#ash feeds him treats and gives him lots of pets!!! pat pat pat pat pat | Explore Tumblr Posts and Blogs

itsanerdlife · 4 years

Text

Cruel Boy 6/33

Pairing: Howie Stark x Reader

Warning: Lies. Betrayal. Just a lot of violence. Mentions of Domestic abuse. Parental abuse. Murder Suicide. Death. Guilt. Hate. Deception. Lots and lots of anger.

A/N: This is a bit darker theme, but Howie isn’t dark. Anger problems and bad choices but he’s not a bad person.

Playlist!!

First love. First heart break. Life time of hate. When the silver spoon feeding you love is taken away, you learn to lick it off the knives. Howie Stark broke you. Him and his brother ruined your life. Destroyed your dreams and crushed your soul. Your best friend is dead and your life is a mess. When you take a bartending job, it just happens to be owned by the Bastard Son’s MC. Just your fucking luck. Jokes, you haven’t had luck since Gwen died and Howie ripped out your barely beating heart. There is no way in hell you’re giving him a second chance. Hell will freeze over before you let him touch you again. Not a chance are you ever letting the Stark’s near you again. Hell might have just frozen over.

Tag List Open

He wasn’t watching. He just happened to be looking around when he noticed. Or so he kept telling himself. Baby is on full alert, looking awfully pissed off. Her tail doesn’t move, her ears flattened. He could swear if the music wasn’t so loud he’d hear her growling.

“We’re good Frankie.” Y/N nods but continues to walk away. He’s up out of his seat, cutting her path off.

“What’s going on?” He looks down at her.

“Mind your own business. Remember?” She nudges past him.

Stopping instantly, he looks behind him to what she could be seeing. Standing just inside the bar, a guy they don’t know, glaring at Y/N. He’s taller, around their height. Decently built, dark black hair, tattooed and gave off a nasty possessive vibe from across the room.

Peter’s chair scraps against the floor as she stalks toward the guy. Her shoulders squared, spine steel straight, defiance vibrated off her. He looks at Peter, hoping he wasn’t the only one watching. Peter’s jaw is grinding together.

“I’d know that possessive look anywhere.” Peter bites out.

“What do you mean?” Howie looks back to the door where she’s backing him out. He’s mouth smashed together, clearly not liking being bossed around by her.

“I grew up watching you have that same look on your face when it came to her. But less, angry and hateful.” Peter looks over at him.

“So I’m not the only one that got that impression?” He grinds out.

“I don’t trust that.” Frank stands behind them. The three of them exchange a look.

“Fuck that, I’m not waiting for orders.” Buck shoves past them. The three of them take off after him. The door swings out with a groan.

“I said it’s over. What are you not getting?” She demands somewhere in the dark. Peter jerks his head to the side.

“You don’t get to just walk away.” He bites back, stepping closer. Baby barks, daring him to move again.

“Walk away. She will attack you.” Y/N warns the guy as they come into view. His eyes cut up finding them, watching.

“This isn’t fucking over. We’re going to talk.” He warns Y/N with a pointed finger. He turns stalking away, pissed off and angry. She turns around, finding them watching.

“What the fuck part of mind your own god damn business don’t you fuckers understand?” She snaps at them. The four of them exchange a look, surprised. Except Howie, he’s seething.

“What the fuck was that, Y/N?” He points at the guy now disappearing down the street. He steps towards her, Babies head tips.

“Don’t fucking question me Howard.” She shoves him back. Baby whines in confusion.

“Come on Baby. Let’s get some fries. Momma needs to work out some shit.” Frank pats his leg, but Baby plants herself between the two of them.

“Go get a treat.” Y/N nods. But she doesn’t move, she looks up at him.

“We’re good. Go ahead.” He nods, trying to keep his voice even and calm. She sneezes at him.

“She’s calling your bullshit.” Y/N folds her arms over her chest.

He looks from her to the dog between them. He drops down to one knee, petting Baby. She closes her eyes as he rubs her ears and pats her side.

“See, I’m a nice guy.” He coo’s at her. She licks him.

“Another woman putty for Howard Stark.” Y/N rolls her eyes.

“It’s a talent.” He kisses her noses.

“Come on Pretty Girl. I’ll referee for you.” Peter leans down scratching her ears. She licks him as well, but let’s Frank pick her up.

“Beef cake.” Y/N giggles. Babies head rest on Frank’s shoulder, as he and Bucky head into the bar again.

“Play nice kids.” Peter glances between them. “I’m not getting my ass chewed by her cause something happened.” He nods, stepping back.

“Is that him?” Howie nods, standing up, looking at her.

“Who?” She scoffs, playing stupid.

“The bruises you’re walking around with, Y/N!” He snaps at her. She swallows but doesn’t say anything. “The problems you said we didn’t need to be involved in.” He scoffs.

“Once more. Don’t fucking question me Howard.” She points a finger at him. “My life is my fucking life. Remember you walked the fuck away, so don’t stand there and act like you have any fucking right to know my business.”

“Stop calling me that.” He moves in closer, his jaw snapped closed. His words came out through his teeth. “Don’t stand here and act like we don’t know each other. That we don’t have history.” He retorts. “Don’t act like I haven’t, we haven’t,” he waves a finger between him and Peter “put someone down for a lot less than putting a fucking hand on you.”

Peter nods slowly. Like he was hesitant to get involved. But couldn’t disagree with the statement. She practically growls back. Baby girl was angry, and he was ready to match it.

“History. Key word. Howard.” She bites out each word. “This isn’t history and I don’t need your fucking help anymore. I learned to save my damn self after you ripped out what was left of my heart.” She might as well as have opened the ground from under his feet.

“We don’t know each other. I’m not the same girl you left in the rain, with nothing but shattered pieces of who she was. I’m not Cali Girl and I’m not your Baby Girl, that girl was buried with Gwen.” The pit in his chest opened and sucked him in. His stomach lurched.

“Y/N.” Peter swallows, his hand comes up. She jerks back so quickly, you’d thought someone struck her. “There’s so much you don’t know.” He whispers, the pit in Peter was ripping open.

“I know enough Peter. I know, I’m alone. I’m fucking broken, my dreams went to ashes, my heart to fucking shreds, because of you fucking Starks.” She shakes her head.

“You have no idea what I’ve been through since you walked away. Don’t stand there acting like you’ve been trying to find me, that you’ve been waiting for me.” She laughs softly. “I seen the red head, I’ve heard the stories.” She pops a brow at him.

“The red head.” Peter swallows. Y/N’s eyes cut to him. “She’s the girl I’m seeing.” He admits. She hand swings through, her palms slams against Howie’s cheek. She stalks back into the bar.

“Ow!” Howie curses, holding his cheek. “The fuck she hit me for?” He looks from his brother to the door.

“That’s not how I saw that going in my head.” Peter looks just as confused.

“Holy fuck, she’s got a swing that mom would envy.” Howie blinks, stretching his jaw.

“Knock some sense into you?” Peter wonders.

“I think I remember the fourth grade.” He shakes his head quickly.

“Damn, that’s a swing.” Peter nods. They pause, thinking about it. “Fuck MJ!” Peter pats him.

“Oh fuck.” Howie runs towards the door.

Ripping the door open, chaos inside. Purple hair, red hair, and Baby barking. They crash to the floor Y/N’s fist slams down. MJ pinned underneath her, to the bar floor.

----------------

Everything Peaches 9/3/19 @mo320 @courtmr @avxgers @eliza-kat @irepeldirt @jordan-ia @jcc04220 @dumblani @nishanki1 @allyp1023 @joannie95 @rogvewitch @rileyloves5 @sarahp879 @sexyvixen7 @doctoranon @queentoffee @abschaffer2 @tony-stank3 @tomhardy41 @bookluver01 @drayshadow @teller258316

@nickimarie94 @wandressfox @cutekittybast @amandab-ftw @carostar2020 @thelostallycat @henrietteoaks @nea90sweetie @circusofchaos

@bettercallsabs @miraclesoflove @queenkrissy11 @shield-agent78 @elite4cekalyma @sadyoungadult @destiel-artemis @isabelcrichards @iwillbeinmynest @sweet-honey15 @scooby-doodoo @chanelmadrid13 @killerbumblebee @spookygrantaire @geeksareunique @supernatural508 @itzmegaaaaaaan @optimistic-babes @elizabethaellison @rainbowkisses31 @aspiringtranslator @mariekoukie6661 @pure-princess-97 @capsheadquaters @youclickedthislink @futuremrsb-r-main @lovemarvelousfics @notyourtypicalrose @petersunderoos96 @loving-life-my-way @itsy-bitsy-spidergirl @buckystolemyheart @booktvmoviefangirl @thatpeachybandgirl @supernatural-girl97 @thefridgeismybestie @eggingamazinglove @deathofmissjackson @awkwardfangirl2014 @queenoftheunderdark @laneygthememequeen @writingaworldofmyown @death-unbecomes-you @shann-the-artist-moon @supernaturallover2002 @daughterofthenight117 @mcuwillbethedeathofme @verymuchclosetedfangirl @for-the-love-of-the-fandom @ocaptain-mycaptainmorgan @crazy-little-thing-called-buck @letsgetfuckingsuperwholocked @stupendoussciencenaturepanda @supernatural-strangerthings-1980

Howie 'Damn Boy' Stark: @ml7010 @gabile18 @crayonwriting @callme-barnes @untoasted-ravioli @andycanbeemotional

CB:

@coley0823 @csigeoblue @lakamaa12 @tomhardy41 @ms-rogers06 @wolfiemichele @eridanuswave @tireddork-knight @honey-bee-holly @multifandomgirl-us @eggingamazinglove @badassbeckettswan @fandomsstolemylife00 @dreamingofthenightmarexrhea @jamesbarnesappreciationsociety

#Marvel #OFC!Howie Stark x Reader #Avengers #OFC!Howie x Reader #Cruel Boy #Marvel Fanfiction #OFC!Howie Stark Series #Avengers Fanfiction #OFC!Howie Series

153 notes · View notes

nitewrighter · 5 years

Text

Of Blades and Broomsticks Part XVI

Previous Chapters: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 11, 12, 13, 14, 15

Read it on AO3 here.

----

The chambers of Comtesse Amélie were ornate--the rest of the château had an imposing grace about it, but there was an odd sort of warmth about the room, lit by candles as dawn bled pink against the horizon out the window. Amélie knew she would have to rest soon, but it did give her unbeating heart a thrill to see just how far she could push things to spend time with her spymaster before descending down to the château’s cellars to rest.

The comtesse had no reflection, but still she brushed her hair, seated in front of a mirror, watching the hairbrush in the reflection over and sweep down with each stroke.

“Do you think we were too harsh?” asked Amélie.

“She waltzes in with no warning after dead silence for 114 years and expects you to lend swords to her aid just because some idiot got stuck with a pumpkin head?” said her spymaster, looking down the sights of her crossbow, “If the fairies are as about hospitality and customs as they say they are, I think she’d treat you with a little more respect.”

“Or did you push me the other way because she called you ‘food?’” asked Amélie, smirking.

“Well in her defense, I am delicious,” said the spymaster, plopping down into the comtesse’s lap.

“You’re ridiculous,” said Amélie, waving the hairbrush in her face in a mock-scolding manner.

“But no, I had better reasons than that,” said the spymaster, staying Amélie’s scolding hand with her own.

“If you fear war against the humans, I could always turn you,” said Amélie, “It wouldn’t even hurt...”

“I appreciate the offer,” said the spymaster, “But not yet. I can’t give up daylight just yet. And I don’t think plunging into all-out war is going to be good for anyone.”

“On that we agree,” said Amélie, looking at the window, wondering how few minutes she had left.

“You know we built something good here,” said the spymaster, taking the hairbrush and turning it over in her hand to see the filigree on the back, “And the fairies are always going on about the encroaching destructive force of man--and I’m pretty sure that’s because they refuse to adapt. And that whole perversion of magic thing--I mean, isn’t the whole point of magic that it does things that don’t usually happen? Things that aren’t supposed to happen?”

“The flame of creation alight in the world does concern me,” said Amélie.

“I could track it down for you,” said the Spymaster with a shrug, setting the hairbrush down on the vanity, “I can track pretty much anything, you know. I think that would show Her Royal Pain-in-the-Ass.”

“I know, my love--” Amélie pressed her fingertips to her forehead with a headache of the encroaching dawn, “But the last place it was seen was burned to the ground--”

“Not completely burned,” said the spymaster.

“Sombra,” Amélie closed her eyes and furrowed her brow. She should have been heading down to the cellar now. She knew that--she also liked keeping Sombra in her lap a bit longer.

“Scared about your poor delicate human pet?” said Sombra, folding her arms.

“You’re not my--” Amélie huffed, “You like getting a rise out of me.”

“I do,” Sombra grinned.

“But if there is a change in the wind as the queen said, we must be cautious,” said Amélie, “You can investigate, but use a gentle touch--if you do find the flame, don’t engage with it, just report back to me.”

“Fine...” Sombra said with a sigh, “Now, someone’s got a dirt-filled coffin with her name on it.” she playfully tapped the tip of the comtesse’s nose and Amélie rolled her eyes.

“Perhaps I’ll stay a few days in it this time... join you in the daylight...” said the comtesse.

“If that’s what my comtesse desires,” said Sombra, slipping from her lap and helping her to her feet, “I can keep things tied down while you build up your strength.”

“Mm,” Amélie leaned some weight against Sombra as they moved out of the room and down a winding staircase down to the cellar, and from the cellar to a vault with two guards posted outside of it, standing at alert and pushing the heavy oaken doors open for them and followed them inside. A baroque coffin sat on a large stone altar that looked far older than everything else in the vault, and judging by the Merovingian-era carvings decorating it, probably was far older. Whether it had been brought to this place when the Château was built, or the chateau was built around it, Sombra never thought to ask. She wondered, sometimes, if her comtesse was the only comtesse the Château ever had, if anyone had bore the title before her, or if she had always ruled and simply took that particular title when it came into fashion. The guards lifted the lid off of the coffin, and the comtesse set her pale hand against the dark loamy earth within. She bent and breathed in the scent of it before climbing up into the coffin with as much grace as she would mount a horse with. She sat in the dirt-filled coffin and ran a hand along its side.

“You could join me,” she said to Sombra.

“Yeah but then I’d have to get up to pee, and I’d have to climb all over you, and then get the lid up--it would just be a mess,” said Sombra with a sly grin, “Plus, I did say I would keep things tied down while you rested.”

“Don’t get too old while I’m sleeping,” the comtesse quipped.

“Maybe don’t sleep too long,” said Sombra, arching an eyebrow. She took the comtesse’s hand and kissed it, “Until next you wake, my lady.”

“My love,” the comtesse took the spymaster’s chin in her hand and pushed up slightly so that Sombra was looking at her, she kissed her on the corner of her mouth, “My heart,” there was no warmth of breath against Sombra’s face, but the words seemed to lace themselves around her and sink into her skin as the comtesse pulled away and the two guards lifted up the coffin lid to set it back down.

“Sweet dreams,” said Sombra as Amélie laid down and closed her eyes as the coffin lid closed over her. The final dragging thud of the coffin lid finding its place elicited a short huff from Sombra. She folded her arms, looking pensive for a few brief moments, staring at the coffin, before sharply lifting her head and looking at the guards. “What are you staring at? You know the drill. To your posts. Nothing harms the comtesse while she sleeps.”

“Yes spymaster,” the guards said in unison as Sombra walked out of the vault. She caught a few hours of sleep for herself on the comtesse’s bed in her chambers. She sometimes envied the farmers and their clockwork sleeps in the valleys out past the chateau’s lake--she couldn’t remember the last time she slept all night and was awake all day, but then again, she didn’t particularly care to remember life before the comtesse. It was about midday when the guards roused her from her sleep as per her orders, she donned the doublet and armor of her office, and left the château on a little black mare to survey the comtesse’s lands and see if the queen’s prophecies of fire and doom rang true.

-----

“They really overdo it, don’t they?” said Mercy, watching as a cultist walked by with a large sack of feed.

“What do you mean?” said Genji, stroking one of the horse’s muzzles.

“All this!” said Mercy, gesturing at the covered wagon, “I didn’t see any stables around the monastery, where did they even get horses?”

“Master just pulls stuff like that out of portals sometimes--” said Genji, shrugging, “He can pull out pretty much anything that’s fallen into the void.”

“Horses,” Mercy repeated flatly as a cultist took her bag from her hands and tossed it in the back of the wagon, “He can just... pull horses out of the void.”

“He is a god,” said Genji.

Mercy’s lips drew to a thin line. “Of course,” she said with an eye roll.

“I thought it prudent,” said Zenyatta, “It would eliminate a lot of variables--provide some rudimentary shelter when you are between villages, give you a chance to read that.” He pointed to the Vitae book under Mercy’s arm.

“Oh--I was just--” Mercy held the book up, “You can--”

“The point of a library is lending books. Not letting them rot on shelves. You have a way of breathing life into things, Gramercy, I believe that book is a good fit for you,” said Zenyatta.

Mercy looked down sheepishly, “I don’t know how to begin thanking you for your kindness...” she said softly.

“Simply pay that selfsame respect to your traveling companions,” said Zenyatta with a bow of his head.

Yes. Very subtle. He might as well have lit up the words ‘Tell Genji You’re Magically Sterile’ in pink and green flames above his head, thought Mercy.

“I will do my best,” said Mercy.

“Fare ye well, stabby cultists!” said Junkenstein, waving toward the monastery, “Perhaps one day we shall return! Isn’t that right, my creation?” he looked back at his monster to see several cultists crowding around him and smearing protective runes in ashes and water over his massive green belly. “Oi-oi! Oi! Say your goodbyes and be done with it! We’ve had quite enough of rituals and whatnot!”

The monster gave a “hrmm” and a reassuring pat on the head of one of the cultists as they stepped back from him with one stern look from Zenyatta.

“Take this,” said a cultist, pushing a mass of black cloth into the monster’s arms, “The outside world is full of heretics. Many of them will not recognize your magnificence as a golem blessed by Zenya’taa. You should conceal your form.”

The monster let the cloth unfurl and saw it was a large black cloak, which he fastened around his shoulders. The cultist had to stand on their tiptoes to secure the cloak with a brooch of uncut amethyst before slipping away back behind Zenyatta. The monster gave them a nod of approval and the cultist beamed beneath the shadows of their hood.

“Right then!” said Junkenstein, putting his hand on his hips, “Who shall take up the first leg of our journey?”

Mercy and Genji smiled nervously, but neither raised a hand or stepped forward.

“...neither of you know how to drive a cart, do you?” said Junkenstein, running a hand down his face.

“I can fly--” Genji started.

“I lived in the woods--!” Mercy started.

“I mean I can try, it should be fairly intuitive--” Genji started.

“Fine! Fine! I’m driving. But don’t think you two won’t be getting lessons!” said Junkenstein, clambering up onto the cart. The wood of the wagon creaked as the monster lumbered up into it, and Genji nimbly hopped up and held a hand out to help Mercy up into it.

“Everyone settled?” said Junkenstein over his shoulder.

Mercy, Genji, and the monster gave a nod. Junkenstein gave the reins a short flick and the horses started moving forward.

“Farewell, Master!” called Genji, waving out the back the wagon, “One day we will return with great tales of adventure and bloodshed!”

“If you ever get lonely, remember that the void will swallow up you and everything you’ve ever known and loved!” Zenyatta called back.

“Thanks!” Genji called back as Mercy awkwardly waved next to him.

With that, the creaking wagon was moving out down a narrow rocky path on the high sea cliffs away from the monastery. It rumbled and shuddered with the roughness of the path, but it was well made, it would do well for their journey. And the first leg of the journey was a long one, west across the windswept seaside highlands surrounding the monastery. Junkenstein quickly deduced west from the position of the sun, and it would be pretty easy to maintain that direction along the coastline. At least in theory. Mercy looked back at the monastery shrinking in the distance with no small amount of bittersweetness in her heart. She wondered if anyone would ever treat her as kindly as Zenyatta and the cultists there had. She wondered if she would be outrunning being burnt at the stake everywhere but there for the rest of her life.

“This is exciting!” said Genji, crossing his legs on the floor of the wagon, “I can’t remember the last time I traveled like this! I’m so used to taking the form of birds!”

Mercy snickered, “It’s just a wagon”

“You forget, I have been both demon and prince,” said Genji, folding his arms, “Now as we flee the prying eyes of those from Adlersbrunn who would hunt us, we must come up with new identities for ourselves! We are traveling in disguise! I will be... Genji.”

“Creative,” said Mercy.

“A dashing mercenary in the service of two traveling apothecaries and their...” Genji gestured at the monster, “Um... manservant.”

The monster made a noise that wasn’t too far from “ugh.”

“Apothecaries works...” said Mercy, looking over at Junkenstein, “As far as cover stories goes.”

“I’m fine with apothecaries,” said Junkenstein, only half-paying attention between them and driving the wagon, “But I’m not touching any piss! Well,” he caught himself, “Yes, I’ll synthesize the urea and ammonia from it, but I won’t be happy about it!”

“Well Genji had the advantage of no one knowing his name to begin with,” said Mercy, “But we should come up with other names as well.”

“...Fawkes,” said Junkenstein.

“Fawkes?” said Mercy.

“Y’know, it’s sneaky, like a fox,” said Junkenstein, “You’ll need a name too, Creation.”

The monster perked up.

“Something... dignified....What about Aldous Marion Shelley-Von Kuttner the third?”

The creature’s shoulders slumped.

“No?” said Junkenstein, “We’ll keep working on it.”

“What about you?” said Genji, looking at Mercy.

Mercy stared out of the back of the wagon for a while, resting her hand in her chin. “Angela,” she said after a few seconds.

“Angela?” repeated Genji.

“Angela?” repeated Junkenstein.

“I don’t know... I always... I always had the name in my head,” said Mercy, “It’s...one of the only memories of my parents I have. But I don’t even know if it was my name or my mother’s name... maybe it was too early to even name me when they...” she trailed off and shook her head.

Genji reached forward and touched her forearm, and Mercy looked up at him.

“It’s....” she glanced off again, “It’s just a name I know I’ll respond to,” she said with a shrug.

“It’s a good name,” said Genji, “...and ironic as you probably think this sounds, it suits you.”

Mercy just scoffed and rolled her eyes.

“I mean it,” said Genji.

“And if you can’t trust your demons, who can you trust?” said Mercy, wryly.

“Exactly,” said Genji.

“So our cover story is set,” said Mercy.

“And look!” Genji pointed at his face.

“...What?” said Mercy, after a beat.

“Normal colored eyes,” said Genji, pointing at his, indeed brown, eyes. Genji pulled his lips back from his teeth, “No fangs,” he said, through gritted teeth.

“...And all it took was actually letting your scars show?” said Junkenstein, looking over his shoulder at Genji.

“I--yes...” said Genji, running two fingertips along a scar on his cheek, “But--it fits, doesn’t it? I am a dashing mercenary now.”

“The look suits you, Genji,” said Mercy, smiling.

“Well, as long as you like it, Witch,” said Genji leaning in, slightly.

Junkenstein and the monster exchanged weary looks as Mercy giggled a little nervously and glanced off, blushing.

“It is exciting though, isn’t it?” said Genji, “The smell of salt and horses on the wind, the fact that we have no idea what lies ahead of us in the future, the past we have to escape...” He took a deep breath in, “No more hobbling about between village and town, Witch! We’re on an adventure, now!”

About an hour later Genji was lying flat on his back on the floor of the wagon, groaning and staring at the canvas that arched over them.

“How do you stand it?!” he said with a whine.

“How can you be alive for 600 years and get bored this easily?” said Mercy.

“Would we go faster if I turned into a third horse?” said Genji.

“Wagon isn’t rigged for three horses,” said Junkenstein.

“Uggggghhhhhhh,” Genji groaned.

-----

Pharah was sore. A few days of riding would do that to you. The sun as their guide, they were still stuck on the meandering path through Adlersbrunn’s forest. Jesse seemed to know where he was going, more than he was willing to let on. Theirs was a slow pace of stopping for nearly every passerby to try and ask for information. Every story was different, many stories were hearsay three times over, and on several occasions Pharah found herself correcting different would-be informants. The first few nights they slept in barns and the lofts of lumber mills, but now they were deep in the thick of the forest, they still had the path, but the next inn wasn’t for a few too many miles.

“We’ll make camp here,” said Jesse, swinging off his horse.

“It’s barely twilight, there’s another hour of riding to be had,” said Pharah.

“Factor in finding firewood to keep the wolves off our backs?” Jesse suggested.

Pharah sighed and swung off her horse. With the last lumber mill behind them, the river running through Adlersbrunn had forked off into numerous winding creeks, still digging deep fissures into the soft forest earth. Any lumber heading west would have to do so by wagons on the path. Pharah watered and brushed down the horses. while McCree built some quick lean-tos and gathered firewood. By the time the sky had darkened, they had a surprisingly comfortable camp with a blazing fire. McCree apparently carried an obscene amount of smoke-dried venison in his saddlebags. The already gamey meat was rendered even tougher by his preservation, and the gnawing and chewing Pharah had to do just to keep the meat from chafing her throat kept conversation to a minimum. It slowed their eating enough so that they filled up fairly quickly while consuming little of their rations. When they had their fill, McCree lit a pipe and took a few puffs, offered it to her, and she declined.

“You’re used to this, aren’t you?” said Pharah, hugging her knees and looking at the fire, “You can set a camp quickly not just because it’s practical, but in case anyone refuses you shelter.”

“You’d be surprised how little it takes for most ‘kind and decent’ folk to turn their back on you,” said Jesse.

Pharah hugged her knees a little tighter and kept her eyes on the fire. “Why were you excommunicated?” she asked.

“I will tell you one day, you have my word on that,” said Jesse, “But I don’t think that day is here, yet.”

“I should like to know if you’re a witch or a heretic or just a bastard,” said Pharah.

“Well, thankfully, I’m none of those things. Maybe a little bit of the third thing, but my mother was a godly woman. She did her best.”

“What then?” said Pharah.

“There’s a time and place for these things,” said Jesse, puffing on his pipe.

“The time is now so I can trust you,” said Pharah, “Is it political? I--I’m willing to understand if it’s political.”

“The fact that a church can be political means it’s probably further from being a church than it should be,” said Jesse, “Well--obviously your faith influences your politics, but I’m talking about the interior workings of indulgences and bishops and--never mind. Never mind all that. Anyway, never had the time to nail shit up on church doors myself.”

“So a little bit of a heretic then,” said Pharah.

“Are you willing to accept ‘little bit of a heretic’ for now?” said Jesse, a puff of smoke coming from the corner of his mouth, “I do want to tell you but... today is not that day for the story.”

“Just... tell me: was it Reyes who ordered you excommunicated?” said Pharah.

“Does that matter?” Jesse tilted his head.

“Reyes is the only reason why I have any inclination to trust you,” said Pharah, “You had to be a good enough person at one point for him to take you under his wing. And...” she fished the adder stone out of her pocket, “He walks--walked... a gray path. Dogs protect sheep from wolves---”

“But all dogs were wolves once,” Jesse’s voice overlapped with hers.

Pharah stared at him, and in that flickering firelight she could swear she saw a flash of Reyes in Jehoshaphat Maccrea’s countenance. Determined, wearied by what he had seen, fearless and yet deeply sad.

“You’re wondering if just being in my presence will put you in the same place I am now,” said Jesse, “You want to keep doing Reyes’ work, but not if it means becoming an excommunicated piece of trash.”

“I don’t think you’re a piece of--” Pharah started but McCree’s eyes flicked up to her, looking sharp and almost brandy-colored in the firelight.

“I get it, you know,” said Jesse, poking at the campfire and sending up a brief burst of sparks, “You want to be able to return to the people you’re protecting and still be the person they know. Still be the person they love.”

Pharah was silent.

“I think we’ve all known enough soldiers in our lives to know that that’s not possible,” said Jesse.

Pharah looked up from the flames to Jesse. “You saw it in Reyes, too.”

“I saw it in Reyes. I see it in you. You wouldn’t be out here if you were the same person before you saw... whatever that witch did,” said Jesse. He pulled the pipe from the corner of his mouth and puffed out one last breath of smoke. “For as much as the word of an excommunicated scoundrel is worth--I promise you, I’ll do everything in my power to keep you from falling into my position. You could be the next Reyes--Not me. Not anymore.”

“But how much is that word worth, Jesse?” a voice lilted through the canopy of trees overhead. Pharah’s hand went to her musket, the horses nickered anxiously, and Jesse drew his own matchlock pistol and slowly rose to his feet.

“Knew I should have strung up some garlic around camp before we settled down,” he muttered, his eyes flicking around the trees.

“Oh you know garlic can’t stop me,” the voice responded with a snicker.

There was a rustle of leaves and a figure dropped down behind him and he pivoted on his heel, pistol at the ready, only to find himself facing down a loaded and tensed crossbow, the point of its bolt poking against his chest. His eyes flicked up from the crossbow to its owner, a woman in a black hood and armored doublet, grinning a grin that still barbed his heart when he thought about it too long.

“Sombra,” said Jesse, his eyes narrowing.

“Been a while,” said Sombra.

“You know her?!” said Pharah.

“It’s a long story--” Jesse started.

“And it’s one for ‘another day, ain’t it, Jesse?’” said Sombra, mockingly imitating Jesse’s timbre.

Pharah was already scrambling for the powder horn of her musket but Sombra drew a smaller matchlock pistol from her hip and had it pointed at Pharah before she could load the musket balls. Pharah was forced to freeze where she was.

“So here’s what’s going to happen,” said Sombra, “You two are going to tell me everything you know about the flame of creation and the town that burned down. Sound good?”

#gency #roadrat #spiderbyte #witch mercy AU

29 notes · View notes

pocket-luv101 · 5 years

Text

Summary: Mahiru, a phoenix, hides in Kuro’s forest. (KuroMahi, Fantasy AU)

The grass was burnt beneath Mahiru who was making a nest for himself. He flapped his wings and loosened the leaves from the branches above him. Mahiru collected them the best he could and sat down. He had made the forest his new home but he wasn’t certain how long he could stay. Since he was a phoenix, many people hunted him. His fiery feathers were essential to create powerful potions.

He placed his hand on a tree trunk and burned a small mirror into the wood with a spell. He used its reflection to brush his wings and straighten his feathers. His sharp senses told him of a presence behind him before he saw the bushes shake in the mirror. Mahiru summoned a ball of fire in his hand and he turned to face the person approaching him.

He let out a breath of relief when he saw that it was only a black cat. He didn’t sense anyone else so he let his flame dwindled in his hand. Mahiru approached the small animal and reached out his hand to it. “I’m sorry for almost attacking you. I’m a little jumpy. How about I treat you to dinner as an apology? I should have dried fish in my bag.”

Mahiru took out a fish to feed the cat but he noticed how hesitant it was to approach him. He understood why it was cautious all too well so he placed the fish on the ground. He sat against the tree and gave the creature some space. The cat picked up the fish in its mouth and climbed on his lap. When he patted the cat, he noticed that it had a small scar over its right eye.

“Did someone hurt you? I’m sorry you had to go through that. I can understand why you’re so cautious because we are similar.” Mahiru spoke softly to the cat so he wouldn’t scare it away. He couldn’t remember the last time he had someone to talk to. “Maybe we can be friends. My name is Mahiru. What is your name?”

Predictably, the cat only purred in response. He smiled but his expression was rather solemn and lonely. Mahiru tilted his head back to look up at the night sky. The cat yawned on his lap. “I should give you name. How about Sleepy Ash? There is a full moon out tonight. Isn’t it beautiful?”

“I guess the moon is pretty but it’s nothing special since I see it every night.” Mahiru stiffened when he realized that it wasn’t the cat who replied. He stood sharply and he scanned the trees for the voice. He heard the voice behind the tree so he burned it to ashes. A tall mirror stood where the tree once did but Mahiru had to be cautious of it.

He circled the mirror and saw that there was no one. He couldn’t sense a presence either. Yet, Mahiru couldn’t deny that he heard someone speak. He noticed Ash scratching on the glass and he walked around the mirror. Mahiru gasped when he found a man in the mirror. The man wasn’t a reflection though. Cautiously, Mahiru touched the mirror but he could only feel the glass beneath his fingers. It didn’t seem like the mirror was a portal.

“Who are you?” Mahiru had to ask.

“I’m Kuro, the guardian of this forest. I don’t mind if you’re making a home here but please don’t burn down any more trees.” Guilt passed Mahiru’s face and he apologized. Kuro shrugged and said, “It’s partly my fault for surprising you. You’re a phoenix but you act more like a stray cat with how skittish you are.”

Mahiru folded his wing around himself and brushed his hands over the feather. It was impossible to deny that he was a phoenix with his wings. He looked back to Kuro but he couldn’t see any judgement in his red eyes. He was surprised he didn’t immediately force him to leave considering how dangerous phoenixes were. As a forest guardian, he had the power to do so. “You’re not going to tell me to leave?”

“You already made a nest here and it’ll be troublesome to regrow all that grass.” Kuro said. Mahiru still appeared wary and he wondered what he had been through. He explained, “It doesn’t seem like you’re dangerous. My brother says everyone deserves a home and I agree with him. This forest is large enough for a phoenix. As long as you promise to not burn any more of my trees, you can stay.”

“Thank you.” Mahiru smiled for the first time since they met. It was as brilliant as the sun. Kuro’s hospitality and kindness touched Mahiru. He reassured Kuro, “I will be careful with my fire. Honestly, I don’t like fighting and I tend to fly away whenever I can. But, if a hunter comes, I’ll help defend your forest so no damage will ever come to it. This is my home now, after all.”

Mahiru held out his hand to shake Kuro’s but then he realized that there was a mirror between them. He chuckled and placed his hand on the glass. “Let’s be friends, Kuro.”

“Kuro, look at these flowers I picked. Aren’t these daisies beautiful? Daisies don’t usually bloom at this time of year but I found a cluster of them on the edge of the forest.” Mahiru stopped in front of Kuro’s mirror and held out the flowers to him. “You’re the forest’s guardian so you probably knew about these flowers already. It’s a shame we can’t see them together though.”

Most forest guardians were spirits who don’t have a physical body. Spirits could only communicate through enchanted objects like the mirror. Despite that, they became friends over time. Mahiru had lived in the forest for a week now and his days were peaceful. He had to admit that it was easier to trust Kuro than others. As a forest guardian, he didn’t have a reason to betray him to hunters.

The forest was dense and not many people venture inside. Mahiru felt like he found a safe haven. He sat down and made a small fire so he could cook dinner. Ash pawed at the fish he recently caught and Mahiru had to lightly nudge it aside. “Be patient, Ash. I need to season and cook this properly. Thinking simply, it’ll taste better if I take my time. But you can have a taste test.”

Mahiru ripped off a piece of fish and fed it to the cat. It nestled against his side and Mahiru petted it fondly before he returned to cooking. He told Kuro about his day and their pleasant conversation filled the night. He enjoyed talking with someone over dinner after spending years running. The only thing he wished he could do was let Kuro taste his food but he was a forest spirit.

Once the fish was cooked, he slipped it onto a large leaf. He placed it in front of Ash before he made a plate for himself. He bit into the fish and hummed happily. “I found some spices near the daisies and used them for the first time. I like it. It’s less spicy than the seasoning in the region I’m from. I used to live in the mountains to the east.”

“I heard the air in the mountain is very fresh.” Kuro sat against the mirror and he leaned his head against the wooden frame. Mahiru nodded and nostalgia softened his smile.

“It was a great place to fly too. There’s a lot of open air and I could stretch my wings for miles.” Mahiru spread his wings and laid down on his back. He stared up at the starry sky and stretched his hands towards them. They seemed so far away. He had to admit that he missed flying but it was too risky to be seen.

He curled into a ball and used his wing as a warm blanket. Ash made its way under his wing and went to sleep. He felt his eyes become heavy due to the late hours. He felt safe in the forest. Mahiru turned onto his side and smiled at Kuro, “Thank you for letting me stay in your forest. Sleep tight, Kuro.”

“Goodnight.” He whispered back to him. He could hear Mahiru’s breathing slow as he drift to sleep. Kuro waited until he was certain that Mahiru was asleep before he stepped out of the mirror. He rubbed his stiff neck and groaned. Guilt stabbed his heart when he saw Mahiru sleeping on the ground. He never told him that he wasn’t a mere spirit but a guardian dragon.

Mahiru was the one who assumed he was a spirit but Kuro didn’t correct him. It still felt like he was lying to him. When Mahiru first entered his forest, Kuro could see that he was scared and he didn’t want to frighten him further. Now he didn’t know how he would tell Mahiru the truth after listening to his story. He decided to think it over as he took a walk. Every night, he would walk through the forest and see if anyone needed his help. It was his duty to help maintain the forest and protect its residents.

He found that he had a lot less work lately. Mahiru would stop conflicts within the forest and tended to injured animals during the day. For someone who controlled fire, he was very gentle. Kuro looked up at the sky and his thoughts returned to Mahiru. He wondered if he missed the sky. While he said he was happy to have a safe home, he was a phoenix.

Kuro sighed and walked back to the mirror. When he walked past the nest Mahiru made, he took off his jacket. He folded it and then slipped it beneath his head so he would have a pillow. Kuro understood and sympathized with Mahiru’s loneliness so he wanted to help him. He was careful not to wake him up as he returned to his home in the trees.

“You seem tired, Kuro. Did you get enough sleep last night?” Mahiru asked when he saw him yawn for the second time that morning. He was tending to an injured bird he found and talking with Kuro.

“I’m always tired.” His response made Mahiru laugh softly. In the mirror’s reflection, it appeared like they were sitting next to each other. He wished that was true and they could spend time together like normal friends.

Mahiru held a split against the bird’s broken wing while Kuro helped bind it. He used his powers to wrap its wing with a leaf. The bird chirped happily as Mahiru gently rubbed its heard with his finger. On the other hand, Ash was purring for attention. It forced its head into his hand and snuggled against his palm. Kuro chuckled and thought of how much the animals liked Mahiru.

“Ash, let me take care of this bird. I will play with you afterwards.” He gave the cat a friendly pat on its head. Mahiru lifted the bird slightly and placed it on a branch. “You need to rest while your wing heals. I know it will be difficult but this is for the best. It’ll only be temporary until you’re better.”

“Do you miss flying?” The expression Mahiru made answered his question. Kuro stepped to the edge of the mirror and placed his hand on the glass. “I think I know a way you can fly without people finding that you’re a phoenix. But there’s something else I need to tell you first. I don’t know how you will feel about it though. Mahiru, I...”

“You can tell me, Kuro. We’re friends.” Mahiru placed his hand over Kuro’s on the mirror. He smiled reassuringly at him and it made his heart flutter. At the same time, Kuro still felt hesitant because he didn’t want Mahiru to feel betrayed. He thought he deserved the truth though. He started to tell him but he was interrupted by an arrow striking the ground near his foot.

Mahiru’s instincts began to scream and he jumped to his feet. He turned around and saw hunters surround him. He was so distracted with Kuro that he hadn’t noticed them sooner. Usually, he would fly away but he didn’t want to abandon Kuro. He couldn’t fight them with his fire though. His mind started to race for a solution as he slowly backed away from them.

“My feathers!” Mahiru exclaimed to stop the hunters. After facing so many, he knew it would be difficult to negotiate with them. “I know my feathers are valuable. If you want them, you can take the ones that have already fallen out. There’s more than enough in my nest over there. You must leave this forest peacefully though. No one needs to be hurt. Please.”

The man leading the hunters didn’t lower his weapon. Even if he did agree to his peaceful terms, it would only be a temporary solution. More hunters would come now that they knew he made a nest in the forest. He didn’t want to fly away but leaving seemed to be the best way to keep the forest safe. He bit his lip and resigned himself to leaving.

Low hissing caught his attention and he looked down at his feet. Ash was growling at the hunters and trying defend him. The cat couldn’t do much when a hunter kicked it away and grabbed Mahiru’s wing. His anger flared to life when he saw Ash hurt and the hunter holding him was burned. Mahiru raised his hand and melted the sword the hunter was holding.

“I don’t want to fight but I will defend my home and my friends. Leave and never return to this forest!” While some of them ran, a few remained behind to fight. Mahiru stepped in front of the mirror to protect Kuro. His back was pressed against the cold glass but he knew that he couldn’t do much without his fire. A hunter aimed an arrow at him and Mahiru gathered flames in his palm.

The glass suddenly became warm behind him and Mahiru was pushed aside. He was too surprised to react or process what happened. Kuro jumped out of the mirror and controlled the trees to block the arrows. He also restrained the hunters with thick roots. Shadows circled Kuro as he spoke in a firm voice. “This forest is under my protection. Trespass again and you will face my wrath.”

The hunters ran away when they felt Kuro’s power. He was glad that the fight ended quickly and they didn’t need to fight. Kuro turned around and held out his hand to help Mahiru. The shock and confusion in his brown eyes stopped him. He lowered his hand and said: “I’m sorry, Mahiru. This wasn’t how I wanted to tell you.”

“You’re not a guardian spirit?” Mahiru’s voice shook. His wings unfolded slightly, as if he was about to fly away. Kuro couldn’t blame him if he did since he broke his trust.

“I’m a guardian dragon.” He explained. “I thought you would freak out if you knew the truth right away. Dragons are seen as dangerous creatures. But I was going to tell you eventually, I swear.”

Mahiru remembered the memories they made together. If Kuro truly intended to betray him and take his feathers, he would’ve done so sooner. He stepped closer and hesitantly placed his hand on Kuro’s cheek. His fingers stopped shaking when he felt how warm his skin was. Neither of them moved or spoke for a moment.

Finally, Mahiru spoke: “You said you knew a way I could fly without people discovering I’m a phoenix. Were you going to tell me that you are a dragon?”

Kuro slowly nodded and gathered shadows around him. The dark mist kept Mahiru from seeing his transformation but he could feel scales appear beneath his hand. After the shadows dispersed, he found a majestic dragon before him. His scales were as dark as the night sky. Mahiru looked into his crimson eyes and any fears he had disappeared.

“If you sit on my back, people won’t see you flying.” Then, Kuro asked. “Do you want to fly with me?”

“I would love to.”

#servamp #kuromahi #sloth pair #servamp kuro #mahiru shirota #fanfiction

60 notes · View notes

starscreamloki · 6 years

Text

My King

Chapter Six - Dawn

Previous chapter

Imagine: You were a very powerful Queen, whose husband was killed when Loki, invaded and attacked yours and his realm. In order to become king, Loki found a way to force you to marry him, and he was a terrible husband. You weren’t used to being ordered around or subjugated until you had no choice but to obey him and prevent things from getting worse. But your rebelliousness was starting to grow on Loki, so much he actually found himself very attracted to you as time went by. He actually started to court you, in his own, brusque and proud way. All this time, he hadn’t laid a finger on you, but after an awkward dinner served for the loveless king and queen, he showed up in your bedroom. Sat on your bed, gently caressed your arm until you woke up. You thought about playing along, thrusting a dagger into his heart when he least expected it. But you realized that all your hatred was slowly vanishing, the more he touched you. You ended up succumbing and having the most intense lovemaking session that only bonded the two of you for life.

Warnings: Dom!Loki, NSFW. Mentions of every horror that comes with war, battle, mischief, darkness and plain out malicious intent. No happy and fuzzy feelings in this chapter, just raw darkness and a God who wants to rule the universe and will beat everyone in submission in order to get it!

Words: 3165

A/N: So, I actually struggled a little bit while writing this chapter, which is the reason why it is shorter. After the previous chapters a lot of important things happened and this is sort of the dip where you have to pick up the story and keep running with it, or else it will al crumble to ashes. I think I managed though and next chapter will be better, promised!

----

It had been two days since Loki and Alexis had been wed. From that very moment Alexis had almost all of her freedom back and she was no longer a prisoner in her own chambers. She had seen her children every day on her own terms, roamed the castle on her own terms and had hardly seen Loki at all.

It was late afternoon when one of the servants came to her and passed on an invitation Loki had sent her. He had invited her to dinner tonight along with her children. At first she had been very reluctant to take the invitation, but then she remembered the one point of leverage with which he could make her do anything, even marrying her as it seemed, and she obliged.

It is actually so simple, she thought. As long as she heeded his every command, just smiled and did as she was told, her children were safe and she would be almost entirely free to do as she pleased. If that is what it would take, then she would do so while keeping her head held high. The life of a Queen had never been easy anyway, so she would be able to carry this out.

Alexis approached the dining room and through its door she could hear her children laugh. She didn’t know if Loki was inside or not, but if he was, her children didn’t seem to mind for they sounded happy. Come to think of it, she hadn’t seen on single piece of evidence that Loki hadn’t treated them right when they were out of her sight. Well… save for the moment of him entering the castle and the wedding. But otherwise they hadn’t been harmed in any way and it made Alexis wonder if he really was so bad as she thought he was.

She reeled the thought back when the image of a blue-skinned, red-eyed Loki sprang to her mind. She had been terrified, not knowing what kind of creature had been standing in front of her. She also wondered why the first ceremony had failed to show his true nature.

As she mused over that, she pushed open the doors and walked into the room. Her children exclaimed in unison a happy “Mommy!” and ran into her arms to give her a hug.

She looked around the room and spotted Loki at the head of the table, hanging in his seat, his stare blank. By his side sat one chained Kha’os Alvish which he patted absently and the creature seemed very content with the attention, almost purring. Alexis shivered for she still found the creature repulsing and in her opinion they didn’t make for very good domestic pets.

One of the servants carefully edged closer to Loki, very pointitly trying to avoid the chained creature at Loki’s side, probably very scared of it, and spoke something into the King's ear. Loki nodded and the servant scurried away as quick as possible.

Loki turned to Alexis, looking at her as if he saw her for the first time and then smiled. He then stopped patting the Kha’os Alvish and immediately it started to hiss and sputter, demanding attention from its master, but Loki didn’t give it. “Please, sit down”, he bade her gesturing to the chair on the left side of the table.

Wearily Alexis eyed the chair, or better said, the creature that sat at Loki’s side and she didn’t move. At that point the Kha’os Alvish really demanded attention and started to snap its teeth at Loki’s hands, ringing the chains as it did. With a quick move Loki grabbed the creature by its pointy ear and pulled at it, hauling its head backwards. Loki put his face close to that of the creature and stared it down. At first the Kha’os Alvish growled and hissed, trying to defy its master, but then Loki bared his teeth and let out a low and threatening growl, a sound that no humanoid could easily produce. The creature succumbed and tried to pull away but Loki was still holding its ear in a firm grip. Then he let go of the creature and it tried to scurry away from the King, but didn’t get far for his chains kept him in place. Loki sighed, grabbed the chain and held it out. From the side of the room a guard quickly paced towards Loki, grabbed the chain and walked away with the Kha’os Alvish. It looked back at its master and Loki gave it a warning glare, the creature cringed.

Alexis wasn’t quite sure what had just played out in front of her eyes, but a very reasonable fear took root in her heart and she would make sure to never forget that her King could control creatures made from nightmares. The raw power with which he had pushed the Kha’os Alvish into submission without speaking a single word just made her shiver.

It had been one thing to display such a power, and even treat her in the almost same way, but Loki had used words with her and Alexis was a rational being, able to speak and think the language of higher life-forms. This was a creature that was close to an animal, and one had to have a very strong will to rediate that kind of power over something so utterly feral.

Finally she was able to move again and gracefully she walked to the seat Loki had gestured at, and she took place. Her two children sitting across her, her eldest right next to the Tamer of Nightmares.

***

The servants placed food on the tables and the children had a hard time not to dive in straight away. Loki saw the boys itching and longing for the delicious looking food and he actually wondered what they had been fed in the past days that they looked at this food as if they had been starving.

“Go on,” Loki urged the children even before every plate had been sat upon the table, and they needn't to be told twice. Like hungry wolves they attacked the food.

Loki and Alexis on the other hand had the decency to wait until everything was on the table afore they started their meal which was accompanied by a good glass of wine. Of course this wasn't Asgards fine wine he was used to, but it didn't taste bad and it would do.

Alexis just said nothing but just stole peeks at him from the corner of her eye and eventually Loki had enough of it. “Speak your mind, my Queen,” he spoke the last words a bit mockingly but not rude or condescending in any way.

“When will your army leave?” she asked bluntly.

Loki was taken aback a little by the question, but considering the events of a couple of minutes ago, he understood. “They won't,” he said curtly.

Alexis almost choked on the food she was eating and started to cough, but she quickly regained composure. “Why not? What use of them do you have here?”

“They are merely a tool which I like to keep close at hand. Just like you,” he grinned.

Alexis ignored the last comment and said, “I don't like them and they scare the children. Could you at least keep them out of the castle's walls?”

Loki took a bite of a piece of bread and mulled over the question. He swallowed and answered, “what would I gain by doing that? They no longer rampage through the halls and shedding blood as they did when I arrived a fortnight ago, so why should I?”

“BECAUSE ONE MONSTER IN MY CASTLE IS ENOUGH!” Alexis suddenly snapped at him, and when her brain had caught up to the words she had spoken, she put a hand in front of her mouth and a little gasp left her lips.

The children were shocked at the sudden outburst of their mother and eyed her with an uncertain look. “You are excused from the table. Now,” she said to her children and she gestured at a servant to quickly take them away before the King would… would do what?

As soon as the children were out of harm’s way, she looked at Loki, who coldly looked back, his lower jaw taut with anger he tried to control.

“I- I'm sorry,” Alexis stuttered. “I should.. I should not have said that,” and she looked down at the table, her body a tight wire for it expected a lash of violence from Loki.

Loki had dire problems with controlling his anger, but he was able to catch it and put it away in his dark culprit, feeding the monster that lay there. A restraint sigh escaped him and he forced himself to stay calm. He didn't know what to do with this subject. Every single chance the Queen got to rub it in his face, she would. She would batter him relentlessly with the words, only to beg for forgiveness afterwards even though she meant the words she had spoken. And every time Loki would get angry, punish her and hurt her. It would be a dance which they never could escape if one of them didn't break the cycle before it even started.

Weak-- Loki swatted at the thought. You want to be King, you want to control it all, subjugate the entire universe. Then why care for such a mere mortal and her poisonous words? She deserves to be punished each and every single time!

Loki had taken so long to make any movement, to show any form of action, that tears of fear were silently rolling down the cheeks of the Queen while she still stared down at the table. She didn't dare to look up, but Loki not doing or saying anything, making her wait, was utter and pure torment in its rawest form. A torment she concocted on herself without knowing.

Slowly Loki leaned forward and stretched his hand carefully towards her face. When Alexis saw his hand approach, she squeezed her eyes shut.

Loki caught on to that movement and, before he could touch her to wipe at the tear on her cheek, he pulled back his hand as if something had bitten it.

She was just so scared of him, that even when he tried to be kind to her, she only expected pain and preventedly acted upon that.

Than give her that pa--

Loki sighed, and this time his hurt shimmered through and he did not try to hide it. With his thumb and index finger he rubbed his eyes and with all the calm he could muster he spoke, “you can not keep saying that forever. Not because you don’t think it true, which it ain't, and not because you don't feel that way, but because every time you say it, you hurt yourself.” Loki leaned back in his seat and Alexis carefully opened her eyes and glanced at him.

He seemed to wait for some form of answer but Alexis’ mind went completely blank except for one question. “What are you?”

Loki bit his lip and stared at her. Under his glare she seemed to cringe again, her mind her own tormentor once more.

Loki got up and walked a few steps away to create some distance between them so they could breathe. He turned his back to her and folded his hands on his back as well. Then he spoke. “My heritage - my blood - is that of a Jotun, yet my upbringing was Aesir. In my realm I'm known as the God of Mischief, though I bear many titles that follow along that same line. Laufeyson, Odinson, Silvertongue, Trickster, just given names and titles for which I care not--”

Liar! His mind sneered at him and Loki cringed briefly.

A short silence hang in the air before Alexis swallowed and spoke. “I have not heard of the names and places you just spoke of, I do not know what they mean and thus I do not understand.”

Loki nodded and opened his mouth, but before he could speak, Alexis did, “but I think you are right about what you said earlier. I will try to hold back my tongue and stop calling- nay, viewing you as a monster, but for that you need to give me time. And I need reason to believe you are not what I think you are, I need you to show me you are not.” Alexis stood up from the table and walked to the door and before she left she said, ”if you are not able to do that, neither of us will ever be free of this toxic soiree,” and with that she left the room, leaving Loki alone with her words that hooked into his heart and gnawed at the vibers of his very being.

***

After the dinner, which hadn’t been very much of a dinner for Alexis had barely eaten, she had gone back to her chambers and fallen into the bed.

She had cried then. A lot, and hard, because the stress that had been building up in her body needed a way out. After that sheer exhaustion had claimed her and she had fallen asleep.

At some point during the night she woke up. She wasn’t sure what had woken her up until she heard it again. Someone was screaming.

The sound went through marrow and bone and it took Alexis a couple of seconds to shake the sleep from her brain and pinpoint where it was coming from. She looked at the door, the one that led to Loki’s chambers.

Then she remembered. It wasn’t the first time she had heard somebody screaming in the middle of the night, and the sound would always come from his chambers. Sometimes the screams were obviously female, but sometimes male. This time had clearly had been female.

But Alexis heard no more screams, the woman had went silent, like they all did.

Curiosity got the better of her and she jumped out of bed and walked to Loki’s door. She had tried the door a few times before in these nightly escapades, but it was always locked. She tried the door, expecting it to be locked this night too, but to her surprise it wasn’t locked.

For a moment she hesitated. Did she want to open that door? Did she truly want to know what was happening on the other side? If he found out she was snooping around she would have to face his wrath. But an act of defiance overtook her and she pushed the door open a little so she could peek inside.

On the floor, next to the bed, lay one of the Kha’os Alvish weirdly curled up into a ball. Its chest rose and fell in a steady rhythm, apparently it was asleep. Alexis shuddered. She wouldn’t be able to sleep with such a vile creature next to her bed.

On the bed sat one of her maids - Rakel! She sat cross legged on the bed and wasn’t wearing any clothes. Her head was down and shackles were place around her neck and wrists which connected with chains. Her hair fell in front of her eyes as she just looked down, said or did nothing.

Alexis let out a little gasp and quickly clapped her hand in front of her mouth, almost trying to put the sound back were it came from. But she had been heard and she saw Rakel looking at the door- no, at her, from the corner of her eye.

At that point Alexis heard footsteps behind the door and the next thing she knew was the door slamming in her face, a clicking sound followed. The last thing she heard before everything went silent once more was the whimpering sound that Rakel made.

Alexis’ heart dropped in her stomach. She didn’t know what was happening on the other side - and it didn’t bode Loki well for her not viewing him as a monster - but Alexis was very sure she wouldn’t see Rakel ever again.

***

After her nightly escapade it had taken Alexis quite some time to fall asleep again, all types of doom-scenarios playing in her mind. Eventually the exhaustion had taken over again and she woke to the sun that was warming her face.

As she woke to the delightful feeling of the sun or her face, her brain had a hard time to start its memory, and for a couple of seconds Alexis didn’t remember what had happened in the past two weeks and she just enjoyed waking up in the sunlight.

“My Queen?” a familiar voice said.

Wading through some thick foggy clouds in her brain, the memories slowly formed again in Alexis’ mind and with a jolt she sad up. Rakel!

Rakel was standing near the table, a fresh tray of food on it. Alexis rubbed her eyes trying to rub the sleep out of her eyes and kickstart her brain.

“Rakel-- You-- I thought--”, Alexis stammared at seeing the maiden alive and well. Had everything been a bad dream after all? Just a nightmare produced by her own brain? But then she noted the red marks on her neck and wrists and Alexis knew it hadn’t been a dream.

Rakel caught the Queen looking at it and she quickly tried to hide it.

“What did he do to you?” Alexis asked still a little bit baffled.

Rakel looked at the ground, a little smile worked its way to her lips as she thought back to the night before, and she stammered. “I-- He--”, she couldn’t bear to get the words past her lips seeing the hurt in the Queens eyes as she tried to look up.

“He didn’t hurt you now did he? Because if so then--”

Before Alexis would start a full rant about Loki being a monster, Rakel interrupted her, “nothing I didn’t ask for nor wanted.” A coy smile played on her lips and with that Rakel hoped the Queen would just drop the subject.

Alexis opened her mouth to say something but then her brain caught on, and with a snap she closed her jaw.

Well, this puts things in perspective, her brain bluntly said.

She looked at Rakel and again opened her mouth to say something, but for the second time she got interrupted as a servant opened the door and walked over to her, a message clearly burning on her lips.

“Speak,” Alexis said with a sigh. Apparently the universe had decided Alexis and Rakel wouldn’t be talking about what had happened last night, so she might as well drop it.

“The King has asked for your presence in the throne room as soon as possible, my Queen.” Alexis nodded and with that the servant scurried out of the room again.

Alexis did not look forward to sit next to her King now she understood what had happened last night.

Not at all…

Next Chapter

----

Taglist: @omegalaufeyson, @umniyah-s, @mundanecatlife, @taehyungsrudetongue, @hey-i-got-pie, @inluvwithloki, @xxthehuntresssxx, @flouncing-tart76, @lokiloveforever, @wrappedinlokisarms, @cuteandnerdythings, @i-am-lost-in-my-own-mind , @blondekel77,

#loki #loki imagine #imagine loki #loki fanfic #dom!loki #Loki our king #Predatory!loki #feral!loki

40 notes · View notes