be. I hope you like it ☺
Part 2 - Masquerade Part 3 - Magical/Misery/Massacre
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You were almost thankful when the light in the ballroom of the city-hall flickered off and fog filled the area that was now only lit up by the lights from outside. The Gala you had been attending, one of the almost monthly charity gala's that some rich-guy (this time the mayor himself) held to make himself look better and to keep close contacts with all the other rich-guys in the city, was so boring that you were minutes away from crashing it yourself. Admittedly, your father was also an all-time favorite Gala host, but he had the excuse of having to keep face with his "side-business" and his parties were often at least somewhat entertaining. But this one? Horrible. Of course, you had somehow managed to be the only one "available" to go, so, not only were you extremely annoyed, but you were also completely alone in a room of rich old couples that tried to lick Bruce Wayne's eldest daughters, possible the next leader of Wayne inc. and one of the most prominent and appeared people in the Wayne-family (as the only one who wasn't dressed up every night and went fighting), boots. You had to admit that you could understand them somehow. Other than your siblings and your dad -who all kept it pretty low with the media- you were on every second tabloid, at every second event and on every second talk-show. You had quickly become the new face of the name Wayne, "proudly" sharing the place with your father. So yeah, you were more available than the rest of your relatives and with ever appearance in the media, they thought more and more that they knew about your opinions and the way you think. Some times you regretted your decision to keep away from the vigilante lifestyle to focus on keeping the Wayne-name alive. You couldn't quite remember when you made that choice, but you knew that as a girl, your father didn't want to train you any further than self-defence, because he was scared you'd get hurt, then Dick came along and was around your age, but still got to train and fight with your dad. Back then you'd been furious about that, but whenever he actually got hurt you felt like it was maybe the right thing to do. Then Dick left and in your anger at your dad for just picking up the next best kid and basically forgetting your sibling, even though you soon warmed up to Jason and accepted him as a second brother, you started focusing on school more and actually started to enjoy conversing with the business-people at Gala's about the news and the market. And somehow, after Jason died and you planned to take Wayne inc. away from your father as revenge for letting your brother die (a plan that you soon let go off when you recognize how much it actually had hurt him), you were somehow in the position of the heir of the Wayne empire, even though at some point -you were pretty sure- your dad asked you if you wanted to be trained like your other siblings to become a vigilante yourself, you were now on the way to business. That way was usually pretty bearable, but completely alone on a Gala that was like an exact copy of all the other ones, you would rather be stuck in a 24-hour business meeting. So, yes, when the Party was cut short by a villain attack you were probably a bit too happy. You heard the panicked calls and shouts of the other guests and quickly activated the bat-alarm ("Cool name dad, thanks for that") that was placed on the back of the necklace you wore (you had many other necklaces that included it too because in modern society you couldn't wear the same jewelry too often). Deciding not to risk waiting for them (and hoping that you could maybe make it to the small dinner down the street to eat something before one of your brothers (most likely Damian who would cling to you every time the two of you were together (even if it was more than the two of you)) found and dragged you back to the manor to check you over), you grabbed the skirt of your rather heavy dress (of course today was the day you decided to wear one of your bigger dresses), pulled it up to your upper thigh and quickly rushed to were you remembered the nearest exit to the Veranda to be. When the cold evening air hit your face you let out a small sigh. Very nice, you thought and started to walk towards the gate, when you felt a sharp pain pierce through your neck, immediately followed by numbness flowing through your whole body. "For real?" you managed to mumble before your legs lost their strength and you tumbled over, not sure if you even hit the ground before you blacked out.
When you woke up, you were almost sure that you'd be back in your home. The last few times you got taken, your family had been quick enough to get you before you even entered any hideaway. But you weren't home. You woke up laying on a rather slim matt on the floor of a small cage. You looked down at yourself to see that you were still wearing the dress that you'd worn earlier and that, even though the gaps between the bars wasn't large enough anyway, you couldn't really escape on your own in that. Damn modern fashion. When you had scanned the area around you you widened your radius to the hall your small personal jail was located in. It was literally just a big, empty warehouse, no-one in sight. "You know," you shouted into the emptiness, hoping someone would hear you, "kidnapping me is really uninspired, you aren't even the first one to do it this month." You sighed when no answer came and instinctively put your hand up to your neck to play with the necklace. Your breath got caught in your throat when you realized it wasn't there. Suddenly a spotlight flashed over the roof of the room, illuminating something that was hanging at the highest point. You didn't need to be close to recognizing your piece of jewelry. "Tell me, Miss Wayne," a voice suddenly filled the room and you started to look around, not sure where it came from, "why does a businesswoman like you have her own personal dog-whistle for batman?" You swallowed hard but kept your composure. "For many reasons," you started in the most confident voice you could manage, "I am in quite of a demand." "So is the mayor and I don't see him having one," the voice got closer and finally a figure stepped close enough for you to make out. You still couldn't see who it was though. "Well, maybe you just didn't see it, maybe it's in his shoe or something." "I don't think so," he stepped closer and you finally recognized the figure and his outfit, but you couldn't even mumble Riddler before he continued: "I studied all the kidnapping patterns of the most important figures in Gotham and somehow you're the only one who the bat always gets to in a matter of minutes." Okay, it's worse than I thought. Time to buy dad some time. "Okay first off, thanks for calling me one of the most important Gothamites," you said, playfully brushing your hair behind your shoulder, "and second if you really know that he has his eyes on me, shouldn't you be worried? I mean I'd think you would have figured out that there's a tracker in it by now." Of course, you knew that he knew and you also knew that he probably had some way or another to block it, but the longer he talked, the sooner your dad would find you. "You're not so stupid," he said, stepping closer to you, somehow already standing in front of your cage, "I've been watching you for a while now and we both know that you're just trying to stall for time, my dear." "You know, it's kinda creepy to say that you watched me. I mean, sure, you're the evil guy here, but still. Stalking?" He chuckled a bit but seemingly ignored what you said. You had to pull other levers, you realized when he turned around. "Don't you still want to know why I have my own Bat-whistle?" you shouted a bit too loud, but effectively managed to get him back to you. "Why would you tell me?" he asked suspiciously. "Well, I guess you want to know that and I really want to know what you think you could gain out of kidnapping me, so you tell me yours, and I'll tell you mine," you winked at him, mischievously. "Hmm," he eyed you, "fine. Even though it's quite obvious isn't it? You're the perfect moonflower for my bat-trap," he said, raising his hand to just slightly hover in front of you. For a second it felt like there was some kind of static energy between you, but you tried to ignore it. "I guess it's my turn now," you breathed out, ignoring the weird mood around you, "As you probably know, the bat has a very weird, honestly with a somewhat strange undertone, relationship with my dad. In exchange for some, uh, financing as my father put it, he agreed to keep his eye out for me a bit more. It's just the result of a parent's protectiveness and business." You weren't really lying, even though the way you said it clearly gave off a very different picture than what was actually the case, but it seemed like the man in front of you bought it. Shouldn't he be here by now? "Well, I guess the reason he protects you a little bit more than the rest of the city is irrelevant as long as he is searching you," he shrugged, seemingly satisfied by the answer and at the same time not really happy about it. You couldn't risk him losing interest again. "There's another secret you might want to know," you whispered ominously, gaining his attention for a second time that night. Before he could investigate your sentence, your hands slipped through the gaps between the bars and grabbed the Riddler's collar, pulling him flush against the poles and crashing your mouth with his. At the feeling of your soft lips against his, he immediately froze, fixed in position like a statue. When you needed to take a breath again, you pulled back, smoothing your dress down and fixing your hair, the man in front of you still completely stiff. "I should probably tell you that the tracker in my necklace isn't the only one on me, you should've really taken my advice and checked the shoes," you smirked and winked again, the Riddler's gaze fixed on you with eyes as wide as dinner plates when the wall behind you crashed open and your family came to your rescue. "Until next time," you shrugged at him when your cage was broken open and Nightwing picked you up and carried you out, from what you could see before you were out of reach, the man you just kissed never moved.
[Bonus]
It had been a fairly long day at Wayne Inc. and the suit you were wearing was starting to be annoying and you wanted nothing more than to peel out of these clothes and get into your jogging pants and one of Jason's oversized T-shirts. So, as quickly as possible, you rushed to your room, ignoring Damian's plead to join him on a walk with Titus, only to stop in your steps after you had opened the door. Your (alarm-wired mind you) window stood open and allowed a cold breeze to fill your room. For a second you contemplated calling someone to check it out, but your curiosity got the best of you. You quietly closed the door and sneaked over to the window with the plan to check if someone was outside, but when you stood in front of it, your eyes landed on a small package that stood on your windowsill. You looked around again, before closing the window (and checking that the alarm wiring was still intact) and sitting down on your bed to open the small box. It was packed neatly with a grey wrapping and a Y/F/C ribbon, making you especially careful when opening it. Inside was a perfume bottle that took your breath away. It was gorgeous. The Cap was adorned by a glass flower that was completely white and round, but other than that there was nothing on it that would give away the contents of the bottle. Having been briefed about poisonous packages by not only Wayne inc. safety regulators but also at least every member of your family at least once, you didn't spray any of the perfume, instead, laying it back into the box. It was then that you noticed the card in it that had the same colour as the inside of the box, making it easy to overlook. You took it out and turned it around to read the words that were written on it with the neatest font you've ever seen. Until next time my Moonflower...
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echo-bleu · 3 years
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no one ever said it would be this hard
For @moonlight-breeze-44 Happy birthday Em!! I hope you like this. I made it all angsty and painful for you 💙
I've been wanting to write Alec breaking down after breaking up with Magnus for a good while, and this was a great opportunity. This is part of my map out a world series (though there's no need to read the other parts first as it's mostly canon compliant), but it can reasonably be read as a prequel to take me back to the start, too. Hence the Coldplay title.
Huge thanks to my amazing beta @jeanboulet who edited this super fast and helped me figure out a title.
[self-harm, self-injurious stims, meltdown, blood, dissociation]
Read on AO3.
It should be raining, or something. There should be some kind of external sign that the world has just turned on its axis. The night shouldn’t be this… normal.
Alec runs back to the Institute on autopilot. He doesn’t even realize that he’s forgotten to activate his speed rune until he arrives, panting, at the front doors. He runs fast enough to make his lungs burn, because it prevents him from crying all the tears in his body. He shouldn’t cry. He chose this.
It doesn’t make it hurt any less. It doesn’t make it feel any less like his whole world just ended.
Maybe because it did.
“Alec!”
He’s assaulted by Izzy as soon as he steps inside. He doesn’t even have time to take his hand off the handle of the door before she’s in his space, shouting. Something about Jonathan. Something about Clary. Something—
Wait. He didn’t follow any of that, but something clicks in his mind. He felt pain in the parabatai bond, before. He didn’t really feel it, with how fucking tense he was, but he noted it in a corner of his mind somehow. Jace is hurt. Izzy is panicked. Clary is… missing, if what his brain is parsing together is right. Jonathan is gone.
Fuck.
Alec pushes it all away. He knows how to do it, how to switch to soldier mode. Dissociate his feelings from his actions, make his body and his brain do what needs to be done. He’s always known. It was the first thing he learned, long before the Academy, long before formal training. He closes his eyes for a second, and when he opens them again, there is nothing but complete clarity.
As long as he holds on tight.
He takes Izzy by the shoulders. “Tell me again.”
“Jonathan got into Clary’s head!” Izzy shouts again, too loud in his ears, like she can’t control the level of her voice in her panic. Alec doesn’t wince. He doesn’t feel pain the same way, when he does this.
It’s useful. He can just hold her tighter and get the whole story out of her, how Clary knocked Jace out and freed Jonathan. “They’re gone.”
“Okay,” Alec murmurs, for Izzy’s benefit. “Okay. Calm down. We need to secure the premises.”
“Already done, sir,” Underhill comes behind Izzy. “No sign of them. We have a Seelie knight dead in the observation cell. Three dead guards.”
Alec tightens his fists, remembering just in time to let go of Izzy first. He doesn’t feel his nails digging into his palms. He doesn’t feel his phone buzzing in his pocket with the Institute-wide alert. He doesn’t feel.
It’s a good thing.
“Izzy, go find Jace,” he orders. “Underhill, I need a full sweep. Where’s Jens?”
Underhill points to the Ops table, beside which Jens is talking on the phone. Izzy shakes herself – she’s no stranger to obeying orders, either – and she jogs away. Alec doesn’t bother tracking where she’s going. He knows he’s operating on limited bandwidth, limited energy. He has to rely on his subordinates.
“I’ve informed the Clave,” Jens says over the noise of the ops center as soon as he hangs up his phone.
Alec walks up to him, Underhill on his heels.
“Sir,” Underhill starts, agitated. “Won’t they—”
“They will, but we can’t do without it now,” Alec says. “I assume they’re reinstating the kill order?”
“Yes,” Jens confirms. “We have orders to put all our available teams on it, and they will send additional ones in the morning.”
Alec places his hands flat on the edge of the table, and takes strength from the pressure for a second. “Brief the teams. Capture, don’t kill. I’ll handle the Clave.”
Underhill nods at his dismissal and walks away, but Jens lingers. Alec grits his teeth. There’s so much to do, and so little time to do it, and he can’t let go now.
“Alec, is everything alright?” Jens asks – not softly, not exactly, but he can see what no one else notices. He’s known Alec forever. He’s known Alec better than his own siblings for years.
“I can’t do this now,” Alec responds honestly. He can barely make himself speak out loud.
“The Clave is handled for now,” Jens answers. He’s switching almost automatically to trying to relieve Alec of as many duties as possible, like well-oiled machinery. He knows exactly when to push Alec, and when to hold back. He knows that Alec can’t handle more pressure now. “They’ll call if they need more intel. Paperwork can wait.”
“Maybe it shouldn’t,” Alec says. Maybe he won’t be able to handle it later.
“It will,” Jens asserts. “Go to your siblings. I can hold the fort.”
Alec sighs. He can’t slip now. He nods at Jens and grips the edges of the table tighter.
Jace, Izzy and Simon, his presence almost incongruous, stride up on the catwalk at that moment. “Alec!”
Alec moves like he’s in a sea of treacle. Every muscle in his body is tenser than a guitar string. It must be visible, because Izzy gives him a look of concern. Or maybe she suspects what he abandoned them for.
Fuck. He was supposed to be there with them. If he had been, maybe—
It almost makes him crumble. He stumbles, just barely, and pulls his control back tighter. They have a whole conversation around him about the Clave’s orders and the Heavenly Fire serum, and Alec is sure that he participates in some way, but he would be hard-pressed to say how.
He’s entirely unsure of what happens for the rest of the night. Or the next day. He doesn’t have a single second to himself to reflect on things, and it’s good. He’s fairly sure that he allows Jace desperate measures that he would have never signed on otherwise, but, well, Jace needs to get Clary back. One of them needs to end this with their heart intact.
There’s one moment, during the day, when Jace asks about Magnus. Alec nearly crumples just at hearing his name. “Sometimes things don’t go the way you want them to.” He hears the words coming out of his mouth like he’s far away, in another world, another universe. There’s a version of him that enunciates them, and Alec has lost track which. Alec the Clave soldier doesn’t have room for any of that. And he’s closed the door on any other part of him.
He falters for one moment, and as soon as Jace leaves his office, he activates half the runes on his body, just to anchor himself on the rush of energy. Stamina. He hasn’t slept in almost three days. Strength. His body feels like jelly. Calm Anger. It pushes everything back down.
And if he abuses them, well, no one else needs to know.
*
He’s sitting on his bed when his siblings find him. It must have been, what, six hours since Jace was thrown back through a portal into the Institute? He’s frozen, afraid that if he moves an inch, he’ll shatter into pieces.
He hasn’t moved for hours. He’s sitting with his back perfectly straight, his feet flat on the ground, still fully dressed in patrol gear, long past the time when the position should have become uncomfortable – but he can’t even feel it. His hands are clasped together, too tight, his knuckles white with the effort. Stuck.
He doesn’t move when Izzy and Jace knock, and at his lack of answer, they slip inside. He can’t look up at them, he can’t react. He clenches his jaw hard and tries not to fall apart.
“Alec,” Izzy calls quietly, passing through his field of vision. She disappears briefly and reappears kneeling beside him, just shy of touching him. Alec wants to jerk out of the way, but his body doesn’t obey.
“Alec, you’re feeling really awful, buddy,” Jace says, crouching on the other side.
Alec breathes carefully, evenly, as he has for hours, until there’s a hitch. His breathing goes out of sync with his brain, with his locked down body, and it crumbles. He falls apart.
He crumples in on himself, chin reaching his knees as he curls up, gasping. He digs his thumbs into his forehead and, when that doesn’t work, he stuffs his fingers into his mouth and bites down hard. He slips off the bed and falls onto the floor, and the pain of hitting his back against the bed frame doesn’t even register as he starts to rock back and forth.
“Alec!” Izzy reacts. But she doesn’t try to touch him. She knows if won’t go over well.
Jace doesn’t have the same compulsion, not when Alec’s fingers are still in his mouth and he’s tasting iron. Blood. “Alec, you have to stop,” he tries. He approaches his hand to pull on Alec’s forearm, but as soon as their skins touch, Alec lets out a strangled cry and backs away, into the bed frame, then brutally onto the bed, until he’s backed up against the headboard.
Fuck. The urge to hit his head to dull the agony is irresistible, and it makes a thud as pain erupts under his scalp. He hears, vaguely, his siblings trying to stop him verbally, but nothing is coming through anymore. He screams silently, mouth open in agony, as his head hits the wall again and again.
“Alec.” Izzy is crying now. Alec thinks distantly that she’s never seen him this bad, not since they were little kids and she didn’t have to handle him. He’s long learned to hide his meltdowns, to shutdown instead, like he’s done for most of today – yesterday. Dissociate until there’s nothing left of him.
This time, it wasn’t enough. It wasn’t enough, because nothing is enough.
He’s been able to stay numb for twenty-eight hours, since he closed the door of his mother’s shop and left Magnus inside. He’s been—
Magnus.
Fuck.
He pulls at his hair, hard enough to uproot it. Nothing is enough. His skin is too tight for the pain bubbling inside of him, and he’s exploding, losing all control. He’s a giant knot, muscles taut and burning from staying so tense all day, runes overworked and overloaded.
His eyes stay dry, even as he craves the relief of crying. “Alec,” someone murmurs – he doesn’t know who anymore. “Shhhhh. It’s okay.”
It’s not okay. There’s no such thing as okay, now, not without—
His chest feels like a hole has been punched through it, and it’s been filled with self-expanding foam. He sobs without a noise, his shoulders shaking and his whole body trembling.
Suddenly, there’s a warm body against him, and for a moment, Alec is about to throw it off, to react violently against the unbearable touch. He resists, but the arms around him tighten until it almost smothers him — paradoxically, that calms him down. Jace holds him and rocks with him and slowly, very slowly, Alec settles.
The tears don’t come until Izzy’s smaller hands reach him, first checking him for injuries, then soothing him, running over his shoulders and his neck, always strong and tight. Alec hiccups and almost throws up, but he hasn’t eaten in too long. He dry heaves instead, coughing without breathing, gasping until his eyes water and finally he’s sobbing fully.
He hears Jace’s voice in between painful hiccups. “Izzy told me what happened. How do we help?”
Alec shakes his head when he’s finally parsed the sentence, probably too late for it to make sense. There’s nothing they can do, and Alec has no words in him to tell them. It’s over. Magnus is gone. Gone from his life, forever.
The sobs redouble, and Alec heaves over the arm holding him up, probably Jace’s. His chest is on fire, but it feels right. It should hurt. It should be so painful as to be unbearable, because that’s what it feels like inside.
There’s already a Magnus-shaped hole inside him, and it’s only going to grow deeper and larger. Alec wonders, vaguely, how long he has until it swallows him whole.
*
It feels like hours before his sobs subside, leaving him breathless and listless, like a puppet whose strings have been cut. Alec gradually slides down until he’s curled up on his side on the bed, his head on the pillow Magnus slept on just two days ago.
Jace and Izzy move with him, refusing to let him go. They scoot over until they’re framing him, Jace curled against his back and Izzy in front of him, one hand cupping his wrist. Alec lets himself soak up their warmth as he starts shivering.
He doesn’t stop crying in one go. He keeps seeing flashes of Magnus, and it only takes a half-formed thought to start again, the sobs wracking his body. It’s less violent every time, though, and after a while it only extracts a pitiful hiccup from him, his tears long dried out. Jace and Izzy keep holding him silently, though Alec can feel the looks they exchange over his shoulder.
“Alec,” Jace murmurs after a long time. “Was there really no other way?”
Alec struggles to focus his gaze on something – Izzy’s hand on his wrist, in this case – and he wets his lips several times without managing to speak. He shakes his head.
“It’s okay if you can’t speak right now,” Izzy whispers. “We’re here for you.”
Alec nods gratefully. She’s only recently learned to do this, to recognize when he’s struggling to form words. None of his family ever caught on – his siblings used to laugh at him, when he struggled with seemingly simple things. His parents would shake him and force him to hide it.
Magnus was the first one to understand.
Magnus was the first one to see Alec. The first one to love him for who he is, and not for the image of Alec he had in his mind. And Alec ruined it, over and over. He betrayed Magnus and let him suffer because of his actions.
He brought Magnus nothing but pain.
He tastes ashes. His mouth feels dry, parched by a thirst that will never be quenched again. He hurts all over from tensing so much, but it feels like a too small punishment for his sins.
“I can’t,” he starts, forcing the words out over the knot in his throat. “I can’t imagine living without him.”
It opens up yet another avenue of thoughts, that he’s pushed away until now. All his plans for the future include Magnus. There is no Alec without Magnus, not in his head. He’s dreamed so often about marrying him, recently, about seeing the Lightwood ring on Magnus’ hand and moving in together and—
What is he going to do now?
He can’t stop seeing Magnus’ face as he left the shop, the desperation in his eyes. Did he really do the right thing? Magnus has lost so much recently—
But that’s exactly why Alec did it. Magnus has lost too much. His magic is an intrinsic part of himself, something he can’t just do without, even if it took Alec too much time to understand. His immortality is a part of him. Alec… Alec is just a lover. One more lover in a long string of them.
Magnus has had many relationships, and he’s lost them all eventually, and he lived through it. But this, losing his magic? He was ready to risk dying from Lorenzo’s transfusion, just to be able to use this second-hand, wrong magic. Even Alec could see how weird the yellow magic was in Magnus’ hands, how sickening, but Magnus latched onto it like it was more important than breathing.
No, Magnus can replace Alec in a way he can never replace his magic. As bad as Alec feels for hurting him on the short term, it’s the only decision he could make.
From the moment the idea of going to Asmodeus went through his brain, he knew that he couldn’t live with himself unless he tried everything. He wishes, selfishly, that he’d never thought of it. He’d be holding Magnus right now in this bed, instead of lying heartbroken between his siblings.
It wouldn’t hurt like this.
“You can do this, Alec,” Izzy says softly, but even Alec can tell that she doesn’t fully believe it. “I know you can. We’ve just gotta take it one step at a time.”
“That one of your mundane group things?” Jace asks when Alec doesn’t react.
He doesn’t know how to react. He can’t think of tomorrow, of next week, of any time without Magnus. One step at a time implies that he even wants to go on.
He’s not sure he does.
“Yeah,” Izzy mutters. “It helps. Sometimes.”
Alec wonders if this is what Jace felt when they thought that Clary was dead. What he feels right now when Clary is out there somewhere, brainwashed by Jonathan. Alec can’t feel anything through the parabatai bond, not on top of his own pain.
He grits his teeth against the urge to hit his head again, just to overwhelm the emotional pain. His scalp is going to bruise as it is, unless he uses an iratze. His fingers are covered in teeth marks where he bit himself, some of them still bloody.
“You hope the pain here will overpower the pain there,” Magnus told him once, hand on his heart. Alec almost whimpers.
Oh, to go back there, to the beginning of them. The pain of that day, the overpowering guilt at Jocelyn’s death, feels so inconsequential now. So much has happened. They never had time to stop running, one thing after the other.
It’s been over two years, but Alec feels like he never had time to just breathe. Curl up with Magnus and just enjoy the moment. They always had to think about the next step, the best thing for their respective people, the next threat coming to rip them apart.
And now they’ll never have that time.
Alec jerks his hands out of Izzy’s grasp and he digs his nails into the skin of his scalp, pressing on his eyes with the heels of his palms. Fuck. He can’t do this. He can’t live with this pain.
Jace must sense his distress, because he slings his arm over Alec’s and holds him, so tightly that it’s nearly painful. It eases something in Alec, calming his crawling skin until he can relax just a little. “We’re here,” Jace murmurs in his ear. “We’re not going anywhere.”
“We can’t replace Magnus, but we’ll support you no matter what,” Izzy adds, slipping her arms around both of them. “We love you, Alec. That will never change.”
Alec closes his eyes.
It doesn’t make things better. It doesn’t make tomorrow any less daunting, and it doesn’t stop the excruciating pain. But it soothes something in Alec, making it just a little less unbearable.
His body exhausted beyond its limits, Alec finally falls asleep.
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butterbuni · 3 years
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♥ Chapter 8 ~ Recommendation Entrance Exam P3 ♥
Previous Chapter
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After lunch, we were separated into groups of 10 and were led to different rooms by the number we finished. I waved goodbye to Momo and Inasa as they were led to their rooms with their group.
I walked with the rest of mine into a long hallway with chairs set up against the wall, 5 on each side. Everyone took seats as number 20 went into a room at the end of the hall. This is so nerve-wracking. I don't have any of my new friends here to keep me distracted. I looked around the hall. There were not many students. I looked directly across from me to see Endeavor's son leaning back against the wall with his eyes closed. He's probably sleeping. How could he sleep at such a moment?
When he wasn't being rude, he looked really nice. I couldn't help but admire his features, which makes no sense because I've seen Endeavor, and let me just say the apple fell very far from the tree. (Endeavor slander? Yes.). Even with that huge scar on his face he still manages to be so beautiful. I should probably apologize to him for calling him a lil bitch. I laughed to myself remembering my outburst at him earlier. Star would have given me a lecture for not being respectful.
"Number 21!" A teacher called out as a student left the room.
A student got up and went into the room. Only two more people until my turn. I looked down as I twiddled my thumbs. What kind of questions will they ask? Did I prepare enough? Kean said they change the questions each year, so he wasn't much help. I rolled my eyes remembering when I asked Kean to help me and he shot me down. I picked up my feet pulling it up to my chest wrapping my hands around it. I looked up again and Endeavor's son was still sleeping. I would have to wait till after the interviews to apologize. I rested my head in my knees shutting my eyes. Maybe sleeping won't be so bad.
                                              ________________
"Number 24!"
My head shot up from my knees to see Endeavor's son leaving the room. IT WAS MY TURN! I quickly got from my seat fixing myself up and walked to the door. I took a deep breath in and opened the door.
I walked in seeing Principal Nezu sitting at a rather large desk. He looked like a white mouse bear hybrid. Nonetheless, he was adorable I had to keep myself from smiling like a dork at his adorableness. I took a deep bow introducing myself. "Good afternoon Miss L/n. Please take a seat," he said calmly pointing his paws towards a set of seats in front of his desk. I took a seat at one of the seats saying good afternoon.
(For this part I will not be saying "blah blah," He said or she said. Only because it's too much for the amount of talking here. So instead, it will be in Nezu: and Y/N: format. No, they are not texting)
Nezu: Your full name is Y/N M/N L/N. Correct?
Y/N: Correct sir.
Nezu: Are you by chance Kean's younger sibling?
Y/N: Yes sir.
Nezu: No need to be so formal Miss Y/N. Your brother was an exceptional student here at U.A. When I received a letter asking for you to be put in recommendations by him, I couldn't say no. How is the hero Flame doing anyway? I see him on the news quite often.
Y/N: He's doing great actually he got a job as a sidekick to Endeavor a little over a year ago. Although he is busier than he was when he was in U.A but he still has time to train me.
Nezu: Good. Good. So, from the practical exam it looks like your quirk is controlling the elements do you mind explaining it to me.
Y/N: I can manipulate air, water, fire, and earth. So far, I've figured out I can control metal and lightning. I can produce air and fire from my body, but I cannot control the air or fire around me. However, I am immune to burns from my fire. I can't produce earth or water from my body, but I can control the different forms of water and earth around me. Metal bending is when I can sense the fragments can of earth in the metal allowing me to control it. I mostly use it for my shoes. Lighting bending comes from using the energy in me and focusing it outward using my fingertips to aim. Though it takes too much energy for even one strike, so I don't use it.
Nezu writes stuff down on a paper and looks back up at Y/N: And your weakness?
Y/N: Oh! Well, I can't bend pure metal and I can't control the lighting once it leaves my body. I also cannot control all the elements at the same time, I've tried. My biggest weakness is my energy use once I exceed my limit I pass out. However, Kean says if I keep training to the limit I would be able to last longer.
Nezu: Wow! You have such a powerful quirk Miss Y/N. Do you mind if I ask what your parent's quirks are? I understand Kean's quirk is flame and lighting.
Y/N: My mom's quirk is water manipulation, and I don't know what my father's quirk is. I never knew him. Mom just said he disappeared after I was born. I'm guessing his quirk had something to do with the elements. The pictures at home only show Mom and Kean's dad.
Nezu: Why do you want to become a hero Miss L/N
Y/N: Well, I want to create a world where things are fair for everyone. Villains are the ones that are in of the way of achieving of that.
Nezu: You know that, that is naive thinking right?
Y/N: I know i may be naive thinking doesn't mean it's impossible.
Nezu writes more stuff on a paper: So, Miss Y/N why do you want to go to our school?
Y/N: Well, I want to become a hero just like Kean. It's been my dream since I was able to use my quirk. U.A is the best school where the best heroes graduated from. The question should be why I wouldn't want to come to U.A. The answer is no reason by the way.
Nezu laughs at my quip: Good to know. Well, it's been wonderful getting to know you. In about a week you will receive a letter with our decision.
Y/N: It was great getting to know you to Principal Nezu. I'll take my leave now.
Nezu: Please have the man outside call Number 25.
Y/N: Yes sir.
I walked out of the room as the man outside called for number 25. I looked around the hall looking for Endeavor's son to apologize. I sighed. He wasn't there. There goes my chance of redemption. I do hope he doesn't tell Endeavor. Kean will seriously be pissed if I cost him his job.
I walked out of the building looking around. Maybe Momo or Inasa are done with their interview and we could walk home together and exchange numbers. I looked around the front and none of them were there. I looked over at the gate and saw a familiar galaxy haired friend waiting for me.
"STARRRRRR!" I yelled running to him.
He looked up at me his face had a few bandages. He must've gotten hurt during his practical exam. He smiled in my direction waving at me.
"What happened to your face?" I asked as I approached him. "Just a few burns here and there. The bots they used were the size of a full-grown human being and they were fast for big chunks of metal. Do you think you could heal me up when we get to your place? I don't want to ruin my perfect skin," He said as we walked out of the gates.  "I don't know, can I?" I laughed. "Sure, I can heal you up when we get to my house. So how was your practical? Did you only fight bots?" "Yeah, it was just bots. They put a whole bunch of us, maybe 30 or 40, into a look-alike town to fight them. It was timed too. I saw some pretty cool quirks there. One kid sprouted tape from his elbows to destroy the bots.  Another kid was literally surrounded by electricity. It was pretty cool till I acted like you and went close to him while he was emitting electricity. I didn't even get that close till I fell the volts hit my face," he said placing his face in his hand and then winced, "Overall it was pretty easy. I think I racked at least 40 points. And the written exam WAS SO EASY. I'd be surprised if I didn't pass. So, how was your test?"
"Well.......," I scratched my head.  "I panicked just before the written exam. I met a girl, a super smart girl, who helped me prepare for the test. She has a similar quirk to yours actually. Her's is called Creation. The test itself was pretty hard but I think I did okay. I met Endeavor's son but I made a horrible first impression. He had this huge scar on his left eye and I just stared at it with no regard for his feelings. It's not like his attitude was any good but I'm not there yet. I also met Recovery Girl right before the practical. She was nice. The practical was way mor- oh look we're here. I can tell you more over dinner."
I opened the door, and it was very quiet. I sighed Kean and Mom must not be home. It's okay I have Star here with me. "Wash your hands looks like I'm making dinner," I said rolling up my sleeves.
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nicknellie · 3 years
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Honestly the fact that March is in two months is actually horrific. Also that’s a mood, my sleep schedule has been weird due to Covid as well. (and technically good night to you when I get this down in like the next hour)
Box stuff
1. Exactly, Alex tells Luke how exactly to get back on good terms with his parents and at the same time tells him how dumb he was but lovingly and of course since it’s Alex Luke immediately listens.
I love that, also he was close to his teachers. Like he would be the one to tell them if Luke (for example) had a bad night and to let him skip the class and the teacher would begrudgingly agree just because they know that Alex is true to his word and will make sure that he’s caught up on everything. Honestly I don’t really feel like Alex is a teachers pet as well but he did get along with his teachers.
Actual points (that did make sense)
Oh my goodness yes, Emily will deliberately try to remember embarrassing Luke stories just so Alex can bring it up.
‘Bold words for someone who cried when they didn’t get to go on the tea cups’
Precisely, they gave the chance for Luke to make up with Emily if he wished because they didn’t really have anything to say to their parents. Agreed, and that’s some thing I hope season two expands on because they had to have friends outside of the band even if they were closer with the band than anyone else they definitely had some acquaintances. Imagine people making tributes 🥺 (honestly I feel like they were all kind of done with school and that Bobby if he didn’t quit like the other boys then he probably did not return). But I love that idea. I feel like Alex had a little sister as well, and that’s a really good theory I feel like it would make sense that Mitch and Emily were a bit more overprotective about the band and everything if they had a miscarriage. Because they want Luke to do so well that to them committing himself to a band that might not take off wasn’t the path to go and they were worried. Agreed, honestly if anything sometimes I just think to myself that the three of them are only children however I feel like it would also work if they had a younger or older sibling (Alex having a younger one and Reggie having an older one).
That’s relatable I’ve had quite a few songs I’ve only listened tofor a bit and then immediately fall in love with them. I hadn’t heard the song before but I checked it out and I agree. If you like it is some thing that Rose wrote towards them just to remind them not to give up. Because, while wake up was personal to Julie and to remind her to keep doing music this song would kind of be Roses way to say all the words she never got to say but not like in an Unsaid Emily way. (Exactly how you said it lol)
I feel like they had a piano as well, so one day Julie does play it for them and it’s so sad.
3. Oh my goodness, Willie setting the kitchen on fire and then Alex trying to help him is everything. And yes he does need to be banned from the kitchen, is the type who would burn water. Yes, every single time Luke and Reggie try to receive the book for Alex just so that he has something to look at but he’s just like ‘nope I don’t need it anymore’
Board games and jam (that is honestly just monopoly and among us at this point)
1. I’m glad this made you laugh because I find it hilarious as well. And that’s exactly what happens because Alex waits for Reggie to be completely unprepared and just like Luke he sends a drumstick at him.
Honestly I’m the one who wrote the sentence and at first I interpreted that way as well. Just like Alex has thrown drumsticks of the band so many times that he has perfected his skills is so true.
He does and Willie is just crying laughing in the corner because Alex is throwing drumsticks at Caleb. I love how Alex just doesn’t stop and Caleb eventually it’s just like okay I guess I will continue on with my evil speech. But he continues to get hit with drumsticks, although he doesn’t understand how.
Among us
I love that so much. That is exactly what happens and bonus points if Alex looks Willie straight in the eye when he kills him. And Alex isn’t even subtle about it he legitimately just follows Willie and kills him immediately.
That is so cruel but hilarious. Building off of that idea a little bit the first time someone finds Luke’s body is Alex and he runs away. After that round Luke is so hurt but Alex is like we’re all just going to be suspicious of each other and there’s no point.
How Flynn has the rules memorized no one understands but she will legitimately say ‘in section B point 2 it says blah blah blah’ and she is always correct.
I love the example you chose was someone, probably Willie, moving three squares instead of two and Flynn just loses it. (bonus points if just like Alex she will throw something at you but it’s usually the rule book and or her piece)
I do have to agree with you but at the same time Alex being friends with Flynn and the two of them plus Julie making friendship bracelets is adorable to me. But with your point, legitimately they are always in agreement together. One time Alex even lies about the rules and just because Flynn is done with Luke, she will agree with him.
I do have to agree with you, I may not start arguments but I am definitely the type to be like ok this is your turn and you have to go twice ect. And as we should
Alex never has any pity for Reggie struggles, legitimately Reggie will not understand how Uno is played and Alex will just be like ‘oh sad, now draw 4’ (I have no clue why I chose Uno but that’s the route I’m going down)
Numbers
2. That was exactly my intent. And yes, Alex does say that.
6. Honestly Willie trying to have a discussion with Alex and then Alex just panicking while the guys are laughing in the corner is everything.
Actually I haven’t seen Miranda before but I will have to check it out and the American version because anything that has Cheyenne Jackson in it needs to be seen at some point. I don’t know why but that just gives me total Alex energy like Willie just offhandedly asked him about some thing and Alex is immediately agrees although in real life the statement is very false. (Honestly I feel like we’ve already talked about three AU here but you definitely should)
8. Luke- yes he is very selfless which upsets Alex who usually is the one who reminds him to proceed with his day and do things. Also agreed, the band means so much to him that he couldn’t be cocky even is he tried (unless it’s about the others talents)
Reggie- I love his solo in stand tall as well, I don’t think you’ve mentioned that before but that lyric is really good from now or never. (Honestly part of the reason why I love those song so much because both Alex and Reggie have solos in them)
I haven’t listened much to his new EP either but I’ve listened to Uh oh and ballerina (really good)
Alex- exactly, honestly I feel like that scene was kind of uncharacteristic on Luke’s part. Because throughout the show we see him being supportive of Alex and trying to get Alex to appreciate his talent more (after now or never basically him being like Alex you killed it come on) so him basically saying that they don’t need drumming anymore is a bit weird.
Precisely, whenever anything goes wrong they usually turn to Alex because although it may not go the best way he’s always the best person to handle it
Bobby- same here, it’s easier to talk about a character if you know how exactly they are/how they react to things
Umm this is painful. Thinking about Luke being left behind hurts, also your right. Honestly I feel like if any of them and Luke especially lost each other then they would probably lose music because the greatest attachment they have to music is each other. (Which for Luke is a big thing) oh my goodness thinking about him going to the studio and just crying because he’s thinking about the boys is everything. Also thinking about Luke unconsciously going home and just seeing the boys in simple stuff that his parents are doing is heart crushing. Aw just Luke and Emily going to hug each other is adorable, honestly it would be amazing to see him talk about the fact that he lost the boys and then slowly she becomes supportive of his music and, despite what I said earlier, eventually he releases a tribute to them.
17. Yes exactly, bonus points if the wave that Caleb does is the one that he did after Alex says ‘Willie and I. I mean I wouldn’t call it magic’
‘Do what you gotta do’ and nothing to lose are some of the best technically villain songs and Cheyenne Jackson does such a good job at them that honestly seeing his character turn good would be sad. (But that would also mean more songs in general possibly and not losing the character so it’s hard to decide)
19. Exactly, they all just end up attacking each other with snowballs that it’s hard to keep alliances. Also yes, Willie has a really keen eye for perfect moments to throw snowballs.
Agreed, it will be exciting to see them grow as actors and also how they grow in general because as you spend more time with castmates you get closer to them and that chemistry is more evident on screen which will also help out. It’s interesting because the show has kind of like a perfect balance of actors who are in stuff before so they have previous acting experience and actors who haven’t really. So seeing them get more recognition especially for the ones who have been in stuff before but aren’t really recognize/popular because of that is amazing. (also the fact that quite a few of them have picked up learning a new instrument and or in general can play quite a few instruments so I hope that they will experiment with that during the second season)
Agreed, just wouldn’t want the show to have too many villains to the point where it gets overwhelming and just repetitive. Honestly Willie turning the ghost club into a skate park just out of spite for Caleb would be amazing.
I have no clue why but the ‘you’d better run’ made me think of that ‘why are you running’ vine and now I can see Carlos saying that just to be funny.
21. Oh yea Willie almost got arrested while he was alive. Honestly if anything I think that he was running from the cops before he died so he was almost going to get arrested for sure.
Exactly, bonus points if it’s Alex who actually did the graffiti just because he knew that Reggie was upset and although he teases Reggie so much, he will be the first one to say something if anyone ever hurt him.
25. Exactly, also love the ‘she’s going to kill me again’ like Caleb is scary but if you hurt Alex then Carrie is most definitely scarier. That’s how the talk goes, word from word. And yes although Carrie is more so all bite no bark, the boys would’ve definitely killed willie if he hurt Alex. They would find a way, it’s definitely possible. I feel like while all of them would know that Willie wouldn’t actually hurt Alex. They say that just in case because they love Alex and if there’s a slight chance that someone could hurt him then they want to make sure that the person knows repercussions will happen.
They are perfect for each other lol
32. Exactly, and Alex just brushing off the dirt of Reggie‘s jacket and being the mom friend is very in character. Also the handing over the cookies, and Bobby goes with him just to make sure that Reggie doesn’t get lost again. (Luke was probably with Reggie when he got lost and or is the one who wandered off and lost Reggie while doing so)
37. He can do the impossible though I feel like that’s definitely canon. It does makes sense, if anyone can be trusted to do something that is hypothetically impossible it’s definitely Reggie. It will definitely be done in the weirdest way but Reggie will always pull through.
Oh my goodness ‘the timeout corner’ I love that. They are preschoolers thought especially with lighters. Yes, that is the only time Alex did not realize that Reggie had a lighter and of course it was the time that Reggie set Luke on fire. (Love the fact that you said he was panicking because he knows that he will be put in a time out)
I want a Reggie and Julie duet as well, it would be so amazing. And yes that is the title. They have another one that’s pure country because Luke won’t let Reggie have a country song.
Omg I’m so sorry, I’m really dumb and I thought I had posted this forever ago but turns out I just had it saved to my drafts! Aksbdkdk sorry lmao
March is in two months??? That doesn’t sound right. March was like a week ago. I hate this.
Good *insert time of day here* for whenever you read this!!
Box stuff:
1. Yeah exactly! And like what if it’s not just that it’s Alex so he listens, but it’s Alex so it makes sense? As in, if anyone else was telling him he’d wouldn’t get where they were coming from but because Alex takes the time to really explain what’s going on Luke actually gets it (even if he doesn’t want to get it, but Alex can tell when he’s just being difficult and petty)
Omggg I love that! Like he’d arrive to class early to tell them to make sure nobody else heard. And it gives a whole new meaning to his line “I’m pretty sure that was just a you thing. I was always pretty trustworthy ☺️” because like if any of the other boys (especially Reggie) tried it then they wouldn’t have got anywhere at all but just everyone trusts Alex
Actual points:
Agskdlsld I love that also “bold words for someone who once got his head stuck in a lampshade” “SHE TOLD YOU THAT?!?!”
Oooooh I never thought about them dropping out of school but that would make a lot of sense (especially for Luke dropping out because of all people he wouldn’t have seen any need to stay). And exactlyyy they would have had to have other friends and they must’ve been upset by their friends dying so like??? And the idea of people making tributes hurts my heart - like, putting flowers or whatever outside their old lockers at the school, no matter if they were still in school or not, just as their way of saying goodbye, or making sure nobody sat where they used to sit in class. And having a whole-school assembly where they played Sunset Curve’s demo and talked about how inspirational the boys were and I’ve gotta stop or I’ll cry. And yesss because if Luke was their one shot at having a child, something they had dreamed of for years, they’d want him to succeed and they were so blinded by it that they wanted him to succeed in their way, not his which could fail. And yeah, I also usually think they’re only children but for the purposes of fics or adding some more depth to their characters then I like to think about siblings and how that would have changed them as people. But the show never mentions them ever so I mainly stick to canon that they don’t too
Yessss exactly 🥺 it’s her way of telling them that they don’t need to worry or be sad and I love it so much!
3. Lmao Willie just being a kitchen disaster is brilliant - he actually did burn water once (on purpose just to see if he could actually do it) but then every time he tried to cook after that and use water he burnt it on accident and he has no idea how he’s doing it bc it’s impossible and after the fifth time and the fire Alex is like “ok willie just go”
Lol it kinda turns into some sort of game once Luke and Reggie realise Alex is dead set on not having that recipe book. He throws it away and one of them sneaks it into his pocket somehow. So he throws it away again and next time he opens the fridge one of them has put it in there. They just spend hours moving around the book solely to piss Alex off
Board games and jam (lmfao yeah there’s no jam left, it’s one board game, and a random online game):
1. Alex now just uses it as any excuse, like Luke will ask him to make room for him on the couch or whatever and Alex will scowl at him and say “if you make me move I swear to god I will pelt your face with drumsticks” and Luke just backs away slowly and sits somewhere else
Absbdksl with the Caleb bit, it’s like Alex has been secretly practising magic tricks or sleight of hand or whatever, so he’s got these hundreds of drumsticks hidden all over his body and no one can see where he’s getting them from apart from when he literally pulls them out his sleeve. Caleb - the actual magician ffs - spends hours later trying to work out how he did it but can’t. Willie finding it hilarious is everything omg just stood in the corner like “you go babe! Mildly inconvenience that soul-stealing jazz singer ghost!”
Among Us:
LMFAO YES and he does it in front of everyone too, reports the body himself, admits to it on chat, but nobody votes him out because Willie had it coming
I love that sm, Luke looking at Alex like “dude I’m right there” but Alex just completely ignoring him. The anger and hurt just fuels Luke’s weird ability to be able to sense whenever Alex is imposter
Yes definitely! Flynn gives the page number and everything, and Julie watches so smug and proud as he best friend rattled off these rules and Reggie is like “that can’t be right” so Alex checks and everyone is just that little bit more scared of Flynn because god that was weirdly cool
Ajakdlsnd YES she does or if she’s sat beside the person who did it she just repeatedly hits them over the head with the rule book like “MOVE. YOUR. PIECE. BACK. ONE. SPACE.”
Oooohhh I love the friendship bracelet idea that’s so cute! Also, I know I said they wouldn’t be that close, but the idea of Flynn going to Alex before anyone else when she realises she has a crush on Carrie (because she knows he’s gay and also hopefully friends with Carrie at this point and he might be able to be helpful) is literally such a cute idea to me. And the one time they’re not in agreement with the rules is obviously when it comes to Willie - Flynn accuses Willie of cheating somehow and Alex readies his drumsticks to throw at her like “what did you just say about my boyfriend?”
I do that too! But tbh most arguments are because I get competitive and demand we play the game by my utterly made up rules which are very biased towards me. I’m half the reason most card games are banned in my house... 😂
Oh lol I love that Alex just takes advantage of Reggie’s complete lack of uno knowledge. Reggie will pick up a useful card like the one where you change the colour or whatever, and he asks what it means, so Alex is like “oh that means you have to pick up four of every colour”
Numbers:
6. Exactly, so right. And like I feel like that’s definitely the sort of thing we could see in season 2 - like Alex and Willie having a conversation and Alex feels normal and fine but then Reggie and Luke and Julie come in and suddenly everything that comes out of his mouth sounds romantic and sappy and they’re all laughing at him and it wasn’t this hard before they came in!
You should definitely watch Miranda! I can’t remember if it’s still on Netflix, but highly recommend! Exactly, any opportunity to see Cheyenne Jackson act should be taken at once. And yes, it has total Alex energy, Willie could say anything and Alex is just like yes absolutely. (And tbh that’s mainly the plot of Miranda as well so if I did write this hypothetical AU there would be plenty of opportunity for it lmaooo)
8. Luke - yes wait I love all this so much. Like as a totally random example if Luke tries to surprise them all by cooking lunch or dinner or whatever one day (even though he’s a terrible cook and it should always be left to Alex) he just forgets to make any food for himself and Alex has to gently remind him that Luke you need to eat too remember? And Luke being cocky about the others’ talents??? God Tier Thought, I love it so so so much. Like someone will tell him he was really good on stage that night and he’ll brush it off with “yeah, but did you hear Alex’s drum solo? Totally improv, the guy has mad skills. And Reggie’s backing vocals and harmonies - his range is literally unbelievable, better than most people to be honest. Oh and Bobby? Well damn, did you hear his solo? He’s up there with the best, learnt that whole thing in under ten minutes”
Reggie - same tbh 😂 like I love Luke and Julie’s vocals to the moon and back, but it always feels kinda special whenever Alex and Reggie sing y’know bc we hardly ever hear them apart from backing
Yeah I listened to Uh Oh and a few others too, I think Stranger was my favourite (if that’s even what it’s called, I think it is) but I haven’t heard the whole thing yet. Ballerina is my jam omfg I love it and I love he wrote the whole thing for and about Carolynn like that’s so sweet 🥺
Alex - yeah I thought that too! I think I saw a post ages and ages ago that was talking about how it would have made more sense if Luke was worried about being left behind or had some abandonment issues (worries from his days arguing with his parents) so at the first sign that Alex wants to “leave him” (in his mind) and cross over or join Willie he gets defensive and tries to shut Alex out with that line before Alex can leave him. I might not have explained that as well as the post did but I think it’s the general gist?
I think you’re right, I can totally see any of them losing sight of music to begin with. I think for Reggie he would sort of shrink in on himself and just not feel up to doing anything at all, he would really struggle mental health-wise. Then for Alex I think he’d launch himself into boring menial tasks to get his mind off it, maybe go off the rails a little because what does it matter anymore? Then exactly as you said for Luke, bc it’s so important to him he just can’t face it. And obviously we’ve talking about Bobby like a million posts ago and still now 😂 but eventually all of them would take up music again and write a tribute for each other.
This is only a little bit off topic bc we just mentioned Emily and Luke but yeah so if Emily and Mitch saw Julie and the Phantoms perform what would they do??? Bc I can’t imagine it, and I don’t think they’d believe in ghosts, but if they did like would they be happy? Or angry that Julie didn’t tell them? Or sad because they can only see their son if he’s playing and that’s the very thing they encouraged him never to do? Idk idk idk but I just want them to find out about the band in season 2!!!
17. Bonus points definitely awarded, I love that sm lmao
And yeah like Cheyenne Jackson just does villain songs so well??? Like, Caleb is my best friend’s favourite character and I asked her why she loves him so much and to answer she just got Spotify up and started playing Nothing to Lose and I was like ok fair enough. Exactly, like I want him to turn good but the villain songs might be something I can’t lose. But then just general Caleb songs ugh idk I’d love that too
Wait wait wait I had a thought - someone’s probably said it before but Caleb and Willie duet????? Please?!?!
19. Lmao by the end alliances just don’t exist at all anymore
Yes all of this!!! It really is perfect because as you said their friendships will develop and that’ll translate into screen so beautifully and I honestly can’t wait. And of course as you said the balance between upcoming actors and those who have been in stuff before is great, they’ll be able to give each other tips and pointers and learn from each other and eventually start reaching the same levels of fame or whatever and that’ll just be so cool! And yes it’s so cool to see them start getting recognition - like Madison hitting one million followers on Instagram the other day, I’m literally so proud of her and so glad she’s getting what she deserves!! Agreed, it’s great that they all play their own instruments and sing their own stuff rather than having others do that for them - I really want to see more of Sacha playing his guitar as Nick bc he’s so good, but also he’s being possessed by Caleb and I want Caleb to just be terrible at guitar so that’s how they first know somethings off bc Nick suddenly can’t play 😂😂
Ajsndlslf Carlos would totally do that. Carlos would be the one to introduce the guys to Vine and it would haunt Julie’s existence for all eternity because now Alex won’t play anything until Julie has said “bring the beat in” for him to reply “anything for you Beyoncé!” And Reggie would keep saying “I wanna be a cowboy, baby” and it gets on her nerves, and Luke takes to strumming his guitar and going “I love you bitch I ain’t never gonna stop loving you bitch” and yeah lmao
21. Wait yeah lmao that’s the only reason he didn’t get arrested because he freaking died instead, chaotic king
Oh it was DEFINITELY Alex who did the graffiti, it’s his way of being overprotective and cheering Reggie up
25. Lmao I love that - Caleb is scary but oh shit better watch out for Carrie Wilson. The guys would definitely find a way to kill Willie again - they’d go to extremes like figuring out how to do the stamp so he stops existing (or maybe they would just talk about doing that but not actually do it because that feels way too mean and if Willie hurt Alex (not that he would) then they could just keep them out of each other’s way). Yeah exactly, they just want to make sure they’ve got everything covered to try and protect Alex as they would do for anyone in their group - and Alex insists he doesn’t need their protection because it’s just Willie, but really he’s extremely grateful for it
32. YES I love all that like Alex is about to send Reggie on his way but is just like “hang on, take Bobby with you, I don’t want you getting lost or eating all the cookies before you get there” And Luke having got lost with Reggie is everything - both of them were looking at a cool bird or something and didn’t realise Alex and Bobby had kept walking, so Luke tried to lead Reggie in the right direction but got them lost, and then said to Reggie “stay here I’ll get help” and left him and didn’t come back because he couldn’t find him again
37. Oh 100%. Reggie can do impossible things but they’re just in ways that also seem like they should be impossible. I wish I could think of examples, but I don’t know how to do impossible things so 😂🤷🏻‍♀️
Adjoskflfmj yeah he’s not panicking because Luke’s on fire, he’s panicking because he doesn’t want to miss snack time while he’s in the timeout corner (having a scheduled snack time was Bobby’s idea because Luke said he wasn’t allowed to eat during rehearsal because he needed to focus)
Honestly Julie letting Reggie have any country song he wants just because Luke won’t let him is everything I need and more
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renaerys · 4 years
Text
20. “Have you slept?” (Brick/Blossom)
{{Original posting unfortunately deleted. Reposted here.}}
February Fic Prompt #20 originally requested by the lovely philosophicwax. 
Summary: It's finals week at college, and Brick has hardly slept in two days while studying. A weird monster attacks because of course it does, and he has to team up with Blossom to bring it down while all he really wants to do is take a nap. 
xxx
The great thing about college was that Brick was on his own, living his life, nine months out of the year completely on his terms. No brothers nagging him for shit, no cleaning up after anyone but himself, and no disruptions during study time. His life, his rules, quiet and tranquil.
Except for the giant, sentient hairball currently terrorizing north campus that some poor asshole (Brick) would have to deal with.
Because the worst thing about college was that he was on his own, living his life, nine months out of the year without his brothers around to follow his lead without question.
“Evacuate to Prospect Avenue!” Blossom’s clear, commanding voice rang out over the shouts and screams of fleeing students.
Which, cool. Drunk, sleep-deprived twenty-year-olds in their pajamas at three in the morning were totally going to listen to the imperious Super flying above them in her pink camisole and Ivy University logo sweatpants.
Spoiler: they didn’t, and Brick was forced to abandon his warm, solitary room and his physics textbook in only a pair of old basketball shorts and his favorite red T-shirt in favor of saving a hysterical Freshman from split ends that would have literally split her end to end.
Crimson afterglow marked Brick’s path and singed the sentient tresses that crawled like tentacles after the panicking Freshman. Pudgy and cute and in the throes of a panic attack, she clung to Brick’s shirt even after he set her down a safe distance from the monstrous hairball.
“Please don’t leave me!” she sobbed.
Brick pushed her off him. “Get a grip, you’re not dead.”
She reached for him again, frightened and unable to defend herself against the supernatural monster and yes, okay, logically he knew it wasn’t her fault but fuuuuuuuuck what a pain in the ass this was.
He sidestepped her and she stumbled, almost falling, until he caught her by the elbow so she wouldn’t break her nose on the concrete. “Jesus fucking Christ.”
“Please,” she sobbed, genuinely frightened.
Brick winced. “Just get to Prospect Avenue. It’s that way.”
And with that, he left her to follow the screams of her fellow fleeing students because she was not his problem. If Blossom had already decided on a proper evacuation plan, then that meant less work for him. Lord knew he was too tired for this shit running on three hours of sleep in the last 50 hours courtesy of two finals in as many days back to back. He had four left. He did not have time for whatever the hell was going on tonight.
Crack!
Blossom crash-landed in the green not four feet from where Brick stood. Her sweatpants were streaked in grass stains and her mane of wild, red hair was swept up in a very messy bun.
“Brick,” she said, a bit breathless, a bit pissed off.
“Blossom,” he returned.
Their passive-aggressive greeting was cut short when a lash of prehensile hair came slamming down on top of them. They bolted in opposite directions, nothing but pink and red vapor, and reconvened high up in the air. Brick got an eyeful of the creature steamrolling through campus and wondered why, even so far from Townsville, he still had to deal with this weird crap.
Talk about a bad hair day, Boomer would have said if he was here. He wasn’t, and Brick just scowled.
“It’s growing,” Blossom said grimly.
Son of a bitch, she was right. The thing was sprouting more arms to help it crawl overland and tangling around the gothic architecture like the ivy this elite college was named for. It slithered through windows and drain pipes, as though searching for life hiding inside.
“Cool,” Brick said.
He was so tired.
“Can you try—”
“Not unless you want me to burn down all of Balin Hall in the process,” he interrupted her, already knowing what she’d ask. Ignoring her frown he said, “What about your—”
“Same problem, opposite outcome. These old buildings will crumble if I freeze them,” she said.
Brick matched her frown. “Fine. Then we split up.”
She looked at him far too gravely for three in the goddamn morning. “That’s not a plan.”
“It’s the best you’re getting from me right now, so stop complaining.”
That earned him a scathing glare. “Brick—”
But she didn’t get her chance to chastise him because a massive hair tentacle shot toward them with deadly accuracy and exploded into nine smaller tentacles when it was upon them. Brick darted away from the mutant tresses, but he wasn’t quick enough. Thick, black hair wrapped around his ankle and yanked him down hard enough to send his jaw rattling.
The stone shingles of a Sophomore dorm building came rushing close. He twisted, tried to get away before impact, but the thing was fast and strong and those shingles couldn’t break him but hell if they didn’t hurt on impact. Brick grunted as he gasped for breath. His back roared with pain, but the Chemical X bonded to his bones was quick to mitigate the damage, leaving him breathless with the brief, phantom memory of it. He gathered scarlet energy in his palms and blasted the hair tentacle shackling him, but the damn thing only quivered like water wherever his energy blasts hit it.
He felt it before he saw it, a cold so unnatural it grabbed him like a vice and squeezed until he nearly choked. Ice crystals bloomed upon the hair, slowing and freezing it until it lost all sentience and cracked like dry pasta under Brick’s immense strength. He blasted out of there and pulled up alongside his savior.
“You said you weren’t going to use your ice breath,” he snapped.
“Thanks for your help, Blossom, I really appreciate it,” she said, flying alongside him in a swoop back around toward north campus.
Brick rolled his eyes and immediately regretted it. Exhausted and severely sleep-deprived, he briefly saw double and faltered. A warm hand steadied his arm.
“Hey, are you okay?” Her voice lacked the smarmy edge this time and she looked at him with a measure of concern.
Brick was about to tell her to focus on the monster instead of him, but he didn’t get the chance when more hair lashes shot after them with the persistence and speed of homing missiles. Brick grabbed Blossom and flew, but he didn’t make it ten feet with her in his arms before a mass of writhing hair surrounded them and constricted.
Blossom gasped for air as she tried in vain to extricate herself, but between Brick’s ironclad hold around her and the hair shackling them together, neither of them could move. The hair squeezed tighter, and Brick gagged.
“B-Brick,” she said, her voice raspy against his neck. Her hands were flat against his chest and they were pressed so tightly together that he could hear his own heartbeat thundering under her fingertips. Even now, he could feel her trembling as they slowly, painfully suffocated.
And now he was good and furious.
Acrid, black smoke swirled in his lungs, hot and building. As little as he could move, he fisted the back of Blossom’s camisole in a silent plea. But three months and change here without either of their siblings around gave them ample time to learn each other free of distraction, and words were hardly necessary anymore. She ducked her head against his shoulder as close as she could get, and he turned his head as far from hers as he could manage before opening his mouth and releasing a concentrated inferno upon the hair binding them.
The effects were instantaneous. The fire gorged on the evil strands with abandon and drew a chilling scream from deep within them. Soon Brick and Blossom were suffocating from the smoke and heat rather than constriction. But it lasted only a moment; the second he felt the pressure around them slacken, he took off as fast as he could before the fire could consume them too.
So much for not burning down north campus, he thought, resigned.
Blossom coughed against him, and he realized he was still holding on to her. Rose met red as she looked up at him. “Thank you,” she said.
He as so tired that all he could do was stare at her for a minute. He was pretty sure she’d never looked at him like that before, without a trace of suspicion or superiority, genuinely happy to have him there.
The hair shrieked again, and both of them looked down on the burning mass below. Except, it wasn’t burning much anymore. The hairball somehow managed to sever the huge chunk lost to Brick’s fire and save itself from burning up entirely. The melted mass stank and smoked and made Brick’s bloodshot eyes water as he watched it turn to ash in mere seconds. Unfortunately, the rest of the hair that had escaped the conflagration was resilient and began to gather and engorge as it angled for Brick and Blossom, like it knew they were a threat it needed to eliminate.
“That hair is psychotic,” Blossom said with such gravitas that under different circumstances, he probably would have laughed at the lunacy of it all.
“Yeah,” he said. There wasn’t much else to say.
She’d pulled away as they hovered, sharp eyes narrowed in thought. Brick, head buzzing with adrenaline keeping him excruciatingly awake, also racked his brain for something that might help him. It came to him like lightning, and Blossom glanced at him in the same moment with the same conclusion.
“What if we led it—” she began.
“—to Tower Lake?” he finished.
She smirked. “Genius.”
“Efficient,” he agreed, managing a tired but determined grin of his own.
The great thing about college was that Brick was on his own, living his life, nine months out of the year with the only person on the planet who was sharp enough to understand him and his thought processes without the added annoyance of explanation.
She took off in a burst of pink, and he flew in the opposite direction, knowing he could trust her to move and adapt with him without the extra guidance their siblings often required.
Her laser eye beams drew the hair monster’s attention eastward, and it roiled like a thundercloud as it scrambled up the side of Balin Hall and launched into the air after her. But Brick was there and ready to blast it with his own laser eye beams, enabling Blossom to slip away from the grabby tentacles. Something within the tangled mass roared, animalistic, and soon it was tearing after him.
Just as it was about to grab him, there was Blossom with a burst of icy wind. They tag teamed the monster, leading it ever closer to the lake where the rowing team practiced, remote and clear of students at this hour. Enraged, the hairball clambered after them, determined to swat them out of the sky until they rebuffed it with fire or ice, only to draw it in again with their lasers.
The giant hairball was not smart, to the surprise of absolutely no one, and when it reached the shore it went tumbling into the dark water, unable to slow its momentum. Screeching, the mass writhed and tried to backtrack to save itself, but the water sapped it of its supernatural strength and the tentacles fell limp and lifeless the wetter they got, until it was nothing but a normal, extremely disgusting hairball.
Brick and Blossom stood an arm’s length apart on the shore watching the mass slowly sink to the bottom. It was an oddly hypnotic sight, and he couldn’t look away even as his eyes began to droop.
“Well. We’re going to need a lot of Draino to clear this out,” Blossom quipped.
Brick, half aware of his bare toes sinking into the damp soft sand, laughed at that one. And then he fell.
“Brick!” she shouted, far away.
He blacked out for all of three seconds, just long enough for her to grab him before he could lose what was left of his dignity by falling flat on his ass. Sluggish, he was slow to react to her looping his arm over her shoulders so she could bear his weight and fly them back toward campus.
“Have you slept?” she demanded in that snobbish way she had.
“Think I just did,” he said, barely able to stay awake despite the ignominy of being half carried like an invalid. That thought ignited something in him and he jerked, making them swerve.
“Watch it! Oh, for heaven’s sake.”
He rubbed his stinging eyes and didn’t really fight her as she led him back through the window to his single dorm room. Luckily, the hair monster hadn’t infiltrated his building, so his room was in the same state as he’d left it.
She let go of him and he landed on his twin bed against the wall. And then he realized what had just happened.
“What the fuck, Blossom?” he growled and staggered to his feet.
He didn’t take even a step from his bed before she pushed him back down with her strength.
“Have you slept?” she asked him again, but it came out sounding more like a threat this time.
“I’m vaguely familiar with the concept,” he snapped and tried to get up again.
She pushed him down again and pressed her hands down on his shoulder so he couldn’t get up again. Red eyes glared up at her, seething, but she matched his venom with her own, and the sight made him falter.
“They say sarcasm is the lowest form of humor. You need to sleep.”
“I need to study.”
Her hands squeezed his shoulders, and her expression softened. “Is that why you’re so tired?”
“No, I’m always tired after dealing with you.” Absurd, every minute of this. He couldn’t even stand up with her weighing him down and blocking him.
Her hands sparked with her power, pissed off at him as usual. Brick wasn’t one to believe in fate or some higher plan, but it was times like this that he seriously suspected the universe was fucking with him by giving him a literal perfect match with the most annoying personality he had ever encountered.
He sighed and rested his weight on his hands on the bed. The power she channeled to her fingers had a lovely, soporific effect as it danced over his neck and shoulders, though he would never, ever admit this to her. “What are you even doing here?”
Her fingers clenched and slackened, like she couldn’t decide, and he bit his lip to stifle a groan. God, that felt good.
“Rest,” she said, much closer than she’d been before.
Her tempting fingers moved from his shoulders along his neck and threaded through his short, red hair. Her nails were clipped but not so short that he couldn’t feel them scrape pleasantly along his scalp.
Sleep-deprived going on his third all-nighter and utterly drained after the adrenaline burst of having to fight a monster tonight in the midst of finals season, Brick finally gave up and leaned into her touch with a needy sigh.
“Blossom,” he mumbled. She smelled faintly of smoke and of him, and the heady scent made him smile to himself. His hand found the hem of her camisole and clenched it gently, a silent, delirious plea to bring her closer.
So smoothly he barely even realized it was happening, she laid him down on the bed, her hands heavy on his chest as if to push him down deep enough for the covers to swallow him whole. Her hair fell around his face, slipped free from its precarious bun, and he breathed her in.
“Rest now,” she whispered, those magical hands still dowsing him in her cool, calming power like waves over his skin.
Unable to resist her, he finally nodded off into a deep, dreamless slumber and didn’t wake again for another twelve hours.
The worst thing about college was that he was on his own, living his life, nine months out of the year with the one girl he could never seem to escape, and whom he’d never managed to keep.
xxx
Blossom gently played with his hair as he lulled to sleep at last, the last vestiges of his controlled resistance finally spent. His fingers remained curled around the hem of her shirt, warm against her waist. Sitting next to him on his bed, she watched his face slacken, at peace as his breathing evened out.
“Why are you so stubborn?” she murmured, running her fingers over his freckled cheek.
He had the determination and purpose of an avalanche, inevitable and absolutely crushing. It had given him the power to catch up to her in school as kids, to challenge her at every turn like no one else could, and to motivate her to try harder, to be better, to give him a challenge worth rising to. She couldn’t say when her feelings had changed. There was not a day, or a moment, or even a sudden epiphany that revealed her deep and tranquil affection for him.
It was as gradual as the changing tides, deep waters hiding truths that had always been there, quietly waiting. She’d been accepted Early Admission to Ivy University, the culmination of her high school efforts, and he wasn’t even sold on college when they went their separate ways for the holiday break. And then, in passing, he mentioned the pre-Frosh weekend in April for new admits; he’d be going, and could he borrow her notes for missed classes since she probably wasn’t?
She couldn’t pinpoint when or how, but maybe that was why. As much as he preferred to remain ineffable and unknowable, he had failed with her. Rather spectacularly, though she would never expose him like that. Not until he was ready.
Carefully so as not to disturb him, Blossom leaned close and kissed his forehead. Ice crystals melted upon his skin, and his fingers unconsciously closed tighter around her shirt.
Stupid, stubborn boy.
But there was time.
The best thing about college was that she was on her own, living her life, nine months out of the year with the boy she’d never been able to leave behind, and never would.
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singeramg · 4 years
Text
Midnight: Chapter 18
Pairing: Clark Kent-Superman/ Metahuman! Black! OFC
Rating: M
Warnings: Much of the same warnings before, language, sexual innuendo, lewd comments, child abuse so trigger warning.
A/n: I am writing a little bit everyday so this got done and I am already well into chapter 19! I was going to post this last night but I decided to wait until this morning.
CATCH UP HERE!
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Midnight: Chapter 18
* Denotes: Inner-voice
I look around the dimly lit room as if seeing it for the first time despite knowing I had been in it for a while. My eyes hone in non Clark chained to a wooden chair in the middle of the room. 
 “Clark?!” Recovering from whatever hold had been put over me, I tried to shake my head to clear it, but all my emotions were a jumbled mess. All I knew was that I had to get to Clark. It was odd but he wasn’t giving off fear.
 “There’s my Gia. Glad to see you again.”
He says with a smile as if he was trying to comfort me. The longer I looked at him the fogginess of what I had done began to lift. I remembered helping trap him, bringing him here, coming up with the idea for those god awful chains and then I forced myself onto him. What the fuck dude! 
If he didn’t hate me before, he sure as shit would now. I scramble to my feet, and over to him.
 “What in the hell did I do?!” Ask mostly to myself but Clark responds. 
 *“No permanent damage yet, but I think we stand a much better chance of sorting this out if I get out these chains.”*
I don’t think too hard and control myself enough to gather enough energy to cut through his chains. I pull them off quickly and toss them as far away from him as I can. Clark finally takes a full and deep breath as the Kryptonite chains were constricting all of that for him. He coughs roughly as his body readjusts to his strength returning. 
 “Oh my god I fucked up bad. What did I do...”
Thoughts raced through my head as I imagined all the ways Clark could kill me, each more creative than the last. 
  *“Gia, Gia. Calm down. Everything will be alright. Can you still hear me like this?”*
I was confused.
  “I am panicking Clark, not deaf of course I can hear you.” I snap but note that I am still shaking.
  *“Gia look at me.”*
He says and it sounds like he is trying to poke fun at me. I frown and look at him. 
  *“Gia my lips haven’t been moving the entire time.”*
I yelp and jump away from him.
  “What the hell?!”
This time Clark laughs out loud and he just pulls me closer to him, it surprised me that he would even want me that close to him.
  “Everything will be okay, but first we have got to get out of here. I am still too weak to fly, at least while I am near these chains. Do you think you can get us out of here?”
All of my memories of this place are still fuzzy, everything felt so intense, and sharp. Apparently now I could read minds. This was all new and strange to me. What had happened while I was here? How long was I here? Most importantly, how could we get out of here. I looked around for clues, trying to think of anything that could help when Clark’s head shot toward the door.
  “Someone is coming. Follow my lead.”
He pulls me close to his body as he sits himself down in the chair and we end up in the same compromising position we had been in before. Clark’s hands pull my face down onto his just as the door opens. He makes the kiss intense right off the bat, slipping his tongue into my mouth, holding my head in place. Lost to the moment I moan forgetting we were only putting on a show, at least until a throat clears behind us.
   “I hate to interrupt but I heard the bossman just kicked out his house guests and is about to make an appearance. You may want to lock the lover boy back up before that happens.”
I fight back the urge to cry as I recognize Tracy.
It had been years since I had seen Tracy and to see her again, under these circumstances I was hit with my own guilt, and her simmering anger and sadness.
I have no control over these new expansions of my powers so I can’t control hearing thoughts. Tracy practically yells in her mind at me.
  *“Hurry up so I don’t have to hurt you. I don’t want to hurt you! Hurry hurry! Boss will make me hurt you.”*
  “Okay Tracy. What if we don’t tie him back up? I need to leave.”
  “Leave? Wait...you are awake aren’t you?”
I watch as Tracy goes on the defensive. I stand down so that I don’t make her even more wary of me.
 “Tracy I don’t want to fight you. Come with us.”
This time Clark was the one shouting at me. I winced outwardly as Clark yelled in his own head. 
I would definitely teach him that he didn’t need to yell in his head. 
*“Are you crazy Gia?! She was the one who caused the crash and kidnapped you.”*
*“Yes Clark. I know exactly who she is. I failed her before. I won’t do it again.”
*“You are trying to get yourself killed, I’m convinced.”*
I realize we have been silent exactly long enough to be rude and freak her out. I feel her defensive energy build and she prepares to fight me.
   “Please Tracy come with me. We can help you.”
   “So now you want to help me? After all these years? You want to help me? I don’t think so, I think you just want to use me. You don’t care about me. He does.”
The images of the kind words, and sweet gestures. All of which had been more of a sibling in nature, but as I watched them briefly it was clear she was being groomed. He was talking to her persuasively, soft words laced in   the way that would make any impressionable young person comply with whatever just to continue to receive that affection they had been starved of and I knew Tracy had been starved because for a while I had too.
  “Tracy I care. I promise I care about you. Just come with us. You will see that I only want what’s best for you.”
  “Fuck you!” She growls at me. I feel Clark tense up behind me.
  “Tracy. Please I already said I don’t want to fight you.”
I try to keep my eyes open and honest. Tracy was contemplating an attack as she had been taught, but the part of her mind that hadn’t been altered. The true part that I knew of her, was fighting her to let us help. 
For some reason she can’t explain to herself, she agrees at least until she is sure we aren’t a threat as much as I could gather from her surface thoughts. Without much control over this new power I didn’t know how to dig deeper for the stuff people wanted to hide. I push positive emotions to her.  
   “Alright, we can get out of here but the boss is headed down here on detainment level.”
   “If we can get Clark away from the chains, he and I can handle the rest.”
Tracy nods and holds her thumb against the door panel and it opens to an empty hallway. Do my best to move calmly and confidently as if nothing is wrong. Tracy has no problem staying calm and I can feel her power surging through her arms, which indicated she had super strength. I remembered her punching me and taking me down for the count. Clark is nervous mostly because he knows he is not at full strength to help me as much as he normally could. It worries him and especially as we navigated through the halls, using what I could feel of energies to avoid others and trusting Tracy to guide us out. Thankfully, just as we were getting out the last door, we narrowly avoided a guard coming around the corner. Out of the building I felt Clark’s strength boost exponentially as he was now far enough away from the chains that he was back at full strength. 
  “We have got to get out of here. Gia I can carry you, Tracy will have to get on my back and I can fly us out of here.”
Then we heard a loud siren which told me someone knew we were gone. I could feel anger, and mostly panic coming from those inside, and from experience I knew nothing good came from that mix of emotions.
  “Shit, okay let’s go!”
I turn to Tracy who for the first time looks unsure. I walk over to her and take her hand.
  “Tracy, I need you to trust me. I can’t leave you here so let’s go.”
Clark looks between us as he walks over and turns his back to Tracy for the first time since this all started, and kneels down so she could get on his back easily. Tracy shoots me a look and I can feel fear and uncertainty pouring from her, but she latches onto his back and grips him tightly. I breathe a sigh of relief and let Clark scoop me up and hold me tightly against his chest like he always does when we fly. We take off with a blast ignoring the calls for us to stop and get just far enough away that if Clark moves at a random pattern then they couldn’t get a shot on us.
*Wayne Manor: 4:45am*
The flight wasn’t that long, maybe 30 minutes at best and I could feel Tracy’s energy was running low. Clark landed in the driveway of Bruce manor rather than my room, and Tracy slid off his back easily. Clark doesn’t put me down until we are inside the house.
Lights come on in the foyer just as Clark carries me across the threshold, sitting me to my feet just as Bruce, Alfred, Diana, Barry and Victor all come rushing into the room.
Their thoughts all come at me loud and at once, it hurts. I crumble to my knees, holding my ears, trying to make it stop. Ramblings of ‘he found her’, ‘she’s alive’, and ‘she’s hurt’, all swirling around in my head. I start crying and Clark kneels in front of me.
  “Gia, baby what is wrong?” 
He pulls me against his chest and I mumble.
  “It’s so loud, Clark. Everyone’s thoughts are too loud.”
  “Remember when I taught you to focus your energy? Make your world smaller, focus on one thing. One sound or one mind, start blocking everything else.”
 “It hurts.”
I say with my head throbbing, tear tracks running down my face.
  “I know it hurts but if you don’t try this, you will just hurt and hurt. I can’t watch you suffer. I know you can do this. Remember to focus on just one thing, one sound, one feeling, bring yourself down.”
He rubs my back and I try to heed his advice, focusing on how good his hand feels on my back, and his thoughts which he had basically cleared out to chant ‘relax and breathe Gia, I am here to protect you’. His mantra helps me focus until I stop whimpering and can open my eyes. I look at him with bloodshot red eyes and Clark offers me a small smile, leaning down kissing my forehead.
 “There’s my Gia.”
I get that tingly feeling from hearing him call me his. I push it down for the moment and stand to my feet, ignoring the small ache in my knees. I am finally able to look up at the team and everyone looks and feels concerned however the most resounding emotion is relief for me.
 “Thank the gods you are alright. That both of you are alright. We’ve been looking for Clark for hours since he disappeared from the club.”
Diana walks over and pulls me into a hug. I allow it and I start to feel suspicion roll off of Bruce in heavy waves.
  “While I am glad you and Clark have both returned. I think we are a little behind the curve, who is this?”
He gestures behind us to the small figure who had backed herself into a corner. I read her quickly and I feel true and deep fear from her for the first time. I pull away from Clark and walk over to Tracy.
  “Everyone, this is Tracy. One of the reasons we escaped was because of her.”
Victor steps up.
  “I know her face. She was the one talking to Clark before he disappeared, I’ve watched that tape back and forth. She slips something in his drink and then she guides him out the club through the back entrance. He is clearly influenced by something.”
Victor looks pissed and rightfully defensive.
“ Yeah she also was the one who caused the wreck, but apparently I came up with the entire plan to kidnap Clark here. She was my partner. She didn’t have a choice. She never did. We were both kidnapped by the same people.”
 “So you brought the threat to my house then.”
Bruce asks dryly.
  “No. She isn’t any threat. She came willingly and if you could feel the emotions I could then you would know she is not a threat. I will warn you though, she is finicky. Keep calling her a threat and moving to attack and she will attack you. Her mind has already identified 6 ways to incapacitate and/ or kill you Bruce.”
I say with a straight face and I take note that Diana moves herself between Tracy and Bruce.
  “I brought her here because I knew she would be safe. I couldn’t leave her there. Not with them. I already broke my promise once, I wouldn’t do it again...”
Flashback: 7 years ago
They kept us in dark, dirty cells in a black if them, that looked like we were being housed in an old prison. I have been here for years and everyday I wake up feels like a fresh hell. We slept two to a cell, however I didn’t have a roommate right now. The last one was a 22 year old Hispanic girl they took away and she never came back. It was common at this point, they took away so many girls that never came back. 
I learned a long time ago to stop crying about it because these guards and scientists could smell your fear, and no matter how much you cried and begged. They would always take you. It was rare that you even made it back to a cell without severe damage. It was still lit for the block and I sat on the top bunk re-reading an old, worn copy of Alice in Wonderland. This place didn’t have much in the way of books, despite them having kept me learning. I wasn’t allowed too many that weren’t educational. Under the guise of more possible success ‘if I wasn’t stupid’ I had been here since I was 16 and based on the dates I could glean from the other children they had taken, I was somewhere around 19 now. 
The longest ‘candidate’ they had here. I had been through so many tests and trials that I wondered why my body hadn’t just given up on me. I wanted to go already. To see my momma again, not to suffer through this pain anymore. I was simply biding my time until that happened. 
Alice was talking to Twiddledum and Twiddledee when I heard muffled crying and a dragging of feet. The worst guard, Jax, manhandles a small girl into my cell. Tossing her inside so hard she slams against the wall, yelping in her surprise agony. I leap down quickly.
  “Hey you jackass, she is just a little girl!”
I stand between the two of them. I fight off my feelings of disgust as I watch him lear over me, the industrial lights of the corridor shining off of his bald head, and his lips curling back to reveal crooked and yellowed teeth that looked like dude had never had a relationship with toothpaste in his entire life. 
  “She might be, but you're not. Are you? You know exactly what happens to little girls with bad attitudes.”
I try not to let fear show across my face. He was right, I knew the stakes of bad behavior, shit I probably was the reason they didn’t have as much push back from the other girls and boys they took. I was always made an example of when it came down to punishment for what they deemed breaking the rules. Hell, early on, they beat me often I didn’t even know what I was being beat for by the end of it. Jax has been around the entire time I had been here and he took sick pleasure in how we cried and bled on cold, stone floors. Now he just looks at me like he’s waiting for the perfect opportunity to get me alone.
  “Yes I do, and Unless you are coming to take me away for that, then get the fuck out my cell.”
His eyes flashover in anger, and before I can make note of it he slaps me down to the ground. I scream out in pain, and catch myself on my hands. 
  “Still so feisty, you would think you would have learned your lesson by now.”
  “Fuck you.”
He leans down laughing at me as I wipe the blood from my lip.
  “You ask me nice enough Sweetheart and I will.”
I frown my mouth up in disgust, and try to scoot backwards.
  “Keep holding your bad ass breath, the fuck you’ve been eating, dog shit?.” I snark.
 “I have a feeling I won’t have to wait that long. The boss is thinking of approving some new techniques to bring out the success in his experiments. Trust me I’ve got some interesting ideas.”
Then he laughs, walking out of the cell, slamming it closed, locking it.
  “You should probably teach the little one some manners. I would hate to have to teach her a hard lesson.”
With that he whistles back down the cell block.
  “Sick fuck.”
I say pulling myself off the ground, dusting off the tank top and sweatpants I was wearing. The small girl was huddled in the corner, her sniffles obvious in the silence of the cell.  
I walk up to her slowly, and she curls in on herself. I remember doing this exact same thing years ago.
  “My name is Gia...ummm... Gia Smith. What’s your name?”
She sniffed, finally looking at me, her eyes big and brown. Her lips were small and red from being worried, her hair light brown and super tight curls. She was actually similar to me except she was mixed with white and black making her a few shades lighter than me,  smaller, really just a baby.
  “My n...na..name is Tracy.”
I held my hand out to her, hoping she would take it.
  “Okay Tracy, how old are you?”
*sniffle* “9.”
  “Okay baby well, how about you get off this cold floor and you can have the bottom bunk.”
  “Ms...Gia I am scared.”
My heart broke for this beautiful little girl. She was obviously so loved from wherever they had snatched her from and it hurt that she was even here, having to endure this same type of pain and life I was in everyday. She gets up, running unexpectedly into my arms. The force of it almost knocked me off my feet, I didn’t have much strength but I held the sobbing little girl as tight as I could....
*End Flashback*
Standing in the corner, despite her hair being completely straight and being taller, she still was that same little girl that was thrown in my cell all those years ago. 
For a year I basically took care of her, taking all of the punishments, helping her with the work they gave her, gave her my share of food sometimes when she was still hungry, cleaned and comforted her when they would take her away for hours and she would come back a mess, battered, and sometimes unconscious. 
Those were the nights I would stay up all night crying and hoping each time wouldn’t be the time that they took her out of the cell forever. It was the reason I had never gotten close to anyone here, because that day that I broke out, I forgot and I broke my promise to Tracy. 
Now as we all stood in Bruce’s giant foyer the tension was real. I walked back over to Tracy, her eyes were still brown, the little girl I helped all those years ago still there, but burrowed behind years of torture and pain. Almost killing her, but I knew that sweet girl was still there. She looked much older but she couldn’t be any other than 16 now, which bothered about having her in that club, drinking and dressed like she currently was. 
   “Tracy, do you think you would like some different clothes? I know I have something upstairs that will fit you?”
She looked at me, and then shut her eyes tightly as if trying to fight off a memory. I knew that was probably the case as I had recognized that hunted look on my own face plenty of times.
I look at Bruce.
  “Would it be okay if she stays the night? We can figure everything else in the morning?”
  “You trust her?”
He asks skeptically 
  “Yes.”
I say without hesitation, surprising almost everyone except for Clark.
  “Sure.”
I help Tracy upstairs to my room and once inside I find her something comfortable to sleep in.
 “Why do you trust me?”
Tracy surprises me, asking as I go over to the bathroom, to pull out fresh towels for her.
  “Because I know you, you may have gotten older but I know you Tracy. I know you are still in there and while you may not feel like it, maybe she’s buried deep, but I know the little girl I shared a room with for a year is still there. I hope that with a little trust from me that she will trust me enough again to reappear. I am going to head downstairs and I have someone very important to check on, but if you need just for me or Clark and we will come back up. You can sleep in my room tonight.”
I offer a small smile, her mind still doesn’t fully trust me, but she still knows she is tired of following whoever this boss was and deep down she remembered what I did for her all those years back. I leave the room as she goes into the bathroom. As tired as I am I manage a shield to notify me if she leaves the room, and I could monitor her energy from anywhere in the house. 
The team had moved into the library as I walked back in and I winced as the thoughts hit me again. I tried not to drop to the floor and Clark helped me into the nearby chair. 
  “Gia, what happened to you?”
Diana has rushed over to me as Clark helps me relax with a centering hand on my back. Her mind, along with everyone else’s runs a mile a minute. I toss a finger over my lips, and say
  “Can everyone just like... focus on like one thought for like five minutes? Jesus.”
I says rubbing my temples.
  “Did she just say focus on one thought?”
Barry says 
  “Yes I did, and shit you think almost as fast as you are, slow down for a second kid. Plus all of you are thinking really loud.”
  “Gia what happened? You’ve developed the ability to read minds?”
Bruce asks me, with his hand on his chin.
“Yes. The last thing I remember after being taken was me talking to a man and his basically authorizing them to start new tests. After that I came to with Clark tied to a chair, and me dressed like this. Speaking of which...”
I waved my hand and the annoyingly short and tight outfit I was wearing changed into yoga pants and a t- shirt. Grateful to feel so exposed anymore.
  “That’s better. I can tell you guys details from what isn’t foggy but where is my son first?”
I look to Clark pointedly.
  “Our son is with Ma’ and Ms. Alphonse at the farm.”
  “Ms. Alphonse?”
  “She didn’t want to leave until you returned. We all figured Kalen would need familiar faces around while you were gone.”
Alfred offers the conversation and I tear up as it hits me how much I missed my baby boy. How freaked out he must have been not to see his mom. 
  “Can I...we go to him? I need to see my baby...”
  “Gia I will go and get him, he has been waking up at 6 am anyway. It’s practically 5 now, by the time we get here he will just be waking up.  You can go get some rest.”
   “I am not sleeping until I see Kalen. I can’t hold the shield I put over Tracy’s room all the way at Mrs. Martha’s. I can’t leave.”
  “Bruce you have virtual driver mode on all of the cars correct?”
Victor asks
   “Yes.”
  “Good, Clark give your mother a call and let her know a car will be there to pick them all up in about an hour.”
I shoot a grateful look to Victor and I take note that the loud thoughts have all stopped while I wasn’t thinking about them but as soon as I did they came back full force. I wince, Clark notices and shakes his head. His voice speaks clearly above everyone else latent thoughts. 
   “Okay that’s enough, Gia you are in pain. We can finish this in the morning. You have been through enough. I’m taking you to bed.”
His voice books no argument but that didn’t mean Barry didn’t think anything.
  *“Well that was fast. Didn’t think they were together again, but I guess he missed her, urges are urges...I mean shit...you can hear me can’t you Gia.”*
  “ Yes Barry. I can.”
He blushes and I laugh. While everyone else looks on confused.
 “Clark would be correct. Everything has been a haze and the lack of sleep is not helping this new power at all.”
I stand to my feet, Clark hovering and he toys with the idea of tossing me over his shoulder. I turn to him with a glare, and shake my head.
  “I’m tired, not unconscious Clark.”
I eye roll and he chuckles behind me. 
  “Gia we are all glad you are safe. I will be here if you need anything.”
Diana offers and I know it’s sincere. I offer a small smile to her and everyone else despite my head ringing, and Clark takes my hand in his to lead me upstairs...
A/n: HEY EVERYONE! Hope you enjoyed this chapter and as always I appreciate all the love you guys have been showing me with this story! Also the re-blogs and replies are great and helps me move forward and write faster! You rock!!
TAGLIST: Still open so let me know if you’d like to be on it.
@bloodyinspiredfuck​ @romyr4​ @thethirstyarchive​ @p3nny4urth0ught5​ @kmcmpmd​
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sicprowl · 4 years
Text
Death by Chocolate
Dimitri and Cute Byleth stuff - bc why not?
“What the heck are you wearing?!”
Dimitri frowned, glancing down at his pristine white outfit with black trim, gold buttons, and matching blue and white cape.  Even his long hair was pulled back in a messy ponytail, something he’d been proud of.
The nine year old couldn’t help but panic and clutch his novelty bag close, “I-It’s my costume!”
Sylvain blinked, his fake fangs peeking out from his upper lip.  "Yeah, I can see that!  But what are you supposed to be?!“
The red headed vampire guffawed only for Ingrid to stomp on his foot.  She then smacked him out of the way with her Valkyrie shield, “I think you look great Dimitri.”
That seemed to ease the young boy, “T-Thank you.  El helped me pick it out.”
Now it was Sylvain’s turn to be unsure, “Edelgard?  Your step-sister?”
Ingrid punched him with her shield again and gave the blond an approving nod.  "It’s great that you two are getting along.  Getting a new family is…tough.“
Dimitri didn’t reply, not needing to be told how hard it’d been when his father married her mother.  The boy had been excited to get a sibling, but all his interactions with said girl made him think she didn’t want anything to do with him.
"Where is Ms. Imperial Princess?”
“She’s with Hubert,” Dimitri answered as Ingrid hissed at him to stop it.  "They left the house before I was done getting ready…“
"All, tall dark and Snape-y.”  Sylvain snickered, earning another hit in the gut - only this time from an arriving Felix.
“Would you stop acting like an idiot?”  The shorter boy snarled while crossing his arms, “You’re embarrassing!”
Sylvain gave his friend an extra toothy grin, “Says the boy dressed up like Leonardo.”
“I’m a NINJA!  Not a ninja turtle!!”
The boys sniped at each other while they left Dimitri’s house and joined the many costumed kids filing around outside.  The sun was still out, so a lot of the younger kids were walking with parents or in large groups - much like their own.  It was going to be crowded like this for a while considering they were one of the better neighborhoods.  
Three words.  King sized bars.
“Is Dedue going to trick or treat with us?”  
Dimtri smiled at Ingrid, “Y-Yes.  He’s got to do something first, but he said he’d meet up with us soon.”
“I’m surprised he’s coming at all,” Sylvain shrugged as they came to the second house.  "Trick or treating might be too childish for him.“
"Says the eldest of the group,” Felix sniffed disapprovingly while Sylvain looked affronted.
“Hey!  I’m just trying to enjoy my last Halloween!”  The vampire grinned and flipped his hair, “I’m getting older after all - and I can’t spend next year looking for candy.  Not unless there’s a girl involved.”
Felix and Ingrid looked disgusted and made fun of the red head as they continued down the line of houses, bags growing heavy with treats and the occasional peppermint.  Decorations both cute and scary greeted them at each house - along with the occasional dad who thought he was scary enough to frighten some kids.  They didn’t mind if it, not if it meant more candy if they played along.
It was an hour later when the sun was already halfway past the horizon, most of the younger kids already going home for the night or visiting their last few houses.  Now the streets were littered with kids thier age and preteens like Sylvain, clinging to their last night of childhood before they focused on things like sports and awkward dating.
Dimitri didnt’ look forward to that, not when his mind was already reeling with nervousness.
Not when they were nearing the house.
“Whoa, look at this place!”  Sylvain pointed, “I think it’s the creepy place behind your house, Dimitri!”
“S-Shush!”  The blond whispered urgently, wide eyes staring at the old manor with panic.  "You’re being rude!“
But Sylvain continued to talk loudly, noting that the place was probably the oldest manor in the neighborhood.  With run down shingles, shabby siding, dirty panels and creaky steps that could wake the dead.  The windows were dirty, or foggy, Dimitri wasn’t sure.  The front yard was slightly overrun with weeds, boxwood bushes that looked like lumpy meatballs and a driveway full of cracks that were need of serious repair.
Felix gave the shabby home the side eye.  "Does anyone even live there?”
“Y-Yes,” Dimitri replied with a soft voice, his gaze looking around for something or someone.
“Whoa, really!?”  Sylvain’s smile grew, “Do you think it’s haunted?  Is the guy living there creepy?  Does he stare at you from his windows?”
“N-No!”  His head whipped around on his friend, affronted.  "The family that lives here is very polite-“
But Sylvain ignored him, already walking towards the creepy home.  Even the sight of other kids avoiding it wasn’t enough to deter him - which only made Dimitri begin to panic.
"W-Wait!”  The Prince grabbed his friend’s arm, but he was looking around wildly.  "We can’t!“
"Huh?  Why not?”
Dimitri blushed, suddenly nervous as everyone began to stare, “B-Because…  Because-!”
“I’m sorry I’m late,” A new voice piped in and they all turned.
“Dedue!”
Oh thank the Goddess!
Dimitr couldn’t help but feel relief at seeing his loyal friend who was…dressed as a cowboy?  The group eyed his button up shirt, jeans with carpet sewn on the sides, leather boots and  spurs, and brown leather hat placed neatly on his head.  Sylvain would have laughed at how serious Dedue looked in his not-so-serious costume if he didn’t already know the boy could knock him into next week.  The fact that the dark skinned boy acted like nothing was wrong was enough to make Dimitri feel better about his own costume.
“Took you long enough,” Felix scowled with a point of his plastic sword.  "You missed half the houses already.“
"Apologies.  The bakery was busy and my family needed the extra help.”
Felix huffed, accepting the explanation while Sylvain gestured towards the run down house with his thumb.  "All right, let’s go, let’s go!  I wanna see what kind of candy this place has!“
"If they have any at all,” Felix muttered as he walked with the vampire, Ingrid following after them.
Dedue and Dimitri stood still, the blond’s body fidgeting with nervous energy while the tall cowboy looked down at him, silent.
“Did…Is it done?”
His face felt scorching hot when Dedue nodded, pulling a wrapped bundle from inside his pocket.  "Yes.  It set before I had to leave.“
Dimitri let out a breath of relief, wanting to open the foil and look at his personal creation, but was also too afraid to see it.
"T-Thank you,” he smiled while taking the item, cradling it in his hands like it were precious.  "I really appreciate your help with this…I wasn’t sure…“
Dedue placed his hand on the blond’s shoulder, giving him a reassuring squeeze and tiny smile.  No words were said, but the look that passed between them was enough.
Gathering up his courage, the Prince gave his friend a nod before they walked up to the house where Sylvain was repeatedly ringing the doorbell.
"Hmmm, maybe no one’s home?”  
Ingrid glared and smacked his hand away from the button, just in time as the front door to open and an adult greet them with a gruff hello.  All but Dedue paled at the sight of the messy haired man, eyes blearly from what could only be from a heavy sleep.  No one said anything as he ran a hand through his honey brown hair while looking down at them.
“Trick or treat?”  Sylvain smiled, bag out hesitantly.
The man blinked, clearly confused as he looked at the boy before he cursed under his breath, hand rubbing his chin.
“Shit.  Is it Halloween?”
Sylvain lowered his bag while the others showed varying degrees of disappointment on their faces.  The man mumbled out an apology, tired eyes watching as the kids talked about the next house as they turned to leave.  Then his gaze stopped on Dimitri and Dedue, waiting for them to also leave.
“Uh…”  The man rubbed the back of his neck, “Sorry.  I don’t really have any candy.”
Dimitri swallowed, staring up at his very familiar neighbor.  Though he’d never seen the man up close, he recognized by his hair and the way he stood, that this was the same person who spent many hours of the day working outside.  Each day was either spent on the roof, windows, or yard; hammering away at loose nails, pulling weeds, or painting anything that wasn’t dry rotted.
It was no surprise that he was so tired and Dimitri almost felt bad for bothering him but…
“Oh, Byleth…”
The young boy stiffened, eyes wide as he saw a bit of movement behind the man’s legs.  A girl, his other neighbor, peeking out at them.  
Suddenly his throat felt dry and words escaped him when their eyes met.  Mint meeting blue, curious vs panicked.  The familiar girl stepped out in the door way, getting a better look at the two trick or treaters.  He blushed the longer she stared, suddenly wishing that pretty gaze wasn’t looking at him at this moment.  Oh goddess, his hands were so sweaty; so hot and sweaty that Dimitri feared he’d melt the treat between his palms.
“T-Trick or treat!”  He stuttered at her, holding out his gift to the girl he’d been watching from the small gap of flowers and fence that separated their yards.
Amusement flashed between the man’s eyes as he looked down at Dimitri.  "I’m pretty sure we’re the ones who have to give you a treat, kid.“
Dimitri blushed, shaky arms still held out towards the blank girl.  Hopeful.  Desperate.
Her father nudged her shoulder.  She looked up at him for silent confirmation and earned a nod before she took the gift.  The Prince swallowed when their fingers touched then quickly pulled away the moment she had the bundle.  Dedue gave him a look of encouragement as the girl unwrapped the chocolate in the shape of a flower.
Dimitri spent many hours with Dedue the day before in his family’s bakery, learning to make chocolate from his friend specifically for this reason.  It had been embarrassing to ask, but Dedue had been understanding and patient as he showed him the steps and how to decorate.
"It’s a Forget-Me-Not.”  Dimitri blabbed, eyes wide as if under a spotlight.  "I-I tried to make a rose, but they’re a little hard and…“
He shut up, feeling stupid for doing all this in the first place.  
This pretty girl was probably already in MIDDLE SCHOOL and what was he?  Some dumb little kid with a dumb little crush.
She turned the candy in her hands, staring blankly at the simple shapes before nodding at Dimitri.  He exhaled through his nose in response, only to snort.  The Prince covered the lower half of his face, mortified.
"Byleth?  You got something to say?”
The girl looked up at her father then back to Dimitri who still had his face covered.
“Thank you.”
Red began to spread up his neck, cheeks, and even to the tips of his ears as he let out a garbled you’re welcome.  After another awkward second of staring, Dedue came to his rescue by bidding the two farewell then dragged his friend away before he could make a bigger fool of himself.
“You did well.”  Dedue whispered, making Dimitri want to groan.
“Please don’t tell anyone…”
“Of course.”
The rest of their night was uneventful as they collected more candy then they could ever eat and went back home, bellies full and aching.  Dimitri didn’t touch any of his, too busy groaning into his pillow and wondering what had come over him.
Perhaps he could convince his father to move?  Surely it was doable.  
Luckily the boy didn’t feel the need to.  Not when he found a small bag of Hershey kisses on his side of the garden, right next to his flower gap where he’d sit and stare.
He wasn’t sure if he should look deeper into the meaning, but the gift made his heart soar all the same.
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Text
Three Dark Christmas’ ~ Day 23
Did you really think I wouldn’t write a soulmate AU? Also, I 100% broke my two page rule on this one
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Day 23 - Mirabella x Bree, Arsinoe x Billy, Katharine x Pietyr
Universe: Soulmate AU
Setting: Loch Ness, Scotland
The mark was odd, a patch on her knee that looked like a small flame, or at least that’s what Arsinoe said. She wasn’t sure how well of an identifier it was, considering it was always hidden behind clothes. Honestly Mirabella wasn’t sure what she should do to find her soulmate. It could be worse but it seemed to Mira that she been screwed over by fate in some way, shape or form. But all would be good. After all, she lived and worked at a tourist attraction, saw new people every day. Mirabella had hope.
They girl had been Dutch and pretty. And, according to Arsinoe, Mirabella’s type, which was enough to convince their boss to switch their tour schedules around.
Her name was Bree and when she spoke it was accented English that had Mirabella’s toes curling inexplicably in her wellingtons.
She did her usual tour around the lake, explaining it’s history, it’s conspiracy, it’s fame. She tried not to stutter every time she caught the eye of this girl. Her eyes were so blue and Mirabella needed a map to get out of them. She texted that to the ‘Queenie Sisters™’ group chat and all she got was Arsinoe sending her a gif of hysterical laughter and Kat with a thumbs up emoji. She loved the two but goddess, they were useless with romance.
Mirabella was not expecting the girl to approach her after the tour, she had figured that she had been so slow that the girl would just see her as weird.
“Hey, hotstuff. I’m Bree.” Mirabella couldn’t do anything except nod, but her eyes caught on the mark on the girls knee. A flame.
“Is that your soulmate mark?”
“Yeah, it is. Cool right?” She smiles, friendly as can be. Mirabella was too busy lifting her calf length skirt to notice Bree’s smile. She lifts the hem and tugs down her knee length socks to reveal her own flame. Bree’s eyes nearly bug out of her head. It’s Mira’s turn to smile.
“I’m Mirabella. Your soulmate, I guess,” she shrugs one shoulder with a soft smile and Bree steps closer to her.
“How ‘bout that drink then?”
~
Pietyr's identifier was a clock on his left wrist, which most studiers of soulmates conclude is the worst and most difficult way of identification, so of course he got it. They were right, having a constantly clicking clock counting towards the moment he met his soulmate. Fuck him if he was in a crowd, right?
Which he was when his clock hit 00:00:00:00:00.
He looked around the space of the Scottish cafe he was in, to see if anyone else was reacting the same way he just had. God, he hoped someone would.
But alas, no one had. He saw marks, names, even strings connecting others to their soulmates, but no clocks or timers. Pietyr frowned and stood to leave. People had always told him the chance of him missing his soulmate were highly likely and to be prepared to live in a world where he may never have a soulmate. His aunt Genevieve taught him to be prepared for loss and disappointment and his aunt Natalia had taught him to savour the moments he would get, soulmate or none.
He wasn’t prepared to bash straight into a girl in the doorway.
“Oh my gosh, I am so sorry,” the voice is sweet as honey and belongs to a woman who stands only just up to his chin. She’s wearing a uniform for a local Loch Ness tour company and when she looks at his face she blushes. He notes that she is quite pretty, with dark hair and eyes the colour of coffee.
“It was my bad. You seem in a rush. Are you okay?” She nods but is still trying to see past him.
“Yes. Uh, I think I knocked into my soulmate in their. My timer hit zero,” Pietyr felt his heart stop as he raised his wrist and pulled his cuff down. The girl’s jaw dropped. He stuck his hand out for her to shake.
“I’m Pietyr. You?” She takes his hand and swallows before answering.
“Katharine,” she said softly. Pietyr was glad that his aunt Genevieve had taught him to be smooth because when she smiled at him, he needed the advice.
“Coffee?” He asked her. She smiled.
“I’d like that.”
~
It had been the British accent that had raised Arsinoe’s hackles. Just because she had convinced their boss to switch her and Mirabella did not mean she wanted to deal with a Brit. They were all snotty towards her and that was without her fucking up and not having time to put concealer on her mark this morning. A cursive name straight down the right side of her face and neck did nothing to make her look any sort of credible and she hated it.
She didn’t even want to be at work, didn’t want to be here. Oh well, shit happens. She sighs and listens to what the Brit’s friend was saying, her attention piqued by his name.
“Billy, you just have to be bold, travel. Arsinoe, or however you say it, is not a British name. You have to search. And, hey, she’ll match your mark, so it can’t be that hard to miss her,” Arsinoe subtly turns and watches them from her desk. They hadn’t noticed her so she took a moment. Both were tall and blonde, obviously siblings. The brother was eye catching. Not because he was hot (although he definitely was) but because he stood with an energy of composure that she didn't see often.
And then he turned and looked at her. And she saw the right side of his face.
Arsinoe Queen. It was written clear as day down his face in her hand writing.
They stared at each other for what could be considered an uncomfortable amount of time before he approached her at the desk she sat at with a cocky smirk she hated instantly.
“Has anyone ever told you that you have messy handwriting?” Were the first words her soulmate said to her. She scowled.
“Has anyone ever told you your name is fucking obnoxious, Junior?” She bit back. He blinked his light eyes at that. And then he laughed. Not at her, just a laugh of joy that bought a smile to her lips and a blush to her cheeks. “I’m Arsinoe, in case you didn’t know.”
“If I didn’t know before you responded, I do now. I’m William, as you know, but most people just call me Billy. Sorry you had to have that on your face for 24 years,” she waved a hand in dismissal.
“22 years actually,” she caught her boss waving her over from down the hall. “I have to go. Duty calls,” a panicked look crosses his face.
“Can I see you later?” Arsinoe smiled and nodded.
“Later.”
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stories-by-rie · 5 years
Text
16 The White Merman’s Crew
'You can't be serious, all this trouble for this?', Francis exclaimed and hit a rusty bucket that was lying around in the cave.
The sound echoed loudly from the rocky and wet walls.
'Calm down, Francis. This could also be a good opportunity', Sarah replied and looked at the creature.
The baby slept in the ribs of a human body, directly at the beach of the cave. Its tiny tail was already in the water whereas the body laid on the sandy ground, covered in seaweeds.
'This is disgusting, just let us leave already!', another man of the crew yelled from behind.
'But if we raise it, we can use it for our purposes', Sarah explained. Her long blonde hair was put up in a knot and the life as a pirate made it all fizzy and dirty. She was the only woman in the crew. Undoubtedly it was hard for her to make her opinion count.
'Raise her? Sarah, think for a minute. How are we supposed to do that? We don't even know what she eats! Maybe she has to be dipped in mermaid salvia every two hours. We don't know anything about those animals!', Francis contradicted angrily.
'It's just a child! I'm sure it won't be too hard. And even if we fail, there is nothing to lose, right?'
'It could eat us in our sleep!'
'How? That's just ridiculous!'
'I WON'T TAKE CARE OF A BABY MONSTER!'
'I WOULDN'T EVEN LET YOU TAKE CARE OF A BABY RAT!'
'SILENCE!' a voice roared loudly and both Francis and Sarah shut up instantly.
An old man came forward and looked at the child.
'You have woken it up.' The captain, a fearsome man got down on his one healthy knee and stared at the mermaid's treasure.
The baby had indeed opened its eyes. Eyes that shimmered green and blue like the sea and were way bigger than any human ones.
'Captain, you can't be possibly serious', Francis wondered whispering.
But the Captain didn't even try to hide his admiration of the strange thing.
'I think Sarah has got a good point', he said.
'Do you really think you could put her through?', he asked her and she pulled up her shoulders.
'I don't know but it will most certainly won't hurt to find out.'
The Captain nodded. For a while, he stared at the baby till he turned towards the lake in the cave again.
'Will it already be able to hold the air for so long?', he asked Sarah.
'It already got its gills, so... I guess it can breathe underwater', she answered after examining the mermaid's child.
'Then let us not waste more time any longer. Who knows if some already grown siblings are on their ways', the Captain gnarled and walked towards the water.
The crew's clothes were still dripping from their arrival so they all sighed at the thought of swimming through the lake and tunnels again, till they would reach the end and resurface at the open sea.
Sarah picked up the small thing, to her surprise the child just accepted its fate and kept quiet.
'The tail isn't coloured yet, look, it's close to transparent', she whispered as the seaweed fell off.
'It can't be in the sun', she continued.
'And?', Francis asked.
'If I take it out there, the sun will burn its tail. That's why it's in a cave. I'm sure.'
'Well, Sarah, then just hide it under your clothes. Will find something on the ship to cover it', the Captain decided.
They walked into the lake of the cave and went under the water.
As soon as the mermaid's child dived under, however, it started to swim with energy as one just might find it with little dogs on their first day out.
The crew panicked and swam back to the surface.
'Just grab it! Just grab it or let's leave!', someone yelled from afar.
'I can't find it anymore!', Sarah cursed and dived under again. But the movements if the crew had whirled the water up and it was impossible to see anything with all the bubbles under water and the darkness.
'Something bit me!', a man screamed.
'Just get out of here!', another said.
Suddenly something sharp penetrated Sarah's flesh on her arm and without hesitation, she grabbed into the black water.
'I've got it!', she yelled triumphantly and held it tight at its arms.
'Then let's go now!', the Captain decided and they all took a deep breath again.
The tunnel that leads back to the ocean was very narrow and holding the little mermaid's child while swimming through it seemed close to impossible.
At some point, the noise of moving water disappeared and Sarah started to hear a beeping sound on one ear. She could feel how the lung longed for air, how desperately her body wanted to open the mouth and take a deep breath.
But the tunnel just wouldn't end. It was like eternal darkness they swam into.
For a moment she thought about turning around or signing to the one behind her that she couldn't hold her breath any longer. She felt the panic rising up in her body, the heat of fear and tickling in her fingertips.
All that, while the little creature in her hand struggled and fought to swim back into its shelter, the harbour where it thought its mother would return to.
But she wouldn't. They had killed her.
Sarah couldn't remember how she reached the ship or how the child made it there. But when she woke up it was a dark night and she felt the sea hitting against the ships wood.
She heard a cooing in the distance and got up. Her right arm was covered in bandages.
A man sat next to a crib and fed the child.
'Noah? Is that you?', Sarah asked, her throat still being sore. She tasted the salt and bitterness of the sea in her mouth.
The man just nodded. Noah never talked much. In fact, he didn't talk at all. Just sometimes he whispered one or two sentences when no-one else was around. He didn't accompany them to the mermaid's cave, he was one of the men the crew had left behind to guard the ship.
'Is it okay?', Sarah asked and looked at it. Someone had put seaweed on it like a blanket, just as it was in the cave.
Noah nodded again. 'What's its name?', he whispered so silently that it was hard to understand.
'I don't know. I don't even know if it's a boy or a girl, honestly.'
'Why?', he asked, even though it was his expression that spoke this time, not actual words.
'Didn't they tell you?'
Noah shook his head.
'Of course not. They tend to forget that just because you don't talk, you're not deaf. It was the mermaid's treasure. Her child. Who would've thought, right?'
Noah smiled at her. He did that once in a while, even if he usually didn't smile that much.
'What? Why are you looking at me like that?', she wondered and he blushed so much, that she could see it even in the dense light of the candle. He looked away, embarrassed and pulled something out of his pocket. Slowly he turned to her again and put it into her hand.
'A knife?', she asked surprised.
Again, Noah nodded.
'A gift.'
She examined it, looking at the flowers and seashells that were engraved into it.
'It, it is so beautiful. Thank you, Noah. This is. It means so much to me.' Sarah was honestly touched. She looked at him now. She knew why he blushed. And she felt the same.
Noah put his hand on hers and they moved closer. Right in this moment the door to the cubby room, they were in, opened up and Francis came in.
Unfortunately, he was completely oblivious to the sensitive situation he just walked in.
'Sarah, good. You are awake. I already started to worry that we would have to raise that bastard. Oh, hi, Noah.'
He proceeded to talk to Sarah.
'We gave him some fish yesterday. Seemed to have tasted.'
'Yesterday? Have I been out for so long?'
'You took quite a bath. Flipper was behind you, he pulled you to the surface.'
'That was very kind of him, and who got the child here under the clothes?'
Sarah looked at Francis expecting but he kept quiet. He cleared his throat.
'That uhm... That was me maybe uuuhm.. That was... Me.'
'Well, thank you then.'
Francis smiled and stared.
'Is there anything else?', she asked.
Obviously, Francis became just now present of the silence and his staring so he stammered and finally asked: 'So, uhm, what are you going to call him?'
'Him?'
'Well, I think it looks like a boy.'
Noah suddenly got nervous, but Sarah picked it up.
'I'll think of something.' At least Francis realised the wink now, so he finally left.
The only sound now was the water under them and the baby that started cooing.
'Do you think it's a boy too?', Sarah asked slowly and looked at the baby's big blue and green eyes.
'We could call it Phillis when it's a boy, we can call him Phil.'
It was merely a whisper. But still, it was the longest sentence Sarah had ever heard out of his mouth.
'It also was my mother's name', he added and looked to the ground. Sarah knew nearly nothing about him. Mostly because he didn't talk, but also because no-one ever asked him.
'Then it is settled', she decided and looked at the baby. Phillis. She discovered the fish next to the crib which was, she realised that now, filled with water.
'Wow, Francis really put effort into this, huh?', she said sarcastically, even though it was true. Noah snorted for a second and Sarah believed to see hurt in his face.
'Hahaha, don't worry, you are the only one I love', she joked for a moment, getting all serious in the next one. She hadn't realised what she just said. But she didn't want to take it back either, because it was the truth. She loved him.
She didn't know what to do so she just didn't say anything. Sarah figured that if he managed to communicate with her without words so perfectly, she could do so too.
For way too long he just looked at her, silently. She feared that she might have misinterpreted him all this time when he took a deep breath.
'I love you too', he said and when they got closer this time, they weren't interrupted and kissed.
Phillis had white hair. And white scales. But when the sun shone on his tail, they shimmered in all the colours of the rainbow. By the time of his twelfth birthday, it was clear that Phillis was actually a merman but no-one really talked about it or cared.
It was just fifteen years ago that the crew killed now and Sarah looked down from the ship into the water, where he swam next to them.
Someone walked up to her and silently stood next there too.
'We promised to tell him about his mother as soon as he was fifteen. But we haven't yet. Still, it is just a matter of time until he finds out. Till he meets other merpeople who tell him of the mermaid that was slaughtered for a treasure that turned out to be a child and since then was raised by pirates. Or we meet other pirates who tell him the story. It is a tale widespread, isn't it?'
Noah just nodded. There were too many crewmembers around them for him to talk.
Sarah looked at Phillis' white long hair under the water.
'Everyone knows the white merman's crew. That's what they call us. They think Phillis is a merman who captured a pirate ship and has them under his control so that they will always plunder other ships and bring the treasures in his cave. And in a way, that's true I guess. All our wealth we thank him. He is just a boy but still, he sank more ships for us than we would have ever been able to.'
'Why is it that you are starting to worry now?', Noah's eyes asked her. But she just pulled up her shoulders.
'I can't put my finger on it. Noah, we raised Phillis together, just as our own. I couldn't survive it if something happened to him. But I woke up with a strange feeling today. Like something big will happen. For a week now I can't shake the feeling that somebody is watching us. Noah, I feel like this is the right time to tell him.'
'Then let's do that', he whispered so only she could hear. They got into the tender and got down to the water. It wasn't just a normal tender anymore. It was more like Phillis' room of some sorts, where he slept during the night or where got rest when he got tired of swimming.
'Phillis!', Sarah called him. Instantly his white hair broke through the surface and he leaned on the wood, with a wide grin that revealed his sharp teeth.
'Mother! See what I can do now!', he smiled and dived deep under the water. For a moment they couldn't see him anymore, it was as if he disappeared completely. Then he shot out of it, like an arrow, turned twice in the air and jumped back into the water.
'Bravo!', Sarah gratulated proudly. But she had a tough time showing how proud she truly was.
'What is it? Is something bothering you?', Phillis asked as he picked up the mood instantly.
But Sarah had trouble speaking. She looked at his green and blue eyes that were so much bigger than anyone else's.
'Phillis, we wanted to tell you something', Noah whispered so quietly that it was hard to hear next to the sound of the waves.
'What is it?', Phillis wondered.
'Phillis, we'd like to tell you about your mother. Your real mother', Sarah continued.
'You don't need to. I love you two as my parents. I don't need to know about my other mom.'
'We love you too, Phillis. Very much. But you are old enough to know the truth. We know that it is impossible to forgive us for what we've done. But you at least deserve to hear it from us and not somebody else.'
'Why are you crying?', he asked Noah who was indeed crying. He took Sarah's hand and told her silent as always to go on.
'When we said that we saved you and took you in, we weren't lying. But it is not the complete truth, Phillis. Because we are also the reason, why you had to be saved.'
'What do you mean?', he asked.
'We were also the ones who killed your mother.'
They could easily find the terror in Philis' eyes. When he cried, it wasn't normal salty water that ran down his cheeks. It was shimmering white like mother-pearl and when it hit the sea, it became little pearls that sank to the ground.
Slowly Phillis let himself sink under the water, just enough that his head was covered enough. He did that once before. He was heartbroken and didn't want them to see his tears. He stayed this way for half an hour. Then he reached out with his hand and searched for theirs. Sarah instantly took his hand that reminded more of a claw and Noah followed.
'CAPTAIN!', someone yelled at the deck.
'CAPTAIN WE NEED YOU ON BOARD THIS INSTANT!'
'It's okay, mother. It's alright', Phillis said as he came to the surface again.
'I understand. Just go.' He reached out the water and hugged her for what seemed way too short when the men on the deck pulled the tender up again.
She looked at Noah and he understood. He went down to Phillis again, while Sarah went to the man who called for her.
'Captain, there is something coming', he explained and gave her the telescope.
There was something coming closer and it was something she had never seen.
'All hands on deck. I don't know what this is. They may be superior, so we play nice as long as it seems reasonable', she ordered.
'Yes, Captain!'
The ship got hectic and the crew yelled orders.
'I know this look. You already have a feeling about this, haven't you?', Francis asked.
'I think it is about Phillis.'
'Merpeople?'
'Probably.'
In the exact same second, she said that five creatures shot out of the water and landed on deck. Instantly Sarah's crew pulled out their sabres. Sarah held up her hand and stopped them from attacking. Yet.
To their surprise, five people were standing in front of them, their legs covered in scales and gills at their throats.
One of them, a man in green scales and with green hair stepped out of them and bowed quickly.
'I ask to speak the captain of this ship.' He spoke with a heavy accent that was evidence of his origin.
'You're talking to her', Sarah answered.
'Over fifteen years ago, a child was stolen of the royal sea's family. We've come to take the child and bring it home, where it belongs.'
Sarah felt close to fainting. This day couldn't get any worse. She couldn't hand Phillis over. He was her boy. And Noah's. He could never get over it.
'I don't know what you are talking about.'
'You do. Your crew is well known for the treasures they got in their hands thanks to the white merman among you. Don't try to deny it. We will find him. As the heir of the throne, he has to return with us.'
'I am sorry. My hands are tied in this matter.'
'I thought you are the captain?'
Sarah didn't know what to do. Unfortunately, the decision was taken out of her hands.
'We found him', someone said and shot out of the water behind him with Phillis on him.
In contrast to the other mermaids and mermen, Phillis' tail stayed and he sat helplessly on the wooden deck.
'Phillis!', Sarah screamed and wanted to get to him. Never had she ever felt so vulnerable.
'And this one', a seventh merman added and jumped to them with Noah.
'NO! Return them both to me. This instantly!', Sarah demanded. They had crossed a line and woken up her warrior's instincts.
'You can have the deaf one back, but the boy comes with us.'
'He isn't deaf', Sarah gnarled and pulled her sabre.
'Mother, don't let this happen!', Phillis pleaded, but the mermaids started to laugh.
'Mother? Mother? One might think her human legs were sign enough that this can't be your mother. They have slaughtered your mother. They stole you from your father. They denied you the throne!'
'But I want to stay with them', Phillis whispered.
For a moment there was just the sound of the water breaking on the ship.
Then, Sarah took her hand down.
'How many did we lose?', Phillis asked.
'Five', Sarah answered.
'I am so sorry. This is all my fault. I should've just went with them.'
'No, Phillis. It was the right thing to do.'
'Did you know?', he asked after a while.
'Know what?'
'That I was a prince?'
'No. We knew that the mermaid horted a treasure of unimaginable worth. We thought that was answered already when we discovered the treasure was a child. I am so sorry Phillis. Not even the Captain would have killed the mermaid, had we known that she was a mother.'
'I know.'
'Phillis, I love you very much and so does your father. But should you ever want to be with your own kind, we won't stop you.'
Tear pearls ran down his face as he looked at his mother.
'Thank you.'
They sat on the tender looking at the sundown before them.
Someone came and sat silently next to them.
'They're not going to stop from looking for me though, are they?', Phillis spoke out what they all had on their minds.
'No', whispered Noah after a while.
'But we won't stop fighting for you either.'
~01.05.2018~
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maj0rmayhem · 5 years
Text
I Wish I Were Blind (so i didn’t know) Ch 1
Chapter Title: The Curse of Sight (Klaus)
Warnings: Major Character Death, Injury Description
Summary: Something in Diego’s face snapped, crumbling as he turned his gaze away, “Klaus he’s not here because he’s dead, okay? I fucked up on the mission and couldn’t to him in time to stop it! Are you satisfied now?”
The Umbrella Academy learns of the death of their Number Six
An air of worry hung thick over the Academy. Diego and Ben were supposed to be back hours ago. If there was one thing that didn’t vary in their lives, it was schedules. Even on missions, Reginald built time in case anything went wrong, and when they had gone out, there had been two hours of what they liked to refer to as “shit hits the fan” time.
It was also when the first seeds of anxiety set in. Most missions didn’t even have an hour built in, much less two, and Ben and Diego had never been sent on a mission alone together, without the others there their powers were considered “too aggressive”. Klaus personally thought that was bullshit, but never really thought about it beyond that until now.
Now it was all he could think about. What had that meant, what it could mean. The house was dark. The five of them had snuck back into the living room after curfew to wait for their return. Luther and Allison were whispering in the corner, curled up near the fireplace, shoulders tense and eyes flickering around the room like all they had to do was wish hard enough and their waiting would be over. Five was sitting in one of the many armchairs, legs and arms crossed and trying his hardest to look bored, to make it look like the furrow in his brow was from aggravation and not mounting unease. Vanya was pacing, her steps blending with the rain pounding on the windows until they became one monotonous drone. And Klaus… Klaus was curled on the couch, his head tucked between his knees and replaying his last conversation with Ben over and over until the words distorted and bit at his already fraying emotions.
“I just, I dunno man, something about this seems really off Benny-Bear”
“God, somehow the nicknames just keep getting worse,”
“No! I’m serious! I know I haven’t gotten good at reading the cards yet -”
“Klaus, last week you swore up and down the cards were telling you to dye your hair pink,”
“Yeah and maybe if I had I would have avoided this haircut. But, that's not the point! Every time I look at them I keep getting Death. Like seriously. Last night I pulled Death four times. That's not physically possible! Are you going to try and tell me that’s not a sign?”
“I mean, it might have to do with something else. You are connected to Death, and besides, I’ll have Diego with m-”
“I’m serious, Ben! Something is seriously wrong and I just think you going on a mission with the one person you’re not supposed to at the same time is a little convenient!”
Klaus hadn’t used his name in years. Not since he found more amusement in nicknames. Ben was silent.
“I’m… scared, okay? You’re right, I don’t know exactly what they’re trying to tell me. But it can’t be anything good,”
“I’ll… I’ll be careful, okay? You know I can’t just...not go. Lives are at risk, Klaus. I can’t… I can’t back out because I’m scared.”
The room was quiet for a moment. Thick with tension, until Ben retreated to the dresser (messy, but that was probably Klaus’s fault. He liked Ben’s mirror better). With a soft smile, he grabbed a small string bracelet. It was dark blue, with three faded purple beads on the center. The two had made them one night when Klaus had knocked on his door, in tears because of the screaming. It was the closest they ever got to a normal sibling activity. The smile grew slightly and he slipped it on while Klaus watched silently,
“For good luck, right? I’ll have you watching over me. You and your spooky friends.” Ben stepped forward and flicked at Klaus, who dodged out of the way and snorted,
“Yeah, yeah, whatever. We’ll be there to watch you get your ass kicked,” And then he surged up to wrap the other in a tight hug.
Now, he looked down and fiddled at the ratty bracelet on his own wrist. It had the inverted colors of Ben’s: purple string, and dark blue beads. Ben didn’t wear it with his uniform normally, not after the first time. Klaus didn’t give a shit what Father Dearest had to say about it.
Gradually, the occupants of the room left. First, Vanya and her pacing retreated up the steps, although Klaus doubted she would sleep. Then Allison and Luther, still whispering as they disappeared. The last to go was Five, but when he left, he literally disappeared, Klaus looked up and he was just gone, having jumped to god-knows-where.
So that left Klaus alone, wide awake and curled up and staring at the front door with an intensity like he could summon them. That's the way he stayed for the next hour, hardly moving, barely daring to breathe like doing so would break the silence and reveal his darkest fear.
He wasn’t sure when it happened. One moment he was starting to nod off, and the next moment there was the sound of a choked sob from the front foyer and a figure curled on the ground.
Klaus shot up so fast the world spun, but he rushed forward regardless.
“Ben? Diego? Are you guys alright? Where have you been?! We were all worried sick!”
Very softly, more like a sigh of wind than a voice, he heard, “K-Klaus?”
Said boy immediately dropped to his knees in front of the figure, “Yeah, Ben. Where’s Diego?”
“I-I don’t know. E-Everything was so chaotic, a-and we got separated and i-it really hurt and then… then…”
“Hey, hey, shh, it’s okay.” His hands hovered uncertainly over his brother, not sure if or where he was hurt, “Geez, you’re shaking like a leaf. Come on, let’s warm you up,”
The commotion brought footsteps echoing behind him. Light and hesitant. Vanya. He knew she wouldn’t be asleep.
“Vanya, thank god! Ben’s back and I… I think he’s hurt but I can’t see and I don’t want to leave him. Can you get the lights for me, pretty please?”
“Oh… oh my God, yeah. Yeah of course,” Warm yellow light flooded the room following the panicked exclamation, and Klaus immediately flinched backward.
Ben was covered in blood. That wasn’t technically what alarmed him (they’d all seen it before) (Well, except maybe Vanya) (which made her sudden silence… odd). For the first time, he could tell the blood was mostly Ben’s. There was a deep cut from his left temple to the bridge of his nose, he was curled protectively over his chest and stomach, where blood was steadily leaking, forming a pool beneath him. There were tear stain tracks through the grime on his face, and his mask was missing as he looked up at Klaus, confused and frightened.
“Jesus fuck!”
“Klaus, I don’t-” Vanya tried to cut in, only to be interrupted.
“Let me… let me get Mom or something… she, she can help just don’t… don’t move!”
Ben winced, “Klaus, wait -”
But before anyone could get any further than Klaus scrambling to his feet, the front door burst open in a loud crash, revealing Diego. He stood leaning on the doorway and there was a similar slash across his face, although it looked much shallower than the one marring Ben’s. His face was grim and somber as he looked at the startled group.
“Get the others,”
“B-But what about Ben! We can’t just… leave him here!” Klaus gestured wildly to the curled figure, who was looking between the two almost helplessly.
“We’re not leaving him anywhere because he’s not here, Klaus. Now is not the time for your games,” Diego’s reply was curt.
“What do you mean? He’s sitting right there and obviously bleeding out on our floor, Diego!”
Something in Diego’s face snapped, crumbling as he turned his gaze away, “Klaus he’s not here because he’s dead, okay? I screwed up on the mission and couldn’t get to him in time to stop it! Are you satisfied now?”
Everything in Klaus suddenly went very still, and his gaze slowly traveled back down to Ben, who underneath the fright on his face, his gaze looked unbearably guilty.
“Benny-Bear?” Klaus breathed, slowly slinking back to his knees and reaching for his brother, watching in an almost detached horror as his hand phased right through his shoulder.
“I… I tried to tell you, Klaus.” Ben murmured, looking up at his brother, the fright fully giving way to sadness.
“What… what happened?” It was Vanya who asked.
“We were separated, Ben… lost c-control and I couldn’t reach him fast enough to talk him down before it… ended,” Diego explained, voice rough as though he were fighting for each word.
“I didn’t even realize what happened at first. That was why I was so hysterical when you first found me,” Ben explained, shivering slightly, “No one ever told me being dead would be so cold,” He chuckled, but it was jagged and broken, lacking any mirth.
Klaus shook his head, ignoring whatever was going on above him as the rest scrambled into the room, “No. Fuck that, Ben. Fuck trying to be brave right now.” His voice broke, and he wiped aggressively at the tears on his face, breaking down as the weight of what talking to Ben right now truly meant hit him, “You just died. You get to be scared. You get to be- fuck Ben, you shouldn’t have to be going through this shit,” In that moment, Ben looked so small, he had always been one of the smallest, but now, curled up and covered in his own blood, breaking down, he had never looked smaller. He looked so lost, and confused and endlessly, endlessly frightened of what his existence would be as his cries caught in his throat. Klaus wanted nothing more than to gather him into his arms and assure him that it was okay, and he wouldn’t be alone. Instead, he let himself cry too, and though he knew Ben wouldn't feel it, silently placed one hand over top one of Ben’s relishing in the quiet feedback of energy back through his arm. Ben looked up and offered a watery smile, and Klaus returned it.
For years, he had wished to be rid of his powers, but now, at this moment, he was grateful for them. He may never hug his brother again, but he caught a glimpse of the bracelet still tied to Ben’s wrist and knew that he was luckier than most. He would learn to still have Ben, count himself lucky they could still be there for each other, for better or worse.
 It would have to be enough.
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