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moonbaby26 · 3 years ago

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Title: A Party and a Spy

Pairing: Loki x Goddess!Reader

Summary: Story set nearer the Viking Age. You were a Greek sea goddess who crossed paths with the god of mischief. Continuation of previous chapter. Loki is forced to return to Asgard to unwillingly participate in the festivities honoring Odin and Thor’s victories in Alfheim. He ends up drunk and in a piss poor mood that he then wants you to help relieve. Your secret meetings also finally attract an unwanted visitor. Super brief cameos here by Sif, the warriors three, and Thor, as well as Heimdall again.

Warnings: Semi smut possibly, but no real sex this chapter. Sorry to tease, will be some next chapter. Here is just mentions of arousal, grinding through clothing. Mention of masturbation. Also some animal abuse, but a magical animal who will be fine I guess. The princes are just jerks like that.

Chapters: Previous Chapter | Next Chapter

Taglist: @rosaline-black , @lawfeys , @loveableasshole , @insanitybyanothername , @just-wordsandthoughts , @cringingmemeries

My Masterlist

——————————

You still felt warm, your head just poking out from under the blanket as you stretched a little. Your hand ran out across the mattress after a moment though, contacting nothing to your surprise as you then opened your eyes.

As you quickly sat up, the look on your face must have said far too much as you heard a chuckle from nearby.

“No, goddess, I haven’t left just yet. My, you are expressive though.”

As you turned your head towards the voice, you saw Loki now sitting in one of the two chairs at the small table opposite your side of the bed.

He was still dressed only in a pair of pants you also quickly noted, yourself still so unused to seeing this much of him as your eyes lingered on the lean muscle and pale skin.

“What?” He asked, not missing that stare either, though the sly look in his eyes told you he knew damned well what you were now distracted with. He just wanted you to say it.

“Asgardians really do wear too many clothes, if you are any proper example anyway.” You replied simply though. Why hide so much all the time?

He raised an eyebrow, but was smirking as he taunted a little further. “Oh I can assure you, there is no one in Asgard like me. And you’d prefer this not be reserved just for you then?”

You tried not to look caught off guard. Even if he were only teasing, the implication that he’d still be keeping this type of intimacy for you alone was something that made your stomach flutter slightly.

“Come here.” He said next though, snapping you back to attention, though you still hesitated. Was that a command or a request?

He only rolled his eyes after a moment though. “Oh, don’t waste time trying to be proud now. I do have to leave shortly, it will already be late morning in Asgard by now.” He extended a hand to you. “So come, sit with me.”

You eventually acquiesced, standing from the bed then, though intending just to walk to the other chair. Yet the very moment you were close enough, he only grabbed you by the arm, pulling you down to sit on his lap instead.

He was surprisingly fast and strong when he wished to be, his arms already around your waist as well before you could think to try and stand again.

“There. That wasn’t so hard was it?” He spoke lowly against your ear as you shifted.

But to your surprise he didn’t touch you any further, even though one arm did stay around your waist to keep you steady as his other hand just went back to the table.

“I have a job for you.” He added, then moving his hand oddly as a piece of parchment paper and a writing quill appeared abruptly from thin air. “At least I think it may work. I’m sure the majority of these animals are illiterate. I’m hoping at least the clan chief has some shaman or someone of the sort that understands these runes. It’s the only written language I’ve ever seen in this land.”

But even as he started to write on the paper, your mind was still only fixating on what you’d just seen as you asked abruptly. “How did you do that?”

He seemed focused on whatever symbols he was now putting on the page, but he still answered. “How do I do what? They’re just runes.”

“No, how did you conjure the pen and paper?” Controlling the elements, moving objects by will, or casting illusions was one thing. But forming a very unnatural, man made object from essentially nothing was different than the typical kind of magic you were used to.

Loki paused a moment then, like trying to digest what you’d just said before he glanced back up to look you in the eyes.

“The woman can move the seas themselves and is astonished by a piece of paper?” He mocked incredulously.

Your eyebrows lowered. “Listen, I know good and well I’m no sorceress. That’s why I’m asking. How do you create something like that from nothing?”

He shook his head. “Gods, they really just give magic to anyone these days.”

A joke clearly, as everything you had you had been born with, though learning to control it had taken time. And to be honest, was still an ongoing learning process. But you still wanted an answer as you looked at him pointedly.

He sighed under your gaze. “I really don’t have the time for this. But I know you won’t let it go.” He had continued writing though even as he kept talking. “I didn’t make them, goddess. I brought them with me. You are at least correct in that nearly all instances of magic, nothing can be made without taking of something else. I’m sure when you make those little whirlpools of yours for instance, you’re drawing the latent energy from the water. The currents, the temperature differences, what have you. To truly make something from nothing...well, that would be chaos magic. Which, may or may not even exist depending which of the ancient mages’ tomes you most believe in.”

You could tell he did take pride in his studies and the principles behind them clearly. If he wasn’t already concerned about returning to Asgard, you could probably get a whole lecture on this subject right now. But you couldn’t help but point out again, as you just responded. “Yet you still haven’t really answered my question. If you brought them with you, where were they before?” You glanced down at his pants as if to reaffirm your doubt that anything other than himself had been hidden there as they were relatively tight.

Yet he still smirked at your continued insistence. “On the scale of the things I’m capable of, my dear, that’s just a parlor trick. And if you really care so much, I can teach you at some other time.”

At that, he paused writing again though, placing the quill down momentarily as he then moved his hand again for a long dagger to abruptly be held in his palm. “You see? There are far better uses to this trick.” He flipped the knife just as quickly though, letting the blade’s point stab into the table as the dagger then stood on end.

And as it did so he made sure to look to see your reaction, also asking you, “Do you really just depend on your servants to follow you around at all hours with any weapons you may need?”

Yet you just looked from the dagger, then back to him. Surprised surely, but not actually frightened. “And do you have so many enemies as to always need that at the ready?”

“One never really knows do they?” He answered smoothly, just grasping the dagger’s handle again before it disappeared once more.

It didn’t seem like a threat really. But you felt he still wanted you to know a bit more of what he was capable of. You quieted afterward as he went back to writing for a few more moments.

When he was done, you could tell he glanced over the letter briefly, as if proofreading before he rolled the paper tightly and folded it.

He spoke rather business like then, an odd thing honestly as you still sat so intimately on his lap. “If it wasn’t already obvious, I’d like you to carry this to the village leader while I return to Asgard. I don’t have the time to deal with the mortals right now, and besides, they’re your pets.”

“Excuse me? Have you forgotten whose idea this whole ‘protector’ role was to begin with?”

“Oh, I was willing to let the lot of them be wiped out if you’d chosen not to save them. I’d only need to spare whichever the nicest home was from burning as the marauders moved through, and we still would have ended up with a place to meet regardless.”

The sad thing was, you were actually sure he really meant that too. But he just continued.

“Yet you pitied them, and now here we are. And as the beasts held up their end of the bargain, I agree it’s fair at least to give them some recognition for their work. A pat on the head and a ‘good dog’ essentially, that’s what this letter says. So you see, I’m not wholly ungrateful.”

“A thank you letter?” You asked dryly. Relatively sure it likely didn’t read completely as such.

“Well, essentially. But with a reminder on the rules as well.”

“Rules?”

“Our privacy must be respected. I’ll put a green flame at the end of the trail nearer the village when we’re present. During the night, this place is also solely ours. If during the day there’s no flame, then they can come up and clean and maintenance this tiny wood hutch like good help should.”

“Your staff at your palace must just adore you.” You mused sarcastically. “The mortals are not our slaves, Loki.”

“It’s really an odd thing how you fancy them.” He retorted, though with an air of someone just humoring another person they already thought irreparably deluded. “But I suppose you have nothing else fulfilling to pass the time when I’m in Asgard. Some people like to paint, others like to craft things...you, you have your pets.”

Arrogant god you thought. As if suddenly you had no other purpose outside of him? Surely he saw that insulted look in your eyes as well, because you could see the entertained mirth in his own before he pulled you closer to kiss you suddenly.

And this one was rough again, briefly reminding you of that night in the cave as you felt his hands move down to your hips. His tongue was already in your mouth before you could even consider pulling away.

From last night when he’d only held you, to now seeming so hungry again, the sides of him could change so quickly you were learning.

His hands didn’t move beneath your dress though, even though you thought his fingers may be grabbing you hard enough to bruise as he twisted you to be fully facing him. Straddling him actually with each of your legs now on either side of him as he rested against the back of the chair.

He kept kissing you, and it wasn’t long before you felt that distinct hardness against you even through his pants. As always though, you wore nothing beneath your dress, a matter of practicality really for as often as you were in the water. Who would want any undergarments constantly rubbing and chaffing where you were most sensitive? You liked sheer and loose material in the dresses you wore, so that it moved easily as you swam and dried quickly when you were on land.

But he knew all this by now of course, as he just ground his hips then, that rough seam of his pants then moving between your legs as he drug it back and forth.

He was intentionally trying to work you up. You sensed the trap, but still found your own hands moving across his bare chest soon enough.

Your newfound lack of willpower was really astounding. Finally though, you pulled your head back to break the kiss and warn him. “If you’re just doing this with no intention to actually follow through...”

“If you wanted it so badly, you could have taken it last night.” He retorted though. “I’ve already stayed too long.”

“Why can’t I want both?” You answered, meaning it as well. It wasn’t just sex, nor was it just being in his company. Neither by itself was enough anymore. Each had its own place.

He looked frustrated himself though as you felt him thrust against you reflexively, that bulge in his pants wasted even as it scraped against where you were now becoming wet. “I’m telling you, Odin is back at the palace now. I have to be calculated in the times I come and go. There is some damned ceremony today, likely starting any moment by now for their victories in Alfheim. If I’m not there, they’re going to come looking for me.”

As much as you knew he liked to bend the truth. It wouldn’t make sense for him to deny himself this right now unless it was actually for good reason.

“Well you’re the one who pulled me into your lap and kissed me.” You relented, though your own body now fully flustered and urging you to return to him even as you stood up and stepped away.

“Well you shouldn’t have slept so late.” He grumbled back. Pulling at his pants in some discomfort as he stood as well.

But you watched as his armor manifested then, horned helmet and all as his magic washed across him. What you guessed would now be his attire for the ceremony he’d spoken of. You assumed that clothing and armor had been in whatever void the pen, paper, and dagger had been.

At least with his illusions he could also conceal his arousal if it hadn’t faded on its own by the time he reached the palace though, you thought with some amusement.

Yet, even as he walked for the door, he taunted to you as if sensing your enjoyment of his current predicament. “You’re welcome to get back in the bed you know. Think of me while you self soothe, goddess.”

So crude. But you just fired back before he could close the door. “And is that what you do at night in Asgard? Think of yourself as well to finish things off?” You were trying to mock his evident self importance of course.

Yet he didn’t even miss a beat at the intended insult. “Why be myself when I can just be you? Then I never have to forget how you feel.”

And just to prove that he could, you stared in disbelief as a perfect likeness of yourself then smiled back at you lewdly, thin dress and all before shutting the door unceremoniously.

Gods. That was just unnatural. And you had to sit down at that, arousal now paused at least as your body’s resulting confusion was almost palpable.

———————————

Asgard, not long after

Loki was back to his normal appearance, hurriedly stepping into the small grouping of warriors he’d recognized at once in the rest of the crowd at the palace ceremonial hall.

Sif’s head turned in immediate surprise and annoyance as those golden horns entered her peripheral vision. The irritation was evident even as she tried to keep her voice low with so many others still around them. “And just where have you been!? Thor was looking for you everywhere!”

“I was in the library, did he think to look in the library!?” Loki spat back immediately, knowing that even if his brother had checked there, Thor knew the layout of it so poorly, he could always have claimed to have been in another section.

“Yet why are you breathing so hard, chap? Were you actually running?” Fandral asked as well, also looking Loki over.

“And why pray tell would I have been running?” Loki shot a glare to him next. Could they not mind their own damned business for once?

“Because you were late?” Volstagg offered in that simplistic, yet matter of fact way that was always beyond annoying even on the best day.

“Well I’m here now.” Loki huffed, though not missing the way Hogun was also staring at him critically. “And do you have something to add?” Loki grumbled at him.

But only Sif answered. “Well if you hadn’t been lost in the library,” Her tone made clear how little she believed that excuse, “You’d know that Thor chose you to give the congratulatory speech before-”

“The what?” Loki stared at her, that odd mix of horror and disgust then abruptly clear on his face.

——————————

“So what more can I say of Asgard’s favorite son?” Loki’s public speaking voice boomed richly through the great hall, the throng of happy faces sickening as he smiled right back at them. What fresh Hel was this really?

“Alfheim counts her graces I am sure to have such noble saviors defend her-” By the gods he didn’t even know what Odin and Thor had done there the entire time. He assumed there’d been skull bashing and the normal heroics. But if they’d been working out peace treaties instead the last few weeks, who knew. He’d been looking for hidden portals to Midgard still on the days they’d held the main debriefings.

“And with peace secured in the realms once more, please join me in giving thanks to the noble Allfather and the mighty Thor!” Loki wasn’t normally one for alcohol. Not in comparison to most Asgardians anyway. He thought it dulled the mind too much. But by all the mages in all the realms...he so badly needed it now, as he took a large swig of the strongest Asgard had, before throwing the glass down to shatter it as was custom. “And let the feasts commence!”

The crowd erupted in cheers. And on any other day, that would have been something he obviously would have wanted. But Loki knew that not one voice was for him as he suddenly felt a large hand and arm go around his shoulders, shaking him roughly before his brother’s voice joined the yells, yet right in his ear.

“HUZZAH!” Thor cried, one arm still around Loki as his other lifted Mjolnir triumphantly.

—————————

And it was so many hours later before Loki had finally escaped. Time and time again as he’d tried to excuse himself from the endless barrage of drinks and food, it was as if his brother had somehow sensed it.

Then there would be Thor again, telling him any one of those same stories over and over as he’d somehow corralled Loki back into the feast room. If he’d had to hear one more time how with one hand forced behind his back, and Mjolnir still in mid air, that Thor had kicked one of the enemies’ bombs right back into their own garrison, taking out an entire enemy troop as more of their stored artillery then exploded...Loki may have finally vomited.

As it was now, he wasn’t exactly walking a straight line either though. Just carrying his own helmet in one hand, his head already throbbing as he made his way slowly through the corridors. His other arm reaching out occasionally, grazing the walls for balance.

He couldn’t remember the last time he’d drank so much. Well, more like been forced to drink so much, just to try and maintain his sanity in what was essentially just another gathering of his brother’s sycophants.

Honestly did Thor even see it? Did he really think all those hanger-ons were truly his friends? Perhaps there was some argument for Sif and the warriors three. As thick headed as they all were, they were about cut from the same cloth. And that was not a compliment.

But all the others? It’d be almost pitiable really if it weren’t so damned annoying. Yet maybe it was the alcohol there as well, making Loki linger on so many of these feelings again.

By the time he reached the entrance to his quarters, he was frowning as he pushed the heavy doors open. He still made sure that they shut fully behind him though as he waved his hand to lock them doubly with a spell.

It was not without precedent that in some true late night madness, either Thor, or Thor, Fandral, and Volstagg may still force entry to try and get him to accompany them on some additional drunken adventure while they were still riding so high on their accomplishments.

“Idiots,” Loki grumbled to no one though. Still stuck in that sour mood as he moved across the dark room, losing clothes as he did so before finally ending up in his elaborate bed. The silken sheets were then the only thing against his skin as he laid there in silence, though the room still feeling like it was moving slightly in his lingering vertigo.

But he just wanted to sleep. That and to will this headache and the thoughts that worsened it away.

But instead he only laid there. His drunken thoughts churning louder and louder as the minutes passed, alone in this extravagant, luxurious, and also very empty bed.

Scattered across the palace now, he could only imagine all the couplings likely occurring. Not necessarily in the full sense of the word. But he knew how these types of festivities normally ended.

Thor was likely in an archway somewhere with Sif, pawing at each other with all the finesse of a pair of schoolchildren. Fandral and Hogun would still be at a table, Fandral now showing off his sword to a couple maidens simultaneously with only thinly veiled euphemisms of how it compared to the hidden equivalent. And Volstagg would have his actual wife and children there, somehow still not bored of them yet as they all laughed together.

And that’s what it really was, laughable.

Loki rolled onto his side, glaring towards the balcony and the stars dotting the black sky beyond it. No, he didn’t need any of that farce of companionship. Not just for the sake of it anyway like all the others. He took what he wanted, when he wanted surely. Pleasure was one thing after all, but it didn’t control him.

You didn’t control him actually. Because no one controlled the god of mischief.

But the longer he lay there in silence, the more he could then imagine your fingers soon running through his hair, or the warmth of your lap to lay his aching head in. He’d had bad days before, many times retreating to this very room alone. But he didn’t have to be alone tonight. He didn’t have to be alone at all anymore did he?

“Goddamnit.” He finally hissed. It was foolhardy, dangerous even after just returning from Midgard already once today. But he wasn’t going to sleep tonight otherwise. Not until he had what he really wanted.

——————————

Loki certainly wasn’t going to be walking all the way to the bifrost gate. Not at this hour, and not in this condition. So he’d taken a form that at least no one would have second guessed if they’d just happened to look up as he’d passed quickly overhead.

One of Father’s ravens, or the rats with wings as he preferred to call them. And as he’d landed near Heimdall, then regaining his normal form, the older god just looked down at him, unimpressed.

“She’s returned to the ocean. She already sleeps.” Heimdall spoke unprompted.

Yet Loki’s eyebrows rose mockingly, even if his words took a little more effort right now. “Oh? Making a habit of watching her…even without me then? That’s a bit perverse.”

But the gatekeeper’s expression hardly changed at the insult, still so difficult to goad. “I saw you coming, and your questions to her whereabouts are becoming predictable.”

It was true. Loki had already come here several nights, yes. Mostly to check whether the mortals had finished that structure or not. And it’d finally been a pleasant reward just the other night when Heimdall had confirmed it already done and you there waiting.

“I don’t care where she is.” Loki retorted though. “I’m going to Midgard. Open the gate.”

“You are inebriated.” Heimdall warned.

“And you have a severely itritating penchant for stating the obvious…open the gate.” He commanded more forcefully.

“Anywhere in Midgard particular?” Heimdall answered.

Loki paused though, hearing that slightest change in the guardian’s normal stoic tone with those last words. “Are you…attempting to make a joke?”

“I did not wish to assume or state the obvious again as you said. And you also say you do not care where she is. So do you not care where you should land tonight then?”

He was! He was mocking him. Loki growled, pointing his finger for emphasis. “Now listen here…it has been a god awful, long day. Quit trying to dissuade me. Send me to the village, gatekeeper!”

“Any village?”

Gods. “My village, her village, whatever you want to call it. But do it or I’ll use the damned sword myself!”

With one last cheerless look down at Loki, Heimdall turned the sword then, opening the gate even as he warned a final time. “Do not fall from the bifrost, Prince. The universe is vast and does not suffer the careless well. Do remember as well that all things done have consequences in the end.”

But Loki had no time to search for deeper meaning in the words, just ruffling more as he walked towards the light. “Is that a threat?”

“Only a truth and a caution.” Heimdall again answered, just before the other disappeared back across the bridge.

———————————

And as the light left him again, Loki was once more in that dark forest. Yet, the ground far lighter colored than normal as to a little of his surprise, his boots now found fresh snow. Winter had finally arrived to this part of Midgard apparently.

He cursed, realizing it would have been far smarter to have told Heimdall to deposit him directly onto the beach this time as he’d now had to navigate back down the hillside and to the trail that led between the cliff face.

It had started snowing again as well as he walked, the large flakes sticking in his black hair by the time he reached the ocean’s edge. He should have told you just to stay at the cabin this morning. But he didn’t expect to be standing here again so soon either.

Loki didn’t care about the water at this point though, the waves rushing up around his feet and over the top of his boots as he trudged forward to call out. “Hear me, sea beasts! Hear me and bring your mistress to me!”

And it didn’t take long of course before he saw two feminine looking torsos rise just where the waves were breaking in the distance. Not quite human, but expressive enough that he could see the skepticism in their body language.

“She’s asleep!” One called back over the waves.

“Then go and wake her!” He only hissed back as if scolding an insubordinate child. Why did everyone feel the need to test him tonight?

But the two nymphs just looked at one another. The other then speaking. “What is so important? Are you claiming injury again?”

He scoffed at the jab, voice easily sliding into its darker range then, even in his continued drunken state. He did not have time for this. “Do not forget your place, water sprite.”

And as he made a move as if to step further into the water, he was pleased to see them both shrink back at that. When they disappeared not long after, he knew all he now had to do was wait.

—————————

You didn’t fully know what to expect. Why was he back so soon? Not that you should complain, but he’d made such a point about having to return to Asgard this morning, and he’d never come back so quickly before. Even though it was now dead of night.

The nymphs also said he’d been acting strangely, even a bit ruder than normal. They insisted you bring your spear, and so you had as you broke the surface only to find him sitting at the water’s edge. Though not even far enough onto the beach to stay dry as the water now ran around him and then pulled back with each successive wave. His pants and cloak were clearly soaked, snow also dotting all over him to your surprise.

“Loki?” You asked, concerned but cautious. Normally the rare sight of snow would have distracted you in its own right had you not been so focused on him. The north was still unique to you for all its differences.

“The cold doesn’t bother me either.” He said abruptly, seeing that worry in your eyes. But he didn’t stand out of the water. “You really should reprimand your servants…”

“It’s not quite that kind of a relationship.” You replied, though not defensively as you still tried to realize what was wrong with him. “Are you alright?”

“No.” He said simply.

If it was just another trick, it was a good one. But you felt you had no real choice but to behave as if he was sincere. You only laid your spear down in the water as you then moved to sit down beside him.

He looked over at you as you did, and you could see how tired he looked even in the darkness. So close to him then, that was finally when you smelled the scent of alcohol, impressively strong even over the salt smell of the ocean.

He was drunk.

“Loki…” You said again, unsure at all what would have driven him to this kind of excess. “Do you want me to help you to the cabin?”

He leaned closer though, as if to either kiss you or lay his head against yours. He did nuzzle your face slightly though as he whispered in your ear. “I want him to get closer first.” Before you could react though, he’d then grabbed your chin to keep you from looking away from him. “He can’t hear us over the noise of the sea…but don’t look away.”

And he did kiss you then, that heady taste of the alcohol almost as distracting as the nonsensical words. His hand was moving up your thigh as well as his other moved around to your back. It all seemed like only the beginnings of foreplay before just as suddenly, he then pushed you down beneath him. His hand that had been on your thigh pulled back simultaneously to throw a dagger violently out into the darkness.

You heard a distinct sound of a hit, a creature screech, and then chaotic flapping in the sand and snow somewhere near the cliff’s base.

Loki was now laying on top of you, your back still pressed into the wet sand as the water rushed back up around you both. He glanced back down at you then, ignoring the confusion in your eyes as he kissed you roughly several times more before finally pulling back again. “We’ll have to get back to that tomorrow…” He all but purred, mood shifting suddenly to satisfaction as he stood once more and offered you his hand.

Utterly baffled, you still took it, letting him help you up before he let go of you to walk off towards the distressed sounds you still heard near the cliff. You only hung back long enough to grab your spear before hurrying to follow him.

You didn’t know what kind of beast to expect from all the noise, and only found yourself more surprised as a pitiable looking black bird finally came into view. It flapped even harder upon seeing Loki, but with one wing clearly mangled and blood spattering the snow and sand around it.

“Oh, you over dramatic twat.” Loki fussed, snatching the hapless creature up with little fanfare as his other hand reclaimed his now bloody dagger, disappearing it again with his magic. “And which one are you?” He asked, holding it roughly near his face as it now continually tried to bite him in defiance.

You didn’t know what he was looking for, and you were about to say something about how harshly he was holding the poor animal before Loki smirked in recognition.

“Well…Muninn, you little vermin. You saw me leave the palace didn’t you? Did you really think I was your other half? Couldn’t leave well enough alone could you?”

What? So this was one of Odin’s ravens? But, Loki had just stabbed it! Was this not treason? Treason that you were now a party to? You had so many questions as your inner panic began to grow.

But Loki only kept smiling, talking with condescension to the injured bird. “Yet, for you to be here so quickly, then you’ve found my door for me. There’s a rift between Asgard and Midgard somewhere nearby…and for that you get to keep your other wing tonight, you little spy.”

—————————

As you passed back up the trail to the cabin together, you saw Loki had indeed kept his word about signaling to the mortals when you were here. A green flame floated, ethereal in midair at the edge of the tree-line.

It had a haunting look to it, but you said nothing, still so focused on Loki’s rough handling of the injured raven. And by the time you’d entered the woods, you could no longer contain yourself.

“Please don’t hold him by the chest like that. It makes it too hard for them to breathe. You’re going to suffocate him!”

At your outburst, Loki seemed to have a genuine moment of surprise, looking over at you before his normal superior expression returned. “Just because you can become a bird….doesn’t mean you should give a damn about this one. Don’t waste your time on kindness. Despite your bleeding heart, his loyalty lies only with the Allfather. He’ll snitch you out regardless.”

“But, he has lost a lot of blood. We can’t let him die, Loki…” You still kept on, worried the alcohol had truly made him lose all sense of judgement.

Again he just gave you the oddest look before outright laughing though. He shook the bird a little, making it squawk again, before continuing. “This rat and his brother are imbued with Odin’s magic. They cannot perish so easily as long as Odin still lives.”

Yet, that was still not comforting to you in the slightest. In what possible way could torturing a favored pet of the Allfather end positively for the two of you?

But Loki didn’t miss the way you still stared with disapproval, just rolling his eyes as you finally made it to the cabin. “Do you know how long we’ve dealt with these little pests? When Thor got his first slingshot as a boy, what do you think he practiced it on? When I learned my first spells, what did I test them on? There is nothing new to this…”

“That’s awful.” You grumbled, though watching as Loki did this odd movement with his shoulders, his magic shifting over him so that he was suddenly dry again.

As he walked inside, you had to shake the snow off yourself the old fashioned way. Your dress and hair still damp from that and the ocean combined as you followed him inside, leaning your spear against the wall before closing the door. “So you could do that the whole time,” You commented as to his drying trick, though not really surprised by anything else right now.

He smirked a little, knowing what you were thinking. With a wave of his hand a couple of the candles also lit. “Oh, I didn’t do it that night in the cave. You were supposed to take pity and ask me to take off some of my wet clothes…of course they ended up off anyway didn’t they?”

You crossed your arms, just frowning as he unceremoniously opened the chest on the floor next, tossing the injured Muninn into it before slamming it back closed.

“I’ll deal with you in the morning,” Loki threatened in response to the resulting angry squawk, giving the chest a light kick before the noise inside silenced.

When he turned to look at you again, he only offered a dark smile. Though still looking tired as he started to remove his clothes.

You tried to keep your disapproving look strong even as you realized he was using no magic at all, removing his vestments piece by piece as if to taunt you into further watching.

But looking away would have just goaded him too wouldn’t it? Letting him know the sight of his body still did things to you. You couldn’t win either way as all of his clothes finally laid piled on the floor, no neatness this time as he went lay nude in the bed.

You stood there a further moment, really not knowing what to do. He didn’t deserve to be rewarded right now in your mind. But were you just supposed to walk right back out the door? You didn’t have the willpower for that either, not anymore.

He watched you lazily too, waiting. His voice was quieter now though as he did speak again. “If I’d wanted to sleep alone…I would have just stayed in Asgard.”

Your shoulders lowered a little at the softer words, but you didn’t know how much you really believed him. You finally did approach the bed however, removing your wet dress, and not missing the way his eyes moved across your body before you climbed in under the blanket beside him.

But you could also tell he was in no condition for love making, even as you felt his hand encircle one of your wrists, himself then pulling your hand up so your fingers fell into his hair.

He gave you an imploring look, making his intention clear even if unexpected. It was so strange, but you complied, starting to rub your fingers through his hair and along his scalp gently.

The way he clearly relaxed into the touch reminded you so much of a placated animal truly. And he even closed his eyes as you just continued stroking, letting the black hair work repeatedly between your fingers.

To drunkenly cross the vast breadth of space just for this minor affection, also risking exposure by his Father’s informants, was it telling you that he really was so reckless after all? Or…was this becoming a real need for him?

Were you becoming a need in his life?

You felt him line up his body with yours, flesh to flesh as he got further comfortable.

“Thank you.” You heard him say at last. Surprising you enough that you could find nothing to say in return.

You just kept on with your soft touches though, comforting the troublesome prince all the way until he finally fell asleep in your arms.

——————————

(Continued in next chapter here)

#loki #loki fanfic #loki smut #loki fluff #loki x reader #loki x y/n #loki x you #loki x oc #loki odison x reader #loki odinson #loki layfeyson x reader #loki lafeyson #loki laufeyson #loki laufeyson x reader #loki odinson x you #loki odinson x y/n #loki laufeyson x you #loki laufeyson x y/n

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thefoldedbird · 3 years ago

Text

Slither

Orla isn’t fond of snakes. Unfortunately just about everyone in Sen’jin Village disagrees with that sentiment.

No warnings

“You get any closer to me with that damn thing and you’re going to lose that fucking arm.”

“Orla-.”

“No. Fuck you. Back up.”

The woman's body was coiled tight. She looked ready to launch backwards out the window at a moment's notice. Vol’jin barely stifled his laugh but stopped inching closer.

“Ya wouldn’t actually cut off ma arm.”

“I actually would. Yeah.” She spat, “the Loa like you well enough. You’d grow it back in like a day.”

“Still rude ta wound ya mate like dat.”

“Cry me a river about it.”

The troll rolled his eyes, though more in exasperation than anything else. The snake coiled around his arm bobbed up and down, curiously flicking its tongue at the woman.

“Ya weren’t dis bad wit da raptor, mona.”

“I’ve told you a thousand times I thought you were putting me on that behemoth by myself!” She scowled, giving the snake a distrustful glare. “This is different. She bites!”

“So do raptors.”

“We keep the raptors corralled.”

“She’s jus’ a lil thing.”

“A little demon, sure.”

Vol’jin sighed and set his pet down, snorting when Orla yelped and jumped off the ground, hanging in the air through use of her magic. She showed him a rude gesture, “that wasn’t funny.”

The shadow hunter shrugged, wholly unapologetic. “Ya gonna hav’ta be gettin’ used to snakes, mona. Most Darkspear be keepin’ them as pets.”

The mage made a face. “I am aware, my love.”

He snickered at her, “you’ll face down a legion o’ demons but one little snake has ya in ribbons.”

The woman watched the snake until it had slithered completely out of view before allowing the tension to finally melt from her body. She turned back to the troll, pouting. “That’s not fair! I woke up to it!”

“More like woke half o’ da village.”

Vol’jin cackled and ducked out of the way of the mage’s fist. A vicious little grinned broadened his cheeks. Orla scowled and swiped at his head a few more times, missing fantastically.

“Must still be tired.” He teased.

“You’re gonna wake up tomorrow with your legs missing.” The mage warned with a feral grin. “Gonna give them to Zal, make asshole stew.”

“Gross.”

He backpedaled slowly as she bobbed close again, her fist clenched. He raised a brow, coy amusement plastered across his face at the mage's ever-present stubbornness. He knew she wasn't actually angry. The little smirk she sported was enough of a sign.

"Snakes are gross."

"Dat's jus plain wrong."

She groaned and dragged her hands down her face, folding her arms at her waist. "I'm not feeling a whole lot of understanding from you right now."

"I don't understand."

Orla scoffed, "you've watched me almost be fatally poisoned by those damn things! Twice! And you can't even understand a little why I might be apprehensive?"

"Ya stepped on one an' got too close to da other." he shrugged, "dey be followin' dere instincts."

Orla furrowed her brow and huffed, her body curled ever tighter. The mage grumbled and settled her feet back down on the floor. "Fine, whatever. I'm going back to bed." she scowled, "but if I wake up to another snake in my bed it's getting thrown out the damn window with extreme prejudice. Pet status be damned."

"Mona-."

"Ah, ah, ah! Don't 'Mona' me, mister. Snake. Window. End of discussion."

The mage glared him down as she retreated backwards into the bedroom. Vol'jin rolled his eyes, making a mental note to ask Zalazane if there was some kind of talisman for warding off snakes. He doubted it but it wouldn't hurt to ask. Zalazane would definitely make fun of Orla for her snake aversion -and was likely to exacerbate it- but the mage would probably prefer a hit to her pride over another snake.

#world of warcraft #voljin #vol'jin #vol'jin x oc #two spirits au #my writing #wow #wow troll #snakes #darkspear culture

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kn1feinthec0ffee · 3 years ago

Text

my pretty boy - kotarou bokuto

kotarou bokuto x nb!reader

summary: after coming home from work one day, you accidentally discover a new favorite pet name.

warnings: none

word count: 581

notes: this is PURELY self indulgent and based on a tiktok i saw where this nb person wanted their boyfriend to call them pretty boy and i heavily related to that, which spawned this so i hope u enjoy :D

(n/n - your nickname)

********************

“i’m home, kotarou!” you called out, dropping your bags and slumping against the door. the combination of last nights lack of sleep and the overtime you just returned from working proved to be a recipe for exhaustion. quite literally the only thing that got you through the day was the thought of seeing the man that just poked his head out from around the corner, bounding over to see you.

“you look so tired, n/n, did they work you too hard?” bokuto pulled you into his arms in a comforting embrace you desperately needed. after pulling away, he held your face in his hands. “d’ya wanna kiss, pretty boy?”

the moment his words sunk in, your eyes went as wide as saucers. a giddy feeling filled your chest, what was it? embarrassment? no, that didn’t seem right; this feeling was far too positive to be embarrassment. why did two simple words conjure up such a complex yet gratifying emotion?

“w-what did you call me?” you uttered, your cheeks surely burning a flaming shade of red.

“what, ‘n/n’? i always call you that,” bokuto murmured, brows furrowed in confusion. “o-oh, you mean the other thing! it just kinda slipped out, i’m sorry, i won’t call you that anymore if it makes you uncomfortable, it’s-”

“no!” you blurted out, cutting him off. “it’s fine, you can keep saying it, i kinda liked it.”

although your voice trailed off towards the end of your sentence, bokuto still heard your words, but he wanted to toy with you a bit more.

“what was that? speak up, pretty boy, i can’t hear you,” he grinned wolfishly.

you blushed profusely before looking down at the ground and repeating yourself, still in a lower tone. “i said you can keep using it, i kinda like it.”

“say that again, pretty boy? i missed it,” he smiled ear to ear.

“oh shut up you heard me!” you fumed, face burning but this time out of annoyance rather than nerves.

“you’re absolutely right; i heard you loud and clear, pretty boy,” he spoke smugly, earning a dramatic groan from you. “fine, i’ll stop.”

filled with curiosity, bokuto ceased his teasing to ask a genuine question. “if you don’t mind me asking, why is it okay for me to call you that if it’s not a gender neutral term?”

you didn’t answer immediately; you had wondered the same thing yourself. when you had discovered your gender identity, you had felt uncomfortable with being referred to with both male and female pronouns, so why was it okay for your boyfriend to call you a boy? “i’m not really sure, to be honest. it just… felt nice? i don’t think i’m a guy, but i like being referred to like that sometimes.”

after a beat of silence, you were quick to jump in, lest your words be misinterpreted. “i-if that makes sense. it probably doesn’t, it’s weird, you don’t have to call me tha-”

“hey!” a finger met your lips before you could continue speaking. “you don’t have to explain yourself to me. whatever you’re comfortable with is fine by me, especially if it gets this much of a reaction out of you; you’re so cute when you blush like that!”

you groaned, cupping your face in your palms. what have i done?

planting a quick kiss on your lips, bokuto was off to the kitchen, turning over his shoulder to call out, “by the way, dinner’s just about ready, pretty boy!”

“bokuto!”

********************

i’m trying to get more exposure so i’m tagging ppl that have interacted w my last haikyuu post but u can feel free to ask me to either add or remove u from my taglist!! i feel so bad every time i do this i feel so annoying ugh

tags: @asahipoopoo @elysianslove @lucieel @deadmansdoctor @mage-moon @aoi-turtle @hohoshiumi @mysterystarz @astranger83 @lexi-toquero @aestosia

not working: @akaashis-keiji @bloodydestiney

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peaktotheocean · 3 years ago

Text

base

written for the witcher flash fic #026! on Ao3 here

Geralt wasn't feral, he was just down to his base. And being at the base meant there was still a foundation on which to build.

In all her years, Triss has had plenty of villagers burst through her door without knocking. Their urgency clouding their auras as they frantically begged her to follow them to where loved ones lay, most easily helped and some tragically not.

Never had she heard barely a knock on the door but rather just a thud to the ground.

Apparently, her future charge hadn’t even been able to make it to the entrance, let alone through it.

As she swung the formidable piece of wood inward, Triss saw why.

A huge Witcher had collapsed atop of a smaller man. Not much smaller in height, Triss realized, when she got a better look at him. He waved with his one free hand at her. The other wasn’t trapped underneath the Witcher’s bulk but occupied with stroking the long white hair.

“Hello. Are you free to help?” He asked as though, if she said no, he and the Witcher would somehow manage to get off the ground and walk to the next nearest village with no issue.

Not answering, Triss leaned closer to the Witcher.

She knew him, this Geralt of Rivia. Well, she knew of him and was acquainted with his brother, Eskel.

And if this was Geralt, then the other man had to be “Jaskier,” she said aloud. The bard blinked at her in surprise. Geralt however, bared his teeth at where her hands were hovering above them.

“Geralt!” Jaskier turned towards him and shifted so less of the Witcher’s weight kept him down. “Be polite!”

Geralt of Rivia did not want to be polite. Though, Triss could tell it was through no fault of his own. The Witcher’s eyes seemed to go right through her. Not the bard though. He saw Jaskier. He just didn’t seem…aware of it. That might explain the growling but then again, perhaps not.

“I’m not sure what’s wrong.” Jaskier’s worried tone was only making his Witcher more on-edge. “I found him like this in that prison and well, I got him here but he was like this the whole way.”

“What prison?”

“Yes, the castle over the hills. Whatever the name of that pompous liege lord of those lands are—“

“You got him through the hills in this state?”

“Ah well.” Jaskier’s cheeks tinged pink. “It’s possible that he picked me up and carried me most of the way.”

“Did he?” Triss eyed the Witcher's biceps. She would have paid good coin to see that. Quite a show indeed.

The area around Jaskier's eyes wrinkled and he closed them. His voice lowered and Triss realized that he was trying to manage his heartbeat. Keep it at a steady rhythm even while remembering the imprisonment so that Geralt stayed calm. “There were a lot of guards. He just took me and ran. And didn’t stop running. When I finally convinced him to slow down, he nearly collapsed outside your village.”

“Then you dragged him here," she said in amazement. The terrain was not simple between her and the village. Uphill and a rocky crop.

“Best I could.”

Content for now, Geralt ignored Triss in favor of taking Jaskier’s hand off of his head and playing with his fingers. He didn’t speak but he hummed to himself.

“And he was like this the whole time?”

“I didn’t realize." Jaskier averted his eyes.

Embarrassed, she thought.

"I had not seen him for months. I just thought perhaps he didn’t want to speak of his capture. But after an hour or so slung over his shoulder, I realized something was wrong.”

“Someone told me that you were a master of the seven arts.”

“None of those arts are medicine!” Jaskier tugged his hand away from Geralt to use both in order to cover his eyes. “He seems healthy. Just exhausted. And like this.”

“Feral. Nearly feral.”

“Feral? But he's perfectly calm like this.” Jaskier watched as Geralt took his hand back and just held it. He still hadn’t looked at Triss again but he also hadn’t bared his teeth at her so Jaskier considered it a win for now.

“I’m not well-versed in Witchers. But I know their trials were horrendous. They’re named after animals for reasons that I cannot guess. But perhaps he wanted to protect himself. And you. Or…” Triss took a deep breath and Geralt’s head snapped towards her. Jaskier gentled him with one hand on the back of his neck.

“Magic. I smell magic on him.”

“A spell.” Jaskier slumped down impressively for someone still on the ground. “There was a mage there. I, well." He looked to his companion again. "None near us were left alive."

A dead end then. Down that route anyway. Triss waved the thought away. No use trading in past possibilities. “Then think no more of it. Let me contact another mage who is familiar with him and —“

“Yennefer?” Jaskier asked and Triss nodded. She pulled a xenovox out of her robes and flicked it open. Geralt startled at the noise but Jaskier shushed him again.

"Yennefer. Are you there?"

"Triss?"

Inexplicably, Jaskier felt his shoulders come down at hearing her voice. Friends, they might be one day but certainly not now. Still he knew she cared, would help, had the power. Hopefully.

"I found him. Geralt's here. He's safe. He's with the bard but...he's fine," Triss tilted her head to look at Geralt, unsure how to describe him. "The bard is in a good mental state and healthy. Geralt could do with a good meal but his mental health...I can't explain. He smells of magic but there are no survivors who might be able to tell us why. He is..."

She looked to Jaskier for help and he held out his hand. He carefully watched Geralt as he spoke into the device. Still no reaction from the Witcher. So long as Triss stayed away, he remained content.

"He does not speak. He is distrustful of all others," Jaskier started with the symptoms.

"Is he fighting invisible demons or just real ones?" Yennefer sounded as though she followed a routine check-list of questions. Jaskier tried not to get his hopes up.

"Real," he said with certainty. "Everyone or everything he has reacted to so far has been real. Triss called him...feral," Jaskier said reluctantly. "It's not a word I'd like to use to describe him but I'm currently at a loss for any others." He let her think for a moment and watched Geralt discover the length of his own hair. He tugged on it lightly and stretched it out in front of him, white strands falling down to his face. Geralt shook his head at the feeling and while Triss giggled, Jaskier felt like crying.

Before he could stop himself, he raised the xenovox up to his lips again. "I'm sorry. I didn't know what else to do. I wasn't sure where we even were."

Yennefer's sigh was followed by reluctant support. "You did the right thing."

"I know the two of you--" Jaskier waved his hand even though Yennefer couldn’t see it.

"You can be angry at someone and not want them to perish in a dungeon, Julian."

If Triss was surprised to hear another one of his names, she didn't look it. Jaskier swallowed and went back to stroking Geralt's hair. Whether it was a comfort for himself or the Witcher, he wasn't sure.

"Can you?"

"He was looking for you, you know?"

Jaskier closed his eyes tightly. Geralt made a low worried noise but Jaskier only shook his head. “Don't tell me that."

"He is a Witcher. You can't keep them safe. Especially during war time. If he was going to continue fighting monsters during these conflicts, then it was going to be along routes where his bard was said to have been seen."

"His bard," Jaskier sighed. "That's what they called me when they caught me. The Witcher's bard. Then they took me down the dungeons and he was there. And when he saw me…”

"Aren't you? The Witcher’s bard," Triss interrupted.

"It's been. Well, I suppose that Yennefer might know how long it's been." Time had always been a foreign construct to Jaskier. The seasons helped but even they blurred together after a while.

"You're still his bard," Yennefer said firmly. "This proves it. One of his brothers has been looking for him. I was contacted by another mage who was paid to inquire."

"Good. He'll be safe with his brothers."

"Perhaps."

"Kaer Morhen, right?" Jaskier had never seen the castle in the mountains but his imagination always had a habit of making large assumptions. He pictured a keep built into the side of a mountain, hidden by architecture and low clouds.

Perhaps that was too fanciful. Geralt had given him only a few descriptions to go on. "He can heal there. Can you take us?" He asked it into the xenovox but directly it towards Triss.

"Triss, keep me updated." And just like that, Yennefer's voice was gone from the box. Jaskier held it back out to Triss who tucked it into her skirts.

"Not to the fortress," she explained. "It is not…Mages are not welcome there. But I can have the brother meet us at the village at the base of it."

Geralt sat at Jaskier's feet, poking holes in the the knotted wood floors. "How are they going to get him up the mountain in this state?"

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

As it turned out, the answer was that they were not even going to try.

Jaskier found himself standing in front of three Witchers, with his own pressed against his back. Geralt hadn’t growled at his brothers but he had sniffed Eskel when the Witcher held out his hand in front of him as if Geralt was a cautious pet. For a moment, Jaskier thought Geralt was going to lick his brother’s hand but instead he tilted his head and bumped it against his head, wanting Eskel to stroke his hair. Even while looking nauseous, Eskel obeyed.

“But I thought it would be the best place to go. Geralt has said many times that this is...his home,” Jaskier said helplessly. He looked to the North. Snow still covered the mountains and presumably the hidden keep, but he imagined that kept all year round. He knew from Geralt that he and his brothers left Kaer Morhen as soon as the snow let them.

“A home full of nightmares,” one of the Witchers muttered.

Geralt held onto Jaskier's hand with both of his. He didn't look nervous exactly but definitely tense. Jaskier wanted to run his fingers through that white hair in an attempt to calm him down but it felt like too intimate. Perhaps not in front of the other Witchers but certainly out in the open, right outside of this village where anyone could see.

The youngest spoke again. Lambert, Jaskier remembered. “We’re...safe there but we weren’t always. Between the pogroms and the trials...” He looked at the eldest Witcher. Their tutor, the one who raised them. That helped make them. “It is a begrudging home. We have no other options.” He sounded ashamed and honest at once.

“Oh.” Jaskier looked around again. Safety could mean a lot of things. A home that was safe didn’t have to also mean comfort or contentment. “So you think...”

“I think if he’s down to his...base." Eskel said the word so delicately. "The mountain will not be a place to heal. I am sorry.” The apology wasn’t directed to Jaskier but rather to Vesemir, the oldest Witcher who not had yet offered advice during the conversation.

The tension broke then and Lambert approached Geralt who sniffed at him eagerly. He looked at Jaskier for permission, who tried not to let any tears fall as he nodded at him. “Go on, Geralt. You know Lambert. I’ll be right here.”

That was all Geralt needed. He crouched down in a stance and Lambert froze. He copied Geralt and narrowed his eyes. Geralt’s smile was there but it was wild as he pounced on his brother, soundlessly cheering as they rolled away, closely followed by Vesemir.

Jaskier sat down on the ground, exhausted but content to watch them for now.

“It’s like he imprinted on you.”

“Eskel, right?” Jaskier held out his hand and although surprised, Eskel shook it. For all his bulk, he gracefully sat down next to Jaskier, legs out in front of him.

“He told you about me?”

“He kept his brothers close. But occasionally, I was given some information.” Jaskier smiled at the memory. Geralt didn’t talk much and usually not while grinning but when discussing his family? They were where his heart lived. “Of course he made me swear never to use your names in songs. In case you were wondering why you never heard your name sung out in pubs. Blame your brother.”

“I’d prefer to keep it that way but Lambert might take you up on your offer.” Eskel winced as Geralt pinned Lambert hard against the dirt. It took some convincing from Vesemir to let him get up and before they began the game again, Geralt looked over to check and make sure Jaskier still sat in the same place. “I’m sorry that this isn’t the end of your journey. We will help you find a place to keep him for now. Then we will reassess once it is safer.”

“I teach, normally. In Oxenfurt," Jaskier said conversationally as if they weren't watching two grown Witchers wrestle, with one having recently attempted to bite off the ear of the other. "But I can’t imagine such a loud city being conducive to his healing. I’m thinking sunshine. And quiet.”

“Oh?”

"I have a place in mind, I mean. If you're sure he can't stay here."

Eskel watched his brothers wrestle. For Lambert to be the cautious one was something new indeed. “He can’t. Not as he is. He needs someone with him and we’re needed on the Path. It is a dangerous time. Even before winter, there were contracts I had no time for. I must go back to those villages.”

“Yes, of course." Trust Geralt's brothers to be as noble as the Wolf. "Well, you’d be welcome. All of you. If you’d like to visit, I mean.” Jaskier wanted to beg Eskel to come with them. Lambert, Vesemir. Any of them. He didn’t know how to care for a feral Witcher. Geralt hadn’t wanted him last they met. And now Geralt was stuck with him. “I, for one, would be comfortable knowing that you knew Geralt’s location. That I didn’t just steal away your brother.”

Eskel laughed, “You begged a mage to help him and then brought my brother back to us. I can’t imagine that we would think you’d be trying to hide him away.” Jaskier only offered a weak smile at that. Eskel clapped him on the shoulder. The noise of the gesture making Geralt’s head pop up from where Lambert attempted to keep him down. “No, bard. For your safety, I will accompany you where you’d like to go. And then you will be welcome to correspond with us for whatever you might need. It is a task that I dare say you do not take likely.”

“I’ll take you there.” Triss' voice came from behind them.

“Are you sure?” Jaskier and Eskel asked at the same time.

She hadn't stopped watching Geralt. Jaskier couldn't blame her. If she knew him before or at least knew of him, it was...unsettling to say the least. He was sweet, of course. He was still Geralt. But just...less, somehow.

Geralt would look them in the eye but not see them. Open his mouth with no intention to speak, only sounds. Jaskier liked Eskel's diagnosis more than Triss'. Geralt wasn't feral, he was just down to his base. Something for Jaskier to remember before those instincts kicked in again and he found himself being thrown over a shoulder yet again.

But being at the base meant there was still a foundation on which to build.

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

It was too short a time before Triss had settled them at the cottage by the sea. She had already left to go find Yennefer. Jaskier only had Eskel and Geralt now, and he wasn't quite ready to watch Eskel leave.

“How can I find you if—“ He cut himself off, looking past Geralt to the horizon. His Witcher was sitting on the sand and staring out to sea. What he saw, if anything, Jaskier wasn't sure.

“If what, bard?” Eskel asked gently.

“I was thinking if he gets better but I suppose he’ll know how to contact you or find his way up the mountain again."

“Having second thoughts?”

Jaskier shook his head. He had never. Not about Geralt. He had left because Geralt had told him to. He figured that the kindest thing he could do for the Witcher was listen to his wishes. “He doesn’t like me. Your brother, I mean.” He took a deep breathe. Perhaps he should have mentioned it before Triss set a protection spell over the cottage. “The last conversation we had, he told me that he never wanted to see me again.”

“Geralt has told me that at least two dozen times in all the years I’ve known him. You can’t take it personally.”

“I don’t have another option. Or the— forgive me— benefit, for lack of a better word, of many years left on this Continent in order to find our way back to one another. He holds all the cards and best decks to boot.”

“What do you fear?”

The waves crashed relentlessly against the shore as Jaskier pondered his answer.

“That he will wake up one morning, realize who he is with, and curse me for not trying harder to get him his life back.”

“Bard— Jaskier...”

Jaskier only shook his head. “I asked him to go to the coast with me once. He said no. This is not what I had in mind.”

Eskel’s voice sounded far away. “No, I imagine not.”

“You’re sure you won’t stay?” Jaskier tried one more time. Eskel had stayed with them long enough. He recognized the look in the Witcher's eyes. The Path was calling and wouldn't take no for an answer. “He took to you better than anyone else.”

Eskel only shook his head. He got up off of the sand and wiped down his pants. He clapped a hand on Jaskier's shoulder, not even flinching when Geralt's head whipped around, eyes narrowed. He relaxed when he saw that again, it was just his brother. "You keep him safe.”

“Keep yourself safe. Come back to us.”

"You know, you would have our gratitude if you didn't already. For your songs. And finding him."

"Of course." Jaskier looked away again.

Eskel wanted to stay. He wanted Jaskier to understand how special it was for a Witcher to trust a human. How special Jaskier was to have earned that. But he couldn’t. He didn’t want to let himself.

Returning would be a reward for a long few weeks on the Path. He’d stay as close as he’d let himself.

“I’ll be back for his birthday, all right?”

Jaskier nodded. “Right. After Belleteyn then.”

“It’s only a few months.”

Eskel watched as the bard steeled himself with an inhale and managed a smile. “So long as you bring him a cake. Cooking I’m all right with but certainly not baking.”

“It’s a deal.”

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

"No, darling. That's just a cat. What a sweetheart, see? Hear the purring? Isn't it, nice? I-- Oh!"

Jaskier found himself being held against Geralt's chest. He tried not to let himself sink into it. He refused to be that selfish. He could just be happy that Geralt wasn't hissing at the poor puss.

But then Geralt's chest shuddered and began to vibrate. After a few false starts, the purring became steady and loud and Jaskier watched Geralt with wide-eyed amazement.

It was all Jaskier could do to not fall asleep against the purring Witcher.

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

Geralt's brow furrowed just slightly. As if he was trying to remember how to concentrate on something. It seemed to strengthen as Jaskier put a hand on his arm but that quickly, recognition left his eyes.

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

Jaskier sat up in bed. He knew the shadow at the door was Geralt but--

"Geralt?" He tried.

The shadow came closer and Jaskier's heart sank at the unfocused golden eyes searched around the room for him.

"It's all right. I haven't gone anywhere. Except to bed, I suppose."

Geralt said nothing. Just waited.

"Come on then," Jaskier offered quietly. "You need sleep, regardless of what's going on in that head of yours. Your brother should be here tomorrow, you know?" Acting before he could overthink the boundaries he had set for himself, he kissed Geralt’s forehead and let the Witcher settle in next to him.

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

Where was he? Nothing about this place looked familiar but it smelled...safe.

Jaskier. It smelled like Jaskier.

Geralt let the sleep pull him under again.

The next time he awoke, the scent hadn't changed but he had.

He remembered little but he knew himself. Jaskier. He hadn't...been himself. Why?

Rolling around with Lambert.

Yennefer's voice.

A dungeon.

Geralt sat up with a start, head beginning to ache. He didn't move though.

Jaskier was in his bed. Next to him.

No, not Geralt's bed. It smelt more like Jaskier.

Geralt was in Jaskier's bed.

"Some mornings, I wonder if you wouldn't have just been happier being left at Kaer Morhen," Jaskier murmured, pushing Geralt's hair back and away from his face. "But then again, you've already been left with Witchers once in your life. I suppose I couldn't do that to you again. Not if I could help it."

Geralt kept quiet. This was not a tavern room that he and Jaskier had shared, that much was clear. His eyes followed Jaskier's fingers but he said nothing.

“I’d like you to remember yourself again but at the same time there are some memories I’d rather you not have to re-live. Yennefer said she found the name of the mage in the dungeon so hopefully there are notes somewhere. But she's not optimistic.” Jaskier sighed. He smelled...not sad, not exactly. But he wasn't hopeful.

He brightened up a bit, just for a moment. “Your brother should be by any time today. Perhaps that’ll help.”

Brother? Geralt kept his facial expressions blank. Eskel or Lambert? What year was it?

His brothers knew where they were. So did Yennefer. That was something then. But it was not the Path, that much he knew. They had never stayed in such a nice room as this on the Path. Nor were they in court though.

Flashes of an unknown castle came to him.

The dungeon again.

Jaskier's frightened face.

No, if Geralt had his way, they would not return to any court for quite a long time.

Then he smelled something else. Familiar, just as safe as Jaskier.

Eskel.

"Geralt?" Jaskier asked. If he expected a response, he didn't show it. And Geralt stayed put in the bed.

Even when there was a knock at the door and creaking from the hinges, Geralt did not move.

He watched Jaskier stumble towards the main room of the house.

“Hmm.”

Eskel.

“I never thought I’d be excited to hear that noise,” Jaskier laughed but it was a quiet, sad exhale. It sounded wrong. Still Geralt didn't move. He wasn't sure how to. Or what he would do after figuring it out.

"No change then?” Eskel's voice was low and Geralt wasn't sure how, but he knew that Eskel and Jaskier were leaning in close to one another.

"Every once in a while, his eyes..." Jaskier paused, gathering his thoughts. "I'll think he'll do something or his eyes will seem like they really comprehend me instead of just...going along with it. I can't tell if it's muscle memory or something similar. He'll brush down the horse, if I ask. Gather wood, if I'm in eyesight. Set and check traps but only if--"

"Only if you're with him. So he hasn't hunted at all by himself?"

At the suggestion, Geralt fought back his instinct to freeze. Why would he leave Jaskier by himself just to hunt? Then he remembered Jaskier was safe. He had left his bard to hunt many times before.

Before the dungeon.

Jaskier's scream as he reached towards him.

A mage cackling.

Geralt centering himself as much as he could to gather his strength to fight.

Losing himself.

Again, Jaskier's voice from the main room bought him forward in time.

"We've tried it a bit with varying levels of success. Me staying in the house didn't work cause he couldn't see me. Outside was a little better because he could smell me but he'd get too distracted. It's not something we do often, let's put it that way."

Geralt couldn't bear to hear the descriptions of his former self. The shell of Geralt. The bivalve of Blaviken. He willed his hands over his face but they refused to move. He wanted control. Gods.

“Is that his cake?”

“I figured that he deserved a treat. You both did.”

“It’s so ridiculous. I love it!”

“Of course you do, bard. Now where is my brother?”

"Through to my bedroom. I think he had a nightmare last night. I couldn't tell, quite honestly. See if you can coax him out and we'll eat."

"Cake for breakfast?"

"It's his birthday!" Jaskier sounded insulted on his behalf.

My birthday.

Geralt finally moved, feeling his fingers against the quilt.

"You're awake." Eskel sounded pleased. Geralt managed to meet his eyes. His brother stopped his tracks, voice lower, gentler than Geralt deserved.

"Oh, I see. You're awake." Eskel leaned in closer and Geralt could smell his excitement, his fury, his everything. “How long have you been awake, eh, Wolf?”

The smell turned bitter now. And Geralt couldn't have that. He couldn't. Not with his brother. Or his bard. He had to try.

“This morning,” Geralt croaked out, throat screaming, muscles taut. “I woke up this morning, I swear it. I knew nothing and just—“

“You just stayed quiet," Eskel finished for him. He soothed Geralt, running a hand down his back. "I'm sorry to have frightened you. I was worried for the bard."

"I don't. I didn't know anything.” Geralt couldn’t stand the sound of his own voice, so weak and uncertain. “Where are we?"

"It's all right," Eskel whispered. He left Geralt's side to pull off his boots and Geralt wanted to cry out. Perhaps even if he could have, he would have resisted the urge. He was grateful that he didn't have to find out. Eskel came back to him at once. He climbed into the bed and gathered Geralt in his arms.

“How long has it been?” Geralt asked, scared to know the answer.

“I saw you last midsummer solstice. The bard came to us when winter had nearly gone. He had you in tow. Along with Triss Merigold.”

“Triss?” Geralt remembered Triss. Gods, he had growled at her.

“You’re lucky that she was the first mage that he ran into after finding you. Rescuing you more like.” Eskel's hands against his skin felt like a balm. Geralt leaned back into him. “She took you both to us right away.”

“And then to here? Where are we besides...” He could smell the salt air from their room. So close to the coast. Just how Jaskier wanted. Perhaps not like this though.

The ocean spray.

Jaskier's laughter turning into tears.

Geralt panicked. Jaskier hurt? No. Jaskier sad. Sad.

Sad.

“The war has escalated. We did not think…the keep was not the right place for you. Not in that state. You needed to be with your bard.”

“My bard…”

Jaskier.

Commotion came close by the door and Geralt looked up. He closed in on himself but still Eskel didn't let go of him. He refused. If anything, he held on tighter.

“I— Eskel?” Jaskier’s eyes widened. “Geralt?”

His bard's scents had always been overwhelming. How one human could feel so many things at once, Geralt didn't know.

Jaskier reached out a hand as though he wanted to touch Geralt, clutch him in a hug but he stopped himself. He had too much momentum though so he changed his directions and grabbed tightly into Eskel.

“Oh thank you.”

Eskel met Geralt's eyes over Jaskier's hair. “An old Witcher incantation. Vesemir found it and I wanted to wait. I didn’t want to get your hopes up,” he lied gruffly.

“Geralt.” The difference in Jaskier’s mannerisms was painful. Something was wrong. Geralt had to fix it. “I’m so so—“ he didn’t get his apology out before Geralt snatched him and held him against his chest.

“I’m sorry. Thank you.” Geralt’s word were choked, muffled against Jaskier’s hair.

“He needs to breathe, Wolf.”

Geralt's grip on Jaskier eased but he didn't let go, not entirely. Jaskier didn't seem to mind. He stayed squished between two Witchers.

"We're not having cake for breakfast," Geralt grumbled.

"But it's your birthday!" Jaskier placed his hand on his chest, as if Geralt's declaration gravely offended him.

"Feel free to go off and find your own meal then," Eskel ordered. "Me and the bard deserve some chocolate cake."

"Chocolate?" Geralt asked. His head perked up of its own violations and Jaskier stifled a giggle. "Hmm."

Eskel reached over Jaskier and tapped Geralt's nose. "Use that scent, Wolf."

"And then what?" Jaskier asked. "Geralt, are you--" Eskel held up a hand before he could ramble. Geralt was grateful. He tucked his face into Jaskier's neck, breathing deeply.

“He might need some more time to adjust.”

“Oh. Do you—“

“Here, bard. You should both stay here. Heal. It wouldn’t have worked if you hadn’t brought him as far as you did.” Eskel leaned away only to dig a pouch out of his pocket and set it on the table next to the bed. "We've got plenty of coin right now thanks to someone's songs still flooding the continent. Consider it your percentage of the profits."

"Are you sure?" Jaskier bit his lip, watching Geralt, forgetting after all this time of not having to worry about Geralt listening to him, that he could hear him from such a short distance away. "I don't want him to be uncomfortable. Perhaps you--"

"Here," Eskel insisted. "There's still trouble brewing out there. It's best not to move either of you."

"Either of us?"

"Did you think we'd let you go so easily? After what you've done for Witchers?"

"I don't need...a reward," Jaskier spat out, "for taking care of your brother. Anyone--"

"I'm not talking about Geralt. I'm talking about your songs." Geralt's arms tightened around Jaskier's waist as Eskel spoke. “But no, anyone wouldn’t have helped a Witcher. You did.”

"Oh."

"It's not about owing a debt. Think of it as...camaraderie. Kinship.” Then, feeling a bit brave and perhaps annoyance at Geralt, Eskel added, “We expect to see you at Kaer Morhen next winter. If the university can spare you.”

"All right. That sounds...that's good." He sounded unsure. Geralt hated that he could smell that on Jaskier. He let out a whimper that had the men above him freeze.

"This is your home, Jaskier. You're not leaving and neither is he. I know my brother can be stubborn," Eskel said firmly, fully aware that Geralt could hear him. "But he would not jeopardize your life. Not now when war is crawling over the Continent."

Jaskier looked as though he wanted to argue again but Eskel put a hand on his shoulder. "I promise you. This is the safest place for both of you right now. Besides, we cannot be sure that Geralt won't fall back under his trance so soon."

"Do you think your cure will not hold?" Jaskier asked nervously.

"I can't be sure." Mostly because I did not cure him in the first place. Eskel didn't say. He looked at his brother who shrugged. “Promise you’ll stay?” Eskel leaned forward and pressed a kiss against Jaskier’s forehead.

“We’ll stay. Until we cannot,” Geralt promised.

“Our bard already saved you once this during war, brother. You best watch him.”

“I’m right here!”

“We know.” Eskel and Geralt said at once. They turned to Jaskier at the same time as well and his eyes went wide. He shook his head and grabbed a hand from each of them.

"Come on, you two. I think if anything, we've earned some cake."

#the witcher #jaskier x geralt #geralt x jaskier #geraskier #the witcher flash fic #i don't like chocolate or cake so that's why i didn't really focUS ON IT SORRY

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tokoyamisstuff · 4 years ago

Text

Betrothed Ch. 10 - Illumi Zoldyck x Reader

Chapter 10: Bewilderment

Summary: What is Illumi doing while you are searching for him?

Warnings: Violence, murder, angst.

Words: ~1900

A/N: Sorry for taking so long guys, I recently have little time left to write.

Story Masterlist

“No one is more dangerous than the insane which is calm all the time: he is like a steel bridge without flexibility, and the order of his life is rigid and brittle. A minor change can cause the functioning madman to collapse.”

There was no time to grieve.

After you had put an end to the puppet that took after your beloved husband, Okogame revealed that he in fact had cloned the entire Phantom Troupe as well.

Gladly, and much to your surprise, the spiders cleaned their own mess and assisted you and your friends in getting rid of the remaining puppets.

And ultimatively, Pretz was the one to put an end to her brother’s wrongdoings, ending both of their suffering as well.

Their deaths left you with a bitter aftertaste: Was there really no other way to end one’s madness? There had to be another way!

Kurapika had run out of strenght, which was only fortunate since him collapsing was the only thing keeping him from recklessly challenging the spiders.

So all of you stood in front of the burning chapel, only able to watch as Okogame’s sins were cleansed through the fire.

What would it take to free Illumi from the curse that was his own mind?

“Not so fast” you gnarled while your friends were still distracted by the tragic view. “Hisoka. We need to talk.”

The mage was already about to leave, yet acting all innocent. “Oh? Who do we got here? The happy bride...”

“Don’t play stupid.” Trying to act intimidating, you built yourself up in front of the much taller man. "You’re what comes closest to being a friend for him, so you must know where he is. Tell me!”

“It’s so long since we’ve first met at the Hunter Exam...” Hisoka chuckled quite amused, licking the blood from one of his playing cards. “I didn’t even know you had relationship problems.”

“Big understatement.” Hisoka’s carefree manner had gotten to you vfrom the very first moment, you had to admit. He almost managed to make you crack a smile.

“You seem to have gotten quite the control over your husband, so I thought our next meeting would be under...different circumstances. Maybe getting a drink together or even murder someone.”

“I don’t have time for your bullshit.” His eyes widened in pleasant surprise, a strangled moan escaping his throat as your knife threatened his neck. “Where. Is. He?!?”

“Oh, my...you’ve sure grown strong. Is that Illumi’s influence?”

“Yes. It is” you smiled confidently, putting the blade down again. “We may fight one day, but this is not the time.”

“Promise?” Hisoka was almost aroused at your words, imagining you and Illumi both challenging him at the same time.

“Whatever.”

“Well...” he waved the card in the air, putting it to his lips as if he was in deep thought. “He didn’t contact me, but word spreads fast. There’s a rumor about a mass murderer in Yorknew City. His only targets are assassins and other criminals. Isn’t that a coincidence?”

Your eyes immediately widened, heart painfully hammering against your chest as you imagined that he escaped his family, yet kept on taking lives.

“Lumi...”

At the same time, on the other side of the ocean, Illumi was wandering a dark alley in the poor district of Yorknew City.

Usually, he wasn’t able to dream in years, or at least it was insignitifant enough to instantly forget about it - yet ever since he had left you and his home, nightmares occured daily:

Most of the time it were especially cruel things he did on his missions, or murders he performed solely out of his own, twisted desire. Sometimes it were flashbacks about his childhood, which he actually thought to have forgotten about a long time ago.

It all re-emerged now, robbing his sleep - the last thing to keep together the fraction of his sanity.

More than often, he’d dream about you too, of course.

But you’d always only be running away from him, deeply sfrightened. And every time he reached you, without having the intention, his blood-stained hands ended your life as well, leaving him to scream and cry for his precious Y/N.

How were you doing these days, he wondered?

His conscience was calling out to him ever since he had abandoned and left you alone with his family. This wasn’t like him to act without thinking things through.

But he did, and he won’t be able to change the consequences.

“Y/N is strong. Any my family doesn’t have any use for them. They’ll be okay...”

Suddenly, a noise drang to Illumi’s sharpened senses: A weak voice, barely audible, pleading for anyone to hear.

Illumi’s feet moved on their own - maybe because of curiosity, but who knows. And only a few blocks away he found the surce of the voice: It was a stray cat, way smaller than the usual ones, due to malnutrition.

Your husband was merely a bystander, watching a man yelling at the animal that of course couldn’t respond. How odd.

“Fucking thing!” the man balled his fists, swinging them in the air. “Hey! You! Whaddaya looking at? That your cat?”

“No” was Illumi’s plain answer as he stepped into the dim street light, actually not wanting to bother himself with the situation.

“It better not be. Stole my fish at the market, and ruined the others with it’s dirty paws!”

Just when the man prepared to kick the poor animal with his boots, his leg seemed to have magically disappeared midair.

Before the amputated leg hit the ground, the merchant had already collapsed, screaming in agony as he slowly but surely bled to death.

“Here” Illumi spoke casually as he threw a piece of fabric towards the man. He always pitied his victims, at least a little bit. “Try binding off the stump to stop the bleeding. Maybe you’ll make it until an ambulance arrives.”

Already prepared to attend more important matters again, he turned around - but then he heared another, weak meow close behind.

The tiny cat couldn’t even hold itself on it’s feet, yet tried everything to follow your husband’s firm steps. It bit the fabric on his legs ever so slightly, trying to keep him from leaving so fast.

Letting out a small noise of surprise, Illumi crouched down the the cat’s heigh, eyeing it quie suspecting.

Because usually, animals were smarter than that. They had a natural instinct when it came to aura, so it was no wonder that Illumi’s constant hostility and bloodlust always drove them off - even though he actually was really fond of them.

They were easier to deal with than most humans, he thought.

The kitten was bleeding, and his left ear was slightly bitten off by another animal.

Even though it was quite the depressing view, this wouldn’t revoke any emotion inside of your husband. He had seen and did worse, and he had no affiliation with that thing.

“What would Y/N do?”

He remembered how you’d always bring home injured animals, talking about responsibility and how every life was precious somehow. That doing good deeds could make one happy without having an actual advantage from it.

To be honest, he thought it to be kind of hypocritical considering you were a goddamn assassin, but whatever.

Who was he to judge anyone’s morality anyway?

And the pet’s behaviour somehow intrigued him, so he carefully picked it up as he bid the merchant one last look.

“Oh. He died already.”

The Zoldyck family possessed safehouses all over the world, and in big cities like Yorknew City was one, several at once.

Only a few, chosen people knew about those certain locations - and since his family never really seemed to care for him anyway, he knew they wouldn’t be searching for him. And even if they wanted to find him, there was no clue where an erratic man like himself could’ve gone to, so they would take a while.

So it would be fine to use them until he had cleansed the city from all filth before he’d travel to another - even though that would take quite a while.

“Here” he mumbled, still quite unaffected by the animal’s condition as he put it down on the small sleeping cot.

There wasn’t anything else to do right now, so he could save that thing, he thought.

Trying hard to remember how you’d always patch him up, Ilumi got the first-aid kit out of the shelf and gathered a bowl of water. Only when he didn’t find anything to nurture the cat he realized that he himself hasn’t eaten in days.

“Y/N would be furious..” he thought, almost smiling while recalling how you’d always scold him for not taking care of himself enough. “Maybe I should buy some groceries.”

The cat was unusual still, considering hurt animals are more than often very defensive and on high alert. Yet that one let Illumi touch it all he wanted, even purring as he unconsciously began to pet it’s dirty but soft fur.

It was almost heartwarming to him, giving him a slight impression about what you liked so damn much about helping those weaker than yourself.

Yeah, animals were way easier to deal with.

They had no difficult emotions or morals, neither did they want you to understand them. All that was important was their natural needs, and shall you fullfill them, they’d get attached to you.

But humans were different.

Asides from his work, Illumi had spent a of his time and concentration on you and you alone. He had given you food and shelter, also basically drowning you in gifts and luxurity. And he would’ve died for your protection.

Of course it had also been his duty that you’d become a perfect assassin, yet he went very easy on you during training. In wild contrast to everything he had experienced himself, his touch was always tender and full of care.

Yes, he would’ve met every single one of your desires, and yet you were unfullfilled.

Animals seeked freedom. They don’t like being locked in cages.

Was that it?

Were you feeling the same after being locked away for such a long time, like some sort of trophy?

He just now realized that you had always listened to him: His feelings, his past, his commands...but did he ever do the same for you?

Before, just like Hisoka, Illumi was a man of the present: He would’ve never looked back. The past wasn’t worth remembering, even faces of the people he killed vanishing from his inner eye just barely after he finished them off.

And the future? He’d never thought of that.

Illumi Zoldyck was merely a tool of darkness, working with a ruthless efficiency to ensure his place in the family.

He was numb and served no other purpose...right?

But now he had an own goal: Cleanse the world from the profession of those filthy assassins - so no one would’ve to suffer as you or his siblings did.

“Oh.”

Your husband pulled his hand away after the cat softly dug it’s teeth inside of his index finger. He probably accidentally hurt it. “Sorry.”

At least he had someone to talk to, now. You knew best just how often he would rant to himself or think out loudly - and he had to remember how you told him that only very lonely people would do that, because no one has ever listened to them.

“I always told Kill he doesn’t have the qualification to make friends, but in the end it was only me...”

Illumi didn’t even bother washing the blood from today’s work from his hands, falling on the bed with his back first and staring to the bare ceiling with a broken smile.

“Moreso...I don’t deserve to be loved. I really am the worst.”

_____

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#Illumi Zoldyck #HxH #Illumi x Reader #Illumi Zoldyck x Reader #Illumi x You #Illumi Zoldyck x You #Illumi/Reader #Illumi/You #Illumi Zoldyck/Reader #Illumi Zoldyck/You #Writing #Arranged Marriage AU #Canon Divergence #Self Insert #Fanfiction

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crystalgirl259 · 3 years ago

Text

The Flame and the Dragon Chapter 35

Chapter 35: The Blizzard

Scorched needles, scarps of wood blackened by rage, and bits of ash and charcoal scattered across the burnt snow where the proud pine tree once stood. Specks of blood and splinters dropped from the Sorcerer's scraped and roughened fingertips like someone had scattered rubies. His nails were shredded and his cuticles were split from clawing at the bark in a fit of rage. His fury had reduced the aged pine to a pile of ashes. All while, the raven remained still on its perch in the snow, completely unfazed by his master's wrath.

The Sorcerer's growl was dangerous and low before he suddenly screamed and spun around delivering a powerful blow to the young sapling unfortunate enough to be in the path of his wrath.

It made no effort to protests the Sorcerer's rage. Blinded by his rage, all he could see were the images his spy had shown. Images of that disgustingly repulsive beast, not even a beast but a half-beast, dancing with the Occulti, his Occulti. He clenching his fists causing his fingers to scream in pain but he was numb to all but his rage. He could forgive Kai for that. Surely the Dragon was becoming desperate and would use any kindness to trick the youth into saying the words needed to break his curse and deny him his greatest triumph.

He could forgive the youth for his naivety and his defenselessness.

He was merciful, but not after treachery. His wrath erupted, sending the curling shadows at his feet exploding in all directions. They shattered and pierced whatever they came in contact with until the clearing was a hollow circle of scorched earth.

"He's dirty! That damned whore! Damn him for giving away his purity, and damn me for thinking any one of their kind was redeemable!" He screamed and stomped his foot and tore at his hair and clothes until he panted like a beast after a hunt. But no matter how loud he screamed or how much he destroyed, it could never destroy that last scene from his mind. That beautiful boy, who should have been his consort and ruling at his side, wantonly giving his virginity to that monster and enjoying it.

He wanted to scream again, but someone else beat him to it.

"Lloyd! Where are you?!" A woman cried and the weak call was followed by a loud stumble against the carpet of snow. Bewildered, the Sorcerer quickly shielded himself among the trees careful not to let a spot of his red clothing betray his location. He watched a young woman rise stumbling from the muddy earth, and choke loudly on air. Like a shadow, the Sorcerer swooped closer and gasped. It was easy to miss from a distance but beneath the thick winter clock and the leaves and mud matting the sister of his Occulti.

The girl bulldozed through the woods and threw herself forward through the snow.

The action caused her heavy cloak to fall open revealing a shower of black hair, shiny even in the shadows of the winter forest. The girl immediately stumbled and almost fell over, but she was able to remain standing by leaning against a nearby tree. She was clearly sick as a dog and should be going home, but she had to keep going. She tried to scream, but instead choked on her own words and coughed in a way that made even the Sorcerer's skin crawl.

"I have... to find... Lloyd," She wheezed, shoving herself off the tree with surprising strength and half stumbled in her haste. She didn't get far before exhaustion and the brutal cold forced her to her knees. "I have to find them! I have to find Lloyd then we can save Kai! I have to get them back!" She spoke passionately to no one, but it was laced with the madness of grief. Again she shoved herself forward but instead her hands clenched her head and formed fists against her hair.

"I have to protect them! I promised I would! I promised them! Mom and Dad, I promised, and look what I've done! Lloyd's probably dead and I can't even think of what Kai's going through!" She screamed and tore at her hands and clothes with the rage and madness that only grief could drive a sane man to. She slammed her fists against the ground and punched at anything she could. All of a sudden, she was suddenly filled with new determination and charged into the blizzard, not aware she was being watched.

A triumphant smile split the Sorcerer's face.

Perhaps, there was some hope left after all. He smirked cunningly and called his pet. The bird abandoned its statue state and flew to its master's wrist.

"Tell me, my pet is he the one? The one our little Occulti spoke off?" He asked, but even though the bird said nothing a flash of its eyes and the Sorcerer had his answer. "And this 'Lloyd' she searches for, is he the other?" He questioned and again the bird was like a prop, only its glowing eyes gave an indication that it was alive. The Sorcerer snickered to conceal his glee, not wishing to betray his location to the still wandering mage. He spun in delight, thinking this was fantastic. It seemed that the Fates favored him after all.

"Follow her, when you've reached them both, alert me; now go!" He ordered as a grin curled wickedly on his face. The bird was off without another word, vanishing in the darkness while its Master laughed at his fortune. "Oh don't worry, girl, you shall see your little brother again soon!" He cackled like a flock of crows taking to wing and threw his bloody cloak over his shoulder...

****************

It had been two weeks since he ran away from home to find the castle where his beloved brother was being held prisoner by that beast. Two weeks he had been living in the woods surviving only because of the warming weather of the upcoming spring and because years of living a nomadic life had taught him to pack and prepare for the worst of situations. Two weeks since he had begun his search for Kai and he had found nothing. He thought it would be easy, with Spring fast approaching, that is until a blizzard appeared seemingly out of nowhere.

It had caught Lloyd completely off-guard and forced him to stop his search and find shelter.

Lloyd whimpered as he bunched his knees to his chest, shivering but not from the cold. The multiple fires he had started to keep the cave air warm, and the thick clothing he had packed had taken care of that. He covered his mouth to silence the heavy, haggard coughs fighting to escape. Quickly, he unpacked the bag containing a herbal blend and dumped it into the pot of water that had been boiling over the fire. He inhaled a sharp, large breathe and exhaled contently.

Immediately, he felt his throat soothe and his chest became less constricted.

He hadn't needed to use the herbal vapors so much before, but the cold weather wasn't doing his weak chest any good. He knew he would have been fine if he stayed in that warm house at night like a good boy. But how could he when Kai had been missing for almost five months, and the castle where the dragon kept him prisoner seemed to completely vanish? The thought made Lloyd's eyes prick with tears, but he managed not to cry. His fingers trembled, he clenched his arms and knees tighter in an attempt to feel some form of comfort.

But there was none. Nothing he did could replace the warmth and security he felt when he, Nya, and Kai were all together at home.

He knew he couldn't go home. Nya would never let him leave the house again until he was eighty. Lloyd didn't blame her, he ran away after all, but he couldn't keep waiting. He couldn't keep sitting around and doing nothing while his older sister worked and searched diligently for their missing sibling. He had traveled deeper and deeper into the woods. No matter how many times he found himself back at the path where they got lost in the storm, however, he couldn't find any trace of the huge castle.

Had it been sheer dumb luck that Kai found it the first time?

Or that they found it at all? Lloyd shook his head, forcing himself to dry his sleepy eyes. He then sat up with new determination, mentally forcing the tears and shivering down deep. If Kai could find the castle to save him and Nya then he could do the same thing to save Kai. He removed himself from the warmth of his fires and carefully approached the edge of the cave entrance, where he could hear the blizzard howling and blowing. The cold air bit angrily against his lukewarm skin, as if punishing him for daring to defy it.

Over the woods, he could see the setting sun was nothing more than a yellow sliver above the trees and the night had gone a deep grayish purple of twilight that bled into the dark blue and black of night.

Seeing that there was no point in traveling in the dark, Lloyd slid back into the crevice in the rocks and carefully covered it with a thick net of branches to keep out the cold. He had found this cave by sheer accident when he had slipped and fallen into the entrance. Through that, he discovered a fairly large-sized cave, hollowed out of the dirt and lined with rocks like a fox den. Lloyd had decided it would be the perfect place to camp while he explored the woods by day.

That proved to be true when the underground and rocks blocked out much of the night's cold.

The small opening allowed just enough air so that he wouldn't suffocate from the smoke of the fires. Sometimes, when he felt really weak and his medicine wasn't helping. He would have to spend all day curled up in his makeshift tent under the thick blankets he had brought until his shivering stopped and he could move again. Tonight had been one of his rare nights where he had just enough energy to go exploring again, but he regretted it when he had received an unwanted follower.

Lloyd shivered and blew air into his gloved hands, and rubbed them together before returning to the fire.

Outside a loud crunch of the snow made him scream, the sound echoing off the cave walls forcing Lloyd to cover his ears until it faded out.

"LLOYD!" Nya's voice suddenly screeched, coming closer to the cave. Before he could say anything, she pulled away from the cover and started sobbing tears of joy when she saw her little brother huddled in the dark. Lloyd didn't get a chance to react before she suddenly hugged the air out of his lungs. They stayed like that for a few seconds, before a look of rage fell over her face and she started shaking the little boy. "WHAT THE HELL WERE YOU THINKING LLOYD?! I'VE ALREADY LOST KAI, DO YOU THINK I WANT TO LOSE YOU?! WELL, DO YOU?!" She screamed, still sobbing through clenched teeth.

However, her rage suddenly vanished when Lloyd finally released all the tears he had been holding in and started sobbing loudly.

Nya sighed and hugged her little brother again, letting him sob into her shoulder until he eventually tired himself out and fell asleep. As soon as she was sure he was out cold, Nya packed up his things and lifted him up in her arms. Once he was secure and safe, she left the cave and began to head home. However, it only took a few seconds to discover that she couldn't find the trail leading back to the village in this monstrous blizzard. She tried turning around and heading back to the cave.

But her face paled when she realized that the blizzard had covered her footprints in fresh snow.

She was now stranded in the middle of a blizzard in the forest with one brother sick in her arms and the other being held prisoner by a monster...

****************

Kai screamed for his siblings in his sleep as he thrashed around in the bed, only to find himself restrained. His eyes suddenly flew open and he found himself being held in place by Cole, the man's green eyes fixed on him with a mixture of fear and concern. A cold stab of fear pierced him, completely unaware of where he was. He recognized Cole's room, but the bedsheets were twisted and half flung off. One of Kai's arms raised over his head the other clenched the pillow in a fierce death grip, with Cole holding both his wrists.

Cole's tail was wrapped firmly around Kai's waist to keep from thrashing about.

Slowly, so as not to scare him further, Cole unwound himself and looked him over for any sign of injury.

"Kai? Are you alright?" He asked, carefully and tenderly. The details of his nightmare came back to him like a cold knife twisting into his heart. A sudden stab of guilt and terror knifed through him, making Kai flip over and smother his face in a pillow and burst into tears. "Kai? Talk to me!" Cole pleaded as he kept shaking him, his voice sterner, but not losing an ounce of concern.

"I'm fine," Kai lied wiping his eyes. "I just had a nightmare."

"I can see that, you don't wake up crying and screaming if you've had a good dream," Cole said bluntly, lying down next to him and pulling Kai into his arms. Despite Cole's attempt at light humor, Kai said nothing. He just looked at the pillow beneath his face. A tear he hadn't noticed ran down his face and he found himself shaking again. He tried to speak but the only coherent thoughts in his head were the pleading, effusing eyes of his two brothers.

Determined to relieve his precious flame of his distress, Cole wrapped tentative arms around Kai.

He then pulled the brunette into his lap and brought him down with him against the pillows. Kai resisted the embrace and tried to protest but regretted it when Cole looked him straight in the eye. His face was a mask that betrayed no emotion, but his serious eyes held unspoken trust.

"You saw your siblings, didn't you? You're worried about them." He said and Kai's flinch of shock was the only answer Cole needed. "Don't look so surprised, you screamed both their names; I've had nightmares about my sister and parents for years after they vanished, so you don't have to hide your worry, and I don't want you thinking you can't come to me when you're upset like this." He promised as he tucked one of Kai's loose bangs behind his ear.

"It's not that," Kai admitted, feeling his chest stir at the words. He paused, guilt shaking him to the core. "I don't know if that was a nightmare or another premonition, but... it made me realize just how selfish I've been; here I am, happier than I've ever been in my entire life, surrounded by people who adore me, wearing the most expensive things I've ever owned! I'm practically living a fairy tale and they think I'm starving to death in some cold, dark tower, being tortured."

"Oh," Cole muttered as Kai covered his head with his arms and buried it in Cole's chest.

"They probably think I'm dead, Cole!" Kai cried as tears streamed down his face. He had never stopped thinking of his siblings, not since the day he had arrived at the castle. It seemed wrong to do anything else. Even when he started to like his confinement, and enjoy the company of the Dragon Lord, he still remembered his brother and sister and was comforted in the thought that they were both safe and hopefully happy. He never stopped to consider that his sacrifice might have the opposite effect of what he intended.

Or that his disappearance had destroyed their lives in a way he never considered.

But he had been so happy. The last few days were like a dream come true and he wanted nothing more than to pretend that it could last forever, and he dared, for once, to be selfish and think of nothing but his own happiness. Of course, that decision would come back to haunt him. Guilt pooled in Cole's gut and he cursed his own helplessness as he watched Kai weep. He hated seeing Kai like this. The brunette deserved to be happy and content, not feel like he had the weight of the world on his shoulders, and be consumed by guilt and shame for wanting to forget that and enjoy life for once.

Especially since it was his fault Kai's family was separated from him.

Looking back at the darkest and earliest days of when he and Kai met when he had unleashed his bitterness and rage against Nya and Lloyd. Kai's siblings had every right to be afraid of him. He had only agreed to Kai's proposal because the boy fascinated him and not because he cared at all about their fates, even if Lloyd's health had concerned him. It had filled him with shame and he knew he had to make up for it. None of them deserved to be separated from one another.

Especially not because of him.

They deserved better than that ridiculous town trapped in time, and he knew just how to do it. Cole stroked Kai's back and gently shook him. When Kai raised his head, eyes red-rimmed and cheeks damp with tears, Cole comforted him with caring words pressed with butterfly kisses along his neck and temples.

"If you're that concerned about them, then you can always invite them to stay here." He said with a soft smile and Kai shot up.

"What?" He croaked in a weak voice forced through a constricted throat.

"There's more than enough room here, the staff will adore them; you already said you three planned on leaving your town anyway, and I don't think they'll argue if you ask them, and I can bear the bulk of their hatred for your sake."

"Why would they hate you?" Kai blurted, too stunned to think clearly, and Cole raised an eyebrow of annoyed obviousness.

"Given the fact that I locked them in a tower and technically kidnapped you, I doubt they'd be happy to see me or be comfortable with the fact that you're now my lover, but as I said, I can bear the bulk of their hatred until they see I'm not as cold as I act."

"You'd do that for me?"

"I'd do anything for you," Cole replied, pressing their foreheads together. Overcome by emotion, Kai launched himself into Cole's chest and held him tight with such force he nearly knocked Cole over. Tears rained down his cheeks but this time they were happy tears.

"Thank you, Cole! Thank you so much! I don't deserve you!" Kai cried as he buried himself in Cole's torso grateful for the man's comfort and support and his understanding more than anything else.

"Don't ever say that again, don't even think it." Cole scolded but there was little force behind it. Cole pulled the comforter up to Kai's shoulders as they fell back asleep. "We'll talk more about it in the morning."

"Thank you, Cole, thank you for everything." Kai yawned as he dried his eyes.

"You have nothing to thank me for, it's the least I can do since you saved my soul." Cole smiled as he sensed Kai's lingering uncertainty, he continued to hold his lover close and comfort him until they finally fell back into a peaceful sleep. Cole continued to hold Kai, keeping a careful watch for the rest of the night, treasuring the feeling of holding Kai close. When the nightmares bothered him again, Cole was quick to chase them away and coaxed Kai back to sleep with soothing touches and caring words until Kai quieted...

#The Flame and the Dragon #beauty and the beast #ninjago #ninjago cole #ninjago kai #ninjago lloyd #ninjago nya #lavashipping

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shoutoismybaby · 4 years ago

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WereDragons

Can I get a Fantasy AU scenario with Half dragon Kirishima where he’s just sent to find some food by bakugou and during the trip he sees a group of dragon shapeshifters around a half dragon girl who looks terribly hurt (like arrows and just sword wounds) and he sees the group just leave her there sad flushing away and he rescues her and from then on they fall for each other?

***

This is a repost bc tumblr ate the old one

This is sooo cute! Sorry its so long, Warnings of Blood, injuries, mention of Bakuraka

***

Kirishima didn’t usually mind being sent out for food by bakugou. He actually enjoyed getting his alone time to enjoy nature or walk through towns without the blonde yelling at him. Of course there was a reason Bakugou would often yell at him, especially in towns. The reason being that it could be dangerous for him to enter, no matter how much he loved talking to the new people he would meet, it was not a good time to be a weredragon. Dragons were known to be evil, greedy creatures who destroyed homes. So even being part dragon got you stuck with that reputation, and the horns, wings, and sharp teeth that remained even in human form made it hard to hide what he was. Kirishima knew that humans often attacked unprovoked because they were scared, but that didn’t make the wounds any less painful. He would fly away from every attack if he could, but weredragons had an extremely long transforming time due to the large size difference between their forms. Not to mention how helpless they were during the transformation, it often left them unable to fight as their body shifted, making Kirishima never transform without Bakugou around to keep a lookout.

Kirishima considered himself lucky that he had never been the target of an attack, most likely due to the fact that he found Bakugou when they were both young. The feral boy growing into a possibly more feral man whe chose Kirishima for a best friend. They would both defend one another to death, even though a certain person would never admit to such.

Being friends with Bakugou, however, meant being away on a constant adventure. Not that Kirishima really minded, he really never found a village he truly fit in at, even those that were peaceful. Plus, he loved exploring and could never turn away helping whatever village they came across. Which is why he often walked instead of flying when in search of food. It was harder to come across villages, yes. But he often found people in need of assistance. He liked to think he was changing the world's perception of dragons little by little, but Bakugou just thought he was gullible and too selfless for his own good.

But there was nothing the horned boy loved more than being someone’s hero.

So of course, when he heard panicked voices on his search for food he jogged towards the commotion right away. Quickly coming across a small clearing not too far away from the main path, littered with what looked to be other weredragons. Despite how his heart jumped in excitement at seeing some of his own kind, he remained hidden behind a tree. It was well known that some tribes of his species were, for lack of a better word, savages who attacked outsiders. It was while he was trying to see through the sea of about 10 bodies while also remaining in hiding that he began to hear soft whimpers and cries. From in between their legs, he spotted you. Laying on the ground as though you had collapsed, well you probably had. Your body was covered in blood and various arrows stuck out all over. Your face was contorted in pain, eyes squeezed shut. Kirishima's heart began to beat rapidly, why weren’t they helping you?

“how could you be so stupid?” Kirishima’s ears finally caught bits on the conversation.

“You weren’t raised to be so weak!” A males voice seemed to overpower the rest, he looked to be the leader, standing closest to you but showing no motive to tend to your wounds. “You know we can’t help you.”

Kirishima's eyes furrowed, what was this guy talking about?! You had fatal wounds that required treatment immediately.

“Please,” Your soft voice cut through, cutting off all other conversations. “I didn’t see them coming and there were so many.”

“That's your fault, and now you’ve probably led them to us!” The leader of the group spoke once again, and you visibly flinched. It was then that Kirishima's hunch about coming across a tribe was confirmed. Tribes had a hierarchy and, due to the current hunt on dragons in certain kingdoms, they valued strength above all else. And you getting attacked and so badly injured would do serious harm on your reputation. But from what it seemed, it was earning you excommunication.

“I’m sorry,” A sob racked your body and Kirishima couldn't tell if it was because of the pain or what was happening.

“Let's go.” The leader demanded. Kiri wished that he could jump into action right then. Convince them to stay and help you, but revealing himself would only put the both of you in more danger. Especially if they were right about the human that attacked you heading towards the group. The group seemed hesitant until the leader spread his wings, beckoning for the others to follow his example. A few looked sympathetic, but took off as the man did. Once they had finally taken off, shapeshifting into dragons once in the are, Kirishima made his way over to you. You had now curled into a ball as much as you could manage without inflicting even more pain to yourself. Your wings laid over your body, in a way that was hiding your face and that revealed how broken it was to Kirishima.

Upon hearing his footsteps you only curled into yourself more, releasing a pained hiss as the arrows were moved.

“I don't want to hurt you,” Kiri said, holding up his arms as though you could see them, “I just want to help. Your injuries look really bad. They could get infected... Or worse, if you don't let me help you.”

At this, you moved your wing from your face with a wince, and Kirishima's breath caught in his throat. He didn't think you’d be so beautiful up close.

“They’re probably not far behind, it would be smarter of you if you just left me.” You muttered, refusing to look him in the eye.

“Maybe, but I couldn't call myself a man if I did that either. Let me help, please.” He begged, getting increasingly worried as he noticed the blood pooling on the ground.

“What do you plan on doing then?” You asked,

“Well, I have a mage friend named Uraraka that lives in a small village a day or two from here called Tokyo. She’s taught me and my friend some healing remedies I could use in the meantime.” Kirishima explained, kneeling down next to you.

“You're planning on taking me to a village over a day away?” You asked, “Why?”

Kirishima looked up at you and sighed,

‘I don't know if you can feel it yet, you might still be in shock. But all these wounds, their fatal and-”

“And why do you care!?” You yelled, the people in your tribe had never done anything that didn’t benefit them. So what did he think he was going to get from this situation? A girlfriend? Because if so he could think again. “You don't know me, or anything about what happened to me. Why does it matter to you if I live or not if it's only going to inconvenience you?” Kirishima was taken back at your outburst. No one had really ever yelled at him when he was just trying to help them before. Well, other than bakugou, who ended up being his best friend. Which is probably why he didn't let your outburst faze him for too long.

“I don't know why I care, but I do and I want to help you. It wouldn't feel right to leave you here to die. What happened doesn't really matter to me. Now can I check your wounds?” He asked. You hesitated before accepting that he was your only chance at survival and nodded. You're adrenalin was wearing off and you could feel it. You knew the lack of blood was beginning to hit you, you began to feel drained and so, so sleepy. But each time he moved you to count your injuries a sharp pain from all over your body reminded you that you were very much alive. And you wanted to stay that way. It was a couple minutes before he spoke again, and you felt a lot calmer for some reason. “I’m going to pick you up and put you on my back okay? Its gonna hurt a lot but I need to get you to where my friend and I are staying.”

“A different friend, how many do you have?” You chuckled, “What are they like?”

“He can be aggressive and temperamental. And he doesn't really like other people.”

‘He sounds like an ass.” You yawned, but Kirishima just shook his head.

“He comes off that way, but he’s really not. Plus, he’s much better attending to wounds than I am.” Kirishima explained, and you had meant to respond. You really did. But it was at that moment you gave Kirishima a mini heart attack because you had blacked out.

The poor dragon boy had thought for a minute he had already been too late to save you. But in the end, he was glad you had passed out because it ended up making the travel to the cave he and bakugou had claimed much easier.

Sadly, it didn’t help with convincing Bakugou to help him.

“Bakugou please,” Kirishima pouted,

“Your pet, your problem.”

“She’s not a pet.” Kirishima frowned, laying you on the ground. “Please, her wounds are fatal.”

This is what made Bakugou look down from his spot on top of the cave.

“What happened?” He asked, making his way down to the ground.

“I think she got attacked by humans,” Kirishima explained,

“Wait, you don't know for sure!?” Bakugou asked, “How do you know she's not some sort of villain?” “Well, I watched her get kicked out of her tribe-”

“She’s from a tribe?!” “And it seems that she got attacked by humans. Please, Bakugou!” Kirishima begged once more, Bakugou took his sweet time thinking it over and glanced at your limp form. “Fine, but if she ends up trying to kill us. It's your fault.” He made his way down from the cave and growled as he got a better look at your condition. “Start cleaning her wounds, she’s going to end up needing a healing spell, but the potions I know how to make should help until we can get her to Uraraka. Also, you owe me for this”

Bakugou kept watch over you as the feeling of wind gliding through your hair brought you back to consciousness. Eyes opening to reveal the night sky, and you suddenly knew you were being carried on a dragons back. The tough scales under your fingers a familiar feeling, and the warmth that radiated from them was comforting. But you knew that no one in your tribe would ever carry you like this, and thus you began to remember what had last happened to you. You attempted to shift, being able to sit up once you got a hang of how the bandages around your body were wrapped. You went to pick at them only to jump when you heard a gruff voice sound from behind you.

“Go back to sleep, we’ll be there in a couple hours.” You turned your head to see the grumpy man who had finally decided to grab your attention. It didn't take you long to figure out that this must be the friend the boy had mentioned.

“Where?” Bakugou already decided he was annoyed with you, but he didn’t want to deal with Kirishima's whining if he ever caught wind Bakugou was anything but”pleasant” towards you.

“Tokyo, where the mage lives. He said he told you already” His red eyes rolled and he leaned back against the base of the dragon's neck, closing them. It was then that you realized you could probably get answers to the questions that had been brushed off before.

“When I asked him, he didn't really give me a clear answer but, why are you guys helping me out?” You asked, watching as he seemed to get more annoyed that you weren’t going back to sleep like he told you.

“Kirishima has a heart too big for his body, he’s always liked helping people even if it puts him in danger. Like an idiot.” You nodded your head and looked back out at the clouds and stars you were passing. “Since I answered your question. Answer mine. What kind of tribe were you a part of?”

“Well, it was,” You paused and thought for a moment. “The emphasis was on being the strongest. The stronger you were, and the better you were at hunting, the higher status you had. Which is part of the reason I got, you know, after being attacked.”

“You’re not strong?” The blonde cocked his brows,

“Not compared to the tribe, no. But I also wasn’t born there so I was always at a disadvantage to start with.” You explained,

“You weren't born to the tribe?” The boy began to look even more questionable of you. Tribes didn’t take anyone in. What made you so special?

“No, umm. My village got destroyed when I was little, leaving me alone and afraid in the woods. Where they found me and agreed to take me in. If that clears up anything for you.” You didn’t end up receiving a verbal response, but he seemed to be thinking it through. “What’s your name?”

“Bakugou. Don’t wear it out,” He demanded, “Yours?” He asked,

“(F/n).” He didn’t respond, and eventually, the exhaustion caught up with you once more and you laid back down. Letting the stars lure you back to sleep.

***

It didn’t feel like long before you were awake again, it was warm and you could feel the blankets piled on top of you. Your eyes found the detailed ceiling of a cabin. You sat up, realizing that the only thing left from your wounds was a dull ache. The room was empty, save for a small table holding various books and beakers filled with colorful fluids. You assumed you had made it to the mages, and the window near your bed informed you that it was almost dusk. You gently pulled yourself out from beneath the covers and walked over to the window, you seemed to be on the second floor, giving you a good view of what you remembered was called Tokyo. It was a busy village, you could many see shops and people bustling around below. The shops to close before dark, and the people to buy before the stores closed. Looking directly below you could see the blond from last night, Bakugou, who was talking to a short brunette in front of the cabin. She was handing him a piece of paper and he looked strangely calm, it didn't fit his face well. You would have continued watching, but you heard the door open from behind you. You jumped and turned towards the noise. But the impact of your knees back on the floor caused your knees buckle. Before you could hit the floor, however, you felt strong arms around you.

“Sorry, I didn’t mean to frighten you.” You looked up to see the face of Kirishima, his sharp teeth appearing through his smile.

“I-its okay.” You blushed, allowing him to help you up and sit you back on the bed. “Thanks for saving me, again.”

“Oh,” he scratched the back of his head, “It’s not a problem.”

“How long has it been? Since we met.” He paused and thought, sitting down next to you.

“About three days.”

“Three days! I’ve been with you guys for three days?” You asked,

“Did you have anywhere else to be?” He looked concerned,

“No, I don’t really have anywhere to go now. Can’t go back home.” You looked at your hands as you said this, the reality setting in. You were alone, you had no one and no place to call home anymore. The scars that littered your fingers seemed to mock you, you had worked so hard for so long. Now it just didn’t matter.

“Why don’t you join us, we’re always going on adventures and doing quests for money. And even though Bakugou says its dumb I think we can really help change how people see dragons. Really make a difference, you know?” You could tell there was a hidden meaning behind his words,

“Get humans to stop trying to kill us like they did to me.” You muttered, clenching your fist. Sure, you didnt have anywhere to go. But try to help humans to change their minds?

Humans didn’t seem the type to ever realise they were wrong.

“Yeah,” He sighed, “I know you probably don’t like them much but, they’re just like us! They get scared and-” “They almost killed me!” You turned to him, wide eyed and teeth bared.

“And two of them helped save you.” He pointed out. “If we want humans to stop assuming all dragons are bad, maybe we have to put faith in them. Even if they dont deserve it. Plus, you can leave whenever you want. It’s not like I’m trying to force you. Just, give it a try?”

His large hand was held out to you, big red eyes sparkling, and you couldn’t bring yourself to refuse him.

And just like that those three days turned into a year. A year that you spent traveling, going on adventures, completeing quests, and what had become your favorite of all. Helping people, and maybe the rewards that came with it. You couldn’t deny your inner want of a shiny hoard no matter how hard you tried. Especially when the group that had become your best friends also seemed to indulge in the occasional collection of jewels. It had been just you, the mage, Bakugou, and kirishima for the past 12 months, and it was the best time of your life. You had never been more free, but as the winter drew near, there was still something you wished for.

“(Y/n)?” You turned to look back into the cave your group had claimed for hte night,seeing Kirishima make his way over to you. “What are you doing up?”

“Can’t sleep.” You answered simply, shivering as a cool breeze moved through the opening where you sat. You looked behind the half-dragon to see Bakugou and Uraraka cuddled up near the fire, you were happy for them. Yet bitter. You turned back to admire the stars as Kirishima sat down next to you.

“Not a comfortable enough cave?” He attempted to joke, but you just shrugged.

“No, it’s just,” You shifted, “cold.”

There was a sudden warmth through your body as he set his arm around your shoulder, and pulled you close.

“You could have just said so,” You let yourself relax into his hold, “but I dont think being so far away from the fire is helping any.”

“Probably not,” You chuckled, “but I needed some time to think.”

“About what?” Your eyes widened at the question, if he really knew what you were thinking about he wouldn’t have asked. Day dreaming about an impossible future you had with him was stupid. Bakugou would have mocked you for being as airheaded as Kirishima, but you couldn’t help it. Not when he smiled like that. “You can tell me anything, you know that.”

You sighed, turning your face towards his own. You were so close. His nose almost touching yours and you could feel his breath fan over your face. It made your brain scramble.

“My lips are cold, too.” You blurted out, face immediately turning red once you realized what you said. But you weren’t going to back out now, you weren’t that kind of person.. “If you want to, you can warm the-”

You didn’t get to finish your sentence before his lips were on yours. They were hot, almost burning, but you loved it. Too soon when he pulled away, a dorky smile on his face.

“I want to warm your lips up for the rest of my life.” his voice was breathless and you couldn’t help but giggle at him,

“I won’t stop you.”

***

#kirishima x reader #bnha x reader #mha x reader #kirishima eijirou x reader #dragon kirishima

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mrobrotzly · 4 years ago

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sometimes it feels like a blessing

for @geraskierhalloween

Magic + 5+1 + Knotting - 11k

Or 5 times Jaskier and Geralt could see the effect of magic on them and 1 time it took them a little to realize it.

One day, in the middle of spring, Geralt had a contract for some unknown creature and, obviously, failed to convince Jaskier to stay at the inn, it had been a decade since they met and Geralt was never good at getting the troubadour to obey any of his commands - even if they're to keep him out of harm's way.

Fortunately, the creature wasn't dangerous, a hybrid of several animals, but - 'cause it attacked him and almost hurt Jaskier (which was what most infuriated Geralt, if the creature hadn't come close to the bard, it would probably be alive now, but he would never say it out loud, obviously, it wasn't like he cared, was it?) - it's no longer breathing at the moment.

The problem was - and seriously, Geralt should have thought of it earlier - that hybrids don't just exist freely, they're created. And they're usually created by people who're mostly crazy and who're, even worse, mages.

"My poor Delilah!" the sorceress was in front of both of them, eyes shining with anger and unshed tears, she prepared to release her chaos, but Geralt drew his sword quickly, making her hesitate.

“You killed her! My own creation!" Geralt watched her carefully, she was clearly not someone with a sane mind "Do you know what it's like to love something, Witcher?” she spat out the last word, making a face of disgust "I don't think you know, shame!" she laughed a bitter and hysterical laugh "I would love to destroy everything you love."

Her growl made him clench his fist in the sword's hilt, unconsciously taking a step to the side, hiding the bard behind his body.

She raised her eyebrows, tilting her head to the side, watching him for a few seconds and smiling, a smile that made the Witcher felt an unpleasant feeling grow in his body.

"Pretty little thing you’ve there, uh?!" she purred and Geralt felt a growl rumbling in his chest “A bard? Would you play for me, dear?”

Jaskier stuttered, Geralt didn't need to look at him to know that his blue eyes were wide.

"Leave him out of this" he said firmly, his voice lower than usual.

She gave a cynical laugh.

"Why, Witcher?" and she tentatively took a step forward, Geralt clenched his teeth, his knuckles white for gripping the sword's hilt “Your pet for mine. It seems like a fair exchange…” she tried to move again, Geralt's body moved together to stop her “The things I would do to him…”

This time he snarled and the sorceress narrowed her eyes, anger returning to her face.

"Let's do it in the difficult way then."

And she raised her hands, sending a pulse of magic at the same time that Geralt casted Quen, protecting him and Jaskier, he could hear the bard's surprised gasp and the sorceress' disgruntled noise for not having succeeded in the spell.

He pushed Jaskier aside, behind the nearest tree, as he went towards the woman, she was good at dodging, but not attacking and her magic wasn’t powerful enough to hurt him badly - probably the power she has was only for breeding creatures and hybrids, not for battles.

She danced - and had no better word to describe what she was doing - around him and even without causing significant damage, he felt her chaos tiring him every time it came in contact with his skin, making him even more irritated 'cause it's delaying his movements.

She laughed, dodging a blow from the sword and snapping her fingers "In a moment the magic will fully affect you, Witcher, and you'll no longer be able to move."

"Not if I kill you first" he grunted and, honestly, he didn't want to have to kill anyone that day, he only accepted the contract 'cause it seemed easy, but of course Destiny would laugh at his face.

He dodged a spell, one of the weakest he has ever seen or feel and he would have laughed at it had it not been for the yelp he heard coming from behind him, the spell had chipped a piece of the wood.

"Jaskier!" he called, without taking his eyes off the enemy.

"I'm fine!" was the answer, but he didn't have time to feel relieved 'cause the sorceress moved her hands again, this time deliberately missing Geralt, trying to hit the tree protecting the bard.

"Your fight is with me!" Geralt grunted, sword passing very close to the woman's chest.

"I don’t think so" she laughed and moved quickly, now closer to where Jaskier was "Let's see if you'll like to feel what I'm feeling."

As she raised her arms he heard Jaskier choking, as if trying to breathe while someone tightened their hands around his neck and he felt his whole body go cold, memories of the moment when he saw the bard spitting blood, his purple and swollen throat and Geralt being unable to do anything to help him...

The only thing that kept him from being still and unable to react was the years of training on Kaer Morhen, the woman was focused on the spell, frowning and the Witcher realized it was a difficult spell for her, so it would be the perfect time for he to attack.

When she realized he was approaching it was too late, he already had half the blade of his sword buried in her stomach.

"You" she said, widening her eyes as he pushed the sword deeper, her arms falling limp beside his body "One day, Witcher, you'll lose everything" she whispered to him, laughing and looking at him hysterically “They're going to leave. And you'll be alone like you truly deserve” she tried to spat blood on his face before falling forward when he pulled the sword out of her body.

And on the ground, meters from where her creature was, the sorceress stayed.

"Are you alright?" a soft voice asked, Geralt turned, seeing Jaskier behind him, looking at him with concern.

"I should be the one asking you that" he said.

"I'm. Thanks to you” the bard smiled at him and something in Geralt's chest calmed down, he felt a wave of relief relaxing every part of his body as he looked at Jaskier.

That was until the bard widened his eyes and opened his mouth as if something was very wrong.

"What?" the grip on the sword's hilt tightened, he looked around.

"Geralt!" he exclaimed taking a step forward "Look at me."

The Witcher looked at the troubadour, frowning in confusion, the feeling getting worse when he saw a smile spread across Jaskier's face. Did some magic hit the bard and he's going crazy? Geralt frowned, feeling concern wash over him.

"Okay, this is amazing!" Jaskier laughed, delighted with something, his face lighting up in a way that made Geralt's chest warm and he didn't want to understand why.

"Bard" he said warningly.

"Oh, no, don't bard me" Jaskier pointed a finger at him, but was still smiling "This is fantastic, Geralt."

"What the fuck are you talking about?" he started to get annoyed, Jaskier not going straight to the point getting on his nerves.

"Okay, okay" he raised his arms in surrender "No need to be angry."

"I'm not" maybe a little.

"Yes, you're, it's on your face" he gestured with his hand "literally, Geralt, your eyes are red."

He blinked, staring at Jaskier to make sure it wasn't a prank, if that was true it meant that magic had affected him in other ways besides physical tiredness. Was this the only side effect? Or would there be others?

“They're turning orange now... Look, I learned a lot at Oxenfurt and I'm very wise in several subjects, but, unfortunately, not the meaning of colors, so you've to tell me: what are you feeling, Geralt?”

"I don’t-"

"Don't what? Have feelings?” the bard laughed wryly "Come on, Geralt, I've known you for a decade! I know very well that you feel and how much you feel, well Yennefer is a proof of that.”

The Witcher pressed his lips at the mention of the sorceress, refusing to look away from Jaskier, the bard raised his eyebrows.

"Black?" he brought his face close and Geralt held his breath. "It wasn't what I was expecting when I mentioned her."

He felt the irritation build up again.

"I'm not an experiment for your fun, bard" He practically spat, turning and starting to walk towards the camp, sword, still stained with blood, in his hands. Jaskier sighed.

"Okay, I admit, it wasn't fair" he followed Geralt and maybe, just maybe, the Witcher was walking more slowly so the troubadour could catch up "But you can't blame me for being curious, I'm a bard, Geralt!"

He didn't answer either that or the dozens of other things Jaskier said before they got to the camp.

And it was a little uncomfortable to sit on the forest floor and clean his swords while the bard stared at him like that.

"How long do you think the spell will last?" he asked.

"I don't know, she wasn't a very good witch."

Jaskier laughed and he felt the sound melting all his annoyance, he frowned at it while cleaning the iron blade with a cloth.

"Don't you want to see?" Jaskier asked "You know... your eyes."

“Why would I? I can feel the magic, I don't need to see it to know it's here.”

The bard shrugged.

"I dont know. I always wanted to know what I would look like if my eyes were a different color, maybe green or brown.”

Geralt stopped what he was doing, lifting his head and looking at Jaskier's face. The first thing he thought was "why?"

Why change such beautiful blue? Blue that he adores to look at, that seemed to shine every time the bard smiled or performed in places where his music was appreciated, blue like an ocean that want to pull him, drown him and he knew he wouldn't try to resist these waves. Eyes so beautiful that with one look the bard have him in the palm of his hands. Eyes that, for some reason, now stared at him with delight.

"That's a beautiful color..." Jaskier whispered so sincerely, smiling in such a way that Geralt had to bend his head and watch his dim reflection on the blade.

And he saw pink, a light and soft pink.

He swallowed, suddenly wanting to run away from there.

The truth was that he knew the meaning of colors, he'd read about it in one of the books he found in Vesemir's personal collection when he was a boy and, thanks to whatever made his memory flawless, he remembered it very well.

He stood up turning his face away, hiding it from Jaskier and looking towards the forest.

"I'm going to get us dinner."

And left without waiting for an answer. Ignoring not only the confused look the bard had on his face, but also the felling that growed up in his chest, this would be just one more thing he would bury and try to forget.

(Continue to read on AO3)

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#Geralt #geralt of rivia #geralt x jaskier #geraskier #geralt x dandelion #Jaskier #dandelion #the witcher #the witcher fanfic #the witcher netflix #geraskier fanfiction #geraskier hallow

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belettewrites · 4 years ago

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Some mountains and a dog part 7

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Honestly, the sheep shed looked nice; it was obvious that it had been repaired multiple times, some planks of wood lighter than others and a door that looked so out of place that Jaskier had to raise an eyebrow at that.

“My brother’s idea of a wedding gift,” Lila sighed.

Jaskier snorted.

“Well, at least it’s- original?”

“Original is one word for it,” she agreed as she actually opened the monstrosity that was the door. “But it does its job, and it’s only the shed – Violet thought it was rude to put it there, but I didn’t want that on our actual house, thank you very much. I may not see well but I see distinctly enough to know that this would look uglier there than it already does here.”

Jaskier made a mental note to ask her about her sight later – it was one of the things he actually knew how to cure, more or less. His powers were good for two things, actually: making flowers and curing things so insignificant that he would be useless as a healer on a battlefield. Which suited him just fine – he was quite happy to follow his witcher and to watch as Yennefer actually taught useful things to Ciri.

Flowers were so much nicer than all of this. He had been called vain, before, by a fellow mage, because all he did with his powers was changing plants into pretty flowers. His sister hadn’t seemed to mind it, when he made her little bouquets of flowers that didn’t grow on the coast. Flowers were easier, prettier, and could come in handy in potions, which was all that he needed. Though he mostly did it, at first, to watch his sister smile.

He stepped inside the shed and looked around him. Hay was on the ground, and there were sheep just sleeping there. He didn’t know a thing about sheep keeping, and assumed that it was normal.

“What are we going to do? Specific tasks?”

He was careful to watch his steps, as he didn’t want to step into… something that would be hard to wash off.

“Check if they’re fine, and mostly make sure that the latest additions are doing okay. Two lambs were born” she added after a quizzical glance from Jaskier, “and they’re fine on their own but it’s still good to make sure they have everything. Violet usually takes the herd out, but Charcoal is still a bit unpredictable sometimes.”

It was fair – the dog was still young, after all. As Jaskier turned around to look at the inside of the shed, he noticed that flowers had been painted under the windows, and he had to stop to appreciate the decoration.

“Who painted them?”

“Who- ah, the flowers? Violet asked me to. She likes them, you know, and when I learned that, well before we were married or even engaged, I asked my brother to find me a book on flowers, or something that would help me recognize them. He’s a nice brother, when his gifts aren’t… like that. He didn’t find a book, couldn’t have afforded it even if he had,” she shrugged, “but he taught me flowers names and such. So I was able to go and find Violet’s favorite one, and with the little money I had earned, bought paints and – well. She still has the painting I gave her, you know?”

Violet loved flowers, Lila loved Violet – it was easy to understand why their house was full of plants, why the courtyard was full of crocuses and other seasonal flowers.

“The flowers do add a really nice touch to your house,” Jaskier replied, thinking about the new one that he had put on the stairs. “I love flowers, actually – I can make them grow. Sort of.”

Lila raised an eyebrow, before kneeling down next to a small sheep – a lamb.

“Well, if I have a leaf I can turn it into something else – it’s how I told Geralt, by the way.”

“Flowers do come in handy to show our beloved that we care, don’t they?”

“Oh- Geralt and I aren’t-” Jaskier felt himself blush, “It’s not-”

“I had gathered as much, yes,” Lila smiled, “but that’s not what I said, isn’t it? Here, do you want to hold him?”

The lamb looked at Jaskier, who felt unable to resist to the thought of holding a baby sheep that looked like a cloud and seemed just as soft. Not that he had ever touched a cloud.

Plus, holding him meant maybe escaping to the current conversation, so it was a win-win situation for him. He reached out to take him in his arms, and the lamb let himself be taken. He was, quite frankly, adorable and terribly cute.

Lila went on with what she had to do, not adding anything about Jaskier and Geralt’s lack of romantic relationship.

He had been holding the lamb for a few minutes, marveling at his softness and at how much trust he had placed in Jaskier to fall asleep like this in his arms, when he heard Geralt’s voice coming from behind him.

“Jask.”

Not expecting him to be there – the man could be more silent than silence itself – Jaskier felt like his soul had left his body with how much it startled him. Trying to play it cool – because Geralt was always telling him to be aware of his surroundings, and to show that he had let his guard down that much wouldn’t do it – he turned back to Geralt, laughing to hide, well, everything he was feeling at the moment.

“Yes, dear?” he asked, then took in the sight in front of him. Geralt was clearly ready to go on his hunt. “Oh, you’re leaving, isn’t it?”

He tried to hide how nervous it made him, to know that Geralt was leaving. It was stupid and he knew it, but he couldn’t help but worry. It was in moments like these that he resented his lack of magical knowledge – if he had known how to fight, how to heal better, then he could have gone with Geralt, he would have been able to protect and care for the witcher in ways he couldn’t now.

He smiled, still, at his friend who never hesitated to put himself in danger if it meant helping other people.

“Yes,” Geralt replied, oblivious to what Jaskier was thinking. Then he walked closer to him.

“Have you seen him?” Jaskier asked, showing the lamb, because otherwise he would do something stupid like put the lamb down and hug Geralt, and that wasn’t something he should do right now, wasn’t it? “And he’s so soft, Geralt, really, you ought to pet him, look how cute he is!”

“Hmm,” Geralt replied like he always did, and Jaskier had to chuckle.

“Of course you’d say that,” he said, before remembering why Geralt was here and what he was about to do. “Be careful, darling,” he asked, almost desperately, grateful to have the lamb in his arms to have something to ground him, “I- be careful.”

It was almost a prayer to whatever god might listen, that Geralt would be safe and would return to him. And now he sounded like a maiden watching her spouse leave to fight in a war, and he needed to stop that line of thought right now because it would only end up hurting too much – or make him dissolve into nervous laughter as his heart longed for things it couldn’t have.

“I will,” Geralt promised, before-

before kissing Jaskier right on the corner of his mouth.

“I’ve got to go now, can’t wait any longer,” he added. “Behave.”

He walked out without saying anything else, leaving Jaskier standing in the middle of the sheep shed, lamb still in his arms, completely frozen.

“What-” Jaskier started, glancing at Lila who was looking at him as though she was trying not to laugh, “did he just-”

Lila nodded.

“And I-”

“Let him go without saying anything, yes.”

Jaskier started to pet the lamb he was still holding in his arms.

“But he- He doesn’t- Not like this, at least- and I-”

Lila chuckled and took the lamb from him before putting it back on the hay, murmuring sweet nothings to it, as one does to an animal. She then turned back to Jaskier.

“I think you need some wine,” she said, and Jaskier wholeheartedly agreed.

***

“It’s obvious he loves you!” Violet argued as she made her way around the table, putting down a plate of wild strawberries. Lila stole one, and she watched her do it with a fond smile.

“She’s right,” Lila nodded as she filled Jaskier’s cup with more wine, “we can hear it every time he speaks to you, we can see it every time he looks at you.”

That- couldn’t be right.

Jaskier couldn’t stop himself from thinking back about that almost kiss, how natural it had seemed, how Geralt hadn’t even seemed to think about it, how he had turned around as if he hadn’t shattered Jaskier’s world in the very same breath he had stolen his heart.

That was a terrible metaphor for multiple reasons, and Jaskier winced internally. He would put it on his shock, his poetical abilities were not threatened by it, no one would ever know.

After the – not kiss – he and Lila had walked back to the house, where they had met Violet and Charcoal who had just gotten back from their trek in the fields. “Geralt kissed Jaskier goodbye” Lila had said after seeing her wife’s confusion. Seeing the understanding dawning on Violet’s face would have had been hilarious if Jaskier hadn’t been too focused on what the fuck had just happened.

“I-” he started, because he had to reply something, couldn’t let them think that his feelings were returned.

“Jaskier,” Violet sighed, “we knew you didn’t know, but he just kissed you, you have to admit that it has to count for something.”

He took a sip of his wine, because it was easier than to think about things, and petted Charcoal who had put his head on Jaskier’s thigh.

Geralt couldn’t love him that way. And friends kissed each other all the time! Maybe not on the mouth, but to be fair it hadn’t been on the mouth, not really. Maybe Geralt wanted to kiss his cheek but had miscalculated? But Geralt never miscalculated things, Geralt did things for a reason and not randomly like this had seemed.

Maybe he had seen that Jaskier was worried and that was the only way he had found to reassure him – though it wasn’t the first time that he was worried about Geralt going on a hunt.

Geralt couldn’t love him romantically. He liked him as a friend, that he knew, and he cared for him in a way that sometimes confused Jaskier, but Geralt didn’t love him. He loved his family, and Jaskier was more or less part of said family, but that didn’t mean that he loved Jaskier.

Jaskier had left syllogisms back in Oxenfurt and was not ready to use them again, even more so as they would have been wrong. Geralt loved his family, Jaskier was part of this family, but Geralt couldn’t love Jaskier, it was just not- plausible, possible.

Feeling Violet and Lila’s eyes on him, he took another sip of wine. It was a fine wine, a deep red, and he briefly wondered where it had come from before deciding that it wasn’t worth thinking about.

What he was feeling was mostly confusion. Why would Geralt do that? Maybe Geralt did love him – but thinking that meant hoping, and hope was a bittersweet poison that Jaskier didn’t want to take.

He would have to wait for Geralt to return, then. Waiting would be even more excruciating that it already would have been.

“Maybe,” he reluctantly agreed, and Lila rolled her eyes.

“You’ll see,” Violet said, “that we’re right and you were just blind to the truth.”

“I’ll drink to that,” Jaskier sighed.

“That’s the spirit,” Lila smiled. “Now, enough of this, tell me more about you turning leaves into flowers, don’t think I have forgotten that. How exactly does it work? Could I do it?”

Grateful for the distraction, Jaskier put his cup down before straightening up on the bench.

“Well, I’ll answer your last question first: no, you couldn’t – you would need to be gifted with magic for that.”

“It means that you’re a mage, then,” Violet remarked from where she was sitting, hands turned red by the strawberries she had been eating.

“Yes,” Jaskier said, “it means just that, but don’t be fooled, flowers are my only field of expertise – only because I think they’re pretty. They can be useful, too,” he shrugged, “but I like how pretty they look.”

“Does it have to be leaves?”

Jaskier had to pause at that, to think about how he would phrase his answer. He also stopped petting Charcoal, which prompted the dog to whine softly, nudging his hand.

“Well, not really,” he chuckled as he resumed his petting, “It has to be a plant, though, and it has to be alive, as in, fallen leaves wouldn’t work, but if I went outside and picked one right now, then I could turn it into another plant, yes.”

“Is that the only thing you can do?” Lila asked as she took the bowl of wild strawberries from her wife.

“Well-” Jaskier hesitated, but what arm would it cause to let them know? It was not as if they met a lot of people around here. “I was mostly self-taught, so I picked things that I liked, not things that were useful. I can heal a scraped knee, or minor injuries, but that’s mostly all. Oh, and bad eyesight. I can’t exactly heal it, but I have a spell that can enchant glasses to make them always, well, adapted. So even if your eyesight worsens, the glasses will still work. Learned it for my sister.”

He noticed that Violet and Lila were exchanging glances.

“Do you think-” Lila started, “Do you think you could- do the spell for me? If you can’t, that’s alright, it’s just that-”

Oh. Oh, well. Geralt wasn’t the only one who wanted to help people, now was he?

“I would be delighted to be able to help,” he smiled, “but I fear it would take quite a lot of my energy, as I’m not used to doing it very often – or doing any magic, really.”

Now that he was thinking about it, Lila and Violet were pretty chill about him being a mage, but then Violet had beamed when she had seen that Geralt was a Witcher, so maybe people in the mountains actually knew that mages and witchers were people just like them. Immortality and magic notwithstanding.

“Let’s do this, then,” he smiled, “and then I think I’ll take a nap, and wait for Geralt to return – oh fuck, Geralt.”

#geraskier #The Witcher #geralt x jaskier #Geralt of Rivia #Jaskier #mine

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fatesdeepdive · 4 years ago

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Entry 11: Archduke Silly Bot

I built a new Mess Hall and Accessory Shop, but before I could play with them, my castle was attacked! By spooky ghost men from the Astral Plane I mean, I summoned them, but still, the castle is in danger. Fifteen enemies showed up to try and seize the fort. Lilith was supposed to help me fight, but just stayed in her pond and did nothing. Dumb fish.

The invaders were tough, but focused more on smashing stuff than killing my Units. Unfortunately, there was a casualty. Kenshi, our valiant POW who we force to serve as cannon fodder, was slain in battle. I mean, not really, because I’m playing Casual mode. Still, I renamed the castle Fort Kenshi in his honor.

The invasion gave me the points needed to build two new structures: the Rod Shop and the Smithy. The Mess Hall can be used to slightly boost unit stats for one battle. The Rod Shop can be used to buy various consumable items. Smithy can be used to reforge Weapons; for instance, I gave Kenshi a new bronze club called Kenshi’s Whacker. The Accessory shop can be used to buy and equip fun accessories, like the bath towel that is all Kenshi is allowed to wear.

Support: Jakob/Mozu

C: Jakob finds Mozu crying, because she had a nightmare about the death of her family, and comforts her.

B: Jakob tells Mozu that she is fortunate to have had something to lose; he explains his abusive childhood that ended with him being sold into servitude of the royal family and tells Mozu to hold onto her memories of her village.

A: Mozu begins training so she can be strong enough to protect everyone and thanks Jakob for looking out for her.

S: Jakob proposes to Mozu, asking her to help him create memories worth cherishing.

Review: This one was short, but good. It could have very easily just been a throwaway conversation about Jakob’s fanciness contrasting Mozu’s lack of sophistication. Instead, it was a genuinely touching conversation that expanded both characters and made me love Jakob even more.

Support: Orochi/Saizo

C: Orochi tells Saizo to stop being mean, because it’s ruining his reputation with the ladies, and threatens to take matters into her own hands.

B: Orochi reveals that when they first met, when Saizo was a child and she was...whatever age she was, she predicted misfortune in his future, which scared Saizo so much he wet his pants. She then reveals that she’s told everyone. Saizo runs away to salvage his reputation.

A: Saizo comes back, furious. Apparently, Orochi lied about telling everyone and Saizo, in his attempts to explain that he only peed his pants because he was a child, ended up spreading the story for her.

S: Saizo has turned over a new leaf and is trying to be nicer thanks to Orochi’s mind games. Orochi confesses that, when she fortolled misfortune in Saizo’s future, she must have actually been talking about his father. Because, as we all know, Saizo has not suffered any misfortune in his life. Also they get married.

Review: This one was decent. Saizo ignoring Orochi’s threats at first then ruining everything in his struggle to fix things is amusing, and the duo have better chemistry than most couples in this game.

Support: Azura/Corrin (Birthright)

Notice the Birthright parenthetical. Corrin and Azura, the main duo, actually have different conversations in different routes, which is neat.

C: Corrin and Azura take a walk together. Azura compares the nice day to Castle Shirasagi. She then apologizes for bringing up her childhood, which she feels belonged to Corrin.

B: Azura asks Corrin about her childhood and Corrin explains both the forced isolation and the constant companionship from Elise and the servants. Corrin actually says she misses the Northern Fortress.

A: Corrin and Azura reflect on their different opinions of Nohr: Azura’s feelings of it being the evil she escaped and Corrin’s of it being a home she misses. They discuss the fact that no place is truly good or bad, something the game’s writers needed to be reminded of, and vow to bring peace.

S: Corrin states that his good memories of Nohr all stem from kind people and vows to be that kind of person for her. The duo exchange some insanely on the nose promises about being fine in a dark pit if they’re together and their fates being intertwined. Now, this may feel like incest because they share parents and siblings, but I actually think this one is okay? As long as there isn’t some late game twist that makes them cousins or something, this seems good.

Review: Overall, a fairly good conversation. Corrin’s feelings on Nohr are more nuanced than this game normally is and the idea that Nohr isn’t evil because of the people is a good sentiment.

Support: Setsuna/Subaki

C: Subaki and Setsuna are assigned to train new recruits together. The new recruit is Kenshi, I have decided. Subaki, worried that Setsuna will be Setsuna and mess everything up, does everything himself.

B: Setsuna just wanders off in the middle of training new recruits and Subaki tries to help her be a better leader.

A: Setsuna attempts to resign from teaching, but Subaki tells her that her wandering off actually helped the recruits because she’s observant, I guess. Setsuna does not retire from teaching.

S: Setsuna tells Subaki that she likes him then wanders off because she’s done talking. Subaki chases after her and proposes.

Review: This one was mediocre. Setsuna is always fun, but this support conversation lacked a good conflict and was resolved in a dumb way. Setsuna wandering off in the middle of a confession is fun, but the relationship wasn’t built up at all.

Birthright Chapter 9: Land of Gods

The gang head to Izumo, a neutral kingdom south of Hoshido. The guards, recognizing Azura, let the party in. Corrin asks about the missing princes and is told no battle happened near Izumo. No war in Ba Sing Se and all that jazz. Archduke Izana approaches them, looking like a wise and calm leader. Then he talks and they realize that he’s a silly boy.

They ask him about the battle on the border of Izumo and he tells them he knows nothing about it. Izana invites the gang to rest and be treated by his healers. He also invites Corrin and Sakura to go to some special spa healing in his deep relaxation chamber which is absolutely not suspicious.

The deep relaxation chamber is an execution chamber. Nohrian soldiers march in to kill Corrin and Izana reveals that he is actually a Nohrian mage named Zola. His voice sounds like Gollum and he has this weird jester hat. I cannot wait for the part of the game where we kill him.

Right before Corrin is executed, half of the Nohrian soldiers attack the other half. It’s revealed the soldiers are actually our soldiers in disguise. Where they got the Nohrian costumes, I do not know. Maybe they looted them from some corpses? Also, how did they know this was happening? And how did they seamlessly blend into the Nohrian army? I have many questions.

Hinoka explains that she knew Zola wasn’t the real Izana because no royal would ever act like such a silly boy, because she has never read any history textbook. The battle begins.

Something I haven’t mentioned yet that I want to mention: if an enemy has a super effective weapon, a red balloon with an exclamation mark appears above them as you move your unit. Nice touch.

On turn two, two new characters march into battle: a Samurai named Hinata and a Spear Fighter named Oboro. The two of them are looking for Takumi. The two bicker. Hinata is an idiot and is thirsty for Takumi. Oboro fantasizes about killing all of the Nohrian scum and Hinata tells her to chill out. These two idiots are Takumi’s retainers. Corrin goes up to the duo and recruits them.

Hinata

A samurai and one of Takumi’s retainers. His personal skill, Triple Threat, hurts enemies who lower him below half health. His design is fine, I guess. I think they’re going for a meathead thing from his introduction and his scars and muscles, but he looks way too young. Personality wise, he seems to be kinda dumb, but not enough to be funny.

Oboro

A spear fighter who is really goddamn thirsty for Takumi and is also really racist. Her unit description is: Loves fashion, hates Nohr. Her personal skill makes her do extra damage to Nohrians, which is useful because we are at war with Nohr. Fates has a bad tendency of reducing characters to a single character trait and we’ve already been shown three traits for Oboro, which I assume will dominate every line she ever says. Seriously, we’ve known her for a minute and she’s said Nohrian Scum a dozen times.

This map was good. It was a standard fighting enemies in a castle map; nothing special, but then again it didn’t need to be special. After the battle, Zola says that he’d rather die than tell Corrin anything. He then throws a smokescreen and runs away, only to be attacked by Leo.

Leo says he’s going to kill Zola for being a disgrace to Nohr and Corrin says, no, don’t do that, don’t hurt another Nohrian. Except, Corrin has killed dozens of Nohrians at this point. Leo yells at Corrin for being a traitor and gives her Zola to keep as a pet. Corrin reflects on how Leo has gotten stronger, but also become more cruel, since her betrayal of Nohr.

The gang meets the real Izana. Yeah he’s every bit as weird and wacky as Zola was. He tells the gang about hearing that the princes were near the bottomless canyon and reads Corrin’s fortune. He sings the next verse of Ocean’s Grey Waves, implying that this song is genuinely a prophecy about this game.

In the white light, a hand reaches through

A double-edged blade cuts your heart in two

Waking dreams fade away,

Embrace the brand-new day

So, let’s see. First off, a lot of imagery about light, which is Hoshido’s aesthetic. Not sure what verse one means, but verse two is some heavy foreshadowing for Chapter 26. I’ll talk about it more then. Verses three and four are about Corrin leaving the fake life in Nohr and returning to Hoshido. Probably.

Azana also predicts that the princes are both alright, so the gang heads off to find them. That night, Azura talks to Corrin about the prophecy, saying that it is the lyrics to a song she was taught as a child that now seems to be about Corrin.

#fire emblem #fire emblem fates #fe fates #fe 14 #hoshido #fire emblem birthright #oboro fe #hinata fe #zola fe #leo fe #izana fe #corrin fe #azura fe #corrin x azura #jakob x mozu #setsuna x subaki #orochi x saizo

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sharpen-jadescythe · 3 years ago

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A Little Bit of Ly’vell In My Life

Lord Ly’vell Autumnspire has a real gift for making people fall in love again.

I know what love is. There is someone I have strong feelings for that you all already know about. But they say every time you fall in love, it’s different. Today, it feels like one ‘amour’ of mine, as he would call it, is as deep, as beautifully aqua-blue as her hair, and as all-encompassing, as mighty and unstoppable as the ocean beneath me—let’s say if I was stranded on the raft of life? A lone man orphaned with hardly anything to call his own, trapped on the water’s surface? Yes, she would give me respite from the boiling sun, tempt me to give into the waves, be a merman swimming alongside her beautifully together. Jiroki’s great gift is to let me get lost in that magnificent, stormy soul of hers and transform myself in that way. But this second love with Ly’vell, it’s like the vast sky up above, air flowing in from all over. Carrying birds, pollen and all the infinitesimal stuff of life, salt, or tears—who knows. But it’s all his potential, all the hope of a new love for life in his smile, that takes us high, way up there. The way Ly’vell loves, I could stand on that rocking raft alone, then lift up on my toes and reach, get snatched up and away forever. Actually fly. Far, far off. Perhaps one day, up into the stars. That world of Ly’vell’s love is always above my head and it is as pale and serene as his mane of white hair, snow waiting to fall soft, just for us.

So this is in case you were wondering about my love life right now, if you’ve noticed I was also spending time with a certain handsome someone. Sky and sea, green sea or white sky—however I can get you to understand how there are two people in my heart; and I hope that I’ve come close. Love above me and love beneath. I am delighted by two wonderful people at the moment. And now, it’s time I told you about Ly’vell.

I’m a crazy, hiking, nature-loving Night Elf guy that likes to impulsively get up at o’dark thirty (ask another SI:7 Seal what that means sometime). What was I up to so early in the morning? I have a strong instinct to go hunting some days, and I think I stepped out of the portal in Stormwind, you know the mage tower? Right about at sunrise, I’d say. No other fools like me should have been up, let alone exist in all of Elune’s creation. Or so I assumed. The morning light—like I’d dreamed it, white as snow. And the stained glass windows also in the hall were starting to paint pastels on the floor at our feet. Ours. His fine leather boots, and then my dusky ones. I knew he was a rogue before I even looked at him. You have to get good at these things in a fight, and a part of your mind is always ready when you’re a soldier. But this other Night Elf man’s cologne made me look up his legs in a different kind of way, you know what I mean, and enjoy taking a good long look at him. Tall him and all that gorgeous white hair swept behind his strong shoulders. I let out a breath. We were passing by each other for only a fleeting moment and I had no idea what to say. You know that voice in your head that tells you someone is far too attractive to even bother with because surely they’re already taken or have something better to do? Someone other than you? Well, I’m Sharpen Jadescythe as you know, so I did my typical himbo-fumble-through-anything-at-all.

“Nice blades.”

I meant his daggers. I instantly felt like a complete idiot though because I knew he was a rogue, I felt sure he was, but those were definitely spell-blades. I’m a blacksmith, I make all kinds of weapons but magical ones have always eluded me. You need enchantments, special reagents, an affinity for spells. These intricately patterned, reddish-purple blades hummed with subtle energy that I could now feel between us. The cross guard was somehow split in two. These elegant pieces were one with the blade, yet not. They spun apart, then revolved back in, tight, as if a child were pulling them on a yo-yo string. I must have ended up watching Ly’vell’s hips like a cat. His hand rested lightly over the perfectly matched spell-blade on is right side, where it was hitched into his belt.

I looked up. I think we finally got to swapping our names by then. But Ly’vell was grinning at me like he knew far better what was going on. At the same time, I got the sense that I wasn’t going to get off that easy. Not to make a dirty joke, but seriously--in this barely discernable language that was only starting to build between us two men, a dialect of looks exchanged, resting on a back foot and holding back, the flicker at the edge of a smile, a subtle purr escaping one’s throat, Ly’vell was already telling me that it wasn’t going to be easy and it wasn’t free.

What’s my typical Sharpen energy, what I naturally put out there, then? That I’m completely free and easier than tripping over a rock to fall face-first? Into love, I hope. All I know for sure is that I cleared my throat several times. I wish to goddess I could remember exactly what we said other than it was about a dagger, or who got clever first, then who finally made it about romance or whatever we both honestly wanted to get up to, and at that early in the morning ontop of everything else. Goddess, we both must have been very horny to start falling into steamy conversation in the Stormwind mage tower! I believe it went from a compliment, to my knees feeling weak, and him pressing his advantage fast, somehow standing almost ontop of me, with his height. He must have learned pretty quickly that I was more like prey, not the gruff, outdoorsy ‘you comin’ or what?’ macho man I appear to be at first. I think that enticed Ly’vell. Oh, the tiny hippo-puppy (hippogryph hatchling) perched on my shoulder, a very endearing little detail might have given that away too, that I’m… well, a sweet guy. So there was that grin again, his special grin for me. Now it said, ‘Alright, I’ll make this easy for you, poor thing.’ Little by little, Ly’vell was finding out that I was the one who wasn’t an easy catch, that I hardly ever did things like this. Ly’vell took his time and found a very sophisticated way to communicate that he liked my body, was very much affected by my open shirt and the big gun I had slung over my shoulder. Nice.

“I like big guns too.”

No. I mean, yes. I, Sharpen Jadescythe, actually said that. And if you need even more juicy gossip, I think it was me who pulled himself together and finally asked Ly’vell if he’d like to go get a drink. Though, I think we both knew Ly’vell had laid down a treat and then patiently waited for this sweet, stray himbo to wander in and get it, let himself get petted. A lot like that too, I very nervously attempted to keep a steady walk by Ly’vell’s side through the park, all the way round to the Slaughtered Lamb.

The place was mostly empty which means our getting right down to flirting over drinks was actually pretty shameless. And then I kissed Ly’vell right in front of a passing Stormwind guard on patrol who’d just entered the place to keep an eye on things. Well, what an eyeful he got! I suppose the barman was pretty unphased by his patrons’ shenanigans. I’d survived the scene in the mage tower, and at the bar I managed to hold my own and tempt him with sweet gestures until that big, blaring one. I’m not sure what won Ly’vell over in the end that I wasn’t mutton dressed as lamb, while we canoodled in the Slaughtered Lamb (don’t mind my jokes), but maybe that was it? I guess I really did grab the other man and let him have it. Ly’vell was unbelievably sexy, especially for someone who was simply going about his daily business when we crashed into each other, and I couldn’t take it anymore.

Then, just as fast, I chickened out of anything else and made an excuse to get on with my day soon after that first kiss. But Ly’vell gave me a damned classy black calling card, it was enchanted or something—yes, he was a Highborne spellblade he explained. The card recorded our messages, and he had his own so we could easily keep up in touch, wherever his stray himbo tried to scamper off to.

This man was, still is, the epitome of class. Honestly, I’ve been wanting to keep Ly’vell to myself all this time and not let any of my friends find out about him because Ly is that wonderful. And he’s easy-going, deeply romantic, plain fun. But, I soon made friends with Ly’s husband Nils anyway (I so adore Nils), and now I think we’ve all met each other’s friends, almost. So too late to keep the lovely Ly’vell, my lion, totally to myself. I don’t know if I care about that or anything, anymore. Ever since coming across Ly’vell casually in the tallest tower in the city, at the weirdest hour of the day, over the simplest little thing that could have gone like any half-spoke compliment I’ve shared with a stranger passing by, and that turning into a powerfully romantic encounter? I thought I’d slam into a wall for trying. But no, I feel like he and I have been flying all this time. Eagles. Truly free.

At first, I was wary of jumping into anything with someone. However, Ly chased me down and seduced me with his kindness and steadiness. And a few well-made leathern outfits—I think you guys saw a couple of those pieces? I’ve shared at least one picture of me in that harness. These days, I invite Ly to way too many parties, I even introduced him to Trixany who is one of my closest friends and a complete nut. Goddess, I’m sure he’ll be sick of this glitter-covered himbo who’s got like twelve-hundred pets, and is constantly changing his bright hair before long. But I hope not. Ly’vell is so easy to love, and I’ve also loved him chasing me around, that is, until he caught me.

Ly’vell and I could lay down in a field, hold hands, and see the bright sky wash above us for hours. Hours upon hours, just like that. And be at perfect peace, too.

I know we could.

((I can’t believe Sharpen met someone hot and totally nice in the Mage Tower in Stormwind? Really? That was COOL.))

#sharpen-stories

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talpup · 4 years ago

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Light In the Darkness

Summary: Yami Sukehiro just wanted to join the Magic Knights and make his mentor proud. He knew there would be trails. He knew trouble would come his way. Knew he would be faced with discrimination for being a foreigner and a peasant. What he didn’t know. Didn’t expect. Was that literal Chaos would come his way. That he and his mentor’s sister would be at the center of world ending trouble. Or that he would fall in love with his mentor’s sister and face more than discrimination; but the jealously of Nozel Silva who loved the same woman he did.

Please remember this fic is rated mature and has warnings of violence, abuse, sexual tension, eventual sexual behavior, and other possible triggers. For a full list of story tags please check the fics AO3 (link to that at the top of my tumblrs homepage).

***Note: Sorry for the late update, my Aunt passed Sunday and things have been kinda hectic. Anyway, I hope you all enjoy.

Chapter 87

It was ten minutes to eleven on the morning of April fourth. Despite all that happened two days ago, Yami knew Teris would try to make the meeting they had scheduled with Jon during the Star Awards Festival. It was foolish of her to think that Julius’ Vice Captain would keep such a meeting after everything. But Teris’ insatiable curiosity would make her go just in case.

Yami stepped into the Black Bulls meeting room that Teris had claimed as a sort of office. Leaning against the door jam he watched her close a stack of files and get to her feet. “Where do you think you’re going?”

Even though her back was to him Teris did her best to cover her guilty expression. “Why ask what you already know?”

Yami shook his head in half amused exasperation. “We just escaped--”

Teris spun to face him. “We didn’t escape. We were freed. Rescued. By them. By him.” She looked away wondering what would’ve happened to Yami if Alowishus Spade hadn’t shown up. Would she and Nozel have cleared Rayla’s test in time? Would she and Nozel have survived the test without the Agents of Chaos’ help?

Yami didn’t remember Alowishus showing up. Too out of it with built up mana burning his body up, he didn’t even know what Teris and Nozel had been put through until yesterday’s group report at Headquarters. “Jon knows we spent half a day at the Healer’s and most of yesterday at Headquarters. He won’t be waiting at that tea shop.”

“He knows I’m not unconscious, still holed up at the healers, or barred from leaving the property. He’ll be there.” Teris argued.

Yami had to admit Teris had a point. Jon was well acquainted with Julius’ obsessive nature and unquenchable curiosity, two traits Teris shared with her brother. “Fine. Let’s go.”

Teris looked at Yami in concern. “No. You don’t--”

“I said let’s go.” Yami turned, exiting the room.

Teris frowned at Yami’s back and followed him down the hall. Yami had been out longer than the rest of them. Teris had sat by his bed at Healer’s Hall after she had woken up mostly recovered. Though she hadn’t wanted to disturb Yami’s restorative rest, Yami had begun radiating intense cold in his sleep. It was difficult to tell if he had experienced a communicative dream with the page of Chaos. Or if everything Yami had been though was the cause of the radiating cold and his disorientation upon waking up. But it had worried her, further worried her, given all that happened. Even now Teris still worried for him. Yami needed to stay home and rest, not travel to Castle City with her. But telling him that would’ve been pointless.

“Stubborn. Pig headed.” Teris muttered.

“I think you’re suppose to look in a mirror when you self identify.” Yami caught Teris’ scowl out of the corner of his eye and stopped walking. Turning to face her, he wrapped an arm around her waist and pulled her close. “Don’t look like that. I’m letting you go, aren’t I?”

“Letting me--”

Yami’s lips silenced her. Teris leaned into him, hands gripping his shirt. The somewhat rough kiss turned soft.

Yami pulled back. The loving sincerity in his eyes belied his jesting tone. “Just so you know. That kiss with that mad woman meant nothing.”

“Don’t even play like that. Not yet.” Teris held him tighter. She pressed her face into his chest, soaking in the warmth and smell of him. She turned her head and listened to his strong steady heartbeat.

Yami held her. His other hand smooth her hair and pet her back. It still amazed that Teris loved and cared so much for him. He hated that he had worried her. That he hadn’t been strong enough to deal with his building mana. That he hadn’t stopped their being taken in the first place.

Yami pressed his lips to the crown of her head and breathed in the scent of her. “We made it out. More than that, we got out of whatever other hell Greywright had in store for us.”

Teris laughed softly at that. She pulled her head back and looked up at him. Her mind unwillingly recalled him bound, life fading as his mana built. If it hadn’t been for Alowishus Spade and the Agents of Chaos, Yami might’ve died. They all might’ve.

Teris reached up, caressing his cheek. “Don’t worry me like that again.”

Yami clasped her hand and kissed the inside of her wrist. “I can’t promise you that, Ikigai.”

“Then at least tell me what that word means.” Teris bargained.

Yami smiled down at her. One day he’d tell her what the word meant. Maybe. He almost made her a different promise; but it would sound too sappy so he said instead. “We’re going to be late. Think Julius will have a problem with just the two of us going somewhere if it’s to meet someone?”

Teris was about to answer that she didn’t care what her brother had a problem with when Julius’ voice sounded.

“No. But I do have a problem with you having secret meetings with my Vice Captain.” Julius said.

Teris and Yami turned to see Julius’ stern expression. Jon, who stood behind the Azure Deers Captain, at least had the decency to look ashamed. Though Yami wondered if the shame was for telling Julius about the meeting or getting caught by his Captain.

Julius shook his head in disappointed censure. “Really you two. Going behind my back with my Vice Captain. And after everything you went through two days ago.”

“I was only tagging along to make sure Teris was safe and didn’t get into trouble.” Yami said.

Teris turned to Yami, eyes wide at the betrayal.

“What? It’s true. I even tried to talk you out of it.” Yami told her.

“Not very hard.” Teris argued.

Yami shrugged a shoulder. “I know when you’ve made up your mind.”

“And apparently when to bail and serve me up to my brother.” Teris said.

“Yami, you shouldn’t have let Teris agree to such a meeting in the first place.” Julius said.

“Let her? Have you met your sister? No one lets her do anything.” Yami said.

“That’s not what you said a moment ago.” Teris told Yami.

“Wanna work with me here?” Yami asked Teris.

“Not after you served me up like that.” Teris said.

“Stop. The both of you.” Julius silenced. “Once confronted, Jon explained everything. His reasoning for making the meeting and what he wanted to speak, or more correctly question you about.” He looked at Teris.

Teris looked from Julius to Jon, wondering what Jon could have wanted to ask her.

“Commander Greywright and Captain Jax are waiting inside Jax’s office. Let’s go.” Julius gestured down the hall in the direction of the Black Bulls Captain’s office.

Teris turned and started walking. She looked at Julius out of the corner of her eye. “If you knew about our meeting with Jon; and Greywright--”

“Commander.” Julius corrected, walking beside her.

“--was already here.” Teris continued. “Why all this? Just looking for another reason to get after us?”

“Jax was the one certain you would try to make the meeting. I was hoping you wouldn’t attempt to go.” Julius said.

Teris gave a derisive snort. “To think Jax--”

“Captain Jax. Come on, Teris. At least make an effort at propriety.” Julius implored.

Teris huffed. “I thought you knew me better.”

Julius looked at his sister wondering if she was referring to her attempt at making the meeting or her disregard of proper use of titles.

Yami entered his Captain's office. “I hope there were stakes in that bet you made with Julius.”

“Don’t sound so proud.” Jax scolded Yami. He grinned at Julius. “You’re covering my tab at the Boiling Brew this month.”

Julius closed the door behind Jon. “And here I thought you’d be drinking and gaming less since you’re sending Gilly what amounts to Bronn’s pension.”

Jax’s expression sobered. His eyes looked over the others in nervous discomfort.

Julius caught himself far too late and softly apologized to his friend. “Sorry.”

“Is Gilly having trouble?” Teris questioned in concern.

“If it’s that hard for her why hasn’t she come back? Healers Hall would take her back, wouldn’t they?” Yami asked.

“She doesn’t want to come back. And unlike retired Magic Knights and Castle Knights, or their families if a Knight dies in service; Healers, Sentries, and Investigations Mages don’t receive some sort of monthly payment.” Jax said.

The weight Julius constantly carried on his shoulders suddenly felt heavier at the reminder of all he had to do and change once he became Wizard King if he hoped to make things better for the kingdom and those that served it.

Jax straightened in his seat, clearing his throat as he went on. “Bronn and Gilly were counting on his pension to supplement the lack of payment for her work as a— You know what? I don’t have to explain myself to anyone. It’s my money and I’m sending her some. It’s what Bronn would’ve wanted. Expected. And that’s all there is to it.”

“I think it’s sweet, Captain.” Teris said.

Yami found it honorable and gave Jax a small nod of approval. Greywright did as well.

Jax eased a bit and ordered his Vice Captain’s. “Sit down.”

He looked at the sofa positioned across the two upholstered chairs he and Greywright sat in. There was no way Julius, Jon, Yami, and Teris would fit comfortably on the couch.

Pointing at the chairs in front of his desk, Jax told the Azure Deers. “Just take a pile off one of those--” He fell silent seeing Julius grab both chairs and pass one to Jon. “What happened to the stack of—there were—Teris.” He turned to her. “Have you been taking piles out of my office and doing my work?”

“No... Yes.” Teris grimaced. “Maybe a bit.”

“Don’t scold her for doing your ignored work.” Greywright told Jax. He looked at Teris. “Though I don’t think your making many friends in the file clerks office at Investigations. Nevertheless. Good work. Keep it up. At least someone’s finally getting things done around here.”

Jax eyed Teris. “We’ll discuss how Vice Captain’s aren’t suppose to make their Captain’s look bad, later.”

“Should’ve given both of them that talk after the Star Awards. Or better yet, before.” Julius told Jax. He saw Teris’ expression and said. “No. Getting captured and experiment on by some magical scientist from the Spade Kingdom doesn’t negate the censure you and Yami should get for causing such a commotion.”

“It wasn’t just us.” Teris reminded.

Leaning forward in his chair, Greywright told Julius. “As the one tasked by Sir Jorah with disciplining them, I say it does. Leave them alone least I bring up past disciplinary issues we’ve have with you, Captain.”

Julius’ eyes lowered in embarrassed shame.

Teris pressed her lips together fighting a smile. Julius was perfect. Alright, almost perfect. Other then the incident at Magic Investigations after Yami and she got the History of Chaos, Teris couldn’t think of a single time in her brothers career as a Magic Knight that was anything but proper, honorable, and upstanding.

Jax outright laughed at the Commander’s censure of his friend.

Greywright turned his eyes on the Black Bulls Captain. “I’ve got plenty of stories that’ll embarrass you too Jax, so shut it.”

Jax quickly sobered.

Greywright looked over the small gathering before telling Yami and Teris. “We’re here to discuss Advisor Ellara.”

Teris turned to Jon, eyebrows furrowed in confusion. “Is that what you wanted to meet about?”

Seated beside Teris on the sofa, Yami looked at Jax. “You’re finely going to explain like you promised.”

“I hadn’t forgotten.” Jax told Yami, appreciating how patient Yami had been.

Teris’ eyes darted around the men in the room trying make sense of what they were saying. “I’m missing something.”

“Let’s start at the beginning, shall we.” Greywright said.

They started with the suspicions about Ellara that had led to Bronn being tasked with following her, and ended with Greywright telling how he knew the Ellara that came to the safe house Teris had been kept at hadn’t been the real Advisor.

Yami’s frown had grown more and more severe as Greywright, Julius, and Jax told them everything. When they were done Yami sat back and crossed his arms. “I could've told you that was the real Ellara without hearing the end. There’s no way Bronn would’ve lost her. The bastard was too good a Mage.”

“So—you’re saying that Advisor Ellara is working with the Agents of Chaos. And that the person that who showed up to our safe house the night of the Winter Solstice wasn’t Advisor Ellara but a Transformation Mage. That Bronn, who was tasked with following Ellara, didn’t lose her but followed the real Advisor to the geyser labyrinth where he was...“ Teris’ words faded. She hadn’t gone to the scene once Bronn’s body had been found; but she could imagine it well enough. The question she had wondered back then returned, seeming all the more important given this recent information. Why the geyser labyrinth?

Greywright nodded.

“And you can’t take any of this to Sir Jorah because she might be using her magic to affect him.” Teris finished.

Greywright nodded again.

Teris looked to her brother. The fact that he didn’t look sick with distress told her Julius had suspected Ellara of using her magic on Sir Jorah for quite some time. She swallowed, mouth suddenly dry.

Yami placed a steadying hand on her knee. With what he had overheard and sensed in their Ki when Advisor Ellara was around or they spoke of her, he had surmised some kind of trouble; but nowhere close to this extent.

Teris barely registered Yami’s touch. Her heart banged in her chest, rushing blood roaring in her ears like a tidal wave in a storm. She recalled the last Entrance Exams when she had been lost and looking for the arena viewing room. How Ellara had acted and asked about the communicative dreams with the page of Chaos. How Ellara had offered to help her try and remember. How she had asked if she could see the scars on her chest. Wait. Did that mean Ellara had been there during the Summer Solstice?

Teris shoved the unsettling thought away and focused on another disturbing question. “So the reason Alowishus and his lunatic lackeys showed up at Rayla’s was because of her? Ellara got word to him, telling what happened and where to look for us.”

“I got to the scene far too late to see anything. The only thing I was able to tell was the way the wind was blowing.” Julius said.

“Which was enough.” Jax said, attempting to make Julius feel better. “From the lack of ground disturbance and signs of struggle we figured it was a passive attack. Kess and I were able to find where they had stood, letting the toxin magic travel on the wind to where you all had been.”

Feeling like a failure, Julius sighed. “It still gave us nothing to go on. We had no better clue who had taken you, where you were, or why you all were taken. How Ellara could've figured it out and got word to the Agents of Chaos is a mystery. Maybe all she did was get word to them and they figured it out. In any case when we were called into Sir Jorah’s office and told that you all had been taken…” His eyes unfocused, remembering Ellara’s tension and expression. “Her concern was real.”

“Just because the Agents of Chaos got us, or rather you two out of immediate danger doesn’t mean they have your interests or well being in mind.” Greywright told Yami and Teris.

“Of course not. They helped cause they still need us for at least one more ritual if not more.” Yami looked at the Commander and two Captain’s seeing that they too knew that their concerns over this past winter solstice had been for not. Sighing he confessed. “I’ve been contacted by the page of Chaos at least twice since the solstice.”

“What about Olsen?” Teris asked, at the same time as Yami’s admission.

Yami turned to Teris. “What about Olsen?”

Teris stared at Yami, her concern realized. “Why haven’t you told me!”

“First things first.” Greywright said. “Yam--”

“Commander Greywright.” A voice sounded.

Greywright pulled the communication crystal from his pocket. “I’m in a meeting.” He said informing the person that he wasn’t alone should the message be confidential as well as not to bother him if the message could wait.

“There’s been two Wild Fire outbreaks in the Forsaken Realm. One near Hornsby. The other just outside of Hage.” The voice said.

“Actual Wild Fire?” Greywright questioned.

“Yes, sir. Teams of Magic Knights have been dispatched but there are multiple outbreaks at both locations.” The voice said.

Jax used his rock magic to shake the foundations of the house, signaling anyone home to gather in the great room and await orders.

“Sir Jorah wants you at Hage. It’s the closest to the Spade Kingdom border.” The voice went on.

“I’ll report back once I assess the situation.” Greywright said, already rising to his feet.

Jax, Julius, Jon, Yami, and Teris were already making for the door.

Seeing them coming down the hall, Tobin questioned. “Captain?”

“Olsen and I found a system that worked well together during the Wild Fire near Clade.” Yami told Jax and Greywright.

“Wild Fire?” Olsen echoed.

“You and Olsen with me.” Greywright told Yami. He glanced at Jax trusting the man to know better than he. “I need a few to help get the people of Hage to safety.”

“Iban, Venice, Abril. You’re with Greywright.” Jax stepped to the Blood Mage. “This is not the time for your games. If I hear of one complaint you’re done.”

“Yes, sir.” Iban smirked.

“Teris, Tobin, Gendry, Bran. You’re with me in Hornsby.” Jax said.

Julius stepped forward. “Jon and I will--”

Greywright held up a hand to Julius. “From what I understand, you used all of your mana stopping that bridge from collapsing yesterday. You’ll be of little use out there. Sorry, Julius. I can’t be worrying about you. You stay.”

“I’ll take Jon.” Jax said, with a sympathetic look to his friend.

Julius’ hands fisted as the two groups disappeared; Greywright using a transportation crystal, Teris light traveling the others. Proud as he was that his sister seemed to finally be getting a handle on the spell, he was disgusted with himself. Great as it was to save several dozens of people yesterday as he single-handedly slowed an explosion and stopped a rushing river all the while halting a bridge’s collapse, what kind of Wizard King would he be if he couldn’t save people today because his efforts yesterday had taken up so much of his mana?

He simply had to get stronger.

87.2

Bran was relieved and impressed Teris had light traveled their group without leaving them with so much as a sunburn; though his vision was still a bit spotty on arrival from her magics intense light. Still, his Vice Captain must’ve been putting in some serious time training.

As Bran’s vision cleared he looked over the area in horrored awe. “When they said multiple, they weren’t kidding.”

“Teris. Start incinerating a kilometer wide break between the flames and the town.” Jax ordered.

Teris balked.

“One strong gust and it’ll jump any smaller break.” Jax said.

Stopping the spread and saving lives was more important than the farmlands crops that would be destroyed. Even so, Jax hated giving the order and didn’t envy Teris the job.

Teris gave a stiff nod and disappeared, setting to work.

“Bran. Get to a safe distance and control a beast of burden that’s hitched to a wagon, take it to find anyone stuck out in the fields and get them back to town. Jon, Tobin, Gendry.” Jax rolled his neck. “Let’s get to work.”

They worked well into the night. Even with the addition of several teams of Magic Knights, they still struggled. There were just too many fires.

Mereoleona wiped her brow. “It’s no use, Jax. It’s like the stuff’s been condensed, burning hotter and faster than any Wild Fire should. You were the first on the scene. You have to call it.”

Jax ground his teeth. To leave it and admit defeat would've meant burning everything within a two kilometer perimeter in a best case scenario. Given the higher volatility of the Wild Fire and the seasons stronger wind gusts, it would mean doubling the firebreaks to four kilometers. Doing so would mean taking out a quarter of Hornsby itself. But it was either that or chance the fire jumping and losing the whole town, possibly more.

The Black Bulls Captain swallowed. “Four kilometers. Get every fire mage burning a break of four kilometers.”

Mereoleona stared. “Including the earlier one kilometer break?”

“Burn four more kilometers.” Jax snapped. “I’ll send a team to oversee the evacuation of the populace from the parts of Hornsby that will be lost.”

Mereoleona growled. While she would’ve made the same call if in Jax’s position, it didn’t make the order any easier to carry out.

“Captain!” Randall pointed.

Mereoleona and Jax turned, Mereoleona thinking she had to teach Randall how to better use his words. She scratched that notion instantly seeing what Randall had been pointing to. Even in the green-white smoke and flames the line of Sorcery Lances from the Spade Kingdom were clearly visible due to their numbers. The mass was five hundred meters out at most.

“Retribution for the death of one of their leading scientist?” Win guessed, the Green Mantis Captain coming up beside them with Jack at his side.

“They took our Commander and Knights first.” Mereoleona sneered, wanting to kill them for taking her brother.

“You think they’ll hold off fighting so we can explain that to them?” Win wondered.

“Since they’re probably the ones that started this mess. Doubtful.” Jax said, and muttered. “Why did I have to be the one that showed up first?”

“Quit complaining. I’ll take command if you want.” Mereoleona said.

“And never live it down! I don’t think so.” Knowing the citizenry’s safety was of paramount importance, Jax told Mereoleona. “Help the other fire mages create a four kilometer break that extends fifteen hundred meters to the right and left of Hornsby. Then come join the fight and push the Sorcery Lances back with utmost hostility.”

Mereoleona almost argued, wanting to stay and fight; but her oath as a Magic Knight stated the safety of the citizens came first. “Keep Randall. He’ll be able to divert some of the Wild Fire flames with his air magic.”

“You’ll have to order someone to clear out the populace.” Jax told her, as he’d be too busy to send a team the way he had planned.

Kess appeared at Jax’s side.

“I’m taking Neyres.” Mereoleona told the Silver Eagles Captain.

Kess nodded.

Mereoleona turned to her brother and the other Fire Mage on her squad. “Leon! Forte! Four kilometer addition to the break starting with fifteen hundred meters spreading to either side of town. Neyres! Go with them.”

Eyes wide at the level of destruction their order entailed, the three nodded and took off.

“Big guy!” Mereoleona called to Tobin as she passed.

Tobin turned.

“Need you to kick some people out of their homes. Carry them if you have to.” Mereoleona said.

“I can force them out. Make the air in their homes just noxious enough.” Win offered.

“Your toxin magic is needed to wipe out Sorcery Lances.” Jax told the Green Mantis Captain in between issuing his own orders.

On her way to met and help Fuegoleon, Forte, and Neyres, Mereoleona caught sight of the Azure Deers Sonic Mage battling a wall of Wild Fire. “Emelia! Go help Tobin.” She pointed at the Black Bulls Giant Mage who had raced ahead of her. “He’ll explain your orders. Just don’t permanently deafen the citizenry unless you have to.”

Emelia blinked, perplexed, and nodded; rushing after Tobin.

“Burning down some poor peasants home after kicking them out. Jax better save a squad of Sorcery Lances for me to beat to a pulp.” Mereoleona muttered under her breath.

Jax scanned the field and questioned. “Where’s my Vice Captain?”

Jack had subtlety done what he could to keep track of Teris for Yami, not that the big lug would ever ask. Having recently found her after losing track of her for a time, Jack opened his mouth to answer. But before he could a flash of light lit up the night making the fiery surroundings seem dim.

“Never mind.” Jax rushed to join the fight. The others falling in beside and behind him.

87.2.2

Nozel stood a dozen paces away from Teris leaving them both room to fight. In the heat of the surrounding Wild Fire he was having trouble keeping the density of his mercury for his mercury rain spell to be effective. He’d have to remember to work on that during his and Fuegoleon’s training sessions.

“At least we can see the enemy this time.” Nozel quipped to Teris.

Teris huffed, surprised that Nozel would make a jest in the middle of a battle.

Nozel hated to admit it but if the three Agents of Chaos hadn’t shown to assist them, they definitely wouldn’t have completed Rayla’s test in time to save Yami’s life. A part of him wondered if he and Teris would've made it out of the so called test alive. Though that didn’t speak to the greatness or superiority of the Spade Kingdoms fighting force. If anything him and Teris holding out so long spoke of their capability given their exhaustion, wounds, and the magic dampening cuffs.

Teris saw one of the Sorcery Lances prepare to throw something. The action notable because it didn’t look like the man was preparing for a magical assault. She caught sight of a small jar just as it was leaving the Sorcery Lances hand.

“Nozel!” Teris light traveled to the Silver Eagle, wrapped her arms around him, and light traveled away right before Wild Fire erupted where he had stood.

Nozel blinked, sight slowly returning from the blinding light. He looked over Teris’ shoulder at the green-white flames. “Are they crazy!”

The Wild Fire posed as much danger to the Sorcery Lances as it did to them. As the night cooled the wind swirled, slowly changing directions. It caused the flames to spread all the more quickly and unpredictably.

Teris growled seeing the Sorcery Lance who had thrown the jar pull out another.

Nozel reached out trying to grab her. “Teris!”

Teris sprinted and launched herself at the man.

“Teris!” Jax yelled.

Teris and the Sorcery Lance went tumbling. The jar broke, Wild Fire exploding around them.

Nozel made for the flames.

Reaching him, Jack and Jon held Nozel back.

Teris pushed up to her knees and away from the charred Sorcery Lance. The Mages form crumbled into a pile dust beneath her. She clamped a hand over her mouth, stifling a shocked noise of disgust. That’s when she noticed it. The tell tale green-white flames of Wild Fire. It was burning on her the same way it did on water. While it hurt and took everything she had not to writhe and scream, the flames didn’t burn her flesh.

Teris collapsed onto all fours, the pain growing. The dim glow that had been radiating from her since the Wild Fire strike brightened. As it did so, the heat coming off her intensified.

Teris screamed.

Though not as consuming, the feeling was similar to the morning of the Summer Solstice.

Jax grimaced at his Vice Captain's agonized cry. Teris shouldn’t be alive, but she was. Though he didn’t have time to be grateful for that. From the looks of it, Teris’ mana and magic was rising to somehow burn out the Wild Fire. The deduction set his galloping heart to race even faster as another shot of adrenaline coursed through him.

“Shields!” Jax yelled, pulling up a thick wall of stone long enough to shelter those beside and just behind him.

He looked about and cursed. There were too many Magic Knights incapable of creating the type of shield that could withstand an exploding force; and they were too spread apart to reach someone who was. After over six hours of using his magic to bury and snuff out Wild Fires, he simply didn’t have the mana store left to create numerous thick rock walls to shield everyone.

Blinking the sweat out of his eyes, Nozel gritted his teeth and created a massive curved wall of mercury that sheltered all the Magic Knight’s. It didn’t matter how tired and drained he was, he was the royal heir of House Silva. What kind of Vice Captain would he be if he didn’t risk his own life to protect his comrades.

Seeing what the Silver Eagle was attempting, Jon used his magic to freeze the space around the liquid metal. Thanks to the Azure Deers’ assistance Nozel was able to strengthen and thicken the shield wall.

There was a brief moment of deafening silence as if time and space itself held its breath. Then, an explosion of light.

The banging shock wave whipped the air around in frenzied howl. Dirt and clumps of debris rained down.

Ears ringing, Jax stood and looked over the stone wall to check on Teris. He found a lingering shield wall of mercury, so thin he could see through it.

Weak and woozy, Nozel gave Jon a clumsy nod. There was no way his mercury would’ve withstood the blast if it weren’t for the man’s assistance. He had barely managed to hold it as it was.

Jon gave the Silver Eagle a returning nod, knowing several Magic Knights would’ve perished if not for Nozel’s quick thinking and magical power.

The Magic Knights stood to find that the surrounding Wild Fires had been burned out by the explosion of incinerating light.

Teris slowly uncurled, the pain and searing heat subsiding.

“Impressive.” A voice said, from above her.

Teris opened her eyes and saw a Sorcery Lance standing over her. He stepped back as she got slowly to her feet on unsteady legs.

“You took out more than half of my forces. And that wasn’t even combining your magic with the Dark Magic User.” The man’s eyes lifted and scanned the field. “Where is he by the way?”

“You can’t have him.” Teris told, her growl far less threatening given her panting breath and clear fatigue.

The Sorcery Lance looked back at her. “I have no interest in either of you, child. My King might, once he learns what you’re capable of on your own. We heard you were a powerful force when combined but had no idea what you were capable of alone.”

“Good luck relaying the message dead.” Teris said.

“You don’t want to fight me. After an release of mana like that...” The Sorcery Lance shook his head. “Look at you. You can barely stand.”

“Teris. Get back.” Jax ordered making his way to her. “This one’s mine.”

The Sorcery Lance smiled. “Vice Captain Jax.”

“It’s Captain.” Jax corrected.

“So the Magic Knights promotes failures? I see why the Clover Kingdom will never be a threat to us.” The man taunted.

Jax stepped in front of Teris.

The Colonel smirked. “Attempting to protect yet another girl, Jax. This one your lover too? Looks kind of young; but who am I to judge.” He blocked Jax’s attack with a pool of lava that melted the rock. “You’re going to have to try harder then that Captain. Unless you want to lose this girl too.”

Teris was buffeted back by a cloud of volcanic ash. Jon grabbed her by the arm. Not knowing who it was, Teris spun, nearly falling over in the process.

“It’s okay.” Jon calmed. “Let’s get you out of here.”

“No. I can still fight.” Teris said, looking back at her battling Captain.

Kess looked at Win, the Green Mantis being the senior Captain.

“I have two tones. Scary and snide. Don’t see either one working on her. You order her back.” Win told Kess.

Kess glared. She stepped to Teris. “Teris.”

Teris turned to the Silver Eagles Captain. “I can--”

Still holding Teris steady, Jon was able to stop her fall. He looped her arm over his shoulder and held up her unconscious body.

“Get her to safety, Vice Captain.” Kess ordered Jon.

Not wanting to leave Kess in this mess, Jon questioned. “Captain?”

“You heard me.” Kess snapped, daring her boyfriend to challenge her command.

“I can take her.” Nozel offered.

“You’re with me.” Kess told her Vice Captain. She gave Jon a hard look.

“Yes, sir.” Jon submitted. “Be careful.”

Kess turned away, ignoring his concern. She was Captain of the Silver Eagles. While a part of her found Jon’s care sweet, the greater part of her found it insulting.

Knowing Nozel was weakened from shielding them from the blast, Kess ordered. “Nozel, hold this line and stop any Sorcery Lances that get passed us.” She raised her voice. “Everyone else. Take out or push back the Sorcery Lances still standing.”

87.2.3

“I can make it to safety.” Teris said, having regained consciousness. “Go back and help the others.”

“You can barely stand. What if you lose consciousness again? I’m not--” Jon tensed seeing a creature coming out of the smoke. “What’s an elk doing in the middle of a Wild Fire?”

Bleary eyed, Teris turned to the animal. “Bran?”

The elks head lowered and raised in an odd nod.

“Good man.” Teris praised. To Jon she said. “Help me up.”

Jon looked uncertain. “Teris, I--”

“Hornsby is at least eight kilometers out. It’ll take forever for you to get me there. With the other Magic Knights still burning the break to protect the town, they need you fighting.”

Jon looked at her. He could hardly argue. It was why he had faltered at Kess’ order. If only Teris wasn’t so weakened and could light travel to safety.

“Alright.” Jon relented. “But you have to get to Hornsby and stay. Swear to me, Teris.”

“I’m not stupid or have a death wish.” Teris told.

Jon could've argued with that but didn’t. He looked up at the elk wondering how he was going to get a mostly dead weight Teris on it when the beast laid down. He helped Teris on and stood back. The creature rose. Teris began to slide off. Jon rushed forward, reaching out.

Teris managed to hold on and right herself. “I’m good. I’m good.”

Jon looked at up at her thinking this a terrible idea. She would have to go through a storm of Wild Fire. What if she fell off or lost consciousness again? What if she ran into a team of Sorcery Lance’s? An eruption of lava flew into the sky. The ash cloud ballooned out, further covering them in dust and smoke.

“Go!” Jon ordered, already rushing back to the fight.

Teris’ arms tightened around the elks neck. The elk ran, avoiding green flames. The beast lept over downed burning trees that had been set aflame by the Wild Fires heat. Teris lost all sense of direction in the dense smoke. She buried her face into the crevice of her arm and the beasts neck. It was a battle just to hold on and stay conscious.

Teris managed to last until the end of the break. Her arms loosened unable to hold on anymore. She fell off the elk with a thud.

“Teris!” Bran rushed to her.

He controlled the animal long enough to trot it a safe distance so it wouldn’t trample them and released it. The elk darted away to safety.

Bran knelt and lifted Teris up onto her knees. He swung her arm around his neck and stood them up. “You’re heavier than you look, Vice Captain.”

“Bran.” Teris breathed, her slow blinking eyes unfocused. “Never tell a woman that.”

“Yes, sir. Sorry, sir.” Bran stumbled and they both fell over.

“Leave me and go be useful.” Teris ordered, barely holding on to consciousness.

Bran stood them up again.

Teris frowned vision spotting. “I said go be useful. Don’t disobey--”

“Seeing my Vice Captain to safety is being useful.” Bran argued.

Teris would've called him a cheeky smart-ass but her vision tunneled and she lost consciousness.

87.3

Given what Greywright had heard from Mereoleona, who had commanded Yami on two separate battlefields, the Knights Commander had expected to have trouble keeping Yami from moving too far into the enemy’s line. But that wasn’t a problem. Greywright figured it had to do with Yami now being Vice Captain and feeling a greater sense of responsibility for the other Magic Knights. Though that’s not to say Yami didn’t move further ahead than Greywright would’ve liked. But the Vice Captain didn’t lose himself in the battle and always seemed to pull himself back right before Greywright felt the need to call him back.

The Magic Knights Commander hadn’t seen Yami fight since the Squad Challenge over a year and a half ago. Yami’s growth in ability and power, both magical and physical, was impressive. Yami’s unique, more physically fighting style meant that those facing him for the first time dealt with an adjustment period. In most cases Yami had his foe incapacitated or killed before that adjustment was realized.

The Colonel leading the Sorcery Lances called for retreat.

Yami and a few other Magic Knights made to follow.

“Let them go.” Greywright commanded. “We’ve still got a village to save and Wild Fires to put out. Charlotte. William. Abril. Follow the Sorcery Lances at a distance. Make sure they cross the boarder and don’t turn back for another attack. Yami. Olsen. Get back and deal with the fires closest to the village. Take three others with you. The rest of you. Focus on the most outer fires and work your way in. Tryn. Siren. Continued working on that break. Two kilometers.”

“Venice. Alecdora. Puli. With me.” Yami ordered.

Greywright watched Alecdora glare daggers at the Black Bulls Vice Captain as he followed behind Puli, Olsen, and Venice in Yami’s wake. The Golden Dawn was a noble who didn’t respect anyone that he considered socially beneath him. It was obvious the Sand Mage wasn’t fond of having to obey a foreigner on how best to save Hage, a peasant village out in the Forsaken Realm. That said Greywright didn’t see Yami tolerating disobedience well. He just hoped Yami was capable of controlling his temper well enough not to land Alecdora in the infirmary.

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Next chapter snippet:

Yami pulled his hand free and leaned forward, forearms resting on his thighs. He hadn’t caught that, and understood why Teris would be upset about it. They faced so many dangers already. To learn that there were even more groups wanting at them only added to the danger. Yet what good would knowing do? Greywright had known of the Spade Kingdoms interest in them and had wound up in Rayla’s lab right along with them. They had thought they’d known the Agents of Chaos wanted them for the Winter Solstice. Wrong as they were, the Agents of Chaos had proven they knew exactly where they had been hidden and could get to them.

#yami sukehiro #nozel silva #julius novachrono #mereoleona vermillion #fuegoleon vermillion #Black Clover #light in the darkness

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