#had to moisten up the lions mane

[ratatatastic]

boston bruins @ florida panthers game 5 | 5.14.24

[mctherofdragons]

Born to Die | F.W.

Fred Weasley x Fem!Reader 

Warnings: ANGST/SMUT 18+ only, major character death, toxic relationship dynamic, tattoos, gang activity, motorcycles, domination/submission, daddy kink, possessiveness, praise kink, choking, smoking, drug mention, alludes to criminal activity, blood/wounds/violence, hurt/comfort, police, arrest, gun violence, su*cide by cop. 

Based on: Sons of Anarchy; Lana Del Rey’s Ride and Born to Die music videos 

AN: PLEASE READ THE WARNINGS! I’m not going to argue about this being ~toxic because I know it is. It’s heavily influenced by Jax and Tara’s dynamic in Sons of Anarchy. It’s also a work of complete fiction and honestly, who doesn’t love a bad boy? I know I do. Thank you to Mya (@wandsandwheezes) and Lanie (@gcdric) for encouraging me to write this! Note about biker subculture: “old lady” is a term of endearment for a wife/girlfriend. If a biker refers to a girl as his “old lady”, this is actually a warning sign to other men to back off. Reader would want Fred to refer to her as such. ​

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

”He’s not good for you,” your mother’s voice echoed as you tossed everything you owned in a duffle bag. “He’s a criminal, y/n.” 

”I don’t care. I love him.” 

With that, you had left everything behind to be with Fred Weasley. He was a boy from the wrong side of town who you had met while tending bar to make ends meet. You had always been a good girl. Sure, your family had no money, but you were a hard worker. In fact, you had began studying to become a nurse - paid for with grants and academic scholarships. All of your dreams faded away when Fred walked into your life. 

Everything about Fred Weasley was stunning. He stood over six feet, broad shoulders clad in leather and tattoos, with a dangerous light behind his eyes. He had scars tattering his soft, pale skin. On his face, freckles danced beneath his eyes light a night sky, and you were enamored with discovering the constellations. He was tough, but soft with you. He wore his long hair gelled back,  adding to his bad boy persona. Fred was the most beautiful man you had ever seen - both inside and out. 

 He had come in one night close to closing, sitting down and whistling at you.  His brown eyes twinkled at you as he ordered a straight whiskey, flirting with you as he drank. “You’re far too pretty to be workin’ here all alone. Girls like you can fall prey easily.”

You had heard about men like him. They would roll up together occasionally, the backs of their leather jackets or vests donning the same symbolic patch. Outlaw motorcycle clubs with all of their criminal enterprising, violence, and danger had been something you would normally have avoided at all costs. However, Fred nearly radiated heat as he sat before you, pushing a tattoo and ring covered hand through his hair. He puffed on his second cigarette of the night, gazing at you in a way that made you want to abandon your good girl ambitions.

“You wanna go for a ride, sweet thing?”

After your shift had ended, you climbed on the back of Fred’s Harley, holding on tight to his waist as he sped down the road. That night he could have taken you anywhere. Even Hell would have been a welcome destination when Fred finally parked outside of a garage, pulling you inside. You were leaned against a different motorcycle with his hands exploring every inch of you. His hand slowly slipped around your throat, the cold of his rings pressing gently into your supple skin. At that moment, you had fallen entranced under Fred Weasley’s spell, unable to ever think about the life you knew before. 

Fred Weasley had bewitched you. Even with the danger that lurked behind every moment with you, the addiction to him had pulled you beneath the waves. It was a dark, deep ocean but you were content to continue being pulled deeper and deeper into the depth. You were his girl. That’s all you ever wanted to be - for eternity. 

+++++++++++++++++

Eventually, you had moved into Fred’s house. It was, like everything else about the man’s persona, not the safest place to be. At night, you’d hear gunshots rattling down the street. More than once, you laid awake, watching Fred in the moonlight, holding his own gun in his hand. You knew better than to ask questions about how the gang made its money. Fred often managed to shut you up with diamonds or kisses, pushing any questions you had to the back of your mind. 

One night, you had been laying on Fred’s chest. You were tracing the lion tattoo on the right side of his chest, your fingers dancing over the cat’s dark mane. “I’m scared for you, Freddie.” 

You gasped slightly as he pulled your hair behind your shoulder, pressing the pad of his pointer finger behind your ear. There you had gotten a small, but meaningful tattoo. The letter ‘F’ was sunk into your skin, marking you permanently as his. Fred was possessive over you. He kept you safe from the other members with a proprietary aura. Fred moved to attach a soft kiss to the tattoo, his warm breath tickling against your earlobe. 

“You know I’ll keep you safe, right, babygirl?” 

“Of course.” 

He slid his hand down your body, strong and calloused hands brushing against the skin of your side. He trailed a finger along the lace of your panties, slowly and painfully running the tip of his pointer finger along your slit. He moved the black material to the side, coasting two of his long fingers into you. He rubbed soft circles on your hood, causing you to gasp slightly. 

“Do you belong to me? Who do you belong to? If someone asks, who do you belong to?” 

He would occasionally beg for confirmation from you. “Fred Weasley,” you breathed, back arching as he attached his open mouth to your neck, sucking a mark into your skin. “Fred Weasley.” 

He fingered you fast, loving the way your wetness coated his fingers. He pulled them out, shoving them into your mouth with a small grin. You gazed into his eyes as you licked them clean, batting your long, mascara coated eyelashes at him. 

“That’s my bitch.” 

You melted at his words, spreading your legs wider and allowing him to climb on top of you. You dug your fingernails into his back as he moved rhythmically inside of you, making tiny scratches along with the tattoos on his shoulders. His rings pressed hard into your skin as he propped your legs up, keeping his eyes burning into yours. 

+++++++++++++++++

You were waiting up one night for Fred, sitting in nothing but his leather vest, donned with the club’s patch on the back. The patch itself had to be earned, and membership in the club was lifelong. The only way out of the club itself was death, and Fred knew that very well. He had another patch on the front breast of his vest - Man of Mayhem - meaning he had undertaken several high-risk tasks for the crew. 

He didn’t tell you much about these tasks, and you didn’t ask questions as you would stand at the sink, scrubbing blood from his shirts. He was gone late again tonight and you had missed him, pulling the vest on since he had worn his jacket instead. You heard the door ratted open. Fred stood before you, cigarette hanging from his ruddy, pink lips. He took a long drag, blowing the smoke up into the air. 

“You like?” You asked, standing up. Your lips curled into a mischievous grin and you ran off toward the bedroom, but he caught you by your arm. He had you pinned against the wall. He smelled like alcohol, cigarettes, and motorcycle exhaust. It was then that you noticed Fred’s lip was busted open, a bit of blood dried over the cut on the top. It was swollen and bruised. His cheek, on the other hand, also had a large blue and yellow bruise forming beneath his eye socket. 

“Take it off.” 

You plucked the smoke from his mouth, pulling it between your own lips for a drag. “Why?” 

He grabbed the cigarette back and stomped it out under his boot. He latched his hands onto the leather of the vest and pulled it off of you, tossing it onto a nearby table. “No one fucking wears that patch besides members. Do you fucking understand that?” 

You had recoiled a bit, leaning away from him. He caught your face gently in his hands, planting a soft kiss on your lips. You sighed, suddenly melting back into his touch. Fred was holding your face tightly as he kissed you. You could feel the rugged cut on his lip against your own. You wished somewhere deep down the kiss itself was magic - able to heal him. His tongue danced along your lower lip before you granted him entry. You had almost forgotten you were completely naked while he was clothed, once again causing you to find your rightful place as his plaything. 

“I’m trying to protect you.” 

“I know, I’m sorry.” 

He stood back for a second, taking in the sight of you naked before him. You giggled loudly as he hoisted you up, tossing you over his shoulder. He brought a hand up to smack your bare ass, a loud crack breaking the silence of the house. When he finally got to the bedroom, he tossed you onto the mattress and you bounced. 

You propped your head upon your hand as he stripped, muscles flexing as he pulled his tee-shirt off. He laid down on the bed and you ran your hands along his bare chest. You were kissing fast and furiously, tongues battling for dominance. He had slid his hand between your legs, rubbing his fingers gently against your sensitive flower. He spat into his hand, bringing it back down to moisten you even more. Fred had an artistic way of touching you as if each point of pressure on your body was something he craved to explore. You were panting loudly, tiny feminine gasps rolling off your tongue. 

“You wanna ride me, princess?” You nodded, moving to place your knees on either side of his hips. Placing your hand around Fred’s shaft, you guided his length into you. You lowered yourself slowly onto him and tossed your head toward the ceiling, feeling your hair fall against the bare skin of your back. The way he filled you up was sinful yet otherworldly. Gently, you gyrated your hips in circles, getting comfortable. Fred placed his hands on your hips, urging you to begin bouncing. It was moments like this that had made Fred claim you as his ‘old lady’ - biker slang for a girl that belonged to him and only him. It was a predatorial move, urging the other men in the MC to back off, lest they deal with his wrath. It made you feel chosen, valued, and deeply cherished. 

Fred locked his eyes onto yours as you ran your hands up and down his chest. He caught your lips for a kiss, pushing his hands up into the tangles of your hair. As you panted, he spoke softly into your shoulder. “I need...I need your help with something. Are you gonna b-be my good girl?”

You continued to bounce on him, staring deeply into his eyes. “Anything for you, daddy.” 

He helped you off of him, moving swiftly to pin you beneath him. He slammed into you again, pinning your hands above your head. You moaned, letting him attach his lips around your nipple. He bit softly before sucking. He lifted your legs to rest on his shoulders, moving quicker and quicker. 

“Would you do anything for me, baby? Would you?” “Yes! Yes, daddy,” you moaned. Fred could feel your walls tightening around him, which signaled him to wrap his hand around your throat. The feeling of his rings on your skin and the loss of control sent you into your ecstasy, crying his name out loudly. He came next, pulling out to cum on your stomach. You watched, stars in your eyes, as he reached next to the bed to grab his tee shirt and wipe you up. +++++++++++++++++++++++++++

You held the gun in your hand still, shaking as you watched the person in front of you fall to the floor. “C’mon,” Fred said, wrapping his hand around your wrist. You ran along with him, shaking from your fingers to toes. 

“Is-Is...did I kill her?” 

Fred handed you a small, white pill and you took it without question. “It’ll calm you down. C’mon,” he said, starting up his bike. You crawled onto the back, wrapping your arms around his waist. Fred’s shirt was still soaked in blood. You had been his ruse to get into the house, and then he had urged you to shoot. 

He had shot too, leaving the living room full of the corpses of a rival club. As Fred sped, coasting nearly one hundred miles per hour, you saw flashes of red and blue light up in the rearview. Fred was content to rev his engine, but another cop car pulled out in front, causing his wheels to come to a screeching stop. 

Four sets of officers stood behind their doors, crouching, guns drawn. “Get off,” Fred whispered and you listened, hands up in surrender. A male cop immediately grabbed you, locking the handcuffs around your wrist. You were bent over the hood of the cop car, waiting for Fred to make his move. 

“Weasley, put your hands up and drop your weapon.” 

Fred slowly got off of his bike, hands up. He looked you dead in the eyes, saying words you had never heard him speak out loud before. “Remember, I’ve always loved you, baby. I’m not letting them take me.” 

With that, he moved his hand down to his waistband, going for his gun. Before he could get it, a shower of bullets rang out from all angles, bursting through the leather of his jacket and into his torso and head. You screamed, fighting against your cuffs as two male officers held you back. Fred Weasley had gone out the same way he had always wanted - in a blaze of glory. 

“Freddie!” You screamed echoed in the quiet desert night, staring at the blood pooling into the California sand. “Freddie!” 

Fred’s eyes were still open, blood leaking from his mouth. The light behind them was gone, his pupils only illuminated by swirls of red and blue from the sirens. You continued to scream as you were pushed, head down, into the back of a police car. 

The police officer began to read your rights. “You have the right to remain silent. Anything you say can and will be used against you in a court of law. You have the right to an attorney. If you cannot afford an attorney, one will be provided for you. Do you understand the rights I have just read to you? With these rights in mind, do you wish to speak to me?” 

“Fuck you,” you cussed, as one final send off to the man you loved. 

[loubuggins]

The Transformation

AN: Titans got me so hyped I’m writing fanfics for it now. A BBRae One-Shot set in the Titans universe. Season 2 compliment. Please reblog if you read it. Enjoy!

“Breathe. In...and then...out.” 

Gar’s shoulders slouched as he exhaled deeply from his body. The air leaving his lungs and blowing out slowly past his curved lips. His eyes stayed shut as he focused on only his chest, rising and falling. His ears concentrated on his breathing and the sound of his heart pumping his blood through his veins. The longer he listened, the louder it became until all that consumed him was the sound of his heartbeat growing faster and louder. His skin began to crawl and his fingers tingled with adrenaline. He could feel something within himself begin to stir at the sound of both its prey and its host. The image of this beast flashed in his mind's eye, but with a growl of frustration, Gar pushed the wild feline back into the depths of his consciousness.  

“Not you. Not now.” He thought to himself as he continued his concentration. The words of his mentor, Dick, played back in his head. 

“Relax your body. Calm your mind. Focus on the animal you want to be and let your body take over. Just like you do to turn into the tiger. Remember, you are only limited by your imagination.” 

His imagination. Dick made it sound so easy. He had been trying to turn into another animal for weeks now and each time he came up short. He tried a monkey, a gorilla, a rhino, a hawk, even a lion! Being another big cat may not have been a giant leap, but at least it was something besides that blasted tiger. 

“Come on powers, work with me here.” He pleaded as he began to imagine a male lion in his head. The majestic beast stretched out its large body, its muscles rippling underneath its tan pelt. The long hairs of his mane shook as the creature opened it’s mouth, revealing his sharp fangs. His claws unsheathed against the rocks, leaving deep marks in the surface. His tail whipped about and his ears curved in to listen to the call of the wild African savanna. At first it was like Gar had been looking at the lion, admiring it close, but undetected. Until the king of the jungle turned his head with a jerk and captured the gaze of the unsuspecting boy. With their eyes locked, Gar felt himself slip out of his own body and before he knew it, he began to look through the eyes of the beast. 

Something inside him bubbled up. He felt it first in his paws, then felt it rise to stomach. It built up in his gut until it rushed through his throat and in one solid stance he throw up his head and let out a -.

“Roar!” 

...

Gar blinked open his eyes and grimaced as the iridescent lights flooded his vision. Once his vision cleared, he quickly checked his body for any signs of changes, but he had no fur, no fangs, and no claws. He wasn’t even green, like he sometimes was whenever he tried to tap into his inner animal. Nope, he was just a normal teenage boy standing in a room by himself, letting out a pathetic sound that barely resembled a roar. 

“What was that?” 

Gar perked up at the sound of her voice. She tried and failed to stifle her laughter as she stepped into the room. So maybe he wasn’t alone, but that thought only made him feel more embarrassed with himself than he already was. 

“Nothing!” He answered her quickly while nervously rubbing the back of his neck. “That was...that was nothing.”

The purple-haired beauty examined him with narrow eyes and a knowing smirk. She circled him, like a predator stalking its prey, and the action made the animal within him stir once more. 

“Really? Because to me it sounded like a little kid trying to talk to the lions at the zoo.”

Her chaff would have normally made him laugh, but he was already feeling down, which made her teasing harder to handle. “Oh like you’re any better?”

He didn’t mean for his comeback to bite the way that it did and the way her smile fell made him instantly regret it. He could feel the shift in the mood and he prepared a list of apologies in his head. But to much to his surprise, the hurt on the empath’s face vanished as quick as it had come, replaced by a look of concern. She had stopped her pacing and instead approached him. He felt his mouth dry up as she neared, but he kept his body still and his eyes on her. When she finally stopped moving, she was only an inch away from him. He was forced to look down in order to maintain their eye contact. He looked like the size of a bear with her standing so close to him and he wondered how someone so small could also be so threatening.   

“No, but you are.” She replied to him in a soft, but self-assured tone. He blinked down at her as he tried to make sense of what she had said. Sensing his confusion, she rolled her eyes in typical Rachel-fashion, then elaborated for him. 

“You’ll get there, Gar. I’ve seen you do it before. You just need to focus more.”

“I am focusing!” He huffed as he pulled at his forest-green hair. “That’s the problem! When I turn into the tiger, it's easy. It feels natural, like I barely have to try.” 

The girl appeared shocked by his admission, but stayed silent as he continued on, his hands moving in the air as he spoke.

“But with the other animals, it's like I’m reaching for something that’s not even there. I can feel them, I can picture them in my mind, but it's like being trapped inside. No matter how hard I try to push, I just...I can’t get them out.” His head hung low as shame and defeat radiated off of him. The sorceress swallowed as his emotional pain filled her senses.  

“Hey, it's okay. Even if turning into a tiger is all you can do, it's still pretty bad-ass to me.” She smiled at him with one of her rare, genuine grins. Her smiles were always contagious and he found himself returning her gesture with a small smile of his own.

“Thanks, but I know I can do more. I just need to find a way to unlock the other animals. Like a...like a power up or advancing to the next level.”

Rachel’s affectionate smile fell once again and now she looked at him with a deadpan expression. “Gar, this isn’t a video game.”

The boy sighed, but nodded his head. “I know, I know. It's just a metaphor. But seriously, Mario gets his powers from mushrooms. Link gets his for the food he eats and by solving puzzles.” He held up two fingers as he began to count them off. 

“Gar.”

“Pac-Man is able to eat the ghosts by eating fruit. You know all those guys get their powers through food? Maybe there’s a certain kind of food I can eat that will help bring out a certain kind of animal?” 

“Gar!” Rachel’s outburst derailed his train of thought and he glanced back down to the girl. 

“If eating fruit helped your powers, you would have mastered them ages ago. Instead of video games, think about why it's easier to turn into one kind of animal over another. What about the tiger makes it different from the rest?” 

He was not sure where she was going with this, but she was a very smart girl, one of the smartest people he knows, so he indulge her. 

“Well like I’ve said before, tigers are my favorite kind of animal. Always has been.” He answered honestly with a shrug of his shoulders. 

“Why?” She questioned him and her question left him puzzled. 

“Why what?” He asked for clarification, wondering once again where she was going with this. She huffed in annoyance and he felt a little bad for making her frustrated, but seriously was pretty lost.  

“Why is a tiger your favorite animal? You keep saying it is, but you’ve never told me why.”

“Oh!” He exclaimed as he nodded his head in understanding, but the answer to her question was quite personal and he grew nervous as he tried to tell it. 

“Well uh, besides the fact that they look awesome, I guess I have a soft spot for them because they remind me of this stuffed toy tiger I had growing up. I called him stripes. He was my favorite toy. My mom won him for me at a carnival right before we moved to the Congo.” As he finished his story, he felt his cheeks moisten and realized he had been crying. A blush took over his face as he whipped the tears away with his bare arm. “Sorry.” He mumbled under his arm. 

“Don’t apologize. I get it. Tigers remind you of that toy and that toy reminds you of your Mom.” Rachel’s voice was soft again, almost as gentle as her touch when her hand slipped over his jaw and cradled his cheek. Her thumb rubbed small circles over his flushed skin and the simple act soothed his mind, but sent his heart flying through his chest. 

“Maybe, having that emotional connection to the animals you want to turn into will help you to unlock them? So far you’ve been focusing on the animal. Maybe instead, try focusing on why you want to be that animal.”

She waited a moment to let her words of advice sink in, before excusing herself to give him more time to think and practice. He rattled his brain as he tried to think of an animal he could link back to a memory of his. A few came to mind, but it was difficult for him to focus with her scent now lingering in the air and the feeling of her porcelain skin against his still tingling in the same spot she had touched. Even without being in the room, she was a distraction to him. 

He sighed as he gave up and allowed his mind to wander however it saw fit. He thought of her. Her newly curled hair that tempted him to twirl it between his fingers. Her new crimson chakra stone that stood out in great contrast to her snowy skin. Her enigma powers that had taken the shape of bird and looked as black as the night sky. 

“Like a raven.” He thought idly during his day dreaming. Then he joked bitterly to himself. “I haven’t tried turning into a raven yet.”

That thought took control of him and before he could stop himself, he pictured the little black bird flying in the air. Its small wings catching the wind as it flew his way. He heard the familiar caw coming from its beak and by the time he could make out its beady little eyes, he felt himself slip into the bird’s body. 

This time when he opened his eyes, he saw the room he was standing in, only from a very different angle. He was low to the ground, extremely low. Enough to where he could tap the tile floor with the tip of his coal-colored beak. And that’s when he realized with a sudden surge of excitement and glee that he had finally accomplished his goal. He stretched out his wings and looked on both his sides to admire them. Then he jumped up and down on his scrawny bird feet. Finally, in a moment of bravery and curiosity, he flapped his wings as hard and as fast as he could. He felt himself slowly lift off the floor and rose higher and higher in the room. He let out a squawk of exhilaration as he saw the distance between him and the floor grow. That was, until he thrusted his body into the ceiling and came crashing down to the floor with a loud thud. 

“Gar! Are you okay?” He heard a deep voice call out to him. It took him a minute to recover enough to lift up his head and see who was speaking to him.

“You took quite a fall there buddy. Are you alright? Can you understand me?” 

It was Dick, his mentor and his team leader. Without thinking, he nodded his little bird head and staggered back to his feet. He shook his entire body, ruffling his feathers and flapping his wings. All his pieces and parts seemed to be working still, so he nodded his head again and added a short caw to confirm. 

The boy wonder laughed now that he knew the boy wasn’t hurt. “Well then I’m proud of you. You changed into an animal that's not a tiger.” He congratulated the shapeshifter. Gar puffed up his chest with pride at the compliment.  

“But really? A raven?” The older man grinned with knowing in his eyes. This time the bird shrank and lowered its head in a form of bashfulness. 

“Don’t worry,” Dick said as he stood up off the floor where he was kneeling beside Gar, “I won’t tell her, but you might want to change back into Gar before she comes back here.” 

The man left with a laugh and Gar cawed in agreement.

[ladykailolu]

Maybe the reason why Kokichi's interested in Himiko is because she saved his life as a kid. Like fighting a intimidating monster. However she did got defeated and almost got killed, until her master saved her. Unfortunately the attack traumatized her so much that she forgot the event. Whjich why she doesn't remember him.

LANAYRU ROAD–EAST GATE: Kokichi had stumbled into the wrong territory. He thought that it’d be pretty funny to sneak up on a patrolling, armed and dangerous Lynel from behind, jump onto its back and race through the mountains as if he was riding a horse. But this Lynel wasn’t having any of it and was in a particular foul mood that day as it was starving and looking for a good meal. Kokichi hid in the bushes near a waterfall as he eyed the Lynel from afar. The black-and-white striped Lynel looked much like a zebra-lion hybrid from this distance and didn’t seem to spot Kokichi…yet. When it turned its back to patrol the road leading to Lanayru Promenade nested in the middle of a flooded valley, Kokichi knew his chance had come. He crept forward from the bushes, careful to not make even the slightest sound as the Lynel’s hearing was far superior to a human’s. His heart was racing; the Lynel was simply HUGE! It was easily three maybe even four times the size of Kokichi when standing tall, and its body showed massive defined muscles that Kokichi was sure a single back kick could knock his head clean off. Beads of sweat moistened his brow as he got closer and the Lynel looked even bigger. This was the perfect thrill, the most fun life-and-death game he’s played since, but a part of him–a very small part–questioned why he would even throw himself into danger like this. He quickly suppressed the nagging part of his brain that insisted on retreating while he still could and spare his own life because the thrill of the game had completely taken over. He was maybe four feet away from the Lynel at its back. Miraculously, it hadn’t even noticed Kokichi’s approach which emboldened the boy. Foolishly, he prided himself on his quick feet and claimed that he could outrun even a Lynel! And, boy, he was determined to prove that when he has his fun and runs away from the raging beast. Granted…he’s never actually seen a raging Lynel before…

As the Lynel had its back turned, its bloody red eyes scanning the area in front, Kokichi crept up, now within a foot of the beast’s hind legs, and seized his chance! “Alley-oop!” Deftly, he jumped as high as he could, swung his arms out to grip the beast’s hindquarters for support, successfully cleared the tail in one fluid hop, and landed squarely on the beast’s back! Immediately, the Lynel lurched and bucked, roaring feverishly and flailing about to shake the pestering flee off of its mighty and powerful body, but Kokichi wasn’t going anywhere anytime soon. He quickly grabbed two fist-fulls of the Lynel’s mane and clung onto those hairs for dear life as the ride quickly became much rougher than he had previously expected. The Lynel jerked him violently back and forth, his neck whipping this way and that at alarming speeds that he felt dizzy and nauseated in just the first few seconds; his fingers hurt from his desperate grip, and his face nearly smacked against the Lynel’s back a few times when he flew forward! Needless to say, he soon regretted his decision of horseplay with this particular Lynel.

It wasn’t long when Kokichi lost most of his strength in his young and frail arms, and he was forcefully ejected from his seat and thrown quite a few yards back, landing harshly and squarely on his back in the grassy and slightly frosty dirt. The Lynel snarled and galloped forward for a few paces, eventually gliding around and drawing its savage Lynel crusher. Its bloodthirsty red eyes locked onto Kokichi, razor-sharp fangs bared clearly and lusting to taste the boy’s young and tender flesh. Arm muscles bulging, it galloped at full speed toward the slightly trembling boy, the crusher poised above its head and ready to pulverize its target. Luckily, Kokichi had enough sense to take advantage of the sudden adrenaline rush that washed over him and swiftly rolled out of the way and dodged a very fatal blow that smashed a small crater into the dirt where he once laid upon. Unfortunately, the force of the blow alone on the surrounding area was enough to catch Kokichi and knocked him away another few yards where he tumbled into the dirty, muddy banks of a small pond. He was in trouble for certain and needed to prove to himself that he really could outrun a Lynel. As the Lynel galloped away, steered into a turn and charged at Kokichi once more, the boy made a blitz to the nearest road, keeping one eye on the Lynel as he ran away and suppressing the urge to cry. Already, his arms and legs ached with muscle strain, and he was fairly certain that he had twisted one of his ankles when he tumbled into the dirt. As the Lynel closed in and nearly smashed his head into minced meat, Kokichi came face-to-face with the one fact he tried to avoid with lies: this Lynel was going to kill him right there, right then. Still, he kept running through the bushes and followed a trail that lead between steep cliffs. There was no way he was climbing out of this one, especially as the skies overhead started to darken grey, swollen with rain.

Nearby traveling in their direction was a young apprentice mage. She was the same age as Kokichi and youthful in appearance, although she tended to drag her sluggish feet when walking. She was quite sleepy at the time too, eyes drooping and head nodding a few times before she finally perked herself up at the sight and smell of rain approaching. She looked up to the sky, sighing at the rain clouds quickly forming and hurried off on the path to find those herbs her master had sent her to fetch. She wasn’t too far from the clearing just before Lanaryu Mountain at the Eastern Road. Her master had warned her to take special care of avoiding the monstrous creature he called a “Lynel” that patrols that territory. The herbs he needed were quite a ways away from the Lyenl’s territory, so he had deemed it safe and appropriate for a young mage to take on the task. Himiko remembered her master’s past lectures of Lynels during her studies of fantastical creatures. She recalled that he explained they were “terrible, powerful, and frightening examples of evil at work. They are vicious, predatory and ultra aggressive. To face one, you had better be well-prepared.” Alas, she doesn’t remember their weaknesses or strengths because she had dozed off during that part. She trekked on, clearly feeling some splashes of water drip on her face and hands as the rain was approaching ever closer. She also heard a noise that sounded much like thunder. Was there a storm coming too? The thunderstorms in the area were always very violent and dangerous as lighting strikes the ground often and sparks wildfires. She had better show a little bit of hustle to get those herbs and return then she’ll have a nice nap later on. When she walks a bit further on the road, it sounds less like thunder and more like…roaring? Was a wild beast nearby? She had a few tomes on her person, but she wasn’t sure if her master would approve of hunting when she should be foraging. And hunting sounds like it would be so much work, so she tried to ignore it and move on. But it couldn’t be ignored. …Especially when Kokichi made a mad dash from the bushes and tackled right into her!

By now, the heavens had opened and rain drenched the sharp precipices and dampened the ground. He had knocked into her with such force that it swept her off of her feet and right onto her backpack! Ouch! She would be feeling that for a few days afterward…Kokichi was heaving by now. Time and time again, he narrowly cheated death by dodging the Lynel’s massive steel crusher, fat fireballs, and feverish charges to collide with a random girl! His legs stung and ached so vigorously that he found it hard to regain his strength to stand, let alone run away. This might very well be the end for him. Himiko was dazed at first; she was clearly not expecting to be ambushed, but when she saw the fear and exhaustion on Kokichi’s face, she was more awake and alert than ever that day. The kids shuddered when they heard a mighty roar shatter the air around them. Desperate for life, Kokichi tried to crawl across Himiko’s lap, not quite ready to give up the escape for life, as Himiko frantically searched through her bag for a tome. When she found a fire tome and started the incantation, the Lynel was nearly upon them, charging with its teeth agape and claws ready to rip them to shreds. Himiko casted a fair-sized fireball that struck the Lynel directly in the face, stunning it momentarily and buying the kids a few more seconds to cling to life. As Kokichi was exhausted from escaping earlier, he could barely run at half his normal speed, prompting Himiko to grab one of his arms and tug on him to run faster. The Lynel lurched again, charging at them head-on. Himiko launched another fireball that stunned the Lynel in its tracks, but it was right upon them, and instead of flinching, it raised its forelegs, attempting to stomp the two humans to death. The strong and tough hooves knocked Himiko’s tome out of her hands as if it was swatting a fly; Himiko quickly flinched, expecting the worst when she saw one of the legs swinging closely and ready to smack into her head. Instead, Kokichi swiftly shoved her away out of the way and braced himself for impact by raising his arms in a defensive position. The Lynel’s legs slammed into Kokichi’s raised arm, easily knocking it out of alignment and sending the boy kneeling on the wet earth, doubled over in pain and clutching his arm. It wasn’t responding and stubbornly remained limp–he knew it was broken, perhaps even shattered, but he refused to shout in pain to give the foul beast the pleasure. Instead, he furiously cried his pain, his anger, his shame, and his despair into his tears as he remained hunched over, bracing himself for the final blow.

Himiko tried to drag him away in some futile effort to escape the Lynel’s clutches, but they both knew it was too late. The monster was fully upon them; they could smell the atrocious odor of its breath that choked their lungs, stung their eyes, and nearly induced their gagging reflexes. Quickly, Himiko threw herself over Kokichi’s body and prayed to whatever god was left for their safe passage into the afterlife as she knew death was calling for them. A few seconds passed, however, and they were still alive. Still…alive? Himiko cautiously removed herself from Kokichi and looked up–the Lynel froze to that exact spot, its arms open and ready to crush them altogether into pancakes. Indeed, it stood as still as a statue and covered with a faint glowing red light. “Himiko,” She recognized that voice, “Haven’t I told you that fire tomes are virtually useless during a heavy rain storm?” She turned and saw–her master! He was wielding his usual staff which glowed in that same soft red color as the Lynel as he peered down towards her and the boy. “M-master? I-I…was so scared.” “Indeed, you were.” He cast a dismissive look upon her, as if scolding her for making a rookie mistake, before raising and tapping his staff to the ground. The glowing Lynel shrunk into a small glowing red ball of light before completely vanishing in a few flashes, back to its territory. “If you weren’t sleeping in class, you would have also known that Lynels are extremely resistance to the elements. Now, let’s get you home.” “But the herbs…! And…!” She looked toward Kokichi who was still huddled in the dirt. His wound must be killing him–she can still remember seeing him raise his arm to that Lynel in her place…and how the Lynel nearly tore right through it. He was breathing heavily, and she could hear some faint sobs from his direction. So…he was crying, after all. As her master reclaimed her backpack and cleaned up the books and other items that had spilled when she was hit, she felt heavy pressure upon her head before she blacked out entirely.

When she awoke, she was laying on an infirmary bed, safe within the village she called home. She had a few bandages on her head covering a bloody wound she had received when she fell backwards and hit her head on some small yet sharp rocks. She couldn’t remember what had happened other than she was on her way to the Lanayru Eastern Gate and suddenly blacked out. It happened to be raining at that time so maybe she slipped and hit her head on a rock? Who knows? Certainly not her as the more she thinks about the time before and after that incident, the more her head aches and tortures her until she refused to think about it at all. During her sleep, her master had thought it was best to extract that traumatic experience from her mind lest the fear of seeing that Lynel serve as a mental block for developing her magical talent. He was worried about her physical and mental well-being, after all, which had prompted him to pursue her once he felt the overwhelming presence of a Lynel nearby. As for the boy…he had vanished as mysteriously as he came. He had looked so dreadful and pitifully helpless after the Lynel was sent away. With a dislocated arm and shattered bones, there was no way he could survive in the wild by his lonesome. Therefore, Himiko’s master had invited the boy into the village at least until he recovers completely. Kokichi had agreed, but he must have slipped off somewhere when Himiko’s master turned his back. Kids these days…

In truth, Kokichi had quietly slipped away when the man had turned his back and faced the road to the village. The boy had refused help because he had trouble trusting others who weren’t his brother or the organization he leads. Those were the only people he could trust. The only…ones…With the last of his strength before he passed out, he had reached the current secret spot of DICE where his subordinates, along with his younger brother, had immediately rushed out to receive him. At some point between collapsing and hitting the dirt, Kokichi must have passed out as he doesn’t remember entering their base. They did all they can to help Kokichi recover, making him comfortable, telling jokes, sharing some soft and light pranks and whatnot–whatever that could lighten the mood. The process of restoring Kokichi‘s arm to it’s natural state was certainly not easy nor painless, but he still endured it, and after a while with the help of some healing magic, his arm was completely healed and as good as new! Still, he couldn’t forget the sight of that cute mage girl that he had protected during that scary skirmish. He would make a promise to himself to someday meet her again. Now what was her name…? Hime? Hikari…? Hi..Hi..

“…Himiko!”

[a-writers-block]

𝐈𝐧𝐝𝐢𝐚𝐧 𝐋𝐢𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞: 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐋𝐨𝐬𝐭 𝐏𝐚𝐠𝐞𝐬

[10] What’s In the Name? / The Two Versions

The lost pages were stolen.

Sharma–no–all of the authors will kill me if they realize what I just did. But hell, before that happens, the whole Indian Literature will fall down!

Damn it. I’m stuck, alone, the thief got away… can this day get any worse?

The skies grumble. A little too loud. Streaks of lightning crack the dark hues of the clouds. Gio holds still and closes his eyes as tight as he can. One thing the Indian people taught him is that prayers always win. Good God. He wasn’t always that religious but… just this once, don’t rain. Don’t rain. He muttered the words under his breath as if they were a mantra.

But the Gods really are testing him.

At that moment, Gio fell into a pit of self-doubt. He laughed humorlessly, self-doubt had become his prison for like almost half of his life. He’d been putting all his life on others’ hands. Decisions, happiness, passion… all of it seemed to be unsuited with his life. Those were never his to make.

He thought getting out of the real world would be more of a place of freedom. A world where he makes the decisions, chooses his passion and happiness. But this world seemed to be another prison for him. A little tighter than before.

He’s responsible for every life that runs through all the kingdoms. And they will all face the worse things because of him.

Gio heaves a sigh.

The heavy pour of the skies was more than enough to feed that feeling Gio has right now. I’ve always come this far and yet; I feel like a failure. Why do I always have to stay in the middle? Between the start and the ending? Is it part of the crumbling fate that I have?

Gio felt weak. At this point, giving up will always be his last resort. Let me just…. stay like this for a moment…

—

Daybreak.

The sun peeks through the tallest mountains. Gio’s damp clothes felt heavy on him. With the cold breeze, it slightly woke him up. Where am I?

Gio stands up abruptly. The rope loosens up because of the cloudburst last night. The boulder moistened that it was easy for him to come undone. Flashbacks from the night before; an old woman, a child, and a Lion.

Those nightmares stir up something inside him. He sneers.

HA! that kid will pay, big time.

As he journeys along the unknown, Gio was all for the curses in the world. Put the blame on that kid. On that old woman. In the Book. He couldn’t have been here if it wasn’t because of that stupid Book.

He grunts. What’s the point of whining? He was insulted by a kid. A kid! And his dumb pet Lion. Who in their right mind would let their kid (take note: A dang kid!) own a Lion for a pet?! Gio’s parents never wanted a dog, and a Lion is domestic in this place? What kind of sick world/time is this?

Gio stops for a second. His hand drapes on his hips and sighs. “Find that kid, find that kid, find that dang kid.” He nods to himself.

—

The kid waves the pages into the air. What’s so valuable with these papers? It’s just a bunch of writings in it? The child thought.

“Stay here, Haidar, alright?” The child caresses the Lion’s mane and watches as it groans, signifying its satisfaction of being tamed. The child chuckles.

“Hiding is hard, isn’t it?” He said out of nowhere. 

The Lion sat and rested his head on its arms. The child sighs.

He’s always like that. Without family or even human friends, talking to the Lion seemed to become his outlet. Funny how he relates himself to the lone animal. No mum or dad, or friends. It’s just there, tamed by the life he’s been living into. Hiding from people who wouldn’t give him a chance to live a normal life.

The child stands up, smiles, “I’ll see you in a bit.” He bids goodbye.

He wraps his ragged scarf over his head. The blazing heat of the sun was up. A full crowd compressed on the roads and in the corners. This is a great chance to blend in.

The child finds himself at the pavements, lurking in the shadows of Indian people. There were numbers of gold, spices, fabrics; gifts—no—taxes for the kingdom. It is that time in the kingdom where people use raw materials and services to pay their taxes. Other tax collectors were forcing poor people to pay up which the child just rolled his eyes on.

They call themselves leaders and yet never had the compassion for the common people.

The child stops on his tracks, something caught his attention. A great distance from where he stood, a cackling bunch of armors hanging on the back of a drunk merchant. It was as if those armors were calling him. One armor stood out the most, dangling under the heat of the sun; reflecting its light.

That’s my armor!

He was about to follow the merchant when all of a sudden, a hand grips on his shoulder, “Oi, kid. You thought you could run away from me?” Gio huffs.

“Let go of me--”

“Where’s my book?”

“Let go--”

“The book!”

The child looks back, the merchant wasn’t there anymore. He clenches his hand into fists. He pushes Gio.

“That was my only chance! Now I’ll never see that man again!” The child said out of frustration and then glared at Gio, “YOU!”

“What’d I do?” Gio said in confusion, “Wait… wasn’t I supposed to be mad right now?” He gave the kid an equal glare, “Where’s my damn book?”

“Like I’d give it back now… no!” The crowd seemed to be so immersed in the parade of gold that no one noticed the kid and the reader arguing.

“That was my only one chance of getting back what’s mine and you… you just blew it off, you… stupid man!” The kid tries to curse at Gio.

Gio laughs at the kid’s attempt but… what the hell, he’s just a kid, “Look, kid. You happen to have something that is mine, I’m not taking any chances of letting you out of my sight. Not after what you did to me back in the forest.” He tried prying behind the kid and somewhere else. Well, at least his pet is nowhere to be found.

Gio grips on the child’s  arm and turns to an alley. The crowd’s volume turned down a bit, “Now, give it back.” He held out his hand, his eyebrows pulling up as if waiting for the kid to do something. 

But instead, the child bit on Gio’s arm. Gio yelps. The child tries to escape.

“Bharata.”

The child stops on his tracks.

Gio shows him a piece of paper. A funny caricature of the kid’s face and a shadow of a beast (seemed to be his Lion)  plastered on, “The son of Shakuntala and King Dushyanta. But,” Gio reads the poster, “An all around thief in the city. I’ve asked around about you and I happen to find these posters around the area. They seemed to be scared of you and your Lion.” He chuckles, humorlessly, “You’re like 13 or 14? You’re lucky you’re not 18.” Gio taunts him.

In a swift move, Bharata takes the paper and hides it in his satchel. He stares at Gio for a moment, trying to figure out how he got the idea of his parents. “How do you know me? Who are you?”

Gio steps forward, “Give the book and I’ll spill.”

Bharata clutches his bag and holds it close to him and looks at Gio suspiciously, “If I don’t?” The 14-year old kid asked. There is something in his eyes that blocks him from seeing his emotions. He’s resisting.

Gio was frustrated. God, why are teenagers resisting too much? He sighs. I hope the Child Dev Course really works.

Gain his trust. What else needs to be done but to tell the truth?

“I am The Collector.”

--

“You’re a tax collector?” Bharata didn’t understand what Gio meant with being the Collector. Even if Gio tried explaining it to him.

Gio rolled his eyes for the umpteenth time, “NO.” His voice raises a little bit. Bharata glares at him. Gio mutters an apology, “I collect pages not taxes. Those two different things.”

As they walk along the roads, Gio carefully explains how things work. The pages. The Book. Everything. The child listens but is still suspicious about the unbelievable things he’s hearing. A series more of bantering and they gradually had a silent understanding that they are not really compatible to be travel buddies.

Gio suddenly held out his hand, “Now… would you mind giving those papers back?”

The kid thought for a second and after a while he shook his head no and walked past Gio.

Gio was dumbfounded.

“I’m keeping it.”

Gio chases after him, “What?”

“I mean, yes. I believe you,” Bharata air quotes “believe” which made Gio glare at the kid, “But trusting you is another story.” He finishes with a tight smile.

“How can you say that? I already told you that you are the one who put their trust in me. The Book did. You’re not the one with the decision to make.”

“Oh I’m sorry, am I holding the book right now?” Bharata raises the papers on Gio’s face, “Oh, yeah. Which technically, it’s mine.”

Gio closed his eyes and let out a low groan, “It’s not mine. It’s not yours, either. NO one owns the Book.”

“Does that mean the Book owns himself? Are you saying that this Book is somewhat alive?” The kid looks at the reader innocently.

“Kid, you’re killing me.”

“Oh, you will be dead alright. After I let Haidar eat your flesh--hold on!” The kid stopped walking. Realization hit him as fast as lightning, “Where’s my Lion?”

“What do I know? He’s your responsibility, not mine.”

Bharata shoves Gio out of his way and walks back to the crowded market.

--

Just like in the scenes from a movie, they were back again in their journey to the unknown. But this time, a wide shadow looms over them. Low growling each step Gio takes.

“Okay, that’s it.” Gio surrenders, “Why do we need the animal?”

Bharata’s eyebrows knotted, confused, “Animal?” He gave Gio a once-over. 

Gio massages his temples, “Gods, hold my patience for this kid,” He pleaded, “Just give it back already.” Gio faces the kid.

Bharata chuckles and then grins, “No.”

“Why?”

“I told you. I don’t trust you.”

How can he turn the tables around? Gio was the one who got things stolen and yet here he is begging the thief to give those pages back. But then again, Gio’s last mission is already in his reach and besides, reading the kid’s story is what he needs to do.

At least before he kills himself with Bharata’s stubbornness.

Gio sighs and gives him a tight smile and continuously nods his head, “What do you want me to do then?”

---

“It was your fault after all.” Bharata said accusingly.

“Me? It was you who stole my stuff. What does that anything have to do with this?”

“Well, for the record, it was in my reach when you distracted me. So... “ Bharata pointed to Gio, “Your fault.”

“It’s because you stole--damn it.” Gio sighs.

In exchange for the book, Bharata asked Gio to get his armor for him. They walk along the  jagged roads of the woods, having a rally of banters about the plan on getting the armor. Gio asked Bharata all sorts of stuff.

“What do you need it for  anyway?”

“You’re just 13 and you own an armor already?”

“How important is an armor to a young adult like yourself? It’s not as if you’re off to war, right?” Gio mutters more under his breath about reading Bharata’s story, “That wouldn’t happen after…”

Bharata just glared at the reader and blamed him for distracting him in the city.

“If you don’t want to do it, fine with me. Go away.” There’s a ting of offense in between in his words. 

Gio walks faster and blocks Bharata from walking away. Bharata just shoves him on the side of the road. The Lion came after Bharata and glared at Gio as if threatening him.

“Wait… Wait, I didn’t say I won’t do it.” Gio said too quickly and cleared his throat.

That stopped Bharata from walking.

—

“So, why the armor?” Gio broke the silence after a long walk of quiet and tense atmosphere.

Did he hit something with his questions? Interesting fact: Gio wasn’t a conversation-type of a person. He never talked to anyone longer than a normal person could do. It just that coming into this realm kind of pushes him to ask questions. He’s a lost cause in this place, so there’s not much of a choice but to lay down those questions. Another thing is that he's kind of careless with his words. His mouth just won’t stop talking once he talks about something funny or interesting--well, just for him.

Bharata looked at him, dismissively.

Gio’s pace slows down and watches as the kid continues walking, his Lion walking beside him.

He knew that feeling. Someone who managed to build a high wall between himself and other people. He trusts no one but himself. His teenage self suddenly flashes before him. Alone, walking on eggshells. Even his parents do not have any idea what he’s thinking about. Was he that closed minded? Teenagers are prone to isolation, he knows that. It’s that age when acceptance and belongingness are the most important thing in their world.

But… all he wanted was genuine happiness.

Something that he owns. Just him, nobody else.

...Was talking to the young adult me this heavy, mum? I couldn’t get into the big wall he built. Trust… connection? It seemed like it was impossible to reach.

Gio sighs. The sun felt warm on his face. Hues of oranges and purples splattered on the skies. Another day passed.

—

Embers float from the burning logs piled in front of Gio and Bharata. The Lion yawns as he hides his face in his arms. The warm heat and cold breeze clashes between them. Gio tries to have a conversation but the kid seems to be immersed in his thoughts and just sighs there and now.

“I’m sorry,” Gio started, “I shouldn’t have mocked you…”

Bharata stared at him, slightly startled by the sudden apology. He nodded to himself but kept himself quiet.

“Life’s tough, isn’t it?” He almost choked a small laugh, “just living by yourself and,” He pointed at Bharata’s Lion. He smiled.

Life without a mum or a dad feels incomplete. Like a mother sea turtle who digs a hole and lays her eggs and just leaves them on their own. The hatchlings would just wake up one day, out of their shells and find themselves on a dangerous quest to search the sea. Interesting fact: baby turtles are prone to danger when they are left alone on the shore. They are mostly prey of big birds. It’s like drifting off from a deep slumber to waking up in a new world.

Imagine a kid who got nothing else but himself to rely on.

Bharata took a long breath of the cold air, “It isn’t if you’re used to it.”

A beat. Gio felt relieved that Bharata started talking to him.

A long night and whole deep conversation about things that concerns the summary of their lives. Little did they know that as they share thoughts about anything else, they discovered many things that they have in common. It feels like a breath of fresh air for them that they have someone to connect with. They used to have no one but themselves. Although silence is something that is fixed in the midst of their conversation, small laughs and responses are quite bearable to keep it coming. But the funny thing, they find each other in a world that only fiction exists.

It felt real, though. Like two friends catching up with their lives at different times.

“Just like you, I also had a memento,” Gio reaches for his pen, “From my dad. When I… I used to love to write stories. This always reminds me of myself who’s passionate about the things that he loved the most.”

Gio smiles as a wave of memories flashed before his eyes. His dad was a college professor at a university in Manila. He usually stays there for a week and comes home in Laoag over the weekends. He’s never been close to him but Gio got the inspiration of becoming a published writer someday.

His dad would pick him up on summer days and go for a writing summer class. His dad is one of the mentors and Gio would sit by the corner and watch his dad do his job. Aside from being a college prof, his dad loves to write. He made stories when he was a kid and told them over and over again. Those small details made his childhood awesome.

But he couldn’t live that life forever. He has to face other things in life. So does his parents.

“The only difference is… even when he or mum  sees this or what? They’d never know how those things mean so much to me.”

The blame game. Gio never knew why his parents were so against him for his passion. Gio was an idealistic kid ever since. He is more concerned with his emotions than anything in the world. But his parents are up for practicality. It feels like they don’t trust his instincts and decisions in life. That really pissed him off.

Gio brushes off the thoughts in his head.

“Except that they do.” Bharata says, “The whispers that guided me here told me that my mother and my father are waiting for me. They were hoping that I am still here, waiting for them to come. See, my dad doesn't actually know how I look now… but he’s still trying to look for me.”

Gio was silent, unable to come up with an argument. How can a child seem to know more than him of the things that clearly were already there but he just kept making excuses? Irony is that he felt small sitting beside a child.

“By the way, while I was searching for you in the city, I heard rumors that the king wasn’t home. His mentors should’ve been keeping it a secret, though,” Gio says, diverting Bharata’s attention, “You think he’s somewhere far? Looking for… you?” He said looking at the kid through his peripheral vision.

For the first time, the expressions in Bharata’s face are transparent.

A glint of hope dipped into his eyes, “I hope so…”

--

For days, they traveled far and somewhat formed an unlikely friendship where they constantly bantered around and then were nice seconds after. It’s funny how time wasn’t much of needed for them to have that kind of friendship. Little by little, Gio earns the trust of the child. But never did with the Lion (This is why your mother never gave you a dog. You’re somewhat an animal repellent. Bharata would tease him).

They’ve searched all the corners of the markets where clothes and armors are being sold. They’ve asked most of them if they have seen any armors that Bharata gave description to. Some of them recognized him in posters and shooed them off instantly. He tried to control himself from using his strength to hurt them thanks to Gio who had his grip on the child’s shoulders (Sheez, you boy needs a leash. Gio’s eyes dilated and almost laughed at the child’s attempt of self-control).

Finally, at the very end of the market in between the entrance to the palace and the rural life, Bharata recognized the face of the merchant who had his armor. But as they negotiate, the merchant’s demands are getting to Bharata’s nerves.

“Kid, let me do the talking.” Gio finally said when Bharata raised his fist. The loud argument between the merchant and Bharata caught a little attention from the crowd. 

“I told you, this kavach has been blessed by God, Vishnu. And nothing can ever weigh the price on it. I’m not selling it.”

“Sir, I believe the armor is a lost item and it already has an owner. This,” Gio shows Bharata’s frame behind him, “is its owner. What you’re doing right now can be considered as stealing.”

The wicked grin on the merchant’s lips tells Gio that he’s still resisting. Gio licks his bottom lip. Geezers.

“Compensate it then. How much have you got there, boy? I’d be out of business without this armor. See, this is my lucky charm in this business.”

Baharata glares at the old man. Gio holds him back that makes Bharata’s attention land on him.

Gio thought for a second and then sighs. He pulls out something out of his satchel.

--

They got the kavach in exchange for the pen Gio’s dad gave to him. The pen was actually considered antique which is considered as valuable. The merchant stared at it in awe and not even a single second that he gave up the kavach. The greedy old man seemed to be more of his love for money than anything else of the world that he went running to a curator after for appraisal.

“Why did you do that?” Bharata never understands those kinds of actions. The pen held a sentimental value for Gio and he gave that up for his material? He tried complaining and stopping Gio from giving it but Gio seemed to be the guy with nothing to risk. As if… Bharata’s life is more important than his feelings.

“I’m more on the affection than material things.” A sad smile rested on Gio’s face,“ And maybe the pen won’t be of help for me to understand my folks.” He assured him.

“B-But…”

“Don’t worry about it. Just think of what we do next,” He brushes of the concern in the child’s eyes. This is no time for a pity party. Searching for his dad should be the focus of the child not his pen, “Your father must be somewhere around pretty much anywhere... “ Gio fell into his thoughts. A contracted line drawn on his forehead.

The kid quietly sat down with his armor on his lap. Weirdly enough, the whispers seemed to abandon his head.  Was it him? Gio? Whom the whispers predicted to come to my aid? Does that mean he is really someone whom I need to put my trust on?

Meanwhile, Gio was still in his wave of thoughts.

Shakuntala fell in love with the King… Cursed by the gods… lost the ring in exchange of the King’s memories...bore King Dushyanta’s child… and then… Finds Bharata in the forest where Shakuntala lived…?

Then what was the armor needed for?

“Hey.” Bharata broke Gio’s line of thoughts.

In a quick response, Gio asks, “What is it?”

His eyes went down to the papers on the child’s hand. Bharata finally came to his decision to fully entrust Gio his ending.

“You can have it back.” He shoves the paper after Gio stares at it in disbelief.

Gio puts on a smile then ruffles the kid’s hair, “Thanks.”

A beat. “So where do you think my parents are?” Bhara asked.

“I’m not quite sure. I know the sequence of your story but…” Gio looked at the armor, “I have no clue about the armor.” Gio tries to wave the papers off but he can only think of nothing.

“The voices in my head told me the armor would determine who my parents are. I know for a fact that Shakuntala and King Dushyanta are my parents though…”

Determine? Could it be…?

“Can I take a look at your armor?” Bharata offered his armor and let Gio search for something.

An object of what the character truly desires… Family.

The words reflect with the blazing sun. It was then Gio realized something about the story of Shakuntala. There were two versions of its ending.

There is yet another version of this story. It goes on to narrate how Menaka took Shakuntala back to Heaven when Dushyanta refused to accept her as his wife. Shakuntala stayed there till she gave birth to Bharata. And that King Dushyanta waged a war against the Devas where he won and as a reward, he was reunited with his wife and son.

He saw a vision of Bharata who was wise and bold and when his armor fell off, the Devas told him only his parents could put them back on. The King did successfully as told to him. Afterwards, they got reunited in Heaven and eventually went back to Earth to rule for many years and more.

The second version is the one that's been written in the Book all along!

“We need to go back [to the forest.]” Gio held out a hand before Bharata and smiled, assuring him of a happy ending.

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