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ickle-ronniekins · 4 years

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duet | golden

DUET MASTERLIST

desc: fred loves to tease his twin. more importantly, he loves to tease his twin about you. so when the opportunity arrises to invite you for summer holiday and keep it from george, fred takes it. and george, stunned at your appearance in the entrance of his house, is flabbergasted and nervous. but maybe, just maybe, it’s the perfect time to tell you -- maybe it’s the perfect time to tell you just exactly how he’s been feeling.

a/n: hi! i don’t even know what number leeann and i are up too with these installments! leeann and i love these two little goofballs so much. i'm so grateful she approached me a few weeks ago asking to do this collab. also i knoooow the summer before the trio’s 5th year they’re supposed to be at headquarters but whatever just indulge me okay? also yes she’s in hufflepuff but let’s pretend the houses can pack together and hang together in their common rooms OKAY!

word count: 3.8k sorry

warnings: naaaah

“It’s going to be our final year! Aren’t you sad, Freddie?”

You were adding the last of your things to the top of your trunk -- your clean quills, your neatly folded socks, your straight, unwrinkled ribbons, and of course, the letters. The letters that kept coming. From your secret admirer.

“Not really,” Fred grinned brightly. He was sprawled out on the couch in the empty Gryffindor common room, his trunk on the floor next to him. The two of you were alone. Most everyone was now down in the Great Hall, getting ready to leave. How was it summer holiday already?

You noticed the ends of Fred’s shirts sticking out of the sides of his trunk and you rolled your eyes. Silly boy. You reckoned he needed a lesson in folding. Properly. Had he not learned a thing from his mother?

“Not really?” you barked, shooting him a very angry gaze. Blood was rushing to your face out of pure resentment. “Bloody hell, Fred, it’s our last year at school. You can’t tell me you don’t really care, do you?”

He closed his eyes and placed his hands behind his head, relaxing at the thought of almost being out of Hogwarts for good. “I dunno, Y/N, I’m rather excited about it, actually. What’s got your wand in a knot?”

You huffed dramatically. Why didn’t anyone understand you? You sat down on your closed trunk and grumpily began to tie your shoes. “Because! It’s almost over! And we’ve got to spend as much time together as we can, don’t we, Fred? George, too. So no running off all the time next school term, yeah? Not to mention we’ve got this summer holiday now -- can’t believe we won’t see one another until September...”

“Right,” Fred replied. His eyes opened with a jolt and he sat upright rather quickly and grabbed you by the shoulders, frightening you. You brought your hand to your chest in surprise.

“Merlin, Fred!”

“What would you say, Y/N,” he began, his face in a tight-lipped, cheeky grin, “if I say you should come to the Burrow this summer?”

Your eyes widened -- both in delight and in nerves. The Burrow? Their home? You’d heard such wonderful things -- the way George had talked about it had made it seem like the most wonderful, cozy place. He knew you loved cozy things. He knew how much you’d enjoy the idea of his mum sitting by the fire, knitting away, with a cup of tea on the table next to her. It’s what he imagined you’d do too, if you were there.

“R-really?” you asked Fred now, hoping that for this one moment, he’d place his teasing aside, because you could not afford to get your hopes up again. Not now. Not after the disaster that was the Yule Ball. The almost-kiss. The night that wasn’t.

“Yeah, really,” Fred made it absolute, taking your hands in his. “C’mon! Mum and Dad won’t mind -- pretty sure Harry and Hermione might be coming for a bit, as well. You’d love it, I know you would. Not to mention George will be there, obviously--”

You swatted him playfully with the end of your shirt sleeve, your face glowing the same shade of red as the common room carpet. You ignored that statement; it was rather rude of him, actually, especially when the ball, even though it was months ago, was still fresh in your mind. Ever-present. That silly cheek kiss. The twirling in your dress. The giggles that echoed in your ears. It was all still there, painfully and excitingly so.

But the prospect of hanging around the Burrow with your very best friends was inviting. How could you not, when the offer was right in front of you? How could you possibly decline? Hadn’t you just said you wanted to spend as much time together as you could? A small grin lifted your cheeks and your eyes brightened at the thought. “Okay then, Freddie. Count me in.”

He smiled and placed a hand to your knee. “Atta girl.”

“Ooh! I’ve got to go and tell George!”

Before you could grab your trunk and make your way through the portrait hole, Fred jumped to his feet and ran toward the exit. He placed his hand on his chest. “No, no -- let me, alright? Besides, miss,” he pointed to your spellbooks lying in a heap next to your feet, “you’ve still got packing to do.”

And before you could fight him on it, he winked at you and hopped into the corridor, vanishing before your eyes. You scoffed and looked down at your spellbooks and began placing them into your bag. What was that look in Fred’s eyes just before he’d left? Exuberance? Delight? ...mischief? Why couldn’t you shake the feeling that Fred Weasley was definitely up to something?

________________

The Burrow was glowing underneath the summer sunlight. George, Fred, Ron, Ginny, Harry, and Hermione were hovering in the sky on their broomsticks, playing a bit of Quidditch in the sweltering heat. George, annoyed that his twin had made him play Keeper, of all positions, wiped a bit of sweat from his forehead.

“You’re a right git, Fred!” George called as the elder twin threw the Quaffle right passed his head. George, in an attempt to block it, flipped completely upside down, nearly falling off of his broom. Ginny squealed with laughter alongside Ron. A natural Chaser, Fred was. He reckoned he’d play that position if he wasn’t such a bloody brilliant Beater. But George -- a Keeper? He wasn’t the greatest.

Molly was rummaging around the kitchen. Straightening up. You’d be arriving soon, wouldn’t you? She had a pot of tea on. All of the children flooded into the house. “Don’t make a mess!” Molly huffed, “I’ve just tidied up!”

“Mum, why on Earth have you got tea on? It’s bloody blazing outside!” George asked. He dipped his head under the sink and ran cold water over his head. Molly swatted him with her rag.

“Oh, George, get out from under there, won’t you? Straighten yourself up.” She pulled at his sweaty shirt, ran a hand through his very askew hair to try and straighten it, and wiped a bit of sweat from his face, just like she had when he was a little boy. Then she turned to Fred, Ron, and the others. “You lot, as well! She’ll be here soon!”

“Sorry,” George asked, noting the very bright grin spreading across Fred’s face. “But.. who will be here soon?”

There was a quiet knock at the door. Nervously, you stepped across the threshold -- a bag slung over your shoulder, your hair pulled into a neat side ponytail, a pale yellow tee shirt beneath your overalls. “Erm -- don’t mean to bother --”

“Oh!” Molly squealed. She immediately rushed toward the door and pulled you into an incredibly tight embrace. She smelled of rosemary and lavender. She cupped your face in her hands and peered down at you with the most warm and welcoming smile. “We’re so happy to have you, Y/N. Come! I’ve just set a pot of tea!”

You hadn’t even had time to thank Molly for letting you stay before Fred was tugging you into his arms. He was yucky -- all sweaty from being outside, but he didn’t let go. In fact, he just squeezed you harder, the sweat from his head dripping onto your clothes. Ick. “Bloody finally, was wondering when the hell you were going to show up,”

“Language, Frederick!” Molly barked.

You grinned excitedly at Fred and made your rounds. The Burrow was even more beautiful than you’d imagined, more beautiful than their stories. Several stories high, swallowed fully in cozy autumn colors. You could see now, as you peered at every single crevice of the home, why the Weasleys loved it so much. You wanted to live here, too.

“So happy you were able to come,” Ginny told you as she grasped your arms. It seemed that everyone was incredibly elated to have you join for the remainder of the summer. Everyone, that is, except for George.

He was standing on the other end of the kitchen, frozen solid, as if his feet had been cemented into the ground. He had half a glass of water placed right to his lips, but he wasn’t drinking. His whole entire body was rigid. His eyes wide with wonder. What on Earth were you doing here? In his house?

“Y/N,” he said, finally finding his voice. A bit croaky. He was trying not to stare, he really was, but he was finding it difficult. He genuinely could not peel his eyes off of you. Maybe it was the way your eyes were glistening. Maybe it was the way your dimples appeared as your lazy grin grew on your face. Perhaps, he thought, it was the very bright magenta colored ribbon in your hair, tied perfectly into a small bow at the top of your head. It was a color he’d never seen before, but one, he realized, he wanted to learn all about. “I--I didn’t know you were coming.”

“You didn’t?”

You peered at George quizzically, the two of you standing across from each other, not moving. The entire scene was rather dramatic, actually -- Fred, behind you, stifling a bit of laughter and snorting -- Molly, flushed and confused, because how could her son not know you were coming for a visit? Surely he’d heard them all discussing it the last few days? Ron, Harry, Hermione, and Ginny, giggling slightly at the sight of a very flustered, very nervous, very obvious George.

“Freddie,” you said, whirling around to face the elder twin. “I thought you said you were going to tell him?”

A cheeky, mischievous grin appeared on Fred’s lips. “Whoops -- must’ve forgotten.”

“I’m sorry --” George started, placing his hands on the counter, trying his best not to grin like an idiot. “How long have you two been planning this?”

“Since the last day of term!” you said, finally moving forward and pulling him into a tight hug. It was very difficult for George to not melt completely into you. He did anyway, though. It’d been weeks since an embrace from you, one he’d been yearning for. Dreaming of. He’d been positively woebegone when he’d hugged you goodbye on the platform at King’s Cross. Can’t wait to see you soon! You’d said, your grin large and eyes sparkling. George had just thought you meant the new school term come September. He had no bloody idea --

Your body molded perfectly into his, and he breathed in the smell of your hair -- strawberries, he reckoned. With a dash of mint. You continued, pulling back, “I can’t believe Fred didn’t tell you!”

George, a bit woozy from the sight of you, straightened himself up and ran a hand quickly through his hair. He then cleared his throat and spoke, trying to sound casual. “I know! But, even so. Happy to have you here,” he told you, grinning at the sight of your exuberance. “More than.”

“Me too, Georgie.”

George’s happiness didn’t stop him from shooting a very scathing look at his cackling twin in the corner.

________________

You were there. Just a few floors away. You were there -- in his house, in the middle of summer holiday, for four weeks! A whole bloody month!

“I’m going to absolutely kick your arse, Fred.”

“Feeling a bit hostile, are we, Georgie? None of that in this house. Mum will have your head, I reckon.”

Fred laughed to himself as he slid into his bed and propped himself up on his pillows. He gazed at the ceiling and then at his half unpacked trunk in the corner of the room. He waited for the younger twin across the room to speak.

“Why the bloody hell didn’t you tell me?”

“I reckon because I get a right kick out of seeing you get all high strung and edgy at the mere sight of her, mate.”

George scoffed. “I could’ve used a bit more preparation, you know.”

“Mhmm.”

“She was perfect -- with that ribbon and those overalls and everything. She smelled like strawberries, Fred. Strawberries. And there I was, disgusting from your bloody Quidditch match. I’ve probably scared her off.”

Fred wanted to tell his brother how dramatic he was being, but instead, he snorted this time and threw his pillow directly at George, who groaned beneath it when it landed on his face.

“Think this is funny, do you?”

“Yeah, I do, actually.”

And George tried to hold back his laughter when Fred started on again, he really did, but he had to admit -- it was kind of funny.

He was happy. Over the bloody moon, actually. You were here, weren’t you? And you both had an entire month to do whatever you pleased. He stared through the darkness in his room, wide-eyed, the prospect of the rest of the holiday laid out in front of him like a map. He could show you the village, he could show you where he and Fred used to play as kids, his favorite shops! He could take you across the hills outside the Burrow and you two could spend the day outside under the summer sun and maybe, just maybe, his heart willing, he’d tell you. He’d tell you how his heart had skipped a beat at the sight of you in your dress at the ball. How the butterflies had danced around his stomach the entire night he spent twirling you. How he’d kept on joking just to hear you laugh. How he’d nearly short-circuited at the feeling of your lips on his cheek, just barely -- so close to his own. How he didn’t sleep that night, because all he could think about was you. Beautiful, perfect, golden -- ever-the-innocent. Ever-the-wonder.

Maybe he’d find a way to pluck up the courage. And maybe, just maybe, he thought, you’d tell him you couldn’t stop thinking about him either.

________________

“That’s where Fred and I got our love of pranks,”

George pointed to a shop in the middle of the village. It was bright and vibrant and inviting. He watched as your eyes lit up at the sight of it. You were breathless. “How old were you when you first went there?”

“Four or five, maybe?”

It was overcast today, a bit cloudy, but it wasn’t going to stop George from bringing you into the village -- especially since he was finally alone with you. He’d finally lost his family in the crowd, thank Merlin. It was a bit cool, too, and George watched as you pulled your purple cardigan tighter around you. He reached out and touched your shoulder.

“And that there,” he pointed to a small little shop off the beaten path -- quiet and gray, a bit lonely -- “that’s mum’s favorite tea shop.”

“I’m so happy you took me here, George.”

“Are you?”

“Yes!” you squealed excitedly. You pulled a bit on his shirt and stopped short in the middle of the crowded street. “I love this, all of it. Wish I’d grown up here. Wish I’d known you when we were younger.”

George felt his insides twist into a very tight knot at the thought.

“Which reminds me,” your eyes brightened as you clapped your hands together. “Your mum promised me tonight she’d show me your baby photos!”

Yep, the knot had quickly tightened even more and shot straight into his throat. He didn’t need to be embarrassed in his own home. “Erm -- dunno if that’s such a good idea.”

“Come on -- I want to see how cute you were!”

He grinned a bit and watched as horror took over your face.

“Not--not that you’re not cute now. Not that I’m looking at you that way! I mean, you are cute, Georgie -- I mean -- I just --” you sighed dramatically. George watched as your cheeks went pink. “I just want to see you as a kid,”

He couldn’t stop laughing. How much more adorable could you get? How much more beautiful? he thought. His musings must’ve called out a signal to the universe, because a very large storm cloud appeared in the sky directly over the tiny little village and opened up almost immediately.

Before you knew it, you were both soaked from head to toe. “Come on!” he yelled over the shouts of the crowd and grabbed your hand. But you pulled him back and stayed put. Your hair was now separated in fat, wet strands -- half of it plastered to the sides of your face. Your cardigan was soaked. Your shoes muddy. Your makeup streaky. And yet, as you danced around and splashed in the puddles, you were still the most beautiful thing he’d ever seen in his entire life.

The rain had stopped almost as quickly as it had started, and George noticed you were the only two in the middle of the street now. Surely, everyone else had run inside to escape the impactful -- albeit quick -- rainstorm. You jumped dramatically in the puddle in front of him, splashing the bottoms of his jeans and his shoes, and he said to you, warmth overtaking him despite his cold, rain soaked clothes, “You’re a wonder, you are. Like a little kid.”

Normally a comment like that would bother you. A little kid? You? How rude! You were perfectly capable of acting like an adult, thank you very much. But the way George said it, the way the words so effortlessly escaped from his lips -- it was more of a compliment than anything else. You wondered if, maybe, possibly, somehow, he’d love you in spite of it. No, no, because of it. Your innocence. “Why? You giggled, reaching out and touching his arm. You watched as the raindrops fell from his eyelashes every time he blinked. “Because I like to splash in puddles, Georgie?”

“Yes,” he replied breathlessly and pushed a piece of hair behind your ear, “because you like to splash in puddles.”

This is the moment, he thought. Your eyes were softer than they ever had been. He was almost certain he could hear the pounding of your heart. Perhaps it was his. Either way, there was something different about you now -- something different about the look in your eye, as soon as he’d reached out to touch you. Fondness. He was going to tell you, in the middle of this desolate street, underneath the overcast sky, just how overwhelming his feelings have been, ever since that day. Ever since you noticed him. Ever since he’d made you laugh, that time, in Charms. How he’d wanted to make you laugh ever since. How he wanted to make you smile the largest of smiles. I’m the one who’s been sending you those gifts. It’s me. I’ve loved you since the day I met you. The words were on the tip of his tongue --

“Oi! What’re you two doing out here?”

George grimaced at the sound of Ron’s voice; bloody hell, they’d found you. Easy, now, since the crowd had dispersed. George relished the thought of pulling you into an empty store to escape his family yet again, but it was too late. They’d noticed you. Good Godric, how much longer was he going to hold this in? It’s not very often feelings of bravery about you overtake him --

“Been playing in the rain again, Y/N, haven’t you?”

“Perhaps I was, Freddie. Something you ought to try sometime, I reckon.”

“Let’s get home!” Molly called to you all. She tutted at the sight of your soaked clothes and wrapped her shawl around your shoulders. “Oh, dear -- come, then, the Burrow awaits. I’ve got nice bowls of soup to warm you all up.”

George just stood where he was as Hermione and Ginny tugged you along to head back to the Burrow, staring at the spot you had been in front of him -- moon-eyed and shivering from the rain. Soft and close to him. Just inches away.

He felt an arm drape across his shoulder. “I can see why you fancy her so much, son.”

Arthur pulled George along, a few feet behind the rest of the crowd. George was moving forward, but wasn’t sure how. He couldn’t feel his legs or his feet. “W-what? Dad, I dunno what you’re on about.”

“Always have been a right awful liar, you have!” Arthur’s haughty laughter echoed through the street, now filling with people. “It’s why I was always able to catch you and Fred when you were younger -- you wear your heart right here!” he pointed to George’s sleeve.

“Dad,” George said through gritted teeth, both embarrassed and relieved that someone, anyone, other than Fred knew of his feelings. He swallowed his nerves and just went for it. “Nobody’s told her, have they?”

“And revealed the very best of you? No, son, I reckon your mother would have their heads.” Arthur replied. George pulled at his red hair, a carbon copy of his father’s when he was George’s age.

And suddenly, George felt a bolt of confidence race through his veins. “I was going to tell her. Right before you lot showed up. How I feel, I mean. You reckon I should? Or would I look like a prat?”

George had never really fancied discussing girls with his father -- or with anyone, for that matter, except for Fred. He’d always felt awkward about it. Being open. Being vulnerable. Letting people into his heart. But now, standing here with his father, watching the girl he’s loved for so many years -- the girl he hoped, one day, would become his wife -- he thought that maybe, just maybe, he could open his heart a bit more.

Arthur laughed again and squeezed George’s shoulder. “Not a prat, son. A brave man. You tell her when you’re ready. We’ll all be waiting.”

George, stunned, turned to look at his dad now, wide-eyed and confused. “What do you mean ‘we’ll all be waiting’?”

“Well we all love her, don’t we?” Arthur prodded on. The Burrow was in view now. George watched as you and Ginny began to do cartwheels across the hills, Ron and Fred and Hermione and Harry laughing at it all. He felt a smile lift his cheeks. Arthur continued, “Your mum adores her, you know, as does everyone else.” You turned around and raised a hand to them both before going into another cartwheel, landing in the wet grass, earning yourself laughs from your friends. You -- not poised in the slightest, but still the cutest thing he’d ever seen -- golden against the now cotton candy colored sky, and him -- desperately in love, heart on his sleeve, his feelings nearly pouring out of him. Without a shred of doubt -- he knew what being in love meant. This was being in love. George couldn’t help but laugh at his father’s next words: “And son, did you know? She knows all about these Muggle contraptions! Hope you don’t mind, but, she’s promised to tell me all about some of them after supper. Merlin’s beard!”

tag list: @georgeweasleyx @seppys-return-to-madness @fopdoodledane @fredd-weasley @iprobablyshipit91 @darling-details @laneygthememequeen @lupinsx @keoghans @helloallthethingsilove @waschbiber @dreamer821 @feffffffy @the-hufflepuff-of-221b @62442-am @wtfweasleyy @obsessedwithrandomthings @sleep-i-ness @shadowsinger11 @harrysweasleys @shadychaoticcollection @haphazardhufflepuff @afriendlyneighborhoodhufflepuff @hood-and-horan @geeksareunique @insearchofnewdreams @notstandingstill-imlyinginwait @lumos-barnes @thatfuckingliardavidtennant @slytherinqween @xinyourdreamsx @skiving-snackboxess @wildfire-whizbangs @dwarfwizard-from-panem @diary-of-an-onliner @answer-the-sirens@woakiees @black-widow-fangirl @theheirofnightandday @summerstardust @whysoseriouspadfoot @chocok22 @myhopesareanchoredinyou @siriusblackisme @illusivedaydreamer @zeeneee @writingwitchly @wolfpotter12 @obsessedwithrandomthings @carolinesbookworld @shadowsinger11 @pit-and-the-pen @summer-writes @peachesandpinks @gweaslvy @alpinewinchester @letsfightsomeorcs @theweasleysredhair @purpleskiesstorm @hxfflxpxffs @wand3ringr0s3 @finecole

#george weasley #fred weasley #fred and george weasley #weasley twins #george weasley x reader #george weasley reader insert #george weasley imagine #weasley twins imagine #george weasley fanfic #george weasley fanfiction #hp imagines #hp fanfic #hp fanfiction #ginny weasley #molly weasley #arthur weasley #ron weasley

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red-butler · 4 years

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Kuroshitsuji Ladies Week - Paula

Day one of Kuro Ladies week and Paula gets a chance to be in the spotlight for once! :D

Paula has been with her mistress for many years now, watching her grow from a sweet loving child into a beautiful strong young woman. She's been there for all her joys and sorrows. Only...far too many of her sorrows seem to be centred around Earl Phantomhive. Paula can't help but hate the young boy who keeps breaking her mistress' heart.

https://archiveofourown.org/works/24370816

The Phantomhives were dead and Paula almost found herself resenting them for it. Which was awful really, and she bowed her head, thankful no one could hear her thoughts as she stood in the windswept cemetery, barely able to hear the vicar’s voice as he read the eulogy. It wasn’t their fault they were dead, she should feel sorry for them all, murdered in such a horrific manner, especially the twins, so young and innocent. And she did feel bad, she really did, she wished with all her heart it hadn’t happened.

But she couldn’t deny that she didn’t wish that for their sake as much for the sake of little Lizzy, who was standing beside her mother, eyes wide and blank with grief. Whenever Paula saw that empty lost expression on Lizzy’s face, Lizzy who was so full of life and joy and happiness, she wanted to do absolutely anything necessary to make her young charge smile again. Lizzy deserved to be happy and Paula almost hated Ciel and his family for dying and making Lizzy so inconsolably full of grief.

Paula had been with Lizzy for almost five years now and had come to love her dearly. She was kind and generous and sweet but also strong and proud and so skilled when she fought! Paula had been horrified when she had been informed that her charge, barely five years old, would be taking fencing classes, hardly suitable for a young English lady! But it would take a far braver maid than Paula to stand up against Lady Frances and so Paula had been there to dress and prepare Lizzy for her practise and listen to her chat eagerly about her progress and really, when it became apparent how skilled Lizzy was Paula’s fear had dissolved. Lizzy was safe and happy and that was all Paula wanted.

But now Lizzy was unhappy in a way that Paula couldn’t fix with cakes and a story, or a ride out into the country, or even a trip into town to buy something pretty and charming. Lizzy was grieving the loss of her fiance and Paula was grieving the loss of Lizzy’s innocence and delight in life.

___

Ciel had returned and Paula had been prepared to greet this news with undivided joy. Lizzy certainly had been over the moon when the letter had come from Ciel, addressed to the Marquis of course, but inviting the whole family to the manor for dinner. A necessary politeness. Paula of course hadn’t been invited but she had spent the evening eagerly gossiping with the other servants about how Ciel had survived the fire that had killed his family and where he had been for the last month. When Lizzy had returned Paula had hurried to help her prepare for bed, expecting to hear the full story form a delighted Lizzy who would have her love of life and happiness restored to her.

Instead Lizzy confessed almost tearfully that Ciel had told them almost nothing about what had happened to him, and that he was acting completely differently, almost like a stranger.

“I know he’s been through something bad...and I don’t want to make him feel bad…” Lizzy had told Paula, staring at her hands as the maid brushed her hair for her. “But I just want to help him! I’d do anything to make him smile again, like he used to.”

Paula’s heart had shattered anew for how kind her young mistress was. Lizzy was hurting so badly and all she wanted to do was help someone else. She really was the sweetest young lady Paula had ever served.

As the days, weeks and months went by and Paula watched as Lizzy tried and tried again and again to cheer Ciel up, to make him smile or relax even slightly and each attempt failed, Paula half wanted to shake Ciel by the shoulders and shout at him that Lizzy was doing so much for him, that she was tearing herself to pieces in a desperate plea to make him feel even the tiniest bit better, and if he were truly a gentleman, or if he loved her in the slightest, he would respond in some way. Lizzy was desperate to help him and Ciel was pushing her away and each time Lizzy returned home with the sad longing expression and damp eyes Paula felt more angry than she had any right to be. Couldn’t Ciel see how much he was hurting Lizzy?

___

Lizzy stared wistfully at the beautiful heeled shoes and then shook her head almost violently, tears spilling from the corners of her eyes as she refused them. Paula put them away. They had been a gift from Lizzy’s father, a reward for winning a fencing tournament and Lizzy clearly wanted them badly but was refusing them. Paula knew why, knew just how much Ciel had hurt Lizzy...how Lizzy was desperately trying to force herself into a mould that she had long since outgrown in a doomed attempt to please a boy who seemed to take absolutely no interest.

After Lizzy was dressed and had cleaned her face ready for lunch with her family Paula carefully packed the paper back around the shoes and put them away. Maybe there would come a day soon when Lizzy would feel able to wear heeled shoes and enjoy grown up things, a time when she wouldn’t be desperately hiding her skill with a sword because she was scared that Ciel wouldn’t react badly to it. As far as Paula was concerned that day couldn’t come soon enough.

Paula had often dreamed of having children of her own, of finding a wonderful husband and building a family with him. She had cherished each child she had cared for in her career, but she had been with Lizzy longer than any other child and couldn’t imagine loving a child more than she loved her bright smiling girl. Elizabeth Midford was the closest thing Paula had to a daughter and it tore her up inside to see her hurting herself over a boy who, quite frankly, didn’t deserve her if he wasn’t going to appreciate the gift he had been given!

Later that evening she spoke with Helena, one of the upstairs maids about her worries.

“I almost find myself wishing Ciel had never come back...her grief was heartbreaking but it was natural and she would have got over it in time…”

“Aye...it’s the common lot of men isn’t it? To string a lovesick woman behind them. Phantomhive’s just starting young that’s all.”

“But that’s horrible! Lizzy deserves so much better!”

“She don’t want better though does she? She just wants her childhood friend back.”

That brought Paula up short a little. Maybe it wasn’t Ciel Lizzy was desperately trying to bring back, as it was those happy days before any tragedy had affected her. Perhaps Lizzy believed that if she just tried hard enough, everything would go back to the way it had been? It was a troubling thought and Paula found herself musing on it a lot.

___

Time went by and the problem didn’t seem to be getting any better at all. Paula watched with a heavy heart as Lizzy became more and more desperate and extreme in her attempts to cheer Ciel up. Nothing was working and in fact, in Paula’s opinion, Ciel was getting more and more distant and angry with Lizzy. Couldn’t he see that she just wanted an acknowledgement from him, just wanted him to reassure her that everything would be all right. Honestly, if Ciel could simply tell Lizzy that she was so much as just a good friend, it would mean the world to Paula’s mistress!

But it wasn’t her place to say so of course and so she waited, quiet and obedient and with her heart shattering every time Lizzy tried to reach out to the Phantomhive boy only to get rebuffed again and again and again.

Finally Lizzy tried to throw a party, sneaking off from home to do so and spending the entire day at Ciel’s house. She was beginning to get into trouble from her parents for behaviour like this but Lizzy wasn’t about to let her parent’s disapproval stop her from doing what she knew was right! In all honesty, Paula admired that about her young mistress, her tenacity and willingness to do the right thing even under more difficult circumstances. But she was beginning to feel that the energy expended on Ciel was a wasted effort as she anxiously awaited her young charge’s return.

When Lizzy did finally come back home, and once she had finished being scolded by both her parents and being hugged by her older brother who, being usually away at school and unaware of Lizzy’s frequent trips over to the Phantomhive manor, had been frantic with worry over his beloved younger sister; Paula had a chance to talk with Lizzy herself and see how she was feeling.

Lizzy seemed quieter and more thoughtful than she usually was after a visit to Ciel. Usually she was either close to tears over a lack of progress in making him smile or bubbling with joy over a change so slight Paula was half convinced it wasn’t a change at all.

“Is there something on your mind miss Lizzy?”

“Hmm? Oh, I have been a little quiet I suppose Paula.”

“Just a little!” Paula agreed with a laugh, “Did everything go well at the Phantomhives?”

“Oh yes! Well...sort of…”

“Oh?”

“We had a really wonderful party! Ciel looked so cute in the clothes I chose for him and everything was so prettily decorated!”

“That sounds absolutely lovely!”

“It really was! But…” Lizzy trailed off, fidgeting with the hem of her dress and looking away from her maid. “But I think I…”

“Miss Lizzy?”

“Paula? Am I a bad person?”

“What? Of course not! Who told you that, I’ll give them a piece of my mind-”

“Oh no Paula, please. No one said that! It’s simply that Ciel and I had...well a bit of an argument. And I broke something that was very important to him.” She bit her lip, looking down at the ground now as though she were too ashamed to meet Paula’s concerned eyes. “I knew it was important, I knew how much it meant to him, but I just got so frustrated that nothing I was doing was working, that he was still so miserable I just lashed out and I broke it.”

Paula knelt down, taking Lizzy’s hands in hers. Lizzy may have done a bad thing, breaking whatever it was of Ciel’s that he treasured so much, but she couldn’t bring herself to add a further scolding onto the young girl, not when she was looking so genuinely sad and upset.

“I know you’re trying to help him Lizzy,” She said carefully, hoping that nothing she said was out of place for a ladies maid. “But sometimes people need to work through things on their own.”

“But it’s been years.” Lizzy whispered, still not meeting her gaze. “I just want things to go back to normal.”

“Oh Lizzy…”

The two of them sat like that for a long time, Lizzy grieving a past that would never return and Paula grieving the loss of the childlike innocence that had so filled Lizzy in the past. Almost irrationally she wanted to blame Ciel for this too, for being the cause of Lizzy growing up out of her naivety about the world and beginning to understand that sometimes things just couldn’t be fixed. If he’d just been more patient with her then Lizzy could have held onto that wonder for a little longer.

___

After the party Paula noticed that Lizzy was making a real effort to be calmer and give Ciel his space. It seemed that Lizzy had taken the lesson to heart, that sometimes Ciel just needed to work through things himself. She continued however, to hide her swordplay and dress and act much more childishly than Paula suspected she secretly wanted to.

So when Lizzy returned home after asking Ciel if he would be able to come on the journey abroad with the Midford’s, she didn’t throw a tantrum or cry over her disappointment. Paula did notice her subduedness over the next few days however, and made note of how carefully Lizzy packed her writing utensils herself.

They would be gone for six months at least, and judging from the gossip Paula was privy to, if Lord Midford became too engaged in his business over in America then it might be well over a year before the family returned. It sounded exciting really, Paula had never been abroad in her life before, and it all sounded very glamourous and interesting. But she was aware that Lizzy was worried that Ciel would forget her while she was gone, or worse, would decide he much preferred not having her around at all and would break off their engagement.

Paula wasn’t certain that Ciel would do that, he seemed torn between resignation and actual appreciation for his engagement, but she could understand why Lizzy worried. The Earl of Phantomhive wasn’t exactly skilled at showing his emotions or reassuring those around him. So she helped Lizzy pack away enough note paper and pens to supply an army and reassured her that they would certainly be able to buy more supplies in America, and that she could write as often as she wanted of course, but she must remember that it would take a while for Ciel to receive her letters and reply so she mustn't be discouraged.

Lizzy seemed to accept this and Paula was so proud of how mature and adjusted she was becoming. It hurt to lose the sweet simple child she had been, but the generous and kind young lady she was growing into was wonderful to see. She was still disappointed though, and Paula could see that her eyes were red in the mornings sometime, hinting at sleepless nights crying and worrying over losing the one person she loved above all others.

So when they were finally aboard the boat, watching the coast of England vanish behind them and Ciel appeared from further along the deck, sparking delight from Lizzy and her family, Paula felt a sinking sense of disappointment in the Earl, followed by a slow burning rage.

How dare Ciel lead her Lizzy on like that? How dare he decide it would be, what, funny? To make Lizzy believe he wasn’t coming and then just appear on the ship? Lizzy might be thrilled and smiling ear to ear but Paula could only remember the red rimmed eyes, the quiet disappointment, the sleepless nights and the unhappiness that Lizzy had had to deal with for the weeks of preparation for this trip.

She hid her feelings of course, it was not her place to question her superiors of course. She thought she was doing a good job of hiding her hurt and anger, Lizzy seemed oblivious to the displeasure she was concealing. Paula wouldn’t have been this upset if a man had let her down in this way, but to hurt Lizzy, who had never done anything to deserve being hurt like this in her entire life! Perhaps Ciel had intended it as a nice surprise but the hurt he had caused Lizzy would not be forgotten by Paula at least.

___

Paula didn’t think she had ever been this cold in her life. The large rescue ship had appeared at last, and being aboard felt far safer than bobbing out in the ocean on a lifeboat, but Paula was still scared.

She was surrounded by strangers, all cold, all terrified and all desperate for safety and warmth. The new ship was overwhelmed by all the passengers but was doing its best. Paula curled up in a corner with a donated blanket, staring at the noise and movement around her and hoping to see a glimpse of her family. Please let them all be safe, please let Lizzy be here somewhere she prayed desperately, as she had been doing throughout the longest coldest night of her life.

There! Paula stood upright, straining to see through the crowd of people, she could hear the familiar strident tones of the Lady Midford, haranguing people for snatching at the hot food being served up and not assisting those in greater need. Paula shoved her way impatiently towards Lady Frances, heart in mouth as she squeezed past the last group of people…

Relief crashed over her. Lord Midford was there, discussing something quietly with the captain, his wife overseeing the distribution of hot food and blankets with the assistance of Edward and the Queen’s butlers. Lizzy was standing off to the side, fingers pressed against her mouth as she scanned the crowd, looking for anyone familiar. Paula’s eyes filled with tears as she rushed forward. It was a breach of propriety, certainly, but she didn’t care as she called out to Lizzy, who spun around with a relieved smile, rushing towards her maid. Lizzy flung her arms around Paula in a hug that she gladly returned, just so grateful to see one another alive and well despite it all.

“Oh Lizzy, I’m so glad you’re safe!” Paula said, breaking away from the hug to check her over. “You’re not hurt are you?”

“No, I’m perfectly fine Paula, I really am. Ciel protected me, just like he said he would!” Lizzy smiled brightly, but then her smile dropped. “Have you seen Ciel, Paula? I haven’t seen him, and Eddie says he went back to deal with the walking corpses and I’m worried about him…”

“No...I haven’t seen him.” Paula admitted. So Ciel had saved Lizzy had he? That was good, that's what she would expect from him. To step up to his responsibilities and help her.

“He saw me fighting.” Lizzy blurted out quickly, as though she thought if she didn’t say it now then she would never say it. Paula’s eyes widened in astonished fear, she knew just how anxious Lizzy had been about Ciel finding out about her swordsmanship.

“What did he say?”

“He...he told me I shouldn’t hide it in the future, that he still wanted to marry me and that I saved his life.” Lizzy’s tone was filled with wonder. “He said I had been stupid to think that something like that would change his opinion of me.”

“He called you stupid?”

“No! He said it was stupid to think he would stop caring about me because I can swordfight!” Lizzy beamed again, holding tightly onto Paula’s hands. “He still cares about me! Even though I’m not cute and adorable all the time!”

“Oh that’s wonderful!”

“Yes...but now I can’t find him and I’m worried Paula, you don't think he got left behind do you? Maybe the captain will go and look again?”

Even as Lizzy said that, a shout went up that there was another boat in the water, and a very few minutes later Paula was watching a tearfilled but joyous reunion between Lizzy and Ciel. The Earl looked injured and exhausted, and so did his butler, but they were both clearly alive and functional.

Paula was relieved he was safe of course, Lizzy would have been devastated if he had perished out in the cold sea. But for the first time in a long time, she found that she wasn’t angry at Ciel, as she saw him carefully helping Lizzy up off the ground, paying attention to her and seeming to value her company and presence. It seemed Ciel had finally grown up enough to realise the gift he had been given with Lizzy’s feelings and was finally giving Lizzy the validation and affection she had so longed for over the past three years.

So she smiled at the pair of them, grateful that they had both had a chance to grow up together, Ciel to learn to appreciate Lizzy, and Lizzy to learn she could set aside her childishness and still keep her love. Paula was pleased with them both.

#my writing #black butler #kuroshitsuji #kuroshitsuji ladies appreciation week #Ladies week #Paula #elizabeth midford #ciel phantomhive

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insanely-creative-things · 5 years

Text

Big Hero 7: The Series

www.fanfiction.net

Big Hero 7 S2

Prey Date

*The two boys, Fred and Hiro, have decided to take a dude's day off where for today, they can play video games together. This video game in particular is a Monster brawl game arena which the two are going toe to toe... until Fred gets hungry.*

Fred: Wait wait wait! Snack break!

*Fred goes over to his popcorn bowl, but finds it empty. Then to his delight he found some popcorn on the floor.*

Fred: Five Second rule!

*But when Fred eats the popcorn pieces, Baymax speaks.*

Baymax: The five second rule is a common myth. Harmful bacteria cling to food immediately upon contact.

Fred: What?!

Hiro: Come on Fred I'm in the middle of a twelve hit super combo!

*Hiro's purple monster is delivering the combo onto Fred's Monster avatar.*

Fred: But this is a snack emergency! And I'm out of clean popcorn!

Hiro: Yeah, and you are also out of HP.

*And just like that, Hiro's monster avatar defeats Fred's monster with colossal damage...and then it dabs like a boss.*

Fred: No fair, I wasn't paying attention! Time out.

Hiro: Fred, there's no time outs.

Mama Frederickson: AHH!

Fred and Hiro: Time out!

*Hearing Fred's mother scream gave them reason to investigate and save her, with Baymax waddling behind. But when they arrive to the scource of the scream, all they see is Mama Frederickson showing a video of a puppy to a Liv Amara.*

Mama Frederickson: Its so darling!

Hiro: OK...not what I expected.

Fred: Yeah, my mom's a joy screamer. Honestly its embarresin-*Sees Chris carrying cupcakes* AH! Cupcakes!*

*While Liv Amara talks to Mama Frederickson, Hiro's mind races back to the dinner attack from Momakase, where Cora shared what she had learned about Liv Amara. While he was ticked off that Liv Amara snubbed him because of Baymax's true creator, he wouldn't pinpoint Liv Amara to any thing that Krei would do... but when she brought up what she learned, the scales and schedule, and Krei's behavior to check that his resentment is more than jealousy, and how Orso only went after her alone. It had been a shock to all of them, especially Grandville, but they knew that Cora would never make something like this up. So while Fred is more or less neutral(Though slightly wary) of the 23 year old business woman, Hiro's suspicion flipped on and so he began to check her every move and action... just in case.*

Mama Frederickson: Boys! Look at this hilarious puppy!

Liv: I hate to admit it but I'm addicted to these viral videos.

Baymax: My scan indicates zero viruses on that video. It is safe.

Liv: Literal robot, also cute!

Chris: I bet the internet would love him! Cupcake anyone?

*Fred grabs four cupcakes, two for himself and one for Hiro and Cora.*

Mama Frederickson: Before we talk about investment opportunities Miss Amara, I've been meaning to ask about your progress on curing my dear friend Orso Knox.

Liv: Oh... Orso Knox of course... I'm confident we're two to three weeks from a breakthrough.

Mama Frederickson: Well that's a relief to hear. Oh liv! Have you seen the sleepy hedgehog?

Liv: How couldn't I? I made it into a meme on Sycorax's lifestyle blog.

*Hearing about Orso Knox immediately brought to mind about Cora's words... and a certain interview Liv had. And so, after Fred and Hiro leave the women be, they pulled up a chat room and contacted the gang.*

Hiro; OK guys, remember how Cora brought up about Orso Knox and Liv Amara? She said something very familiar today.

Baymax: Yes, I am often told I am cute. I am not programmed to know what that means.

Gogo: I don't think Hiro meant that.

Hiro: Exactly, here's what I mean.

*Soon on each of the member's laptop showed Liv Amara's interview with Bluff Dunder on the subject of curing Orso Knox. Cora gently places her Eve robot to the table as she listens carefully.*

Bluff: Random aside Liv, how is that mutated fellow, so horribly mutated...what was it- Orso Knox?

Liv: I'm confident we're two to three weeks from a breakthrough.

Hiro: Its the exact same answer she said to Fred's mom, and this was two months ago!

Cora: You would have thought someone like Liv Amara would have harder at curing Orso Knox since he was her investor.

Honey Lemon: What do you suppose we do? We can't just go in and ask.

Wasabi: The tour was a one time thing to us.

Gogo: You need an employee or intern to get in.

*That's when all eyes are directed to Cora.*

Cora: Oh...

Hiro: Cora, you still have your intern invite right?

Cora: I still do.

Hiro: Then maybe... you can accept and check to see whats really happening to Orso Knox?

*Cora looks at her feet, then to Hiro. Soon her face grows with determination and a confident smile. Karmi is in the darkness of her lab, studying over her viruses when she sees a figure of Liv Amara and someone beside her. The lights turn on as Karmi removes her googles.*

Liv: Hello Karmi, say hello to our new Marine-Biology intern Cora.

*Karmi's eyes widened in shock as Cora gives a sheepish wave hello. Unknown to the women around the girl there was an ear piece on her with Hiro listening in.*

Hiro: Oh... right... Karmi...

Fred: Whats wrong with her?

Hiro: You do remember that Karmi hates our guts right? Cause we're younger than her and go to SFIT? Cause we're a couple?

Gogo: And how Cora responds to Karmi's snipes.

Hiro: *To Cora* Its OK Cora, you got this.

*Cora nods in response and puts on her best smile.*

Liv: Cora and I had a small discussion and she agreed that she would be an intern for a test run, to see what its like here! Be nice to our new Marine Bio intern Karmi, and direct her to her new lab!

*And so Liv leaves the two teen girls alone. Cora looks at Karmi who is ready to explode only for her to put on her most sickly sweet smile and walk her towards the Marine lab. While on the way some of the employees greet Cora warmly as the blue haired teen merely nods. While the girls are nearing the marine Bio lab Cora speaks up.*

Cora: So... Have you heard anything related about Orso Knox?

Karmi: What about it?

Cora: Well, it has been quiet some time and we hadn't gotten any word about any cure for him. And its been over two months.

Karmi: Someone's impatient.

*Cora sighs, but then she realizes something that could play to her ego. Well.. time to please the devil herself.*

Cora: OK, how about you show me around the lab? Afterall, Hiro only got see the main lab, but not all its juicy secrets.

*This catches Karmi's attention and soon she smirks at Cora.*

Karmi: OK then, I'll show you... after you set up any progress on your lab!

*Cora's lab opens and Karmi shoves her inside.*

Karmi: Meet me at the main elevator at break... fish girl.

*The door slams as Cora flinches. She sighs deeply before she turns to the lab. To a bit of her comfort there were tanks now filled with clown fishes and the most adorable school of baby cuttlefish swimming freely.*

Cora: *To Hiro via earpiece* OK Hiro, I'm in. And Karmi agreed to take me around the lab.

Hiro: Good, that way you can figure out which one has Orso Knox and check on him...Also.. good job stroking her ego.

Cora: Its what I do best... aside from roasting her.

*Cora turns to the cuttle fish as she smiles gently, stroking her finger on the glass as the baby cuttlefish curiously look at her.*

Cora: I think you are my highlight of the day little cuties. considering how I'll have to deal with she who shall not be named and finding Orso Knox, you're gonna be the sugar that makes the medicine go down.

*And so Cora sets to work on her progress for her Marine Bio major, setting out potential patterns of weather and studying over the movement of all the marine life holograms. She also made sure to feed the fishes and cuttlepods, though she ignored how they seem to be wriggling in excitement whenever she hummed a song she knew. But soon enough Cora got tired and closed her eyes as she lays her head down to rest on the table to sleep.*

(?):*Faint*W-

(?):*Soft* Wake up...

(?):*Soft* Hurry! Wake up!

*Cora's eyes fluttered as she heard rather young and cuteish voices of children ring through her ears . At first she thought it was remnants of a soon to be forgotten dream, but when she stretched her arms and checked over her surroundings, the voices did not go away... it became stronger and frantic.*

(?): You have to get out of here!

(?) That red lady is not what she seems!

(?): Go away from this place!

*Cora's eyes tried to look for any person that could be in the room or even a speaker. If this was some sick prank then she would take note to punch the prankster in the throat. But there was neither a person or stereo. That is when Cora turns her head to see the adorable clown fish and cuttle fishes pressing their heads to the glass.*

ClownFishes and Cuttlefishes: RUN CORA!

Cora: AHHHH!

*Cora lifts her head up to shake her head out of the nightmare she had. She places her hand over her heart where she looks around sees nothing out of place. Though while the fishes and cuttlepods are safe, they are staring at her funny... That's when she realizes she was on the floor. She quickly picks herself up and brushes herself off.*

Hiro: Cora? Are you OK?

Cora: Y-Yeah... I'm fine...

*Cora looks at the clock up ahead and sees its almost time, and so she sets out her way through the main lab a few minutes early to meet up with... her... As she arrived she looked around the team who are busy doing their research she did note one thing... a file that lead to-*

Karmi: Hurry up Cora.

*Cora's attention is snapped back to Karmi, who she sighs sadly before joining her to the elevator.*

Karmi: So, where do you wanna go?

Cora:*Looks at the pad and points to the lowest level carelessly.*

Karmi: Ya know that's only reserved for the most important scientists...

*Cora sighs as she prepares to hear Karmi go on a tangent.*

Karmi: And I can't take you there. That's the most exclusive labs there where the really important stuff is.

Cora: *Blinks in surprise* What?

Karmi: Last time I tried to go I had to be dragged up to Liv Amara's office! Thankfully, being her FAVORITE intern, I got off easy.

*Cora blows a piece of her hair from her face. So much for that. And so they arrive at the second lowest floor, with Karmi stepping off walking ahead.*

Karmi: And so to your right you'll see where we store the cellular molecuels of the rare greenery and pesticides, and if you look to your left..

*But it seemed that in Karmi's state of showing off she forgot to check that Cora actually followed her. The blue haired teen looked at Karmi and then to the pad and then decided to press it. The lowest floor, level 6. When the doors to the elevator open again Cora steps off carefully, seeing a lone door in front of her. She noticed a key pad in front of her, telling her its passcoded.*

Hiro: Cora? Where are you?

Cora: Hiro? Can you hear me?

Hiro: A little, where are you now?

Cora: I'm at the lowest level of the building, there's one door in front of me. I'm gonna check it out.

Hiro: Be careful Babe.

Cora: I will Hiro. I love you.

Hiro: Love you too.

*Cora finds the most worn keys and pressed enter. The lights turn on as she looks inside, where soon all sorts of biological related science enters. Rows of eyes look at her as numerous jars of brains from largest to smallest neatly stacked. As of while Hiro is back at his room trying to get connection to Cora.*

Hiro: Cora! Cora can you hear me?

Baymax: It seems you have lost connection.

Hiro: The lower level must be scrambling the waves!

*Cora sees over the strange creatures and items, her heart beat being the only tangible sound... until she heard a soft growl. Cora turns her head to see behind the room a large set of cells... with one occupied creature she knows all too well. Liv Amara is heading over to Cora's lab, carrying in her hands a cup of tea; she is planning to talk to her about her grandmother's book. Now that she is a sycorax intern she can learn whatever secrets the old book may hold. But when she reaches there she finds it empty.*

Liv: Chris?...Where is Cora?

Chris: Oh! I saw her earlier with Karmi.

*Cora slowly walks towards the cell, her footsteps echoing through the hall. As she draws closer the figure takes more clearer shape as the creature opens it familiar blue eyes. Cora felt it pierce her soul as she sees Orso Knox, trapped behind the cell like an animal.*

Cora: Mr. Knox?

Knox:...What do you want?

*Karmi is currently at the dangerous viruses lab wearing her biohazard suit.*

Karmi: And if you see here-

Liv:*Camera* Karmi.

Karmi: *Jumping slightly* Miss Amara! How are you?

Liv: Where are you and Cora?

Karmi: At the Viruses laboratory, she's right-

*But when she turns around she finally realizes that she had been alone all this time.*

Liv: Karmi… where is Cora?

*Cora slightly jumps at Orso Knox's voice. It had been the same deep and powerful growl that had haunted the team and san Fransokyo since his attack.*

Cora: Are you alright Mr. Knox?

Knox: Does it look like I'm fine?

*Cora flinches at the tone, but holds her ground.*

Cora: I suppose not... considering you're still here.

*That is when Knox's eyes widened in surprise. He slowly approaches near the cell door where the young girl looks up.*

Knox: You can understand me?

Cora: Yes? Considering you spoke? Whats going on Mr. Knox? Liv Amara said that they should've cured you by now! But instead you're still here.

Knox: That's all Liv Amara is good for. Lies! Everything she says is a lie!

Cora: What happened to you Mr. Knox?

Knox: Liv Amara did this to me! I-If I see her I will rip her to pieces and throw it to the poisons she makes!

Cora: Mr. Knox! Please calm down!

*Knox pants heavily as he looks at the young girl, her eyes still holding the fear he placed, but alongside it the care and concern for him.*

Knox: You need to run, tell Big Hero 7 about Liv Amara! She's only just begun!

*That is when door shuts behind her and the lights turn bright red, blaring an alarm in this dark lab. Meanwhile at the very top, it was a more calming ding letting the workers know to search for a missing intern; and Liv Amara goes forward to look for Cora... she has some questions that Cora should answer. The blue haired teen covers ears tightly as Knox howls in pain, his increased sense of hearing feeling like tanks setting off his ears. That is when Cora sees her own name tag glow a dark red. And suddenly her feet became stuck to the floor. That's when it starts dragging her through the floor!*

Cora: AAHHHH! HELP!

*Cora tries to run to back to the cell, holding tightly the pad near him, but the force pulls her away... but not without her accidentally pressing the release button on Orso Knox's cell. Knox sees with his own eyes Cora being dragged away by the tag around her neck... if she is found by Liv Amara or by her goons then she would be doomed.*

Chris: Everyone! Check every room in the facility, the first one to find her brings her to Liv Amara immediately!

*Cora continues screaming as she tries to remove the tag from her neck. Whatever technology Liv Amara made, it made sure to make her tag be bio magnet to carry her around. She finally stops being dragged when she is in view shot of a couple scientists and Karmi.*

Scientist: There you are!

*Cora held her breath as she sees the scientitsts' and Karmi's faces; with the adults its presumed worry over her safety, with Karmi its ' ya brat'.*

Scientist: Where were you? We've been worried sick!

Cora: I-I was-

Karmi: Save it Cora! You're gonna get it now-

Knox: *GROOOOWWWWLLLLL!*

*The scientists and Karmi gasp in horror as they see Knox charge through the hall and land in front of Cora. The scientists and bio intern backing up.*

Knox: DON'T GO NEAR HER YOU BOOT LICKING RATS!

*Knox then picks Cora up in his hand and soon runs through the halls in inhumane speed.*

Cora: What are you doing Mr. Knox?!

Knox: Getting both of us out of this hell!

*The scientists either had dodged out of the way or tried to grab whatever weapon they could use to subdue him, but his superior speed and intellect made him nearly unstoppable. When Liv Amara is about to enter the elevator she sees Orso Knox launch through the emergency staircase to the entrance. That is when Liv sees the person in his hands.*

Liv: Cora!

*Orso's eyes turned to Liv Amara as he growled with death in his eyes.*

Orso: I will not let you silence this one as you had those before! You will pay for this Liv Amara...O, from this time forth, My thoughts be bloody, or be nothing worth!

*He crashes through the building, running outside into the outskirts of San Fransokyo. As of while, Karmi gets up from being slammed against the door when she sees an ear piece on the floor, curiously she picks it up to figure out who it belonged to. But when she headed up she began to hear a voice coming from the ear piece.*

Hiro: Cora? Are you alright? Can you hear me?

Baymax: The connection is stronger. She should be able to hear you clearly now.

Karmi: Hiro! what the hell are you doing!

*Hiro, from his side, jumped from the sudden screeching of Karmi's voice. He gets up and tries to calm himself down.*

Hiro: Oh! Hey..Karmi… so uh.. c-could I talk to my girlfriend right now-

Karmi: You're precious girlfriend is now Monster chow you creep!

*That's when he hears the crunch of the ear piece from Hiro's side, indicating that Karmi destroyed it.*

Baymax: Karmi destroyed the-

Hiro: Wait... Monster?...No! No!

*But soon enough, he could hear the TV and news playing, showing the monster Orso Knox, with Cora in his hands.*

Hiro: CORA!

*Immediately Hiro calls forth the gang to meet up at the garage, already planning out whatever strategy to stop Knox and save Cora. From his sight as he passed the Café Cass covers her mouth as she sees Knox run through the city with the girl in his claws!*

Cass: Oh no!

*Mizuchi is already leaving the city to search for Knox and Cora, his heart racing a mile a minute as Kaguya goes to Cass... alongside her Kage. Now, Kage had met Cass before, and after his surgery. But he could only mutter a few words before he turns quiet. But Cass and Kaguya did not fail to see the genuine concern for Cora's safety in his eyes. Hiro saw it too... and that's when Kage sees him. Hiro and Kage stare at each other for a few seconds before Hiro shakes his head to concentrate.*

Hiro: Later Kage… Cora needs me.

*Kage says nothing as he sees Hiro run off to join his friends... he gives a soft smile to him, knowing that they will succeed.*

Honey Lemon: Poor Cora!

Wasabi: Why didn't we think of giving her any weapons for self defense?!

Gogo: Guys! Now is not the time to beat ourselves up.

Hiro: Exactly, Cora needs us! First we suite up.

Fred: Not to nitpick but while your silver suits did work for us, it didn't work so much for Orso Knox.

Hiro: I know. I'm gonna upgrade it, and give myself some new weapons. This time with more aquatic features.

*And so Hiro sets off to work, making sure to combine his tech expertise with marine Bio as the gang either practiced fighting or kept any updates on the Monster search.*

Bluff: This is Mr. Dunder on Channel seven news. Just today, the calm and sunny afternoon turned into a storm of horror as the mutated monster, formerly known as Orso Knox, had escaped from Sycorax and is in a rampage with one intern trapped in his claws. As the police and search party and Big Hero 7 soon to arrive to rescue the intern and stop this monster, we may have to ask ourselves this: Just how reliable is Sycorax after this monstrous catastrophe?

*That is when a cup of tea is thrown to the TV, which causes both the TV and cup to shatter. Liv is looking at all her investors, both current and future ones, currently asking her competence about this situation, even questioning her ability to help Knox. That is when the hologram of Nozako appears, her face still in the shadows.*

Nozako: It Seems like your little pet monster has escaped Liv Amara.

Liv: Whatever that blue haired brat has done, I'm gonna rip into her and-!

*The load echoes of a cane hitting the floor via hologram echoed through the room, silencing Liv Amara.*

Nozako: You have until Midnight to recapture the beast and this child. And when you do bring him back... you will kill him.

Liv: Madame Nozako! He's Orso Knox!

Nozako: Silence! Look at your investors... the monster's escape has planted the seed of doubt to your competence. You had already 'tried' or so to speak... killing him would be an act of mercy. After all, you said so yourself that he had long since forgotten human speech. Slay this beast, and you will be rewarded immensely.

Liv: I understand...and of the girl?

Nozako: Do whatever you please...

*With Orso Knox and Cora, the monster had swiftly carried ran underground to the abandoned subway. Deeming it safe the monster gently drops the girl as he lays down to rest.*

Cora: W-Why did you that?

Knox: It had to be done.

Cora: Running through the lab while destroying their hard work only paints you more like a monster.

Knox: Most of those fools already know, and those who don't are either naïve or waiting to be transformed to be in Liv Amara's image. I cannot let them do to you as what they have to me.

Cora:...What did happen to you Mr. Knox?

*The man growled softly in sadness as he looks at his reflection.*

Knox: I had fallen for Liv Amara's charms. She seemed so full of life and hope for this world, I wanted to support her...I was so blind. I blinded myself from other companies that needed me... and blinded myself from seeing the true reflection of her. If a rose by any other name would smell just as sweet, but with her... she was a rose with poison tipped thorns. I had come to her office one night for a discussing. I had planned to split the money and talk to Liv Amara about a conjoined partnership with Krei Tech. But while I waited, I let my curiosity get the better of me when I saw her hologram recordings... This woman... she had done the most deplorable and disgusting things I wished to never see again... I cannot tell you what most of them are to preserve your innocence… but what I can tell you is that Liv amara's start of Sycorax had been nothing but a sham. A garden hiding the poisonous yellow diamond back snake. That is when Liv Amara found me. She begged me to stay silent, but I was so disgusted and repulsed, that I lost my wits and made the foolish choice to shout that I will expose her heinous crimes and ruin her... That is when in an attempt to slay me, she had stabbed something inside me... this thing that had made me what I am today... The monster of Sycorax...

*He looks at the girl, who's eyes widened in shock and horror as she heard his story. He turns his head away as he looks at the floor.*

Knox: I am sorry you have gotten involved little one.

Cora: Its OK Mr. Knox. I just can't believe... I'm so sorry...

Knox: *Sad chuckle* Is your name Cora?

Cora: Yes?...Why?

Knox: Once or twice Liv Amara spoke of you whenever she 'visited me'... you should've stayed away. That woman wanted your grandmother's herbal book. Agreeing to be her intern means that all you have will be hers... and whatever is in your book must be of great value.

Cora: That's why she was so pushy! Augh! Hiro owes me big time for this...

Knox: *deep chuckle* I suppose this Hiro is your significant other?

Cora: Yeah... he is. *Smiles with a small blush on her face.*

*Orso Knox smiles at the girl, and for once since his transformation, he could relax and be at peace. He will admit this to himself... according to Liv Amara, he had lost his ability to speak in human tongue, making any please for help impossible... but somehow… this girl could understand him and listen. He can think about how it works later... he wants to enjoy the peace of now. As of while Mizuchi is at the streets, joining the street search as the police arm themselves with tranqulizers.*

Chief Police: The Monster has a civilian in his hands! Find a way to separate the girl and the monster!

*Mizuchi's mind flashes to the angry mob chasing him down with all their pick axes and metal rakes. He shudders away those painful memories, trying to focus on finding his daughter. That is when everyone looks up at the sky.*

Civilian #1: Its Big Hero 7!

Little girl: And they look super cool!

*The team is wearing what appears to be a black version of their super suits with all the new fixings. Fred's suit spikes can now shoot projectiles as well as act as armor, with the tips being able to stun the monster. Gogo's suit has it now act as a swim suit warmer and her wheels to act as rotors to swim through it easily, Wasabi has his laser blades also turned to projectiles while having a shield and a sword, and if acted just right, the shield would emit an ooze to make the monster's claws slip rather than break...Wasabi needed a few minutes in the bathroom after being shown that. Honey Lemon now has a chem bazooka that allows her to fire at a long range and with the added bonus of being able to act as an echo-locator when hits its target. Baymax now has the added ability to throw stronger punches and swim swifter than he could before. As for Hiro, he now has electro-magnetic discs to pin metal down, and with an homage to his girlfriend, his boots also act as squid strength suction cup shoes to stick to any surface. *

Hiro: Honey Lemon! Launch your chem ball to any entrances below! Chances are they might be under ground! Gogo, carry Honey Lemon as fast as you can!

Gogo: Got it!

*Gogo skates over to Honey Lemon and picks her up to take her to all the possible as Honey Lemon aims her bazooka and fires. Hiro checks over his tracker that shows Echolocation as more of Honey Lemon's chem balls hit any possible places. When Honey Lemon hit the next chem ball to an abandoned subway station, Hiro sees two figures on the screen.*

Hiro: I got a visual! They're in the underground subway station at Night Market square! Group up!

*And so they all run towards the subway station, heading to the dark abyss to rescue Cora. However... they had failed to realize that since Orso Knox's senses have increased, he felt the vibrations coming afar. He looks at Cora, who is asleep, and gently nudges her awake.*

Knox: Cora, wake up.

Cora: *groggily*W-wha?

Knox: I think they may have found us...

Cora: Who?

Knox: Liv Amara's goons.

*When the sound grows stronger he immediately picks her up and starts running off. Cora holds tightly to his hand as to not shake so much. Just then his path was blocked by Baymax with Hiro behind him.*

Hiro: Orso Knox, let Cora go!

*Orso Knox growls before he jumps over them and tries to run off again.

Cora: Wait! Orso Know! That was-!

Honey Lemon: They're they are!

Gogo: Let her go you freak!

Cora: Guys wait!

*But Orso knox keeps trying to escape with the gang all successfully blocking his path. Finally Baymax prepares his rocket fist as Honey Lemon uses her chem balls enhanced to pin him down.*

Cora: Baymax no!

*Cora uses the opportunity to free herself from Orso Knox's grip and stand in front of Orso Knox.*

Cora: Guys I'm fine now!

Wasabi: We know you are and were thankful you're safe.

Fred: But now we gotta stop this guy and take him back to Sycorax lab-

Cora: You can't! Sycorax is where he got turned to the monster!

*That caused everyone in the room to stop, to which Hiro remembers how it all began in the first place.*

Hiro: Oh... Oh!...

*Hiro climbs down as he walks over to Cora.*

Knox: Stay away from her Amara slave!

*But to Hiro and the others they heard growls.*

Cora: Its OK! He's Hiro, Hiro Hamada...a friend. *To Hiro* I was right, Liv Amara was responsible for Knox's transformation. Apparently Knox found some incriminating evidence about Liv Amara's questionable activities and she turned him into that to shut him up.

Hiro: She never really meant to cure him.

Gogo: Everything she said about helping him was nothing but a lie.

Honey Lemon: Is there anyway to cure him?

*That is when Hiro spots something in Knox's arm... a small indented chip with red icky veins.*

Hiro: Whats that?

*Hiro tries to get a closer look only for Knox to roar. Hiro scrambles up and stands in front of Cora as she hears him shout.*

Knox: DON'T TOUCH IT! IF ANYTHING HAPPENS TO IT I'LL DIE!

Cora: What?!

Wasabi: Cora what's up?

*Cora looks at the monster, waiting for an answer.. to which Knox speaks.*

Knox: This is what she had injected me. It is a chip of her design.. the cursed object that had made me into this. It is designed by her and can only be operated by her... if anyone else besides her were to remove it, it will release a venom that will stun the heart and then the brain...

Cora: Oh no... *Turns to Baymax* Baymax, scan his arm.

Baymax: His harm has a small chip inside him. It is currently keeping his altered DNA in this state.

Honey Lemon: So that's how he's still a monster.

Gogo: I say we go to the hospital and remove the thing.

Cora: No Gogo! Chances are Liv Amara rigged the chip to kill him if anyone else besides her were to operate on him.

Fred: That definitely sounds like a Phase two villain!

Cora: He's not safe here! We gotta get him out to the ocean.

Hiro: Why the Ocean.

Cora: Assuming his whale side is effective, he'll live.

*after sneaking around, Baymax opens a path that leads to the San Fransokyo bay, where the moon shine bright.*

Cora: *To Knox* I promise you, we will do everything we can to do help you and bring Liv Amara down.

Knox: Of course. I will never forget your kindness nor of your friends'. *Before jumping off to the bay* Oh! When you do stop Liv amara and find a cure for me...let me get the first punch.

Cora: Whatever you say.

*And so after they see him off, they all emerge back to the city. Baymax holding a piece of molten skin to be proof they fought him, and Hiro carrying Cora in his arms just for the fun of it. everyone had cheered at BH7's success, happy that the monster is gone and that the girl captured was now safe. Cora giggles before she kisses Hiro's cheek, to which causes the boy to blush. The next day, Cora is walking towards Sycorax, her family and friends by her side to see her off to the building. Karmi and Liv Amara were cleaning up the mess along with everyone else as Cora gently places her Sycorax lab coat and name tag onto the recyclables.*

Liv: Cora? what are you doing?

Cora: I'm resigning Miss Amara. I get that what happened yesterday isn't exactly the most ideal way to have a test trial... but even without the incident I could not focus here very well especially since there are some challenges at home and school that I need to resolve. I enjoyed what time I had, but this isn't for me. *To Karmi* And Karmi?

Karmi:...What?*

Cora: I hope you enjoy this job immensely, just be careful K?

*Cora walks away to the exit, only to be called out by Karmi herself.*

Karmi: Wait! There's something you should know.

Cora: What is it?

Karmi:... I should have paid attention to you... because of me you were dragged around the city with that monster. I just... you know.

Cora: Be entitled to your workspace to feel like a special snowflake by injecting your venom into me?

Karmi:... You could say that...

Cora: I accept your apology.

Karmi: Second...*Scoots closer to Cora's face* What was it like being held in Electro-Alpha's arms?

Cora: Oh wow I think I hear my Papa calling me! Bye, see ya never!

*And so Cora immediately runs off, leading to Karmi dropping to the floor flat on her face. As of while, Liv Amara receives a text from Nozako, and the words written made her shudder with fear.*

You and I will have a little talk.

A.N: And that was Prey Date! Not something you were expecting huh? Any way to answer your questions, 1. I made the revelation of Liv amara being evil and responsible for Orso Knox's transformation earlier because the writing the path would be boring. it would definetly spice up this journey since now they all know she's responsible, now the quest is how to expose and defeat her.

2. Nozako is Cora's Grandmother from Mizuchi's side, read Chap 29 for full details! Till then, Love you all and thank you for reading BH7!

#Big Hero 7 #Big Hero 6 fanfic #Hiro Hamada #Cora Mizichio #Hiro Hamada x OC #Prey date #Baymax #Wasabi #Honey Lemon #Gogo tomago #fred frederickson iv #Liv Amara #Nozako Mizichio #long post

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forkanna · 7 years

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