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thegladelf · 1 year

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An Open Heart is An Open Wound 13/?

Guess who's back! *nervous laugh emoji*

I know it's been a while. Life got busy and writing got hard, but uh, we've gone down another Captain Swan rabbit hole and that led to old fanfic and that led to me realizing that I still had at least a couple of chapters outlined. So I dunno if I have it in me to finish this fic, but I'm going to get y'all as far as I can. I've forgotten a lot of what I originally had planned, but luckily I have notes for some of it and the show for the rest. There's at least one more chapter coming after this and I know it's going to make a lot of people happy. (No beta to credit this time, we die like Liam Jones now)

Last Chapter | From Beginning | AO3

Summary: Killian was sent to our world to find a cursed town called Storybrooke, but his quest was derailed when he met Emma Swan. Drawn together by a past that is more similar than either of them realize. For a time, they were family. Then things changed and Killian left to complete his mission. Now, ten years later, Emma has come to Storybrooke and it’s Killian must decide whether he should pick up the pieces. (Alternate universe retelling of Season One.)

Word count: 10.8k

# # #

“Whatcha reading?”

“The Hulk versus Wolverine.”

Killian didn’t recognize the first voice at the end of the aisle, but the second was one he knew well. Not wanting to startle the lad, he ceased his perusal of the baking goods—he knows there are ready made breakfast foods, but he prefers making things from scratch and free of all those words he doesn’t know—peering over the shelf tops to find his son holding up a colorfully illustrated book for the inspection of a girl not too much older. She stood a bit taller than Henry, her hair cascading over her shoulders in golden waves. Her clothes echoed his school uniform, which made sense he supposed, as there was only one school that he knew of in this town and it got out a few minutes ago.

“I’m Ava,” the girl supplied.

As she spoke, someone brushed past Killian drawing his attention. Another child in a school uniform, this one a dark-haired boy with his arms full of toiletries. He strode casually past, seemingly unaware of Killian's presence. Killian noted the care in his step, his suspicion confirmed as the lad crouched down at the end of the aisle, quietly reaching for Henry’s backpack on the floor.

“I think I’ve seen you around school,” Ava continued as her accomplice slipped his items inside Henry’s backpack. “You’re in Miss Blanchard’s class, right?”

The second lad stood quickly, stepping forward. “Almost ready, Ava?”

A flicker of unease flashed across Ava’s face as she acknowledged the new boy. “This is my brother, Nicholas.”

Indecision stayed Killian’s hand for only a moment. He and Emma had used similar tactics on more than one occasion, and from the look of these children, they needed the items. But they were involving Henry in their actions and that he couldn’t let slide, no matter that he had been in their position on many occasions. Hadn’t he often nicked things while good, polished Liam distracted the cart owners?

“Hi,” Nicholas said, touching his sister’s arm. “Come on – let’s go.”

The girl smiled at Henry. “You want to come hang out?”

Henry’s bright reply stabbed at Killian’s emotions as he stepped forward, but the shop’s proprietor was eyeing the threesome with narrowed eyes—though that might just be the continual cold the balding man seemed to suffer from.

“Hold up just a minute there, mate,” Killian said, resting his hand on Henry’s shoulders. With his hook, he caught one of the many loops on Henry’s rucksack, sliding the zipper open to reveal the stolen goods. “I don’t think you want to be going anywhere with these two until they’ve returned these things.”

Ava stared up at Killian, like a rat caught in a trap, her fists balled at her sides. The boy — already halfway to the door — bolted the rest of the distance. His sneakers skidded against the tile floor as nasally challenged Clark slapped his hand over the door.

“Where the hell do you think you’re going?” he demanded of Nicholas. He sneezed and dabbed at his nose with a crumpled handkerchief. “Don’t think I didn’t see you rob me.”

Henry’s lip trembled as he looked at the pair of siblings and despite Killian’s common experience with these waifs, he felt the flare of anger at how they had taken advantage of such a good heart as Henry’s.

“That’s why you were talking to me,” his son accused. “So your brother could put that stuff in there.”

Ava bowed her head, at least having the decency to be ashamed. Her brother glared at Clark, but remained silent.

Clark grabbed the boy by his arm, roughly pushing his toward the counter and his register. “I don’t know who you two think you are—don’t you go anywhere missy, you come right over here with your brother.”

He glared until she obeyed, though it wasn’t surprising, she didn’t seem keen to leave her brother. A trait she shared with Liam, he truly hadn’t known when to let Killian go either.

Clark grabbed a phone just to the side of the register. “I’m calling your parents—all of your parents,” he said, with a look at Henry. “And then I’m calling the sheriff.”

“Surely that’s not necessary,” Killian said. “It’s toilet paper and food stuffs. Certainly you can let it slide so long as the children put it back and promise not to engage in such activities again.”

“Certainly I will not,” Clark shot back. “I won’t stand for thieves in my store.” He schlumped around the counter, yanking the bag from Killian’s grasp. He threw it on the counter with a thunk. Carefully, he unpacked the bag, sneering at Henry’s school books as he called Emma and then attempted to call the children’s parents. From Killian’s side of the conversation, the former appeared more fruitful than the latter. The man tried to dismiss Killian, but as he showed no sign of releasing Henry as well Killian opted to stay.

Besides, he recognized the look in the children’s eyes. They might need a champion to plead their case.

Emma and Regina must have both been in their offices, for they arrived at nearly the same time. Regina’s black sedan whipping into a spot behind the curb, she was up and out of the vehicle, slamming the door behind her, as Emma’s cruiser pulled into the space behind her. Killian bit back a smile at the sight of her rolling her eyes as Regina stormed through the door.

“What’s all this about?” the mayor demanded.

The clerk pulled himself up to his full height, which was still several inches shorter than the mayor. “Well, I’m sorry, Madam Mayor, but your son was shoplifting.”

“That’s a lie,” Killian said. “I saw the whole thing myself. Henry had no idea.”

“See?” Regina said. She grabbed the olive bag, zipping it closed with finality. “We’re going.”

Emma breezed through the door in time to halt Regina’s progress out of the shop. She paused, her eyes sliding over the scene, taking in each person. Her jacket rode up on her shoulders as she propped her hands on her hips, finally zeroing in on their son.

“Henry.” She sounded surprised. “What happened?”

Regina sighed. “Miss Swan, must I remind you that genetics mean nothing.” She spoke forcefully, her arm curling around Henry’s shoulders and drawing him closer. “You’re not his mother and it’s all taken care of.”

Her words made Killian’s blood boil, but Emma didn’t even flinch. Her calm demeanor reminded him of their bargain. Though he wanted to, giving Regina the dressing down she deserved would only strain things between the two and they had Henry to think of. For his sake, there needed to be peace between his mother’s.

“I’m here because I’m the Sheriff,” Emma said, with a sarcastic tilt of her head.

“Oh, that’s right.” Sounding disappointed rather than humbled, Regina stepped back, nodding at the boy and girl. “Go on, do your job. Take care of those miscreants.”

Emma sighed, but said nothing else to Regina as she and Henry left to the chiming of the bell. Ava and Nicholas eyed Emma’s badge warily. Killian found he wanted to comfort them, offer some assurances that Emma would set things right. He kept silent though, it was not his place to make promises for her.

“Did you call their parents?” she asked Clark, fiddling with her keys.

“Uh, the number they gave me was disconnected,” Clark said. With an exasperated huff, he circled back around the counter and started packing the items into a little, blue shopping basket. Though he kept his head down, the tilt of his head made it clear he followed every word of the interrogation.

“Did you guys give Mr. Clark a fake number?”

The children shook their heads.

“Then why’s it disconnected?”

The boy hung his head and tears sprung into the girl’s eyes.

“Cause our parents couldn’t pay the bill,” Ava said, soft and broken.

Emma picked up the nearest item, a tube of toothpaste. She gave the small box far more scrutiny than it deserved. Remembering her own childhood, no doubt.

Emma met his gaze when she looked up, but focused on the children once again. “And you guys are just trying to help out, huh?”

“Please,” Ava whispered. “Please don’t arrest us. It will just make things worse for our parents.”

Clark sighed, setting the basket down on the counter with a thud. He leveled a disapproving glare at Emma.

“The items never left the store, Mr. Clark,” Emma said. “I think you can let it go this once.”

“And what about the next time?” the man asked in his nasal whine.

Killian shook his head. Henry hadn’t found the time to acquaint him with every character in the book—though he suspected that the lad had at last figured out who Mr. Gold was—but they had found a few stolen moments here and there for Henry to acquaint Killian with the people most pivotal with his grandparents' story. He couldn’t imagine anyone putting up with Clark for very long, let alone as long as Snow White and the other dwarves had.

“There won’t be a next time,” Emma said, fixing a stern look on the cowed children.

“And you’ll be compensated for the items,” Killian put in. He fished his wallet out of his jacket pocket, laying out the money that would have paid for the few items he needed. He could manage one more morning of only citrus for breakfast and come back tomorrow. “Ring them up.”

“Hook…” Emma said.

“No, I insist.” He smiled at the children. “I’ve been there a time or two myself. Their intentions are good, even if their methods are suspect.”

Emma smiled at that. “Can’t argue with that.”

“Fine,” Clark said and then sneezed.

The children glanced at each other, their mouths hanging open.

“Thank you, Mister,” Ava finally said. “We promise it won’t happen again.”

With a smile, Killian wondered if she meant they wouldn’t steal again or simply that they wouldn’t get caught.

# # #

“I could’ve taken care of all that,” Emma said as she watched Ava and Nicholas trot merrily up to her squad car.

Killian shrugged, letting the door swing closed behind him and cut out the jingling bell above it.

“My brother and I were very much like them, once upon a time. Though we didn’t have parents to go home to.” He grimaced, closing his eyes like he wanted to shut out a particularly painful memory. It was one of the most concrete details he had ever shared with her about his past. With a scratch behind his ear, he continued, “The kindness of a stranger could have changed both of our lives.”

Emma pressed her lips together. “Yeah, too bad there aren’t more strangers like you out there.”

He snorted. “That’s probably a good thing, Swan.” He threw a flourishing gesture toward the kids leaning against the car. “Would you like some help transporting them back home?”

“I’ll add that one to the list,” she said, rolling her eyes.

“What list?” Killian asked, brow furrowing.

“The list of people you think I can’t handle,” she replied, sticking her hands in her back pockets. Her eyes strayed down the street, eyeing the pawnbroker’s sign swaying in the wind. “Should I put preteens before or after middle-aged men who use a cane?”

Killian tensed. “That is hardly something to joke about.”

“Lighten up, Hook. I know you don’t like the guy, but I think I could take him in a fight.”

Killian grunted, staring so hard at the kids she thought he might burn a hole through Nicholas’ head.

“Hey,” she said. “I don’t like him either. And I don’t plan on looking for trouble. Though if he keeps showing up at work…”

“What?” Killian snapped, tearing his gaze from the children. “When?”

Emma held her hands up, more to tell him to chill out than to push him away. “Whoa. He was there the day after the election is all. Wanted to give me Graham’s jacket.”

“And you’re just mentioning this now?” he demanded. “What did he do? Did he threaten you?”

“Stop it,” she said, aware of the two kids watching not far away. Grabbing his arm, she pulled him a little further down the street, turning him so those flashing blue eyes wouldn’t get the kids all worried. She sighed. “He wanted to congratulate me or whatever. Apparently, my standing up to him was all part of some master plan to get me elected.”

She suppressed a shudder, remembering the silent way Gold appeared at her office door two weeks ago. She hadn’t even known he was there until he spoke and nearly scared her out of her skin.

“Emma,” Killian pleaded, “I need to know things like this.”

“No,” she snapped. “You don’t. Look, your problems with Gold are not my problems with Gold. I don’t know what happened between you two, but until you care to tell me what he did that was so awful, I’m going to handle him based on my own experience. Got it?”

Killian pinched the bridge of his nose, eyes closed, but he didn’t say anything.

“I’ll see you around,” she said, pushing past him.

The kids slid inside the car as soon as she popped the locks, setting the white plastic bag with the groceries Killian had purchased between them. Ava rattled off an address with a speed that stoked the burning suspicion already coiling in her gut.

Emma expected yellowed, peeling paint and maybe a boarded up window, but the house she ended up at was a calming blue and looked well maintained. The yard neatly cut and the steps leading up to the door swept clean. It was in better shaped than Ava in her ratty sweater and Nicholas with his shaggy haircut.

“This it?” she asked, throwing the gear into park. At the kids nod, she unhooked her seatbelt.

“Please, no,” Ava said, sinking into the backseat. Her fingers tightened around the belt buckle. “If our parents see you, they’ll be so embarrassed.”

Emma twisted, her jacket squeaking against the leather seat as she faced the kids fully. “Did Henry tell you about my superpower?”

Ava shook her head. “We just met him.”

“I have the ability to tell when anyone is lying.” Emma softened her voice, trying not to sound too harsh as she met first Nicholas and then Eva’s eyes. “Tell me the truth, money problems aside, is everything okay at home?”

They both nodded too vigorously.

“Yeah, we’re great,” Ava answered, but her words sounded hollow. Rehearsed. “Can we go?”

Emma contemplated calling them out, but thought better of it. Something was off for sure, but she needed to know more before she could decide what to do. “Alright.” She inclined her head toward the door.

Both of them flashed her relieved smiles as they piled out of the car, the bags in their hands. The sun caught Ava’s messy waves as they bounced against her back. The girl turned and waved to Emma from the top step, her smile bright and very, very fake. With a nod, Emma shifted the car into drive and pulled away from the curb. The kids watched her in the rearview mirror, so Emma kept going until she rounded the corner of the street and couldn’t see them anymore.

She parked against the curb and jumped out. Brittle, winter grass crunched under her boots as she crept through a yard, peeking around a bush just in time to see the kids disappear around the side of the house. Emma took off after them, careful to stay just far enough behind that they wouldn’t catch her lurking.

The pelted across a deserted street, leading her through an overgrown yard and past useless, rusting trucks. Finally, Nicholas tossed the bags to Ava and used a trash can to scramble over a fence. The girl did the same. Emma almost went after them, but decided against it, noting instead the dilapidated, white house that appeared to be their true home.

She circled around. The house was old and obviously abandoned. She wondered why it hadn’t been listed in the paper all those weeks back when she had been looking for a home. She probably could have afforded this one too, she thought and immediately scoffed at the idea. Emma Swan was not the type to own a house. Renting worked just fine for her, thank you very much.

Every window on this house was boarded up, but the front door had a simple lock. Biting back a smile, Emma knelt, making quick work of the lock. Dust littered the air when she entered and she suppressed a sneeze. Light filtered in through the old boards, landing on a trap door that led into the basement and the floor creaked loud enough to provide sound effects for the movie Twister. Emma paused, stepping down on the board that protested so loudly, making groan again.

That should do it, she thought.

Quickly, she ducked down a hallway and waited to see who would be the first up from the basement.

Before long, Ava and Nicholas came tiptoeing through the house, Nicholas holding on tightly to his sister’s hand. They missed Emma in her little corner, peering instead into the kitchen.

“Why’d you guys lie to me?” Emma asked, stepping out of the shadows. “Where are your parents?”

The kids spun toward her, eyes wide. Nicholas pressed his mouth shut tight, but Ava lifted her head, a hint of a challenge in her posture as she said, “We don’t have any.”

She knew she had recognized the look in their eyes. Now the questions was, what could she do about it?

# # #

After she escorted them down into the basement—which was in even worse shape than upstairs, despite the furniture crowded together in an attempt to create a home—Emma had the kids gather up all their things and marched them back down the road to her squad car. They went without complaint, both eyeing her warily, but seeming to accept the inevitable.

She knew what she should do. Cases like this were social services business not hers, but every time she looked in the rearview mirror and saw their dejected faces, it reminded her of what would happen to them if she made that call.

“What happened to your parents?” she asked.

“Our mom died a couple of years ago,” Ava, the appointed spokesperson for the pair, said. She fiddled with her hair, wrapping and unwrapping a strand around her finger with frenetic energy. Gone was the calm, cool exterior.

“And your dad?”

Ave just shrugged.

She knew what she should do, but that was exactly what had been done with her, wasn’t it? The people who had handed her from home to home were just doing their jobs. Her grip on the steering wheel tightened, what was it Killian had said about the kindness of strangers? Her life could have been so different if even one person had truly cared about her.

So she decided she would care about these kids. She was going to do her best to make sure they didn't get separated. Maybe she lacked any real idea of what to do exactly, but there had to be something.

“Hey, I need to stop by the station real quick to pick up some stuff,” she said, glancing up at them through the mirror. “But you’re not in trouble, okay? I’m going to take you to my house and get you some real food and then we’ll figure out what to do.”

Ava sighed, groping for her brother’s hand. “Thank you,” she whispered.

They opted to wait in the squad car, so she left the keys in the ignition and hopped inside for a few minutes as she searched through the records for anything related to them or their mom. She found a file, an autopsy report, with the name Ava had given her for their mother, but not much else.

The car was still there when she came back out and only then did it occur to her that they could have stolen it. Emma shook her head. Intentions aside, she needed to be a little more careful with these two.

Twenty minutes later found them back at the loft, a pot full of mac and cheese on the stove as Emma and the kids ate. Both children had tucked into their food with relish, shoveling it into their mouths like it might disappear.

“Hey,” she said, waiting for them both to pause and look up at her. “There’s as much of that as you want. I’ll even make another box if you’re still hungry, just don’t make yourselves sick.”

Nicholas swallowed, nodding. They both continued with a little more patience this time. Ava’s fork scraped the bottom of her bowl just as the apartment door opened and Mary Margaret walked in.

“So I hear that—” Mary Margaret froze, gaping at the two kids now sitting at her kitchen table.

Emma’s chair squealed against the floor as she pushed it back. “Guys, this is my roommate Mary Margaret. I need to talk with her for a minute.” She jerked a thumb back at the kitchen. “I won’t eat more than this, so you can have the rest if you want.”

Both kids jumped to their feet, bowls clutched in their hands.

Mary Margaret couldn’t seem to decide where to look. Finally, she said, “Uh, what did you need to talk about?”

Emma pulled her back into the bedroom, the file weighing heavily against her conscience. She knew how many rules she was breaking.

“They need a place to stay for a couple of nights,” Emma said.

“What? Why?” Mary Margaret hissed. “What happened to their parents?”

Quickly, Emma spilled the details of their little adventure at Clark’s store. Her roommate pressed a hand to her mouth as she listened to Emma’s description of the house they had been living in.

“They’re wearing the uniforms from your school,” Emma finished. “Do you know them?”

“I’ve seen them, but…: She shook her head. “I had no idea. None of us did.”

Emma sighed, a small part of her relieved that Mary Margaret hadn’t been close to these two. She didn’t know what she would have done if her roommate had had suspicions about the kids’ home life and said nothing.

“Ava and Nicholas Zimmer.” Emma opened the autopsy file again, her eyes scanning the documents. She saw no mention of the kids, just like she hadn’t found anything about them the first time she read through it. Mom had apparently passed from some form of cancer. “They said their mother was a woman named Dorrie Zimmer. She died a few years ago.”

Mary Margaret fiddled with one of the buttons on her blouse. “And the father?”

“There isn’t one. At least not one that they know.”

“What does, uh… What does social services say?” Mary Margaret asked. She took a step forward when Emma stayed silent. “You didn’t report them.”

Emma leaned in, lowering her voice even more. “I report them, I can’t help them. They go into the system.”

“The system that’s supposed to help,” her roommate countered.

“Yeah, says the woman who wasn’t in it for sixteen years,” Emma snapped in a hushed voice.

Mary Margaret stepped back, swallowing nervously.

Emma pushed on. “Do you know what happens? They get thrown into homes where they are a meal ticket, nothing more.” She peeked behind her again, glad to see the kids settled with their second bowls of cheesy goodness. She caught Mary Margaret watching too. “These families get paid for these kids and as soon as they’re too much work, they get tossed out and it all starts over again.”

“But they’re not all like that.” Mary Margaret shook her head.

“All the ones I was in.”

Pity filled Mary Margaret’s eyes, but not for the kids, this time she directed it at Emma. “What? We’re just going to adopt them?”

And there was the crux of the matter. There wasn’t room here, neither of them were exactly in the position to take on two kids. Emma had no delusions on that hand, she wasn’t even equipped to handle Henry. And Mary Margaret…well, she’d want kids of her own someday, there was no home for them with her. Maybe a few weeks ago she would have given up and consigned them to the system with a heavy heart, but standing in the kitchen she had remembered her argument with Killian. It took him only a few minutes to accept Henry as his son, only a few minutes to demonstrate just how wrong keeping it from him had been. What if Dorrie Zimmer had made the same mistake all those years ago?

“I want to look for their father,” she said. “They don’t know him. He may not know they exist.”

Mary Margaret’s eyebrows shot up. “And you think if he knows, he’ll want them?”

Emma wanted the answer to be yes. But she wasn’t, she couldn’t. Maybe Killian had proved her wrong—and the jury was still out on that one, because he could up and leave at any time—but she didn’t even know if she had ever met this other guy.

“I don’t know,” she admitted. Emma wrapped her arms around herself, trying not to think of cold hands and clothes that smelled like trash bag. “But what I do know is it’s hard enough finding foster families to take one kid that isn’t theirs, let alone two. It’s their best shot, or—”

A soft gasp burst out behind her. “We’re going to be separated?” Ava stared at them, her face red and tears in her eyes. Her exclamation had drawn her brother’s attention, he paused, spoon halfway to his mouth, eyes going wide.

“No,” Emma said, too quickly to think about what she was saying. “That’s not going to happen.”

“Please…” Ava’s lip trembled. “Please don’t let it.”

“Emma’s going to do her best, sweetie,” Mary Margaret said, with a hard look at Emma. “Now, as good as that dinner looks, I think it’s missing some dessert. Why don’t you help me bake some cookies while Emma tries to figure this out.”

Ava swallowed, but nodded despite tears still in her eyes.

The kids were reserved the rest of the night. Nodding and answering in monosyllables when they could. Despite all of Emma’s patience, they didn’t know any more about their dad than they told her in the squad car.

She let them take her bed, volunteering to sleep on the couch. Mary Margaret offered the other half of her bed, but that felt too…cozy for Emma. Too much like it meant something, like they were best friends who braided each other’s hair and swapped stories about boys. That made Emma feel guilty, because if it weren’t for Henry she would leave Storybrooke behind and never look back.

The kids didn’t have any real pajamas, they just apparently slept in their clothes and changed the next day, so Mary Margaret unearthed a couple of t-shirts and some sweatpants for them to sleep in. They disappeared upstairs with soft good nights after changing into the new clothes and handing over their old uniforms to be thrown in the washer with all their dirty clothes.

That would be a plus, at least, Emma thought as she tried for the third time to get comfortable on the couch. She remembered many, many days wishing she could do more than air her few outfits. Every now and then, she’d save up enough for a corner laundromat, but clean clothes were a luxury when you had to steal to eat.

Emma wanted to do better for them though. Better than a couple of meals and clean clothes and a night in a warm house. She pulled the blanket a little closer. She knew exactly what nights in that old house must have been like.

She would do better for them. They’re birth certificates had to be at city hall. She could start there. Maybe there would be something on their birth certificate or in the hospital records.

Yeah, there had to be something. She smiled. It sounded like something Henry would say.

She drifted off, thinking maybe, just maybe she could be the kind of stranger Killian mentioned earlier that day.

# # #

Ava nearly cried when Mary Margaret handed her a uniform smelling of Downy. Even Nicholas ducked away when he thought they weren’t looking and swiped at his eyes.

It was odd, having two near teenagers to get up and fed and ready for school all of a sudden and she couldn’t help wondering what it would be like to have Henry sitting around the table with them. To be handing him a clean sweater and telling him to hurry up in the bathroom. Both children tried to take their time in the shower, but Mary Margaret hurried them along with promises of letting them shower later that evening until the hot water ran out.

They went to school with her, while Emma headed over to City Hall, ready to brave the musty archives and hoping she might find something — anything — to give these kids a chance.

In a rather stereotypical fashion, the Office of Records was in the basement, tucked away down a practical labyrinth. Emma wandered into three other offices before she finally got directions to the right one.

A huge, oak counter stood between her and the rest of the room. Behind it was set after set of library style filing bins, all of them in the same matching wood. Every flat surface was covered in files and binders and odd papers. A man sat amidst the chaos, his attention on a computer that could probably give life advice to the ones at the sheriff’s station. Half bald, with a beer belly and a rumpled button-down shirt, he was oblivious to Emma’s arrival until she called out.

“Excuse me. Mr…” She examined the nameplate and made her best guess. “Krzyszkowski?”

The man let out a long-suffering sigh. “Yeah, it’s Krzyszkowski.” Pronouncing it like there was a ‘v’ at the end, though, there wasn’t. Emma checked. He stood, weaving around a table to get to the counter. “Everyone calls me K.”

“Mr. K,” she repeated, relieved to have a name she would be less likely to embarrass herself saying. “I am Sheriff Swan. I’m hoping to look at the birth certificates of Ava and Nicholas Zimmer.”

He reminded her a bit of a rat, with his beady, dark eyes. If Emma expected some curiosity or blustering, she would have been disappointed. Krzyszkowski reached for one of the papers behind the counter immediately and pulled up a handful.

“Alright, just, uh, fill out this form.” He slapped the papers onto the wooden surface, killing the small, foolish part of Emma that had hoped for just a moment it would be that easy. He lifted an industrial stamper, big enough to be a serious contender in a game of Clue and stomped it down on all three pages. “In triplicate.”

Emma blinked, surprised that it was that easy, despite her crushed—but unrealistic—hopes. The form only wanted basic information, record keeping for who saw what records she assumed, no signing over your firstborn or requests for certification.

“Okay.” She plucked up the first form. The desk had one of those ball-and-chain pens, the swinging chain causing her handwriting to wobble slightly.

“I’m so sorry,” the man said from his spot halfway across the room. He stood at one of the filing cabinets, his fingers still shoved inside a file holder. “Those documents have been recently removed.”

“By who?” Emma asked.

Somehow she already knew the answer.

“By the mayor,” he replied. He examined the one piece of paper that was in that file. “Just this morning actually.”

Of course.

Of course, Regina dug her fingers into this already. It was so like her, to want to meddle in something that had nothing to do with her whatsoever and step in to do Emma’s job when she was already doing it. Sort of.

“Thanks,” Emma said. “I guess I’ll just go see her about those then.” She left the forms sitting on the counter, one of them only half completed.

How had Regina known who to look for? Had she gotten their names before she left Clark’s shop yesterday? Maybe she’d been so offended that the kids tried to involve Henry she meant to give the parents a piece of her mind, or whatever it was suburban soccer mom types gave when they felt miffed.

Maybe Regina had planned to show up on their doorstep with a basket of apples.

Emma snorted at that, but reeled herself in quickly. Laughing would not get her into Regina’s good graces, and she needed to do that if she planned to help these kids.

The receptionist stopped her as she entered. “Do you have an appointment?”

“No,” Emma said, “but I need to talk with her about the Zimmer case. Tell her that.”

The receptionist stared for a moment, but when Emma didn’t budge, she got up and shuffled into Regina’s office, closing the door firmly behind her. Emma crossed her arms and resisted the urge to tap her foot. The woman returned shortly, the open door she left behind her the only sign that Emma had permission to enter. With a deep breath, she walked into the office, hands stuffed into her back pockets.

Regina shuffled papers on her desk, barely glancing at Emma as she entered. “Don’t worry, Miss Swan. You can relax,” she said, her hand resting on the file Emma needed. “I’ve contacted social services. Turns out these kids are on their own.” She grimaced, as though the thought pained her, though whether that was genuine or an act was hard to tell. “They need help.”

“Which is exactly what I’m trying to do,” Emma said. If they had an equal goal, maybe Regina could be reasoned with. After all, she had no connection to these kids other than their brief contact with Henry.

What did it matter to her what happened to them? “I’m trying to find their father.”

Regina sighed, handing over the file. “Well, he doesn’t exist.”

Emma took the file with a roll of her eyes. “He has to.”

“Well, of course, biologically he exists,” Regina said. “But there’s no record of him.”

Sure enough, where they would have put the father’s name, only the word “Unknown” was written. Disappointment hit Emma solid and low, but she tried not to react. Not in front of Regina.

The other woman fiddled with a pen. “Which means we have no choice.These children need a home, so they will be put into the foster system.”

Any part of Emma that thought Regina’s concern might be genuine vanished at the look of smug satisfaction on Regina’s face. Of course. If Emma was invested in this, Regina wanted to thwart it. And Regina had the law on her side too.

“Storybrooke has a foster system?” Emma waited, already knowing what Regina’s answer would be.

“No, but I’ve contacted the state.” Regina moved around the desk with more ease than anyone wearing a pencil skirt had a right to, speaking in flat, clinical tones. She lifted a pitcher of orange juice — probably hand-squeezed and organic if she was as strict with what she ate as she was with Henry — pouring herself a glass as she explained, “Maine’s group homes, unfortunately, are filled. But they put us in touch with two homes in Boston – a boy’s home and a girl’s.”

The steady thrum of unease that started with the mention of group homes exploded into full-blown dread.

“They’re separating them?” she gasped.

“I don’t like it, either,” Regina said, though her tone was hard to read. “But we’ve got no choice. You need to have them in Boston tonight.”

Emma’s stomach sank to her knees. “Me?”

Regina turned on her, sipping at her glass before speaking. “Well, you wanted to be Sheriff. This is what sheriffs do. Yes, you’re taking them.”

“No,” Emma said with full knowledge that she was being childish. Maybe she couldn’t stop them from being separated, but she would not be the one that delivered them to those homes. She never wanted to be within a mile of another group home for as long as she lived. “I promised them they wouldn’t be separated.”

“Well then, perhaps you should stop making promises you can’t keep.” Regina waited for a moment, her face softening as she approached Emma. “These children need a home. I’m just trying to find the best one.”

“So am I,” Emma retorted.

Regina shrugged. “He left them once. Even if you did find him, that’s not guarantee he’ll want them.” She set her glass down. “I see the appeal of the idea, Miss Swan, really I do. But better a sure home than letting them depend on a man we already know they can’t trust, don’t you think?”

Emma’s grip on the folder tightened. “Fine. I’ll do it. But they get to finish the school day first.”

“A wise decision,” Regina said, smiling coldly. “Best not to make a scene.”

“Madam Mayor.” Emma nodded and headed for the door, the file still clutched in her hand. Her spine crawled. Every step she was sure Regina would call for her to bring the file back, but no such call came. She got out the door and down the stairs and back to the station before she took a full breath, but no one stopped her. No one called her out for a liar.

Not that she had lied. School ran until two, so she had until then to figure something out.

# # #

“Any luck?” Henry walked into Emma’s office and her heart sank.

An odd feeling to associate with Henry. Until now, she hadn’t realized that seeing him usually made her day brighter. His arrival, however, signaled the end of the school day and — since Emma still had no plan — the end of her window to find Ava and Nicholas’ father.

“No,” she said, closing the file she was sifting through. She had all the records from the year Ava and Nicholas were born, searching through for any mention of Dorrie and her possible baby daddy.

Henry dumped his bag and set the storybook down with a thunk, heedless of the mess on Emma’s desk. “I know who they are. They’re brother and sister. Lost. No parents. Hansel and Gretel.”

For just a brief moment, her spirits lifted, until she realized just how ridiculous that was. Henry spoke of fairytale characters and they needed a real life, flesh and blood person. Still, he was trying to help.

“Anything in there about the dad?” she asked, more out of habit than hope.

Henry shook his head. “Just that he abandoned them.”

“Great.” Emma flipped his storybook closed, picking up her last file and heading to stash it back in the filing cabinet. A big bunch of dead ends. That’s all any of this was. “Sounds like a familiar story. Whoever this guy is, he could be in Laos by now.”

Henry followed her into the next room. “No, he’s here.”

Emma scoffed, her natural cynicism apparently untamable today. “Just how do you know that?”

“Cause no one leaves Storybrooke.” He leaned against a desk, tapping his fingers across the dark surface. “No one comes here, no one goes. It’s just the way it is.”

“I came here,” she tossed over her shoulder.

Your dad came here, she almost added, before she remembered she hadn’t told him about Killian yet. That idea made her insides twist. She was okay with Killian knowing about Henry and hanging out with Henry at this point, but every time he even hinted at spilling this secret, ice cold dread seeped into her bones. Sure, Killian was all fatherly and cool with it now, but what happened when he got bored and tired of having a kid hanging around him all the time? Right now, Henry would lose a friend and nothing more.

“Because you’re special,” Henry said. “You’re the first stranger here. Ever.”

“Right, I forgot.” Emma shrugged it off. He might not remember any strangers coming to Storybrooke, but clearly that wasn’t true. She ran her fingers over the files, wishing she knew them as well as Henry apparently knew his book. The cool metal felt brittle as she slid the drawer closed.

For a brief moment, she wondered if there had ever been someone who felt this way about her. One of her case workers, maybe? Someone determined to help, but with their hands tied by laws meant to “protect” her. She wanted to keep looking, but she was out of time and out of ideas.

Henry came around the desk, hopping up to sit on it like he owned it. “Can you tell me about him?”

“Uh.” Emma blinked. “I haven’t found anything about him.”

“Not their father. Mine.”

He stared up at her with wide-eyed innocence, feet banging against the desk as he waited, completely oblivious to the way Emma’s stomach lurched down to her toes. The silence stretched.

“I told you about your parents,” he added, sensing her hesitation. “And now you’re even living with your mom.”

“Mary Margaret isn’t… She’s… Never mind.” Emma sank into the nearest chair, gathering her thoughts. What did she tell him? How much did she tell him? How did she avoid this subject completely? Killian wouldn’t leave him, a small voice said. But she had been so sure about Killian all those years ago and he left her then. He’d promised never to leave her and then he did.

“Please?” Henry begged.

Emma couldn’t say no.

“I was pretty young.” She sat back, pushing her hair away from her face as she thought. “I’d been dodging social services for a year and…” Emma paused, unsure of how much was too much. Henry already knew about her past, did he really need to know about Killian’s? “To be honest, your dad and I weren’t always on the right side of the law. I met him stealing the beetle.”

Henry’s mouth dropped open. “Really?”

Emma grimaced, maybe she shouldn’t have told him that. “Yeah.”

“Cool.”

She chuckled. “Yeah, well, don’t tell Regina you think that.”

Henry leaned forward. “What happened after that?”

“We were…family for a while after that,” Emma said with a shrug. It was true on her part at least. “And good for each other, I guess.” She watched the way Henry’s face lit up, the way his fingernails dug into the cuffs of his sweater, and she couldn’t tell him the truth. Even if she wanted to—she just couldn’t.

“We got real jobs, tried to put down roots. Mine was at this crappy twenty-four hour diner. And your dad, he got a job at the… docks. Long, hard days, but he’d always come in after work to sit with me until I got off.” She swallowed. That part, at least, was true. There had been a few odd jobs and Killian had hung around a couple of those places while waiting for her shift to end. “He’d order coffee and sit at the counter and complain about how we didn’t have pumpkin pie.”

“Did you get married?”

Emma tried not to blush. “No, we just…” Emma had no idea how much Henry knew about sex. He was nine. Was nine too young? Did it even need to be explained for this story anyways? “Uh, we watched each other’s backs for a while and…” She shrugged. “Eventually we grew apart. Life happened. His got better and mine got worse and…”

“And you met that other guy,” Henry said. “The one that got you sent to jail.”

“Yeah, something like that,” Emma said. She closed her eyes against that particular set of memories, breathing deep. More things he did not need to know. More things she did not need to think about. “Before I went, I… I found out I was pregnant with you. And I tried to contact him, and I found out that he’d joined the…army.” The idea of Killian in the military was laughable, but this was a way to kill two birds with one stone. She gave him a sad smile. “He died during the war, saving a wounded soldier. So, you think I’m a savior, Henry? He was.”

Emma leaned forward, taking his hand in hers. She was going to rot in hell for doing this, she knew. But she’d made her decision. This was safer for her son.

“Your father was a real hero.” She didn’t think she had ever told a more blatant lie.

Henry didn’t give her any time to worry about whether he had inherited her superpower. “Do you have anything of his? Something you can remember him by. Something I could see.”

Without thought, her hand went to her chest, habit taking over before she remembered Killian had the necklace now. Emma sighed, feeling a little less for its loss, even with the memories attached to it.

“I… I don’t…” She sat up, the chair creaking underneath her and startling her beautiful, brilliant, ingenious son. Emma smiled. “Henry, I’m sorry. I gotta go. I may know how to find this guy.”

The wheels of her chair scraped against the floor as Emma rolled away from her desk and headed for her office and her keys. It felt like electricity shot through her veins. This would work, she knew it. Her fingers itched to turn on the siren when she slid into the squad car, but that would draw attention and attention probably meant Regina. And Regina would cut this idea off before Emma could even say the word ‘plan’. Besides, it was only two blocks away.

Ava and Nicholas jumped as Emma burst into the apartment. Ava had one of last night’s cookies in her hand and a guilty look on her face as she whirled to face Emma. Both children wore regular clothes. Emma didn’t blame them for wanting out of those uniforms as soon as possible.

“Stay right there,” Emma said. “I have an idea.”

Nicholas blinked at her, then turned around, reaching for the cookies as Emma dashed upstairs, taking the stairs two at a time. Two seconds later, she clattered back down the stairs, her old cardboard box in her arms.

Emma set the box on the counter, reaching inside without taking her eyes off the kids. “I want to show you guys something.”

Her fingers brushed soft wool like she knew they would. The blanket made a poor substitute for parents, but some part of her still relaxed a little.

Nicholas sat forward, his stool teetering on two legs. “What’s that?”

“It’s my baby blanket,” Emma answered, holding the small blanket to her chest. “It’s something I’ve held onto my whole life. That’s the only thing that I have from…” The words caught in her throat, for just a second. “From my parents. I’ve spent a lot of time with a lot of kids in your situation, and all of them…” Again, it was painful to admit. Even if they didn’t know her story, that she hadn’t been enough for her parents, she felt like they would see the truth written across her face, like countless children had done every day of her growing up. But she pushed on, because Ava and Nicholas weren’t in this situation because they were unwanted. They were here because their parents hadn’t had a choice. That was all she wanted, to give them a choice. “All of us. We held onto stuff.”

Ava’s eyes were glued on Emma, her eyes wide and lips slightly parted in a look of wary comprehension. She had them. If there was one thing Emma had noticed, it was that where Ava went, her brother was sure to follow.

“I want to find your father,” Emma said, setting the blanket down. She met first Nicholas and then Ava’s gaze. “But I need your help. Is there anything of his you’ve held onto?”

“I might have something.” Ava swallowed, her hand going to her pocket. She stared at Emma, clenched hand still hidden from view. “But if I give it to you, you’ll make sure we stay together, right?”

“Right,” Emma promised without thought. All she needed was a clue. If she had that, she could find their father. And if she found their father, she could keep them from growing up like she did. She could make sure their story was different from hers.

Metal clinked as Ava withdrew her hand. Shiny, dark metal peeked through her fingers, followed by a chain sliding from the pocket.

“A compass?” It didn’t look expensive, the metal a dull gold that barely reflected the light. It was heavier than it looked though. Emma examined it, noticing that the little needle was stuck.

“Our mom kept it,” Ava explained, her voice raspy. “She said it was our dad’s.”

“Thank you.”

She flipped the compass over, searching for some sign of the previous owner. No such luck. Biting her lip, she racked her brain for any other ideas. This was the key. This would lead her to their dad. She could feel it. She just…

Ava interrupted her thoughts. “Did you find them?”

Emma jerked her head up. “Who?”

“Your parents.”

“Not yet,” she said, because a flat out denial felt too harsh for this moment. “But I’m going to find yours.”

The kids watched silently as she examined the compass, trying to think if she knew anyone in town that might know about such things. She traced the outer edge with a finger, following the path of her thoughts.

Mary Margaret came out of her room, tucking the hem of her shirt into a pair of jeans. “Oh, Emma, I thought I heard you.” She smiled. “Are you done for the day or…”

“No,” Emma said, shoving the compass into her pocket. “I had a couple of questions for Ava and Nicholas.”

“Oh,” Mary Margaret sighed. “Well, Henry will be disappointed, he was planning to come hang out while he waited for Regina to get off work.”

“He knows this is important,” Emma said, hand on the doorknob. “Tell him I’ll see him later.”

The door swung open with a slight creak and Emma could practically hear her roommate adding WD-40 to her mental shopping list, but she didn’t stop to think. She let it latch behind her, pounding down the stairs and onto the street. The squad car’s engine revved to life and she was halfway down the street before she realized where she had decided to find her answers.

If she had been less desperate she might have turned around and figured out another option, but she needed someone who knew this town better than she did and a nine-year-old with a storybook just wasn’t going to cut it.

Few people roamed the streets at this hour. A couple of kids walking home from school, a bike messenger, an elderly couple out for a walk. When she got to the docks, it grew a little more crowded. The harbormaster stood outside his shack, debating hotly with someone. Several bundled up fishermen unloaded crates from a trawler. She pulled up to the curb near where Killian had indicated his ship was...parked? Anchored? Moored? She wasn’t entirely sure what the word was. The fishers paused, glancing over as she got out of the car and slammed the door behind her.

“Afternoon, sheriff,” one of them called.

Emma waved, feeling self-conscious and scanned the boats.

“You in the market for a boat?” he asked, grinning. “Looking to expand the sheriff’s department to the high seas now?”

“No,” she answered. “Just need to talk with a friend.”

“Odd place to look, considering none of those have been away from the docks in years. Nobody owns them far as I know.”

Emma turned to him, a cold fear coiling in her gut. “Really? My friend said he lived on one of these. The, uh, Miss Guided.”

She almost winced at the name. Almost. But she was too busy worrying over whether Killian had lied to her. A cold sweat broke out over her skin, despite the stiff breeze blowing in from the ocean. She never had accepted his offer to visit his boat, so she had no proof. He could have made the whole thing up and be living on the street for all she knew.

“The Miss Guided?” The fisher got a strange look in his eyes, like he was trying to read fine print, but his eyes refused to focus. He bowed his head. Then his gaze snapped back up to Emma’s, his pleasant smile returning. “Ah, yes, Hook’s little boat. I’d forgotten he moved her so he could keep up with these poor unfortunate souls.” He gestured to the many boats with sails furled and gear packed away, looking forlorn. “That’s her right there.”

For a minute, Emma expected to find Killian standing where the man pointed, but the deck of the ship he indicated stood empty. There on the side curled the words Miss Guided. Clearly, she and this fisher had different definitions of the word little, because Killian’s boat measured at least thirty or forty feet. Despite her complete lack of knowledge about most things seafaring (Killian had talked about a thing or two, once upon a time, but she remembered very little of that), she could see the difference between this boat and the others.

Killian’s boat gleamed, the railing reflecting the sun and the deck a pristine white. The sails weren’t edged in gray or yellowed by the sun. And while the deck was tidy, it was in a thoughtful, useful way that gave the boat character instead of an air of abandonment.

Knees shaking, she approached. She didn’t like this, going to him in his territory, no matter that she had a gun. Killian wasn’t a physical threat to her, she couldn’t ever see how he would be. But she still remembered the way her heart sped into overdrive when Henry asked about him and the way she chickened out instead of telling her son the truth. Killian’s hold on her emotions, even after all these years, scared her far more than any other threat he could ever present.

She could shoot him. She couldn’t shoot her feelings.

“Hello,” she called out. “Hook?” Her feet faltered. A little dock extended away from the main dock down the side of the boat, providing access to a set of somethings that couldn’t decide whether they were steps or a ladder. Emma eyed the boat. Could she board without permission? The expanse of water between that little dock and the side of the boat looked awfully wide. “Hook?”

“Swan?” came a muffled reply. A moment later, Killian’s head popped up from under the deck, startling Emma. He quickly scaled the rest of the way up to the deck, concern clouding his features. “Is everything alright? Is it Henry?”

“No,” Emma said quickly, pushing down the guilt that flared inside her. “I just needed your help with something.”

The moment the words left her mouth, she wished she could take them back. Killian smirked, leaning up against the side.

“And what,” he asked, consonants snapping, “might the lady be needing help with?”

“Stop it.” She glared at him, though if she was mad at him for coming on to her, she couldn’t feel guilty so maybe she shouldn’t complain. “Look, I’d rather not shout it at you so either you come down here or…give me permission to come over or whatever you nautical types do.”

Killian chuckled. “Oh, things aren’t so formal on this little thing.” He gestured for Emma to make her way down the finger dock. “Though ‘permission to come aboard’ is the typical greeting. Keeps the jumpy ones from running you through with a sword. Here, grab this.” He leaned down, indicating a steel cable stretching taut above them. The metal bit coldly into Emma’s palm. “Yes. Now just step onto the gunwale. One foot and then the other right there.”

Emma did as he said, taking the hand he offered as she stepped off the dock. Killian smiled.

“Good then. Now you can step over,” he said, indicating the cord that ran the length of both sides. “We’ll make a sailor out of you yet.”

“Maybe some other time,” she said. “Look, you remember those kids from yesterday?”

Killian nodded, eyes dark. “Aye.”

“They’ve got no one.”

“I thought that might be the case,” he murmured. “You said you needed my help? How?”

“Is there somewhere we can talk?”

Emma expected Killian to lead her to a bench or something, but instead he led her to the back of the boat and down a cramped set of stairs. It opened up just a little once they were below deck. Enough that Killian could stand without hunching at least. The living quarters too were neat and tidy. No choice really, with the limited space beneath. There was a small kitchen along one wall and a set of cushioned seats along the other. All the way at the front was a triangular little bed, just big enough for one, maybe two people if neither of them were Vikings.

It was nice. Cozy.

Killian shifted nervously. “Would you like something to drink? Coffee? Tea?”

Emma shrugged. “Coffee, I guess.”

She glanced around, absorbing the small details. He had been reading, if the book lying face down on the bed was any indication. Not much lay out and about, but neat as Killian was, some of his personality shone through. The tiny pictures on the wall above the couches. The dark, earthy color of his blankets. A towel hanging on the outside of a door near the stairs. The bathroom she supposed.

Killian puttered around, pulling out an old kettle and turning on the stove. The rotten egg scent of propane clouded the air.

“Afraid making coffee is a bit more complicated here than at Granny’s,” he said.

“Well, it’s a step up from the bug,” Emma replied. “At least this place has a stove.”

“Stinks to high heavens though,” he grumbled.

“But at least you’ll know if there’s a leak.”

Killian turned to the cabinet, pulling out two mugs, one at a time. “There is that.” He leaned against the small counter next to the sink, crossing his legs at the ankles. “Now, what’s this about Ava and Nicholas?”

Emma brought him up to speed, detailing everything that had happened since she drove off yesterday. Well, not everything. Clearly he wasn’t interested in the odd little details, like her sleeping on the couch or what she wore to bed. On second thought, he was probably interested in that last one. Killian listened thoughtfully, nodding every now and then without interrupting. By that time the coffee had finished brewing.

“I’m sorry, love,” he said when she finished. “I fail to see how I can help.” He handed her a mug. “Afraid I don’t have any cream.”

“Sugar?” she asked.

In answer, he flipped open another cabinet and handed her a little ceramic jug.

“Thanks,” she said, dumping a few spoonfuls into her coffee as Killian shook his head.

“It’s not meant to be drunk that way,” he grumbled.

“What are you? A Starbucks barista?” Emma retorted.

“A what?”

“You know, Starbucks. Coffee? I know we’ve been to a few…” She shrugged.

“Ah, yes.” He scratched behind his ear. “I suppose I’ve been here so long I’ve forgotten there are places other than Granny’s to get sustenance.”

Emma nodded. “She does make a mean grilled cheese.”

“Now, what assistance were you counting on, Swan.” He cast his eyes around the small hold. “I’m afraid I haven’t much room to harbor a couple of strays, but I suppose…”

“No, nothing like that.” Emma wrapped both hands around the mug, glad of the warmth. She had no idea how Killian stood sleeping in this place. Even with his mound of blankets. They were gloriously messy, as though he had been cocooned in them before she intruded on his afternoon. “I’m trying to find their dad. From what Ava’s told me, he probably doesn’t know they exist.”

Understanding dawned on his face. “And this…father...you think he might take them in?”

Emma shrugged. “I hope so.”

“Are you sure?” he asked, his tone low. “For all you know, they were simply too young to remember him running out on them.”

“No,” she replied. “But it’s worth a shot. I mean, I wouldn’t have pegged you as the type to want to be involved either and you surprised me. I figured if you regretted running off…”

“Maybe he would too.” Killian swirled his drink, seemingly lost in the dark liquid. He took a sip, swallowing it with some difficulty. “How can I help?”

Emma pulled out the compass. “This is all they have of their father.”

With one reach Killian set his mug down on the little counter and took the compass in his hand. He turned it over, just as Emma had, caressing the smooth back with his thumb.

“A bit banged up,” he said. “But good workmanship.” He tapped a fingernail on the front. “Crystal. Jeweled setting. Quite the detail. Not your ordinary compass.”

Emma sat forward, hands clutching her coffee. “Is there anything else you can tell me about it?”

Killian shook his head. “I’m no expert. I simply know how to use the device…or I would were it working. Perhaps if you tracked the maker or the man who sold it they could tell you more.”

“Well, unless you see something I missed, I think finding whoever made this is a bust,” Emma said, taking the compass back from him. She pressed her lips together, noting how he fidgeted only slightly—his fingers tapping against his thumb while the rest of him stood stock still. She knew the answer to her next question before she even opened her mouth, but she asked it anyway. “Do you have any idea who might sell something like this?”

“You mean who might buy family heirlooms for pennies and then charge through the nose at resale?” he ground out. “Aye. Unless these children had a compass maker as an ancestor, this likely passed through Gold’s hands.”

Emma stood to leave, but found she wasn’t exactly sure what to do with her coffee. She wasn’t entirely sure she could just dump it down the drain in the sink. That felt a little rude anyways, considering she still had half a cup full.

Killian sighed, lifting the mug out of her hand. “I take it we’re paying a visit to the Crocodile.”

“The what?”

He snapped his mouth shut, eyes widening. “Nothing. Let me grab my jacket.”

“Oh no.” Emma held her hands up, the chain slapping dully against her wrist, halting him in his tracks. “I’m sheriff, this is my job.”

“And I’m a concerned citizen,” Killian shot back. “Mostly about you and the number of deals you’ve struck with Gold.”

“I can take care of myself, Killian,” she said. Tucking the compass into her pocket, she got her foot on the first step before Killian’s hand closed around her elbow. Gentle, but insistent.

“Please, Emma,” he said. “You don’t know him like I do. At least let me come for that, I might catch something you don’t.”

Emma sighed, but she couldn’t deny the very real fear in his eyes. There was a darkness to that fear, but it was true fear. Part of her should have been worried about what would happen if Killian and Gold ended up in the same room with only her to stop them, but she couldn’t dismiss the way anxiety coiled in her gut. Gold had been willing to risk injuring her and Regina to get what he wanted. Maybe Killian’s fear was justified.

“Fine,” she said. “But whatever issues you have with Gold, leave them at the door, okay? I won’t let you mess this up for these kids.”

He rocked back on his heels, his face thoughtful. Then he nodded and plucked his jacket up from among the blankets on the bed. Emma didn’t look behind her as she ascended, but she stopped short as she realized she wasn’t entirely sure how to get off the boat without ending up on her ass.

Killian chuckled as he passed her and it irked her how well he still read her. He winked. “Same as getting on, only in reverse.”

Easy as you please, he took hold of that same cable, quickly stepping over the line running down the side, and stepped down onto the little dock. He turned to her with twinkling eyes and held out his hand.

Emma gritted her teeth and followed him, doing exactly as he had done and stubbornly refusing to take the offered hand.

“See,” he said, apparently unflustered by her rebuff. “Nothing to it.”

“Come on,” she said, stuffing her hands in her pockets. “We’ve got work to do.”

#kau #captain swan #cs ff #cs au #cs fanfic #cs crew #henry's dad!au #i know it's been so so long #i'm a terrible person #this chapter has been sitting on my computer for six years #heh #my bad?#there's at least one more chapter coming tho #which has also been on my computer since 2017 #again a terrible person

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misteddreams · 2 years

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In true fashion I am several thousand years late to the Encanto craze, but Bruno has not left my head since...

(click for quality, I think they say on here - I don't quite know how to Tumblr.)

And some detail, because I spent an inordinate amount of time on this man's hair (don't we all?) and I'm still not entirely convinced it does it justice.

#bruno madrigal #encanto fanart #ibispaintapp #Phone and finger art #Down the rabbit - uh; rat - hole we go #I may still be here years later fawning over this movie #and probably him too #bye now lovely human

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riseofthespacecats · 2 years

Text

RISE OF THE SPACE CATS

An Eddsworld Fan-Script: Part 12

ESCAPE POD

EDD screams as the ESCAPE POD burns through EARTH's atmosphere. He rolls the control ball, sweating.

EDD

Easy... Easy!

An alien kitten jumps up onto the control panel and mews.

EDD

How did you get in here?

Something hits the ESCAPE POD, throwing him to the ground. Several alien kittens are milling about. He pulls himself up to look out the window.

CHIEF JAKKA is in hot pursuit, piloting another ESCAPE POD.

EDD gasps and slams his hand onto the control ball, speeding up.

EDD

Come on, come on!

A kitten jumps up onto the controls between EDD'S hands.

EDD

No, don't! You're in the way!

The kitten mews and sits down.

A screen blinks, reads "BUTTHOLE DETECTED". Goes green - bing!

The ESCAPE POD goes into overdrive!

EARTH'S ATMOSPHERE

Jets appear out the back of the ESCAPE POD, blasting fire out the back.

The flames hit CHIEF JAKKA'S ESCAPE POD, sending it flying away as EDD'S ESCAPE POD speeds towards EARTH.

ESCAPE POD

EDD screams for his life as they fall towards EARTH. We see the UK, close in on ENGLAND. The RUINS of the city come into view, bigger and bigger-

OUTSIDE - THE RUINS

The ESCAPE POD crashes! The door bursts open, EDD hanging out of it, dazed. Alien kittens crawl over him, mewling. Steam rises. Small fires flicker.

MATT and TOM rush over, climbing over rubble and debris.

TOM

Edd, I can't believe this...

He gestures furiously at the kittens.

TOM

You went kitten shopping without me!

EDD groans.

MATT pulls EDD out of the ESCAPE POD. The TRIO, united once more, carefully make their way down to a safe bit of ground. EDD looks around.

EDD

What happened while I was gone?

MATT

Tom turned into a giant monster!

TOM

Matt did nothing useful.

MATT

Hey! Not true. I saved our friendship.

EDD

That's... Nice.

MATT

What happened to your suit?

EDD

Oh. Uh. I don't know. I guess the space cats took it.

MATT takes his SUIT JACKET off and gives it to EDD, who quickly pulls it on.

TOM

How bad did you hit your head? Space Cats was a movie we made, remember? They're not real.

RINGO

(OFF SCREEN)

Dat's what you fink.

The TRIO turn.

RINGO rises up above the ESCAPE POD, glowing with alien power.

OUTSIDE - EDDUARDO's house

MARK and EDDUARDO are walking down their path towards the house, both fully suited.

MARK

We're really getting a chance to heal now that we can do our one walk a day. Don’t you feeling better?

EDDUARDO shrugs.

The RAT KING, now expanded into a huge creature, begins to crawl from a MANHOLE in the ground.

RAT KING

(TELEPATHICALLY)

Finally, I am strong enough to command all living things...

CHIEF JAKKA'S ESCAPE POD crashes into the STREET, splatting the emerging RAT KING. It bursts open, revealing the huge, hideous alien rabbit.

MARK screams in terror.

EDDUARDO flashes GREEN. With one big swing of his arm, he punches the ESCAPE POD back into the air, sending CHIEF JAKKA flying out of sight.

EDDUARDO

Huh. Yeah. You're right. I feel so much better.

MARK stares at the sky, then at him, mouth agape.

OUTSIDE - THE RUINS

RINGO'S glowing form hovers over the TRIO.

TOM

I am too sober for this.

He reaches into a hole in his SUIT and pulls out a FLASK, then swigs.

EDD

How many of those do you have?

TOM shrugs.

RINGO

You're coming with me, Edd, whether you wike it or not!

RINGO points a LAZER GUN the TRIO. They huddle together, cowering.

A TAZER CLAW shoots out and hits RINGO. RINGO drops the LAZER GUN and convulses as its electrocuted.

TORD is back in his MECH, cackling.

TORD

Finally! I can take my revenge!

EDD

Ringo!

EDD runs over, but The TAZER CLAW pulls RINGO up above the MECH.

TORD

Your bioweapons have been causing me many problems, but there is nothing a cat can do that I cannot.

RINGO

Y-you!

EDD

Wait, Tord? What's going on?

TORD

Funny. I asked the same thing the day I found out what I really am...

TORD rips off the BANDAGES. Beneath, his face is furry and striped. He bares his fangs, raising a clawed hand up.

EDD

Tord... You're a space cat?

RINGO

(ROUGH VOICE)

Psht. Half!

TOM are MATT are green in the face.

TOM

I don't even want to know how that's possible.

RINGO

Harkness' Law. I didn't wealise before, but looking at him now, da wesembwance is uncatty.

RINGO sneers

RINGO

Commander Woden aways was a xenophile.

TORD

They wouldn't accept me. My tragic backstory explains it all...

FLAAAAAAAAAAAAAAASHBAAAAAAAAAAAAAACK~ White clouds spialing inwards--

#eddsworld #eddsworld au #ew tord #ew ringo #rise of the space cats #rotsc #ew rotsc #there he is everyones fav boy

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thatsbucknasty · 3 years

Text

she used to be mine (x) waitress au

summary: Inspired by the broadway musical. Y/N Beck is a pie baking force to be reckoned with. She’s pregnant with her lazy ass husband, Quentin Beck’s baby. As everything around her turns upside down, Doctor James Buchanan Barnes charms his way into her life.

pairing: Y/N x Bucky

tags are closed

chapter 10: I didn’t plan it

Two months pass and I realize it’s only a matter of weeks before I meet my baby girl. I’ve been working hard to save more money but I’m still not even close to the amount I’m gonna need for the birth AND the divorce. It’s been really hard to put my pride aside and accept the help my friends offer, I guess I’m used to being left to my own devices since I was very young. But I love my little family. Bucky and Sam drive me home every night after closing and Wanda has been bringing me gifts for the baby. Nat’s contact will be handling my divorce and she said they would give us a payment plan so that it won’t be so difficult to pay all at once. I still don’t understand how that’s gonna work but I trust her. She’s being very strange though, but Natasha’s one of those people who deal with issues on their own and compartmentalizes everything. Still, I’m worried about her. I guess I can’t judge her, we’re the same in that department.

Old Nick hasn’t been around much lately, says he’s taking care of his health. Guess my pies aren’t the healthiest meal for an eighty-something year old man. Maybe I should start adding more vegetables to my own diet, I’m creating life inside of me after all.

“Hey boys, what can I getcha?” Wanda flirts with Steve at the counter and Bucky laughs, he seems to be getting used to their corny, slightly inappropriate conversations.

“Oh I don’t know, sweetheart. What’s the special pie today?” Steve flirts back at her.

“Well, Y/N made her famous ‘Slutty brownie pie’ today and if you want, I could make it even sluttier-”

“Guys! Not in front of my salad, please!” Sam scolds them and Bucky’s just laughing at Steve’s red cheeks. Wanda rolls her eyes at him and motions Steve to follow her away from the group.

I come out of the kitchen ready to leave and see Steve and Wanda making out in the far corner of the counter, while Bucky and Sam talk about an AC/DC concert they both attended back when they didn’t know each other. Sam’s also taking care of his diet it seems, but Bucky’s stuffing his mouth with my brownie pie. I don’t actually understand how he can eat so much and still look absolutely stunning.

“Guys! Keep it in your pants. It’s movie night, we’re leaving!” I scold them and Steve’s blush has reached his ears and neck at this point.

“Thank you! I’m glad to know I’m not the only one who thinks those two are such horny teenagers”. Sam throws his hands in the air and hangs his apron, ready to go.

“I think they’re adorable, but I’m tired and hungry, and I don’t want any more pie today so let’s go, where’s Nat?” I look around trying to find the redhead.

“She said she needed to be alone tonight but she’ll be at the party tomorrow”. Wanda says and we share the same worried look on our eyes.

“Oh, okay. Shall we?”

We get to Bucky’s apartment and today’s pick is on Steve cause tomorrow’s his birthday. He chooses 1986’s Labyrinth. We order pizza and sushi and enjoy the magical spectacle on the screen.

I can’t stop thinking about my divorce and all the bills that are waiting for me in the future. Raising a child isn’t cheap. Bucky holds my hand at one point, under the blanket that we’re sharing. I guess he senses my worry and tries to make it go away. I’m glad he does. Lately I’ve just been letting myself fall for him because fighting against it it’s a lost cause. He’s the sweetest guy, brings me home safely anytime he’s able to, he cares about my friends and most importantly, he’s patient and doesn’t rush me to do anything I’m not ready to do. His parents raised him right, what’s a girl supposed to do?

Next day is organized chaos, thanks to Wanda and her frantic need for everything to be perfect. She really loves Steve and he’s a good guy. They deserve each other, truly.

Nat’s helping Sam hang decorations around Wanda’s backyard. It’s a mixture of 4th of July colors and Happy Birthday signs. We’re not doing the whole fireworks thing, since Wanda’s birthday present for Steve wouldn’t like the noise. But there’s a flatscreen set up to watch them on tv.

I’m in the kitchen, chopping some tomatoes for a pico de gallo I’m making. Bucky’s setting up the barbecue outside and I can see him from the window. He keeps messing it up and starting again, making the funniest, exasperated faces. I told him Steve could do it in no time but he insisted he’s the birthday boy and should just enjoy this day.

Speaking of Steve, he’s on his way. It ain’t a surprise party but we still wanted to set everything up before he got here.

We’re all enjoying the cool summer breeze, watching football on a projector Wanda set up in the backyard, we have hotdogs and guacamole and chips, the guys have beer which of course I can’t have, but Bucky was kind enough to make me an entire jug of pink lemonade just for me. I’m not really interested in the game, to be honest and my bladder is full so I separate myself from Buck and look around to realize Natasha isn’t here. Since this is not my house and I need to find the restroom I ask Wanda for some help instead and we enter the house together.

She points me to the toilet and I open the door to find Nat and Sam wrapped around each other, half naked.

“OH MY GOD! What’s happening here?!” I immediately cover my eyes and close the door.

“Y/N, you’re okay? What is it? Don’t tell me you found a rat cause I hate them so much, Gosh I told Steve we should’ve done this at my place, is way cleaner”.

“I- I- no- um. It’s not a rat it’s a- um. I’m sorry-”

“Y/N! Let me explain-” Natasha comes out the restroom with her blouse half buttoned up, makeup almost completely ruined.

“I don’t- I don’t need you to expla- can somebody please lead me to another bathroom or something? I’m about to piss myself!”

“Sure, honey, let’s go”. Wanda grabs me, she apparently understands what’s going on, looking at Nat’s disheveled state and brings me upstairs to another room.

“What’s going on? I heard the girls yell”. Bucky enters the house and sees Sam and Nat cornered in the kitchen, looking like they’ve seen a ghost.

“Nothing, man. I think it’s time for me to leave. Say happy birthday to Steve for me”. Sam kisses Nat on the cheek and leaves the house.

“Wha- Natasha, are you okay?” Bucky stands there awkwardly, trying to break the tension.

“I’m fine, but the girls and I need to talk privately. Would you distract Steve for us? He doesn’t need to hear about this. Tell him we’re talking about pregnancy stuff with Y/N or something”.

“Oh-kay? Are you sure you’re alright though, you seem-”

“I’m fine, Bucky. Now go talk to Steve, he’s out there alone on his birthday”.

“Well, he looks fine! He’s watching the Patriots destroy the- Okay got it, see you later”. Bucky awkwardly scurries down to the kitchen and grabs a couple more beers and brings them outside.

“Knock-knock”. Natasha enters Steve’s bedroom and sees Wanda sitting on the bed.

“Hey”.

“Hey. Y/N still peeing?”

“I don’t think so. But I think she’s crying”.

“God she’s always so dramatic”.

“Hey! You should’ve told us! Do you know how worried about you we’ve been? We thought you were sick or something! Not wanting to hang out with us. We were supposed to plan a baby shower for her by now but you’ve been M.I.A.”.

“ I know, and I’m sorry”. Nat sighs and knocks on the bathroom door.

“Y/N, come out. We know you’re done so let’s go. We need to talk”.

I wipe my tears. I don’t know why I feel betrayed. Sam and Nat are my best friends, I should be happy for them. Damn hormones making me cry like a little baby every time something’s out of place.

“Hey”. I sniff and open the door to see Natasha rolling her eyes at me.

“Why the hell are you crying?”

“Oh I’m sorry for being a hormonal mess but seeing two of my best friends, one of them who’s married by the way, making out like horny teenagers would definitely cause me some distress!”

“Uh huh, and how is this any different to you and Bucky holding hands and making eyes at each other every single minute? May I remind you, you’re still married too!”

“Oh my God, Natasha, you did not! I’m getting a divorce, you know that!”

“Yeah, I know. And I understand and not make a fuss about it, until you decide to judge me for the exact same thing you’ve been doing!”

“Why- ah. Sorry, I know I’m looking like a complete hypocrite right now. It’s just- you guys are my friends and you’ve been acting so strange lately, it had me so worried and I feel like I could’ve been there for you, just as much as you’ve been there for me. You guys are my sisters”.

“I’m sorry I didn’t tell you. But Sam and I wanted to figure out what we wanted first and you know how I am. I fall down the rabbit hole and I keep it to myself cause I’m too proud to admit I’m weak”.

“Natasha, please. You’re anything BUT weak. You’re the one who’s always showing us how strong we really are!” Wanda chimes in and holds both mine and Nat’s hands in hers.

“Okay girls, listen up, from now on we need to make a pact that whenever one of us starts to close off from each other, we will make an intervention for that person and keep ourselves accountable for our shitty ways to cope with men, and life, and money problems, and cleaning obsessions, is that clear?” Nat kisses the top of my head and Wanda laughs at her declaration.

Somehow I feel like everything’s about to change, hopefully for the better.

chapter 11: she used to be mine

#she used to be mine #waitress au #waitress musical #bucky x reader #doctor!Bucky #waitress!reader #avengers au #marvel au #Bucky Barnes #natasha romanoff #wanda maximoff #sam wilson #quentin beck #Steve Rogers #nina writes

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officialleehadan · 3 years

Text

Firebrand Burning

Hello darlings! I hope you've all had a lovely day so far!

Today's story was brought to you by Kriggens! Darling, thank you so much for all your support! I hope you love it!

Prompt: HGE - Local Librarian

+++

Laure was angry.

Not for herself, or not entirely for herself, but for her vampires. For the peaceful lives this unknown attacker was shaping apart. At the deity whose blood she apparently shared that mad her a prize that a vampire would risk terrible war to possess.

She was also a librarian, with access to a very fine collection of books on a topic she knew so well she had written her dissertation on it.

It was time to show the world what an angry research librarian could really do with the right motivation.

It was time to dive into the rabbit hole.

“…Do we want to know what you’re doing?” Victor asked when he stepped into Teucer’s library to discover Laure with more than a dozen books spread out on the floor around her, two laptops open, and most of a notebook eaten by notes. “I heard that you sent Teucer’s oldest off to collect your personal books from your house. What are you up to?”

“Remus was nice enough to offer when I told Teucer that I needed a few things from home if we’re planning to stay any longer,” Laure told him without looking up. Her hair was in a messy bun held with two pens and a pencil, and there was a stripe of bright pink highlighter across her cheek, although the marker itself was nowhere to be seen. “Do we have any powdered silver in the penthouse?”

“Uh, probably?” Victor asked, taken aback by the non sequitur. Laure leaned over and dug for another book, pulled one of the pens out of her hair, and started taking quick, dirty notes in her notebook. “Why do you need powdered silver?”

“Because mercury is super toxic,” Laure told him, ripped a page out of her notebook, and handed it over. Her eyes burned from spending hours hunched over the ancient books in four languages, only three of which she read well, cross-referencing and translating. “But powdered silver is supposed to be a reasonably good substitute. I called Wylkind. He’s sending me a spur of demon bone. Do you think that the tomia on a goose’s tongue and beak will substitute for hen’s teeth?”

“Not well,” Bai said as he stepped into the library, took in Laure’s chaos of a work-space, Victor’s baffled face, and settled himself on the couch well out of Laure’s way. “Why do you need hen’s teeth?”

“I need either djinn glass or a dragon’s tooth, too,” she told him as if she wasn’t halfway to speaking in tongues. When she realized they were both staring at her, she sighed and nodded to the sheet she had handed Victor. He looked down at it, and raised an eyebrow at her, apparently impressed despite his confusion. “I’m the blood of a deity, right? Well, it’s about time that started working for us. I’m casting a spell.”

“Everything on this list is either fire-oriented, or is an amplifier,” Victor said when he had skimmed over the list and handed it off to Bai. “Why are you digging for fire magic?”

“Because there are two places a shadow can’t go,” Laure said with an angry edge to her voice that made both vampires look at her strangely. “In a snowstorm, or in the heart of a fire. Everything I’ve read about Brigid says that there should be plenty of fire in my blood, so that’s what I’m going for.”

“This is about the attack from the other night,” Victor realized without much surprise. He sank down onto the chair closest to Laure, his face serious. “We aren’t going to let anything happen. Now that we know how far they’re willing to go to get you, we can defend against it.”

“Or I can defend myself,” she snapped back, and softened at the hurt that flashed across his eyes. She winced. She hadn’t meant to hurt her friend. “I’m sorry. I’m stressed out, and I’m scared, and I’m angry, and I’m tired of being helpless.”

“With good reason,” Bai told her, still calm and steady, his ever-present serenity a balm on her frayed nerves. He offered her page back to her and Laure tucked it back into her notebook. “You fear the shadows will return?”

“I think I’ve had the same dream of them trying to get me outside every night since the first one,” Laure revealed tiredly. She felt ragged inside. The shadows couldn’t touch her, not with Teucer’s spell-dust protecting the penthouse, but she could still feel them trying to get in. It was like hearing rats in the walls, every-present and all around her, desperate to eat her alive. “and I think I’m tired of hiding. It’s about time that whoever’s after me finds out that I’m not just going to shrivel up and die because I got a bad scare.”

They were quiet for a while, and Laure felt the weight of their ancient regard on her shoulders. She looked down at her notes, and crushed her fear down into a little box where it was manageable.

“Right,” Victor said at last, and straightened. “Bai, would you grab Teucer and Draco? We’re all of us fine students of magic. If we can’t turn our librarian into a living firebrand while we wait of the Covens to arrive, we aren’t giving this half the effort it deserves.”

+++

HGE - Local Librarian:

Laure is an overworked doctorate student. Her best friend is living history, and thinks of her museum as his own personal vault. Gift of a Rose Curse-Bound Leather Bloody Stress Flip the Page (Subscriber Only!) Luxury Flight (Subscriber Only!) Hotel of Memories Ancient and Old (Subscriber only!) Hearth Not Home (Subscriber Only!) Of the Hearth (Free on Patreon!) From the Earth (Subscriber Only!) Ring Panic (Subscriber Only!) Red Gems Black Stone (Subscriber Only!) Unexpected Ally (Free on Patreon!) The Words of History (Subscriber Only!) A Bit of History (Free on Patreon!) Enemies Old and Gone (Subscriber Only!) Third Brother (Subscriber Only!) Folding History (Subscriber Only!) At War by Moonlight (Subscriber Only!) Firebrand Burning

+++

MASTERLIST

+++

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cracknoir · 3 years

Text

headcanons: side-hustle edition & bobs adventures into americanisms

eddie’s fav musician is charles bradley

jimmy listens to biggie in his car

death and satan are both the same kind of being, i don’t want to call them angels bc more and more i write more and more i think death, in my sort of lore, is what we’d call god

i’ve never properly got to rp this but jimmy is constantly switching between adoptive fathers. Johnny, don lorenzo, eddie, they all sort of took on a mentorship role -- i guess this could be healthy behaviour, if he was in a healthy enviroment, but these relationships don’t usually work out well and lemme give u a little spoiler jimmy’s usually the only one left alive

in an early draft, like way way way back when i was like 15, jimmy got the electric chair, rolled his head, barfed up blood, called the cops a pussy then got hit with the volts again. i think i stole it from sin city and believe i retconned it (bc i used to do jimmy’s story as like updated blog posts on bebo oops)

i’m meant to be working right now as i usually am but idk i feel like i’m burnt out on work and im just like peace see u in the new year

jimmy’s a financial backer in a lot of legitimate businesses, as are Molly, Dmitri, Eddie.

if I was really gonna sit and break down all the side-hustles it would take all day so actually i think this is gonna be the side-hustle edition. i usually start doing these then fall down a sort of brain rabbit-hole and figure out what the sort of common theme is so strap in side hustles lets fuckin go

frankie pays for the upkeep of race horses and dogs

eddie sets up a lot of high-stakes poker games.

bruce though? bruce is the daddy in this regard. bruce is probably my wealthiest character, even though he lives like a Rat Boy, so i wanted an idiot savant character, ok, and the idea with bruce isn’t that he’s a good lawyer, it’s that he’s a good criminal who never had an origin story, or, if my sort of Big Ideas™ come to pass, doesn’t get one until much later. i’ve never written it, but i had this idea to bring bruce back in a couple years as basically the kingpin, more powerful than jimmy ever was, except he’s running it all out the back office of a telemarketing scam he’s also running, so he’s running around an office stressed out to all hell, there’s guys with AK’s in the meeting room and he has ex-military death-squad contractors trying to scam OAPs out of their bank and passport details

Molly co-owns a uh, i don’t know what The Yanks call em, charity shops?? fuckin?? naw like tHrIfT sToReS the fuck am i thrifting the fuck am i storing, little bullshit things that dead people used to keep on their mantle-pieces u kno, the place ain’t good enough to call an antique shop but if u go there at the right time you might get a beautiful table out back or whatever. u think that it’s the only place that still sells vhs’s until u realize that every single shop like it has vhs’s for some reason. the owners really young but molly’s helping her girlboss. also this npc might be a goth and maybe the shop is haunted listen this is all tangential shit i’ll never write about so maybe the goth is an alien or a spy

also most of these business endeavors only ever involve loaning money and protection. sometimes they have to do stuff in relation to these ventures, bruce especially, but it’s usually handled in a “whatever, low priority” kinda way, or offer advice. Usually, the people they go into business with are more than aware of the danger they’re in.

i elbow dropped my wall awrite kyle no but it’s bc mY WALLS AT LIKE A WEIRD ANGLE and i was climbing around the window yellin at fuckin seagulls cos they were tormentin the neighbors dog right and i was tryna make noise so my idea to make noise was to elbow drop concrete but yeh how do i know if it’s broken i mean its not broken it’s obviously not broken but like cracked or hairline fractured or fuckin idk fucked up what am i a fuckin doctor is this a weird story does this paint me in a weird light fuckin hangin out a second story window yellin @ birds

little jake does not have any business ventures in the classic sense, but he swaps weed for groceries at a bodega. this sounds kind of ridiculous, and it is, cos sometimes jake spends upwards of 50 big ones on munch, sweeties n shit (i am not using the word c*ndy you already made me look up tHrIfT sToRe), so idk about in america but weed’s quite cheap here, so jake’d maybe swap five/six gram for a pile of sweets and the Iranian guy behind the till gives him a thumbs up and fires coin into the till like yaaaaaaassss

has this post gone on too long idk i’m havin a brilliant time it’s 10am the work laptops are on but i don’t give a fuck

so maybe i should talk about jim, the big dog, the big J, so he’s probably signed more contracts drunk than he has sober. he’s co-owner of a lot of clubs and bars, he’s involved in movies too, financing, they send him scripts but he never pays them any attention, all he does is go down to the studio and go nuts if he loses any money, and sometimes he does it even if they make money. salons too, laundromats, i don’t want to portray jimmy as at all good, but he can at the very least be sentimental. he loans a lot of money, and that in turn nets him a profit, he owns the business until they pay him off plus interest, but he helps a lot of people in this way. look, i’m not saying mobsters help people by loan-sharking, what i am saying is there are loan-sharking interactions that don’t end in everyone getting popped like in the movies. as well as that, you catch jimmy in the right mood, and ur a little old lady who just wants to keep her restaraunt open, jimmy’s probably gonna help u and not be a dick about it.

aw man i haven’t done anything festive this year. not really feelin it looking forward to getting some time to chill but also kno christmas is never chill. like im lookin at 1 week off and it’s gonna be packed. will my kidneys ever recover? yes because i’m the bounce back boy these days used to get hella hungover but now? hangovers are a piece of piss man, walk in the fuckin park

i think this posts gone on too long and i’m really distracted now so im gonna hit post and call it a day

aw no wait i feel the need to clarify me and the seagulls have history alright this is like an ongoing battle ok like people from here get it so i don’t look weird here but i feel like out of context i’m gonna get some comments about the gull thing. forget about the gull thing ok. move past it. drop it. you didn’t here nothin’ bout no bird.

ok i’m done

fuck kangaroos too actually. seagulls and kangaroos can absolutely do one “oooh but bobby all life is sacred” no the only life that is sacred is Big Crocodiles, monke, dogs, cats, rats also, cows, and ferrets, the rest can fuck off, and you know what? spiders are alright. i don’t care what anyone says the sound of flies fucks me off more than the sound of spiders which, oh ye, there is none. you never hear a goddamn peep out the spiders, they just scuttle. i respect that about them. but listen ever since i saw that video of the kangaroo trying to kill a dog their card has been fucking marked. i trained, for years, boxing the punch-bag, benching 100kg just in CASE i saw one of them motherfuckers. u kno they can gut you? like u, a human person, can get gutted like a goddamn fish because roo decided u needed to meet god so fuck that. if i ever see one of them irl it’s onsite. onsight? on-sight? fuck ok i’m done i’m gonna go play video games but not Control cos i’m mad at that game i hate it

#do i have a headcanon tag yet??

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redtail-hero · 4 years

Text

Tags: @meganshinsou-tm @bakugoukatsukiswife @simplybakugou @gr0vndz3ro @bakugousbrat @gallickingun @brebaguette

Rating: MATURE. 18+

Pairing: Bakugou x Reader x Kirishima

I tried really hard to make the reader gender neutral, so anyone can insert themselves in the story. Ultimately this is my time trying to do this. In my head the reader is female and I might switch over by accident. I apologize in advance if I do that.

This chapter has a little Bakugou X Kirishima in it. Just forewarning of a little boy love. It's toward the end if the chapter so it's easy to skip if you want.

Pt. 6 Tag Team

"You both have to face it. You've both practically jumped down the rabbit hole willingly but refuse to admit it." Sero chuckled.

"Still don't know what you're even talking about." Bakugou replied grumpily as he watched for the signal that it was time to 'rescue' victims of the 'natural disaster'.

"What rabbit hole?" Kirishima asked, looking over at his friend.

"Oh, you're in denial too Kiri! It's so obvious. I've seen they way you both look at Y/N - like they're the only damn person in the room." Denki stated. "They're extremely comfortable with each of you, which is surprising since Bakugou usually acts like there is a stick up his ass."

"Watch it Sparky." Bakugou growled.

"He's not wrong. Y/N's always joking with you and teases you guys." Sero agreed.

'Oh they tease me alright.' Kirishima thought to himself.

"Alright, I'm used to Sparky frying his brains daily but apparently this heat is getting to you both and you're beyond delirious."

"Deny it all you want, we know what we see." Sero stated. "There's the signal, wonder which of you will find them first." He chuckled and used his tape to shoot himself off to find someone to rescue.

Kirishima and Bakugou stared at each other for a moment, neither moving to do their task yet.

"Just think about it. Y/N definitely feels something for both of you. When it's their night to cook dinner they always switch between your favorite meals to make. They baked cookies for you guys 'just because they could'. During your work studies Y/N prepared both of your lunches every day." Denki stated, shaking his head at the two of them.��

"That's just how Y/N is. They'd do the same for everyone else." Kirishima scratched the back of his neck trying to ignore the face his face was heating up.

"See that's where you're wrong. Y/N doesn't do that for anyone else… Are you blushing?" Denki laughed. "About time you guys notice what they do for you." With that he took his leave.

"Tsk." Bakugou looked down at his shoes. "They're not wrong are they?"

"No, I guess they're not." Kirishima sighed.

Bakugou didn't stay any longer, using his quirk he blasted up off the building.

"Uh, good talk…" Kirishima talked to himself. He walked all over the disaster area, looking for anyone he could pull out from the rubble.

It wasn't too long, maybe a rough 15 minutes later he found you sitting in a pile of rubble, whining at him to help you out. He couldn't help the grin that spread across his face. You just being there made him feel happy.

Excited that he was the one to find you he hurried down and started removing debris off of your legs, tossing it behind him in every which way.

There was a shift behind him, a light rumble noise sounded before you yelled out his name. He reacted before he could even think. His body hardened as he covered your body with his, pulling you close to protect you.

The heavy impact never came, instead a loud blast was heard and pebbles of debris rained down over the two of you. He knew it was Bakugou and was thankful for the assistance.

Mina was with Bakugou, not that Kirishima paid any attention to the girl. Red eyes glared down at him.

"Tch. Idiot, watch where you're throwing that shit around. You would have been buried if I wasn't around.

Eijiro frowned. The blond wasn't wrong. You both could have been injured and then he wouldn't have been any help to you at all. He couldn't focus on anything except his small fuck up.

"Hey Kiri, " His eyes snapped to yours. "are you okay?"

"Of course. Are you okay?"

"Yes, now… want to get off of me?"

He was suddenly very aware of your limbs being tangled together and your skin against his. No, he didn't want to get off of you. You were very comfortable to him. He couldn't just stay that way though. "Oh, Haha, sorry about that." He resisted the urge to roll his hips against yours and pushed himself up immediately missing your skin against his. He brushed himself off and offered you his hand.

You had come up with a brilliant idea to get him to carry you out of the debris but forcing his hand, laying on the defenseless citizen-act real thick. The look of embarrassment fell upon your features as he scooped you up in his arms bridal style. A small string of protest came from your lips.

He noted that you felt right in his arms as you rest your head against his chest. Breathing in deeply he could smell your natural scent he couldn't help but grin. He could get used to this.

It unfortunately didn't take him long to get to the rest area. There was a table with red solo cups of water lined up. Other classmates were already refreshing themselves with the cool drinks. His eyes caught Katsuki's, the blonde glared at him. Kirishima couldn't help but chuckle at the jealousy rolling off him, not that the boy would ever admit it.

Kirishima announced your arrival to the rest area. You scrambled out of his arms so quickly that it surprised him. He watched you grab a cup and down the water in seconds.

Small talk fell upon the small group while waiting for other classmates. Mr. Aizawa gave some instructions for the following day.

Thirsty, Kirishima walked up and kept a respectful distance between you. Asking for a drink, you politely help him out grabbing him a cup. A small collision of hands caused a spill of the water on your arms.

"Hey, you got me wet!" The glare you gave was playful but the words were so suggestive. The words shouldn't have had any effect on him, but they did. 'Play it cool.' He couldn't help himself. "That's nothing." He pretended like he was going to splash you and you backed away.

It ended up turning into a huge water fight among the class. Everyone was laughing and having a good time. Everyone was game now, he splashed Mina and then Sero. Before long the ground was soaked.

Bakugou was chasing you around the table and Kirishima hit Denki on the shoulder, motioning toward the 5 gallon bucket of water. The two of them lifted it together and waited for the perfect moment. Sero stepped in to help by cutting you off. You halted to a stop and Bakugou grabbed you around the waist.

Kirishima and Denki lifted the cooler and poured it over the two of you, a loud squeal of surprise could be heard. Everyone roared with laughter at the "drowned rat" looks the two of you now sported.

“Kirishima! I’m soaked!” The words barley left your lips as he watched the water droplets dance down your skin. His mind went right to the gutters, he felt a small twitch in his pants.

You looked up at Bakugou who could only nod as he stared at you. He swallowed deep and you were confused. “You okay?”

“Y-yeah… Just fine.” He swallowed as he looked you up and down.

Kirishima also noticed what Bakugou did. It was hard not to stare and it was entirely his fault. His eyes caught a droplet of water and followed it down your skin to under your shirt.

You covered your body, hiding the details of your body. “I- I have to go! You guys clean up!” With a wave you rushed out of the building.

The two of them were disappointed to see you leave so quickly. A hand slapped on both of their shoulders. "Oh boy, you guys have it baaaaad." Sero let out a hoot of a laugh.

"Yeah, he's not wrong. You guys were acting like little kids trying not to flirt with their crush, but failing miserably." Denki added with a laugh of his own.

"Both of you shut it. I'm fucking out. Damn extras." Bakugou stormed off.

"I'm just gonna check on him." Kirishima excused himself.

"HEY! WHAT ABOUT CLEAN UP?" Denki yelled to them but neither boy turned around.

Bakugou stormed into the dorms, he made a beeline to his room - thankful that your room wasn't anywhere near his. He stripped of his hero gear and fell back on his bed. He glared hard at the wall as a knock came on his door. "Go away Shitty Hair."

Kirishima opened the door anyway and entered. He locked the door behind him as they needed to have a serious talk and didn't need anyone else walking in.

"Are you deaf? I said go away."

Ignoring him, the redhead sat at the end of the bed. "What are we going to do man?"

"What are you talking about?"

"Don't try to pretend. You can't tell me that when you're going to bed at night that your mind doesn't bring you back to that damn lollipop."

Kiri flopped back on the bed, closing his eyes tight. "Y/N's lips wrapped around that lollipop. They sucked it so good. Licking the stickiness off their lips. Fuck, I wanted a taste. No, I wanted to be that lollipop. I imagine Y/N taking me so well." He absent-mindedly palmed his crotch, hips lifting slightly.

The mental image alone made the blonde groan in frustration. "It doesn't even need to be bed time." He admitted. "I just hear it. I hear the moans and groans of when I gave them that massage." As if on cue he could wear he heard you moan out loud. "And then I can't just ignore it, it doesn't go away on its own. I need the release." He motioned to his tented pants.

"I get it man. It's to the point where my own hand just doesn't cut it anymore. I want the real deal." Kiri's cheeks were shaded scarlet. "We need to figure this out man. I don't want bad blood between us. You're too important to lose over this."

"You're not gonna lose me Shitty Hair." Bakugou sat up. "So, we like the same person. We don't even know if they feel anything for either one of us."

"I just don't want something to happen between one of us and them and the other one be angry."

"So, we don't let that happen."

Eijiro sat up and turned to face his friend. "And how exactly do you stop something like that? It's not like we can tag-team and take turns fucking Y/N. " He sat on his knees and looked down at his friend. "Are you trying to tell me that if Y/N walked in here one night and did this," he touched Bakugou's hard on once, before giving a gentle squeeze. "that you would just tell them no?"

Bakugou hissed at the contact, hips snapped up into his friend's hand. "No," Bakugou licked his lip. "But I don't see that happening." His eyes closed as the motions on his lower half didn't stop. "Kiri…" He hissed out a warning to the redhead.

"Did you see this happening?" Kiri asked as he pulled his friend's pants down, releasing his hard cock.

Bakugou's eyes snapped open as he was about to tell his friend off. The words died in his throat as Kirishima's hand wrapped around his cock and moved up and down. A slight twist here and small tug there had the blonde gripping the sheets.

"You want release. You stated that yourself. I'm just sexually frustrated and I can't handle it anymore. What if Y/N was doing this to you? Would you really stop them?" He pulled his shirt off before leaning over Bakugou's cock. "Let's see you not let this happen."

Bakugou groaned, his hips snapped up as Eijiro engulfed his cock into his warm mouth. "Fuck…" He didn't know how he was feeling right now. He never pictured his best friend on his cock but here they were. He was blaming you. This was entirely your fault. If you weren't so damn attractive then this never had been an issue. Fuck, they had it bad for you.

It didn't take long for him to spill into his friends mouth. He felt relief like he hadn't in a while.

"Now, let's take care of my problem." Kirishima licked his lips and pulled his pants down.

Thoughts?

#my hero academia #bakugou imagine #bnha #eijiro kirishima #bakugou katsuki #bakugou katsuki x reader #kirishima eijirou x reader #mha x reader #tasty series #kirishima imagine #kirishima x bakugou

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eddiestattoos · 3 years

Text

To quote Lois in season 8 or whatever "big cool headline here"

"Calling another woman at this hour. What would the industrious Lois Lane think?"

"There's another Lex on the loose"

Earth 2 Clark really getting it

So earth 2 Clark and Tess are siblings and lovers? Lovely

"Last time I checked you're still adopted and I'm still as red headed bastard as it gets"

Ok you know what I've actually wanted at least one Clark and Tess moment so this is a little fun for me

"This alternate earth. It's a blast"

I'm always down for bad boy Clark kinda hot not gonna lie

Why is earth 2 Lionel actually funny?

Clark's little realizations walking through earth 2 "I killed Lex" "Lionel made me a killer"

"There's gotta be somebody out there better than me" but Ollie there isn't

Clark just sweeping Lois from Oliver

Clark getting to earth 2 Lois yesss

"That name sucks by the way did it look good on paper"

Earth 2 Ollie really has watchtower equipped

"Maniac and he's delusional. Makes me feel better about being the enemy of Smallville"

"I got a mouse trap set up for your rat ass in every major city"

"Yeah I know, you're the good one, just go the hell home already will ya"

The drama of Clark being reunited with his proper earth

Clark looks exceptionally good in this ep

"The Luthor blood is poison. That's what I said to you before things got weird"

Ok how did Lionel end up back too? Concern. Grave concern

"You're not wearing a sport coat" *runs and changes*

"I promise even if I have to run to Madrid I'll get you churros and hot chocolate for dessert" Clark the romantic

THE ROMANCE. THE PHONE BOOTH. HE PROPOSED AT THE PHONE BOOTH THIS WAS PERFECT

Though if that's how the ep started there's only one way to go from here and that scares me

"Really? Nothing?"

"You and Ollie. You're busy with work. Hes really busy with work"

Chloe!!!!

Oh of course Cat is going to be the first to know please end her

"Are you expecting" "spread that rumour and you can expect my first in your face"

Oliver: hey Clark I'd love to be at your wedding but I gotta go off the grid. Clark: but I was just going to ask you to be my best man. Oliver: shit ok yeah no way I'm missing that

"When it comes to planning the wedding, just nod. A lot"

"You're not gonna hug me now are ya" "no" "ok" I'll miss Oliver and hawkman

"If I've learned anything in the last, oh, 30000 years"

Aaaaaand here comes the bad stuff

This is bs I hate this

"Don't tell me your thinking about cancelling the wedding, because I gotta tell ya, I just started working on the speech and it's looking good"

"You're not supposed to be here" "neither are you alright so I guess that makes 3 of us"

"We can't even follow orders..... even if we made them"

"Couldn't you stare at me in my office"

"Some sort of ninja smoke bomb"

"I have got to get the name of her custom closet guy"

"It's just a slide. You love slides Lois. I hate slides" I love Lois

How'd the boys get into slade's office?

"You miss the telegraph. Just get away 8 track" Oliver bickering to hawkman

So, um, whatever happened to Ollie's apartment? I miss it

Can slade please die

Thank you I think

*opens wing to reveal Lois* Carter!! I forgot his actual name for a while

"I'm a pro at dying remember" thank you for making your death less difficult hawk. Carter I'll miss you

Carter's funeral omg the feels. They really took him back to Egypt. In full hero gear.

Courtney *is hugging Dinah* Lois *holding Clark's hand* Oliver *stands alone, head down* my poor love

Ok that's really how they're ending the ep???

Ok at least Lois is free???

The on hold music

"I am a general's daughter I don't even know how to get huffy, ok. I do happy, I do sad, and I do stop giving me the runaround bitch or I will. Come. For you"

And Clark's good!!

Wait his powers are gone??? He's not good. Damn

CHLOE?!

I swear If Oliver ends up on another drinking binge

Chloe?!

3 weeks???

Oh it's worse than an alcoholic binge excellent

CHLOE??

"Not sure what these drugs are called but they're working"

"You're not hallucinating" "really well that's kinda hard to believe considering you just materialized out of a wall"

You know I knew Chloe would return at some point. This was not my expectation

Oh wait they're all just in a hallucination none of this is real love it

*straightjacket just vanishes*

"Alright Alice where's the rabbit hole out of this place"

Dammmn virtual Chloe

CLARK NO

Go virtual Chlo

"I told you Dorothy this is all a dream"

"Whatever happens in cyberspace stays in cyberspace"

Yes Lois convincing Clark "Clark Kent's heart is always right" help I love them

NO NO NO SOMEONE GET CLARK OUT I'M READY TO SCREAM

Oh thank god Lois yes

I don't know who these guys working with Chloe are but I love them

Ollie saving his girl!!!

Canary just cartwheeling

How many Chloe avatars did they make?

The drama of Clois' leap

5 years????

Oh wait she meant since high school who's the dumbass now. Moi

Ohhhh it was them working with Chloe. Huh I did not recognize em

"And to think you're the same Chloe that's in that picture"

"Can I ask you something?" "Oh this never ends well" I've missed Chloe

Chloe and Clark talking about when she trusted him even when he was lying to her. I love her

"Sorry I'm late but unlike the virtual world I can't leap traffic jams in a single bound"

"I think you might wanna, uh, put these in water. I'm pretty sure they're real"

"Ok I finished picking out that flowers and the bridesmaid dresses you can come back in the house now"

"You made me fly. Even if it was in cyberspace"

#smallville #my smallville bs #that last ep and a half really had me in crisis in case you couldn't tell #but damn this show is good

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atomic-taco-muffin · 3 years

Text

The Lost Princess Chapter 11

Warnings: angst/fluff

Rating: SFW

In a room full of darkness, a group with equally dark intentions gaze at an image of you and the trio on a round table.

“Those little squirts took down that Heartless! Who’d have thought it?” someone said. The fiery man looked over to a thin man with a staff, who replied:

“Such is the power of the Keyblade. The child’s strength is not his own. And a spirit has woken from its slumber. I thought that we have destroyed all the spirits.” The large woman next to him gazed down cunningly at the image, water dripping off her many appendages.

“Why don’t we turn them into Heartless?” she asked as she cackled.

“That’ll settle things quick enough,” she said. A man standing next to her piped up.

“And the brat’s friends are the king’s lackeys. Swoggle me eyes, they’re all bilge rats by the look of them,” he said.

“You’re no prize yourself,” someone said. A ghostly figure beside the man laughed loudly and the man brandished a silver hook as his left hand.

“Shut up!” the man said.

“Enough!” someone said. The villains looked over to a tall woman in a black cloak. She gazed through narrow eyes at the image on the table, her green skin echoing its pale light. Her long fingers curved around the staff in her hand.

“The Keyblade has chosen him. And a spirit has risen. Will it be them who conquers the darkness? Or will the darkness swallow them? Either way, they could be quite useful,” she said.

You, Sora, Donald, and Goofy traveled to Wonderland and entered by way of Rabbit Hole. Slowly you drifted downward, past clocks and tables and fireplaces, Goofy lying on his back enjoying the ride. When you reach the bottom, You, Sora and Donald landed softly on your feet, while Goofy fell over with a big thump.

“This world is so cool! I can’t wait to explore it,” you said. You suddenly heard the quick pattering of feet as a white rabbit in a waistcoat carrying a large clock dashed past you.

“Oh, my fur and whiskers! I’m late, I’m late, I’m late!” the white rabbit said as he panted heavily.

“Oh dear, oh dear, oh dear! I’m here, I should be there,” he said. You and Sora watched him scurry away.

“I’m late, I’m late, I’m late! The queen, she’ll have my head for sure!” the rabbit said. You and the trio decided to follow him down the hall, where you reached a door, which revealed a smaller door underneath. You and the trio entered the Bizarre Room and saw the White Rabbit scurrying across the tiled floor, several sizes smaller than before. The ticking sounds of a multitude of clocks lining the walls filled your ears as you watched the rabbit run through a small wooden door with a large door knob on the edge of the room. Sora walked over to the door and knelt down in front of it.

“How did he get so small?” he asked.

“No, you’re simply too big,” the doorknob said. You and Donald jumped from hearing him talk.

“It talks!” Donald said. You looked at it in surprise and confusion as the doorknob yawned.

“Must you be so loud? You woke me up,” it said.

“Good morning,” Goofy said cheerfully.

“Good night! I need a bit more sleep,” it said. It yawned again as Sora got closer.

“Wait, what do we have to do to grow small?” he asked.

“Remember, (Y/N) can shape shift. Maybe if you use your powers, you become smaller,” Donald said.

“There is also a bottle over there,” the doorknob said. The four of you look at the table and saw two bottles appear on the table. The trio drink from the blue bottle and shrunk down to the size of the door while you used your powers to become tiny. Heartless appeared and you and the trio defeated them, but by that time, the doorknob has gone back to sleep and the door would not open. You soon found another entrance to the Queen’s Castle. Several soldiers stood guard as a trial was in progress inside a large hedge maze. Several roses lined the hedges, some red and some white. A procession of cards parted to allow you the trio to enter as a small blond girl in a blue pinafore dress was standing at a defendant’s table. She looked up to the bench and was addressed by a large scary woman wearing a crown. The White Rabbit ran up a podium and caught his breath before sounding a note with a trumpet.

“Court is now in session!” he said.

“I’m on trial? But why?” Alice asked.

“Her Majesty, the Queen of Hearts, presiding!” the rabbit said. The queen sat at the bench frowning in a red and black gown, holding a heart-shaped fan.

“This girl is the culprit. There’s no doubt about it. And the reason is...because, I say so, that’s why!” she said.

“That is so unfair!” Alice said. The queen tapped her fan like a gavel.

“Well, have you anything to say in your defense?” the queen asked.

“Of course! I’ve done absolutely nothing wrong!” Alice said as she folded her arms and the White Rabbit gasped.

“You may be queen, but I’m afraid that doesn’t give you the right to be so...so mean!” she said. The queen scowled at her remark.

“Silence! You dare defy me?” the queen yelled as she slammed her fists on the bench.

“Hey, guys, we should help her out,” you said.

“Yeah, but the--,” Donald said.

“We’re outsiders, so wouldn’t that be muddling?” Goofy said.

“‘Meddling’!” Donald corrected.

“Oh, yeah. A-hyuck! And that’s against the rules.”

“The court finds the defendant...Guilty as charged!” the queen said as she raised her fan. Alice looked astonished at the verdict.

“For the crimes of assault and attempted theft of my heart... “ Sora gasped at what she said.

“Off with her head!” the queen yelled as she pointed to the girl and the Card Soldiers gathered around her.

“No! No! Oh, please!” Alice said.

“Hold it right there!” Sora said as he ran in, you, Donald, and Goofy close behind him.

“Who are you? How dare you interfere with my court?” the queen asked angrily.

“Excuse me. But we know who the real culprit is!” you said.

“Uh-huh. It’s the Heartle—” Goofy said but quickly his mouth and looked at Sora.

“Anyway, she’s not the one you’re looking for,” Sora said as he pointed to Alice as the queen leaned on the bench, tapping her finger.

“That’s nonsense. Have you any proof?” the queen asked as she smirked at a speechless Sora and Alice was imprisoned in a cage next to the bench.

“Bring me evidence of Alice’s innocence! Fail, and it’s off with all of your heads! Gather as much or little evidence as you please. Report back here once you’re ready,” the queen said. You and Sora talked to Alice while a Card Soldier stood guard.

“Who are you?” she asked.

“I’m Sora.”

“I’m (Y/N).”

“I’m Goofy, and that there’s Donald.”

“Pleased to meet you, though I do wish it were under better circumstances. I’m sorry you got mixed up in this nonsense,” Alice said.

“Why are you on trial in the first place?” you asked.

“I should like to know the very same thing! Apparently I was guilty from the moment I took the stand!”

“That’s crazy! So, where are you from?” Sora asked.

“Hmm, curious. I can’t quite remember. You see, I found this mysterious rabbit hole. When I tried to peek inside, I tumbled in head over heels... And I found myself here,” Alice said.

“So you’re from another world!”

“That’s funny. Maybe you don’t need a ship, then,” Goofy said.

“I don’t get it,” Donald said.

“What do you mean ‘another world’?” Alice asked.

“Enough! The defendant will be silent!” the guard said. You, Sora, Donald, and Goofy entered the Lotus Forest and looked around. A cat’s face appeared out of thin air, except this cat was smiling widely. It’s head bounced around the area, in and out of vision, until resting atop a large tree stump. The cat’s body appeared, standing on its head rather comically. It’s body was lined with purple stripes. It stepped off and placed its head back on its body, grinning incessantly.

“Who are you?” Donald yelled.

“Who, indeed? Poor Alice. Soon to lose her head, and she’s not guilty of a thing!” the cheshire cat said.

“Hey, if you know who the culprit is, tell us!” you said.

“The Cheshire Cat has all the answers—but doesn’t always tell. The answer, the culprit, the cat all lie in darkness,” the cheshire cat said as he disappeared.

“Wait!” you and Sora said.

“They’ve already left the forest. I won’t tell which exit. There are four pieces of evidence in all. Three are a cinch to find. The fourth is tricky. Big reward if you find them all,” the cheshire cat said.

“Should we trust him?” Donald asked. The cat had suddenly returned.

“To trust, or not to trust? I trust you’ll decide!” he said as he disappeared again. You and the trio defeated Heartless in the Lotus Forest before finding some Footprints near a large flower. After climbing to one of the tree tops, Sora found a hole in the trunk of a tree. You and the trio entered it and find themselves in the Bizarre Room again, this time on top of the huge stone stove. Near the two burners, you found a Stench. You and the trio returned to the Lotus Forest and traveled further in, finding a large boulder and several Dalmatian puppies. You and the trio climbed the boulder and reach a lily pad, where you discovered an Antenna. As you travel along lily pads, you saw a hole in a high corner of the woods. You and the trio make their way over and enter. You fell into the Bizarre Room, on top of a faucet sticking out of the wall. Jumping to a nearby wooden ledge, you and the trio found some Claw Marks. After saving this evidence, the Cheshire Cat appeared on the faucet, still grinning.

“Well, look what you’ve found. Nice going,” he said.

“Now we can save Alice,” you said.

“Don’t be so sure! She may be innocent, but what about you?”

“What do you mean?” Sora asked.

“I won’t tell. But I’ll give you something,” he said as he gave you the Blizzard spell and disappeared. You and the trio returned to the Queen’s Castle and spoke to a Card Soldier.

“Are you ready to present evidence before the queen?” he asked.

“Yes,” you said.

“Very well. Counsel, step up to the podium.” You and Sora stood at the defendant’s table, while Donald and Goofy were in a separate box.

“Now, show me what you have found,” the queen said. You and Sora presented the four items of evidence.

“Well, that’s certainly a lot of evidence, but I’m still not impressed. Cards! Bring forth my evidence!” the queen said. The cards presented the queen’s box of evidence and the five boxes were shuffled around to Sora’s confusion.

“Hmm, checking all five would only be a waste of time. All right, then. Choose the one you wish to present. I’ll decide who’s guilty based on that evidence,” the queen said.

“What? After all the trouble of collecting it?” Sora asked.

“You dare object? Then you will lose your head! Now, choose! One box!” the queen yelled. You chose on of the boxes.

“Are you certain? No second chances!” the queen said.

“I’m sure,” you said.

“Now we shall see who the real culprit is,” the queen said. The box opened and a Soldier Heartless appeared.

“What in the world was that?” the queen asked.

“There’s your evidence. Alice is innocent,” Sora said.

“Rrrrrrrgh... Silence! I’m the law here!” the queen yelled as she pounded on the bench.

“Article 29: Anyone who defies the queen is guilty!” the queen said.

“That’s crazy!” Donald said as he jumped up and down.

“Seize them at once!” the queen shouted. The podiums and hedges disappeared and a large crank tower rose from the floor. The Ten of Spades ran over to the tower’s gear and turned it, raising Alice’s cage at the bench. The queen lifted her fan and the cards leaped into battle.

“Cards! If they touch the tower, you lose your heads!” the queen yelled. You, Sora, Donald, and Goofy began attacking the red and black Card Soldiers who came at them with axes. After knocking a couple out, they fluttered to the ground unconscious.

“Get them, you fools! Quit joking around!” the queen yelled. Sora ran up to the Queen of Hearts, who tried to fight back with magic from her fan. Sora dodged this and knocked her over, exposing her heart- patterned bloomers. At this point, the Card Soldiers freezed on the spot for fear of their queen. Sora ran back over to you and the two of you started slamming his Keyblade and your dagger into the crank tower, with each strike lowering Alice’s cage.

“Why, you!” the queen yelled angrily. Eventually, the tower started to crack and shattered to pieces. The flamingo head holding up Alice’s cage dropped to the ground and the curtain pulled back. You and Sora ran forward as the Queen of Hearts peered over the bench to see an empty cage.

“She must’ve gotten kidnapped while we were fighting,” Donald said.

“You fools!” the queen yelled as she slammed her fists and the cards stood up in attention.

“Find the one who’s behind this! I don’t care how!” the queen said. The Card Soldiers ran in various directions at the queen’s orders. You and Sora talked to the Card Soldier in charge of Alice’s detainment.

“I just looked away for a moment, and...” the card said. You, Sora, Donald, and Goofy walked back into the Lotus Forest and saw a flower sneeze up a rock. It landed near the pond and the Cheshire Cat appeared, standing on his front legs.

“Have you seen Alice?” you asked.

“Alice, no. Shadows, yes!” the cat said.

“Where did they go?” Goofy asked.

“This way? That way? Does it matter? Left, right, up, down! All mixed up thanks to the shadows! Step deeper into the forest to the deserted garden. You might find shadows in the upside-down room!” The cat vanished and Heartless appeared again. Once they dispeled the horde of creatures, you and the trio found a thirsty flower.

“Give me a potion and I’ll make you bigger,” the flower said. Sora obliged and grew until he could almost touch the treetops. He knocked the boulder into the pond and more lily pads rose out of it. He found a large nut at the top of a tree and used his Keyblade to knock it down. He ate it and returned to you, Donald and Goofy’s size. You and the trio traveled to the back of the wood and found another entrance to the Bizarre Room. This time, you found yourselves standing on the side of the room. More Heartless appeared and in the shuffle, you knocked a teddy bear off a shelf and it fell horizontally onto the armchairs below. Sora lit one of the lamps in the room, which revealed a painting on the floor of a beach in both night and day. You and the trio entered the painting and returned to the Lotus Forest. At the furthest part of the forest, you and the trio enter the Tea Party Garden, seeing a long table with several chairs. Teapots and dinnerware lined the table as lanterns hung overhead. A painting of the Mad Hatter and the March Hare is hung at the edge of the table. The expressions on their faces is one of sadness. A sign is posted next to them reading “A very merry unbirthday. Sit down to get your present.” You and the trio sat at various chairs and the Hatter & Hare’s painted expressions changed to ones of joy and happiness. You and the trio entered the door in the house nearby and found yourselves standing on the ceiling of the Bizarre Room. The Cheshire Cat sat waiting for them.

“They’re hiding somewhere. And the mome raths outgrabe. Want to find the shadows? Try turning on the light,” the cat said. He vanished and you jumped onto one of the lamps and lit it. The cat reappeared on the other lamp.

“It’s too dim. Make it brighter,” he said.

“What next?” Sora asked.

“One more lamp that you need to light.” The cat disappeared and Sora lit the other lamp, summoning the cat once more.

“All the lights are on. You’ll see the shadows soon. They’ll arise in this room, but somewhere else. The shadows might go after that doorknob, too,” he said. The cat left as you and the trio made your way back to the Queen’s Castle to enter the correct way into the Bizarre Room. Upon entering the room, you spotted the Cheshire Cat on the table.

“You’ll have a better view from higher up,” he said. You, Sora, Donald, and Goofy climbed the table and the cat stood up.

“The shadows should be here soon,” he said as he tapped his toes daintily on the table.

“Are you prepared for the worst? If not, too bad!” he said. He pointed upwards and the enormous Trickmaster Heartless appeared. It landed on the floor with its accordion-like hands and jumped over the table, landing on its large pointed boots. It stood up to its full height, towering over the table, unraveling both of its long arms. It stared down at you and the trio with its five stacked heads. It folded its arms together and pulled out two giant matches, twirling them in the air. You and Sora got a running start, leaping off the table and striking at the Trickmaster’s faces as it raised its matches high in the air. It slammed them down onto the chair, sending it flattened into the floor. Sora jumped up, using the length of his Keyblade to deal blows to the Trickmaster. He knocked it out for a second, and it fell to its knees, though not for long. It started to sing to itself and swung wildly, hitting Donald, who shrieks. It continued twirling the matches, walking over to the stove. It bended over the stove and lit them, sending fireballs at the four of you. Goofy blocked them with his shield and Sora sended a Blizzard spell while you threw your dagger at it, effectively putting the fire out. After several more hits, the Trickmaster lowered its arms and fell to the ground. It attempted to stand, but crashed to the ground, its arms laying at its side. A large heart floated of its torso and it disappeared. You and Sora heard a noise behind him and turned, seeing the doorknob yawning.

“What a racket. How’s a doorknob to get any sleep?” it said. It yawned widely and they saw a Keyhole inside its mouth. A light shined around Sora’s Keyblade and it reacted with a will of its own, pointing at the Keyhole and releasing a beam of white light. They heard a locking sound and the doorknob finished yawning.

“What was that” Donald asked.

“You hear that? Sounded like something closed,” you said. A small green object fell to the ground in front of you four, shining.

“This gummi ain’t like the others. No, sir,” Goofy said.

“Okay, I’ll hold on to it,” Donald said. He picked up the gummi block and the Cheshire Cat appeared on the table, peering down at you four.

“Splendid. You’re quite the hero. If you’re looking for Alice, she’s not here. She’s gone! Off with the shadows, into darkness,” he said. The cat vanished with his grin.

“No...” Sora said.

“Let’s go back to our gummi ship. We might find her in another world,” Donald said.

“But what about my parents?” you asked.

“I’m sorry. But it seemed like there weren’t any clues here. But chin up, (Y/N). There might be some in other worlds.”

“You’re right. Let’s go!” You, Sora, Donald, and Goofy returned to the gummi ship and traveled to another world, hoping that you would find clues.

#kingdom hearts #kingdomhearts #kingdom hearts imagine #kingdom hearts x reader #kingdom+hearts+x+reader #kingdom+hearts+imagines #kingdomhearts x reader #kingdomhearts imagines #kingdomhearts+x+reader #kingdomhearts+imagines

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magicalforcesau · 4 years

Text

Dancing with Ghosts in Your Garden ~ Chapter 1: Year 1- Summer

Ao3 link:

Summer came and went with the fleeting heat of a fever dream for young Anakin Skywalker. Aside from his general distaste for summer as a season with its blazing sun and sandy beaches, the overall course of the months seemed to elongate simply because for the first time in his entire life, he was excited to go to school.

He’d never belonged at school with the muggles. Not only did he constantly have to stress over hiding who he was, which frustrated him to no end, but he was somehow still painted as a freak. This would lead to Anakin getting into some form of a scuffle, which would result in accidental use of magic.

His repertoire of indiscretions included, but was not limited to:

Sending a student into a never-ending hole in the ground

Floating up and away

Causing a bully to only be able to breathe underwater

Pantsing another bully in front of a pretty girl (okay, he didn’t use magic for that one)

Making a parent on the PTA turn mute

Transforming his entire class’s musical instruments into live snakes

Burping the alphabet, but with explosive fire (this was more of a result of spicy foods than confrontation)

Turning a teacher into a fat purple penguin

And this meant he often hopped around schools like it was a playground game. He’d never had that many friends, and when he did, he understood that it was never meant to last. Honestly, none of the magical situations he got himself into were on purpose. They simply transpired from a raw energy within him, or so his mother always defended when the Ministry of Magic came calling.

This didn’t make the face she made every time he returned with an expulsion notice any easier. She insisted that she wasn’t mad and that she loved him regardless, but he knew that somewhere deep down she wished she had a child that didn’t force her to uproot her life so often.

It helped that she was also a wizard, but she’d given up that life in favor of the muggle world and sought to raise Anakin in it as well. She never used magic, save for the rare moments where she had to hastily put out a fire or turn a person back into their rightful form; always on the account of one of his accidental outbursts. It wasn’t that she detested it, but that Shmi Skywalker had an appreciation for those who did things with their own hands. She was hardworking that way and while Anakin saw her employment as a waitress to the pub below their apartment as borderline slavery, she seemed at peace with it.

He’d never even heard of Hogwarts until a man named Qui-Gon Jinn appeared on their humble doorstep with a huge stack of envelopes. He carried the airs of humility, wearing robes that looked much older than Anakin. His hair draped down his shoulders in a thick curtain that was fashioned half-up and half-down.

Anakin had to crane his head back to look him in the eyes, but he had a kind face that seemed easy to trust. Qui-Gon, he quickly discovered, was a professor at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry and came to deliver Anakin’s invitation in person.

“That’s a bit peculiar, isn’t it?” Shmi said warily. “Professors don’t normally make house calls.”

Qui-Gon had a twinkle in his eye as he nodded to her respectively. “Not typically, but we have attempted to send out Anakin’s letter all summer, but to no response.”

“We moved.” Anakin said and gave his mum a curious look. “There’s school for people like us?”

Shmi never took her eyes away from Qui-Gon and the two seemed to be speaking in a silent language that Anakin could not understand. He didn’t try to, because he immediately started buzzing around the room as rapidly as possible. This wasn’t just good news. It was marvelous news. This meant he wouldn’t have to go to that awful boy’s preparatory school in the fall. He could be amongst other wizards and learn how to harness the power within him.

In the midst of his scurrying around the room, he’d gotten so excited that he started to levitate off the ground. Neither adult noticed, even when Anakin drifted well above the impressive height that was Qui-Gon Jinn.

He overheard his mother softly ask, “Will he be safer there?”

“The safest thing we can do for him is to train him.” Qui-Gon said. “I know how much he means to you, Shmi.”

“Uh, a little help here?” Anakin interrupted.

Qui-Gon looked up and smiled at him, “How’s the weather up there?”

“Unsteady, sir. I don’t know how you manage it.” Anakin said.

A deep and hearty laugh broke across the room as he whipped a wand from the pocket of his robe. With the flick of the wrist and an utterance of “Descendo”, Anakin was placed back on his two feet once again. A part of him always liked when he floated off. He enjoyed being in the air.

Qui-Gon ruffled a hand through Anakin’s hair and looked to Shmi. There was more of that secret and silent adult-speak happening, but when Shmi looked to Anakin, he tried his best to convey that he wanted nothing more than to be amongst his own kind for a change. His little outbursts have been occurring more frequently and he was not sure how much more disappointment he could take.

To his surprise, she relented.

And so it was settled. Anakin was to attend Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry in the fall- which was shockingly his mother’s alma mater. In his 11 years of living, she’d never mentioned it, just that she’d gone to school with other witches and wizards growing up and how she felt it was too isolated from the real world.

***

“Do I get a wand?”

“Yes, Ani.” She smiled lightly as they walked down the cobblestone streets of London. Cars and people buzzed throughout the town, each taking a slice of the rare sunny day. Normally, Anakin had zero interest in back to school shopping as it usually just included hand-me-downs from used outlets and the cheapest notebooks and pencils. Specifically, the kinds of pencils with erasers that didn’t function properly.

“Do you think I could have one like Qui-Gon’s?”

“The wand chooses the wizard.” She said, “Wands are unique. Just like people.”

He’d spent enough time in London to know for certain that there was not a wizard store at the market- not one that wasn’t mocking their culture with top hats and white rabbits. They passed familiar shops and boutiques until they made a turn onto Charing Cross Road and stopped in front of a charcoal pub with a faded sign hanging to the side. Anakin moved to continue walking as well, but Shmi was cemented to her position.

“Mum?”

She didn’t answer, only kept her eyes trained forward with a combination of knowing fear and unmovable determination. She took in a deep breath and reached for Anakin’s hand before leading him up to the large black door and pushing their way in.

It was equally unimpressive on the inside, resembling every other dive in England. Men and women huddled around their dimly lit booths and tables, trading barbs and sharing grub. He swore as they walked by a few, he heard his mother’s name leave their lips. Normally, a protective instinct would kick in, but his own beguilement was placed on halt. He was unsure what grabbing a beer was going to do for them, but then again, that was before the fabrics of reality opened before him.

His jaw dropped when a crummy hole-in-the-wall developed an actual hole in the wall and he suddenly stood on the bridge between parallel realities. There was the one at which he came from with its conformities, drab colors, and mundane days. What lay before him was anything but drab or mundane. While he’d never been here before, he automatically felt a singing rightness to it and found he could not bring himself to turn back- not even to express his sense of awe to his mother.

As if on a gravitational pull, he moved forward, his mother’s hand squeezing his own without a second thought. They drifted down the winding cobblestone street. It resembled the older paths in England with tight streets and turns as well as crowded rows of buildings. These, however, did not consist of standard row homes or shops, but an array of bright-roofed places of commerce.

His eyes were pulled everywhere, unsure whether to fixate on the joke shop or the menagerie, which had its windows lined with an assortment of obscure pets ranging from rats to little colorful wisps of fluff that he could not name.

There was a shop explicitly for selling cauldrons as well as robes, which were written on the list Professor Qui-Gon Jinn had given them before taking leave. Anakin had memorized it backwards and forwards and still hadn’t fully grasped the act of actually buying this kind of stuff.

Adults and their children appeared out of nowhere in the middle of the road and nobody blinked a second thought. Afterwards, they tucked their wands into their boot or pocket and went about their business with a casual air that only came with experience. They were all dressed very different from him- wearing long and vibrant robes as well as mismatched hats. No two were the same and while some of the younger crowd was more modernly dressed, most appeared to be in costume for a stage play. Anakin tried his best not to gawk at the strangers, who paid his shock no mind. He was supposed to be one of them, but while the rational part of him was trying to stop staring at wizards openly performing magic in public, the bigger part of him could only revel in the joy that came with not being the odd man in the room.

Various pleasant smells filled the open sky, which increased his sense of wonder. The street was lined with many different cafes and restaurants. The one that piqued his interest had a large light-up ice cream cone pinned on the roof. Just as his mouth began to water at the possibilities of how advanced magical ice cream could be, he was briefly tugged from his reverie by his mother, who took them aside and near the window of a different shop.

She knelt before him, a small and knowing smile playing at her lips, but also a bit of sadness that he could not understand. How could she ever want to leave this world? There was so much to explore and behold. What did their grubby flat above the old pub have that this place didn’t?

“Welcome to Diagon Alley. I know it’s a lot to take in.” She said and gave his shoulders a gentle squeeze. “And there will be time for that later.”

“And magical ice cream?” He tried. Though he wasn’t sure what was going to be so different about it.

She chuckled. “One rite of passage at a time.”

And with that, she stood up and nodded towards the shop behind him. “In there, I think you’ll find what you’ve been anticipating most. I’ll meet you back here with your textbooks. Do not wander, Ani.”

He heeded her advice and swung the wooden door open to reveal a dimly lit storage room that was stacked from floor to ceiling with shelves of long, thin boxes. Singular orbs of fading light dangled from the high ceiling and cast a yellow glow onto each shelf, though nothing worth noting leapt out at Anakin. Juxtaposed to the rest of the marketplace, it resembled a cluttered library rather than anything enticing. He couldn’t see how this would be what his mother believed was the most exciting place.

Well, aside from the gentleman positioned behind the desk, which sat next to a winding staircase leading to a closed door. At least, Anakin believed they were a gentleman, but it felt wrong to assume given they were clearly not human with a long snout, gray skin, and a very dinosaur-like shape. They wrote with a long feather in hand, clearly transfixed with whatever was being transcribed, and paid Anakin no mind.

“Um, excuse me?” Anakin spoke after the silence felt like it might overwhelm him.

Golden eyes lifted from the parchment to study him and Anakin swore he saw a thousand lifetimes in the span of seconds, but was also fairly certain he wasn’t under a spell. He couldn’t decide if they were kind or not- just all knowing yet totally unassuming.

“Yes, young man?” Their voice kept things ambiguous with a slight waver that gave away their age and a tone that was coated in gravel when they spoke.

“Um,” Anakin desperately wished his mother came in with him now, because he wasn’t even sure what he was supposed to be asking for from this creature. Said creature looked at him with expectant and timeless eyes, which eventually narrowed after considering Anakin.

“You’re new.” They said and got up from behind the desk, but not without the help of a cane and patience.

“Yes, sir.” He internally cursed for slipping, because really, he did not need to offend anyone on his first day in the wizarding world. While Anakin didn’t normally mince words, he hadn’t yet learned how to truly defend himself from this ancient wizard if that was required.

But, no rebuttal or offense came. Instead, this old man smiled and nodded before gesturing for Anakin to come closer. Despite previous anxieties, Anakin did as he was instructed.

“What a pleasure it is to share this moment with you.” He said and upon closer inspection, had many smile lines crinkled around the corners of his eyes. “What’s your name?”

“I’m Anakin Skywalker.”

“And what are you?”

“Uh, a person. What are you?”

This was hilarious to Tera Sinube, who laughed so hard that Anakin feared he was going to knock himself off balance somehow. He did not appear very physically stable as it was.

“Well, I’m a Cosian, but I’m also a person.” He said. “I was referring to your blood lineage. This can help when trying to pair wands to wizards.”

Anakin’s eyes felt like they were going to bulge out of his head, which provided more comedic content for the older wizard, who quite literally slapped his own knee at the confusion on Anakin’s face.

“You’re a wandmaker?” Anakin gaped, not caring about sounding foolish.

“Must be muggle-born.” Sinube smiled knowingly.

“Muggle?”

“Human.” He corrected, “My apologies. It’s what non-magical humans are referred to by wizards.”

While the statement held no edge beyond what naturally came with the tones of his voice, Anakin could not help feeling slightly bristled by the confusion.

“My mum’s a wizard, actually.” He said pointedly, “My father was a hum-muggle, though.”

He might as well get used to the verbiage.

Tera Sinube stared at him more carefully over his long snout and bit his lip in what appeared to be concentration.

“Skywalker.” He rolled the name around in his mouth and then his eyes widened a little before settling back to normal. “11 inches, Pear, with unicorn hair.”

“Huh?”

Sinube smiled and drifted to the back to pick up various packages from shelves. “That was your mother’s wand type. Your mother is Shmi Skywalker, right?”

“You know my mum?” Anakin asked.

“I’ve never forgotten a wand nor the wizard it chose.” He said with a firm nod.

“Wait, I don’t get to pick the one I want? Because I know this guy and his wand is super-”

“-The wand chooses the wizard, Mr. Skywalker.” Sinube said firmly. “If it were backwards, I’d be terrified of the outcome. People have a tendency of prioritizing what they want rather than accepting what they need. And from that, we devolve into chaos.”

He wanted to push the point, because while arguing with a seasoned wandmaker about wands seemed foolish, Anakin really did enjoy the sleek fashion of Qui-Gon’s burgundy wand and believed that would most suit him too. However, Sinube did not give him much room to talk and instead laid out an array of thin boxes on the desk.

“I’ve been doing this for a very long time. Longer than I’d care to admit, actually, and I swear to you I’ve never come up with inconclusive results.”

Even as he said it, it felt like condemnation.

Because after a series of almost-disasters including, but not limited to: setting the entire wooden office on fire, turning Sinube into a Cosian Kebab, dissolving the floor into a gaping black hole beneath them, and literally turning the wooden wand into an angry python- it was easy to feel discouraged.

There were also wands that simply didn’t react to Anakin at all, which was even more disappointing. He had managed to let Sinube give him the opportunity to try Qui-Gon’s wand type on the off chance that his interests and needs coincided.

However, the 13” larch with dragon heartstrings acted as little more than a fancy stick in Anakin’s hand, much to his dismay and attempt at making it work.

“Ah, larch is a much sought-after wood.” Sinube said. “However, it is amongst the hardest to appease in terms of partnership. Its matches are typically hidden artifacts, so to speak, with untapped and unnoticed potential until the pair meets. Qui-Gon Jinn certainly matched that description as a young boy.”

Anakin wanted to further protest, but chose against it in favor of sulking. At this point, he cared a great deal less about matching Qui-Gon as he did finding a wand that would actually work with him at all.

“Now, now. One must not give up so easily.” Sinube placed a large hand on his shoulder. “I will have you know that some of the greatest wizards that ever lived were difficult to match. I was not alive in Headmaster Yoda’s time as a young wizard, but it evidently took days to find his wand.”

Anakin sighed, “I’m just so new to all of this, but I’ve always dreamed of it, if that makes sense.”

“It does and this moment will be a fond one if you let it happen.”

He tried to do just that and humored Sinube’s every whim of attempts and even climbed the ladder along the bookcase to grab more wands for him. It wasn’t until knocking a loose box from its hold on top of the bookcase and onto the floor- successfully rolling the wand across the room- that Anakin felt the room change.

Upon picking it up, the atmosphere transformed into one bathed in angelic light with a potent wind that swept all around them and took loose strands of parchment into the air. Anakin’s hand that gripped the wand grew impossibly warm, but never hot, and a strength seemed to manifest deep in the core of his being. Anakin’s soul felt complete where he never knew it was missing a piece.

Eventually, the lights dimmed and the heavens ceased singing and while he believed he’d been the only one doused in glory, it was clear from Sinube’s face that he’d bore witness to the whole spectacle. Perhaps, this was why he did what he did for so long.

“And there you have it.” The older wizard grinned. “An 11 ½” holly with dragon heartstrings. Known for handling well with the impetuous and the quick to anger as well as accompanying one with a large spiritual journey ahead of them.”

Anakin reverently ran his thumb across the surface of the hilt. How he could ever want anything else seemed ridiculous now. He finally tore his eyes away from his wand to acknowledge Sinube.

“Thank you, Mr. Sinube.” He said as he handed him the money his mother gave him- apparently it was the exact amount, “For being patient.”

“It was my pleasure, Mr. Skywalker. I just ask that you always extend yourself and others the same courtesy.”

“I will!” Though his rush to race out the door did not support the statement.

After Anakin left, Sinube’s eyes drifted to the wand that had been previously turned into a snake.

“Curious…” He said as he picked it up. Just as suspected, it was an elm wand, which was heavily believed to only react to wizards of pure-blood. Sinube, who was not human in any sense beyond spirit, hardly listened in on the political rubbish surrounding blood lineage. Still, it was odd that the elm wand reacted so.

***

Anakin dashed out of Sinube’s in such excited haste that he ran square into a family of wizards which knocked his wand from his hand and had it rolling onto the street. An array of passing feet accidentally kicked it along in transit and Anakin found himself scrambling on the ground in an ill-willed attempt to recover the wand he’d just struggled to meet.

“Excuse me! Sorry! Coming through!” He pushed his way through the crowd, never once taking his eyes off the ground and failing to really keep track where he was going.

Finally, his wand was spared from the stampede as it was all but launched into a darker passageway and down a series of steps. Anakin breathed out a sigh of relief and frustration as he descended to retrieve his wand. It wasn’t until he picked it up and determined that it was still usable did he realize he had absolutely no idea where he’d drifted.

Behind him, there was the pocket of light he’d come from while ahead only lay an oblique of shadows that extended deeper and deeper into a silent unknown. He could still feel the sunlight that shined bright on Diagon Alley at his back. However, he was inexplicably drawn forward as though he were being called. In fact, his feet seemed to move at their own accord, because despite his mind telling him otherwise, he followed the path of noir and gray stone until reaching a crossing.

Strange and unhappy creatures seemed to shuffle around one another without exchanging pleasantries or even acknowledging one another. Somehow, this part of town seemed even tighter than the rest of Diagon Alley. The shop owners were grim and threatened their patrons, though the patrons did not seem kind either. A few cast curious stares at Anakin as he walked by, but he did not want to be caught idle for too long and went the opposite direction, away from the quiet community of threatening onlookers.

As he drifted further along a narrow opening and towards a glowing green light, he felt a resounding cold settle in his bones without warning. His thoughts were screaming in meaningless questions as to why he was even here, but he resisted the urge to turn away. If he did, sleeping that night would be more impossible than enduring the chill that traveled up his spine at every distant echo.

He found himself clutching his wand instinctually, though he had no indication on how to use it. He slowly treaded closer to the ambient green hue that reflected off the stone wall. The anxiety that coiled in the pit of his stomach resembled that of being the follower and the followed. He was not sure which he was more fearful of in the present. When he rounded the corner, he realized it appeared to be from a wizarding shop, no less. While this should have caused relief, Anakin remained on high alert, noting that this shop did not resemble the others.

It was well-buried in the shadows, for one thing, and did not seem to be sought after despite its claim to sell antiquities. There were three front windows with a green light emanating off of them and highlighting the clear prevalence of skeletons throughout the store. He tried not to think too hard about their origin.

He squinted his eyes as he made out the sign on the front.

“Borgin and Burkes.” He murmured to himself.

He kept his steps silent and his breaths minimal, particularly when he realized he was not alone. Quickly, he rushed into the store in an attempt to avoid being seen by a large figure all dressed in black. The storeowner was clearly gone for lunch or other dealings, because he was not questioned when he slipped behind the counter after realizing the large presence was (hopefully unknowingly) following him inside.

There was a moment of silence beyond what Anakin could barely make out as the ignition of a flame.

He closed his eyes and wondered what his mother thought of his absence for the first time. What if she didn’t let him go to Hogwarts for wandering off? Surely, the rule of avoiding dark alleys applied to the wizarding world just as much as it did the real world. He felt remorse and regret, but didn’t even know where to begin on how to leave.

“Are you sure, Master?” A deep, but hushed voice asked.

“Yes. It is time to act. He arrives at Hogwarts this year.” The second voice sounded like more of a hiss than actual speech and crackled alongside the fire.

“There is much to prepare, then.”

Anakin peered his head from around the desk in a feeble attempt to catch a glimpse. Anyone that entered an empty shop to have a secretive conversation could not have been up to any good. What he was supposed to do about it, he was unsure.

The figure that had followed him into the shop was huge in stature- even larger and more dominant in appearance than Qui-Gon. He was dressed from head-to-toe all in black robes that were pulled over his head and shrouded him like a phantom.

The other man was not present in the physical sense, but judging from what Anakin could tell, was either in the fireplace or he was the fireplace. Green embers flicked in every direction, wild in abandon and enchantment as the phantom spoke down. Anakin wished he could get a better look, but thought better of it lest he reveal his presence.

“Just see to it that you are ready, Lord Tyranus. The Sith will rise once again if all goes according to plan.”

The phantom man knelt before the fireplace, as if to swear an oath. “I will not fail you, my Master.”

There was a long enough pause where Anakin briefly thought the conversation had ended, but a maniacal laugh rippled through the shop and he had to suppress the urge to whimper.

“Good.” He enunciated. “Until the darkest day at the darkest point.”

“Until then.”

“And by the way, my apprentice. You are not alone.”

Anakin’s eyes shot open and he burst into a blind sprint towards and through the door, narrowly avoiding a green shock of lightning that ricocheted where he’d previously been sat. Flames blew up behind him, lighting the dark path before him. He mindlessly chose his fate and sprinted down the cobblestone path to where he’d originally entered through. Well, it was where he believed he’d entered, at least.

His knees were almost hitting his chest. He was running so hard and determined to carry his strides as far as his little legs could take him. It finally felt as though his mind had lined up with his body and that every sense in him was on fire because of it. He could still smell the singed wood from the desk and hear the hushed tones of that dark voice.

There was so much he hadn’t gotten to do. He hadn’t seen Hogwarts or used his wand or made new friends. And for what? What did he have to say for drifting down strange roads that he had no place seeing?

He didn’t dare look behind him at risk of seeing what was approaching him, ready to swallow him up whole and never allow him to see or feel light ever again.

His mother would never get to see him graduate, which he knew was something she’d always hoped for him. She likely hoped it would be at a regular school, but would grow to be proud of him anyways. At the very least, he had intended on proving himself worthy of her devotion, even if she claimed he did not need to do such things. He would start by avoiding the dark side of Diagon Alley.

If he could only make it out alive.

He ran into a few angry and disgruntled characters, but none had the wits about them to stop him beyond shouting vulgar and threatening chants at him. He was numb to their words. He tried to listen for another presence running through them as well, but could only hear the steady pounding of his own heart and blood in his ears as well as the sound of his feet hitting the pavement.

A kaleidoscope of white light exploded before him as he’d finally wandered his way back to the open world. In a bout of momentary blindness he continued to plow straight ahead, colliding nearly instantly into an unyielding force. He found himself sprawled on his back staring at the very blue sky before he had a moment to catch himself.

Surely, he was caught and about to die in broad daylight. His wand fell from his hand and tears streaked his face. He didn’t even know where to begin in begging for his life. He wasn’t sure why he even went down that stupid pathway- just that it had called him. He felt he knew more now, though,and that it scared him.

His breathing grew heavy and frantic, but two firm hands settled on his shoulders- not his neck. He mustered up the courage to look up at his probable attacker and make peace with the fact that he’d lived an okay life thus far.

“Are you alright?” A voice- very different from the one before- asked him and the face matched the voice in its concern.

Instead of a hulking figure cloaked in black, there was a teenager- lean, medium-height, and light-skinned. Anakin would have thought he was an adult wizard by how he was dressed like a professor, in a pressed sweater-vest with a white button-up beneath, as well as ironed trousers and neatly combed auburn hair. However, his face was young and soft with caring blue-gray eyes. He held a certain air of authority and responsibility on him as though he’d been born shouldering the weight of the world.

Anakin sniffled and tried to come to terms with the fact that he was not about to die today and shrugged his shoulders in response.

The older boy’s eyes looked from where Anakin had come from in horror. “Why in the blazes were you coming from Knockturn Alley?”

He ran an arm along his face to get rid of any tears or snot that might have gone rogue in his hysteria.

“I-I got lost from my mum.” He said and hated how small he sounded, but he truly did not feel like explaining to a stranger why he’d decided to take a stroll into the ugly side of town.

“In Knockturn Alley?” He furrowed his brow, unwilling to be shaken. Clearly, this place had a bad reputation and Anakin could understand why.

“Why is that place even there at all?” Anakin complained. “I… I thought it might be a shortcut and… it wasn’t.”

The older boy’s conflicted expression was traded for one of sympathy and he simply gathered Anakin’s wand for him as well as his own dropped belongings before helping Anakin to his feet.

“Well, no harm done, right?”

He wasn’t so sure, but he nodded all the same.

“Let’s get you back to your mum, okay? It can be dangerous around here for a first-timer and I’m sure she’s worried sick.”

He appreciated not being confused for a muggle this time, though this kid struck him as a seasoned member of the wizarding community. Even still, after what he’d just seen, he was happy to have the company. He didn’t miss the disgusted look he shot back to Knockturn Alley over Anakin’s shoulder.

“Do you go to Hogwarts?” Anakin asked.

“Why, most of everyone here either has been, will be, or is a student at Hogwarts.” He said and scanned the crowd. “I’m entering my fifth year.”

Anakin sighed, “It’ll be my first.”

“I would have never guessed.” Though there was an obvious edge of sarcasm to his tone, which was a welcome surprise as he seemed regularly quite stiff. “I see you got your wand already.”

“From Tera Sinube’s. Just like everyone else, I’m guessing.” Anakin said, but did not miss the way his new companion flinched ever so slightly when he’d said that. There was a wand peeking out of his pocket, so it wasn’t that he simply didn’t possess one. He tried to think nothing of it and move on, taking notice instead of the button that sat atop the books that the older boy carried.

“Do all fifth years get badges that say they’re ‘perfect’ on them?”

He chuckled. “It says ‘prefect’, actually. It’s a big honor at Hogwarts. I essentially was elected by the Headmaster and Head of House to uphold the code of ethics at the school.”

“So…” Anakin paused. “You’re a hall monitor.”

He thought about that for a moment. “Is that what muggles call it?”

“Yeah, mate. It’s a pretty geeky position actually. The hall monitor at my school got so many wedgies that they had to get his briefs surgically removed.”

He grimaced. “Yes, well, bullies are no strangers to Hogwarts either, but I’d like to think at least some of them heed to our words and authority. So, if you ever need anything, don’t hesitate to reach out.”

Anakin smiled. “Thanks. Trouble usually finds me pretty quick so I’ll need the connections.”

The Prefect smiled. “I can see that.”

***

By the time the Prefect had finally reunited Anakin with his mother, the sky above them began collecting orange and pink hues to resemble a mosaic painting. Anakin’s mood had brightened substantially since exiting the horrid Knockturn Alley and was all the more relieved to see that his mother didn’t appear too angry with him for disappearing.

Because he was still the kind of guy that liked hugging his mum, he ran to her all the same and enveloped her in a tight hug that she knelt to meet him for.

“I got lost.” He said, voice muffled by her shoulder.

“I know it’s all bright and new to you, but this place isn’t all rainbows and sunshine, Ani.” She sighed and stroked his hair. “You have to be mindful of your surroundings.”

Anakin understood what she meant more than he could say right now. For some reason, he felt he shouldn’t relay what had happened to his mother. Not only because it would upset her, but because thinking back on it sent a cold chill down his spine. He simply nodded in agreement and his mother finally acknowledged the young chaperone, who awkwardly stood off to the side.

“Thank you very much for seeing my son safely back to me. I hope he didn’t cause you any trouble.” She smiled warmly.

The older boy waved a hand of nonchalance, though his stiff posture didn’t quite sell the casual vibe he was going for. “Oh, no trouble at all. I was glad to be able to see Diagon Alley through the eyes of a newcomer.”

Anakin beamed. “He showed me all around! Mum, can I get an owl?”

Shmi chuckled. “Later. We must be getting home before it grows dark. I’ve got a late shift tonight at the pub.”

He slumped his shoulders a little bit. “You always have work.”

She sighed and gently pushed some hair out of his face. “I do what I must so we can have a nice life.”

Anakin wanted to say something along the lines of their lives not being so nice thus far, but he knew it would hurt his mother’s feelings and despite his disappointment, did not want to do that.

The Prefect smiled. “I better be off, myself. I’ll see you at school!”

He waved. “Yeah! I’ll see you then! Thank you!”

Shmi smiled down at him. “At least you’re already making friends. What was his name?”

Anakin blanked. “Oh… I don’t know! He’s a prefect though.”

“He saved you and you didn’t get his name?” She asked.

“He didn’t save me. I had it under control.” He puffed out his chest, even if deep inside he knew that was not correct. “But I was distracted. Hey, look at my wand!”

#the clone wars #tcw #Obi-Wan Kenobi #Anakin Skywalker #Qui-Gon Jinn #Shmi Skywalker #star wars #prequel trilogy #harry potter au #au #magical forces au

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theskyeandsea · 4 years

Text

To Make a Home || Nicodemus & Skylar

Tagging: @bountybossier

Location: Outside of Coffee Plus

Notes: Just two prospective roommates having a nice and happy chat.

“Thanks, have a good one.” Skylar said with a bright smile to the barista, taking the two coffee cups from the countertop and walked out to one of the tables outside. She wasn’t really sure what Coffee Plus’ policy on animals indoors was, but she didn’t want to push it, just in case. Plus… if she needed to make a quick break for it, being outside would probably be for the best. Not that she would have much of a chance of outrunning Nic, but at least she could try. Taking a sip from her cup, she took a deep breath. It was going to be okay. Nic was a Hunter, but he wasn’t a bad one. He hadn’t tried to hurt her. He’d been nothing but nice to her. So, why was she so nervous? Skylar tapped her fingers against her thigh and glanced up the street before spotting Nic making his way through downtown. Smiling, she gestured to the cup of coffee she’d bought for him. “Hey! I wasn’t sure what kind of coffee you liked, so I figured black would be safest. Thanks for coming.” She said with a nod, though her eyes were trained on the little dog that had accompanied him. Even though it was small, she still wasn’t sure how this meeting would go.

Damn that tiny dog and its small fucking legs. Nicodemus didn’t know when it had slipped out and followed him. But he couldn’t avoid the tippy-tapping of tiny dog feet behind him or the slight huffing for long. He would step, it would tap. He would stop, it would stop. It continued like that for a handful of streets until he finally stopped fully. The hunter glanced back at the dog. The dog looked up at him with its large, bulging eyes. Nicodemus grimaced and with a long string of colorful French swears, picked the dog up like the nothing it weighed and held it under his arm like a tucked in football. “You’re the fuckin’ worst.” He grumbled to himself as he walked toward Coffee Plus. The dog huffed and just looked at him, tongue out and ears perked. He didn’t make eye contact as he finally rounded the corner that Coffee Plus made home. The sight of Skylar made him breathe a little easier and he offered a weak wave with the hand not currently occupied by a dog. The sound of Skylar’s voice had the dog looking forward and giving a small yap. He supposed it was a greeting. “Black works just fine,” he said a little stiffly as he sat down at the open chair. Unsure of what to do with the dog, he set it on the ground. Only for it to start pawing at his jeans. “Told you I would, Skylar. Meant it.” He looked down at the dog. “So. This...is the, uh, dog. Anyhow, you doin’ alright?”

Flinching a little bit when the dog yapped at her, Skylar shrank back in her chair for a moment. But… it didn’t seem like the dog was going to do anything more than that as it settled around at Nic’s feet. When he sat down, she watched as the dog pawed at his pant leg. It almost didn’t seem like a dog, just from how small it was. A bit fascinated, she looked as it kind of shivered, pacing in once spot for a second before pawing at Nic again. Focusing her attention back at Nic, she nodded, though she kept the little dog in her peripheral sight all the same. It didn’t seem as scary as Alain’s dogs but it also wasn’t as calm looking as Moose. But, it looked okay? “Thank you.” She said appreciatively. Taking a calming breath, Skylar nodded. “I’m doing pretty good.” As she spoke, she could feel the slime building up on the palms of her hands. Swallowing, she rubbed them against her jeans. “How, um, how are you?” She asked, hoping that the question would ease some of her nervous energy.

“Ease up there, huh?” Nicodemus said, voice directed at the dog. The hunter took a long sip of hit bitter black coffee. Willfully tried to ignore the press of the dog’s paws against him as he leaned back. “It’s more like a rat than a dog, right? Ain’t just me?” Only recently was he made aware that it was a chihuahua with a long coat, one that he hadn’t initially seen under the fucking outfit it had been stuffed into. His nerves reached a limit. The chair scraped the concrete as he scooted back slightly to make room. The dog seemed to settle, if only by a hair. He frowned. Of all the fucking animals he would be stuck with, why wouldn’t it be the smallest dog in the world. He missed Bit each passing day. But the dog wasn’t the main point of the day. It was what Skylar had to say and he was keen on listening. Whatever it was was more important than the shit he would have to deal with sooner rather than later. “That’s good. Glad all the night shit didn’t bother you too much,” he said plainly as he rotated the coffee cup on the table. Glad someone managed to not get their lives entirely upended by it, he thought grimly. His movements stilled some at her question, his gaze slightly shifting over to the hand he had been keeping wrapped since that night. “I’m, uh, tired. Real goddamn tired.” Tired barely skimmed the surface of what he felt but it wrapped it all up neatly enough. “Just been a few...tryin’ weeks, I wanna say. Tryin’ to keep on an’ all. Much as someone can in this fuckin’ town, you, uh, you know?”

Skylar couldn’t help but stare at the dog as it kept whining and pawing at him, until the large man relented and the dog seemed to relax a bit. In a strange way… it was cute. “I don’t know about rat. Maybe like… a rabbit or something small and nervous?” Seeing the way the little dog was interacting with him, it reassured her that maybe this dog would be okay. It wouldn’t bark in a deep baritone that would startle her, or lunge at her face. For one thing… it would have a hard time getting to her face at all. For another, it seemed like it couldn’t hurt a fly.

Listening as the man talked about his experiences, Skylar slowly became aware of the weary slump in his shoulders, the tension coiled in his neck, the dark bags under his eyes. She’d seen Nic that night when he’d saved her from the vampire and he looked like a different man now. A bit more downtrodden, more beaten down. What had he been through? Lifiting her coffee mug to her lips, she took a sip from her cup, trying to figure out how she could broach the subject of herself, while also wondering: was Nic okay? “I’m sorry that it’s been such a rough time. I, erm, I know that I had asked if we could meet up so I could talk to you about some… personal stuff. But, are you okay? Besides, just being tired..?” She asked cautiously. “You don’t need to answer that, though. Sorry. That’s probably invasive.” Skylar backtracked.

It was hard to ignore Skylar’s clear discomfort toward the dog. Not that Nicodemus would even consider the idea of doing just that. It would take a hot minute for him to refer to the dog as anything other than creature. He would not say that he was warming up to the dog. Right then was not the time to go on and get attached to anything, or anyone, else. At the word rabbit, he blanched. “Rats make better animals than rabbits,” he said, tone rock solid and heavy. “Mouse could work. Ain’t big on rabbits so you might be shit out of luck if you wanted to go about gettin’ one.” Placing the memory of where his dislike of rabbits started was looking for a needle in a haystack, but it was very real and very alive. He felt her eyes on him and occupied himself by looking into the black hole that was his coffee. It wasn’t hard to sense worry or concern in other people. Especially those with better hearts than his own and Skylar was a prime example. Probably the best one when he really got down to thinking about it. Real fucking strange how that worked itself out. Her good heart, his bad one. Sharing a fucking living space at that. He shook his head. “Ain’t your fault. Shit just happens and you gotta bear its weight.” He said, brow slightly furrowed as he glanced at her before he quickly returned to the coffee. Could stare down the barrel of a gun but was having a hell of a time looking her in the eye when it came to her questions. His jaw worked. Weeks ago, it would have been easy to say he was and move on. It was just like he told Kaden. Roots. A bitter but malice-free laugh came out of him. Bless Skylar. Her question wasn’t the most invasive thing that had happened to him in the last week or so. “Nah, but I’m dealin’ with it and I’ll figure it out. Just have to piece it out an’ all.” Minding the dog, he sat slightly forward and idly patted at its back. Ignored the comfort that brought him. “I’m ready to talk about it whenever you want, Skylar. The personal stuff. Ain’t goin’ nowhere.”

Startled by Nic’s sudden shift in tone at the mention of rabbits, Skylar shrunk in on herself. Crap. She’d messed up. She wasn’t really sure why rabbits were what causes that reaction, but she made a mental note to avoid that. “Sorry, sorry. I don’t really like rabbits, not any more than I like any kind of pet. I never grew up with them. Pets, I mean.” She rambled, hoping to explain that the example had just been a random pick out of nowhere. But, when he reassured her that it wasn’t her fault, she relaxed a little bit.

“Mmmmm, okay.” She hummed, taking in his words. She trusted him to know his limits and, if he said he would figure it out, then that was that. Nic just seemed like a guy who knew himself well. She wished she could say the same about herself. Watching as he patted the dog, a small smile flitted at the corner of her lips. Maybe he liked the dog more than he let on. But, when he mentioned the personal stuff, the smile faded. Staring at the dark liquid in her cup for a moment, Skylar did her best to steel her nerve, to strengthen her resolve. “Mhm. Personal stuff. Okay.” She said, supplying filler words to help her stubborn mouth say what needed to be put out there. “So… you’re a Hunter, right? Like… big H hunter. And… if I’m going to live with you, I need to know that I’ll be safe. Not, not just from the vampires and the werewolves and the things that run around the woods of White Crest. But, that you-- that you won’t try to hurt me.” She took a deep breath, hands curling tightly into balled fists in her lap. “Because I’m not human? I’m a selkie.” Her heart was pounding wildly in her chest as she chanced a look at Nic, preparing for the worst.

Nicodemus began to tap his heel quietly. A nervous tic. Another effort to keep himself because somewhere in his bones, he was afraid of what happened if he settled. He shook his head, expression weary. “Ain’t exactly...known that I don’t like rabbits,” he said with an attempt at an encouraging nod. Or much else about him other than gators and cereal water, it seemed. Fine enough with him. “Bein’ the town gator guy will do that, I ‘spose.” As Skylar seemed ready to start talking, he tried to settle himself. Even the dog seemed to shake a little less as if it were waiting too. Maintaining eye contact was hard for him. Meeting someone’s eyes was opening a door he didn’t always like to open. Preferred to keep it barred and shut. But watching Skylar, the way she seemingly both tried to arm and make herself vulnerable with whatever it was she was about to say, it wouldn’t do to keep it closed. Even he could understand that.

As soon as the word hunter slipped out, he went rigid. The sounds of the town ceased to exist around where they sat as he looked at her. “You think I might hurt you.” He repeated, low and quiet. She was scared of him. What he was. A mirror was being turned inside him and he was forced to look at it. He didn’t know what that meant right then. Didn’t know how to define that collapsing, concaving feeling that tested the integrity of his ribs. She was afraid of him. Afraid of the hunter. And she wasn’t human. His senses, busted as they were, flexed and pulsated around the space between skull and skin. He blinked. Breathed in. Breathed out. Looked at her. “You will. You, uh, you would,” he finally said, picking the words slowly and carefully out of the gravel in his throat. “I know what I am and what that means. Be a dumbass not to.” He tried to laugh but it came out like a puff of smoke. “I don’t...I don’t want you to be scared ‘round me, Skylar. But I get it. What you feel, that’s, uh--It makes sense is what I’m tryin’ to say. Ain’t gonna fault you for it.” He wasn’t a man that inspired comfort. He knew that. As he spoke, his thumb rubbed a slow circle into the dog’s chest. He glanced between his own coffee and Skylar. “I wouldn’t. Hurt you, I mean. That’s not--I’d like for you to feel safe. In whatever, uh, water you chose. I know it’s just words and words ain’t a whole lot but...You’d be safe. I want you to know that.”

Seeing the way he reacted to the conversation about rabbits, Skylar winced. She shouldn’t have pried. Nodding, she apologized, “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to pry.” Mmm. The gator guy. But, just because he was one thing, that didn’t mean he couldn’t be other things. Which… The back of her neck burned red as she realized that there were more meanings to that than she’d initially intended. Just because he was a Hunter didn’t mean he wasn’t more than that. Just because he killed things, killed… creatures-- not people, she didn’t want to think about him killing people-- didn’t mean that was all he was. Looking down at the little dog that was settled next to him, the way it leaned into him for comfort, she smiled a little.

But, the small smile faded when she heard his tone, the pounding of her heart seeming to come to a halt as she waited for his response. Her breath caught in the back of her throat at the way he didn’t meet her gaze, until he realized exactly what she meant and stared up at her with tired eyes. Weary eyes. Eyes that had probably seen more than she could ever even imagine. Instantly, she felt a wash of guilt rush over her. She knew him, she knew him better than to think that he would hurt him. She’d let fear overwhelm her, fear egged on by people who didn’t know Nic, into thinking that he would do something to her. “No-- No, I’m sorry. I should-- I just…” She wrung her hands in her lap, wishing she could just sign, that she could just convey the thoughts in her head with her hands. But, he wouldn’t understand. “I didn’t think you would. I really didn’t. But, I know… I know people who warned me, to be careful around Hunters. Just in case. I’m sorry.” She said, shaking her head. She shouldn’t have asked. “I appreciate that a lot, Nic. Really. I just needed to know that… if anything ever happened, I’d be okay.”

“Skylar,” Nicodemus said, not as quiet as before. A little more assured, even in the way he raised his head and made eye contact. “There--There ain’t nothin’ to apologize for, alright? I mean it. You’re good.” He wasn’t good at this. At this opening of the self that led to conversations and confessions, to understanding and acceptance. A life without it, up until he crossed over the sign that said White Crest, had left him ill-prepared for such things. But he was in it, up to his neck, and there wasn’t going back. Only forward.

“They weren’t wrong to warn you,” he muttered as he sat up straighter. She was struggling just as much as he was and a faded, worn out smile made an appearance. “Hunters got their jobs and they do it, y’know? Out of whatever principle or obligation they grew up with. They hurt because it’s what they do and sometimes what they got to.” He reminded himself that he was one of them, one of those that hurt. It was a part of him regardless of what he was. It was who he was. “I, uh, hurt. Like you saw before. But I--I choose, you know? What I do. I used to not.” His brow slightly furrowed, his entire being wound tight with a blunt tension as he chose to pry open those mausoleums of thoughts unshared. Thoughts that even he wasn’t privy too until he sat down and the crowbar wedged its way between the stone he had set. Skylar had helped him, even if that help felt a little like pain. Felt a little too raw but it was there and it was open, exposed to the sun and the sky. “I chose to make sure you were okay then and I want--” His voice trailed off to something quiet but not something cold. “You’d be okay. Is what I’m tryin’ to say.”

When he said her voice, Skylar lifted her gaze to meet his. And as he spoke those reassuring words, she felt the tension in her shoulders ease. Just a little. Not enough for her to feel totally comfortable, not enough for her to be relaxed. But it was enough to know that she was okay for now.

As Nic spoke, about principles and obligations that had existed since they’d been born, she couldn’t help but think back to what Rio had said. About how his family were Hunters, how he was born that way hunter, but chose differently. How he wanted to protect and help people like her. Creatures like her. And Nic, for all his rough exterior and his gruff demeanor… He wasn’t all that different from Rio. A fresh wave of guilt washed over her at how she’d misjudged the two of them. “I don’t… I won’t say I understand, because I don’t totally understand how any of this works. But, I’m glad that you chose. That you don’t just,” She swallowed, fingers fidgetting, “Kill because someone’s different. I didn’t, I didn’t think you did. But I didn’t know. I don’t know how any of this works and I-- I’m sorry for doubting you.” Skylar said, nodding and hoping that her voice sounded more steady than it felt. “I know you did. And I’m really, really grateful for everything you’ve done for me.” She let out a slightly weak laugh, “If you don’t want me to move in after I’ve just… insulted you, I completely understand.”

At least she was looking at him. That had to be good, right? For all his deeply embedded hopelessness and shadowed view of the world, Nicodemus made another choice to find something good in that. Slim as it was. Seemed he was making plenty of those to last a lifetime, however short that was for him. He wouldn’t go and do something foolish like consider it might be long. “That’s okay,” he said with a slight nod. “Ain’t askin’ you too because that’s a whole fuckin’ can of bullshit but the--The you bein’ okay part is the one. The…” He trailed off and looked down at the dog that had started to lick at his fingers absently. How the creature had managed to stay still and quiet the entire time was beyond him. But it had, listening intently. The hunter snorted and shook his head. “The important one.”

He quieted. She was sorry for doubting him. He had had people doubt him before. Doubt his potential to finish the job but never doubt his inability to start one. He had proved them wrong. The comparison felt wholly wrong and immediately, guilt roiled the black coffee that sat in his empty stomach. This wasn’t a job that they were talking about. She wasn’t one either, he had never seen her as one, but in his malformed bit of heart tissue, it was the only comparison he knew to make. Confusion settled in after the guilt and made itself known in his face as he looked at Skylar. “No, it’s--” Words started to fail him, like they usually did, and he breathed in to try and kickstart them again. “I don’t--Shit. You didn’t…” He paused again and swore in French under his breath. “...I’d like it. If you did. If you still wanted to. But if you don’t trust me or are--” He didn’t say it but it cut against him with a name like insecurity. Was it fear? A nervous laugh like an engine that couldn’t quite start came out of him. “Christ alive. I ain’t gonna ask you to give me a chance but...” He shook his head and lowered his head. Maybe that’s exactly what he was doing. He shut his eyes for a brief moment. Cowardice was new but bravery seared it in two before it could keep him from talking. “Ain’t never had much of a...a home before but I can try to make it one, y’know? Somewhere safe.” For the both of them.

Skylar watched the way the little dog licked at his fingers, at the way Nic let him. It was gentle, a soft gesture that she wouldn’t have expected from a man who looked the way he did. But, she was quickly becoming aware that he was more than he appeared, he was more than his actions. His words meant something to her and she trusted him. She should have just trusted him from the start. Staring at the cup of coffee that sat in front of her, long untouched, her lips twitched into a slight smile. “Thank you. Thank you for that.” She nodded.

As the man swore quietly to himself, some of them English, some in a quick soft language that she could only assume was French, Skylar felt as though her body was going to curl in on herself from the anxiety. If he didn’t want her to move in with her, she’d be back to square one. Back to worrying, endlessly worrying, and hoping she wouldn’t have to go back to crashing on the couches of people who barely knew her. But, when he spoke… the words startled her. Her eyes widened and she looked up at him, though his gaze was averted, eyes closed. A home? More than an apartment, more than a house, more than the family who had abandoned her, more than the family of friends she’d found since moving. A home? As she stared at him, Skylar felt tears start to well up in the corner of her eyes. She wasn’t sure if it was from relief, happiness, or sadness. The sadness of knowing that-- “I, um, I thought I had a home. Back in Seattle. That my family was my home. But it wasn’t and they… they weren’t. So,” She paused, voice soft and watery with barely restrained tears, “I’d like that. I’d really like the chance to have a place to call home.”

The hunter hummed low and nodded. A tiredness clouded over him, made his head and his heart feel heavy. Was it from talking so much or the act of flaying? It was a sickness, the way Nicodemus could liken things only to pain lately. Or he had always been that way. In a way, talking about what they were talking about, was a way of healing. Of doing away with old scar tissue. When that particular kind of bleeding started, it was an act of cleansing. When she smiled, he returned it. As much as he could.

What he had before couldn’t be called home. It was an empty, forgotten charade of one. A hollow place that tried to make itself into hallowed ground. It was mud and stone and rotted wood. A cemetery of misdeeds and ill thoughts amongst the weeping willows. Maybe a home or something like it could be a selkie, a hunter, a dog that inexplicably shook, and the walls around them. Even if they didn’t seem to quite fit right into the skins they were given. They might be able to fit somewhere else. The foreign hope in the thought pierced him. When her wide eyes looked at him, he tried to not flinch. Tried to hold onto that instinct of showing no weakness lest you be eaten alive. But it wavered the way her voice did and for a moment, he cast it aside. “Thought I did too,” he echoed solemnly, voice a cut above raw. He swallowed. Nodded again to right himself. “Yeah. I...We could both use it. That chance.”

#p: tmah #p: Nicodemus Bossier

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seb-owns-these-tatas · 5 years

Text

Chapter 3 (Winter’s Gem) (Bucky Barnes AU)

CHAPTER 2

Characters: Bucky Barnes x You (AU)

Summary: Bucky Barnes has been scouted by your boss in Felicity Night, you were just a mere young, cleaner in Felicity night and have been living in the basement of the club for all your life. He's the most wanted Gigolo in the city, and taking him away from eager, thirsty women seemed to be impossible especially if he chose to be a Gigolo as his way of living.

Warning: Profanities. kind of suggestive matured content but they aren't doing anything? I mean, I dunno how to explain it. (HAHAHHAHA) This is an 18+ book, do I even have to warn you things? 😂 Floof?

Words: 3,532

A/N: I hope to give justice to this Bucky Barnes series of mine. HEHEHE! TAGLISTS ARE OPEN, TATER TOTS!

Disclaimer: PNG's, pictures and GIF's aren't mine. However, the whole series, one shots and edits are from moi. Let's add more GIFs now, Shall we? *winks*

TAGLISTS: @yn-the-reader @iwillmakeyoucraveme

"You have a metal arm?!" You exclaimed all giddy and loud. Luckily, there was no people who you've caught attention. God, you were one loud, positive woman whenever he was alone with you. He thought and noted that to himself. Bucky shushed you by placing his metal finger on your lip. His gloves on the checkered, wooden table. Yet, you still eyed it in awe. The shiny metal glimmering under the dim lights. Utterly dumbstruck from his metal arm and by all the answers you've heard from him.

Y/N and Bucky were now in an mediocre type of an Italian restaurant. It was the only place opened. Add the fact that it was miles away from the sinful club that could distract them from having a peaceful night. Away from anybody who would question them why they were both eating dinner together.

Bucky have been admiring your face, the way how your lips lift up in happiness, your eyebrows softly cinched together in utter confusion when you eyed his metal hand riantly. The way you react to him, your mirthful attitude was making him awe. His head completely going elsewhere as he watched your face with a smile.

You were utterly acting different when he was alone with you. Unlike when you were in the club, you were always sad, scared and uncomfortable with the things happening around.

Yet, tonight you looked carefree and full of buoyancy.

"What happened? What made you have this metal arm?" He snapped out of his daydream, snapping out of his trance from admiring your face far too long. You stared back at him with a smile that reached your eyes.

Bucky would like to volunteer to pay a lot just to see those precious smile of yours than to see you frown.

"Accident, doll." He gruffly said. Taking a glimpse of your wondering face that was sitting in front of him. You left those questions unanswered as you curiously slipped your fingers in between the spaces of his metal hand, adoring how the plates weren't rough when it was swiping along your fingers. "Oooh! Hold my hand, Bucky!"

He lowly chuckled, completely entertained by your reaction before he softly gripped and locked your fingers with his, closing the spaces of your fingers intertwined together. Your hearts feeling all tingly and in a haywire but nobody dared to speak the feelings out. Was that a spark? "That's so coool! It doesn't feel cold or anything! How does it feel?"

Bucky licked his lips, a subtle taste of the pizza's tomato paste stuck on his taste buds. He reluctantly unclasped his hands with yours, trying to ignore the magnetic force wanting to slip his fingers with yours again. "Just like an actual arm, though a little heavier, Sugar. S'not a bother, I'm already used to it," He blinked, eyeing you chew on the ends of your soon to be finished pizza. You've had enough that could cover your week, had a little too much because it's been a long time since you had an all-meat pizza.

Besides, it feels good to chow down when it's a free treat.

"My turn," Bucky mumbled, swiping the crumbs off with the back of his metal hand. He lunged forward, elbows on the table as he set his dazzling Steele blue eyes on you. "Why do you sleep in the basement and not in your momma's room? Do you know how filthy it is down there? Rats, cockroaches and even ghosts live there,"

You hissed when you've heard the word 'ghost', they were giving you the shivers. The mere thought of it was sending you goosebumps, "I hate you, I hope the dead souls pull at your feet tonight," Y/N pouted, giving Bucky the stink eye.

God, you were so adorable. Bucky thought, chewing on his bottom lip, trying hard not to smile. It was probably the Tequila influencing his mind from thinking those types of things. "What? What did I say?"

Would you tell him? You were friends with him right now, right? As far as you remember, he had a plan to be friends with you. If Steve gets to be her friend, then I can be her friend. You remembered his words from earlier. Was he worth the trust? Yes, probably yes. "My..My mom doesn't want me with her. She hates me. All her life, all I have received from her was hatred and..and..."

Bucky knew what you were about to say next, and he didn't let you continue it because he knew how painful it was to admit that out of all the people who you could trust and love..your mother ends up hurting you the most. It was quite ironic to even think about. "Don't," He mumbled. Circling his hand in a clockwise motion, playing with the ice floating inside his glass of water as he stared at the glass at hand, looking like something was bothering him, and there was. You and your relationship with your own mother. "You don't need to continue, Doll. There's no need to hurt yourself more from the truth,"

You gave him a forced smile, leaning forward and placing your elbows on the table. Now closer to the handsome gentleman in front of you. "17th question now?" A long thread of hum left your lips as you tapped on your chin, eyeing your empty plate before lifting your gaze to see Bucky intently looking into your eyes like you're the only one that mattered in the world. Dug. Your heart tapped loudly. Dug. Dug--and again it did. "This one's kinda been in my mind since I last saw you,"

"I've been in your mind? That's probably why Steve's been looking for me the last time..he should've searched inside your head, didn't know I was worth to stay inside your interesting mind, Doll." He added cheekily, slanting his head in a very sexy manner. Luscious lips pursing together as he gave you his tantalizing smolder. Adding a wink that made your insides blow up.

Yet again, you were curling your toes inside your shoes to lessen the blush and your wild hormones wanting to react in a very bold way. Too early to jump on his lap, right? You're going to scare him away if you did.

You dramatically rolled your eyes, acting as if he was not affecting you. In reality, it was actually the opposite. "Ugh. No wonder you're a Gigolo,"

"If I was a stripper, what do you think my stage name would be?" Bucky suddenly said out of the blue, caressing his stubble and his cleft chin, appearing to find your next words interesting for him to hear.

Your face remained emotionless. "Broken white boy,"

"Do you see me broken?!"

"Ugh, can you please let me finish my question?" You groaned, face palming. He looked completely entertained by your answer, all smiles and chuckles.

"Why have you switched clubs? Gossip says--" Yet, he cut you off for the second time. He seemed to be rather hyper and too happy. The glossy look in his eyes meant he was slightly tipsy, but still sober enough to drive you both home. How can he even manage that?

Certainly years of practice. "Such the gossip girl you are, Doll. Love hearin' them from strangers. Or ya' just got pretty big ears for some hot topics?"

"--Gossip. Says." You emphasized every damn word, showing Bucky that you were serious and you wanted earnest answers. He knew damn well to zip his mouth now. "You've been recruited?"

Bucky seemed to think, before you saw him gave a weak nod. His metal fingers tapping the wooden table. "That's true."

"Why?" After that single worded question, you knew you saw his forehead twitch in the slightest. If you weren't closely staring at him, you wouldn't know.

A forced contract, a big pot of money that could keep me alive and the selfishness of one influential, filthy, manipulator. However, he didn't actually said that verbally. No, he would never bring you in such a treacherous position. Bucky doesn't want to endanger you when he was already neck deep in that deceitful agreement. "I'm the most highly requested gigolo in the city, doll. Your boss," He secretly wanted to spat that word out. It felt like he have spat out some atter. "--Noticed how I kept on bringing in the ladies in the club named 'Maximum Risk' at the west coast, then we had to talk, she offered me a much more logical compensation, a pretty humanly agreement," Kind of a lie. He so wanted to punch himself in the face. "--that I quickly agreed upon,"

You pursed your lips, nodding and trusting the words he said. "That quick?" He nodded and wiggled his fancy eyebrows. "Perks of being the best Gigolo out there, Sugar."

"So, you're kind of a lucky charm to us?"

What was making the ladies stay? What was keeping Bucky different from all the Gigolos out there in Felicity Night. There has got to be something in him that stands out. His attractive, worth-the-faint self was a plus, yet there has got to be more and you wanted to make sure of it. "What are you even famous for?"

That sparked something inside of Bucky. Oh, you were interested. Too interested in him and it was making him all giddy. "Do you really wanna know that?" He raised a brow, a cunning, lopsided smile on show that deserved the rush of tingles inside your core. Uh oh, there it was again. That stubborn, naughty urge.

"Why did I even ask that," You deadpanned and mumbled, groaning to yourself. You've intentedly jumped inside a rabbit hole even though you knew there was. "Famous for how I fuck? For the charming gentleman who could entertain everyone I escort?" He pertly answered, leaning closer with a hidden agenda to probably take advantage of your personal space as his face was closer than it was before. Your insides were jumping up and down, his voice switching a tone lower and quieter. Your eyes giving his luscious lips a once over before you hardly settled to stay looking at his hypnotizing Cerulean eyes. "For the high stamina? How I could go on and on till she's spent?"

You shifted in your seat, completely bothered by his words. Your heat was badly twitching and you wanted it to stop. You've only had that urge whenever you were watching something that could completely arouse you, so basically..This man was beginning to be an actual sex-on-legs and there was no deny that you aren't attracted to him because you are. You really are.

"Uhm," You gulped, cutting your gaze and staring at the couple who stood up from their seats. Ready to leave the restaurant. "I've asked too much, I think it was more than 20 now,"

"I got a question left," Bucky grabbed his gloves, slipping his metal hand in and you wanted nothing more than for his gloves to be off. His metal hand was doing things to you, giving yourself a very difficult time to stay still on your seat. "You and Steve..." He started, biting his bottom lip, giving you his sexy smoulder that made you tightly close your thighs together.

Bucky could see how you were holding your breath, that tiny shift in your eyes that looked like hunger and attraction. That was good, he wanted you where he wanted you to be. The feeling was completely mutual after all.

He gave you a sexy small smile, looking completely innocuous. "You both have a thing goin' on?"

"What?!" You choked on your own saliva, his question making you snort. Why would he even think that?

"The only thing going on around us is friendship. No more, no less! What made you even thought about that?!" You exclaimed, taking a gulp of your own water because the man in front of you was making you thirsty. Figuratively and literally.

Bingo. He sent a lopsided smile your way, glancing at your hand resting on top of the table in front of him and with no hesitation, he reached out to rest his hand on top of yours, making you choke on your water. "Just makin' sure, Doll." Bucky gently carressed the top of your hand that held some faded scars. Deeply staring into your eyes. You were completely shook from his boldness and words that held hidden meanings. Your heart running another mile and more.

"Wouldn't want to ruin the bro code,"

Weeks have passed after your secret dinner with Bucky. Nobody questioned why you both went home together that night. You had to make an excuse to Stan who had the guts to ask why you entered the club together. Thor saw you both leaving the club, climbing in Bucky's car and him, being the loud man he is decided that boastly telling it to Stan was a good idea.

Which the old man didn't forget to bug you with absolute, crazed questions.

"Oh, I knew you two were gonna fuck." Stan barged down the basement, having an excuse that he needed a very sturdy broom to get. You had to massage the temples of your forehead from his obscene assumptions that weren't even true.

"Did he give you the D?" His senile, shaky voice echoed around the basement. You had to cover yourself with a pillow, he was bombarding you with tons of questions that made your insides churn. Probably even hoped that his assumptions would happen soon. If that would even happen. Your heart fell after you told yourself that.

Your mother, well.. You hadn't even had to deal with her abusive hands the last few weeks which made you breath out a sigh. You didn't want to think why she was kind of in a better mood than she was before? She was being all smiley towards everyone except for you which was normal.

Though, you didn't want to jinx it soon. At least, she wasn't giving you a hard time or anything. Albeit the tiny heavy feeling inside of you is screaming to be more alert and cautious about it because she was acting too weird for your own good.

"Told you, he's gonna spark your interest one day," Stan reached for the broom beneath your single detached rusty bed. You exasperatedly groaned because of his rather factful propositions. He was basically giving you fact checks about how you were charmed by a Gigolo, a man who escorts women, a man who fucks other women in exchange for money.

You frowned thinking about what his job is, feeling your heart pricked by a big thorn from the realization that came into mind. He fucks other women in exchange for a pot of money with rich, wealthy women who wanted to have a piece of him.

Profanities came flooding over your head, you promised yourself that you weren't going to take a liking towards Gigolos. They were just going to break your heart. Your soul was already broken and frangible, why would you even risk yourself in accepting more agony when you've already had enough pain in your life?

"Sweetheart, you're a young, inconsolable woman who needs to have fun and get your heart going. If you'll stay broken and won't get yourself healed then you're forever going to feel like shit all the time. Barnes seems to like how poignant you are. Little shit probably wants some thrill in his damn life," Stan commented, wandering around your bed before stopping dead in his tracks, eyeing a handful of post it notes on top of an old bed side table. The small notes were in different colors and stacked up on top of one another.

'Please, don't starve yourself, doll. Here's a gift to make your stomach smile :)' Stan mentally read the top note, shaking his head and finding everything amusing. "Fucker's even taking care of you. He likes you a lot,"

You stared at the dusty ceiling, hearing foot steps coming from above and some dust falling on your face that made you sneeze. Stan dragged his heavy feet across your bed before propping his old ass beside you, giving you his advice. By the looks of your face, he knew you were having conflicted feelings towards Bucky. Stan knew how your mind worked and how you keep overthinking about certain things. "Bucky's a good guy, Y/N. You have nothing to worry about, he's the same as you. Broken and uncertain. You simply need each other to heal yourselves, find something good in your lives."

You could feel warmth wrap around your hand, and before you knew it. Stan was reaching out to take your hand in his, patting the top of your hand for the sympathy he felt with you. "Love takes risks. Give him a chance, not all Gigolos are the same. Steve's his best friend, you know how Steve is." He added, convincing you to give his favorite guy a chance. He knew Bucky at heart, he had bonded with the guy once he stepped foot in Felicity Night, despite of Bucky's pretty boy looks, Stan knew how big his heart was. He even knew something that was meant to be kept for the three of them. Steve, him and Bucky. Only them.

"Birds of the same feather, flock together. To make it simpler, they're both good guys, Y/N. So, cut the denial shit and get it on with that guy," Stan snickered, voice seeming to be filled with phlegm before loudly clearing his throat.

You chewed on your bottom lip apprehensively, propping your elbows behind you to give the old man a look, "We don't even love each other??"

"That's what you only got from what I've said?" He questioned skeptically before standing up from his place on your bed, brushing his hands off his pants, shaking his head and totally unconvinced from the words coming out of your mouth. "Bullshit. You're gonna love him soon,"

He doddered till he reached the door, stepping up the staircase with his feeble legs. Singing old love songs with his senile voice, chuckling after you yelled, sounding so defeated.

"Whatever, Stan!"

Your head fell on the hard pillows with a thud, hissing once you felt the painful impact. Your pillows were hard, and you completely forgot about that. You swallowed the saliva forming in your throat, trying to calm your fast beating heart. Yet, you couldn't because all you had in mind was Bucky, his letters and how he was trying to take care of you.

You breathed out a sigh, closing your eyes and let your imaginations take over. Imaginations about what could happen when you plan on finally opening your heart to a Gigolo.

It wasn't just any Gigolo, but it was a man who made a deep impression, a man who planned on connecting your heart with his. A man who planned on taking care of you, wanting to keep you away from the evil souls who dare even touch you the slightest.

Yet, he was a man who could get your heart broken with just a single snap of his fingers. Washing your heart away like dust in the skies. Why? Because your heart was already drowning with the feelings you had for him. It was too deep that you couldn't swim up to save yourself.

You were already liking him too much, and there was no escape because that's what Bucky wanted.

You and your big, delicate heart that he could fix with just a single kiss.

TELL ME WHAT Y’ALL THINK OF THIS CHAPTER! THANK YOU!

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zach-the-fox · 4 years

Text

Furiends Episode 6: Research and Capture

The two girls and fox boy regroup with the rabbits as they stand on the outside of the chain-link fence surrounding a large, two-story building situated in the forest. Streaks of cracks line the concrete structure. Plants grow through the broken pavement around the uninhabited facility.

Hatboy glances at the property and scans around the area. “Look at this place! What a total dump! Probably a home for rats.”

“I don’t find it bad,” says Brook. “I actually quite like it. And I adore rats. They are just so cute!”

Hatboy turns to the warthog. “Why did you tell us to come here? What’s going on?”

“Zach saw an article in the paper that there was some strange figure residing here,” Emmy answers. “And we suspect it’s the demon we summoned.”

“What?!” Brook runs up to her. “You found our child?! Is it here?!”

“Maybe. We won’t know unless we go in and check it out.”

“You want to go inside and explore an abandoned laboratory?!” Carly exclaims. “That doesn’t seem like a good idea.” Her expression relaxes. “Then again, with Team Rescuers sniffing around for ideas to make us look bad, I don’t want to get in trouble… My mother would kill me…”

“If we’re going to find this demon, we need to be quick,” suggests Zach. “There’s a chance Team Rescuers might show up and search this area, given all of the cries for help from Heroto.”

“Right, let’s not waste any more time,” Emmy utters. “Let’s get in there and find that demon. Now, how will we get over this fence?”

“Over here,” Hatboy spurts, standing by a slight tear in the metal fence, which forms a little hole for those to sneak inside. “We can just crawl in through there.”

“Good thinking!” Emmy walks down to the opening with the others. One-by-one, they get on their paws and knees to crawl passed the metal chains-links. The gang then make their way toward the two, shattered glass doors of the concrete structure.

Carly steps up and attempts to open them by pulling, then pushing. “They don’t budge… Guess we can’t go in…”

Brook grabs a metal pipe laying nearby and swings it at the glass, breaking it into pieces and clearing the way. “You were saying?” The friends then climb through the open spaces in the doors, entering inside. “Okay, we’re in. What’s next?”

“I say we split up,” Emmy orders. “We’ll cover more ground that way.” The others hesitate, then they agree before splitting into groups. Emmy goes with Hatboy and Zach as they head up the stairs while Carly stays with Brook on the ground level.

“I don’t feel very comfy about this place,” Carly comments, paws huddled together as she stays close with her friends.

“Come on, Carls.” Brook puts her arm around the cat, smiling. “It’s not so bad. I’ve been watching urban exploration videos Snootube and it’s pretty fascinating to see old structures hollowed out. The vide is quite nice.”

“Maybe for you. But me, not so much.” Carly narrows one eye and puts her paw on her chin. “Though, it wouldn’t be bad to maybe draw some of my characters in the same situation.”

“Oh! We could have a collaboration! You, me, and our friends searching for our baby demon in old ruins. Hm, I am pretty clueless on what the demon looks like… You have any idea what it would look like?”

“I don’t know,” Carly goes. “It was a fireball when we summoned it. I didn’t get a good look at it.” She gasps. “Wait. Zach looked at the article in the paper, and he said it’s a giant, furry, black creature. So, look for something furry and big, I guess.”

“Oh! Perhaps it has glowing eyes. Demons usually have glowing eyes that pierce through the dark.” Carly gulps, wearing the face of fear with wide eyes.

Upstairs, the boys and warthog enter a big room littered with barrels and tables of broken beakers and equipment.

“Interesting place,” Hatboy utters, passing the large machines to get closer to Emmy. “Why would people abandon a laboratory and leave some of their things behind?”

“Obviously, something must’ve happened to force the scientists to leave,” Emmy answers. “What that might’ve been, I don’t really know.”

“I know, though…” Zach places his paw on the wall and leans on it. “Ten years ago, when I was eight, we went on a class field trip to this place… We were to learn about the wonders of science and technology for our outing… The whole group and I were in one room when something knocked glass beakers and test tubes over and spilled on the table, causing it to react with the other chemicals; my tail. The entire facility was in chaos… We had to evacuate and exit the building when a giant explosion ripped a hole in the place. The government deemed the laboratory unsafe and shut it down. Our trip only had begun that day, too, but it ended quickly. My classmates all hated me for that and refused to talk to me.” He puts his paws on his head. “It’s all coming back to me… All the kids calling me “flawed fox” and how awful I just am…”

Emmy walks up to the fox. “Hey… It was only an accident. You didn’t mean to knock over all of that stuff and destroy the whole place. Mistakes happen… We can’t erase them…”

“Funny you say that, Emmy… Considering you’re talking to one…”

“You’re not a mistake, Zach. So, what if Team Rescuers and Heroto doesn’t like you? Their opinion doesn’t matter, anyway. Ours does! And we all like you.”

As the warthog comforts the fox, the red rabbit motions toward the pile of barrels situated in the corner. “Weird how scientists would abandon a lab and not take their chemicals with them.” He leans down and squints his eyes to read the label on one of them. “Danger. Handle with care. Avoid contact with skin and fur.” Hatboy tilts his head. “I wonder what’s so dangerous that they don’t want people touching.” He grabs the lid of one barrel and pulls it off the top. Looking inside, his eyes glisten and his mouth forms a small ‘o’ when staring at the colorful liquid settling in the container. “Whoa! Look at this stuff! It’s so colorful!”

Emmy takes her hoof back from the fox’s stomach, and turns around. “All right, let’s get back to- Hatboy, what are you doing over there?”

“Check it out!” Hatboy shouts, holding the rim of the barrel and lifting it up. “Look at this rainbow liquid stuff! It looks so weird!”

“We shouldn’t be messing around with any of these strange chemicals. They could be dangerous.”

“This doesn’t seem too dangerous.” He looks into the barrel. “Looks pretty-” The container slowly slides in the red rabbit’s paws. “Whoa!” Hatboy struggles to maintain a tight grip on it. He lunges to grab it, but ends up knocking into the stack of metal barrels. “Uh oh…” The containers tip over and fall to the ground, dumping their colorful contents out all over the rabbit before flowing toward the warthog and fox. The three friends are knocked off their feet and swept away by the wave of rainbow fluids.

Back downstairs, the other two girls stop in place as they hear the sloshing sounds above, as well as rushing liquid and their friends screaming.

“What’s going on up there?!” Carly spurts. “What’s happening?”

“It’s probably the demon!” utters Brook. “It probably has our friends! We should help them!” She leads the cat toward the staircase, only to stop after a few steps. They freeze to see rainbow liquid rushing down the stairs, carrying their three friends in it as it surges toward them. “Oh, that’s not good…”

“Yipe!” Carly turns and runs down the other way. Brook is quick to follow, but the chemical flow swoops both of them off their feet and carries them into the room at the very end, piling the gang into a corner before settling. The friends remain sitting/lying in the puddles for a little bit, soaked by the rainbow water, then they each stand up, one-by-one, shaking off the remnants of the fluids.

“What was all the hubbub?!” Brook exclaims, looking at the warthog, red rabbit, and fox. “Did you find the demon? What is all of this? I feel like I’m glowing.”

“Some sort of rainbow water,” explains Hatboy. “I don’t see why it’s dangerous, though.”

“Aw man!” Carly shakes off her paws. “Now I’m going to need a shower! Thanks a lot, Hatboy…” Hatboy frowns as he looks at her.

Zach, on the other hand, forms a smile on his face while he remains seated in the chemical. “For once, I’m actually quite happy it wasn’t me this time.” He then sees Hatboy, as he removes his shirt to ring it out. The fox stares at his bare body with his cheeks transitioning to red. “Oh…”

Carly starts to take notice. “Like what you see, don’t you?” She teases, causing the fox to turn his head away with his blush. “Didn’t take you to be the gay type, Zach. I always thought you were mostly into girls.”

“Bisexual,” he corrects her after he turns to her. “I’m bisexual. I am into anyone regardless of gender.”

“Well, after being completely soaked in rainbow, I still don’t see where the demon is,” Emmy utters.

“We’ve just got to keep looking,” Brooks insists. “It must be around here somewhere.”

“I don’t even think it’s here, Brook. We should call it a day.” Everyone’s ears twitch upon hearing the sound of muffled voices outside and branches breaking. “What was that?”

“Someone’s here!” mutters Hatboy. “Perhaps Team Rescuers and the authorities!”

“Let’s get out of here, then,” Emmy states. The gang all bolt for the door where they came in, but soon halt in place to see shadows appear by the entrance. “Uh oh… Not good.”

“I know another way out,” Zach expresses. “There’s an opening in the wall we passed to get in the chemical room. We can go out that way!” He and the others scramble up the stairs and down the hallway to the giant, gaping hole in the wall. Hatboy slides down the side. Zach does the same thing, helping Emmy by carrying her on his back.

“You’ve got to be joking!” yells Carly. “I’m not jumping down from here!”

“You’re a cat!” Brook tells her. “You’ll land on your feet perfectly!”

The cat turns to her. “What?!” The purple rabbit shoves her off before jumping herself and hovers lightly down, using her ears as propellers. Carly lands in the bushes nearby, which have cushioned her fall. Brook goes over and helps her up. “Never do that again!” The friends then scurry off, vacating the area and then disappearing into the brushes as a shadow looms over their route.

***

The five animals make their way through the forest and back into town, dripping wet with the rainbow liquid still soaking their bodies.

“Ugh, that went horribly,” Carly comments. “Not only were we walking around a creepy laboratory, but we also got soaked in some chemical…”

“I’ll need about ten baths a day just to get it out,” Hatboy adds. “It smells so bad!”

“I’m kind of used to it,” Zach butts in. “I’ve been covered in way worse.” Brook asks him what he means. “Oh, mud, ketchup, tar, sewage water, coal dust… Yeah, the list keeps on going…”

“Well, the whole “search and capture” mission was all but a fail,” Emmy implies.

“Aw man…” Brook frowns with drooped ears. “I was hoping we’d find that demon… Where could it be?”

“I don’t know about you guys, but I’m going to head home immediately,” says Hatboy. “A little shower and freshening up is what I need.” The others agree before parting. “Coming, Zach?”

“Just a minute,” Zach tells them. “I’ll meet you at the house.” As the two rabbits head off, the fox steps toward the warthog, who remains still and lets out a sigh. “You okay, Emmy?”

Emmy pivots to him. “Huh? Oh, I’m fine… I’m just disappointed… I was actually really hoping we’d find that demon… Not just to stop Team Rescuers from finding it, but I also wanted it what we summoned so I could be very close to it. Would’ve been cool.”

“W-what? Why would you want a demon anyway? Were you hoping to use it against your stepdad?”

“Yes… Zach, I despise him and I’m so sick of him telling me what to do and what to think and what to feel… Now I know how you feel with all of the abuse…”

Zach places a paw on her back. “Hey… I’m sorry things didn’t go as planned for you. If you ask me, I’d say he’s very jealous of you. You’re not a bad person; you’re a sweet, talented young lady who’s different, like me. If anything, I’d say you’re someone I’m glad I’m close with. When you have the courage to be on your own, you’ll be better.”

Emmy shifts her head back at him, tears streaming from her eyes with a smile. “You know what. It doesn’t matter… I’m just glad I get to hang out with you, Carly, Brook, and Hatboy.” She throws herself forward to hug the fox. Zach smiles as he squeezes her in his arms. When they part, she looks up at him. “Thank you, Zach… Um, I should get back home before my mom and jerk of a stepdad get worried, and wash these chemicals off. Don’t want them getting concerned.”

“Can I walk with you?” Emmy asks him why. “Can’t friends walk together and enjoy each other’s company?”

Emmy chuckles slightly. “I guess it’s okay.” She walks down the sidewalk with the fox alongside her as they head into further in town. “When we get to my house, you may want to leave quickly. My stepdad can be very violent at times…” From afar, a pair of glowing eyes pierce through the foliage and watch the friends as they amble away.

@carlycmarathecat @emmy-the-absolute-goof @bendy-bear-15

#Furiends #Friends #Cat #Warthog #Rabbit #Fox #Furry #Fursona #OCs

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