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[morrigan-writings]

Blade Songs, Part 2

Roronoa Zoro x GN!Reader

Warnings: more fighting, graphic descriptions of injuries and sword-related injuries (so, blood)

Summary: You and Zoro have become thick as thieves as time has passed since that one night watch weeks ago. Everything goes swimmingly with the rest of the crew, until you all face a challenge more difficult than usual.

It had been a couple more weeks past that moment you and Zoro had during night watch, and you could now accurately say you both had grown much closer. To the point that even the others were noticing, much to their relief after witnessing the first mate’s initial cold shoulder to the newest recruit.

The two of you grew your friendship steadily but surely, between training together and teaching each other different tricks you each had, or fighting side by side in any skirmish the crew came across, you had come to know each other as if you were extensions of each other. Besides Luffy, and sometimes Nami, you were the only other person that could pull a smile from the swordsman, sometimes even the rare chuckle on a good day. On his end, Zoro had become almost a shadow to you, trailing behind or beside you on deck or during island visits, never more than an arm’s length away, or even just gravitating towards wherever you ended up on the ship. He wasn’t sure what he would call it, but he knew his life was improved with you in it, and couldn’t help but be drawn to your orbit.

You were thrilled to have finally broken past Zoro’s shield, and between his similarity in blade knowledge and his calming presence it was natural to gravitate towards him in return. You were both used to years of drifting on your own, working on your own, so you both had a tendency to naturally be on the fringe of things with the rest of the crew, still involved of course but just content to listen and obverse. But now that you had become close, the shadows on the edges had a affinity to drift towards the other.

It had gotten to the point where you could communicate with just glances and looks thrown at the other, no words needed. You both fought as if you were the same weapon, protecting, defending, and attacking as if of the same mind. And due to the combined might of both of your skills, fights weren’t usually too difficult for the crew, everyone making it out in the end with just minor cuts and bruises that could be easily managed. But not everything can be perfect forever.

———————————————————————————————————————————

A day came when the Straw Hats got caught within an ambush during a routine island stop. It was the rare but unsurprising story of a village being under the heel of a local pirate crew, and they were out of options until Luffy’s strange group came along. And when had Luffy ever said no?

However, when the crew stepped into the pirate’s stronghold, you all immediately realized something was wrong due to how empty the place was.

The group naturally slid back to back in a loose circle as they looked around, waiting, hands readying on weapons. Suddenly, war cries were heard coming from all side as the offending crew rushed in from hiding place possible, and the fight was on.

While you all meshed seamlessly as a single unit once in a battle, this one was proving to be more challenging than usual. You were outnumbered 7 to 1, the largest crew yet since Arlong Park, and you yourself hadn’t even been present yet for that one. The Straw Hats were all scattered and spread out amongst the stronghold. Usopp having found a high vantage point from where he was slinging shot after shot while frantically trying to remain unnoticed; Nami and Luffy sticking to their respective corners, Nami sweeping her staff into every opponent that ran at her, Luffy swinging his fists expertly with Gum Gum abilities and swerving circles around his enemies; meanwhile Sanji flew all over the battlefield, his kicks landing deadly hits wherever he went, and Zoro weaving around him with his sword slicing through the air.

Meanwhile you had been holding your own just fine for a while, like the rest, twin blades singing and thrown daggers never missing their marks. However, you realized you were starting to wear down ever so slightly due to the opposing side’s sheer numbers. You go to successfully block and slash at a pirate in front of you, but the second he drops, another pops up already running full force at you, sword raised.

Tiring out as you are, you only have enough time to sidestep enough that the blade goes right through your shoulder, rather than your heart.

You let out a guttural grunt of pain as the hilt slams into your shoulder, the blade having gone all the way through. Before they have a chance to recover, you swing your unimpeded arm and swiftly slice your opponent’s hand from their wrist, blood spraying across you briefly as he falls away in pain, clutching his empty wrist, before you put him out of his misery.

Getting a brief respite, you’re quick to note that you can no longer use the injured arm in a fight, and you can’t pull the blade out either until you get back to the ship for medical help. So you grimace, bending down to pick up your dropped blade, sheathing it, then tucking your arm close to your body before heading back into the fray.

It only takes two more opponents before it goes downhill again. Barely finishing off one pirate, and you hear, too late, one rushing you from behind. With no time to turn fast enough to dodge in your state, your hands instead fly up, grasping the hilt of the sword impaling you, planting your feet as you shove backwards a step…. the blade slamming into the chest of the attacker before he can even swing his sword, and a harsh wail of pain cracked out of you at the impact as you feel blood start seeping down your front and back.

Zoro is naturally attuned to you and your voice by now, but he had never heard such a sound come from you before, and it was beyond jarring. But he recognized it nonetheless, and he quickly finished his opponent and whipped around on his stretch of battlefield to try and find you.

He finally spots you, but at his angle all he sees is your back to a pirate, your hands holding something by your shoulder, and a blade coming out of the enemy’s back that he assumes is your doing. He only becomes more confused at your lack of movement from this spot.

Zoro has already started walking towards you when he stumbles in horror as he witnesses you pull away from the pirate, the blade pulling out of their chest, them falling away to reveal that the blade is going through you as well, and the startling streak of crimson that has seeped down your back from the wound…. and now he’s sprinting.

He’s fighting off straggling pirates as quickly as he can on his way over, keeping his eyes on you as much as he can, watching as you finally sway and buckle, your hands falling from the hilt as your knees slam into the ground.

Zoro finally reaches you, sliding on his knees to stop in front of you just as you start to raise your hands, as if to grab the blade again, until Zoro’s hands fly up to carefully grasp your elbows to stop the movement, and you let out a pained whimper as you finally notice who’s in front of you.

He quickly looks you over, noting the smaller injuries of a split lip and brow, blood dripping from both down your pretty face, the start of a bruise coloring your cheek, before he snaps his attention back to the blade stuck through you.

You’re becoming dazed as the adrenaline wears off and the exhaustion and hurt sets in in full force, and he barely hears as you mumble seemingly to yourself.

“…. I can’t get it out-“ you trail off.

For once, Zoro hesitates, eyes flicking up to see your unfocused ones, his first instinct being to not cause you further pain. But his logic kicks in and he knows it has to be done at some point. Looking around first, noting how the battle is nearing it’s conclusion, he stands, gripping one hand on your hurt shoulder, and his other wrapping carefully around the hilt, readying, when he looks at you again, still zoned out.

“Just do it,” your voice, tired but resolute, drifts to him.

Without a single warning, Zoro rips the blade out as smoothly as he can manage, wincing as he hears another shriek rip from your lungs before you finally settle.

Throwing the sword away, he immediately kneels back down to gently grasp your shoulders, feeling your slight shaking, and peers into your eyes questioningly, a hand drifting up to cup the less injured side of your face. Finally making eye contact with the swordsman as frantic as you could ever describe him as, you give your head a tired shake as if to tell him “I’m fine, don’t worry about it,” and you see his shoulders relax ever so slightly in response.

Zoro’s eyes widen as you pull away enough to shove yourself to your feet, shooting back to his own feet as he watches you, baffled, lean down to retrieve your dropped sabre and start shuffling in the direction you remember the fight being in.

Running on autopilot, you keep going until you run into a strong arm shot into your shambling path, swiveling your head to look at Zoro as you feel his hand wrap gently but firmly around your arm, keeping you in place.

“Just what the hell do you think you’re doing.” It’s not entirely a question, but a demand, concern seeping through his dark eyes.

“I’m going back to finish the fight,” you mumble like it’s obvious.

All your Demon does is slightly frown and tilt his head as if to say “come on now” and looks at you far more seriously than usual.

“You’re in no state to fight and you know better,” he deadpans to you. “Plus the fight is practically over now anyway.”

It’s then that you finally take an actual look at the compound around you. And realize he’s right, there are only a few stragglers left and your crew mates have it completely handled.

You let out a sigh and your entire body seems to sag in exhaustion, your blade slipping out of your fingers and hitting the ground with a clang, as if it was harder to hold than you were willing to admit. Zoro just gives a small relieved smile as he leans down to pick up your weapon for you. He holds it in one hand as his other arm carefully wraps around your shoulders, holding you firmly enough to keep you from falling over on the way back to the ship or a doctor. Easy enough to find in this village without issue. Zoro was even willing to bet some Berry that they wouldn’t even charge for the visit due to their work here.

You let out a light chuckle, trying to distract from the aches and pains, your arm weakly wrapping around his waist. “Looks like I won’t be able to beat you in training for a while, you must be thrilled.”

You feel his arm tighten around you slightly, and a soft kiss is placed to your temple as he mumbles against your skin, “not exactly the word I’d use.”

[morrigan-writings]

Blade Songs

Roronoa Zoro x GN!Reader

Warnings: no use of y/n, bar brawl, mentions of drinking, harmless sword fight/training

Summary: Wandering the seas as a sword-for-hire, you run into Monkey D. Luffy who promptly encourages you to join the Straw Hat crew. After weeks onboard, Zoro is the last remaining member for you to befriend, but he's avoiding you. After cornering him about and seemingly solving your differences, Zoro makes a complete 180.

A/N: hi there! haven't updated anything in a while simply because I haven't been able to write for a while. However, after watching the live action One Piece show, i got sudden inspiration, so *gestures vaguely at this fic* Small Disclaimer, I have yet to watch the original anime, so this is based solely on the live action. Also this was meant to be a single part oneshot, but once I started writing I realized my original idea needed better exposition to make sense, so part one is just that, part two is the actual plan I had. Enjoy!

The journey of being recruited to the Straw Hats to then becoming actual friends and crewmates with them was a whirlwind adventure in itself, happening in seemingly the blink of an eye.

Luffy had approached you about joining his crew after seeing your skills in combat when you lended aid against bounty hunters that came after the crew during your mutual stay on a more populated pirate island. You had been a wandering sell sword for a few years now, making money where you could, traveling nearly every day. Busy using up some recently earned Berry at the local tavern, you had recognized Luffy when the eclectic group had wandered in, taking up the only empty seats left in place by you at the bar itself. The orange-haired girl ended up next to you, but once you made a comment complimenting her weapon, Luffy took notice and struck up a conversation, telling you all about the crew, how talented they were, and how he planned to become King of the Pirates.

It was during this that the swordsman you recognized as the famous Demon, Roronoa Zoro, finally glanced over in your direction, immediately zeroing in on the two short sabre swords on each hip, and the row of throwing knives stashed along your belt. Not overly flashy, but still clearly finely made blades, clearly used. You dismissed the look, due to already doing the same to the other customers in the vicinity yourself, it was second nature. During this time of chatting with Luffy and a couple others, you took note out of the corner of your eye when a more menacing presence strolled into the tavern, until they rolled right up behind Luffy himself, breathing down his neck until the boy finally turned around.

“Hi there!” a happy grin stretching wide.

The pirate just stared him down, his handful of crew behind him, waiting, until a more sinister grin crawled across his own face. “I take it you’re Luffy.” It wasn’t a question.

“Sure am! And this is my crew!” You carefully watched as Luffy cheerfully answered the man, clocking how Zoro and the blonde did the same, tensing like you all knew where this was going. Your hand slowly started to reach for one of the knives in your belt. Despite having just met, you had taken quite a liking to the kid.

“So here’s the deal, Rubber Boy…. this bounty of your’s is mighty enticing-“ the pirate trailed off, his intent clearly implied as he held up a wanted poster, Luffy’s face grinning back at him wildly.

The captain had just rested his free hand on the hilt of his sword as his crewmates did the same, about to draw, when suddenly a knife imbedded itself right at his feet with a loud thud.

He had barely jumped back a few inches in shock when both crews whipped their attentions over to you, where you had gone back to your drink. The silence was deafening.

Without looking at him, you took another sip. “Now see, I don’t appreciate you threatening my new friend,” you paused, downed the rest of your drink, then finally turned in your seat to face him, “especially when I’m in the middle of enjoying my drink.”

You missed the miniscule smirk Zoro gave, his own hand now resting on his sword hilt, at the ready.

Looking back on it, you can’t recall how exactly it started, who threw the first punch, swung the first sword, but next thing you knew, you all were in a jumbled bar fight, fists flying and blades singing. You remember being briefly shocked when seeing Luffy’s Gum Gum ability in person for the first time, but quickly recovered when more attacks came in. At one point you ended up on top of a table to dodge an attack and got a brief view of the rest of the crew. The blonde man throwing kick after skilled kick, the sharpshooter either hiding or hitting a mark, the girl, Nami, expertly spinning her staff, Luffy throwing hits and dodging hits comically, and finally Zoro with his single katana slicing through the air. You’d be lying if you said you weren’t briefly in awe for a moment before flying back into the fray with your own two blades.

The fight itself didn’t last too long, but it was after that did Luffy approach you, complimenting your skill and thanking you, and then dropping a bomb in the form of offering you to join his crew.

You remember how you glanced at the others, all of them looking like they’ve seen this act before with each other, and unbothered with Luffy’s proposition. Looking back at the young captain, you had contemplated for a moment, explaining to him your profession as a sword-for-hire, a mercenary. Unbothered, he merely shrugged and commented how you must be very good at it, and reminded you that that was what Zoro used to be, and how they could always use another swordsman and protector on the crew, and how you seemed like a great fit.

“What’s your dream?” He peered at you curiously. You almost laughed before realizing he was completely genuine.

You hesitated. “… I don’t know. Never really had the time for any, I guess I’m still figuring it out.”

You had answered as honestly as you could, and luckily Luffy had merely smiled softly and nodded like he completely understood.

“Well, maybe if you traveled with us, we could help you find what it is.”

You gave it another minute before you reached over to shake his hand with a smile.

————————————————————————————————————————————

Time seemed to fly by, days into weeks, until it had been about a month of you being on the crew, with more minor skirmishes and weird adventures here and there. And you had to admit, this was probably the best decision you had made yet, especially after having been on your own for so long.

You had become quick friends with Nami and Usopp after Luffy. You’d entertain Usopp’s wild tales while in turn telling him the (more true) tales of your own adventures, you’d laugh at Luffy’s antics and talk to him about his origins, and you’d visit with Nami while she worked on her maps and navigated.

Sanji was interesting in the fact his flattery and way with words would always get a laugh from you, maybe a snappy comeback thrown back at him in return, until it became less about him flirting with you and more just banter between friends whenever you visited him in the kitchen.

Zoro was a little more difficult. Nami already warned you that he was a more quietly-inclined person, it wasn’t anything personal, he just wasn’t naturally talkative. But you noticed he seemed to be moreso whenever you were around. If he saw you seated for dinner before him, he’d sit in a different corner. If he spotted you on deck, either relaxing or training, he’d casually stroll off again in another direction. Then he just wouldn’t talk to you in general to begin with, unless absolutely necessary.

You’d finally had enough one night, more confused about what you could’ve possibly done to offend him than be offended yourself. So you silently waited, hidden in the rigging, for when you knew his night watch was.

Sure enough, you see him finally wander out of the cabin and begin his walk around the deck. Quietly as you knew how, you carefully slipped down the rigging and ropes, barefoot, until you crept up to within five feet of Zoro-

“What are you doing.”

You started, not too surprised he noticed your presence, but you waited until he actually turned around and looked at you, his usual deadpan expression painted on his face, wrist casually draped off the end of his sword.

You blinked. “Well mostly I had a question for you, and honestly this seemed the only way to make it happen,” you deadpanned back to him, hands loosely in your pockets.

A muscle ticked in his jaw, but that was it. “What’s the question.” His own words sounding more like statements than inquiries.

Shifting on your feet, suddenly a bit nervous, your gaze slipped to the deck beneath you.

“Did I do something to offend you?”

Now it’s Zoro’s turn to blink, surprised. “No. Why would you think that?” His arms cross, you notice his words sound forced.

You look up with a furrowed brow, a confused half smile growing. “You’re joking right? You’ve done nothing but blatantly avoid me since I stepped foot on the Going Merry. Why is that?”

You watched as Zoro remained seemingly unchanged from hearing the accusation, still as a statue. If you had befriended him by now, you’d be able to tell he was actually inwardly scrambling to come up with an excuse to avoid admitting the real answer out loud. Instead you waited, and when he continued his silence, you scoffed lightly, shifting back a couple steps as you started to circle him.

“Alright fine, how ‘bout this?” And you pull your blades from their sheaths, the scrape of metal ringing through the still night air as Zoro watches you, unmoved, from the corner of his eye and you continue circling.

“I’ve seen you fight, and you’ve seen me fight. If you win, I go back inside, no questions asked, and you finish your watch in peace. But if I win, you have to answer my question.” You finally came to a stop off to his right, in easy view of his sword, your feet casually shifting into a ready stance.

You watched as he contemplated it for a few seconds, before turning to you and carefully drawing the katana, the polished blade gleaming silver in the moonlight.

“Sounds fair.”

There was nothing but the sound of the faint breeze sweeping past and the creak of the deck and rigging as you both waited at the ready for who would start off the dance.

You shot forward, feet silent as your two blades met his in a loud ringing clang through the still night. Neither of you said a word as he pushed you off and continued the dance, both of you spinning and blocking, swaying and striking, the rings of metal on metal wavering like music. Where Zoro was like a force of wind in the flow of his movements, you were water, twisting and turning to either avoid or meet his single blade, only to strike with your own right after.

A brief reprieve when you broke apart momentarily had you glancing at your two blades. Looking back to Zoro you pointedly glanced at his one blade, before purposefully storing away one of your own, to match him more evenly. He merely cocked his head, watching, until this time he was the one to shoot forward to restart once again.

Despite having been at it for several minutes, you both seemed to gain a second wind for round two. The two of you now utilized your surroundings more, dodging between barrels, leaping over abandoned equipment, blade meeting blade without pause.

The fight seemed it might have to end in a stalemate with how evenly matched you were, until you saw an opportunity arise.

Spotting a loose piece of rope on the deck, you kicked it into Zoro’s feet, causing him to stumble just briefly enough for you to run at the barrel next to him, jump and leap off it, over Zoro himself, and rolling to a stop right behind him, before you quickly stayed in your crouch and spun your leg out hard into his, knocking him flat on his back.

By the time those couple seconds had passed and Zoro caught back up to the plot, he found the tip of your sabre at his throat, a soft smile on your face.

“Answer my question, please.”

The Demon was stunned enough by you beating him that he immediately answered without overthinking it.

“I was worried you’d want to replace me.”

Zoro watched as your smile immediately faded, briefly realizing he missed it for some reason, and saw your expression turn into bafflement, and then concern as you immediately lowered your blade and stumbled back a step, processing an answer you never expected.

As he pulled himself to his feet, sheathing his katana, you stared into space into the horizon, trying to rationalize why he of all people would have that fear, why he would fear you, until it clicked and you glanced back over to him, the same concern still evident on your features.

“Because we’re both swordsmen?” You voice ghosted over the air between you, still in disbelief.

Zoro looked uncomfortable again, his arms crossing as he avoided your glance.

“…Maybe.”

You watched him carefully for another moment before you sheathed your blade and cautiously approached him until you were a few feet away, still giving him space as you watched him continue to avoid your gaze.

Hesitantly, you finally spoke. “Zoro… you’re one of the best swordsmen out there. A pirate hunter so feared, they named you The Demon. Spared by Dracule Mihawk. And now you’re first mate to Luffy the Devil Fruit Eater,” you smile as you take one step forward. “I understand your concern, but I promise you it’s unfounded. I have no intention of replacing you on the crew. I’m good, but it’s not my dream to become the greatest. That’s your’s. I just want to be part of the crew, maybe also figure out my own fate.”

At that, Zoro finally looks back at you, something in his shoulders finally relaxing as he sees the honesty in your eyes and words as you wait for his reaction.

“And I’d much prefer us to be friends on this journey, rather than just opposite shadows who never speak,” you add into the silence.

You watch as he finally cracks the smallest smile at this, hope blooming in your chest as he now takes a step forward to close the gap more. He looks at you another moment before extending a hand between you both, an olive branch.

“Let’s start over then. I’m Roronoa Zoro.”

You grin back at him brightly as you recite your own name and take his hand in return.

[morrigan-writings]

Anime Fics

One Piece

Roronoa Zoro

Blade Songs // Part One / Part Two

Jujutsu Kaisen

nothing yet :)

[morrigan-writings]

Grishaverse Fics

nothing here yet :)

[morrigan-writings]

does anyone know what happened to @hoonieversed? They were regularly updating a series (be the light) they were writing and I went to open the next chapter and suddenly nothing comes up for them? I see their username in rec posts and their link doesn’t even work or show up, and they’re not on Ao3 either. I loved their work, would anyone happen to know what happened?

[morrigan-writings]

Your favorite writers have stopped updating, not returned from hiatus, or simply deactivated altogether, because they get no support.

If you're one of the people who goes to X writer's inbox and says "I know I don't reblog from you-" lemme just stop you right there.

We have lives. We have duties, things to do, responsibilities, because a big chunk of us are adults. It's okay that you have other things, that you're not always available, that you might be going through something and can't always read or reblog everything. Writers get that.

But no writer wants to see you tell them "Hey, I know I don't reblog from you!"

They know. They're in a slump for a reason. The reason isn't you not reblogging or supporting them, the reason is hardly anyone doing it.

And if you go to them and wave the "hey!! I don't reblog from you even though it's all you ask in return for your free work!" card, chances are, the writer will be upset. They can't very well point out how tactless you're being, because then they might just be cancelled or called out for being rude to you when you are deliberately being tone-deaf to their situation as well.

Like you, writers have lives outside. Writers have jobs, or are searching for them; they have worries, duties, things going on, worries, etc.

The difference is they sit for hours upon hours to write, while it would only take you between a second and a minute to reblog.

Reblogging is absolutely not difficult. Fast reblogging is incredibly quick and practical, but "slow" reblogging isn't slow either. You don't even have to add a comment to the reblog, an empty reblog is just as appreciated.

Supporting your writers is literally not difficult, and if you as a reader and as a consumer aren't going to do it, then it's totally fine if you choose not to. Your life, your blog, your choice.

But don't go at a writer to remind them "Hey I know I'm among the people who doesn't support you but I still like what you write" and expect them to be overwhelmed with joy without feeling the slightest tinge of resentment.

Likes do nothing!!!

If you're in the position to support a writer, do it. It's not hard.

[morrigan-writings]

normal sounding nicknames that are actually short for random words/unconventional names:

Ted, short for Haunted

Levi, short for Leviathan

Sue, short for Suture

Babs, short for Babylon

Nic, short for Funicular

Roy, short for Corduroy

Maggie, short for Magnet

Sassy, short for Assassin

Ward, short for Windward

Fisher, short for Kingfisher

Cal, short for Calligraphy

Vera, short for Veracity

Ava, short for Avalanche

Gil, short for Gilded

Sam, short for Flotsam

[morrigan-writings]

Why do people stop commenting on fics if they’re more than a week or two old? Please comment on old fics. Tell me you like my one shot from 2014. Tell me you like my old multi-chap I finished in 2016 that I spent a year writing. I will be fucking thrilled.

[morrigan-writings]

Random mansion generator

The Procgen Mansion Generator produces large three-dee dwellings to toy with your imagination, offering various architectural styles and other options. Each mansion even comes with floorplans:

https://boingboing.net/2019/07/12/random-mansion-generator.html

[morrigan-writings]

Based on actual events

[morrigan-writings]

Every content creator on this website, constantly: please reblog our stuff so we can actually be seen by more people, likes don’t mean anything

People who consume said content:

[morrigan-writings]

macbeth is shakespeare’s funniest tragedy and mr. macbeth is the funniest character in macbeth. he listens to these creepy old women tell him he’s gonna be king and IMMEDIATELY decides the only thing he can POSSIBLY do is kill a guy and then he waffles about it for a full act and finally comes to the conclusion that it’s morally wrong and then HE DOES IT ANYWAY and his entire fucking life falls apart with an inevitability that is genuinely hilarious

[morrigan-writings]

[morrigan-writings]

So proud of my mother for doing her own research after I sent her that meme. A sign she hung in her car window.

[morrigan-writings]

Fanfiction writers:

[morrigan-writings]

[morrigan-writings]

All Aboard; Part 2

Jacob Frye x Reader

Warnings: fight scenes, brief mention of good ol’ victorian child labor

Summary: The Frye twins and Reader have been tasked with their first targets of the London Templars, with Jacob and Y/N going after Rupert Ferris.

A/N: once again, just rewriting a canon scene but adding in a reader insert just until I get the hang of writing AC characters

I sped over to the first pipe I found, leaping between platforms and swinging on overhanging chains to reach my destination. Landing like a cat, I strolled over to the wheel, glancing around for anyone watching before cranking the mechanism closed, internally cringing at the squeal of metal on metal. I then watched as the accompanying machinery started to slow, then finally come to stop with a metallic screech and loud hiss of steam.

Without passing, I immediately flew off towards the next target, noting that Jacob was currently taking care of the second pipe. Silently running past the tiny gasps of surprise and awe from the nearby children who actually spotted me, I skidded to a halt at the last wheel, Jacob arriving a few seconds later. Shifting the wheel into place, we both watched as the last bits of machinery stilled, a momentary silence filling the space.

It was barely a few seconds later that complaints and frightened words started to arise from the workers. We started to make our way back over just as the door was shoved open, and man clad in red marched through. Blighters.

“What’s all this?!” He snarled, looking between the men nearest him. “Which one of you is responsible?”

We paused on the platform just above the gang member.

I raised an eyebrow at Jacob in question. “After you, madam.” He gave a mocking bow as I answered with my own grin.

Turning back to the man below, I gave a half crouch before leaping and activating my Hidden Blade in the same breath. Air rushed past for a moment before I landed solidly upon the man, blade sinking into his neck.

Cries of panic arose from the nearby workers just as Jacob stuck his landing nearby.

“Who- who are you?!” a random worker cried.

Jacob merely sauntered past, joining me at the now open door. “The sanitary inspector.”

Walking through, we were met with two more Blighters, who had unfortunately witnessed the whole display.

“You’re a dead man! Run along home, boy,” the lead man sneered.

I had already slipped on my brass knuckles just as the scrap broke out, Jacob picking the lead as his opponent, myself sprinting at the one right behind him.

I flung my arm out and kept running, my weaponized fist slamming into the man’s chest as I clotheslined him, knocking him back into the wall behind him. Before he could recover his footing, I spun and slammed my heel into the side of his knee, causing him to yell out in pain right as I nimbly leapt just out of arms reach. 

However it wasn’t enough to deter him as he whipped a knife from his pocket, limping as he rounded on me. I grinned in response, my hands ready in front of me and ready. Frustrated, he lunged blindly, blade reaching out. I simply leaned to the side, grabbing his knife arm, pushing away from my face, and swinging a jab with my other arm into his elbow. Just as the crack of bone sounded out, I had already released my own blade and withdrew my arm, slashing across his throat as I did so, my opponent finally falling to the stone ground.

Just as I turned to see Jacob finishing off his own match, another Blighter rounded the corner, knife at the ready. Just as he turned towards Jacob’s exposed back, I ran and slid, my feet colliding with his legs, sending him sprawling. I had already jumped to my feet before he himself could recover, kicking the hand holding the blade and swinging my own fist into his chest, hearing the remaining air expel from his lungs. 

“Need any help over there, L/N,” more a rhetorical question than anything else, Jacob sauntered over, his own match over.

I stood back up, wiping off my blade as turned towards him. “I do believe that’s now 3 to 1, Frye. Do try to keep up,” I said with smile, already walking over to the large wooden doors across the courtyard. 

Failing at some form of retort, Jacob finally came over to help me shove open the two story tall wood doors, revealing a grand view of the rest of the train yard.

“After you, dear,” I gestured to Jacob, repeating his early statement.

He gave his signature devilish grin. “Ferris, here we come.”

For the next 10 minutes it was a careful race though the area, navigating around civilians and workers, slipping around the occasional Blighter, or silently taking them out when avoidance wasn’t an option. Jacob was eager to keep moving, too intent on the end target and leaving me to retrieve any of our throwing knives. Looting some spare change for my trouble kept me from tripping him out of frustration.

Finally we reached one of the bigger warehouses of the yard. Slipping in was easy, but creeping through without being noticed had slightly more difficulty.

Jacob took to skulking around on the ground level, taking out any other gang members as discreetly as Jacob Frye is able; meanwhile I scrambled up a nearby support beam and took to clearing the upper levels. 

We had reached nearly the opposite end of the ongoing warehouse when I finally spotted our target from my vantage point on the rafters. After signaling to Jacob, he took no time in climbing up to rest next to me.

“Found him,” I muttered, staring into the windows of the small office suspended on one of the catwalks.

“Ferris?” the twin confirmed.

I nodded. “Shall we?”

A few short moments later, the horrible man once known as Rupert Ferris was now growing cold on the floor. A shiver ran through me as the memory corridor faded, the man having used his last moments to spout more accusations and Templar rhetoric; they were always a touch disorienting. 

“It’s time we took our leave, Jacob dear,” I stated as my companion swiped a handkerchief across the Templar’s throat, through the blood dribbling there.

“Right you are” he gave a nod, turning towards the back stairwell. “I believe we have a train to catch.”

The train had barely started moving when we leapt down onto one of it’s carriage roofs. However we weren’t out of the industrial woods yet, as a few sharp yells cut through the air behind us, Blighters having followed us onto the train.

“Impeccable timing’” Jacob muttered.

“After you,” smiling at him, I motioned towards the threat.

It was quick work as before, but with the added challenge of a moving fight ring. Fists and knives flying, it didn’t take too long for the both of us to send our opponents flying off the train, Jacob clearly having the time of his life as he gleefully yelled “Tickets please!” after one of falling victims.

Train passed through a bridge and suddenly a horse-drawn cart dashed by, matching the speed of the machine and driven by two more Blighters.

Jacob only gave a laugh. “Lost your bottle, boys?”

However we watched on in confusion as they didn’t make a move to engage, but rather sped up to a lever by the tracks, using a club to slam it in the opposite direction before driving off. 

Our questions were soon answered as the locomotive soon swerved down a different direction of tracks and gave the telltale lurch of someone pulling the brakes in a panic. I watched as the conductor threw himself out of the engine car, rolling over and over in the dirt and rocks, ad we soon saw why.

The tracks needed to bridge a gap, and that bridge wasn’t anywhere near finished.

A quiet “oh no” left my lips at the same time Jacob snatched my hand and yanked it along as he started sprinting in the other direction, hoping we could outrun a falling train.

He had to quickly let go as we started leaping the gaps between cars, bare meters from the edge the machine was launching itself off of, booming crashes and explosions the only evidence of what awaited us below. It all came to a head when we clearly a stack of cargo on an open cart, but as the tie-downs let go, the toe of my boot caught on one of the ropes snapping from the tension. I went down with a cry, Jacob slamming to a halt to try and grab me, barely missing by mere inches before having to grab onto a handhold, my own fingers latching onto the wood slats of the flooring as the cart fell and finally came to a stop dangling over the edge.

“You alright, love?” worry lacing Jacob’s voice as he called down to me.

Glancing up briefly from the wreckage, I gave him an affirming nod. “Well, we seem to have made an unscheduled stop.”

Jacob let out a nerve-wracked burst of laughter as he began to climb down the flooring slats; unfortunately this bit of movement was the persuasion the cart needed to give one last violent lurch downward, the violent motion breaking my grip free as gravity took over.

“Y/N!” the shout wrenched from Jacob, just as I slammed into a new handhold a few feet lower.

“I’m fine, but I really do recommend we get down from here quickly,” speaking around my now very sore ribs, I started to climb my way down, until letting go and dropping onto the mangled roof of one of the carriages. 

Jacob immediately followed suit, grabbing onto my hand for each other’s balance as we stumbled and leaped through the burning debris.

We clambered up to the top of an upended carriage, just as it silently swayed under our added weight, giving only a few seconds warning for us to launch off in a panic, hitting the ground hard and rolling right as the beast of wood and metal slammed to the earth mere feet from our landing spot.

Breathing hard and trying to collect ourselves after the entirety of the ordeal, jacob rested a hand on my shoulder where I was bent over slightly, hands braced on my knees.

“Maybe next time, we’ll walk.”