#and without a second thought sonic answers yes and leaves

[angninjin]

(Eggman you old... it's the translation and yes he talks spanish too i am the one in charge of the AU after all/s)

You discover in another universe you are organic and there are copies of your nemesis around. AND EGGMAN MADE THEM ARE YOU SRS?!

[cillianmesoftlyyy]

I Can Fix That... Pt. 3 | Jonathan Crane x fem!reader

notes: And the plot and smut continues hehe. In this installment I used Lady Arkham as inspiration. She is originally a DC character/villian. The backstories that I included here are all based on the original DC comicbook/nolanverse lore. I literally used Batman wiki for additional research.

Summary| Crane brought a woman home. That was definitely not something he ever anticipated that he would ever do. He needs to trust her and she's starting to have second thoughts. Was leaving Gotham the right thing for her to do? Yes, she likes Crane but does she like him enough? What is he hiding from her? Oh honey, he was hiding a lot...

Warnings| Fire, mentions of a gun, drugs, smut- fingering, teasing, masturbation, dubious consent, the word "r*pe" is used once, unprotected sex, oral (m receiving). Violence, death, insanity, overdose (no death), infidelity, murder, police violence, trauma, abandonment, general unpleasantness.

word count: 8086k

Lonely Day- System of a Down 🎵

Love Song- Jack Off Jill 🎶

Superstar- Sonic Youth 🎵

Please please please read warnings for this one- we're going over childhood trauma

i 

The helicopter landed in an open field in the outskirts of the city. She and Crane climbed out and ducked beneath the blades as they crossed the pasture. 

“We’re outside the city now. We’re safe here and depending on how Ra’s plan goes, we can stay here.” Crane looked down at the girl beside him. She watched the helicopter, distractedly, as it rose into the air and flew away. The field around them immediately quieted without the presence of the aircraft and they could hear the other breathe for the first time in a while. 

“Where do we go now?” She looked around them at the expanse of pasture and wild flowers hidden in the dark. 

“Over this hill.” Crane started walking and she followed, staying a few paces behind him. When they reached the top of the hill, she saw an old scarecrow standing in a field, empty of crops. The man was made of burlap and covered with rags. Straw exploded out of the scarecrow’s body. She looked at Crane who’d stopped to look at the scarecrow. Sensing her beside him, he glanced back at her and clenched his jaw. He gave no explanation or story and she didn’t want to ask because she didn’t want to cause him more pain. They walked a little farther and as they did, a large house came into view. Crane pointed it out to her with a sneer, directed at the house, not at her, “and there’s my father’s house.” 

The lights inside the mansion were on and it leaked light across the landscape that separated them. 

“Is your father home?” She asked and he chuckled darkly. 

“No, I had the housekeeper open the house for us. Just like with the helicopter, I find it is always useful to play your cards carefully. I was suspicious of Ra’s because I’m suspicious of everyone, even you,” he nodded down at her and she frowned slightly. “I don’t make friends easily, they often disappoint me.” He smiled at his own self-effacing humor. 

“Have I disappointed you?” She asked him. He turned his icy blue eyes to her and shook his head.

“No but we aren’t friends,” he laughed lightly and looked back at the house in the distance. 

“No? Then what are we?” She pouted a little, looking down at her feet and then to his face. 

“We’re more,” he answered evenly and began to walk again. She blushed and hurried to follow him, hiding her smile. Crane even smiled, blocking out the bad memories of the place they now found themselves in. He was no longer scared of the scarecrow but the memories he associated with the figure in the field did little to comfort him. They walked on until they reached the front gate and Crane typed in a passcode on an elaborate screen. The gates were black iron with sharp spikes fixed to the top and they opened with a long and droning squeak. The driveway changed to gravel as Crane led her up to the front door and he pulled on the lion’s head door knocker, releasing a loud door chime inside the house. One wing of the house, she noticed, was burned. 

“You’re right, I’m starting to realize that I really know nothing about you.” She looked up at the large gothic mansion above her.

“That,” Crane turned his head to her and sighed as if it were obvious, “is what a second date is for.” 

The front door opened and a man in a tuxedo greeted them coldly, reminding her of Crane. 

“Welcome back, doctor.” The butler deadpanned and Crane pushed past, wiping his feet in the entryway. She followed suit and nodded to the butler, smiling excitedly. 

“This is Miss —; Miss Y/N Y/L/N.” Crane gestured his hand carelessly between them and continued on into the reception hall. All the walls were carved from solid wood into even square panels. 

“Welcome to the Crane House, ma’am.” The butler bowed his head briefly and followed them. She nodded her head in thanks and became immediately enraptured by the spooky house. “Shall we serve dinner now or would you like to change?” 

Crane turned and cleared his throat, his eyes trying to focus on the room without his glasses. “We’ll change first, Hobbs.” 

“There are clothes laid out in the bedrooms.” The butler bowed and disappeared behind a swinging door. She turned to Crane and laughed. 

“What the hell is this place?” She asked in a bewildered whisper. Crane chuckled, finding the girl adorable in her amazement. 

“This is my childhood home.” 

“So this is where the famous Dr. Crane was raised. I’m intrigued.” She batted her eyelashes and ran up some of the stairs, her fingers trailing the thick banisters. Crane smiled and followed her. 

“Do you like seeing this side of me? Does it thrill you?” His voice prodded her heart and her legs became wobbly. 

“Everything about you does that,” she stood one step above him and cupped his face. She ran her finger down his angular cheekbone and swiped across his wide chapped lips. She kissed his neck and beneath his jaw before finally kissing his lips. 

“For now,” he whispered as she pulled away. They climbed the rest of the stairs up to the second floor and Crane led her down a tight hallway. Animal heads were mounted on the walls and she studied them with a mixed sense of appreciation. Crane pushed open a door with a crystal doorknob. 

“This is your room,” he swept his hand through the room and she gasped in awe. The one room was nearly the size of her entire apartment in Gotham. The walls were painted with elaborate murals. She stepped hesitantly into the room and twirled, wanting to see every inch of the place. Crane looked on from the door, his lips spread into a smile. 

“I’m glad you like it,” he laughed and she ran into his arms, smiling. 

“I love it! I am officially living out one of my dreams.” She pulled down on his collar and kissed him. She pushed her tongue into his mouth and kissed him deeper, her fingers now brushing across the soft skin on his neck. Crane sighed through his nose and found her waist, resting his hands on the indents of her hips. The excitement of the day prompted a sense of adventure and need inside her and she communicated that through her kiss. She bit playfully on Crane’s bottom lip and moaned (intentionally) against him to fluster him. She felt his body shutter from the suggestive sounds she made against him. Her cunt throbbed wantingly and she could feel her heartbeat in her upper thighs. 

“Mhm!” She hummed and caught her breath as Crane’s hands slipped to the base of her back. 

“You never get tired, do you?” He muttered against her huskily and she shook her head. 

“No, Dr. Crane.” She whispered with a soft whine and licked his bottom lip before kissing him harder. She felt his cock twitch on his pants as he pressed himself against her. 

“Good, because neither do I,” he bit the point of her jaw gently and kissed over the hickies he had already made on her neck the night before. He looked all rumpled and hot in his suit after the action of the day and she desperately wanted to undress him. She wanted to fuck him like a normal couple, not tied down to a mortuary slab where she couldn’t even touch him. God, she wanted to touch him. She dragged one hand down to his crotch and cupped his cock through his pants. She rubbed her hand against the half-hard bulge and moaned pitifully as if she were the one getting touched. 

“You’re pathetic,” Crane smirked and pulled her head back gently by her hair. She nodded with a pleased smile, happy that he saw her for what she really was and what she really wanted. He kissed her hard, taking her breath away, and sucked on her tongue so deep she felt like she might choke. When he pulled away and dropped his hold on her neck, his lips were pink and his eyes heavy with lust. She knew her face was flushed and that it turned him on but instead of acting on it, Crane leaned back against the door jam and jerked his head at the bed. 

“Hobbs laid out some clothes for you. I hope they fit, I went through your closet to find your size but I trusted Hobbs and his wife with the shopping.” He smirked, proud of himself for leaving the girl so horny, it made him even harder. He left the room and closed the door, his erection still pressing against his pants. 

ii 

She went down the stairs and looked around for the dining room, turning her curious head left and right. The clothes that had been laid out for her were simple and elegant. A long black dress with a boat neck that she wore with the burgundy stockings set beside it. She’d worn her black mary janes and run a brush through her hair, knowing that would be enough to help her look put together. She followed the sound of a crackling fire and polite conversation through a far door. Crane looked up as she entered and looked her up and down, his eyes sticky against her curves. 

“What do you think?” She gestured to her dress and gave a slow twirl. The butler and his wife stood to the side, watching her with small, pleased smiles. Crane leaned forward, resting his elbows on the white tablecloth. 

“Apparently, my housekeepers have extraordinary taste.” He smirked and stood as she walked to her place at the table on his right. 

“High praise,” she smiled at Hobbs. As they sat together, Hobbs served their dinner of smoked ham. She took a long sip of the gin martini from her glass and swirled the stem with her wrist.

“It’s hard to believe that we were in Gotham just an hour or two ago.” She took in his body dressed in a black suit without his usual tie. His face was clean and he’d refreshed his hair with some gel, the smell was comforting. 

“Tonight could have ended very differently…” he looked at his food. The butler and his wife left the room, going back into the kitchen.

“Thank you for what you said this morning,” she flicked her eyes up to his. He looked back and caught his breath. She looked stunning and he felt the need to pinch himself to remember where they were and how they’d gotten there in the first place. He remembered telling her to do as he said because he wanted her to live and he worried that Ra’s would go back on his word, and as he suspected, Ra’s had, just not with her. 

“I’m just glad that we came to our agreement when we did, before Ra’s. I’ll admit that my desire to keep you alive was more selfish than chivalrous because I needed you for my own reasons.” 

“Like what?” She raised her eyebrow and cut a piece of meat. It melted on her tongue and she swallowed it slowly, watching him. 

“I have plans for Gotham, plans that would involve you,” he cocked his head towards her, adding, “of course. I don’t know yet how Ra’s plans will play out but I suspect that he will fail. Batman will think that he’s saved the city from ‘bad guys’ but,” he leaned in closer, “I’m not so easily defeated and I suspect that we’ll run into each other again.”

“Are you sure that you can trust me with these plans of yours,” she opened herself up to him and stood, looming over Crane in his seat,” these plans that also include me?” She rested her knee on the edge of his seat between his legs, straddling his thigh. Crane looked up at her calmly, unmoved by the position of her knee against his crotch or the heat of her cunt hovering above his thigh. Crane watched her for a moment, letting a heavy silence fall between them before inhaling and shifting his torso closer as if he were going to whisper something to her. 

“Like I told Ra’s,” he started quietly, his eyes dark and harsh at the candlelight table. His hand squeezed the bottom of her thigh above her knee, she gasped quietly, “I’ll make sure that I can trust you…” his hand snaked up the inside of her thigh beneath her dress. He pulled the edge of her stocking away from her thigh and let it snap painfully back against her skin. “Won’t I?” He asked darkly as his forehead creased slightly. She gasped again as his hand found her underwear and stroked her clothed cunt. “Won’t. I?” He sneered and she remembered to nod. “Answer me,” he snapped and brushed his fingers past the crotch of her underwear, spreading the wetness between her legs with the pads of his fingertips. 

“Yes,” she hissed breathlessly, closing her eyes as he rubbed her cunt, creating a dangerous friction. 

“You’re pissing me off, detective.” He growled and roughly began to finger her, shoving two fingers harshly inside. She yelped and looked down at Crane, his eyes flashed. 

“Why, Dr. Crane?” She wrapped her fingers around the base of his neck, her thumb sitting right below his adam's apple. She smiled when his other hand gripped her thigh harder. She moved her hips on his fingers and he watched with interest as she dripped around his fingers. “How can I fix it for you?” She purred against his cheek, moaning softly as he fingered her and teased her clit with his thumb. She began to pant and instinctively moved her thighs together as the pleasure became too much. She squeezed around his fingers and her hands tightened around his throat, about to cum.  

“Behave,” he whispered seriously and removed his fingers before she could finish. She groaned in frustration and held his face between her hands. 

“You’re such a tease, Jonathan.” She scolded him and he smiled. 

“And you’re a horny little slut.” He whispered close to her lips and she shook her head, smiling giddily. 

“I’m just a horny little slut for you.” She ran her tongue across his lips, dragging it up to his nose. She let go of his face and plopped back into her chair, crossing her legs pointedly. Crane rolled his eyes and raised his fingers to his mouth. He sucked her juices from his hand as she watched and then finished his drink, ignoring her when she whined with lust. 

“You’re like a dog,” he rested his elbow on the table, “you think you’ll get what you want if you whine enough.” He delivered the sentence with a knowing look and returned to his food. She didn’t want to admit to herself how much that turned her on. She huffed and tucked her hair behind her ear and finished her martini hungrily. She finally had a moment to glance around the room and when she did, she saw a beautiful fire burning in a stone fireplace. 

“That’s beautiful,” she gestured to the fireplace carved with cherubs. Crane looked and nodded. 

“I think so too. We haven’t had fires in the fireplace since I was a child. You may have noticed that part of the house was destroyed.” 

She nodded.

“That’s because the house almost burned down when I was…” he frowned as he thought, “five or six?” He shrugged and sighed, looking into the blazing fire. “My father never let us use the fireplaces after that. It made for cold winters,” He flicked his eyes up to hers and she shivered. 

“I can imagine,” she thought back to her childhood in the orphanage, freezing at night during any season that wasn’t summer.

“The house will be a lot warmer now,” he said casually and allowed a small smirk to tug at his lips. 

“What happened to ‘behaving ourselves’?” She crossed her arms and raised her eyebrow in fake disapproval. Crane chuckled and leaned back in his chair. 

“I have no idea what you mean,” he lied and they went back to eating when Hobbs entered with dessert. 

iii 

It was nearly 2am when they finally climbed the grand staircase to return to their rooms. There was a large common room that separated the two wings of the house on the second floor. The wing to their right was burned and stood empty. 

“Where’s your room?” She furrowed her brow as they walked down the hallway, passing the laundry chute. Crane pointed to a room at the mouth of the hallway, near the top of the stairs. Her’s was at the opposite end of the hallway. She smiled and spun around, facing her side of the hallway. She let him watch her walk away, moving her hips as loosely as she could manage. When she opened her door, she turned slightly and gave him a closed-mouth smile, her eyes teasing him. He crossed his arms and leaned against his door, his expression unreadable. She closed her door and did a few extra happy-spins for good measure. She kicked off her shoes and explored the bathroom, finding herself in a mood for a bath after not showering the night before. She turned on the bath’s faucet and filled the large tub with hot water. As she undressed, she spotted a row of cosmetics set out for her use, and included in the assortment was the shampoo that she used at home. A small part of her found it scary that Crane had obviously gone through her home to find the things she liked but more than that, she felt honored that he had planned his backup plan with her in mind. He’d asked the housekeepers to prepare her a room and stock it with clothes and shampoo, all just in case she came with him. He’d imagined her coming with him, and that nearly made her cry. She slipped into the hot water and scrubbed every inch of her body, trying to remove all of the sweat, dirt, and debris that had stuck to her skin over the past 24 hours. She washed her hair with the mint shampoo as Crane had guessed she used correctly before. The suds ran down her hair and between her shoulder blades as her hands worked the shampoo into her head. She ducked her head beneath the water and watched as her hair floated out around her head. When she came up for air, her hair stuck to her back and she sighed pleasantly. 

The bathroom was cold when she left the security of the hot water so she quickly wrapped herself in a thick towel and brushed her hair. She rubbed lotion into her dry skin and toweled off her hair. The housekeepers had given her numerous sets of pajamas in different styles. She guessed Crane had decided against going through her underwear drawer, what a gentleman. She liked soft lounge pants and t-shirts so she changed into the dark blue set they had provided for her and unmade her bed. The wide windows on the side wall looked out on the field and she could just barely see the outline of the scarecrow. The house itself had a strange and suffocating feel. She wondered what Crane may have endured here, what secrets he hid inside himself. 

She bit the inside of her cheek and found the gun that she’d brought with her from Gotham. She hid the gun behind the headboard of her bed and sat with her knees pressed up to her chest on the mattress. She wrapped her arms around her legs and shivered, goosebumps rose on her legs and she rocked back and forth, resting her head on her knee like a child. Should she feel guilty for betraying her precinct? Should she worry about Sgt. Gordon and Gotham itself? What had Gotham given her? How had it protected her? She felt torn between a route of righteousness and one of passion. Crane offered her a path to her own future set outside the laws of society where she could create her own identity. She didn’t want to be the good girl cop anymore, she wanted to be everything else and she wanted Crane. 

Crane was testing her. He wanted to see how badly she actually wanted him, how much she would fight to be with him. He needed her to be obsessed, foaming at the mouth at the thought of him. Maybe he was psychotic, sure (he was). His father certainly was and it usually runs in families. Crane’s manic obsession was her and he needed her, but before he could trust her, he had to be sure that she was totally and completely loyal to him. He knew she had her gun and he assumed she’d suffered more internal dialogue since escaping Gotham (he was a psychiatrist, so of course he knew these things). If he pushed her away would she cling to him more or feel the need to betray him? He had to admit that this test was grueling for him too. He didn’t think that he was capable of love or real attraction, he was a psychopath, literally. He’d studied himself as much as he had the subjects in his textbooks in school and he checked all the boxes but this- this- was a new development that he didn’t quite understand. It almost made him angry when he thought of the power she could wield over him if he got too close. She’d spoken so much of trust and he wanted to trust her. He did. But he’d trusted Ra’s, he’d trusted his father and at one point in his life he’d trusted Sgt. Gordon. Those relationships had not ended well. Then this prissy young detective comes along and confronts him with feelings he didn’t think he could have. That was why she was the subject of his fear toxin reaction. She’d found a way to matter to him and losing her had already become his worst fear. He wanted… oh god there were so many things that he wanted from her. He hoped that it wouldn’t take much longer because he was starting to lose patience. 

She stared at the ceiling above her bed and tried to touch herself. She didn’t have her vibrator and Crane had made a point of pushing her away, so she was left to rough it out with her hands. She hadn’t been stuck with just her bare hands since college. Her vibrator had obviously spoiled her and she felt nowhere near as much pleasure without it, though Crane had come extremely close the night before. She dug her heels into the mattress and bit her lip, concentrating as hard as she could on Crane. She remembered the way he spoke to her as he fucked her, how calm and direct he’d been with her body. They both had needs and desires and he hadn’t let insecurities or formalities stand in the way. Her body was craving a release that she’d teased it with twice already that day and she couldn’t fall asleep without trying to appease it. After ten minutes of heavy breathing and a sore arm she collapsed in frustration across her bed. She desperately wanted him and nothing was going to cut it unless it was him inside her. Something- anything. She groaned into her hands and kicked the blankets off of her. 

The door handle creaked and Crane shifted in his half-sleep haze. The bed moved around him and he was startled awake by the girl, straddling his hips. He kept a smile from his lips as he looked up at her. 

“What the hell are you doing?” He got out before her hand clamped around his mouth. She shushed him. 

“Listen here, Crane. Since we have an understanding,” she used his word for their relationship, “I’ll tell it to you straight. I want you. I need you. I have very few needs because I’m a simple girl, but right now, you’re one of them. I’ll ask you nicely and if you humor me, I won’t cause trouble.”

“Trouble?” His voice was muffled against her hand as he raised his eyebrow. 

“I have a whole round of trouble tucked away behind my headboard.” 

“Nice threat. So, you what? Want to rape me?” He propped himself up on his elbows. 

She hooked her finger around the collar of his black t-shirt and sighed. 

“You have such a dirty mind. Why do you have to make it sound so perverted?” She held his chin tightly in her hand and dragged her other hand down his chest stopping at the waistband of his pants. 

“That’s what it is, detective.” He cocked his head to the side and rested it on his shoulder. “Are you really going to do that to me?” 

“Says the man that strapped me to a slab and drugged me three times,” she held up three fingers to stress her point and shifted her hips on his crotch. 

“We both have problems, what do you want me to say?” 

“That you’ll fuck me,” she started to grind her hips and he withheld his sinful exhale. 

“Oh?” He said instead, “what if I’m too tired? Fucking is hard work.”

“Then let me do it,” she shrugged with a smile, “I’ll make us both feel good.” Crane raised a skeptical eyebrow and smirked. 

“You really didn’t get enough at dinner did you?” He teased and she shook her head. 

“You have no idea.”

He watched her rub herself against him and then slowly allowed his eyes to meet hers. She moaned just looking into his eyes and he laughed. 

“Ok, let’s see how you do.” He allowed her casually and watched as she bounced happily on his lap and scooted down to his knees. She pulled down the blanket and worked her hands below his waistband. He was already hard and she scoffed, pissed that he hadn’t admitted how turned on he was too. He smirked as she pulled his cock out of his pants and rolled her tongue around the tip. When she took him in her mouth he sighed softly, his mouth open as he watched her give him head. She swirled her tongue around his length and she bobbed her head up and down. She sucked and dragged her mouth slowly over him until he bucked softly into her mouth. She felt her stomach get hot with excitement and she worked harder, humming against him as she took him deeper. Crane clenched his fists and groaned. She pulled her mouth to the top of his cock and sucked hard, teasing his climax which she could tell was fast approaching. His forehead was creased and he squeezed his eyes shut, allowing his head to fall back with a low gasp. 

“Fuck alright, that’s enough,” He sat up again and smirked, “get what you want out of me.” He panted and ran his thumb over her bottom lip. She licked her lips and crawled off the bed. Crane watched her as she stepped out of her bottoms and straddled him once more, naked from the waist down. His erection rested against her stomach and he swallowed, staring at her bare cunt. 

“I hope you like what you see,” she whispered and removed her top. Her breasts shifted slightly against her skin as she moved and her hair fell around her in a sultry mess. “Because it all belongs to you now,” she pressed her hands against his stomach for balance and leaned closer. “But this,” she looked him up and down, landing on his beautiful eyes and smiling, “this belongs to me.” 

“Silly girl,” he barely shook his head as his eyes trained on her, “I don’t belong to anyone.” 

“We’ll see about that,” she shrugged and bit her lip as she lowered herself onto his cock. She whined in relief and moved her hips slowly. She was so wet he could her himself move inside of her as she fucked him. Crane’s eyes rolled to the back of his head and he released a tight breath. 

“Fuuuuck…” he hissed and she squeezed around him, nearly orgasming just by hearing the pleasure in his voice. She panted breathlessly as she started to move up and down, her hands balanced on his navel where there was a thin dusting of hair. He thrusted up involuntarily and they both moaned. She sped up slightly, moving her hips back and forth. Crane’s hands found the fleshy handles of her hips and dug his fingers into her skin. He had laid back completely making it so that he had to raise his head when he wanted to watch how she snapped down on him. She let her head fall back and moaned loudly as his cock hit the right place each time. The pleasure was so good between her legs that her release felt like the desire to pee. When her climax snapped, her eyes rolled back and she gasped, riding it out and enjoying the pressure of him inside her as it carried her through the high. Her climax triggered his as he felt her cum around her. 

“You’re going to cum inside me,” she panted and whimpered through the sensations. 

“Is that an order?” He gritted out, his fingers leaving bruises on her hips. He was trying to hold off his orgasm but as she nodded and squeezed him again, he let himself cum inside her with a loud groan. She sat for a second longer as he finished and finally moved off. She cleaned him off, sucking his swollen cock and swallowing all of the excess cum and discharge that had collected along his length. He covered his face with his hands as he tried to catch his breath.

“Are you going to leave it in?” He asked in a deep, tired voice. 

“Your cum?” 

“Yes, are you going to leave it in you?” He removed his hands and watched as she crawled up the bed to sit beside him. 

“Do you want me to?” She let her hair fall around them and he twirled the end of one of the pieces. 

He thought for a moment before nodding his head, “yes.” She curled up beside him and draped her leg between his. He exhaled slowly and wrapped his arm around the back of her head, resting his hand on her shoulder. She rubbed her nose against his chest, breathing in the clean smell of his t-shirt. Crane closed his eyes and waited as her breathing became more regular and slow. She started to fall asleep, her hand clasped against his ribs. When she was asleep, he propped himself up on one arm and watched her. Words couldn’t describe how good that was, what she did for him. It was better than their first time when the roles had been reversed. He liked that she could touch him and explore him with a needily innocence like a horny teenager. Crane thought about his cum still sitting inside her, collecting around her inner-thighs. He kissed her as she slept deeply, licking the salty taste from her lips and swallowing. She made a noise in her sleep and he drew his hand around her perfect breast, admiring her body in the dull glow of the moon. Gotham would be no match for them once they were united. No one could stop them, not even themselves. Once they started they could never stop, they had to take everything from each other. His head fell back into his pillow and he kissed the curve of her throat before allowing himself to fall asleep beside her. He’d never slept with a woman after sex. She was the first. 

iv 

They woke up late in the morning and dressed warmly, both wearing sweaters and long pants. Crane had traded in his suit for more casual wear though his attire was always oozing with old money aesthetic. After a breakfast of eggs benedict and black coffee, Crane asked if she wanted to see the house. 

“Of course,” she smiled and nodded excitedly. There were some questions she still had for Crane and she had her own list of theories and thoughts that the house inspired inside her. She worried what the house would reveal and more importantly, what it may say about Crane. She wondered if he had lived a childhood similar to hers, one of trauma and violence, even if he had lived in a huge mansion with every monetary item he could ever desire. 

They started outside the house, walking the grounds. The exterior of the house was set in elaborate stone carvings. The roofs were made of dark terracotta, framing widow peaks at the top of many of the towers. Crane watched her reaction as they rounded to the side of the house with the destroyed wing, still black from the burning. She could even still smell the charcoal made from the house’s old paneling. 

“Your father never rebuilt it?” She asked, curious. Crane studied the crumbling structure and shook his head.

“No, he died before making plans for a renovation.” She looked at him quickly and met his eyes. 

“I’m sorry, I didn’t know.” 

“But you understand.” 

She nodded slowly, “I was an orphan, I never knew my parents.” 

“So was I.” He clenched his jaw and looked down at the ground. 

“Your mother?” She asked hesitantly. 

“She died, here, in this wing.” He pointed to the second floor of the burned wing. “That was her room.” 

“You were young then too,” she remembered and he nodded. “Do you remember your mother?” 

“Some things but nothing that brings me much comfort. I remember how she died and I remember how my father mourned her.” 

“So she died in the fire?”

“Yes,” he nodded and folded his arms across his chest, “she was trapped inside after the fire started. They weren’t able to save her. My father was never the same after that.”

“When did your father die?” 

“Before I went to college…” he trailed off and they stood in silence for a moment. “He was a chemist, you know.” 

“No, I didn’t know. Did he teach you?”

Crane chuckled darkly, “I guess you could say that. He used me for his experiments.” He scowled. What he had said back in Arkham came back to her mind and she risked asking more. 

“Jonathan?” She started. 

“Yes?” He asked, his voice hard and protective like a layer of ice. 

“What did he do to you?” 

Crane swallowed and turned away from the house, forcing her to hurry behind him to keep up. His hair was tousled by the wind as he walked through the icy field. As the slope curved downwards, he finally started to speak. 

“He was the one who first came up with the idea for the fear serum. After my mother’s death he became obsessed with it and started to test it on himself like a lunatic. It messed with his head and made him relive my mother’s death over and over again until he finally had to stop and find a new subject. His new subject became me.” He darted his eyes angrily around the ground as he spoke, spit flying from his lips. “He would give me the toxin and at the time, it was 10x more dangerous. He used me to gauge the body’s reactions to fear and kept track of what the brain imagined during that state of panic. He wanted to create a cure for fear, a way to remove the body’s reaction to it. At some point he made a breakthrough in the case using people he’d kidnapped and found a way to remove a person’s ability to be afraid. He used it on himself and after that, his natural instincts became mute. When I was sixteen he brought me here,” he stopped suddenly and she looked as he gestured at the scarecrow hanging from its perch, “and he administered the drug one last time.”

“What happened?” She whispered, her blood going cold. 

“I overdosed on the serum and hallucinated that the scarecrow was alive but the fear I felt was multiplied from the large dose of toxin. Your old boss, Sgt Gordon, found us out here having come to arrest my father for kidnapping and murder. Because my father no longer feared anything, he charged Gordon and Gordon shot him. He died where we’re standing… and I watched it. I watched it all happen.” He stared at the scarecrow, his face set. He didn’t show any emotion as he recounted his father’s death, his own trauma. 

“What did Gordon do?” She stepped closer but left him a small circle of space, a safety net. 

“He took me to the hospital and once I recovered, they brought me back here.”

“You were so young,” she whispered sadly, wanting to cry for him. 

“So were you, weren’t you, when you were left at the doors of Gotham’s orphanage?” She nodded. 

“I was a baby.” She hugged herself and stared down at the ground beneath them.

“That’s why I think we’re so similar. We raised ourselves- you and I.” He smirked, “it would explain our similar psychology.” 

“The fact that we’re both deeply disturbed? Sure, I’ll give you that,” she laughed lightly, her nose burned in the cold air. 

“Mm… deeply disturbed,” Crane sounded out the words with a soft hiss. 

“Psychotic?” She offered. 

“Psychopathic.” 

“Deranged.” 

“That’s not a medical diagnosis I’m familiar with,” he looked down at her, taking in the profile of her ruddy cheeks blistering in the wind. 

‘But not far off is it?” She smiled and looped her fingers in the front of his sweater, her hands brushing the hard muscle beneath. 

“Hmmm, I don’t know. I’ll have to conduct more thorough examinations.. I’d kill to have a look inside your head.” His fingers traced her hairline and pulled gently on her hair.  

“I have a few ideas for other places you could examine,” she teased and he smirked, coming back from his temporary emotional lag. 

“Intriguing offer, detective.”

“Thank you, Dr. Crane,” she returned his smirk and pulled him away from the scarecrow. He followed her. “Why did you choose the scarecrow as your alias?” she brought the conversation back and his forehead creased again as he thought. 

“I was forced to face my fear and after I returned here with just Hobbs and his wife to keep me company. I decided to take back the power that the scarecrow took away from me that day. Embracing my fear made me stronger, more powerful,” He answered seriously and she nodded. 

“Why did you improve your father’s fear toxin if you knew what it was capable of?” She asked quietly, watching for his reaction. 

“I made it because I knew what it was capable of. People like us have suffered, we’ve been wronged, we’ve been abandoned and ignored. There are people in this world who have the privilege of never being afraid because they have nothing to fear. I made it originally to use on the city’s elite, the people who think they’re better than me because they think they’re wealthier than I am, smarter than I am. Ra’s distracted me from my plan and I know now that I was right from the very beginning, Batman and his like need to be dethroned. We can be the ones to do it.” 

She looked into his eyes and kissed him, drawing his face down to hers by the rough collar of his sweater. His lips were dry from the wind. When she pulled away he held her face between his hands and looked at her seriously, his nostrils flared. 

“Do you still trust me after everything I just told you? Do you still want to be with me?” He asked her calmly, a dark glint in his eye. She dropped her head to the side and he caught it easily in his palm. 

“Yes, yes.” She nodded. 

They walked in silence, their hands brushing against each other and their hair blowing in the short gusts of wind. 

v 

“There’s still something you should know,” Crane began as they crossed through the door into the grand entry hall. 

“Like how you learned to ride a horse?” She joked but Crane didn’t smile. His face was hard again as it had been before. Her smile faded slowly and she felt her heart shutter and drop. “What?” She whispered and Crane left without another word, so she followed him hesitantly. He led her down into the basement, taking a stone staircase hidden behind a wall panel that also served as a door. Their steps echoed in the small space, electric sconces burned along the creepy passage. Finally Crane stopped at the door at the bottom of the stairs. The door was made of solid steel and Crane had to enter a passcode to open it. 

“Through here,” he guided her through the door and closed it behind them. The room was large and cave-like, lined with bookshelves and lab equipment. She gave an appreciative gasp, taking in the room that served as Crane’s office and private lab. “This was my father’s lab and when he died, it became mine.” He walked around to his desk and rummaged through one of the bottom drawers, removing a few small folders and placing them on his desk. He rested his knuckles on the cherry wood surface and sighed, finally meeting her eyes since they got back to the house. 

“Back to our topic of trust, I should tell you that I did a little snooping, if you will, into your past when we first started crossing paths. I wanted to know who I was dealing with, which is why I did this and now that we’ve ended up here together, I feel that it’s only right,” the word tasted bitter on his tongue, “to show you what I found. I’ve always told you that we’re alike, that we understand each other but I’ve never explained why. This is why I know we’re alike, Y/N.” He opened the front flap of each folder and pushed them down to the front of the desk. “You should know what happened to you as a child, the things they never told you at the orphanage.” He waited as she swallowed and looked between the papers and Crane. 

“What do you mean?” She whispered, “the things that happened to me?” 

“How the Wayne family ruined both of our lives.” His voice was slow and dark like syrup and it took her a few seconds to process what he was saying, what he was implying. She looked down at the folders again and took a step closer. When she reached his desk, she scanned the documents with blurred vision. “What… what do they say?” She rubbed her eyes and stepped away. Crane took the first folder, his jaw clenched. 

“Y/L/N, Y/N was born into the Arkham family, the founders of Arkham Asylum. Her parents were known to have had numerous disagreements with the Wayne family over the inappropriate use of the criminal justice system by moving people whom the Waynes didn’t like into the asylum. The Arkhams did not believe that the Waynes should have had the right to imprison their political enemies and opponents and tried to inform the public. The message to the press and other government officials was intercepted by the Wayne administration and destroyed, though one draft of the letter was salvaged from the Arkham’s trash and archived in the police station, it was never investigated. The Arkhams, both in their early 30s, were found dead a week later in their home. With no other living relatives, the baby, named Matilda Y/N Arkham by her parents, was discreetly handed over to Gotham orphanage by people closely connected to Wayne following the murder.” He paused, his eyes flicking up. She had gone white and her hand was clamped around one of the shelves on a nearby bookshelf. She looked up at him when he stopped and tried to speak but nothing came. He still waited, giving her time to speak but when she didn’t, he continued. 

“My private investigator found this from government records, including records still housed in Gotham orphanage. They knew this whole time and never informed you even after you became a legal adult. They never investigated your parents’ death and Thomas Wayne, the father of Gotham’s famous playboy, Bryce Wayne, never paid for his actions. He continued to imprison his enemies and without your parents there to run the asylum, it fell into its current state. Nothing I could have done with Arkham would have ever salvaged it after what Wayne’s administration did. So, you see now why I said that we were alike in so many ways. The Wayne’s have too much power even now and someone needs to do something about it.” Crane sighed and walked back to the front of his desk and leaned against it, his eyes lowered to the ground. She inhaled deeply. 

“You said something about Wayne ruining both of our lives. What did he do to you?” She asked him, her face red from stress and emotion. 

“He killed my mother,” he answered evenly and they met each others’ eyes. Her questioning eyes prompted Crane to explain. “He visited my mother whom he’d been seeing for a few months. She wanted to end things because she had me and I was getting older, and her marriage was starting to improve; she no longer wanted to be his mistress. He got angry and locked her inside her bedroom and then he lit a fire, right outside her room. He left before anyone realized what had happened. They found the key in her bedroom door, still inside the lock, locking the door from the outside. They knew that something had happened and the people in the police department knew the rumors, the secret love affair between Mrs. Crane and Mr. Wayne. There was a whole case but the police commissioner closed it and it was never solved. My father was a good man before that day, my mother’s murder drove him insane. For years it led him to do things that he shouldn’t have done. Wayne had a hand in my fate too, setting up my parents’ demise. I would have ended up alongside you at Gotham’s orphanage if Hobbs and his wife didn’t agree to look after me for those last two years before I was old enough to be my own guardian. Thomas Wayne died when I was eleven and yet, he still managed to kill my father from the grave. So, we’re connected by a chain of discord welded together by the Wayne family.”

“Yes…” he whispered and sank down into a dusty armchair. “So my real name is Matilda Arkham?” 

“Technically speaking, yes.” 

“And so that means Arkham Asylum also belongs to me?” 

Crane smiled with his wide lips closed, “technically.”  

Realization clicked in and she couldn’t help but laugh. She covered her mouth with her palms and laughed hysterically. Crane smiled down at his feet and scratched the side of his face. Though she suddenly realized that her entire life had been a lie, she laughed because now, everything made sense. And by some disturbed twist of fate, she and Crane had been bound to be together all because of Thomas Wayne. She pulled herself from the chair and looked at the family picture included in one of the folders. Crane leaned over her shoulder, breathing calmly against her neck. Goosebumps rose on her arms as she studied the picture. Lying in the arms of a woman with strawberry blonde hair, was her. Her father held her foot in between his fingers, smiling down at her with brown eyes. She’d seen their portrait in passing in the asylum and yet she’d never placed why they managed to look so… familiar. They’d been celebrated psychiatrists in their time. She looked at Crane, still leaning against the desk beside her, his blue eyes were trained on her face. So that’s why she had a thing for psychiatrists, she realized. 

“Are you ready to hear my plan now,” he asked her with a smirk, “... Miss Arkham?” 

[xiiithhazard]

Echoes of the Unseen Children - Chapter 8

Word Prompt 31 – Vineyard

@year-of-the-echidna

First Chapter

Prev. Chapter

…

Chapter 8:

Sonic woke to find that he had somehow managed to fall asleep. However, he was no longer outside, instead he was safely back in his bed, which made him wonder if any of that night had even happened.

It was the dull ache in his chest that finally proved that it was real. But it wasn’t just a physical reminder of how hard Knuckles could hit, but proof of the hole in his heart that would stay with him for the rest of his life. So, when he looked over to find that his brother’s bed was empty, he freaked out and rushed to the door in a panic. It wasn’t necessary. As he immediately found the stubborn creature – fighting with a tree – of all things.

“What are you doing?” He asked in an uncertain tone, as his friend bobbed and weaved, as if dodging an invisible opponent, only to strike out at the tree again and again.

“Training.” He answered without even pausing in his task.

“O-k.” Sonic said, looking around to make sure Amy wasn’t present to scold him for his unauthorized movement. She wasn’t, probably gathering herbs, she did that a lot. “Are you feeling alright?” He asked, walking around to get a better look at his friend’s face, trying to gauge this strange new behavior. Only to realize that there was a fire there he had never seen before.

“Yes. And you.” He asked, dodging his unseen enemy and striking again.

“Fine.” Sonic murmured, though he absentmindedly rubbed his chest, where the kick he had received had left him with a nice big bruise. However, he was far more interested in this complete 180 his brother had achieved in just a single night. But, not wanting to jinx it, he instead changed the subject. “Why are you fighting a tree?” He asked. Struggling to decide if he should be concerned for his friend’s sanity.

"Sometimes." Knuckles panted, delivering another powerful blow to the bark. "You must face something that won't yield – to understand your own resilience."

He considered that, as he continued to watch the process. Slowly starting to see the intense focus and unwavering determination behind every action Knuckles took. And realized his friend was pushing himself not just to train, but to reach beyond his own limits. Maybe driven by duty, or an unspoken fear of being inadequate. Or maybe something else. A reason he’d discovered inside of himself, that was so strong it simply couldn’t be contained.

Whatever it was, Sonic was glad that he’d found it. And decided to stand back and watch a minute longer. Feeling a mixture of admiration and pride – but also worry.

"Should you really be pushing yourself like this though?" He asked, noticing that he was still being careful not to move his injured arm. However, Amy’s disclosure of the true damage underneath remained a loud pressure between them.

Knuckles finally paused, glancing at Sonic with a look that spoke volumes of his internal struggle. He knew he was at a disadvantage. However, he was going to do everything in his power to not let it stop him. "Maybe not.” He admitted, slightly out of breath, before looking down at his useless arm. “But maybe it doesn’t matter anymore. If I’ve lost it, I’ve lost it. There isn’t much that can be done.”

Sonic squirmed at the idea of just giving up like that. But he couldn’t deny the truth. According to Amy, they had two choices. Leave the arm and maybe see some small recovery over time. Or remove it and learn to adapt.

He wasn’t sure which option Knuckles would take, in the end. However, in his current state, the pain alone was often enough to immobilize him. So, Sonic could make a pretty good guess which he would choose.

“Either way.” Knuckles spoke up again, raising his eyes back to the tree. That powerful determination returning, as he clenched his good fist. “I can't afford to be anything less than my best. Not now."

Sonic's concern deepened for a second, but before he could voice his thoughts, Knuckles landed a final blow, his fist alive with red energy. Causing the wood to splinter with a loud crack. And a second later, the tree gave an ominous groan, before simply falling over.

“Gees.” Sonic proclaimed, jumping back in shock. Looking from the tree to his friend, and back again. Good grief, had he always been that strong?

Knuckles stood there for a moment, breathing heavily. As the normal adrenaline crash took effect, punishing him for using his power. However, this time he was able to stay on his feet.

“So – uh.” Sonic paused, trying to decide how best to bring up the topic that neither of them had wanted revealed. “Are we ever going to talk about – that?” He pointed at his friend’s hand. Indicating the red power that was slowly disappearing.

“I could ask the same of you.” Knuckles countered, causing the hedgehog to start.

“What?” He said, looking around, as if the echidna had been speaking to someone else. “I don’t know what you’re talking about. I’m just – fast – that’s all.” His friend gave him a disbelieving look and Sonic smirked, but gave in. Knowing it was pretty useless at this point. “Okay, fine. Guess I should have told you a long time ago. But Longclaw told me to keep it hidden.”

“As did my father with mine.” Knuckles admitted and they both smiled, realizing they’d both refused to discuss it, despite already knowing the secret was out, simply because they’d been told to do so.

“We’re morons.” Sonic declared and his friend laughed, but didn’t argue. Leaving the hedgehog to rub at his quills, honestly amused by the trouble they’d managed to cause for themselves. “Though –” He continued after a minute. “I don’t actually know anything about my power.” He admitted and Knuckles looked taken aback. But he seemed to decide that that made sense. “What about you?”

He looked at the ground for a moment. Thinking it over. “My Chief always told me that it was the will of my ancestor.” He raised his fist to clench it, as if visualizing that image. “His resolve, channeled through my body.”

Sonic noted something in the tone of his voice. As if he found the explanation wanting. And he could see why. “Does that bother you?” He asked and his friend looked up again. “It’s your power. Doesn’t seem fair that someone can just come in and claim it as theirs for – reasons.”

“No.” Knuckles agreed simply, turning back to his felled tree with a sigh. “But – it is what it is.”

He was about to comment further, when Sonic was interrupted by the faint sound of a little fox waking up to find that he was all alone in their hut. And they quickly dropped the topic, to go back inside. Causing the cries to immediately shift to the happy chorus of a baby who had just seen his two favorite people.

“Hey, Buddy.” Sonic chimed, as Tails hopped up and down in his box. Reaching his little paws out to be held. Which the hedgehog was obligated to oblige.

“Sonk!”

They both froze, then Knuckles slowly turned away from what he’d been doing. “Did he just –” He asked, causing Sonic to completely flip out.

“AWWW! You – you said my name. He said my name.” He informed both Tails and Knuckles, then Tails again.

“Sonk.”

“Sort of.” He corrected, but his joy was too much to contain, and he promptly smothered the little fox in a snuggle. “Eh, close enough.” And they both proceeded to rejoice until Amy came rushing into the building. Her bow at the ready. Though she was quick to look around and see that everyone was alright.

“What’s going on? Why are you yelling? And what did you do to that tree?”

“He said my name.” Sonic informed her, holding Tails over his head. Causing the little guy to giggle happily.

“He did? I missed it?” She pouted, completely forgetting her anger or annoyance and instead turned to Knuckles for confirmation. Who just sighed in his usual grouchy fashion.

“Honestly, it wasn’t that big a deal.”

Insulted, Sonic turned on him with a prickly glare. Only to morph it into a mischievous grin instead. “Oh yeah. We’ll see about that,” He announced and rushed over so Tails could be trust into his face. Prompting them to blink at each other, before the little fox lit up like a tiny sun.

“Knok.” He proclaimed and Sonic jabbed the air in triumph. As the normally stoic echidna was left fighting with everything he had, not to melt into a puddle of goo. In the end, he somehow managed to make himself walk away. Thus, allowing Amy to freak out for him.

…

With Amy officially spending most of her day trying to coax her own name from the little fox. Sonic was allowed some peace and time to do something other than work. So, he decided to spend it doing some things he hadn’t been able to, in what felt like forever. That being running and exploring.

However, he quickly realized that he didn’t have a lot of space to do that. Though they’d only been on the island for a few weeks. The continuous storms had already claimed another half of the island. Though, it still had a way to go to reach their camp, the muddy land itself was making things more difficult than they’d already been. And food was, once again, growing scarce. Forcing them to rely almost completely on Amy’s stores. They really had a lot to be grateful for that she’d been there. He didn’t even want to consider their fates had they wound up alone on the island.

Eventually he ran out of places to go and just returned to the camp, where he found Amy and Tails outside. Her persistence to extract her own name from the little fox paying off. As he had come up with several amusing mispronunciations, much to her delight and Sonic's bemusement.

He was tempted to sit down with them, but their growing bond was too precious for him to intrude upon. So, he left her too it. Knowing if he stayed, Tails would just focus on him instead. And to be honest, Amy was just so much better at it than they had ever been. A truth that hurt, but he couldn’t deny how much the little fox had grown, since meeting her. It seemed wrong to take that away now.

Retreating to their hut, he found Knuckles sitting cross-legged on his bed. His eyes closed and his breathing specifically precise. “What’s up, Bro.” Sonic greeted, hopping onto his own bed and stretching out like a cat. “How’s the meditation thing going?”

Knuckles cracked an eye open to glare at him but then closed it again with a huff. “It was going fine until you showed up.”

Sonic chuckled and reclined back, resting his hands behind his head. “Well, don’t let me stop you.”

Knuckles didn’t respond, but the calmness in his shoulders had been replaced with tension, prompting him to eventually open his eyes again, and glare at the hedgehog. He took that as his cue to talk. “So, I’ve been thinking.” He announced, turning onto his side and propping his head up. “It seems – kind of odd that these storms are drowning the islands. I know they’ve been bad, but – I didn’t know they could do that.”

“It’s not the storms.” Knuckles explained. “It’s the waves. They haven’t been as powerful as the first, but they do not appear to be letting up.”

That made more sense. “Do – you think the water’s going to chase us out again?”

The echidna considered that for a moment, before answering. “This place is well fortified. The fact that it has survived as long as it has, is a testament to Amy’s parents and their foresight.”

“Yeah, but – maybe we should leave before it does.” He didn’t like saying that. They had it pretty good where they were. However, he didn’t want a repeat of the last island. Where they had been all but starving, before finally following in the trail of the other occupants. Only to wind up on another island where everyone had, once again, left.

It was kind of hard to deny an objective, when anyone with more years of experience than them was doing it.

“Amy mentioned something about a mainland. I’ll bet she could take us there, if we –”

“Sonic.” His friend interrupted, his tone suddenly stern and demanding. Forcing the hedgehog to acknowledge him. “While I would like nothing more than for her to join us. Amy – is not like us. She has a home here. A purpose of her own. It would be – wrong of us to call her away from that.”

Sonic looked at the floor as he considered his friend’s words and had to admit, if reluctantly, that he was right. Despite the flooding that was forcing the migration of hundreds of Tribes. Leaving Amy as the only one on the island. She clearly intended to stay. She was continuously collecting herbs and foods, storing them for a time when they’d be needed. And always in the process of making medicines, in the off chance that others, like them, were washed ashore. She was determined to follow in her parents’ footsteps. But, to do that, she had to stay where she could be easily found, when the people needed her.

“Hey you two.” Amy’s voice called to them, as if on cue. And they both got up to walk to the door, as she requested their presence outside. There, they found her sitting in the clearing with Tails, looking rather pleased with herself. “I have a surprise for you.” She said and gently set the baby on his feet. Where he happily zeroed in on his brothers and took an unsteady step forward.

Then another and another.

For once in his life, Sonic didn’t have any words, as his heart just about floated away. And he knelt to be at the baby’s level, holding his hands out in encouragement. Causing the little fox to babble excitedly and continue forward. Growing more and more confident with each step he took.

“Sonk.” He proclaimed when he was finally close enough and fell into his brother’s arms for a hug.

“Yeah.” Sonic cheered, tossing him into the air. “Way ta go, Buddy. That was great.”

“Knok.” Was the baby’s response, as he turned to Knuckles next and made it clear that he was not finished yet. Thus, prompting Sonic to take a few paces and gently place him back on the ground.

He did pretty well for the first few steps. However, he lost his balance halfway there and landed on his tails. But when Knuckles knelt down as well and held his hand out to him. The little fox screwed his face up into an adorable bout of stubbornness and pushed himself back to his feet.

The process left him facing the wrong direction, but he righted himself again and continued on his way. Slowly, he gained the confidence to use his arms for something other than balance and reached out for his oldest brother.

“Knok.” He giggled again and wrapped his little body around the echidna’s hand, allowing himself to be picked up.

“Good job.” Knuckles whispered into his fur, as he hugged him. “I’m so proud of you.”

Sonic did not miss the slight crack in his voice. But he decided not to ruin the moment by poking at it. “Oh, by the way.” He looked over as Amy walked up beside him. “I’m not sure if you’re aware of this. But that kid is smart.”

“Yeah.” Sonic murmured, beaming as he watched Knuckles encouraging the baby to continue his practice.

“No.” Amy insisted, and he turned back to find that she was suddenly rather serious. “I mean it. He’s really smart.”

…

Sonic and Knuckles found themselves sitting on the floor of Amy’s hut, Tails placed between them, as the girl searched for something. Eventually walking back over to show them what she had brought.

“This is a puzzle box my parents got from a distant land. It’s unlike anything you’d ever see around here.” She explained, setting it in front of Tails, who immediately took notice and reached out to play with the new toy. “Even they were never able to open it.” She finished, as they watched the baby work. His little face scrunched up in concentration.

For a few minutes, there was just the sound of wooden pieces being shifted about, as he turned it one way, then another. Though, for the most part, it didn’t really seem like he was accomplishing anything. Just playing.

“Shush.” Amy ordered, when Sonic opened his mouth. Her eyes locked on the baby. However, just when he was about to speak anyway, if only to annoy her. A ‘click’ echoed in the room and all attention turned back to Tails.

With one last shift of the box’s moving parts and another click, one side was revealed to be a lid. Which now easily slid open, as the little fox threw his paws in the air and celebrated his success.

“See. I told you.” Amy declared. Even as the other two just stared at the baby in shock. “He’s smart.”

“That – isn’t normal.” Knuckles pipped up in confusion. Examining the open box. As Sonic sifted onto his belly to be at eye level with the baby.

“How did you do that, Buddy?”

“Sonk.” He declared, as if this answered everything, and his brother facepalmed.

“Yes, that’s me.” As much as he loved to hear his own name. There was a time and place for it.

“Come to think of it –” Knuckles muttered, before turning to Sonic. “The raft.”

Sonic perked up as he recalled that Tails had also been the one to implement the plan that had saved their lives. Despite not even being able to properly tell them about it. “Huh.” The hedgehog murmured before turning back to his little brother with a smile and poked his tummy. “Always knew you were special.” He announced with confidence as the baby giggled.

“I’ve been meaning to ask.” Amy pipped up. “Does he have a power, like you two?” Both of them froze up at that question. Leading her to look between them, her smile faltering as she realized something. “Oh – I wasn’t supposed to know that, was I?”

Sonic just sighed and waved off her concern. “It’s alright.” He muttered. “It’s not as if we’ve been doing a good job of hiding it.”

“Speak for yourself.” Knuckles pointed out truthfully and turned back to Amy. “Him, I understand. But how did you know about mine?”

“I felt it.” She said as if this answered everything, though she noticed they were waiting for her to explain further. “When I first touched you. I could feel the energy in your body. It’s – hard to explain.” She looked at his chest, then reached out to poke at him in a specific spot. “Right here. There’s a – ball of power. But it’s locked.”

“Locked?” Knuckles repeated, looking at the spot as well, his expression scrunched up confusion.

“Yeah. You can probably use it. To an extent.” She said, picking up her parent’s puzzle box and held it up as an example. “But you haven’t figured out the right combination yet.” He looked at her, then the box, then back at his chest and touched the spot himself, thinking it over. And Sonic realized that this actually explained why he was always so exhausted after using his strength. “However –” Amy perked up again and scooted a little closer to the echidna, allowing her to once again touch him. Her face a mixture of concentration and slight confusion. “It’s stronger now. Not by much, but –”

“That explains the tree.” Sonic pointed out and smiled when Amy shot his friend a critical look.

“That was you. I happened to like that tree.”

“Sorry.” Knuckles offered, growing a little smaller under her scrutiny and smiled in an attempt to make peace.

“On the other hand.” Sonic interrupted, trying to spare his brother a fate worse than death. “Can we just make note that you have the ability to sense that?” He pointed out, recalling that even Longclaw had needed to train for years to do such a thing. “How?”

“Oh – well –” She murmured. Playing with her hair quills in a nervous fashion. “Magic.” She finally settled on. However, both Sonic and Knuckles were quick to recognize when they were being fed a story to keep a secret. “Okay, okay.” She relented and stood up, bringing Tails with her. “I’ll show you.”

…

She led them to a secluded area in the forest, somewhere near the center of the island. Where it was so overgrown they had to crawl in some places, just to get through. Though they did find something that would make a return trip promising.

“Is that – food?” Knuckles asked, noticing several bunches of tiny fruits hanging from the vines. Still relatively fresh, as they’d been protected from the downpours by their own thick canopy of vines.

“Yeah, they’re not quite in season yet, I was hoping to save them until they were ready.” Amy explained, watching as the echidna carefully picked one and put it in his mouth. Only to look like his mind had just exploded. “Good, aren’t they?” She said with a smile, as Sonic went for them as well and she picked one for Tails too. “They’re called grapes. They’re not originally from the region. My mother planted them.”

“They’re beautiful.” Knuckles exclaimed, and Sonic couldn’t help by agree. They came in colors ranging from green and yellow, to red and bright purple. Unlike anything they’d ever seen on the islands. And their taste was so uniquely different from the coconuts, bananas and mangos they were accustomed to, that it was hard not to keep going back for seconds and thirds.

But Amy wasn’t about to let them completely raid her tiny vineyard and eventually pushed them on ahead. Forging a path through the thicket, that she had clearly traveled quite often. Until she finally stopped and turned back to them. Motioning toward something at the base of a large tree.

It took a second for Sonic to see it, as the old stone had been so worn with age and moss, it was nearly the same color as the tree that had almost grown to completely encompass it. However, as he got closer, he realized there was a distinct shape to it. Tall and thin, but smooth and craved with lines and drawings to indicate that it had once been quite important.

“When I was little, I explored every inch of the island.” Amy spoke up, after a moment, her tone indicating that she probably missed the freedom of those days. When she had no responsibilities to keep her from doing what she loved. “Of course, I got lost.” She admitted with a little laugh. “But – I found this.” She reached over to run her hand over the old stone. “And – when I touched it. Something happened.”

Tails made a little noise, as if to acknowledge her and reached out to touch the stone as well. However, she pulled him away before he could. And took a step back, so he couldn’t try again.

“What happened?” Knuckles asked and she looked back up at them, her smile growing slightly.

“I saw – everything.” She whispered. “It was amazing. One second, I was lost, alone and scared. And the next – I could see all the magic in the world. The energies and colors inside every plant, rock or creature. And, suddenly, I just knew what to do. And how to get home.”

She looked back at the stone carving. Her smile faltering slightly, as she seemed to recall the moment. “It faded, of course.” She admitted. “Over time, I could no longer see the magic directly. But I can still feel it, when I’m close enough.” She sighed and sifted the baby fox in her arms again. “I returned many times. Trying to get it to work again. But nothing’s ever happened.”

“Huh.” Sonic murmured, walking over to poke at the rock, pulling back quickly, just in case. But it remained as normal and unthreatening as it had always been. “What do you think it is?”

“My mother thought it might be a nexus of power. A point where the planet’s Chaos force leaks out into the world. And the statue was placed here to plug the hole.” Sonic looked back at her with a questionable expression, but she just shrugged. Obviously uncertain whether that was true or not.

“Still – that’s pretty cool.” He admitted with a smile, turning back to carefully dust some of the moss and dirt from the image. Only to move a vine and find something – familiar. “Knuckles?” He proclaimed, not taking his eyes off the spot, which had clearly been smoothed away, at some point in the not-so-distant past. Allowing a new carving to be added.

“Wait a minute.” The echidna said, as he walked over to see for himself, only to kneel down to get a better look, like he couldn’t believe what he was seeing. “That’s –”

“What?” Amy demanded, suddenly appearing between them and they both jumped back in shock. Leaving her to glare at them both individually. “Now don’t start that again. Tell me what you’re looking at.”

“Relax. We weren’t gonna leave you out.” Sonic insisted, realizing that she’d been waiting a long time to get answers about this thing and wasn’t about to let this opportunity go to waste. But, with a sigh, he figured that just showing her was the best course of action and reached into his quills for Longclaw’s map. Unfolding and holding it up to show her the connection.

There, off to one side of the main map, was an image they had always noted as being present but had never really understood why. As it was completely out of place. Which made the fact that the same diamond-like shape was now found carved into the side of this ancient stone idol an interesting thing to note.

Even more curious, were the little pictographic words that accompanied both drawings. Only the ones on the idol were very different than the ones on the map. Enough to suggest that it was even a different language.

“Wait.” Knuckles spoke up again. “I know these symbols. They’re –” Unfortunately, he didn’t get the chance to finish. For when he touched the stone, a spark of power leapt from his hand and the image of the emerald practically exploded with red light. Forcing him to jump away.

However, before anyone could calm down and figure out what the hell had just happened. A field of little red stars erupted forth to form an image in the air. And they all had to jump back to make room. As it took shape and, for a moment, Sonic smiled, thinking it was Longclaw. Only to realize that this owl was far older and male and featured a number of battle scars that she had never had.

“Young Guardian.” The owl’s voice boomed across the forest, as his eyes narrowed in on Knuckles, who had fearfully backed away from the sudden arrival of one of the warriors that had taken out his entire clan. “Descendant of Enerjak.” This name seemed to bring the echidna back to his senses, as he jumped slightly and looked up to meet the owl’s eyes. “Your path has been a long one. Your destiny uncertain.” The owl’s eyes closed, and his head lowered in shame. “And I regret that it was I who tore you from it.”

“What?” Knuckles whispered, managing to get his feet under him again and face the spectral image.

“My actions have caused this. A regret I shall live with, for the rest of my days. But it is not I who will suffer. Instead, it will be you. The child left behind.” Despite not actually being there himself, the pain in the owl’s voice was all too tangible. “He was – my friend.” The old warrior admitted, seemingly almost ready to cry. “My brother in honor. But his actions forced my hand. I had no other choice.”

After a moment, he opened his eyes again and seemed to look directly at Knuckles. “It was not ours to take. But I will do everything in my power to protect it. Until the time comes that you may reclaim your birthright.” The old owl smiled then, a motion that was surprisingly warm, despite how cold and hardened the warrior appeared physically. “The journey will be long and difficult. But you share blood with the Great Emerald. She will be with you. There is nothing you need to fear.”

...

[tenebraevesper]

Sonic Prime (My Interpretation of The Ending)

So, I have seen a people scratching their heads over the ending of Sonic Prime. The general consensus seems to be that the ending is either confusing or unsatisfying, leaving people with more questions than answers. However, don't take my word for granted, this is just what I heard through the grapevine.

This is why I decided to thrown in my own thoughts out in the open. Once again, I do not speak for the community, these are just my personal thoughts and my own interpretation of the ending.

We clear? We clear.

What happened?

During the finale of Sonic Prime, after Nine repaired the Paradox Prism and the Shatterverses, and after Sonic and Shadow got back to Green Hill, we return back to the time just before Sonic shattered the Paradox Prism. Sonic is clearly fine and happy to see his friends again (and also happy to see Eggman). As the fight resumes, Shadow appears, Chaos Controlling the Paradox Prism away so it couldn't be used by Eggman. Eggman curses the day and leaves, while Sonic and his friends go to have a relaxing day on the beach. When they hear another explosion in the distance, all of them go back into action to fight whatever this threat is.

Do Sonic and Shadow remember the events of the Shatterverse?

I can say, with absolute certainty, that yes, Sonic remembers what happened after he had shattered the Paradox Prism. It is implied multiple times that he remembers that event, both in his dialogue and general behavior.

As for Shadow, it is not as clear cut as Sonic, but I do believe he also remembers the events of the Shatterverse. Note, unlike Tails, Knuckles, Amy, Rouge, Big & Froggy, and Eggman, Shadow escaped the shattering of the Paradox Prism, making him an paradox in the same sense as Sonic even if he didn't have the Prism Energy (something that was pointed out in the final episode).

So, yeah, the most likely answer is that Sonic and Shadow remember the Shatterverse.

What happened to the Paradox Prism?

In the finale, Shadow Chaos Controlled the Paradox Prism to someplace unknown. It is never answered what he had done with it, but given Shadow's character in general, we can conclude that he placed it somewhere safe; a place where no one will be able to find it.

Also, going by Sonic and Shadow's silent interaction in the cave, it appears that Sonic was aware of Shadow's plan and approved of it. Both knew what the Paradox Prism could do if it fell into the wrong hands or was broken apart and neither of them wanted to repeat what happened.

It is up to the viewers to speculate where Shadow had hidden it.

What happened to the Shatterverse?

Now, this is a question I cannot answer, but I can speculate about. There are two outcomes for the Shatterverse situation and I think it depends on the viewer's interpretation and wishes.

The first outcome is that the Shatterverse still exists in some way, and New Yoke City, Boscage Maze, No Place and The Grim now co-exist with Green Hill within The Void, meaning Nine and the other Shatterverse Variants are free to live their life in their own Shatterspaces. Whether travel between the Shatterspaces is possible is unknown, as we know that Shadow couldn't go into the Gates, while Sonic could due to the Prism Energy. Whether the Shatterspace Variants could do the same without the Prism Energy or opening a portal, I don't really know (if someone has information on this, I'd be happy to change my statement).

The second outcome is the more... bittersweet one. In this outcome, the Shatterspace has ceased to exist and all of the Shatterspace Variants have vanished, or perhaps unified with their original counterparts. Evidence for this is that Sonic and Shadow were sent to just before the Paradox Prism was shattered (with Shadow having the Chaos Emerald that was previously lost to The Void), meaning that if Sonic doesn't shatter it, the Shatterverse wouldn't come into existence. It is a bit complicated to explain, especially with no clear evidence, and the only thing I have is going by my own logic.

If you want to understand where I'm coming from, please watch Reploid Revo's Time Skimmer EXTRA - MegaMan World video, where he explains the complications of a paradox cycle.

I believe that the fate of the Shatterverse has been left vague on purpose, as people would certainly be upset to hear that the likes of Nine, Dread, Rusty Rose and so on have been erased from existence. However, I also offer another solution based on the video above, combining it with the first outcome.

Sonic and Shadow obviously changed the timeline by not letting the Paradox Prism get shattered, meaning that, by this logic, the Shatterverse in this timeline should not exist. However, there is still a possibility that the Shatterverse exists in a different timeline, one that cannot be accessed anymore (or maybe it can, this is the Sonic the Hedgehog franchise we're talking about after all). In short, the Shatterverse itself would be a paradox, because it keeps existing even though by all logic, it shouldn't exist.

It is also very possible that Sonic Prime's situation is similar to that of Sonic the Hedgehog (2006), where the whole timeline with Mephiles and Iblis had been erased. However, as said above, this is all up to fan interpretation.

What was the explosion at the end?

At the very end, we see a blue energy pulse spreading through Green Hill, with an ominous shadow covering Sonic and his friends. Sonic is clearly exasperated while his friends are surprised/shocked, and they get back into action.

We do not know what this explosion was (it did have similarities to the explosion at the very beginning, when Eggman lured Sonic into finding a way to the Paradox Prism) and we have no indication to what the ominous shadow was.

It literally could be anything, but my interpretation is that it was Eggman being up to something once again.

Where is the 24th Episode? Will there be a sequel?

As you had probably noticed, we got 23 episodes instead of the promised 24. I don't know whether there will be a 24th episode, and while I sincerely hope for one, I doubt it. My friend suggested that 24 episodes were listed because the 1st episode was 40 minutes long, meaning the 1st episode could be counted as two. I can understand the logic behind it, but why don't they tell us that we'd get 22 Episodes + a 40 minute introduction episode? Maybe something changed during production and they decided to just not address it? I don't know.

As for the sequel, according to the grapevine, I don't believe that there will be a sequel. Sonic Prime seems to be a one and done story, with a cliffhanger hinting at a possibility of a sequel if they ever decide to pick it up again. Not to mention, this is a Netflix show. I think we should be happy that at least the full story has been told instead of getting cancelled.

Why didn't Sonic and Shadow interact more at the end?

I have seen people asking for at least a conclusion to Sonic and Shadow's relationship during the show, and yeah, I'll be honest, I'm also one of those people. Like, seriously, couldn't they even add a conversation between the two once Green Hill was restored? Maybe have them acknowledging what happened in the Shatterverse and looking back on their adventure?

*sigh* Hey, fellow writers, could you recommend me a fic with that kind of premise? Thanks in advance!

Is Sonadow now canon?

Despite what certain images lead you to believe...

Just kiss already!

...Sonadow is not canon and will never be. SEGA's official stance is that no romance will be happening besides Amy's crush on Sonic and Vector's crush on Vanilla (officially, Tangle and Whisper are VERY close ''friends''; but fans know better), which I don't mind. Having an official couple might lead to brutal shipping wars of the magnitude that were present during Archie!Sonic (if you don't know, ask at your own risk), and frankly, I don't think anyone wants to be part of that.

Instead, it is best to leave things to fan interpretation (with Sonadow Prime providing us with a LOT of content for that) or maybe ask Ian Flynn for his interpretation of how certain ships would work on the Bumblekast Podcast. After all, he did a whole episode on Sonadow.

As for Prime!Sonic and Prime!Shadow, I'm certain that they appreciate each other more and have a deeper respect for each other. That, and Shadow definitely freaked out when Sonic wasn't anymore in his arms after they landed in Green Hill before realizing what was going on.

Sonadow Prime AMV (Enjoy!)

Do you plan on writing a story based on Sonic Prime's ending?

Yes, I do, but it won't be a rewrite of the ending as some other people did. Instead, I'm planning on writing a sort of epilogue, mainly based on Sonic and Shadow's thoughts, feelings and relationship after the whole Shatterverse adventure. I don't know when it will be published, since I'm currently working on the new Sonic Cyber Revolution chapter (which also features Sonadow moments), so there's that.

#Sonic the Hedgehog Analyzer (Masterlist)

[pccyouthleader]

Hedgehog Hodgepodge: A Story of Espionage, Confusion, and an Evil Plan Gone Haywire

Chapter 13: A Shred of Evidence

Back downstairs, Shadow was helping Amy clean up after dinner. “You don’t seem quite as upset about Aurora’s decision as Sonic,” he said gently. He paused and studied her briefly. “You know she’ll be okay.”

Amy gave him a small smile. “I do. She’s part Rose, after all. Plus, I’ve had a feeling this was coming. Everything you said earlier was right - she needs to be able to make her own decisions.”

Shadow was about to respond when a notification came through on his communicator. Seeing it was from Tails, he lost no time reading the message. 

Amy looked up when he swore under his breath. “Something wrong?”

“I asked Tails to run some tests on that strange trophy he won recently. He’s only had one test result so far, and it’s showing the material used to make the trophy is organic.”

“Organic?” Amy asked, confused. Then she saw the look on Shadow’s face. “You mean alive?”

“Yes.” Shadow stood lost in thought for a minute. “I hate to leave without talking to Aurora, but I need to see Tails. This is urgent.”

Amy wiped her hands on a towel and moved across the room to Shadow. He felt a pang of guilt when he saw just how weary she looked. 

“Hey,” she reassured, “this is Aurora we’re talking about. Sure, she’ll be disappointed, but she’ll understand. Just don’t make a habit of it,” Amy added with a laugh.

“Thank you, Amy. Please tell her I’ll see her as soon as I get a chance.”

—

Shadow decided to walk to Tails’ lab to clear his head. He rubbed his temples and attempted to calm the noise in his brain so he could think. The more clues he came across, the more valid his theory seemed. But wasn’t it impossible?

He reached Tails’ lab and rapped on the door. That crafty fox had to have more ideas up his sleeve. Shadow was surprised to see a distressed look on Tails’ furry face when he opened the door.

“It’s gone!” Tails sputtered. “I got the one test result back, and now the trophy’s gone!”

Shadow pushed past him into the building. “Show me,” he said hastily. Nothing was surprising to him at this point.

Tails took him back to a part of the lab he’d never seen before. “It was in this clear case, and I had just come back with those results when it started giving off this weird signal.”

“The trophy?” Shadow clarified.

“Yes! Almost like it was sending a message!”

“Did you record the message?”

“I didn’t have time. It was mere seconds between the moment it started and the time it stopped. I ran to get a recording drive, and when I returned, the thing had disappeared!”

Shadow took a second to think. “Have you searched the entire lab?”

“That’s what I was doing when you arrived. CC is going through all available data to see if anything picked up the signal. You’re welcome to help me search.”

Tails and Shadow looked the entire lab over twice before conceding that the trophy was truly gone. The doors had been secured from the inside, so no one could have pilfered it that way. CC’s search also turned up nothing.

But Shadow had an idea. “Rouge and Knuckles also came across a mysterious object that was similar in nature to the trophy. I’ll have them bring it here so you can continue your analysis.”

Using his communicator, he put a call in to Rouge, but there was no answer. A call to Knuckles gave the same result. Frustrated, Shadow decided to retrieve the orb himself.

—

Rouge answered the door almost immediately. 

“Doing business offline, now?” Shadow grumbled, annoyed.

“How’s that?” Rouge asked. His surly countenance had her immediately on the defensive.

“I tried to call you,” he answered gruffly.

“Well it’s kind of hard to answer a call that you never receive,” Rouge responded. At Shadow’s confused expression, she continued. “Something has zapped our communicators. Heck, we don’t even have any electricity!” She opened the door wide to prove her point. 

Shadow closed his eyes and told himself to calm down. Rouge wasn’t an enemy. “I’m sorry. There’s a lot going on right now and I’m a little on edge.”

“You don’t say?” responded Rouge with a smirk.

Still simmering, Shadow decided to get to the point. “Do you still have the orb that you showed me earlier today?”

“No.”

“What do you mean, ‘No’?”

“I thought you took it when you left! I couldn’t find it anywhere when I went back into the vault,” said Rouge.

“Not even on the floor?” Shadow’s heart was racing.

“Not even on the floor,” she said, crossing her arms. 

Shadow apologized again, assured her he didn’t take the orb, and hurried back to Tails’ lab.

—

“Things just don’t disappear into thin air, whether they’re organic or not!” said Tails, scratching his head.

Shadow wanted to hit him with a “Thank you, Captain Obvious,” but decided to hold his tongue. He wasn’t making friends this evening with his sarcastic remarks.

“We still have more research to do,” he tried instead.

“But it’s hard to do research on something that isn’t here,” Tails complained. “Besides, right after you left, our systems crashed. Our communicators were fried too. The only reason we have power at all is because of the backup generators.”

Shadow was at a loss for words. “I’ll keep looking,” he finally managed, then left the lab. 

—

Back in Aurora’s windowsill, Shadow’s day had come full circle. He was drained both mentally and physically, but found a great sense of calm just knowing she slept peacefully nearby.

Whether from the exhaustion of his faculties, or a sense of rebellion at the day’s adversity, he decided he had to be closer. To touch her.

Slipping into her room from the windowsill, he inched closer to her bed, carefully listening for sounds from the hallway. Shadow knew if Sonic were to find him in Aurora’s room now, after offering to let her move in with him, that the cerulean speedster would wage war.

Finally he was at her side, reaching to smooth the quills at the back of her head…

“Shadow…” she breathed, completely unaware of his presence. Hearing his name in her soft sigh nearly did him in. His fingers tingled at the very touch of her. He wouldn’t be able to stay long.

His mind shifted to the major changes in her life. Not only was she losing her “only child” status, but she was looking to live on her own for the first time. Living with her parents kept her protected and safe. Sonic was right; now she would be vulnerable. 

Shadow couldn’t actually imagine her moving into his apartment. It would be too much of a temptation, and he wanted to honor her wishes. Plus, he didn’t have any furniture to speak of. 

An idea suddenly struck him. After gently kissing her on the forehead, Shadow quietly made his way out of Aurora’s window, heading toward his apartment building. But instead of entering his own abode, he stopped at the apartment next door and knocked loudly.

“Who is it?” asked a voice a few moments later. The door opened and a slender tanuki stood tying his bathrobe. “Can I help you?”

Shadow stared at him with those deep crimson eyes. “I’m going to need you to move out of this apartment by the end of next week.”

-End Part One-

Stay tuned for an intermission chapter and Part Two, coming very soon!

[florainkingdom]

"I suppose royal meetings aren't for everyone. I should know, I dislike them as well." A rather large fennec spoke as he entered the room dressing in a purple robe. "However, this will just be between me and my children. Though I could certainly use the company next time. Liven the meeting a bit," he said, letting out a small laugh. "I'm King Renard, though since you aren't citizens, Renard is fine."

"Father, you didn't have to come all the way here just for that." Kit was certainly thrown off guard that her father entered the room, though didn't show it.

"Yes, well, father was extremely insistent on meeting your guests as well. With that said, I have something for them." Vix tapped her staff on the ground, summoning two items that look like watches as they floated over to Sonic and Amy. "These will pull up a digital map and plan a route to wherever you wish in our boarders. I will also admit they do have trackers in them. We're well aware you two are heroes in your world, however I must ask you don't attempt to perform any heroics while you're here."

"Geez, royals wanting to keep tabs on someone with 'gifts' they give them? What a shocker," Poppy bluntly said, this time seeming to want her opinion to be let known. This caused Kit, Vix, and Friedrich all to look at Renard.

Renard simply began laughing loudly. "I couldn't agree more, though my council wouldn't stop nagging my ear off about it. Bunch of spoil sports they are. Why, back in my younger days I went all over Flora, beating the stuffing out of any bandit or wannabe gang who thought they were hot stuff. And not just me, though other royals as well. A fun time I'll tell you."

"Yes, well, with all due respect, the kingdoms were changing a lot back in your younger days sire. We are at a time of peace, and perhaps heroes from another world running around fighting criminals isn't a good idea. No offense to either of you two."

"Bah. I say let these two do what they do best. After all, I'm sure you aren't heroes for nothing." Renard certainly seemed to be an odd individual. "Though I suppose I should focus on the meeting. It was nice meeting you all. Especially you Poppy. Now, we take our leave." The fennec clapped and him, Vix, and Kit disappeared in a flash.

"...Am I the only one who thought that went all over the place for a second there?" Poppy asked, seeming a bit lost with just how all that played out. Seemed a bit rushed to her. "Also, did I ever mention my name to him?"

"Yes, that's something that happens when King Renard shows up. He simply states what he wants and leaves without giving any much time to answer. I'd say you'd get used to it, though you really don't."

"it's not a bad idea." amy was only being honest. the more precautions they took against eggman the better. the human could be crafty if he got bored enough and she didn't want to see their new friend's home in shambles if the scientist got any funny ideas.

as far as talking about themselves went, however, one of the hedgehogs was far better at that than the other. amy could have, and would have, done so for hours while sonic had little to offer. apart from what kit likely already knew, he didn't like talking about his past all that much.

but it seemed it didn't matter as the queen was reminded of the things she still had to do. and hearing that she had worked so long without resting...both hedgehogs gave a silent 'yikes' at that one.

as for the next part, amy smiled.

"i think it would be fun, as long as it's not going to be too stressful. i've always wondered what royal meetings were like, especially when it comes to introducing something so important."

❝ speak for yourself, the last thing i wanna do is listen to a bunch of royal mumbo jumbo. uh...no offense, ❞ the speedster at least offered kit an apologetic expression. ❝ maybe we take a rain check this time and catch the next one? or maybe just lily and ames can go. though we should try to head home soon. there's no telling what craziness has happened since we've been gone. ❞

[another-sonic-blog]

The Fanfictioner Ch.7: The Artist

The Fanfictioner Ch.7: The Artist

.

.

.

"Very well then."

Sonic goes back to the door and holds the doorknob. He looks at Amy and then at Shadow and very calmly he speaks up again.

"Shadow hid in the closet."

"What?"

Without any other warning, Sonic opens the door and immediately, reporters and paparazzi's that were waiting outside the room started to take pictures of him. Shoving voice records close to him and asking questions.

"I am sorry guys, my girlfriend and I didn't get enough sleep last night so she is not looking very appropriate right now," Sonic then comically covered his mouth with one hand. "Oops, did I just say girlfriend?"

"Sonic the Hedgehog has a girlfriend?!" One of the reporters asks out loud in disbelief, and with that, the media crowd starts to get more agitated.

"Who is she?"

"Tell us her name?"

"Is she a famous actress too?"

The blue hedgehog then looks at the two other hedgehogs who were still in bed and Shadow immediately knew what Sonic is trying to do.

How humiliating, nonetheless Shadow uses his speed to go hide in the closet. Leaving Amy alone in bed.

Yes the whole 'Amy and I' are dating was just to get to Sonic's nerve but Shadow did not mean it. Shadow could not risk people believing that they were a thing. Especially when they were still in Acorn castle and Sally might hear of this.

"I think it's time we make it public," Sonic opens the door wide open and lets the paparazzi inside the room. Immediately starting to take pictures of the pink hedgehog in bed. Unknown to them, Shadow the Hedgehog was in the closet.

"Amy Rose and I are dating!"

She is internally screaming. For two reasons mostly. One is that her being in bed and looking terrible can imply many things for the media to interpret. Second, Sonic the Hedgehog, just said that they were dating.

Could he stop for a moment playing with her heart?

"We need all the details! Interview live on TV!"

"Pictures! When did you start dating?"

"Do you plan to get married soon?"

Question after question. Picture after picture. Sonic couldn't answer any of them as he is more focused on how Amy is not looking too comfortable with the pictures. Maybe this is not such a good idea.

Using his super speed, Sonic quickly goes to the bed and picks up Amy. He didn't hesitate to go to the balcony and stand on the edge.

"Sorry yall, gotta go get breakfast with my girl. Let's schedule something for later alright?"

Sonic then smiles at Amy and at this Amy knew exactly what the blue is planning on doing.

"Sonic, I swear if you jump, I'll-"

But before she could finish her sentence, Sonic had already jumped off the balcony and landed perfectly on the ground. Running off into the distance.

"Everyone let's follow them!"

The paparazzi's and reports left the room immediately and after making sure no one was there, Shadow finally came out of the closet.

As he is finally alone. He took a moment to recollect his thoughts and all that came to mind is what a waste of time all of this is.

"Did you have fun last night?"

Shadow couldn't have a single minute of peace. He is completely speechless. And feels heavy the moment he hears her voice.

"When Amy asked me for an invitation for you, I thought I would see you," Sally says. "I was a bit disappointed when I didn't see you at the dance ball."

No words.

"Did you and Amy at least have fun?"

As much as he couldn't speak, he won't allow Sally to think that something is going on between Amy and him.

"We just drank wine together ... we are friends."

She just smiles immediately after Shadow says 'friend' It came so naturally to him. Before Shadow wouldn't even dare to think of the idea of having friends.

"Yeah ... just friends," Sally looks over to the balcony where she can see the different empty wine bottles. She didn't want to ask anymore, she knew perfectly that Shadow won't say anything else.

"How are Rouge and Omega?"

The famous actor is feeling nervous as the Princess elegantly walks across the room. Sally is wearing a purple long dress that shows her bare back. Nothing too revealing and she looks comfortable in it.

"Rouge is doing fine. Omega has had a few repairments but he is fine ... for now."

"And you?" She asks and makes a stop in front of him.

There is no way for him to run nor a way for him to take a few steps back. The bed is behind him but maybe if he tries he could copy Sonic and just jump off the tower.

"Me?"

"Yes ... How are you doing?"

Her voice is gentle, to the extent that it made Shadow's heartache. With so much regret, with all the things he wanted to say but never could.

And he never will.

"I ... I've been fine."

"Are you sure-"

"Until I found out that you are to be engaged."

He didn't even let her finish her sentence. Shadow wanted some type of reaction from her. But she's stoic. Already has accepted her faith.

The sunlight starts to get into the room. Small birds resting on the balcony, gifting both of them a beautiful song. But Shadow heard nothing as all his attention is on Sally and her angelical presence.

"Yes, I have to."

"I am sorry I couldn't be an option," he says. He feels pathetic and humiliated but his voice reached the deepest part of Sally's heart. "I am sorry I couldn't be the hero you needed me to be."

"I need no hero ... I am getting engaged because that's what my kingdom needs," she sits next to him on the edge of the bed. The Princess didn't want to sound hurt much less if it seems that caused Shadow anxiousness. "I am doing this out of love for my people ... and I am happy to do it."

For her people. For the love she has for them. Or is it responsibility? A question Shadow will never have an answer to.

Maybe she is the right one, maybe the perfect one for him. Tragically, they were born in different circumstances. Maybe in another life, they will meet again.

But then again that's the type of fantasy people who read fanfiction like to believe.

And he for once ... is a strong believer.

"Do you know why that day ... When I had collected all the Chaos Emerald, I didn't resuscitate Maria?"

His tone of voice had changed. It's softer but it trembles. Shadow is shy even when he doesn't like to admit it.

"It has always been a mystery to me."

"It's because I was selfish," Shadow proceeds to gently hold her hand. Too afraid that he might hurt her. "To resuscitate a soul, the Chaos Emeralds asks for another soul ... the soul of the one that is asking for the wish."

"I was not afraid to die, I would have done the exchange but I was selfish."

He takes a moment of silence and finally looks Sally straight in the eyes. With so much admiration and love that would make the princess fall to her knees.

"Because I wanted to live ... I wanted to live and spend as much time as I could with you."

It's not a perfect declaration of love. But it is something. It holds meaning. A meaning Sally was too late to understand.

"Do you regret it? Not doing it?" she asks as she holds his hands in return.

"Seeing you again made all of my doubts go away."

She smiles.

And Shadow feels reassured again.

After a few seconds, the famous actor stands up and lets go of her. She doesn't follow him. Sally knows it's for the best. To end things with good memories.

But before he leaves, he makes a stop at the door and looks back at the Princess who is anxious to hear him speak again.

"Do you remember those times we would go to the city and watch those fancy plays?"

She nods.

"I always hated them."

This comes as a surprise to her. She always imagined that the reason why Shadow started an acting career was that he felt inspired by watching theater plays.

"But you were always so eager to go see them with me."

"Seeing plays always made you smile. And I was eager to see that."

"Shadow," her voice came out like a whisper. Out of the sincere feelings she had for a dear old friend.

"Goodbye Sally ... I wish you happiness."

And as he leaves, the memory of Sally smiling as the actors entered the theater's stage is engraved on his mind.

The only thing Shadow could hope for was that in some way or another ... his acting could make Sally smile.

And if that's the case ... then it was all worth it.

.......

Continue Reading on Ao3: https://archiveofourown.org/works/23815324/chapters/113045719

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[that-one-girl2020]

The Lonely Angel

A/N: This is pretty platonic, and the idea is inspired by another story on AO3, it’s great so I definitely recommend it. I don’t post often and this is the first story I’ve posted on here in a long time so hope you like it!

P.s.- Sorry if the formatting is a little weird, I copy and pasted from google docs...

An Enigma of Broken Wings by Catlorde

The Doctor stepped out of the TARDIS cautiously. Once more, the TARDIS had taken him somewhere he hadn’t been meaning to go, in fact, he was trying to take Donna to an alien market that he had once gone to. Instead, he poked his head out to find the TARDIS parked in the middle of a cemetery on Earth, around the same time that he had picked Donna up from if he was correct.

“Unless there’s another planet identical to Earth, I’m pretty sure we’re not on Kalla-whats-it,” Donna remarked as she followed behind him and they both looked around curiously.

“Uh, no, this is Earth, United States, Michigan, 2008 to be exact,” He tugged at his ear as he stuffed one hand in his jacket sheepishly.

“What are we doing here then? Or are you just that bad of a driver?” The redhead snipped at him and he rolled his eyes and huffed.

“I am the best driver around, I’ll have you know,” he snarked right back as they began strolling around curiously. “I’m not sure why we’re here but there’s no harm in looking around.”

The continued looking around quietly, looking for anything out of the normal that would have drawn the TARDIS and the Doctor there but there wasn’t anything out of place that they could find, no people, no signs of alien life or events. That was, until Donna took notice of a particular statue stationed in the center of the cemetery. “That statue sure is pretty, too bad it’s so run down,” Donna remarked as she gestured to said statue. “It’s a little sad though.”

At the center of all the gravestones, there was what seemed like a stone bench with a statue of an angel kneeled beside it, it’s arms resting on the bench with her head buried in its arms, its wings sprawled gracefully behind her and donned in a simple white dress that clung to her form scarily realistically. Like Donna had said, the statue was beautiful despite the obvious aging, the stone worn down, turning green from weather, plants starting to creep up her legs and dress, and stone chipped in some places. The only odd thing about it was the old radio resting at her feet, in a similar state as the statue itself.

At first, the Doctor didn’t think anything of it as they slowly approached the statue to get a better look at it. However, the Doctor pulled Donna to a stop when they saw a chipmunk climb up the stone and approach the bare arm of the statue and gently nudge it with its nose, as if the statue would come to life and pet it. Despite the gentleness of the scene, the only thing that happened was the chipmunk disappearing before their eyes.

“Donna, do not blink, do not look away from the statue, don’t touch it, and don’t blink,” The Doctor ordered sternly as he pulled out his sonic screwdriver to scan the statue quickly, not looking away for a moment.

“What, why? What is it?” Donna questioned, a hint of panic in her voice.

“Don’t look away from it,” the Doctor ordered once more when he noticed Donna turn to question him.

“Why? What is it?!” Donna asked once more, this time not moving her gaze away from the statue.

“A Weeping Angel,” the Doctor answered her solemnly as he continued to scan the angel and the stone she was sprawled against.

“Okay, and what is a Weeping Angel?” Donna fished for more answers, becoming irritated with the short responses.

“The kindest assassins in the universe. A Weeping Angel doesn’t just outright kill you, they send you back to the past to live out your life and consume the years that you should have had in the present, that’s what happened to the chipmunk,” The Doctor explained distractedly.

“And why can’t I look away from it?”

“Because they have the most solid defences in the universe as well. They’re quantum locked, as soon as they fall under the gaze of any living thing, they turn to stone, because you can’t kill a stone and a stone can’t kill you. But then you blink, you look away, and yes it can,” The Doctor finished ominously and the two were silent for a minute as Donna absorbed the information and the Doctor finished scanning the statue and looking around the area. “I don’t get it though, Angels usually hunt in groups, even if it's just a couple, like four or so. But this one is alone, there isn’t another Angel anywhere in the city, let alone the state. And the plants around it signify that it hasn’t moved in years, I’d say ten at the least, and erosion suggests that it hasn’t had significant food in the same amount of time.” The Doctor furrowed his brow as his thoughts raced, trying to figure out why the Angel was here. It wasn’t trapped, it wasn’t well fed, it wasn’t even in an area where it had access to people. “One thing is for sure though, this has to be the loneliest creature I have ever come across.” The Doctor continued to explain without being prompted, “Weeping Angels, even in groups, are still the loneliest creatures in the universe since they can’t even look at each other or they’ll turn to stone, freeze. However, Angels have a weak telepathic connection, allowing them to communicate on some level, which is why they stay in groups. But this one is by itself.”

The two of them frowned as they looked at the Angel, still tense but slowly relaxing as they realized that the Angel hadn’t moved even when the both of them had scanned the area to look for other Angels. “Poor thing, what do we do then?” Donna asked with empathy clear in her voice.

“I’m not sure, if we touch it, we risk being sent back to the past, without the TARDIS, leaving us trapped, but we can’t just leave it here,” The Doctor frowned thoughtfully.

The two of them blinked however when the radio flickered to life without either of them having touched it. There was static as the radio seemed to adjust before the sound of a young woman’s voice came through, “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to cause any trouble.”

The Doctor and Donna blinked in shock at the sound of the voice before the Doctor questioned, “Who are we speaking to?”

There was a pause as the voice seemed to think for a moment, “Me, I think.”

“Whose voice are you using?” The Doctor asked, a little bit of anger in his voice as he knew somewhat that the Angel wouldn’t have been able to use the voice without spending time around said person.

The voice paused once more, “I think it was mine.” The Doctor blinked in shock as Donna frowned, confused.

“What do you mean?” Donna asked softly, concerned for the statue she held empathy for.

“I used to draw a lot, I think. I saw an angel statue once, in the park near my house, and I drew it. I stared at it so long, my eyes started to hurt. I got dizzy and fell. It was late. I couldn’t see. I couldn’t move. Then I was stone,” The woman explained, the sadness in her voice obvious as she tried to remember the events. The Doctor and Donna’s hearts clenched painfully as they realized that this was once a woman with a life and a family. “The other one didn’t like me. She didn’t like that I didn’t send them back. She and the others left. I stayed.”

“What happened to your family,” The Doctor asked softly, even though he could figure out what happened.

“They were sad. They left too. They took everything but this stone. They left this stone here. Animals keep me company. They’re kind. They feed me when I’m hungry.”

The Doctor nodded as that explained what had happened with the chipmunk earlier. He thought it odd that an animal would approach a Weeping Angel so willingly. He went around to the other side of the bench where there was an inscription, what they had thought was a bench, was actually a grave.

“In Loving Memory of…

(Your Full Name)

Daughter

Sister

May 8th, 1976-October 20th, 1998

“Life is more than just what we see…” ~(Y/n)”

He looked down sadly as he realized this was the woman’s own grave and she probably didn’t even realize it. She sounded like an amazing woman, it was difficult to think that a woman he would have liked to meet was now reduced to a statue living, no, existing off the kindness of the animals around her.

Donna joined him on the other side of the stone and gasped softly as she came to the same realization, “Your name was(Y/n)?”

There was another pause as the Angel thought for a moment, trying to remember, “I… think so.”

“It’s a beautiful name,” The Doctor remarked softly as they gazed down at the Weeping Angel.

“Is it? I think I liked it too,” the woman replied thoughtfully. It was sad for Donna and the Doctor, that this woman was once living a bright and happy life, and now she could barely remember it.

“Doctor, we can’t just leave her here,” Donna told him softly and he agreed silently even though he had no idea what they would do. He was reluctant to bring the Angel into the TARDIS as it would be an eternal food source for the statue. However, he couldn’t leave the once human woman here to slowly waste away as stone.

As if knowing his thoughts, the woman spoke once more, “It’s okay, you can leave me here, the animals are kind to me,” She spoke simply as if that was all she truly needed, which made the Doctor’s hearts clench even tighter. He knew what it was like to be by oneself. That deep sense of loneliness that settled into your soul and wasn’t easily shaken.

That just solidified his decision, “You can come with us. The TARDIS can make a room for you and we can visit you everyday. You don’t have to be lonely anymore,” The Doctor offered kindly.

At that moment, both Donna and the Doctor blinked, and in that split second, the Angel turned their head to look up at them in shock, which they returned. The Angel had her hair tied up in the same fashion as any other Weeping Angel, a little more softly so that some hair could frame her features, but her face was significantly different. Instead of the sharp teeth and frightening snarl that he expected, they were instead greeted by soft features and a kind face. She was beautiful. “Really?” She questioned innocently.

Neither of them responded for a moment, shocked by the beauty of the statue before them. After shaking themselves from their surprise, the Doctor answered her innocent question, “Of course. You’ve spent enough time by yourself.” After a moment of hesitation, the Doctor looked away, offering his hand to the statue in a show of trust, which Donna followed. For a minute, the Doctor waited, he was about to take his hand back when another hand slid into his. It was a strange feeling. A living hand of stone that wasn’t quite stone at the moment. When he knew she was standing, he began walking back to the TARDIS, Donna walking alongside him, opposite the hand that was holding the Angel’s, (Y/n)’s. It was a strange walk back, both having to fight the urge to look back at the Angel as it would halt their progress.

Once the trio got to the TARDIS, the Doctor hesitated for a moment before opening the door to his most precious belonging. Then, he tightened the hold he had on the Angel’s hand as a reminder of what he was doing and why. This woman had been alone long enough. He led the woman down the hall that the TARDIS lit for them, leading them to a new room that neither the Doctor or Donna had seen before. The Doctor opened the door to what looked like the outdoors, a large field of long grass and wildflowers, in the distance, they could see a lake in the distance with a willow tree next to it and a forest beyond it. It was a beautiful setting that fit the Angel behind them.

The both of them closed their eyes to let the Angel ahead of them to familiarize herself with her new home. “Thank you,” the Woman breathed softly in awe and the two opened their eyes. The Angel had set the old radio she had carried with her down at her feet as she had wandered a few meters into the field, now frozen in a standing position, her head tilted back in the light as she soaked in the sky and the artificial sun pleasantly. The Doctor could feel the slow yet steady stream of energy the sun gave off as the Angel revitalized before their eyes, the signs of weather and corrosion fading away. She was even more beautiful now than when they had first seen her, now that she was whole and they could see her face. Unlike Weeping Angels who were Angels their entire existence, (Y/n) was a light grey, unlike the ominous dark grey of other Weeping Angels.

“We’ll leave you to explore, the TARDIS will transmit you to wherever we are in the TARDIS if you want to talk,” The Doctor told her kindly and as he blinked, she turned to look at him with a smile that warmed his hearts, glad he made the decision that he did.

“Thank you,” She repeated once more.

The two left the room, closing the door behind them as they returned to the console room. After a moment, Donna spoke, a content tone to her voice, “We did good today, eh, Spaceman.” His hands rested comfortably in his pockets as he thought back to the kind Angel they now housed on the TARDIS. “Life is more than just what we see…”

“Yeah. Yeah, we did.”

The End

[idjitlili]

Lurking in the dark.

Not my gif.

Summary:  Jareth uses a disguise to lurk around you before the Labyrinth like he did with Sarah, as an owl. Until you accidentally wish away your dog.

Warnings:mentions of tight pants. Mentions of feeling lonely.First smut...you’ve been warned, well just oral, and a handjob.

Word count:4325

A/n: low-key based in my home country, ah yes England.

Y/d/n=your dogs name, or change it to cat or fake pet.

Though you weren't 16, like Sarah, being an adult, Jareth felt pulled to you. No, he was not a pervert, times were different.  Maybe it was your love of your dog, maybe it's how lonesome you felt, that dog unknowingly brought hope into your life. Yes you did love your family, but sometimes you just got lonely.

Maybe it was your love of films, you could watch your favourite film a million times, yet feel so invested into watching it again. Maybe it was your stack of books, some you already had ,which were your favourite,but had gotten pocket editions or ones with different covers.

How Jareth had found you, well that was a different question, not him dressing down , changing his hair to place the labyrinth in difference book stores , illegally. Yes, that was how he had found you,when he had done that. Soon he had figured out, you regularly went to the book store, after following you home in his owl form.

This particular day had been most stressful, though the rain was calming, being drenched to the point your underwear were soaked, not like that. Frozen, you just wanted to get to Waterstones before they shut, practically running. Not only wanting to get there but also get home quick too.

Rushing into the store , the door closing behind you, the warm air embracing your freezing body, you just hoped you wouldn't get in trouble for being soaked in here. It wasn't like you were going to wipe your clothes on all the books , ruining them.

Then, of course more problems occurred; you could not for the life of you find a book you desired.  Sighing , you pushed your dripping hair from your face, you could only imagine how bad you looked in that moment.

Yet, you had continued your search, with no luck until a man had cleared his throat from next to you.

His hair clearly blond from his roots, the rest a light red colour almost ginger but not. His eyes bright blue, yet it seemed like he had heterochromia, aswell as larger pupil in his left eye. His cheekbones highly defined, his body skinny, overall the man was very handsome.

Turning to face the man, highly embarrassed by your state. "If you don't mind-" this is when you thought you was going to be asked to leave, your stomach dropped. "-hearing my suggestion." Okay, that still found like he was going to ask you to leave, but his voice wasn't aggressive.  "...okay?" You weren't sure what to say, only letting out a quiet word.

The man had reached up to the shelf above you , pulling down a small red book, so he wasn't kicking you out.  His pale hand gently holding the book in front of you, 'The labyrinth.' You had taken the book from him, to look for a summary , yet there wasn't one, nor a publisher or an author name.

"You take that home,on me, if you don't like bring it back."  

"W-wait, you d-" You didn't know this man, you felt guilty getting it for nothing, but he had interrupted you. "You've had a long day,clearly,  now go get home,y/n"  The man simply placed his hands on his hips waiting, his words followed out like water, turning to go do whatever he was doing.

"W-wait." He had spun around , his eyes looked at you in slight annoyance, hurrying you up. "What's your name?"

"Ziggy." You had looked at you watch at the same time, before looking back at the man- but he was gone. Thus, you left.  Hold on , how did he know your name?

Not spotting the owl, that stood on the lamp post watching you...

You had begun reading the book , as soon as you had gotten out of your soaking clothes , into warm ones. You wondered how Jareth could like a girl with no sense, no you didn't , you thought why she wearing her baby brother hat.

Yet, your dog would not allow you to sit in peace, shoving their toy under the cupboard making you get up and get it otherwise they wouldn't stop crying, or eating all their food and scratching for more. Then, they had knocked your drink everywhere with their toy.

Groaning in annoyance , for the hundredth time. "You know if the Goblin king was real, y/d/n, I'd wish for him to take you for a time out." Of course you handed read that far you didn't know what would really happen to him..

"You know what, I'll just say it, just in case. I wish the goblins would take you away, right now."   A crack of thunder had made you jump out of your skin turning towards it , before turning back hearing scratching on the floor, to see nothing, by this time it's pitch black, only light from a small lamp is seen , your dog is gone.

Suddenly the door crashes open, an owl flies in , before turning into a man. Not that you could see him much. "Uhm, I mean thanks for taking my dog for a time out , but uh thats dognapping, so.." He had only laughed loudly.

From what you you could see his hair was a huge blond mullet, there was glitter everywhere, and those pants...

"What's said is said."

"What the bloody hell does that mean?" That wasn't legal, he had broken into your home and stole your dog.

"I have brought you a gift, it's a crystal, nothing more. but if you turn it this way and look into it, it will show you your dreams. but this is not a gift for an ordinary girl who takes care of the dog.....do you want it? then forget the dog." You had scoffed at him, you could go ebay and get a crystal ball, who was this wannabe Gandalf?

"Sorry, no, I would like my dog." The king, looked disappointed with your answer, did he believe that would really work?

"don't defy me." His voice stern , as he threw a snake at you , but completely missed, coughing out a small laugh, as the man pretended it never happened.

"Y-you're no match for me."

"Stop with all the talk, how can I get y/d/n back?" With that , he had gestured you to come to the window, a huge maze could be seen, well labyrinth, instead of the dark sky. Turning back to Jareth, you realised you were no longer in your room, but outside the labyrinth.

"So, how does this work?"  You could clearly see the man now, known as Jareth , the Goblin king, his eyes seemed very familiar, left pupil bigger than the right.  He had pointed to a 13 hours clock, that had appeared.

"You have 13 hours in which to solve the labyrinth , and reach my castle, before your dog becomes one of us forever, such a pity." And boom he was a gone, not much to work from.

Now finding away into the labyrinth, indeed that seemed easy, of course it wasn't, no entrances , you thought of the only thing you could do... Climb the wall.  By the time you had gotten over , there stood Jareth in the tight pants.

"You know, there was a door. This shall be your only warning." Poof he was gone again, if you continued climbing walls maybe you'd have to compliment his pants. Next time put a bloody door.

Though you had no idea what in gods earth you was doing, you just decided to head straight forward as you could, thus to get to the castle quicker. Not going one away and ending going through the side door out of the labyrinth.

As you could expect, Jareth was not very happy that you were travelling through his labyrinth, like it was your house. In fact, he was angered, so much , that he wanted to pick you up, as if you were a rag doll and dump you to the start. Then again, you’d just go twice as fast through.

So, there sat Jareth on his throne, with your dog upon his lap, his little whip thing in hand. Suit up Jareth, your not Indiana Jones. Staring into the crystal ball, unable to think.

The fact you had gotten passed the sausage dogs without a second thought pushed Jareth over the edge... He had attempted to jump scare you, but of course it had went south. Jareth rarely had anyone not beat the Labyrinth, and honestly you’d think he would’ve improved it.

Jareth hadn’t spoken in your presence, to inform you that he was there, instead he had placed a hand onto your shoulder. What he was not expecting was you to turn around at sonic speed, punching him square in the face.

Stumbling back, him his boots, holding his now bloody nose, he had let out a yelp in surprise. He did not expect that, not at all.

You had reached some sort of lake, with a path down to a small house, when you had punched Jareth anyways.

After you had seen that it was Jareth that you had punched, who else would it be, guilty travelled up your body suffocating you. Almost instantly you had rushed to Jareth, ripping part of the end of your t-shirt, bringing the fabric to his nose. Pulling his bloody hand from his nose, with a harsh grip, since he lead stiff.

Your face was sweating, not only were you scared that he might kill you, but also you had felt bad for him, after the numerous times he had checked up on you. You wondered if he ever spoke to anyone other than the Goblins, you wondered if he could even leave this place without being wished.

Gripping his sharp jaw to move his face, allowing you to make get a better look at the bleeding, keeping the fabric to his nose, soaking all the blood up. You didn’t even know Faes bled.

“J-Jareth, I’m so sorry! You made me jump, I swear I didn’t do it on purp-“ Jareth liked the contact, the anger he felt before had slipped away, your soft fingers upon his skin, your favourite t-shirt now ruined as you had sacrificed it for his nose. Oh, and he knew that was your favourite shirt.

Your pleading e/c eyes staring into his mismatched ones, made both of your hearts beat fast than moments before. It almost made him forget why you were here; but when he did remember his eyes returned harsh. You only felt bad because you were frightened, he knew you’d leave him soon as you had beaten his labyrinth.

Oh how wrong he was.

Pulling away rudely, using his magic to pull a clock out of no where, using his gloved had to skip it forward three hours, smirking. Fake smirking, the quicker this ends the better, he could not bare to fall in love with a silly human girl again, just to be rejected.

Your eyes widened in confusion, your torn end of your t-shirt still in your hand, bloodied. “W-what?” 6 hours left.

Poof Jareth was gone yet again, oh and how he had some plans for you. Stood in brief shock of what had just occurred, trying to forget the tingles that had erupted down your hand, throughout your whole body, like electric shocks. Shaking it off, like you were about to warm up for pe , just like high school. Ew.

You had continued down the path, to the small house, and within minutes you had reached it. Didn’t seem like there was away around, only way was through.

Thankfully, it was unlocked, allowing you straight in. Only for it to slam close behind you, you didn’t think of anything of it, all you could think about in this moment was how your stomach was growling loudly.

The rag now placed into your back pocket, as you searched the tiny kitchen for anything, coming across an overly large strawberry, you didn’t even think before you had devoured it.

In that moment you heard it the door clicked, you had rushed to it testing it, locked, of course. Your feet now suddenly soaking wet , gulping you had looked down the floor covered in soapy water, rising dangerously. Surely he would not kill you?

All the windows now sealed shut, no upstairs , only the chimney , thankfully wide as. You did the only thing you could, your stomach turning, feeling light headed, the water reaching your knees.

You got in it, but the walls were too slippery so you held your breath just as the water got above your shoulders. Swimming up the chimney with the water, not full breast stroke of course, no room for that. The water pressure building at such a speed you ended up flying out the end of the chimney, no idea how that was even possible.

Then everything went black, soon entering a dream world...well no it wasn’t a dream. Now dressed in gown, at a ball, a masquerade, the room almost packed with guests with goblin like masks., all wearing big expensive gowns, or suite like attire. Loud laughter dimmed out by the loud gently music.. what.

Turning every which way, you felt like you were looking for something, just you could not recall what. A skinny man, with a bo dazzled suite, a long blond mullet with stripes of blue to match his suite, a diamond at his next instead of a tie or bow, frilly shirt. He held a similar goblin mask, only when you caught his eye he had pulled it away.

Only you and him without masks, his eyebrows with no ends, h-his strangely familiar eyes , his thin lips, you felt a strong pull towards him.

“There's such a sad love

Deep in your eyes a kind of pale jewel

Open and closed

Within your eyes

I'll place the sky.”

All you could do is stare at him, as the song began, mouth gapped at him, your dress that before felt heavy no felt like nothing, as he began walking towards you, through the people.

“Within your eyes

There's such a fooled heart

Beatin' so fast”

Trying to get passed the strange people, to get him, he simply danced with other people that already had partners, I mean, like pressed up against the partners.

“In search of new dreams

A love that will last

Within your heart

I'll place the moon

Within your heart

As the pain sweeps through.” He didn’t even try to get to you as you chased after him, these strange people suffocating you, getting in your way on purpose.

“Makes no sense for you

Every thrill is gone.” Then he was gone, your eyes searched the room, not seeing him hidden behind a fan behind you, continued your search. As he smirked behind you, oh how he couldn’t stop feeling the way he did about you, he thought it was funny how now you chased him instead of the other way around.

“Wasn't too much fun at all

But I'll be there for you-ou-ou

As the world falls down.” He had continued making his way through the people, in direct view , as you searched still.

“Falling

As the world falls down

Falling

Falling in love.” Squeezing through the people, feeling panicked, you had no idea what was happening, nor why you felt like this for a strange man, shoving pushed the people that circled you.

“I'll paint you mornings of gold

I'll spin you Valentine evenings though we're strangers 'til now.” You had found him, as a fan moved, he stood sandwiched by two woman.

“We're choosing the path

Between the stars

I'll leave my love

Between the stars” Only then did he come towards you,his face should no emotion, you wondered how you had gotten here. Now with a mans hand out waist and the other in his hand as you danced.

“As the pain sweeps through

Makes no sense for you

Every thrill is gone

Wasn't too much fun at all.” You couldn’t remember knowing how to dance, but you and Jareth done turns in sync with all the other dancers, staring deeply into his mismatched pupils.

“But I'll be there for you-ou-ou

As the world falls down

Falling” Jareth-how did you now know his name, now singing along, wow self loving much , who plays their own music. He had every right. Only then, did you feel yourself leaning to his lips.

“As the world falls down

Falling

Falling

As the world falls down.”

Jareth had noticed, leaning towards you as well, you felt your lips connect to his soft ones, as your eyes closed. That’s all it took for your remove your hands from his shoulder and hand bringing them up into his blond hair. Pulling his face towards yours, not allowing yourself to disconnect from him, you both had stopped dance at this point.

His arms now around your waist pulling you both closer together again, one of your hand now cupping his cheek, as you both kissed. Pulling away for a second to breathe, before pressing your lips against his again harshly this time, biting his lip hard, he had almost jumped, letting out a yelp, only then were you able insert your tongue into his mouth.

You both had long forgotten the people that surrounded you both. Jareths grip now tightened, your tongue fighting against his. Only until he had pulled your hair, pulling you from him lips, your eyes slammed shut, your hands now against his clothed chest, as he pressed kisses down your bare neck. A small moan had escaped your mouth, your hand travelling down to his pants. “Can I?” Jareth had looked into your eyes, his other pupil now almost reaching the same size as his other, nodding.

You hand cupping, his manhood, his pulse heightened under your touch, Jareth had groaned loudly, his bulging member against your palm, as Jareths hips had pushed against your hand for friction. Jareth now sucking harshly at your neck, rubbing your hand against him.

You had forgotten about the room full off people;but Jareth had definitely not, he did not want to take you in front of them, at this moment he didn’t care, he had not had pleasure in a very long time. Leaving your neck, Jareth had joined your lips again, biting your already swollen bottom lips, returning to sloppy small kisses, you had wished that Jareth had picked a less poofy dress.

Your hands leaving Jareths body, he had let out a small sigh, he had thought you had remembered, especially when you began to lift the bottom the dress. Only then did you notice the people, wide eye, but they were still dancing, even if they were looking, Jareth touch was intoxicating.

Your calf’s now on show, almost touching Jareth again, how starred down at you confused, as you looked up at him with a small grin, lifting your leg up and over hip. Instantly he had gripped the soft skin under your thigh, your dress now bunched up to your waist, as you wrapped your arms around Jareths neck.

Pressing your clothes core against, his bulging, your core soaking through, jumping up, so that both of your legs were now wrapped tightly against Jareth. Your lips on his, his hands travelling up your legs slowly, all the way to your waist again, wet kisses as your hips began to rock against Jareths stone member. Your stomach turning into knots against him.

Your clit pulsating against him, undoubtedly he could feel it too, your speed quickly increase, pushed Jareth over the edge with a loud groan, you were pressed against the stone floor. Still, you grinned harshly against him, his hands now either side of your head, his only your upper back against the floor.

Looking into his hungry eyes, pleading for him to do something, stopping your hip movements . “J-Jareth, a-are you sure we should do this here? W-with these people?” Jareth had only smirked at you lowering himself to your ear level. “Love, you’ve got nothing to be ashamed about, plus they can only see when I want them too, understand?” Whispering into your ear, that must be why they didn’t even look your way.

“Now, I must ask, do you want this? Definitely?” His face not inches from yours, his eyes searched yours. “Yes, please.” With that Jareth had unwrapped your legs from him, tearing the bottom of the dress, he was a very skinny man, it was a shame ‘twas a lovely dress. Only your underwear covered you bottom half now, your heels now discarded.

Snapping your legs closed in embarrassment, Jareth had lifted your leg by your calf pressed gently pecks all the way up, till he got your thigh, his eyes meeting yours as you sat up on your elbows, you had nodded at him, anyone would’ve been nervous, especially a virgin.

His lips now reattached to your soft skin on your thigh, gently he had pulled your legs apart , your heat had already been dripping from just kissing, but now it was a river. A snap of his fingers and your underwear were gone.

Jareths face now dangerously close, your whole lower parts on show to him, he had grinned up at you, his hot breath on your most sensitive area, sent chills through your core... literally. Jareth had groaned just feeling your thighs shake in his hands, his erection now painfully restricted.

With that he had slid his tongue up your folds one, letting out a gasp, you hadn’t been touched like this ever. He had brought a single figure to plunge into you, swirling it around you for only a second, his other hand now holding your stomach down, from your squirming underneath him. Removing the finger, his eyes locked onto your as he slipped it into his mouth, sucking on it, before pulling his finger out of his mouth with a pop.

His face satisfied with you, whimpering , he had barely touched you, yet you were pooling already, orgasm almost there, “please...” Parting your folds, he had slowly removed eye contact, his tongue now licking you like an icecream cone, your nerves on overdrive, he had plunged his tongue into you, his hand back on your thighs, squeezing as he swirled around in you. Your legs clenching on his head, grinding into his face.

“Jareth!” Considering you were quite shy, with men anyways, the moan of his name, caused Jareth to tighten his grip, tongue from your opening, he rolled your clit gently between his teeth, you hand cried out, your legs thrown over his shoulders, you could feel your orgasm coming. Pulling tightly at his long hair for more, a loud growl had erupted from his mouth, travelling through you, your stomach tightening.

So close to satisfaction, “J-Jareth..” His tongue had attached back onto your clit, bringing his fingers close to you, one of your legs still on his shoulder, the other leg, he had placed against the stone floor, spreading your legs widely, so that he could insert his finger into you. Your back now curved from the floor, adding two more fingers into your wet opening.

Sweat upon your face, like drops of rain water, allowing you a moment to adjust, Jareth had began to his fingers into you, his mouth detached, faster, and faster by the second. Spreading his fingers in you, you couldn’t hang on any longer. Your legs now shaking like hurricane, Jareth knew you was close, your head thrown back, as you finally met your orgasm.

Removing his fingers, as the please hit you like wrecking ball, throughout our lower half, you had let out a loud moan of pleasure. Your hips finally buckled , riding your orgasm in Jareths face. Panting heavily, Jareth had looking up , wiping the remaining of your juices on his palm.

“J-Jareth?” He now laid next to you, how was he still fully clothed? He had hummed in response. “C-can we just start with that for now,” You were worried, that he’d get angry, but instead he had just looked at you with a gently smile. “Of course, love.” Then you noticed, his painfully erected member, bringing your hand to his bulge rubbing him again, groaning in surprise.

“I-I’ve never done anything like this.” Jareth only nodded, as you stroked him through his pants, he wasn’t going to take your virginity not like this. He was a good man- fae sorry, he took all those children from people that didn’t want them. Shouldn’t be thinking about this right now.

Slipping you hand into Jareths pants, you stroked him harshly, rubbing the his tip gently with your thumb when you reached it, before repeating the cycle. Jareths lips upon yours , you could still taste yourself on him. Quickening your pace, soon enough his he had bitten down roughly onto your lip, as he came.

Yet again, you were both laying on the floor, laying your shoulders on his arm, that wrapped around you laying in his chest.

“Can I have my dog back? I mean- if you let me go back, you could come too, o-only if you want to anyways?” You had stuttered out your words , causing Jareth to laugh at you, he had a feeling you still remembered.

“Of course.”

[bjlightningbeast]

Ok, to start off, I'm sorry for sounding rude. I will admit I was a bit angry when I wrote my reply, and I didn't mean to offend you in any way.

Anyway, to what I want to say

Which sources are these? If it wasn't clear on how Sonic felt about Amy before, it definitely is now, especially considering SEGA's stance on it being much clearer than ever before. We literally have a Valentine T-shirt that features both Sonic and Amy, and I even saw one Valentine tik tok that also featured them by the Sega Officials. I highly doubt this was fanservice, and it was actually legit. Also, if Sonic's really not interested in Amy like that, then all he has to do for her to stop is simply say, "No, I'm not interested." So what's taking him so long? It's been over 30 years, and he still hasn't got it in him to tell her "no"? If hints and signs don't do anything, then naturally, you would go for the second option and tell 'em upright. Amy will not stop until she hears answer.

From what I can remember, Amy has only brought up marriage twice in two games. 1 time with Adventure 2, where she was only pulling his tail when she asked him, and still freed him and told him what he wanted to know, and the second time was Heroes and... yeah, I'll give you that, but otherwise, that's the only two times she has ever brought up marriage. Also, sorry about the "kids" part. It seems I mistook ya for the other commenter that you replied to above.

Also, like I said. Amy is an individual with an endless amount of energy who wears her heart on her sleeve and isn't afraid to express how she feels, especially her love for Sonic, but it is not obsession. I know you don't mean it in the way I assumed, but this is still incorrect. If she was obsessed, then Sonic would all she thought about an unhealthy degree, which is not the case. She has genuine love for him and just loves to let it out to the world to know with no limits. Plus, when she calls herself his girlfriend, he doesn't object to it once.

Also, I didn't say Amy gets frustrated when Sonic runs off. I mean, she just gets annoyed when he leaves without notification. Amy is always happy to follow him to the ends of the Earth, if only if he didn't leave without telling her first. If a relative of yours leave the house and doesn't tell you where they are going or when they'll be back, wouldn’t that leave you feeling some type of way? Amy wants to share an adventurous lifestyle with Sonic and dreams for Sonic to take her with him. Also yeah, no one can keep up with Sonic at his fastest, but not at his usual speed, which is enough for Tails and Knuckles to stay on parr while running with him which we have seen in cutscenes like the Heroes intro.

And yeah, it's no secret that Sonic sucks at romantic advances, and Amy can still somewhat be childish about her love, but it's never anything to be harmful, and sometimes played for comedic effect. But like you said, comedy is subjective, so I ain't gonna fault you for your reasons for being put off by certain moments like Amy threatening to hurt Chris.

Also yes, I am not too happy with her current change either, and I outright hate it when some fans try to cover it up with the lame excuse being "Oh she's developed", or "she's matured" when that's all complete nonsense. There was no development, and they only changed her to appease to those who never liked her to begin with. It's ok to dislike a character, but don't try and change them into something they're not. I absolutely hated how she was potrayayed in Frontiers as she was so drained of life and depressing. I get it was a serious story, but that's still no excuse because even in the most serious, she will still remain cheerful and optimistic. Here, she just gives in to despair, which is obviously not Amy.

Like I said, I have nothing against you for disliking SonAmy, and I can understand your distaste towards it. You're free to ship what you want, but I'm just saying it has been confirmed canon, but not in the traditional sense. They are not in a relationship, of course, but they are in love.

Also, again, I'm sorry for lashing out before. I wasn't directly angry at you, I was just getting frustrated on hearing and seeing the same harmful misconceptions about Amy and her relationship with Sonic.

Me: Posts a Princess Elise and/or SonElise post

The comments:

"Too bad Elise's writing was shit"

"I'd like her more if she didn't kiss Sonic's corpse"

"Sonic X Human = ew"

"Nice art, but I hate Elise/SonElise"

"They have no chemistry"

"Sonic didn't like her"

"Just why?"

"I hate her"

"Blaze should've had her role instead"

"Amy should've kissed Sonic, Elise stole him from her, Sonic belongs with Amy"

"What you posted is miles better than how she was in 06, she sucks in the actual game"

"She should've just punched Eggman in the face, why didn't she do that"

"Elise is a selfish bitch, she wanted the world to end just because she loved Sonic, and she only blew out the flame because he convinced her to."

"She should've been an anthro instead of a human, that would've fixed everything"

"She has no personality outside of getting kidnapped"

"She's boring"

"Elise is useless"

"Amy/Sonamy is better"

"Elise should of never existed"

Me:

[enaelyork]

Evil grows with love- Robotnik x Reader- [Part 11]

Source @deadlightcircus

**** For all the story, follow my master list here ! ****

Author note : OMG i'm baaaack ! What happened to 2021 ??? Everyone is okay ? Are you still here ? I'm so happy to see you again !

Before I begin, know that story has been written for a long time. That it takes liberties on SONIC 1 and that it doesn't concern Sonic 2 !

NO SONIC 2 SPOILER IN THIS STORY

See you soon ! With love ~

Chapter promps :

After her loss of control with Robotnik, the reader goes to her famous dinner with officer Wayde in order to extract information from him.

Words : 3.7 K

—–

ROBOTNIK TAGLIST : @pinejayy @a-frozen-bag-of-corn @ysamans @rustypotatospork @verdonafrost​ @jasminerobotnik

ASK FOR ADD ON COMMENT ;)

" Am I bothering you ?

- No » they answered, in chorus. They looked at each other sideways and Stone genuinely wondered what had happened a few seconds ago in that truck.

"You're in good luck Stone, I was going to leave! You save my life! [Y/N] exclaimed, pulling her jacket close to her. " Good night ! »

She didn't even look at him and slammed the door behind her under Stone's dumbfounded gaze, who turned to his boss.

“Doctor…What are you…

- No question Stone! Put that coffee down and get the fuck out!

- But, you and…[Y…]…

-Get out ! »

Stone didn't argue further, he knew Robotnik was angry, had he caught them arguing? Or were they hiding something else? In any case, it was not tonight that he would have the answer.

—--

[Y/N] didn't care where her legs were taking her. She had walked over and over in the dark until she could no longer stand, trembling, she collapsed sitting on the floor, trying to catch her breath. She then let reality, the one she was trying to escape, catch up with her and smack her in the face.

Damn, what just happened?

Did she really put her fuck*ng tongue in the doctor's fuck*ng mouth?

And had he done that to her too?!

But what had gotten into her? And the hell, why was this sudden interruption only arousing frustration in her?!

His perfume was still impregnated in her clothes and while passing her tongue over her lips she still picked up the taste of hims mixed with the raindrops.

It was a bewilderment, a mistake, a moment of weakness. He had pushed her to the limit, had provoked her again and again, constantly trying to widen her faults to be able to rush in and trapped, she had not been able to react.

She hadn't thought about it, it was a passing moment of madness, nothing more.

If she remained there, alone, sitting on this stone at dawn in the forest of Greenhill, the cold, the rain and above all her thoughts would get the better of her. Feeling the wave of anguish growing in her belly, she had to survive, get up and return to the hotel before collapsing.

Lack of air

Fear

remorse

Lack

Unable to see a car crossing the street, she walked blindly towards where she slept, towards her refuge. Without even hearing the cry of dingo Karl who seemed to absolutely want to speak to her. He called out to her several times, then had to resign himself, assuming she had her headphones on once more.

—

“Oh! Here you are ! I have something to tell you! »

She cursed when she saw her lieutenant in the entrance hall. If she hoped to return incognito, without arousing the suspicions of her colleague, it was finished. She gave him a look she refused to face for the moment.

"Not tonight [Lieutenant’s name], I'm exhausted, I'm going up!" »

The lieutenant stopped short, surprised. Staring at her even more.

" There is a problem ? It's barely seven o'clock in the evening and...

- It's fine, I'm just a little tired. I ran and caught a cold.

- In a dress?

It was ridiculous.

- Yes, in a dress. We must be able to intervene in all circumstances, right? »

Worse and worse, and [Y/N] could see from [Lieutenant’s name]'s eyes that she wasn't convincing anyone.

- Are you sure that...

- Yes ! she hissed in annoyance as she climbed the stairs. Yes I'm dong well ! I just need some rest!

[Lieutenant]'s lips twist in a word that never came, [Y/N] closes the door behind her without giving him/her a chance to react and the lieutenant has to retreat. His/Her phone vibrated then.

*Everything ok with your boss?*

It was Stone, since they had gotten to know each other better in the car while bringing back their respective bosses, they had a friendly relationship to the point of having exchanged cell phone numbers.

*It's strange that you ask me this question. She has just returned. *

*Now ?*

He looked surprised.

*Yes, and she's weird... Well, more than usual. She sent me for a walk pretending to be tired, she never is. She did have red eyes and a trembling body, but… Do you know more? *

She waited a few moments before her phone vibrated again.

* Let's say my boss just kicked me out like an old sock. Your boss was with him*

The lieutenant raised her/his eyebrows.

She had gone to see the doctor?

Why ? Yet they had left on bad terms earlier in the afternoon? And above all, what could explain his condition now?

*Wait a minute…She was with the doctor???*

* I had the same reaction as you. They looked shocked to see me arrive and… The doctor is in a state of disarray.

*Did they argue again??*

It was plausible. Y/N may have gone back to him to reconcile and convince Robotnik to work with her. And probably that this conciliation had gone badly, Robotnik had to go too far, or vice versa.

He/She raised him/her eyes to the sky. She/he clearly felt like he/she and Stone were parents who talked about their wayward children.

* I no longer try to understand them, they tire me *

*I agree with you ! Since the doctor met your boss, he's been unbearable, much more than before... And I didn't think that was possible. *

A sneer appeared on him/her lips, Stone always had the gift of making him/her laugh.

* Don't talk to me about it, besides, I'm going to go to bed. I won't get anything from Y/N tonight. Good night Stone. *

—-

She entered her room and immediately leaned on the door, as if her legs no longer held her upright. She was shivering, as if the night chill had entered every bone.

Tears were streaming down her cheeks.

She had lost control.

“Who wins today, [Y/N]?” this question, and especially the voice with which he had pronounced it resounded in her head.

She was failing, feverish. He seemed to be convinced he had the upper hand on her.

But was it?

Nothing was understandable anymore. Her mind clouded with panic kept returning to what had just happened. She could still feel Robotnik's hot hands on her, the electric shock from those kisses.

Her body against his.

Uncontrollable, the panic that overwhelmed her. She couldn't feel that, she couldn't anymore, never and even less with a man like him.

It was a mistake. A terrible mistake.

But why did she want to go back to see him?

The phone had vibrated deep in her pocket, bringing [Y/N]r back to reality and, despite herself, saving her from the panic.

-Hello?

-Good evening.

She pursed her lips, damn it, she had completely forgotten about Wayde and the information she was trying to get from him.

-Good evening. she called. Is everything alright ?

-Well, almost…I think you forgot something…

A glance at her watch

Twenty hours

Damn, this guy can tell the time.

-I am on my way. she stammered. Do you mind waiting for me? You can already have a drink, I'm coming. She hung up. Her heart was beating a thousand an hour. What situation had she put herself in by accepting this dinner? Why had she done this?

To get information

To catch the hedgehog before Robotnik.

To make Robotnik react.

The glint in his eyes and the way he reacted afterward had aroused warm satisfaction.

But that was before what had just happened.

A splash of water on her face made her less scary. She covered herself with concealer and a line of black eyeliner thick enough to highlight just the color of her eyes. Quickly, she felt the need to change her dress, the one she had already put on for the occasion seemed to burn her skin.

Was imbued with the hands of Robotnik.

Tremors.

Reject your emotions. This guy is your enemy, you must not let him win. She thought as she picked out a simple red and black dress. Once her leather jacket on the back, she hastened to leave the room trying not to meet [lieutenant’s name] this evening. She wasn't ready to face her/him, or be interrogated.

His/her or Stone's...

-Commissioner

Damn it

-I am late, Wayde is waiting for me and I must not miss an opportunity to flush out our target.

-What happened ?

The lieutenant was decidedly tenacious.

-Nothing at all.

-Ah, so you didn't go back to see Robotnik?

-No.

She felt her colleague's inquisitive gaze resting on her back.

- He wanted to talk to me. We talked, end of discussion?

-And that's why you're in this state?

Silence.

-I'm doing well.

-Stone said the doctor was weird since you left.

Shake. This sentence had more impact than she thought.

-I don't care about his moods. This guy is weird all the time.

-Well, apparently it's not business as usual. And you are not as usual either….

- But for heaven's sake [Lieutenant’s name], f*ck it in the end! When are you going to realize that you don't need to mother me?!

Her lieutenant froze, and she realized that she had spoken a little more abruptly than she should have.

"I've had enough of all this, you know? I don't need you on my back because I don't need you anymore ! Nobody ! The lieutenant remained rooted to the spot. Impassive waiting for the storm to unleash. In reality, it was already there for a long time and literally exploded at that moment. Tears welled up in her eyes, but [Y/N] held them back enough that they didn't fall.

"So what you're going to do is leave me alone. You Americans, everyone and let me do what I was brought here to do! She paused to try to catch some air.

- I never want, you hear me, ever have to do with them, is that clear?

The lieutenant hadn't had time to answer, he/she couldn't. Chilled on the spot by the aggressiveness he/she had heard in Y/N's voice, he/she nevertheless found the strength to take his/her cell phone out of his/her pocket to type a name on it.

*Agent Stone? *

She/he hoped he wasn't sleeping yet, a notification beep relieved her/him.

*[Lieutenant’s name]?*

- I think we have a problem...

-What kind of problem ?

- My boss…She's totally out of control. I think she's gonna do something stupid

—----------

-Hi Wayde, sorry i’m late..

She walked over to him as he was already standing to greet her. He offered his cheek to her and she felt compelled to kiss him on the cheek as he put a hand on her shoulder.

-Is everything alright ? You have a strange face.

She really hoped her makeup hadn't smudged.

- Everything is fine. I was delayed by the guys coming to install the cable at my house! she hissed. Nothing very important, but you know how they... But what is that?

The policeman had placed a bouquet of tulips on the table and their colors contrasted with the wood and ocher colored tavern.

-My father always told me never to invite a woman to dinner without giving her flowers, so…

He seemed embarrassed, it was almost touching.

-They come from the florist around the corner. If you ever want to buy some plants for your new home.

Y/N considered the bouquet for a moment, took it in her hand, and put her nose to it. Tulips had little smell, but it was more than enough to hide the state she was in. This situation was probably the worst idea she had ever had in her life, but there was no way she should lose face.

All this because of whom?

She glanced at Wayde, the guy probably didn't have much going for him, but he was blessed with a real kindness. She saw it in his eyes, in his face and especially in his far from fake smile.

He glanced at his screen.

-News ? she said, grabbing her pint of beer. The poor man shrugged.

- No. Nothing at all, and it's starting to worry me. What are we going to do without him? I mean, it's the damn sheriff. He told me to do things but I forgot half of them.

She giggled. Wayde looked at his phone again.

- You have not appointed a replacement sheriff in case of absence? She wondered. Wayde suddenly seemed to click.

- But yes. Sure ! This is what we must do! Damn, you know a lot about the police, say so!

She crossed her legs at the side of the table as she grabbed her pint of beer. Failing to tell him that knowing that was in no way a police skill, Y/N hoped to draw his attention elsewhere.

- I worked in an administration before arriving here, she said.

- Oh? Really ? And besides, why did you come to settle here?

She lifted the glass to her mouth.

It was then that her eyes fell on the bay window of the tavern and she saw him.

Like a ghost straight out of her imagination.

The doctor was out there, crossing the street with Agent Stone at his heels. What was he doing here in the evening? Judging by the shopping bags Stone was carrying, he must have forgotten his stock of coffee.

But then why had he accompanied his minion?!

- Long story….

She didn't look down, following his gaze through the glass as she answered Wayde. Her heart was beating fast and she felt like she was running out of air, but she didn't let it show.

-What strange guys, huh…

Wayde's voice snapped her out of her torpor.

- What was this guy looking at? You know him ?

Somehow… she thought.

- Not really, no. I seen them prowling around town and...

- I don't like them, these agents are weird, it's not like in the movies.

Wayde's phone announced a notification and he unlocked it before putting the phone back on the table.

Without locking it.

She counted, from the moment he put the iPhone on the corner of the table to look at her dumbly, every second that passed crossed her mind. One. Two…

Thirty.

The screen went black

Thirty seconds. That's the time she would have to get in touch with that idiot's phone screen as soon as he got up again. She could then help herself and the trick would be played. She would get Tom Wachomsky's phone without having to sell her true identity, and locate his location by passing it to [Lieutenant’s name]. And as he stood awkwardly apologizing after checking his phone again, she didn't take her eyes off him waiting for him to be out of her sight to finally grab the precious grail.

She hesitated a few seconds looking at the wallpaper. Wayde and Tom must have known each other forever for him to have such an important place in his life and on his cell phone. A bitter taste in her mouth, Y/N wondered if she had ever experienced this kind of connection with someone. Wasn't she betraying this guy who had only been nice until now?

She cleared her doubts.

No scruples.

No value.

People had never had one with her anyway.

She hurriedly checked the call log. According to what she had heard, Wayde tried to contact Wachomsky often and it only took a few seconds for her to come across the number and take a picture of it with her own cell phone.

The rest could be done out of sight.

When Wayde returned, his phone was where it was, screen off. Even the best criminal expert would have seen nothing but fire. Not even a rough fingerprint on the screen.

*Find me this. * she sends without further politeness to her colleague. The photo of the number in attached file. She hoped her colleague hadn't already fallen asleep.

- You're not from here, are you?

She giggled.

- No, I mean, you're not American. You have a weird accent! What's this ?

- European…. She huffed. But it's been a long time since I left there.

- Don't you miss it too much?

Hesitation. Why was she hesitating? She was used to saying yes without asking any questions.

- A little… Her plate was slowly emptying, as if her appetite was failing her. But I needed a change of scenery.

- I would dream of going to Europe…

She left Wayde to his thoughts when her cell phone vibrated in her bag.

*I have an address!

- Where ?

- I'm not sure giving it to you is a good idea.

- It's not up to you. Give me this address, it's an order. *

[Lieutenant’s name] complied not without discussion.

*Don't go without….*

She hadn't read the rest of the message. Not worth it. Assuming a serious expression, she rose from her chair, arousing Wayde's concern.

- A problem ?

-No…Well, yes, a friend has problems and I…I think I'm going to go see her. It could go wrong.

The policeman suddenly felt the wings of a hero grow.

-I come with you.

- Never mind. You know, she always tends to exaggerate. But I'm going to have to go, you understand?

- Of course… I know you wanted to invite me but I'm going to offer you the…

- No need, I pay when I leave. She paused by placing a light kiss on Wayde's cheek, he shouldn't have come for nothing and then… It was a way of thanking him for having chewed up the work for her.

- See you later? He said as she was already walking away. He had trouble interpreting the gesture she made to him when she went out into the street, the bouquet of tulips in her hand.

The cool freeze swept over her face and brought out the little alcohol she had drunk. Her senses were on alert, her mind racing. She had to act quickly, starting by finding a means of transport to get there. Y/N no longer had a car and Interpol was dragging on giving her a new one, so she had to use the good old methods.

And she had just found the vehicle on which she was going to set her sights.

The car was parked in a nearby alley, and even though she had done it in front of Wayde, she wasn't sure he'd notice. Discreetly, she glanced up and down the street to make sure she was alone.

Who else was going out at such an hour in Greenhills except maybe Crazy Karl? So she first tried to open the door, wanting to save herself unnecessary effort, but presumably the town was not peaceful enough not to lock the cars there.

At the same time, if all cops were like Wayde. she thought. It’s kind of logic.

Her stomach knotted.

It wasn't the first time she had this feeling since she left the tavern… Unless it started a little earlier? This oppressive feeling that a gaze was on his shoulders?

Who ? What ? There was no one here, she was sure of that. So why couldn't Y/N get rid of this paranoia.

The door eventually gave way to her methods and as she got up to open it something reflected in the glass.

A red light, in the distance.

Is it…. Damn, was that really what she saw? Was this little device floating there, a few feet away from her and capturing her every move?

Since when was that asshole doctor watching her?

Anger washed over her like a tidal wave. What was he getting into? Was he so in trouble that he had to steal his leads?

Y/N stood there staring at the camera for a few seconds. He was going to pay it, it was obvious and as she reached into her bag to grab her gun and definitely shoot this drone, she froze. The image of Robotnik alone in his lab, the sad look she had seen that day when he had lost one of his precious machines came back to her mind. This memory loosened his grip on the handle of his revolver.

She couldn't do this to him.

She giggled, taking her hand out of her bag. Ridiculous. she thought. Since when did what he felt matter to her? He wasn't going to get away with it, her outburst of pity wasn't going to stop him from hurting her, nope.

Ridiculous.

They were ridiculous.

Moment of hesitation. Nothing in the car was heavy enough to throw such a distance and guarantee an impact strong enough to neutralize the object. So she considered the one thing that seemed to meet her criteria.

She could do without a heeled shoe, right?

Untying the wedge-heeled shoe she was wearing, her gaze did not break away from the drone which remained frozen there, not missing a beat of the show.

Aim well. she thought. But above all, we had to send a clear message, something that was understood regardless of the continent where we lived.

She then raised her hand, addressing the camera with her most beautiful middle finger.

-Have a good night, doctor. She launched at the same time as the shoe.

Who did not miss his target.

[hail-dondus]

How Bad is Sia’s “Music” really?

I watched it illegally (because there was no way I was paying for that bullshit) and found out. It’s not as bad as we thought... It’s worse.

TW for ableism, Sia, drugs, alcohol, just in general a terrible movie, meltdowns, blackface

Literally the first thing you hear while they’re showing the production companies is THOSE stereotypical noises. If you’ve seen the trailer, you’ll know what I mean.

And yes, she does this for the WHOLE fucking movie

What was the need to show her in her underwear? Maddie Ziegler was 14 when this was made, so what was the need??? And why did Sia prolong the scene by having her hitting herself?

Less than a minute in and my reaction was already “what the fuck is this shit?”

So the opening number not only had stereotypical exaggerated facial expression, it has Maddie in BLACKFACE?!? And with culturally appropriated hair?!?

The exaggerated facial expressions are literally constant and I took photos during the film to show it, more later, but I’ll keep mentioning it

ITS LITERALLY THE WHOLE FUCKING TIME SHE IS ON SCREEN

Even her way of walking is fucking offensive, Jesus Christ

The vocalisations just had me cringing so hard, I cannot describe how awful it made me feel

Why do all the neighbours need to be paid off and help her when she goes for a walk? I don’t-

Yes, by about the five minute mark I was already seriously debating all my life decisions. It was that bad.

Kate Hudson really didn’t give a fuck that her grandma died

I will keep saying it but WHY are the facial expressions/vocalisations CONSTANT?!! Literally they do not stop at all. I work with a child who is actually similar to this in that he’s nonverbal and he makes similar noises/faces, but the way they’re in this movie is so over-exaggerated?!? And even the kid I work with doesn’t do it 24/7?!?

Sia, calling your characters Zu and Music doesn’t make them interesting in the slightest. They’re still painfully terrible and one dimensional

Literally ONE minute after being left alone with her autistic sister, Zu calls the mental health service asking if they could “theoretically” “pick up” her sister?!? Like she wants to get rid of her already?!?

“A magical little girl” - autism isn’t a magical power?!? And Music is a young woman, not a little girl?!? Why are you infantilising her?!?

Okay I’m not being funny but this choreography is NOT hard. ANYONE can do it, so claiming that you needed to hire a dancer to be Music because of the numbers is literally bullshit (and even so, there are so many amazing autistic actors and dancers?!?)

20 minutes in and I wanted to give up

So she had her first meltdown because her hair didn’t get braided immediately and that’s... certainly interesting??

The fact that Leslie Odom’s character says “I’m going to crush you now”?!?

AND THEN HE FUCKING PICKS HER UP AND FULL-BODILY PINS HER DOWN ONTO THE FLOOR

“I’m crushing her with my love” - oh fuck you, just fuck you

So Sia lied, the restraint scenes were NOT removed and there was no warning. She’s a fucking POS liar

I have no idea why he’s called Ebo or why he has such a cliche African accent?!? I might have missed out on why because I was busy trying not to bang my head into the table while I watched this film but just... yikes

“He (his brother) liked to be held” - YEAH, HELD. NOT FUCKING CRUSHED

“He is dead now” - IM NOT FUCKING SURPRISED IF YOU CRUSHED HIM LIKE THAT

The constant babying and patronizing of the autistic character is so exhausting to watch. I’m so tired

“Planning on sending her to the people pound but I guess I’ll keep her a little longer” - SHE WAS JOKING BUT THAT WAS NOT EVEN REMOTELY A FUNNY JOKE. NOT EVEN IN AN AWKWARD WAY

STOP THE FACES IM-

^ YEAH, Sia, totally a fucking love letter to the autistic community here ^

So Zu finds this necklace she made as a kid that had a little dog on it, and she says to Music, “He had seizures too, just like you”... MELTDOWNS AND SEIZURES ARE NOT EVEN REMOTELY THE SAME FUCK THIS MOVIE-

It’s like Sia is trying to make the movie funny but it’s really not at all

Is Zu implying that Music is autistic because the mum was a junkie?!?

For real though, the dialogue in general is so fucking awful and cringey. Whoever wrote this should never be allowed to write again

Did she seriously leave her autistic sister alone to talk to who I’m presuming was her dealer or loan shark?!?

Also why is he - a white dude - wearing cornrows?!?

So who is the film really about? The autistic girl or the older sister saviour? I think we all know the answer to that one

WHY IS SHE WALKING AROUND WITH HER TEETH JUTTING OUT LIKE THAT ALL THE TIME

The musical numbers are literally so painful to watch. The overly bright colours, the flashing... my eyes were hurting and so was my brain

Autism representation aside for a second, the musical numbers/choreography are all fucking atrocious. Ditto for the costumes

LIKE WHAT THE FUCK WERE THE PINK OOMPA LOOMPA FRUIT THINGS?!? THEY LOOK LIKE THE PINK VERSIONS OF VIOLET BEAUREGARDE THE BLUEBERRY

I wanted to cry by this point, this movie is far more awful than I thought

“I’m not saying she doesn’t want to change, I’m saying she can’t” - FUCK YOU. Why is it okay for him to assume what she can or can’t do

Can I just say that autistic people aren’t constantly in a coked up wonderland state?!! We don’t see the world as a wonderland fantasy world 24/7?!!

“She can hear you from two rooms away” / *shows her listening through two brick walls to a conversation* — Also, we don’t have super fucking sonic hearing?? WE CANT HEAR THROUGH FUCKING BRICK WALLS?!?

“She can understand everything you’re saying to her” - she’s autistic not fucking deaf

Less than 45 minutes in, there’s another meltdown in the park

“I’m not climbing on top of a small screaming white girl in public” - yeah please fucking don’t

So Zu fucking pins her down with her weight 🤦‍♀️

“She doesn’t know who she’s hitting” - IM SORRY WHAT

EBO LITERALLY SAID “TREAT HER LIKE A BEAR” when talking her through the prone restraint, I fucking CANNOT

“Tell her she’s safe” - NOT IF YOU FUCKING RESTRAIN HER LIKE THAT SHE IS NOT

The fact that she gets up, smiling and happy after a meltdown and immediately is excited to get a snow cone... I can honestly say that after a meltdown, I am in no way happy or smiling. I am often not very verbal and I’m withdrawn/not myself for at least several hours, usually the rest of the day. Fuck this film

This film is literally just about Zu, and Music is there for a plot device to give her character development. That’s all she’s there for.

Love how Sia shoehorned Zu being suicidal in there. You know, just to try and make her more easy to sympathize with (it doesn’t work)

This film is literally just a 1 hour 47 minute Sia music video with ZERO plot

WHY WERE THEY WEARING PILLOW DIAPERS IN ONE NUMBER-

I really did not feel into the side plot with that guy who was fighting but it was still better than the actual movie so...

I am SO DONE with the NON STOP CONSTANT vocal shit. So tired.

LOJ’s only role in this film is to be the stereotypical wise black guy who assists a white woman’s story. There’s like hardly any other depth there

The Ebo/Zu romance is so fucking stupid and pointless and out of NOWHERE. I couldn’t even tell if they were into each other or not

I was already so bored of the musical numbers by this point. They added NOTHING to the plot but they pretended they did, and I was so over it. And it’s not because I’m not “creative enough” or anything to understand, I love musicals and I think it could have been cool if done right... but it wasn’t. They were a mess. It’s just bad.

Sia really tried to pretend her movie was deep but really it’s a shallow mess

So Zu is meeting rich drug clients and says to Music “try not to have one of your freak outs up there” and “if you could try to get it out now”... FUCKING YIKES. It’s not an on/off button, shut the fuck up

YEP THIS WAS THE SIA CAMEO FUCK THAT BITCH

The fact that she just calls “DRUG DEALER?!? DRUG DEALER IS THAT YOU”, fucking end this please-

I fucking hate this bitch I’m dead serious

“We’re gonna send them to Haiti cause there’s been an earthquake. All these buildings fell down, children’s bones were dislocated” - WHY WAS SHE SO CHEERFUL ABOUT IT

“Gonna buy a shit load of pain meds, gonna but them on my private plane” - FUCKYOUFUCKYOUFUCKYOU

“Pop stars without borders” - Sia thinks she’s so clever but I would give anything to punch her I swear-

ANOTHER MUSICAL NUMBER JUST STOP IM BEGGING YOU

There’s this awkward conversation/bit with Zu and her drug dealer/loanshark about his outfit that was clearly meant to be funny but was just flat and painful

Yep, Sia really showed Music eating chewing gum off the underside of a park bench. Of course.

Look, the kid I work with does similar stuff by putting literally anything and everything in his mouth but like... why would you put that in your movie?

And there’s no indication before this that Music puts everything and anything in her mouth, she just randomly decides to get on her knees, under the bench and eat chewing gum, like she calculates that it’s there and gets it???

She has a THIRD meltdown after an allergic reaction to a bee sting and her sister just yells at her before realizing... I’m not here for this movie, I feel like I drifted off and was not really there

So Zu got angry because she left the drugs at the park but she’s not that upset that her sister had an allergic reaction???

Zu gets absolutely drunk because a) she lost Sia’s drugs and b) she’s stressed out by her autistic sister... wow, great message, Sia!

She really fucked off and left her sister alone to go clubbing/on a bender

The less said about the musical number here the better

Sia’s movie also checks the box of having stereotypical Asian parents, specifically stereotypical Asian dad being harsh/angry and hitting his wife!

ALSO HE PUSHED AND KILLED HIS SON WTF IS HAPPENING

Less than 3 minutes after the last, there’s a musical number that I think was about this side character going to heaven... another shitty Sia-esque number

The patterns during the number made my brain hurt.

Also there are so many autistic actors who can also dance, and yet Sia chose the neurotypical one because ✨ N E P O T I S M ✨

I just want to know how it was deemed necessary to show the fact the autistic character peed/wet herself? I mean... ??? It’s just so undignified and not at all necessary to the plot. Nothing happens after that, it just moves onto the next scene and it didn’t do anything

“I have no one” - 1) YOUR FUCKING SISTER. 2) GEE I FUCKING WONDER WHY, couldn’t be that you’re a shitty human being?!?

There’s a scene where Music is walking and she does ALL the stereotypical behaviours at once... just YIKES

Zu somehow stopped another meltdown just by grabbing Music by the shoulders and sitting her down???

Aaand yep. Another shitty musical number

Zu really goes to put her sister in a fucking facility and claims it’ll be “better for her” - BULLSHIT. Better for Zu, maybe, not Music.

Ah yes - the girl who the characters have said has problems with routines being changed/change in general... you’re now going to fuck up her routine by dumping her in a facility. Perfect Plan.

The nonverbal autistic girl suddenly speaking to say “don’t go” - you can just predict it from the off, can’t you?

Love that as soon as Music starts talking, Zu is like “fuck it, I’ll keep her!”

Zu really went and crashed Ebo’s brothers wedding... in a fucking bralette... YIKES

“I almost gave Music away” - SHE IS NOT A DOG YOU DONT GIVE PEOPLE AWAY

“We should sing a song” - PLEASE DO FUCKING NOT

Also that kiss/romance montage between Zu and Ebo was the CRINGIEST fucking shit ever

This movie seems to be implying that Music has locked in syndrome or something, like she’s locked in her own head or whatever it’s called, and I just... *sigh*

Oh and now Music magically fucking sings in a room FULL of strangers... this is literally embarrassing, please let this end

I mean it, this movie was fucking painful to watch on ever level

She got a service dog puppy which... okay?

Oh look, it’s the only decent song on the soundtrack but with an absolutely shitty over-stimulatory music video with the credits!

I can only name 5 characters in this film. Maybe 7 at a push, but even then I would be guessing

AND YEP SHE THANKED AUTISM SPEAKS OVER THE CREDITS. FUCK YOU SIA 🖕🏻

Let me reiterate: this is a movie about a neurotypical former drug addict whose character development comes from the autistic character, from having an autistic sister she has to take care of. I’m so tired.

We are NOT plot devices or tools for character development. Not once does anyone in this film treat Music like a human being - she’s treated as a burden, a problem, and then like a pet that they decide to keep. Not once is the film focused on how she is feeling - it’s always about Zu or Ebo. The performance itself was so over exaggerated and it made me want to cry when I watched it because this is how the world sees us, and this movie will make it ten times worse. It’s stuff like this that made me think “I don’t want to be labelled as autistic because people will think I’m a certain way”, that made me wait so long before going to the GP to get a referral.

As I said, poor autistic representation aside, the movie is just so appallingly bad. It truly is one of the worst films I’ve watched. If you’re going to watch it, please don’t - or, if you want to because you want to see how bad it is/to raise awareness/critical posts, at least do it illegally. Do not give Sia your money.

[ikeromantic]

Fake It Til You Make It

A Mitsuhide Akechi fanfiction - approx. 2200 words. This scene takes place post-romantic epilogue. Fluff and a little spice.

First: Mitsuhide and the Maiden

Previous: Adrift

Kyubei watched the innkeeper through narrowed eyes. Though the man was clearly nervous, he didn’t seem to be lying. His story hadn’t changed in the last three tellings, so either he was an accomplished liar or he was telling the truth.

“L-lord Akechi and the woman left with one of the Akechi warriors. Right after we saw the fire across the lake,” the innkeeper said for the fourth time. “Then the storm came and after that, no one saw him.”

“Do you remember anything else? Did anyone else come in after they left? Did you see anyone acting strangely?”

The man shook his head. “No, I mean, not really? Everyone was a bit strange after we saw the blaze. Wondering if Azuchi was still standing.” He frowned. “You think it might have been Lord Akechi? Him disappearing like that right after -”

Kyubei cut him off. “No. That was the work of the Mouri clan.” It wasn’t the first person he’d spoken with that suspected. And why wouldn’t they? Mitsuhide was only just back from his misadventure at the shogun’s side. An ally in disgrace. A man not to be trusted.

The worst part of all this was that Kyubei really had no idea what his lord wanted him to do. Should he quash the rumors? Encourage them? Mitsuhide’s instructions from his last letter said nothing about an attack on Azuchi - not like this - and nothing about disappearing. Of course, he pretended like he knew exactly what was going on. He had to, until he received additional instructions.

“So . . . am I free to go?” The innkeeper was frowning now. His nervousness replaced by a desire to get back to making money at the inn.

“For now,” Kyubei said. He gave the man a hard stare. “If I need anything else, I will send someone for you.”

The innkeeper bowed and left, leaving Kyubei alone with his thoughts. It really seemed that in the storm, his lord had simply vanished into thin air. And Miyake too.

Perhaps they'd left with Ranmaru, who was also missing. But if so, there would be a letter. A message. Something!

The castle staff had no idea where he was - they’d waited for him to return for hours. Miyake’s squad couldn’t find their commander either. Both men were expected.

And the chatelaine . . . his lady. Kyubei worried that he had failed to protect her again.

***

Morning came with pale light through a high window. It fell across four careworn, sleeping faces. Sasuke and Miyake lay in a tangle of blankets on the floor, and in a bed, Mitsuhide clung to his little mouse. He woke with the first notes of bird-song, but kept his eyes shut. He wasn’t ready to confront the strange world of 500 years in the future just yet.

His little one stirred in his arms as the sound of morning birds turned into a hum of outside activity. “Is it . . . are we really . . .” She opened her eyes and looked around Sarutobi’s flat. “We’re really here.”

Mitsuhide nodded.

“I want to be happy about it, but . . .”

He shushed her with a kiss. “It will be fine. Worrying won’t return us faster.”

She sighed and buried her face against his chest. “I know. I just hope everyone is alright.”

“They will be,” Mitsuhide reassured her. He didn’t think of it as a lie - simply an assumption he based on his past experience. Nobunaga would handle this threat as he did others that came before it.

And Kyubei would see to what the left hand needed to be doing.

Sasuke sat up, rubbing his face. “I apologize for the accommodations,” he told them. The same apology he’d given the night before.

“At least we had somewhere to sleep.” The chatelaine sat up and wiggled out of the blanket. “I should probably check on my flat and see if it’s still mine. If so, we won't have to impose on you a second night. Although,” she sighed. “I don’t have my ID or my keys or anything.”

“I don't mind,” Sasuke replied. “You are welcome to continue crashing here. Although, we may not be here for long. Weren’t there activities you wanted to do in this time? While you can?” His left eyebrow lifted almost imperceptibly.

Mitsuhide gave her one of his slow, warm smiles. His fingers traced a path down her spine. “Yes, you did mention some things I would like to see, since we are here.”

His little mouse arched like a cat against his hand. “I did . . . yes. Alright. Since we’re here, we might as well try to enjoy it!”

Miyake rolled over on the floor and pulled the blanket over his head.

“I take it that means you plan to stay here for the day?”

Sasuke answered for the half-asleep warrior. “Actually, I would really appreciate it if Miyake would accompany me. I need to go to my university and make some arrangements.”

Miyake groaned and sat up. He blinked as his gaze went around the room, taking in all the strange objects. Finally, he settled on the ninja. “You need protection or something?”

“No. I don’t think anyone will attack me.” Sasuke felt around for his glasses and slid them on. “But I expect to be moving some heavy equipment in the lab. And I may have a friend who can help us out with those arrangements, if you're there to corroborate my story.”

“Corr what?” Miyake frowned.

“Authenticate. Like a two factor security key.” The ninja grinned.

The warrior looked to Mitsuhide uncertainly.

“If Sarutobi believes you can assist him today, then that is what you will do. I am sure my fiancée and I will be fine.”

The chatelaine looked less certain about this, but she nodded agreement.

The four of them took turns dressing in the ‘washroom’ to give each other privacy. His morning was one of surprise as the . . . toilet . . . squirted him with water. And warm or cold water came from a metal spigot at the turn of a handle too, spilling into a porcelain basin. There were more smokeless lanterns - electric lights they were called - and other wonders.

Had Mitsunari been there, he was sure the scholar could have spent weeks studying every device but Mitsuhide just needed to know how to use it.

In this place, he was the naïve child, and his little one, the wise teacher. Such a shift in their positions was hard to take. Mitsuhide didn’t think of himself as arrogant but this situation was humbling in the extreme. Thankfully, he managed to get through dressing and breakfast without any serious mishaps.

Sasuke and Miyake left to the university. The flat was silent in their wake. Mitsuhide and his little mouse sat on the edge of the bed. She was tapping away at a . . . tablet . . . to get access to her accounts. The electronic scroll was interesting, at least. With pictures and writing all lit up so you could read it even in the dark.

Mitsuhide stood and stretched, trying to get used to moving in his new clothes. They were Sarutobi’s and didn’t quite fit. He was dressed in a pair of pants that clung tightly to his legs and ended short of his ankle. The top was a soft weave, dyed black. It sported an odd blue character on it and the word Sonic. Sarutobi said the picture was a hedgehog, whatever that was.

He would have liked to wear something without a picture on it. He’d had the choice between this one and something with a lizard that walked on two legs and shot fire from its mouth. Those were the only two shirts the ninja had that were long enough to cover him to his waist. And there was no way he was walking around with a bare midriff. Even if his little mouse looked interested in the idea.

Her midriff was bare afterall, she’d laughed. And it was - sort of. She tied one of Sasuke’s shirts in a bow under her breasts and had a pair of his shorts on. Though Mitsuhide wasn’t familiar with the clothes of this time, he thought she looked like a child trying to fit into her father’s clothes. Endearingly cute, but ill fit. Some of the clothes they saw women wearing on the way in the night before would have looked much better on her.

She looked up as if she knew he was thinking about her. “Ok, I think we’re ready to go.”

“Where to, my love?”

“Well, first to my apartment. It looks like my rent payments have all been made. And the building manager knows me so I should be able to get a spare key.” Her smile was all relief.

They arrived to the apartment, a small space in a tall building that reminded Mitsuhide of a castle, if the castle was robbed of all charm and beauty. Her room was utilitarian and sterile, and while there was still the wonder of technology, he could see none of her personality in the space. He said as much.

“Hm, yeah. I didn’t really have time to decorate. The apartment came furnished. I moved in and then, well,” she laughed. “I ended up in Azuchi with you.”

Mitsuhide pulled her into a hug. “A fate worse than death, little mouse?”

“You know it wasn’t,” she giggled, laughing harder as he ran his fingers down her sensitive sides. Holding her like this felt like home, even if nothing else was familiar.

After several slow breaths, they let go of each other.

“I must confess, I cannot see you living in this place. It doesn’t seem very safe. And you don’t have much room for your sewing.” Mitsuhide couldn’t help but poke into her cabinets, shelves, and drawers.

She nodded. “Yeah, it’s pretty small but it was a place I could afford on my own.”

Mitsuhide heard the pride in her voice. He smiled. “I can imagine you coming here, determined to make it on your own.” He turned from the cabinet he was inspecting to see her stripping off her shirt.

Her pert breasts were a pleasant surprise, but she crossed her arms over them as soon as she saw him looking. “I’m just changing clothes! I didn’t want to wear Sasuke’s basketball shorts all day.”

“Please, continue.”

“I - I can’t while you’re staring at me!” She turned so that all he could see was her back.

Mitsuhide laughed. “Are we not lovers? How many times have I kissed, nibbled, caressed every bit of your skin from head to toe?”

She shivered, skin dimpling with remembered touches. Slow, nervous, she turned back around. Her arms lowered, revealing her chest again. “You can watch if you want to.”

He wasn’t sure if it was nerves or mischief that made her voice squeak at the end. Either was amusing. “Mmm, I’m a lucky man to get a show.”

“You are,” she smiled. Her fingers went to the tie on the shorts. They fell away, pooling around her feet. Underneath, she wore nothing.

Mitsuhide sucked in a breath.

Her hips swayed as she walked to her wardrobe. She glanced over her shoulder at him and fluttered her eyelashes, trying to be saucy. The effect was a little spoiled by the blush that ran from her cheeks to the tips of her ears. From within the wardrobe she pulled out a little twist of cloth. It was light blue and made of some embroidered material.

He didn’t realize he could see her skin through it until she slipped it on, slowly pulling the fabric taut over her curves. Though she was technically covered, it was somehow more tempting than just skin alone. “What . . . is that?”

“Panties.” She giggled. Then she pulled out a matching bit of cloth and wrapped it around her chest. The rise of her breasts were restrained by this new piece of clothing as she reached behind her as if to tie it.

“And that?”

“My bra.” She turned right, then left, letting him get a good view.

The sight made Mitsuhide want to simultaneously rip the clothing off her and still enjoy looking at her in them. It wasn’t possible to have both . . .

“To be honest, it’s been kind of nice not wearing these the last few months. But I think I would feel weird if I didn’t wear them with my modern clothes.”

“I like them.” Mitsuhide smiled widely. A grin that brought heat to her gaze before she looked away, suddenly shy. He knew this ground well. Even here in a world where everything was strange, his little one was the same.

He stepped forward, reaching to cup her cheek. His other hand settled lightly on her hip, fingertips stroking the skin just above the fabric of her panties. She inhaled sharply, lips parting. Mitsuhide took the invitation.

The kiss was, at first, gentle and sweet, but the press of their bodies built heat between them. Their breath mingled, tongues entwined. Hands grasping, stroking, pulling. Tearing.

Mitsuhide stopped at the sound of fabric ripping.

His little one gasped and reached down to feel the damage. Her eyes widened. “You . . . tore my panties.” Then she started to laugh.

He laughed too. Never in his life had he expected a woman so wonderful. A woman he would want badly enough to - literally - tear the clothes off her. This kind of passion he’d always believed was fake. Yet here he was. It was unthinkable. Incredible. “I love you,” Mitsuhide told her, smiling so widely that it hurt.

“I love you too.”

She gestured to the wardrobe. "I should probably, you know. Finish." It took only a moment for her to shimmy into her own clothes. Then they headed out into this strange world that was his home 500 years after death.

Next: Kitsune's Day Out

[wesimpforxiao]

Say My Name and I’ll Be There: Chapter 9.4

Xiao was sick to his stomach.  The idea that Childe turning out to be an ally to the group disgusted him--and don't get him started on the thought of Zhongli possibly falling for that act a second time.  It would be an understatement to say that he wanted nothing to do with that harbinger ever again.  But of course he just had to deal with him for awhile longer, and it was for your sake only.  

"You mean..."  Aether was still processing Zhongli's confession alongside the yaksha.  "You tricked us?  Again?"

"You're just as bad as Childe if you lie this much!"  Paimon huffed in obvious disappointment before poofing out of the conversation.

"Forgive me for not informing you sooner; I made a grave mistake for trusting him the first time, but I will not leave you in the dark for a second."  The former archon bowed his head in a deep apology after revealing what really happened in Fontaine all those weeks ago.

"And you knew of this, Xiao?"

"He informed me in a dream while I was still unconscious."

"I-I'm still wrapping my head around this," uttered the boy.  "And now Childe is making the same move again?  What're you going to do?"

"I think it's time to make our final move."  The archon eyed the couple of Fatui agents walking past their table, careful to keep his voice lower than usual.

"As much as I want to, you can't join us.  You'd be breaking your own contract.  Isn't that a problem?"  Zhongli didn't answer, so the traveler then turned to Xiao.  "What do you want to do?"

"I..."  The yaksha averted his eyes.  I want to rescue her, he thought.  I want to, but if she's not in contact with me, she won't be affected by my karma.  Zhongli noticed the sour expression on Xiao's face and piped up.

"We do not need to decide our move right at this moment.  A situation so dire cannot be approached lightly."

"She should stay where she is," Xiao muttered under his breath after Aether and Paimon ran off to do some commissions.

..............

"Are you just gonna stare at me or what?"  

You were sitting with your back against the far wall of an unfamiliar cell while your hands were carefully placed on your lap to avoid touching the scummy floors.  On the other side of the cell bars stood what was probably the shortest of the eleven harbingers.

Scaramouche didn't answer you, electing to deepen his scowl instead.  His glare fell to the vision at your hip like he was trying to understand why the Tsaritsa refused to give him the order to confiscate it.  Your gaze followed his until the faint glinting of the vision's glass was all you could focus on.

Why didn't she take it this time?

And that wasn't the only thing that was different about your second imprisonment.  Your cell was painted in what you assumed to be anti-adeptus sigils like Xiao's cell had been.  Maybe this was to prevent you from calling for Xiao; the threat of his capture seemed to weigh heavily on your shoulders, but something about this cell felt off and you couldn't put your finger on it.  Why take this precautionary measure if she knew you wouldn't call for the yaksha for his own safety?

That question was answered a little too-quickly for your liking.  One of Scaramouche's underlings brought in what looked like a toolkit, only to reveal a plethora of presumed torture objects inside.

"Is this really appropriate for you, my Lord?  We can take over from here; you don't need to participate in an activity that would insult y--"

The harbinger shot him a dangerous look.  "I don't remember asking for your input.  Get out."

"Y-yes, sir.  Excuse me!"  The guard doubled over in an apologetic bow before scrambling out of the prison as fast as he was able to.  Then Scaramouche's glare returned to you as he reached into the bag.

....................

I'm gonna kill them all.  I'm gonna kill them.  They'll all fall at my hands.

A blood trail tailed behind you as Fatui guards escorted your weakened body into the frigid throne room for the third time this week.  They threw you to the tile floor, while your vision clinked unhappily against the hard surface.  She still hadn't bothered to remove it; it was like she was taunting you with the illusion of power, and she shot you down every time you thought you'd take her by surprise.

I'm going to kill her, Xiao.

The coldness of the unwelcoming floor seemed to welcome you into your repeating nightmare while the hot blood that pooled in your mouth dripped onto the surface.  Unlike the other times you were dragged in here, Childe wasn't present.  It was a shame that the one who so badly wanted to be involved in the brawl was about to miss out.  The tapping of a fingernail against metal prompted you to push yourself up to your knees.

She'll fall at my hands.

"Bow before Her Majesty, the Tsaritsa."

You just coughed up more blood without obeying.  Twitching fingers were the remnants of Scaramouche's torture.

"The perseverance of humans truly is something to witness," the cryo archon muttered in distain.  She had run out of patience; you were nothing more than a nuisance if you refused to work with her any longer, and it was a miracle that she put up with you longer than she would with her own men.  "Very well.  You'll die here.  Any last words?"

"Y-You threatened them."

"If you wish to be heard, speak up."

"You threatened them," your voice raised loud enough for everyone to hear despite the fact that your throat was sore from the amount of screaming Scaramouche managed to get out of you.  A small groan left your lips as you forced yourself to your unsteady feet.  Blood coated your lips and chin, and soaked into your tattered shirt.  "You threatened my friends, you've threatened Xiao, and you're ultimately responsible for my Granny's death.  Your crimes against us and the people of Teyvat will never be forgiven.  What do you have to say for yourself?"

"Hm."  A hint of a wry smile was quickly overshadowed by hatred and disgust.  She had heard enough of your disrespect, and it was clear beating you into submission wasn't working.  

You caught the subtle twitch in her hand before she flicked her wrist and hurled an attack in your direction.  Defiant feet remained planted, and a counterattack almost as quick as the Tsaritsa's was thrown her way.  You didn't feel the blast of her magic reek havoc against your body, but  subconsciously heard the sound of shattering glass right before you initiated your counterattack.

The Tsaritsa waved off the guards that readied to restrain you while hiding the beginnings of fear from her face.  She'd kill you herself.  The temperature dropped lower and lower until the entire room froze over and your fingers began to go numb.  Of course, this wasn't because of your magic; you could drop the temperature below zero, but this was on a completely different scale.

"You've earned your friends' deaths as well!"  The archon raged and stood from her seat with the intent to kill you on the spot.  Shards upon shards whirled around her before shooting at your frail exhausted figure.  "Morax's yaksha will join you in death for your disobedience.  Thus is the punishment for disrespecting the will of your master!"  

"You will not harm anyone!"  

BOOM!  The palace walls shook violently as the force of a shockwave ran through them--with you at the epicenter.  A brilliant light shone from your eyes for a split second, though it made no difference in your tunnel vision of determination.  This time, you were the one to lower the temperature.  A growing layer of frost enveloped your skin in a warm embrace.  Your power was a mix of ice and stormy gales that tore through the throne room at a vicious speed, sending Fatui agents and harbingers alike running for cover as the palace became an unstable battlefield.

............

Two days before.

"What kind of a suicide mission is that?!"  Xiao growled out to the open night air with frustration, though he knew you couldn't hear nor feel his response.  "This recklessness will be the end of you!"  He took a deep breath to regain his composure and his gaze fell to his hands, which were enveloped in the fine black mist that was his accumulated karma.  He couldn't keep his thought process of protecting you from himself if you were practically asking to be killed by the cryo archon. He wouldn't let that happen no matter what risks his karma may bring.

Days of grueling torture unlike anything you've faced before haunted his ears.  He could tell that you never meant to pray to him these past several days, but somewhere in your delirious state of mind, clouded by pain, you called his name.  Not for him to come and rescue you, no.  That was a trick you weren't going to fall for and he wasn't rescuing you out of respect for your wishes.  

But hearing your cries, you sobs, was a torture method in and of itself to Xiao.

After the first three days your agony turned to resentment, then to rage.  You plotted.  You schemed.  You planned until you settled on what was probably the dumbest 'solution' to your problems.  And Xiao heard every word.

"FOOL!"  Overcome with frustration yet again, Xiao impaled the nearest tree with his polearm.  The winds whipped violently through its leaves until he let out another aggravated sigh.  He looked down to Liyue Harbor and the sunrise that began to chase away the shadows.  Yelling would result in nothing and it was immature of him to do so.  He would go to Zhongli, and summon Aether.  There was no time to waste.

............

What awaited them at Zapolyarny Palace was nothing short of stupefying.  They were met with a stampede of shaken guards that were so disorganized and distraught, they didn't even notice that intruders had broken into the palace.  The three of them exchanged knowing glances before Zhongli led the way to the throne room.  It was then that a powerful shockwave--loud enough to be a sonic boom-- nearly threw them into the wall behind them as the doors flew open.

"You will not harm anyone," muffled words reached the ears of the intruders.  "Not me, not Zhongli, not Aether, and certainly not Xiao!"

It took a moment for Xiao to process what he was looking at; the snowstorm that raged on was barely contained in the throne room, and white obscured the battle for the most part.  He didn't need a clear image of you to pick up on your words.

A new light appeared above you and this time you caught sight of it.  Six star-like objects lit up a similar color to Xiao's hair and connected to one another.  You paid no mind to it, as it disappeared as quickly as it came.  The storm grew violent, and much like your most recent confrontation with Childe, your power was harming yourself.  Icicles shredded your worn-out garments.  The wind turned so sharply that it bit into your skin.

"That shouldn't be possible," Zhongli's widened gaze lingered where those stars had appeared above your head.

"So you saw that too," Aether mumbled in bewilderment as he also stared at the same empty air.  I thought the people of Teyvat needed Stella Fortuna to unlock their constellations?  He snapped out of his daze quicker than Zhongli.  "Let's go, we need to help her!"

Xiao blocked their advance with his polearm.  "Wait."

"You think we should wait?"  Paimon hissed.  "She needs our help!"

The yaksha ignored their hesitance and kept his narrowed eyes on the blurry image of you in the distance.  Rely on me.  Call out my name.  If he was allowing himself to be vulnerable with you now, risking your safety from his karma, then it was your turn to do the same.  Call out my name, and I'll be there when you call.

"DIE!"  The Tsaritsa waved her hand through the air and summoned a glade of ice that was meant to slice you in two.

"I won't succumb so easily!"  A blast of wind erupted from your side, and it cut the ice in half before it could reach you.

Wind?  Anemo?  Zhongli sent a glance to Xiao's figure.  Could this be...

You pushed off the ground with the aid of the wind, and a flurry of snow hurled towards the Tsaritsa.  She shot shards through it, and they impaled the ceiling after clearing the fog.  You weren't there.

The archon spun around and was met with the devilish amber eyes of an adeptus and the cocky grin of her weapon of war.  This power--The wind kicked up the accumulated layers of snow from the floor and blocked her line of sight again.  A sharp pain sliced through the backs of her knees, and she crumpled to the ground.  The speed of your movements was unlike anything your friends have seen from you before.

You landed before her and relished the feeling of having a literal god kneeling at your feet.  Maybe you weren't so unlike Childe after all; if this sight made you feel that good, then one could understand the harbinger's obsession with battle.  The three friends behind you--who you had yet to notice--took note of the Childe-like expression on your face.  You summoned your iced polearm.  Or...tried to.  A quick glance to your hand confirmed it was still empty despite your attempts.  Instead, a cold breeze playfully weaved between your fingertips.  Huh?  Did I exhaust myself?  I feel fine...

"Ha...haha...Hahahaha!"  A wicked cackle sent chills down your spine, and you returned your attention to the god that was hunched before you.  "You may have picked up on my Childe's arrogance, but you wield it like a weakness."  You anticipated her next move from the growing of sheer cold, but with your current position, there was no way you'd be able to dodge it in time.  She swung her arm out to you.

The name fell from your lips without thinking.  "Xiao-!"  WHOOSH!  The blast of air knocked you onto your butt, and your vision cleared to view an unsettlingly-silent battlefield.  For several seconds, the cyclone calmed.

"Tch."  The sound of a struggle made you look up.  There was your yaksha, neck-at-neck with the cryo archon.  He held his polearm in a blocking position, and it rattled uncomfortably against the force of the ice sword that pushed against it.  The pair were staring daggers at one another.  

"Xiao!"

"Took you long enough.  Leave the killing to me.  Leave, now."

"There's no way I'm leaving you by yourself!"  You pushed yourself to your feet and ran towards them.

Xiao picked up on the sound of your footsteps, and glanced back at you for a split second.  "Get back!"  He could almost feel the grin that spread on the god's face as you got closer.  "Move!" Panicked, Xiao pushed back against the Tsaritsa before dashing through the air and pulling you with him just in time to avoid what would've been a devastating blow of the god's power.

The sharp movements made your stomach do a flip or two, but you didn't have time to puke.  The Tsaritsa levitated towards the two of you, who were now standing side-by-side with Xiao's hand placed lightly between your shoulder blades.  Your eyes met his, but you couldn't tell what he was thinking.  Instead, you nodded in encouragement just in case he wasn't on-board with you still being here with him.

The yaksha seemed to understand on some level, and nodded back before returning his eyes to the god above you.  "Now."

[razorblade180]

Interdimensional Moms pt3

Part 2 right here! <-

Team RWBY continue their interesting chat about their respective worlds. After the emotional roller coaster that was Weiss’s, a bit of light hearted stories would be welcomed.

Yang:Okay, does anyone have some real feel good things to talk about for their world? Just run of the mill pleasant life?

Ruby:Guess I’m going last....

Yang:Oh no!

Weiss:We’ll circle back to you then. Blake, I guess you’re up.

Blake:Wouldn’t you want calmer stuff at the end?

Yang:Blake, I would very much like to go at least ten minutes without wanting to cry.

Blake:Hmmmm I can guarantee you like...six I think.

Yang:I’ll take it! Blake Belladonna, tell me about a world where you and Jaune Arc are happily married. How did such stars align?

Blake:You make it sound crazy?

Weiss:Blake, there’s list of people I could see you with. Now I’m not saying Jaune couldn’t be one of them, but he’d have to fight his way up that list.

Blake:You...that’s kinda fair. It’s a bit hard to explain really. It happened back at Beacon initially, or our bonding did. Some days his team was busy and I didn’t tag along for the crazy antics you three wanted to do all the time, so we occasionally bumped into each by circumstances. He’d go to the library for a book, I’d do training and he was there, or sometimes he’d knock on our door and not realize I was the only one around.

Weiss:Was he trying to sing to me?

Blake:That plan did show up at our a few times, yes. One of those times I asked him out of nowhere to sing the song anyways because I just had to know if it was any good. Hehe, it wasn’t sonically pleasing at times, but you could tell it was genuine. Eventually though...he just sort of gave up on you. It was actually a little sad to see, even you thought so. It was strange. Jaune was definitely stumbling through his flirting and it came off as childish, yet the day he gave up, it was easy to see his heart was breaking a bit. Like all his insecurities ate even the faux confidence away.

Yang:Ma’am, it has barely been three minutes and I’m getting sad about thinking of Jaune being sad.

Weiss:Yeah don’t tell me I broke his heart!

Blake:Whoops, sorry. It’s important though. Jaune kinda kept to himself a little more after that. He still chatted pretty regularly but it was easy to tell he dived more in studies as a way to keep his head clear, which lead to us being on a project together. I was the only person in our friend group that wouldn’t actively try to make him open up about how he feeling. At first I thought it was a bit rude when he told me that, but I didn’t room to talk when it comes to socializing.

Yang:One more time for the people in the back.

Ruby:I’m the back.

Blake:*smirks* I was very against socializing about my feelings at Beacon.

Ruby:Yeah you were.

Weiss:I couldn’t even ask if you slept well without a lukewarm answer sometimes.

Blake:I’m better now. That’s all that matters. Romance and feeling love is a personal thing and talking about it is uncomfortable. I think we both recognized that in each other during our project. Trouble is, there’s only so many conversation starters and small talk subjects. Talking only about the project was dry and eventually all the facts a person could say about themselves ran out. Favorite food, color, hobbies, etc. We eventually had to dig a little deeper into those topics. To our surprise, we actually more in common than we thought when it came to how we felt about certain pieces of literature and music.

Ruby:Awwww, bonding over smut.

Blake:*red* It wasn’t all adult literature! Some were poems and stuff. Even when the project ended, we began being less formal around each other and hanging out. We went to the bookstores we mentioned and he even got us tickets to bands I liked. It...it was nice. I never really got to have just a normal teenage experience before without it being political. He always felt bad about being average compared to everyone but average was so foreign to me that I welcomed it. I liked having a normal time out. It was a thing we all took for granted. Especially when Beacon fell.

Yang:Yeah, that probably put a real bind on your relationship.

Blake:Actually....we technically never officially started to date.

Ruby:What? You courted each other all of Beacon.

Weiss:Ruby, who the heck says courted? I’m a Schnee and even I have never used the word courted.

Ruby:Hush, I read a lot of bed time stories to a five year old.

Blake:We were a bit shaky on labels. Me for obvious reasons. As for Jaune, it’s really true about what they say about guys when they get heart broken.

Yang: “Never again.”

Blake:Hehehe, it’s funny to look back at it but he’ll tell you it’s a bit cringy. He was so on gaurd. I could tell all the time when he was mentally telling himself to not be excited whenever we hung out or I complimented him.

Ruby:Hey it takes guts to shift feelings to a teammate of your first crush. That could blow up in your face.

Blake:Yeah...about that. *looks at Yang* you...were another reason why nothing was official. You uhhh, we actually had some jumbled up emotions.

Weiss:*sarcastic gasp* You and Yang, liking each other? Who could’ve seen that coming?

Yang:Was it mutual or...

Blake:Very mutual. Also...intimate at times.

Yang:*red* Oh....yeah. Yeah that tracks.

Blake:That jumbled mess was only more confusing after you got hurt trying to rescue me from Adam. Meeting up with-

Ruby:Question, so was Sun just not on your radar?

Blake:Sun? We’re just friends. He’s cute and I’m glad he was there for me when I needed help but things between us were always pretty calm. I think he noticed how confused I was with other people in my life and chose to not add to it.

Ruby:Bless him. Please continue.

Blake:Learning about Salem and reconnecting with you all was a lot. I’d really been out of the loop and my Yang and I were on....shaky ground.

Yang:That’s what happens when you leave someone who’s been left their entire life.

Blake:Sigh...yeah. It was a trying time, but not with JNPR. It’s funny, Oscar and I also hit it off quite well from the jump. I think we were both glad to have each other learn on the craziness at once. Even with readjusting, Jaune and I fell back into a groove naturally. Instead of doing average things we day dreamed of the things we did. Once again we become this little slice of simple life in this crazy adventure. Still didn’t date.

Weiss:What is this, a slow burn!?

Yang:Weiss, you literally didn’t date your Jaune until Atlas.

Weiss:There’s a difference. I didn’t make any heart eyes at him until around Atlas. I say I may have been a little quick. These two were “courting” for over a year at this point.

Ruby:Stop making fun of me!

Blake:Well anyways, I wouldn’t say much was too eventful in terms of romance with world destroying things happening. Salem, she was way too much to deal with. Every move age did was calculated and unrelenting. Keeping our head above water wasn’t easy. In fact, it was boarder line impossible. Yang and I barely beat Adam after all.

Yang:How’d you two feel about that?

Blake:Relieved. Huge weight off my mind, and yet...a piece of me still wishes things never got so dire. At least now I know that in another world, things aren’t.

Ruby:Sounds like your world was put through their paces? You survived though.

Blake:Not conventionally. I gotta say, hearing the ages and how you beat Salem so far makes me feel more than a little embarrassed. To be frank, we didn’t have this grand battle that involved the entire world making a final stand. We had Atlas, and then we had Haven. With their might and a plan to gain more time, we managed to seal Salem in a vault.

Yang:*chokes on water* Y- cough what!?

Ruby:You put her in a vault!?

Weiss:Thah sounds harder than a last stand honestly.

Blake:No matter what way we looked at things, we just weren’t ready for her, so we locked her away until we were. Two years on constant defense from her followers and grimm until Ruby had trained enough to use her silver eyes and we were all strong enough.

Ruby:Two years!? How old was I then?

Blake:Twenty I believe.

Weiss:Hey, you beat mine by a year.

Yang:Not mine, I think we either tied or just narrowly beat yours by like a year. Honestly it hard to keep track of birthdays and stuff.

Ruby:Wow. No offense to myself, but that’s a little disappointing. I guess being the same person really doesn’t mean we were all at the same level.

Blake:Hey, my Ruby put everything she had into saving the world. There wasn’t a second she wasn’t trying her best to defend it!

Ruby:My point exactly. If that was her at her absolute best then by all accounts, she doesn’t hold a candle to me; at least back then anyways. But I have no reason to believe she would be at my level now.

Yang:Okay little miss prideful, care to tell us when you saved the-

Ruby:Seventeen.

The reaper took a long swig of coffee while the others processed that information. It took a her a couple of seconds to realize she may be acting just a tad bit arrogant.

Ruby:Uhh, sorry. I think I was tooting my own horn a bit there.

Weiss:Seventeen....why so soon?

Yang:Why? Don’t you mean how?

Blake:That’s....almost unbelievable.

Ruby:Really? I don’t think so. I’ll dive into it when it’s my turn but for now all I really gotta say is people needed help, and I was going to answer those cries. I bet your Ruby had a similar urgency in her, but for some reason or another just had different limitations. I got hurt a lot as a kid. Maybe an injury did more damage in one universe than another? Who can say?

Blake:I...wouldn’t know. Odd, I know if my Ruby heard this, then she’d probably be more than a little upset. Saving lives is still what she’s all about. I know when she put everything she had into fighting Salem when the day came. All that training paid off. Her skills were polished and her silver eyes eradicated the grimm essence in Salem.

Ruby:Wait, she’s not dead?

Blake:No. Salem roams Remnant with Oz keeping an eye on her until one day she can finally grasp the lesson the gods wanted her to have.

Yang:That uhhh sounds risky.

Weiss:Yet oddly okay?

Blake:Funny, my Weiss said that too. Those two get checked on in secret. Can’t be too careful. With Salem beaten though, Remnant entered a state of...let’s call it average chaos. All in all, it’s way more peaceful but you know, people will be people. Downside about a secret war is you don’t get the unity of the masses. Atlas and Haven working together was still a great step in the right direction though.

Yang:Woah, I’m a little jealous. My world felt like a race against the clock. The pressure either broke you or made you harder than diamond, with most people crushing under it.

Weiss:Yeah. The tension and meet of extremes I had on the frontlines was beyond imagination. The unity was great, but to feel it on the battlefield against the odds was feeling with way too much adrenaline and stress. Can’t say I enjoyed it. I simply lived through it.

Blake:Well it isn’t like I had a walk in the park. But I guess in comparison, my experience was a tad more mellow. Still, people were lost and hurt. Oscar isn’t himself anymore, don’t have Penny, former classmates and a few enemies turned allies fell in battle. Family.... it took a bunch to get the plan of containing, then it took a lot more to do it. In a way though, the two years of training is time I can’t regret. It tested bonds, strengthening and reestablishing others.

Ruby:I take it since love couldn’t bloom on the battlefield, it bloomed in the training yards?

Blake:*red* You can say that. That’s when Jaune and I got serious. *frowning* But.....

Yang:We fell apart?

Blake:Yeah. I didn’t learn my lesson well enough the first time about the potential problems of dating a partner. Only difference this time was I felt like I was the one being cruel. We had gotten into arguments and apologized more than once. Your fear of being left and my own insecurities just kept butting heads. I’d cry, you’d cry, our friends would be concerned. Then the day came where you put it all on the line. You confessed genuinely how much you loved me and how you felt a bit jealous when it came to Jaune. I had never seen you look so vulnerable; letting your gaurd completely down. And though a piece of me loved you and wanted you in my life for ever....this sense of genuine comfort Jaune gave was something I want-needed for so long. So I did the one thing I didn’t want to do. I broke your heart. I hurt you again.

Yang:Sigh....*leans back in chair* Okay, let’s see how well I know myself. My eyes went red automatically, followed by tears. I lashed out at you angrily out of pain and embarrassment until I was probably blue in the face. But to take make things worse, somebody probably overheard. No matter who it was, I yelled at them too for trying to calm me down and then I eventually run off leaving everyone unhappy. A good old meltdown. Sound about right?

Blake:To the letter. I don’t think I’ve ever seen you so distraught.

Yang:Of course not, I’ve never been in love before meeting you. I....did a similar thing with my Blake over the stupid Adam shit. *covers face* of all the things to be similar, it had to be my temper. Please tell me our team didn’t suffer too harshly?

Blake:The good thing about two years of training was it didn’t have to be together all the time. Team RWBY didn’t fall apart, but it didn’t feel comfortable either. Outside of missions, the four of us didn’t hang out as much. It was three at the most. Nobody pinned blame on me or Yang for it but it was obvious.

Ruby:I mean how can you blame someone for feeling sad or not in love with someone? Pointing fingers doesn’t do anything. However, I bet missions were rough.

Blake:Bumblebee was shelved. We did any other team up we could. When push came to shove, Yang and I did put feelings aside. Neither of us wanted our feelings to get anyone killed. That’s probably what kept us connected for awhile, especially with Salem. I don’t think we questioned each other when it came to watching one another’s back. Slowly, our relationship got a bit better. Until....we stopped speaking to each other altogether about a couple years later.

Yang:Wait, why!?

Blake:I got pregnant.

The three listeners’ faces scrunched up and they let in a sharp breath like they just got cut. No one had considered that bombshell.

Blake:Marriage was rough enough. Having Jaune’s kid and starting a family just...cut deep I guess. You didn’t make a scene or anything if that’s what you’re worried about. One day you told me “I just can’t do this” and exited my life. I wanted to keep you close to me, but you wanted to be closer. That was a thing I couldn’t do. Hehe, I can’t tell you how weird it is talking to you like this again.

Yang:So that’s it!? We just don’t see each other at all!?

Blake:Certain events and celebrations have us in the same room, but that’s all. Ruby is the only thing that regularly links us, but she’s busy living life too.

Ruby:Is it a good life?

Blake:The best. You’re the huntress you always wanted to be and a hero to many.

Ruby:*smiles* Really? That’s good. May she ride that high for as long as she can. Though I bet she wished she had a special someone to share that with.

Blake:Huh? Oh, you married Weiss.

Weiss:*red* What!?

Ruby:Aye, nice.

Weiss:Weren’t you upset about thinking of other people with Jaune besides you!?

Ruby:Yeah, but I won’t deny if I am going to be with someone that isn’t him, I’m very happy it’s the other special person in my life. I mean come on, the only reason we don’t get weird in your universe is because I married your brother and you already invited my sister.

Weiss:I mean...it’s mainly the brother portion. The second part...

Ruby:Weiss, that’s weird.

Yang:Eh...

Ruby:IT’S WEIRD! YOU CANNOT TELL ME OTHERWISE!

Yang:*sips coffee* Eh.

Blake:Anyways, Weiss, you’re running your company. The Schnee Dust Company was scrubbed top to bottom to remove as much corruption as possible. No department was overlooked. In times of money, there’s a notable decrease in how much the company used to make.

Weiss:Gee, I wonder if that’s because the other me is doing oh let me guess, paying all their workers and not cutting corners in safety?

Blake:The SDC people approval has gone up considerably, just so you know that too. Turns out people like it when the company they buy from have good morals.

Weiss:Am I happy though? I make time for my social life and hu- I mean wife?

Blake:Yea, you’re happy. In a way I think we’re all happy, but....

Yang:We’d be happier if we were all happy together? Yeah, that’s how it works. You’re only as happy as the most miserable person in a family or group; if you all care about each other that is. Ugh, I wanna punch the other me. I get how she feels but it’s fucking immature to just ignore years of teamwork and family. At the end of the day, team RWBY is a family! Can’t believe I’d runaway from it instead of figuring out...I don’t know! Something!

Blake:*small smile* Well if you feel that way then there’s no reason to believe she doesn’t. My Yang just struggles with it more I guess, but I hope she can come around one day. Not really for my sake, but for her own peace of mind. As well as Lucas’s.

Ruby:Lucas? Your son I take it?

Blake:Mmhmm. My strong and lazy young man. He got his father’s hair but my eyes and ears. I can’t think of a person who warms my heart quite like him. He acts uninterested in a lot of things, but his heart is so big.

Weiss:Ah, so he’s just you?

Blake:More or less hehe. Though I’d say I was passionate about things all my life. Lucas will sleep all day if he could and doesn’t like going out without a reason.

Weiss:Still sounds like you if I’m being honest. Teenager?

Blake:Seventeen, almost eighteen.

Yang:You said he’s need peace of mind too? I’m not...hostile towards him am I?

Blake:No, not by a long shot. On the occasions you two have meant, you were polite. It’s just he knows why you don’t visit or talk to me. That’s rough, knowing your parent’s closest friend stopped being apart of their life because you were born. I think sometimes he believes it’s actually his fault.

Yang:I really, really want to meet this other me and have a few words. She needs to know she isn’t trying hard enough. I’m proof.

Ruby:Yeah, but you’re only well off because the person that helped you get over Blake, was Jaune. Yeah she still can find love, but who that person will be would be uncharted territory for everyone.

Blake:Also I’m not entirely sure exactly if my Yang is even bi like you.

Yang:Sigh....

Weiss:Love.

Blake:Huh?

Weiss:As long as a person shows your Yang genuine love and a place in their heart where she’ll remain forever, Yang would fall for them. They just have to make it a point to make her feel like they’ll stay. Yangs are softies like that.

Yang:Wow, you an expert on me and all the versions of me now?

Weiss:No, you’re just a bleeding heart that’s super emotional. Let me guess, you fell for Jaune the moment you realized just how relaxed and vulnerable you could allow yourself to be around him.

Yang:*red*.......he holds me when I’m overwhelmed.

RWB:Awwww

Yang:Shut up! Blake, take the heat off me.

Blake:Not too much more. Lucas is a smart kid who generally stays out of trouble. Unfortunately, trouble finds him. Mainly because of his semblance.

Ruby:Don’t tell me...

Blake:No no, it’s not bad luck like your uncle, but Lucas can’t always control it so their similar in that regard. Premonitions, that’s his semblance.

Weiss:Like...the future? You child can see the future?!

Blake:Yeah. *sips drink* it’s terrible.

Ruby:What? That sounds so handy! Man, if I could someone fighting me before it happened, I’d be a monster on the battlefield.

Blake:Lucas isn’t a fighter. Well, he’s not aspiring to fight. He can fight, pretty dang well in fact.; but randomly seeing the future is not a gift. Imagine picking up a book and you suddenly know the ending, or watching a movie and you start seeing the middle of it right after you press play?

Yang:Ahhh, that’s why he’s lazy and unmotivated. His semblance is massive spoiler alert. Half the fun of new things is not knowing what will happen.

Ruby:Oof, you have a point. I’d be paranoid to no end.

Blake:To a point, he was. Ever since he was ten. Disasters happen at the drop of a hat. Lucas isn’t the kind of person to watch bad things unfold, so whenever it was possible or even if it was risky, he’d do whatever he could to prevent said disaster. But.....there’s only so much anyone person can do. There’s only so much information he sees. The constant strain and guilt that came from failing ate him up. The. There’s the incidents he’s seen that didn’t show him how it began or how it will end. *rubbing her hands* It’s bad...

Weiss:Hey, I...I’ve noticed your hands and frankly even your face are a bit....slim. Your skin isn’t as colorful as I’m used to either. Almost like it’s regaining color.

Blake:Hehehe.......I guess you were bound to notice of all people.

Weiss:Of course. I may not run a a company in my world but I keep tabs on my brother and have had my fair share of visits to a doctor. Why wouldn’t I notice.

Yang:So can we talk as if there are people who have no clue what’s going on?

Weiss:Blake has had one of two things happen to her. She’s either worked way too hard to the point she’s not taking care of her health, or she’s fallen very ill and her body is still recovering.

Blake:Yeah, it’s more of the second one, but probably because of the first one as well. Forwarding equality, I was overzealous with it. One day Lucas just started shaking and crying when he was twelve and I couldn’t understand why. Turns out he kept seeing me bedridden and unconscious without a reason. Day in and day out he simply cried and tried his best to get another premonition to learn more, but couldn’t. A week later I started feeling a little dizzy, and then blacked out after vomiting. At first I thought maybe I had the flu or something. Nope, a tumor.

Weiss:What?

Ruby:Blake!?

Yang:Oh shit, are you-

Blake:Perfectly fine! *smiles* I’m fine. Liver cancer, but it was caught early. No more tumor what so ever, but the meds and the entire process was really draining. Got sicker a couple of times. Not once did I feel like I was dying necessarily, more like...slipping? I felt myself getting drained. The whole time Lucas was so scared; blaming himself for not preventing this or knowing how to fix it. Though simply knowing he saw me like was a warning most people wish they got. I know I said seeing the future is terrible, but the scariest part through all of this was not knowing how it ended. Choosing medicine, doctors, surgery possibilities, it made me crack under pressure a little. I think he noticed that. I wasn’t sure if I picking an option that lead me dying or getting better. The stress alone may have killed me. Ever since then Lucas hasn’t been so outgoing.

Ruby:....

Weiss:....

Yang....It was already said, but there was no way this wasn’t going to get sad was there?

Blake:Take it from me, there’s joy in pain. So many people came to visit me when I was recovering. Even Yang dropped by for a bit. After I got out, I don’t think Lucas ever hugged me so hard. Jaune tried to stay calm through the whole ordeal but it was rough for him too. He was all but spent emotionally when I came home.

Weiss:I’m surprised Lucas didn’t become an older brother.

Blake:The last thing a recovering patient needs is a pregnancy, but as far as missing me goes...

Ruby:You can stop right there with that tangent.

Yang:We’ll talk about that in private. I wouldn’t mind that story.

Blake:*playfully rolls eyes* These days I try not to over do things. I’ve only officially been deemed completely cured for about a year. I can feel that I’m still not entirely up to strength. It’s fine though. It gives me an excuse for Lucas to dote on me a little. He’s a mama’s boy at heart. My biggest worries these days is peeling him out of this shell his semblance had put him in. At the very least I want him to smile like he used to and find away to live in moment when possible. His entire life is ahead of him. Hopefully he doesn’t see all of it.

Ruby:I guess too much of anything really is bad. Knowledge included. I hope things work out.

Yang:Me too. A happy life is something you definitely earned.

Blake:Thanks. That seriously means a lot, which is why I made sure to not end this on a sour note.

The happy faunus pulled out her scroll to scroll through pictures and her friends eyes lit up. The first one was a beach photo. This Jaune was different from what they were used to. He let his hair grow a little bit longer and the back went down his neck, but it was definitely still him. This jaune was pretty toned and went for a lean look than bulky like Weiss’s, but a tad slimmer. On his shoulders was an adorable toddler with wide amber eyes and big blonde cat ears. Both men were enjoying the sunset on the waves.

The next photo was more recent with Blake right in the middle of hopping into Lucas’s arms. Weiss noticed the girl still had on the hospital bracelet. She must’ve just gotten cleared. Lucas had grown like a weed. He was now roughly Jaune’s height. His hair was messy and looked like Jaune’s in his younger years. Also like his father, Lucas was jacked! His sleeveless purple shirt should off his biceps as they wrapped around Blake’s torso for a hug. His baggy purple shorts had black and gold trim through the seams and the shorts stopped right below his knees; but showed of his well defined calves. A smile of pure joy and what could’ve been a few tears were visible as he looked lovingly at his mother. It warmed all of the ladies hearts. Still, the girls also could tell under his eyes were a little dark. Lucas must’ve been very tired.

The final picture had to be the most recent. It was Blake and Lucas sparring. Both looked at each other with excitement and ease as their wooden blades clashed. Their clothes mirrored one another by being black and white kimonos. They even wore the traditional shoes and everything.

Weiss:Yeah, that’s your kid.

Blake:Damn right. Unfortunately that makes him a little too stubborn. But I guess that’s okay. Without a doubt, someone’s gonna break through that shell of his.

Yang:Oh? It sounds like you already know who?

Blake:Well....I have a hunch.

xxxxx

RING! RING! RING! Lucas’s scroll chirped, in the middle of the night. The boy let out a long, agitated groan of sleepiness as he rolled over in bed; reaching for his scroll on the nightstand to answer.

Lucas:Hello?

???:Did you know you are mathematically more likely to choke on a hotdog than get attacked by a shark?

Lucas:....Serenity, who gave you my number?

Serenity:Your parents, and it’s Serendipity!

Lucas:Too many syllables. Also a bit ironic given who you are. With the way you act though, my name for you is better.

Serenity:Ooooo so we’re moving on to pet names? How forward of you.

Lucas:Five seconds before I hang up. Three...two-

Serenity:You’re late! You promised to guide me around the beach at twelve. That’s now.

Lucas:.....P.M. Twelve P.M. Serenity. Why in the world would I mean midnight!?

Serenity:It’s romantic and personal. Nobody else is around. I thought you were trying to use that Belladonna magic on me by acting all cool and aloof in the moonlight.

Lucas:.....

Lucas:Please delete my number.

Serenity:Not on your life, my whiskered bodyguard!

Lucas:Don’t have whiskers-

Serenity:If you don’t wanna move that butt of yours to hang out with a pretty girl in a floppy hat and sundress with a bikini underneath, that’s your loss. I’m still going for a dip.

Lucas:Do not go in the water when nobody is around.

Serenity:Pfft, I’m a strong swimmer.

Lucas:Sharks.

Serenity:It’s more dangerous to eat a hotdog.

Lucas:Sharks feed at night.

Serenity:Are you trying to tell me the statistics aren’t as reliable just because it’s nighttime.

Lucas:That’s exactly what I’m saying.

Serenity:Then you better move your butt just in case. Either you get a snack or the sharks do. Either way, I get attention.

Lucas:Difference is one wants to eat you.

Serenity:My goodness Lucas, oh brazen of you.

Lucas:......

Lucas:Tell the sharks I said hi.

Serenity:Okay! Byyyyyyeeeee! *hangs up*

Lucas:(She’ll be fine.)

..........

Lucas:*putting on shoes* This is bullshit. Who thinks midnight!? *walking down stairs* Can’t have a peaceful day or night....

Jaune:*watching tv* Hey Lucas, going some-

Lucas:I’m giving out your phone number to a homeless man the first chance I get! *walks out door*

Jaune:.....(Whatever gets you outside more.)

It took about fifteen minutes of aggressive walking for Lucas to wrap around to the back of his house towards their section of the beach. Where Serenity walked around humming and collecting seashells without a care in the world.

Lucas:The next shell you grab will have a crab in it.

Serenity:Huh? Oh hey you’re finally-ahhhh! Ow ow ow ow ow ow!

Lucas:Should’ve listened.

Serenity:Have a better warning!!!! It won’t let go!

Lucas:Pull it off.

Serenity:That’s hurt!!! Lucas, help!

Lucas:Fine, if you delete my number.

Serenity:*sniffling* Stop being mean!!! This really hurts, it’s breaking the skin. Isn’t a young and pretty girl’s tears payment enough!? I thought you were getting paid to-

Lucas:Oh my goodness! Okay, just shush. I’m too sleepy for this.

Serenity:You’re mean when you’re sleepy. At least your waking up voice sounds handsome though.

Lucas:Please....stop. Stop everything. *removing crab* Happy?

Serenity:No, you’re not happy. Also my finger is bleeding.

Lucas:Yep, looks like you can’t go swimming now for real.

Serenity:Eh, I lied anyways. I’m not getting in that water. There are sharks in that watery grave.

Lucas:So. Why. Did. You. Wake. Me. Up?

Serenity:....*red* I...don’t really, have friends here. Besides you. Umm *points to pail and shovels* sandcastles?

Lucas:*inhales*......I’ll get the water.

Serenity:*smiles* Yes! I’ll delete your number later.

Lucas:*red* You....can keep it of you really want.

Serenity:....Kek, okay Mr. Tsundere

Lucas:You can remove the next crab alone.

Serenity:Don’t joke like that! That was a joke, right?

Lucas:Welp that pail isn’t gonna fill itself. *leaves*

Serenity:What!? Lucas!!! You were joking right!? Right!? *looking around the sand* you’re a lousy bodyguard!

Lucas:Good, fire me.

Serenity:I...you....ugh!

Lucas:Cheer up, I’m happy now after all. *smiles*

Serenity:*pouting* This is why I’m a dog person.

[riversofmars]

Love Is The Only Mission - Part 27

They left the Master behind without a second thought. The Doctor led the way and Liv supported Helen who leaned on to her. Liv kept her arm wrapped around her tightly, determined to never let her go again.

“We have to do something to help the people here…” Helen panted with the effort of keeping up. She didn’t want anyone else to go through what she had experienced. It was chaos around them as they hurried down the corridor. Guards were yelling, fights broke out between the staff and the supposed patients and all the while, the building shook with outside attacks.

“Already on it,” the Doctor confirmed as he led them towards the hanger deck.

“Care to share with the class what’s going on?” Liv prompted, she tightened her grip on Helen who was clearly struggling and she figured that keeping up conversation was a good way to keep her conscious, should things get worse.

“Well, I mentioned about releasing the prisoners and crashing the security systems?” The Doctor asked as he soniced an elevator to open.

“Hence the chaos…” Liv observed and he nodded.

“Yes, for a while, while we escape,” he confirmed and ushered them inside. It was a brief reprieve as the elevator set off, giving them a moment to catch their breaths. Helen rested her head against the side of Liv’s and the med-tech brushed her hand through her messy blonde hair soothingly.

“But the prisoners… they will have- no means of- defending themselves or- getting away from, or-, they guards will simply-” the linguist tried protesting, her words interspersed with heavy breaths, but the Doctor interrupted her smugly.

“That is why I also took the liberty of using the communications equipment and sent word to Gallifrey.”

“What?” Liv frowned and Helen too seemed confused:

“But the Master said- all this was…”

“Sanctioned by the High Council? Maybe. But there are still people in power there that I trust. They will see this place shut down and everyone returned to their time zones,” the Doctor explained confidently, just as the elevator doors opened.

“But we’re not going to hang around and watch that happen?” Liv confirmed as they stepped out onto a corridor, looking left and right.

“No, I really don’t want to get dragged into this war, the Master was right about that,” the Doctor nodded and gestured to the left where the hanger deck was located. “To the TARDIS.”

“You can do it, Helen, I’ve got you!” Liv assured the linguist who stumbled in her exhaustion and the Doctor stepped up to her other side to help support her.

They reached the hanger bay where numerous members of staff were making for the shuttles. The rats were leaving the sinking ship. Liv couldn’t help but wonder what would happen to them all. Whether they had been here willingly or bought into the ruse, they were all culpable in some way or another.

“Liv, it’ll be alright, the Time Lords will put it right,” the Doctor reassured her when he noticed her sceptical expression.

“That’s a sentence I never thought I’d hear you say,” she huffed in response as they made for the TARDIS.

“Not all Time Lords are evil,” the Doctor answered and the med-tech rolled her eyes.

“You have yet to convince me of that fact…”

“Here we are,” the Doctor announced and Liv frowned.

“What?”

“Invisibility circuit,” he announced proudly and as she pressed his hand to the invisible surface, the TARDIS turned a brilliant blue again. Nobody was paying attention around them, everybody was out to save themselves. A wave of relief washed over Liv, safety was in sight and beside her, against her shoulder, Helen gave a shaky sob.

“Nearly there,” she assured her softly as the Doctor unlocked the door. “What’s wrong?” She frowned, when tears started falling from Helen’s eyes.

“I just- never thought I’d see that box again… or either of you…” The linguist confessed weakly. She stopped dead in her tracks, even as the Doctor gestured for them to hurry and even with gentle, persistent pressure, Liv couldn’t make her carry on. “What if… what if what the Master has done isn’t gone?” Helen whispered an explanation before the med-tech could ask why she had stopped.

“It might not be but we can fix it,” Liv tried to reassure her but the linguist didn’t seem convinced.

“I don’t feel like I belong-” She started but she didn’t get to finish.

“Nonsense. You belong wherever I am. Did you not listen to anything I said when you were in your dazed state?” Liv’s tone was somewhat joking, intended to sound light-hearted, and yet, she was deadly serious. She didn’t know how much of what she had said Helen had actually been able to understand, but she had to know that always had a place with her.

“I-” Helen dropped her gaze as a lump formed in her throat. She couldn’t bring herself to speak through fresh tears.

“Well?” Liv prompted gently.

“Every word…” Helen confessed at last and met her eyes again. “I heard everything you said, I just couldn’t- I wanted to but-” Her words failed her. There was no way to describe the pain she had felt to have Liv say all those wonderful things to her and her not be able to despond or even acknowledge them.

“Then you know,” the med-tech gave a weak smile and decided everything else could be sorted out in due course. “Now, get into the TARDIS so we can get away from here!”