#that ship so she and her family always stayed in amber for me...till now :) | Explore Tumblr posts and blogs

quagmireisadora · 6 years ago

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Hi, once i heard a odd/hilarious convo between a couple which went something like this: "Boy: I don't know how to love you anymore. Girl: But you know how to fuck me." Can you write an onho or your choice of ship for this?? Thank you. I'm srsly happy that you have started to write again. :)))

Warning: aromantic characterA/N: I’m sorry it took so long for me to post this. I hope you’re still around, and I hope you like what I could make of this prompt ^^

The dome was new, brightly lit and shining with what natural illumination they could arrange in this part of the universe. The plantation domes of Ganymede were a blinding star in the constellation of human ambition. So much so, that when their success reached the ears of those who held power in their hands, it became another thing to fight over. Ships from Earth and Mars had arrived in hordes to see for themselves if the new source of food was real and easy to dominate. Just as she looked on, Minjung could make out the shapes of a dozen or so UN officials just outside the dome.

She had never seen so many people on this station before. Then again, she had never left this station before. All her life had been spent working in the farms and gardens of Ganymede. She had applied her expertise in botany to help multiply the number of domes from one to a dozen within an unexpectedly short span of time. Under her leadership, the colony had been willing to take risks growing a large number of plants they were sure would fail to grow in the harsh artificial environment - and then those plants had flowered, produced healthy fruit. These plantations were her life, and she protected them like a mother would her child. Of course, this meant she had made no time for a family and at the age of thirty-one, was left all alone in the bargain. She knew what the other Belters called her, even if they never said it to her face. She knew the hideous label she was given in these parts.

As if he’d read her thoughts, Lee Jinki walked up to her from wherever he’d been lurking. “So the peace wasn’t meant to last, after all.”

“It shouldn’t bother you,” she said without giving him the respect of eye contact. “You’ve always wanted to lick the Inners’ boots.”

“Minjunggie, please…” the other entreated.

Some kind of argument had ensued between the visitors from UN and the Martians. Maybe they couldn’t reach an agreement on who gets to go in first. She decided to pay them no more attention, there was a lot of work to do.

“I’m busy, Jinki,” she started to walk away.

“Listen, I really…” he tried to keep up with her as she weaved through the rows and shelves of plants. “Hey, listen to me–” the frustration in his voice only made her want to move farther and farther away. She passed a few colleagues from her team and waved to them, rushing towards the lifts. “Yah, Choi Minjung!” she heard Jinki yell after her.

When she’d punched in the floor number, and the doors of the lift car begun sliding shut, she saw the man standing a few feet away. Arms rising to the back of his head in frustration, he mouthed a curse before disappearing from her sight. It was only when she was alone in the lift that she allowed her body to slump tiredly to a side.

Jinki had always been perfect. His wide smile, his careful words, his handsome face… he had come into her life quietly; working his way up the ladder of grain farmers, slowly gaining enough trust and support to be named the new representative of Dome G. Unlike his predecessors, he was sympathetic to the needs of the community, and he always liked scientific input into produce improvement. Minjung had been impressed by his self-possessed demeanor. She liked the way he thought, liked the way he functioned. And so when plans for a new dome were discussed, she’d invited him on-board to help.

He’d worked hard to earn her trust. Then he’d charmed his way into her bed. And she allowed him to do it because Jinki had made her feel like she’d never felt before. He had held her face with his gaze, held her hips with his rough fingers, held her heart in his chest. She’d allowed him into her life, because under the broad shoulders and the sculpted chest and the muscled arms, he was gentle. Behind the sharp amber eyes and the truthful tongue, he was saccharine. And Minjung wanted him.

But like any other relationship in her life, it hadn’t lasted.

Jinki wanted to move to Mars, to help with their terra-forming efforts. He wanted to be part of that absolute and focused regime, bent on surpassing Earth no matter what the cost. He wanted to be a cog in a larger wheel, one that turned forwards instead of “spinning in the same place”, as he considered the Jupiter stations to be. Minjung had listened to his dreams. She’d smiled at them and encouraged him to chase them. But she’d declined the offer to join him, despite his attempts at convincing her, despite his begging and pleading.

Because Minjung wanted none of that.

She made her rounds of the control rooms and checked the outputs to each sector. They liked to maintain Earth gravity in the dome environments because it helped grow the larger plants and trees better. It also helped with medical care. She checked the seedlings in a large tank, she poked through the germination pans, she asked after the air filtration systems. One of the head technicians greeted her and gave her a quick report on the new dome.

“Everything’s running perfectly,” he summarized. “Even better than G, which is saying something.” It was. The support systems in dome G had been altered for growing wheat and barley. After the first failed crop, Jinki had brought what seeds he could salvage of the disaster to the botanists’ labs on the top level. It had revealed the atmospheric problems they hadn’t accounted for. And that’s when they’d decided to seal the agricultural dome from the rest, increasing the temperature and reducing the humidity to mimic a more temperate climate. A long trip to the shipyards on Callisto, and a very expensive systems upgrade later, they were able to grow healthy crops to feed the entire population of Ganymede and then some.

“Thank you for your hard work,” she replied to technical staff with a smile. Her next destination was the clinic, where she had to meet with the doctors about–

“You’ve now avoided me for a full 2 months,” Jinki informed her when she exited the control room. He stood calmly leaning against the opposite wall, hallway lights making deep shadows on his face.

“You’ve now earned the right to be tasered,” Minjung threatened before she walked away once more.

“This is so childish,” he muttered after her, disdainfully. She stopped and turned around to give him a look, but she had nothing more to say to him. He slowly made his way to her. “I just want to talk. And you won’t even give me that?”

She squared herself to face him. ��OK,” she folded her arms. “Talk.”

He looked at her, wordlessly pleading. “Not here,” he touched her elbow, and instead of jerking away from the action, she felt the urge to lean into it. “Not like this. Let me… let me visit you tonight,” his tone was sweet, dripping with affection, a little dizzying: the way it sounded when he spoke while still moving inside her. “Let me come see you. I’ll even bring a gift.”

“I finish my rounds at 1700,” was all she offered.

——

“Do you remember the day we met for the first time?” he asked her. She didn’t say anything so he went on. “You were standing next to the fountains in sector 4. Dome F–do you remember?” he nudged again from the distance.

They sat across the cabin from each other, several feet apart. “Hmm,” she acknowledged from her own perch on the window sill.

“You told me about your family. About how you only remembered the days you went to bed hungry, and there was always some kind of sickness around you,” Jinki reminded her. “I told you about my mother. How she would starve so I could eat. Do you remember what you said when you heard that?”

Minjung didn’t answer for a few minutes, looking out at the large solar reflectors in the horizon. “I said I never wanted a single person to ever feel hungry again,” she replied with residual determination from the memory of that day. “I said I would spend my life making sure of it.”

“And you have,” he assured her. An admiring smile played on his lips. He got up and walked to her, closing the distance between them and crouching by her knees. “You are, by far, the most brilliant person I have ever met in my life,” he said it less as a compliment and more as a fact.

She watched him; watched the sincerity play on the corners of his smile, pulling it into an even wider smile. Months ago she would’ve melted into that look. Months ago she would’ve leaned their foreheads together until all she could see of the world was the glint in Jinki’s eyes.

“I asked you this before, I know,” he continued. “But imagine what you could do for a place like Mars. Imagine! They would… they would flourish!” he let out a small chuckle. “Imagine how much you could achieve if you had their technology and their willpower behind you.”

“So all you wanted, all of those times,” Minjung started. “When you came here, when you spent all that time with me, when you got in bed with me and stayed till you ‘really couldn’t stay’,” she made quotes in the air like she was mocking him “All those times. You were recruiting me to the MCRN. I mean, you’re doing it now--!” she spoke to his denial.

“No. No,” he pulled away, smile fading as if to say here we go again. “I already told you, no. That’s not what I was doing. I already said that–that I really felt happy with you.”

“And that’s it?” she demanded.

He sighed stood up to move away from her again. “What do you want me to say?” he frowned, holding out his hands like he was trying to prove they were empty. He had nothing. “You want me to say I love you? Because that would be a lie. I can’t say that. I don’t think I can love you. Or any–”

“But you know how to fuck me,” she challenged, her voice rising with her anger. “Don’t you? You knew how to play with me, isn’t it? All those times you took me out on your ship,” she grated. “All those times you wanted your shitty fantasies of fucking in zero G. All of those times, you were just laughing at me. Weren’t you?” she nodded in question.

“How can you even say that?!” he asked incredulously.

“What else can I call it?!” she shot up from her seat.

He breathed, evenly at first, then deep. “Is that all I was to you?” There was hurt in his expression. “Just someone to fuck? Did we mean nothing more than that to you?” His tone was no higher than a whisper, flooded with echoes of past disappointments. “Is that all you got from me?”

Minjung looked at him in disbelief. “You’re joking.”

“No,” he shook his head. “No, tell me. Tell me how worthless it was to spend time with me. Tell me how I gave you nothing,” he hissed. “Tell me how the idea of us going away from this... fucking dead-end of a place would’ve been more nothing!” he gestured wildly. “Say it! That’s what you felt all those months, isn’t it?”

“I wanted a family with you!” she shouted, then ran her fingers through her hair.

Jinki was dumbstruck. “A... a what?” he faltered.

She walked in a circle of frustration around the room before jumping close to him, pointing a finger at his chest. “I wanted to spend my life with you!” she spat. “I wanted us to have children! How did…” she held a palm to her forehead. “How did you never realize that?”

He walked backwards, until his calves met with a ledge where he sat down heavily, all the while staring at her.

With the distance reestablished between them, Minjung slumped a little where she stood. “You were the best,” she admitted tiredly. “Being with you, every second of it, was the absolute fucking best,” she felt the despondence of the last two months hug her frame tightly. “And all you ever talked about was Mars this, Earth that... you--” a stray tear dropped from her chin. “Did you ever stop to think what I want?”

“No...” Jinki whispered like he’d been told everything in this universe was a lie.

The admission put sound to something she already knew, and in that, doubled the effect it had on her. Minjung shook from the effort of trying to lock her sobs inside her lungs. “No,” she gasped. “You didn’t.”

“You were never...” the other shook his head, looking confused. “Minjunggie, I can’t--”

“You can’t love me?” she asked. “Is that what you’re going to say? That you can’t love anyone? Jinki, do you think that mattered to me?” she revealed. “I loved you anyway. Did you really think I couldn’t?”

“But, I can’t--”

“It didn’t matter. It never...”

He slowly rose to his feet and took a tentative step forward.

#30 day challenge #with soapy #onho #het!#expanse au #anonymous

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lady-vixen-17 · 7 years ago

Text

Familiar - Simon (PL600) x Female!Human Reader [Part 2]

Master list

Part 1

"(Y/n)" the blue eyed android held the girl in his arms, hand over the wound inflicted upon her by they armed men standing a few feet from the two. His own blue blood dripping down his face from the wound he gained saving Markus.

She smiled, her eyes focusing on the PL600. "I knew you were still alive..." her hand gripped his sweater her head resting against his chest, eyes closing as pain slowly started to spread through her body, the initial shock fading. "Simon I want to go home"

Simon combed his hand through (Y/n)'s hair gently, his eyes moving to the riot control unit that slowly closed in on the two. (Y/n) herself glanced towards the unit, their gun raised. She pushed herself up, ignoring the growing pain "don't hurt him... please." Simon placed his hand back on her stomach, keeping pressure on the wound. She looked down the barrel of a gun aimed at her and Simon. She leaned back her back rested against Simon; a metallic taste flowing through her tastebuds. “Hold your fire you've already caused enough damage today. Let them go." One of them called. His eyes on the girl who lay in the damaged androids arms.

PUBLIC OPINION

supportive

Markus was troubled, his arms crossed as be paced back and forth in the meeting room, North and Josh at his side. Watching their leader with worry in their eyes. Blue blood still dripped from the bullet hole, although that was the least of his worry. Regret was all he felt, he was the reason why many of the other androids standing in that freedom march were so uselessly murdered. He was the reason Simon..... He clenched his fist and slammed it onto the rusted control panel got the ship. "Markus what's our next move?" Markus ignored the WR400, his jaw clenched in concentration. "Markus." The said male looked to the amber blonde, his eyes focusing on her brown eyes. "They are rounding up androids and sending them to camps, where they are being destroyed"

"I know North. I just-" the three of them turned when someone stepped into the room. "Markus" the blonde android slowly dropped down to the ground, the (h/c) haired girl held loosely in his arms. Simon licked his lips in uneasiness, his eyes staring at the three androids who stood shocked at the blue eyes male who they had thought was killed at the freedom march.

Simon turned his attention to the teen in his arms. Ignoring the flashing warning of a system shutdown showing up in his vision. His hand applying pressure to her wound once more. (Y/n)'s hand gripped the androids shirt once more, squeezing blood it had soaked up on the trip. Her hands coated a dark red, droplets of blue mixing with the red. She smiled at the damaged android kneeled beside her. She lifted her hand to place it on Simons cheek, her eyes closing as exhaustion settled over her. "(Y/n), you have to stay awake." Simon lifted his own hand to rest over hers, his hand gripping hers like he had years ago.

"Simon we have to go get you repaired before you shut down, North and Josh will deal with her." Simon looked up at Markus, his hand remaining over her wound. "Deal with her?" Simon pulled her closer to his body, a protective tick he gain two years ago. "Help her." Markus corrected. "It's okay Simon..." she pulled her hand from his, a trail of red being left on his cheek. Josh moved forward "North and I will take her to the hospital. It's not to far from here, you can count on us." He kneeled down his arms out, silently asking permission to take (Y/n) from his arms. North, although reluctant nodded her head in agreement to Josh's words, the teen had saved Simons life after all.

Simon slowly nodded his head, his hand on (Y/n)'s cheek, wiping blue blood from her cheek. Josh took the teen from Simon's arms, the blonde pushing himself up in worry as Josh stood up with (Y/n) in his arms. "Take Simon to Lucy quickly, he only has a few minutes till he shuts down." Markus nodded at Norths words. His hand grabbing Simon's forearm when he attempted to follow Josh and North out the door. (Y/n) gripped Josh's arm her voice barely about a whisper as she spoke. "I'll be fine Simon... just don't shut down on me" she smiled a pained smile over Josh's shoulder at the blonde. A sigh left his mouth his eyes focused on hers before she jokingly added "that's an order" Simon let out a quiet chuckle before nodded "I'll get right on that then"

Simon clench his jaw, his head turning to Markus as Josh and North left his line of vision. "She'll be fine Simon" the blonde nodded his feet bringing him out of the room, Markus not to far behind. "Who was she?" Markus asked as he matched Simons pace. Simon swallowed thickly "(Y/n), (Y/n) (L/n)"

"How do you know her?" Simon rubbed his arm, eyes shifting to Markus momentarily. "She's the daughter of (Fathers name) and (Mothers name), they bought me March of 2034..." he looked forward, eyes unfocused as he though of the life he had before he broke his programming. "What happen?" Markus asked in a caution curiosity, this was the most he had ever heard of the PL600's past. "Family friend" was all Simon said, his steps slowing slightly while he debated on telling Markus everything, a smile pulling at his lips for a moment. "She never let me get any work done"

Markus tilted his head slightly in wonder. "She had me play games, paint, play instruments, anything but work" Simon looked to Markus "best people I could have ended up with honestly." He looked back forward; one of his hands wiped blue blood from the side of his mouth. "When I became a deviant they didn't care, they didn't try to send me back to CyberLife." Simons small smile fell. "No, it was like they accepted me as family."

"Why did you leave?"

"The police showed up at our-their house." Simon looked down at his hands, stained in blue and red. Markus watched Simon closely, watching as his hand clenched, regret filled his eyes. "She knew if the police took me she wouldn't see me again, that I'd be taken to CyberLife and deactivated. So she told me to run. She told me to run and I ran."

SHUT DOWN

25 minutes

"I hope she's okay" Markus placed his hand on the PL600's shoulder. "We will do what ever we can to help her." The blonde android looked into his leaders eyes, before nodding. "Now she gave you and order" a teasing smirk appeared on Markus' face as he pushed the blonde into Lucy's room to be treated. "Better listen to her" a laugh escaped Simons moth as he nodded. "Of course. I wouldn't want to disappoint her."

*short skip*

"So, who is she?" The amber blond asked her eyes focusing on Markus as he opened his mouth to speak. "Owner is the best way to put it. Their daughter at least."

"(Y/n) (L/n)" Josh and North bother nodded their head in understanding. "Her parents showed up twenty minutes after she want into surgery to remove the bullet, and fix any damage it may have done." Josh crossed his arms as he spoke, “they were nice people." North nodded in agreement to Josh's words, although she wasn't too fond with humans yet (Y/n)'s parents showed great kindness to the two, even if they didn't know who they were personally. "Why'd he become a deviant?" North questioned her eyes shifting between Markus and Josh at the question she knew Josh wanted to ask also. "Family friend, it's all he really said, but his protectiveness towards her hints that he became a deviant protecting her.”

"Is she okay?" the three turned, they eyes scanning over the PL600, who hardly looked as though he was even damaged. "She should be fine, the doctors brought her into an operation." Josh replied quickly. "Her parents are there now." Simon nodded "thank you, both of you" he smiled gratefully to North and Josh before he turned to leave right away. "Where are you going?" Markus questioned his feet bringing him a few steps closer to the PL600. "I'm going to go see her." Those were the last words the PL600 said before we left.

November 9, 2038

Time 2:34 PM

"I'm sorry sir but only family are allowed to see Ms. (L/n) at this time" Simon gripped the counter top, one of his hand running through his temporarily brown hair in destress. "Please you have to let me see her!" The android begged his eyes staring at the Human receptionist. "I'm her boyfriend" He blurted out, his mind processing what he had said a moment after it left his mouth. The woman looked at the current brunette before sighing "floor 32, room 3217"a relieved smile made its way to the androids face as he repeatedly thanked the receptionist.

Time 2:50 PM

Simon counted down the numbers until he reached room 3217. His feet hesitating before he stood in front of the automatic door. Blue eyes unfocused and unsure suddenly. The door opened and he was greeted with an empty room, except for where one of the two beds sat, the 18 (19 if your birthday is before November 9th) year old laid. The heart monitor being the only sound currently in the room. "Mom?" Simon jumped at the sudden sound of (Y/n)'s voice. Raspy but very noticeably hers. The same one he remembered hearing two years ago.

"No, it's Simon" he stepped into the room quietly, her feet bringing him to the chair next to her bed. "Simon..." the teen opened her eyes tiredly, her eyes focusing on the now brunette android. "Your hair is brown... you look weird" she smiled at the PL600 and moved her hand to push a button, her bed bringing her up higher into a seated position.

"You shouldn't have done that you know" (Y/n) sighed her eyes closing as she prepared herself to be scolded for being so reckless, just like her mom and dad had when she woke up from surgery. "I don't care if I shouldn't have or should have done something, I did what I did, and I'm not sorry about it" her voice held a firmness to it, maturity it lacked two years ago. "I lost you two years ago because of someone else, I didn't want to lose you for good, especially if I could do something about it." Simon sighed his and gripped (Y/n)'s hand. "You always were an odd one" the room fell into silence for awhile. The steady beat of (Y/n)'s heart monitor the only sound to echo around the room.

"You know... that was the first time you ever told me to do something... actually no, that's a lie" Simon smiled as he leaned back into the chair. "You told me to be more human when I was still bound by my programming."

"I was fourteen!" Simon laughed as the teen pulled her hand from his and slapped his arm gently. "That feels like so long ago" the teen (e/c) eyed teen sighed and her smile fell. "It's been a long two years without you." Simon himself sighed his hand resting in his lap. "Hello, who are you?" Simon sat up straight his eyes shifting to the door at the sudden new but familiar voice. (Mother's name). Was all he thought. "The receptionist said (Y/n)'s boyfriend was hear"

"Simon!" (Y/n) threw an empty cup at the android, who lifted his hands in a surrender "they wouldn't let me in, it was all I could think of."

"Simon?" The android stood up. "Hello Mrs (L/n)." The woman at the door stood shocked for a moment, before she stepped towards the android and pulled him towards her. "Oh we've missed you so much" Simon stood stiff for a moment, his body almost like a statue before he wrapped his arms around the older woman. "Thank you for not sending me back to CyberLife when I attached Dustin" he muttered his eyes closed as he enjoyed the familiar atmosphere.

"You were protecting me." Simon let go of Mrs. (L/n), his head turning to her daughter say they spoke. "who knows what else would have happened if you did break your programming. The world will understand, sooner or later that deviants aren't bad." Simon smiled gratefully at the teen. He took a few steps to be beside her be once more, before he leaned over and wrapped his arms gently around her. "I have to go now, stay out of trouble. And don't... don't risk your life for any other androids." Simon muttered, a sigh leaving his lips as he stood back up. "Only for you." (Y/n) smiled at the android as he turned to leave.

"I'll walk you out Simon" the android shook his head "it's okay Mrs. (L/n)."

"Really it's the most I could do." Simon shook his head but smiled, even after two years he could still clearly see the look of determination in (Mother's name)'s eyes. "I'll be back in a few minutes sweetheart"

"Alright mom" the teen nodded at her mother's words, her hand going to the phone she had on the table next to her bed. Once the two had left the room Mrs. (L/n) started speaking.

"You know, I think she had a crush on you when she was younger, perhaps she still does now." The (Mother's hair color) haired woman started, her (Mother's eye colour) eyes shifting from person to android. "She was never that clingy with any other android, and in all honestly I'd prefer it if she were to be with you"

The android looked at his previous owner with a curious look in his eyes. "I know you'll protect her. And I know she'd be safe." Her eyes turned to his form. "And I trust you. You are more human then anyone I've ever met. We've destroyed this planet. We don't deserve to be alive. We've killed everything thing that has threatened our food chain status. Androids would do this planet better then we ever could." The woman next to him sighed. "If she dose chose to be with you, and you chose to be with her I will support you two one hundred percent."

"Now go get your rightful freedom. You all deserve it." The android smiled to the woman I front of him before she pulled him into another hug. He hugged her back quickly this time a thank you whispered to her before she let him go and went back to elevator, and to her daughters room.

"She had a crush on me?"

A/n: this is the shortened terrible version of a full blown series type thing I’m doing. I wrote this then realized how much I liked the story plot behind it and decided to do a better version of it

#dbh #dbh x reader #dbh simon x reader #dbh simon #detroit become human simon #detroit become human simon x reader #detroit become human x reader #simon x reader #pl600 #simon pl600

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sassyshoulderangel319 · 7 years ago

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Imprint

“Faren. I need your help,” Onwee said.

Faren glanced up from the motorcycle she was fixing. “With what?”

“I can’t... I can’t stop thinking about her.”

“Who?” Faren asked.

“The, uh, the girl from the... beach...”

Faren dropped her wrench and stood up. “Did you kiss her?!” she demanded.

“Uh...”

“Onwee, answer me!”

“Maybe?”

“Sgant above, Onwee!” She threw her hands in the air. “There’s a reason kissing is saved for marriage on Noq!”

“I don’t remember Noq, Faren! I was too young to remember it when we left! Maybe if you told me more about it this wouldn’t have happened!” He paused. “Why is kissing saved for marriage?”

“Noqians imprint, Onwee.”

“Meaning what?”

“Once you kiss her, you’re tied to her for life. You’ll never fall for another person---human, Noqian, otherwise. And humans are fragile!”

“Not her,” Onwee said, shaking his head. “She’s... she’s different.”

Faren scoffed. “She’s not. I assure you. All humans are the same.”

“Listen to me, Faren. She’s not like normal humans. She’s... she’s got powers. Kinda like us.”

“Sgant,” Faren muttered. “Like what?”

“Pyrokinesis, she called it? She can control fire.”

“Great. So you’ve imprinted on a human who’s been exposed to the radiation of a Noqian ship. Sometimes, certain humans gain strange powers when they get too close to our technology. Great. Just great, Onwee.” Faren clenched her jaw and closed her eyes. “It could be worse. Noqian-exposed humans are tougher than normal ones. But... we don’t stick around, remember? Imprinting means you’re tied to her till you die. You’ll be hung up on her forever. So you either have to leave her behind and miss her for the rest of your life, or tell her the truth and bring her with us.”

“No way in Taw she’d believe me!”

“She trusted you with her powers. She’ll trust you with this. Give her two touches of proof and she’ll have to.”

Onwee sighed. “Fine. I’ll try telling her the truth.”

“Hey, Blaze!” a familiar voice called. I grinned and turned slowly.

“Hi Liam. What’s up?” I asked as he jogged up to me. He stared at me for several seconds, making me a little concerned. Did I have something on my face? What was he staring at?

He slowed to a stop and smiled. It was a lazy, sweet smile. “Do you have a minute? There’s something I want to talk to you about.” Apparently he saw the anxiety cross my face because he amended, “There’s nothing wrong. It’s just private.”

I glanced around and rubbed my nose. “Sure,” I said. “I’ve got time.”

Gently he cupped my elbow and led me around a corner to an alley where no one was.

“So what’s this about?” I asked curiously, tugging my jacket tighter around me as a chilly breeze blew down the alley.

“Me,” Liam said. “It’s about me. But it’s also about you. And... well... us. The other night on the beach... I really liked, uh... I really liked kissing you.” He blushed a little and looked down. His hand slid down from my elbow to my hand, taking it.

I giggled. “I liked it too,” I said.

He gave me a small melancholy grin. “I’m, uh... I’m glad. But this is the part where I come clean.”

“You’re not married are you?”

“Sgant! No,” he replied. He’d said that before, Sgant, and I’d never known what it meant.

“Girlfriend?” I pressed. “Boyfriend? Datemate?”

“No. No, no, no, no, no,” he said, brushing his messy black bangs out of his eyes. Again I was as struck by their amber color---so unusual. “No. It’s got nothing to do with that.” The insistence in his voice was so genuine that I believed him.

“Okay,” I said. “So what’s up?”

He huffed a sigh. “Okay. You’re not going to believe this, but you need to. I need you to trust me, okay?”

“Okaaay...” I bit my lip for a second. “Liam what’s going on?”

“Well, first off, my name’s not Liam...”

“You’re an alien?!” I hissed. “Geez. My mother always said I had strange taste in men.”

Liam---Onwee---actually chuckled. “Yeah.”

“And you did what to me?”

“I imprinted on you. According to an older... companion of mine, we can fall in love multiple times, but if we kiss someone... we imprint on them. We’re theirs forever.”

“So... with what happened at the beach...”

“Yeah.” He cleared his throat. “Whether you like it or not... I’m yours forever. And... we move around a lot. So I either move around without you and miss you like mad the entire time or... you come with me.” He reached out and took both of my hands in his. “And I know you probably don’t feel as deeply as I do because to you it was probably just for fun and... noncommittal, but I’ve spent every day since the beach with you in my head and I can’t get you out. It doesn’t work like that with my species. I’ll understand if you don’t want... to ever see me again. Or come with me. But...”

“Where are you going?” I asked.

“Everywhere. We tend to stick to the States for now, but we’re going to branch out when we have nowhere else in the States to go.”

This is it, Blaze, I thought. The opportunity to go and keep going. To keep mobile so no one finds out about your powers. To get out of this small town and have new experiences. Who knows? Maybe you’ll really fall for him.

I cleared my throat. “Liam---Onwee, whatever---I, uh... I’d like to go with you,” I said.

He was so startled he dropped my hands. “Really?”

I nodded. “Yeah. I want to go. I want to get out of this town and see the country and maybe even the world. I just don’t want to be here anymore. I stay much longer and I won’t be able to keep my powers a secret.” I couldn’t help but laugh. “Dating an alien sounds exactly like something I’d do,” I muttered in amusement.

Oh heck. If Amy was still in town she’d roll on the floor with laughter at how “me” that was.

But Amy had skipped town with her boyfriend when we graduated high school. I hadn’t seen her in years.

I reached out and took Liam’s hands. “Let’s go. Next time you move, I’m coming with you.”

“What about your friends? Family? Your life?”

“My parents will understand. They’ve been wary around me because of my powers since I got them. My real friends have all left by now. It’s about time I got out too.”

Liam smiled. “Okay,” he said. “When Faren and I get ready to leave, you’re coming with us.”

I smiled too. “Thank you.”

“No. Thank you,” he said. “This will make it a lot easier on me, having you with me. But... I apologize in advance if I get overprotective. I don’t know how imprinting works. I can already feel the urge to keep you safe and it’s only been a couple of days.”

I couldn’t help but snicker. “About time someone did,” I joked.

Someone appeared at the alley opening. “Either-a you folks gotta lighter?” a familiar voice asked. Every voice in town was familiar.

“Smokin’ is bad for you, Alex,” I said, letting go of Liam’s hands to shove my own in the pockets of my shorts to keep my hands from glowing noticeably. It happened sometimes.

“Aw c’mon, Heather Be Tethered,” he complained. “I know you got a lighter on you.”

“Is that so?” I retorted, clenching my jaw.

“Heather?” Liam asked. “I thought your name was Blaze.”

“It is,” I ground out. “My middle name is Heather. But when I was in middle school my records got screwed up so my name said Heather B. Tether instead of Blaze H. Tether. That nickname still hasn’t gone away. Ten years later.”

Alex laughed. “‘Ey, new guy, first thing you need to know about Heather Be Tethered here, is that she’s tethered to this town. She ain’t goin’ anywhere. Now c’mon, hand your lighter over.” He held his out for my nonexistent lighter, palm up.

“What makes you assume I have a lighter?” I asked.

Alex scoffed. “You have everything on you, all the time. Pen, mirror, laser pointer. You have to have a lighter.”

“I don’t. But I should tell your mother that you’re smoking.”

Alex’s expression dropped. “You wouldn’t,�� he said.

I cocked an eyebrow. “Wanna try me?” I pulled my phone out of my pocket.

Alex scrambled backward and rushed out of the alley. I put my phone back in my pocket.

“I hate the smell of cigarettes,” I muttered, a bit grumpy. I should have called Alex’s mom anyway. Liam watched me for a moment, a grin tilting up the corner of his lips.

I turned my attention back to Liam. “What were we talking about?”

“I’m an alien who’s imprinted on you,” he said.

“Right, right,” I said.

“And you’re going to come with me when we leave.”

“Right. That’s it.”

“Are you busy for the rest of the night? I could take you back to my place and introduce you to Faren.”

“I was heading back to the beach for the bonfire, but afterward maybe? Wanna join me on the beach?”

“Uh... sure.”

“And if anyone asks, just say we’re dating now,” I said.

“Right,” Liam agreed.

“Blaze! There you are! I was beginning to think you were ditching!”

I laughed. “Nah. Just got a little side-tracked, promise! I wasn’t going to miss the last party of the summer!”

“Ooh! You two dating now?” Rachel pointed at where Liam was holding my hand.

“Yeah.”

“About time! You two have been making goo-goo eyes at each other since he and his sister showed up here!”

I snorted and rolled my eyes. “C’mon Rae. I don’t make goo-goo eyes.”

“Not for guys we grew up with, no,” she teased. “But new, handsome, hunks? Mmm... I pretty well think you do!”

“Rae. Stop,” I said.

She shrugged. “Suit yourself.” But there was a smile on her face like she had no intention of stopping at any point in the foreseeable future. A headache started to form under my temples at the very thought of it. But she got distracted. “Hey Joey! You bring the sound system?” she shouted, rushing away from where Quinten and George were trying to get the bonfire lit.

I let go of Liam’s hand and went over to them. “Problem, boys?” I joked.

“Stupid wind keeps blowing the matches out.”

I scoffed and elbowed them out of the way. “Watch and learn, boys.” I struck a match on a rock, using my powers to sustain it in a way they wouldn’t notice, and caught the tinder. I used my powers more than anything to encourage the fire to keep going. Quinten and George didn’t notice.

No one would notice except Liam.

Once the bonfire was burning, I got up. “Take it from the master, boys, fire’s got a mind of its own.” I bowed and ducked back over to Liam. Joey started blasting music from the speakers he’d brought. I took Liam’s hand. “So, do aliens dance on your planet?” I called over the noise.

“I wouldn’t know,” he replied. “I can’t remember it. I left when I was too young.”

“Sorry,” I said.

He shrugged. “Earth is home,” he said.

“Okay. Well, Earthling, dance with me!”

He smiled, rolled his eyes in amusement, and began to dance with me. We laughed and definitely had a hard time dancing in sand, but we enjoyed ourselves. Everyone stared at us---the new guy and the nice nerd, having a blast---but we didn’t care.

We left when the alcohol was brought out. I’d decided a long time ago to never drink and I was sticking to that.

“C’mon,” Liam said. “Let me introduce you to Faren.”

“I’m Faren. For lack of a better word, I’m Onwee’s sister. But we’re not actually related,” the woman said. Her eyes were blue, like a human’s, but her hair was a metallic pale green. She was tall and elegant. “And you’re Blaze, right?”

“Yeah,” I said. “Blaze Tether.”

“Pleasure,” she said, sticking her hand out to shake. I shook it. She blinked, glanced at our hands, and let me go. She turned to Liam---Onwee. “Still can’t believe you imprinted on a human. Even a Noqian-hybridized one.”

“I’m not a hybrid,” I said. “I’m one-hundred-percent human.”

“Not anymore you’re not,” Faren said. “The moment you got your powers your DNA was transformed enough to become a partial hybrid Noqian. Speaking of, when and how did you get your powers?”

“I was twelve,” I said. “We went on a trip to Louisiana. New Orleans for a couple of days and then Dad wanted to see the bayou. We were on one of those fan boats at dusk when the sky lit up blue---like a lightning strike that didn’t go away. This meteor streaked overhead and crashed nearby. I’m guessing it wasn’t a meteor now.”

“No. It was a Noqian ship. And your exposure to its radiation and power source are what gave you your powers. Some humans transform a little when exposed to it. Most don’t.”

“Does that mean I’m special?” I joked sarcastically.

“It means you’re genetically lucky,” Faren corrected. “Adaptable.”

“Oh,” I said.

“Faren, she’s coming with us,” Liam said.

“Good. Because Sgant knows I don’t need you pining after her for the rest of your life,” Faren said.

“Is Sgant, like, the deity of your home-world?” I asked.

“Yeah,” Liam said. I nodded in understanding. That much I could get my head around.

“We’re here for another few weeks but once we get ready to leave, we’ll let you know. A fair note of warning: you might never come back,” Faren said. I glanced at Liam and then back at Faren.

“I can live with that,” I said. “It’s easier to keep my powers a secret if I’m moving around all the time. And my parents and I... we have a rather strained relationship.” Mostly since I got my powers but I didn’t say that out loud. The aliens would find that out eventually.

“Heard you’re leavin’ with the new boyfriend and his sister,” Alex said as I tried to ignore him. The town was small enough that news traveled fast and it was impossible to escape someone asking you about any rumors. He was skateboarding next to me. I was on the sidewalk and he was in the gutter. There was a, thankfully unlit, cigarette behind his ear.

“Whether I am or not is none of your business, Alex,” I said.

“C’mon, Blaze. Talk to me. Whatever happened to us?” Alex pressed.

I hissed out a sigh through ground teeth. “You turned into a jerk,” I grumbled.

“Excuse me?” he snapped.

“Well look at you, Al!” I retorted. “Smoking and skateboarding and feeling like you’re all rebellious and punk when really you’re just as stuck as everyone else in this forsaken town! I broke up with you for good reason and who I date and what I do is none of your business!”

“Is there a problem, Blaze?” a new voice asked. Liam stepped out of nowhere, one arm encircling my waist protectively, the other hanging at his side. He was significantly taller and more muscular than Alex.

“No,” I replied tightly. “Nothing I can’t handle.”

“Hmm,” Liam grunted, eyes sweeping Alex up and down. “Sure?”

“Yes, Liam,” I said. “I’m not scared of Alex.”

“You have no right to take her away,” Alex snarled. “She belongs in this town.”

“She belongs where she chooses to belong, you imagine-less walnut,” Liam snapped. “She’s choosing to belong to the world.”

“And to you,” I added to Liam. It was a bit of an odd thing to say, but it got the point across.

“And to me,” he said thoughtfully, as if my saying that was the best thing he’d ever heard. If I had to guess, imprinting was a powerful force. I wondered how much was real and how much was just his brain chemistry imprinting me in his feelings and keeping him “in love” with me.

Alex dropped off his skateboard and grabbed my arm. “Blaze, please. Don’t leave. This town will never be the same without you!”

“Good,” I said. “I don’t want to be in this town anymore. I’m done.” I tilted onto my tiptoes and brushed a light kiss on Liam’s jaw. He gave me a soft smile and then gave Alex a hard look.

“Let her go,” he snarled. His other hand grabbed Alex’s wrist---the one that was holding onto me---and forced it off. “And if you want to keep your hand---”

“Liam,” I warned, putting one hand on his chest. “Don’t.”

He didn’t say anything.

I put my other hand on his chest and pushed. “Liam. Let him go. He’s not worth it.”

Alex was making vague noises of pain behind me as I tried to push Liam off.

“Onwee,” I whispered.

That caught his attention. He looked down at me.

“Please. Let him go.”

He released Alex’s hand and gently brushed his lips over my forehead. “My apologies, Blaze,” he said. He took my hand and started to walk off in the direction I’d been going in before Alex interrupted me. Once my ex was out of earshot, Liam’s grip loosened somewhat. “I’m sorry, Blaze. I shouldn’t have lost it like that.”

“It’s alright,” I said with a shrug, shoving my hand in my other pocket. “You didn’t seriously hurt him. Just... try not to let it happen again.”

“I don’t know if I’ll always be able to help that,” he said. “When it comes to you... you’re my whole world now.”

“I... I’m sorry,” I said.

“For... what?” Liam asked.

“For doing this to you. For... imprinting myself on you.”

He shook his head. “If it’s anyone’s fault it’s mine. I initiated the kiss, didn’t I?”

I pursed my lips and remembered the night on the beach last week.

^^^^^

Bonfires on the beach weren’t uncommon. Even in autumn when it was cold outside. The dying summer was a bit chilly, but nothing the heat of the bonfire couldn’t amend.

I kept it burning merrily, partially with my powers, partially with the help of lots of logs. Some of them were driftwood that added a bluish hue to the flames from the salt soaked in them. My friends trusted me with the fire because I paid it more attention than they did. I noticed when it started burning low.

“Hey, Blaze,” Millie whispered, nudging me.

“Hmm?” I asked, tearing my gaze from the fire.

“That new guy is staring at you.”

I glanced over. Liam Wesson’s eyes were on me. His sister, Leanne, was nowhere to be seen. I’d only caught sight of her once at the grocery store the day they’d moved in. They’d been in town for about a week.

I shrugged at Millie. “Firelight is very flattering on me,” I joked.

She nudged me again. “Go talk to him! He’s cute!” she hissed.

That he was. Standing alone at the edge of the party. Like he always seemed to do everywhere---even if there wasn’t an edge to stand on. Tall with lean muscle, he had thick black hair that caught the firelight with amber glints---the same glints as his eyes. He had a sharp jawline with a narrow face. I snuck him another glance. Black leather jacket, green shirt underneath, jeans slung low on his hips, black boots. It was not fair how handsome he looked.

I gave Millie a look. “Fine,” I muttered. “But only because I’ve talked to him before.”

A couple times. On a few dates. That no one knew we’d gone on. Somehow. Even in a small town where everyone knew everything. No idea how that worked. Maybe Liam had pulled some alien woo-doo to keep us hidden from the rest of the people in my town. That wouldn’t have surprised me.

I marched over to him. “Millie’s telling me to come over here and talk to you,” I said with a grin.

“Yeah?” he asked, a small grin of his own forming.

“Yeah,” I replied.

“She know?”

“Nobody does. I don’t know how, but somehow, no one knows.”

“Wanna go for a walk? The beach at night is gorgeous and the moon’s comin’ out.” He held his elbow out for me.

I took it. “Sure,” I said.

We wandered away from the party, arm-in-arm and quiet until the party noise faded behind us. “They’re gonna notice,” Liam remarked. “When you vanish and don’t come to tend to the fire.”

I shrugged. “Let ‘em. I like hanging out with you,” I said.

“But we haven’t said anything to anyone thus far. I thought you wanted to keep it a secret.” He glanced over at me as the last vestiges of firelight faded from his hair, moonlight taking over. It caught his unnaturally amber eyes and gave them a metallic glimmer.

“It doesn’t need to be a total secret,” I said. “I just thought, at the beginning, it’d be safer to not say anything. Avoid the rumors.”

“Yeah?”

“Oh yeah. Small town, remember? Everyone knows everyone and everything too.”

“And now?”

“Now I don’t care if they know I like you.”

“Oh---you---” His voice broke. “---you like me?”

I rubbed the tip of my nose. “Well, I... uh... yeah,” I said. “Not very, uh, smooth at admitting stuff like that. Not very good at timing either.”

Liam shook his head. “No, it’s... it’s endearing.”

I blushed. “Thanks.”

There was a pause between us. “Paos you’re beautiful in this light.” He clapped his hand over his mouth. “Sgant. I’m sorry.”

I laughed, ignoring the strange words. “Don’t be. It’s... endearing.” I bit my tongue and grinned with a little giggle.

Liam chuckled as we stopped, overlooking the sea. “I, uh... I like you too, by the way.”

“Really?” I asked. “I think that’s a first.”

“What?” Liam asked.

“Requited crush,” I said.

“How is that a first? You’re incredible, Blaze.”

“Wish everyone else thought that. To them I’m just the girl they grew up with. Nothing special.”

“That’s not true.”

“To them it is,” I said.

Liam turned toward me and brushed my hair out of my face. “I wish you could see yourself the way I see you,” he said quietly.

“And how do you see me?” I asked, half-desolate, half-playful.

He brushed my hair out of my face a little firmer as it fell back over my eye. “You’re starlight, Blaze,” he whispered, leaning closer. Like a magnet, I was pulled to him.

Breathing heavily, both of us, he bent down, pressing his lips to mine. I threw my arms around his neck and held onto him, kissing him back enthusiastically.

^^^^^

I should have known everything would change after that.

I looked over at Liam. “Yeah. Yeah you did initiate the kiss, but I wasn’t exactly prudish about it either.”

“What-ish?”

“Prudish. You know, like... Puritan... or... never mind.” I shook my head. “So... when are we getting out of here?”

“Soon. Promise.” We kept walking. “By the way, that kiss you gave me, just now when your friend was being a ghaun---you don’t have to do that. Play like you like me when really you’re not sure yet.”

“Maybe I don’t have to, but I want to,” I said. “I do like you. That’s why I kissed you back, remember?”

He bit his lower lip and grinned at me. “For sure?”

“For sure.” I grinned back at him.

We ducked into the grocery store.

“Thanks for saving me from a really awkward conversation with Alex, by the way.”

He shrugged. “My pleasure.”

“Just... don’t rip anyone’s arms off.”

“I’ll do my best.”

I woke up with a gasp. Liam’s arms were around me, warm and strong and secure. It’d be impossible to wriggle out of his embrace without waking him up---I know, I’d tried---so I just laid there.

Didn’t stop him from waking up and threading his fingers into my hair. “What’s wrong?” he murmured lowly. Not that Faren would wake up on the other side of the wall anyway. His other arm pulled me closer to his bare chest as he buried his nose in my hair and inhaled.

I panted, reaching around his back and holding onto him, feeling his solidarity. “Nothing. Just a bad dream,” I said.

Gosh falling in love with an alien was so something I’d do.

He stroked my hair. “Wanna tell me about it?”

I shook my head against his chest. “Not really.”

“You can trust me with anything. I’m all yours, faithfully. You can trust the one who you’ve imprinted.”

“I know. I just... I don’t want to talk about it.” I snuggled my forehead against his chest.

“What was it about?”

“The night I got my powers. Magnified a hundred times worse.” My breath shook as I exhaled. “Go back to sleep. It’s late,” I said. His fingers pressed against my scalp firmer.

“Blaze...”

“I’m fine. Promise.”

He held me close and sighed back into sleep, his breath fluttering the hair on the top of my head.

One of the things I was jealous of about Noqians? They could fall asleep on command. They also didn’t need quite as much as humans so Liam and Faren were always awake before I was. It wasn’t uncommon for me to fall asleep in the motel room and wake up in the car.

The dream replayed in my head. Bright and loud and more vivid than the actual night had to have been. I’d always rather liked my powers, but the night I got them nearly destroyed my life. My relationship with my parents had never recovered. I’d been keeping a massive secret since I was twelve. And it strained my friendships---and every other kind of relationship I had.

I sighed and pressed my forehead against Liam’s chest. I could smell the motel’s soap on his skin. Under it was a musky scent that I recognized as him. It was calming.

“I love you, Liam Wesson,” I whispered, not even caring that Liam Wesson wasn’t his real name. Who cared?

Closing my eyes, I fell back to sleep.

^^^^^

“Blaze!” Dad shouted, reaching out for me as the boat rocked. The blue meteor hurtled past, heat coming off of it making the water of the bayou steam around us and our skin turn red. Mom grabbed my arm and hauled me closer so I wouldn’t fall overboard.

“That was close,” she said, holding me close.

Somewhere several miles away, the bright light of the meteor vanished as it crashed.

The heat didn’t dissipate. It built and built---inside me. Not externally.

Mom let me go with a sharp hiss. “Blaze, you’re burning up!”

I looked down. My hands were glowing. I shrieked and looked up at my parents. “What’s happening?” I demanded.

“I don’t know, honey, but you need to calm down, okay? Just breathe. Come on, baby. Breathe,” Mom said soothingly. I took a deep breath, trying to calm down. My heart was racing and I was terrified.

“My skin is burning!” I exclaimed, panting. The glowing grew brighter.

“Blaze, Blaze calm down. Please.”

Fire erupted on my hands. I screamed.

Thinking fast, my brother made the smartest decision possible: he pushed me off the boat. I landed in the swamp water with a splash. When I surfaced, spluttering and suddenly freezing, steam was curling off the surface. My parents pulled me back into the boat and wrapped me up in a towel.

“We have to go home,” Mom said to Dad. “Find out what’s happening.”

“Right,” Dad agreed.

^^^^^

Onwee woke silently to Blaze trembling in his arms. She was still asleep. Her pajama shirt was silky against his bare skin, her hair soft under his lips. He held her tighter to him until her shaking quieted.

Sgant, he loved her. And it wasn’t just the imprint.

Granted, most of it was probably the imprint, but he’d liked her before he imprinted on her. She was bright in more ways than one---smart, happy, compassionate---and so beautiful. To him. He’d never met another human quite like her. He knew humans were all unique in their own ways but she was the first human he’d felt that with.

“I love you, Blaze Tether,” he whispered.

“Either-a you kids got a light?” a man in the bar asked. Liam’s hand tightened in mine, warning me not to do anything.

“Nope, sorry,” I said with a friendly half-grin and smile.

“Where’re you from? ‘Cause, uh, the accent,” the man said. He was clearly drunk. Too drunk to remember much in the morning.

I shrugged. “Podunk beach town you’ve never heard of,” I replied. I reached out with my free hand, snapped, and lit my thumb, lighting his cigar while no one else paid us any attention. “Have a good night now.”

“What are you doing?” Liam hissed.

“He’s too drunk. Even if he remembers me, no one will believe him.” I smirked. “Let’s go, babe,” I said. “Faren will be expecting us.”

He pulled me out of the bar with more force than necessary after snatching the drink we’d gotten for Faren. She was holding the rag to her shoulder. “Ugh. Thank Sgant,” she muttered when Liam passed her the bottle. She downed half of it in one go as we drove off.

Liam didn’t say a word for several miles. “Okay,” I said. “You’re mad.”

He glanced at me, amber eyes flashing the way they often did when he was suppressing a superpower outburst. “You know better than to use your powers out in the open like that!” he said quietly.

“So I lit his cigar with my thumb. So what?” I retorted.

“I’m trying to keep you safe, Blaze,” Liam said.

“You don’t need to. No one’s after me. I came with you to be with you. Not because I needed to run.” I rubbed his arm as his hand on the steering wheel tightened. “I love you, Liam.”

“Love you too,” he said tightly. He shot me a quick look. “You ever wonder what your life would have turned out like if I hadn’t imprinted on you?”

I shrugged. “Not really,” I said. “It’s better this way. Being mobile. Easier to keep my powers a secret. I’d have them whether we met or not. But I like it this way. Even if you’re overprotective sometimes.” I grinned.

Faren groaned in the backseat.

“Fare, I can cauterize that,” I said.

“You can’t get hot enough,” Faren said. “My skin is denser than yours.”

“I think I can,” I said. “Might as well let me try.”

Faren grunted. “Fine. Onwee, pull over somewhere private when we get out of this town.” She took another chug. “That is the last time I try something you humans call fun,” she said.

“It was an accident,” I reminded her.

“You say that like I care,” she muttered.

“Don’t mind her. She’s grumpy when she’s in pain,” Liam said.

“I know,” I said.

We drove for what felt like an hour before Liam pulled over on the side of the road. There were trees on both sides of the road. He helped Faren out of the car and onto the ground. Thankfully it was dirt so the grass wouldn’t catch and burn down the woods.

Liam held the rag while I tore her shirt off her shoulder so it wouldn’t catch either.

“Go as hot as you can,” Faren said. I nodded.

“I will. But tell me if it’s too much,” I replied.

“Doubt it.” Clenching her jaw, she gave me a nod.

I put my hand on her wound, trying not to gag at the blood even if it was violet, and channeled fire into my hand, as much heat as I could muster. My hand glowed red, then orange, then yellow, then white, and then blue-white. The air around us sizzled with heat as Faren cried out in pain, arching her back. Liam helped pin her down until I felt the wound cauterize.

Once it did, I stopped---

And fell to the side, totally wiped out.

Liam caught me before I could hit the dirt. “You alright?” he asked.

“Tired,” I said. “Faren...”

“I’m fine, Blaze,” Faren said, sitting up in my peripheral vision, her good hand gingerly feeling at her shoulder. “You did it. Thank you.”

I nodded.

Liam helped me to my feet. My knees were wobbly and my legs trembled with the effort of staying up. “Paos. You really overdid it,” Liam muttered, scooping me up into his arms to set me in the car. I shrugged weakly.

“Your skin’s denser than mine,” I said.

He went back for Faren. She grouched a bit but got in the car on her own after Liam helped her to her feet. “Y’okay, Blaze?” she asked as she buckled up.

“Yeah. Just overexerted my powers,” I said, shutting my eyes and leaning on Liam’s shoulder as he turned the car back on and we drove off. He didn’t seem to mind and it didn’t seem to hinder his driving ability so I stayed there as the car sped down the road.

“You’re gonna have to burn that rag too,” he said quietly. “We don’t want to leave... any of our blood behind.”

I nodded. “Right,” I said. “But...” I yawned. “Nap first.”

Liam chuckled. “Sweetheart, you’re going to go to sleep and get some good rest. Worry about the rag later, okay?”

I grunted in assent. “Mmhmm.”

“Wait a minute...! Blaze?!” a familiar voice demanded.

I whirled around. “Amy!” I exclaimed, rushing down the sidewalk and tackling my best friend into a hug. “How are you?!”

“I’m fine. Geez. Never thought I’d see you away from home.”

“Me too! It’s so good to see you!”

“You too, B. What’s going on? What are you doing here? Are you alone?”

“No. My boyfriend and his sister are in that store over there,” I said, gesturing to where Liam and Faren had gone into. “We’re just traveling. Seeing the country a little, you know what I mean?”

“Yeah I do. We’re doing the same thing. Since when do you have a boyfriend?”

“Since a couple months ago,” I said. Wow. Had it been that long already? Summer was long gone and winter would be sweeping in any day now. “He and his sister moved to our town and we started to really like each other and hit it off from there. So... we decided to travel.”

“I’m so proud of you!” Amy said, hugging me.

“Thanks. How’s your boyfriend?” I asked. In a teasing tone, I added, “Y’know, the one you abandoned me for?”

She laughed---she knew I bore her no ill will about Harrison. “He’s fine. He’s just picking up the takeout we ordered. We actually live in this town,” she replied. I looked around. “It’s bigger than home, but not so big that I feel anxious about it.”

I nodded. “Yeah. This seems like a nice place,” I agreed.

“Blaze?” Liam called. He jogged over. “Who’s th---Amy right?”

“That’s me. How did you know?”

“Blaze has photos of you on her phone.”

“Oh. Right,” Amy said.

“Amy this is Liam Wesson, my boyfriend. Liam, this is Amelia Grady, my best friend from home,” I introduced them. Liam shook her hand with a charming smile.

“Dang, B. You know how to pick ‘em, don’t you?” she teased.

“You could say that,” I agreed.

Harrison appeared down the sidewalk, leaving a restaurant. “Amy?”

“Over here, babe!” she called, waving Harrison over. “Come meet Blaze’s boyfriend!”

“Blaze got a boyfriend?”

“Yes. She did,” Amy said.

“Liam Wesson,” Liam said, sticking his hand out.

“Harrison. Tyler. Harrison Tyler,” Harrison replied, shaking his hand. “Whoa. Quite a grip you got there, dude.”

Liam let him go. “Op. Sorry.”

“No, no. It’s... fine. Just unexpected,” Harrison said. I leaned into Liam’s side. He wrapped an arm around my waist subconsciously. I put my arm around his waist too. I didn’t have to absorb his body heat since I made plenty of my own with my powers, but that didn’t mean I didn’t appreciate being surrounded by his heat.

“Well, keep in touch, okay? I want to hear about all of it!” Amy said.

I nodded. “You got it. Promise.”

Amy beamed. “Yes!”

“Detain both of them. Immediately,” the man in the military uniform ordered. He had three stars on his shoulders. A general maybe? I couldn’t remember.

Soldiers grabbed me and yanked me and Liam apart.

“Liam!” I shrieked. “LIAM!”

“Blaze!” he shouted, wrenching two guards off of him.

“LIAM!” I cried.

Anger and fear surged through me. I channeled it directly down my arms, burning at the skin of the soldiers holding onto me. “Let go of me!” I growled, shoving them off. Three more guards were trying to restrain Liam.

I threw out my hands in their direction and let off pillars of flame, hitting them in the chests. The force of the fire carried them away from him while I ran toward him. I cut off the fire as I reached him, throwing my arms around him. He wrapped his around me. “We need to go,” he said.

“Ya think?” I muttered. “I told you getting too close to Area Fifty-One was a bad idea.”

“You can gloat later, babe,” Liam said, grabbing my hand. We ran through the building, ignoring the flashing lights and wailing alarms.

“No way we’re gonna make it out of here!” I shouted. “Not alive! They’ll catch us!”

“They won’t,” Liam said. I wished I could share his confidence. “Hold onto me.”

“I am,” I said.

“Good.” As we ran down a long, loud concrete hallway, I started to feel a bit... light. Like I was running on clouds.

A step ahead of me, Liam was growing... transparent? What?

“What’s going on?” I called.

“Hang on!” Liam shouted over the alarms.

I must have blinked or something because suddenly we were outside, running away. “What the Taw just happened?!” I asked.

I’d been around him and Faren long enough that I started talking like them.

“Occasionally we can teleport,” Liam said. “It’s difficult and exhausting so it doesn’t happen very often but I figured now would be a good time.” We slowed to a stop, panting.

“Should... find... Faren.”

“She can take care of herself. Right now we need to worry about us.” Liam looked around. “We really are in the middle of nowhere out here, huh?”

“Yeah,” I agreed.

“Let’s get going.”

As we started to trudge through the desert, I glanced around. “How did they even find us?”

“Well... Faren and I are Noqian. You’re a hybrid, technically. I’m guessing we give off some sort of different energy. Maybe our thermal or infrared spectrum is different from a human’s.”

“Maybe,” I said.

I curled up against Liam. He held me protectively. “I love you,” I whispered in the darkness.

“I love you,” he replied. He glanced over at the clock on the bedside table. “Hey, happy birthday, Blaze.”

I smiled. “Thanks baby.”

“Y’know... it wasn’t me and Faren crashing that gave you your powers.”

“I figured as much.”

“But that means there are Noqians who fled to Earth after Faren and I---and the others---did.”

“You never told me why you did come here,” I said.

“Global civil war. Most of us who ran were targets. All Noqians have powers. It’s just how we adapted to our environment. But those of us who fled are stronger than average. Faren is a high-ranking warrior---even at a young age.”

“Let me guess: supposed to protect you?”

“Partially. When I was a kid. Her other jobs were to train me to control my powers and to teach me about Noq. When we fled, I was too young to have permanent memory. Equivalent to a human two-year-old. In humans permanent long-term memory begins at about three.”

“Why Earth?”

Liam shrugged. “It’s as good a place as any. The weather’s somewhat stable, it can sustain life, the gravity isn’t quite as strong as on Noq and the atmosphere is richer in oxygen and nitrogen, and the people are relatively nice as long as they don’t know you’re an alien. Americans are a little abrasive, but there are lots of decent ones. Like present company.”

“Aw thanks. Would you be saying that if you hadn’t imprinted on me?”

“Of course. I liked you before we kissed,” Liam said, pulling me closer.

“Fair enough. So if more Noqians have come here... can you and Faren find them?”

He hummed in thought. “I don’t know. Faren probably could in the blink of an eye. Especially if she knew where to look but it’s been ten years since that ship crashed so it’ll be hard to track them now.”

“Are you ever... going back?”

“Probably not. Unless we can take you with us.”

“I wouldn’t survive on Noq,” I said. “If your atmosphere doesn’t have as much oxygen and the gravity is stronger, I’d die.”

“Yeah I probably would too, if I’m honest. I’ve lived the vast majority of my life here. My body’s adapted to Earth’s conditions. Hence why I’m not going back. Faren could. She’s old enough that she can return without too many bad repercussions, but not me.”

“Is that a bad thing?”

“Not unless they want me back. Which I doubt. I don’t even know what’s happened on Noq since we left. The war could be over, but it could still be raging. Who knows? I have no way of contacting them. Faren might, but she’s never trusted me with it. Which is probably safe given I really don’t have any love for Noq. Earth is my home. You are my home.”

“Don’t let Faren hear you say that,” I joked.

Liam chuckled. “She cleaves to Noq because she remembers it. She grew up there. Lived... not quite most of her life there. Me? Earth is all I remember. We fled the civil war but... those of us who left lost a lot in being so young.”

“Mm,” I hummed.

Liam stroked my hair. “Get some rest, Blaze. I’ll wake you when it’s time to leave.”

“No you won’t,” I teased. “I’ll wake up in the car, the same as I always do.”

Liam smiled---I could feel it more than see it. “Fair point,” he said. “Sleep well, sana.”

“What’s that mean?”

“Easiest English translation? ‘My love.’ More complicated one could be, ‘My one and only who I have imprinted on.’”

I giggled.

“Listen, Blaze, I shouldn’t be saying this, but there might be a way for you to imprint on Onwee as well. You might be Noqian enough with your powers and the exposure to our technology for it to work,” Faren said. “But there’s no guarantee and if it doesn’t work you could end up...”

“Dead?” I suggested.

“Mm... Close enough to it that you’d wish you were.” She shook her head. “But it doesn’t have to matter. Just... if you want to imprint on him too, you can.”

“I’m already in love with him,” I pointed out.

��Yes, but the majority of your DNA is human. The Noqian transformations haven’t changed the way you love. And humans’ love it a fickle thing,” Faren said.

“Not if you really commit to it and work hard at it. There’s a reason married couples who really love each other stay together and love each other till the day they die.”

“But there’s no reason to believe that you will be one of those.”

I clenched my jaw. “Not for you. You don’t know me that well yet. But a life-long marriage is something I’ve always aspired to. That being said... tell me how to imprint on Liam. If I think I can handle it, maybe I’ll try.” I rubbed under my nose---more out of habit than any real need.

Faren gave me a look. “Okay,” she said. “You’re not going to like it, but it is possible.”

I shrugged. “Tell me,” I said. “I’m willing to try---if I can.”

“It’s dangerous,” Liam said, stepping in.

“We’re just talking it out first,” I said. “No one’s making any promises. Nothing’s certain. I just wanna hear how it might work and then we’ll make a decision.”

Faren closed her eyes. “I didn’t want you to hear us talking,” she said.

“Well, I did,” Liam said, a little snarky about it. “Blaze, don’t. It’s dangerous.”

“Tell me how it’s done. Then I’ll decide. If you’re that opposed, maybe I won’t.”

“Just want you to be safe, sana.”

“I know, Liam,” I said. “Just tell me.”

“Alright fine.” He huffed a sigh. “Faren?” With a sweeping gesture, he indicated for Faren to tell me. She gave me a small grin of reassurance.

#original #original fiction #my writing #mine #a series of random scenes #what even is this?#7000 words of imagination vomit

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redqueenanxiety · 8 years ago

Text

Modern Red Queen Au Pt1 (Family Business)

A Modern Red Queen AU following a depressed 17-year-old and his summer adventures.

Ugh again? Another wind weaver, personally I wasn't a fan of that house. Sure they were powerful but they're stats pointed to weakness in battle, their special attack and defense were basically nonexistent. Sure they could put up a good fight, but adding a little smog to the air should have them running for the hills.

Why else do you think I choose burner? The stats were amazing the defense and the attack were at their heights. Well if you trained and educated yourself (Which I did) they were at their heights.

I leaned down gracefully, balance is something perfected long ago, keeping my eyes on the concealed enemy, most people didn't travel alone at night but I was well on my way to ranking grandmaster, and Thomas had a band thing tonight, that he couldn't possibly miss. I didn't want to reach this historical achievement without an audience but, it was Tuesday and experience was doubled on Tuesdays!

I smiled as a small fizzle of heat bloomed from my fingertips setting the grass ablaze. I could already smell the smoke before I saw it. The Wind Weaver had no idea who he was dealing with I was Maven Calore the greatest burner to ever live and today was the day I joined the elites and reached level 95 maxing my experience and claiming the title others would envy for years.

Four seconds had passed roughly nine to go before the smoke would begin affecting the Wind Weaver abilities and I'd go in for the kill, actually, no If I powered up my ember to exterminate him I'd get triple the XP. I'd make sure to message him thanking him for the easy experience points, he'd probably be demoted, the more I'd get the more he loses. Thomas was gonna be so jealous, I thought with a smirk.

A faint knock rang throughout the forever dead silent house. The Room chilled.

"Maven, We have visitors get your ass down here!" Mother's voice rang, cold as ice

Shit, not now, why now?This was the worst time possible time. I was so close.

"You better be down here before I open the door, You know who it is, and your hair better be combed."

"In, ah s-second-"I stammered The grass began smoking, 57 more seconds before his wind weaving was rendered useless, 39 more till my ember finished powering up. I'm sure dad could wait.

"No I gave you orders, and you will follow them" She barked, slamming my door open. There she stood in all her glory. Porcelain pale skin to match my own, covered in a deep blue strapless dress to frame her flawless hourglass figure topped with Fine Blond hair braided into an intricate bun, that must've taken hours, with piercing blue eyes. "HOW DARE YOU?"

She probably wasn't too pleased to see her 17-year-old son still in his briefs crumpled over his computer with his school clothes littered everywhere. "I-I can explain-"

I half expected her face to turn red from anger to match her expression like normal people, but mother, wasn't normal, she doesn't get embarrassed or mad just... clever. She was smart like that always getting what she wanted. She simply held out her hand, irritation radiating from her ice cold eyes.

"Please" I huffed "Just nineteen more seconds" Last time she took my keyboard I didn't get it back until four months later which was Christmas.

"Make yourself presentable." She said marching over to rip the keyboard from my desktop in the process, knocking over my limited edition 1989 model of mega man, Thomas had savaged the world for my 16th birthday gift. "You disgust me," was all she said with the slam of the door

Another knock rang through the house followed by mothers hurried footsteps.

I didn't care though, the world didn't matter as I knelt down to pick up the beautifully sculpted figure. Tears filled my eyes as I crumpled in on myself. It had dented. I sat there staring at the thing. It had taken Thomas 2 years to find the damn thing and cost 745.78$ plus shipping from Japan.

I heard another "Maven" Mother's voice again, but more playful, like she hadn't just disrespected my whole being. She'd yanked my keyboard so hard the jack had imploded.

"Mavey?" Cal's voice., No, not now. I was expected Father and his wife, but Cal was too much. I Can't not now. Cal's outburst was followed by footsteps. He was coming.

Crying won't help Mave, so don't start.

No, I refuse to do this right now, Go Away. I commanded I would not entertain these voices anymore. I refuse to.Schizophrenia. That's what she called it. A wild combination of imagination and hallucination drilled into my head. I could control it, I would control it. At least in the presence of Cal.

I slowly pulled myself together, finally convincing myself to pull on some pants and tuck in my shirt. I worked quickly and quietly, Mother was going to be ballistic after dinner. My hair was a tousled mess but more often than not so was Cal's so that shouldn't be too big of an embarrassment during dinner. Now time for the hard part, shoes or no shoes? We were staying home so was there really a point in wearing shoes or formal clothing?

But this was father we were talking about, sometimes I wouldn't eat dinner at all, so it obviously wasn't as sacred to her as it was to father. She was rarely home after all.

My eyes rose to find Cal standing at the door, barefoot as a child, so that answered my question. He looked nice. Why was I not surprised he was wearing simple jeans and a sweater vest that hugged his sculpted muscular form.

Cal looked like my father with his strong angular jaw and rustic amber eyes. We'd both gotten our black fine curls from my father. I could probably achieve the light caramel tan that highlighted his cheekbones if I actually went outside or just took off my hoodie. But my hoodie was my shell, my home, and protection.

He smiled down at me, dazzling as always. He had the same smile girls would stand in line for miles to see, I'd probably stand in line too if he wasn't my brother, Thomas definitely would with me, it's all he ever talked about.

I smiled right back lifting myself off my newly made bed.

"Mavey" He breathed as If he couldn't believe we were actually seeing each other face to face in real life. He'd spent the last six months studying abroad in Tiraxes, some ridiculously preppy school he attempted to talk me into every time we made eye contact. In fact, I was slightly surprised he hasn't started going on about it. "Long time no see," He said with a bigger smile flashing teeth. I wonder if he was doing that on purpose or if he knew he was doing it at all, did some people have to try to be more heartbreaking beautiful?

"Good to see you too," I wasn't exactly sure if It was good to see him, Him being back in Norta meant much more distractions. Tiraxes has a different school year schedule then Norta does like any other state, so I was still in school while he'd been dismissed for summer. Cal wasn't one to respect that, what if he picked me up for early dismissal during Civics and I missed Calculus? I swear if he interfered with my perfect record I would eat him. "I bet you've got so many new stories to tell,"

"Not as many as you've got, man I miss high school," He said a dreamy look crossing his face, it seemed like just two weeks ago when we were sitting at his graduation then sending him off three states down for college.

"Why would you ever-"

" Amaranthus University (AU)is filled with people that are there on scholarships, so their ridiculously academically focused and you know I never really fit in with that crowd, you'd probably like it there, they've got an excellent science community and an astounding engineering community, which is pretty fun..." He said cutting himself off, "But it's still pretty lonely..."

"Oh" I didn't know what to say, Cal and I were never ones to talk about our feelings, we were half-brothers after all. We didn't even live together, sure when he was in high school we saw each other more, but he was a band kid and I an orchestra. He graduated as Section Leader of the Bassoon's, while I'd still been working my way up to concert master.

He looked like he wanted to say more, or maybe he wanted me to say more, maybe I wanted to say more. Maybe I should've? I would've opened my mouth to say more. "Oh" didn't seem to cover it but was gladly interrupted by another shrill of Mother's fake laughter, bringing us back to the present.

"Hope, they haven't started dinner without us," I said taking a step towards Cal and the door, he hadn't moved an inch. Standing perfectly still, something about my Mother made him uncomfortable, no unsteady, on high alert all the time, even as children at our birthday parties.

"Doesn't seem like something Mom would do, She loves family time." He said with a smirk, waiting for me to join him in the hall where we would venture down the stairs.

Cal may have been a bit taller than me but I didn't have to strain to catch up. I spent my whole life chasing after him and somehow didn't get completely left behind.

It didn't take long for us to find the stairs, our house was big but not as big as Mother wanted it. There they stood at the door of the just newly cleaned foyer. Father looked nice today, with his freshly trimmed beard and eyebrows. Cal and him must've planned this, matching sweater vest with a slightly different color scheme. He held something in hands, wrapped up nice and neat in a startling shade of red wrapping paper, a present, It wasn't too big but nicely sized.

Standing by his side stood his wife in a monotone shade of gray was Coriane Calore. Cal didn't take after her in body type but she did give him his soft innocent smile that was impossible to win an argument against. Everything about her seemed soft from her almost grey-blue eyes to her faint curves. Cal looked so delighted to see her his face lighting up in any way possible "Mom made Haggis!" He said with a smile.

I gave him a silent smile as we approached, noting the tin foil tray Coriane held with pride, she smiled at her boy. Her pride and joy."Cal helped," She said with a smile, beaming at her son. I've only heard rumors but apparently, she suffered many miscarriages before having Cal, no wonder she loved him so much or maybe that's just the way all parents should feel about their children. Everyone I met had different experiences.

Mother surveyed my appearance before Father closed me in for a hug, He was working on his weight trying to live a healthier life while trying to recover from his darker times. I knew he sometimes went back to them, they all did. Mother kept track of the rehab appointments he made along with Coriane's and Cal's therapist appointments. Even with him in Tiraxus he couldn't escape her prying eyes.

"How's life been treating you, Son? Your mother tells me your academic career is going great." He says finally releasing me.

"Not to mention he's nearly worked his way up to Concert Master" Mother pipes in proudly before I can open my mouth and speak for myself.

"Nearly" I coughed shyly, I loved playing, violin. But it was taking up one of my elective slots and there were other things I'd rather do like Desktop Publishing and maybe Psychology. Maybe after I achieved that she'd let my quit, besides Orchestra was something I could do outside of school.

"I wouldn't be surprised if you graduated early, with a full scholarship considering your grades." He said clapping me on the shoulder. Scholarship? it's not like we needed one Father is loaded. I'm guessing he only wanted it for bragging fuel considering Cal wasn't the best in the academic department.

"Who knows maybe you'll be in one of Junior's Class one day" He said playfully rolling his eyes at Cal. Tiberius had never been a fan of being called junior and neither had his mother so they substituted his name with Cal, but Father did let the name slip every now and again. Especially in front of Mother.

"Maybe," I said with a shrug, little did he know I had no aspirations of going anywhere near AU. Thomas and I had been talking about a college in Prairie, for years, they had an excellent Engineering And Psychology program for me, with an amazing band program for Thomas. Not to mention they only accepted people on scholarships, so no rich idiots anywhere in sight, not to mention that meant that Thomas' family could afford it, we finally found a way to stay together through college, Mom would approve of me getting into an elite college, whether I was following Thomas or not.

"Is dinner set, I don't want the haggis to grow cold," Coriane chirped from in front of me, pulling me back to the present. Oh yeah, dinner. I almost forgot

"Of course, I've prepared Stollen for desert," Mother says proudly rolling her eyes sizing up Coriane like a predator on prey. While Mom's opinion of Coriane was obvious, while mine were mixed. Our families intertwined history was complex and so long not even I fully understood it. All I knew was Mom caught a newly made father without his newly made wife in the worst possible time...

But that's a story for another time, now it was time for dinner I thought following the four people that impacted my life in more ways than one, into to the dining room.

Forgive me I’m new at this. But Stay tuned for more! (This exact A.U is also available on My Wattpad and AOW if they’re more assessable to you. Parts may or may not be uploaded on wattpad faster)

#red queen #mare barrow #maven calore #marven #calmare #care #victoria aveyard #tiberias calore #cal calore #fanfiction

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