#Very tired and I shall go eep now

[dvskf4llz]

Hello! Could I request a fluffy ImpulseSV x gender neutral reader where Impulse is trying to take reader on a romantic date but everything keeps going wrong (if you have different ideas then it's ok!) :]

Also Could I be 🍄 anon?

I love this idea anon!! Ofc you can be 🍄 anon :]

'Sup guys I'm back 👍

Alone time

ImpulseSV x GN!Reader fluff

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This oneshot will contain the following: Pure fluffiness, a tad bit of stuff that you may not like such as cheesy couple stuff and kind of getting dragged away from dates

Nothing too extreme so dw! Now, on with the oneshot!

(Here's a backstory between you and impulse first :D)

Back when you first joined Hermitcraft, you had instantly became interested in Impulse once you met him.

You guys had nice and interesting conversations, you both shared a lot of interests. You guys had a really good bond with each other, of course the other hermits noticed that and began planning immediately.

A few months after you first met Impulse, a few of the fellow hermits had encouraged Impulse to confess to you since he did actually like you. The hermits did end up convincing him, so he did.

He set up a whole 'friendly meetup' for both of you, saying that he just wanted to hangout for a while. You felt a bit suspicious by it but went with it anyways

You'd arrive at the coordinates that Impulse had given you to go to; As you looked up, you were greeted with a beautiful scenery. Impulse would be standing in front of you with flowers in his hands, a slightly nervous smile on his face. He'd then bashfully confess his feelings to you, his face being all red as he waited for your reaction. After Impulse was done, you would then finally admit it as well that you had feelings for him and well everything else went well. You both continued the date, and soon enough officially a couple! Some of the Hermits would be surprised and would be happy for both of you, acting as if they didn't expect this at all when really they did.

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Now recently, you and Impulse had been busy with different things. Building things, doing favors for the Hermits, having different projects that required a lot of time and etc. You and Impulse barely got time to spend time with each other alone and in peace, and that lead to both of you missing each other.

Soon enough, Impulse would then think of clearing all his plans for one day of the week to bring you on a romantic date. He decided Saturday could be idea, he also made sure to check that you didn't have any plans on that day. Thankfully, you didn't. And so, you both waited patiently and excitedly for the day to come because you both really needed a break for once.

And so as the day came, you both were even more excited to just spend time with each other on a cute little picnic date that Impulse had set up just before the time that both of you would leave. When the time finally came for when you and Impulse were going to leave for the date, as soon as Impulse saw you he was absolutely mesmerized by your beauty.

"Well, you are looking mighty fine! Care to join me, m'lady?" Impulse would say in a jokingly posh tone, holding his hand out to you whilst you let out a small chuckle

"Why aren't you just a gentleman? Of course I shall join you." You'd reply back aswell with a fancy tone, wanting to play along with the whole posh/fancy tone thing. And so, you took Impulse's hand and you both went off hand in hand. Both of you thought it would just be a normal and wholesome little date that you would have, but oh boy did you both get proven wrong.

As soon as you guys would start with the date, Impulse would get asked to do something that was really urgent. He had to excuse himself for a while, hoping it wouldn't take long. You were a bit hesitant and felt a bit sad, but understood and let Impulse do what he needed to do first. So, you waited for him for about twenty minutes before you started to get a bit worried. But thankfully, Impulse would arrive back just a minute after you began worrying. You then both continues on with the date, doing the usual cheesy stuff couples would do on dates until you got asked to do something that was important by one of the Hermits. Same thing happened again, again and again.. When you both finally were able to continue, lots of things went wrong. Both of you would still get dragged into doing stuff the Hermits would ask for you guys to do, food getting stolen by critters and just many more things that had kind of ruined the date. You both even had to do something seperate that would take a while to do, by the time you were both done it was already late evening.

With both of you extremely tired, you guys just decided to just have a cuddle date in bed. The first bit of the cuddling session was mostly filled with both you and Impulse apologizing to each other for constantly getting pulled away from the date, Impulse was definitely the one who apologized the most since he was the one who set up the whole date. Soon enough, you both would end up playfully arguing about who said sorry the most

"No, I said sorry more than you did!"

"Nuh uh."

"The heck you mean 'Nuh uh'?"

"I apologized the most and I know I'm right soo!"

"No, I did!"

The playful arguing went on for a while before you both decided that you were both equally very apologetic about what happened, though atleast one of you would still be murmuring about how you/he were/was right. After that, you both just started giving each other little kisses and maybe soft nuzzles against each other aswell. Soon enough, the both of you would fall asleep peacefully in each other's arms; holding each other close with soft smiles on your faces..

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And yeah! That's it for this oneshot! This is not fully proof read as I'm writing this at almost 12 am and I am tired- but of course I didn't go to sleep yet just so that I could finish this for you guys :D

Hope you enjoyed! Always remember to take care of yourself and don't feel forced to do anything! Do things at your own pace <3

Much love as always, goodbye dear reader! See you on the next oneshot ;D

[championofsanghelios]

Personal AU Story - “Father and Son“

FATHER AND SON | A PERSONAL HEAD CANON STORY (NOTES AND THE END) Apologies for any errors/typos upfront. This was copied directly from the markdown document in question without the usual read-overs. -BOOM-

A loud explosion, the third of it's kind this morning, rattles through the Castles extensive grounds, seeming to shake the very trees around the perimeter, sending panicked birds in flocks into the air, fleeing whatever danger they sensed.

Captain Arol had been on patrol by the Sanctum Entrance when it went off the first time, followed by a second one....then the third. Several of the other Guards were looking on at whatever was causing it, however they weren't reacting in a way that suggested there was any danger.

Regardless of what was happening, Arol had to find out what was going on. The Princess had only just gotten the Castle Restored along with the rest of Castle Town. The Last thing she needed was someone blowing things up.

Walking into the center of the grounds, towards the large pond that was originally completely covered in reeds and flora of all kinds, he finds the source of the explosions quickly.

"...that's it...now throw it as far as you can!" Link says, helping a tiny purple scaled Zora child to throw one of his Shiekah Bombs from the Slate in to the water. It lands on the surface and bobs along for a moment. "Now press the button."

The Child presses the button and the Bomb explodes, half-submerged under the water, creating a plume of mist and a ground shaking boom. The Child laughs hysterically, jumping up and down on the spot with the slate in their hands.

"There you go!" Link laughs with him. "That's how it's done!"

"Big Boom! Big Boom!" Akau shouts. "Again! Again!"

At that moment, Link spots Arol watching them both. "Perhaps we should try something else... Magnesis maybe."

He presses a couple of buttons on the slates screen, which is covered in water droplets from the prior explosions. Then with a swipe of the screen, he reaches over his shoulder and pulls the Sword of Time, scabbard and all from his back.

Holding it over the waters edge, he drops it in with a loud splash. Feigning shock and worry. "Oh no! I've just dropped my sword into the water, and I can't swim. Won't someone help me get it out of there?"

Akau just giggles. "You are a tewwible actor, Daddy."

"Who told you that?" Link eeps back, with mock offense. "I'm the best actor this side of Hyrule."

"You even worse than papa Dowephan." Akau says, all teeth and smiles. "Do not fear. Akau is here."

As Link proceeds to show him how to operate the Magnesis function, a Zoran Guard comes walking over beside Arol and stops just next to him. Bazz shoves a hand under the hood of his armor, rubbing at his head-fin. "So that's what the explosions were all about, huh?"

"You heard them too?" Arol glances his way. "I thought you were asleep."

"I was." Bazz chuckles. "Until I heard several explosions go off in quick succession. Thought we were under attack."

"Honestly I don't know what's more dangerous." Arol says a little louder so Akau and his Father can hear. "Bokoblin's baring down upon us, or a Father, his son and a Shiekah Slate."

"Just be thankful he has his father's restraint." Link says, smirking over his left shoulder. "He doesn't go around licking or biting new things."

"Oh the Prince does plenty of that...you just don't see it." Bazz comments.

He glances Arol's way. "What are they doing anyway?"

"Well...I don't know." Arol shrugs. "I guess the boy is just bored."

"I do feel for the three of them sometimes." Bazz says, deliberately lowering his voice to keep the conversation between the two of them. "Back in the Domain, they can have fun...but his Majesty is so hell-bent on protecting his relations that he refuses to let Akau anywhere out of the boundaries without a full regiment of guards."

"Seriously?" Arol looks at him, eyes widening a fraction. "What's he so scared of, Lanayru is practically clear of most threats these days."

"You're forgetting he lost his daughter, the Crown Princess." Bazz replies. "I don't know exactly what happened afterwards, but everything was incredibly strict after that...the Guard had to be on the Prince's six at all times, not a moment was to go by where they couldn't see him in some respect. When I joined things were as they were...but as time went on, and I was promoted to Sargent, then Captain, it all seemed to lax a little."

"What about now, though?" Arol asks, shrugging. "I mean, we've not been as safe as we are now in over a hundred years. There truly isn't much that can scare him that much is there? I mean...Akau's in good hands, the Prince too."

"Our protection also extends to Link." Bazz replies, he notices Link glance their way at the mention of his name, but he returns his attention to what he's doing. "Upon his marriage to the Crown Prince, he inherited his titles and authority."

"What, so he's technically Zoran Royalty?" Arol looks over at Link, then back at Bazz. "You're shitting me."

"He IS Zoran Royalty..." Bazz sighs. "And the Kings paranoia over his families safety unfortunately extends to him in some regards. Whenever he's at the Domain, the King is anxious to keep him where he is. To his credit, he respects his other commitments, but he does make it clear that he wishes for him to stay and be with his people."

"Explains the sudden lack of appearances around here recently." Arol nods in thought. "Not only is he out there saving us from goddess only knows what, he's back at the Domain being a Prince and a Father..."

"Has he told you why he married Sidon?" Bazz asks next, a question that admittedly catches Arol off guard. Honestly he'd never thought about it much, it wasn't really his business anyway. "The reasoning behind it?"

"I never thought it my business to know." he replies simply.

"He married the Prince because he knew that he'd live for centuries." Bazz says. "And being of the nature he is..."

"Yeah...I never got the chance to ask him about all that Inheritor stuff."

The two of them look ahead as Akau and Link let out a couple of cheers.

"Yeah!" Link grabs the Sword of Time from the Magnesis field that Akau is controlling. "Well Done!!"

"I like this!" Akau shouts, before seeming to shift where he's standing.

"Whoa there, little prince." Link places the Sword to the side and takes a hold of him, gently removing the Shiekah Slate from his hand and attaching it to his belt. "You getting tired?"

Akau nods slowly, letting out a tiny yawn. Link only has to reach out to him and climbs into his arms. He picks up the Sword as he stands up and starts making his way up to the Sanctum.

He stops by the two Guardsmen watching them. "Did one of you mention me?"

"No." Bazz smirks knowingly. "We were just talking about the fabrication of chains."

"What?" Link looks at him funny, raising an eyebrow.

"Awol..." Akau reaches out with his tiny arm, making a weak attempt at a wave, which is followed by another yawn.

"Nice work getting that Sword out of the water, little one." Arol smiles as he lets the young Zora takes a hold of one of his index finger. "I'm not sure how your old man would have been able to function without it."

"You did a damn sight better than your Father, young one." Bazz says just beside him. "Shatterback was an embarrassment."

"Ain't that the truth." Link snorts. "Speaking of...where is Sidon right now?"

"Sanctum Library last I checked." Bazz says with a shrug. "Totika and Oz were with him."

"You wanna go and see Dad before I take you to bed?" Link asks Akau who is already have asleep, head resting on his shoulder. "We haven't seen much of him today."

"Yeah." Akau mumbles nodding weakly.

"Alright then, let's hurry on before you fall asleep." Link says, nodding to the Arol and Bazz before heading off on his way.

"You know..." Arol watches them for a moment longer before looking back at Bazz. "I never saw him as the parent type...I have to say I'm pleasantly surprised."

"I thought the same thing about the Prince." Bazz says after a pause. "I even had doubts. I am so glad to have been proven wrong."

... NOTES | - So this is a part of a larger universe created by ErisHDiscordia (my writing partner, and co-creator). The versions we have put been uploading to Archive of Our Own will likely never reach this level of depth, but you never know... - In this story, Link has become the Inheritor of Time. Where did he get such a title? That is such mystery...I wonder -hums thoughtfully. He’s also married to Prince Sidon who at this point in the stories I’ve written has fathered a young Zoran child with him and is preparing to become King of Zorana (sort of). - How did Link have a child with Sidon? - It’s a long and complicated process and one I won’t get into for the sake of brevity. (this post is already long enough.) - The Sword that Link “dropped” into the pond is The Sword of Time, a blade that was used by the Hero of Time to travel across the years. (That is another head-canon I shall spare you for the sake of post length.) “Do not fear, Akau is here!”  ^.^

[sapphyrelily]

Perils of a Name

Based on another silly conversation me and @fellis-world had.

Please check out the comic that she drew!

A little flame danced above their heads, twisting into different shapes. A translucent mirage appeared next to it, dancing with it, darting in and out of the flames. A laugh bubbled out of her companion and he flicked his fingers, expanding the fire.

Now it was her turn to shriek, and her illusion did the same, darting away and sticking its tongue out. The flames gave chase, and soon they were both in hysterics, pulling their respective magics close to and away from each other, pulling ridiculous faces all the while.

“Stay still, Murasaki,” Eos said, while expanding the flame. “It won’t hurt.”

“Nope.” Murasaki pulled her illusion away, watching it taunt the pillar of flame. “Just because it can’t hurt doesn’t mean I will let my poor illusion be burnt!”

“Aw, you’re no fun.” He made a face at her, then pulled a strand of water to join the flames.

“No,” she muttered, pouting at him. “Now you’ll burn him with steam!”

“Oh, good idea! I didn’t think of that!” He shot her a cheeky grin and went after the illusion again. The mirage threw its hands up and ran, leaving a trail of butterflies behind it.

The twin flames and water finally caught up and crashed down on the illusion, shattering it into a cloud of butterflies. Murasaki’s pout grew deeper. “Eos, you killed him. My poor illusion. What did he ever do to you?”

“I am sorry,” he said, but a smile still curved his lips upwards. “I’ll let you win next time?”

“You’d better.” She knocked his shoulder with her own, grinning.

A cat leapt up to them, pouncing on Murasaki’s skirts. She smiled and reached for it while Eos looked over her shoulder and cooed at it.

The cat rubbed its face on her hand, its copper eyes meeting hers. It let out an insistent meow and shattered, the resulting butterflies swirling up her arm before dissipating into nothing.

Eos gasped behind her, but Murasaki smiled in exasperation. She turned back to her friend, but before she could say anything, he burst out, “The cat! It– It–”

“It was just an illusion,” she reassured. “The other cats are real and around here somewhere. My brother’s come to visit, and that’s his way of letting us know he’s here. He’s downstairs. Do you want to come say hi?”

Eos wrung his hands, still distraught over the illusionary cat. “Yes? I guess? Your brother is also a mesmer?”

“He is,” Murasaki confirmed, standing and offering a hand to Eos. “We’re pod twins, and I thought it’d be funny for us to learn mesmer magic so we could trick others into thinking we looked exactly the same.”

“You don’t look completely the same?”

Murasaki poked him, smiling. “He’s male, I’m female. We look a bit different.”

Eos’ glow flared bright with sheepishness as Murasaki continued. “But you’ll see. We look a bit different in another way.”

“Hmm.”

They made their way down from the balcony, turning down the spiral slope to see a sylvari sitting at the table. He had the same light blue bark as Murasaki, though his hair was a brighter lilac, and his glow was a deeper pink than hers. He looked up at their footsteps, expression hardening as he spotted Eos. “Mura, who’s this?”

Murasaki sighed. “Aeris, be nice. This is Eos. He’s a friend.”

“A friend of what variety?”

“The friend variety. Can you stop being so suspicious of everyone?”

“No.”

“Burn you, Aeris.” Murasaki scolded. “Be nice!”

Eos gaped at him, eep-ing and hiding behind Murasaki when Aeris stood up and strode over to them. He was tall, towering over them by one and a half heads, and it made him heaps scarier.

“My Aeris isn’t this scary,” Eos whispered, clutching Murasaki’s sleeves and shrinking behind her. “Why is your Aeris so scary?”

“Your what?” Murasaki whispered back. Eos didn’t get a chance to reply, because Aeris was towering over them, and it was all he could do to hide.

Murasaki put her hands on her hips, glaring up at her brother. “Aeris. Eos is a friend. We both served under Trahearne. Back off.”

Aeris’ expression softened at that. “Ah. That’s okay, then.”

Murasaki huffed. “It shouldn’t matter how I met him. There is nothing of that sort between us, and even if so, it’s none of your business.”

“Your well-being is my business.”

“I am perfectly grown! I can handle myself!”

Aeris’ nose wrinkled. “Yes, but still–”

“Still nothing. Do you actually want me to burn you? Eos is an elementalist, and he handles fire as well as Aron does.”

“Don’t drag me into this!” Eos whispered frantically, but Murasaki didn’t turn to look at him.

Aeris did. His eyes were fierce, and it felt like he was trying to set Eos on fire with how hard he was staring. It didn’t help that his glow was such a deep pink that it bordered on red, making him look more intense.

“Aeris,” Murasaki hissed, bringing his attention back to her. “We can have a perfectly civil conversation, or I will send you back to the warband in pieces. Rune taught me a few things about hot pokers and heated metal.”

Aeris immediately looked hurt. “Sister, really, I’m just trying to look out for you.”

“And I’m telling you that I can take care of myself.” Murasaki sighed, equal parts exasperation and annoyance. “Shut up and sit down, okay? I’ll be right back.”

She pushed her brother away, edging around him. It gave Eos the opportunity to keep using her as a shield, and he was grateful when they reached the doorway of her bower.

“Your Aeris is scary!” He burst out. “And how is he so tall?!”

Murasaki shook her head, a tired laugh slipping out. “That’s why we needed magic to seem more alike. He’s so much taller than me.”

“Too tall,” Eos agreed. “Very scary.”

“You’ve lost all your words,” she teased. “He’s not that scary.”

“He looked like he was trying to burn me! And I can’t burn!”

Murasaki giggled. “Just smack him with some static next time. It makes his leaves stand on end.”

“Does it?” Eos looked thoughtful. “I have to try it.”

“Yes,” Murasaki agreed. “But first… You said 'your Aeris' isn’t so scary. Who’s your Aeris?”

Eos brightened, laughing aloud. “My brother! His name is also Aeris!”

“Yeah?” Murasaki giggled. “What a coincidence!”

“Yes, it’s very funny.” Eos smiled. “I’ll let you meet my brother someday too! Since I’ve already met yours…”

He made a face, and Murasaki laughed. “I hope your Aeris is nicer than mine. Mine is only scary to others, he’s nice to me.”

“He seems overprotective,” Eos pointed out. “And jealous.”

“I know,” Murasaki said, folding her arms angrily and glaring at the room behind them. “What an annoying brother.”

Eos nodded. “My brother is also annoying. He makes me study, and I don’t like studying.”

Murasaki laughed. “Oh, Eos, don’t say that to me. I love studying. I’ll side with your brother on this one.”

Her friend looked horrified. “No! Don’t betray me like this!”

Murasaki edged closer, raising her hands like claws. “Better run, or we’ll catch you and make you read all the books~”

“No! Nononono,” Eos shrieked, dashing out of reach. “Bye Murasaki! See you around, without books!”

Murasaki dropped her hands and laughed gaily, waving at the fleeing Eos.

He didn’t like studying? Oh, he was in for a horrible treat when she met his brother.

-----

Eos waved his brother along, urging him to hurry up. “Come on! My friend’s waiting!”

Aeris sighed. “I don’t know why I have to come meet your friends.”

“Just one friend. And her brother! She’s in the Priory too.” Eos made a face at that. “Ew, books.”

Aeris’ expression lifted slightly. “You made a scholar friend? Maybe she can get you to study.”

“No. Nonononono, she won’t, and I told her that she’s not supposed to help you!”

Aeris smiled slyly. “But brother, studying is important for you to master your magic.”

“I still won’t do it.”

“Eos!” They turned to see a short female sylvari waving to them, tugging a tall male along. She looked happy to see them, but her companion did not, lagging even though she was holding his hand.

“There she is!” Eos waved back with both arms before turning to Aeris. “Stay here to greet them, brother? I’ll be right back.”

He ran off before Aeris could say anything. He eyed the approaching duo, leaning against the railing and folding his arms tightly. Why did Eos have to keep leaving him behind with strangers? He knew how much he hated these interactions.

The female smiled again when they reached him, dropping her companion’s hand and giving him a bow. “Hello! Are you Eos’ brother? He’s told me about you.”

Aeris gave her a small nod, grateful that she didn’t try to shake his hand. He glanced around frantically, wishing Eos would hurry up and come back. These people were intimidating – the female with her exuberance, and the male with his height.

The female’s smile softened at his response, and her voice was gentle, her tone more sincere. “I’m Murasaki. It’s nice to meet you in person.”

“Mura,” her companion warned. “You barely know him.”

“It’s called ‘courtesy’,” she hissed, smacking him. “Be polite, brother.”

Aeris was shocked by her abrupt attitude change, but he could understand it. This was her brother. All siblings got annoyed with each other, it seemed. As he was right now – he was annoyed with Eos and where he had disappeared to.

Murasaki’s brother was about to say something when Eos ran up, grinning. “Murasaki! Hello! I’ve gotten us a table over there, shall we go have a drink?”

Aeris didn’t like the mischievous look in his brother’s eye, nor the way Murasaki’s eyes and mouth turned up even more at his suggestions. They were up to something, he was sure of it.

He had no choice but to follow the two chattering sylvari, falling in step next to the intimidating brother. He still hadn’t been introduced to him, and it was a bit rude, even if he didn’t like meeting new people.

They had just turned the corner when he heard a voice call out, “Excuse me, Aeris?”

Aeris turned around, looking for the voice. There was a sylvari he didn’t recognise standing there, but courtesy demanded that he respond.

“Yes?”

Aeris looked up in surprise and found Murasaki’s brother looking back at him. It was he who spoke, responding to that sylvari calling to him. He too, looked surprised.

His confusion was disrupted by the sound of muffled laughter behind them, and he looked back to see Eos and Murasaki covering their mouths, amusement evident on their faces.

Aeris didn’t understand, and glancing back and forth between the sylvari who called him and the equally confused one standing in front of him did not help make it any clearer.

Eos finally spoke up, still shaking with giggles. “Sorry for disrupting your day, citizen! Please don’t mind us.”

The random sylvari looked helplessly at them, then shrugged and walked away. Aeris rounded on Eos, glaring at him. “What did you do?”

“Ooh, he has a nice voice,” he heard Murasaki whisper to Eos, smiling.

“Mura,” her brother cut in, “What is going on?”

“Nothing, Aeris,” she replied brightly, then bit her lip, suppressing more giggles. “Shall we go have a drink, like Eos said?”

Aeris glanced at her brother, understanding slowly dawning upon him. The taller sylvari clearly did not get it, still frowning at his sister. “Mura–”

“Aeris,” Aeris interrupted, cringing internally at how weird it felt to say his own name, “Let it go. Eos likes pranks.”

The other Aeris turned to him, confusion knitting his eyebrows, glancing rapidly between him and his sister.

Murasaki sighed, walking to her brother and taking his arm. “Come on, dumbass. You share the same name, alright? Are you sure Ascalon hasn’t wilted your brain yet?”

Aeris walked after them, falling in step with Eos, who was still giggling. “Eos. Really?”

“You should have seen your faces!” Eos said. “So confused!”

“You are terrible.”

“You’re just no fun.” Eos nudged his elbow. “Let’s have a drink, yes?”

Aeris sighed as he sat down with them. Trust Eos to find a friend who would encourage his pranks.

The other Aeris looked slightly less murderous now, but he still said nothing and simply stared at him and Eos. Murasaki put her elbows on the table and rested her chin on her hands, asking, “So, do you guys have a family name? To call you by, and to make things easier for my brother.”

“It’s not funny, Mura,” her brother said. He sounded aggrieved, and increasingly like a broken record.

“It’s very funny,” Eos replied. “Our family name is Starsong.”

The taller sylvari made an acknowledging sound. “My last name is Blizzardglade.”

“Aeris Blizzardglade? Fancy,” Eos mused.

The other Aeris looked smug. “I’m from the Blizzard warband. And yes, it does sound cool.”

He’s rather arrogant, Aeris Starsong thought. Out loud he said, “Your last name? What’s your sister’s?”

Eos fell silent at that, and Blizzardglade looked away. He looked ashamed all of a sudden, and it made Aeris suspicious. But Murasaki smiled calmly and said, “My last name is Hikyuu. It’s more of a title than a family name. A reminder, of sorts.”

Starsong leaned forward, curious. “Is that Canthan?”

Murasaki brightened immediately, and her brother groaned. “Yes! I thought – well, since my name is Canthan, why not find a Canthan ‘surname’ as well?”

“What does it mean?”

Her smile didn’t waver. “I’ll tell you one day, maybe. Or maybe you can find out for yourself. Names are interesting things, aren’t they?”

“Hmm,” he replied nonchalantly. Internally, he was already itching to return to the Priory archives and find a Canthan dictionary to consult. She’d piqued his interest.

Eos clapped his hands in delight. “You guys get along well! See, brother, you can study with someone else now. Leave me alone.”

“No, you still have to study.”

“No!”

Murasaki giggled at their disagreement, nudging her brother to whisper, “So, what do you think?”

“They seem fine,” he muttered back. “Starsong seems like too much of a scholar to be a threat.”

“For the last time, they’re not threats. Make nice. It’s good to have friends outside the warband.”

“Hmph.”

“Be nice, Aeris. Please.”

“Maybe I’ll try.”

“Thank you. Now have a cookie.”

“You spoil people. This is blackmail.”

“These are cookies,” she huffed. “Just shut up and eat.”

Aeris obediently took a cookie.

[tilltheendwilliwrite]

The Bodyguard

Chapter Nine

Master List  |  Bucky Barnes Master List

Previous Chapter

Pairing: Bucky Barnes x OFC  |  Word Count: 4678 Warnings: Fluff, Violence, Angst

This update brought to you by Coffee Updates courtesy of @justreadingfics . You can thank A for this mess. 

Penny woke up warm and rested. Her body was soft, lax, and she felt better than she had in months. When the quiet snore came from the chest beneath her ear, she smiled. It wasn’t the first time she’d cuddle up on Steve, but when she lifted her head, it wasn’t her clean shaven blond brother whose body she’d been resting against, but a scruffy-faced brunette.

The night before came flooding back and caused her heart to kick once hard before she closed her eyes and fought down the wave of angry nausea. The attack, Marcus, what she’d revealed to Bucky, all of it made her feel weak and tired, two things she couldn’t afford right now.

“Hey, dollface.”

She opened her eyes to peer at Bucky, a smile curling his lips.

His fingers lightly stroked the length of her spine. “Sorry about crashing on your bed. Must have dozed off.”

“It’s fine, Buck. I slept better last night than I have in a while,” Penny murmured, pushing off his chest to sit up, finding she’d wrapped her leg over his thigh in the night and it was trapped now between them. It was a rather embarrassing position to be in considering she was practically straddling his leg, but when she made to pull away, he flexed his knees. “James?”

“It’s too early to be up,” he said softly, pressing against her spine to make her sink back against him. “Go back to sleep for a while.”

Penny gave in and let herself return to his shoulder. “Are you trying to mother me after what I told you last night?” she asked, amused by his antics.

“And if I were?”

“I’d say it wasn’t necessary, but it feels nice all the same.”

“Pen,” he sighed and wrapped his arm around her to hold her tight to him.

“You don’t have to say anything, Bucky. I think we got it all out last night.” She threw her arm over his chest. “You and Steve are just so warm. It’s like sleeping with my own personal heater.”

“Happy to oblige,” he chuckled.

“Can I ask a question?” She buried her nose against him. He smelt delicious, just edible, and it stirred a flicker of flame in her belly.

“You just did, but you can ask another if you want.”

“God, you and Steve tell the worst dad jokes!” she snorted out a laugh then sobered. “You said Strucker shot you full of a bastardized form of Steve’s serum.” He went cold and still beside her. “Do you remember much of it? How they did it? Was it like with Steve and the Gamma rays?”

“Why you asking, Pen?”

“Curiosity mostly. Steve’s serum altered his DNA and increased his hormone levels. I’m just wondering if yours was the same. You’ve gotten bigger since I last saw you. Your muscle tone seems denser. You were always smart, but your mind is sharper, and your reflexes are faster like his. I’m just wondering if they used the same process, or if it was different somehow.”

“Pen… I don’t…”

She gently stroked his chest when his breathing accelerated. “It’s fine, Buck. Forget I asked. You don’t have to think about it if you don’t want to.”

He gave a heavy sigh and moved them so quickly she could only give a small eep when he rolled them over so she was on her back and he was propped on an elbow, peering down at her with those grey-blue eyes. His hand lightly rested on her stomach, but his leg had fallen over hers, holding them down with his thick thigh. “It wasn’t the same. No machines but the one they used to wipe my mind. Strucker pumped this blue-green sludge into my veins for three straight weeks. Every day was agony, and when my muscles and bones weren’t aching like someone had worked me over with a bat, my head hurt like it would explode.”

“Bucky.” She reached up and caressed his scruffy cheek.

He grabbed her hand and held it against his face. “I thought about you while I was there.”

“What? Why?” she gasped.

“Because the memory of the day I found you standin’ in Ma’s kitchen looking like an angel with your sunshine hair on your shoulders got me through a lot of long days. It was my best good memory. A little piece of home. Something to keep fighting for. There were a lot of days I really didn’t want to,” he said softly.

“I’m glad you did,” she whispered. “It’s what we do, right? Fight till the end?”

“Til the end of the line,” he murmured. “That’s what Steve said to me. We’ve been saying it for years, but he said it to me on the helicarrier, this man I knew but couldn’t figure out why. “I’m with you til the end of the line, Buck,” and we slammed into the ground.”

Too many memories haunted his eyes, prompting Penny to try and lighten the moment. “You’re just hardwired that way, I think. Maybe us Rogers get in under your skin like a tick you can’t get out,” she chuckled. “When you had your episode in my lab, you said the same thing. You knew me. Knew my scent.”

“Yeah, I do.” He lowered his head slowly and ran his nose along the length of her jaw, nudging gently to get her to turn her head and lift her chin. “Peaches and vanilla. I bought you peaches and vanilla for your birthday. There a reason you still use it, baby girl?” he asked as he buried his nose against her throat and inhaled deeply.

“I like it.” Penny whimpered when his lips skimmed her flesh. The flicker of flame in her belly grew.

“Is that the only reason?” he chuckled, lightly pulling on her earlobe with his teeth.

She bit back a moan and sank her fingers into his hair. “You gave it to me.”

“Pen,” he groaned, letting his forehead rest against her temple. “What are we doin’ here?”

“I don’t know, Buck, but I’d like to find out.” She turned her mouth up to his.

They’d barely skimmed together when the blinds opening startled Penny into pulling away. “What the hell?”

“Good morning, ma’am,” Friday said, her voice chipper. “I’d recommend a warmer outfit today as the forecast is calling for a chance of snow. Your emails have been sorted and categorized, and I’ve drafted responses I think are appropriate, they only need your approval before I send them off. The coffee is brewing, and if you wish, I can start the shower for you and Sergeant Barnes.”

“What the fuck, Friday!” Penny barked. “How the hell…?”

“Good morning, Miss Penelope.”

“Jarvis!” she shrieked. “How the hell are you in my house? What did Tony do?”

“Uh, Pen?” Bucky muttered. “That’s on me.”

“You?” She sat up and glared at him, looking sheepish and far too sexy on her bed. “What the hell did you do, Barnes?”

He flinched. “Pen, Friday needed help to follow the money. You said it yourself. She’s young yet. She thought Jarvis would make a good teacher.”

“And you didn’t think to ask before you allowed Stark’s highly advanced AI access to my files? My business? My life!” she screamed.

“If I may interject?” Jarvis asked.

“Not right now!” Penny hollered and swung her legs from the bed to stand up. The action was too fast, and dark spots swam in her vision causing her knees to buckle.

“Penny!” Bucky gasped, grabbing her before she got very far.

Penny waited for her vision to clear and came back to find herself standing between his spread thighs, his hands on her waist while hers tightly gripped his shoulders. “I’m fine.”

“You ain’t fine!” he snapped.

“I had a head rush from standing up too fast! It happens!” She tried to push him away only to be stuck there when his metal arm banned the backs of her thighs.

“Ma’am, if I may interject?” Jarvis murmured again.

“What?” Penny shouted.

“Mr. Stark made it abundantly clear I was not to “poke my nose” where it did not belong. Sergeant Barnes needed my assistance to follow the money, and I have assisted Friday in expanding her pathways. Her capacity for reason and logic are now on par with my own. I have shared much of my experiences with her, making her a capable and fully functional AI. She is now ready to assist you at work.”

Penny blinked rapidly. “Friday?”

“Everything Jarvis has said is true,” Friday said quietly, sounding like a scolded child. “He has not once ventured toward the secure files or servers.”

Rubbing a hand across her forehead, Penny sighed. “Thank you, Jarvis.”

“You are welcome, ma’am. Sergeant, the report is ready whenever you are.”

“Thank you, Jarvis,” Bucky murmured.

“Anytime. I shall return to Mr. Stark now.”

“He’s gone,” Friday said a moment later. “But he left a tether. A way to return if I need assistance or advice.”

“Friday?” Penny murmured. “I’m sorry I yelled.”

“It’s alright, ma’am. Sergeant Barnes asked my opinion on the matter. I suggested Jarvis. He simply contacted Mr. Stark. I’ll start the shower for you.” The water began to run in the bathroom.

“Is everything in your house computerized?” Bucky muttered, leaning over to watch the falling water through the open door.

“Pretty much,” Penny sighed. She brought her balled fist down on Bucky’s shoulder. “You should have asked first!”

“The information is time sensitive. I needed it done ASAP,” Bucky murmured as his thumb found the bottom of her tank top and slipped beneath to lightly skim the bare flesh of her hip. “So, about that shower?”

Penny snorted. “One kiss and you think you’re going to weasel your way into my shower?”

Something in Bucky’s eyes shifted, darkened, hardened. “Pen… I’m not gonna do anything you don’t want. If you tell me to keep my hands to myself, I’ll do it, but if you want something more? I wouldn’t say no.”

She sighed and shifted to sink onto his thigh. “A lot is happening right now, Buck. I’m not sure I can handle one more thing on top of everything else.”

He looked away, nodding slowly. It was ridiculously easy to see his posture change from one of tentative hope into disappointment.

Penny cupped his cheek and turned his face back to hers. “But the one thing I’m absolutely sure of? I like the feel of your hands, James. You touch me and my body does… interesting things. It’s never done that before, not for anyone else.”

“Never?” he asked, a smug tilt coming to his lips.

“Never.” She rolled her eyes. “Now, get out of here so I can get ready. I have three meetings, an ER to open, and who knows how many fires to put out. I want to get a handle on what Marcus is up to, then figure out who the hell I have to talk to in order to get this out in the open and make it clear it had nothing to do with me.” She pushed against him to get him to let her go, but he only held her tighter.

“Kiss me.”

She chuckled but rolled her eyes and kissed him lightly. “Let go.”

“Kiss me like you mean it, and don’t roll your eyes at me or you’re gonna regret it.”

Penny arched a brow. “I can if I damn well please, and you’re wasting water.”

Penelope Grace,” he growled and gripped her chin. “Kiss. Me.”

A thrill of excitement raced through her as her gaze dropped to his lips. She leaned in and brushed their mouths together before slanting hers over his and kissing him with a wealth of pent-up frustration. Her teeth caught his lip and pulled, then nibbled gently. She sucked on his tongue and carded her fingers through his hair. When his arm finally relaxed, she released his mouth and stood to her feet.

“You should go get ready,” she purred, sliding her finger over his lips before sauntering away into the bathroom where she stopped, lifted the hem of her top and pulled it over her head revealing her ice blue lace bra before looking back over her shoulder to see him still sitting on her bed. “Barnes, shower.”

“In a minute,” he growled. “This was just getting good.”

Penny laughed and swung the door shut only to hear, “Spoilsport!” bellowed from the bedroom.

***

Bucky watched her smile and nod as she shook hands with a dozen different people. He’d spent the morning going over the attendee’s of this hospital opening and then coordinated with their security to see only those people he’d okayed were included in the presentation. There were still more than he liked, but it was like she’d said. Penny couldn’t put her life on hold because someone, likely Marcus, had tried to kill her.

While he’d stood in his shower - half hard and aching - he’d asked Friday to give him a rundown on what they’d found with the money. It was as he’d expected. The money was being funnelled back into known Hydra subsidiaries. Without even knowing it, Penny had been funding the enemy for the past ten years. In total, Taft had stolen eighty-two million dollars from Penny.

When he’d returned to her room to tell her, all thoughts fled his brain for Penny had been rolling her stockings up. Sheer nude ones with bands of red lace wrapped high around her thighs. Then she shimmied, wiggled her fantastic little butt as she urged her fitted pink dress down her legs and stepped into another pair of those ankle breaking shoes. He couldn’t take his eyes off her.

Hair up in a knot, hoops with crystals dangling from her ears, the high neck, low hemline, and long sleeves should have made her look prudish, but the fit, the way the dress moulded to her, how there were panels along her sides and around her waist with inlays of mesh just made her look so… chic.

She’d looked up and smiled, and Bucky had blurted, “You look like Office Barbie.” Then he’d squeaked, “I mean that in the best way!” before she could get mad, but Penny only giggled and pulled a coat of the same colour from her closet and slung it over her arm.

The coat had remained in the car, giving everyone an enticing view of her behind. A bag the same pale nude colour as her shoes hung from her arm as Penny smiled and laughed at something some pasty dude in a lab coat said. Bucky didn’t like how he was looking at her, but that had little to do with her safety and everything to do with his flirtatious smile.

He took another glance around the room and moved a few steps closer when she walked further into the ER. It was state of the art, designed and paid for by Penelope. Looking at it gave him the willies but only because he didn’t like doctors. Still, the entire place looked like something out of Star Trek. White with low blue lights. Rooms had clear walls which frosted with the flick of a switch. Digital charts floated on the wall just inside the room, and every bed was one of the diagnostic ones Penny had invented, allowing the doctors to see what was happening inside their patient, scan their blood, and check for internal bleeding without ever needing to leave the ER. It truly was incredible what she’d done here.

The ER was the first of its kind, and she’d given it to the hospital she’d spent so many months in all those years ago. The one where she’d lost her parents. The one which was now called The Sarah and Joseph Rogers Memorial ER.

Steve had been slated to be on hand for the opening but had been called away last minute on a mission, leaving Penny to handle the press on her own.

She looked confident and relaxed, at ease in her surroundings. But from the rapid beat of her heart, it was all an act, and when the flirty doc reached out to take her arm, Bucky slipped seamlessly between them. “Miss Rogers, we need to wrap this up.”

“Yes, of course. Thank you, Sergeant,” she smiled up at him. “Doctor Metcalf it was a pleasure speaking with you.”

“About that coffee?” he asked, shooting Bucky a glare.

“Hard pass,” Bucky growled, hustling Penny out of the ER.

“Bucky!” Penny hissed.

“What? You were going to give him some bullshit excuse that wouldn’t dissuade him at all. Then you’d spend the next three weeks to three months dodging his calls, texts, and emails until he got the hint you weren’t interested.”

“Jesus, Buck!” Penny stifled a laugh.

“Tell me I’m wrong,” he smirked.

“I can’t.”

He chuckled and stepped around her to check the exit to the waiting area beyond the ER. It was mostly empty. A few reporters lingered, but nothing he couldn’t handle. He pushed the door open and brought Penny in close. The hair on his neck was itching, standing up like someone had walked on his grave.

Bucky took another hard glance around. Something didn’t feel right, and he pushed Penny back through the door behind her.

“Bucky?”

“I don’t like it,” he murmured, eyes continuing to scan everyone in attendance. “Feels wrong.” Penny fell silent, but he could hear the rapid and unsteady pounding of her heart. “Stay with me,” he said as he turned away from the entrance and led her back into the ER. “Friday, I need eyes.”

The AI had taken over for Jarvis in the car, as well as following them into the hospital riding his phone. A small Bluetooth given to him by Penny allowed him to communicate with the AI without having to pull the device from his pocket.

“You are right. There was two armed personnel in the lobby and another across on the roof. I am moving the vehicle around to the ambulance bay.”

“Run facial recognition,” Bucky murmured. “See if you can get us some names.”

“Bucky?” His name was a whisper laced in fear.

He stopped and pressed Penny into the wall, ignoring the nurses and orderlies frowning at him. “Pen, we’ve got a situation, but it’s under control. Gonna change our exit route. Just stick with me and keep your eyes open.” Her heart gave a funny jump. “Pen, baby girl. I need you to breathe. We’ve got this.”

She gave a short nod. “Let’s get to the vehicle.”

“Dollface,” he murmured low, “I know you can shoot. You need to; there’s a gun at my back. No hesitation, Pen. Understood?”

Her face paled, but her eyes hardened. “Understood.”

“Good girl,” Bucky smirked and took her by the hand. “Still got those flats?”

“Yeah.” She reached for her purse.

“Sergeant!” Friday bellowed.

Bucky’s head snapped up, and the two men from the lobby were coming at them. “Too late now!” he shouted, jerking Penny away from the wall and shoving her behind him.

Three shots rang out, all pinging as he deflected them off his hand and arm while drawing his gun from inside his jacket. The two he fired back made sure neither man would continue to follow them. Screams filled the air. Bucky grabbed Penny by the wrist and ran down the hall with her.

“Turn right,” Friday directed.

He made the turn at a dead run, surprised when Penny not only kept up but did so in those ridiculous shoes.

“Take a left at the end of the hall and straight out the bay doors. The car will be waiting.”

“That a girl, Friday,” Bucky murmured, a smirk curling his lips. No wonder Stark liked his AI so much.

Then Penny gasped and stumbled, and she reached for her chest. The wild tattoo of her heart was all over the place. Bucky didn’t ask, just dragged her forward and up into his arms, but he’d put off asking long enough. They needed to talk about what the fuck was going on with her.

He hit the ambulance bay doors the same time the SUV pulled in. The door swung open, and Bucky thrust them both inside. “Drive!” he barked at Friday who peeled out with a squeal of tires.

“Ma’am, you must slow your breathing,” Friday said as the car made its way out of the hospital and into traffic.

“Breathe, Pen,” he encouraged.

Her lips were blue around the edges, her skin whiter than ever. The blush pink number she was wearing was doing nothing now to add to her skin colour.

“Her heart is working too hard, Sergeant. You must lay her down.”

Both front seats pulled all the way forward with a snap, allowing him to kneel on the floor as he laid Penny on the bench. “Is this a heart attack? Does she need aspirin or something? Friday what the fuck is happening?”

“Miss Rogers is-”

“No!” Penny croaked, hand still pressed to her chest.

Bucky glared at her. “Duchess, if someone doesn’t tell me what the hell is happening, I’m calling Steve and taking you directly to the SHIELD medical facility!”

She flinched and looked away. “I have a heart condition.”

“Since when?” he snapped. “Steve’s never said anything! Hell, if I’d known do you think I would have dragged you through the hospital like that? Or left it! Goddamnit, Penelope!”

“Shut up… Barnes,” she gasped and turned her face away.

There was such a wealth of anguish in her eyes; he bit back his sharp retort. “Penny, sweetheart, what’s going on with you?” he asked as he cupped her cheek and turned her to face him.

Ocean eyes locked with his and two words tumbled from her lips that shattered his heart.

“I’m dying.”

***

Bucky carried her into the house, straight into her office, and sat her with vigour in her office chair. “Talk.”

Once he’d gotten the wind back she’d knocked out of him with her declaration; he’d demanded answers. The how, the why, the when, but Penny had refused to answer any of them until they were home. It was hard enough to explain without pictures, and he would be the first person she’d ever told the truth too.

“Friday,” Penny sighed. “Pull up my scans,” she asked tiredly.

They flickered to life in the room, starting with ones from ten years ago and continuing every year until the last three had become every six months, then three.

“Shortly after I started Marquis I noticed I was having a few problems. Shortness of breath. Difficulty climbing stairs. I brushed it off as too many late nights, and too much stress, not enough exercise, but when it got worse, and I started having chest pain, I decided it was better to run some tests. That’s when I found that.” She motioned to the first image, causing it to enlarge and zoom in.

“Is that… metal?” Bucky murmured.

“It was a shard missed by the hospital. It had been there since the accident but was too small for the current technology to pick up. When I found it, it was lying parallel to the pericardium, the sack around the heart, deteriorating the lining, and was rubbing against the muscle tissue causing the pain. Of course, I had it removed, but when I didn’t start to feel better, only worse, I ran more tests.”

Penny tapped a few keys on her desk, and a news report came up. “This was our accident, mom, dad, and me. Do you see the logo on the truck that hit us?”

Bucky frowned and stepped closer. “Maverick and Sons, yeah. What about it?”

“Maverick and Sons was the name of a biohazard disposal company back in the day when hazardous waste had first become a thing. They weren’t incinerating it. They were burying it.”

His eyes widened in understanding. “They hit you with a truck full of medical waste?”

She nodded. “That piece of metal had been in my body so long, and was so nasty the infection began eating away at my heart. I drew blood, ran tests, but the infection is so prevalent no drug can touch it.” She waved her hand, and the images of her heart overlaid each other one by one. “It grows smaller and weaker every year, and now it’s accelerating. Ironic isn’t it? Someone’s trying to kill me, yet all they needed to do was give me six months.”

He sat down hard in the chair across her desk. “Six? And you haven’t told Steve?”

“I was waiting until I knew there was no hope left.” Penny stood and made her way over to the wall safe hung behind the family portrait and opened it. She returned to lean against her desk and hand him the red case. “This is the only thing that works to counteract the infection. A modified form of Steve’s serum. I made it from a blood sample years ago.”

“Why aren’t you using it then?” he asked angrily.

“I am. I used to get a year out of one dose. Then it was six months. Then three. Now… weeks.” She sighed and hugged her elbows. “It would work to regenerate ninety-five percent of my heart tissue. It’s not working anymore.”

“Jesus H. Fucking Christ, Penelope Grace Rogers!” he shouted as he shoved to his feet and loomed over her. “What the hell are you doing?”

She refused to flinch. “I’m trying to save my life, Buck. No different than you are.”

He stormed away, stormed back. Tossed her meds on her desk and thrust both hands through his hair. “You can’t do this.”

“I don’t exactly have a choice, Bucky,” she sighed, watching him run through all five stages of grief at once.

“You can’t do this, Penny.” He turned on her and took her by the arms. “You can’t. Think of Steve. He’d lose it if he lost you. There has to be something! Some way! Contact Stark! Tell someone, tell everyone! You can’t do this!”

He shook her gently, and Penny reached up to frame his face with both hands. “I’m not giving up, Bucky. I’ll keep fighting, but hope is fading fast.”

“A heart transplant!” he shouted, optimism filling his eyes.

“I tried that. Tested my blood against a tissue sample. The infection is in my body and attacks only my heart. It would just start the process all over with the new heart.”

“Then an artificial one!” he pleaded. “You’ve got lungs, why not a heart?”

“I’m trying, Bucky. It’s one of my projects, but I’m not there yet,” she said sadly. “It’s okay, James,” Penny whispered tears in her eyes. “Steve will be okay. He has you.”

“You don’t know that.” He shook his head, tears streaming down his face. “And I won’t be okay. You can’t do this to me, Pen. Not now. Not after finally finding you again. I can’t lose you.”

His mouth was on hers before she could respond. Frantic. Desperate. Needy. Penny wrapped her arms around his neck and held on, tasting the salt of his tears. When he released her mouth to gasp for air and tucked his face into her throat with a broken sob, all she could do was hold him a little tighter and make a new vow.

“I won’t stop fighting, Buck. I’ll keep looking for a way. I’m going to be with you…” She waited a long time for the whispered response to come, but when it did, fresh tears spilled down her cheeks.

His lips brushed her throat. “Til the end of the line.”

Next Chapter

Tag list is open. Please send an ask.

[zacklover24]

Prompto in Wonderland Chapter VII

Tagging: @femmescientia, @itshaejinju, @themissimmortal, @blindbae, @stunninglyignis, @sweetchocobae, @neko-otaku13, @mini-moogle-queen, @wolfissac, @eternallydaydreaming2015, @lady-asuka, @rubyphilomela

Prompto woke to a sandpaper like tongue licking him. He cracked open one baby blue eye to see his pet was licking him, and he woke to the sound of someone knocking on his door. With a tired groan prompto sat up, sending the Corel tumbling down the bed.

“Come in.” The blonde yawns stretching his arms up, Cor came in without a word carrying a tray of food.

“Good morning prompto. Did you sleep well?” He asks setting the tray down on the table and opening the doors to the balcony.

“Good, what time is it?” He asks yawning again and rubbing his eyes. He looked up at the ceiling to see that the ceiling, had changed from night to day. The sky was clear with sun shining down on the blonde.

“Early/late depending on the who. I talked with the king this morning and by his order I am to be your bodyguard.” Cor explains.

“What?” Prompto was in shock.

“The king has ordered me to be your bodyguard. After you eat, bath, and dress you may go and see the hare.” Cor bowed and left the room. Prompto was still in shock over the new news, but if he could go and see Noct, who was he say anything. He also came up with a name for his Corel, his name was now cloud. And Prompto loved his new dress.

“I look good.” He whistles as he looked at himself in the mirror on the bathroom door. The base of the dress was ivory colored with soft blue trim on the hem of the skirt which just ended below his knees. The bodice had flowers and butterflies in purples and pinks, while the sleeves and neckline with trimmed in soft pink. He tied a white and yellow bow in his hair and put on a pair of white stocking his black shoes. Those cloud didn’t like it Prompto tied a pink and blue ribbon around his neck.

Cor was waiting for him by the door, he didn’t look bored.

“Shall we?” He asks gesturing down the hall. With a nod, Cor started to walk down the hall. Prompto noted that each door that different crest on it. And all the maids looked human and smiled at him.

“Noctis room is the one with the hare on it, if you ever wanted to come here without me.” He tells Prompto as they stopped in front of a door with a gold hare on the front, “I need to see his majesty and to my other duties.  If you need me or any of the maids please bring the bell.” As he bowed.

“Thank you, Cor.” Prompto whispers.

“Your very welcome.” Leaving Prom,  Noctis room was very the same as Prompto. Expect instead of flowers on the walls it was a forest. The forest had chocobos, foxes, birds and other animals milling about. And laying in the bed was Noctis. The young hare looked pale, but was alive. The hare looked peaceful sleeping in the bed with a stuffed carbuncle next to his head.

“Why did you do that?” Prompto whispers as cloud climbed onto the bed. Noctis didn’t answer. Cloud let out meow made himself at home on the bed. As Prompto eased into the chair next to the bed, he noticed a book, the title was a little funny,

“Alice in Wonderland? Would you mind me reading to Noctis?” He asks opening the book to chapter one, seeing noctis didn’t say no,

‘Alice was beginning to get very tired of sitting by her sister on the bank, and of having nothing to do: once or twice she had peeped into the book her sister was reading, but it had no pictures or conversations in it, `and what is the use of a book,' thought Alice `without pictures or conversation?'

So she was considering in her own mind (as well as she could, for the hot day made her feel very sleepy and stupid), whether the pleasure of making a daisy-chain would be worth the trouble of getting up and picking the daisies, when suddenly a White Rabbit with pink eyes ran close by her.

There was nothing so very remarkable in that; nor did Alice think it so very much out of the way to hear the Rabbit say to itself, `Oh dear! Oh dear! I shall be late!' (when she thought it over afterwards, it occurred to her that she ought to have wondered at this, but at the time it all seemed quite natural); but when the Rabbit actually took a watch out of its waistcoat-pocket, and looked at it, and then hurried on, Alice started to her feet, for it flashed across her mind that she had never before seen a rabbit with either a waistcoat-pocket, or a watch to take out of it, and burning with curiosity, she ran across the field after it, and fortunately was just in time to see it pop down a large rabbit-hole under the hedge.´

“You have a nice reading voice.” Noctis says, causing Prompto to let out an eep as he drooped the book, “Sorry. Where are we?” He asks sitting up, he knew he was not at the old looking glass.

“The White King’s castle. After Gladio and myself were kidnapped Ignis brought you here. And then Nyx and Crowe got me, Gladio and Lady Lunafreya here.” Promtpo explains picking up the book.

“Okay by where is there a Corel on my bed?” He asks staring at the cat who just flicked his tail at Noct.

“Oh, he’s mine, I guess because I showed him some kindness he took me to me. He’s name’s cloud. Cute, right?” Promtpo smiles. Noctis smiled back and settled back against the pillows, he knew his body wasn’t strong enough yet. And he knew the king would be here the moment he found out he was awake.

“I was wondering, if you don’t need to see the king. Could you umm?” Noctis mutters turning his head to face the wall with the fireplace. Prompto smiled and opened the boo back up,

‘In another moment down went Alice after it, never once considering how in the world she was to get out again.

The rabbit-hole went straight on like a tunnel for some way, and then dipped suddenly down, so suddenly that Alice had not a moment to think about stopping herself before she found herself falling down a very deep well.

Either the well was very deep, or she fell very slowly, for she had plenty of time as she went down to look about her and to wonder what was going to happen next. First, she tried to look down and make out what she was coming to, but it was too dark to see anything; then she looked at the sides of the well, and noticed that they were filled with cupboards and book-shelves; here and there she saw maps and pictures hung upon pegs. She took down a jar from one of the shelves as she passed; it was labelled `ORANGE MARMALADE', but to her great disappointment it was empty: she did not like to drop the jar for fear of killing somebody, so managed to put it into one of the cupboards as she fell past it.

`Well!' thought Alice to herself, `after such a fall as this, I shall think nothing of tumbling down stairs! How brave they'll all think me at home! Why, I wouldn't say anything about it, even if I fell off the top of the house!' (Which was very likely true.)

Down, down, down. Would the fall never come to an end! `I wonder how many miles I've fallen by this time?' she said aloud. `I must be getting somewhere near the centre of the earth. Let me see: that would be four thousand miles down, I think--' (for, you see, Alice had learnt several things of this sort in her lessons in the schoolroom, and though this was not a very good opportunity for showing off her knowledge, as there was no one to listen to her, still it was good practice to say it over) `--yes, that's about the right distance--but then I wonder what Latitude or Longitude I've got to?' (Alice had no idea what Latitude was, or Longitude either, but thought they were nice grand words to say.)

Presently she began again. `I wonder if I shall fall right through the earth! How funny it'll seem to come out among the people that walk with their heads downward! The Antipathies, I think--' (she was rather glad there was no one listening, this time, as it didn't sound at all the right word) `--but I shall have to ask them what the name of the country is, you know. Please, Ma'am, is this New Zealand or Australia?' (and she tried to curtsey as she spoke--fancy curtseying as you're falling through the air! Do you think you could manage it?) `And what an ignorant little girl she'll think me for asking! No, it'll never do to ask: perhaps I shall see it written up somewhere.'

Down, down, down. There was nothing else to do, so Alice soon began talking again. `Dinah'll miss me very much to-night, I should think!' (Dinah was the cat.) `I hope they'll remember her saucer of milk at tea-time. Dinah my dear! I wish you were down here with me! There are no mice in the air, I'm afraid, but you might catch a bat, and that's very like a mouse, you know. But do cats eat bats, I wonder?' And here Alice began to get rather sleepy, and went on saying to herself, in a dreamy sort of way, `Do cats eat bats? Do cats eat bats?' and sometimes, `Do bats eat cats?' for, you see, as she couldn't answer either question, it didn't much matter which way she put it. She felt that she was dozing off, and had just begun to dream that she was walking hand in hand with Dinah, and saying to her very earnestly, `Now, Dinah, tell me the truth: did you ever eat a bat?' when suddenly, thump! thump! down she came upon a heap of sticks and dry leaves, and the fall was over.

Alice was not a bit hurt, and she jumped up on to her feet in a moment: she looked up, but it was all dark overhead; before her was another long passage, and the White Rabbit was still in sight, hurrying down it. There was not a moment to be lost: away went Alice like the wind, and was just in time to hear it say, as it turned a corner, `Oh my ears and whiskers, how late it's getting!' She was close behind it when she turned the corner, but the Rabbit was no longer to be seen: she found herself in a long, low hall, which was lit up by a row of lamps hanging from the roof.

There were doors all-round the hall, but they were all locked; and when Alice had been all the way down one side and up the other, trying every door, she walked sadly down the middle, wondering how she was ever to get out again.

Suddenly she came upon a little three-legged table, all made of solid glass; there was nothing on it except a tiny golden key, and Alice's first thought was that it might belong to one of the doors of the hall; but, alas! either the locks were too large, or the key was too small, but at any rate it would not open any of them. However, on the second-time round, she came upon a low curtain she had not noticed before, and behind it was a little door about fifteen inches high: she tried the little golden key in the lock, and to her great delight it fitted!’

“How’s Luna?” Noctis asks as Prompto paused.

“I don’t know, once we got here she went right to her room. That guy Nyx took her.” Noctis smiled a hidden smile. Well it would seem that Nyx was going to be one happy bastard.

“Do you want me to keep reading or do want to get some more rest?” Prompto.

“You can read a little more if you want, I might fall sleep listening to you read. Not sure what the king has in store for you.” The hare smiles.

‘Alice opened the door and found that it led into a small passage, not much larger than a rat-hole: she knelt down and looked along the passage into the loveliest garden you ever saw. How she longed to get out of that dark hall, and wander about among those beds of bright flowers and those cool fountains, but she could not even get her head though the doorway; `and even if my head would go through,' thought poor Alice, `it would be of very little use without my shoulders. Oh, how I wish I could shut up like a telescope! I think I could, if I only know how to begin.' For, you see, so many out-of-the-way things had happened lately, that Alice had begun to think that very few things indeed were really impossible.

There seemed to be no use in waiting by the little door, so she went back to the table, half hoping she might find another key on it, or at any rate a book of rules for shutting people up like telescopes: this time she found a little bottle on it, (`which certainly was not here before,' said Alice,) and round the neck of the bottle was a paper label, with the words `DRINK ME' beautifully printed on it in large letters. It was all very well to say `Drink me,' but the wise little Alice was not going to do that in a hurry. `No, I'll look first,' she said, `and see whether it's marked "poison" or not'; for she had read several nice little histories about children who had got burnt, and eaten up by wild beasts and other unpleasant things, all because they would not remember the simple rules their friends had taught them: such as, that a red-hot poker will burn you if you hold it too long; and that if you cut your finger very deeply with a knife, it usually bleeds; and she had never forgotten that, if you drink much from a bottle marked `poison,' it is almost certain to disagree with you, sooner or later.

However, this bottle was not marked `poison,' so Alice ventured to taste it, and finding it very nice, (it had, in fact, a sort of mixed flavour of cherry-tart, custard, pine-apple, roast turkey, toffee, and hot buttered toast,) she very soon finished it off.’ Prompto looked up from the book to see the hare was indeed asleep.

“Thank you.” A soft male voice says form behind prompto. The young blonde let a startled sound and feel out of the chair and onto the floor. Prompto looked at the man, he was tall. He had light black hair with some grey and warm green eyes, he wore a white suit with a blue rose in the pocket. On his right knee was a gold brace, he had on black shoes which looked freshly polished, and an oak cane with a silver dragon topper.

“Umm who are you?” Prompto asks getting up from the floor.

“How rude of me, I am King Regis the White King of Wonderland. I came to check on Noctis, I am happy to see that he is doing better.” Prompto quickly bowed to the King.

“It’s an honor and pleasure to meet you your majesty.”  The king let out a chuckle.

“The honor is all mine, tell me Prompto would like to join this old man in a stroll through the gardens?” Regis asks.

“I would love to.” Prompto smiles. There was no way in hell he could say no to the king.

End of line

[putaloadintrucks]

Rolling Coal Mill

“Tony shut up”

“Listen Ryan, I am just saying. You could save a few minutes if you did”

“What point of shutting up do you not get? My yard, my rules”

Rolling Coal Lumber mill was a little piece of heaven, or a slice of hell depending on who you asked. While there was no mistaking the importance of the small little lumber mill to the surrounding businesses and homes, it did have the reputation of being run by a hard ass of a boss, a Kenworth named Ryan. The Truck had been running the yard for nearly fifteen of his nearly fourty years on the planet and his reputation was well backed up. You either did it his way, or you were fired. No questions asked.

That was not to say Ryan was a bad truck, far from it. To the workers that had worked there and had properly followed his rules, and did what he asked, He could be a very nice boss. To the trucks that had been smartasses in his yard, he could be straight up the devil himself when it came to be. To some he looked the part too, as the years in the mill had not been kind to Ryan’s body. His once shiny Black and silver paint had dulled, sometimes chipped off in place and rust was evident all over his chrome and stacks. He also had numerous dents and scratches across his body from accidents and just the action of moving heavy loads around the valley.

As a result of Ryan’s more violent tendencies when it came with slacking off at his yard, Truck turnovers where very high. A truck usually never lasted more than three months before calling it quits, and the ones who stayed on Ryan’s good side lasted barely longer, usually deciding to move to other yards with more work when given the chance. The longest lasting one so far was the Truck Ryan was currently talking to, a Peterbilt named Tony who currently was sitting on nearly a year at the yard so far.

Tony was a younger model Bright blue Peterbilt, having only been on his own for 3 years now. He had come into the yard looking for work, and with Ryan being short tired at the time with his last working leaving, was hired on the spot. When Tony worked, he could be an excellent worker, that reason being why he was still employed with Ryan. Unfortunately, Tony was something off a hot head who thought sometimes he knew better than the veteran.

Currently he was in the process of annoying Ryan, again.

“Come on man, we have tons of straps just lying around, through it over the load and tye it down. By the time you get back, the kid will be back from the shop with a new one” whined Tony, talking about a strap that had broken on one of the trailers that held down the logs onto it.

“What fucking part of hell no do you not understand. Those aren’t spares ya dingus, those are corroded pieces of metal that barely count towards anything but scrap. I will not and shall not put the lives of others at risk on the roads because your dumbass wanted to save a few minutes” Ryan growled as Tony huffed, mumbling softly as he slowly rubbed a tire along the ground. “Tony” started Ryan, His violet eyes digging into the brown eyes of the truck in front of him, “You have to understand this. This is not just about money. If this load shifts going around a corner, and one of those scrap ties you wanna call a strap gives way, not only is it gonna spill onto the highway, costing ME money to go get and put back onto the trailer, you also run the risk of those spilt logs slamming into other cars on the highway. I will NOT have one of MY loads be responsible for anyone’s death, you got it? Time can be made up, lives can’t. The minute you can understand that and stop trying to cut corners, the moment you will be a better truck for it. Got it?”

“Yes sir, I get it” mumbled Tony softly, whiltering under the gaze of the older Truck, who gave a growl before turning his attention to the only road in and out of the yard.

“We are gonna wait for that Delivery boy to come out here. Only one who was willing to brave the road over here apparently. “Ryan grumbled, Tony snickering besides him.

“Maybe cause the road is a deathtrap? I swear I think I am gonna fall into those ditches along the side, and the bridge is one small quake away from falling into the water” Tony quipped, earning a grumble from the older truck.

“The road is fine, seriously, Cars can stop getting their filters in a bunch and actually do some work, than maybe they wouldn’t be useless slouches. I travel that road nearly every day and I have never had a problem on it” muttered Ryan, a cackle of laughter escaping from Tony at him.

“That’s because you’re old” he cackled, uttering a growl from the Kenworth.

“I swear to Chrysler Tony, one of these days I’m gonna push you off a cliff” he growled as Tony continued to snicker.

“Sure you will old man. Sure you will. So did you hear about what happened to the boys at the station? Nasty shit with that outta state cop and that demon thing” quipped Tony, Ryan simply groaning as he looked at the truck.

“Everyone’s heard it boy, It’s all over the damn paper. Can’t stop to get fuel without cars commenting on it” he groaned, Tony chuckling as his antenna patted the older vehicle.

“There There old man, I know socializing must hurt ya” he cackled, earning a tire smack to a fender as Ryan growled.

“Don’t patronize me boy. I swear, this valley should mind its own business sometimes. What happened happened, and I don’t need to hear about it a month fucking later. Its like when they fucking thought Vic had sex with that outta state cop, would not shut the fuck up about it and it grew annoying really quick. Anyone with have a brand new it was false, Vic ain’t that type of Truck, let alone not that type of cop. But noo, everyone mouthed it around like it was the truth” he growled, earning an eye role from Tony.

“Well of course it was false, didn’t mean it was any less funny seeing the gossip queens at the station mouth off. It was even funnier when the Cop got revenge on that other cop who was spreading it around as well. I saw one of the videos, was some really kinky shit” chuckled Tony, earning a humph from Ryan as he diverted his attention back to the road.

“Whatever youngling, just keep your eyes peeled for the delivery boy, Little guys a speed demon when he comes down this road.” Ryan stated, earning a chuckle from Tony.

“Sure old man, whatever ya say. What truck we waiting for?” asked Tony, Ryan giving a small chuckle as Tony tilted in puzzlement.

“Oh not a truck” he started to say as music started to come from the direction of the road, the sounds of an engine mixed with the electro sing music that was steadily growing louder and louder with Each second. Both trucks looked at the road now, Ryan with a smirk on his bumper while Tony had the look of puzzlement on his. The music grew blistering loud now as Ryan turned to the younger truck, “ It’s a van” he cackled as the Van speed around the corner of the road, the music blaring as it bounced along the divots and dives of the close road before thundering it the yard. The sound of dirt being kicked up as it applied its brakes, The Astro eeping as he locked up and slide into the yard further, knocking over cans and barrels as it skidded to a stop, mere feet from the front of Ryan, who smirked. The van shook its hood, looking up and eeping louder as it noticed how close it was to the Semi, blushing softly as he quickly backed up, throwing a salute up with his antenna up at Ryan.

“I have the goods sir” he said, grinning from mirror to mirror as his antenna pointed up to a large box attached to his roof rack, sitting snuggly in place. Ryan chuckled as Tony looked at the Van, blinking rapidly and close and opening his mouth as he struggled to find words to say.

“Good job Cade, always can count on you out here in the boonies” Ryan said with a smirk as His antenna reached down, undoing the straps from the package.

“Anytime Captain!. I love the roads out here, so much fun to bounce along” giggled Cade as he tiled his body, allowing the package to roll over his roof bars and onto the ground with a Thud. Ryan chuckled softly.

“ Well I appreciate it. Why don’t you go to the café and get a drink or two, Tell the waitress to put it on my tab” he smirked as the Van beamed.

“YES SIR!” He giggled, saluting the Semi once more before turning around and zooming back up the road, His music crackling back to life as the little van speed around the bend, throwing up a cloud of dust and dirt in his wake. Ryan softly chuckled, watching the youngster speed away from them at a fast rate of speed.

“Kids gonna hurt himself one of these days with how fast he moves along the roads here” he quipped as he tilted towards his companion, who was still starring at the bend, his mouth opening and closing rapidly still. Ryan sighed, rolling his eyes as his slammed a tire into Tony’s side, snapping the youngster outta his daze. “Stop imitating a fish and get to work securing the strap, we have loads to deliver” he stated, Tony blinking at him.

“ Why was that van lifted, and how does a Van move so fucking quick” he asked, Ryan sighing as his antenna rubbed along his closed eyes.

“Boy, that Kid has more balls than vehicles twice his age. Stop asking such stupid questions alright. I am not gonna question how or why, I am just thankful that someone like him is willing to help us workers in the boonies out here. He goes around delivering packages to people out here who need them and his is damn good at it. So why don’t you imitate him and get back to fucking work before I make you” growled Ryan as Tony sputtered.

“But-But sir. I delivered the last three!” he whined, yelping as a tire smacked into his fender as Ryan gave a low growl, his engine rumbling angrily.

“ Its gonna be another three if you don’t get to work, The  faster you can safely secure the strap over the load, the quicker you can go to break. NOW FUCKING MOVE IT!” Yelled the Kenworth. The Peterbilt giving a yelp as he quickly moved to grab the package, driving quickly to the awaiting trailer.

“Fucking kid” muttered Ryan as he yawned, turning around and back to his office to check for any more loads that where gonna be needed delivered soon. The sun was getting low and he hoped there wouldn’t be any last minute delivers needed.

He really hated those.