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skyward-floored · 7 months

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Whumptober Day 10: Aftermath of failure

Continuation to day 4! (...finally. This is so late)

Soooo this was actually originally split into two days, and it kinda shows. But I didn’t want to have to keep stretching this out, and decided putting them together was okay, even if they don’t fit together perfectly.

Enjoy your extra angst hehe—

Day 4

Read on ao3

Warnings: blood, mentions of injuries, a panic attack, and brief mention of vomit.

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Legend was asleep.

Warriors repeated it to himself like a mantra, watching as Hyrule crouched over the veteran and finished bandaging his middle. He knew Legend was asleep because Hyrule wasn’t acting panicked at all, and he could see his chest going up and down even from here.

He was breathing. He was asleep.

Something buzzed in his ear, same as it had on and off for a while now, but Warriors couldn’t make it out. He was pretty sure it was Sky trying to talk to him, the same as he’d been for a while, but he couldn’t focus on what he was saying, couldn’t take his eyes off of where Legend was laying in the grass.

His chest was still going up and down. He was asleep, unconscious maybe, due to shock. But he was breathing, eyes closed, face twisted slightly in pain with his bangs falling over his face. Hyrule was still bandaging his middle, and he’d pulled his bloodstained tunic out of the—

Warriors’ breath stuttered, and his gaze flicked to the blood coating his hands.

Legend’s blood.

Legend’s blood that he’d spilled.

Legend’s blood that his sword had ripped out of him after he’d plunged it into his chest, all because he wasn’t strong enough to resist whatever magic had attacked him, and made him think Legend had betrayed them all.

“Please, I’m not your enemy!”

Warriors felt his breath catch again, swallowing thickly. The memories were still blurry of what exactly he’d done, but he remembered in stark detail Legend’s chest under his foot, his eyes blown wide with an unusual fear as he’d practically begged him to wake up, his scream when he’d stabbed—

“Link, hey.”

Hands clutched at his wrists, trying to get a reaction out of him, the skin cold against his own. Warriors stared at them blankly, palms streaked with faint burns and cuts, and watched as some of Legend’s blood dripped off his fingers and onto his tunic, joining the crimson that was already coated all over his front.

He lurched over and retched.

The hands let go of his wrists, and gently grabbed his shoulder instead, waiting until he was finished. An overwhelming swell of horror and regret swamped over him as he stopped, and Warriors could barely breath, his scarf feeling like it was constricting him.

He’d almost killed Legend. He’d almost killed a fellow hero, a brother, all because of a spell he was too weak to resist.

“Captain, take a deep breath, please.”

Warriors tried, managing a shaking gasp, and what he finally recognized as Sky’s voice tried to get him to take in another. A sting of embarrassment leaked through the horror as Sky gently spoke, and Warriors felt his fingernails bite into his palm as he clenched his fist.

He needed to calm down. He was better than this, he knew how to be calm in situations like this, he’d been trained how to calm down, he needed to remember his training—

Your training that nearly killed Legend.

Warriors heaved in another breath, frantically trying to get himself to calm down. He couldn’t think about it. He just needed to focus on something else.

The hand was still on his shoulder, and Warriors focused only on that, on the small circles it was rubbing, the gentle motions of the fingers going back and forth. He kept his mind firmly from anything else that had or was happening, and eventually managed to pull his breathing under control, taking slower breaths as he calmed his heart.

After a long time, he slowly raised his head and looked at Sky’s face.

The other knight’s face was pale, making the usual eye bags he had stick out even more sharply under his eyes. A bit of blood was drying in his hair, and his lip was split, blood trickling down his chin, but more obvious than any injury was the haunted look in his eyes.

But somehow he still managed to dredge up a smile to send at Warriors.

“Hey Captain,” he said in a soft voice, and Warriors stared at him blankly. “You back with me?”

Warriors’ breath hitched again.

“I almost killed him,” he rasped, the horror starting to trickle back through the temporary wall he’d put up.

Sky’s smile faded, and Warriors swallowed, his throat stinging with bile. He hadn’t meant to say that.

Sky hesitated, and looked like he was trying to think of something to say, and Warriors felt another overwhelming swell of panic and horror overwhelm him, crashing over him like a tsunami.

“Gods Sky,” he choked out, his breath catching in his lungs, “I nearly killed him, I stabbed Legend Sky, he’s only a kid I—”

Sky clutched at his hands again, and Warriors looked at Legend’s blood still drying on his palms.

“You— we, weren’t ourselves,” Sky said in a voice only slightly more steady than Warriors’, sounding like he was forcing his voice not to break. “It was the wizzrobe. We can’t... we can’t take the blame here Wars, it’ll... it’ll tear us apart.”

Warriors let out a truly bitter laugh, and didn’t reply. It already is.

“Link,” Sky continued, his voice agonized. “Don’t—”

“I thought he was one of them Sky,” Warriors interrupted, voice shaking. “A traitor. Someone who’d gone against everything I stand for, kidnapped Zelda or— or something, I can’t even remember, but I thought he was one of them Sky, I—”

His voice cracked, and he closed his eyes, shaking his head.

I’m the traitor.

The irony wasn’t lost on him.

Sky stayed silent, and Warriors felt bile rise in his throat again as his eyes flicked to the bloodstained grass Legend was lying in, but he swallowed it back, staring down at his hands. Sky’s own were still clasped at his wrists, and Warriors realized his were the ones with the burns and cuts on them, red and painful looking.

“You’re hurt,” he said numbly, and Sky shrugged a little, turning his hands so the burns were harder to see.

“Not too badly. Fi was only helping, and Wind’s a better brawler than I am.” He rubbed his jaw, a softer expression crossing his face. “He can sure hit hard for having such small fists.”

Warriors felt a flicker of pride towards Wind, but the warmth from the emotion didn’t last long. The others really had fought their hardest to keep them all away from Legend.

Look how that turned out.

He breathed out heavily, feeling less panicked and more wrung out all of a sudden, and Warriors raised his head and looked around at their group.

Wind was sitting next to Four and helping him wrap a bandage around his side, the smithy’s tunic bloody and torn. Wind himself had a black eye, and a small cut on his cheek, with half-dried blood staining his chin as well. He was holding a bottle and trying to get Four to take it, but the smithy kept shaking his head and pushing it back towards him.

Hyrule had finished with Legend, and was talking to Time, though Hyrule was pointedly positioned between the downed veteran and the older hero. Both of them were sporting multiple injuries, but before Warriors could study them further, a choked noise made him startle.

He and Sky both turned to look, and saw Wild curled in on himself at the base of a nearby tree, his head in his hands and his forearm bleeding. Twilight was kneeled next to him, talking in quiet tones, and Wild muffled a keening noise in his hands, curling up tighter.

Warriors looked away from Wild, but found himself scanning all of Twilight’s injuries, remembering in an almost detached way that he’d been the one to inflict most of them.

“Keep them away from Legend!”

His gaze went back to the veteran against his will, and he stared in silence at his chest, bandages going steadily up and down, the same as earlier. His face was pale, but Hyrule must have cleaned the blood from it as it was clean, and Legend’s expression had eased a little further.

Warriors swallowed, watching him. Legend looked so small from over here, pale and bloodstained. He may have claimed the title of veteran, but he truly was still a kid, younger then when Warriors had joined the army.

How old was he when he had started saving people?

Warriors jumped at a sudden hand in his face, and he almost fell backwards before he realized it was Sky, holding a cloth in his hand.

“You’re still bleeding,” he apologized quietly, and Warriors hesitated, then nodded, closing his eyes as Sky began to clean the blood off his forehead and cheek. He normally disliked anyone touching his face, but Sky was gentle, and Warriors stayed still as he worked, blinking his eyes against the sudden sting in them.

“Wars wake up! You’d never hurt any of us!”

“It wasn’t you, Captain. It wasn’t your fault,” Sky whispered as he continued, and Warriors couldn’t look him in the eye.

Maybe he was right. Maybe not.

But either way, Legend’s screams wouldn’t be fading from his mind anytime soon.

And he would never forgive himself for hurting him that way.

Warriors looked down at his hands one more time, the smell of blood still sharp in his nose, and Sky continued to clean off his face, hand faintly trembling.

If blood didn’t end up being the only liquid that was wiped from his cheek, then Sky didn’t comment on it.

(...)

It was dark when Legend finally woke up.

He blinked his eyes open, lids feeling unusually heavy as he stared up at the night sky, but he found himself having trouble remembering what had happened before he fell asleep. He felt tired, and heavy, and for some reason there was a heavy feeling of wrongness settled around him. But...

Legend frowned, and turned his head to look around camp.

It was mostly dark and quiet, a campfire providing a bit of warmth and light. Legend blinked his eyes open a little further, and looked around at the others, the sense of wrongness only growing stronger.

Hyrule was tucked beside him, dead asleep with his arm resting on top of Legend’s. He looked exhausted, and his face held a deep frown, his other hand held near his sword. Wind was next to him, and Four stretched out nearby, the smithy sporting several bandages at his side.

On the opposite side of the clearing, Wild was curled into a tight ball under his blanket, barely visible, and Sky was next to him, his face tightly pinched in his sleep. Wolfie sat close by, but was surprisingly far away from Wild, and seemed rather on edge.

Time sat closest to the fire, and Legend couldn’t help but stare at how the older hero was holding Warriors’ shoulders, their foreheads nearly touching as he talked to him in a low voice.

He couldn’t make out the words, but they sounded urgent.

Legend blinked, feeling dizzy and a bit cold, and he tried to sit up, gasping in surprise as the pain he hadn’t even noticed in his middle spiked. Memories came flooding back as he looked down at his bandaged chest, and his breath hitched as Warriors and Time both turned and looked at him, their eyes shining in the firelight.

For a moment, all he could see was armor glinting in the sun, blank eyes focused on him in a glare, a sword raised to stab him through—

You killed the wizzrobe, he reminded himself as his breath caught, they’re not your enemies, they won’t turn on you, they won’t...

Twilight seemed to notice his distress, and he quickly hopped up and padded to his side, using his big head to gently push him back to lying down.

“I’m fine you big lug,” Legend said in a voice that ended up more shaky then he would have preferred, but Twilight ignored him, twitching his tail once, then settled himself on the opposite side of him from where Hyrule was.

Legend exhaled, and ran a hand through the wolf’s thick fur, unable to stop himself from still watching Time and Warriors. Looking at them without their armor on made it easier to separate them from the memories he had of them from earlier, but...

“Traitor to the crown!”

Not entirely.

Time noticed him staring, and met his eyes, looking at him with something that Legend wasn’t sure how to decipher. The older hero turned and said something to Warriors, but the captain looked away, and Time slowly got to his feet, approaching Legend.

He felt himself tense as Time drew near, but Twilight stayed firmly by his side, and the presence of the large wolf helped greatly with keeping him steady. Twilight won’t let him attack.

...not that he will, because the spell is broken, remember?

“How are you doing, Veteran?” Time asked softly as he reached him, sitting far enough away to not make Legend too uncomfortable.

“Fine.”

Time raised an eyebrow at the response, but didn’t push, offering him a water skin. Legend realized then he was rather parched, and slowly sat up again, reaching out to take it. He winced as a flicker of pain struck through his middle, but at Time’s worried look, firmly took the water skin as if daring him to argue.

“I’m alright,” Legend repeated, and took a long draught of water. It was cold as it went down his throat, but the relief was worth it. “How’s everyone else?”

Time sighed, heavy and tired. “About as well as you’d expect. Four was the worst off besides yourself, and Warriors and Twilight were both hurt more then they realized. But nobody’s in danger.”

Legend swallowed. Are they though?

It was silent between them for a minute while Legend finished drinking, shivering slightly as he finished. He could tell he had lost a lot of blood. That was something even Hyrule couldn’t fix, and he would have to just rest and regain it naturally.

Pretty annoying though, he grumbled, tugging his blanket tighter around his shoulders. He hated how cold he always felt after losing a bunch of blood.

The memory of being stabbed flickered in his memory, and his eyes slid over to Warriors, the captain staring blankly at the fire. He wondered how much he remembered of what had happened. The captain had seemed dazed after... everything, and while he’d obviously realized what he’d done, that didn’t really mean he truly remembered.

I hope he doesn’t remember a thing.

“Legend... do you know what that wizzrobe did?” Time asked quietly, and Legend felt a chill go up his spine. “Hyrule mentioned you freezing up, has this... spell, happened before?”

Do we need to be prepared for it to happen again? was the unspoken question.

Legend bit his lip. Hyrule knew why he had frozen up— he’d told him one time after finding a wanted sign with Legend’s face on it— but he’d obviously not elaborated on why to the others.

“I think... it reactivated an old spell through me somehow,” Legend murmured, drawing his blanket closer. “On... on my first quest, there was a sorcerer, a servant of Ganon, who took over the castle. He brainwashed all the soldiers and knights, and they thought I was the enemy for a long time.”

He swallowed.

“But I... I guess the wizzrobe hit me first, and it affected you all, because... you’re knights.”

Understanding dawned on Time’s face, and he leaned back, putting a hand on his chin. “My knighthood is only a title, I haven’t done much to deserve it,” he murmured, brows lowered. “But the spell didn’t differentiate regardless...”

He met Legend’s gaze again, and the veteran startled at the remorse all over his face.

“I’m so sorry Veteran.”

Legend shook his head, and looked down at the bandages covering most of his chest.

“It wasn’t your fault,” he whispered. “The wizzrobe did it. It was infected... that must have granted it extra magic ability.”

Twilight shifted a little closer to him, and Legend ran his hand through his fur again, calming himself down with the motions. Time was silent for a while, watching his hand card along, then sighed, and got to his feet.

Legend flinched in spite of himself.

“I think the captain needs to hear that,” Time finally replied, his voice quiet. “Is it okay if he comes over here?”

No, no it’s not, his mind immediately screamed, glaring eyes and cold words flashing through his mind, a blade stabbing deep through his chest as he choked on his own blood and Warriors’ horrified gaze as he stared at his hands—

“Yeah,” he said in a voice that was much too casual.

Time and Twilight both gave him a look, but didn’t do anything further then that, and Time nodded and moved away.

Legend didn’t watch him reach Warriors, or talk to try and convince him to come over to where Legend was sitting, keeping his eyes firmly on his lap, or Wolfie’s soft fur. Not until a set of footsteps approached again did Legend flick his eyes up, and he felt his heart freeze as Warriors looked down at him.

Suddenly it was earlier again, and Warriors’ face had become a smooth glare, his sword plunging downwards into his chest, and Legend couldn’t breathe through the blood, his vision going dark—

“This— this was a bad idea,” Warriors said, stumbling over his words as Legend tried to get ahold of himself. “I don’t—”

“Stay,” Legend finally managed to get out, determined to beat this. And despite his instincts begging him to just leave, to run, to get away, he looked up and met Warriors’ eyes. “Please.”

Warriors swallowed, and Time’s hand landed on his shoulder, nearly pushing the captain down to sit next to Legend. He was a bit closer than Legend would have preferred, but he swallowed back the fear and distrust that were still trying to choke him, and stayed where he was.

Time looked between them, then left, far away enough to give them privacy, but close enough to help if there was a problem.

Which Warriors was obviously afraid there would be.

Twilight stayed where he was, silent and still, and Legend kept running his hand through his fur, wondering a bit at the fact that he was letting him pet him so much. But mostly he was just glad for the grounding feel of the fur between his fingers.

The silence between him and Warriors stretched on, and Legend avoided looking at him, still staring at his lap. He was afraid he would see those same blank eyes again if he looked up, and he didn’t move, didn’t say anything.

“Legend, I...” Warriors finally began, but his voice cracked, and he shook his head, staring at the ground.

The silence came back with a vengeance, and Legend hesitated, his stomach hurting with more than just his injury. He firmly gathered his courage, and finally looked over at Warriors, and was shocked to see a tear slip down his cheek.

Twilight quietly whined, and Warriors let out a laugh that was really more of a sob.

“I betrayed you, Legend,” he managed to continue, voice more broken then Legend had ever heard it. “I shouldn’t even be over here in case— in case it happens again. I can’t be trusted, I... I nearly killed you, and there aren’t enough words in the world to convey how sorry—”

Legend swallowed, and before he could scare himself out of doing it, leaned forward and pressed his head against Warriors’ chest.

The captain made a choked noise, and Legend squeezed his eyes shut.

“It wasn’t you,” he said, not bothering to hide the tremble in his voice. “It was the wizzrobe Captain, it was a spell, an infected one, I know— I know you would never hurt any of us.”

Horribly enough, Legend felt his eyes begin to sting, but he forced the tears back, and stayed with his head pressed to Warriors’ chest, listening to him try not to cry either.

“Nobody could have resisted that,” Legend choked out, firmly blaming the sudden crash of emotions on his exhausted physical state. “Nobody. So don’t— don't. Don’t blame y-yourself.”

Something shakily rested on his back after a minute, and Legend realized it was Warriors’ arm, eventually joined by the other. Part of him wanted to break away from the contact, his mind screaming that he couldn’t trust the arms encircling him. But the part that was fighting so hard to pound it into Warriors’ head that it wasn’t his fault hung on, and enjoyed the contact, as awkward and messy as it was.

He knew it was just as hard for Warriors to be this close to him as it was for Legend to be near him, and he firmly ignored every memory of blood and swords and screaming, and focused on breathing, his brother’s arms around him.

Not threatening. Not wielding a sword.

Safe.

Twilight moved himself a little closer to the both of them, so that his fur wasn’t just pressed to Legend’s side, and Warriors let out another unsteady breath, trembling slightly.

It would take more time then this to patch back what had fractured, for all of them, but this...

Legend fought back a sob, and felt Warriors’ grip hesitate, then tighten.

This was a good start.

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myfriendcallsmeasickwoman19 · 2 years

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Lackey

@irathgo thank you so much for lending me you foul tempered lieutenant.

@smellofsnoww @luna-rein

I just realized how long this is.

**********

"Alright, here's how things are going to be, kid," Jeremy said to Keir as he entered the office.

Keir glared as the man entered, two goons holding him down in the chair.

Keir jerked his shoulders away from them. "Like I care," he spat.

Jeremy smirked, pleased at the kids' fire. He waved a hand and the men left Keir alone.

"Like it or not you'll care," he declared, looking Keir in the eyes.

Keir kept his contact not phased…. Yet.

"Trust me…. Ethan," he sat back in his chair, looking at Keir with a smirk like he knew something about the kid.

He slowly leaned forward and in a low voice he continued, "or should I say Keir?"

Keir's eyes widened and no one knew his real name. Not the gang that had him cross paths with this psycho nor anyone in this twisted crime world.

"Peculiar name, don't think I would ever have guessed it." Jeremy added, he obviously loved the look of shock and annoyance on Keir's usually blank face.

"You know my name so what?" Keir asked.

"Oh no no I know everyone else's too," he corrected him happily.

"Choolwe, Theo, James, Mein, S….."

"I get it," Keir stopped him midway through his list. He kept his glare aimed at Jeremy.

"Will you care now?" Jeremy asked again, that damn smile still on the large man's face.

Keir didn't need to answer, the glare was enough to show he knew he had no choice.

"Good," Jeremy said. "First things first you'll work for me, you'll be available when I call you and will always be where I can see you."

"Why?" Keir asked. "I've never tried to infiltrate you, I never planned to get in your crew, I've never been anywhere near your gang. But still you try to hold on to me."

"I told you kid," he picked up a decorative figure off his desk. It was a crystal ball with silver flakes inside.

He put it in front of Keir, making it look like the younger guy was in the ball.

Keir grit his teeth, feeling angry at this implication.

"I like seeing how you get through this shit," Jeremy finished.

"Honestly fuck off," Keir expressed in his usual disinterested tone.

Jeremy laughed, "I hope you keep up with the same spirit," he said.

Then waved his hand and some goons placed their hand on Keir again.

"Let's continue tomorrow and remember you don't want any of your friends joining your mothers." He said.

And for the first time he saw Keir's eyes blaze with furry.

Jeremy smiled, "lovely women I hear,"

Keir shot forward hitting Jeremy right in the face. With so much force the man's chair pulled back nearly falling and being held up by one bodyguard behind.

"Goodness," Jeremy announced with a bloody smile now adorning his face. "Not done grieving are we?"

Two men held Keir down on the desk, both of them pressing the young man's shoulder and face on the desk's hard wood while straining his arms behind his back.

Keir grit his teeth, he couldn't get free, they had him pinned pretty well.

Then with another order they made him stand up, now twisting his hands behind his back.

They made him face Jeremy. The kid was still seething as he struggled against the two goons.

"I know everything about you kid and that's exactly why I like you. You're tough, smart and cunning."

"I don't give a shit what you think about me, worship me if you want, just don't ever talk about my mothers." The boy warned. So much bravado even as he was being held back.

Jeremy smiled slightly. "Will that be all?"

Keir kept his glare.

"Alright not much to give up but sure." He said with a shrug. Someone gave him a handkerchief and he wiped his nose.

"Take him to his room." He ordered and they did so.

They only let go of him when he reached his "room". Keir cursed at his sudden situation. How the fuck did he get himself into this one. James must be worried about him. He disappeared without a trace and it's been much longer than before. This time he's been gone for more than a week and it doesn't help either that Jeremy took him after he poisoned him. He nearly died and then he just kidnaps him as soon as he wakes up.

****************

The next day, Jeremy ordered Keir out of his room. He had some people leave clothes for him to wear. A nice fitting dark suit wasn't what he expected. He's never seen the large man in one. Let alone imagine him in it.

Keir wore the damn thing and met Jeremy who was wearing a matching one. He gave him one glance and just sat down at a place next to Jeremy.

"I'm paying you back for yesterday," Jeremy whispered to him and Keir looked at him for a second before turning back to the table and the stacks of paper in front of him.

Reading them he saw addresses and schedules, hobbies and relatives. Then on the other end were pictures of torture victims and mutilated dead bodies. He also attached little objects for the added enforcement of what's at stake.

He got the message. Do as I say or else that will be your loved ones.

Jeremy gave him a task that had a deadline. He had to get something ready and if they weren't ready in time he didn't need to be told what would happen.

For the next few days, Keir worked. He had to learn how to trade, make sure the shipping would go smoothly, do security checks, giving orders and basically be James' little helper and second hand whenever he needed it. He studied their products from last to present. Knew the competition and the clients.

At the end of all of it blended together, the sleepless nights and little rest had him lose track of how long it had been since he started. He had to know how to talk to these clients, signals in case things went wrong, drills and procedures and things he considered useless. Jeremy wouldn't cut him some slack either. He would remind Keir of what was on the line. Screams of random people in speakers, locks of hair, glasses, perfumes and stupid things like coffee mugs. Just so Keir knew and stayed on his toes. Which he will.

But Keir managed now all that was left was the freaking negotiating with the damn client. He recognized the name and didn't feel in the mood to be annoyed by that man.

***

Luca rolled his shoulders as he strode towards the office, Malcom and Henry right behind him. Both of them looked a bit worried as they watched the lieutenant. There was a massive fight back at the main office building, because the Imp refused to do the negotiations and forced Luca to drop everything and go in his place.

Without knocking, Luca threw open the door and stepped into the office, a cold smirk on his face.

Keir was seated at the end of the desk. He was talking to someone before but then told them to leave with the very obvious arrival of their guest. He groaned. He has no patience for difficult people, he already has Jeremy to worry about.

He looked at who it was and he's never been more grateful to see a familiar face. But just because the hotshot is here doesn't mean it's going to be easy.

"Please come in, don't be shy," Keir said a little sarcasm given how the guy threw the door open.

Luca’s eyes narrowed at the young man, before he sneered at him. “Where’s your boss, brat?” he asked as he stepped forward.

Both Malcom and Henry froze in the door. They looked between Luca and the other familiar face.

Keir tsked, what got him all worked up.

"I could ask you the same thing, lieutenant." Keir retorted. "But since you asked he's right there," Keir pointed to the large figure that now stood behind Malcolm and Henry.

"So sorry I'm late," Jeremy said.

Luca tilted his head in a slightly annoyed way as he glanced lazily over his shoulder. “Move it you two morons” he said and immediately Malcom and Henry stepped out of the way, then he nodded at Jeremy “Jeremy”

"Luca!" The man announced happily with a booming voice. "So glad to see you kid."

Keir rolled his eyes. "catch up later let's get this shit over with,"

"You're always so impatient," Jeremy said as he got inside and took a seat. "Please do take a seat Luca,"

Luca tisked at being called a kid, but he still took a seat, sitting back comfortably. “Apparently you annoyed the Imp, Jer…” he said “He refused to meet with you again and now I have to fucking do his job”

With a hand motion, Luca motioned for his two guys to stay back. Both Malcom and Henry stepped back, leaning against the wall on either sides of the door.

"Ahhhhh, that guy is so short tempered." Jeremy brushed it off, "It's okay it's much better that you two kiddies do the negotiating. You got to learn"

"I'm not a child," Keir corrected. "stop talking to us like that and take this seriously."

Luca snorted. “Well…. Looks like you’ve got a new brat to train, Jer” he said, trying to ignore the way his hand twitched. He really just wanted to pull the gun and shoot Jeremy “Where did you pick this one up?”

"Let's say he was quite literally delivered to my feet." He answered happily.

Keir looked away slightly, it was true he was delivered to Jeremy but in all honesty Jeremy wasn't supposed to 'keep' him. Even now he was just trying to keep himself calm. The thought of Jeremy's threats weighing on his heart.

"Moving on." Keir said, bringing out some documents to the table. "Basically we need to tell you what you're missing out on."

Luca looked at Keir with a raised eyebrow. “Well now…. Someone is eager to do shit” he said, before continuing “I want new terms for the contracts. We’ve got other suppliers that sells the same fucking shit at a better price. They also offer us, heat seeking launchers and top of the rage new fuck weapons tech”

The way Luca spoke made it clear that even though he was looking at Keir, he was talking to Jeremy.

Jeremy passed it onto the kid with a glance. Signalling he wouldn't take part in this at all. This was the kids' business.

Keir sighed, bastard.

"Do you know why we were so good? Why despite our prices your people have been coming to us each and every time?" Keir began. He looked directly at Jason.

"It's because not only are out products the latest, it's the best. These assholes always make the mistake of never taking care of their goods. Buy your heat seeking launchers and tell us how long it takes until they just don't work. Buy their shit and see how easily some government agency will hack into their system and find you." He leaned forward as if daring him.

Luca also leaned forward, his eyes gleaming dangerously, a cold smile on his face. “Why do you think they have me?” he asked “Huuga don’t just employ imbeciles… other than the Imp. I don’t need the other fucking morons to be able to disable the tracking, we can do that our fucking selves”

Keir shrugged and leaned back. "alright that's true but that again is wasted time is it not?"

"All it takes is one brick to take down an entire tower and you Mr Luca have that brick."

"You can't be everywhere now can you? Sometimes the Imp takes care of things….. you catch my drift?"

Luca shrugged, shaking his head slightly. “And what makes you the expert in firearms, Kid?” he asked.

"He's done his homework," Jeremy intervened, "trust me. I'll speak on the kid this once. I've never seen someone learn so well in such a short time. The kid knows his stuff."

Well it was either he learned or his friends died so he had no choice. It wasn't that hard anyway.

Luca’s eyes flickered to Jeremy, before focusing on Keir again. “Convince me” he said, a cold tone to his voice.

"Alright," the kid said. "How do you propose I do that?"

“Show me what you have and why I should fucking buy it” Luca said.

"That's no problem at all, Mr hotshot," Keir stood up. "Would you join me?"

Luca got to his feet, barely managing to hide a flinch, as a sharp pain shot up his side. Damn Imp and his push daggers.

"Do you mind if I leave my…. Friends here?" Luca asked Jeremy, tilting his head.

Jeremy looked at the guys then did a slight shrug. "No problem at all, I love company," he said.

"Since that's settled, shall we?" Keir said again.

Luca narrowed his eyes at Malcolm and Henry when it looked like they were going to argue with him, before he followed after Keir.

Jeremy watched the two as they left, a smirk on his face.

**********

Keir led Luca to a storage room of sorts. Then led him to some crates.

"Are you going to keep this up?" Keir asked now that they were alone.

Jason sighed and immediately the Luca persona faded away. “I’m too tired…” he said “What are you doing here?”

"I don't want to be here just as much as you." Keir said. He took a deep breath in and out. "fuck I'm sick of this."

Jason frowned. “Are you alright?” he asked, eyes flickering around.

"... I don't know… all I care about right now is my friends safety. Jeremy's threatening them if I don't keep this stupid shit up."

“I’m sorry….” Jason said, still watching Keir with a worried look “Is there anything I can do to help?”

Keir rubbed his eyes with his hand.He felt so tired. "Just keep an eye on them if you can. I know you're busy and I'm asking for a lot but knowing they're safe is all I need right now."

Jason nodded. “Alright….” he said “I’ll do what I can… Dammit Keir, just sit down, you look like a damn ghost”

"Thanks," Keir said to Jason, letting himself relax a bit. It was like a string was loosened before he noticed his legs gave out and his eyes rolled back.

Cussing, Jason shot forward, catching Keir. “Shitshitshit…. Dammit kid…” he said as he lowered him to the ground “What the hell did you do to yourself?”

He pressed his fingers against Keir’s throat, testing his pulse. A frown formed on his face as he noticed how fast the younger guy’s heartbeat was.

Keir's chest was going up and down a lot faster than it should, like he was trying to catch his breath. Without the added threat of Jeremy's presence his body could relax but he still felt the fear.

Jason tapped Keir’s cheek. “Hey, kid…” he said softly “Come on…. It’s not nap time yet”

Keir groaned after a few seconds of being unresponsive, struggling to open his eyes. He managed but barely. ".... Jason?..." He asked his voice a little weak.

That made Jason breath out. “Damn, kid…. You almost gave me a heartattack….” he said, patting Keir on the shoulder “Just lay there for a bit… Okay?”

Keir looked a little confused. "...lay?..." Then he noticed he was on the floor. He doesn't remember how. But he already felt like his body was too heavy to lift at this moment. He could stay down here if he could. "What… happened?..."

“You fainted… passed out…. Clocked out…. Whatever you want to call it” Jason said as he sat down on the floor next to Keir “Just relax for a bit, alright?”

"What….if someone… finds us?" Keir asked, still a little agitated.

Jason put his hand on Keir’s shoulder. “I’ll figure something out if that happens” he said “Just relax a bit…. You’re pushing yourself to hard”

"I just… Don't want to…lose anyone…again." Keir admitted. But still he let himself relax a bit more. Just for a second he told himself.

With a laugh, Jason ruffled Keir’s hair. “Nothing’s gonna happen to me, you damn brat” he said, as he reached into his pocket and pulled out a chocolate “How about some chocolate? It’s a bit melted, but still edible”

"Do you… ever carry….healthy… snacks?" Keir asked as he took the chocolate. He barely managed to open the thing because of how shaky his hands were.

“What…. Do you want me to carry a carrot in my pocket?” Jason asked, with a slight smile “Anyone will think I’m a spy if I do that”

Keir smiled a little, he took a bite of the chocolate, "Yeah I'm sure … every spy can… be identified with a carrot."

“Duh…. it’s on the first page of how to catch a spy” Jason said watching Keir.

Keir laughed a lot more than he's been able to. "I'll… remember…. that." He said.

Jason smiled. “Good….Cause I don’t want to be outed because you wanted me to eat more healthy” he said “Cause I’m the most healthy person you can get…. Now eat the damn chocolate”

Keir chuckled and took another bite of the chocolate bar. When he was done, he sat up a little.

"We should leave before they think something's wrong." He said.

“You think you can get up?” Jason asked, as he got to his feet, winching slightly.

"Yeah." Keir said, shakily pulling himself up. He managed to stand but held on to something to make sure he didn't fall.

Jason placed a hand on Keir’s shoulder just to make sure stayed steady. “Alright…. Give me an update on all the weapons you guys have here” he said, the playful tone he had before gone “I need to know everything, alright? To keep both of us out of trouble”

"Alright," Keir said.

"What trouble did you get yourself into this time?" Keir asked, thinking back to Jason's wincing earlier.

Jason groaned. “The Imp stabbed me” he said “Right before we left for this meeting”

Keir couldn't stop himself from laughing a little. "How does this shit keep happening to you?" He said as he couldn't stop himself.

“I have no idea….” Jason said with a shrug “I just have some bad luck, that’s all…. Not like yours is any better”

"Fair enough," Keir agreed with a shrug.

"Thanks anyway," Keir added as they got close to the others.

Jason nodded and took a deep breath, immediately his expression and attitude changed. Luca was back.

“Now give me the update, Brat” he said.

Keir sighed and rolled his eyes, "fucking asshole," he muttered getting serious himself.

"I don't know what else to tell you. You've seen what we've got." He said opening the door to the office.

Jamming his hands into his pockets, Luca nodded slightly as he stepped inside. “Now…. You’ve got good stuff, but I still want a better price” he said.

"Didn't think Huuga was so cheap. But alright." He said. "Because you've been our long time customers."

Luca nodded. “Alright…We’ll take it” he said, before looking at Henry and Malcolm “You two…. Get Busha, we’re leaving as soon as we’ve signed the contracts”

The two looked over at Luca, almost worried before nodding and leaving.

Jeremy laughed triumphantly, "Good Job Keir," he said with a booming voice.

Keir grimaced, he walked over to grab some papers. "Here they are." He said laying down the contracts.

Luca nodded. "I think we should do more business, Jer" he said, with a bit of sarcasm.

"Sure thing kiddo," Jeremy said with a proud smirk aimed at Keir.

With an annoyed tisk, Luca signed the papers. “Make sure to deliver it on time” he said “I don’t want Huuga to fucking kill me”

"We wouldn't want to piss off such a loyal customer." Keir told him. He took a contract and Jeremy put his name on it too. "Nice trading with you lieutenant."

“Fuck off brat” Luca said as he turned to the door. Now he just wanted to go back home and sleep for a week “Thanks for the business, Jeremy”

With that he just left the office.

Jeremy stood up from his chair and headed over to the kid. Keir was packing everything up. That went well, luckily. He thought to himself. He didn't want to talk to the man though.

"Nice work," Jeremy said as he stood behind Keir.

Before his new worker could say or do anything Jeremy swiftly struck Keir from behind, knocking him out.

Jeremy caught Keir before he could fall, holding the unconscious boy before he carried the kid to his bedroom.

"I don't want anyone disturbing him." Jeremy ordered some men at the door and they nodded.

He laid the tired boy down in the room he prepared for him.

"You did good, you deserve a break." Jeremy said as he stared down at the sleeping boy. He laughed a little then left.

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fletcherwilbury · 2 years

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@whumptober Day 10: Alt Prompt 6: Sensory Overload

Warning for physical violence, physical abuse, meltdown, verbal abuse, headache, and victim blaming.

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whumpcember · 1 year

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Introducing Whumpcember 2022!

Everyone's heard of Whumptober or Febuwhump, Angstpril or Sicktember, but get ready for Whumpcember! Whumpcember is pretty much exactly like Whumptober or Febuwhump, except in December.

Whumpcember is born out of a love of monthly whump challenges but with zero time to complete them. I also want to complete these challenges, but never have the time! So I came to realize that, from an American perspective, December is the month I get the most time off. So, I decided to create this event for people who have too much time in December, but so little across the other 12 months. Of course, this is most definitely an American experience and not universal; so if you don't have free time during December it is still perfectly alright to participate! This event was just made to cure my December boredom, and anyone else's.

Now after that ramble, onto the actual rules:

Prompts should be answered with whump as the main focus (i'll let angst slide though, since it's similar enough to whump)

Fanfic! Gif! Text post! Fanart! Fan video! Any piece of media that you can possibly make that has whump counts!

You can use the prompts any time! Don't feel the need to rush

Though, prompts answered during December will most likely be reblogged

Post anywhere! AO3, Wattapad, Tumblr, or even Fanfic.Net! So as long as you make a Tumblr post with a link to the answered prompt it may be reblogged.

When posting onto Tumblr you can either @/ the blog or tag with #whumpcember2022 and the day's tag, such as #whumpcember2022 day1

Don't forget to add any warnings necessary, such as NSFW or sexual content

At the end of the month a masterpost will go out to all participants and a badge you can save stating that you are either a participant or completionist. In order to be on the masterpost though, you will have to fill out a google form at the end of month; don't worry it'll take two minutes!

I hope everyone has a fun time during the event! And if you have any questions shoot me an ask through the ask box!

(this is also my first year running this event, expect a hiccup or two)

Written Prompt List Below

-Main Prompts-

Day 1: Hypothermia

Day 2: Avalanche

Day 3: Storm

Day 4: Shortness of Breath

Day 5: “I hate you!”

Day 6: Separated

Day 7: Scars

Day 8: Faked Death

Day 9: Sacrifice

Day 10: “I won’t leave you”

Day 11: Clothing That Doesn’t Fit

Day 12: Broken Bone

Day 13: Fear of the Unknown

Day 14: Shaking

Day 15: “You’re A Monster”

Day 16: Bad Luck

Day 17: Icy Deep

Day 18: Betrayal

Day 19: Electricity

Day 20: “It’s Too Late”

Day 21: Self-Hate

Day 22: Closing In

Day 23: Stumbling

Day 24: Anticipation

Day 25: “Shouldn’t You Be Happy?”

Day 26: Free Falling

Day 27: Crash Landing

Day 28: Explosion

Day 29: Failure

Day 30: The End Is Nigh

Day 31: Slow Healing

-Alts-

Alt 1. Nightmares

Alt 2. Desperation

Alt 3. Deal With The Devil

Alt 4. Accidental Injury

Alt 5. “I Won’t Help You”

Alt 6. Revenge

Alt 7. Lashing Out

Alt 8. Secrets

Alt 9. On The Run

Alt 10. “I Would Die For You”

#whumpcember2022 #whumpcember2022 prompt list #whumpcember #whump #prompts

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towerofluin · 7 months

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SBI Whumptober Day 10: Guilt &

Alt Prompt 10: Hostage Situation

#art #fanart #digital art #mcyt #dsmp #technoblade #technoblade fanart #tubbo #tubbo fanart #sbi whumptober #whump

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linecrosser · 6 months

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Whumptober 2023 (Art-Edition) Masterpost

Day 01 - Drugging

Day 02 - Exhaustion

Day 03 - Non-Consentual Toching (Alt-Prompt No. 26)

Day 04 - Hiding an Injury

Day 05 - Hostage

Day 06 - Drowning (Alt-Prompt No. 4)

Day 07 - Restrained

Day 08 - Panik Attack

Day 09 - Scar Reveal

Day 10 - Collar

Day 11 - Fainting

Day 12 - Sacrifice

Day 13 - Crying to Sleep (Alt-Prompt No. 6)

Day 14 - Bleeding through the Bandage

Day 15 - Muzzle

Day 16 - Suffocation (Alt-Prompt No. 11)

Day 17 - Hypothermia

Day 18 - Fever

Day 19 - Left Behind

Day 20 - Dehumanization

Day 21 - Blood Loss

Day 22 - Stress Position

Day 23 - "Take me instead" / Begging

Day 24 - Failed Escape

Day 25 - Nightmare

Day 26 - Magical Exhaustion

Day 27 - Locked Away

Day 28 - Hair Pulling

Day 29 - "The easy way or the hard way?"

Day 30 - Paranoia (Alt-Prompt No. 27)

Day 31 - Headache

#whumptober #whumptober2023 #masterpost #whump #whump art

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a-reader-and-a-writer-for-all · 2 years

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Wrong Place, Wrong Time: Aftermath

Whumptober 2022: Alt Prompt for Day 10. Carried to Safety Fandom: Batman, Batfamily, Batfam Word Count: 1722 TW: Aftermath of Reader Death, Grief, Injuries from Part 1, Death of a Family Member Notes: Sequel to Wrong Place, Wrong Time that shows how the Batfamily deals with the events from Part 1 Wrong Place, Wrong Time, Aftermath

They had to wait almost three hours after you were gone before they were able to remove the remaining debris from your body. Jason had wanted to get help digging you out immediately, but Dick reminded him that you would have wanted the other injured people around you to be helped first. The ones who still might be saved. So, Dick had gently closed your unseeing eyes, and they waited for help to become available.

Once all the survivors of the blast had been helped, a few firefighters came over to help them. And as they moved the largest piece of debris off your leg, it was instantly apparent that you had been right. A piece of metal had embedded itself into your thigh, cutting it nearly in half and creating a large pool of blood under you. If they had removed the wall while you were still alive, you would have been in agony every second until you had bled out. At least Dick and Jason took comfort in the fact you didn’t have to experience that.

After you were at last freed, Dick gently lifted you into his arms, drawing you tightly against his chest. As he headed towards your car parked a few blocks away, he carried you carefully, as if you might shatter at any moment. He frequently paused to readjust your mask every time the hood began to slip off your face. It shouldn’t have mattered anymore, but it did.

Jason silently trailed behind him, his expression as hard and as blank as his helmet. You had been his lifeline when he returned to Gotham as Red Hood. Your faith in him had never waivered no matter what he did or how he lashed out at you. And in time, it was only because of your love and belief in him that he had been willing to give the rest of his family a chance again. But now that you were gone, he felt lost once more.

When they finally reached your car, Dick hesitated. Glancing back at Jason, he whispered, “We need the keys.”

Jason’s jaw tightened as he swallowed heavily. He nodded once before approaching you. With a silent plea of I’m so sorry for this, he began digging through your pockets trying to locate your keys. A few silent tears slid down Dick’s face as he turned his head and he let out a sigh of relief when Jason produced the keys a few seconds later.

Jason opened the passenger door and waited for Dick to climb in with you still in his arms. Once he was settled, Jason hurried to the other side and slid into the driver’s seat. As they drove through the city on the way back to the manor, neither one of them spoke, but they both knew they were thinking about the same thing. Only hours ago, the two of them had been bickering about who got to ride up front while you desperately tried to mediate the situation. But this time there was no need to argue…. They both got to sit up front.

The drive seemed to stretch on forever, but eventually, Jason pulled up outside the manor. As Dick carried you inside, both he and Jason expected Alfred to appear at any moment, yet there was no sign of the butler so they continued down into the Batcave.

As they descended the stairs, Tim glanced up from where he was working on the Batcomputer. Springing to his feet, he hurried over to them. “Hey guys, did you hear about this explosion over at the theat-'' but he staggered to a stop when he saw what was bundled in Dick’s arms.

Tears instantly welling up in his eyes, he took a single step forward, “Dick?”

Dick turned slightly, trying to shield you from Tim’s view. “Timmy, stay back. You don’t need to see this.”

Tim shook his head, still not believing what he was seeing in front of him. “But, wha- Is she-…. No. She… she can’t be…”

“Where’s Bruce?” Dick asked solemnly.

“I-I don’t…. He and Damian were… I don’t…”

Dick nodded. “It’s okay, Tim. I’ll find them. Why don’t you take a seat?”

Tim nodded numbly, his eyes never leaving your still form as he backed up and collapsed into the chair he had been sitting in when they arrived. “But what-” His face paled and he swiveled to face the computer screen that was still showing footage of the explosion. Softly, he whispered, “The movies…. You guys were there?”

“Yeah,” Dick muttered. “She was standing at the front door when it… when it happened.”

He carried you into the medical bay and laid you gently on one of the tables. Only then did he lower the hood with the build-in mask, clearly revealing your face. Behind the blood, dust, and bruise, your expression was so tranquil and serene that if Dick wasn’t conscious of the lack of rise and fall of your chest, he would have thought you were just sleeping.

He squeezed your shoulder tightly as he whispered, “I’m sorry.”

From the doorway behind him, Jason growled, “It was those goddamn sunglasses! If she would’ve just asked instead of going back for them, this never would have happened!” It was the first time he had spoken since Dick had lifted you from the rubble.

Without turning around, Dick whispered, “She couldn’t have known, Jason. None of us could have known.”

“This wasn’t supposed to happen! Not to her! She was the best of us and she deserved so much better. She deserved to live her life, or at least die a hero. Not retrieving a pair of sunglasses that were still on her goddamn head!”

Dick opened his mouth but before he could speak, Tim’s voice squeaked from the other room. “Bruce!”

Dick and Jason both paled and looked at each other, unsure of what to do. But finally, Dick nodded softly. “I’ll do it. It should be me.”

Jason lowered his eyes but followed Dick as he walked back into the main area of the cave. Bruce was in his Batman suit, the cowl resting on the floor next to his foot. He was bent down next to the computer chair trying to find out what was wrong from a crying Tim, but when he saw his two eldest wards enter the room, their faces solemn, he stood.

“What is it? What happened?” he demanded.

Dick, Jason, and Tim all exchanged a look before Dick stepped forward. “Bruce, I’m so sorry. She, um…. We tried but there was nothing we could do.”

The realization of what Dick was saying slowly dawned on Bruce. His usual stoic face crumbled into one of pain and disbelief. Gruffly, he asked, “Where is she?”

Dick motioned to the room he and Jason had just left. Bruce crossed the room in three large strides but paused as he reached the doorway and saw you laying on the table. Slowly, he crept into the room until he was standing next to you. Slowly, he reached out and brushed some of the dirt off your cheek. He thought back to the night he had found you, huddled in an alleyway, dirty and alone. You had been so weak and malnourished but you soon blossomed into a strong, capable, amazing young woman that Bruce had loved. You might not have been his daughter by blood, but you were his daughter in every other way that mattered. And he hoped that you had known that. That you had known what you truly meant to him. Before….

“We went to the movies. We were finally letting ourselves take a day off and just be normal,” Dick whispered from behind him. “She was happy until–”

“Until she was blown up and had half a building dropped on top of her.” Jason snapped. “But that’s just another day in Gotham City, isn’t it? The bad guys are left alive to continue their paths of death and destruction over and over again while the good guys, the innocent guys are left to suffer and die.”

“Jason…” Dick muttered softly. “This isn’t the time fo–”

“Did she suffer?” Bruce interrupted. “Was she in any…”

“No. She said it was mostly just numb,” Dick reassured him.

But Jason scoffed loudly. “Would she have actually told us if she was in pain? She would have wanted us to think she was okay, even if she had been in pure agony.”

Bruce nodded. “She always tries- tried to look out for everyone else, even above herself.”

The three men stood in silence, gazing down at you as they thought about everything you had done for them over the years.

Bruce sighed. “Damian’s already out on patrol. He’ll need to be called back. He deserves to know and he deserves to hear it from us.”

Dick nodded. “I’ll let him know we need him back here.” As he turned to leave, he grabbed Jason’s arm and forced him to come with him so Bruce could have a moment alone.

Bruce looked longingly at you one last time. “I’m so sorry. I wish I would have been there. I wish I could have done something, anything to save you. I would have taken your place in an instant.”

It was only at that moment that he looked down and noticed the hoodie you were wearing. His fingers lightly traced the bat emblem that was plastered across your chest. “You understood what this meant more than any of the boys. What it stood for and why. You just understood each of us better than anyone else. Now who’s going to mediate family dinners?”

Bruce waited a moment, almost as though he were expecting a reply. But when he didn’t get one, he whispered, “Thank you, for everything. You pulled me back from the edge so many times. You held us together when we threatened to shatter apart. You brought Jason back to us when I never thought he would forgive me. And I don’t know what we’ll do without you. But I hope wherever you are, you’re at peace. You deserve nothing less.”

He leaned over and placed a long kiss on your forehead before whispering, “Goodbye, my daughter.”

Then he turned and walked out of the door, closing it behind him.

Taglist: @nik2blog, @dumb-fawkin-bitch, @lolzghost, @thefictionalcharacterssimp, @venomsvl, @sugarysweetsandpainfulteeth, @your-friendly-neighborhood-al, @hellfire-fan-club

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