#and maybe some gold accents because the red and blue have to take the center stage and putting them with the light purple doesn’t look great

[otaku553]

Here comes the boyyyyyyy

[ravendruid]

For the send me a sentence and I will write something VM thing. Vaxleth . "You know I'm in love with you forever and ever and always, right?" (Going for the gut punch with this. Some of their first and last words of their romance.)

Hi! I'm so, so sorry this took me so long. I started writing it and I quickly passed 1,000 words, so I decided to just keep going. Thank you so much for the prompt! Also available on AO3. This is an alternate ending to Campaign 1. Read with music (I had this song on repeat the entire time).

Forever, and ever and Always.

Spring is Keyleth’s favorite season. Vax knows it as well as he knows the sun rises on the east and sets on the west, and that is why it is no surprise to him when she announces that she would like their wedding to take place in the Spring. Keyleth has had the ring on her finger for less than twelve hours, and her mind is already running with plans, flowers and decorations, and who does what. It would honestly be exhausting if Vax didn’t take great joy in watching his girlfriend – no, his fiancée – ramble with a grin on her face.

“I think we should do it in Zephrah. I appreciate Percy’s idea of holding the wedding in Whitestone, but it would still be snowing, and it could be troublesome.” She rambles, fluttering about the kitchen of their small cottage. “Do you think we can fit all our friends here?” She looks around for a second and continues, not allowing Vax to answer, “No, of course not. Maybe I can ask my dad if Pike, Scanlan, and Grog can stay in my old bedroom. Oh, but then where would I stay? We can’t see each other before the wedding. It’s bad luck.” Keyleth looks at him, outraged as if he was the one to suggest such a ridiculous idea. 

The ramblings only get worse as winter ends, and Vax finds himself surrounded by a myriad of white fabrics, which Keyleth says have distinct tones – they all look white to him – a large platter of different types of cakes and desserts, one of the walls of their cottage decorated with small strips of parchment in what Keyleth affirms to be the seating arrangement and a multitude of different flowers and bouquets that Keyleth druidcrafted herself on every available surface. 

“What do you think, snowdrops or dandelions?” Keyleth asks Vax as he returns home from an exhausting day at the temple, holding two different bouquets. He toes off his boots and crosses the distance to kiss her passionately, dropping his bag on the couch. She gets the message and blushes, setting the dandelions aside, “You’re right. Snowdrops are prettier.”

The day finally comes, not long after Keyleth’s birthday. Vax wears the traditional Ashari garments that Korrin offered him months before, in rich tones of blue and green, with red and gold accents, and tries to make his hair presentable as Scanlan stands behind him with a smile on his face. Percy is with Keyleth, of course – Vax wouldn’t dare suggest otherwise – and Vex is getting ready in their small guest bedroom.

“Nervous?” Scanlan rises to pat Vax’s elbow, who nods in response. “You can still run, I can polymorph you into a raven, and you can just… go.”

“Thanks for the offer, Scanlan.” 

Syldor was invited, and to Vax’s surprise, he accepted. He and his family, Devana and Vax’s younger sister, Velora, are set to arrive before the ceremony through the teleportation circle that Gilmore and Allura were so kind to set up in the center of Zephrah. Syldor’s presence is clear to everyone: he was only invited out of courtesy and because Vax really wants Velora to be the ring bearer. Vax has no desire to have his father by his side at the altar, nor wishes for his presence any more than what he has to endure. No, that role falls to the gnome clad in purple behind Vax. 

—

Keyleth paces in her childhood bedroom in her undergarments. Pike finished her hair not long ago and ran out to grab something Keyleth doesn’t remember, and Percy is waiting in the living room, where she left him with her father, both dressed up for the ceremony. She would kill for some wine or ale. The anxiety that settled inside Keyleth when she woke up only worsened as the sun reached its apex in the sky. She has always hated giving speeches, often feeling like the sounds coming out of her mouth are nothing more than gibberish, so she holds a piece of parchment tightly against her chest as she mumbles the words repeatedly.

“Keyleth,” Pike is back, handing Keyleth a glass of water, which she gladly takes. “You’ll do great.”

“What if I choke, Pike? What if I can’t speak loud enough or blunder my words?”

“Keyleth,” The gnome woman holds Keyleth’s hands in hers, and Keyleth feels a warmth spread through her as if being blessed by Serenrae herself. “It doesn’t matter if others don’t hear your words. The only person that matters is Vax. Today is all about you and him and your love for each other. Nothing and no one else matters.”

Keyleth is so very glad for her friends, for her found family. She would not be where she is without them and their support. Pike was tireless throughout the entire wedding planning, often lending her ear and opinion when Keyleth couldn’t go to Vax. Both Pike and Vex had gone with Keyleth to shop for dresses and held her hand and hugged her when she found the one. Above all, both women had been there every moment that Keyleth didn’t believe she could go forward without her mom. Keyleth might not have a mother to hold her hand on her wedding day, but she has two sisters who love her just as much.

—

Thanks to the magic of the Ashari, the howling wind surrounding the Summit Peaks does not have a significant effect on Zephrah. However, and it wouldn’t be an air elemental druid tribe otherwise, there is a slight breeze in the air, carrying the sweet smell of cherry blossoms and the hints of summer. Friends and family – and frankly, the entire town – gather under the enormous cherry tree where Keyleth was given her mantle as part of completing her Aramenté a few years back, and Vax smiles at the familiar faces sitting in front of him, twisting his head to smile at Scanlan and Vex by his side as he stands in front of an arch of leaves and vines, highlighted with snowdrops and daisies, which was crafted by the elders of the council as a wedding gift to the Voice of the Tempest and her partner.  

As Kaylie readies herself by holding her flute against her lips, Vax notices the look of pride on Scanlan’s face as he admires his little girl. She plays a soft tune, signaling the beginning of the ceremony, and one by one, the crowd turns in their seats, looking at the goliath carrying a woven basket with flowers. There are a few snickers among those who don’t know Grog, but only one menacing look from him is enough to silence everyone. The goliath’s face opens in a grin as he walks down the aisle, adding white petals to the natural blanket of pink cherry blossoms that crunch loudly underneath his feet.

Not far behind Grog are Pike and Velora, the first holding a small bouquet and the second an intricate wooden box with two golden bands. Pike, who is just about as tall as Velora, takes the girl’s hand reassuringly as they pass by everyone, and when they reach the end, Pike takes her place to the side, and Vax bends down to hug his little sister.

“You did an amazing job,” He whispers before the small elven girl joins Vex by his side.

It is finally Percy’s turn to walk down the aisle, and he does so with all the pomp and circumstance of a member of a royal family. Vax sneers and shakes his head in amusement as his friend grins and reaches to hug him. 

“Be good to her. I know where you sleep,” Percy threatens with a smile before taking Pike’s side.

There is an eerie silence in the air, and Vax’s stomach flinches. It’s time. He turns his back to the crowd, feeling the muscles of his legs tremble in anticipation. Keyleth had asked him to wait until she was ready, so they had worked on a cue, and Vax knew exactly when to turn around. Not yet. He tells himself as loud gasps sound behind him. Not yet. He repeats it in his mind at Vex’s low oooh next to him. Don’t turn. He thinks, closing his eyes. Fuck, fuck, fuck. Vax hears the crunch of petals and the shuffle of movement behind him as someone approaches, and then there is silence again for a moment, leaving him hanging in expectation. A soft piano echoes around them as if the gods themselves are playing the melody, and Vex pats her brother’s elbow with a sniffle. So Vax turns around slowly, holding a breath. 

Keyleth stands at the end of the aisle. Everyone is already turned in their seats to look at her, crying and gasping at how beautiful she looks. She wears a long white dress, the bodice covered in different kinds of white flowers – real flowers, from what Vax can see – including snowdrops, roses, and daisies that cascade down the tule, spreading around the skirt and the hem of the dress. The sunlight reflects in Keyleth’s fiery hair, pulled back in an intricate Ashari braid decorated with tiny white flowers, her circlet resting atop her head, also decorated with flowers and vines. 

Vax’s mouth opens as Keyleth takes a step forward, one hand secured around Korrin’s arm while the other holds a bouquet of snowdrops, daisies, and greenery, like the arch behind him. Keyleth’s feet barely touch the ground – or so it seems – and there is an aura around her as if the sun is reflecting on her skin. She smiles at him with much more love and tenderness than Vax has ever seen anyone direct him, and, at that moment, he feels like he’s the luckiest man in the world. 

When Keyleth reaches the altar, Vax finally lets out the breath he had been holding as Korrin kisses his daughter’s forehead, whispering words of love and encouragement before he takes his place in front of the arch. 

“You look–” Vax tries to say, but the words falter as Keyleth’s bright green eyes fix him, and he says a silent prayer to the gods, thanking them for allowing him to be here with her. Keyleth’s hand finds his, squeezing reassuringly as she, too, cannot find her words. She doesn’t need to. They both know how much this moment means. The words are left unspoken but not unfelt.

“Dear friends and family,” Korrin speaks as the couple faces each other, their hands still holding tight between them. His voice is powerful and steadfast, and Vax sees the love and pride in his eyes, the twinkling of a tear in the corner, threatening to fall as he initiates the ceremony. “We gather here today to celebrate the eternal union of Keyleth and Vax’ildan as they bind themselves together by the traditional handfasting ribbons of the Ashari and speak their vows.”

Vax hears Vex sniffle behind him as Korrin continues the ceremony, and the corners of his mouth creep up in a teasing smile, even though she can’t see it. He did not have the opportunity to walk her down the aisle since she had decided to elope without so much of a warning, and he was still hurt by it. But she is happy, and so is the man that stands behind Keyleth, wiping a tear from his cheek with an apologetic look. Yet, Vax can’t stop thinking about that moment in his sister’s life and how it hurt to miss it. He wonders if she, too, felt the same way he feels as he glances at the two empty chairs in the first row where Elaina and Vilya should be. 

Vax looks back at the beautiful woman in front of him, who smiles softly as if she read his mind. Vax remembers a conversation they had months before, how he and Keyleth had sat down under this same tree and confessed to the other how much it hurt not having their mothers present at their wedding. They promised each other back then that, although there were physically absent, their presence would still be felt, and Keyleth started tracing plans to decorate their chairs. Snowdrops for Elaina, Daisies for Vilya.

“Keyleth, Vax’ildan, please take your hands and join them together,” Korrin gestures and Keyleth raises their still intertwined hands. There is a communal chuckle, as no one seemed to have noticed they had been holding hands the entire time. 

“You have been through many adventures. You have fought many battles together, but your greatest adventure is still to come. Keyleth, Vax’ildan, do you vow to join each other in this marriage?” Korrin asks as Vex hands him a small white box.

“I do,” They reply in unison.

“Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves,” Korrin takes an intricate woven ribbon from the box in tones of blue, red, and green. On one end of the ribbon is a charm with four triangles intertwined – which Vax recognizes as the symbol of the Ashari – and on the other is a charm of a mask surrounded by feathers and a raven skull – which Vax obviously recognizes as the symbol of his Matron. “A ribbon of three strands is not quickly broken.” Korrin finishes, carefully placing the ribbon on their hands.

Vax’s heart jumps in his throat as Korrin explains the symbolism of the colors: green for the earth that binds them from the paths they have walked together; red for the fire that burns in their hearts and for the courage of overcoming their fears for the other; and blue as a representation of the challenge they faced in Vesrah together. 

“Your charms are a representation of who you are and where you come from,” Korrin continues, wrapping the ribbon around their intertwined hands and wrists. “The interlocked triangles of the Ashari symbolize your roots, as you are now part of our family,” Korrin smiles at Vax, who holds back a tear, “and the symbol of the Matron of Ravens the eternity of your love, for not even death can tear you apart.”

Vax’s gaze moves from their hands to Keyleth’s face, whose amused expression at her father’s words mirrors his. They have both died, Vax more than her, but their love brought them back stronger than before.

A raven feather falls just as Korrin starts to tie the knot, and he smiles, making sure it stays in place. Vax bows his head in gratitude to her for allowing him to stay, and a raven above their heads caws loudly, announcing its presence with the flap of his wings as it flies away from a tall branch of the cherry tree.

“Keyleth, your vows.”

“Oh gods, okay.” Keyleth gulps down the panic in her chest and takes a deep breath as Vax squeezes her hand and gives her a reassuring nod. “As we all know, I’m not very good with words, and I’m not very observant either. It took me a long time to figure out my feelings and even longer to overcome my fears, but your love was, and always will be, the wind underneath my wings, the earth that grounds me, the fire that warms my heart, and the water that washes away all my worries and anxieties. With you by my side, I know I will be better, stronger, and more confident. You inspire me every day, even though you can be reckless sometimes. You love so wholeheartedly and effortlessly, yet there is always room in your heart for more love and kindness. I am lucky to have you and to call you mine, and I want you to know that I will be by your side every day of your life. Besides, you know I’m in love with you, forever and ever and always, right?”

Both Keyleth and Vax’s eyes are filled with tears, and soft sobs and sniffles are coming from everywhere around them as their friends and family wipe away their tears. Vax’s throat constricts with how beautiful Keyleth looks, with how much he wants to kiss her. He does lean in, but Korrin stops him before he crosses the distance with a soft hand on his chest, pushing him back.

“Not yet,” They all chuckle wetly, tears falling faster. “Vax’ildan, your vows now.” Korrin pats Vax’s shoulder, who nods and takes a deep breath. 

“I never thought I would be here today. I could say I wasn’t supposed to be here today, but we all know that’s bullshit.” Vax’s chuckle is followed by Velora’s gasp and a soft laugh from his friends. “I was ready to die, and I did die several times, yet here I am in front of one of the most amazing and powerful women I’ve ever met. I’ve always been a lucky bastard, but meeting you was no luck. It was destiny. You taught me how to be better, to accept love from others and let them take care of me, and I would not be standing here today if it wasn’t for your love and dedication. Keyleth, I believe in you as fiercely as you believe in me, and don’t you ever forget that. I’m so very proud of you, and I’m so very grateful to have the chance to spend every day of the rest of my life by your side. You know I’m in love with you too, forever and ever and always, right?”

The tears flow freely now, not just on Vax and Keyleth’s faces but also on their friends’ faces. Somewhere in the first row, Shaun Gilmore holds a delicate purple handkerchief and dapples the droplets from his eyes. Next to him, an equally elegant Allura takes Kima’s hand, who isn’t as subtle in her sobs. The loudest is, undoubtedly, Grog, in whose hands is a handkerchief the size of a pillowcase. Regardless of whether they are close friends or less-known habitants of Zephrah, there is a wave of tears from everyone in the audience, for they have all, in some way or another, had the opportunity to witness the love and dedication that Vax and Keyleth have for the other.

“Keyleth,” Korrin’s voice is different, as if he, too, is trying to hold back tears. “Do you take Vax’ildan to be your husband, to love him, comfort him, honor and keep him in sickness and health, in sorrow and joy, from this day forward, until your drying breath?”

“I do.”

“Vax’ildan, do you take Keyleth to be your wife, to love her, comfort her, honor and keep her in sickness and health, in sorrow and joy, from this day forward, until your dying breath?”

“I do.”

Korrin hands Keyleth the end of the ribbon with the Raven Queen charm while Vax takes the end with the Ashari symbol, and he signals for them to pull the knot tightly, securing the raven feather within it.

“May your marriage ribbons draw your hands together in love, never to be used in anger. May the pledges you make never grow bitter in your hearts. You two are entwined in love, bound by all which brings strength to this union.” Korrin finishes with a soft smile. He nods gently at Velora, whose face opens in a grin, and walks closer to the older man. He gently aids Vax and Keyleth in removing the knot without untying it and places it back in the white box, handing it to Percy.

“Keyleth and Vax’ildan have also opted to exchange rings, a symbol of unity and completeness. Let them be a reminder of your love and the vows you have taken here today.” Korrin bends down to take the rings from the little girl, who promptly runs back to her sister, preening for a job well done. He hands Vax the soft golden band that the couple picked, something simple and symbolic, and asks him to repeat his words after him.

“Keyleth, with this ring, I take you as my wife. I promise I will love you forever, and ever and always.” Vax slides the ring on Keyleth’s finger with ease, smiling brightly.

“Vax’ildan, with this ring, I take you as my husband. I promise I will love you forever, and ever and always.” Keyleth says back, her smile as bright as his.

“I now pronounce you husband and wife.” The couple looks expectantly at Korrin, who sighs and rolls his eyes. “Yeah, yeah. Go on, kiss her.”

Vax chuckles and leans in, placing one hand between Keyleth’s shoulder blades and the other on her lower back, and, without a warning, he dips her back and kisses her longingly as cheers and claps erupt around them.

This is a great feeling. Vax feels like his entire life finally has a purpose. He knows his job is not over yet, and will never be, but for some reason, the Raven Queen has allowed him to stay and be happy with the ones he loves. He can’t contain his joy as he faces the crowd, now standing in an ovation. He can’t help but mirror the smile on their faces, the tears of happiness that fall down his cheeks. Vax can’t contain a look of surprise as he sees his father stand proudly, clapping his hands with tears in his eyes, or at the nod he gives him, and how he mouths, that’s my son. There is still a long path to traverse between them, but this is the first step.

Keyleth pulls him into another breathless kiss, and as they break apart, she leans her forehead to his. Vax knows from how she looks at him that more than luck, she is his destiny, and their love is stronger than the gods themselves.

Dress Inspiration

[aiyexayen]

The shiny link said to ask you things so here I am. What's ur fav outfits for each of WKX and ZZS?

THANK YOU FOR ASKING although this is a very difficult question, given how many thoughts and feelings i have about their outfits. i've never tried to boil it down to favourites, but i'm going to go on a small journey and see if i can do it.

(1/5)

zishu first. devastating intro.

this outfit makes me nostalgic for my first watchthrough. it's sexy, and i really like the way we see wenzhou both in red before anything else. but it lacks a kind of depth in the same way the unknown character does to us; it's a first impression. certainly a good one but just can't be my top favourite outfit.

his second tianchuang outfit is even better. it puts him in blue--his colour, siji shanzhuang's colour, even though it's draped in black and part of tianchuang right now. we get a lot of soul shattering emotions in this outfit as we start to learn who zhou zishu actually is, what he cares about, what he's built, who he's lost, what he is capable of doing. episode one kills me.

and then we also get a reprise of this outfit later, which is what really spikes its ranking up for me. the way he wears it subtly differently, coming full circle to finish this fight now that he's changed so much after the year he's lived. the way that blue he'd always carried with him, even into the heart of tianchuang, really stands out in stark contrast to jin-wang's red and gold.

beautiful. it's up there but doesn't quite get favourite.

and honourable mention of course are his other two we catch glimpses of in episode 1--brilliant shixiong blue accented in fUCKING green in his flashback as if he's remembering a time when he was still human, and his "i'm riding off to die now" cloak. these get NOTHING from me because i'm so sad.

moving on.

zhou zishu tries to become unobtrusive and unnoticeable and ordinary but instead he looks Like This:

and we all hate and despair and love that perfect hair shoulder blades jawline in equal measure. especially wen kexing.

comfy, rugged, unapologetically blue. this outfit introduces the flask, introduces him to wen kexing and zhang chengling, and we have some good times with it. but it's simple, and dark, and so is his view of his remaining life right now, and that hurts a bit too much.

so, next is the outfit wen kexing gives him and he's briefly suspicious but he does wear it, deciding to trust wen kexing a bit and caving in a little to the concept of being something more than he'd planned. we're expanding to two shades of blue, too, very nice.

this outfit sees us through the epic fight with the beggar gang, the heartrending siji shanzhuang flashback, the LIPS ON SHOULDER and that's not even the only reason this outfit is a top contender to the title.

because more layers means the chance to take them off. and it must be discussed how much work the under layers do in this outfit.

look at this man revealing that there is indeed more to himself, letting himself be less guarded around wen kexing. look at his smile, his playfulness, and that fucking fairytale princess that has been hiding under so many masks, perfectly offset by that pretty pale blue and that soft hairstyle.

but i'm not sure i can commit to favourite.

pin in that one, i will keep going. so, this first yueyang outfit is just So Much.

the HAT, the DRAPE, the ZHIJI-ACKNOWLEDGING, the way that gray creeps in. zhou zishu has revealed his face and in doing so has decided not to hide, in more ways than one, as he says to han ying. he's decided to deal with his shit a bit and maybe live a bit better with the time he has left. he's becoming himself and it's so much.

and as if that wasn't enough, after their big fight when it all goes wrong, zhou zishu GOES BACK to wearing THIS outfit. "let's try this again." backing up, making up, re-centering in the last place that felt more himself and then setting back out again on the right foot.

and then he sits in the miDDLE of the STREET, outer robe HALFWAY OFF HIS SHOULDER in stark contrast to the structure of the breakup-outfit, and SAYS LAO WEN'S NAME. what am i supposed to do with that. what. WHAT.

i think this one comes extremely close to being my favourite, pin in this one, too.

speaking of the breakup-outfit.

it's so shimmery, suddenly full of so much structure and colour. zhou zishu, trying to reconcile who he's been with who he wishes he could be with who he doesn't want to see lao wen become, abruptly wrapping himself up in all these layers and trappings of a man that's a different kind of shield against the pain and it doesn't really make him any less lost in the end. but damn is it pretty. i can't really put my finger on it but something about his hair and that collar. and, of course, the blood. the declaration that nobody can stop him from killing who he wants and getting what he wants. hot damn.

however, comparing it to the two top contenders for the title right now, i don't think it beats either one.

part 2

[extravalgant]

AND SO... my own designs of the the 101 main character designs are here +_+

more under the cut because surprisingly a lot of thought went into their design and how it looked

— the wizards prominent red design coupled with the blue that i used for accents (as well as the gold and white) all tie back to merle ambrose, as he has his own red/blue color scheme, only switched

— this was intentional, made to show that the wizard has become merle ambrose's new prodigy and therefore reflects that in their attire - the stars on their hat also contribute to that.

— the sun and moon imagery here is also purposeful - ive always been a fan of those types of character relationships and it shows here. however, i believe that the wizard has had to be their own sun and their own moon in comparison, simply due to the fact that they cannot afford to blindly place the immense amount of trust and vulnerability in someone else. in this way - they are their own sun and moon, and in this way, they know that realistically the only person they can rely on is theirself.

- the other part of me, however, just likes the way celestial designs look.

— being the savior of the spiral, i believe they have to look the part. i chose to go with the original novice robes for inspiration mainly bc of nostalgia related reasons, but also because i think it provides something unique with its design. the wizard looks professional - something that should be expected of when it comes to their titles of "savior of the spiral".

— AS FOR THE PIRATE... i think you can somewhat tell that their design was created first due to how sketchy it looks

— their design originally spawned when i spent those 3 days figuring out how to draw kane and then drawing nothing else LMFAO.

— im not too satisfied with the hat but thats also why i made a version without it... so i could avoid drawing it ❤️ but if you want to change the hat by all means . go ahead

— the eyepatch, necklaces, and earrings were added as a way of spicing things up. i like the air of mystery that the eyepatch has, i like the little pop of flare the earrings bring, and the necklaces add a bit of natural clutter to the pirates design, almost as if they want to be the center of attention

- u will see me draw the eyepatch on the wrong side sometimes. this is because i am stupid

— the asymmetrical parts of their design also contribute to the overall chaotic look i want to bring to them. whereas the wizard's is perfectly symmetrical to signify the way they must maintain order as defender of the spiral, the pirate's asymmetrical vest and pants serve to show that their journey is different; they may have devoted themselves to bringing down kane, but it doesn't mean that theyre not necessarily going to do it the clean and good way.

- in this way, it reflects the status of their stories – the wizard's story, while less personal, deals with entirety of the spiral; the pirate's story, while not dealing with the whole spiral, deals with something on a more personal level, as our parents were originally involved in the el dorado expedition, which is what the majority of the game takes part in.

— you may notice that some parts seem... weird or maybe dont make sense, like the way the boots look, for example. this is because i thought they looked cool. u will notice that i often sacrifice the logistics of things on the basis that it has to look cool. unfortunately i will not stop

— the coat does not... have a coherent design but it was also made to help the pirate look cooler 😭 doesnt it look nice draped across their shoulders like that...

- i will design the whole coat one day, but it will probably take a while so... bear with me. i also want to give the wizard a cool looking cloak but that requires me digging into my character inspiration boards so u will also need to be patient with that 🙏

— i was going to draw the wizard and the pirate's wand and weapon, but i realized i did.. NOT want to do that and wanted to get this out as quickly as possible... so 💔 you are on your own

- unless i actually get up off my ass and design it . in which case u also need to wait for that

THATS ALL AS FAR AS MY DESIGN NOTES....

[katsukisblackteddy]

hi hi hi !!! i was wondering if you could do a bakugou x indian reader who’s from new york?? like lwky veronica lodge and/or blair waldorf vibes ?? like she’s really cheeky and sophisticated and gives a lot of gifts?? like someone could give her a hug and boom the next day ‘ here’s a 12k bracelet from tiffany & co 😃😃 ‘ IDK I THOUGHT THIS WOULD BE FUNNY OR SOMETHING IDK I HOPE THIS ISNT TOO WEIRD LMFAO

“And I Thought Momo & Todoroki Were Rich”

Pairings: None Pronouns: She/Her Word Count: 1k Warnings: None

Being the daughter of two high profile parents came with its perks. Your father’s business was considered a tech giant, and it made him one of the richest men in the world. Your mother had been the United States’ top neurosurgeon, before she retired deciding instead to focus on her philanthropic passions of bringing healthcare to developing nations through Doctors Without Borders. (My point is...y’all are rich rich)

“Alright everyone quiet down. There’s a new student coming today.” Aizawa stated tiredly, his shoulder length dark hair falling into his face a bit. He stood against the desk at the front of the room, his eyes going to the door when he saw the door knob turn. 

“I hope it’s a hot girl!” Mineta remarked as Hagakure pushed him off his chair causing the short boy to fall face first onto the ground. Hagakure wasn’t a mean person, he just got annoying.

The door opened to reveal Nezu standing beside you, a brown skinned girl (BrOwN sKiNnEd GyaL..i’m sorry i had to). To the others, you seemed friendly enough with your full lips pulled up into a soft smile. Your dark hair came to just above your shoulders and you wore a simple red headband in your hair. “Hello everyone. I’m (y/n), it’s nice to meet you.” 

“Woah? Where are you from? Your accent is so cool!” A blonde boy with a black lightning bolt in his hair asked, his eyes wide and a large smile on his face. “I’m Kaminari Denki, by the way.”

“I’m from New York.” You answered before taking the only empty seat which was beside a boy with half white and half red hair. 

“Why’d you come to Japan? New York seems much cooler.” Mina sighed. “I’ve always wanted to go!”

“My dad is expanding his company and my mother wanted to expand her charity. I don’t mind though.” You explained with a shrug of your shoulders. 

“Wait a second! Ochako it’s your birthday?!” Mina announced suddenly, after receiving a notification reminder on her phone. 

“My birthday’s tomorrow, Mina.” The brown haired girl with rosy cheeks corrected her. 

“It’s your birthday tomorrow? What do you like? Jewelry? Perfume? Shoes? Concert tickets?” You questioned thinking about some of the things you had given as presents to your friends in the past. 

“N-no, that’s too much!” Ochako’s eyes widened as she shook her head. 

“That’s okay. I’m sure I’ll be friends with everyone here, if that’s what you’re worried about?” You tried to reassure her. “It’s not that big of a deal, Ochako...I’ll surprise you then? Do you like pink?”

She nodded as you made a mental note. You had seen a really pretty necklace with a pink diamond in the center that was in the shape of a heart. You had originally wanted one for yourself, but it would be much more fun to match with someone.

After your first day of school at UA had ended you had been standing outside waiting for your driver to take you to your father’s company where you would meet your mother to go out to dinner. 

“(Y/n)!” You turned hearing your name being called as you waved over to the group of girls and boys that were approaching you. Kaminari, Kirishima, Ochako, Midoriya, Jirou, Mina, Hagakure, Momo, and Bakugou (who had been dragged by Kirishima) came to stand near you. 

“Oh hey guys! Thanks for making me feel welcome today! You all are great friends.” You smiled at them, before glancing behind you to look at the road to see if your driver had come yet. 

“Do you wanna hang out tomorrow since today’s Friday?” They asked you as you thought about it for a minute. 

“Tomorrow…” You paused running through your schedule. “I think I’m free tomorrow. Do you want to come over to my house? We just finished moving in!”

“Sure. Send us the address!” Mina answered excitedly as everyone nodded, even the explosive blonde agreed.

“We can have a party for your birthday Ochako! It’ll be perfect!” You said excitedly as you clapped your hands. “I’ve gotta go talk to my event planner! I’ve gotta get decorations! Wait...what kind of cake do you like? Do you even like cake? Maybe cupcakes?”

“E-event planner?”

“Yeah...I can’t plan a party by myself without input from him.” You said as if it was the most normal thing in the world. “He’s great! I gotta go! See you tomorrow! I’ll text you the details tonight.” You called as you walked off towards your vehicle where your driver was waiting with the door open for you. 

It was the next day and the doorbell rang signaling that your new friends had just arrived. You opened one of the two large front doors to see the group holding snacks and gifts.

“Happy birthday Ochako!” You smiled, holding the small long blue box with a white ribbon wrapped around it. You pulled her into a hug as she entered your home along with  the rest of the class, before you stepped back allowing everyone to enter. You handed her the gift. “I hope you like it.”

“(Y/N)! T-This is too much! How much did this cost!” Ochako was practically speechless after puling the ribbon off and opening the box, her eyes wide as she held the beautiful necklace in her hands. It was a heart shaped pink diamond on a gold chain.

“Do you not like it?” You grew concerned. You always thought you had been a good gift giver, your old friends had always loved the gifts you gave them in the past.

“N-No I love it! It’s just really expensive isn’t it? How much did it cost?” Ochako questioned as you helped her put it on. 

“Don’t worry Ochako! I got it at a great price because my mom is friends with the jeweler.” You explained. “It was only 1,470,490 yen! Isn’t that such a steal!” You said as everyone’s eyes widened at your smile. 

“1,470,490.00 yen! (Y/n)!”

“I know, I feel kind of bad, I should’ve paid more.” You shrugged a small frown on your face. “Why are you all looking at me like that? Was it a bad gift? All of my other friends loved when I gave them gifts like this?”

“You spent more than one million yen on a necklace for someone you barely know.” Bakugou broke the silence with a roll of his crimson eyes. “Dumbass.” He added after a moment

“It wasn’t that expensive, relax guys. That’s only like my weekly allowance.” You said with a laugh and shrug. “Now come on! Let’s party!”

“Weekly allowance?” Kaminari sweatdropped. “And I thought Momo and Todoroki were rich.”

TAGS: 

[soulmate-game]

“Alright, so tonight is going to be fairly standard. Arkham is silent, and there’s no solid leads on what any of the free rogues might be up to. Harley is sick and Ivy is stuck at home taking care of her, so they aren’t going to be up to anything on either side of the law for a few days. Catwoman is the only person we’d have to look out for right now, but her kleptomania has taken her out of the city for a change,” Barbara was typing away at the large Batcomputer keyboard as she brought all of the Gotham vigilantes up to speed on what to expect for patrol that night. “So, Red Hood and Black Bat will take the Narrows and surrounding area patrol route like usual. Nightwing and Batgirl, Upper east side and fashion district patrol route. Red Robin, you’re taking the route that passes city hall and through Old Gotham and Diamond District, and if you don’t throw a fit maybe you can take Robin with you. Batman, crime alley and Newtown patrol. Robin or no Robin, pick your poison,” the redhead offered, finally spinning her wheelchair around to look at everyone. “We’ll be pretty spread out tonight, but like I said, there’s nothing. No whispers of anything planned on the dark web, no news from any of the rogues, Blackgate and Arkham are, dare I say, peaceful right now. But if you see anything, I’ll redirect you guys so you can get backup ASAP.”

This was a rare night. Usually there was at least a plot or red flag to investigate, but not that night. For some reason, it seemed like Gotham had gotten a dose of sanity that it had been desperately missing.

“Actually,” Alfred took that moment to walk in, a slight pep to his step that seemed to catch everyone’s attention. “I do have news. Batman, you of course know that I have been keeping a close eye on Paris’s situation as per your orders, yes?”

Bruce, who had already been inching towards the batmobile none too subtly, suddenly stood stock still and slowly turned to look at his father figure. He could feel the eyes of his many children honing in on him, silent questions behind those orbs.

“Of course, I remember,” he confirmed cautiously. “You haven’t had an update for me in years.”

Years? Tim furrowed his eyebrows. That meant this had to be something that stretched very far back, because everything that Batman tried to keep secret from him since he became Robin had already been outed. Right? Well, he supposed there was always the possibility that Bruce could have snuck something by, but not a large one. Between him and Oracle, any new secrets he tried to squirrel away were unearthed pretty swiftly. So, most likely this was something Bruce had asked Alfred to keep an eye on at least back when Jason was still Robin. Maybe even further back than that.

“Yes, well you wouldn’t have appreciated any prior updates, sir,” Alfred said pointedly, raising an eyebrow. He always would be the one to understand Bruce Wayne and Batman the best out of all of them. “But this is a big one. I used our inside contact to check up on the Paris situation like I do every month, and this came up,” Alfred pulled out a remote from his pocket and clicked it at the computer, triggering it to bring up an article that likely had been hidden and only accessible via that remote signal. If Barbara had had any reason to check for hidden files she would have found it easily, but Alfred was good at never giving any hints as to when he was hiding something.

But what was on the computer was far more interesting than the all-too-familiar, cryptid ways of Alfred Pennyworth.

Because it was a news article from an online Paris newspaper. It was still in untranslated French, but nobody in that room had any trouble reading it. It was dated to have been published two weeks earlier.

On the cover picture for the article was a man that everybody also recognized, being high-profile and extremely influential in the fashion industry. Most of them had even met the man at least once, the aging Gabriel Agreste. In his early seventies, it was odd to see the man being herded into a police vehicle. He didn’t seem all that threatening, though he still struck an oddly intimidating figure with his cold glare and straight back. Being herded behind him was a woman of around Bruce’s own age, with long brown hair in several elaborate braids. Her dark, almost muddy green eyes bore into the camera and a snarl was on her face. Lila Rossi, the model that had been employed under Agreste for quite some years now and had turned into a sort of reality TV celebrity after she got too old to be hired for as many modeling gigs. She was known as highly untrustworthy, a lie monger and the most infamous gossip in the celebrity world. The headline for the article was;

“THE PARISIAN NIGHTMARE FINALLY OVER! AFTER THIRTY YEARS OF TORMENT, THE HAWKMOTHS OF PAST AND PRESENT HAVE BEEN ARRESTED.”

Underneath that title picture was another, this one detailing the Parisian heroes to stop Hawkmoth, who had been replaced years ago by his female counterpart Monarch, a play on the Monarch Butterfly. The Heroes, on the other hand, had remained mostly the same after the infamous confusion of the early years of Hawkmoth’s reign of terror, where Ladybug had temporarily started adding hero after hero to the team before mysteriously and suddenly retiring almost all of them.

On the right was Ladybug, who stood proud with her arms crossed and a somber gaze directed towards the two unmasked villains. On the left was Chat Noir, in a weird black leather costume that was like a bizzare yet fashionable meld of DiscoWing and the classic Batman uniform. Minus a cape or cowl, of course. Standing behind them, all fanned out, were the last four members of their team. Viperion, in a dark teal snake-themed costume. Ryuuko, standing next to him in a black and red ensemble with her elemental symbol proudly on her chest. Bunnyx, in her bright baby blue and white, and lastly the imperious Stinger behind them in her black outfit with gold accents.

As everyone but Alfred and Bruce read the article and examined the photos as quickly as they could, the eldest vigilante in the room slowly removed his cowl. His eyes were wide, disbelieving as they stared only at the two pictures on the screen and didn’t pay any heed to the article itself.

“Thirty years,” Jason remarked, turning to face Bruce angrily. “Paris has been under attack by magical madmen for thirty years, and you never told us? We knew nothing about this, and this has been going on since before us. Since before you, even,” he waved a hand at the screen angrily. “You know that they have been under attack since before Batman was even a thing, and you never said anything? We could have helped! The league could have—“

“Been a liability,” Bruce interrupted, but it was the uncharacteristic softness to his tone that ultimately shut Jason up and attracted everyone else’s rapid attention. “The league knows. The founding members, anyway. It was something I briefed them on back when we first founded the League, but we were careful to keep any mention of it off of any electronic system. The magic behind the attacks stopped any word of the terrorism from getting out through normal means. We pretended to put the JLE in Paris, when really they are centered miles out of city limits and never set foot inside Paris’s boundaries.”

“Why?” Dick asked, his own mask off so that he could glare into Bruce’s eyes without it obscuring his expression at all. He wasn’t explosively angry like Jason, but it was clear that Dick wasn’t happy either. “They all look to be your age, Bruce. Which means they’ve been fighting HawkMoth since they were teenagers, on their own, since before there was any Justice League or very many other established heroes at all to provide backup. And I get that HawkMoth and Monarch seem to have controlled or fed off negative emotions and a lot of us would have been liabilities, but there are Leaguers who have extreme control over their emotions. You could have gone. Or J’onn, you could have even sent Tim. Anybody to help even a little.”

“Paris isn’t my city, it’s Ladybug’s city. The League and most metahuman heroes stay out of Gotham because I asked them too, but I am not the first to have the idea that keeping other heroes out of a volatile city can be beneficial for damage control. Ladybug herself told me not to allow any interference in the situation,” Bruce braced himself against the back of one of their metal debriefing chairs, leaning forward so it could take most of his weight. That, and the way he never looked away from the photos displayed on the computer, tipped off everyone else that Bruce might not have stayed uninvolved willingly. That he had a deeper connection to the whole Paris mess than just keeping a shrewd eye on a possible issue.

“You know Ladybug?” Tim decides to speak up, leaning back against the desk that housed the batcomputer keyboard. His voice was decidedly softer than that of his elder brothers’.

Bruce nodded, still in an odd partial trance. “We met when I was on a trip to Paris, before I became Batman. It was twenty-three years ago, I was eighteen and found out the hard way about the situation that the rest of the world was somehow oblivious to. I was able to meet Ladybug during one of her patrols, and confronted her. Even after I became Batman two years later, she refused any help. It wasn’t until about a year before I adopted Dick that I finally decided I couldn’t keep worrying about a situation and people that I wasn’t being allowed to help, so I told Alfred to use the sources that Ladybug had given me back when we first met to check in on the situation every month or two. I know that it was not the best decision, making Alfred do what I couldn’t bring myself to, but by the time I adopted Dick I had mostly forgotten about it. I was too worried about trying to figure out how to raise a kid and then deal with raising a vigilante kid after that, for the first time.”

Silence reigned for a while. This was, essentially, news that Bruce had been waiting to hear for over twenty years. An outcome that he had been barred from being a part of. Talk about bittersweet, especially when Bruce seemed so passionate about wanting to have helped. Probably too guilty about not being allowed to.

In the end, it was Damian who made the connection between this news and his father’s foreign mood and behavior first. Or at least, he was the first to vocalize it. Cass probably noticed it sooner.

“You have feelings for Ladybug,” Damian somehow managed to make the declaration sound like a reprimand. “I admit, she is likely much better of a suitor for you than that mangy cat, but I hardly think that trying to start courting her again after so long apart is reasonable. She could have changed from—“

“I know, Damian,” Bruce’s knuckles were white from how tightly he was gripping the chair. “Trust me, I have spent more than enough hours contemplating calling her again to catch up, but I knew it was best to stay away. I had grown busy with Batman and the League anyway, and adding the time difference on there was no way any relationship between us would have been feasible.”

“So you cut yourself off from even being her friend. Which, might I remind you, I heavily advised against,” Alfred finally cut back into the conversation, hands clasped behind his back. “The two of you had maintained a perfectly stable long distance friendship for over five years, and I still consider the day you cut her off to be one of your stupidest mistakes, master Bruce. On an unrelated note, I received a call from the designer that you always commission your more high-fashion suits from, sir. She is coming to Gotham for a time, and I gave her an invitation to come visit for dinner tomorrow. I hope you don’t mind.” With that said, Alfred turned on his heel and walked away.

“That man never raises his voice, but somehow still makes you feel like absolute shit when he gets mad,” Stephanie mused aloud when the butler had left, earning silent nods from everyone else.

“How are you still alive, Father?” Damian asked, raising an eyebrow over one vibrant green eye. “If you cut off Ladybug only to continue to commission the person that I assume is her civilian identity on a regular basis, how has that idiocy not blended into the rest of your life?”

“It has,” Jason added in, always up for a game of Rag on Bruce. “He’s just always had this annoying ability of surviving even the shittiest situations he ends up in. It’s like he has plot armor or something.”

Bruce only grunted, pulling his cowl back on. “Patrol. Robin, you’re with Red Robin today. Don’t kill each other.”

“Oh no, I want to live to see the girl you’ve apparently been crushing on since you were a teenager,” Tim said as he ambled over to his motorcycle. “Seeing THAT reunion is gonna be way better than picking another fight with Demon Spawn.”

“Tt.”

—*—*—*—*—*

“Your tie won’t get any straighter,” Barbara teased Bruce, watching as he fiddled with the tie around his throat for the millionth time in just the past ten minutes. Alfred had made sure that he couldn’t escape this, even going so far as benching Batman for the night.

And to make matters worse, it was still far too early for patrol so all the Wayne kids were present. Stephanie had other obligations to see to, unfortunately, but other than her even Jason had come over to the manor to see the fallout.

“Master Bruce, she is here,” Alfred’s voice cut through the almost palpable nerves emanating from the usually stoic or charismatic man. Batman was nowhere to be seen at the moment, but neither was Playboy Billionaire Brucie Wayne. No, this was Bruce Wayne, as genuine as anybody could see him. And more nervous than his kids had ever witnessed.

The door was opened, and in stepped someone that defied any of the Batkid’s preconceptions. They were expecting someone suave, sophisticated, with hard-earned muscle trying to hide under her skin. Like a Wonder Woman type of person, bursting with strength except for when they made an effort to disguise it. But that was not what they got. No suave, sophisticated bachelorette of a businesswoman and reputable fashion designer. No goddess-masquerading-as-a-human. Not even a femme fatale like Selina Kyle or most of Batman’s exes.

But there was a distinct observation that the kids made the moment they saw her.

Black hair, so dark that it seemed to reflect blue in the light, and clear blue eyes that were dark, vibrant, and seemed to glow with intelligence and humor, with just the slightest gray tones that hid in them grim experiences and disillusion.

She had a smile that was eerily similar to Dick’s when she laid eyes on the family and let it spread across her face. It was like the warmth of the sun, and instantly made the impersonal foyer feel cozy and welcoming. But the sharpness in her eyes as she scanned over all the people gathered, more than she expected if her eyebrow raise was any indication, was just like Tim. Too much like Tim.

She came to a stop a few feet away from the Wayne clan, and rested one hand on her waist as she popped her hip out. Jason’s attitude.

Her hair was up in a simple but elegant bun, with a braid curling around the base of it. She was small, about five foot four if their estimates were correct, and the sleek sleeves of her midnight blue dress simultaneously emphasized and disguised the lithe, corded muscle mass that seemed to flow smoothly down her arms. Not a brawler’s muscle, but an acrobat or gymnast’s. The delicate silver embroidery along the sleeves and trim of her dress, and curling around her waist like a belt of thread, was in actuality a string of bats in various flight poses interspersed with silver swirls and tiny ladybugs. Her own playful personality, it seemed, something innocent and daring and subtle all at once that didn’t quite fit any of the kids, it was solely hers.

“I am Marinette Dupain-Cheng,” the woman finally introduced herself, holding out her hand even as her radiant smile stayed firmly in place. When her eyes found Bruce again, they stayed there. “An old friend of your father’s. And by the way, Bruce. If you ever cut contact with me again without ever explaining yourself, I will not stay twiddling my thumbs in some other city again. I will hunt you down and get you to tell me what exactly possessed you to freeze me out, and only if it is some really good reasoning will I let you off without giving you a remedial lesson in the importance of dodging.”

Damian’s fire.

Dick looked over at Bruce, then at Marinette. She caught his eye, nodded and winked, and looked back to her old friend.

“But I do have to say, this looks suspiciously like a family we might have had if you had ever gotten up the courage to ask me out all those years ago instead of not realizing that I never specifically forbade you from visiting Paris, only heroes in general. You’re lucky I’m patient. I spent thirty years waiting to get back the Butterfly Miraculous and lock those two up for good, but making me wait twenty years to finally confess to you is a bit much, don’t you think? And adopting kids with only blue eyes and black hair is a bit on the nose, even for you.”

Scratch that, Damian’s loyalty.

Bruce really had adopted kids that reminded him of Marinette in some way, and the way he would grin or smile at Damian when he was displaying his usually subtle but steady loyalty, or the way that Bruce had almost unending tolerance for Damian’s stubbornness, it all started to make sense.

Bruce had tried building a family around the one he imagined he could have had with Marinette.

“Mari—“

“Nope. You’ve made me wait this long, you don’t even get a hug until after dinner. Then we can catch up, and you’ll take me out to dinner in a few days,” suddenly what was happening seemed to creep up on the woman, and she fidgeted. Sheepishness rose to her face, and she winced at her own words. But damn, she had imagined this day for so long, she couldn’t help but get assertive! “I mean, if you want to. I get it if you lost interest in dating me, but—“

“How about I set up a private dinner on the top of Wayne enterprises, day after tomorrow. We can even do a patrol afterwards if you’re up to it.”

His sons all facepalmed, some inwardly and some outwardly. Barbara groaned and Cass pinched the bridge of her nose. But, to their astonishment, Marinette’s smile just came back full force.

“Aww, you know I can’t resist the offer of a patrol. But just one, I want to enjoy some time off now that I’m not perpetually on-call as Paris’s main hero.”

Bruce finally grinned back, his eyes soft for the first time in a while that wasn’t directed at his kids. In way that they had never been soft towards Selina or most of his past flings.

“Just one patrol, then.”

“Sounds like a date.”

First attempt to upload this goofed and deleted the first part, so here is attempt number two! Again, Brucinette has been invading my dreams.

Apparently there is a part 2 now.

[prettywarriors]

what are some of your favorite and least favorite magical girl raising project designs? and your thoughts on magical daisy just because she's my fav

Heck yes opinion time! But first what you asked for:

Magical Daisy Good. The yellows-browns-beige works really well with both the purple accents and the minty green hair. She has pleats distributed evenly through her design, and they work in tandem with both the ribbons and with the daisies through her outfit without it getting too busy. I like her detached sleeves with gloves, and I am a sucker for practical footwear on a MG (both for them and for possible cosplayers) I’m not Crazy about the. Pouch? Asymmetrical bustle? The thing off her waist on her right. But it balances with her off-center headdress and has the same small design on it so it get’s a pass. Her hair is simple, but I like it and I think it works for her A good design for an anime (if the MGRP anime had done really well, do you think we would have gotten an in-universe magical daisy episode?)

Other opinions under the cut

Haha only giving opinions on 3 girls? I’m reading Peaceful Days now so enjoy my speed thoughts on MGRP-Aces outfits.

But first Maruino deserves so much recognition because her use of cream and dark brown in place of white and black whenever possible, combined with her chibi style and general color pallet choices, is so good. I know I’ve talked about the LN look vs the anime looks here before, but some designs would just look not nearly as good if she didn’t know how to use colors as well as she does

MGRP:

Snow White- School uniform with an armband indicating she is someone who can help, but with flowers. It’s cute, it’s fairly simple compared to other mgrp outfits, I like the big flowers on the sides of her outfit over the ones hanging from the ribbons off her back. A solid look, but not a winner in my book

Ripple- This is going to come up with quite a few of these designs but I like basically everything but the body. I like the sleeves, the geta are great, love the one ponytail with big shuriken, scarf brings great contrast to the rest of the color scheme, bikini top with ribbons attaching it to a wrapped skirt? The skirt feels like this could have been a keikogi but the top is almost wholly unadorned and overall I wish this was a better look than it is

La Pucelle- Great idea, meh execution. Knight And Dragon? Love it! The navy blue for military feels with armor and goes well with the gold&cream&brown. Her horns are cute! I like the tail- it fits the character and isn’t too large or distracting. Once again I like the arms-neck-legs but the body is. a bikini with a drapery bit off the top and the tabard. The tabard is good! But why is she in her underwear? Give pants??? 

-And yes I know swimsuits cover just as much as underwear but this isn’t a swimsuit and it’s a lazy way to cover what needs to be cover and not even try to make that area of a design more interesting. This doesn’t apply just to LP or even MGRP I have seen comments on this before and unless the character’s outfit is an actual bathing suit, try harder.

Top Speed- A wife. A halloween wife. God I lover her personality and her outfit is definitely on the simple end of mgrp outfits but very fitting. The colors are great, love the hat and the tall boots, the cape stripes might be my least favorite bit? But I feel if it was solid it would be too bland so. And the end of her braids looks like a broom. I love her. Good design.

Ruler- I hate this. But why..... Is it the navy blue is a singular piece? I liked Ripple’s scarf for contrast but maybe this piece isn’t large enough? Her head things look like two crowns on the sides of her head and their weird and. Not awful? But not great. The cape looks chunky at the end? In a weird way? Or is it the drop waist on the top. I know I don’t like the butt fluff. I do like the shoes&leggings? pants? And her crown and hair stars. bad/10 for reasons I can not place

Swim Swim- Techno demon in the accessories, pure schoolgirl in swim class in the torso. The white suit+black devil wings is good as character contrast , and her....hip...discs? have demony tails which is good, but the big headphones and floating disc things work great with the shoes but not with the rest of the outfit? This is two outfits in one but not in a good way. Pick a lane.

Minael&Yunael- They might not be super-murders but boy that’s their only redeeming trait. I do not like them as fictional people. And outfitwise? Meh. I like the chat balloon halos, and the one wing look for the two of them works, and again the use of Navy rather than pure black is good, but the old fashioned dress with a bib is. boring. and not in a simple way just not interesting? Like I think if the stiped bib thing was removed it might look better? This also might be a secret hatred of mine as I think I have figured out from a later outfit. For now- boo

Tama- Are you spotted or brown&white? Her fluff bits and legs say spotted and her ears and tail and paws say brown and white and I wish we’d pick a lane? Also not crazy about the butt-length cape. I do like the bone clasp and the hood, and you have to have big ol paws for a dog girl. She’s. Fine. Just fine.

Nemurin- Her hair clouds say magical girl, the rest says generic cute sleepy anime girl. I like the socks, and her hair, but she’s not that interesting? Don’t get me wrong she’s cute but the bulk of her design is Big PJs. The candy clasp is nice as a sweet dreams thing? Sorry Endo

Calamity Mary- Titty fur. Boots with spurs and arms with fringe and mini cowboy hat are all good, and her skirt is. A little boring but fine. But the best part of her top is the sheriff badge. If we’re committed to evil=slutty=evil, you can still make a more appealing lewd top than a bikini over some fluff. Let sluts be sexy? Stay dead bitch.

Magicaloid 44- Elementary schoolgirl but robot. Bulky but in that smooth modern look. I’m a sucker for hair horns, even when they’re metal or plastic, and she just has a good silhouette. But her colors could be better? I will say her mn art has her skirt look like a skirt, and the anime said This Is A Solid Hunk Of Plastic/Metal and I think that works better. Swap her dark brown bits for a navy to go with her skirt and i think i’d be out of complaints

Sister Nana- There are multiple MG nuns. What’s up with that. Good use of sexy belts for theme consistency, but I with there was more red up top or her shoes were a different color. 9/10 for dirty nun

Weiss Winterprison- Girl I love you why is your outfit not good as a MG look or even really as an outfit. Your practical looking boots have heels, your colors are boring and messy, you have like. belts but not enough for them to look interesting? Gurl I love you do something with this bland mess.\

Cranberry- ‘I love this’ I say threw clenched teeth. I love green and flower motifs, and I like boleros and big sleeves. But I’m not that into this? I think it’s that her top looks like a nice shirt that’s a little long and then she. Just has leggings on and a big belt. I guess the buckle is like. A big thorn? And i’m into tunics with leggings but this doesn’t? do that in a way I like? The red-blue roses are a nice contrast to the green and creme but i just. I have no idea I want to be in love with this and it’s Middling for me. More elf ear’d MGs pls

Hardgore Alice- I love alice, I am a fan of edgy spins on stuff(sorry), so I’m a bit disappointed? And I think it’s just the colors? I love the checkered pockets and the striped stockings and bows and the headband and apron and bloomers and dress shape and even her eye bags (mood). I guess I just wish there was more of the off white-maybe for the full apron? or even the bloomers? I love you please re-color.

Restart:

Keek- This bitch might win it for worst look. I like her hair color, and giant sleeves, and the cd and rubix cube are nice touches for an outfit, but what outfit. A bikini top and slightly-larger-than-usual underwear style bottom with a big plate of metal? Are those supposed to be shorts??? Points for normal shoes but take off the coat and this is nothing. And the coat isn’t much to begin with. 0/10 might take home the gold

Clantail- I wish the apron part was gone? But the colors are good tho I do have a question about the horns- they’re cute but if she can change her lower body to other animals they won’t always fit very well? And her necklaceuhhh tattoo? is odd. But she’s fine

Pechika- Good colors, like the feathers, I wish the chef’s coat had a different fit but it’s good. Could go without the tail. Also has some almost military feeling elements like the hair cross and the? epaulets? This is a spats stan account

Rionetta- Great use of colors, patterns, ribbons, has a specific look that works great for the doll dress. Hell year ball joints and weird eyes. Wonderful. I hate it. No fucking clue why. Like with the angels maybe? I hate strips? Except I don’t. Maybe just in specific situations? Or I hate multiple patterns? Rio looks good. I just see her and go into a rage. 

Nonako Miyokata- A very good look overall, just not super Magical Girl? Definitely magical miko but. The yin yang accessories feel a tad out of place- replace them with existing themes or add them in elsewhere

Magical Daisy- Still good

Nokko- This is just a maid. A cute maid with a weird choice of hair decor, but I think she got her outfit at the same shop as Milkit. *shrug*

@Meow-Meow- boy I hope I didn’t just at someone for real. I like her colors and tail, poofy detached sleeves are good, her top works with the open dress. I’m a fan of detailed edging on a piece, and it works with the pattern.  I’d’ve liked to see more of the bells that are on her wrists? I guess she had a racist accent originally though which yikes. 

Genopsyko Yumenoshima- A great sentai outfit, love the helmet ears and the tail. Not good as a magical girl outfit unless we fully dissolve the mg/sentai line. But the suit is great, slightly oversized gloves, and retro lasergun that doesn’t even work? Yesssss.

Detec Bell- Fwuffy. Great hat, love the dress, a good use of a cape, simple but very good. I feel a feel some of the ribbons could be changed up but a solid if simple design. 

Lapis Lazuline (2)- Cute starry tiger princess? I guess I’m a fan of navy and brown because i’m into it here too. Good use of the silvery details on the sleeves and dress bottom, and the links both at the cape clasp and on the boots. Really nice.

Melville- Bootleg Cranberry in every way. I like her over-pants and sleeve-cape, but the weird bib-top under the bikini top is a bad shape? Hair roses good and leg thorns do get a thumbs up. 

Cherna Mouse- If the turtle gets it’s own distinct look, why is Cherna just baby+ hamster? The hood is cute, and I dig the boots which work with the shoulder things, but said things don’t go with the toddler one piece+cape. She reminds me of Moetan and that is a bad thing.

Pfle- Ohhh this bitch. I may have been reading these books but I have no damn idea what she is up to and I hate it. Love her eyepatch tho. Super cute throne-wheelchair and it continues the bird motif. Her dress is nice but not that interesting? Seems more generic old timey fancy lady dress than Magical. Honestly I could go for some mixing up of the colors here? The dress and hair and throne all are a bit too similar. Maybe make the dress wine?

Shadow Gale- I like her look but I don’t feel it says nurse as much as it’s supposed to? Her aces profile honestly gives Rue vibes. It’s very monochromatic but I guess that works for her. Big fan of her skirt, kindof with it went all the way around. Solid design

Masked Wonder- Who? I refuse to play person5 because it’s been overhyped but isn’t this one of them? Not awful as a phantom thief outfit, but doesn’t say magical girl phantom thief at all. I do like the roses on the belt and. garters? Kindof wish we’d loose the color on the cape because it clashes more than anything with the rest of the look

Akane- I like her long hair flower. But her samurai-kimono look doesn’t feel blended well enough imo and the colors are too over the place while still being bland.

Lake of Fire Flame Flamey- Hell if I know how she looks I just love typing that name

Limited:

Weddin- Good colors, a bit too busy? The chains+roses+lace doesn’t feel well balanced. But the flame and ankle chain are balanced because Maruino is good at asymmetrical details 

Captain Grace- A pirate magical girl? Is she legit the only one from any main stream series? Well she set the bar high. The captain coat is great, multiple small anchors, the hat, and her skirt(?) is very cute. I guess the sole of the boots stands out a bit? But very solid (wait is that a tail? or a butt hook? :/)

Funny Trick- If Las vegas was a magical girl. Colors and silhouette are good, I’m just not vibing with this. sorry girl

Kuru-kuru Hime- Yiss more ballet themed outfits. Good colors, love the shape of the giant back bow. I could go without the big ribbon coming off the headpiece? It’s nice

Postarie- Buttwings! I love her hair shape, just. Not a fan of the orange and green colors? She’s a delivery girl but feels more marching band. It’s a good design, just doesn’t feel fitting? Great just not for her

Rain Pow- Now this is a sci-fiy look while still saying magical girl. The tail is yet another weird thing, and I could go without the permeant ring behind her, but the shape of her outfit is very good, and love the silly heart hair. Wish the gloves were a different color? But this is up there

Tepsekemei- Genie outfits being problematic isn’t something I can speak to, but this is a solid genie look with additions to feel different, specifically the lotuses. It’s good, and I haven’t seen flying turtles since love hina so. Good for her.

Mana- You’re not a magical girl. Maybe I just hate bibs? The hat is great and snake leg is fun, I wish her collar was actually smaller to stand out more? It’s a fine mage look i guess

Hana Gekokujou- Great use of hair color as contrast to a committed color scheme. A cute traditional bunny look. Not personally my favorite but it is Good.

7753- Big Coat! Giant heart braids! Consistent heart theme! It’s bland compared to a lot of the other outfits, and I don’t think her flat heart uhh hair? pieces? like rain pow? work as well with her. But I think she works well for a member of the resources department. Wait is her hat backwards? Amazing

Archfiend Pam- I’m mostly a fan of this. The top is great, it’s carried through at one hip, she has the weird arm guy to keep her asymmetry going on. I just wish she’d commit to either fur Or pleats as trim? Both is a weird texture choice

Pythie Frederica- This bitch took a while for her proper appearance. I love the horns on the hood, and the stars throughout work well. I really don’t care for her skirtdress though? It’s too long and in ribbons and feels almost jellyfish-y? I feel it’s supposed to feel like she’s standing in fire but that doesn’t work pass a glance for me

Tot Pop- Love hot topic. Her spiky ribbon is my favorite bit, and I’m a fan of oversized sleeves. A great mall goth look, not amazing as a magical girl look tho. The head decor feels most on brand for the genre.

Punkin- What if the three musketeers were murderous and royalty. I love the hair feather and dig the ruff, the cape honestly feels like overkill? The boots are great and I dig the pants. Once again, why tails. I know mahou-furbies has reviewed a lot of these girls with the same comment and she’s right. Pick red or blue for this look though.

Sonia Bean- Kindof busy, in a garbage way. Like her outfit is made of fancy garbage to make an old timey doll. Which is fitting. Love the dress shape. Less into the weird dangly poofs.

Jokers:

Princess Inferno- The whole princess line works well together. Quake has the least Team outfit but I feel all four work well together? Inferno’s bikini is a smidge above other tops with the fire shapes, and I like her hair, but I think she’s my least favorite princess.

Princess Deluge- Swirls and scales throughout? Armor? Gold jewelry? My biggest issue is the chain to the weapon because this is a really nice outfit.

Princess Quake- Why does your tail start in the middle of the back? I like her leotard and eye theme, and her head piece adds nice shape. Good asymmetry. shame she’s into children The hair gem is a fun touch

Princess Tempest- The apples are a weird touch? Good for color but weird as a theme? I love the leaves- honestly I’m a huge fan of the vaguely toga-y look. Are the apples supposed to be an atlanta thing? Her skirt could be a bit better but Nice

Prism Cherry- Princess of our hearts. What a color scheme. Her oversized dangly accents work well here I feel, and I love the skirt and the leaf looking ribbon behind the neck. I could do without the arm fluff, but the top garter for the skirt is a nice touch

Marika Fukuroi- My wife is a bitch and I like her so much. A much more vibrant outfit than most of the mgrp girls, the black is edgy but in a fun loud way. I love her skirt and every damn crazy flower. Her top is my least favorite with the smaller flowers connecting her top to her bottom and the frills that honestly are out of place. Great eyes

Styler Mimi- A fancy outfit that fits her theme, with a nice silhouette and simple color scheme. Ruined by the giant back powder puffs. Yes she would be fairly simple without those but they’re so garish and awkward. Good hair

Stanczyka- I thought her middrif was another hunk of plaster like the mask and now that I see it’s just skin with some stars :/ The whole head thing is good, and the fur is consistent throughout even if I’m not a fan of it. The giant sleeves are. weird. I want to like them but. Her swirly tiddys are a nice touch. The brown hair on the tail doesn’t fit

Lady Proud- For someone who lived for a lot of pages I do not remember her. Her leotard works with the sleeves to feel like an old timey dress and the way the cape is being held up to look like bat wings is nice. The green layer in her hair is an odd choice. I do dig the hair clips with the horns

Umbrain- Froggy slicker. ...Sakura did it better, the yellow and purple&red is a meh color combo sorry. I do love the candy additions for the ame(rain) ame(candy) play, and her umbrella is great. But once again I am confronted by a bib. Also her slicker is actually two pieces? Bad colors, bad body, good theme

Filru- I like the colors and the corset, and in theory the chunky knitting is very cute but I feel it’s at odds with the boots and corset. Make the whole thing chunky knitting- it’d be cute. The head doily also could be more on theme imo

Uttakatta- again, what did you do? giant overalls are good in theory, but the slits and the. bubbles? clear donuts. are just ugly. Honestly her whole look is not good, and a bubble theme has so much potential for cool shit :(

Kafuria- good use of colors, I’m not personally into the shape of her kimono as a mg dress, but the wings and the veil+such are nice

Grim Heart- this bitch. God her dress is a great shape. I think i’m not fully into her spade tail ribbons, but otherwise love? The flamingo is Silly but again as an alice fan, i do not care (ask me about kagihime for 10000 words of rage!)

Shufflin- the tiny bib haunts me but the big double sides apron card piece is a nice way to do the simple and versatile Card look. The hair is cute and i like the suit as a big piece behind the head

Aces:

Armor Arlie- chunky suit of armor. but Cute. as an armor fan in MG designs, even I think this is A Bit Much, but it has enough going for it that i think it’s a fun look

Bluebell Candy- once again Maruino kills it with using navy very nicely. A military vibe with the epilates and double breasted uhh skirt decor. honestly shocked the hat is center, and mm good hair happenings. A very nice design. still not into the weird fluff tail stuff

Dark Cutie- Great hair decorations, love the lunar details, seems to be a leotard over leggings? It’s nice. It’s not crazy grabbing or stands out that much in silhouette, but i do like it

Micchan the Dictionary- tying your coat around your neck is not valid, motarboards are not good magical girl accessesories, i personally have an owl vendetta, the red in her shoes appears no where else, and the shape of her dress is just weird. plus that hair is. not good. Oh wow. I might rank her lower than keek. oh Wow

Glassianne- this is just that alcreamie pokemon. i wish the exposed strawberry went all the way down instead of there being more icing along the bottom. she has a consistent theme and nice colors, i’m not not digging it

Uluru- said dog. 7753 and tama’s child. she looks warm but not super magical. why is she dog themed?

Sorami Nakano- gamer aesth. I could do without the hair paws, but the jumper is super cute, love the eyes and the hair tones, general color scheme, bandaid is a cute touch. A solid look.

Premium Sachiko- good colors, i like the cut of the sleeves/boots/dress, but her art has her legs blend together and that’d just the art but weird. nice use of four leaf clovers and horseshoes throughout for her luck theme. 

CG Angel Hammer- I like the flowers and the bones tail/wings. The halo thing is. odd, and it’s hard to get a great idea of her actual outfit. weird hair choice, tiny bottom but at least it has some frills. Needs more art

Patricia- acab. great colors tho and I like the shapes for the shoulders and wrist, and the light theme. The bright blue ribbons and earrings stand out well. This is actually a really solid design. 

Puk Puck- i hate this baby angel there’s too much to look at. Your bondage leg is weird! cute chest piece. you can’t have cloud swirls and drills for hair damn it. your halo also has a veil? fuck you. 6/10.

Best Outfits: Princess Tempest and Grim Heart Worst Outfits: Keek and Micchan the Dictionary and Uttakatta

[acciomalfoy]

liquid luck (bill weasley x reader)

summary: reader is an exchange student that draws the attention of bill weasley just in time for valentines day

a/n: another collab with @fromashescomephoenixes yall already know the drill go follow her she is an incredible author as well as person!

-

Lifting myself off of the stoney floor, I find myself in a comfortable office filled with trinkets. The circular walls are covered with serious looking portraits, their eyes lit by the glow of the warm fireplace I recently fell out of. As I rise and brush myself off, I find myself face to face with a phoenix.

I stare into it's eyes for a moment as they swirl in fiery embers of color, before I snap back to reality. It had been a long journey, and I would have an equally long day tomorrow given I was arriving mid term- on February 13th.

Turning towards the center of the room, I see a small group of people eagerly grinning towards me. I watched as the girl bobbed on the balls of her feet, and the boy stood, completely relaxed, with a welcoming stance.

“Ms. y/l/n, welcome to Hogwarts!” Albus Dumbledore’s voice greets me. I smiled, my nerves eased by the kind welcome that they had prepared.

“We are most pleased to have you here,” Mcgonagal nods towards me. After properly greeting both of them, I turn my attention to the two people my age, waiting to greet me.

“Oh my Godric! I’m so happy to meet you,” The dark brown, curly haired girl greeted me with a soft hug. Her russet brown skin seemed to radiate warmth as she pulled me into a kind hug. “I’m Anya, and it sounds like you’re in my house. So you’ll be seeing lots of me!” She smiled kindly and nodded towards the pale, freckled boy behind her, signalling for him to come up.

“G’day mate!” The boy said in an extremely poor Australian accent. His honey-gold eyes searched mine, hoping to see the laughing twinkle of his reflected in mind.

“Oh good evening dear chap!” I responded without missing a beat in an equally awful English accent. The red haired boy laughed and I couldn’t help but notice the deep brown flecked through his eyes. Almost like cinnamon.

“So, do you play quidditch?” The boy demanded, grinning still. I was about to respond with an affirmative, but I was cut off.

“Mr Weasley! Your name!” Mcgonagal snapped. I grinned, silently laughing at the situation.

“I’m Bill. Nice to meet you,” He held out his hand. Gently, I placed my small hand into his firm one, and shook.

“Y/n,” I responded.

“I’ll have to show you around sometime y/n.” Bill grinned.

“And I’ll have to show you to our dorm!” Anya exclaimed, taking your arm. “You’re a Hufflepuff, right?” I nodded, remembering Professor Mcgonagal’s brief trip to Koolangka, the Australian wizarding school, to sort me. The strange hat was very different to the process at Koolangka, but seemed to work nonetheless.

“Right-o,” I grinned, enjoying the way my words stood out slightly. We hurried through the castle as Anya explained the basics of what I needed to know to me. By the time we reached the basement, I was nearly asleep on my feet.

The soft golden bedding seemed all together much to inviting, and I slept as soon as my head hit the pillow.

•••

I woke up to four girls standing over me, and I yelped in surprise, causing them to step back slightly.

“You’re y/n, right? I’m Amelia Abbott,” A brown haired girl began talking, and proceeded to point at the rest of the Hufflepuff’s. “That’s Ella Finch-Fletchey, that’s Caroline Jordan, and this is Teresa Berg.” She finished, and I waved at the girls in turn.

“Nice to meet you all!” I said as I hopped out of bed, and Teresa instantly took my arm.

“Anya told us you and Bill Weasley hit it off. He hardly ever speaks to girls, but that’s because we’re always drooling over him.” She said, and her blonde locks swung as she spoke.

“He’s nice, I guess.” I said, albeit uncertainly, and the rest of the Hufflepuff’s giggled.

“We can’t wait for you to date!” Ella chattered, and Caroline shook her head.

“You’re scaring her, the poor thing. We’ll let you get changed and meet you down at the common room, you must be starving!” The four girls were off in a whirl as Caroline herded them out, and I shot her a grateful smile.

As the room stilled, I took a deep breath. I was really here, at Hogwarts, in the badger’s sett, the place I finally belonged.

I took my time putting on my Hufflepuff robes, the cheery yellow making me smile. With that smile came the thought of Bill Weasley’s blue eyes, and the odd feeling I had had around him.

“Y/n!” A voice that sounded like Ella called from the common room, and I did a final stroke of the hairbrush through my hair.

“Coming!” I called, and I set the hairbrush down as I looked in the mirror.

I was ready.

The group of girls led me down the hallway, occasionally pausing their giggling and teasing of each other to point out important land marks:

“And that’s where Ella snogged Simon Brown!” Teresa grinned as she pointed towards a particularly large statue of a goblin. Ella slugged Teresa's arm in a friendly manner, and Teresa stuck her tongue out before we continued to move on.

“Oh my! That’s where those third years got in a fight about quidditch last week,” Caroline nudged me, although I doubted whether or not this information would come in useful later.

Finally we reached the great hall, and made our ways to the hufflepuff table. I eagerly searched for some vegimite on toast, or a Ned Kelly pie. But I was sadly disappointed as my friends explained neither of those things exist in England. Instead, Ella plonked a bowl of oatmeal onto my plate.

“Dig in,” she winked. I sighed, resigning myself to the warm slop on my plate. It could be worse I reckon: she could have given me scrambled eggs.

I’m shaken from my silent contemplation of the evils of scrambled eggs by none other than Bill Weasley himself.

“Top of the mornin’” Bill greets in an exaggerated English accent this time.

“Merlin, am I ever going to here your real accent?” I try to look annoyed before slipping into a smile.

“Ay. That depends,” he attempts a Scottish accent this time. I suppose it’s a running joke at this point.

“On what?” I raise an eyebrow, while reaching for my juice. Upon doing so, I realise all five of my new friends are eagerly drinking up this juicy interaction.

“I was hoping to show you around,” he begins looking slightly nervous. I notice he has begun to twist his wand between his strong fingers. I nod reassuringly and he continues.

“But I’m busy with head boy duties and all, so we might have to break curfew...” I nearly leap at the adventure, but pause contemplating. Would it really be a good idea to risk being caught breaking rules already?

“It would be an adventure,” he suggests, smiling while his eyes toil with excitement.

“Well, you’ll have to make it worth my time...” I smirk slightly. He grabs my hand and shakes it eagerly.

“Just you wait y/n!”

•••

I go through the rest of the day eagerly curious for what Bill has in store for my grand tour of Hogwarts.

Although, I can’t tell who is more excited for it: me or the five girls who have discussed the breakfast occurrence at least seven times by now.

“Come on, Y/n! At least promise us you’ll snog his tonsils out!” Ella begged, and I whipped my head round to stare at her. We were currently lounging in the common room, with Amelia checking the time every five minutes.

“He’s showing me around the castle, not planning to pull me into an abandoned classroom!” I squealed, and the girls squealed alongside me, eager at the thought.

"Well he'll have to pull you into an abandoned classroom if he's going to give you a full tour!" Teresa laughed, teasing me.

Luckily, we were finally in our last class of the day. Which we happened to have with the Gryffindors.

“Please partner up!” Professor Mcgonagal announces. “We shall be practically applying our skills at transfiguring human features.” She pauses to allow the buzzing students to partner up. I turn around to see Teresa and Caroline looking apologetically towards me. I face the other way and find Ella and Anya in the same situation.

“Maybe we could have a group of three?” Caroline offers, sounding thoroughly unconvinced of Mcgonagal’s enthusiasm for the idea.

“No need!” Bill grins as he swaggers our way, and leans against my desk. “Partners?” I grin as a slight blush creeps up my neck. Biting my lip I nod and let him brush my hand to guide me across the room.

“Please only transfigure your partner with human features!” Mcgonagal reminds us, and I shiver slightly as I remember the time my brother was transfigured into a part-human part- platypus form last year.

“So, are you much good at transfiguration?” Bill asks conversationally. I take a moment to answer, concentrating on the transfiguration I’ll be attempting.

I decide to give him a beard, perhaps slightly inspired by Dumbledore’s. I flicked my wand in a short line, and smirked as a fiery red beard grew. Unfortunately, I made it slightly shorter than anticipated and...

Fuck. He looked hot with a beard. He raised an eyebrow. “So I’ll take that as a yes?” I giggled.

“Sure,” I admitted. We spent the rest of class firing spells back and forth until I had abnormally long pink hair, with large sapphire eyes. Bill was sporting equally vivid green locks with some slightly scary purple eyes. And a beard of the previously desired length.

Our laughter echoed through the hallway on our way to the great hall. Just before walking into the hall, Bill threw his arm around me as he laughed particularly hard.

The moment was broken as he glanced at his watch, and frowned.

“I’ll pick you up tonight. Some time close to midnight,” he shouted as he walked away. I watched as he walked in a relaxed manner down the halls. Although, I raised my eyebrow as I watched him take a small sip of a strangely sparkling substance.

We were still sat in the common room at 12 o’clock, and there had been no sign of Bill Weasley.

“Maybe he forgot?” Caroline murmured, and Teresa bit her lip as she shook her head slightly.

“We ought to be off to bed, I’m sure there’s a reasonable explanation. Filch might have caught him!” She said, and everyone nodded.

“Come on, bed time!” Ella began herding everyone off to bed, and I numbly followed.  I wasn’t quite sure what to think after Bill’s no-show, but there wasn’t anything I could do about it now.

Tap, tap

I woke up out of my light sleep with a start. My owl, Goldie, usually only delivered in the mornings. I took a moment to rub my eyes and nearly tumbled out of bed as I saw that it wasn't in fact my owl, but rather a certain Bill Weasley. Throwing open the window, I tried to keep my voice down so I wouldn't wake anyone else.

"Bill? Why and how are you hovering outside my dorm window?" I asked, sleep thick in my voice.

"I'm here for your tour, pretty girl.” I blushed as he called me pretty, knowing I was anything but with my messy hair and bright pink pajamas. "You might want a jacket though," he frowned, gesturing to the frigid, snowy air.

I quickly pulled on my favorite denim jacket, and some leggings. Then, I went back to the window.

"A broom?" I took in the sight of his fairly muscular form on the broom, and noticed a golden, knowing sparkle in his eyes. As if whatever happened, he was one step ahead of me.

"You seem like the type to play quidditch," he shrugged. I grinned, rejoicing at the chance to get back on a broom after all this time.

"You were right," I slid out of the window into the slightly snow covered roof. Wrapping my arms around Bill's waist I let his warmth bleed into my freezing skin. Somehow this felt so right.

"You're warm," I mumbled. I only realised after I spoke how awkward this sounded, but Bill simply smiled and cast a warming charm over me.

"Bet you didn't have much use for those in Australia?" If only he knew how windy my city had been. Although he was right, I never learned a proper warming charm at school.

“Not so much. We spent hours on cooling charms though.” Just like that, I replaced Bill’s warming charm with a cooling one, and he yelped in surprise.

“Y/n!” He shouted into the night’s air, and I laughed as I clutched his waist tighter. It was gone as soon as I cast it, and Bill’s warming charm once again encased us.

“So I’ve been thinking, Y/n. Why’d you come to Hogwarts at the end of January? School term starts in September, you know?” He asked, and I peered down to see that we were circling the quidditch pitch.

“Well my old school, Koolangka, has school from the end of January to mid-December, and every ten weeks we got to go home for two. Every Australian school’s like that, probably because we’re superior.” I said, and Bill turned his head over his shoulder to grin before facing the front of the broom again.

“Say, did you have the sorting hat in Australia?” He asked, and I shook my head before realising he couldn’t quite see me.

“Not exactly. Australia still has the four houses, but instead they’re focussed on air, fire, water and earth. Caeli is Latin for air, ignis for fire, aqua for water, and terra for earth. We have a boomerang that assists in sorting us, and we just have to throw it as fair as we can. Whatever colour it returns covered in is our house.” I explained, and it wasn’t until I finished that I realised how boring it sounded.

“That sounds awesome! I’ve always wanted to go to Australia, but my mum is obsessed with Egypt, so I doubt I’ll get to go.” Bill sounded a bit sad, so I took a leap of faith.

“It’s awesome, Bill! I can show you all the secret spots, and we can visit Numisma, the Australian wizard school.” I said nervously, but I shouldn’t have worried.

“I’d really like that. I might land here on the pitch.” Bill soared down, and I laughed excitedly as we reached the grass.

My feet crunched into the frosty ground, and I spread my arms out as I breathed in the chilly air.

"Imagine playing here," I closed my eyes and pictured the stadium seats full of young witches and wizards, and the sky filled with brooms. Bill saw me and added in background  cheering. I laughed and turned towards him. He grinned, seeing my smile.

"Is this used for anything other than quidditch?" I asked, thinking that this huge space couldn't possibly be used only for quidditch.

"The only other thing held here is the 7th year ball," Bill explained. Instantly my vision of the stadium filled with quidditch fans shifted to a beautifully lit dance floor, filled with laughter and lovely dress robes.

"A ball!" I exclaimed enthusiastically. "Is it very formal?" I felt concerned, realizing I had no idea how to waltz, or swing, or foxtrot or anything...

"No, no. It's not really anything to worry about." He saw my distress, but then his face lit up. "Although I could teach you a few moves," He offered as he extended his hand. I placed my hand gently in his, and let him pull me towards him.

Lumos Maxima Bill whispered, and then whispered another soft spell to play a quiet waltz throughout the stadium.

Slowly and gracefully I let Bill lead me through the steps. Gradually we sped up, and I stopped stepping on his feet so much. His light charm faded, and soon our faces were only illuminated by the stars as we spun and stepped across the cool grass.

Eventually the music came to an end, but I stayed in my dancing position still.

"You're very beautiful," He blushed, glancing away and sticking his hands into his jean pockets. I smiled, although I'm sure I blushed slightly as well. "I er- I just mean..." he stammered a bit.

"The Bill Weasley? Nervous about talking to me?" I teased, and he blushed even redder.

"Well, you see it is Valentine's day," he smiled slightly, and I blushed a little. "And I just thought you might, maybe-" He took a deep breath and collected himself. "Perhaps you would want to go to Hogsmeade with me?" I beamed at him. Despite only knowing Bill for a day or two, I could tell that he was the kind of guy I wanted to know better.

"Of course!" I smiled, and hugged him. His arms wrapped around me, and I breathed in the slightly salty sea air smell about him. "Just one question," I looked up, and he gazed with concern towards me.

"Where's Hogsmeade?" We laughed, and he closed the slight gap to kiss me lightly.

He tasted like the dancing love of liquid luck.

[trashyazeohane]

Take me back

Summary: It was supposed to be Merlin waiting for Arthur, not the other way around. At least this was what Arthur had heard at the Lake of Avalon. This was what the Lady of the Lake had told him. But he was here, alive, thriving, breathing, with all his memories and close friends at his side.

Arthur was here and Merlin was not. Something was wrong.

Additional comments: Slow Burn, Angst, Amnesia, Canon Compliant, Reincarnation, Modern Settings

Not beta-read, so it may contain some mistakes!

You can also read it on AO3! Enjoy!

 ━━━━━ *:･ﾟ✧*:･ﾟ✧

For some people Arthur’s morning could be called mundane, but not for him.

Okay, maybe it was a little bit monotonous, but he liked it this way. There was a crispy touch of comfort that came with it, with knowing every step like the back of his hand. There was something refreshing in opening his eyes and not being crushed down by all the responsibilities that had hovered above his shoulders, just waiting for a perfect moment to pounce, anticipating the time when he would let his guard down to consume the mind.

No, there were no more heavy responsibilities. There were duties, but they were light, almost delicate, familiar and comforting in their repetitiveness.

Arthur liked mornings now.

(He hadn’t thought he would ever say it. There was definitely something missing in his brain, as Gwaine would nicely point out.)

So he stood up and started his day, following the unwritten plan - take a quick shower, brush the teeth, find some fresh clothes, try to tame his hair, grab the phone, keys and wallet. The usual. The familiar.

After the morning routine was finished, he walked down, moving towards the source of sounds and voices. And it was coming from the place below his apartment.

He opened the well-known door, finding peace in the lock jumping away as he pushed the handle down. And then he was stepping into the sweet smelling kitchen, filled to the brim with sounds and warmness that curled around the bones.

The radio was playing, letting the music swim around the kitchen. The turned on oven was humming. The pot on the cooker was boiling, hissing from time to time. The water in the coffee machine was huffing.

And there was Gwen, smiling and humming under her nose as she mixed things in a bowl, not caring that the mixer was blocking almost all the sounds. Or that there was a tornado of noises.

Arthur grabbed his apron, throwing it around his neck, and then, after tying it behind his back, he stepped next to her.

“Good morning, Guinevere.”

The girl jumped, making the mixer screech as it hit the wall of the bowl.

“Arthur! Don’t sneak up on me!” She shouted, swirling around to him and furrowing her eyebrows.

“Well, I wasn’t trying to, but it’s hard not to when it so loud in here.”

Gwen sighed and then turned off the mixer, letting the same smile return to her lips.

“Sorry, I overslept a little bit. Wanted to get everything done in time.”

Arthur moved towards the coffee machine, where his favourite mug had been already placed, now filled to the brim with coffee. Just how he liked it.

“Exhausting night with Lancelot?” Arthur asked, feeling the smirk tugging on his lips.

Gwen swatted his shoulder with a dishcloth.

“Arthur!” She shrieked, letting the red haze cover her cheeks.

Gladly he had stepped back in time as to not be hit by the vicious cloth, although he almost had spilled some of his drink. This definitely couldn’t do. It was his morning elixir, the only thing that pushed him forward during this hard time.

“What? Seriously, you should stop blushing like a twelve year old maiden after living with him for six years.”

“Not everyone has such debauched mind as you.”

Arthur raised his other hand, making another step back.

“I think my mind is totally fine. Gwaine’s one on the other hand…” He shuddered. “That is one debauched mind.”

Gwen opened her lips to retort back, letting the words curl in her throat, when there was a spark and she clamped her mouth shut.

“Yeah, okay maybe you’re right on this one.” She said in the end.

Arthur grinned. He loved to be the winner.

Gwen glared at him, putting both hands on her hips.

“Brush that smirk away from your face.” She said, angrily.

Or well, at least she tried to sound angry, probably, but the smear of flour on her cheek was preventing her from looking mad. That and the fact that it was hard to look dangerous in their aprons.

(They were supposedly really adorable, according to a lot of their customers. It hadn’t been Arthur who had picked them, to be honest. But they had paid for them, so they had to use them.)

Arthur, even if he wanted to, couldn’t simply brush the smirk away. Because Gwen’s angry look was making him grin even wider.

So they stood there, staring at each other, a clearly fighting stance in both their poses and minds, waiting for the other to say something, anything, when a low hiss interrupted their inner brawl.

Gwen snapped her eyes to the side and shouted.

“My milk!”

And that was somehow the end of the small fight.

When Gwen busied herself with pushing the pot away from the stove, Arthur took a sip of the coffee and exited the kitchen, walking towards the main part of his everyday life.

(If someone would have told him back in Camelot, that he would be working in a pastry shop, Arthur would probably have laughed out loud, brushing away a stray tear from his eye, and then would have sent the peasant or knight on their merry way. Maybe even with a gold coin for lifting up his mood with this incredible joke.

Guess this was his life now.)

Arthur flicked the lights, bathing the main parlor with light.

There was an echo of silence that enveloped him after that. It was weird, because he could still hear Gwen walking around the kitchen, the fridge buzzing, helping the cakes live through the night, the AC wheezing as it let the cool air dance around the room. And yet, it was the silence and calmness that hugged him right now, the steady rhythm of the beating heart when the world didn’t exactly wake up just yet.

He raked his eyes across the familiar floor, the known walls, filled with photos and colorful pictures, the tables that definitely needed cleaning before they could be open for guests, the cash register, where the numbers were already fading, but he still could remember happily pushing the buttons his mom had asked him to, and the cake display fridge, their heartful companion through so many years.

It was his life now and no matter how weird it sounded, he really loved it.

Especially calm mornings like this one. When everything was just right for a moment, a split second.

Arthur took a sip, put the cup down and then moved to start putting down the chairs from their resting places atop the tables.

Even the king had to work.

***

“Do you have your books?”

“Yes.”

“Pencil case?”

“Yep.”

“Lunch?”

“Already packed.”

“Water?”

“Dad!”

He halted in his ministrations as he corrected the small jacket, tugging on the collar to put it in place.

The boy standing in front stared at him for a moment, looking right into his eyes, only to let a small smile slip past his lips.

“Let’s go. I don’t want to be late for school.”

Merlin nodded, although he already felt three more question rolling across his tongue.

But Galahad had a point. It was already incredibly late and if they didn’t come out in a few minutes, they could be late. And being late meant being in the center of attention and he didn’t want that.

No.

But there was still one more question.

Merlin ducked his head and while looking sheepishly at the boy he asked.

“Your phone?”

The boy sighed.

“Already in my pocket.” And to prove his point, he even patted it a few times.

Merlin smiled and stood up from his kneeling position, feeling his knees jerk a few times. He looked over the boy one more time, checking that every part of the clothes was in place and wasn’t askew or sticking out. But no, everything was perfect.

He stretched his hand out.

“Ready?”

“I’ve been ready for the last five minutes.” Galahad answered, rolling his eyes a bit, but obediently grabbed the palm, squeezing the fingers and interlacing them in the end.

Merlin didn’t answer, but moved forward, towards the door, only to stop in front of the mirror hanging near it, showing them the perfect copy of their silhouettes, their faces, their hairs and their clothes. The thief of all their visible details.

He inhaled deeply.

“So? What’s the idea for today?” He asked.

Galahad furrowed his eyebrows, nibbling on his lip as thousand thoughts ran through his head.

Every day the same scheme and yet every day something new.

“I want to have brown hair, but longer! Blue eyes! And freckles!” A small pause. “Maybe less pointy ears.”

He sighed halfheartedly. This again.

(It wasn’t Galahad’s or Merlin’s fault. It was just genetics.)

“And this red jacket we saw last week!”

Easy enough.

“And me?” Merlin asked, glancing down at the small boy.

Galahad scrunched his nose again, letting an ocean of wrinkles appear on his nose.

“Blond! Curly hair! Brown eyes! Bigger nose!” He accented every word with a smile, swinging their connected hands back and forth. “And a different sweater.”

Merlin blinked.

“What’s wrong with this one?”

Galahad looked at him in the mirror, raising one eyebrow, like this one small movement could answer every question.

It didn’t. Although it also didn’t stop a pang of unfounded sadness from echoing through his chest, rippling the calm surface of his mind with shivering waves.

(Stop.)

“It’s ugly.” The boy finally said.

It wasn’t Merlin’s best sweater, but it wasn’t that terrible. Okay, maybe it was greatly out of style and it wasn’t as soft as it had used to be, but it was still comfortable enough for him to wear. Also it made him feel safe, more protected, better sheltered.

But what wouldn’t he do for his son? Galahad didn’t know how he felt about the sweater anyway.

He nodded in the end.

“Okay then. Are you ready?”

“Yep!”

And after that they closed their eyes.

He felt a soft nudge of the energy first, like a skittish animal, residing somewhere inside his body, looking behind the cave walls to check whether it was safe to go out or not. It looked at him, waiting for a sign that it was okay. And Merlin touched it, caressed, stroked delicately, brushing the fingers across the surface, showing that right now, in this very moment, it was okay to go out.

After that the energy, this power, didn’t need any more encouragement. It pounced and pranced and ran and jumped and leaped around his body, moved through his organs, sang in his bloodstream, mingled with his breath and drummed with his heart.

It was warm, welcoming, familiar and yet anew.

But Merlin had priorities, very important ones.

He tried to conjure the image Galahad had proposed to him, showing the way for the power to move, to show itself, pointing in the right directions.

And it shimmered, purred near his bones and nuzzled his skin, curling around the body, warming him from the inside to the very end of his fingertips. Happy to please, happy to move, happy to do something, happy to be free.

Merlin opened his eyes and couldn’t recognize himself anymore.

Galahad next to him still had his eyes closed, although Merlin could see that he managed to finish almost all of the changes to his appearance. The keyword was almost.

After a few more seconds, Galahad snapped his eyes open, the curly black hair now replaced with brown locks jumping around as he swung his head.

“What do you think?” Galahad asked, excitedly looking up at him.

Merlin hummed, tilting his head. With his free hand he nudged the energy to his fingers, letting it curl around the tips, and then he slowly brushed one auburn strand behind the ear, which immediately shrank.

Or at least to other people the ears looked smaller.

“You missed a spot.” He said.

Galahad pouted and then hung his head.

“I never can get the ears right.” He whined.

Merlin tugged his hand, directing them towards the door, letting a small snort to escape his lips.

“One day you will get it on a first try.”

The boy didn’t look like he believed him, but he followed him nevertheless.

The Sun welcomed their faces as they exited the building after defeating a few set of stairs. People sauntered around the street, walking fast or strolling slowly, glancing at their phones or looking straight forward, but not seeing anything.

It was easy to blend with the crowd at this hour. A small movement and they were already invisible to the world.

They walked quickly, methodically, swimming among the mass of people passing them by, invisible, but always a part of the wave, diving and never peeking above the surface.

It was good, the bigger the crowd, the easier it was for them to disappear.

What was needed was a small push, a sudden swirl, step behind this woman or that man and then they simply vanished.

They walked forward with Galahad obediently clenching his hand and Merlin looking around, trying to find any people who would look weird, out of place, unnatural in the busy morning routine, nudging the energy inside of him to help him search.

But there was no one suspicious.

First street, second street, third street, stopping near the crossroad, waiting for the light to turn green, then stepping forward.

When they were close enough to their destination, Merlin tugged his son in one alleyway, which would make the trip a bit longer, but was necessary. Here no one could see them, no one could see the spark in his eyes which Galahad often pointed out.

(Galahad called it magic. Merlin didn’t, couldn’t.)

And no one could see two different people emerging from the other side.

He pleaded the power inside of him to help and it did, gladly, happily, joyfully, ruffling his hair and pinching his cheeks as it changed, morphed their appearances one more time.

Galahad surprisingly remained silent, even though he had to feel the sudden gust of warm wind on his skin too.

They emerged on the other side and jumped back into the stream of people minding their own businesses, hiding in their shadows and silhouettes, pretending to be invisible and hoping that the whole world would believe it.

(It had to.)

They walked one more street, collecting a few colorful leaves here and there, tying the shoelaces that got untied due to jumping above a sewer grate and then they were at their destination.

Merlin kneeled in front of his son, putting both hands on his shoulders and leaning closer to be audible above the throng of cheery voices shouting around them as the rest of the kids ran toward the school.

“Remember, if anything happens, call me.”

Galahad rolled his eyes.

“I know, dad.”

“And don’t go anywhere without me.”

“Yep, I remember.”

“And do not-“

“Dad!” Galahad shouted.

Merlin immediately shut his mouth.

There was a sound of soft shuffling and then the boy grabbed Merlin’s wrist, letting his thumb brush the skin gently, comforting and anchoring.

“I will be fine.” He said. “Don’t worry.”

Merlin couldn’t not worry. But nevertheless he couldn’t say it, so he only opted for a small nod, a hesitant grin, a quick hug and then he was standing up and pushing his son forward.

“Have a great day at school.”

Galahad swirled on his heel and waved at him.

“Yeah, see you later!”

And then he was gone, disappearing into the building, moving with the stream of the other kids.

Merlin stood there for a minute or so, staring, trying to find something, not exactly sure what, but just anything that would sooth his mind and soul.

Only when his heart gave a lurch, he turned on his heel and vanished into the crowd.

***

“Can I get a few more napkins?”

“Be right with you, ma’am.”

Arthur obediently placed more napkins in the holder.

“Can we get another refill on the coffee?”

“In a second.”

He poured the coffee into two cups.

“Where is the bathroom?”

“The first door on the right.”

The woman smiled at him.

It felt like it would never end. People came and came and came and it didn’t feel like they would stop coming.

(He knew it was good for the business, for him, but sometimes, for a moment, he just hoped to not hear that damn bell ring again, for everything to suddenly stop so he could brush his forehead with a clean cloth.)

But he was the boss here. And it didn’t matter that he was the ex-king, a job needed to be done.

It felt like an eternity had passed before his bones were allowed to rest, as he slumped down on a chair in the kitchen.

The customers were still sitting in the shop, but there were less of them and most of the morning ones had already left, leaving a few tables empty. The chatters still swam around, but no one was currently standing near the cash register, neither it looked like they needed anything.

So Arthur finally could take a break.

“I can see that we had a busy morning.” Gwen happily prompted, flicking a few droplets of water at him.

“Well, would be less busy if you could help at the front.”

“I can’t. Remember the order for two dozen macarons for three pm?”

Ah, Arthur totally forgot.

“Well, any help still would be nice.” He moaned, even though he knew it held no power.

Gwen looked at him, raising one eyebrow, but with a bit of sadness and guilt shimmering in her eyes.

“Sorry.” She said.

Arthur didn’t blame her. He just had to whine a lot, because dealing with it all was always easier out loud. Especially if it was Gwen who was listening to him. Although after some time even she couldn’t stand his grumbles, groans and comments here and there.

“No harm done. The order is important too.”

“On the bright side, Beatrice should be coming soon for her shift, so you’ll be free.”

“Finally.” He huffed.

Gwen glanced at him, but then returned to making the macarons.

Arthur knew he should help her, he wanted to help her, but in the same time he had to take a break, spend a few minutes breathing deeply, feeling his chest expand under the strain of the muscles being used too much.

Who knew working in the pastry shop could be so exhausting?

Gwen hummed to herself as she approached the oven and glanced inside, nodding to herself, clearly happy with the outcoming results.

She walked elegantly around the kitchen, yet with a hint of joy to her movements, stretching her hands and fiddling with the equipment with some kind of delicacy and softness that made the place more mesmerizing.

It was just baking, but somehow it felt like magic to Arthur.

And it always reminded him of home – of Camelot.

(No. He shook his head. Camelot wasn’t his home anymore. It hadn’t been for a pretty long time. Yet when he observed Gwen walking around, clearly knowing what to do, he couldn’t not see the serving girl from several hundred years ago.)

“Lance got a promotion.”

“He did?” Arthur absentmindedly asked, not hiding that he was looking at the girl.

Not in the affectionate way, no. She was his dear friend, but that was all Gwen was right now. The incredible friend. And Arthur was okay with that. No, more than that, he wanted for her to be his friend, nothing more.

“Yeah. His hard work finally paid off.”

“That’s amazing!” And it really was. “Are you planning to celebrate it somehow?”

Gwen shrugged.

“Lance didn’t tell me anything, but I’m thinking of taking him out for dinner this weekend.”

Arthur smiled at her.

“You totally should do that. I know a guy who has an incredible Mexican restaurant five streets away from here. I can give you his number.” He leaned forward, bending his back which was right now killing him.

And he wasn’t even that old, thank you very much.

“Oh, that would be amazing!”

Arthur took out his phone, found the correct contact info and sent it to Gwen’s mobile, which peeped happily from behind the apron.

“Here you go.” He stated and then put the phone on the counter. “Tell him you know me. He will give you the best seats.”

Gwen looked at him, grinning from ear to ear, making the stars shimmer in her deep eyes and a light blush to spread like snow on her freckled cheeks.

“Thank you, Arthur.”

He felt his chest squeeze and expand, burst like a supernova, only to collapse into itself as a sudden wave of memories enveloped his heart.

(The same smile, no, not the same, not her smile, someone else’s smile - brighter, broader, yet delicate and soft, shimmering like the Northern lights, captivating, endearing, smile that could make his chest flutter and wash all the problems away…)

Arthur’s breath hitched and he covered it with a cough.

“No problem. You deserve a break. You help me so much around here.”

“Oh, Arthur…” Gwen gently started, looking at him with mirth still dancing in her eyes, but also with a hint of nostalgia of lives that already had ended long time ago and the remaining memories that still plagued their days. But then the smile was replaced by an impish smirk and an evil glint. “You should have been so open back then. It would save us all a lot of worry and time.”

“Well, hard to be open when you’re the king.” Arthur mused back, raising his eyebrow. “It’s an easy way to get manipulated.”

“Then I’m glad you’re not the king anymore.” Gwen continued, looking at him. “You look happier now.”

(The fact that he didn’t have thousands lives on his shoulders and conscience every day clearly helped.)

But what Gwen had said was true. He was happier. He had loved Camelot, he still did, but he must admit that he also loved his new life. It was different, astonishingly so, almost like his whole past life had been turned upside down.

“I am.” Arthur admitted. “Or well I will be once–”

The words scratched his throat, halting in their journey and then crashed down, right towards the bottom of his stomach, making it twist painfully inside the body.

It was a conversation they already had had a thousand, if not more, times. Over and over again, with different people, throwing around speculations, possibilities, memories, pushing the gears, coming up with ideas–

Still with the same results.

It just frustrated him and pained, both in the same time.

Gwen stopped moving her hands, which had been whipping the cream, to glance at him, the worried crease adorning her forehead.

He could see the pain and ache that thrummed through her eyes at the soft mention, at the hesitant reminder, but he couldn’t stop himself.

Gwen inhaled deeply, bracing her shoulders and looking up at him with focus so intense that it could cut any stone in half. And then, in one swift movement, she clutched the hand he had been keeping on the counter, gripping it tightly for a moment.

“We will find him, Arthur.” She said, promised and gave her word.

And he stared at her, trying to memorize the pure certainty that was radiating off her.

He wished he could be so certain, instead he was plagued by the possibilities and dark outcomes that didn’t want to leave his mind.

Nevertheless he nodded, gripping her palm back.

“I know.”

And then she moved away, keeping a watchful gaze from time to time on his tired silhouette. A protector, a knight on duty, watching, waiting for a movement to take out a shield and a sword.

Arthur snickered under his nose.

Well, how the tables had turned.

***

He had a bad feeling. There was this weird echo, a string shimmering somewhere inside his chest, a delicate touch of a hand on his shoulder that pushed him away from the course.

He had a bad feeling and his gut never failed him.

“Dad!”

Nevertheless Merlin couldn’t stop the smile from bursting on his lips as he saw the familiar mop of hairs running towards him.

(Or as familiar as it could be, still with the change being there.)

He caught the boy as he jumped at him, wrapping his hands around the small body to feel the warm presence near his heart.

“Hey, sport.” He said, tightening the grip for a second, enjoying the brief moment of calmness before he put the boy down. “How was your school today?”

Galahad immediately lurched himself onto his palm, grabbing it like an anchor of a ship.

“Great! Damien and I were doing the Math exercise and then Sophia…”

Galahad’s story jumped left and right, high and low, changing the course at least three times. It was a feat to try to remain on track with everything that was leaving Galahad’s mouth, but Merlin tried his best to not let his mind get astray.

They walked, with Merlin listening to his son prattling happily about this class or that kid in the school, merrily recollecting what had happened today and the days before.

These short moments – smiling face, shining, blinking eyes, scrunched in joy nose – filled Merlin’s heart was warmness, spreading it around, letting the energy prance and dance around him, curling around his chest like foxes and coyotes during the cold night.

He listened and looked around, observing, cataloguing the surroundings. People walked around, passed them, brushed against their shoulders, slipped next to them.

It was a big crowd and they should have easily disappeared in it.

They should.

And yet there was a soft nudge of the energy, gripping his chin and letting his head tilt a little bit to the left, almost like it was pointing at something.

Merlin’s heart shattered.

There it was, the sensation, the darkness folding itself around the silhouette of a man. The man who was looking at them, curiously, judging, calculating.

Merlin felt a shiver run down his spine. His hand tightened the grip on the palm of his son as he walked forward, trying to move faster, but also to not look suspicious. The energy flowing through Merlin’s body floated down, moving towards Galahad’s face to hold it gently and make him only stare forward and not look around.

The boy immediately quieted, gripping his hand in response, interlacing two fingers to have a better grip.

Merlin could feel eyes on his back as he crossed the road, trying to hide behind a group of teenagers.

“Dad?” Galahad quietly asked and it was a miracle that in the noise and tumult he heard him.

“Don’t look around.” He whispered.

The boy obediently nodded, staring forward with focus and fear mixing, mingling on his face. The trepidation was there too, swimming across the skin, pushing and pulling the muscles.

The energy flowed back to him, watchfully glancing around, sensing the surroundings.

One here, two there, another one in front of them.

It didn’t look good. It didn’t feel right.

There was a bus stop in front of them, filled with people, and a slowly approaching bus behind.

“We’re going to take a detour.” Merlin said, trying to smile at the boy.

Galahad bopped his head.

They managed to sneak onto the bus, letting the door close swiftly and quickly behind them, preventing anyone from stepping inside. And if Merlin helped the door to stay open for three or four more seconds only for them, then no one needed to know that.

Another small movement, a nudge, a sensation he was sure he should know and remember, but couldn’t find it in his mind and memory, helped him to create a fake image of two bus passes.

The driver didn’t notice the difference. No one did.

Merlin tugged Galahad forward and they sat down on the seats on the side facing the road.

The boy shifted and curled into his body, hiding beneath the arm that Merlin had thrown across his shoulder.

He could hear and feel the boy’s heart thump rapidly in his body as the stress and nervousness took over the nerves.

It was going to be okay. Somehow.

He patted Galahad’s hair softly and kissed it as the bus brought them further into the city.

***

Arthur hummed to himself to the rhythm of some weird pop song that floated from the radio standing on the cupboard.

His hands methodically cleaned the dishes, getting rid of the dark spots from coffees or crumbles remaining after eaten cakes.

Gwen took over the pastry shop and cafe for a moment, so Arthur could rest a bit – which meant dealing with the responsibilities that didn’t need interacting with the customers. And he was okay with that.

It calmed him, in a weird way.

Apparently the calmness couldn’t stay for long, as the door to the back exit suddenly burst open and a giant silhouette stepped inside.

Arthur lifted his one eyebrow.

“Did you learn manners from Gwaine?” He asked.

The man turned to him and grinned wildly, holding two giant crates in both his hands. They looked incredibly heavy, but for the man it seemed like they weighed no more than two puppies or kittens.

“Arthur! Didn’t expect to see you here!”

“Where else am I supposed to be, Percival? I work here.”

He owned this place, but that was beside the point.

Percival beamed at him and put the two crates down, which let out a loud thud as they were met face to face with the floor. Heavy indeed.

“I know, but at this time you’re usually at the front.”

“Gwen took over for a moment, we had an incredibly busy morning and I needed a break.” Arthur said, whirling to the sink and turning off the water, which to this point had been still flowing over his hands, painting them in pinkish hues.

“Weird way to relax, but whatever swings your boat, man.” Percival patted the crates. “I brought you your supply.” Then he grabbed a device hanging on his neck. He pushed a few buttons which beeped tiredly. “And I need you to sign here.”

Arthur dried his hands on the dish cloth hanging on his shoulder, walked to Percival, grabbed the pen he was giving him and then wrote his own messy signature on the electronic screen. It looked more like scrawls than his actual name, but no one really paid attention to that.

“Thanks.” Percival nodded at him happily, letting the device hang on his neck. “And while I’m still here…”

From the glint in his eyes Arthur could already guess what the man wanted.

“Yes, we have your favourite jam doughnuts. We left some especially for you.”

Percival beamed at him, looking like a giddy teenager that was just asked to the prom by their crush.

Arthur moved towards an empty window in the wall, from which he could see the main part of the pastry shop, and leaned through it.

“Hey, Gwen, can you give me the doughnuts we packed? Percy is here.”

Gwen swished her head towards him, standing at the cash register where she was attending to a young man.

“In a second.”

As Arthur turned around, Percival had helped himself to a batch of fresh gingerbread cookies, which were cooling down on the counter, and now was huffing loudly as he definitely burned his mouth.

“Watch out, they’re still hot.”

Percival swallowed, letting the fresh tears appear in the corners of his eyes.

“Still worth it.”

Arthur decided to take that as a compliment, especially as these were the cookies he had made.

Percival grabbed another two cookies and started to throw them between his palms, trying to cool them down quicker.

“So how are you hanging?” He asked.

Arthur shrugged and returned to cleaning the dishes. The answer to this question was too elaborated, but Percival probably knew, even understood that.

“I’ve been better.” Arthur answered honestly and moved to another set of glasses. “Got a few more orders, so I’ve been quite busy nowadays.”

“That’s why you haven’t been answering any of Gwaine’s messages?”

Arthur halted in his movements, feeling the water splash across the glass surface and wet his shirt. There was a brief moment when he felt the whole world crashing down on him, suffocating, stealing all the oxygen from his lungs, pressure dropping and crushing every muscle and bone. There was a puncture, a sudden snapping sensation, a swirl of the cosmos expanding inside his chest.

And then, it all was gone. A blink, a second and he was okay, standing in the kitchen with hot water running down his hands.

“Maybe.” He finally murmured and resumed the washing.

It was repetitive, comforting, calming and familiar.

Percival shuffled, or maybe changed his position, leaning his hip on the counter and looking like a looming mountain in this small room.

“Well call him when you’ll have some free time. Don’t tell him I’ve told you this, but he is starting to get worried about you.”

If Gwaine was starting to get worried about him, then maybe the situation was way worse than it seemed.

Then, more quietly, Percival added:

“We all are.”

Arthur turned off the water.

“I’ll call him today.” He finally said, drying his hands with the dish cloth and turning to the man.

Percival grinned at him, not with the full smile he usually wore, but with a different one, a kind one, one that knew that not all was good, but at least something tilted towards the happiness.

“Well, better do that, if you don’t want to have Gwaine bursting into your house in the middle of the night.”

“I know, I remember the last time.”

Arthur shuddered. He also had had to change his door, because Gwaine literally had destroyed the lock. So yeah, he didn’t need the repeat of that.

Percival popped the cookies he had been holding into his mouth.

There was a movement and a box slid into the kitchen, with Gwen’s head peeking out from the window.

“Here you go.” She said and turned to the guest. “Hi Percival!”

The man waved at her softly.

“Hey to you too.”

Gwen pushed the box further.

“Sorry, one is a little bit crushed.”

“No worries, I’m sure it’ll still be tasty.” Percival said, grabbing the box and putting it under his arm.

“Well if not, you can blame Arthur. He was the one who destroyed it.” Gwen happily commented, crossing her hands on the counter.

“Hey!”

Percival snorted, what was followed by a small snicker from the girl herself.

“Well, I need to get going. Same time next week?”

Arthur nodded.

“Sure, if there will be any changes, I’ll call you.”

Percival swirled on his heel and marched toward the exit.

“Catch you all later. Say hi to Lance from me, Gwen.”

“Will do.”

And with that the man exited the kitchen, leaning his body forward to not hit his head on the doorframe.

Arthur snorted under his nose anyway when he still heard Percival hitting his forehead on the doorframe of the backdoor leading him outside.

Every time.

***

The sky was painted in dark hues and strokes, as they marched through the city with the hands clasped together and the faces hidden in the collars.

It was close to winter, with the temperature dropping down and the world turning dark earlier than usual. But it was good for them. It was easier to disappear in the darkness than in the broad daylight of the city.

Although the crispy air wasn’t helping their movements. Neither the energy inside him was pleased with the coldness.

Galahad obediently followed him, looking skittishly around, holding tightly onto his palm. He looked exhausted, after being thrown around by the stress and constant moving, running, escaping.

With a small nudge and a plead, the energy enveloped the small boy’s body, warming him a bit, curling around him like a blanket made of cosmic dust.

Merlin felt like they were walking for hours and still there was a trace behind them, a sudden silhouette appearing in the distance, looming across the horizon. He could feel the stress playing a cacophonic melody inside his lungs, squeezing them painfully.

They had to disappear. Somehow.

But how?

There was another short shove from his energy, pointing in a vague direction behind them.

Merlin didn’t have to look back to know that someone was on their tail.

There was something he could do, but it was a risky move. Yet he was running out of options and ideas.

(He had to get Galahad to safety. Take him out of the equation – the one that didn’t look like it could end well. He had to protect him.)

His breath stuttered inside his chest, as he felt his choices slip through his fingers, scatter across the pavement like tiny crystals, smash to pieces due to the passing time.

Galahad tripped and Merlin moved down to help stabilize the boy.

He had to do something. Before it would be too late.

There was a small push, a poke to his mind, a shift of his face, tilting it, sprinkling the golden dust across the air, showing a barely visible line. It was pointing towards a good hiding place, a safe place, a hideout.

Merlin trusted his gut feeling. And he trusted the energy inside of him, it had never failed him.

He tugged Galahad and disappeared in the alleyway near some loud cafe or bakery. He didn’t get a good look at it.

There were a lot of garbage cans and waste containers standing around, together with a delivery truck, although one of the smaller models. It didn’t look like the nicest of places, and his heart broke inside at the idea of what he was about to do. He didn’t want to, but he had no other options.

(At least this place looked moderately clean and it didn’t smell. Small mercies.)

Merlin tugged Galahad and pushed him behind the delivery truck, glancing back towards the street and pleading the power to conceal them for a moment.

“Dad, what are you-“

“Stay here. Hide. Don’t come out till I come back.” Merlin quickly whispered, glancing back and forth, feeling like someone was ripping his chest apart.

Galahad’s eyes widened and he immediately surged forward.

“No, dad, wait, you can’t-“

“Stay.” Merlin repeated himself, this time more sternly, hoping to hint on that parenting tone that always made Galahad obey. “I’ll be fine, but I need to be sure you’ll be safe first.”

It wasn’t the best hiding place, but he trusted his power.

Galahad didn’t look convinced and stared at him with the pleading eyes and trembling bottom lip.

“It’s going to be okay.” Merlin softly whispered, brushing away the fringe with one hand and leaning closer to plant a kiss on the boy’s forehead. ”Don’t come out. Don’t move from here. I will be back for you, I promise.”

His son still looked like he wanted to object, but Merlin was already moving away, losing the tight grip on the small fingers, immediately feeling the heat leaving his body.

Another silent plead and a part of the energy inside parted with him and curled around the boy, forming an invisible shield, hiding him from prying eyes, ones that wanted to harm.

Galahad looked up at him and opened his mouth, but Merlin lifted his hand and put one finger on his own lips.

He quickly peeked out of the alleyway, glanced at the name of the café or whatever shop was there, catalogued the name in his memory, together with the street name, and then waved his hand, conjuring an image next to him, one resembling the boy. For everyone it seemed like a real life person, but only he knew that it was only that, a mirage, a coldness that didn’t reach his heart.

He stepped out, turned and walked forward.

He had a plan.

***

Arthur’s days weren’t the most interesting things in the universe. On the contrary, they were quite boring. Beside work he didn’t do much in his daily life and even then, work took most of it.

That was the pain and fun of being the boss.

After finishing his shift, he had come back to his house, had sat down on the couch, had opened a laptop and simultaneously turned on a TV to have some background noises.

And in this position he had spent the next two hours.

Maybe there was some truth to Percival’s words.

He stood up from the couch, putting the laptop on the table first, and then stretched his hands above his shoulders, feeling the bones pop into places. Wow, okay, he definitely felt like an old man and he wasn’t even that old.

He still had dinner – spaghetti – from yesterday, so he decided to throw it into a microwave, instead of doing something new. Tomorrow he could do something else, maybe chicken, there was one in a freezer which needed to be eaten, because it would get bad soon.

The bowl burned his fingers, so he had to put it down for a moment. Then after a few seconds he decided to try it once again and then almost ran to the living room, feeling the heat seep into his skin.

Arthur sat down and let the bowl cool down a bit.

He munched on the dinner slowly, putting the laptop back with him on the sofa and surfing through the pages, scrolling from time to time down to read more.

It was perhaps a boring life, the one he had, but he liked it.

Well, almost liked. There had been bumps, ups and downs, sudden turnabouts, turns left and right, hesitations, but he really enjoyed what he was doing.

Although maybe Gwaine was right, maybe there was a spark of truth to what he was saying. He had been a little bit off nowadays, hiding in his home instead of going out with his friends or generally with someone.

(Not that there was someone.)

The fact was that he knew he was acting like that. And he simply couldn’t stop himself.

Another short swipe of the finger, another line of text and a photo appeared and still nadda, zero, null, zilch.

Apparently, the world was ending, if he admitted that Gwaine may be right about something.

(Although maybe the world ending wouldn’t be such a bad thing. At least it could be called an emergency. And the emergency that required magical assistance and help. And then, maybe, perhaps, he could see–)

Arthur sighed and closed the laptop.

He simply couldn’t understand it all. Arthur thought that after regaining his own memories and finding out from the Lady of the Lake that he had waited almost one thousand and five hundred years for Arthur, he would immediately appear at his doorsteps, maybe throw himself at Arthur, embracing in the long-awaited hug and then everything would be right.

Arthur had got his memories back. Everyone important to him had got them back.

And Merlin wasn’t here.

Something was wrong. Something was really, really wrong.

He could understand a few days, months, depending on where Merlin had been, but not years. Years filled with waiting, looking, searching, asking, conversing and still with the same results.

Maybe he was angry with Arthur? Rightfully so. Arthur deserved it, after so much that Merlin had had to live through because of him, due to him. He deserved the cold shoulder for some time. But not such a long time.

It was simply not Merlin to do it.

No, something had gone terribly wrong and Arthur was going to get to the bottom of it.

Having any clues would help, but he guessed he had to do it the hard way.

(The Lady of the Lake had told him as much as she had known herself. Arthur could see it in her eyes – how much she had wanted to help, but couldn’t.)

So this was what he was doing in his free time – searching for any clues. But to be fair, perhaps he needed some time off to clear his mind, reconnect with his friends who were as worried as he, people who understood him.

Yeah, maybe this would help, would put a fresh thought inside his head, would help him relax a bit.

Before Arthur could change his mind, he grabbed his phone and clicked the familiar name.

“Hey. Gwaine–“

***

Galahad was going to be fine, Merlin had to believe it.

He had ordered the power to help him, to protect and hide from anything that may want to harm the boy. And he trusted it, he knew it wouldn’t disobey or abandon him. As long as there was a protective coat around his son’s body, he was going to be fine.

Although the image he had put on Galahad already had faded. Keeping it up at such long distances was a feat and a difficult task, one on which he couldn’t focus right now.

(Normally he could do it, especially as Galahad’s own power helped him, but not right now.)

The part of the energy he had left behind would be sufficient to conceal the boy.

So now Merlin had to focus on disappearing on his own.

Easier said than done. Especially after what felt like the hundredth time.

Merlin felt his power nudge him, point in a correct direction, following a golden trail that shimmered and glimmered from time to time. He had tried every trick he had done until now, but they had outsmarted his every move.

They were learning.

But that was okay, he still had a few tricks under his sleeve. He would shake them off, at some point. Eventually.

Merlin turned and disappeared as he met the wall.

***

Arthur might have almost fallen asleep on the couch, if the phone didn’t suddenly buzz loudly.

Brushing away the dusty particles of sleep from his eyelashes with his hand, he grabbed the phone, that almost threatened to fall from the table, to swipe on the green icon and put it near his ear.

“Hello?” He slurred.

Yep, he was getting old.

“Mister Pendragon?” Asked a timid voice on the other side.

He knew that voice.

“Oh, hey Beatrice. Is everything alright?”

Was the pastry shop alright? Had something happened? Were they under attack? Was someone stealing something? Had there been a break in? Was someone threatening her with a knife?

(Arthur hadn’t held a sword in a lifetime, but he guessed he could still nick someone.)

“Yeah, yeah, everything’s okay, nothing wrong with the shop, but…” The woman on the other side said, prolonging the words hesitantly, nervously.

Arthur knew that tone.

“What is it, Beatrice?” He asked, sighing along the way and moving his one hand to brush away the fringe.

“It’s just…” The girl started and Arthur could almost see her in his mind bending her fingers in weird directions. “My last bus is in ten minutes.”

Was it so late already?

A quick glance at the clock told him that indeed it was already time to close the shop.

He groaned as he stood up, feeling the joints pop after waking up from an uncomfortable position he had had during the quick nap. Yep, he was getting old. Any day he would start going gray.

(Or he already had a few gray hairs, as Leon nicely had pointed out once and, of course, never again.)

“Okay, I’ll be down in a minute. What more needs to be done?”

“Just taking out the trash and locking all the doors. I’m sorry Mister Pendragon, I know I promised to not push it onto you–“

“No, it’s okay. I prefer for you to get home safely. I can take out the trash myself and lock the place. I live here anyway.”

“Thank you, Mister Pendragon, and I’m sorry-“

“Yeah, yeah, skitter off, before you’ll be late.”

Beatrice didn’t need to be told twice as she thanked him profusely and then hung up.

Arthur yawned as he put on better shoes on his feet and descended the stairs, hearing the door being shut as the girl probably already had ran out.

Well, it wasn’t the first time, nor would it be the last one either. And he had spoken the truth, he preferred for his workers to get home safely. It wasn’t that they didn’t work well – they did, he could see the determination in their eyes and the hasty movements as they tried to please all the customers during the rush hours.

Besides, it was now Arthur’s shop, he wanted to take good care of it.

The light in the kitchen was still on, so Arthur directed his steps there.

Everything was cleaned – the surfaces were spotless, the dishes were dripping on the dryer, the coffee machines were unstained and turned off, but the trash definitely wasn’t taken out. But other than that, it all looked perfect.

Arthur took out the trash bag from the trash bin for plastic products and tied it. He did the same with paper wastes. Also the mixed ones. And he was surprised that the trash bin for metal wastes had to also be emptied.

He could do one trip, but then, he was still drowsy and old. So yeah, multiple trips it was.

He grabbed two bags and dragged them towards the back exit, lifting them above any obstacle to not accidentally rip them and scatter everything around.

He opened the door with his elbow and then pushed it forward with his hip, feeling the cold air of the evening hit him right in the face.

There was this crispy cold sensation of the autumn moving through the air, caressing the last leaves hanging on the branches, sneaking between the bricks, knocking on the windows and howling in the pipes.

Arthur exhaled softly, feeling the coldness on his skin waking him up a bit.

It wasn’t a busy street and it definitely wasn’t busy at this time so he enjoyed the silence as he walked towards the main bigger waste containers standing near the main road, ready to be taken away tomorrow by the garbage collectors.

A few hefty shoves and he put the bags inside.

Just how heavy plastic and paper can be? Apparently very much so. And his muscles did agree with this.

He exhaled slowly, brushing away the sweat from his forehead with his hand, when he heard a rustle coming from behind him. Or well from behind the delivery truck they kept there.

Had raccoons got into the trash again? It was a possibility. There were a ton of them living in the park nearby and they wandered here from time to time.

Well, Arthur still had other things to deal with before he could deal with the raccoons. Like taking out the remaining trash bags.

He returned to the kitchen and grabbed the rest, dragging it back outside, this time listening to the sounds surrounding him.

There was something, a quiet sound, a little sensation, just something in the air that was itching him the weird way. Not exactly the bad way, just off. Strange. Unnatural, yet familiar in its weird comforting touch.

No, that wasn’t possible, but… No.

Arthur stopped and glanced around when he heard another sound, this time a quieter one, but a little bit broken in the middle, one that cut through his chest and heart, slashing like a sword.

It was nothing, just his imagination.

He stepped closer to the waste containers, opened them and hoisted the bags to put them inside, repeating his movements from several minutes ago. Methodically. Rhythmically. He didn’t do it that often now, as he mostly worked morning shifts, but back when it had been just him and his mom, Arthur had done it quite often.

He glanced at the empty street and sighed, feeling the pull on his muscles.

It was a calm evening, night even, with the street lamps blinking above the heads, showing the way for the last pedestrians that were still walking around. But now the street was empty, allowing for the soft breeze to run around the buildings.

Arthur probably should head back, make himself some late supper and go to sleep. Yeah, that sounded like a splendid option right now. One he should follow.

He turned on his heel to stomp back towards the door when he heard the sound once again, a quiet rustle, a shift, a gasp or something resembling a sob perhaps and a whisper, clothes being moved, hands being tightened.

Arthur stopped moving and glanced around, only to direct his gaze at the delivery truck.

If he was really having raccoons again, then he was going to go insane. Getting rid of them last time had been a pain in the ass. Mostly because Gwen had got attached.

“Is anyone there?” He asked.

Kinda stupid of him, as raccoons couldn’t speak, but maybe, just maybe, there were no raccoons.

No one answered him, but at this point Arthur wasn’t sure if it was a good or a bad thing.

Talking raccoons would be really terrifying.

Trying not to think further about it, he turned and reached with his hand towards the door handle when there was a brief sensation circling around his wrist, one that made his breath hitch and heart lurch, speeding up for a second, only to crash down.

It was a delicate touch, a soft stroke, a cuddly brush on his skin. Painfully familiar, yet with an echo of another world, another life, another past. It felt like fire dancing across his skin, making the hairs stand up, frizzling the nerves to life and making them sway and twitch. It was a warm and welcome, a bit skittish, but comforting and not threating feeling.

Arthur knew this feeling. He didn’t feel it in a pretty long time.

With his breath being lost somewhere inside his chest, he turned in the direction where the sudden sensation was pointing him at, lightly guiding forward.

Arthur couldn’t think for a moment, His mind was filled with images, sensations, moments, ideas and possibilities so bright and dark that he wasn’t sure whether to cry from joy or fear. Maybe a bit of both.

Because it was magic. It had to be. It felt familiar, like an old friend, hugging his wrist, protecting it and yet pulling forward, like it wanted to show him something.

And if Arthur’s past life had taught him anything, it was that he should trust it once in a while.

Slowly, quietly he creeped forward, keeping his steps light and steady, moving towards the nook between the delivery truck and the old trash bins he sometimes put in front of the shop when there was summer and he had additional tables outside.

It had been ages, if not more, since he had hunted last time, but a part of him still remembered it all. Years of training and practice couldn’t be washed away like sand after a tide wave. The memories were there, integrated in his mind somewhere, acting up when he needed them, even when his body wasn’t fully prepared for it.

(He got an additional pound or two here and there.)

He wasn’t sure what he expected to see. Some small part of Arthur expected to see his long lost friend, curled there and looking at him with fear and then recognition, but the other part knew it wasn’t plausible. No. Yet even when he glanced at the place, his heart still dropped.

There sat a boy, curled in on himself and looking like the whole world was breaking apart.

Arthur inhaled sharply and the sound sold him out, hissing as it moved through his teeth.

The boy snapped his head up and glanced at him, but probably saw only a dark silhouette due to the light shining behind Arthur, painting the front of him in inky hues.

There was a spasm of time, a small second filled with nothing and then everything burst to action.

The boy gasped and darted forward, crashing into Arthur’s legs and sending him back, not exactly falling on his butt, but certainly being close to it. A smart move, especially considering the small form of the unknown person, but he also hadn’t taken into account that Arthur had been a knight and even though he hadn’t held a sword in a long time, he still knew how to act and react.

So he made a swirl, pushing his hands back to stabilize himself. The maneuver cost him two seconds, seconds filled with the boy running away and the magic at his wrist almost screaming at him to move forward. What he did, hoping that his muscles didn’t forget about the hunt, about the sword-fighting, about the sudden need to run, and leaped forward, getting closer to the boy.

Arthur reached with his hand and grabbed the thin wrist, clasping his fingers around to hold, but not to hurt.

“Hey, hey, hey, calm down, I’m not trying to hurt you.” He started speaking, hoping to hint on a kind voice, but it was hard when he was probably a looming dangerous figure in the alleyway and the boy was scared.

Which proved to be right as the boy started to struggle and tried to rip his hand away.

“Hey, wait, you’re going to hurt yourself, calm down for a second, I only want to help.”

Arthur wondered if every attacker also said similar things at the beginning, but somehow that thought terrified him, so he pushed it away from his mind.

But he had to do something, before the boy would accidentally twist his wrist or something worse.

So he moved his other hand and grasped the other free hand.

Then there was a spark, the magic that had resided on his skin shifted, moved away, left Arthur’s body.

And the boy stopped struggling and suddenly snapped his head up, looking at him with wide eyes.

And only now Arthur could really see every detail, every small scar, every soft freckle, every dark lock of the curly hair, every thin wrinkle, but also the enormous ears and the big, green eyes, which looked back at him with recognition.

Arthur’s heart might actually crash down.

“The Golden King…” The boy whispered.

***

Something was wrong. Not bad wrong, but wrong nevertheless.

His energy, that part he had left with Galahad came back. But it didn’t come back screaming and shouting that the boy was in danger. No, it was content, happy, joyful, like it had done its task and now could rest, after a job well done.

Strange. Peculiar even. He couldn’t remember it ever doing that.

(But he trusted it and if it whispered that Galahad was safe, then he was safe.)

Merlin, on the contrary, wasn’t. He couldn’t rest yet.

He couldn’t shake the people off. They were likes wolves, feeling his heart pump the blood through his system. Persistent. Predatory. Moving swiftly through the shadows, reaching forward, almost grabbing his jacket, his elbow, his leg.

Merlin could play their game. He had to.

***

Well, everything about this situation screamed awkward at the top of its lungs.

Some part of Arthur still couldn’t understand how he had got himself into this situation. But somehow here he was, back in the kitchen of his pastry shop with the kid he had found outside sitting on a chair, nearby the open door.

Getting the boy inside had been a feat on its own. Arthur had had to be the one to step inside first, widely opening all doors and not getting closer than two meters to him. Only when Arthur had promised the kid that, he had nodded and finally had followed Arthur inside.

And here he was, sitting nearby the open door, backpack laying on his lap and phone clutched tightly in his hands.

Smart, he could run away any second if he wanted, while Arthur was sentenced to the other part of the kitchen.

Arthur leaned on the wall and stared at the small boy, who was looking at the ground, but hesitantly stealing a few glances in his direction from time to time.

This… definitely didn’t look good. Especially if police would suddenly burst through the door. Why would they do that? Arthur didn’t know, but it definitely looked like a good way to put him behind the bars.

He needed to calm down. There would be no police coming, at least not without him calling them first. He had to figure this one out. He could do that. Yeah, easy.

First, he had to find out who the kid was.

(And why was he so familiar?)

“Do you want something to drink?” Arthur suddenly asked, clearing his throat first and feeling that his voice didn’t sound like him.

The boy jumped, startled, and looked up at him with wide eyes, one leg moving towards the door.

Well, this was a good start.

Arthur stared at the boy and he stared back, but didn’t speak, didn’t even open his mouth to breathe.

Okay. So this was how it was going to be.

Arthur clasped his hands together, staring at the boy and clearly not knowing what to do. Move? Not move? Make the drink? Not make the drink? Breathe? Not breathe? He wasn’t that good with kids either. They never really clung to him. He could hold them and keep them occupied for a few minutes but that was all.

How old could the boy be? Nine? Ten? Eleven?

Feeling like the world’s fate was on his shoulders once again, Arthur moved to the cupboards above the coffee machines.

“How does hot choco sound?”

The boy, unsurprisingly, didn’t answer, but observed his every move, similar to a prey waiting to bolt, if the predator moved too close.

Okay, that was… super wrong.

(Arthur wasn’t a predator. At least not now. Especially not towards kids. Never towards kids.)

He sighed and decided to make the hot chocolate anyway. The kid looked like he needed it and frankly Arthur could drink some too. It felt like eons had passed since he had had a cup of it.

He took out a bag of hot chocolate mix from the cupboard and then took out two cups.

The boy observed him sternly, gauging every movement.

“See? I’m making a cup for myself too, so you know it’s not poisoned.” Arthur softly said, turning to look at the boy and hinting on a joking tone, accompanied by his smile.

The boy swallowed hard.

Well, it didn’t seem that his joke was well taken then. Okay, okay, he could deal with it. Somehow.

(Should he message Gwen to say that no matter what happens, he was not a pedophile? May be worth it, just in case.)

He dosed the hot choco with a bit of warm milk and then slid the cup on the surface closer to the boy so he could reach it, in the same time keeping his distance so Arthur would not be stepping into his personal bubble.

Arthur brought his own cup and sat on the other side of the kitchen.

That was quite a mess he got himself into.

There were two minutes filled with silence, not counting the clock ticking softly above their heads, showing the passing time. Then a car drove outside, tires screeching as it turned. A dog barked. A group of teenagers started to laugh loudly.

A calm evening. Or almost calm.

He took a sip, finding miniscule comfort in the sweet taste.

The boy glanced at him, slowly reached towards the cup and then grabbed it, sniffing it twice before taking a hesitant sip. Then he waited a minute or so, checking the time with the clock and then…

Almost downed the whole cup in one go.

Arthur blinked, taken aback by the sudden urgency to the boy’s movements, the soft, delicate but happy sounds of slurps and joyful hums that left the lips as he licked them clean after the cup was finished.

“Uh, you want another one?”

The boy snapped his head up, opened the mouth, closed and then sheepishly nodded.

This was at least something.

A few minutes later another cup was pushed towards the boy, when an idea popped into Arthur’s mind.

“Wait here, I’ll be back in a second.”

And with that Arthur pushed the door to the parlor with his hip and stepped inside.

Guided by the soft light coming from the kitchen from the square hole in the wall, he maneuvered around the room, approaching the shelves with the pastries and grabbing two choco croissants and two blueberry muffins. He put them on a plate he snatched from a cupboard and then moved back to the kitchen.

“You look really hungry. Hope this will help.”

And with that he slid the plate closer to the boy.

The kid stared at it, still holding his cup and licking his lips form time to time. There were signs of urgency and hesitation in the twitches of his hands and skitterish glances of the eyes, but other than that the boy didn’t move.

Arthur inhaled deeply.

“It’s not poisoned.”

The boy still didn’t move, but furrowed his eyebrows and wrinkled his nose. Clearly not believing him.

Arthur took a spoon he had used to pour the chocolate mix and took a piece of muffin with it, swallowing it in one bite. He did the same with the croissant, although it was a bit more problematic and left a trail of crumbs on the surface.

“See, not poisoned.” Arthur said after he swallowed the piece of croissant.

The boy observed him as he stepped back and when Arthur was far away, he snatched the plate and started to devour the food.

So yeah, Arthur felt like he had done a good thing.

In just a few minutes, the food was gone, except for the half of the croissant still being consumed by the kid.

“Do you want more food?” Arthur asked, leaning forward and clasping his hands together.

The boy glanced up and then slowly shook his head.

This was the second answer the kid had given him in the almost full hour he had spent here. It definitely was an improvement to the silent treatment.

(Which surprised him as at the beginning, when the kid had spoken, he had sounded almost pleased and eager, happy in some weird, crooked way.)

“Did you have dinner today?”

The boy stared at him, nibbled on the croissant and shook his head one more time.

Okay, so now the kid was on speaking terms. Or well, moving the head terms. So it was almost like speaking. They could have a full conversation.

And Arthur needed some answers right now.

“Okay, listen kid. You know I’m not a danger to you.” Arthur started, trying to speak in a soft and kind voice. “But it’s super late and I think I deserve some answers. Would you be inclined to give me some of them? Not all of them, if you don’t want to. Just whatever makes you feel comfortable.”

The boy looked at him and then, slowly, deliberately nodded.

Okay, it seemed that Arthur moved to the boy’s good side. Somehow.

“First of all, I don’t expect you to answer this, but I’m Arthur. Arthur Pendragon. Now you know my name, so if someone asks with whom you’ve been, you can tell them the truth.” Then like a second though he added. “Do you want to see my ID?”

A small shake of the head followed, which surprised him. He was almost one hundred percent sure that the boy would want to see one.

“Why not?”

The boy pointed at his apron, where his badge was hanging, crooked a bit, with the name and a photo glued to it. The photograph wasn’t the best, it was a few years old, but it was still him, there was no mistaking it.

Pretty clever.

“Okay, are you ready?”

A nod.

The interrogation could begin.

“Do you have any parents?”

Another nod, but a sad one. Not full. So most possibly one parent then. Or divorced.

“Do you have a home?”

A nod, although a little bit hesitant. Unsure.

“Do you want to return home?”

Another nod, but still a bit too slow. Uncertain.

Arthur didn’t like it. Not a bit. This smelled too much like an abuse. But the boy wasn’t covered in bruises. On the contrary, under the dirt of today, he was pretty clean, not neglected in any way. At least it didn’t look that way.

“Do you feel safe at home?”

The boy bit his lip, clearly not knowing how to answer. The eyes moved left and right, jumping around his knees.

Okay, okay, Arthur wasn’t sure if he should be dealing with it. Neither knew how. But he had to ask it. And if the answer would be positive, then he would have to call the police.

“Are you… abused and hurt at home?”

“No! Dad would never do anything to me!”

Arthur almost fell down as the sudden childish voice erupted from the pale lips.

The kid also looked surprised and quickly clasped his mouth shut, staring down at the ground.

Okay! This still pushed away the enormous weight from his shoulders. For a moment he had been afraid he had been met with a case of domestic violence.

“Hey, it’s alright. I’m not insinuating anything.” Only he had been a few minutes ago. “So you are living with your dad?”

A nod – a tense one.

“But still you don’t want to go back home?”

A nod.

“Is your dad at home?”

A shake of the head. The first one during this investigation.

“Do you know where he is?”

A shake of the head.

This definitely didn’t look good.

“Did he leave you there?”

A nod.

Arthur fumed.

“But he will be back. He promised me. And he… he always keeps his promises.” The boy one more time spoke, gripping the material of his jeans.

“He still left you there.” Arthur said, furrowing his eyebrows.

“He had no choice.” The boy whispered.

“What?”

The boy became silent again.

But this was good, he was getting the boy to talk. Which was not a lot, but was still an improvement. And Arthur was happy with that.

Arthur lifted his hand and massaged his face. He could feel the headache slowly moving to the shore of his mind.

“Okay, let’s get back on track. So your dad, he said he will be back?”

A nod.

“But you don’t know when?”

A nod.

“Do you have any way of contacting him?”

A small, slow nod.

“Can you contact him?”

A shake.

“Why not?”

Shit, Arthur wanted to kick himself for asking the question which needed the words to form an answer. He knew he would do it at some point.

The boy, surprisingly, spoke again.

“I can’t. His phone could make a sound and they could find him.”

This… didn’t sound good. It all was starting to get incredibly dark.

Arthur furrowed his eyebrows.

“Who would find him exactly?”

The boy looked at him and curled in on himself.

“Really bad people.” He whispered.

Arthur’s breath hitched, feeling the sudden shiver of his heart.

Yeah, this sounded really bad. Like something he shouldn’t be dealing with. No, he couldn’t deal with it. There were forces in the country that could deal with it. Not him. He had stopped dealing with it when he had left Camelot and had stopped being the king.

“Okay, no, that’s it, we need to call the police.” Arthur said, then stood up and took out the phone from his pocket to dial the number–

When a hand grabbed his sleeve, tugging on it harshly and almost making him lose the grip on his mobile.

“No, please, don’t! Don’t call the police!” The boy shrieked, tugging on the shirt, looking at him with pleading, scared eyes.

Arthur blinked, taken aback by the sudden movement and the fear clearly seeping from the eyes and the voice, with the waves of terror rippling through the body.

“Okay, okay, calm down, I won’t call them.” He quickly complied, looking down at the boy and trying to smile at him.

The boy didn’t look convinced.

Arthur huffed softly.

“Here, let me just put it down.”

The boy let him move the hand and put the phone on the counter, sliding it away from him. Only then the kid stepped back, curling back in on himself, but observing Arthur, although now a bit more relaxed.

It was an improvement. Not in the direction Arthur wanted, but it was something.

There was a brief, but dense pause after that.

The boy stayed on the chair, looking at him from time to time, but mostly staring at his own lap, gripping his trousers, letting the knuckles stretch the skin, painting it in pale streaks.

Arthur sat down too and put his face in his hands, feeling the weight of today evening rest on his shoulders, pushing them down towards the ground. There were shadows curling inside his head, whispering treacherous words behind the ears. The exhaustion started to play a cacophonic melody inside his head, clanging and ringing through the skull.

Arthur wasn’t sure what to do. He wished Gwen was here, she would know what to do.

Was it too late to call her? Probably. What time was it? Around ten pm. So pretty late. And they both had to wake up early tomorrow.

What to do, what to do?

Arthur massaged his eyes, gripping the bridge of his nose in the end.

“Listen, kid…”

“Galahad.”

“Bless you.” Only after a second Arthur’s mind processed the words. “Wait, what?”

The boy twitched on the chair.

“My name. It’s Galahad.” The kid slowly said, glancing at him from behind the dark fringe.

Arthur tried saying this name out loud in his head. It was definitely an uncommon one. But weirdly fitting. Historic, with a hint of pride. The parents definitely had been inspired by his legends, although he couldn’t remember ever meeting any Galahad in his life.

But in overall… his legends were weird.

Arthur smiled tiredly at the boy.

“Well it’s nice to meet you then, Galahad.”

The corners of Galahad’s mouth jerked in something resembling a sheepish smile. Familiar. Like he was seeing a ghost from the past, a shadow creeping behind a corner, a comet of a long forgotten star.

Arthur swallowed hard, feeling his heart skyrocketing inside his chest. He tried to quench these thoughts, these memories, these feelings, but no matter how hard he tried, they were still there. Persistent. Nagging. Hopeful.

He hadn’t felt this hope in a pretty long time.

Arthur looked up, clasping his hands together and resting his elbows on the knees.

“Hey, Galahad, can I ask you something?”

The boy stared at him in reply.

“Uh… it’s going to sound weird.” Well this whole evening was. “But when you saw me in the alleyway…” And when his whole world had turned upside down. “…you called me –“

There was a sudden draft, a warm, delicate touch of the wind on the cheek, a hesitant movement, just a sudden surge of something comforting and familiar that made Arthur’s heart stop for a second.

A long painful second.

Galahad’s eyes widened and he almost dropped the phone he was holding.

“He’s here.” The boy breathed out. “He’s coming back.”

Arthur looked at him, feeling the words getting lost somewhere inside his throat, walking around the maze of his lungs.

“Your dad?” He asked, just to be sure.

Galahad nodded quickly, slipping from the chair and putting the phone back in his pocket.

“Yes, yes, he is here. I felt it, I felt him. He is okay. I need to go. I need to see…”

“Wait!”

But the boy didn’t wait. He jumped out of the open door, towards the dark corridor, letting the black curls on the top of his head bounce with his every step.

Arthur cursed under his nose – he was finally allowed to do that – and followed the kid through the dark corridor, towards the back door, where Galahad was peeking out curiously, swinging back and forth on his heels. Looking, but not stepping outside just yet.

“You sure he is coming?” He asked, leaning above the boy and staring at the empty alleyway.

There was no one here at this hour.

“Yes, he’s coming, I can feel it.”

Well, that totally wasn’t strange or weird or creepy.

What had he got himself into?

They waited.

Arthur stared, feeling his heart beating rapidly in the chest, hammering and drumming, almost cacophonically, sending sparks and sudden pains through the nerves.

(He knew he shouldn’t get his hopes up. He knew it only pushed him to a heartbreak. He knew that every time he had tried, something in him had sunk, pulling him down, toward the never ending ocean of blackness from which he had emerged. He had learned to control it, to not let it seize his body while promising to give something that couldn’t last.

Hoping against hope was a terrible feeling.)

Galahad balanced on his toes, peeking further and further away, when he suddenly shivered and jumped out.

“Dad!”

He was a blur of colors as he ran forward, moving swiftly through the darkness, disappearing from the light shimmering above the door as a shadow, a dark silhouette appeared around the corner.

“Dad!”

Small hands wrapped themselves around the shadow, gripping tightly and hiding the face in the folds of a shirt, almost pushing them both to the ground by the force of the embrace.

Thin hands moved through the air only to land on Galahad’s back.

“Hey, I’m here, I’m here.” Came a soft whisper.

Galahad only clung tighter.

The man then knelt down and grabbed the boy’s face, looking up at him and caressing softly the reddened cheeks.

Galahad stared back with adoration and the tears glistening in the corners of his eyes.

Arthur swallowed hard, stepping out, feeling the universe inside his chest disintegrating.

In the stillness of the night, his steps were loud as a dynamite, as a cannon going off on the sea, as a storm in the middle of a calm city.

The reaction was quick, unnaturally fast and immediate. There was no hesitation, no second thoughts, no time to think about the consequences. An impulse and a reaction.

Galahad was pushed behind the man’s back, hiding him from the view and putting the man in the front, closer to the danger.

“Who are you?” The man hissed.

Arthur quickly lifted his hands, making a small step back, showing that he was unarmed and not a danger.

“Hey, hey, calm down, I’m not an enemy.”

No reply, but a small step back followed, moving the pair away from Arthur.

He wanted to shout, to scream, to yell, to move forward and grab the wrists to prevent the man from moving back, to ask for some kind of an explanation, for the man to step into the light and to not destroy his heart for the hundredth time.

Arthur couldn’t ignore the tugging, the pulling, the stretching sensation in his heart, the gravitational force appearing between them.

(He shouldn’t hope, but god damn it.)

“Please.” Arthur whispered, begged.

The man didn’t budge for a second, but then opted on taking another step back, before a small tug stopped him.

Galahad looked up at the man, sparkling eyes shimmering in the darkness.

“Dad, stop, he is not the enemy. He helped me.”

The man glanced down at his son, but didn’t reply.

The boy furrowed his eyebrows, yanking stronger on the jacket.

“Dad, he is the Golden King. From my dreams.”

The eyes, blue like deep oceans, snapped back at him, a little bit widened, staring curiously at Arthur like he was some kind of specimen or a faraway dream.

Then there was a step forward, then another, initiated definitely by Galahad pushing the man forward, and another, and then one more and then…

Arthur’s heart stopped, crashed down, imploded and exploded, both in the same time, leaving only comets shimmering inside his chest on their treacherous way to the destruction.

“Who are you?” The man asked.

It was Merlin.

***

The man looked at him funnily. Merlin didn’t like it.

The man stared at him like he just hung every star on the sky just for him, he stared like he had longed and his prayers were finally answered, he stared like a man stranded finally seeing a ship after sending a message in a bottle.

The man stared at him like he knew Merlin a lifetime.

And Merlin couldn’t remember the blond haired man.

(Although there was a delicate thrum, a small, soft sensation inside his ribcage, a sudden melody played on the strings of his heart inside his caged chest. There was something inside of him that shouted and pleaded, but Merlin couldn’t distinguish the begs.)

Merlin tilted his head, staring at the perplexed face of the man, and repeated himself:

“Who are you?”

The man snapped shut his mouth and then cleared his throat, the emotions not disappearing from his eyes.

“I’m Arthur. Arthur Pendragon. I found… I found your son hiding behind the delivery truck near my pastry shop.” The man softly said, but his voice trembled.

Merlin lifted his eyebrow. It sounded like a truth. It sounded like it could be a possibility. It wasn’t giving him any off and weird signals, but still…

Galahad tugged on his jacket one more time, looking at him with these goddamn irresistible puppy eyes.

“You can trust him. He’s telling the truth.”

Merlin mulled over this, nibbling on his bottom lip and glancing back at the man.

He knew that Galahad was telling the truth, but he didn’t want to do that – trust that man. Trusting someone meant being put in danger or putting someone in danger, it meant sharing secrets and opening up. Merlin didn’t need to trust anyone right now.

“Come on, let’s find some place to sleep.” Merlin softly said, looking back down at his son and urging him towards the street.

“We’re not going back home?” The boy asked.

“No, I don’t think we should do it.”

Galahad’s lips wobbled, but he hung his head, moving his hand to grab Merlin’s one, holding tightly onto the fingers.

“Don’t worry, I’ll go there tomorrow to grab some stuff.”

He had to do it anyway. If they were lucky today, then the place wouldn’t be crawling with people with empty faces yet. But it was just a matter of time.

They had kept to their rules, so they should be fine.

Although their home wasn’t safe anymore. But it was a problem for tomorrow. Now he had to find some kind of hotel room so Galahad could sleep safely before tomorrow. Was there any homework that needed to be done? Merlin could make it. Galahad should sleep, he was just a kid and it wasn’t his fault that things had turned out the way they had done.

“Let’s get moving.” Merlin said and stepped onto the street.

Or he would have, if the voice didn’t stop him.

“Wait, where are you going?”

Merlin rolled his eyes, feeling the prickling stress pushing all the wrong buttons inside his mind. He was exhausted, scared, irritated and the only thing he wanted to do was sleep, stop thinking about all that was trying to get him, just curl around his son and feel the soft heartbeat echo in his own bones.

“To find a place to sleep, what else does it look like?”

It probably looked like a lot of things, but Merlin was done with today.

If the whole world could just stop, he would be very much grateful. For just a few minutes.

The energy inside of him curled around his tired muscles, warming them and making walking a little bit easier. He was very grateful nevertheless for the small piece of help.

“You can just stay with me for this night.” The man, no, Arthur, he called himself Arthur, said urgently, stepping towards them.

“We’re fine. Thank you for taking care of my son, but we really have to go.”

Merlin moved forward, sparing only one glance back, toward the golden haired man, who was getting closer and closer.

“Wait!”

“Dad.”

Merlin wanted to get away, disappear under the quilt and pretend that everything in his life was fine. He just wanted to give Galahad a warm dinner, kiss him goodnight, see his eyes flutter close as sleep would encase his mind and then observe the slow and steady movements of his chest, proving to him that it all was worth it. He just wanted for Galahad to be safe.

He didn’t want much.

He just wanted to…

The world in front of him lurched, twisted, squeezed. Darks spots glimmered in the corners of his vision, forming constellations, inky stars on the faint canvas of the sky. It felt like the time stopped and pushed him forward, both in the same time. It felt like the Earth disappeared from beneath his feet for a moment, making him float in the space-time continuum.

He was there and he wasn’t. And that was a terrifying thought.

“Dad?”

It was Galahad, he was speaking to him, all soft and concerned voice.

Merlin didn’t want for his son to be worried about him. Merlin should be the one to worry about Galahad, brushing his nose when he was cold, putting on scarf in the winter, giving the last piece of cake, combing the hair softly as they boy fall asleep on the couch. Galahad should be carefree and lively and happy, not worried and sad. His voice should be hinted with joy and mirth, not panic and fear. Why did he sound so scared?

“Dad, please!”

Merlin blinked.

The world came back to him like a sudden punch to the face, not slow and steady, but in a rush that left him powerless and small, as it swallowed him whole.

The energy in him sizzled, almost angrily, perhaps scolding him for his stubborn behavior, nudging his muscles and bones, warming the skin, ruffling the hair in a familiar, comforting manner.

Galahad was in front of him, looking at him worriedly.

And he was... he was sitting, leaning on the cold wall with his head touching the bricks.

“Dad?” Galahad asked, reaching forward.

“I’m here.” Merlin murmured, trying to sound sure and strong, but finding out that this sentence came out like a crooked whisper.

Galahad exhaled and then looked to his left.

“What’s, what’s wrong with him?” He asked, letting the tremble accompany his voice.

There was someone next to them, touching his limbs gently, prying, checking, scanning, searching for something.

“There is nothing broken, so exhaustion, probably. Nothing a good night sleep can’t fix.” The voice said.

No, not the voice, Arthur said. He was still here. Why was he still here? Why was he so persistent? Couldn’t he leave them alone?

“I’m okay.”

“I wouldn’t call it okay.” Arthur added.

Merlin turned to him.

“What do you want? Why are you still here?” He asked.

He wanted to snap, feeling the anger inside his veins, but he was too tired.

The man, no, Arthur, blinked at that.

“I just want to help.” He said softly.

Merlin wanted to say that he didn’t need Arthur’s help, that he could do it all on his own, he had been doing it all on his own, he didn’t need anyone else, but Galahad. Yet he found out that his vocal chords didn’t exactly want to cooperate with him right now.

“Dad, please. Let him help.”

Galahad’s hand was warm against his skin, earnest and trustworthy, pleading, asking, but also knowing the outcome.

Part of Merlin wanted to fight, wanted to stomp his foot down and get away. They didn’t need anyone. They were fine on their own, just the two of them against the world.

But it was Galahad who was asking and he looked like he knew what he was saying. His dreams had probably a lot to do with it.

The energy in him thrummed at the name Galahad had spoken, the one that now was glued to his mind, shimmering and almost laughing in joy, like it knew it, like it remembered it, but it was impossible. Merlin didn’t recognize the face next to him, the curious, stormy, blue eyes, shimmering like a lighthouse and a halo made of gold around the face.

But Merlin trusted this power, it never deceived him, it never let him down. Neither had Galahad.

Merlin inhaled deeply.

“Okay. Just one night.”

Arthur grinned at him and then clasped his hand, helping him get back to his feet.

Merlin ignored the shivers running down his spine.

***

Arthur had to calm down, he had to. If he kept breathing like someone was chasing him, then he would faint soon, and he didn’t want that. He couldn’t do it. Not right now.

Because this was really happening. It was the reality.

Merlin, or well, someone who looked and sounded and acted like him, was here. But it was the real Merlin. Arthur could feel it. It couldn’t be a mistake. It couldn’t be an accident. He was really here, alive and well.

Or… almost well.

There was still a tired limp to Merlin’s movements after the whole scene, when Arthur’s heart had stopped for a moment, when he had been so terrified that he had lost him the second time.

But Merlin was alive and was following Arthur to his home, holding Galahad close, like he wanted to hide him from the world, protect from the danger and angry shadows that lurked in the corners.

Arthur stepped into the corridor and flicked the light on, seeing his hand tremble as he did so.

Merlin and Galahad stopped outside, with the man staring at him with distrust, but obediently stepped in after Arthur moved from the doorway.

“My home is upstairs.” He said, trying to smile encouragingly.

Merlin stared impassively.

Galahad’s lips twitched in something resembling a guilty smile.

Well, Arthur was out of his comfort zone.

“Can I… lock the door? I don’t exactly want to spend the night with the door open.”

Merlin stared at the door he had just passed and then moved away, making place for Arthur to step closer and then lock it.

The sound of the lock sliding into place echoed in the empty corridor.

“Okay, let me just turn off the light in the kitchen and then we can go upstairs.”

No answer.

Arthur went to the kitchen, put the two cups and the plate in the sink, deciding on cleaning it in the morning, then turned off the light and stepped back into the corridor.

Merlin and Galahad didn’t move.

“Come on, let’s go upstairs.”

Arthur was the first one to climb the staircase, grabbing the handle to the door to his flat and pushing it down. He quickly stepped inside, opening the door fully so his guests could enter freely too.

Merlin and Galahad stepped inside with the man wrinkling his nose at the smells probably finally hitting his nose.

That probably would be the spaghetti from yesterday.

“You can make yourself at home, no worries.” Arthur quickly said, stepping behind the pair and closing the door, also immediately reaching towards the lock, but deciding against it.

Merlin had seized up after one lock had clicked into place. Arthur wasn’t sure what he would do after seeing another door bolted. They were probably safe with only one locked door. The neighborhood wasn’t dangerous, but no one could ever know for sure what could happen.

There had been a break–in four months ago at a shop nearby.

Arthur took off his shoes, noticing that Merlin and Galahad did the same after a second.

The boy leaned on Merlin and definitely had some troubles with getting the sneakers off. Finally they landed in weird positions on the floor, crooked and tilted, but the boy quickly corrected them, so they could stand in an almost perfect line. Then Galahad turned and smiled at Merlin.

This was the first honest smile Arthur saw on the boy’s face.

The jackets then were the next ones to be taken off.

Arthur hadn’t brought any, as he only had expected to roam around the shop.

Galahad gripped the bottom of the blouse he was wearing and, after putting the backpack on the ground, he took it off in one swift movement, making his shirt ride up a little.

Merlin quickly corrected the shirt and then grabbed the blouse to add it to the hook where he had put his denim jacket.

And now that they were all inside, ready to step further into the house, Arthur wasn’t sure what to do.

When he had thought about finding Merlin before, he had imagined it a little bit different. In his mind there had been more happiness crashing down like falling stars, more hugs that later on would be denied, but then also would be safely locked inside his memories, more excited tears that would streak down Merlin’s face, more familiar tugs of mouths, forming full grins like crescent moons, more stories that would be shared between them in the comfortable companionship, accompanied by the feelings hidden inside the cups of alcohol.

This was not what he had imagined and had hoped would happen. But it was the reality. Merlin was here and this was what mattered.

Although Arthur wouldn’t mind some kind of a plan, list of rules and laws he should obey in this situation.

He clasped his hands together nervously.

“Here, let me show you around.”

The trip wasn’t long, especially as his flat wasn’t that big. There was the living room, connected with the kitchen with only a long table dividing these both rooms. Arthur’s laptop was still on the couch, turned on, and the TV was still going on, currently showing some ads. There was also a small balcony above the pastry shop, hidden behind a glass door.

(Gwaine loved to step out there for a smoke and call random people on the street.)

In the corridor, connected with the living room, there were two bedrooms – one belonging to Arthur, messy and untidy since the morning. He only let his guests spare it a quick glance, embarrassed by what was inside.

The guest room was tidier, although there was a thin layer of dust collecting on the surfaces. Arthur didn’t clean in here in a few weeks. Not many people used it nowadays, only his friends whenever they came over and were too lazy or too drunk to get back home.

(Last one was probably Elyan who had been using the bed. Arthur should probably change the bedding.)

Then there was also a small bathroom, with a toilet, a sink, and a tiny bathtub that could barely fit him.

And voilà, that was the end of his flat.

Arthur ended his tour back in the living room.

“And that is all.” He said, not really sure what he should be saying. “You will be staying in the guest room, if you can share the bed. If not, I can sleep on the couch so one of you can–“

“One bed is fine.” Merlin said.

It was his first sentence spoken out loud inside the building.

Most of the tour Merlin had spent looking around, checking small corners and looking out of the windows. Almost like he had been checking for something, some kind of a trap or a monster, ready to jump out and swallow them whole.

“Great. I will change the bedding for you.”

“No, you don’t have–“

“No, no, it’s okay. You can use the kitchen in the meantime, make something to drink or eat for yourselves.”

And with that Arthur ran to hide himself in the guest room. He couldn’t stay there for too long, as he felt his heart and mind breaking into hundred pieces.

He left the door pried open, in case the guests would need anything. He doubted they would, they didn’t seem like they needed much, but there was always a possibility.

Arthur wasn’t sure whether he would want them to call him or not.

In the emptiness of the room he could finally breathe freely, letting go of the stress and nerves that had held him captive since the moment he had seen Galahad behind the car. He wasn’t sure what to do. On one hand he wanted to do everything he could to not let Merlin go and on the other he wanted to be as nice as possible to show that he wasn’t the enemy, that they shouldn’t fear him. It was like a terrible juggling game, but there were no apples, only knives, swirling in the air, getting too close to the skin with their blades from time to time.

Arthur had no plan. He wasn’t sure what to do. He didn’t know what to say. He didn’t want to make a wrong turn, a wrong step somewhere and make Merlin jump out of the door in the speed of light, disappearing in the golden dust.

It was like playing with fire and Arthur quickly had found out how easy it was to get burn.

At least it didn’t seem like he was the enemy in Galahad’s eyes. That was something.

After a few minutes, when he had got rid of the old bedding, he started to hear sounds coming from the kitchen, similar to opening and closing cupboards, moving drawers and scraping of chairs on the floor. Then quiet talks followed.

Arthur put on fresh bedding, spreading the quilt on the bed. It was big enough to be comfortable for two people, especially if one was a kid. Then followed the pillows and voilà, the bed was made.

Kinda too fast for Arthur to find his inner peace, but something told him that he wouldn’t get it today.

But that was fine. It was fine. It was going to be fine.

Arthur inhaled deeply, staring at the empty bedroom that soon would be filled with two souls, and then exited the room.

Merlin was snooping through the cupboards, staring curiously at what was inside of them.

Galahad was sitting on one chair and scrolling through his phone. His shoulders were slumped and he looked way too relaxed to be sitting in an unknown place after a day like today. But weirdly he didn’t look like he cared. Maybe the fact that Merlin was here was giving him support, making him feel braver.

When Arthur stepped inside the living room, Merlin closed quickly and loudly the cupboard.

“There are only spices in this one. If you want something you better search through the ones on your right. And the fridge.” Arthur said, hoping to hint on a joking tone.

Merlin, unsurprisingly, didn’t answer him. Just stared back.

But perhaps, in the end, no answer was needed, because Merlin’s stomach growled rather abruptly and loudly in the stillness of the room, accompanied only by the sounds coming from the TV.

Enough was enough.

“Okay, I think that answers any more of my future questions. I’m making some sandwiches. For all of us.” Arthur said and moved to the cupboards hanging in the middle, taking out a sandwich toaster from it. Then he blinked, holding the device in the air. “Okay I lied. I need some answers. Any allergies? Something you don’t like?”

Galahad lifted his head and shook it.

“No, we’re fine with everything.” Merlin finally slowly said.

It felt like Merlin was weighing his words, thinking whether he was using the proper ones, trying to block all the ones that could sell some information. He was guarded, protective, clearly trying to gauge Arthur, check how much he could say.

Although the curious gaze was a little unnerving, so Arthur said:

“You can make some tea, if you want to be useful.”

Merlin nodded at that and started to move around the kitchen. He clearly had seen enough, because he found the cups only after the second try, but he immediately knew where tea was.

They worked in silence, even though Arthur deeply wanted to fill it with questions and answers. Why was Merlin not reacting to him? Why was he acting so cautious? From whom he was running away? How Galahad had appeared in the world? Did he not remember anything? What was Avalon’s greatest need?

He had so many questions and no answers.

The first batch of sandwiches with cheese, tomatoes and pickles was finished and pushed towards Galahad, together with a cup of warm tea. The second one Arthur gave to Merlin, who thanked him quietly and the third one was for him.

They sat together at the table, with their cups of tea, and munched on their food in silence.

Arthur rolled over a thousand ideas inside his head. Should he call Gwen now? It was pretty late and she was probably already asleep with Lancelot next to her. He knew he had to tell her, he didn’t plan on hiding who was sitting next to him, but what could he even say if he decided to call today? Plus what if Merlin would hear him and decide that he wouldn’t want to spend the night here? No, that was too dangerous. He could wait till tomorrow. He had to. Gwen would probably demand to see Merlin immediately. Hell, she would even drag Lancelot and Elyan with her, who would bring Percival, so also Gwaine and Leon would tag along.

And that… that could be a disaster.

No, he had to wait until tomorrow. They had waited for so long, surely they can wait a day more.

“Do you have any homework?”

Arthur blinked a few times, finally noticing the soft voice next to him.

Galahad lifted his head and shook it.

“No, I finished everything a few days ago. There is an essay I need to finish for the day after tomorrow though.”

“I’ll grab your laptop tomorrow then.”

Galahad opened his mouth, glanced at Arthur and then closed it.

Soon they were all finished.

Arthur looked at them.

“Do you want to take a shower?” He asked.

Galahad nodded at that.

“Shower would be nice.” He even added.

Arthur couldn’t blame him. He had spent some hours sitting behind the delivery truck and trash bins. Even though they were empty, they weren’t that nice smelling.

“I could try to find some clothes for you and I can throw your current ones into the washing machine. They should be dry for tomorrow.”

And if not, it wasn’t anything that hair dryer couldn’t deal with.

Arthur stood up when Galahad’s eyes sparkled with mirth as he nodded.

“Okay, let me grab some clothes for you then.”

He decided Merlin wanted a set of clothes too. The ones he wore now were drenched in sweat.

Finding clothes for Merlin wasn’t difficult. They were the same height and okay, maybe Merlin was a little bit on the lanky and thin side, and Arthur had gained a few pounds, so the clothes would hang on Merlin, but it was something. Galahad was the more problematic one. Arthur managed to dig out the smallest of his clothes, but he was afraid the boy would still swim in these.

It was better than nothing.

Might as well put on his own pajamas as he was already in his room. He fished out a shirt and a tracksuit bottom to wear to bed. They were comfy and nice enough for him to walk around the house and then sleep in them. Plus he liked the shirt. Leon had given it to him a few years ago.

(Back when they both still hadn’t remembered.)

“Come, I’ll show you how to use the shower.”

Both guests walked into the bathroom with him and Arthur quickly explained how it all worked. It wasn’t too complicated, but it had a few strange tweaks about it.

With a fresh towel and the clean clothes in hand, Galahad closed himself in the bathroom.

Arthur returned to the living room.

Merlin stood in the corridor for some time, observing the door to the bathroom like he expected to hear a shout or a shriek coming from behind it.

(Like he was ready for black tendrils to appear form beneath the door and swallow the entrance whole, locking the boy inside, away from Merlin for all eternity.)

When the sink started running, Merlin bit his lip, turned around, walked slowly forward and sat back in the chair he had occupied before.

Arthur grabbed the laptop and moved to the kitchen too.

The silence between them was deafening, incredibly dense and thick like tar, making it almost unable to breathe freely. It had never been like that between them. Their calm times had been always filled with voices, conversations, laughter or whispers. The silence only had appeared when either of them had been angry or sad or had had to focus on something, but even then it hadn’t been that dense.

Arthur opened one tab on the laptop, only to close it and open another one a second later. He didn’t have anything to do on the computer to be fair. He just needed an excuse to sit close to Merlin without looking suspicious.

The water ran freely in the bathroom.

“Why are you doing it?” Merlin suddenly asked.

Arthur, not expecting it, almost fell off the chair.

“What? Using laptop? Actually–”

Merlin huffed.

“I meant helping us. Why are you helping us?”

Merlin looked at him intensely, staring into his eyes, awaiting the words that would leave the lips.

Arthur knew why he was doing it, but sharing the truth wouldn’t help him right now. So he had to cut it or show the other side of it, one that was bearable.

“Because it’s the right thing to do?” Arthur answered, prolonging the words in the way that made him sound kinda prattish and lifting his one eyebrow to further on point out the idiocy of the question, which wasn’t stupid at all.

Merlin rolled his eyes.

“Yes, because every person would offer a night at home for random people they met on the street.”

“They should, the world would be a better place then.”

“This is how killers get their preys.” Merlin added.

Arthur shrugged and then opened another random, empty tab.

“Just don’t leave any blood stains on the carpet. They would be a bitch to get rid of.”

That at least got a positive response as Merlin snorted under his nose, clasping both of his hands around the cup of tea.

Arthur’s mouth twitched, not being able to not respond to that clear and sweet show of familiar emotion.

“Nothing hydrogen peroxide, lemon juice or baking soda couldn’t deal with.”

Okay, this made Arthur snort playfully, feeling a spark inside his heart, a sun reflecting on the armor during the warm days.

“Do I want to know from where you know it?” Arthur asked, glancing up for a moment.

Merlin pointed with his head towards the bathroom.

“He actually told me.”

“Galahad?” Arthur said and immediately bit his tongue.

Shit, stupid mistake.

Merlin frowned at that, pinched his pale lips in an even tighter line and then grasped tighter the cup.

It seemed that another layer had been added to the barrier around Merlin. A second after Arthur had started to tear it down, brick by brick.

“Yes, Galahad.”

Merlin was clearly unhappy with Arthur knowing Galahad’s name, especially when Merlin himself still didn’t give his own name to Arthur. He didn’t trust him. And even though it was a logical thing to do, he still could give Arthur a fake name and be done with it. But no, Merlin remained secretive and quiet.

“He’s a smart kid.” Arthur said after a while, trying to get back on the good side.

How he had managed to do it in his past life he wasn’t sure. He had had a ton of luck back then probably. Because now it seemed impossible to do. Almost as impossible as taking the Excalibur out of the stone. That had been easy in comparison to this.

Merlin sighed, but didn’t drop the barrier.

“Yes, he is.” Then after a second he added. “Incredibly stubborn too.”

“Well you know, they say that stubbornness can be inherited.”

Merlin glanced up.

“Are you insinuating something?” He inquired, with a hint of levity at the end, a mockery dressed in a comforting, sweet, but joking tone.

Familiar, painfully so, and yet so different.

“Nothing at all. Just pointing out the similarity of your ears.”

“Hey!”

It was okay, that was okay. This was getting him somewhere. This was showing him all the familiar reactions and known smirks and comforting glances and intimate furrows of eyebrows.

“What?” Arthur asked.

“You’re kind of a prat.”

Arthur’s heart broke, crashed, crumpled down like it was cut by a sword.

“Well, it’s not a nice thing to say to the person who helps you.” He almost whined, but tried to wrap the words with a little bit of anger.

Merlin glanced up at him with that impish smile.

“And yet, it’s the truth nevertheless.”

Arthur huffed exasperatedly and was already opening his mouth to retort something back, when the door to the bathroom opened and Galahad stepped out.

And indeed, he was swimming in Arthur’s clothes.

“The bathroom is free.” He stated.

Arthur glanced at Merlin.

“Do you want to use it?”

“If you don’t mind.” Merlin nodded.

The clinging clothes definitely had to be troublesome and uncomfortable.

“Let me get you a fresh towel.” Arthur nodded.

With a new towel and clean, borrowed clothes it was Merlin’s turn to disappear in the bathroom, leaving Galahad and Arthur to fend for themselves.

To be honest, spending time with Galahad was less stressful than spending time with Merlin. And wasn’t that surprising.

Arthur still could remember those good old times, spent in his own chambers with Merlin tottering around and him trying to write a speech. It had been an everyday life rhythm, comforting and dear, yet bizarre with Merlin pointing out the mistakes in the writing or Arthur passing a cup of wine to his servant. There had been just the two of them, no barriers or walls between.

And now Arthur felt like he didn’t know Merlin at all. Maybe he didn’t. Maybe the life he had lived had sculpted him into something different, a statuette of a man he once had been, but now it was broken, barely holding the parts together. There was so much to unpack, so many shattered, small pieces to glue back together, that Arthur wasn’t even sure where to start.

“Don’t worry about him. Dad is always like that with people he doesn’t know.”

Arthur shook his head, trying to get back from the lake of his thoughts onto the shore of the consciousness.

“Hm?” He intelligently said.

Galahad pointed with his head towards the bathroom, from which they could hear running water.

“My dad. He doesn’t like strangers.”

“I’ve noticed.” Arthur admitted with a small smile, tilting his head in that way he hoped said a thousand words.

Galahad apparently understood what he had meant, because he blushed a little. One hand moved to his face where he brushed his cheeks, like this movement could get rid of the color that was residing there.

“Sorry.”

“No need to apologize. It was very smart of you.”

Galahad blushed harder and more furiously brushed his cheeks.

Arthur laughed at that.

It was weird, peculiar even. To sit here, in his house with a small kid that was apparently Merlin’s son and the man himself taking the shower just a few paces away. Strange, but not unwelcomed.

The tornado of the questions inside his head was swirling, twisting, spiraling and whirling, leaving everything inside his mind a mess, a clatter of stars running across the sky. There was so much he didn’t know, so much he wanted to understand, but for the first time in a pretty long time he weirdly felt happy, content, like he had made a good step in the wanted direction.

They could deal with it. They always had done that. Why would this time be any different?

Arthur tilted his head, as he glanced at Galahad who played with his phone.

“Do you want Wi-Fi password?” He asked.

Galahad glanced up at him with sparkling eyes.

“Yes, please.”

After the password was passed and Galahad managed to connect to the internet on his phone, the smile he received in return blinded Arthur.

“Thank you.”

“No problem.”

They both occupied their time sitting on their respective devices. And this time Arthur did open some sites, mostly because he wasn’t sure what else to do. It was already pretty late, way after the time he usually fell asleep on the couch or in his bed. But then he didn’t want to miss anything, any precious minutes spent with Merlin actually, really being here.

After a few minutes the shower stopped and then Merlin stepped out, hair unruly and still wet and cheeks blazing red due to the heat that steamed out of the bathroom.

(Arthur was right, the clothes hung on him. And no, it wasn’t because Arthur had gained a few pounds, he always was a little bit more muscular than lanky Merlin.)

“Did you put the clothes in the washing machine?”

Merlin turned to him and nodded.

Arthur stood up.

“Okay, let me set it on the quick wash. The clothes should be washed in a few minutes.”

“Okay.” Merlin murmured and then turned to the boy. “Come on Galahad, you need to go to sleep. You have school tomorrow.”

The boy glanced at his dad and it seemed like he bit his tongue in time before he said something. He slipped off the chair and then walked forward to grab Merlin’s palm.

“Good night, mister.” Galahad said, looking at him.

“Good night, kiddo.” Arthur replied.

Merlin pressed his lips in a tight line, but didn’t comment. Only moved swiftly through the corridor towards the guest room.

A little bit rude, but kinda expected.

Arthur walked into the bathroom that seemed like a dragon cave with so much fog spiraling around.

Okay, someone here definitely preferred warmness to cold, refreshing showers.

The clothes were indeed already put in the washing machine, but then it was counterproductive to turn it on with so little inside, so Arthur decided to add several of his own clothes. He was supposed to do the washing soon, may as well do it now. He took out a few pieces of clothing from inside the laundry basket, then added the detergent and turned on the washing machine.

Here was the ex-king of Camelot, using washing machine. Brilliant in all his soapy glory.

Arthur went out and glanced around the suddenly empty house. Might as well start cleaning around. He would be a bit drowsy tomorrow, but at least his house would be clean for the morning.

He was shuffling towards the living room, when bits and pieces of a conversation caught his attention.

“Why are you so unkind to him?” Galahad quietly asked.

Arthur stopped breathing for a moment.

“I’m not unkind.” Merlin replied.

“You are, more so than usual when you meet someone new.”

“It’s not true. I held a normal conversation with him.”

There was a sound of rustling, like someone moved the curtains to hide the light that definitely would be sneaking inside the room in the morning.

“Dad.” Galahad said.

This time no reply came from Merlin’s side, only quiet steps across the floor.

“Is it because he is the Golden King?”

One more time this name. What were they talking about? He never had heard this one before today. The King of Camelot? Yes. The Once and Future King? Definitely. The King of Albion? Also that. The King of Prats? On a few occasions. But the Golden King was new.

Merlin sighed.

“Get in the bed, Galahad. It’s late.”

There was a sound of shuffling and susurration like someone slipped under the quilt.

“But it’s true. It is him.” Galahad quietly added, from behind the closed door.

“I believe you.”

“Then why are you acting like that?”

Another short pause, stillness that could tear down cities.

“Maybe the fact that he’s the Golden King simply scares me.”

Arthur felt like his heart lurched forward, knocked and crashed on his chest, making his breath hitch, squeeze and then combust, disappear after a good hit with a mace without an armor protecting it.

Galahad sniffed.

“That makes no sense.”

“I bet it doesn’t.”

Another set of rustling ships on the ocean from quilt.

“Sweet dreams.”

“G’night, dad.”

The sound of a kiss followed Arthur as he stepped away and quickly, but quietly, moved towards the living room to at least pretend that he hadn’t heard it all.

He couldn’t exactly control his hands, which trembled rapidly as he stacked the newspapers and magazines that had been scattered across the coffee table. He also grabbed the old cup of coffee and the bowl of spaghetti, that still remained there, and turned around to bring them to the kitchen, when a silhouette standing in the corridor made him jump.

“Oh shit, I thought you went to sleep.” Arthur said in lieu of explanation to his almost shriek that he definitely hadn’t let out.

“No, still here.” Merlin mumbled back, standing there, in Arthur’s clothes and looking really out of place.

Arthur swallowed hard and then looked up at the ceiling. What should he do? Should he say something? Merlin didn’t look like he wanted to talk. Every Arthur’s previous attempt at conversation had been thwarted and had ended in silence. Why now should be any different?

With nothing better to do, Arthur turned on his heel and moved with his dirty dishes towards the kitchen.

“Let me help you.” Merlin suddenly said and almost appeared next to him, taking the dishes from his hands.

“You don’t have to do it. I can manage.” Arthur quickly stated, trying to move away and not lose the grip he still had on the bowl and cup.

“No, let me do it.” Merlin insisted.

“Really, you don’t have to.”

“I want to.”

And who was Arthur to say no to that determined face? If Merlin wanted to clean Arthur’s dirty dishes, then he was free to do that. He had done it before, long, long time ago.

Also, wasn’t that a weird change, from almost no speaking to holding something that resembled a bit a normal conversation. Maybe Merlin did feel bad that he had treated Arthur coldly. Or maybe Galahad had pushed something inside of him, let some walls crumble with a simple touch, perhaps a spell for a soul. Yeah, that could be it.

“Okay.” Arthur breathed out.

He let go of the dishes and decided to clean the rest of the kitchen – put the tomatoes and pickles back in the fridge, hide the toast bread in the cupboard and then swipe the crumbs away from the sandwich toaster, only to put it in its rightful place.

Merlin worked in silence, methodically scrubbing the cups from coffee and tea marks, getting rid of the stains of oil on the plates and disintegrating the once tomato sauce in the bowl with hot water and a dish soap. There was a crease on his forehead, one that Arthur knew well, one that showed that he was deep in his thoughts, thinking intensively about something, something that was utterly complicated and, more possibly than not, without any good way out.

Arthur never had liked this look. But right now he doubted Merlin would share his thoughts with him. Now more than ever.

The washing machine peeped, which signaled the end of the program, so Arthur went there to grab the clothes and put them on the clothes dryer rack standing in the corridor.

The unfamiliar clothes looked out of place in the row next to his own laundry, one that lived here the good portion of their life.

Arthur stared at them for a second too long probably.

“Thank you.”

Arthur snapped his head up.

“For what?” He asked, feeling his heart rattling inside his ribcage.

Merlin was done with the washing and now was standing awkwardly in the living room, eons, light-years away and yet closer to Arthur than in the last thousand and five hundred years.

“For letting us stay the night here, for the food, for allowing us to take a shower, for the clothes.”

For helping was left unsaid, but Arthur nevertheless understood the meaning.

He leaned down to grab another piece of clothing to put on the rack.

“It’s not a problem.” He sniffed, trying to hide how much those simple words made him ache all over inside.

“But it is.” Merlin insisted, scrunching his nose in that confused old habit.

“Not for me.” Arthur said and then bit his tongue.

Merlin turned the deep, blue eyes back at him, staring intensively, suspiciously, but with a hint of interest like Arthur was a weird specimen and Merlin tried to understand him all from the inside out. He stared like he could read Arthur, like he could know and see his every feeling and emotion that he had hid under his skin.

Then Merlin shook his head, scattering around the too long, curly, black strands on the pale forehead, and glanced back up at him.

“Can I help you more somehow?”

Arthur hung his shirt.

“No, don’t worry, I’m going to sleep after finishing this.” Arthur said, pointing at the small pile of wet clothes. “You should too, it’s really late.”

The man nodded, then walked forward, moving towards the closed door of the guest room and opened it with a quiet creak.

Arthur turned to the drying rack, trying to calm his wildly beating heart, when the voice came back again, destroying everything that he had started to tidy and build inside his mind, chest and heart.

“Merlin.”

Arthur snapped his head back up so quickly that he almost could hear something in his neck cracking. This would hurt in the morning.

“Pardon?” He murmured, blinking and hoping and praying and needing–

Merlin licked his lips hesitantly.

“My name. It’s Merlin.”

“Oh.” Arthur breathed out, feeling the tremors inside his body, the earthquake that wanted to swallow him whole, the tsunami of emotions trying to break loose.

“You know, like the wizard from the Arthurian legends.” Merlin added, almost smiling to him with that playful and yet tired glint in his blue eyes.

Arthur snorted loudly, closing his eyes for a moment and breathing in, trying to control the whirlpool of memories striving to make him kneel and bend his head to bare the neck.

“I bet some people can’t let the opportunity slip?”

“Don’t you know all about it?” Merlin quipped, looking at him with mirth dancing in the corners of his uplifted lips.

Arthur smiled under his nose. He had been the butt of jokes way before he had remembered that he was indeed the real and true Arthur Pendragon. The number of times someone had made those jokes was bigger than Gwaine’s ego and it was enormous.

“I do know all about that.” Arthur admitted, smiling to Merlin.

The male stared back at him, some strange, unknown emotion flicking in these deep eyes and smiling lips. It was a skittish feeling, hesitant, almost embarrassed, but also kind and warm – a soft touch of familiarity in the dark wood, a delicate caress of the fire during the cold nights, a comforting scent of leather in the morning.

Arthur stared back, seeing and feeling like he could do it for hours and it still wouldn’t be enough to believe that Merlin was really here.

Merlin finally cleared his throat when Arthur literally didn’t move for fifteen seconds.

“I’ll be going to sleep then.”

“Okay.”

Merlin nodded at that and then opened his mouth one more time.

“Good night, Arthur.”

“Good night, Merlin.” Arthur whispered back.

And with that his long lost and finally found friend disappeared in the guest room.

Arthur finished hanging the clothes and then moved towards the kitchen to turn off the laptop and switch off the lights, when it all hit him. The whole today crashed into his body, took his breath away, slashed his muscles, pierced his bones and turned his mind to golden dust. His heart beat rapidly in his chest, but suddenly it felt like there was no free space, that there were too many emotions, feelings, memories, questions, possibilities, hopes, fears and dreams inside his body to bear it all.

Merlin was here. He was really here. His body and soul and heart were really here. Years and years of searching, of checking, of looking, of gathering information, of sleepless nights and aching mornings, of dreams and nightmares, of hopes and despair, of wanting, of needing came down to this.

The weight of it all crashed down on him and he had no energy to keep his body upright. So Arthur slumped on the kitchen chair and hid his face in his hands.

What should he do from now on?

 “Take me back in time to love you

Take me back when we were lost

Lost in love and lost in feeling

Without the cost.”

– Jeff Blim

[mayibeyoursbanks]

Can you do a fic with JJ and y/n to the song Summer Love by One Direction because y/n went to the Obx just for the summer but they find a way for the group to be together at the end of the summer while y/n goes back to her house? Lol it’s a lot sorry.

I’m so sorry this literally took forever for me to get to- I accidentally deleted everything halfway through writing it😔

But it’s here now! It kinda took its own path but I hope you like it!!!

“Summer Love”

———————————————————————

Memories of the past two months flooded through your mind as you stuffed your suitcase with all of your belongings. It felt as though every T-shirt, swim suit, piece of jewelry, had a different memory attached to it.

You reached for the woven bracelet on your dresser, thinking of the day you first got it.

“Close your eyes babes. We have a present for you,” said Kie. You shook your head, but complied anyway.

“A present? You guys didn’t have to give me anything. You just met me what? Three weeks ago?”

“Don’t be silly. It’s your birthday, of course we got you something. Besides, it’s not even that huge of a deal,” you hear Sarah say from your other side.

You feel something lightweight fall into your outstretched hand and feel the rough, woven texture between your fingers. You smile as you open your eyes to look down at the handmade bracelet. It was made of three colors- yellow, pink, and orange -all intricately interwoven to make a perfectly wrist sized band.

“A friendship bracelet? Just like bit of yours?”

“Well, not just like ours. We made new ones to match.” Sarah held up her wrist to flash a bracelet identical to the one in your hand, and Kie did the same.

“It’s beautiful. Thank you.” Your eyes watered with tears.

“You may not be in the Outer Banks forever, but you will always be apart of our lives, Y/N. I hope you know that”

You smiled to yourself as you tugged the bracelet onto your wrist and reached for the baseball hat that was placed next to it.

It was a scorching hot day, and the sun beat down on you and Pope as you rode Heyward’s boat back across the island. You had volunteered to help him make deliveries to the Figure 8, but under this sun, you were regretting the decision to pass on surfing with the girls.

“Thanks for helping me out again Y/N/N. These deliveries would have taken me all day to do alone.”

“Anytime Heyward. But maybe the next time you need a hand, you could tell me to bring a hat? Or even some sunglasses?” You said this jokingly, but Pope must have noticed your red, sun-kissed face and how you squinted up at him to talk, because then he moved to remove his iconic “Pong” hat and put it on your head, tugging it into place. You smiled gratefully at him, and went back to counting the tips from the day.

When Pope pulled the boat up to the dock, you went to return his hat to him, but he held his hand out.

“Keep it. It looks ten times better on you anyway.” You did a fake gasp and placed your hand in your chest.

“Is this your final gift to me Pope? A memento to remember you by when I finally return to the horrors of the mainland?” Pope just chuckled.

“Well I can’t let you go forgetting me now. Gotta compete with the others. Well except for JJ, he obviously has a spot secured in your heart.” You felt your cheeks blush furiously.

“What is that supposed to mean Heyward?”

“Come on Y/N/N. You guys have acted like an old married couple since we first met you at The Wreck. Even John B can see it.” You looked down at the groceries swinging in your hand as you walked up the dock next to Pope.

“Is it that obvious?”

“As obvious as the capital of Russia.”

You smirked to yourself at the reoccurring memory of yours and Pope’s favorite inside joke, and gently set the hat on the top of the bag.

Then you saw the worn book that was laying under then hat on your dresser, and picked it up to flip through the pages.

You were wondering around the Chateau while you waited for John B to find the keys to the Twinkie. The two of you were supposed to pick up the rest of the Pogues for a drive around the island, but the absent-minded boy had somehow misplaced the most important part of that plan.

As you walked down the hallway, you stopped at a door you recognized as Big John’s office. You had never gone in here because while John B was very open to talking about his dad with you, you had only known him for a month and a half. Going in felt like an overstep before.

You slowly creaked the door open though, and we’re greeted by stacks of books and piles of maps. There was a model ship in one corner, and glove across from it, with a desk covered in even more maps and books in the center of the room.

You walked to the desk and scanned the stacks of books, eyes landing on a light blue book that looked well read. As you picked it up, you ran your fingers over the embossed lettering.

“Searching for the Merchant,” you whispered to yourself. You opened the book with a crap and started fingering through the pages.

“That was his favorite book in this whole office.” You jumper at the familiar sound of your friends voice and slammed the book closed. You were about to apologize to John B but the boy stopped you.

“It’s ok. I come in here all the time.”

“Do you feel closer to him? When you’re in here?”

“In some ways. In others I feel farther than ever.” You watched John B as he stared down the model ship in the corner.

“I never met him, but just from being in here I can tell he was a good man.” A small smile appeared on John B’s face.

“And a good dad.”

“That he was, Y/N/N. That he was.” The two of you stood in silence for a little longer before the boy spoke up again.

“Why don’t you keep that book? You might enjoy it.” You rapidly shook your head.

“John B, I could never. All this stuff is yours to enjoy.”

“Look around Y/N. I obviously have plenty of things to go through when I miss him. Besides, I already had my great adventure. Maybe that book will inspire you to find yours.” You smiled big at your friend, the Pogues’ treasure hunt was the first story they had told you when you hung out at the Chateau for the first time, and you had always craved to have your own similar escapade, minus the life-threatening pirates.

You gently closed the book and tucked it into the side of your suitcase, thinking about the adventure you had this summer with your new best friends. Zipping your the suit case, you tugged it off your bare bed and began to pull it towards your bedroom door. You stopped suddenly at the sight of a long necklace hanging from a nail next to the door. Your treasured shark tooth necklace.

You barely noticed the dock shift under the weight of someone sitting next you, and you didn’t even bother to look up. You know exactly who it was.

“Are you really leaving at the end of the week?”

“I have to JJ. My parents want to go back to the mainland early, and even though I’m 18, I’m definitely not financially independent enough to stay here.”

“Screw money. We’ll find a way. You can stay with Kie. Or Sarah. Or Pope. Or heck, even John B.” You shook your head, trying not to cry.

“This is why I was afraid to tell you guys. I knew there was no getting out of me going home, and now it’s all you guys will focus on.”

“Can you blame us? You became one of our best friends, my best friend, in less than 24 hours. How do you expect us to let you go without a fight.”

“There’s nothing you can do this time JJ, not even the people that uncovered the Royal Merchant.”

“But wha-“ You placed your hand on his knee to signal him to stop talking.

“JJ, can we please not talk about this right now. I may not have as long as I thought, but I want to spend the time I do have making memories. Not wallowing I’m self-pity.” JJ grabbed your hand in his and brought it to his mouth to gently kiss it. He held it to his mouth for a while, and you looked over to him for the first time during this entire conversation. You shifted to face him, and with your free hand you reached for the shark tooth dangling around his neck.

“Now where in the world does a boy like you get a piece like this?” You said, mimicking the very first question you ever asked the boy. JJ chuckled and met your eyes.

“On a great adventure. One with pirates, and gold, and a giant storm. Almost didn’t make it out, but I found this tooth lingering in my battle wounds after I washed up on the sand,” JJ replied in his rip-off Pirates if the Caribbean accent.

“Oh? And what has this tough-as-bones pirate prince been doing since then? Plenty of damsels in distress I assume?” JJ smirked.

“Hundreds. But only one of them has really caught my heart.”

“And what of her? What adventures has she gone on?”

“None yet. But I’m hoping to change that.”

“Ah, a lucky lady she is.”

“Yes, you are.” Your smile faltered. You and JJ had grown very close this past summer, and had even shared an almost-kiss at one time. But you both knew it was pointless trying to explore that, what with you leaving in less than a month.

“JJ?” The boy in front of you smiled and grabbed both of your hands, placing them in his lap so he could hold your face with his.

“You were mine this summer Y/N. And I was yours. Don’t take that away from me, not quite yet.” You nodded, tears threatening to trickle down your cheeks.

“We can’t last long JJ. We’ve both known that for a while.” JJ just shook his head and stared into your eyes even more intensely.

“Y/N. Can I kiss you?”

“Please,” you whispered. And it didn’t take another second for JJ to press his lips to yours, and like two perfect harmonies you both moved to close any remaining space in between your bodies, all while you tugged at each other’s lips, hungry to make up for all the chances to do this you took for granted the past two months.

When you two finally broke apart, you rested your forehead against his and smiled when he slid his necklace over his head and onto your neck. You reached up to the tooth and held it in between your fingers, and closed your eyes.

You quickly wiped the tears from your eyes and grabbed the necklace, only to stuff it in your back pocket. Wearing it would only remind you about your summer love, but you couldn’t bare to part with it.

Stepping out of your house, you met your dad who grabbed you suitcase from you to put it in the car. He gave you a sympathetic smile while your mom grabbed your shoulder and squeezed past you in the doorway.

Then you heard the familiar growl of a motorbike, and looked down the road to find none other than JJ and Sarah quickly approaching your house. You walked towards them, but you didn’t make it far before Sarah all but tackled you in a bear hug.

“I almost thought you guys were going to let me leave without saying goodbye.”

“We’re not. Letting you leave, that is.”

“Sarah, I don’t have a choice. I can’t afford to live on my own, and my parents have to go back. There’s no way.”

“What if I told you there was.” The look on Sarah’s face was full of determination.

“What do you mean?” Instead of explaining her antics to you, she grabbed your wrist and pulled you toward your parents.

“Mr. Y/L/N. Mrs. Y/L/N. Your daughter can not leave the Outer Banks. She’s official Pogue property now.” You just shook your head at your best friend, but let her talk.

“But I understand you two need to go back to those forsaken mainlands, so I have a proposition. As you know, my embarrassment of a brother has just gone off to Ohio for...well, I guess you can call it school. He won’t be returning for at least 4 years, and Wheezie and I can’t bare the empty room for that long. However, we’re willing to let Y/N here move in with us, free of charge. And as for the financial independence, the Carreras have a new opening at the Wreck, and I think it would be a good way for Y/N to make some money of her own. I think 4 years is sufficient time to get on her own feet, don’t you think?”

You looked at Sarah in absolute wonder, and when your parents turned their eyes to you, you met them with a determined glare.

“Mom. Dad. You know how much I love it here. You guys said it yourselves every day, I belong here. And I’ve made the best friends I could ever ask for, and I’m more happy than I ever was on the mainland. I’m 18, and this is an opportunity to prove to you that I’m ready to make my own life.”

You’re parents looked at each other, having not said a word this whole time. Your mom was the first to break.

“Well, it is only a 2 hour ferry ride. And I trust the Cameron’s. And your friends.” Your dad smiled at you and chuckled to himself.

“That’s my girl. Of course you can stay.” You gaped at your parents.

“Wait, really?!?! That worked?”

“It may not be the most stable option, but you’re right, you belong here. And being able to stand up and tell us that proves to us that you’re an adult now.”

You’re mom nodded her head in a direction behind you before she spoke, “Besides, it looks like you may be in a good hands here.” You spun around to find JJ, shyly holding his helmet and looking up at you with a small smile. You broke from Sarah’s grip and ran to him, jumping in his arms and pulling your legs around his waist.

JJ held you tightly and spun you around, laughing with you. When he came to a stop, you pulled away to look at him.

“So, what’s our first adventure, my pirate prince?”

“Well, I was thinking...nothing that involves hidden treasure or getting shot at?”

“And what do you propose instead?”

“How about something with sharks?” You heard your dad cough from behind you, and looked to see his eyebrows raised questioningly.

“With secure cages of course.” JJ added nervously.

“Sounds perfect. When do we start?”

“Right now.”

———————————————————————

Tags: @tangledinsparkles @the-crackhead-next-door @pankows-girl @howdyherron @poguemacking @dpaccione

[airiustide]

Zutara writing prompt request- Zuko and Katara hook up after a fire nation ceremony... short while after she finds out she’s pregnant?

A/N: Hey, anon! So, instead of doing what you requested, this whooooole thing turned into fluff, (with a few hints *whink whink*) nonetheless, it turned out sweet, with the right amount of flirtiness, and zuko giving lots of kisses.

Summary: Three months after a one night stand and Zuko doesn’t know how to face Katara. Not enough alcohol could give him the courage to confess just how much that night had conjured dormant feelings. But it just might be enough to take in what he learns next. 

He couldn’t concentrate clearly with everyone conversing so loudly. Space invaded by acquaintances and strangers alike. The grand ballroom was occupied by guests, a summit held with the world’s highest officials and leaders. Weeks of endless meetings and settled treaties finally moved to an evening filled with loud music and gourmet food. Every face he came across was a blur. His eager gaze sweeps across the extravagant room, draped in the gold and red of his nation’s colors.

Where was she? He repeated to himself, looking around anxiously, palms sweaty. There was a thundering in his ears and Zuko’s heart drummed in his chest. He swallowed the remaining contents of his ninth cup of wine, swiftly dismissing anyone who attempted to grasp his attention whilst he maneuvered the room in search of the one person he had been working so hard to find since this whole thing started. 

He could very well be kidding himself. Selfishly thinking that after all this time she might have a semblance of feelings for him as he did for her. Or perhaps sleeping with her before confessing only made him come off pathetic.

He was going to lose his mind thinking about it. Zuko rubbed a hand down his face, starting to feel shame swell in his chest. Why? Did he really fuck things up that bad? He’s always done his best not to let things eat at him, but Katara wasn’t just anything or anyone, for that matter. 

If she wasn’t there when he was at his lowest; vulnerable and despondent, maybe things would’ve turned out different. Day after day spent between the throne room and his chambers only to end it with...himself. The loneliness settled in like a dark mass, weighing heavily on his person. And on the anniversary of his mother’s disappearance, it all came tumbling down with a tall glass of fire whiskey and the lips of the waterbender who shared it with him.

She tasted sweet despite the heat of the liquor. His name hit his lips hotly from her mouth, a pleasant mewl that coaxed him closer and closer. Wiping away the heaviness that tore him day in and day out. Whether it was the alcohol or it was a fleeting act of emotions, Zuko couldn’t accept either. Though, he couldn’t speak for Katara. Maybe he was the only one reading deeper into this than necessary.

The thought had him needing to replace his empty cup of wine for another. Reaching out as a waiter crossed him with a gold-plated tray filled with goblets, Zuko didn’t calculate the proper distance between him and the tray, accidentally knocking it over along with the waiter. In his hazy state, the young Fire Lord attempts to stop the waiter from meeting the floor by grabbing his collar and, instead, falls right on top of him. 

Wine spilled, and goblets clanged. Zuko’s face goes red hot, utterly horrified at his clumsy, drunken state. With the aid of nearby guests both him and the waiter were helped to their feet.  A quick apology and a bow, and Zuko rushes out of the room, clinging to the chest of his soaked royal robes.

“Woah, there!” A familiar voice stops him in his tracks. A gentle hand flattening against his strong chest ignites a well known spark. “And where do you think you’re going in that state, Fire Lord?” 

He looks down to find Katara’s teasing smile, the smile reaching her radiant eyes and accenting the glow of her features. The dress she wore was lined with fur and embroidered in tribal designs. Her hair was left in chocolate waves and pinned to the side to fall over her left shoulder. It steals his breath and suddenly all his nerves go haywire. “I-I-” 

Katara’s face turns into concern. “Are you okay? You look pale.”

Zuko inhales, gathering his composure and bows formally to Katara’s surprise. “Ambassador Katara. Welcome back. How was your visit home?”

“Umm, I’m not against formalities, but I don’t think now is the time for that. We should get you cleaned up.” She takes his arm, nodding her head at Zuko’s guards who witnessed the scene of their Lord’s incident, taking the indication that they should return to their post and that the Master waterbender had it from here. “Geez, Zuko, you smell like booze.” She pointed, lifting his arm around her shoulder and leading him out of the ballroom. 

“Well, I did just take a bath in wine.” He scoffed.

She rolls her eyes. “I mean your breath, silly. You smell like you consumed a winery.”

“Is that a bad thing?” He quipped, a slur left his lips, causing Katara to laugh.

“It is when you do it without me.”

Zuko’s temperature spiked, pulsing in the center of his stomach and leaving a tingling in the pit of his abdomen. Katara cleared her throat, feeling his skin go hot and squeezing his arm to get him to calm down. 

“Getting a little too excited, I see.” He was terribly adorable when he was flustered. She blushed as well, repeating the words in her head and recalling the events that led from a single bottle to his bed. His hot touch; his tongue in her mouth, on her skin, her palm, her thighs, her-

She comes to when they approach his chambers, her first thought was to take him to bed but changed her mind when she’s reminded of the dried wine sticking to his clothes, skin and hair. “Bath.” She tells him, getting Zuko to help work their way to the washroom because he started to get heavy. 

The stonework to the large room took Katara’s breath away. It was as big as a pool in a hot spring. A set of doors led to a private patio, closed off to the outside world and surrounded by orchids, arranged stones and luscious green leaves. Probably a good place to mediate, Katara thought. 

She lays him carefully on a lounge chair, removing the armor from his shoulders and wrists. Zuko doesn’t take his eyes off her; taking in every touch of her hands as she removes his sash, and unwraps his outer robe. Fingers unintentionally brush his collarbone as they work open his tunic, coming down to remove his boots. Katara catches him staring as she goes to release his hair and crown from his topknot. 

“Soft.” He hums, a lopsided smirk directed at Katara. 

She chuckles, cupping his cheek. “Don’t get flirty, Fire Lord, only one of us is inebriated.” He hisses when her fingers hook into his trousers and jerks them off with a tug. 

“Katara!” He shrieked, provoking the waterbender to lose it after he instinctively went to cover his crotch. The jolt of cold air and the realization that he was now naked knocked him slightly sober.

“Nothing I haven’t seen before. Aside from already having had a good look at what’s between your legs, on numerous occasions, mind you.” She grinned. “Being a healer means I’ve seen plenty of the male anatomy, more than I can count. Let’s get you clean, shall we.”

Katara helps him to the bath, holding his hand as he submerged himself in water, still covering himself with his free hand. Coming back up, he wipes his eyes and slicks back hair away from his face. Once he’s seated, she removes her slippers, lifting up her dress and dipping her feet in the water with a sigh. “Now that’s better.”

A quiet falls in the room as steam rises; thick, most likely from Zuko’s embarrassment. He’d never looked so red from the face down. 

“You never wrote back.” He murmured, so low that Katara didn’t catch it at first.

He watched her shift uncomfortably, ruffling her hair of water droplets, the steam making her tresses thick and wavy. Zuko half expected her to ignore the subject, or a part of him hoped she would. What if he was coming off too strong? Or worse, desperate. 

“It’s not that I didn’t want to…” She started. “A lot has been going through my mind. I needed some time to...process.”

Zuko swallowed thickly, casting his gaze down to the water, watching as it tinted red from the wine that clung to his skin and hair. “I get it.”

“Do you?” She asked, tone serious and brow furrowed. 

“I-” He looked up at her, confused. Her expression was that of disappointment. “No, I guess I don’t. Not from your end at least. Yet, I had some hope you would clarify that for me, so I'm not here thinking that the last three months you had come to hate me.”

“What?!”

“It’s unfair to expect me to empathize with you after sleeping together then never hearing from you again. I’m not very good at reading between the lines, Kat. Yeah, sleeping with me was probably the dumbest thing to do. But I have feelings t-”

“I’m pregnant, Zuko.”

“Oh, yeah? Well, I- come again?”

Her hand comes up to cover her mouth, eyes squinting as though she might start to cry. “I’m pregnant.”

Zuko’s voice caught in his throat, mouth opening and closing like a fish out of water. “It’s-it’s mine?”

She shot him a glare. 

“It’s mine.” He repeated. “It’s mine.” In a daze, he crosses the water toward Katara, first reaching out to grasp the hand covering her mouth, lacing it in his own. Blue eyes finally look up to find a smiling Zuko. How can he take the news without an ounce of worry?

“You’re drunk.” She excused for him, dismissing his overly happy expression.

“I’m drunk, that doesn’t mean I’m incomprehensible.”

“You might change your mind in the morning.”

“I won’t.”

“How do you know?”

“How do you?” Zuko countered, brow arched. “Want to know how I know?”

Katara cocks her head, unsure of what he was getting at.

“Because of this.” He leans in to brush a kiss below her ear, eliciting a spark on her skin. “And this.” His smile widens when he kisses her forehead, a gasp leaving Katara’s lips. “And this.”He hums, pressing his lips to her cheeks, chin and then, finally, lips; an airy kiss that left her wanting more.

His mouth makes a path to her right arm, stopping to display an especially sensual one to the palm of her hand. “Zuko.” She moaned, shaking all the way to her knees. 

Logic screamed at her that this was her best friend. And though their one night stand opened up the truth to how she felt about Zuko, getting pregnant was not in the cards. The first thing she wanted to do upon her return from home was confess but fate had other plans. Every thought, from the possibility that Zuko might think she was trying to trap him to her resigning from Ambassador to raise the baby in secret, ran through her head. It took more courage than she cared to mention just to show up at the summit. She was an Ambassador, regardless of her situation, she couldn’t not show up.

As she tried to make sense of this, all the while, Zuko had lifted her dress just above her belly, gently pushing down on her shoulder, coaxing her to lie on her back. It was like he was in a trance, hands caressing the flat of her belly. Pregnancy was hardly noticeable at this stage. He didn’t seem to care, pressing butterfly kisses all over until it was too much and Katara started to giggle from the ticklish pecks and breathy whispers he made to the little one in her belly. Expressing how he couldn’t wait to meet them. 

“You’re out of your mind.” Katara teased, combing her fingers through his long, silky hair. The panic she experienced moments ago began to dissolve. 

Zuko makes a goofy grin, resting his cheek on her stomach. There weren't enough words or actions to express how happy he was. Only an hour ago, he was just a lonely man with little to look forward to. Now he has gained a family. “Only for you. That is, if you’re all in.”

Hurdles were bound to be faced. Katara’s life would change drastically. They didn’t have the first clue on how to make this work, but by the Spirits they would figure this out. This was them after all, Zuko and Katara. That’s all they needed to get a head start. “I’m in.”

[queensparklekitten]

Been scrolling through @minecraftheadcanons for ages and now i’m thinking about players raised by illagers and, to a lesser extent, the human rights violations committed in trading halls

“Hey Sumi! There you are!” 

At the mention of the name she went by, the player looked up from where she was sitting, at the top floor of the outpost.

 “Hey Argo! What’s up?” 

“So. There’s going to be a raid on a village soon, and you’re coming!” 

Sumi jumped up. “No way. You’re kidding! How did they find the village?” 

“Some of us are tailing a player we ran across recently. They haven’t seen us yet, but they will when they lead us right to a village and we strike!” 

“Oh my god, I’m going to be in a raid! Can I go in as soon as possible?” 

“Of course you can!” 

“Oh yeah, by the way. Got any ideas on when this will be? I want to know if I have time to go mining a little, look for some diamonds. I want a diamond sword for the raid.” 

Argo gestured to the iron sword Sumi had on her, glittering with enchantment. “I’d say with the enchantments you’ve got on that thing, you don’t need a diamond sword.” 

“I suppose. Oh yeah, one more question. Can I blow up the buildings?” 

Argo paused at that one. She knew Sumi had been taught to conquer and be unafraid to kill, but she’d never seen anyone want to set off explosives in a raid before. 

“That could hurt some of us, though... I’ll ask the higher-ups, and if they say no, stick to arson.” 

“Sounds fair.” 

Two days later, the horn resounded. The first wave went ahead, and Sumi geared up. 

“I’ve got food, arrows, armor, some blocks, a little TNT, and my flint and steel. I think I’m ready.” 

The raiders arrived at the village, all holding crossbows and axes high. All except for one raider, different than the others, with long midnight blue hair and a smaller nose than those around her, short red dress concealed by a diamond chestplate and iron helmet, leggings, and boots, all shimmering with enchantment. The helmet in particular had gold accents on it, purely for aesthetic purposes; Sumi had crafted it herself and decided why not. 

The horn sounded and the second wave charged. 

Sumi ran through the village, searching for a completely wooden building to torch, a villager or an iron golem to kill-

“Look, a player! Think she’s here to save us?” 

Sumi turned to where she heard the villager. 

There. In that little house. 

Sumi opened the bright orange door to find two villagers hiding inside, crouched underneath the window. 

“Player! Have you come to fight off the illagers?” 

Sumi took a step closer to them and began to laugh. 

“Now just why would I fight my family?” 

The closest villager had no time to react before Sumi stabbed him twice. Almost as fast, she tore out her sword and turned to face where the other one had been a minute ago. 

Sumi saw them running out the door, and had to laugh at their idiocy. Did they really think it was any safer outside? 

No matter. She had blood to spill. She charged after the villager and swung her sword, managing to land a hit, the enchantments on the sword knocking them forwards and causing them to fall onto the ground. 

“I’ll give you one chance to join us. Take a crossbow and prove that you can use it against the wretched scum of this village, and you can live.” 

“Fuck you.” 

“Your loss.” Sumi finished off the villager and ran through the village to find her next target. 

The first thing she noticed was Loika was on a roof and there was an iron golem staring up at them. 

“Ooh, sniping them from the roof? Good one!” 

“I’ve shot this golem like 6 times and it’s not going down! Is there a ravager here yet?” 

“I don’t see one. They’re probably on their way with one, though.” 

“Great, because this golem’s already taken out two or three of us-” 

Sumi dropped her sword. “Wait, WHAT?” 

“Yeah. It got Blaine and Ori.” 

Sumi didn’t pick up her sword for a minute. More dead. She knew there was a risk, she’d been there when they’d honored illagers who had fallen during raids, she’d had a vindicator tell her about how they’d died in one of the best ways one could die, but to actually be in a raid with casualties on the wrong side... 

“Everyone back up!” 

Sumi pulled out a block of TNT and placed it next to the iron golem. After checking to make sure there was no cats nearby, she lit the TNT and ran. 

The explosion went up behind her, decimating the entire building. Not much of a building, just a small yellow clay house, but the iron golem didn’t make it out in time. 

Loika just stood there, staring at the crater where there was once a house. 

“Whoa.” 

Just then, a horn sounded. 

Argo ran into the village, alongside some others Sumi recognized from the mansion, a witch she didn’t recognize, and an enormous ravager that would certainly have destroyed that iron golem had Sumi not gotten to it first. 

Loika lowered their crossbow. “Well, I’m going to go see the witch, I kind of just had to jump off a roof so I wouldn’t get blown up.” 

While Loika was regenerating, Sumi went looking for another target. 

“Hey Sumi! How’s the raid going!” 

Sumi turned and looked at Argo next to her. 

“It’s going great! I killed two villagers and blew up a house-” 

“And she destroyed the iron golem before the ravager even showed up!” 

“Yes, I also made that monster pay.” 

Argo high-fived her. “Oop! Villagers, 9-o-clock!” 

Sumi turned to where Argo had just pointed them out, running out of a building that had had its door broken down by a vindicator. “I call the one with the black apron!” 

She was about to use her sword, but as the villager ran away over the wooden bridge, she had a better idea. 

A pair of pillagers paused to watch as Sumi set fire to the block on which the villager stood. 

This guy was a mason, huh? How utterly worthless. Well, at least they’d served one purpose in their so-called life: entertaining her as they burned to death, running around in a desperate panic, trying to get rid of the flames, never making it to the water before they died. 

As Sumi continued what had turned into an arson spree, she didn’t even notice that the raiders who had arrived alongside her had left to restock on ammunition or that new raiders had arrived until a witch asked her if she needed a healing potion. 

“Uh, no thanks, I’m good.” 

“You’re... certainly destructive.” 

“It’s a talent of mine.” 

“Well, if you want to keep using that TNT I hear you brought, better hurry, we’ve almost won!” 

At that, Sumi felt a rush of excitement. They’d almost won the raid! 

No more time to talk. After all, what was the use of blowing up a village if none of its residents were alive to witness what they deserved? 

Sumi found another mostly-clay building. She didn’t see any villagers, but the two she’d taken out earlier were hiding under windows, so it wasn’t out of the question they were hiding. 

“Everyone back up, I’m setting off explosives!” 

Sumi placed TNT around the red clay house, before lighting it up. This time, she didn’t look away. Why would she, when she could watch the house and the nearby farm and some gray and orange wood building be reduced to dust? 

As the explosions finished, however, Sumi did regret not standing back further; even if the blast didn’t kill her, she still had smoke in her face- 

“Villager!” 

Sumi looked up. Villager? Where? 

Then she saw it running. White fabric over red, trying to make it to the one completely untouched building in the village, doomed to fail. 

Hers. 

Sumi took off like a baby zombie after the villager, sword in hand. She could see it already, the look in his eyes when he realized he may as well have already died, the celebration afterwards, maybe she could even take any stuff he had on him? 

As she walked up the stairs to the building he’d run into, several other raiders followed. Looks like they’d already gotten rid of all the others. 

“Where are you hiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiding!!!” called Sumi in a singsong voice. “Come on out! You can’t hide forever!” 

Movement next to some block she couldn’t tell the purpose of by looking. 

There. 

As she and her family closed in, Sumi took in this villager. Glasses, book looking hat- wait. 

“Guys, wait, don’t kill him yet, I need to see something.” 

“What’s this?” 

Sumi lowered her sword. “Show me what enchanting books you have.” 

“Uh, I can pay you for paper, or I can get you Mending-” 

“Perfect. Guys, don’t kill this one.” 

A vindicator Sumi didn’t remember the name of stepped forwards. “What do you mean, don’t kill this one?” 

“I mean he sells a rare treasure enchantment that can make our stuff unbreakable. We should take him back to the outpost or mansion, keep him in a cage or dungeon, and make him give us Mending books.” 

The vindicator nodded. “Not a bad idea, but how will we make him cooperate?” 

“Oh, don’t worry about that. I have some ideas.” 

Sumi knew zombie villagers could be cured. And if illagers who committed major infractions were turned into ravagers as punishment, a villager who refused to cooperate could be turned into a zombie. Then he’d be brought back, and all she needed to do was make it clear she could easily do this for as long as she needed to until she got cheap enchantment books. As she explained this, she couldn’t help but to make eye contact with her new villager, savor every minute of the terror on his face as she detailed what the rest of his life would be like. 

“A round or two of being turned into the mindless monster he fears so much, in what must be a painful manner, and he’ll be practically giving us enchantments for free. We can use the iron from the golem and the loot chests in the anvil to enchant everything we have.” 

“We had the right idea taking you in.” 

Sumi stepped out of the building as the villager got tied up and took in the destruction she’d caused. 

The center of the village was one giant crater. A few acacia stairs floating in the air were the only indication there had ever been buildings there. Further on, cracked glass panes were the only sign that wooden houses had once stood where there was now nothing but burnt ground. And flames, everywhere in the village, on almost every building she’d gotten near. 

A celebratory cheer came from within the crowd, and soon more mimicked it, some even doing a victory dance. 

Sumi could not help but to dance herself. 

While she was dancing, one of her best friends walked up to her, carrying arrows picked up from the ground. 

“Wow. You were vicious out there. I’ve never seen someone do this level of destruction.” 

“That’s TNT for you! You were great out there by the way, I saw that kill you got!” 

“Thanks! You too!” 

“So, I suppose we’re looting the chests now, huh. Hey, bet you I can find an emerald before you do!” 

“Oh, it’s on.” 

[hotpotrandomfics]

Sixth Year AU: Missing Part 2

Summary: Merula and the few brave souls willing to leave Hogwarts in attempt to find and save the Slytherin who was an integral part of their lives, Jason. Hopefully, for their sake they find him before it’s too late...

Word Count: 3,773

"I can't believe the amount of cowardice by all of then!" Merula thought as she and Ismelda began their mission to sneak out of the castle. The two made their way down the corridor slowly as to not arouse suspicion to their clear violation and disregard to the rules.

"We'll have plenty of time for that after we leave here," Ismelda commented as she peaked the corner to make sure they were in the clear. Ismelda didn't sneak around all that much but guessed Merula would know the way as she always tends to do so after lights-out. Either searching for the vaults herself or finding a place to hide with her boyfriend.

As the two witches walked to the corridor that led to the front gate of the castle, they noticed a few figures waiting there. If they got in Merula way, she'd take them down because nothing was going to stop her from getting Jason back. She readied her wand as she looked to Ismelda, who nodded and did the same. They crept up slowly to the three individuals who seemed to be arguing.

"You're not going without us!" said a feminine voice. "Jason needs us, and we have to do something!"

"I'll deal with it. You two are students here and are risking being expelled. Jason wouldn't want that for either of you," the taller figure said sternly."

"I refuse to wait, and the others can cover while we are gone. I am not letting you get in my way Weasely." It seemed that this argument between the three had been going on for some time now. The three went back and forth without either side faltering to the other.

"Talbott. Chiara. I can't protect you two and search for Jason at the same time." Bill clearly was exhausted by the tone of his voice.

"We aren't asking for your protection. What good are these spells you've taught us if we can't use them? Especially to save our friend?!" Talbott looked at Bill with grief, not at him, but at the thought of his friend suffering or maybe worse. "Either you help us or get out of the way. I won't hesitate to fight you."

"Bill, please. We have to do this, and we know the risk. Talbott and I are willing to make those choices, and we don't need your permission," Chiara stared at the red-headed wizard with the look of a wolf who'd lost a member of her pack.

Merula and Ismeldia decide it was best to confront the group after witnessing the display by Talbott and Chiara. The three turned to the sound of footsteps and saw Merula and Ismelda. Merula smirked at the two who wished to help.

"You have more guts than the rest and say," Merula was about to make fun but held back her usual comments. "Winger and Lobosca, I'm sure he'll appreciate the help from you two. Bill, before you even start-"

"I know I can't stop all of you, and I am not a fool, Merula." Bill sighed and shook his head. "Let's go before we all get stopped by any of the professors, or I come to my senses."

Merula and the rest didn't say anything as they followed behind Bill out of the gates of Hogwarts. Leaving the safety of their home and out to face the unknown. The group was going to be on their own with no assistance on this race against time to find their friend. Merula's pulse raced as her thoughts went to Jason. She couldn't let her fears get to her as she needed to be focused for his sake. The sooner she found him, the better it would be, knowing Rakepick she would make Jason suffer after the curse vault last year for following Snape's advice and not trusting Rakepick.

"I'll find you. I promise." Merula vowed to herself quietly as Bill and the group apparated out of Hogsmeade.

After a week, Merula's fears will have been realized, and more as Rakepick had all sorts of plans for her former student. In the dungeon, where Jason was being held was being beaten by the members of R. Jason hung from his chains bloodied and panting from trying to catch his breath.

"This wouldn't hurt as much if you just spoke up pretty boy," said a  burly man wiping his hands clean.

"Maybe he likes it. Can't say I am a fan of that," said another cloaked man. "Freak."

Jason did say anything as he tried not to pass out. He needed a way to get out of here, but without his wand, he can't do anything. For now, the young man just had to endure and hope for a miracle. The only thing he could think of to keep him sane from the torture was his thoughts of Merula.

"Meri," he mumbled to himself.

"Hm? What was that now, lad?" the burly man walked over to Jason. "Got something to say?"

Jason stared at the man with a smirk, spitting blood at the man's face earning himself a fist to his jaw.

"Now, you've done it, you brat!" the brute grabbed Jason by the throat and slamming his head against the wall.

"Hey! We still need the brat alive!" said the hood man. "Patricia will kill, and the rest would be disappointed if our means to enter these vaults get killed by you." The hooded man seemed to be at his wit's end with his partner. "Let it go, Winston."

"Shut your gob, James!" Winston turned to his partner. "I am not gonna let some brat treat me like an arse!"

"You don't help with that now, do you? Come on, we got a meeting, and Patricia is on her way to give this kid a lesson anyway," the man named James made his way to the door of the cell waiting for Winstein. "Well, we don't have all day!"

"Fine," Winston grumbled as he punched Jason in his stomach before leaving. "Torturing him was getting boring anyway."

As the door of the cell closed, Jason coughed out some blood and looked to the ceiling, wondering how long he'd survived. This torture was unbearable as he didn't know if he'd have the strength to push through it any longer. If it was his fate to die here, then fate indeed was cruel. His thoughts wandered to some of the moments before now. His train ride to Hogwarts, his first charms lesson, the day he made his first friend. Jason couldn't help but smile despite his situation as he then remembers the most crucial moment of his life, meeting Merula. It was those little moments that kept him sane, although he was in pain.

"Well, well," said an all too condescending voice coming from the entrance of the cell, "aren't you looking worse for wear. Mister Aurelius De Leone." Rakepick pushed the door open as she stepped in with a scowl. "Come now, why don't you crack? I could make you drink a truth serum-"

"But it's no fun for you though, Rakepick. I could care less regardless of what you will try." Jason scowled back at her. "It really is a shame that anyone believed you, including me." He looked at his former mentor with disappointment as he thought she could have been trusted against his better judgment. "I honestly thought of you as a well-respected mentor, but I know better."

"Is that so? If you know better, then why do you resist?" Rakepick crossed her arms as she tried to decipher what he was planning. "You do understand you'll die if you don't do as we say, yes?"

"I'm dead either way," Jason smirked. "So why give you satisfaction?"

"You're quite cheeky now," she sighed in annoyance. "I guess you learned that from me?"

"Oh, by all means, I don't enjoy acting so," Jason coughed, "but all I can say is that I did learn to be more foulmouthed from someone I respect. You, Patricia Rakepick, I have no respect for, and you are-!"

Jason screamed as his muscles started to contort in tightly. Rakepick had cast Crucio on the Slytherin boy with an utter look of pure malice. She wasn't going to let this boy outsmart or in this case, treat her as some fool. Rakepick needed to figure out how to convince him to submit as she knew Snape and Dumbledore taught Jason how to use Occlumency. The boy showed little emotion, but she knew he was the most empathic of her former students.

"Oh, I think I know how to make you talk, Aurelius." Rakepick lowered her wand, giving a dastardly smile.

"W-what," Jason panted as he realized what she said. "No, no, no, no, no! If you go near her, I swear I'll-!"

"You'll do nothing." Rakepick turned away, walking out of the cell. "It's time I paid, my dear Miss Snyde, a visit."

"You stay away from Merula, you trollop!" Jason yelled at her.

As Rakepick left, she passed a few of her fellow R members and told them to bump up the cruelty of Jason's handling. She knows the pain alone won't get him to talk, so she needs to find Merula as she seems to be his only weakness.

Rakepick walked up the stairs leading out of the dungeon to the main hall of her organization facility. The room was carved out of obsidian with gold accents with brazers hanging from columns that reached 30 feet high. At the center was a throne with an eye similar to that of Rakepick cloak hanging over it. In the throne sat a man in a black suit with a grander cloak. His was whiter than the first snow of winter, sporting a trimmed beard and a gaze of ice-blue eyes.

"My lord, we've made some-" Rakepick stopped as the man raised his hand, prompting her to silence herself.

"I am aware of this Patricia, and to be honest, I am more impressed by the boy's resolve than your efforts of prying information." The man stoic expression caused Rakepick to gulp in dread. "You are aware that the longer he stays, the closer the Ministry will find us out. Yes?"

"My lord, I can assure you that I can make talk. I know of means to make him speak." Rakepick said as clenched her fists.

"You've had a week to find this out? I expect more from you, Patricia, or do I need to remind you I can end you here and now?" The lord gritted his teeth in irritation.

"I need just find one of my former students and threaten her. The ladder will soon follow, and we will find the answers we seek. My lord, have faith in!" Rakepick knew she should have stopped sooner as the lord's eyes looked at her angrily.

"Have faith?!" the lord stood and stomped his way towards her. "If I had faith in you, the task would have been completed without all this unnecessary drama. Children, Patricia, outsmarted you! I'll be damned before I have in you until you prove otherwise!" His cold and stern voice sent shivers down Rakepick spin as she only knows that this man wasn't to be trifled with no matter how skilled you were. "Do what you need to and be quick about it."

"Y-yes, my lord!" Rakepick turned away and left her leader alone to his devices.

"Time is running short as is my patience," the lord walked to his throne and pulling a pocket watch from his coat pocket. "Hm, this boy is proving more troublesome."

Rakepick had made her way to one Floo network chimney of one of the many rooms of the lord's home. Stepping and slamming a handful of powder down. "Knockturn Alley!" she shouted as Rakepick was engulfed in green flames. She was transported to one of the access points of Knockturn Alley. Brushing the dirt off her cloak and covering her head with her hood. She then made her way to the streets of the sesspool where she was. Rakepick needed to get information if Merula had been seen anywhere in the area as she did keep tabs on her former students knowing fully they'd be out for revenge and right the wrongs of their mentor.

Elsewhere, at the Leaky Cauldron, Merula and her associates were going over what they've learned. So far, all they have heard are rumors that have lead to one dead end after another. Ismelda had persuaded quite a few of the misfits of Knockturn Alley as they were definitely scared by her words alone. Some of these "dark wizards and witches" were no more than cowards who believed if they had the power, they wouldn't be messed with, but those were big mistakes. Bill had to make sure Ismelda didn't go too far with her cursing as one can imagine what a history buff can only bring around.

Talbott, on the other hand, had been flying around the area and eavesdropping on a lot of individuals who seemed dubious by their attire and mannerisms. Unfortunately, his search didn't prove as much fruit as he'd hope. Talbott ran his hand through his hair, feeling the frustration getting to him.

"So, how'd your search turn up?" Bill asked Talbott, who wore a face of defeat.

"Nothing." Talbott grabbed his pint and took a swig. "I only keep getting rumors and nothing serious to go by. You?"

"Afraid not, we need to find someone." Bill rubbed his chin, trying to figure out what to do.

"Mundus Fletcher," Merula chided as she looked at them with bags hanging from her eyes. "If anyone knows something, he will."

"Merula, when did you last sleep?" Chiara asked as she walked over with a bowl of stew, placing it down as she took a seat next to the girl in question. The two had become friends when Jason had been coming to terms with being a werewolf. Chiara knew the pain of it and the stigma that came from it. "Merula, you need to eat and get some sleep too. We'll do most of the searching, okay?"

"Chiara, I can't just-"

"We know," Ismelda butted in as she placed a bowl in front of her, "and we'll need you at your best. No excuses."

Merula didn't have the energy to argue, and her stomach was quite empty. She sighed in defeat and when ahead and started to eat. As she ate, her thoughts went to that of Jason and his eating attics. The way he'd eat elegantly but obscene amounts. Well, with his growth from when they're but first years, his appetite grew with him. Merula couldn't help but smile as tears trickled down her face.

"Snyde?" Talbott looked at her with concern as the rest of the group did. "Are you alright?"

"I..." Merula didn't know how to respond. "I just miss him..."

"We all do, Merula. We'll find him, and we'll go back home." Ismelda placed a hand on her friend's shoulder, hoping it would provide some comfort. "Aurelius is durable than most and has handle worse than Rakepick, I'm sure."

The group continued their meal in silence as they felt that emptiness in their chests. None of them had much of an appetite. Merula stood up, leaving the other four alone as she needed a moment to herself. She headed to her rented room and sat on her bed as she couldn't stop the thoughts racing in her mind. Merula pulled out the necklace Jason got her the Christmas of their fifth year.

"Where are you..." she said as she softly wept — this sadness. This emptiness is something Merula hadn't felt for so long. "I can't lose him too."

"...M-Meri..." a voice whispered into Merula head. "Jason?" Merula sat up, looking around the room.

"R-Rakepick...is...coming for you. Y-you need to stay far away..." hoarse voice of Jason spoke into Merula.

"Where are you?" Merula pleaded. "I can be there."

"F-forget about me..." Jason's voice began to fade.

"No! Jason, please!" Merula screamed as Jason's voice fell soft.

"I l-love you..." then nothing...

Chiara and Ismelda burst into the room see Merula crying on the ground. The two kneeled down next to her, asking what had happened. From the breaks of tears, the two learned of the talk Merula and Jason had. If Jason was able to use legilimency to communicate, then he had to be somewhere close, right?

"If what he said is true, then he is closer than we think," Ismelda said as she helped Merula. "Merula, this a lead, if anything. Chiara, I'm going to tell Bill and Talbott." Ismelda ran out of the room to go the boys to the news.

"You okay?" Chiara sat next to Merula rubbing her back. "Merula?"

"Yeah, we need to find him, Chiara. I need to find him," Merula gripped her necklace tight, "because I know he wouldn't rest until I was safe. The idiot, why'd he go alone?"

"Jason is hard to read, but he's always honest with you. I'm sure once we get him, you can go ahead call him an idiot all you want." Chiara smiled at her friend, reassuring her confidence.

"Thanks, Chiara. I mean it. God, what is wrong with me?" Merula faced palmed. "It's all his fault that I'm saying things like "sorry, thanks" and other crap I don't usually say."

"Jason believes the best in you because he saw it. The person who had trouble seeing it," Chiara pointed to Merula, "was you, and I think that takes a lot of courage to do. Have faith in other's ability for good."

Ismelda showed back up with the boys following behind to the room when all of a sudden, Merula and Chiara flew through the door of the room, hitting the wall of the hallway.

"Merula! Chiara!" Ismelda drew her wand as Talbott and Bill did so.

"Well, well, isn't this a surprise? My lovely students are all together, having a heart to hearts. Didn't I teach you to need to have a colder heart?" Rakepick smirked as sent Talbott flying with a wave of her wand.

"Aaaaaaaahhh!" Talbott screamed as his limp body flew down the stairs into the tavern.

"Talbott! Rakepick, I swear you're gonna pay for that!" Bill waved his wand ferociously, casting spells to push her back. Bill worked hard to learn these new skills and will protect his friends this time!

"You've grown Mister Weasely; I must say I am impressed if only a little." Rakepick brushed his spells off as if they were but flies. "I only need one of you anyway, the rest of you can either leave or die."

"Neither!" Ismelda said as helped Bill on the assault on Rakepick. While she and Bill held her at bay, Merula and Chiara crawled past Rakepick.

"Guys, we need to get out of here!" Merula said as she helped Chiara to her feet. "Go check on Talbott! Chiara, I'm gonna help them fend off that bitch."

"Merula, don't be stupid!"

"Godammit! Go, Chiara!"

Begrudgingly, Chiara ran to the stairs and ducking the blast coming from the hallway behind her. She jumped the last few steps and looked at the dust around the pub, Chiara saw Talbott laying on the ground knocked out. "Oh no," Chiara said as she slid next to Talbott and shook him.

"Why did I volunteer for this?" Talbott muttered as looked at Chiara.

"Because you have a heart. Now we need to get out of here!" Chiara helped Talbott to his feet and guided him to the door. "GUYS! We got company!"

As Merula fought along with Bill and Ismelda, the shout of Chiara reaching their ears, and it wasn't any good news. They couldn't stay here any longer, or else they'd pushed into a deeper corner.

"You seemed Merula," Rakepick smirked, "but it was so easy to manipulate and figure out where you were. Do the words "I love you," ring any bells?"

"No, you went into my head?!" Merula snarled. "Where's Jason? What did you do to him?!"

"I won't say that much, but he's still breathing. Though," Rakepick reached in her coat and pulling out a photo, and it showed Jason ragged and beaten. "This was taken this morning, and we are still making progress on my "favorite" student."

"No," Merula muttered as a stream of tears rolled down her facing. "Give him back!" Merula waved her wand, spending spell after spell to Rakepick. Slowly, she kept pushing Rakepick. Her anger for her betrayal and the hate that has grown even more seeing and knowing the closest person she has is on Death's door at this moment. The force of Merula spells was enough to through Rakepick off-balance, sending her wand out of hand Rakepick, slamming her into the wall. "Where is he?!" Merula stomped over to her, placing her wand to Patricia's throat.

"Oh my dear," Rakepick snickered, "if I told you it wouldn't be fun, would it? The fact of the matter is Merula; I planned to take you anyway to him after all." Rakepick pointed behind Merula, and as she turned to see her associates being held by members of R. "So either play nice or you all die."

"Why you piece of-!"

"Nuh-uh uh, Miss Snyde, mind your manners or they die."

"Merula, don't worry about us just- oof!" Chiara was knocked out by the dark wizard that held her.

"Alright!" Merula shouted. "Just don't hurt them. Please." She placed her wand down, lifting her hands.

"Good," Rakepick smiled as she picked up her wand. "Now then," she turned to Merula, slapping her to the ground. "Let's go and see my favorite student."

Rakepick and her associates took the little task force from the Leaky Cauldron before the Ministry would show up only a few moments too late. The group was in it now as they are now held in the same position as the one they wanted to save.

Merula woke to drops of water falling on her face causing her to wake up. She looked around to see she and her friends were chained up to the wall.

"Where are we?" as Merula scanned the room, she noticed something at the center of the room. The sound of raspy breathing and the smell of blood hung in the air. "My God," Merula stood up as she walked closer to where the breath was coming from as the light of the moon broke through a small opening lighting the room. She covered her mouth as tears began to run down her face. "Jason..."

[too-much-sunshine]

Fangs for the Hospitality

Chapter 5

Summary: After Roman leaves his family reunion mad at Remus, his car breaks down. The huge snow storm forces him into the forest hes always been told to stay away from. Who will he meet? And why are they being so nice? Most importantly, why are his teeth so sharp?

A/N: My self-indulgent magic/vampire fic! Let me know if I need to tag something or you wanna be tagged!

Relationship: Familial DAM, Eventual Roceit, Eventual Intrulogical

Warnings (per chapter): Some Panicky thoughts from Roman, mention of late parents, reference to homophobia/transphobia (Romans family just sucks),

Catch up!:  Master list, Chapter 1, Chapter 2, Chapter 3, Chapter 4

Word Count: 3241

Read on AO3!

Roman opened his eyes to light shining in his face. It wasn't extremely unpleasant since it was warm, but his eyes burning was something he didn't want to continue. He rolled to the side of the bed and faced a...fireplace? Oh yeah...He was in a random person's house...after almost freezing to death..in the middle of a scary forest…

‘If I wasn't terrified, I’d make the joke that Remus would be so jealous.’ Roman thought as he slowly sat up in the bed. It seems the person he'd met last night was right about sleeping to gain strength back. He could actually use his arms now.

Sitting up he realized the room looked very different in the light of the day then in the dark of night. It was very nicely put together. The walls were a nice pale yellow with the beams in the ceiling exposed to show the nice dark lacquer. The furniture of the room matched the dark coloring of the exposed wood with some red and gold accents as well. The room looked regal, and expensive, dramatic even. Roman felt a bit out of place.

Roman closed his eyes and leaned his head back. He took a deep breath in through his nose and out through his mouth. He still felt a bit out of his wits, but he was starting to calm down a bit in the quiet of the morning.

“Hello!!” A loud voice said from his right.

This caused Roman to startle so bad he was within inches of falling off the bed. Most of the  sense of calmness he worked up immediately was lost in a matter of seconds. Roman brought his hand up to his rapidly beating heart as he took gulping breaths in.

“Oh no! Don’t worry! I’m not here to hurt you! I just wanted to say hi and actually meet you! You kinda died last time we met and I just wanted to make sure you are okay! Daddy says you just got really really cold and when I’m really cold I like warm hugs but I’ve been told that I’m supposed to ask people if they want a hug first but I couldn't ask you because you fell asleep.” The child took a deep breath since they had not since they started speaking.

Roman took a long moment to catch up to what the child had said. They just spoke so fast with such expressiveness Roman couldn't keep up. Let alone he was sure this room was empty not a minute before the child had spoken.

The child stood in the corner of the room with an amazingly bright smile. They rocked back a forth on their heels making their curly brown hair bounce around with them. The child was wearing light blue overall with a pastel yellow shirt that had white flowers embroidered on it. They looked to be around 8 years old and if Roman remembered correctly this was the kid that opened the door last night. Did he ever get their name? He couldn't remember.

Roman realized that the child was waiting for an answer to their question. Their question to….Oh! Hug Roman. They wanted a hug. From Roman? And he doesn't even remember the kids name. But the longer Roman took to answer the more the kid was looking dejected. Panicking, Roman answered them.

“Umm. I...Suppose?” Roman slowly opened his arms.

The child's face lit up like a kid on Christmas morning and climbed up the bed. The speed at which this child climbed up to him surprised Roman a little. They crawled into Romans arms and burrowed their face into Romans chest. Roman sat frozen for a long minute, then slowly lowered his arms around the small child.

For someone so small, they were quite warm. Roman couldn't remember the last time he had had a real hug. Distantly he thought about how it was kind of sad that the first hug he could remember was from a child that he didn't even know the name of. But he pushed that thought aside and squeezed the small child a little tighter.

He was very surprised at how trusting this child was. He was basically a stranger to this kid and yet they were so...comfortable around him. He had never met someone so trusting, even for a child.

“You know there's a spell on your door, right?” The child spoke suddenly, interrupting Romans thoughts and still huddled close.

“Oh there is, is there? How so?” Roman smirked. He missed the whimsical way children would speak. This one must have a big imagination. Much like Roman did when he was their age.

“You can’t see it? Look!” The child turned and shuffled so he was still close to Roman, but was now seated at his side under his arm.

They then pointed at the door and looked up at Roman with big, excited eyes.

“Look at the door! There's a yellow outline around it! That means daddy put a spell on it!” The child smiled brightly, then suddenly it turned into a childish pout. “I don’t know what it is though. I haven't been able to find out cause I’m not good at magic.” They huffed as they crossed their arms.

“Aww hey bud don’t say that! I’m sure you’ll get better. You just need some practice is all! Do you have a wand or something? Maybe I can help you!” Roman replied, smiling at the kid. Their eyes started to shine with unbridled excitement.

“You know magic!?” They asked, jumping off the bed.

“Of course I do! I’m a Prince after all! All princes know magic in some way! I just haven't practiced in a long time so forgive me if I’m a bit rusty.” Roman said with a smile as he also finally got out of bed. He got to his feet just fine, though he still felt a little weak. Though it was something he could easily brush off, the room was spinning a bit. But he had a child to entertain! And playing pretend was Romans favorite game. Roman took a deep breath and pushed past his slight weakness.

Roman walked to stand near the kid at the foot of the bed.

“Now! Where is this wand of yours?” He asked the excitable child.

“Oh, I don’t have one! Dad said that I draw my magic from the earth and stuff. So anything thats alive I can draw my power from!” They said with a big toothy grin, striking a power pose.

“Wow that's really cool! You must have been doing this magic stuff for a long time to know so much.” Roman praised. He would admit that was quite detailed for a child. But being this far out in the woods he's sure he could come up with some expensive magic lore as well.

“Well yea,” the child said, “Dad said I was born a witch!”

Roman continued to smile and nod even though he didn't quite understand. The person he talked to last night seemed quite nice. Definitely not the type to call their child a witch from birth. Though that's a pretty small insult so the child most likely didn't understand. He supposed he didn't actually know the person… Maybe he wasn't as kind as he had originally thought.

Roman thought it best to continue to play along with the child. They seemed to be having fun and Roman had to admit that he was also getting a bit into the game of make-believe. “Well that is really cool! I myself was born a Prince as you were born a witch. But not too long ago an evil woman tried to take away my title! So I ran away to live on my own and chose to keep my name as Prince Roman.” As Roman told his short tale the child listened with rapt attention.

“Woooww! That's amazing you must be so stroongg!! That lady must be so mean! I’m gonna beat her up for you!” They brought their fists up to show their...lack luster strength. But Roman appreciated the sentiment.

“That's okay kid. I don’t think I’m gonna see her again. I don’t want to go back there anymore anyway. Now! Let's do some magic! Show what you can do!”

“Okay!” They said. “But…” The child got really close to Roman and pulled him down by the sleeve to whisper in his ear. “Don’t tell my dad. He doesn’t like when I do magic in the house when he can’t watch.”

Roman smiled at the new seriousness that the child took on. Roman mimicked the same eer a well.

“You have a Prince's honor.” Roman said as he raised his right arm.

The kid gave him a once over. Seemingly finding what they were looking for, they took a step back and closed their eyes.They took several deep breaths and held their hands palm up in front of themself. While continuing to breath, they started to sway a bit.

Roman continued watching closely to see how long this kid was gonna commit to the whole ‘I can do magic’ thing. He was waiting for something small to happen, like a creek in the floorboards or a sudden draft, to blame on the kid. He would of course hype it up to say they moved a mountain or caused an incoming storm.

But before either of them even had a chance to speak up, heavy footsteps could be heard bounding toward the closed door. The door banged open hitting the wall, which caused Roman to jump. In the doorway to reveal a less than pleased looking Janus with a small child poised on their hip.

They paused at the door seeing that Roman was out of bed and standing next to the foot of the bed. His son was in the center of the room, doing his deep breathing exercise he had taught him to help manage his magic. Looks like he showed up just in time.

Roman stood frozen, starting at the person in the doorway. Were they the same person that he had met last night? They looked so much different in the light of the day. The slim, yet on the shorter side. They had dark black curly hair mostly covered by their circular black hat. They were wearing a yellow turtleneck sweater tucked into black high waisted pinstripe pants.

The small child they were holding was hiding their face in the sweater. They were wearing a small purple beanie that covered their black hair. The scared child was holding a stuffed toy of the cartoon animal Stitch so tight his tiny knuckles were white. They couldn't have been any older than 3 years old.

Janus finished assessing the scene in front of him and finally spoke up, addressing his child.

“Patton dear, what have I told you about magic without my knowledge?” Janus asked, slightly bouncing the toddler.

“To not do it in the house…” Patton said, hanging his head.

Janus sighed. “It's okay honey. Just want to make sure you're safe while...playing.” He said the last word slowly, while looking directly at Roman.

“But dad! He said he's a Prince! And that he knows magic as well! He was going to help me learn to control my magic more and then I was going to help him beat up some old lady who tried to make him not be a Prince!” They said looking back and forth between Roman and Janus. All previous shame gone in an instant.

“Is he now?” Janus inquired. “Well here I was treating you like a normal person.” Janus looked over Roman, who looked very uncomfortable, and bowed deeply. The child on his hip started to giggle, peeking their eyes out. “Now, your highness I promised you breakfast this morning but since you are already up you can join the rest of us at our table? I can guarantee it won’t be as grand as you are used too, but I’m sure we can work something out.” He grabbed the child that was on his hip under their arms and placed them by his feet. “Patton dear, can you take your little brother to the dining room and set up a bit? Breakfast will be done shortly and I wish to speak with the Prince.”

“Okay daddy! Let's go Virgey! I pour you some juice and then we can color!” Patton grabbed the little child's hand as skipped out of the room. If Roman would have looked any closer he might have seen the door glow a faint yellow for a second, before the color faded away.

Janus watched his kids leave the room with a small smile on his face. After they were completely out of earshot Janus turned fully to Roman.

“So. A Prince you say?” Janus asked.

Roman was extremely uncomfortable. He felt like a kid caught with his hand in the cookie jar. Yet there was really no reason to feel this way. He just… did when people talked to him. He always just assumes he's in trouble. He decided though that the truth is the best course of action here.

“Haha yeah no not really. Patton just seemed really into the whole magic thing so I thought I’d play along. They are very sweet…”

“They?” Janus asked, raising an eyebrow. It was off topic from where he wanted to go in his questioning, but his curiosity caused him to pose the question anyway.

Roman froze. Did he fuck up again? He shouldn't have let the slip when he didn't know how tolerant these people were. They were as close as you could be to living under a rock. They were so far in the forest.

Then again maybe they would be cool with it? It's not like Roman knew the gender of any of the people here so he just… Didn’t want to assume anything.

But that excuse did not work in his family. When he said that before he had gotten a long lecture from just about everyone in his family. It was like they all took turns, repeating the exact same ignorant shit. He remembers leaving that specific Christmas party and just crying alone in his apartment. That was not a good night.

Roman was so lost in thought he didn't even realize when Janus took a few steps closer to him. Shaking his head slightly to clear his thoughts Roman looked back up to Janus. He took a deep breath and hid his slightly shaking hands behind his back. He decided he might as well try and explain the truth again.

“I...I didn't want to assume any of your genders and none of you explicitly told me. I didn't want to be rude.” Roman said not directly looking at Janus.

Janus was largely taken aback. He was not expecting the stranger to be so...considerate. Janus looked the stranger up and down, searching for any sign he was lying to him. Finding nothing that could condemn him as such he decidedly spoke instead.

“Well that's very kind of you. I myself go by he/him. Both my sons do for now, but they are welcome to say otherwise whenever, or if ever, they wish. You?” Janus asked slowly.

“Umm… He/him as well…” Roman answered in a slightly shocked state. He never in a million years thought that Janus would be so chill about it all. It was such a stark reaction to everyone he had ever talked to about these things. Except the one person at the theater he had met, they were very chill since they were nonbinary. Roman had learned a lot from them.

But even if Janus was chill now, Roman still felt that everyone had a limit. So maybe he should just say he only used he/him and grin and bare it for now.

“Mhmm,” Janus hummed, “Okay, now that that's out of the way, I would like to know when my son came into the room? I happened to be taking Virgil to the kitchen when I heard Pat from outside the door. How long had he been here?”

Janus seemed slightly concerned, and Roman only had a few guesses why. Most of which included leaving a child with a random stranger that they had only met last night. But once he started to think about it, he knew when Patton scared him, but not how he came in. Surly Roman would have seen the door open; it faced the bed. Roman took a few steps back till he took a seat on the bed.

“To be honest I don’t quite remember when he got in here. I didn't see him come in, only when he scared the beegeebies out of me when he said hi. So maybe only about 20 minutes? I’m sorry. I understand why you wouldn't want me around your kids. I don't know you and you don’t know me. Sorry I randomly showed up at your door. Pat and I didn't do much, just played a bit of pretend before you showed up. Oh and he also wanted a hug when he first showed up. Sorry if you didn't want me too but he just looked like he would cry if I said no and I didnt want that so he crawled on the bed and we talked about magic for a bit.” Roman said, speeding toward the because he was running out of breath. He was also getting a bit anxious at the way Janus was just staring at him.

Janus was more interested in the fact that they talked about magic more than he was that Patton had hugged him. Pat was a very touchy child. His biological parents were very giving when it came to physical affection, so Patton was very used to it when he was taken in by Janus. Janus had to get used to Patton just running and hugging him. It had taken quite a while to teach him to ask first.

“Oh you talked about magic? What did Pat say?” Janus inquired.

Roman was a bit confused at the path the questions were taking. But not wanting to upset Janus anymore then he assumed he already had, Roman answered anyway.

“Umm.. Ye-yea. He told me the door had a spell on it and told me that he's bad at magic. And I’m never one to turn down a kid's wild imagination so I entertained him a bit. I told him that I would help him practice since I’m a magic Prince. You showed up right before he showed me any of his magic tricks though. I was just playing along with him, not trying to lie.”

Janus sighed and nodded his head. He looked around the room seemingly trying to find something to say.

“Okay. Well, I’d appreciate it if you weren't alone with my children. You are still a stranger to us and I’m not willing to trust you yet. You should probably feel the same about me. Now, let's take this talk to the dining room and we can decide where to go from here. Follow me.” As Janus finished he turned around, waved from Roman to follow, then walked out the door.

Not wanting to keep Janus waiting, he quickly followed him, still not noticing the faintly glowing door.

Next Chapter!

Taglist:

@primaveradoodles @bluerosesbleedred

[goodesgoodies]

Home Away From Home-Chapter 1 (Gigi x Crystal)

Hey guys, this is my first fanfic hope you enjoy! It’s about Gigi who had just moved from L.A to small town Missouri turns out she has a little crush on the girl across the street. But the girls heart might belong elsewhere. Might do a chapter two!

CRYSTAL

"Crystal! Come here please!" Mrs. Methyd called from the kitchen. Crystal sat up and got out of bed with a groan, and skipped her way down the stairs entering the kitchen.

"Yes mom?" Crystal said politely despite being slightly annoyed after being disrupted "We have some new neighbors that just moved in across the street! I heard they have a daughter just a year younger than you. Why don’t you go welcome her and find out if she’s going MSS (Massori Secondary-School)" "Uhm, okay" But before doing so Crystal went up the stairs looking to get changed out of her pajamas but still not really caring much about what she looked like while throwing on some sweats and a t-shirt.

Crystal slowly made her way across the road taking her time, and then making her way up the driveway passing two cars one was a fancy sports car she would’ve never been able to guess and the other was a BMW and then rang the doorbell. As she waited at the door she got a text from her friend Heidi and decided to wait to respond she then heard footsteps approach the door but she wasn’t expecting that when the door opened it would reveal a beautiful girl she began to examine the girl and caught sight of her she was tall with defined cheek bones, ice blue eyes, and golden blonde hair. Crystal was star struck and felt as though she should’ve prepared herself better instead of her grey sweats when she realized the girl’s beautiful sundress. "Uh.. my names Gigi, I just moved here" the girl stated. Then Crystal snapped back into reality "Oh, I’m Crystal! I uh live across the street" she said extending her arm out to shake the beautiful girls hand, and Gigi did the same. "I wanted to come and welcome you to the neighborhood, so welcome!" "Thank you very much" Gigi then said "Uhm.. would you like to come in?" She continued "I’d love to!" Crystal says a little too eagerly being thrilled due to how gorgeous Gigi is.

After briefly exploring Gigi’s house they run into her dad "...Hi dad" Gigi says "Hm? Oh hello Genevieve" he said politely but it felt strangely cold "Hello! I’m Crystal" Crystal began to introduce herself "Hello, I’m Mr. Goode" Crystal took a mental note of that 'Gigi Goode' they then made their was up to Gigi’s room where there are still a few boxes scattered around the room. It was a light purple that was decorated my posters and in the center a white bed complimented with black and grey bedding "Your room is very cute!" Crystal says while still scanning the room still and noticing a pride flag hanging out of a still packed box. Crystal was surprised at the sight because she pictured Gigi being a jock dating cheerleader time by her house and the way she dressed but she wasn’t complaining the only other two lesbians she know are Jackie and Jan and she’s pretty sure they’re into each other "Thank you!" Gigi said grinning. Crystal went to the box and picked up the flag as Gigi beganto look stressed "Oh sorry I didn’t mean to make you uncomfortable, shouldn’t have touched your stuff" she chucked nervously "No, don’t worry" Gigi giggled "So are you going to 'MSS'?" Crystal asked "Yes, is that where you go?" "Yeah!" Crystal spoke thrilled. *bing* a noise came from Crystals back pocket, then reached to her phone.

Mom

Hey! Dinners ready!

Crystal

Okay! On my way Mom

"Hey, I gotta go. Will you be at school tomorrow?" Crystal asked the girl she found herself lusting after "Yep!" She replied "Well.. I could drive you to school if you want?" Crystal sheepishly asked "That would be great! I’ll see you tomorrow!" But before Crystal could leave Gigi grabbed her arm and a pen and wrote down her number Crystal said nothing but indicating she’d text her with a small wink.

She then went home and greet her mother and father then sat down to eat dinner with them "So was the girl nice?" Her mother asked while continuing to eat her enchiladas "Yeah she’s really nice!" Crystal then spaced out at the thought of Gigi, her mother picked up on it "Is she cute?" Her mom asked causing Crystal to blush. Crystals parents were very supportive of her being gay but they didn’t talk about it much "Uh.. I-I dont know" her mom laughed at her and then after diner Crystal went back up to her room and called Heidi "Hey! Sorry I didn’t answer your text my mom wanted me to welcome my new neighbour to Missouri" Crystal said after Heidi picked up the phone "Don’t worry about it boo" she replied "are they going to MSS?" "Yeah!" Crystal replied once again too eagerly "Ouu, is she cute?" Heidi said giggling "How’d you know they were a girl?" "You’re too excited for it to be a guy" Heidi teased "Oh shut up" Craystal said giggling then continued "She gave me her number.. should I text her?" "Obviously you idiot, but don’t forget about your flirt feud with Jaida. I think she might be into you" Heidi said quickly "Jaidas not even gay!" She said defensively "Not so sure about that girl, but seriously text this women" Heidi returned with "Okay! See you tomorrow love ya" then Crystal hung up the phone

Crystal

Hey! It’s me Crystal

Gigi

Hey Crystal! Excited for school tomorrow, it was great meeting you

Crystal

Great meeting you too! Maybe we can hangout sometime?

Gigi

I’d love to. See you tomorrow! Goodnight 💗

Crystal

Goodnight 😊❤️

Crystal was very excited to see Gigi but she also couldn’t stop thinking about what Heidi said about Jaida.

* * * * * * *

GIGI

After a long night of thinking about the girl next door she woke up excited to go to school with her new friend. She got out of bed and got changed into a little black top, leather pants and some gold hoops. She posed in the mirror to see her perfect figure staring back at her she truly was perfect even if she didn’t know so herself, she then continued on with her daily routine and after siting on her couch waiting for Crystal to be ready. *ring* Gigi jumped up off her couch at the sound of the doorbell knowing it was the girl she met the prior night and rushing to the door. Then taking a breath and keeping herself composed to open the door and see the girl "Hey Crystal!" She said excitedly more so then she wanted to come off while noticing how beautiful Crystal looked today and how her red curly hair reflected the sun off it "Hey, you ready to go?" Crystal saying much more relaxed then Gigi had seconds before "Yup, and thank you again. I was slightly nervous about going into this knowing nobody.." Gigi confessed shyly "No worry’s!" Crystal said with a smile on her face that was worth framing a photo of. They walked up to Crystals car it was older and kinda dirty not what Gigi was used to but she figured it does the job of getting Crystal from A to B so it didn’t exactly matter.

They arrived and prepared to part ways for the day "Hey, you wanna eat lunch with my friends and I?" Asked Crystal "Really? Of course" she said as she grinned "See you later!"

* * * * * * *

The day flew by Gigi had done similar things at her old school in L.A so she wasn’t very far behind the rest of the students in her classes. She ended up having Crystal in her spanish and she then picked up on her being Latina by her tan skin and her perfect accent when forming the words and answering the questions of the teacher. Once lunch came around she asked one of her teachers the way to the lunch room and they directed her to where it was m. She felt weird going to the lunch which confused her since she’s usually very confident, but she ignored it.

"Hey Crystal!" She said walking up to her new friend at a table with one other person "Hey! This is my friend Heidi" "Hey, Heidi!" she said regaining her usuall outgoing personality "Hey Gigi, I heard a lot about you" as Jackie snickered which made Crystal blush and Gigi’s heart flutter. Then two other girls approached the table "Hey I’m Jaida! Gigi right?" One of the new girls said the sitting down next to Crystal "Hey, Baby" the Jaida girl then said to Gigi’s new neighborhood and the words made Gigi’s heart sink, but before she could here what else Jaida had to say to Crystal another girl approached Gigi "Hey, I’m Jackie! Nice to meet you" "Uh.. yeah good to meet you too, I’m Gigi" she said sweating a little after feeling so stupid about thinking Crystals wink the night prior was a signal so she kept her mouth shout throughout lunch.

The rest of they day passed by and Gigi decided to ignore Jaida calling Crystal baby, they just met anyway it’s no big deal. But she was a little let down because Crystal reminded her of her friends back home she was so endearing she just wanted to be around her all the time for some reason which wouldn’t be difficult living across the street from each other. As Gigi was about to walk home hoping to avoid Crystal because she was still a little let down but she then heard foot steps racing up behind her turning around to see Crystal "Hey! No need to walk I’ll take you home, we live across from each other anyway" Crystal hoping Gigi would wanna come with her "Oh yeah.. sure I guess" Gigi tried to sound normal

They walked to the parking lot side by side approaching Crystals car "So... do you not drive?" Crystal asked trying to prompt a conversation "Well I’m only 15, so no" she replied awkwardly "Oh yeah! I forgot you look older to be honest" Crystal replied "You’re 16 right?" Gigi forcing herself to engage in the conversation so Crystal wouldn’t think she didn’t wanna be friends "Yeah!" She said opening the car door for Gigi then going over to her own side. "Hey.. I know we don’t know each other well but you seem off are you okay?" Crystal asked puzzled due to Gigi’s quietness since lunch period "Yeah.. I’m okay"

They pulled up to Crystals house "Thanks Crystal" Gigi said as she exited her car "Anytime sweetheart!" The pet new took Gigi by shock but she ignored it and went over to her house and walked through the door confused about the way Crystal acted around her despite the girl Gigi had met that addressed Crystal as baby. Her dad wasn’t there to greet her when she arrived home as usual. She missed her mom they got along much better but when she passed they moved back to her dads hometown. Gigi’s dad had the money to live in L.A still, he was very welthy but he decided against it despite Gigi’s begging to stay. Gigi made her way up the stairs to her bedroom and pulled out her phone and called her friend Caleb "Hey Geege, how Missouri?" He said after picking up the phone "I don’t know.. but I sure miss home" "Oh no what happened?" Caleb picked up right away "It’s no big deal honestly.. just this girl that lives across the street" "Wow she must be something if she can shake Gigi Goode" he joked they went on to talk about Crystal and Gigi explained to Caleb what happened "Geege it sounds like she’s interested, which is weird since you said she has a girlfriend.. are you sure they’re dating and not just being friendly?" He questioned "Well not exactly but they seem very close and touchy so it’s pretty obvious" *ding* "Oh! Gotta go Caleb someone’s at the door call you later" Gigi then hopped down the stairs to see who it was then opening the door to be greeted by Crystal.

[fuwafuwamedb]

Kishi Nami Services Pt 6 (Gilgamesh, Hakuno)

Previously: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5

___

This morning was hard. Hakuno could feel her head pounding, her stomach grumbling with the need for something to be offered. She could feel a heaviness in her body, as though the whole night for resting had been wasted and her body’s energy was spent.

However, she had only so long before the light would burn across her bed, the morning sunlight telling her that it was time to put up or simply grumble and curl up tighter in bed.

With this in mind, Hakuno opened her eyes.

What met her gaze was darkness.

A blissful dark room met her gaze, with a couple of opaque glass windows around the door that trickled water down to a couple basins below. She could hear the water babbling now, only because she was waking up enough to notice it. The furniture was simple, a large armoire with fine carving that matched the bed posts. A couple nightstands of the same color stood on either side of the bed as she sat up slowly. The lamps looked like they’d been handmade, shaped in the form of large pillars with what looked to be some kind of cat prowling around the base of the thing.

The ceiling was a mass of greenery, leaving her to frown as she climbed out of bed.

And then she noticed it: she was in a large black button up.

The sleeves covered her arms entirely. The shirt’s buttons were done up all the way to the top, but it still slipped a little over one shoulder. Her dress had been removed, as had her bra.

Hakuno grabbed the fur blanket from the foot of the bed, wrapping it around herself as she forced her headache to take a backburner.

She looked around, not finding her dress or her phone.

There was little choice but to leave the room and search elsewhere.

Hakuno hurried to the door without the fountains first, opening it up and flicking the switch only to end up pausing.

A vast array of colors met her gaze. Only the richest of colors like golds and crimsons, navy blues and lush greens. She could see so many animal prints amongst the rows of clothing, leading all the way back to the treasure trove in the back.

Golden and silver jewelry lay in the back, lined from the chest upwards and above row after row of fine leather shoes and boots. There were more things in this room than a clothing store. They were far more illustrious than anything she’d ever seen at the finer end shopping stores she’d seen in her life. The room looked like she’d stepped into excess wealth.

Gilgamesh.

The moment she saw the outfit on the chair in the room, she remembered it well.

Gilgamesh had worn those jeans and that jacket last night. She remembered wearing the jacket when he’d helped her out.

She clicked the light off and went to the other door.

Why was she in one of his shirts? What was she doing in his home? This had to be his home too. It was far too rich blood for her taste. She’d never seen anyone have such an exotic home and, now that she was looking around, it reminded her a bit of his work environment.

On the other side of the other door, she found him.

The man had his hair brushed out and in a tussled mess around his forehead and head. Instead of slicked back, it looked more like he’d crawled out of bed and went to work.

“Good morning.”

The man looked up, his hand halfway through brushing at his bangs when he saw her. The small smirk had her hesitating, her arms wrapped around herself a little.

She stopped in place, waiting.

“We’re almost to lunch time, but I suppose that never matters when you’ve drunk enough.” Gilgamesh moved to stand up, walking over and herding her towards his table. “I’m assuming your head hurts?”

“Terribly.”

“I’ll grab you some medicine.”

She grabbed him as he began to walk towards his room. “Can you grab my dress too? I should get dressed.”

“I’ll find you some boxers of mine for the time being. Your dress is still at the cleaner’s this morning.” He nudged her towards the table again before he went into another doorway, leaving her to stand or sit.

It wasn’t much of a choice. She settled into one of the tall seats and looked around at the room.

There were more plants around the ceilings here, being watered carefully by a series of small pipes that went alongside the dark beams on the ceiling. The room was rather earthly in colors and furnishings. If it wasn’t wood, it was marble or metal, the hues more crimsons and dark blues accenting beige walls or dark woods.

It felt like being amongst a nature preserve more than being in a house.

The tall ceilings did wonders to add to that feeling.

“Enjoying the view?”

Hakuno glanced over to the man nearby, watching him approach and hand her the boxers and pill bottle.

“The place was more designed by Enkidu, but it is comfortable enough. You won’t find a place nicer.”

“I’ll agree about that.” She could agree much better with a couple pills downed and the boxers shimmied on. “Do you know how long it’ll take for my dress to get back?”

“About an hour or two.”

“Oh.”

Damn.

If that was the case, then she would just have to wait. It was a little much to be in a state of disarray with a client. Even worse to be in a state of disarray and at the client’s house in his-

“…Gilgamesh? Did you help me into this?”

“Do you find it difficult to believe that I couldn’t help you out of a dress and into a large shirt without looking?” He settled back into his seat, those red eyes watching her carefully.

She coughed slightly, “thank you for the help. I don’t normally drink so much.”

“You enjoyed yourself. Never apologize for taking pleasure in good company and an evening. You should do it more often. Rather than your careful plans and distancing behaviors that you normally armor yourself with, it was rather amusing to have your honesty with yourself and me.”

“My honesty? I’ve been honest this whole time.”

The man simply smirked a little more, moving one of the plates of croissants at the center of the table towards her.

“Gilgamesh-“

“You need to eat and hydrate. You can find yourself something to drink in the fridge.”

“I should go home,” Hakuno argued.

“In my clothes?”

She winced, opting to change the subject. “You said in the fridge?”

“The left side,” he told her simply, resuming his work. “I’m sure you’ll want to discuss your thoughts of my date while eating as well. I’ve taken the liberty of jotting down my qualms with the woman from last night.”

How convenient.

This would actually be a good opportunity. She could garner more insight from his words, maybe tease out any desires he had in a spouse by looking at the qualities he had admired and not admired in Artoria. She pulled out one of the small bottles of juice, opening it quickly before she hurried to the table to look at his handiwork.

Her eyes froze on the text.

“This just says, ‘everything’.”

“She was rather poor quality, but the looks were admirable enough. I suppose even peasants can hold some redeeming quality. Lotteries exist even in nature. So charitable.”

The man smiled as he leaned back from his work, watching her stand there.

“Now, my next woman would be one I would prefer to see with more amusing qualities. Perhaps a bit more flexibility towards situations that arise. I’m thinking a bit less tomfoolery and a little more propriety towards whom they are with. Think someone who suits my side better.”

The man was asking for someone like him?

Hakuno hummed for a moment, sipping at her juice and nibbling on a croissant as she pondered his words.

There was Ishtar…

Ishtar would suit him very well. She’d love the riches in his house.  

“I’ll make arrangements this afternoon,” Hakuno told him. “Would this upcoming Friday work?” 

“I’ll have Siduri ensure it does.” The man laughed. “To think you’d see my way so easily, Hakuno. I am nothing if not surprised at your skilled mindset.”

“I have a talent for my work.”

The strange glint in his eyes made her chest feel warm, but maybe it was just the fresh croissants. 

Yes, it was probably just the food and the hangover. Nothing more.

When she left, she’d get Ishtar prepped for the date.