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patt-writes-stuff · 3 years

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Violetgrass (Xiao x f!reader)

Pairing: Yan!Xiao x f!reader

Word count: 6.7K+

Warnings: not the most canon complaint cuz the timeline for the archon War is a little blurry? Angst with no happy ending, major and repeated character death, semi-detailed descriptions of blood, injuries, and violence. Unhealthy and toxic relationships, yandere themes, mentions of stalking, controlling behavior, mentions of kid-napping, forced captivity. Unhealthy mindsets and generally xiao’s kinda slowly losing his sanity. Some delusions. Allusions of starvation/dehydration (it’s like one sentence). Pleas do not read this if any of the previously mentioned topics trigger you in any way.

Genre: Angst and Yandere

Tags/Aus: Mythology Au, Reincarnation Au

Summary: You and Xiao were lovers during the Archon War. You were his paradise, his bliss, and, unfortunately, a fragile mortal who was taken away far too soon. However Celestina was kind enough, or perhaps cruel enough, to bring you back to Xiao, only to rip you out of his loving embrace once more. This happens again and again, each time far more painfully than the last. Even an Adeptus such as Xiao can only take so much before he snaps though. This time, he’s gonna make sure that no one, not even you, can take his bliss away.

A/N: This is my piece for the Attack on Academia Mythology Au Collab!! Be sure to check the rest of them, they’re all super awesome and made by amazing writers!

You’ve heard the myth about the Vigilant Yaksha and the violetgrass maiden, haven’t you?

It’s said that the two are eternally intertwined, destined to love each other, only to be ripped apart by both her mortality and the cruelty of the gods. The tale itself goes like this…

The first time the Adeptus and his mortal lover met was back when the Archon War was still roaring. The smell of blood and misery filled the air and Rex Lapis had yet to claim his title as the Geo Archon. Despite this, some managed to find joy and serenity in these troubling periods.

The maiden was one of those people. She found joy in frolicking through the fields and climbing the highest mountains to collect qingxin flowers and, her personal favorite, violetgrass, whenever she had the time. Though climbing up the steep mountains and jagged peaks of Liyue was indeed dangerous, the damsel had become quite skilled at climbing, her hold rarely ever slipping, no falls or cuts of any sort.

Until one day, the maiden was climbing up a particular mountain. It was a troublesome one, for there were no proper footholds or protruding stones to grab on to. Still, the pretty violetgrass that was just a foot or two away from her, swaying gently with the wind, was far too tempting to not collect. It would look so lovely in a flower crown, or maybe a vase, perhaps she could flatten it out to make a bookmark or-

A piercing shriek escaped the mortal. Whilst her thoughts had been elsewhere, she’d stopped on a small ledge that was far too fragile to support her weight, the rock beneath the maiden gave away to nothing before she could react.

She shut their eyes tightly, bracing herself for an impact that would surely leave her battered and bruised, if not dead.

However, it never came.

Instead, she was caught mid-air by a pair of strong arms that secured their hold under the mortal woman’s knees and neck. She didn’t open her eyes right away, for fear that she would still fall, choosing instead to catch their breath. Once her savior landed safely on the ground, something she was able to detect due to the thud of shoes against the earth, she slowly opened her eyes.

Upon opening them, her eyes met with the piercing amber eyes of a young man with dark hair (the color of the ocean at night, she thought dreamily) with pretty teal bangs framing his even prettier face. His brows were furrowed slightly, thin lips twisted into what seemed to be a permanent frown. In her still dazed state, she couldn’t help but think that he was far too handsome to look so dreadfully serious.

After an intense moment of eye contact, perhaps too intense for two strangers that had met only seconds prior, he let her go in a rather unceremonious manner, causing her to squawk in surprise, knees buckling under the unexpected weight. She had not yet had a chance to gather her bearings after such a terrifying event.

Instead of asking if she was alright, the young man simply said, in a rather crude and callous manner, “You should be more careful, mortal. If I hadn’t been there to catch you, you would’ve surely broken your neck.”

She gawked at him. Mortal? Why would he refer to her in such an… odd way?

The maiden looked at him up and down, as if trying to understand just what was wrong with this poor man. Suddenly, it struck her. She’d been an absolute idiot to not have noticed sooner. From the tattoo that adorned his right arm to the way he held himself, it had been so obvious.

Her savior was an Adeptus.

He wasn’t just an Adeptus, no. He was much more than that. He was one of the Adepti who served under Rex Lapis. He was one of the five Yakshas who kept her and the people of Liyue safe if the mask tied to his belt was any indication. And instead of killing demons or evil gods, he’d taken the time to save her.

Before she could muster an adequate thank you, he, who she’d now realized was Adeptus Xiao, was already leaving, uttering a quick “Please be careful,” on his way.

Quickly, and without really thinking, she grabbed onto his wrist, blabbering out the words, “Wait, don’t go! You must allow me to repay you for your generous actions!”

The amber-eyed Adeptus opened his mouth, ready to declare that it was unnecessary, but before he could, the damsel spoke up, “I could cook you something in return. How about almond tofu?” with a small giggle she added, “I assure you it’s sweeter than those dreams you eat.”

To both of their surprises, Xiao uttered a quiet, almost shy, “Yes.”

The Adeptus didn’t know what had come over him. All he knew is that there was something about the way her eyes sparkled and her lips moved, her soothing, melodious voice. It made his heart pound in a way it never had before.

And so, she cooked him some almond tofu, and they- well, she- talked as he ate the mouthwatering sweet.

He came back the day after that one and the one after that, followed on by the one after that, and so on. Xiao hadn’t meant to, really he hadn’t. But there was something about the maiden that just brought him a peace he had never experienced before. Her warm embrace and soft, gentle words were all he needed to keep fighting, to keep living, even. She was his paradise, his bliss. It wasn’t long until they were mutually infatuated with one another, deeply in love.

Every time he would visit her home, he would always bring her the flowers she so adored. Glaze lilies, silk flowers, and of course, violetgrass. Xiao had even gifted her a small broach, one made of the finest noctilucous jade, shaped like the downturned purple flower.

Unfortunately, everything is temporary for those punished with immortality.

The first time Xiao lost his maiden was, as he remembers, a rainy day. Despite the dreary weather, she had decided to go violetgrass picking since they’re always best picked after the rain.

But, dear Archons, what a dreadful idea that had been.

While the purple flower is indeed best picked after it rains, it is also the time when rocks are most… slippery.

So, as the maiden was climbing up the steep mountains of Juyen Karst, her right hand’s hold on the rock slipped, causing her palm to be cut open by a particularly jagged piece of stone. She hissed in, watching as blood began to ooze out. Panic started to seep in, there was no ledge for her to tend to her wound, and the cut was far too big for her to continue to climb up or down.

Dread began to fill her to her very core, she felt burning hot with unchecked anxiety, fear begging to settle into her gut in the most uncomfortable of manners. She should have waited for Xiao as he had asked of her. Ever since they had first met, a year ago to the day, he’d been so adamant on wanting to go with her to ensure her safety. She’d only wanted to surprise him with some when he returned home. The maiden was so sure it would’ve been a romantic anniversary gift, seeing as they were the cause of their meeting…

She’d been such a fool.

The violetgrass maiden attempted to climb down but Celestia seemed to laugh at her feeble attempts. She stretched her leg, trying to find the foothold she had used previously. However, her foot slipped and before she knew it, she was falling, just as she had been a year ago.

Horror filled her lungs, making it hard for her to breathe, her life flashed before her eyes, and then suddenly she remembered some words her lover had uttered to her one night under the glow of the moonlight when it was but the two of them in each other’s arms:

“If you awake to a knife at your throat, if monsters dig their claws into you, if death comes knocking at your door, call out my name, Adeptus Xiao. I will be here when you call.”

And so she called, at the top of her lungs, as loud as she could muster. The seconds seemed to turn to hours as she shut her eyes and waited to feel the strong arms of her lover, to hear the safety of his heartbeat.

But it never came.

Or rather, it came too late.

By the time Xiao had finished up the demonic creatures that threatening Liyue, by the time he’d answered her call, he was already too late.

Upon manifesting in the air out of nothing, he was greeted by the side of his love’s pitiful, mortal body. Her garments were bloody, the basket she carried her flowers in laid a few feet away from her body,her neck bent in a painfully awkward way.

Xiao felt so helpless. He was so helpless.

He could do no more than hold back the tears stinging his eyes and attempting to shake her awake.

The second time Xiao met the maiden was no more than a century after the first time. The Archon War was not yet over and sickness plagued every nook and cranny, taking the lives of hundreds upon thousands.

The two star-crossed lovers were reunited one clear summer night when the maiden was wandering aimlessly through the fields of Lingju Pass. She knew it was dangerous during these times, especially with how ill she had been feeling as of late. Yet, she couldn’t bring herself to care. She’d already spent hours tossing and turning in her bed. Sleep, however, refused to come. Instead, she felt the overwhelming urge to leave the safety of her bed and go there. It was as if someone had tied a rope around her waist and was tugging at it persistently, insisting she follows.

And so she followed.

Upon reaching a clearing, she froze. In front of her very eyes was a sitting Stonehide Lawachurl, the type even the fiercest warriors in your village struggled with. The maiden quickly started backing away, praying to the Lord of Geo that it wouldn’t sense her presence. Her prayers were in vain, however, for as soon as the thought escaped her, she stepped on a twig, making it snap and effectively alerting the fearsome monster of her presence.

She shook in terror as parts of the Lawachurl’s rocky exterior began to glow with geo elemental energy. She hadn’t expected anything of the sort to happen so she hadn’t brought her sword, meaning she couldn’t exactly fight it, definitely not without a vision at least. Running wasn’t much of an option considering her body’s weak and ill state. She could try to outrun it, sure, but it wouldn’t be long before she was driven to a coughing fit because of it.

Before life had a chance to flash before her eyes, a masked young man appeared. Distantly, she recognized him as one of the adepti and watched him easily defeat the Stonehide Lawachurl with a series of short, consecutive plunges. She couldn’t help but watch him, mouth agape in an expression of pure, unadulterated awe. The Adeptus didn’t even need a claymore to break through the creature’s thick, hard exterior. As bad as she felt for not assisting him, she knew she weren’t exactly in any position to lend a hand. Not that she needed to, though, for soon enough the monster crumbled into nothing but red and black smoke.

After a second of panting over the remains of what was left of the creature, polearm in hand, Xiao turned to her and felt his blood run cold.

It was her.

How could it be her? She had died long ago. He knew she had, he’d cradled her cold body as tears streamed down his face. He’d taken her lifeless body back to her family. He’d left flowers at her grave.

This had to be some sort of sick joke, he thought, perhaps the karmic debt was finally getting to him, just like it had his fellow Yakshas.

Suddenly, his amber eyes zeroed in on a broach she had pinned to her dress. A Violetgrass broach, to be exact. Made of noctilucous jade, just like the one he had given her. The one he’d made for her with his own hands. There was no denying it was the very one. Only, how could that be? He had ensured it had been buried with you…

But it was an indisputable fact. That broach was the one he had made for his love and the woman before him was her. It was her from her wide eyes, fixated on him with the same wonder they had always had when they looked at him. Her hair was the same color and texture, and it framed her face in the same way. It was her.

The beginnings of tears stung at his eyes. Perhaps Celestia had brought you back? Perhaps they’d finally realized, just as he had always known, that her death was cruel and unfair. That it wasn’t meant to be. That she was meant to be in his arms, happy and safe.

“Uhm- excuse me, Adeptus Xiao, are you alright?” She inquired worriedly, eyes solely on him, filled to the brim with concern.

‘Oh Archons’, he couldn’t help but think distantly, ‘I’ve missed her voice.’

Instead of running up to her and crushing him in his loving embrace, he stayed where he was, took off his mask, nodded briskly, swallowing as if to avoid the tightness in his throat. She didn’t seem to remember him yet, so there was no use in frightening her.

Before he could muster up the courage to speak to her, his love began to cough furiously, though she attempted to cover it up. She didn’t want to be rude to her savior, after all.

“Ha, pardon me, sir, I’ve just been feeling a bit under the weather is all,” she told him feebly.

He nodded brusquely, before uttering, “I shall return you home safely.”

“Oh no, I assure you, you’ve done more than enough for me. I can’t ask that of you,” she fumbled hurriedly, though his words were more of a statement than a question.

Xiao had never been one for unnecessary- or at least what he thought were unnecessary- words, so instead of saying anything, the Adeptus simply grabbed her by the waist and teleported you home, after asking where home was, of course.

The next day, the Yaksha visited the maiden’s home, a bushel of violetgrass flowers in hand. She’d been understandably surprised, yet thrilled that the dark-haired man was visiting her. She hadn’t expected someone as busy as him to make time for a regular person such as herself, especially not during these times.

“These are my favorite flowers, y’know? They’re just so beautiful,” the maiden exclaimed gleefully.

He did know. That had been one of the reasons he had brought them to her. The second reason was because of what happened last time, in her previous life, he supposed. Celestia had been kind enough to gift him a second chance with his love, and he was going to ensure that it did not go to waste.

And so, every day he would visit her. Some days he would bring silk flowers, or glaze lilies, while other days he would bring her loach pearls and core lapis. Not a day went by where he would not appear in front of the damsel’s house, a gift in hand, ready to hear her ramble about whatever that beautiful brain of hers desired to prattle on about.

“You’re simply too generous Xiao,” she’d told him playfully while she laid in her bed, as she was still unwell, the Adeptus seated in a plush chair next to it. “There has to be something I can give you in return for everything. I won’t take no for an answer.”

He thought for a moment, before asking, tentatively, “Do you know how to make almond tofu?”

He’d never forget her dazzling smile that day, as she shakily got out of her bed, latching onto the support he offered while she gathered her bearings, and marched to her kitchen, enthusiastically preparing the sweet treat as she talked about a book she’d been reading, one that’d been gifted to her by a friend, titled Moonlit Bamboo Forest.

The lovers did this every day for months. Xiao brought her some medicinal tea that Rex Lapis himself said could cure her ailments. They did indeed begin to see improvement in her health and Xiao couldn’t help but feel immense relief. This time, he wouldn’t lose her for certain.

Until the plagues reached her village.

She’d been one of the first to catch it since the village doctor came to check on her so often, he’d spread it to her. The plague, coupled with her previous illness, weakened her body in a manner of days. One day, Xiao went to get some medicine his fellow adepti had guaranteed would help the maiden feel better.

When he returned later that day, however, he found her body in the bed, cold and without a pulse, the stench of death and sickness thick in the air.

That was the second time he had lost her.

The third time the star-crossed lovers met was long after the archon war. Liyue was now its own nation with its own name, the great center of wealth and commerce. The Yakshas were now a thing of the past, having succumbed to their karmic debt. Eventually, they all fell in one way or another.

All but Xiao, who remained a constant throughout it all.

Over the past decade or so, Xiao had taken to staying at the Wangshu Inn when he wasn’t slaying monsters. The people were nice enough, though he had long given up on attempting to form emotional connections with others. It would only lead to grief, just like it had when he’d lost his love or his fellow Yakshas, and there was only so much grief anyone, mortal or not, could take before their thread of sanity snapped in half. And with his Karmic Debt being as bad as it was…

As Xiao sat at the edge of the balcony of the Wangshu Inn, legs dangling below, he couldn’t help but think of her, his maiden. He wondered if, perhaps, Celestia would give him a third chance and bring her back to him. Honestly, the Adeptus wasn’t sure he wanted a third chance with her. While he did miss the sound of her heartbeat and the sweet words she’d utter to him and only him, he doubted he could bear the pain of having her ripped away from him once again.

It’s as if Celestia was taunting Xiao. As if the Archons above were bored and found some sick amusement in his pain as if his emotions were nothing but a game to them. What other explanations were there for what happened next?

“Um- excuse me, do you mind if I sit here?” An angelic voice he knew far too well, missed far too much, spoke.

Xiao looked up and lo and behold, it was her. Same hair, same eyes, same violetgrass broach.

She stood behind him clutching a plate of something, though the angle wouldn’t allow him to make up what it was. Her face adorned that same anxious smile of hers and he could feel himself falling in love with the maiden all over again. He knew he should say no. He shouldn’t allow her back in, not when he’s already lost her so many times before, not when they’d both suffered so much just by being together.

He nodded before looking away.

He shouldn’t but he would.

“I hope you don’t mind me intruding on your quiet time,” she said softly once she had settled beside him. When he made no indication of answering, she continued, “To be honest, you just seemed so… sad, melancholic even. Something about it, even if I don’t really know you, doesn’t sit right with me. It makes my heart feel heavy.”

The violetgrass maiden received no response, except for a soft grunt of acknowledgment, so small she wasn’t sure she hadn’t imagined it. Still, it was all she needed to perk up and stretch her arms out, offering him the plate she’d been holding.

“Here, I got this for you,” she told him, “word around the streets is you’ve got quite an appetite for it! Though this is my first time staying at the Inn, so I’m not sure if it’s any good here.”

Xiao looked at her, amber eyes filled with love. He was glad to know that, despite living through many lives now, she was still the girl he’d met back then, as sweet as he’d remembered her, just as caring.

He shouldn’t have but he took the plate from her hands and began to eat.

Instead of saying anything, she simply watched him as he ate, a silly little smile making its way to her face. The look on his lady’s face had him growing hot and turning beet red

“So,” he coughed out, embarrassed, “where’d you get a broach like that?”

“Oh, this one?” She inquired, pointing at the shiny violetgrass broach, “I found it lying on the ground one day when I was out picking lotus heads for dinner. I asked just about everyone in Liyue Harbor if it was theirs, but no luck. I eventually decided to just keep it for myself. It is a shame though, whoever lost it must truly be upset over losing such a beautiful piece of jewelry. I’ve never seen anything quite like it.”

He nodded along, thinking that, well, the broach actually was with its owner.

“It’s as if it were fate though,” she prattled on happily, watching the stars as she talked, “Violeygrass is my very favorite, always has been really. Though, I’ve always been too scared to climb up for them myself. You see, ever since I was little, I’ve had this recurring nightmare where I fell to my death while collecting some.”

The Adeptus stilled for a second, tense. She hadn’t ever brought up dreams about her past life. Maybe this time was different, maybe she’d remember what he did!

“Oh my Archons,” she exclaimed, face warm with embarrassment, scratching the back of her head sheepishly, “I’ve been going on and on! I’m so sorry, something about you feels so familiar. It makes me feel like I can tell you just about everything. Is that weird?”

His heart was racing like it hadn’t in years, decades even.

“You can tell me whatever you want,” he answered shortly, “I don’t mind listening. You have a nice voice.”

The maiden covered her hands with her face, flustered, and Xiao let out a rare smile, soft and gentle. This time would be different. He’d make sure of it.

After that day, the maiden began to visit the Wangshu Inn often, whenever she could spare time away from her job. Unbeknownst to her, however, Xiao followed at a distance when she wasn’t visiting him, to ensure her safety. He knew it wasn’t right, truly, but he had no other choice. He had to, or else he’d risk losing her to an accident such as last time, fall ill again, attacked by monsters or, Celestia forbid, be kidnapped by a group of treasure hoarders.

He’d have to get rid of any and all threats.

So, Xiao continued to follow his maiden from a distance, he made sure she was in tip-top shape, and ruthlessly slaughtering all enemies that he deemed a threat to her, until he was certain nothing would take her away from him again.

Except for one threat. Himself.

The third time he’d lost her was on a beautiful night, not that Xiao could remember it well. His love had insisted on the two of them taking a walk. She’d reasoned that the cool night air would help him regain control. His karmic debt had been weighing on him an awful lot recently and she simply couldn’t bear to see him in such excruciating pain.

The walk had started off rather pleasantly, as far as Xiao could remember. He could remember nudging his hand against hers, wanting to hold it but being far too shy to do so. With a laugh and a teasing remark, the maiden interlaced their fingers, bringing up their hands to place a gentle kiss on his, making the tips of his ears redden in bashfulness. They’d walked a little further until they encountered a group of hilichurls accompanied by a pyro abyss mage. Without skipping a beat, Xiao stepped in front of his lover, polearm appearing in his hand.

And then…

Everything went dark. Xiao’s mind was nothing but a void, pain exploded in every inch of his body as his karmic debt returned in full force to punish him for the slaughtering he’d committed.

When he came to, his mind was hazy, unsure of what had occurred. The Yaksha sat up, ignoring the way his muscles protested against it, and looked around, trying to make sense of what had happened and where he was.

Xiao froze when his eyes locked onto her pitiful body laying a few feet ahead of him in the grass surrounded by arrowheads and broken hilichurl masks, blood turning ice-cold. If he ignored the gashes across her body, the ones that were unmistakably made by the bloody spear he was clutching and not some hilichurl club or bow and arrow, and the blood that stained her pretty garments, he could almost fool himself into thinking she was asleep.

This had been his doing.

After a few beats of stunned silence, the dark-haired Adeptus lurched forward grabbing onto her cold body and shaking ruthlessly, calling out her name frantically, as if it would make his love wake up, make her cradle his face lovingly and ask why he’d been crying.

Xiao looked up onto the sky scornfully, looking up at Celestia with nothing short of pure, unadulterated loathing. He was willing to bet they were all mocking him right now, laughing at how weak and pathetic he was, at how time after time, he’d failed to love her enough, to keep her alive. They did this on purpose he was sure of it, those bastards. Well, if they could play dirty like this, so could he. He’d get her back, he’d keep her alive by his side.

And just like that, Xiao’s thread of sanity snapped.

“You can’t take her away from me anymore,” he spoke to the sky nonsensically, “I won’t let you. I don’t care what I have to do, who I have to kill, you won’t take my bliss away from me again.”

“That story was quite depressing,” Chongyun stated, ceasing his footsteps to look to his friend, Xingqiu.

“Ah yes, it is indeed, my liege,” the navy blue-haired gentleman agreed, “However, I’m glad this book included the whole myth, instead of making me wait for the next volume like the last one.”

The light blue-haired boy rolled his eyes before saying, “As much as I appreciated you reading the book aloud, I don’t see how this aids us in our search for (Y/N).”

The reason the boys had been searching across all of Liyue, was because their aforementioned friend had mysteriously gone missing. Everything had been as it normally was until one day, (Y/N) didn’t show up at her job in the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor, something that was incredibly unusual of her, especially without a warning to her boss or coworkers. This led Hu Tao, with the insistence of Zhongli, to ask Chongyun and Xingqiu, two of (Y/N)’s friends, for help in the search for her. They had also contacted the milelith, but they had told them that she’d not been missing for long enough to warrant a search party. The two had, of course, been quick to help, though Xingqiu had been rather enraptured in a book of Liyue Myths, simply insisting he’d have to take it with him so he could read while he searched for her.

“But my liege,” Xingqiu exclaimed playfully, golden eyes shining with mirth, “this story is of utmost importance in our search for our beloved friend. Why, for all we know, (Y/N) might’ve been kidnapped by the Vigilant Yaksha himself! She has always had a habit of climbing mountains to pick violetgrass like the maiden in the book”

“Do not be so ridiculous,” Chongyun said, rolling his eyes, “I doubt an Adeptus such as himself would ever commit such an atrocity of that degree against a citizen of Liyue. Besides, that myth is incredibly old and there’s very little evidence that proves its validity. It’s more likely that (Y/N) was taken by a demon. That is why I asked you to accompany me to Wuwang Hill.”

“I was simply joking Chongyun,” he said with a laugh before turning solemn, “However, regretfully I feel as though it is time for the two of us to return to Liyue Harbor for the day. You’ve just about run out of popsicles and with this heat, I have no doubt you’ll overheat if we keep going.”

“I’m afraid you’re right,” The blue-eyed boy admitted. “I hope (Y/N) is alright wherever she is.”

“I do as well,” Xingqiu agreed, “Perhaps Hu Tao and Zhongli have had more luck.”

Chongyun nodded, “Xiangling also said she’d ask her customers if they’d seen her.”

With that, the two boys made their way back to Lihue Harbor, oblivious to just how true Xingqiu’s joke had been.

Xiao sighed as he climbed up the stairs of Wangshu Inn up to his room. Of course, he did not need sleep, it was a mortal need in and of itself, or a room for that matter but Verr Goldet had insisted that he should have his own space, somewhere he could rest after long days of slaughtering demons such as this one.

The Adeptus turned the door handle, opening the door of an empty, pristine room. While the room had all of the furniture the other Inn rooms had, it still felt unnervingly empty, without any clothes or trinkets laying around. The only personal object of Xiao’s in the room was an orange teapot that rested on the nightstand.

Quickly, Xiao opened the tea pot’s lid, and within seconds he was standing in front of a Liyue style mansion, surrounded by mountains that he crafted to look like the ones from when the two of you had met all those centuries ago. Eager to see you, Xiao ignored Tubby’s greetings and opened the front door, making quick work of taking off his shoes before climbing the stairs to the second floor, where your room was.

He opened the door to find you sat atop your bed, alert and glaring at him fiercely. The Adeptus rolled his amber eyes, it seemed you were still trying to act out and be defiant. Looking around your room, mostly to make sure you hadn’t tried to smash the windows with the desk chair like last time (you seemed to not comprehend the fact that there was no escaping the serenetea pot, since it was a world Xiao himself had created), his eyes settled on the plate of bamboo shoot soup he’d left for you this morning, along with a still filled to the brim cup of water. He narrowed his eyes at that. It simply wouldn’t do. You’d been here for about a week now and you still refused to eat or drink anything he brought you, except for a few nibbles and sips he’d managed to threaten coax out of you. Xiao, admittedly, didn’t know very much about humans, but he did know they needed to eat and drink to stay alive. He’d learned that the hard way on his last few tries.

“Why aren’t you eating?” Xiao inquired before adding, “If you don’t like this food you should come out and say it. I can ask Smiley Yanxiao for something that suits your taste more.”

You let out a poorly suppressed scoff. This nut-job didn’t seem to get that out of all the things wrong in this situation, the last thing you were concerned about was the food. Dear Archons, just what is wrong with this man? First, he had the gall of taking you captive one evening when you were going home from work and now he had the audacity to expect you to act like a complacent little toy and go along with this insanity?

And to think that when you’d first met him whilst accompanying the Traveler and Paimon, who had been commissioned by Director Hu Tao to gather some cor lapis for a client’s ceremony, you’d been absolutely smitten with the awkward and stoic Adeptus. Everything from his pretty black hair to his captivating bright eyes had your knees weak. So much so that you’d ignored all of the red flags, like how he’d stare at you in such an intense manner, with eyes fixated on you and only you, how he seemed to distrust Aether, a trusted friend of his, when it came to him accompanying you, or how as soon as you’d met you had the horrible sensation of being watched at all times of the day. Just thinking back to all the warning signs you’d missed made your skin crawl. Perhaps if you hadn’t been such a lovesick idiot you’d be at home right now or eating dinner with Chongyun and Xingqiu, trying out one of Xianglings crazy concoctions containing slime condensate or whopper flower nectar.

Instead, you were trapped in an artificial world, in a room that looked horrifyingly similar to your own back home.

You were snapped out of your reverie by Xiao moving closer to your bed.

“Let me go home,” you said, hating how your voice cracked at the end. You felt so pathetic, you always prided yourself on being a headstrong independent person, and here you were, cowering at his closeness and avoiding all eye contact, as if looking at his pain filled eyes would ruin you.

“You are home,” he retorted, his voice bordering on delusion, “This is your home. This is where you're safe. Where you stay alive and I get to keep you forever.”

Xiao stretched out his arm, as if to cradle your cheek in his hand but before he got to you flinched away, backing away from him as far as you could, back hitting the headboard. You looked away, trying to ignore how guilty the pain that flashed through his eyes made you feel. You shouldn’t be the one feeling guilty. He should be. He’s the one that stole you away from your home. He’s the one that ruined your life.

You look down at the violetgrass broach clasped onto your blouse in nothing short of complete and utter loathing. You’d been so captivated by it when you’d first found it at the antique shop while window shopping with Mr. Zhongli.

It had been exactly six months since you’d moved away from your home in the sleepy Qingce Village in exchange for a job at the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor and a quaint apparently in the bustling city of Liyue Harbor. To celebrate, your coworker (and the person you had been shadowing in order to learn the ropes of the funeral business) Mr. Zhongli had insisted on going to Third-Round Knockout for some dinner. You’d been a bit hesitant at first, mostly because you knew well of the elegant gentleman’s habit of forgetting his wallet, but you enjoyed hearing his stories far too much to say no. Something about his retellings of stories about the Adepti just enraptured you.

Afterward, the two of you had decided to walk around the city and look at the displays in shops, since you had decided that your hard work warranted splurging a little as a reward of sorts. You had of course asked Mr. Zhongli to join you since he had such exquisite taste and an eye for the authentic, you valued his opinion greatly.

That’s how the two of you ended up at Xigu Antiques, browsing the display case. All of a sudden, your eyes zeroed in on a broach that resembles a little violetgrass plant, its downturned leaves made up of what you could only guess was noctilucous jade. It was, for lack of a better word, stunning.

“Mr. Zhongli,” you exclaimed, tugging at his sleeve to call his attention away from a porcelain teapot with gold little geo symbols as decoration, “what do you think of this one? It’s quite beautiful isn’t it?”

The dark-haired man looked at the broach you were pointing at before going tense, a small gasp escaping him as his beautiful amber eyes widened slightly. You looked at him in concern, you’d never seen the man come this close to losing his composure.

“Oh,” he said, clearing his throat, “is this the one you’re thinking of purchasing? I’d advise against it. Even by just a mere glance, I can tell it is not made of real noctilucous jade.”

Strangely, you felt as though he wasn’t being truthful with you.

“Well, that’s alright. I don’t really care about the authenticity and it’s pretty cheap. If it is a fake, I don’t really have much to lose. Plus, I’ve always loved violetgrass. This broach could be like a little homage to that!” You answered, letting out a little giggle.

“You’ve heard of the Vigilant Yaksha and the violetgrass maiden, am I correct?” He asked.

“Oh, yes I have! My Gran used to tell it to me and the rest of the village children back when I was young. It always made me so sad, how they can never be together. It was pretty silly now that I think about it, but I would bawl my eyes out every time. The rest of the kids would tease me a bit but I just couldn’t control it,” you reminisced.

“I- well, yes in any case, they say that anyone who possesses that broach will be cursed to meet the same fate,” Zhongli added, trying his best to dissuade you from buying the old broach, dread creeping into his stomach as he thought of what might happen to you- to the both of you.

“Of course you’d believe old supersticiones, Mr. Zhongli,” you said, letting out a lighthearted laugh that could make any heart, even one of stone, melt, “it’s very on brand! However, I’m sure there’s no need to be worried, after all, it’s nothing but an old myth! And even if it is real, you yourself said that it’s not made of the real stuff.”

Before Zhongli could figure a way to change the unchangeable, you had already purchased the broach. As you kept on leading the funeral consultant around the streets of Liyue Harbor, bag in hand, prattling on about anything and everything, he couldn’t help but feel his heart sink. A single thought, the same one you would later have, crossed his mind.

If only you hadn’t bought that goddamned broach.

In a fit of anger and desperation, you ripped the detested broach off of your shirt, throwing it at Xiao. You hoped it would somehow break into millions of tiny pieces.

After a beat of silence, Xiao spoke, “Eat.”

“No,” you yelled, before breaking down into a fit of angry sob, “I hate you!”

As soon as the words left your mouth, Xiao lurched forward so close your noses were almost touching, and for a second you think he’s gonna hit you but instead, he simply rests his forehead on yours and closes his eyes. When he pulls away, your sobs have waned into hiccups. Without saying so much as a word Xiao clasps the violetgrass broach onto your shirt, where it belongs.

“Eat,” is all he says, placing the now lukewarm soup into your hands.

Scared, tired, and sad, you do as he said, taking small sips of the admittedly tasty dish. He does nothing more than stare at her with those intense amber eyes of his for a few minutes before turning around and heading towards the door.

Before he leaves he turns his head back to look at her and says, “I don’t care if you don’t like me. Hate me for all I care. As long as you stay alive I don’t care.”

#Xiao x reader #xiao x you #xiao x y/n #genshin impact Xiao x reader #yan! Xiao x reader #genshin impact fanfic #genshin impact fanfiction #Xiao #genshin impact #tw: yandere #flavor: xiao #patt’s creations

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robininthelabyrinth · 3 years

Text

Rugrats

- Chapter 3 - ao3 -

After they’d eaten and napped, they headed out, properly equipped and filled up with courage.

“No doubles are gonna get us,” Wen Chao said proudly, waving around his little wooden sword. Lan Zhan had painted talismans for all of them (cleansing talismans, but still!) and they’d all stuck them into the collars of their padded jackets, so everyone was feeling extra safe.

“Definitely not,” Jiang Cheng said, trying out a thrust with his own little sword and over-doing it a bit, but he quickly caught himself before anyone noticed him stumbling around. “We’re gonna be the ones to get them!”

“If we can find them,” A-Xuan pointed out, and that was a good point. “Do we even know where to look?”

“Sure we do!” Wei Ying exclaimed. “Wen Chao’s big brother got taken, right? That means they’ve got to have a nest somewhere nearby.”

“Just like with birds,” Nie Huaisang put in wisely. “If you want to find birds that eat fish, you go look for nests by the river.”

“Do the doubles eat people?” Lan Zhan asked Jiang Cheng in an undertone, looking a little perturbed. “I am uncertain whether my talismans are strong enough to keep people from being…eaten.”

“I dunno,” Jiang Cheng admitted. “But that can’t be right – they want to take your place, don’t they? To switch with you. And if it’s switching, it means both the original and the double have to still exist, or else it’d be stealing not switching – that’s why we have a chance at finding Wen Chao’s original brother again.”

“He was acting pretty nice earlier,” Nie Huaisang said, having clearly eavesdropped on their (not especially quiet) conversation again. Sometimes it was annoying not being able to hold anything against him just because he was the littlest little brother – he’d claimed it was a rule, and Lan Zhan had regretfully not memorized all the rules in his sect so he couldn’t say it wasn’t, even though he’d been suspicious about it, too. “When they were helping us find the jackets and swords. Maybe they haven’t got him all the way yet?”

“They’d better not’ve,” Wen Chao mumbled. “Why does there have to be a nest here, in my house? It’s so unfair.”

“That’s not quite right, though, is it? There’s one in Jinlin Tower, too…”

“I bet they’re probably everywhere. Like pests.”

“What’s a pest?”

“…dunno. Maybe like an insect or something? Oooh, or a beetle!”

“Beetles are the best!” That was Lan Zhan, surprisingly enough, so enthusiastic that he forget even his normal reserve. “I have to dig around all afternoon to find them – my brother keeps releasing my collection by accident…”

“You have a collection?” Jiang Cheng marveled. “Of beetles? My dad doesn’t even let me collect rocks!”

“That’s so cool,” Wei Ying agreed. “Beetles are really cool. You’re so cool, Lan Zhan!”

Lan Zhan ducked his head. “I had a pet spider once,” he admitted, and it automatically made him the coolest person Jiang Cheng had ever met. “It made webs in my window.”

“I don’t have pets,” Wen Chao complained. “I asked once, but my dad had visitors over and they made it weird.”

“How so?”

“Well, you know…”

What they knew was not explained, largely on account of Nie Huaisang interrupting to ask: “Hey, Wen-xiong, didn’t you say you and your brother were the only kids here?”

“In the main house, yeah, we are,” Wen Chao replied, looking puzzled. “Why?”

“Because I just saw some.”

“Doubles!” A-Xuan gasped.

Jiang Cheng raised his wooden sword with confidence – with this many of them, they were bound to defeat the bad guys. “Let’s get ‘em!”

“You idiots!” Wen Chao hissed. “These are my cousins!”

“Sorry about that,” Nie Huaisang said apologetically. He had an extremely thick face and didn’t mind apologizing – or crying, or whining, or anything, really, as long as it meant he got his way in the end. “we thought you were evil monsters.”

“I’ve n-never been m-mistaken for a m-monster before,” the little boy who Wen Chao had introduced as Wen Ning said. He seemed to think it was pretty neat, which Jiang Cheng could understand.

He’d never gotten mistaken for a monster.

…well, he was still young. One day, when he was all grown up, he’d be the scariest.

“I don’t want to know,” his older sister said. She looked cross, and also like she was about the same age as Jiang Yanli, though much less friendly – her name was Wen Qing, apparently. “Don’t tell me, because I don’t want to know. This whole thing sounds like the introduction to a bad joke: a Wen, a Nie, a Jiang, a Lan, a Jin, and – some kid – ”

“I’m Wei Ying!”

“ – and some kid are running through the halls of the Nightless City completely unsupervised? Ridiculous.” She snorted. “I don’t want to even consider what sort of trouble leaving you alone would cause! You should be sitting quietly somewhere, keeping out of the way –”

Wen Qing was definitely not going to be helping with the doubles hunt, Jiang Cheng decided, and glanced at all the others, who seemed to be in agreement.

Then they all unanimously turned to look at Nie Huaisang, because while Wen Qing might be Wen Chao’s cousin, it was pretty clear that Nie Huaisang was the one who was best at managing older kids.

“Our older siblings are over at the room in the end of the hall,” Nie Huaisang told her, his eyes somehow seeming even bigger and more adorable than normal. “I think Wen-da-ge was saying something about teaching them a lesson, I don’t know what he was talking about…”

“A lesson?” Wen Qing looked alarmed. “Those are the sect heirs! He’d better not – oh, A-Ning, you stay here with the other children. I’ll be right back…”

She strode off with a determined expression on her face.

“Wow,” Wei Ying said. “That worked really well.”

Nie Huaisang preened.

“I don’t remember my big brother saying anything about lessons,” Wen Chao said, sounding puzzled.

“He didn’t,” Nie Huaisang told him. “But it got her to leave us alone, didn’t it?”

“Do not tell lies is a rule,” Lan Zhan told him sternly.

“It wasn’t a lie. I said I thought Wen-da-ge was saying something like that, I didn’t say he actually said it – I’m entitled to think whatever thoughts I want!”

Lan Zhan didn’t look convinced.

“Look at it this way, Lan Zhan,” Jiang Cheng said practically. “Would you really be willing to sit in a room out of the way instead of night-hunting?”

Lan Zhan still looked mulish, but he shook his head, conceding the point.

“You’re n-night-hunting?” Wen Ning said, sounding fascinated. “I’ve never been night-hunting!”

Interestingly, his stutter seemed to decrease as he got excited. Jiang Cheng wondered why that was – maybe he was just nervous around new people.

“That’s right,” Jiang Cheng told him proudly. “Tell me, have you ever seen – doubles?”

“Seeing double?” Wen Ning asked, scratching his nose. “Uh, yeah, I guess so? Sometimes when I get really dizzy, I see double…”

“I don’t think running around in circles is going to help us find the doubles,” A-Xuan said dubiously. “I just got really dizzy, and I still didn’t see anything.”

“Yeah, me either,” Nie Huaisang said. He was lying on his back on the ground and moaning a little. “Maybe we need a new plan.”

“I think our original plan was better,” Jiang Cheng agreed. He was still a bit dizzy, too. “Their nest has gotta be somewhere near Wen-da-ge’s room, right? If they’re planning on swapping him out?”

“Maybe he’s tied up in there,” Wei Ying said. He was a little bit of a ghoul, Jiang Cheng had discovered. “Locked away for the skinning.”

“He’s not!” Wen Chao exclaimed, sitting up in his fury and turning a little green from having moved too quickly so soon after all that running. “You take that back!”

“If he is locked up somewhere, we’ll find him before anything bad happens to him,” Nie Huaisang intervened. “Wei-xiong, don’t be mean, okay? That’s his big brother you’re talking about.”

“…oh. Sorry. I didn’t mean it.”

Wen Chao sniffled a little, pressing his lips together to keep from crying. “You’d better be sorry.”

Jiang Cheng rolled over to look at him. “Wen Chao, I’ve got a question for you,” he said. “It’s kind of a dumb question, and you might get angry if I ask it, but I don’t actually mean it as being mean or nothing. I just really wanna know.”

As anyone might’ve expected, that got everyone’s attention onto him and off the previous subject, as well as off their still slightly uneasy stomachs. Even Lan Zhan tilted his head in such a way that suggested he was interested in hearing it without actually giving anything away.

Wen Chao looked suspicious, probably rightfully. “Uh-huh,” he said, eyes narrow. “What’s the question?”

“Uh,” Jiang Cheng said, feeling a touch awkward. “Okay, so, my mom taught me that when someone says ‘sorry’, you’re supposed to say ‘that’s all right’ or ‘you’re forgiven’ or ‘think nothing of it’ or something like that.”

“…yeah?”

“Well, every time anyone says ‘sorry’ to you, you say ‘you better be’, so I was wondering if that was a Wen sect thing or a –”

Wen Ning started giggling. “It’s not a Wen sect thing,” he said, his eyes curved until they were nearly slits. “Not Dafan Wen, anyway. Maybe it’s a main clan thing? Are there special main clan things?”

“My ribbon’s a special main clan thing,” Lan Zhan said.

“It is not,” A-Xuan said. “All Lan sect people have ribbons!”

“Not with clouds.” Lan Zhan was pouting. “Only main clan can have clouds on their ribbons.”

“That’s just a design, though, isn’t it? Like – fashion.”

“It is not!”

“We have special clarity bells,” Jiang Cheng interrupted, waving his own. “Everyone else’s normal, but ours are special!”

“Wait, does everyone get cool main clan only stuff?” Wen Chao wondered. “Why don’t I get cool main clan stuff?”

“I don’t!” Wei Ying volunteered.

“You’re not even from a clan! Or a sect!”

“Oh. Right. Oops. Got over-excited for a second there.”

“Uh, hey…” Wen Ning said, coughing a little.

“I don’t think we get anything special for being main clan people,” Nie Huaisang mused. He’d turned over to lie on his stomach, so he put his chin on his hands and was kicking his feet in the air. “Do we get something special? Except maybe more spending money? We should get something special. Like…I don’t know. A special pin.”

“A pin?” Wen Chao scoffed. “That’s not special!”

“Why not? It could be!”

“Uh-uh.”

“Uh-huh!”

“…excuse me, please…”

“Hey, Wen Chao never even answered my question,” Jiang Cheng complained. “Can we get back to that?”

“Maybe I don’t want to answer your stupid question!”

“Hey! My question’s not stupid!”

“Excuse me…!”

“Yeah? Well maybe you’re stupid!”

“Why you – Lan Zhan! Bite him for me!”

“Don’t you dare, you stuck up bedsheet –”

“Will you all SHUT UP AND LISTEN TO ME?” Wen Ning yelled.

“…and that’s why you have to bring along snacks when you go on adventures,” Wen Ning finished his explanation. “Because if you don’t, you get hungry, and when you get hungry, you get angry.”

He’d brought enough peanuts to share.

They really did feel better after eating them, too.

“I thought it’d be okay because we had jiejie’s soup,” Jiang Cheng muttered, shamefaced. His mother had reminded him to eat plenty of snacks as well, right before he got sent here, and his mother never said anything extraneous. “I didn’t realize we’d get hungry again so quick.”

“You had a whole nap in between,” Wen Ning told him. “Napping uses a lot of energy, and running uses even more. Once you burn the energy, you need to replace it with food.”

“You know lots of neat stuff,” Wei Ying told him, and Wen Ning turned red. “Also, you’ve got great lungs.”

Wen Ning turned even more red, somehow. “….I didn’t mean to shout…”

“You did,” Lan Zhan said. He was pouting. Maybe because Wei Ying was paying attention to someone else for once. “A lot.”

“…I’m not supposed to shout…”

“Is there anything you are supposed to do?” Jiang Cheng asked. Thus far it’d mostly sounded like Wen Ning wasn’t allowed to do very much at all.

“Uh. Study medicine, I guess?”

“Ooooooh,” Nie Huaisang said. “You’re our healer! That makes you important!”

Wen Ning stared. “…no one’s ever said I was important before.”

“That’s why you’ve gotta listen to me,” Nie Huaisang said happily. “My da-ge says that everyone’s important for some reason, and also that everyone’s good at something, even if it’s hard to figure out what it is exactly. And whenever people try to make fun of me for not being good at something, he hits them right in the face even though he gets punished for it, so you know he’s right!”

Jiang Cheng wasn’t sure that was how that worked, but it sounded pretty impressive.

“Well, as our healer, do you think we’re okay to keep going?” A-Xuan asked, and stuck out his hand. “You can feel my pulse if you want to check.”

“Uh, no. I’m sure it’s fine…you all look less angry now, anyway. You shouldn’t be too angry, it’s not good for you.”

“I don’t think that’s right,” Nie Huaisang said.

“I’m pretty sure that’s not right,” Jiang Cheng agreed, thinking of his mom.

“Anyway, let’s go find Wen Chao’s brother’s room,” he added, getting up himself. “Before we can meet any more obstacles!”

“Uh,” Wen Chao said, following along as they made their way down the hallway that he’d indicated to them earlier as being the right one. “About that…there might be one more obstacle in our path…”

“Really?” Wei Ying asked. He was right behind Jiang Cheng, who was out in front. “What obstacle?”

“Well…you see…”

Jiang Cheng tugged open the door.

Unexpectedly, something huge and dark leaped out, heading right for them.

He screamed.

They all screamed.

“I’ve decided I like your big brother,” Jiang Cheng said to Wen Chao, who was scowling. “When he’s not double-i-fied, he’s got good taste. No, great taste. Amazing taste.”

“It’s just a dog,” Wen Chao grumbled.

“It’s the fuzziest, most wonderful dog,” Jiang Cheng said, trying to cuddle it. “I want to ride it like a horse.”

The dog that guarded Wen Xu’s room might even be large enough for that, being all big boned and tall, with a thick jaw and heavy teeth that looked good for crushing things – but also the most adorably dumb-looking little doggy smile that made Jiang Cheng’s heart melt the second he saw it.

“I’m impressed you managed to tame it,” Nie Huaisang said. He was hiding back next to Wen Chao. Next to most of the others, actually – apparently Jiang Cheng was the only dog-crazy one, although A-Xuan had also eventually come over to pet the dog as well. “It’s so…large.”

“I’ve got three dogs of my own,” Jiang Cheng boasted. “Back at home. They know all the commands! Like sit, and stay, and find master –”

The dog gave a bark and got up from where it was sitting and happily receiving pets, then started trotting down the hallway.

Jiang Cheng stared.

They all stared.

“Wait,” Wei Ying said. “Is the dog going to find Wen Chao’s big brother? I mean – maybe – the real one?”

“It must be! Chase it!”

They chased it.

Unfortunately, the dog only led them back to the same main hall that they’d been next to before, the one where Wen Ruohan kept his throne and accepted audiences. They’d already looked there, and there hadn’t been any sign of doubles there at all – and this time the door was shut and locked with a great big bar on it, blocking everything.

The sound of faint voices echoed out from inside.

“Is that my mom?” Wei Ying asked, pressing his ear to the door. “It kinda sounds like my mom, yelling. But not quite…”

“I think that might be my mom, yelling,” Jiang Cheng said, his ear equally positioned. “But she’s back at the Lotus Pier, isn’t she?”

“Maybe she came to pick you up…?”

“If she could’ve come to pick me up, she wouldn’t have sent me in the first place,” Jiang Cheng pointed out. “Either me or jiejie.”

There was a deeper sound, almost like a thrumming, or maybe like a mudslide.

“That might be my dad,” Nie Huaisang said frowning. “It kind of sounds like my dad, though; no one can yell the way he can when he gets angry, not even da-ge. I can’t tell through this stupid door, though. Wen-xiong, where’s the back entrance?”

“What are you talking about?”

“The back entrance,” Nie Huaisang said, and rolled his eyes. “There’s always a back entrance! That’s how people can escape if they’re stuck!”

Wen Chao blinked at him.

“He’s right,” Lan Zhan said, unexpectedly. “We have a back entrance, too, back home – a secret one. My shufu showed it to me so that I’d know about it in case of a crisis.”

“Lan Zhan,” Wei Ying said. “You are so cool.”

Lan Zhan made a small meeping sound and covered his face with his hands. His ears were red again.

“…I think we do, too,” A-Xuan said. “We’ve got so many entrances I don’t know which one would be the ‘back’ entrance, but we’ve definitely got more than one way in or out to the main rooms. It’d be dangerous not to, wouldn’t it? If there was only one way in, you might get stuck.”

“See?” Nie Huaisang exclaimed. “There’s always a back entrance! Always! Isn’t that right, Jiang-xiong?”

Jiang Cheng scratched his nose, feeling slightly embarrassed since he didn’t think he knew what the back entrance at home was, though it sounded pretty plausible and he didn’t want to feel left out. “I think our back entrance back home is jumping out of a window and swimming away,” he temporized. “But there’s still another way in and out, yeah. I mean, what if there’s a fire or a flood?”

Wen Chao was turning red, and not in a happy way. “Well, there’s no back entrance here, okay?” he said, glaring. “None at all!”

“There’s got to be! Maybe you just don’t know about it –”

“Wen Chao couldn’t tell you about it even if he did know about it,” Wen Ning interjected. “He’s gotta keep the sect secrets. Isn’t that right?”

“…yeah. That’s right. That’s right!”

Jiang Cheng was pretty sure Wen Chao was just trying to save face.

“Well, it wouldn’t be giving away the secret if we guessed it, right?” Wei Ying said, lacing his hands behind his head as if he were trying to look cool, which he wasn’t. Well, maybe a bit. Wei Ying was intrinsically cool in a way Jiang Cheng was a little jealous of, and was going to get Wei Ying to teach him right away when they were done. “That wouldn’t be you telling us, just something we worked out. We can all try to figure out where the back entrance is, like a mystery, and if we find that, maybe we can find our way inside!”

“I mean…I guess that makes sense…but wait. Why do we even want to go inside?” Wen Chao asked, though he looked halfway to being convinced. “There’s nothing in there related to the doubles. It’s just my dad, and maybe your parents.”

Wen Ning raised a hand. “Do doubles just affect kids?” he asked, and they all turned to look at him. “I mean, we know there’s a doubles nest around here, right? And we’re worried about it getting your siblings…can it get your parents?”

“No way,” Jiang Cheng said at once. “My mom’s a great cultivator, no one would ever be able to beat her!”

“No one in the world can beat my dad,” Wen Chao scoffed. “He’s my dad.”

“I would know if my shufu was replaced,” Lan Zhan said firmly.

They looked at the others.

A-Xuan looked uncertain, which was fair, but Nie Huaisang was frowning. “Well,” he said. “I’d normally say the same because my dad’s super strong, but…well…I mean, if it were me…”

“What is it?” Lan Zhan asked, and he looked a little anxious. And if even Lan Zhan looked anxious…

“Well, I’m just saying, if the doubles were smart, and wanted to gather all the important grown-ups in one place all at once…”

Jiang Cheng’s stomach dropped.

“We’ve got to find the back entrance,” Wei Ying said, now looking worried himself. “We’ve gotta. My parents are there, too, and my mom is already doomed – she’s gotta be really careful!”

“We’ll figure it out,” Jiang Cheng announced, trying very hard to be brave. “Don’t worry. We’ll save them!”

#mdzs #jiang cheng #nie huaisang #lan wangji #wei wuxian #jin zixuan #wen chao #wen qing #wen ning #my fic #my fics #rugrats

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k2padfoot · 4 years

Text

An Auror & A Healer

Draco x Y/n

Summary: Y/n is an auror who gets injured while searching for an escaped prisoner. Draco the healer has to cope with it all. ( side note- pretend Dolohov was never killed by Flitwick lol.)

Warnings: Blood, angst, fluff, husband!Draco.

Today had been dragging on, and on to say the least. You were called this morning to an emergency meeting with Harry and the rest of the aurors. A prisoner from Azkaban had escaped, and needless to say you were all asked to search for him. The escapee being Dolohov, once one of the dark lords followers and a very cunning wizard.

You were absolutely exhausted, you had been out searching for at least 9 hours now. “Y/l/n!! Snap out of it, we have to keep searching until the sun goes down, ok?” Harry yelled to you from across the mainland. Harry, yourself, and a few others had taken the mainland to search while more aurors were spread elsewhere around the prison.

You nodded back to him and snapped out of your daze. You had trailed off a bit from the rest of the aurors, you knew you weren’t supposed to go off alone so you made sure Harry was still in your sight somewhat. Kicking rocks across the sand you felt like just laying down right there and taking a nap, but that’s when you thought you heard the snap of a branch from behind. You spun around to face the wooded area behind you, when you could’ve sworn you saw a dark figure pass by. Quickly without thinking you ran into the woods.

It was dark, and cold and you weren’t exactly sure how far you had run in at this point. You knew the person had to be around here somewhere so you casted the lumos spell to light the way. You continued to walk a little bit further when your light caught glimpse of Dolohov, his dark disheveled hair, pale sweaty skin, and beady brown eyes staring back at you.. Within seconds his wand was raised and he began shooting curses your way.

“Reducto!” you yelled but he quickly jumped out of the way causing the ground next to him to blow up. His lips curved into an evil smile as he raised his wand again. “Stupefy!” he screamed, but you were faster taking off running the other way.

You were silently cursing yourself for getting in this position alone, with one of the most skillful duelers in dark magic. You kept sprinting while zigzagging your way through the wooded area, dodging branches and rocks. Every so often you’d look back and throw whatever curse you could his way, but it’s like he’d never give up no matter how many times you’d hit him.

“Stupefy!” You heard him yell and suddenly you were being thrown through the air into a large tree. You hit the ground hard, slamming your head into a rock in the process. You could feel your eyes getting heavy, and hear the crunching of leaves around you. You were waiting for Dolohov to come end you right there and then but you faintly heard what you thought could be Harry yelling. All the sudden half the aurors were around you and with that your eyes slowly fell shut.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Draco’s POV:

My shift had started at least 10 hours ago now, and all I wanted to do was go home to my beautiful wife y/n. My thoughts were quickly interrupted by my coworker shouting at me that another auror was being rushed to St. Mungo’s.

Everytime a call comes in about an injured auror my mind of course goes straight to her. I love that she truly enjoys what she does for a living, but merlin can it be terrifying. I knew she was out on a search today with Harry and all I could do was hope and plead to god it wasn’t going to bet her coming through those doors.

The emergency room doors came busting open and I could see healers rushing in a woman on a gurney. It was hard to make out her features at first, but that’s when I noticed the large diamond ring on her left hand.. the ring I gave her.

I didn’t know I had been standing there for a couple seconds until my coworker started yelling at me to snap out of it and help him. I quickly ran over to her unconscious body and started to assess her injuries. Her hair was a bloody mess with a large gash to the top of her head, I could see a few cuts on her legs, and what looked like a broken right arm. I looked up to see Harry and two other aurors standing beside her with worried looks.

“What the hell happened Potter?!” I yelled at him, not meaning to sound so harsh.

He gave me a sad look, “Draco.. I’m so sorry. We were searching for Dolohov and I could’ve sworn I had my eye on her! But.. all of the sudden she was gone, and then we heard fighting coming from the woods. When we ran in there she had already been hit by a curse, and she was sent flying into a tree. I think she might’ve hit her head on it, i’m not really sure.” Harry said.

“Dolohov? Oh merlin. I’ll kill him.” I said with my teeth gritted and a tear slipping from my right eye. I turned away from Harry to help the other healers take you to a trauma room but that’s when my boss stopped me.

“Healer Malfoy, you must not work on family. I know you want to, but I can’t let you. Please, just go wait for now and I will update you as soon as I can.” he said to me with sad eyes as he put a hand on my shoulder. I nodded and walked away to go change out of my scrubs.

I had been sitting in the healers lounge for what felt like hours now. I was worried sick. All I could think about is what if she doesn’t make it? How am I going to live without her? I gazed up at the clock to realize I had actually been sitting here for 4 hours now. It was getting late, and merlin am I tired. I tried to fight the sleep but I just couldn’t, my body eventually giving in.

I was quickly woken by my boss shaking my shoulders, “Draco... Draco, Oh good! Since your awake you may go see her now.” he said while looking down at me.

“Oh merlin she’s ok! Thank you, oh thank you so much! Is she awake??” I said while i jumped to my feet.

His eyes turned soft. “Malfoy listen, she suffered major head trauma from the fall. She’s going to be ok, but we aren’t sure how long she will be out for. Everyone’s body heals differently, you understand?” he said to me and I nodded while he gestured to what room she was in.

I walked in the bright room to see her unconscious laying there. Her right arm was in a sling, she had a white bandage wrapped around the top of her head, and a few fading scars lining her legs. She looked so peaceful, yet so broken. I walked a bit closer and took in her state for a couple of seconds, a few tears slipping from my eyes. I could only hope she’d wake soon.

It’s been a few days now I think.. The nurses come in ever so often to check on her, and sometimes ask if i’m ok. I’m not. I haven’t been sleeping, I really don’t remember the last time I ate, and I think I might be wearing the same clothes as yesterday.. I won’t be ok until she is.

The moon was sitting over the horizon and shining through y/n’s hospital room. It was around 10 o’clock now, and I was becoming increasingly sleepier. I’ve had trouble letting myself fall asleep, scared I might miss something. Scared she might slip away from me. Scared to close my eyes and see her lying there all mangled up again. But I couldn’t stop my eyes from closing anymore... too tired.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Your eyes slowly opened to bright lights and white walls. Your head was pounding and you weren’t exactly sure how you got here. The last thing you can recall is running through the woods.. Your eyes shifted to him, sitting next to your bed in a grey armchair sound asleep. You noticed his gorgeous blonde hair all messed up, the bags under his eyes, what looked like a two day old outfit, and his hand grasped tightly to your own.

You squeezed his hand a little bit, “Draco.. Hey love wake up.” you whispered.

His eyes shot open faster than you could blink, “Y/n!! Oh darling, it’s so good to hear your voice!” Draco said while grabbing your face in his hands, a sob escaping his lips.

You pulled him into your chest, “Hey... don’t cry. I’m ok, see? I’m right here.” you said while rubbing his back.

He looked up at you with glossy eyes, “I was really scared y/n. You have no idea what it felt like to see you so hurt, and then have to just wait and see if you’d come back to me..” he said whispering the last part.

You now grabbed his face and pulled him into a long, and much needed kiss. The two of your lips moving in sync with one another. Needing to catch your breath you pulled away and stared into his sky blue eyes.

“How long was I out Dray, and wh-what happened out there?” you asked while he made himself comfortable next to you.

You laid your head in the crook of his neck, and he looked down at you to speak. “About 5 days.. the longest 5 days possible. I don’t know if you remember but you were with Harry searching for Dolohov. He said you ran off after him on your own, and when they found you he had already cursed you. You hit your head, and seemed to have broken your arm in the fall..” Draco told you.

You nodded starting to remember why you were running through the woods in the first place. You looked up at Draco and asked, “Can we please go home now?” and his eyes softened looking into your own.

“Of course darling.” he replied delicately kissing your forehead.

Draco opened the doors to your large home and guided you in. Your head injury still had you a little wobbly on your feet so he made you let him carry you up the stairs.

You were a giggling mess when he sat you down on the bed. You didn’t notice you had been staring at him as he put your things away and got you out comfy pajamas.

“Yes my dear?” he asked while turning around to face you and handing you one of his t-shirt’s.

“Nothing, I just love you!” you said with a big smile on your face while slipping on the shirt.

Draco walked over to you and leant down in between your knees, “And I love you more. I don’t know how I existed these past couple of days without you. You can’t ever leave you know that right?” he said while looking up into your eyes with pure love.

You grazed your hand over his cheek and pressed your lips to his, “Of course my love.” you said as you pulled away from the kiss and smiled at him.

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ibijau · 3 years

Text

Futures Past pt14 / On AO3

three conversations as Nie Huaisang's time in Gusu comes to an end

Summer had finally come to an end, implacable heat replaced by a more pleasant warmth as the world took on new hues. It also meant that the final few exams of the year were fast approaching, though Nie Huaisang felt unconcerned. He’d been ordered to fail after all, not that he thought he could have succeeded even if he’d tried.

Comforted by that permission to not study, he was currently laying in the grass in the back hills of the Cloud Recesses, enjoying the afternoon sun. A history book, chosen for the promise of the many scandals it revealed about a past emperor’s reign, laid forgotten on his chest, Nie Huaisang having realised that the contents were far more serious than he felt like dealing with at the moment. At some other time he might have taken a nap, encouraged by the warmth, but he’d found it difficult to sleep since that visit of his future self a few days earlier.

Just as Nie Huaisang was about to pick up his book again, Su She finished his series of sword forms and came to lay on the grass as well. He was sweaty and looked tired, but appeared quite happy with himself. Su She had confessed that he’d made a real leap forward with his cultivation since teachers and other disciples stopped constantly putting him down, something for which Nie Huaisang felt as proud as if it had been his own progress.

They stayed silent for a while, just basking in the sun, enjoying that beautiful day, until Nie Huaisang found that his recent worries were too heavy on his chest and he had to share them.

“Su-xiong?”

Su She made a noise to signify he’d heard, but couldn’t be bothered to speak. He looked comfortable, and had closed his eyes as if he might succeed with the nap that eluded Nie Huaisang. It was almost a shame to ruin that.

“Do you think people can be so evil that nothing will redeem them?”

The silence changed around them. After a moment Su She sat up to get a look at Nie Huaisang. Finding him looking serious, Su She’s initial puzzlement quickly turned into mild irritation at being dragged into a discussion like that on such a pleasant afternoon.

“Gusu Lan’s principles state that…”

“Not you as a Lan disciple,” Nie Huaisang cut him with an impatient gesture. “You as a person. Do you think people can be so evil that there’s no going back for them, that nothing they could do or say would ever compensate for what they’ve done?”

Some of Su She’s irritation eased away, glad as always to be given a chance to voice an opinion that wasn’t that of his sect, and he laid down on the grass again.

“That’s a pretty intense question,” Su She said after a moment. “I guess there’s got to be a limit to what’s forgivable, yeah. I’m not the best to decide what that’d be though. I’ve been told I have an issue with holding grudges. But I think yeah, in general, there’s got to be a moment where a bad person becomes so bad there’s no going back and they just need to be eliminated.”

It wasn’t the answer Nie Huaisang had been hoping for, but it didn’t exactly surprise him either. He thought the same after all, if only because a person such as Wen Ruohan existed, proving to him that some people had to be beyond redemption.

“Then do you think…”

“What’s wrong with you today? Was this morning’s lecture about ethics again?”

“It was about the proper way to address people depending on family and allegiance links, and I fell asleep. No, this is something else. I’m just thinking about stuff lately.”

“Like good and evil? That must have been a pretty nasty nap you took.”

Nie Huaisang shrugged. “I just wonder what makes a person bad or good. Do you think some people can be bad from birth? Just, they’re born and they’re evil, and there’s no way they’re ever going to be anything but evil.”

It really bothered him, the things his future self had said during his last visit. About Lan Xichen, about Su She, but mostly the way he’d spoken of that Xue Yang boy, as if that child were no better than a cockroach needing to be squashed before it could proliferate.

“I think there’s definitely people who think that about some other people,” Su She said. “I’m pretty sure if you asked some of the other Lan disciples, they’d say I’m like that, just because I have a temper and I don’t hug their knees quite enough and I ask too many questions during some lessons. I guess it’s easier to hate someone if you tell yourself they’re the worst and they deserve it.”

“You’re not evil!” Nie Huaisang cried out, reaching out for his friend’s hand. “You’re not! I’ll fight anyone who says you are!”

Surprised by that outburst, Su She blinked a few times then snorted, pushing away Nie Huaisang’s hand.

“I appreciate it, but it didn’t go so well last time you tried to fight for my honour.”

“I’ll still fight all of them!”

Su She laughed, but appeared quite happy to hear that. Even now that other Lans gave him less of a hard time, he still liked being reminded that Nie Huaisang was on his side, just as he made sure Nie Huaisang knew the opposite was true as well.

That was why Nie Huaisang was telling him about his thoughts, rather than going to Lan Qiren or even Lan Xichen who surely might have more elaborate opinions on the matter of good and evil. Su She might not have read quite as much, but he was also less likely to judge Nie Huaisang for asking that kind of thing. Besides, since Su She’s opinions were often less polished, they felt more honest than if he’d quoted great thinkers of the past.

“But really, do you think a person can actually be evil from birth?” Nie Huaisang insisted when Su She had stopped laughing. “Like. Like a child, but they’re evil. Do you think that’s possible?”

Su She grabbed a strand of grass, and started twisting it between his fingers.

“Maybe. But like I said, people will mostly say that about someone they don’t like, or someone that doesn’t play by their rules, or else they’re not from a prestigious family and they’re just doing what they have to survive.”

He paused to pluck some more grass to play with, and started constructing a knot with it.

“I have a great-uncle I’ve never met,” Su She explained. “He owned a farm before he died where he worked hard, until there was a very bad drought and hard work wasn’t enough anymore. My grandfather often said that people called his brother evil because he did some bad things to feed his wife and children, and some of it really was pretty awful I guess. But nobody ever called evil the magistrate that wanted to force him to pay his taxes instead of buying food. My great-uncle was executed for his crimes and everyone said he’d always been evil and vicious even though they used to praise him as a good man before, but the magistrate got a promotion for making sure taxes were still paid and he got called virtuous. And that’s… I don’t know, I feel there’s something not right in that, you know?”

Nie Huaisang nodded, his eyes fixed on the grass knot that Su She wouldn't stop twisting between his fingers.

His older self had said that this Xue Yang he had to kill was an orphan, and a thief of some sort even though he was just ten.

It would be harder to be virtuous and noble for someone who didn’t have anyone to turn to. Nie Huaisang had his whole family behind him, all the education anyone could have, he knew about ethics and rules, and he still found it hard sometimes to make the right choices. He was too lazy and selfish to ever be really good, and apparently he wasn’t going to improve with age. So how could a child on his own, without books or wise elders, learn to be a good person, especially if like Nie Huaisang they’d been given a bad personality?

“Ok, I have another question.”

Su She sighed, and threw away his grass knot.

“Is it a weird one again?”

Nie Huaisang grimaced.

“Yeah, that one is pretty weird,” he admitted. “So, imagine there’s a very evil person. The most evil you can think of, but you don’t actually know them, it’s just that someone told you that person is very evil. And, for some reason, you’re given a chance to go back to when they were a little kid, and that person who told you this other guy is evil also tells you that you should take the chance and kill the evil person while he’s a kid to save other people. Would you do it, or would you try to… I don’t know, maybe try to make that kid grow up around better people so maybe he doesn’t turn out so bad?”

“Those questions are getting really specific.”

“Just answer. Do you think it’d be right to kill that kid?”

Su She fell silent for a moment.

“Do I trust the person who told me the kid will be evil later?”

Nie Huaisang considered that question.

“Yeah. I guess for the sake of the argument, you trust that person,” he said, even though he wasn’t quite sure how much he did trust his older self.

“And has the kid done anything evil yet?”

“No, but he’s done bad things. Maybe he stole some stuff. But also, he’s an orphan, you know?”

Su She sat up and gave his friend a sharp look.

“Really specific again. I guess… I guess it’d be wrong to kill him though. I mean, it’s like you said, why not try to put him in a better place instead? If he’s just a kid, and he hasn’t done anything bad yet… I don’t think it’s really fair to punish someone for something they haven’t even done yet.”

“Right? I think so too. People should get a chance before they’re punished. They’ve got to have a chance to learn!”

Su She nodded, but look more and more suspicious.

“So, is this all about someone in particular, or…”

“I’m just wondering stuff,” Nie Huaisang quickly said. The truth was too weird for anyone to ever believe, even if he tried to tell someone. Su She would just think he was crazy. Maybe he was, anyway. “I’ve got to think about something during boring lessons, right? I mean, don’t you start thinking about weird stuff too?”

“Sometimes I think about leaving the Cloud Recesses and creating my own sect when I’m bored,” Su She replied.

Nie Huaisang sat up, a grin on his face.

“Really? What would it be like?”

“Like Gusu Lan, but better,” Su She retorted with a smug smile. “And I’d get to sleep half a shichen later in the morning. You’re welcome to join us if you’d like, since you know how to play the guqin now. You can be my right hand man.”

Nie Huaisang’s grin only grew larger. It sounded like a delightful idea, and he eagerly dropped all his earlier thoughts about ethics and morality to instead make Su She talk about the sect of his dreams, until it was time for dinner.

That had to have been Lan Qiren’s most boring lecture to date. Quite the accomplishment, Nie Huaisang thought. Another accomplishment, and one far more impressive, was the fact that he’d managed to stay awake through all of it. It was really hard lately to pay attention, especially now that he didn’t need to. His grades during tests had been so consistently low that he couldn’t have passed even if he tried, so he really should have been allowed to skip those last few lessons and go have fun somewhere. He was going to hear all that stuff again in a year, wasn’t he?

If he hadn’t feared the Lans’ punishment methods, Nie Huaisang would have skipped all these stupid classes and ran off to Gusu for some fun.

If he hadn’t feared his brother’s wrath, he would also have stopped bothering with homework. But Lan Xichen had hinted to him, not unwisely, that Nie Mingjue might be a little less angry if he could be shown proof that his brother had really tried to learn. And considering the stunt Nie Huaisang was thinking of pulling with Xue Yang…

So, Nie Huaisang had stayed awake in class, and he’d been handed back some previous homework with a grade so high he’d actually asked Lan Qiren if there hadn’t been a mistake. Lan Qiren had told him that if the grade didn’t please him, it was always possible to lower it, so Nie Huaisang had kept his mouth shut after that.

The rest of the lesson had passed surprisingly fast after that, and soon enough Nie Huaisang was free again, with a whole afternoon ahead of him. He had new homework to deal with, sure, and it was something that would be graded again, but that didn’t feel urgent. Sadly, Su She had already warned that he wouldn’t be free to hang out that day, due to being allowed to go on a Night Hunt with some other Lan juniors, something he’d been very excited about. That meant Nie Huaisang would have to stay on his own, or go bother Lan Xichen.

The second option felt surprisingly compelling, even though they’d already see each other in three days for his music lesson. Lan Xichen was sure to praise him for his good grade after all, and Nie Huaisang quite enjoyed being praised, as he’d discovered. If more people praised him, he might start feeling like doing something to deserve it.

Nie Huaisang had just decided he’d try to see if Lan Xichen had time for him when Jin Zixun grabbed him by the elbow and started pulling him away from everyone else.

"How come you had a good grade on that essay?" Jin Zixun asked with unwarranted suspicion.

Nie Huaisang, who had briefly wondered if he was going to get punched again and was getting ready to escape, relaxed and allowed the other boy to drag him away.

"I'm actually very smart, thanks."

"You're only smart on homework and never on quizzes," Jin Zixun retorted. "Is your merchant friend helping you?"

That earned him a light kick to the shin, which he didn’t appear to feel.

"Don’t call him that!” Nie Huaisang warned. “And, no, he's said he doesn't want to think about learning when we hang out."

"Then it's Lan gongzi who does your homework for you."

That hit a little too close. Stung in his pride, Nie Huaisang’s freed himself from Jin Zixun’s grip and stopped walking, arms crossed on his chest.

"He doesn't! He just corrects my drafts! And lately most of what's in my essays is all my own, actually! I only fail in quizzes because I panic and because I don't have enough time."

It was something he’d realised during his music lessons with Lan Xichen, actually. Nie Huaisang needed to do things at his own speed, or else he couldn’t do things at all. It wasn’t a problem with Lan Xichen who allowed him to take breaks and even have a snack if he struggled too much to focus, but Lan Qiren and the other teachers hadn’t taken it too well when he’d tried to eat candies during quizzes, or when he started doodling during an exam because it helped him focus. It also fell into deaf ears when he pleaded to be given a little more time when, by some random chance, he actually did know the answer to a question and had so much to say that the allotted time wasn’t enough.

By comparison, homework was easy. Especially when Lan Xichen allowed him to come into his room and work there while he dealt with his own work. The company of a studious person really helped.

"Fine,” Jin Zixun said, grabbing his arm again. “Then you're going to help me with my essays. I’m just barely passing and if I don't get a good grade on the last set of homework, old man Lan is going to make me come back next year."

Jin Zixun started pulling again, but Nie Huaisang resisted this time.

"Why should I help you?"

"Because your grades are so bad you're sure to be sent back next year, and then we'd be stuck together again."

"I need to think. I don't care that much about being stuck with you. You're not the worst person I know."

"I'm… not?" Jin Zixun asked, sounding so shocked that Nie Huaisang snorted.

"Not even close to it," Nie Huaisang assured him, thinking of his future self. With that point of comparison, a lot of people had become almost agreeable to him.

"Oh. I'm not sure I have another argument in my favour," Jin Zixun admitted. "Usually that one is enough."

Nie Huaisang snorted again. He could imagine that a lot of people would do whatever Jin Zixun asked of them, just so he’d stop talking to them for a little while. He was, after all, a complete prick, without skill or above average good looks to compensate. Still, Nie Huaisang felt a little sorry for him.

Besides, he was convinced that his future self would hate to see him waste time being nice to someone whom he didn’t deem useful, and that really sealed the deal.

"Okay I'll help,” he sighed, as if conceding to something that cost him a lot, when in truth he didn’t mind that much. “But only because I'm sorry for you."

"Hey!"

"And I'm just helping,” Nie Huaisang warned. “You're still doing the actual work.”

“You’re just lazy,” Jin Zixun complained, pulling again on Nie Huaisang’s arm who, this time, willingly started to follow him toward the cabin where the Jin disciples stayed.

“I sure am,” Nie Huaisang agreed with a bright smile. “And I’m also thirsty, so let’s have tea while you work!”

Jin Zixun complained and grumbled and called him spoiled, but still did serve him what had to be the best tea he had on hand as they worked together.

A loud, discordant rang through the otherwise silent room until Nie Huaisang put down his hands on the guqin’s strings to silence it. His eyes prickled with tears yet unspilled. It was a simple enough melody, and he’d worked on it all week, wanting to surprise Lan Xichen with his progress by playing for him something they hadn't worked on together. Even the other Nie disciples, who fluctuated between indifference and annoyance at his new obsession with music, had praised him for playing it so well the night before.

But now he was there, in Lan Xichen’s room, trying to actually play that damn melody, and his fingers just refused to obey him.

“Give me another chance,” he begged, quickly pressing the back of his hand to one eye, just to make sure he hadn’t actually started crying. “I swear I can play it! I worked so hard on it, I’ll show you!”

“If you say you can play it, I believe you,” Lan Xichen replied. “You’ve had a rough day, it’s normal to be affected. Let’s put away the guqin for now and have some tea instead. It’ll do you good.”

When Lan Xichen got up and turned around to go boil water, Nie Huaisang felt a few tears of frustration fall on his cheek which he quickly wiped away. It was stupid, and it wasn’t fair, and he hated that things could impact him life that.

“It’s not like I thought I had any chance of passing anyway,” he hissed, hands clenching into fists. “I knew I was going to fail, it’s stupid that I’m upset about this!”

“Knowing something and actually experiencing it aren’t the same,” Lan Xichen replied. “It’s normal to be upset, Huaisang.”

Nie Huaisang shrugged, and wiped another tear. What did Lan Xichen know about failing anyway? He was always stupidly perfect, always did everything well, a favourite of every teacher, admired by all their peers, far more handsome than a boy of eighteen had any right to be, with a cultivation level that only Nie Mingjue, a freak of nature, could surpass. It was easy for Lan Xichen to say being upset was normal, when he’d probably never failed anything in his entire life.

By the time Lan Xichen returned to the table with a teapot and two glasses, Nie Huaisang was sulking, though thankfully he was too angry at himself to cry anymore. Lan Xichen took one look at him and went to fetch something else. He carefully put a little wooden box in front of Nie Huaisang, then started pouring tea for both of them.

“Take one,” Lan Xichen encouraged, nodding toward the box. “Take as many as you like, in fact. Just don’t tell anyone about them. I’m not supposed to have those.”

Intrigued, Nie Huaisang opened the box and discovered an array of cheap candies, which made Nie Huaisang grin against his will.

“What happened to the rules about avoiding unhealthy foods?”

“Wangji would have a fit,” Lan Xichen sighed, eyes glancing toward the door, as if just by mentioning his name, Lan Wangji might appear out of thin air to scold them. “But I know I can trust you to keep the secret.”

“No choice, you’ve made me an accomplice,” Nie Huaisang replied, grabbing one piece of candy. It was disgustingly sweet, almost making his jaw ache.

So he reached for another, his fingers briefly brushing against Lan Xichen who’d done the same. Nie Huaisang quickly removed his hand, startled at the sensation of warm skin.

“Lan gongzi, what if you adopted me as your new little brother?” Nie Huaisang suggested to try and pretend he hadn't had such a strong reaction just from an accidental touch. “I promise to be a very good didi. I will never get upset at you for wanting to have a little fun sometimes, and I’ll never denounce you to Lan Qiren either. And you will be my nice Lan-gege… ah ! Better yet, you'll be Xichen-ge! Always kind and patient, and you won’t mind at all that I’m bad at everything because I’m very sweet and funny.”

“A tempting offer,” Lan Xichen replied with an odd smile. “Wangji certainly never calls me ‘ge’ because he finds it too informal, whereas I think I quite like it, so I might adopt you just for that. But alas, Mingjue-xiong would be heartbroken if I stole his beloved brother from him, and so I must decline.”

Nie Huaisang took a sip of tea and sighed deeply.

“I don’t think he’ll mind at all. As it is, he might just disown me himself anyway.”

"Your brother will understand," Lan Xichen replied while taking another candy. "He'll be angry at first, but it won't last. If it worries you so much, I can write to him and tell him how hard you've been working. It's a shame homework doesn't count more toward passing, or I do think you'd be graduating."

Nie Huaisang shrugged. It was always like that: if he was good at something, it was always something which didn't matter. Even being skilled at music… what good was that to anyone, in the end?

"What if he doesn't forgive me though?"

"He will," Lan Xichen replied with confidence. "You are his precious little brother, I don't think he could ever stay mad at you very long."

Nie Huaisang thought of his older self, so convinced that Nie Mingjue despised him, and sighed.

"Maybe someday he'll get tired of forgiving me. Maybe someday I'll… maybe someday I'll do something that's too much," he muttered, thinking of his plan regarding Xue Yang. "I'll go too far, and then he'll hate me. And if he hates me, I'll…"

"Your brother loves you," Lan Xichen said. "He loves you as much as you love him. I don't think there's anything in the world that could change that."

That sounded like a challenge. As it happened, Nie Huaisang had given that topic a lot of thought lately, and he'd reached a conclusion.

"I can think of at least two things I could do that would make him hate me," he announced.

"Is that so?" Lan Xichen asked with a smile, as if he really believed such a thing to be impossible.

That gave Nie Huaisang some comfort. Lan Xichen was Nie Mingjue's best friend in the world, as close to him as he was to Su She. Lan Xichen had to know Nie Mingjue better than anyone else did, even if things were fated to start going bad between them someday.

"I could betray him to Wen Ruohan," Nie Huaisang said. "He'd never forgive that."

Lan Xichen took a sip of tea and nodded.

"Not if you did it on purpose, no. But I also think it isn't in your nature to willingly side with his enemies, and he would forgive you if you were tricked into it."

"Xichen-ge has a very high opinion of me, I feel undeserving."

"I'm only stating the truth. Now, what's the other thing you think Mingjue-xiong wouldn't forgive?"

"Marrying into Lanling Jin."

Lan Xichen chortled.

A real, honest to god, ugly laugh. He tried to hide it under a cough, but it was too late, Nie Huaisang had heard it and it delighted him. So even the ever perfect first jade of Gusu Lan could laugh like that!

"Well? What do you think of that one?"

"I think you're right this time," Lan Xichen agreed, still coughing. "It might be too much for him. In fact, I'll even say you'd deserve it."

"What? Xichen-ge, how cruel!" Nie Huaisang lamented, one hand over his heart. "Maybe I’ve found my one true love, and…”

“So all Jin Zixun had to do was break your nose and now you want to marry him?”

“Oh that’s pushing the joke too far,” Nie Huaisang said with a grimace, quickly bringing one hand to his nose, following the bone with one finger to try and feel the break. “He’s not my type at all, and anyway we’re both brats, it wouldn’t work out at all. Still, in theory, if I were to marry into Lanling Jin…”

Lan Xichen only smiled more widely.

“Would you, though?”

“Why not? There’s got to be a few that are decent. I mean, Zixun is occasionally almost tolerable, he can’t be the only one.”

“Oh, certainly there are some very fine people in that sect. I was talking more about the fact that you’d have to wear yellow for the rest of your life. Is that really something you could put up with?”

Thinking of the way those Jin disciples dressed, Nie Huaisang gasped and pressed both hands to his mouth to silence a cry of horror.

“That’s a good point! It’s not even a nice shade of yellow, either!" he cried out, trying to picture himself wearing it. It would be awful, he quickly decided. "I think it would wash out my complexion and make me look sickly. Maybe if it were a touch closer to brown, or even better a bit greenish, maybe I could consider it, but I really can’t marry into a sect that favours such a dreadful colour. I guess I’ll… why are you smiling?”

Lan Xichen, once more hiding his face behind his sleeve, turned away as if it might help dissimulate his grin.

“Because you are quite funny," he chuckled. "I don’t think anyone else would consider it a deal-breaker for marriage that they don’t like another sect’s colour.”

“Easy for you to say, Xichen-ge, you’d look good in any hue! Some of us have to be careful!”

Lan Xichen lowered his hand, his face suddenly serious once more except for a certain glint in his eyes.

“Huaisang, you really sell yourself short sometimes. I think you’d look quite good in any colour,” he eagerly said, before breaking into a fit of giggles as he added: “Any colour except Jin yellow, that is.”

It wasn’t even that funny, Nie Huaisang thought as he started laughing too. But Lan Xichen’s unexpected hilarity was too contagious to be resisted, and he’d been feeling down all day, so he just went for it and enjoyed the moment. It took them ages to ever calm down.

When they did though, Lan Xichen suggested that perhaps Nie Huaisang might try again to play that song he’d practiced.

This time, he played it perfectly, better even than he’d ever done before.

#nie huaisang #lan xichen #su she #jin zixun #xisang #some very light flirting is starting to happen at long last!#mo dao zu shi #mdzs #jau writes #double time travel

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only-lonely-stars · 3 years

Text

Brighter Every Day, Chapter 1

[Chapter 1 - you are here!] // [Chapter 2] // [Epilogue] (FFN)

Summary: The future may be bright, but it isn't here yet; even so, life gets brighter every day. Knowing their future paths, Cole and Vania undertake the task of devising this bright future. With many obstacles and victories, they know they will be happy in the end... but in what manner? (Rated T for safety. Book 2 of the Cosmic Spoilers AU, sequel to The Future is Bright.)

This story is a sequel to another of my stories!

Prequel fic: The Future is Bright (#the future is bright, FFN)

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Chapter 1: You Make It All Okay

Cole Brookstone was an expert, professional ninja. He was a master fighter, a respected fighter, and an Elemental Master. He'd fought monsters and demons, survived becoming a ghost, defeated ancient evils, overcome terrible odds, and become a legend. He had done great, heroic things, and all of Ninjago knew his name. Even the people of other realms knew of him!

Over his years of service to Ninjago, he had served its people faithfully. He had never wavered, and despite close calls, they had never lost the wars they waged. Cole's work was a part of that; even death for the cause was not enough to stop him from protecting those who could not protect themselves. He stood up to many a tyrant, and for his work he was often rewarded by great adventure and fame.

All of Cole's work had rewarded him well, all things considered. He had a family that loved him dearly. He had his mother's legacy. He had a human body again, and even more elemental power than before. He had become someone worth calling a hero. He'd even gotten a glimpse into his future.

Yes, the future was bright, and the present was brighter every day. He'd learned he had a future, back when he wasn't sure he did. Then he'd learned it would take place in the Ivory City of Shintaro. Last but not least, he'd learned the identity of the person with whom he'd spend the rest of his life in Shintaro: its ruler, Queen Vania.

Now, as he faced the world ahead, Cole found that life was good. He was happy, Ninjago was safe, and all was well in the world. He could relax, knowing he was a ninja who could protect all the people he loved.

Plus, according to Vania– who had agreed to be his girlfriend, to their mutual delight– he was also a wonderful pillow.

Today, Cole was in Shintaro to visit her. This time, they were simply sitting together in a big plush chair, and she rested her head on his chest quietly. It wasn't the first time they'd cuddled like this– their first kiss had happened in a moment just like it. It was simply the most recent, and this time, he appreciated it more than any other.

Cole sighed, eyes closed as he rested with her, thinking about the past week. Like usual, they'd dealt with a particularly bad series of emergencies; none of the Ninja had been able to sleep more than three hours a night. Fires, an untimely earthquake, and flooding had taken their toll on the outskirts of incorporated Ninjago City, and the countryside hadn't fared much better in a lot of those circumstances.

In addition to the damage of the various disasters afflicting their country, crime was spiking. In Master Wu's words, "the wake of natural disaster made many desperate people." The Ninja had been tasked with helping the police handle the huge brunt of the need for defense, and they'd taken it in stride to the best of their ability. Even so...

It was all over now. The chaos was finally past, but Cole was still dealing with the sleep deprivation and exhaustion. He was so, so tired, and little fixed it other than sleep.

Presently from her place beside him, Vania nestled into Cole's arms. He was struck by her size– she was so small that he could easily wrap an arm around her, and farther besides. She was a wonderful woman, and the fact that she was willing to just sit with him was relaxing and soothing to no end. It made him wonder how he deserved her and her love, if he deserved her to begin with. What was a woman like her doing with a man like him– a hero, but still only a man?

The ice caves had been a blessing and a curse, back when he visited them for the first time. Now, he knew they were mostly the former, and ever more by the day. Foreknowledge of his life gave him hope for the future.

For years, Cole had struggled under the weight of prescience. When he'd visited the First Master's tomb for the first time, it had revealed his future to be in Shintaro. Through a few choice meetings and another two visits, he'd figured out that his future was with Vania, rather than simply being in Shintaro. Now, he knew doubtlessly that she was the love of his life.

A tap on his chest pulled him from his thoughts, and he looked down to meet her bright gaze.

She smiled at him, sweet and beautiful, with curiosity in her eyes. "What are you thinking about?"

He smiled back at her. "Just about how I deserved you, Queenie."

"If I recall, nobody deserves anybody else."

"I mean… that's true, but I've still got you, and it wasn't because of me doing something to earn you." He chuckled, and with the arm that encircled her, he rubbed little circles into her side. She closed her eyes in pleasure, and he smiled at her reaction to such a simple, affectionate gesture.

Vania sighed happily. "Deserving people isn't a real thing."

"Yeah… but still. I missed you this past week. I'm happy to be here with you."

"Yeah?" She looked at him again, her gaze soft. "I heard about what happened in the city. It sounded really chaotic."

"Oh yeah. Let me tell you, it was definitely not the best week of my life." He smiled wryly, yawning. "I'm really sleep-deprived."

"Oh, that's not good!" She frowned, reaching up to touch his cheek. "Did you need to use one of the guest rooms and get some rest while you're here?"

"Nah, it's okay. I don't want to waste any of my time with you because I need sleep." He bent down, kissing the crown of her head. "I'll be okay."

She sighed, laying her head on his shoulder again with another little smile. "Okay isn't always good enough, though. I want you to feel wonderful."

"Who's to say I don't?"

"Well, your yawning says otherwise." She reached up an arm and poked him in the shoulder, smiling all the while. "You should take a nap!"

"No, I want to be with you!" He squeezed her gently by the waist. "I haven't seen you in weeks, Vania!"

"Silly, I'm still going to be here when you wake up!" She reached up and touched his cheek again, caressing it. "Just go to bed, Cole. You'll feel better."

He frowned, but seeing as that wasn't going anywhere, he took a different approach. "Well if I'm going to sleep, I'm going to sleep right here in this chair. I'm not moving."

"That's fine." She raised her head from his shoulder, pushing herself up from her place against his side, and his embrace loosened as she slowly left it. "I can just go work and let you sleep…" She looked him in the eyes, and hesitated. "Since you clearly need a nap."

He smiled a little. He didn't want to let her go, but to force her to stay would be rude. "According to you, I do. Do you not want one? It's not like this chair isn't big enough for two."

"Oh, no, that's not what I meant!" She blushed a little. "It's just– it's not exactly appropriate, is it?"

"Bah, whatever." He rolled his eyes, smiling wider. "Do you want it to be inappropriate?"

"No, this is my palace! I'm the person in charge here!" She pouted. "I have a reputation to uphold."

"Fair enough…" He sighed, feeling exhausted again. "I didn't think about that. I just..."

She sighed. "Yeah." Her mouth was open as she prepared to say something more, but she kept silent, hesitating for an agonizingly long time. "...I really shouldn't."

He nodded, letting his arm fall from embracing her. "Fair enough. If you think you should go, then go."

She hesitated again, looking like she was extremely torn. There was a light in here eyes that was distinctly hesitant. Her eyes really were beautiful, and today they shone with the light streaming in a window to the side– they were lit up in a sapphire tone that he couldn't help but adore.

With every second that passed, Cole expected her to get up and leave him alone in the chair, but it didn't happen. She just kept watching him, until finally, something changed in her mind. Then, slowly, she began to lower herself back down into his embrace, gaze flickering with confliction. "Well… okay, it's not like it's really that inappropriate, is it?"

He hesitated, heart beating fast as he watched her slowly take the place she'd occupied before. "Are you staying?"

"Yeah. I don't see why not... and a nap would be nice." She smiled at him, blushing dark pink. Once again, he was struck by her surpassing beauty. "If you don't mind, that is."

"'Course I don't, Queenie." He smiled back, feeling warm and happy as she laid back down. When she was comfortable, he wrapped an arm around her to cradle her into his side for warmth. "I don't mind at all."

With a happy sigh, Vania laid her head back down on his chest, closing her eyes. "I guess you're my pillow again, Cole."

He grinned, closing his eyes in the face of sheer sleepy happiness. "Am I, now? That's not the career choice I thought I made."

"Well, it's the one you got." She snuggled close, head under his chin as her soft hair splayed across his shoulder. "So you'd better like it."

"Fine. I'll be my beautiful girlfriend's pillow." He kissed the crown of her head, the warm fuzziness of sleep starting to descend. "Where's the harm?"

She sighed, reaching up to rest a hand softly on his other shoulder to cuddle him. "It doesn't matter where the harm is right now. It's not with us, and it's not here in Shintaro."

"Not here," he repeated, letting his hands settle on her waist.

"Yeah. Not here."

"I think I can get behind that," he murmured, eyes feeling heavier. "A peaceful life sounds good right now."

"It does." She sounded so sleepy, yawning so quietly. "Do ninjas protect against nightmares too?"

"Of course we do. Wouldn't dream otherwise." At his words, she giggled. The sound sparkled, and he squeezed her a little as he watched her. "Got some dreams to fight off?"

She glanced up at him, smiling mischievously. "Only the ones that don't have you in them, handsome."

He blushed, beaming at her. "Well, good news, beautiful."

"I know." She blushed too. "I love you."

He chuckled as she hid her face, squeezing her the tiniest bit. "I love you too, sweetheart. You're always safe in my arms."

"I know I am. I never doubted that." She snuggled in closer, much to his delight. "Just like you're safe in mine."

He sighed happily, cherishing that feeling of security as sleep drifted over them both. "I believe it, Queenie."

She sighed softly. "Good..."

As quiet returned, Cole closed his eyes again, finally surrendering to the call of sleep. It was sweet and soft, even singing to him… as Vania's heartbeat gently slowed as she drifted off, he felt it take him too.

Before long, the lovers were quiet without stirring, peaceful as they held each other. A hero and a queen, embracing in sleep, keeping each other company– it was nothing if not perfection.

As sleep took him, Cole's last thought was one of bliss.

"You make everything okay."

#OLST fanfic #ninjago fanfic #ninjago #cole brookstone #princess vania #ninjago cole #ninjago vania #colania #vanillacake #vanillacakeshipping #cole x vania #vania x cole #ninjago au #THIS FIC HAS A UNIQUE TAG FOR YOU TO SEARCH ON MY BLOG:#brighter every day #no update schedule but I'm gonna try for posting on mondays #<3 it's about time I posted the beginning of this!

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dragonrajafanfiction · 3 years

Text

Cassell Cynic

@hectabdr @hectab For my Dragon Raja Bestie! :D A Gift Fic

These two are his idea. I just loved the idea.

“The weather is a balmy 74 degrees and sunny, low humidity and perfect for just hanging out and going for a walk in the lovely city parks of Chicago and now we’re going to a selection of some of Coltrane’s finest jazz compilations....”

On the East Lawn of the Cassell College Campus people were indeed out and about in the sun. The breeze ruffled the skirts of the girls carrying books and laughing to themselves. They cast glances his way and smirked, looking down at him with haughty eyes while he lay on a bench with his sunglasses over his eyes. Somewhere on site, the bells tolled the hour. 2 pm. It was time for afternoon classes to start.

In other words, time for a nap.

He lay on the bench with John Coltrane’s sultry saxophone in his ears. He studied how this man could weave such a delightfully heart pulling melody. Now there was a true genius, able to hone a natural craft into such perfection and gift it to the world for free listening.

But right when the music had reached its natural emotional zenith, it suddenly cut off.

“Nathan Phillips. I know you’re avoiding me.”

His mood went from euphoric to crashing down to the depths of hell. He rolled his eyes behind his dark glasses. “And yet... here we are...”

Norma, the voice of Cassell College’s AI spoke through his headphones. “You haven’t attended a single class this semester...”

“You mispronounced year.”

“The professors are getting irritated...”

“Did you hack an online radio station just to talk to me? Norma... I’m flattered.”

“They’re willing to give you a chance if you complete an internship...”

“A chance to do... what exactly?” Nathan spread out his hands. “It needs to be better than listening to jazz on sunny afternoon, or it’s a no from me.”

Norma was silent for several seconds.

Nathan Phillips smirked. “Didn’t think so...”

“Cassell College has a main mission, to slay dragons. If you’re not here for that, what are you here for?” Norma asked.

Nathan opened his eyes behind his glasses. “I think you should be asking that question of all the other students going to class. Because I guarantee you that Dragonslaying isn’t it. I mean just think about it? How many students here really give a rat’s ass about saving the world from dragons? I’m serious. Answer the question.”

“The answers can vary but that doesn’t change the goal of the institution. This was plainly told to you when you enrolled.”

Nathan Phillips nodded his head. “Oh yeah, and I bought into it until I was Ranked C on me 3E exam. I don’t resonate worth a damn with dragons. I’m barely above the maintenance personnel in that regard.” He reached into his pocket and pulled out a bag of marijuana. He rolled it in paper and lit it.

“Smoking is prohibited on school grounds.”

“I know. That’s why I’m doing it. So, what are you going to do? Kick me out? I listened to the enrollment lecture. You don’t kick out students. They get suspended or drop out and have their memories wiped. If you kick me out for this blunt, that will be my greatest accomplishment as a C rank.”

Norma made a noise and his eyes widened. “Did you just sigh? Wow, you are realistic. So... just out of curiosity, what is the mission?”

“If you’re not going to accept, there’s no point in telling you.” Norma replied.

“This conversation is over then? It was just getting interesting. Oh well. But if you want to know the answer to your question of why I’m here... you should ask my parents.” He blew out a purple haze into the sky. “They’re the ones who sent me here. They scrimped and saved to send me here. They could have bought me a house. Two houses. A nice car. All that. But no, they sent me here. Just so they could say they had a son go to Cassell. That’s it. To prove their bloodlines weren’t trash. But they were wrong... they are trash.”

“That’s all I’m here for, Norma. I’m here to be here. That’s where my obligations end. I’ll stay here until the money runs out. Enjoy myself. And then when the money runs out, I’ll drop and have my memory wiped. Go on with my life. And...” He paused to draw on the blunt. “I will have a life. Some star dragonslayer will save the world from dragons while I’m having the time of my life, on the bench, smoking Mary Jane. Do you have any objections?”

Norma was silent for several seconds. “None. I’ll return you to your jazz.”

John Coltrane returned to his ears and Nathan Phillips smiled to himself and relaxed into the buzz in his brain. There was nothing wrong with a pointless life.

If he learned anything from Cassell, it was this.

He pulled out a notebook and opened it. Inside were all sorts of fantasies of what he would like to be told on dropping out. It wasn’t enough to just erase someone’s memories. New memories would have to replace them to explain the missing years. It could be literally anything.

Maybe he was someone who witnessed a mob hit and was living undercover in the witness protection program. Or maybe he was a secret agent in a UFO division and he’d be kidnapped off world by aliens. He always came up with his best work when he was high as a kite. This time, he was an aspiring artist on the run from a brutal dictator and taking refuge in Chicago. He wrote down the scenario quickly before he forgot it.

All the other students were in class, except for him, sitting on the bench writing down about how his paintings were renowned all over the world until a brutal dictator... which dictator? “Uh... Geez I don’t know.”

The sound of heels clicking on the pavement caught his attention. He turned bleary eyed to the vision of a girl walking up to him, arms swinging, eyes narrowed. He’d seen her before but couldn’t remember where. She overshadowed him and looked up. Her head blocked out the sun and he couldn’t see her face. “Um... shouldn’t you be in class?”

“Uh, no! No class! I was supposed to be on assignment but my PARTNER is a lazy ass who won’t show up.” She growled.

Nathan lifted his sunglasses over red rimmed eyes. She was Asian but tall, only an inch from 6 feet. Her muscles nearly popped from her school uniform. He wasn’t sure if it was the weed messing with his head but he was pretty sure this woman could benchpress more than he weighed. “Well... that sucks.”

“Yeah, it does!” She bent over until her face was an inch from his, blinking with wide indignant eyes. “You shouldn’t be allowed to to bring down the grades of other students! I didn’t come here to be brought down by you!”

“Me?”

“Yes! You! My partner!”

“Wait... you’re... Oh right! You’re Hana... Hana...” He snapped his fingers.

“Sato, Hana Sato and don’t snap your fingers at me or I’ll snap them off!” She grabbed his wrist.

“Right... the A ranked girl.” He lowered his glasses back over his eyes. “Well, this wasn’t my decision to be your partner. You should blame the people at fault. It’s probably Norma. She’s the one who pinged me earlier about it. Tell her to get a new partner for you. Should take a hot minute.”

Hana scowled at him. “If I could have anyone else for a partner I would. But I can’t.”

“Why not?”

“Because they all suck! They’re all terrible! All they want to do is talk about boys and parties and stupid things like that! I can’t stand those people!”

“I’m not any better. Just do the mission by yourself.” He pulled his hand out of her grip.

“I can’t. They already said its a two person mission.”

Nathan gave an exaggerated shrug of his shoulders. “Pay someone.”

“They said it had to be you.” She sat next to him on the bench.

Nathan snorted and started laughing. “Wow. They are really desperate.”

“I’m glad you think bringing down my whole year is funny.” Her cheeks were red and her eyes were narrowed with frustration and anger.

“I’m not bringing down your year! I’m laughing because they want me to care so bad that they’d send this super powerful, gorgeous girl and chain her to me and expect me to do something. It’s like they all got together and said ‘Ha! A pretty girl, now he’ll give a shit.’” He laughed loud. Marijuana always made him giggly. “They’re the evil ones. If you care about your grade... then all I can tell you is stop caring.”

“Easy for you to say. You’re a C-rank. You don’t have anything to lose.”

“Just... find another partner.” Nathan said, staring at her. He wondered why she was still here.

She sighed, looking away from him, her ponytail falling over her shoulder. “I can’t. No one will work with me. I kind of... got put on a hit list after I punched the lead dancer of the White Skirt’s Club and knocked her out right before a performance.”

“Pics or it didn’t happen.”

Much to his shock she pulled out her phone and showed a picture. It wasn’t taken by her, but by another student as proof that Hana had ruined the Student Union performance.

“Heh. Sorry I missed it.”

Hana closed the app. “I didn’t think it was a big deal. She had an understudy but... uh... yeah, I was blacklisted after that. I don't’ care. I work fine on my own. But now they insisted we be partners and I literally have no alternative.”

“Hey...”

She looked down at him. “What?”

“You always have the choice to do nothing. I haven’t done a thing since I got here.” He laid back on the bench as though to demonstrate. “Feel free to join me.”

#Dragon Raja

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aloysiavirgata · 4 years

Text

Love’s Austere and Lonely Offices

Title: Love’s Austere and Lonely Offices

Author: Aloysia Virgata

Rating: PG

Words: 5758

Timeline: Season 9

Summary: “ A letter is in fact the only device for combining solitude and good company.” -- Jacques Barzun

Author’s Notes: This fic was written in 2015. I couldn't bear the thought of their only communication in all that time being the "Dearest Dana" letters. (Which I added to just a teeny-weeny bit. Also added a little to Scully's Carterlogue to William.) Scully quotes from (what else?) Moby Dick and Mulder from The Divine Comedy. The title is from Those Winter Sundays by Robert Hayden.

Fe3O4 is magnetite and R2NCl is chloramine. I know my little ads are cryptic, so there's an addendum at the end for those interested parties. (See the end of the work for more notes.)

Ad placed in the New York Times Classified section, May 26 2001 In this world, shipmates, Sin that pays its way can travel freely, and without a passport; whereas Virtue, if a pauper, is stopped at all frontiers. R2NCl + H2O = Bellefleur + Braddock Heights? So claims a woman with node at C5 **** Ad placed in the Washington Post Classified section, May 29 2001 These have not the hope to die. Developments? Nothing on my end. **** E-Mail From: [email protected] To: [email protected] Date: 18 Jun 2001 Things are calm for now and hopefully communication can be somewhat regular for a time. I have a cash-under-the-table job at the moment and it covers basic needs. I know you wanted to come, but this is no life for a child. I will be home as soon as I am able. I know that goes without saying, but it makes me feel better to say it anyway. I have to go now. Tell me about William. **** E-Mail From: [email protected] To: [email protected] Date: 18 Jun 2001 Mulder, It's so good to hear from you, you have no idea. Have you made any progress yet? There have been strange goings-on since you left, but I don't know what to make of any of it. I don't know whom to trust right now and just tell everyone I cannot contact you. I have not been able to make any sense of my last inquiry and am at a standstill. Please tell me everything you discover and let me know what I can do. Don't leave me in the dark on this, Mulder. You can't protect us that way. Let me be of use. Things are fine here. William eats well and sleeps less well, but I nap when I can. He's growing nicely and can focus his eyes for very long periods already and tracks objects at two feet away. His head control is excellent and he is already making deliberate reaches for objects rather than just grasping reflexively. He makes a gurgling sound if I run my finger up the midline of his foot. In addition to snapshots and videos, I have been keeping a journal of all of his changes for when you get back. My mother helps as much as she can but the truth is I prefer to be alone. She wants to talk, and doesn't understand that I just can't right now. I think she's afraid of the quiet and fills it up with noise. She talks to me but doesn't say anything. You know how to let me be silent, Mulder. I miss that. Frohike says William looks like me and Byers says he looks like you and Langly says he looks like Jack Ruby. Which is pretty much what you'd expect to hear from the three of them. Write when you can. Pictures attached. **** E-Mail From: [email protected] To: [email protected] Date: 22 Jun 2001 He still looks like Skinner to me, your feeble protestations of fidelity aside. He's got your eyes, Scully, and I wonder whose warped sense of humor he's going to claim. I'm not surprised he's ahead of the developmental curve. You read him Brian Greene while you were pregnant. That sets the bar rather high for a baby. Let your mother in. You're all she has nearby and she won't forgive herself for everything that's happened if you don't. Smile and nod, Scully. You do it better than anyone I know. Learn to let people love you. I haven't found much yet because I don't even know what the hell I'm looking for. **** E-Mail From: [email protected] To: [email protected] Date: 23 Jun 2001 We can only hope that his sense of humor is all his own. I think our particular brand of amusement wouldn't go over too well with the preschool set. Can you imagine Career Day, Mulder? We're going to have to be vague. Pictures of William attached, including one of him eating my hair. Have to run. Stay safe. **** E-Mail From: [email protected] To: [email protected] Date: 28 Jun 2001 We'd be a hit at Career Day. You could tell them about your Invisible Guy Autopsy. And you know all the kids would want to hear about my time in low orbit. I'm leaving here soon, so it may be a while before I contact you again. Thank you for the pictures. I cannot believe how William has grown. He looks like his own man now instead of just a newborn. I know I once said I never saw you as a mother before, but I must not have been paying attention. You're beautiful, Scully. I miss you both constantly. **** E-Mail From: [email protected] To: [email protected] Date: 29 Jun 2001 Mulder, I hope nothing serious has happened to necessitate this move and that you have made some headway. I am still having no luck. I'm going to start teaching at Quantico soon. I feel like I'm abandoning you in some way, Mulder. Abandoning our work. But I can't do field work like I used to - not with William - and Doggett and Reyes are doing a good job. I think you'd be impressed. William has been going to sleep at around 10 at night and sleeping until 6 or so. He is such an easy baby and already a hit with the ladies. I bring him to work sometimes and he's quite popular. Skinner gave him a stuffed McGruff the Crime Dog, but he prefers the doll you gave him and sleeps with it now. He's still rather small for the basketball, but that was never my sport anyway. I played field hockey, so free-throw instruction falls to you. Attached is a video of William laying on Skinner's desk. Stay safe. **** E-Mail From: [email protected] To: [email protected] Date: 19 Jul 2001 He spit up on Skinner's desk? I could watch that all day. You're damned lucky it wasn't Kersh's or you'd be freezing your ass off in a Minnesota field office right now. And of course he's a hit with the ladies, Scully. Not everyone's as hard of a sell on the Mulder men as you. I made it to Wal-Mart and printed out some of those pictures you sent. Keep them coming. Don't ever feel like you're abandoning the work. The most important thing is that you and William stay safe and chasing mutants and government conspirators isn't really conducive to that. Sometimes the only thing that keeps me going is the knowledge that you're okay. The job at Quantico will be good for you both. I'm doing a little air guitar of "Hot For Teacher" right now… **** E-Mail From: [email protected] To: [email protected] Date: 23 Jul 2001 Mulder, I'm sorry it has taken me a bit to get back to you. My mother and I took William to the beach for a couple of days. I dipped his feet in the surf and I was reminded that seawater has a similar chemical makeup to both blood and amniotic fluid. We crawled from those primordial seas so many millions of years ago and carry some of it inside of us to this day. I know you get seasick, but I think we are hardwired to crave the ocean and I want to take William sailing when he's older. I think he has the genes for it. You may not be a sailor, Mulder, but you know the unquenchable lure of the unknown and thrill of riding out a storm. I had a good time with my mom and tried to do as you suggested. She asked after you and I am confident that whatever else she thinks of my life, she accepts that you're an integral part of it. I start teaching next month and I must confess to some anxiety. It has been so long since I stood in front of a lecture hall. I've gotten used to an audience of one for my technical soliloquies. And Van Halen, Mulder? Really? What happened to the King? **** E-Mail From: [email protected] To: [email protected] Date: 4 Aug 2001 Was it Chincoteague, Scully? It's right around Pony Penning Day, isn't it? When he's bigger we'll get a place out in the country and let him pick out a pony of his own. And hell, I'll take some Dramamine and we'll all go sailing too. Get out your list-making paper and get to work. I'll be back soon and we'll have the rest of our lives to get it done. P.S. - I always kind of got turned on by your technical soliloquies, so you may want to be careful around some of your more discriminating students. **** E-Mail From: [email protected] To: [email protected] Date: 5 Aug 2001 Mulder, We went to Assateague, actually, but he did see the ponies and we found horseshoe crabs washed up on the shore. Despite 445 million years of existence, they've scarcely changed at all. It makes you think, I suppose. All the work we humans do to better ourselves and horseshoe crabs have attained perfection. And a pony?! That's a pretty heavy upgrade from your fish. I was thinking we could move more slowly from Cyprinidae to Perissodactyla. Perhaps a stop at Rodentia would be appropriate if you want to venture into mammalian territory. (Are you getting turned on by this?) William holds his head up and looks around without any trouble at all. He wants desperately to sit up and is so frustrated that he can't manage it yet. Any news? **** Ad placed in the Washington Post Classified section, August 13, 2001 For where the instrument of intelligence is added to brute power and evil will, mankind is powerless in its own defense. Fe3O4 + R2NCl = ? **** Ad placed in the New York Times Classified section, August 15, 2001 And some certain significance lurks in all things, else all things are little worth... I'll let you know if I hear anything. **** E-Mail From: [email protected] To: [email protected] Date: 20 Aug 2001 Let me know if we can move lunch on Wednesday to 12:30. I printed out pictures from our trip and made you some copies. I will bring William's Celeste Sun toy with me at lunch if that's okay with you. Charlie, Larissa and the kids are coming in for Christmas this year. Talk to you soon. Mom **** E-Mail From: [email protected] To: [email protected] Date: 21 Aug 2001 Mom, That would be fine. Thank you for printing the pictures for me, and William will be fine without Celeste until Wednesday. **** Letter received on September 8, 2001 William Mulder 107 E. Cordova St. Apt. 35 Washington, DC., 01833 8-14-01 Dear William, I can only hope this finds its way to you but even if it doesn't, it's something I had to get on paper. Walking away from you and your mother is the single most difficult thing I have ever done in my life. I did it for reasons that I tell myself are right and noble, so why do I feel like I've let you both down? All I want is for you to be safe and I tell myself that leaving and searching for answers is the best way to do that. But the truth is, William, that your old man isn't making much headway here. Your mother sends me pictures and videos of you and sometimes at night I can close my eyes and recall your new-earthling smell. But it's not the same. I know your mother and I know that every night she shows you my picture and tells you I'll be home soon. I don't want to make a liar of her and I promise you both I'm doing the best I can. Every day I fight the urge to let this all go and come home, but I feel I have more to accomplish before I return. One day I hope you will understand all of this. One day I hope I will. I have no real wisdom to offer you, but let me at least tell you this. I have made many mistakes in my life, but through them all, I have tried to do what I feel is honest. And I have learned - as you doubtlessly will - that the right thing is not often the easy thing. I don't know what this world is going to be like when you are older or what role you will have in it, but to thine own self be true, William. I hope to see you soon. And in case your mother forgets to tell you: Elvis > Three Dog Night Hips before hands The Knicks will always be better than the Miami Heat Love, Your father **** E-Mail From: [email protected] To: [email protected] Date: 12 Sep 2001 Scully, let me know you're okay. I know you don't work at the Pentagon, but please check in. On the move again, but will write as soon as possible. **** E-Mail From: [email protected] To: [email protected] Date: 13 Sep 2001 Mulder, We are fine and no one we know was hurt. While it feels as though the world is falling apart, knowing you're okay gives me something to hang on to. There's a long line of people waiting for this computer so I must run, but I got your letter to William. Be careful. We miss you. **** Ad placed in the New York Times Classified section, September 17, 2001 There are certain queer times and occasions in this strange mixed affair we call life when a man takes this whole universe for a vast practical joke… Quantum suicide? **** Ad placed in the Washington Post Classified section, September 18, 2001 And downward to the secret things we went Biloxi MI - 6/ 86 Camden NJ - 11/91 **** E-Mail From: [email protected] To: [email protected] Date: 20 Sep 2001 Mulder, Thank you for your help on the case. Do you have any updates on your end? Not much to tell here. I'm enjoying teaching very much; the students are so engaged and interested. It's a nice change from the endless parade of world-weary cops and agents. Were we ever that fresh-faced and eager? Thinking of you and aching to see you. **** E-Mail From: [email protected] To: [email protected] Date: 23 Sep 2001 It is no longer safe for me to contact you. **** E-Mail From: [email protected] To: [email protected] Date: 24 Sep 2001 Mulder, What's going on? Please find a way to let me know what's happening. **** E-Mail From: [email protected] To: [email protected] Date: 13 Oct 2001 Mulder, William and I baked a cake and we sang Happy Birthday to your picture. We went shopping for presents and William picked out an oven mitt. I tried to steer him towards the Yankees DVD collection, but he was adamant that you needed protective gear. I have begun to entertain theories of genetic memory. Please let us know you're all right. Many happy returns of the day. **** E-Mail From: [email protected] To: [email protected] Date: 17 Oct 2001 Hey there partner. Wanted to thank you again for the CPR. They don't really cover that in entomology doctoral programs though, so I'm hard pressed to return the favor. I know you're a mother but I assume you still eat so let me know if you want to grab a bite next time I'm in DC. **** E-Mail From: [email protected] To: [email protected] Date: 19 Oct 2001 Dr. Bronzino, Thank you very much for the offer, but it would not be appropriate at this time. Dana Scully **** E-Mail From: [email protected] To: [email protected] Date: 25 Oct 2001 Mulder, I know you can't tell me where you are and I am trying to respect what you're doing but this feels impossible sometimes. Not everything has to be a crusade, does it? You wanted to find your sister and while it wasn't the resolution you wanted, you found out the truth. Isn't that enough? We can have a life now. We have a son who needs both of his parents. Let this go, Mulder. **** E-Mail From: [email protected] To: [email protected] Date: 4 Nov 2001 Mulder, I don't even know why I'm writing this. I don't even know if you're alive. Attached are pictures of William in his Halloween costume. He went as a skunk and can sit up perfectly. **** Ad placed in the New York Times Classified section, November 21, 2001 Lost: Norwegian Elkhound Answers to Heinrich Come home, Heinrich We miss you ****

December 3, 2001

Mulder,

I am so concerned for your safety right now that it is overwhelming. I am trying not to be angry with you - truly I am - but it isn't easy. I know what you've told me, I know we discussed all of this and I know we agreed it was for the best, but the reality is proving far different than the theory. As a scientist, I ought to have expected it and yet I was completely blindsided.

I asked you once years ago if we could just get out of the car and you looked at me like I was crazy and you kept driving. And I stayed. Hundreds of thousands of miles I've traveled with you, Mulder. Endless black ribbons of highways full of nightmares and lost souls and we went after them with badges and guns because we had a job to do.

But I'm asking you now - not as your partner, but as the mother of your child - to get out of the goddamned car. I can't live like this anymore, Mulder, and I will not subject William to it.

I love you but I cannot do this for the rest of my life.

I have nowhere to send this letter.

****

December 15, 2001

Mulder,

William said "Da" when he saw your picture today. I have a video.

****

E-Mail From: [email protected] To: [email protected] Date: 20 Dec 2001

Hey Danes -

Our gang's catching an earlier flight from Puerto Vallarta and I wanted to see if you'd be free for dinner. I'm trusting you to pick a not-shitty restaurant because last time I left it up to Bill he said he knew of a "really good Italian place" and took us to the fucking Olive Garden and I swear to God Tara put some of those breadsticks in her purse.

Can't wait to meet my new nephew (you have a kid, Danes!) and see if either of my rugrats is taller than you yet. They're growing like weeds and Larissa's firm is keeping us in Mexico until the resort's finished, so they're all sun-kissed and blonde and I'm mostly a giant freckle.

Mom specifically told me not to ask about William's father, so I'm asking. This Fox guy…what's up with him? Is he good to you? Bill paints him as a kind of Anton LeVay meets Forrest Gump character, but Bill thinks condoms are Satan's party balloons, so what the hell does he know about relationships?

I'm bringing a case of fine champanya to ring in the new year.

Charlie

****

E-Mail From: [email protected] To: [email protected] Date: 20 Dec 2001

Charlie,

I can't wait to see you all! It's been far too long since your jet-setting crew has ventured this way. Things with William's father are complicated, but it's due to factors beyond either of our control. I don't mean to be curt, but that's all I can say right now.

Dinner would be great. William still doesn't go to bed until fairly late and can be kept happy with a steady supply of food. He has an excellent pincer grasp.

Did Bill really take you to the Olive Garden? That's classic.

****

December 31, 2001

Mulder,

We celebrated Christmas at my mother's and Bill and Charlie and their families flew in. I have lots of pictures to show you of all of the kids together. William is babbling like a champion and I gave him a crayon to draw a picture for you on the back of this card, so turn it over. I remember New Year's Eve two years ago. Zombies, Mulder. And then you kissed me and here I am wishing maybe the world had ended after all because I'm remembering zombies with fondness and what the hell is wrong with my life and my God I miss you.

There was half a bottle of champagne left and now I'm drunk.

Happy New Year

Putting this card with your other unsent mail.

****

January 1, 2002 Dear William,

One day, you'll ask me to speak of a truth - of the miracle of your birth. To explain what is unexplained. And if I falter or fail on this day, know there is an answer, my child, a sacred imperishable truth, but one you may never hope to find alone. Chance meeting your perfect other, your perfect opposite, your protector and endangerer. Chance embarking with this other on the greatest of journeys; a search for truths fugitive and imponderable. If one day this chance may befall you, my son, do not fail or falter to seize it. The truths are out there. And if one day you should behold a miracle, as I have in you, you will learn the truth is not found in science, or on some unseen plane, but by looking into your own heart. And in that moment you will be blessed - and stricken. For the truest truths are what hold us together, or keep us painfully, desperately apart.

Know this, William, for it is the most important thing I can hope to teach you: It is not a weakness to love someone. There may come a time when it will be the only strength you have.

****

E-Mail From: [email protected] To: [email protected] Date: 07 Jan 2002

Dearest Dana

I've resisted contacting you for reasons I know you continue to appreciate. But, to be honest, some unexpected dimensions of my new life are eating away at any resolve I have left. I'm lonely, Dana, uncertain of my ability to live like this. I want to come home. To you, and to William.

****

E-Mail From: [email protected] To: [email protected] Date: 07 Jan 2002

I am physically shaking right now seeing your words - wishing it were you speaking them to me. I want so badly to see you too, but you are still not safe here. You don't sound like yourself, Mulder, and it's frightening me.

Where in the world have you been?

****

E-Mail From: [email protected] To: [email protected] Date: 07 Jan 2002

I've seen things I cannot accept and don't know how to change. I feel like the fight has gone out of me and all I want is to come back and put this time behind us.

I will be home soon.

Details to follow in the usual manner.

****

Ad placed in the Washington Post Classified section, January 8, 2002

It was evening here But upon earth the very noon of night.

ncrl

****

E-Mail From: [email protected] To: [email protected] Date: 10 Jan 2002

Mulder,

I hold no hope you can respond to this. Or that it reaches you. I only hope that you are alive.

I cannot help believing that you jumped off that train because you knew what I now know - that these "super-soldiers" - if that's what they are - can in fact be destroyed. That the key to their destruction lies in the iron compound at that quarry.

I am scared for you, Mulder. And for William. The forces against us are unrelenting. But so is my determination to see you again. To regain the comfort and safety we shared for so brief a time. Until then, I remain forever yours,

Dana

****

Ad placed in the New York Times Classified section, January 14, 2002

The whale, like all things that are mighty, wears a false brow to the common world.

Fe3O4

****

Letter received on January 27, 2002

Dana Scully 107 E. Cordova St. Apt. 35 Washington, DC., 01833

1-16-02

Not much time to write Sorry so short saw your note Agreed on Fe3O3 though not sure how yet Love to you both

****

February 2, 2002

Mulder,

I got your last letter and nearly wept with relief to hear from you. I hope this can all end soon. I pray you stay safe until then.

Not sure what the weather is like where you are, but the most beautiful snow has fallen here. William and I have been playing in it at every opportunity and there's a respectable snowman in front of my building now. William likes to eat the snow and blinks when the flakes cling to his eyelashes. He looks more like you every day.

I send regards from Skinner and the Gunmen and my mother lights candles for you.

I wish I had an address to send this to.

****

E-Mail From: [email protected] To: [email protected] Date: 11 Feb 2002

Mulder,

I am hesitant to contact you in this way because I know it is a risk, but I am beginning to fear the worst for William. I don't know what he is but someone does and they are trying to hurt him. I have been working with Reyes and we suspect it all goes back to that artifact I found in Africa, though I can't say I truly understand it. My mother says our son is a miracle and that I must simply accept him as that. But how can I do that, Mulder? After what happened to Emily, how can I not want to know how he came to be whatever he is?

William has been taken from me twice now and I am starting to despair of ever being able to protect him. All the sacrifices we're making right now - what if it comes to nothing? I don't know what to do.

****

E-Mail From: [email protected] To: [email protected] Date: 11 Feb 2002

Sorry, we were unable to deliver your message to the following address.

< [email protected] >

****

Ad placed in the Washington Post Classified section, February 23, 2002

O lady, you in whom my hope gains strength, you who, for my salvation, have allowed your footsteps to be left in Hell, in all the things that I have seen, I recognize the grace and benefit that I, depending upon your power and goodness, have received. You drew me out from slavery to freedom by all those paths, by all those means that were within your power. Do, in me, preserve your generosity, so that my soul, which you have healed, when it is set loose from my body, be a soul that you will welcome.

****

Ad placed in the New York Times Classified section, February 24, 2002

Let faith oust fact; let fancy oust memory; I look deep down and do believe.

****

Ad placed in the New York Times Classified section, March 20, 2002

All men live enveloped in whale-lines. All are born with halters round their necks; but it is only when caught in the swift, sudden turn of death, that mortals realize the silent, subtle, ever-present perils of life.

Gunmen dead.

****

E-Mail From: [email protected] To: [email protected] Date: 26 Mar 2002

John,

My thoughts are with you and Barbara at this time. Take care.

Dana Scully

****

E-Mail From: [email protected] To: [email protected] Date: 26 Mar 2002

Thanks Dana. It's been hard but the closure has come as a relief after all this time. I hope you are coming to terms with your own loss as well. They were the good guys.

John Doggett

****

April 20, 2002

Mulder,

I have come to an act of desperation. I have had no way of contacting you - no way to talk this over with you - and so I had to make this choice alone. I have had assurances that our information is to be expunged from every record and I tell myself moment by moment that this is his only chance at a normal life, but what if I have made a mistake that can never be undone?

I vacillate between thinking I have sacrificed my own happiness for his and thinking I have sacrificed him because I am not strong enough to accept what he is. What if that's the case? What if I was just too afraid to see him suffer? Watching Emily die slowly through the glass left me so cold I thought I'd freeze everything I touched, but I didn't know how to grieve for her. They had no right to take those ova from me, no right to create her, and no right to destroy her. She was supposed to be mine and whatever other children were created should have been mine also. But by the time I came to terms with the fact that I was truly her mother, she was already gone. What if the same fate was in store for William? I don't know that I could have stood it.

All I wanted was a child - your child, as the years went on - and I just cannot understand why anyone would create these lives for the express purpose of later destroying them. I don't think we can ever fully know what William means to the Project, but they wanted him dead, Mulder. They wanted to take our son and kill him and would have in time and came close even as I watched over him, and all this before he turned a year old. Jeffrey Spender came to me - terrible things have been done to him - and said that no matter what he did to undo the changes to his little body, William would never have any peace from the men who have been working towards the ends you and I have been fighting.

I believed him, Mulder. I looked into his ruined face and I believe he was telling me the truth and I believe it still. I did the only thing I could think of to protect our son and I can only hope now that you can forgive me.

I don't know what else to do but keep going. It's all I've ever known how to do.

****

E-Mail From: [email protected] To: [email protected] Date: 22 Apr 2002

Dana, what in the hell have you done? Pick up your goddamned phone.

I just got off the phone with mom a little while ago and she's half-hysterical and I'm not far from it myself. What were you thinking? You put your son up for adoption, Dana? That really struck you as the best possible solution? That's what you have a family for. To help you. And no matter how bad things were you should have come to us. I don't know what has happened to you over the years and I don't think I even know who you are anymore, because my sister would never have done something so insane.

We could have taken him in for you if you couldn't deal with being a single mother. God knows where Fox is and why you put up with the crap he dishes out is beyond me, but he has molded you into a woman I don't recognize and I think there is something severely wrong with both of you.

I have faith that you are not beyond salvation, Dana, but you need to cut your ties with him. Come out to San Diego and stay with us. I have already contacted an attorney about having the adoption reversed and because of the extreme emotional duress you've been under he thinks there's a very good shot that Tara and I can get temporary custody while you get your life back together.

It's not too late for you. We love you and want to help, but you have to let us. I am praying for you.

Your brother,

Bill

****

E-Mail From: [email protected] To: [email protected] Date: 22 Apr 2002

Hey Squirt. Just got an earful from Bill. Mom's too freaked out to be coherent.

I don't know what the fuck is up with you the past few years Danes, but the shit seems to have royally hit the fan of your life. Despite what Bill thinks, you were always the smartest one of us and if this is what you thought was right, well, I guess I have to trust that. I'm just so sorry that you're dealing with this.

We're moving to Marrakech in June for a restaurant Larissa's designing and we have this awesome house with plenty of room for decompressing Feds. Take some leave and come stay for a while.

Worried about you, big sister.

Charlie

****

E-Mail From: [email protected] To: [email protected] Date: 24 Apr 2002

Dana, I am so worried about you and I think you might need some professional help. Please return my calls. We need to talk.

I love you.

Mom

****

E-Mail From: [email protected] To: [email protected] Date: 25 Apr 2002

Dana

Please call if you ever need to talk. I am here for you.

Monica

****

E-Mail From: [email protected] To: [email protected] Date: 25 Apr 2002

Monica,

Thank you for your concern. I'm going to be fine. I will be back to work on Monday.

****

E-Mail From: [email protected] To: [email protected] Date: 25 Apr 2002

I hope this finds you well. Just wanted to see how you were doing.

John Doggett

****

E-Mail From: [email protected] To: [email protected] Date: 25 Apr 2002

John,

Thank you for your concern. I'm going to be fine. I will be back to work on Monday.

****

E-Mail From: [email protected] To: [email protected] Date: 9 May 2002

Dr. Scully,

My name is John Reits and I am a parapsychologist. I'd like to meet with you concerning a former patient of mine. Please contact me at this address or give me a call at 714-555-0146.

****

E-Mail From: [email protected] To: [email protected] Date: 19 May 2002

Scully -

Do you ever answer your phone anymore? I need to see you in my office at once. Drop what you are doing and get over here now.

It's about Mulder.

****

The End

****

Notes:

Addendum:

R2NCl + H2O = Bellefleur + Braddock Heights? So claims a woman with node at C5

The Warrior Princess Super-Soldier chick had a node on the back of her neck (around the C5 vertebra) and had informed Scully that chloramine was being introduced into the water supply to transform the populace into super-soldiers. Scully was reminded of the water tampering in Braddock Heights (Wetwired).

****

Fe3O4 + R2NCl = ?

Mulder has discovered evidence of a connection between chloramine and magnetite, but isn't sure what it is.

****

Quantum suicide?

Scully's hoping to get some help on the case from 4D. Quantum suicide - as it pertains to the many-worlds interpretation and the case - encompasses the idea that all moments (however unlikely) with possibilities of occurrence greater than zero are experienced in some dimension.

Mulder's reply is just directing her to some related case files. Which I made up.

****

It was evening here But upon earth the very noon of night.

ncrl

Mulder's train will arrive at the New Carrollton train station at midnight

#my fic #xfiles fanfic #xf fanfic #season 9 #epistolary

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iwriteforthetincanman · 4 years

Text

Mandoctober Day 14: Helmet

A/N: brought to you by angst, depression, a small hot chocolate, the tense feeling in my shoulders as I’m typing this and of course the source of almost all of my writing: the mixture of insomnia and a f**ked up sleep schedule.

p.s. I am trying to take care of myself, October is just a tough time of the year for me and Mandoctober is helping me cope. I refuse to give up any possibly writings/drawings at this point.

Also this is loosely based off of headcannons from @dindjarindiaries blog and this is for @leo-moon ‘s Mandoctober!

TW: mentions of abuse (both descriptive, non-descriptive, mental, emotional and physical but only for a two, three paragraphs) Refusal to eat or sleep (Din refuses to do these things for two seconds and Reader isn’t granted them) minor character death, themes of slavery (NOT RACE SPECIFIED) (not a trigger warning) pronouns of a gender neutral partner and of course, lastly, hurt/comfort and fluff. (Also personally because I wrote this and I can shout it into the void, I’m gender fluid with she/her pronouns so I’d like to imagine reader is too, BUT THAT’S JUST ME SO IMAGINE THIS HOWEVER YOU WANT, once again requests are open for any sexuality/gender, as long as you give me brief description of what you want, nothing NSFW)

Time. Aboard the Razor Crest with no specific moon, sun or stars to guide you, time easily became irrelevant. What you learned very quickly was that with this discovery, you realized Din knew that too.

Or it had gotten to a point where he learnt it a long time ago and just...forgot all about it.

Sometimes he would just sit there in the pilot’s seat, without even doing anything and he would just stare into oblivion. You wondered if his eyesight was okay. Now that you think about it...when was the last time he ate something? Does he ever take that helmet off?

“Din? Are you okay?” For a moment you thought he might be asleep.

“Sorry...did you say something?” Okay, now you knew he at least needed some sleep.

“Come on tin can. You need some brain food and maybe even an ‘extended nap’.” You joked.

“Isn’t that just called sleeping?” You couldn’t tell if he was being serious or not...or if that helmet was squeezing his brain too.

“Come on!” Grabbing his hand unexpectedly, Din flinched a little before you dragged him to his feet.

“I-I can’t.” This admission had you stopping in your tracks as you reached the hull.

“Is...everything okay?” You were concerned before but now you were starting to think he was hiding a wound from you. He’s done it before. Waiting until you were asleep to tend to it so you wouldn’t worry. Little did he know you had been wide awake with worry for a while and could hear him hurting himself with that blasted cauterizer.

It was understandable that as a Mandalorian medical supplies weren’t cheap. Even with all the bounties Din brought in, currency rates were going up around the universe. It was difficult to keep up with. Which is why you never broached the subject with him.

It wasn’t your place to pry.

Not with him anyway...he was silent, reserved, it was like he didn’t trust you. Yet you of all people understood that, you understood that it took you a long time to trust him. Like really trust him with your life...rather than just your role to him as the child’s ‘caretaker’.

It blind sided you when you realized how deeply you cared for him...Mando.

Gods, you didn’t even know his own name.

“My creed. I can’t...eat in front of other people.” This was a touchy subject. You knew that. But you underestimated how stressed out he really was. He wasn’t wounded...he was just bone tired.

“Well, I can make some food-”

“DON’T YOU UNDERSTAND? I DON’T NEED YOUR HELP!”

“...ok.”

He hadn’t seethed the words out from his teeth as loud as you had heard them.

But...the look on your face as your eyes met the floor, undoubtedly filling with tears.

It cut Din deeper than any vibroblade could.

---

“I don’t know what to do Ad’ika. I can’t sleep, I can’t eat, I can’t dream without thinking of her. And now...now I’ve gone and done the worst thing I could ever do to her...I hurt her without even touching her.”

The sigh was small before it reached a crescendo out of his lungs, erupting out of his head like it was a volcano. That was what it felt like to breath again. When he was alone Mando had the freedom to take his helmet off on the Crest as much as he wanted. As long as he was in space, his privacy was unlimited.

But that all changed when he met the child and then eventually...you.

“I just wish...I knew more about her. Knew her likes and dislikes. Knew what her favorite food was. What makes her laugh...her favorite kind of music…I’ve gone and ruined everything haven’t I? Not just for me but for you too. I can’t just let her go...and if she does leave I can’t just hire someone new. She’s...really burrowed her way into my heart, little one.”

Din’s soliloquy fell into the little creature’s ears like a fly trap. The child knew his father was hurting, he could feel it, not just in the force but in his tiny little heart. It was the kind of hurt he couldn’t fix with his own hands...he had to find another way. He had to make his buir feel whole again.

Determined, the little creature climbed onto his father’s chest as his breathing started to relax.

“Ad’ika, I’m not in the mood for games right now…” The dark circles under Din’s eyes became more and more pronounced as the hours dragged on. The good thing about being a father now meant that he had someone to talk to at any time if the baby was also struggling to sleep.

Din never thought he would become a father. He thought a lot of things wouldn’t happen before he died a warrior’s death. He definitely thought he wasn’t going to fall in love too...but that happened before he could even think about it.

Multiple chirps and coos echoed from the child’s lips as Din continued to massage his temples.

“Ad’ika did you not hear me?”

Opening his eyes, Din found himself utterly and completely alone.

“Ad’ika!” Startling upwards, he launched himself onto his bear feet as he searched the dark air around him for either you or the child.

“Y/N!” Screaming your name into the void he began to run, not caring about his bare feet, his sleep wear or the fact his helmet was completely missing.

A fact that had not gone unnoticed by the child.

---

Abruptly, Din was launched into the scorching blazes of a desert sun.

The sand hurt as he fell down the dune he wasn’t gonna lie.

But in some weird, twisted way, it felt good to feel the sand under his skin.

“Girl! You get back here! Wretched creature!!” The sudden yelling came from a small village not too far away from where Din stood. Flinching, he hid behind the sand. He felt naked without the beskar. It was almost embarrassing how scared he was right now.

Peering over the sandy hill, he saw a young child with Y/H/C hair, rosy cheeks and bare feet run straight towards him. Not considering the strange events that had occurred before this, Din, although he’d never admit it, attempted to run away from her. Except, when she caught up to him, she ran right through him.

Din couldn’t decide whether this was some wicked form of a dream or that he had died and was now wandering the nearest planet.

Oh Maker, what if he was dead? There was no way you could pilot the Crest on your own...and what about Ad’ika.

That was when he heard it, the baby cooing in his head.

“Ad’ika?”

That’s when it clicked. He wasn’t in some hellish figment of his imagination or dead…the child had used his powers to do this since he wasn’t wearing his helmet. But then again...where the hell was he?

“Y/N! YOU UGLY THING! IF YOU DON’T GET BACK HERE I WILL THROTTLE YOU!”

Whipping around to face you, all Din was met with was the familiar sight of you hunched over yourself, right near his feet. Crying. This had happened before but…not like this.

Was this...one of your memories?

Oh no...Din was in your head. Somehow, the baby had managed it.

“I DON’T WANT TO GO BACK THERE! AND YOU CAN’T MAKE ME!” Din turned back to face the furious woman, she looked like a cursed school teacher, her hair flying all over the place. But what stood out to him were the nail marks on her cheek.

He couldn’t picture it but somehow this woman had distressed you so much you had decided to hit her. The next thing that happened confirmed it…

SLAP!

“YOU EVER HIT ME LIKE THAT AGAIN GIRL I WON’T BE AS CONSIDERATE TO KEEP YOU!”

Keep you? Oh...you weren’t a school child.

You were a slave.

That’s why when you had first met you had been so skittish, so fearful...and yet so brave.

Somehow it all made sense.

Din couldn’t help reaching out for you as your head sagged on your shoulders, a purple and pink mark blossoming across the side of your face as the evil woman clawed her hand around your wrist.

“You will make my children their supper and you will go straight into the cellar with no dinner. Do you understand me child?” She spoke with a gentle tone...yet the venom dripped from it with the force of a thousand sandcrawlers.

“...Yes Ma’am.”

Your submission startled Din. Then again, you were only a child, and if Din hadn’t been taken in by the Mandalorians at your age...who knows what could’ve happened to him. From what little he had heard about of slaves...they didn’t often make it to see their teenage years.

Yet, somehow you did.

Din couldn’t help being grateful that, from what he could see of you, those were the only things that cruel woman had done to you.

---

Stumbling into a new landscape, Din shook his head in an attempt to gain his bearings.

“Look Y/N, it’ll be a quick job, all you have to do is listen to what I say and we’ll be gone as soon as you can say ‘bantha fodder’.”

This was a new voice. A teenager from what Din could guess. They spoke in a kind tone but at the sound of the way they said your name he couldn’t help the feeling of jealousy welling up in him.

Shaking his head once again, he looking around the jungle planet to spot you and this person.

“Iarren...I don’t know about this. I know we’ve done stuff like this before but we’re not resistance fighters. Those are imperial troops. What if...what if one of us doesn’t come back from this?”

A much older version of you appeared like a vision from behind the leaves. You were much older now, Din could only guess that you had only just recently come of age. You had grown into your features well. He could see more of the fierce woman he had come to know.

“Babe, you worry too much. Imps are stupid, plus what we are after is right next to the door practically. If you’re so concerned you can cover me from here and I’ll be right back to kiss your worries away...alright?” Din could tell just by the way you shared a glance that you were absolutely taken with this person.

In a way Din respected them...but in the back of his mind he knew there was a reason he was seeing this particular memory. Bracing himself, he could only watch as you shared a tender kiss with your lover. It shocked him how passionate you were with them. Gripping them like a vice as if you knew what was about to happen.

Din’s heart broke for you as he watched you sob over their corpse later that very night.

---

“Cyare?”

Din thought he had finally made it back to you just by looking upon your face. Much older now, age similar to the one when he met you. Looking around, he realized...this was that exact moment.

“Excuse me.”

Now Din knew for certain he wasn’t dreaming...there was no way he could dream about himself in this much detail. It was like having an out of body experience...in a way he was.

“Can I help you?” The first thing Din noticed about you was that you were too kind to have been on a planet as rough as Andos. Imps were everywhere nowadays and it was the one time Din had to wear a proper cloak so no one could spot him.

“I need to hire someone to help me with a child. I was wondering if you could help me find a person that is trustworthy?” Being a Mandalorian was so difficult that day. Meeting you made him realize that you were kind enough to suggest yourself, admitting that you were tired of the constant trail of dead bodies this planet had shown you. He flinched when you mentioned the blood you found leaking through your front door one morning.

He accepted your offer immediately. Offering payment for a job you had been doing for years without none.

Din had no clue he had saved you from slavery for the second time in your life.

---

Waking up in a cold sweat, Din knew this was reality.

All your memories, it felt like a dream.

That’s when he felt his son sag against his chest, heaving long tired breaths.

Din was scared he had over exerted himself.

“Ad’ika...why did you do that?”

All the child could do was reach for his father’s face, bringing it towards his own.

“Da.” This one, simple word, brought Din’s walls crumbling to the ground as he began to cry.

“Thank you...Ni kar’tayli gar darasuum Ad’ika.”

The overwhelming joy he felt caused his thoughts about you to skyrocket. He knew he had to share this information with you.

Startling from his bed, Din shot out of his room with the sleepy child tucked against his vest clad chest.

“Y/N! Cyare come quick!”

The sound of his unmodulated voice scared you more than anything else he had said to you that night. What you didn’t expect when you opened the door was to find a complete stranger shouting your name.

“WHO ARE YOU? WHAT HAVE YOU DONE WITH DIN?!” You practically screamed, ready to throw hands with this strange practically half naked man that had appeared before you.

That’s what you spotted the child in his arms, half asleep and staring admiringly up at the man.

“...He called me da. I...had to share that with you Cyare...I didn’t even think twice about my creed.” The watery smile he gave you was enough to convince you that the man before you was none other than Din Djarin himself.

“...just like that? You...you threw away your creed, being a Mandalorian...just so you could tell me he spoke his first word?” Din thought you were upset, in a way you were.

When he turned to find your eyes filled with the happiest of tears he had ever seen, the overwhelming urge to kiss you kept slamming into his head, bleeding through his heart.

“Cyare...Father’s always share the first word their child speaks with their Mother.”

When you began to sob, Din refused to hold himself back as he curled his fingers through your hair, cradling your son between the two of you as he tilted your head back.

As his lips brushed against yours for the first time…

You both had never felt so free.

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spookysweet-heart · 4 years

Text

Rookie To The Rescue

Request: "Hi I was wondering if you’re still taking any request for Leon S. Kennedy. If so, Can I make a request of Leon taking care of a sick gn close friend?"

Pairings: Leon S. Kennedy x Reader

Fandom: Resident Evil

Warnings: None pure fluff

A/N: It feels so great to be writing for Leon again after a very long break. Hope you all enjoy this! Thank you for requesting!!! Edited by @semiproeagle23 ♥️ (collage was made by me!)

Quickly grabbing a tissue from the box by your bed, you blow your nose and groan out in pain from the small headache forming. Tossing the used tissue in the bin next to your bed, you lean back into your pillows, your head resting against the cool glass of your window. You haven’t taken a day off work since arriving at the R.P.D. but then again, you haven’t been this sick before.

You keep hearing your phone ring but feel too tired to pick it up. Glaring at the blurry light from your phone, you sigh and try to ignore it by putting a cold washcloth on your forehead.

As the ringing fades from your ears, your body relaxes as you sink into your bed, your head now resting on the fluffy pillows, happy to welcome a much needed nap.

Leon sighs and hangs up the phone, feeling worried. You usually answer when he calls. Looking around the office, he sees Marvin making his way up the stairs. “Lieutenant, Sir. Have you seen (Y/l/n) today? They haven’t clocked in yet.”

Marvin shakes his head as he balances the paperwork in his hands.

"No, they called in earlier this morning saying they won’t be able to come in today. Said something about getting a fever during the night.”

Leon smiles and nods. “Thank you, sir.” Making his way to the West Office, he sits at his desk and takes out a notepad and pen. It doesn’t take him a long time to write down a list of things you like and a list of things he knows that will help make you feel better.

After work, Leon makes his way to the market and carefully gets everything he needs on both lists. He even double checks and goes through every aisle twice because he feels like you’d be sad if he forgot something. After putting everything in his car, he is all set and starts to drive to your apartment.

Rolling over to face your alarm clock, you see it’s about to be six in the evening. Sighing, you drag yourself out of bed and pick out a change of clothes. Just as you are on your way to the bathroom, you hear knocking at your front door.

Putting your clothes on the hallway table, you carefully make your way to the front door. You weren't expecting anyone so you're surprised when you see Leon standing there with a couple of bags in his hands.

"Leon? What are you-" you quickly turn your head to cough into your arm and give him an apologetic look. "Sorry, but what are you doing here?"

Leon smiles at you as he raises one of the bags. "Heard you were sick and decided to come by and see how you were doing. I also thought you could use some homemade soup instead of something from a can."

You grin at the rookie cop and let him inside. Helping him with the bags, you put them on the kitchen table and look over at him. "I'm gonna take a quick shower okay? I feel gross after being in these clothes all day."

While he takes out the ingredients he needs, he nods towards you. "Take all the time you need alright? It'll be awhile before this is done."

You give his shoulder a small squeeze and go back to the bathroom.

Leon gets to work on making you your favorite soup and sets the table with the treats he got you. He smiles the whole time as he places the medicine down next to the bags of gummies, teas, a cute little humidifier that changes colors, and a fluffy blanket in your favorite color.

Right as Leon turns off the stove, he hears you walking down the hall.

"Before you come in here, I need you to close your eyes."

You raise an eyebrow and call out to him. "Close my eyes? Why?"

"It's a surprise. Do it for me, please?"

You playfully roll your eyes and close them. "Alright, they're closed."

Leon grins as he walks out of the kitchen to guide you. Walking into the kitchen, you give a small smile when you're able to smell the soup on the stove. Your stomach starts to growl with how hungry you are, which makes Leon giggle a bit. "You ready?"

"Yup!" You nod enthusiastically as you open your eyes to see all the cute gifts and remedies laid out on the table.

You pause for a few seconds, which causes Leon to get worried. "Are you okay? Did I not get-"

Not meaning to interrupt him, but the sneeze you were trying to hold back proved too powerful and you quickly turned to sneeze into your arm. "S-sorry…."

Leon gives you a warm smile while shaking his head. "No, you're fine (Y/n). Sit down, I'll serve your food for you."

You gladly take a seat at the table and take a look at the humidifier.

Clearing your throat a bit, you catch Leon's attention. "This changes color?" Your voice comes out scratchy and hoarse.

He smiles down at you and places the bowl in front of you. "Yeah it does. It has soft pastel colors so it won't be harsh when you use it at night. The gummies also double as a soother for your throat. Um, I also got you a fluffy blanket in case you get too cold and got you more of your favorite tea to help with your sinuses and sore throat in between taking all the cough medicine."

"You really thought everything out didn't you?" Taking a few sips of the broth, you welcome the warm liquid to slide down your throat. "This is really good by the way….didn't know you could cook this great."

"That's because you never let me."

You only give him a playful smile while continuing to eat your soup.

Leon decides to make you a cup of tea so you can have it ready for when you head off to bed. He takes a moment to look at you, and he smiles to himself, feeling glad he was able to help make you feel a bit better. You look a lot more relaxed than when he arrived earlier.

Waiting for the water to boil, Leon takes the humidifier and new box of tissues to your room and sets them up on your nightstand. Taking a look around, he carefully gathers up your trash into a bag placing, a new one in the trash can that's beside your bed.

As Leon walks by the kitchen with the trash bag in hand, he sees you're all done. "Do you want any more? Are you still hungry?"

"N-no…" clearing your throat again you notice the bag. "You didn't have to clean up, I was gonna do that."

"You're sick, (Y/n). It's fine. Just let me take care of you, dork." He laughs when he sees you pout at him. "You're always taking care of people. It's your turn today."

You only roll your eyes in response as you get up to put the bowl in the sink. Sighing when you turn to walk back to the table, you look over at the bag of gummies.

Picking up the bag, you tear it open from one of the corners and take one out. They looked like normal candy but once you put it in your mouth you were hit with a wave of artificial cherry.

Showing your distaste with each bite you took you realized it wasn't so bad towards the end.

Leon walked back in on time to see the last moment of disgust on your face. "I take it you ate one of them?"

You only nod and look over at the pot of boiling water.

Leon chuckles walking mast you to grab a mug from the cabinet to make your tea. "Why don't you go get comfy in bed okay? I'll bring you, your tea in a sec."

You only look at him, as if asking him if he's sure you should actually go. He smiles softly at you while motioning that it really was okay for you to go.

Listening to him, you grab the blanket from the table as you pass by and head to your bedroom. Smiling when you see how he set up your bed, you carefully climb in and get as comfy as possible.

Sighing when you feel your muscles relax while winding down, you almost forget that Leon is still in your apartment.

Looking in the direction of the bedroom door, you smile at Leon when he walks in with the mug of tea and glass of water.

Sitting up a bit, you carefully take the mug and blow into it before taking a sip.

"How are you feeling?" He places the glass of water on your nightstand and turns on the humidifier.

"I'm feeling a lot better, thanks to you. Seriously, Leon, thank you for checking up on me."

Taking the mug from you, he puts it beside the glass and helps you lay back down. "What are friends for, right? I'll be back tomorrow morning before work to check up on you, okay? I'll bring you some breakfast. If you can stomach it, that is."

You silently giggle and nod up at him. "Sounds good, rookie. Thank you."

"Anything for a fellow officer." He playfully smiles down at you and gently tucks you into bed. "Alright. Goodnight, (Y/n)."

"Goodnight, Leon."

#fic #leon kennedy x reader #leon kennedy fanfic #leon x reader #leon s kennedy #leon kennedy #resident evil #resident evil 2 remake #resident evil 2

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29-pieces · 4 years

Text

Whumptober day 23 - Good Omens

Day 23: Sleep Deprivation Fandom/setting: Good Omens - pre-Apocalypse, shortly after Crowley wakes up from the century he decided to snooze through Read on AO3 Read on FF.net

~*~

The pain was more than he could stand, a coursing, biting, stinging, agonizing pain. Crowley slumped forward in the chair he was bound to, wrists tugging desperately at ropes that had been secured by a duke of Hell and therefore weren't going to come loose no matter how much he struggled. Blood dripped from a dozen different cuts across his face, chest, and limbs... he'd lost so much of it already, it was a wonder his body didn't discorporate...

A dagger flashed, taking another slice out of his cheek. Crowley cried out with pain and it was too much, it was all too much, the relentless torment. As the blood flowed, his vision started going grey at the edges, then darker grey, then black... Somewhere in the distance, a nasty voice was saying nasty things, but Crowley lost all sense of it as he dipped at last into blessed, merciful, beautiful unconsciousness.

ZAP!

Crowley heard himself screaming as the electric current tore through every muscle in his body, the heat burning his throat where the collar made contact with skin. Jolted back awake, he straightened in the chair and panted, trying to breathe through the sobs.

"Ah-ah," Hastur said, crouching down in front of Crowley and patting his cheek. "Best stay awake if you don't want that to happen again." He grinned, though, jagged teeth showing that he very much wanted that to happen again.

Crowley trembled as the electric current slowly dissipated, then looked up at his tormentor.

"Come on, fellas," he wheezed plaintively, watching Hastur stand and start to stalk around him, while Ligur lounged nearby with a grin. "I got it, okay? I learned my lesson, we- we don't have to keep doing this-"

"Beelzebub thinks otherwise," Ligur reminded him. "Hastur and I got the whole year off just to keep this up and make sure the lesson sinks in. It's only been... what's it been, Hastur?"

"A week," Hastur replied. The toad on top of his head croaked delightedly. "So get used to pain for a while, Crowley. You got fifty-one more to go."

"Can't- can't we talk about this? I swear I'll do better-"

"A century, Crowley. A century of temptations and spreading evil and potential souls for our side, gone to waste."

Crowley leaned away from the dagger hovering over one of his snake eyes, still shaking. "I already said I was sorry-"

"You're here to do a job, not sleep."

"I told you, I was recovering, my angel nemesis had-"

"You got a boo-boo and decided to have a nice lie-in? For a hundred years? And thought that was going to go over well?" Hastur tsk-ed. "And you claim to be so clever. Well, you had your nice little century long nap, so do you know what you'll be doing for the next century?" Hastur pressed the dagger into Crowley's cheek, letting the snake demon's blood drip down the blade as he flashed his teeth again. "Not sleeping."

"Your new little collar will see to that," Ligur tittered. "Every time you fall asleep..." He punched a fist into his palm. "Zap!"

"For a hundred years." Hastur pulled the dagger away, then plunged it hilt-deep into Crowley's abdomen.

Crowley had spent the first two days trying not to give them any satisfaction, but that had quickly gone out the window under Hastur's skillful hands: he threw his head back and screamed. This, of course, only ignited the bloodlust in Hastur's eyes. The toad croaked again as Hastur withdrew the dagger and then stabbed it in once more several inches away. Crowley choked on blood, feeling the hot liquid dribbling from his mouth. The edges of his vision were going dark again, the pain too much to tolerate even as he frantically tried to stay awake to avoid the jolt of electricity that would be following soon.

He couldn't stop... he was slipping...

...

ZAP!

Crowley screamed again and sobbed, writhing in his chair as he rode through yet another wave of the electricity. A year of this?! Hastur wasn't going to get bored and leave him alone, Crowley was really going to spend the entire year tied to this chair in unending torment. They'd already warned him they had pre-filed the paperwork to fast-track his recorporation in case he died, which meant there was no mercy coming. Hot tears slid down Crowley's face, hating that it had only taken a week for them to break him of any pride.

"Let's start again," Hastur beamed. "Ligur, you want a turn?"

Crowley shrank back as much as he could in the chair, but of course he was helpless...

The door to the shack burst in suddenly, blown off its hinges. Crowley had just enough time to see a blinding ring of heavenly light, his befuddled mind whispering "angel", before a concussive whomp knocked him senseless.

...ZAP!

Crowley shrieked as the electric current ran right over the pathways it had just burned through his muscles before he'd had the slightest chance to heal, only multiplying the pain. He writhed and shook, his own body no longer under his control, while somewhere beside him he heard a horrified, frantic voice calling his name. Then he was pitching forward, wrists free of their bonds, straight into something soft and sturdy.

"Crowley, oh Crowley, my poor boy, what in Heaven's name have they done to you? What- what is that thing?"

Hands at his throat, ripping the shock collar off his neck, and Crowley trembled with relief.

"Angel," he whispered hoarsely. Weakly, he smiled up at his savior, meeting Aziraphale's stricken eyes. "Good timing..."

"Why are they hurting you?" the angel cried. "I haven't seen you in... must be a hundred years, at least..." He blanched, then gasped, "You haven't been here that whole time?"

Crowley shook his head in reassurance, rubbing his shredded wrists painfully. "Week," he murmured. "They- they weren't happy with me..." He looked around Aziraphale to see Hastur and Ligur unconscious on the floor. Pity they didn't have a demonic shock collar to wake them, he thought resentfully.

The angel rumbled with displeasure, then quietly offered, "Let me heal you."

He reached for Crowley, but the demon pulled away. "Best not," he said mournfully. "Be hard enough to find a convincing lie for Beelzebub what happened here... an angel bursts in and the one demon who's already down for the count is rescued and healed?"

Aziraphale slumped but nodded, then tensed. "I- I suppose I should... kill them," he said doubtfully. "I came investigating because of all the demonic energy coming from this place..."

As much as the idea genuinely appealed to Crowley, he shook his head with regret. "Can't do that, either," he decided. "Be even more suspicious, wouldn't it? That you killed two dukes but I escaped."

This did bring a conundrum, the more he thought about it. Even if he did "miraculously escape" the angel, he hadn't finished his punishment from Beelzebub. Crowley trembled with the idea of enduring the remainder of the year like this, and another 99 without the ability to sleep. He couldn't do it. But... Crowley's mind began to race as the beginnings of a plan came together. He looked up at Aziraphale and grimly smiled. ~*~

Aziraphale tried not to pace, but really his nerves were shot. Crowley had sworn he would come back up as soon as he'd checked in with Beelzebub, but until he did so, the angel had no way of knowing if Crowley's clever tongue was going to be enough this time. It sounded like he'd been in dreadful trouble, now he was walking straight back into Hell? Then again, what else could he do short of running away and being hunted forever? Aziraphale wrung his hands, already toying with the idea of how he might justify to Heaven that he simply had to go and rescue a demon from Hell...

The door opened and Aziraphale spun around, then nearly sagged with relief to see Crowley trudging in, clearly exhausted and still covered in horrible wounds, but still very much alive.

"It worked?" he asked anxiously, hurrying to meet his friend.

Crowley nodded, managing a smile. "Beelzebub bought it," he said with a shrug. "I just said that collar woke me up after you knocked us all out, and that you decided to brutally torture me for information-"

Aziraphale squeaked in dismay, even though he knew of course this had always been part of the plan, and that of course he hadn't actually done so. But, just, the thought...

Ignoring him, Crowley went on, "And I had to use all my wiles to trick you into believing false information, that Hastur and Ligur were considering turning traitor. So of course you spared their lives, not wanting to kill potential future informants."

"And Beelzebub believed that?" Aziraphale couldn't help but repeat incredulously.

Crowley shrugged. "S'not like Hastur or Ligur can dispute it, being unconscious for the whole thing and all. Told them you'd decided to let me go afterward as payment for the 'information', then I brought the dukes down to safety. Saved their miserable lives, I did. Two dukes, and I out-wiled a principality to boot. Beelzebub commuted the rest of my sentence for it."

Aziraphale shook his head, watching the snake demon with pure admiration. "I must say, you have quite the clever mind, my dear. Now then... I understand you can't be sleeping a whole century through again, but mightn't it be prudent to rest for a little while and let your body heal from that horrid Hastur? You... you can stay here at my place, if you like," he added, feeling a touch of heat on his cheeks. He hurried to add, "I mean, no demon is going to think of checking up on you here, especially now that I'm the, er... brutally torturing principality. You might even let me have a look at those wounds now?"

Crowley glanced down and raised a noncommittal shoulder. "Er... yeah, alright," he said. "Not sure I could even get back home, to be honest. So exhausted..."

"Then it's settled," Aziraphale decided decisively. "You make yourself at home, I'm going to put some water on to boil. You're safe here, Crowley."

The demon nodded, a wan smile crossing his face. "Erm... you know..."

He trailed off, but he didn't need to finish. Aziraphale smiled back, then hurried to fetch the water.

You're welcome, he silently replied.

#whumptober2020 #no.23 #Sleep Deprivation #Good Omens #fanfiction #Crowley whump #Aziraphale to the rescue #pre-apocalypse

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vore-scientist · 4 years

Text

Cookie Jar (M/f platonic safe/soft sfw vore)

A Tale of the Mystic Woods

Sophia see’s an opportunity to prank her half-giant wizard, by getting him to eat her. Also some Gardening! (sadly no actual cookies or jars feature in this story)

Princess Sophia and Yonah the Wizard are my OCs, they are both adults, and part of my Mystic Woods series. I commissioned art for this chapter! So that’s in there too!

Warnings: While this story is all about safe, soft, willing, silliness there are uhhhh some really strange references/discussion about fa.tal. None occurs. King Ben just is a bit... creepy and uncaring.

----

“So, what’s the plan for today?”

The Princess Sophia asked as she and her half-giant wizard ate breakfast. Toast with a citrus marmalade and eggs scrambled with spinach, onions, and mushrooms. They always had eggs. Yonah was a really amazing cook, and eggs were his favorite food. Well. Second favorite food. Sophia had to admit, the wizard made the best eggs she’d ever had, and she grew up with royal cooks! Yonah took one more giant mouthful of his own portion of eggs, and a drink of water flavored with a few slices of magic melon, before answering.

“Not much,” he took another bite. Clearly not in a hurry. “Was thinking we could garden this morning, then I’ve got some translations to complete. Maybe there will be time for a dusk patrol.”

No way.

Sophia’s forkful of egg was frozen halfway to her mouth.

There was no way he had forgotten. Right? Someone so smart organized and all. It wasn’t possible Not in her wildest dreams.

“That’s it? Nothing else?” she risked jogging his memory just to be sure.

Yonah was looking at her funny, so she finished her bite of food to keep a straight face.

“Nope. That’s it. Unless… Is there something you wanted to do?” He asked.

She took such a big drink of water she nearly choked.

“Ah- um.”

“I could try to put together a lesson, but I didn't plan on one today. Im still waiting on a few potion ingredients, which should be here soon.”

“The plan sounds good!” She said, her voice squeaking a bit.

He’d definitely forgotten. And if Sophia was a good friend she would have told him. Thankfully Sophia wasn’t a good friend. She was a great friend. His Best Friend. And as the best friend to an evil giant wizard she got an evil idea. All she had to do was not raise suspicion.

“Ok…” Yonah didn’t sound convinced. “Would you like me to clear your dishes?”

Sophia nodded and placed them delicately unto his palm, but finishing her water first. Then she zipped off, climbing down the ladder attached to the table, sprinting to the staircase, and leaping down the stairs to the bedroom. By the time Yonah caught up to her she was in her gardening outfit. Waiting for him, on top of his dresser, upon which was her magic wardrobe.

“What’s the rush princess?” Yonah said with a smile as he took his time changing into a sturdy button up and overalls that matched Sophia’s. “I don’t have any plants that will get up and walk away if we don’t water them.”

He adjusted the shoulder straps on his overalls and held out a hand to Sophia. She scampered across his arm and dropped into his front pocket.

“Ok then,” he said, smiling as he got out his sandals, gloves, and straw-wizard’s hat.

“I’m just excited to garden!” Sophia said.

“Glad to hear it,” he gently pat the pocket over his midsection to jostle the princess, and then with a finger ruffled her hair. Or tried, since it was in it’s pretty-permanently tight braid. He did nearly knock off her tiara but she held it in place. Then she held onto the lip of the pocket as Yonah went up the stairs, and she bounced happily.

She had to hold on tighter when he leapt from the tower window. That was never not exhilarating and so frightening she screeched like a banshee as, with an earth-shaking THUD, Yonah landed in the garden.

“Out you come from there!” Yonah said cheerfully as he plucked Sophia out of the pocket and set her on the edge of a flower bed.

Then from a side pocket he took out a pouch of power that he dipped a finger into. He dabbed a bit of the powder and recited a spell in giant. With a puff of grey smoke Yonah now stood 7.5ft. About a third his original height.

There was a lot to do as it turned out. A lot of beds had weeds! Those damn seeds must just manifest out of thin air. The pair spent an entire hour weeding the flower beds. A few weeds happened to be spell ingredients, which Sophia Then wondered why they were considered weeds.��

Regardless she attacked them with extreme ferociousness, getting right to their roots. Which was good because the roots of this particular weed were what they wanted. They were placed in a bag to be dried out over a magical smoke that night.

They didn’t take a break. Not really. When moving onto the Apple trees and other fruits the pair took random small breaks to sample the ripening bounty, but worked steadily to trim branches and check for sickness and fungus.

Some fungus was of course wanted! Yonah had recently planted a patch of moaning bamboo that was bred to be vulnerable to infection by void fungus; used to make magical ink to enchant scrolls and book pages. It was a slow growing bamboo but it was finally large enough that if infected would produce a decent amount of magic ink, enough to make the investment in the bamboo worth the money.

Sophia took a tuning fork and tapped the green-yellow rods. No void fungus to be found. But cuttings of the bamboo were taken. When the current batch caught the bug they would have healthy ones to replace them. Void Fungus was not kind to it’s hosts. Thankfully it wasn’t harmful to animals or people.

She started to worry that, after all this work, Yonah would insist they have lunch, and she would have to tell him.

And then she nearly ruined it by cheering when he suggested he get a little translating done before lunch. He was just feeling very motivated for some reason. She didn’t mind waiting a little to eat right?

“Don’t mind at all! In fact, you wanna eat me?” she couldn’t risk waiting any longer or it would be too late. She tried not to look at the clock.

It wasn’t really a silence, since Yonah continued to gather supplies around the room, until he stopped listening to himself and processed Sophia’s words. Then he stood up, holding a bunch of scrolls, looking at her as if he may have imagined her talking at all.

“You haven’t had lunch yet, so you must be hungry,” she added. /don’t push it too much he’ll get suspicious!/ “and watching you translate is boring.”

But then she heard his stomach growl and his cheeks grew red. “I- yeah!” he came over to the desk. His face was still a bit flushed but he was smiling as he leaned over, arms folded and he put his head eye level with Sophia. “A pre-lunch snack is exactly what I need!”

He reached out a hand to poke her, which tickled. “And I couldn’t refuse my favorite snack.”

Without hesitation Sophia got out her vial of glass paste and applied a small dab to her forehead and recited the words. Yonah closed his eyes as there was an explosion of sparkling purple dust. He felt the heavy glass form of the princess sit on his arm. He stood back up, taking the princess with him, keeping her at his face. He opened his mouth in a wide smile that revealed large white fangs glittering with drool and anticipation. She took hold of his bottom teeth, hoisting herself inside. It was a tight fit, which always made her wonder how he managed to eat people larger than herself. And she was petit.

Air wooshed by her as he took a deep breath and tipped his head back so that she slid to his throat. With perfect timing he swallowed. Once. Twice. Three times.

The princess’s feet passed over his lips, and he kept swallowing. It hurt considerably. Stretching his throat and putting pressure on his windpipe, but it was worth it. With a strong gulp she was down past his airways and he could breathe again. He could already feel her hands in his stomach, soon joined by the rest of her. Filling him up so nicely, he smiled and sighed.

“Mr HaEsh?”

It was like his blood turned to ice and then instantly into steam; the pressure threatening to make him explode.

He remembered.

Dare he open his eyes? He had to. It was too late now.

Yonah HaEsh looked down at the magic mirror on his desk. But instead of his reflection framed by the fancy gold filigree, the King of the Mystic Woods looked back at him, arms crossed. It was like the entire damn forest was looking at him. And the forest didn’t exactly have feelings like normal people.

/Had he seen?/

“Ah- Y-Your Majesty-”

Maybe he shouldn’t have said anything. Because at that moment Sophia started laughing hysterically, with her whole body. Normally that would feel GREAT; now it was distracting at best, visible and audible to her father at worst. Her father who spoke over the stuttering giant.

[art by @pythonpie @art_python on twitter]

“We had a meeting today, or did you forget?” The King’s expression. Well it wasn’t neutral but it wasn’t full of vengeful rage, which it surely would have if he had seen his daughter get swallowed whole. It still wasn’t happy.

“No-I mean yes- I mean no, Your Majesty.”

“Then where, Mr. HaEsh, is my daughter?” The King’s emerald green eyes pulsed and narrowed, his face hardening like petrified wood.

Yonah resisted putting a hand to his stomach to try and cover up Sophia’s movement, or get her to stop! Her laughter was penetrating his brain! But that would be too obvious.

“The princess! She!” Yonah realized he had a bit of drool running down his chin, but he dare not wipe it away. “Is asleep.”

“In the afternoon?” asked The King, raising an eyebrow, “Surely she didn’t forget the meeting?”

Yonah gritted his teeth as Sophia screeched inside him.

He hissed out “No sire, she did not.”

“Speak up Mr. HaEsh,” the King Ordered.

“Ah- well, I don’t know, she was very tired after working so hard in the garden I thought she deserved a nap,” and he thought he deserved a freaking medal for coming up with that excuse and saying it as convincingly as possible with a princess thrashing in his belly.

“I don’t appreciate her sleep schedule being dysregulated this way,” said The King, his voice rising enough to make Yonah’s skin crawl.

It was so eerie, and so absolutely horrifying to see The King get mad in the mirror, while outside the trees rustled with the rhythm of Ben’s words, his breaths, his huffs, and his grunts. Yonah swore the vines around his tower were constricting, causing the stone to crack a bit. Could Ben collapse the tower just like that?

“I didn’t mean-” but once again The King spoke.

“And,” the king pointed at him. Though it wasn’t exactly precise through the mirror it was clearly at his stoamch very full of struggling human, “Who was that you were eating?”

“Sire?” Yonah didn’t think he could really hide it.

“Don’t play dumb with me, wizard,” The King spat, “When the mirrors resolved I saw feet disappearing down your massive throat. And they’re still alive by the look of-”

“A thief!” Yonah said a bit too quickly, “It was, is, a thief!”

Now he felt comfortable enough to rub at his stomach, “Tasty too, your majesty,” he smiled a big embarrassed grin, “In the excitement of the chase I forgot it was nearly time for our call.”

The King didn’t look convinced and Yonah felt his heart sink.

“A thief? In the middle of the day?”

“Yes Sire! That happens, not common but not-” was he gesticulating too much? Was he gesticulating to little? Should he just stop using his hands?

“And that doesn’t sound like screaming, it sounds more like laughter.”

/Oh GODS he could hear it!/ Yonah’s heart lifted but only so it could start racing

“Nope! Not laughter” Yonah poked his middle and Sophia obliged by screaming a little less happily, “It’s terror! Because I ate them! And I am very scary. Just like you hired me to be!”

“Very well, I suppose you should go wake Sophia,” The King examined his fingernails. Thanks to the mirror enhancing the King’s size, Yonah could see they were painted with black runes. What for? Yonah couldn’t think about that right now.

“And the thief?”

The king looked up, “Oh right, the thief.” the king eye’d Yonah’s middle like one would a disappointing servant “Are they not dead yet?” Sophia had stopped laughing so hard, guess Ben couldn’t hear it now.

“N-No sire,” Yonah poked his middle again and was relieved when Sophia moved sharply and screamed at like she really was in danger.

“Not in the mood for a free meal today?” Ben asked, completely serious. “Less money out of my pocket. It costs a lot to... feed you.” There was a weird tick in Ben’s right cheek. Like he had been about to mention the fact that Yonah gives adventurers gold when he lets them live, which was most of the time, and that money was technically King Ben’s, even if most of it was deducted from Yonah’s salary.

“Not with you watching, my liege,” Yonah said, trying to sound like he cared as little for the thieves’ lives as Ben did.

“It’s not as if I can see whatever horrorshow is going on in there,” he said.

With Sophia being the one in there, that was the last thing Yonah wanted to think about.

“Fine, spit them out.”

Gods those gem-like eyes were so bright yet so hollow. Yonah wouldn’t be surprised if Ben COULD see though mere barriers like flesh, but also was thankful he couldn’t.

Yonah bowed, unable to enjoy Sophia being squished inside him.

“Where are you going?” Ben said as Yonah turned to the stairwell.

“To- spit out the thief and wake-”

“You cannot do that here? I’ve seen it before”

He had. Once. When interrogating a prisoner of war, Ben supervised Yonah swallowing, threatening, and spitting up fairy. That had been a feat. Fairies were larger than humans. Even thinking about it briefly made his throat sore.

Yonah’s face turned so red it was like a tomato. If he spat Sophia out that would be it. In the moment he could not fathom what Ben might do to him if Sophia slid out of his mouth. Could he somehow cast a disguise spell on her? No Ben would see the cast.

Thankfully Ben heaved a huge sigh, “I don’t see why you’re so self-conscious, go ahead.” He waved him off and Yonah disappeared down the trap door.

---

PERFECT TIMING!

Sophia couldn’t see what had gone on outside, but as Yonah stiffened, everything around her going tense, the pulse around her accelerating and his quavering voice say “Your majesty,” she knew she had done it.

While she had wanted to try and hear what her father was saying she could not help but burst into laughter as soon as she imagined the look on Yonah’s face. Probably guilty, smiling, bewilderment. Oh she wished she could see! But if she could have done that, this would be a very different prank.

It wasn’t hard to guess her father’s words based on Yonah’s responses.

Deciding to help her poor giant she switched from laughter to just yelling when Yonah poked at her and insisted the sound coming from his middle was terror. That should be pretty convincing, though it was hard to sound scared when riding the high of such a brilliant prank.

Eventually she calmed down to hear her father. She loved her dad. She really did. But 30 years ruling two kingdoms; 30 years being joined magically to The Mystic Woods, a mind as far from human as one could get, he tended to be a bit heartless. Ben’s body, mind, and spirit were part of a vast ecosystem that had things living and dying in it every day. So why would random adventurers dying, even eaten by one of his employees, be of much concern to him?

Still, she felt proud of Yonah for managing to get away to “wake her up” and “spit out the thief”. She did not resist when Yonah threw up into his bathroom sink.

“That was ! A dirty trick!”

He coughed out a bit more fluid and did not bother to aim away from Sophia. He didn’t speak again until he regained his breath. By then Sophia had washed and dried off, and returned to flesh of her own accord. She sat on the towel and looked at him with big innocent brown eyes.

Ok not innocent, but definitely not guilty or regretful. He reached out to grab her but she grabbed him back, wrapping her arms around his fingers. He wriggled his fingers and she laughed, not at him, but with him. He did pull her to the edge of the counter and kissed her side. She tried to get away from his scratchy facial hair but failed.

“How long were you planning that?” he asked, his chin in her lab.

“Since this morning,” she said, shoving him away.

He obliged but left one arm on the counter for her to climb across to his shoulder. She lay into his hair. The dark curls so fluffy and soft.

“Couldn’t believe my luck. Something like our monthly meetings slipping through that big wizard brain of yours!” She scratched his head, making one side of his hair stick up funny. Then she sat down and he put on his hat.

“Let’s not keep my father-” she paused.

“The King-” Yonah smiled.

She laughed “Let’s not keep him waiting.”

Ben had not moved a muscle as far as Yonah could tell, when he sat at his desk and tried to smile without conveying that he had in fact, not eaten a thief, but the king’s daughter. Sophia scrawled down from his shoulder and leapt onto the desk.

“Hi dad!” she said.

“Hello Sophia”

And no, it wasn’t really comforting to see kind emotions in the face of The Mystical Majesty, if anything it made him more eerie. He was capable of human feelings, or at least he remembered what they were enough to mimic them.

It never really bothered Yonah before but. He barely noticed. Oh sure Ben unnerved him greatly. Yet he hadn’t registered just how detached The King was.

Not until he had figured out that Sophia was already chosen as the next Mystic King. Would she slowly turn into an unfeeling vessel for the forest? Would he lose her? He was to train her, prepare her to be King. Maybe that meant she could avoid this fate.

Shit Ben was asking him a question!

Shit Sophia was answering for him!

“-unconscious when they came out. We put washed them off and put them in a box.”

Ben was back to his normal, detached irritation. But there was a flicker of amusement. Still not comforting.

“You woke her before spitting the thief up?”

He had to nod; Sophia was in charge of the narrative now.

“Cutting it a bit close weren’t we?”

/why did he care? Ben was just fine with letting this hypothetical thief die while they had a not-so-pleasant chat/

“No sir, fainted from fright. Happens all the time. They were kicking and screaming until-”

“I don’t actually want the details Mr HaEsh.”

Yonah wasn’t so sure about that. King Ben seemed to have some morbid fascinations. Maybe when one’s mind is so expanded you need some really extreme diversions to peak your interest.

With so much time wasted the talk was very brief. Ben was actually legitimately pleased with Sophia’s progress. In the last month she’d met with several insular communities in the woods. One in particular was hardly more than a rumor. The fact that she’d made contact was a significant achievement. Not that she knew why, but she was glad to go on about the new spell she’d learned, none the wiser about her growing connection to The Woods.

Still, Yonah didn’t breathe easy until Ben’s face faded from the mirror.

Sophia sighed and turned to look up at him.

“Im going to get you back for this,” he said, “especially since you were this close” he held his thumb and pointer finger about an inch apart, “To Ben seeing you eaten. He saw you feet.”

“Ah!” She finally looked guilty, “Well- I couldn’t resist”

No. She wouldn’t be Sophia if she’d done anything else. He even suspected that his mirror had delayed establishing the link and made a mental note to be kinder to it.

“-if you want to eat me again.”

Yonah scooped her up, cradling her in his arms. “You’ve certainly earned the honor of being my dessert tonight,” he cooed. “And I’d better get some belly rubs. But that doesn’t count as payback.”

“You’re going to eat me now too?”

He chuckled and shook his head, “No. We should have actual lunch; like we normally do after talking with your father-”

“The King!” she declared, standing up unsteady and pulling herself onto his shoulder.

He laughed so hard she almost fell back into his arms.

And they went downstairs.

[FIN] if you liked PLEASE REBLOG!

REBLOGS HELP SPREAD MY WORK! I also love knowing that people read my stories! My askbox and DMs are OPEN!!! let me know!!!

[Thanks for reading! please reblog! Or message me telling me what you think! I crave feedback! For more mystic woods go to vore-scientist.tumblr.com/tagged/mystic+woods+story or search ‘mystic woods story’

#safe vore #soft vore #extreme cuddling #g/t vore #nonfatal vore #sfw vore

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murdertrialimagines · 5 years

Text

Breaking Down

“Can I please get how the SDR2 boys react to their s/o reaches their breaking point and just goes off on Monokuma/ the boys having to comfort them afterwards when they realize how stupid/dangerous going off was and break down. Sorry if that doesn't make sense, haha. Hope you're having a good one!”

I’m finally getting back into the writing mood! If I haven’t gotten to your request yet I am so sorry! I will hopefully get to it before 2022 soon! This is such a good request, I am so excited to write it! ^-^ Story under the tag~

Hajime Hinata

Hajime had found you halfway through your rant, following you angered yells to your cottage

He had thought you were being attacked, so he swung open your unlocked door, not caring to knock

He saw you, screaming down at something much shorter than you

Monokuma, he realizes, as he sees the ever so calm bear standing in front of you, a blank expression on his face

And you, the polar opposite. Screaming, yelling angri- wait were you crying?

He watched as you stood mere inches away from the bear, waving your arms and crying

“This is all your fault! Everything could be fine but no, you made everyone turn on each other! You gave us motives to kill people! Friends! Friends are killing friends and that isn’t right!”

Hajime watched as you raised your foot against the still calm bear, ready to stomp down on it.

He watched as your whole body shook and you lowered your leg, took a few steps back, and slid down the foot of the bed, collapsing into a pile of tears and hiccups

Monokuma silently snickered at you

“Puhuhu~ Maybe this is your gateway to despair? Will you kill someone, y/n, to get out? Or maybe-”

“Monokuma, get out.”

Y/n jumped at Hajime’s voice, looking up at him and furiously wiping her eyes

“Hajime! What are you doing here...?”

“I’m asking Monokuma to get out.” Hajime turned to the plush. “Please. Leave.”

With a snide remark Monokuma left, leaving the two teens in silence

Hajime walked over to you, sitting next to you. He pulled you into a hug, sitting silently as you squeezed him, letting everything out

“I’m such an idiot!” You gasped in air. “I almost broke the rules, I’m just-I’m just so angry! This was supposed to be happy, but all of my friends are dying... and I can’t do anything about it!” You put your head into Hajime’s chest, continuing to cry until you finally couldn’t anymore.

After a few minutes of silence Hajime heard you make a small noise, then slip down more

Then the snoring came

He softly picked you up with only a little bit of struggling

Laying you down on the bed, Hajime pulled the covers over his girlfriend before quietly leaving the cottage, making sure to lock the door behind himself

He sighed, replaying the whole scenario in his head

He could only hope that this will either end or get easier for you.

Nagito Komaeda

When you started telling off Monokuma during the second third investigation, Nagito was ecstatic

You were finally standing up to the greater evil after staying in the background for so long! Who wouldn’t be happy?

But when he saw the tears streaking your face, he felt something was off

You started shaking, voice straining and lip quivering. Monokuma only kept repeating that this is how things were.

“But this isn’t how things should be! It’s all your fault! I don’t want to believe in your hope and despair bullshit! I want to go home, with my friends!”

Nagito stood with the others investigating the crime scene, watching you scream and make gestures at the snickering bear

“You are a monster! I hate you!”

A few people shouted in surprise as you picked up the stool sitting on the stage, chucking it at Monokuma

You missed by mere inches, the stool clattering onto the floor with a thud

Everyone watched as Monokuma grew angry, Nagito moving closer to you as the bear flashed his claws out

“You’re lucky that missed, brat! But just be warned, even if it misses next time I wont hesitate to punish you!”

With that, the bear was gone, leaving a breathless you and your frightened friends

And that’s when the whimpering started

Everyone watched as your whole body shook, small noises painfully coming from you. You sank down to the floor holding your face in your hands to cover up the tears

Everyone wished they could give you privacy, but this was the crime scene, and a few of them hated to admit it but they were a tad worried that this could be a ploy to distract them

So you sat in the silence and cried, until a weight was placed on your shoulder

You quickly looked up, wiping away the burning tears in your eyes to see your boyfriend standing next to you, a soft smile on his face

You gave out a tiny yelp as you were suddenly picked up and carried out of the music venue

You had been taken back to Nagito’s cottage, where he laid the two of you down on the bed and let you cry into his jacket

“I just don’t want to be a part of his stupid game anymore...” You sniffled and sat up

“No one is happy here! Everyone we know is killing each other, how long until one of us is a target? I don’t think I can handle a situation like this...”

Nagito pulled you into a hug, squeezing you tight enough to make you feel like you were grounded to earth

“I promise you, the rest of us will beat Monokuma! Once we pick out this despaired student, everyone else’s hope will make sure no one will die here ever again! You just have to trust me, okay? Everyone will be fine.”

You hugged Nagito back, sighing into his chest

“I really hope you’re right.”

You let your eyes close, body leaning on your boyfriend

Nagito looked down to see you asleep, and smiling, got out of bed and pulled the covers over the you. You could nap until it was trial time, right?

He quietly left your room and quickly returned to the crime scene, looking for clues and ignoring the worried glances from everyone else

Still, he couldn’t help but worry

You were falling to despair, and he couldn’t have that.

Byakuya Togami

You didn’t want to believe that you panic this easily

Nothing had happened yet, no one dead, not even a motive set up by your captor

You had gotten to know everyone, quickly becoming close to the well known Togami

He was determined to keep everyone safe, so when he got a note that someone was going to die, he tried to hide it from everyone

But when you had come to his room to surprise him, you easily found the note hidden in a notebook

why is he so bad at hiding things

You found the note and completely flipped, going to Byakuya first to ask why he didn’t tell you

“I thought it would freak you out, and I guess I was right.”

After a very heated squabble (That left Mikan shook and Ibuki ecstatic), you stormed off from the park you went to your dorm and shouted for Monokuma, and like every time, he popped up out of nowhere

You demanded to know why he ruined your school trip, and put everyone on the island in danger

He just laughed, and said that it was, “For despair of course!”

You began to yell, stating that while you didn’t know everyone here very well, you knew they didn’t deserve to die like this.

The bear covered his ears, sing songing at you until you let out a harsh shriek, taking a book and raising it above your head to throw it at him

As you brought your arm down, a hand shot out and grabbed your wrist, forcibly causing the book to drop from your grasp

Your boyfriend, Togami, had seemingly gotten in undetected due to your loud one sided argument

“Y/n,” his grip on your wrist softened just a little. “Don’t be foolish. This is what he wants, you’re only playing into his plan.”

You snapped your head back to Monokuma, seeing he had disappeared via an unknown passageway

Togami tilted your head back to him, slowly releasing his grip on your arm, allowing it to fall to your side

As you stared into your boyfriend’s stern eyes, all you could do was well up with tears and cry, pulling him by his shirt into a hug

“I’m so sorry! I’m just so afraid that someone’s going to get hurt! I don’t want that, I want this to go back to the fun vacation it was!”

You couldn’t see it, but Togami’s eyes softened, and he raised his hand to softly rub circles into your back

“I know. You just need to be more careful with your emotions. As much as I hate it I can’t change our scenario. The best I- we - can do, is help everyone stay safe, lead them down the right path. Now, no more outbursts, okay? I can’t have you be killed for something so reckless.”

You let out a halfhearted laugh, pulling him closer and sighing. After a few more minutes of calm reassurance, you told your boyfriend you wanted to go to bed, and quietly said goodbye as he left

He was sad that you wouldn’t be going to the party tonight, but you needed rest, and the last thing you needed was to be around more hectic situations today

He’d have to make you a breakfast in bed when he checked up on you tomorrow.

Gundam Tanaka

You had been trapped in the fun-house for what seemed like weeks, even if it had only been a couple of days

Yet days without food and water really take a toll on the human body, and you were starting to envy Nekomaru for not being affected.

That is, until you overheard your boyfriend whispering his plans to his Devas

You had been asleep, or at-least partially, in the room that you and Gundam volunteered to share. You had not yet actually gotten out of bed or even started moving when you heard his voice explaining his devious plan to his friends

And you stayed like that, pretending to be asleep until you heard him wrap up the conversation. You felt him walk over and give you a kiss on your forehead, before finally leaving the room.

You jumped out of bed, taking a moment to regain your balance due to undernourishment, and yelled for Monokuma, not afraid of someone hearing you since you guys had the quiet room

As always, the bear popped out of nowhere.

“Monokuma arrives! Now, have you brought me here to beg for my mercy?! Because the mechanic already did that! No dice!” He gave you a twirl

What he didn’t expect was for you to pick up a pillow and throw it at him, himself easily dodging it

“Why are we here?! This isn’t a motive, you’re forcing someone to kill just for food! You’re a monster!”

You picked up more items, the lamp, a book, the clock off the wall, chucking them at your captor, who seemed to make this into a game of one sided dodge-ball

All he did was dodge and laugh at you, fueling your anger until you could barely pick your arm up anymore and your throat felt hoarse from ranting

“You’re lucky your emotions are good for the viewers! If I have found you even a teensy bit more boring, I’d have you sliced up!” He went to the door and opened it, just as your boyfriend tried to open it from the outside

Monokuma waddled away, ignoring your softened demands for him to come back

Gundam stood only for a second in the doorway, wondering what just happened, before he ran over to you and grabbed you by your shoulders

“My immortal Y/n, what happened?!” He looked you over once, twice, before staring into your eyes, his brimming with worry. “Did he hurt you? Did he try to give you another motive?! Because I promise you don’t-”

“I know what your plan is.”

His whole body froze, as if he had accidentally cast a frost curse on himself

“What?”

“I heard you” You took his hands off of your shoulders. “I wasn’t sleeping. You really plan to kill someone to escape?”

“It’s not that simple Y;n, you of al people should know that.”

“And what happens to Nekomaru, huh?! He just got a second chance at life and you’re going to take it away? That’s not something you get to pick and choose!”

You begin to storm out when he calls your name

“I’m doing it for you! I want you to get out of here, all of you, alive! It’s a sacrifice I’m willing to make. I...I don’t plan on surviving the trial, I’ll only use it to help strengthen your deduction skills. If I don;t do this, no one lives.”

His voice, barely above a whisper at the end of his speech, broke your heart.

“Oh, Gundam, I am so sorry, I shouldn’t have yelled at you! I’m just so scared, and I’ve lost so many people and now I’m losing you too, I don’t know what to do-”

Strong yet shaky arms pulled you into a firm chest, and you relished in the warmth of your boyfriend

“When are you going to do it?” Your voice, barely audible

“Tonight. It can’t wait. I’m so sorry Y/n. I almost let Monokuma get to you.”

You hugged him back, whole body screaming to shut down at the effort you just exerted.

“Lay with me. At least until I fall asleep.. Please.”

“Of course my love.”

Kazuichi Souda

Kazuichi was coming up the stairs to the dining hall when he heard you

“I wish you were dead!” A large crash was enough for him to bolt up the stairs in record time, afraid you were in danger, or worse, the next blackened

When he reached the top all he saw was a mess, a table once full of food now flipped over, and a laughing Monokuma

And of course, you on top of all the spilled food, what seemed to be punch and ketchup staining your clothes

“Wh-wha-what the heck happened?!” Kazuichi rushed over and grabbed your arms, hoisting you out of the mess

Monokuma laughed louder

This only fueled your anger, causing you to pull from your boyfriend’s grip and reel back your leg to kick the bear, before taking a breath and lowering it, walking past both him and Kazuichi

“Let’s go, he wasn’t worth the effort.”

A little saddened by the fact that he didn’t get food, Kazuichi lagged behind for a few seconds before realizing that you were walking out of the building, and hustled to follow you

“H-hey Y/n! What was that all about? You’re a mess!” He wiped some bread crumbs off of your shoulder

“He...tried to give me a motive.”

This stopped Kazuichi in his tracks. “What?! What was it?!”

You turned around towards the mechanic, arms folding across your body. “I didn’t let him say it. The second I heard the word ‘motive’ come from his mouth I flipped. I mean, we’ve already lost four people, almost five! How long is this going to go on? Is someone really going to sacrifice everyone, or will everyone be murdered by then? I don’t want to find out, I promise I’ll kill whoever is behind this myself!”

You swiftly turned on your heels, walking away again, but only managed to get a few steps away when you were pulled off of your feet from behind

Realizing this was a hug, you spoke up.

“Uh, Souda? Can you put me down?”

“Nope!” He somehow effortlessly pulled you into a bridal style carry. “We’re gonna have a relaxation day, to forget about that stupid bear and his dumb motives! Nothing but the best movies and candy for my girl!”

He began walking, and in defeat, you sighed and sunk deeper into his arms

Could you ask for any better stress reliever?

Teruteru Hanamura

You and Teruteru had been cooking and cleaning for the party. You had volunteered to help.

He briefly left the room to put some tableware in the party room

You thought nothing of it, until he came back clearing shaken up

Asking what happened, he refused to answer, causing you to give him a stern glare that frightened him and turned him on

He gave in, telling you about how he saw Nagito place a knife under the table, and tell him his plan

You remained calm. Nothing would happen under your watch, and you assured Teruteru of that. He seemed relieved

Yet, that relief turned out to be a lie when Byakuya’s body had been found, not killed the way Nagito had intended.

You saw how panicked your boyfriend was, and instantly knew what happened

But you continued to help out, only mildly panicking when they found new evidence that could point to Nagito being innocent

Nobody caught the side glances you two shared. You were afraid he thought you were going to give him up, yet on the same hand you were afraid he thought you were going to help him.

All the turmoil and frustration built up until you finally excused yourself from the building, stating that the body and smell of blood were making you sick

Nobody batted an eye, and the second you were outside you punched the door, cursing under your breath

And that’s when you heard him

“What’s wrong?” His voice changing pitch halfway through as if you were a kid. “Afraid that you’ll have to choose between your life and his?”

You turned around to face Monokuma, looking down at him in anger

And than you started crying

“This is all your fault!” You pointed childishly at him. “You planted this idea in Nagito’s mind! And now Teru is paying for it! What did we do to deserve to be here, with these insane people?! We deserve a normal life!”

The door behind you was suddenly pushed open, cutting off your speech. You swung around, afraid a confession was just heard by one of your classmates

To your relief, Teruteru walked out slowly

“What is heaven’s name is going on? Y/n, are you alright? He didn’t...hurt you...did he?”

You turned back to Monokuma to continue berating him to see that he was gone, and began sputtering out an explanation when you sighed and just let the tears fall

“I don’t know what to do, Teru!” Your voice turned into a low whisper. “I don’t want to die, but I don’t want you to die either! This is all such a mess...”

Teruteru pulled you into a hug which you gladly accepted, enjoying the short silence

“Uh, Teruteru? Y/n?” There was a voice from the doorway. “The trial is going to start soon, and I don’t mean to interrupt your heartfelt moment but we want to have one last talk with everyone.”

“Thanks Hajime, we’ll be there in a minute.” When the talent-less boy left, you let go of your boyfriend

“Y/n, I promise, everything is going to be okay. Just trust me, okay? And follow my lead, I have a plan.”

You gave him that soft smile he loves and squeezed his hand before walking back into the building

He stood there, watching as the door closed behind you

You didn’t know it yet, but he had made up his mind

He wasn’t going to let anything happen to you

Nekomaru Nidai

You couldn’t believe it

An hour ago things were going fine

and now, an ambulance was taking away Nekomaru, who had saved Akane

You couldn’t help but blame her for this, but you didn’t want to take it out on her

So you took it out on Monokuma

You immediately marched up to the bear, grabbing him and shaking him

“Why the hell did you do that?! He didn’t do anything!”

You saw Monokuma’s eye glow red, but ignored it and continued to berate him

“You have no right to keep us here like...like prisoners! Everyday we fear for our lives, and we have a good reason to! it’s all because of you!”

A sudden sweep of wind was felt as Monokuma slashed mere centimeters from your chest

You let Monokuma go, dropping him into the sand

“You’re lucky we can’t have two participants MIA, or I’d have sliced you to ribbons! God, you’re just like your dumb boyfriend!” And with that, he disappeared

After it happened you avoided everyone who tried to talk to you, vouching to stay in your room and only leave when you needed to eat

You didn’t even want to go to the new island that opened up, even when Ibuki broke the lock to your room while you were sleeping

It wasn’t until one evening you had a knock on your door

“Go away, Ibuki. I don’t want to go.”

“A-ah actually, it’s Kazuichi!’

Kazuichi? He never talked to you during your stay here, let alone after the incident

Curious, you got out of bed and unlocked the door, opening it a crack

“What do you need?”

To your surprise, a small trinket was thrust through the opening of the door, you grabbing it on instinct

“I just thought you would like it...I mean until Nekomaru comes back!”

Before you could question Kazuichi he shut the door himself, leaving you with the small device

Looking at it, you immediately noticed the resemblance to Nekomaru, looking like a small silver version of him

Feeling your chest tighten, you flipped the trinket over, noticing a small button

Pressing it, you felt the toy come to life, eyes glowing a dull yellow and the arms on it slowly moving. It looked at you, arms thrown into the air

“Y/n! How great it is to see you! How is my favorite girl doing?”

“H...how are you talking?”

“Kazuichi programmed me to be exactly like the real Nekomaru you know! I want to keep you company until the real me comes back!”

You finally let the tears flow, clutching the small Nekomaru to your chest as you laid back down on your bed

“I miss you so much! I don’t know what to do!”

“It’s okay Y/n, I promise I’ll be back soon.”

You turned off the light, letting your toy Nekomaru’s eyes give you some light. Finally running out of tears, you fell asleep

“Goodnight, Y/n.”

Fuyuhiku Kuzuryu

You couldn’t believe it

Peko, your best friend, killed someone because your boyfriend ordered her to

Mahiru was dead, and this plan of yours had failed halfway through the class trial

You tried to hold Fuyuhiko back from running into the execution, but he wouldn’t listen

And you watched, as you saw both of your friends die right in front of you

That is, until Mikan gave you the hopeful news that he was still breathing, but critically injured

He was taken away by Monokuma, and you turned your attention to the bear

“What the hell Monokuma?! He wasn’t the blackened!”

The bear gave his signiture laugh, staring you down

“But isn’t it despairing? Especially for Peko, who believed her last moments alive were spent murdering one of her best friends. But it was also for all three of you, who all worked together to commit a crime!”

“Fuck you!” You took a step towards the bear. “I’ll kill you! You are nothing but evil and that should never be allowed, ever! I’ll make sure your last moments are by my hand!”

You tried to get closer to Monokuma but a hand was placed on your shoulder, and you turned around to face Chiaki

“What?”

“You’re giving him what he wants. Stop.”

With a growl, you wiped her hand off your shoulder and walked away

You left the trial alone for the first time, having both of the people you cared about stripped away in a matter of minutes

You stayed in your room even as everyone else investigated the new island

Until one day you heard furious knocking on your door, a voice calling your name through the door

Sighing, you threw your blanket over your head and dug deeper into the bed

“Y/n, we found a hospital, Fuyuhiko is there!”

Within seconds you were outside, still in your pajamas, running to the island as Mikan called after you to wait up

You found the hospital and swung open the door to each room until finally you found a room filled with people all standing around a bed

“Fuyuhiko!” You pushed through the wall of people to the bed, breath catching at seeing your boyfriend’s state

“Hey, Y/n.”

“I want to give you a hug but I don’t wan’t to hurt you.”

You saw him give out an airy laugh, slightly wincing at what you presumed was pain

You then noticed everyone shuffling out of the room, and soon it was just you two

“I’m sorry for scaring you, Y/n.”

You walked closer to his bed, sitting on the edge of it

“She’s really gone.”

“Yeah.”

You felt your lip quiver, and soon your whole body was wracked with sobs

“This is ll our fault! We caused her death!”

You felt a hand on your side, seeing Fuyuhiko facing the window

“It’s my fault, not yours. i shouldn’t have gotten so mad. I promise I’m going to get us out of here, for our sake. And not by killing anyone. I want the rest of us to get out for the sake of everyone who’s died so far.”

He looked into your eyes and you swear you saw tears in his eye

After a moment of silence you cleared your throat, standing up

“I should go back to my dorm, it’s getting late. You need to rest and I’m sure Mikan would flip if she saw you weren’t”

You began to stand up when you felt him grab your wrist

“Stay with me, please.”

With a sigh you turned back around, carefully climbing into the hospital bed with your boyfriend

You let him lay his head on your chest, listening as he slowly fell asleep.

“Goodnight Fuyuhiko”

Me? back from the dead? It’s less likely than you think! Seriously I apologize for the two months (or more) of complete radio silence! I’m trying to get back in the groove and complete the remaining asks I have (about 7?) These last two imagines are terrible, sorry Nekomaru and Fuyuhiko :(

487 notes · View notes

winchesterbrotherstan · 4 years

Text

SPN- Hunted (2.10)

Pairing: Olive Winchester (sister OC)

Summary: After Dean spills the truth about their father’s last moments, Sam runs off, taking Olive with him. Dean goes after his baby siblings, and they’re targeted by an unwelcome familiar face.

Warnings: cursing, blood, knives, guns, uhh, like mention of a dead cat? sam lowkey kidnaps olive, the usual with the rest you know

Word Count: 5147

“Dean, what did Dad tell you?” I stood up straight, staring at him with wide eyes.

“He said that he wanted me to watch out for you, Sam. To take care of you.”

Sam huffed, and I tilted my head. “What?”

“He told you that a million times, Dean.”

“No.” Dean shook his head. “This time was different. He said that I had to save you.”

“Save me from what?” Sam repeated.

“He just said that I had to save you, that nothing else mattered. And that if i couldn’t, I’d…” Dean looked away, tears in his eyes.

“That you’d what, De?” My chest tightened.

“That I’d have to kill him!”

My heart began to pound, and I stumbled backward, sitting down on the railing. I ran a hand through my hair, feeling my eyes begin to sting. It didn’t sound too far off for Dad, but the fact that Dean had kept it hidden for so long felt like a knife to the back.

“He said that I might have to kill you, Sammy.”

“Kill me?” Sam took a step back. “What the hell is that supposed to mean?”

“I don’t know.” Dean pushed out.

“I mean, he must’ve had some kind of reason for saying it, right?” Sam huffed.

“Oh, god.” I mumbled, wiping the tears from my eyes.

He knew something, but whatever the secret was died with him.

“Did he know the demon’s plans for me? Am I supposed to go Darkside or something? What else did he say, Dean?” Sam stepped forward.

“Nothing. That’s it. I swear.” Dean sniffled.

“Why the hell would he say that, Dean?” I sobbed.

“I don’t know!”

“How could you not have told me this?”

“Because it was Dad! He begged me not to!”

“Who cares, Dean? Take some responsibility for yourself! You had no right to keep this from me!” Sam spat.

“You think I wanted to? Huh? I wish to god he’d never opened his mouth! Then I wouldn’t have to walk around with this screaming in my head all day!”

“It doesn’t make sense. I’m Okami, why didn’t he tell you to kill me, too?”

“Olive, I don’t know.”

Sam turned and pinched the bridge of his nose. “We’ve just gotta figure out what’s going on, then. Figure out what the hell all this means.”

“We do?” Dean tilted his head. “I’ve been thinking about this. I think we should just lay low. You know? At least for a while. It would be safer. And this way we can make sure-”

“What? That I don’t turn evil? That I don’t turn into some kind of killer?” Sam growled.

“Hey, he never said that.” I stepped in.

“Well fuck, if you two aren’t careful, you will have to waste me one day.”

“I never said that!” Dean shouted.

“Jesus fucking Christ, boys!” I snapped.

They both glared at me, then at each other.

“This is getting out of hand. Both of you. Relax.”

“Look, Sam. You’re immune to some weird ass demon virus, and I don’t even know what the hell anymore. You’re pissed at me, I get it. That’s fine. I deserve it. But we lay low until we figure out our next move. Okay?”

“Forget it.” Sam scoffed, turning away once more.

“Sammy.” I called.

“Please, man. Hey, hey, please. Please.” Dean begged.

“I’m going-”

“Sam! Give us some time to think. Please.” I caught his arm.

“We’re begging you. Please.”

Sam sighed and gave us a reluctant nod.

***

“Bug.” Sam shook me softly.

I groaned and rolled onto my side. “What?”

“Hey. Come on, we’ve gotta move.”

I sat up with a huff. “Why?”

“We’ll explain later. Come on, I packed all your stuff. Dean’s waiting in the car.”

I rubbed my eyes and stumbled out of bed. Sam picked me up and held me against his hip. I snuggled my head into the crook of his neck and let myself fall back asleep.

***

I yawned and sat up. I rubbed my eyes and looked over. Sam was in the driver’s seat, staring at me with a soft smile.

“What the fuck?”

“Hey, bug.”

“Where the fuck are we? This isn’t Baby. Where’s Jinx?” I sat up straight and backed away from Sam. “Where’s Dean?”

“Look-”

“Sam, what the fuck is going on?”

“We’re at the Roadhouse.”

I looked over to see that we were, indeed, in the parking lot of the shoddy building. I scowled as I turned back to Sam.

“You fucking lied to me.” I struggled with the car door.

“Ollie-”

“Leave me the fuck alone.” I hissed, finally stumbling out of the unfamiliar black car.

“Olive-”

“Christo.”

Sam only stared with a bitchface. I whimpered and crossed my arms over my chest as he began to walk toward the door.

“Why?”

“Because we need to figure out what’s happening!”

“Not without Dean!” I scoffed as we trailed into the Roadhouse.

“Sam. Olive.”

“Hey, Ellen.” Sam gave her a sheepish smile. “You don’t seem that surprised to see us.”

“Well…” Ellen hummed. “Dean’s been calling. He’s worried sick, running around the country looking for you two.

Sam huffed as we dropped onto the stools. “Yeah, I figured he might.”

Ellen eyed me. “I take it this wasn’t planned on your half.”

I looked up at her with a scowl. “I was kidnapped.”

“Oh, honey.”

“I want Dean.” I hissed at Sam.

“What’s going on between your boys?”

“Dean made a mistake and now Sam is being-”

“How’s Jo?” Sam cut me off.

Ellen sighed. “I don’t really know.”

Sam and I glanced at each other, and I immediately remembered that I was upset with him. I turned back to Ellen.

“What do you mean?”

“Well, after she worked that job with you kids, she decided she wanted to keep on hunting. I said ‘not under my roof’ and she said ‘fine’. I don’t know where she is now.”

“So we’re probably the last people you wanna see right now.” Sam sighed.

Ellen gave a chuckle. “Don’t get me wrong, I wish I could blame you kids. It’d be easier. Truth is, it’s not your fault. None of it is. I want you to know that I forgave your Daddy a long time ago for what happened to my Bill… I just don’t think he ever forgave himself.”

Sam shifted, uncomfortable. “What really… did happen?”

“Um, so… why did you guys come here?”

“I need help.”

“I’ll get Ash.” Ellen put the rag and cup down and disappeared into the back.

“Ollie, look-”

“Dude, you can do whatever you want, I don’t care where you go or why or when, but I’m staying here.”

“What do you mean?”

“I’m staying here until Dean comes to pick me up.” I turned my nose up the other way.

Sam sighed. “Fine.”

***

I swung my legs and leaned forward as Ash came out of his back room. He flipped a piece of paper around in his hand and placed it on the bar in front of Sam.

“Done and done.”

“That was fast.” Sam snorted.

“Well, apparently, that’s my job. Make the monkey dance at the keyboard.”

I sighed and sunk further into my seat as Ellen shook her head. “Just tell us what you got, Ash.”

“Four folks fit the profile nationwide. Born in '83, mother died in a nursery fire, the whole shebang.”

“Four? That’s it?”

Ash nodded. “Sam Winchester from Lawrence, Kansas, Max Miller from Saginaw, Michigan, Andrew Gallagher from Guthrie, Oklahoma, and uh… one last name. Scott Carey.”

I sighed. “That’s the only one we haven’t met yet.”

“You got an address?” Sam turned to Ash.

“Kind of… the Arbor Hill Cemetery in Lafayette, Indiana. Plot 486.”

I closed my eyes as I repeated it to myself in my head.

“So he’s dead?” Sam sighed.

“Killed, about a month ago.”

“Killed?” Sam repeated. “How?”

“Stabbed. Parking lot. Fuzz don't have much, no suspects.”

“Alright. Thank you, guys.” Sam got up.

Ash slapped him on the back before snaking his beer.

“Where are you going?”

“Indiana.”

“Sam?” Ellen called.

He turned.

“You’re not taking Olive?”

He looked at me. I shook my head.

“I’ll wait for Dean.”

“I’ve gotta call him. I’ve gotta let him know where you are, Sam.”

Sam sighed. “Ellen. I’m trying to find answers about who I am. My brother means well, but he can’t protect me from that. Please.”

Ellen sighed and nodded reluctantly. Sam came back my way and held his arms open. I shuffled out of my seat and accepted the hug, leaning against him.

“I’m sorry, bug.”

I shook my head. “I’ll see you when we’re all together again. Be careful.”

“Always.”

***

The phone rang from behind the bar, and I sighed. It was the fifth call in the last half hour. None of them had been Dean. I had little hope this one would be. I hadn’t memorized Dean’s latest phone number, and Sam had taken my phone with him. Ellen shot me a sympathetic smile as she picked the phone up and held it to her ear. “Ellen speaking.” A beat. “Hold on, hold on, hold on. Sweetie! Hang on a second.”

She looked at me and nodded me over. “It’s Dean.”

I scrambled around to the other side of the bar and held the phone to my ear. “De?”

“Baby girl! Hey, baby. Hi, sweetheart. Are you okay?”

I nodded, even though he couldn’t see me. “Yeah, I’m okay. Look, De, Sammy’s in Indiana. Lafayette. Uh, Arbor Hill Cemetery. There’s someone else like him, but the kid’s dead.”

“Okay, listen, princess, I’m coming to get you. Okay?”

“No, De! Oklahoma to Indiana is a 12 hour drive. You don’t have time.”

“I’m coming to get you. Okay? Just be ready.”

I sighed. “Fine. I love you.”

“I love you too, baby.”

***

“Dean!” I squeaked as the Impala stopped on the side of the road.

“Beanie!” He jogged across the street and plucked me off my feet, swinging me around.

I snuggled into his grip, wrapping my arms and legs around him. He hooked me on his hip and walked us back into the Roadhouse. Jinx followed, tail wagging as she yapped.

“Dean.” Ellen smiled.

“Hi. Thanks for keeping my kid safe.” He gave me an extra squeeze.

“De, you’ve been driving for hours. Maybe we should find a place to stay the night?” I whispered.

“You guys are more than welcome to the beds out back if you’d like.”

Dean sighed. “Thanks, but I think we should keep moving.’’ He put me back on my feet and ruffled my head. “Ready to roll, kid?”

I snuggled back into his side and looked over at Ellen. “Ellen, Dean’ll take a beer if you don’t mind.”

She smiled. “Come sit.”

“But-”

“I’ll drive. You need a drink and a nap.” I grabbed his hand. “Come on.”

***

“De, we’re here.” I put the car in park.

“Come on.” He grunted, climbing out of the car.

I followed, tossing him the keys as we looked at all the windows. A curtain fluttered in one, and I caught a glimpse of Sam.

“Oh, thank god you’re okay.” Dean mumbled to himself.

Sam moved, and a brown haired girl was standing in the room with him. I scoffed, and Dean grinned.

“Oh, he’s more than okay. Sam, you sly dog.”

Jinx let out a loud whine, and I felt an uneasy feeling grow in my chest. I looked around, confused.

“Ol?”

“Something’s wrong.” I hissed, feeling my fangs shift in my mouth.

“What do you mean?”

“Sam’s in danger. We’ve gotta move.” I looked both ways before starting across the street.

“Where are you going?”

“Just trust me.” I beckoned him to follow.

Glass shattered, and both our heads snapped around to see that the window of Sam’s room was gone.

“Shit!”

“Come on!”

More shots rang out, and Dean pushed ahead of me. He held a hand up for me to stay back as we reached the rooftop. He grumbled a curse to himself before going out into the open.

“Gordon!”

I peeked out to see Gordon with a sniper rifle. Dean kicked him, pinned him, then punched him repeatedly in the face.

“You do that to my brother, I’ll kill you!”

“Dean, wait!” Gordon struggled.

I watched in horror as he managed to grab the rifle. He slammed into Dean’s face twice. I ducked back onto the fire escape, panting. Gordon would kill me if I didn’t win the fight. But I didn’t want to leave Dean in his hands alone.

I took a deep breath and pushed Jinx down the stairs. She whined and I growled at her. She turned tail and ran. Sam would grab her. I heard a gun cock, and I forced my fangs back into my mouth. I put my hands up as I slowly popped into view.

“Huh.” Gordon clicked his tongue. “Nice surprise.”

“Why do you wanna kill Sam?”

Gordon’s only response was to stalk closer and bash the butt of his gun into my knee. I crumbled to the ground.

***

“Hello?”

“Dean! Olive!”

“Sams.” I called through gritted teeth.

“We’ve been looking for you.”

“Yeah. Look, I’m in Indiana. Uh, Lafayette.”

“I know.” Dean glanced over at me.

“You do?”

“Yeah, dummy. I told him.”

“We just got here.”

“It’s a really funky town.” I grunted.

“You ditched us, Sammy.”

“Yeah, I know. I’m sorry. Look, right now there’s someone after me.”

“What? Who?” Dean feigned surprise.

“I don’t know, that’s what we need to find out. Where are you guys?”

“We’re staying at, uh…” Dean glared at Gordon.

Gordon pulled a gun and pressed it to my forehead. I clenched my jaw. My knee was throbbing, and I was starting to lose any feeling in the lower half of my leg. My kneecap was out of place, and there was a gash that was pumping blood.

“We’re at 5637 Monroe Street. Sams, why don’t you come to us? Since we have Jinx and all.” I added our last hint. “Oh! And can you bring my red shirt? I forgot it in the car.”

There was a pause, and I sighed. The situation was more than clear now.

“Yeah. Sure. I’ll be there soon. Love you guys. Be safe.”

“Always.”

“Love you too.”

Sam hung up the phone, and Gordon tossed it aside with a sickening grin. “Now, was that so hard?”

I let my head fall backward and toward Dean.

“Bite me.” He spat.

Gordon ignored him, turning to rummage through his bag. He began to pull out weapons. One by one, he laid them on the table next to him.

“So, Gordy. I know me and my siblings ain’t exactly your favorite people, but don’t you think this is a little extreme?” Dean asked, trying his best to inch closer to me.

“What, you think this is revenge?” Gordon sharpened the knife he had cut Sam with four months earlier.

“Well, we did leave you tied up in your own mess for three days.” He chuckled. “Which was awesome. Sorry, I shouldn’t laugh.”

“Yeah.” Gordon hissed. “I was definitely planning on whooping your ass for that.”

Dean hummed.

“But that’s not what this is. This isn’t personal. I’m not a killer, Dean. I’m a hunter. And your little siblings are fair game.” He sheathed his knife.

Dean and I shared a look.

Oh, shit.

***

“See, I was doing an exorcism down in Louisiana. Teenage girl. Seemed routine, some low-level demon. But between all the jabbering and the head-spinning, the fucking thing muttered something. About a war that’s coming. I don’t think it meant to, it just kind of slipped out.” Gordon shifted the weight of his rifle. “But it was too late. Caught my interest. And you can really make a demon talk, if you got the right tools.”

I scowled. “What about the girl it was possessing?”

“Oh,” Gordon shook his head, “she didn’t make it.”

Dean huffed. “Well, you’re a son of a bitch.”

Gordon stood straight and walked right toward us. I strained against the ropes, but I was getting worse by the minute. Gordon backhanded Dean, and I flinched at the sound of skin against skin.

“That’s my momma you’re talking about… anyway. This demon tells me there are soldiers to fight in this war. Humans, fighting on hell’s side. You believe that? I mean, pft, they’re psychics, so they’re not exactly human. But still! What kind of worthless scumbag have you got to be to turn against your own race?”

I glared as he swung the rifle around with each word.

“But you know the biggest kick in the ass? This demon said I knew one of them. Our very own Sammy Winchester.”

Dean snorted. “Oh, this is… this is an entire new level of moronic. Even for you.”

“Yeah?” Gordon got in our faces. “Come on, Dean. I know. About Sam’s visions. About Olive’s abilities. I know everything.”

“Really?” Dean laughed again. “Because a demon told you?”

“I’m sure it wasn’t lying.” I spat.

“Hey, look. I’m not some reckless yahoo, okay? I did my homework. Made damn sure both things were true. Look, you’ve got you Roadhouse connections, I’ve got mine. It’s how I found Sammy in the first place.” Gordon crossed back to the corner and sat down again. “About a month ago, I found another one of those freaks here in town. He could deep-fry a person just by touching them.”

“Yeah, did he kill anyone?” Dean taunted.

“Well, besides Mr. Tinkles the cat? No. But he was working up to it. They're all gonna be killers, Dean. We've got to take them all out. And that means Sammy too.” Gordon cocked the rifle.

“Do you really think Sam’s stupid enough to walk through that front door?”

“No.” Gordon chuckled. “I don’t. Especially since I’m sure you two found ways to warn him. Huh, you really think I’m that stupid?”

Dean and I both raised our eyebrows as we looked down. Gordon got up and began to pace.

“No. Sammy’s gonna scope the place first, see me covering the front door. So he’s gonna take the back. And when he does, he’ll hit the tripwire. Then…” He pulled a grenade from his bag. “Boom.”

“Sam’s not gonna fall for a fucking tripwire.”

“He’s not stupid.” I spat.

“Maybe you two are right. That’s why I’ll have a second one.”

There was a long pause. I shifted. If the gash in my knee didn’t kill me, Gordon most certainly would.

“Hey, look. I’m sorry, Dean. I wish I didn’t have to do this, I really do. But for what it’s worth, it’ll be quick. And after we’re done with Sam, we can let princess here run loose so that I can gun her down.”

***

“He’s gonna kill me, De.” I whimpered.

“No.” Dean shook his head. “No, I won’t let him.”

Gordon came back into the room and straddled a chair, a foot away from us.

“Come on, man. I know Sam, okay? Better than anyone. He’s got more of a conscience than I do. I mean, the guy feels guilty surfing the internet for porn. And Olive?” Dean scoffed. “I mean, look at her. She’s just a kid. Hell, she needs to be snuggled to sleep.”

“Maybe you’re right. But one day they’ll be monsters.”

“How?” I snapped. “I get me. But how’s someone like Sam become a monster?”

“Beats me.” Gordon shrugged. “But he will.”

“No! You don’t know that.” Dean sneered. “Neither of them will.”

“I’m surprised at you, Dean. Getting all emotional. I’d heard you were more of a professional than this. Look, let’s say you were cruising around in that car of yours and, uh, you had little Hitler riding shotgun, right? Back when he was just some goofy, crappy artist. But if you knew what he would become. You’d take him out. No questions. Right?”

“That’s not Sam, you asshat.” I snarled.

“Yes it is. You just can’t see it yet. It’s his destiny. Look, I’m sympathetic. He’s your brother, you love the guy. This has gotta hurt like hell for you two.” Gordon pulled out two shreds of fabric and stalked toward us. “But here’s the thing.”

He gagged Dean, then tied the second piece around my mouth. I held back a choke as my fangs immediately sunk into the fabric.

“It would wreck him, but your dad? If it really came down to it, he would’ve had the stones to do the right thing here. You’re telling me you’re not the man he is?”

***

The lock in the back door clicked, and I looked at Dean with wide eyes. My body was drained, and I had long since kicked into what Dean referred to as ‘monster mode’. My jaw was beginning to lock and I was on the verge of passing out, but knowing Sam was safe was my priority.

“You hear him?” Gordon asked.

There was the creak of the door, and Sam’s heavy footsteps were audible.

“Here he comes.” Gordon grinned.

Dean grunted, and I worked my jaw harder, teeth ripping at the scarf bit by bit. Sam took another step. I tore the scarf in two.

“Sam!”

I screamed too late, and there was an explosion in the back room. Dean screamed, and I roared, tears welling in my eyes. Gordon didn’t look our way.

“Hold on. Not yet. Just wait and see.” He spoke calmly.

“Sammy!” I shouted again, but the second grenade went off anyways.

Dean began to choke, tears falling down his cheeks. I let my head fall forward. Blood mixed with spit began to drop down onto my lap. I whimpered.

“Sorry, Dean.”

Gordon held his rifle up as he sauntered out of the room. Dean began to sob, and I closed my eyes. Gordon’s footsteps were heavier than Sam’s, and I could think of nothing more than ripping his spinal cord out with my teeth.

There was the cocking of a gun, and a soft step. “Drop the gun.”

Sam.

I shot up, eyes wide. I looked at Dean, but he was still crying. He couldn’t hear Sam.

“Sams!”

“You shouldn’t take your shoes off around here.” Gordon warned. “You might get tetanus.”

“Put it down now!” Sam ordered.

“You wouldn’t shoot me, would you, Sammy? Because your brother and sister, they think you’re some kind of saint.”

“Yeah? Well, I wouldn’t be so sure.” Sam hissed.

“See? That’s what I said.” Gordon whispered.

There was a grunt, followed by a series of punches. A wall crashed, and I knew by the thud that followed that Sam had just hit the ground. Dean struggled against his ropes, and I whimpered before tearing my own off. My wrists started to bleed right away, and I tumbled out of my seat.

Dean grunted, staring at me with wide eyes. I tried to get to my feet, but my leg gave out. Dean panted. I turned to sit and took a deep breath. I held my knee to my chest and breathed again. Dean watched, concerned. I paused before slamming my kneecap back into place. I let out a pained scream, and Dean’s face drained of color when I looked back up at him.

He squinted.

Are you okay?

I nodded as I got to my feet.

“Sam!” I called, shuffling through the rooms.

“Do it!” Gordon screamed.

Sam had him pinned, rifle against his forehead.

“Do it! Show your family the killer you really are, Sammy!”

I stumbled behind Sam and took the rifle from him. Gordon stared as a look of terror washed over his face. I wavered, and Sam grabbed my waist, holding me steady. I pulled the rifle back before slamming the butt of it into his head. He went out, cold.

“It’s Sam.” He spat.

I dropped the gun and began to fall backward. Sam caught me and pulled me into his chest.

“It’s alright.”

I looked up at him. He had cuts scattered all over his face. His cheekbone, the bridge of his nose, his lip. A bloody nose, messy hair, tired eyes. I let out a whimper and began to sob.

“I shouldn’t have left you alone. I’m sorry.”

He shook his head and cupped my cheeks. “It’s okay. Let’s go get Dean, yeah?”

We walked back to where Dean was tied up, feet dragging as we leaned against each other. Dean grunted at the sound of our footsteps. Sam clapped his shoulder as we stood behind him. I began to untie Dean’s gag as Sam knelt to untie his ropes. Dean shook his head and tore himself out of the last rope. He pulled Sam to stand and stared at him, hands on his shoulders. Sam nodded as he panted, grabbing Dean by the shoulders.

“Son of a bitch.” Dean hissed as he wheeled around and toward the door.

“Dean, no.”

“I let him live once. I’m not making the same mistake twice.” Dean growled.

“Trust me.” Sam sighed. “Gordon’s taken care of.” He leaned forward and grabbed Dean by the jacket, pulling him toward the door. “Come on.”

Sam and I stayed on his tail as we shuffled out of the cabin. We were greeted by Jinx, who had been tied to a tree nearby. She whined and started to paw at the ground. Dean untied her and took the leash off, tucking it into his pocket.

Jinx turned, and her tail stopped wagging. She let out a loud whine and started to run.

“What…”

There was a gunshot, and we turned to see Gordon with a gun in each hand. I tripped and fell, and Sam dragged me off the ground, hauling me over his shoulder.

“Come on!” Dean shouted, leading the way.

He jumped into a ditch, and Sam dumped me in. I hit the ground and rolled, groaning as I tried to untwist my knee.

“You call this taken care of?” Dean howled as Jinx and Sam ducked into the ditch with us.

“Sammy, what the hell are we doing?” I hissed as Gordon stalked closer, firing without end.

Dean pulled me into his side, making sure I was out of sight.

“Just trust me on this, alright?”

As if on cue, sirens blared, and the sounds of cops and their demands met our ears. I flinched and ducked further into Dean. Sam held Jinx as we stared at each other, eyes wide. We peeked up through the shadows to see Gordon dropping to his knees, glaring in our direction.

The boys grinned and I held back a giggle. I looked up at Sam, then Dean with a huge smile on my face. Sam leaned down.

“Anonymous tip.”

Dean shook his head with a smile. “You’re a fine, upstanding citizen, Sam.”

***

I frowned as Sam finished bandaging my leg. I huffed, and he ruffled my hair.

“All better, okay?”

I nodded. “Yeah. Thanks.”

He held his hands out for me as I slid off the hood of the car. He glanced over, and I turned to see him staring at Dean, who was on the phone and fuming as he paced around. I sighed and turned back to Sam.

He smiled. “Come on, bug. You should get to sleep. You’ve had a long day.”

I yawned as he opened the passenger side door. “Fine.”

He slid in next to me and wrapped an arm around my shoulders. I snuggled into his side and yawned again.

***

“Hey, Ava, it’s Sam… Again. Um, call me when you get this. Just wanna make sure you got home okay. Alright. Bye.” Sam hung up the phone with a sigh.

“Everything alright, Sams?”

“Yeah. I hope so.” He huffed.

“Well, at least Gordon should be reaching for the soap for the next few years at least.” Dean grinned.

“Yeah.” Sam sighed again. “If they pin Scott Carey’s murder on him. And if he doesn’t bust out.”

I rubbed my eyes. “Well, if he does, I’m fucking wasting him.”

Dean looked over at Sam, then back at the road, licking his lips. “Dude, you ever take off like that again…”

“What? You’ll kill me?” Sam jested.

“That is so not funny.” Dean hissed.

Sam laughed and I rolled my eyes, leaning further into his side and letting my eyes fall shut.

“Alright. So where to next, then?”

“One word. Amsterdam.”

“Dean.” Sam scoffed.

“Come on, man. I hear the coffeeshops don't even serve coffee.”

“Oh, and they’ve got the van Gogh museum there!” I piped up.

“I’m not just gonna ditch the job.”

“Man, fuck the job.” I squeaked.

Dean blinked, taken aback. “I mean, she’s right. We don’t get paid, we don’t get thanked. The only thing we get’s bad luck.”

“Well, come on, dude. You’re a hunter. I mean, it’s what you were meant to do.”

“Ah, I wasn’t meant to do shit. I don’t believe in that destiny crap.”

Sam half smiled. “You mean you don’t believe in my destiny.”

“Yeah, whatever.” Dean huffed.

Sam sighed. “Look, Dean. I’ve tried running before. I mean, I ran all the way to California, and look what happened. We can’t run from this. And you can’t protect us.”

Dean looked back at us. “I can try.”

“Thanks for that.” Sam whispered.

My shoulders dropped and I shifted from Sam’s side to Dean’s, wrapping my arms around one of his.

“Look, Dean, I'm gonna keep hunting. I mean, whatever is coming, I'm taking it head-on, so if you really want to watch my back, then I guess you're gonna have to stick around.”

Dean rolled his eyes fondly. “Bitch.”

“Jerk.” Sam spat back.

They grinned at each other, and I smiled, letting my head fall against Dean’s shoulder. There was a long pause before Sam picked up his phone again.

“You calling that Ava girl again? You sweet on her or something?”

“She’s engaged, Dean.” Sam scoffed.

“So what? What’s the point of saving the world if you can’t get a little nookie once in a while, huh?” Dean teased.

Sam hung up, a scowl on his face. I frowned.

“Sams?”

“Just a feeling. How far is it to Peoria?”

***

Sam picked the lock and led the way. I swept my flashlight around as we stalked down the hall.

“Hello? Is anybody home?”

“Ava?”

Sam stopped in a doorway and I ran into him. Dean stepped on the back of my heels before scrambling backward.

“What’s wrong?”

“Sam?”

“Oh my god.” He whispered.

I snuck under his arm and gasped. A man was lying on the bed, face-up and drenched in blood. Dean pushed past Sam and ran his finger along a windowsill. He huffed and held his finger up.

“Hey.”

Sam turned.

“Sulfur. Demon’s been here.”

“What’s that?” I squinted, pointing to something shiny on the floor.

Sam knelt and picked it up. He sighed.

“Ava.”

Previous Ep: Croatoan (2.09)

Next Ep: Playthings (2.11)

taglist: @i67

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binbons-character-stuff · 4 years

Text

1K FOLLOWER EVENT!!!!

I am so grateful that 1000 of you wonderful people want to read my stories about Benny’s characters! For the celebration, I wanted to do something a little different from the title fics, so we’re going to do Prompt Improv! Those of you who follow @hermioneshandbag and @logans-chestnuts may be familiar with this, but for my new friends, here we go!

How it Works:

There will be a list of dialogue prompts, places and scenarios. You will pick one or two dialogue prompts, one place and one scenario. I will improvise a drabble or short fic based on your choices.

Choose a Ben Barnes Character

Choose one or two dialogue prompts

Choose a place

Choose a scenario

Also:

Please follow this blog

Reblog this post

Check out my other blogs if you’d like

Send me an ask with your choices

No anons this time around so I get to everyone’s request, but if you let me know, I will post without your name.

Send in as many as you want, and I may write more than one of your choices!

Blacklist #binbons 1k follower event if you don’t want to see more about this

The Lists

Characters

Billy Russo

Ryan Brenner

Benjamin Greene

John Whittaker

Sam Adams

Caspian X

Nick Tortano

Tom Ward

Dialogue

“Well! You always know how to brighten up my day!”

“I’d rather count the freckles on your nose.”

“Who’s a good boy??!!”

“Is this seat taken?”

“The bed is taking up the whole space. What exactly did you have in mind?”

“Wellll!! This just got really interesting.”

“Did you really just say that?”

“Are you bleeding?”

“Please pass the cyanide, I don't want to go on living.”

“I hope it was worth it.”

“No, you don't get to say that, not now.”

“I can do this all day.”

“I need a nap.”

“Do you really think that's a good idea?”

“I’m allergic.”

“Clean it up!”

“Was that supposed to make me swoon?”

“I can't stop!”

“We need a lot more practice.”

“If we survive this I am going to kill you.”

“Oh, and I suppose it's my fault?”

You sure you know what you’re doing?”

“Yeah, right there.”

“You gonna eat that?”

“Do you ever stop talking?”

“Look, don't ask any questions, just run!”

“Are you crying?”

“My eyes are up here.”

“What is that purplish mark on your neck?”

“Am I going to run into you everywhere now?”

“I never thought closets could be so exciting.”

“What in the world is that?”

“Please give me a chance to explain.”

“It’s not what it looks like.”

“I can’t believe you kept this all these years.”

“Why is your hair orange??!!”

"What's in it for me?"

“Are you planning to wear that in public?”

“Oh, no you don't!”

“How dare you!”

“Chocolate solves everything.”

“Exactly how drunk are you?”

“It wouldn't be the same without you.”

“Stop that, people will see!”

"Sorry, one's more than enough for me."

"Scoot over next to me and nobody will see anything."

"Do you always have to take everything too far?"

"You're dead to me!"

"You are quite possibly the very dumbest person in the long and storied history of dumb people."

“Ma’am, is this your dog?”

“No, it’s really not that complicated. He’s a bad person.”

“Hey… what’s wrong with your face?”

“The king is missing.”

“Ah yes, come in. Close the door behind you.”

“How could you do this to me?”

“Um, sorry. That one’s not for sale.”

“You’ve got thirty seconds to explain to me what you’re doing here.”

“Ain’t nobody ever told you who your real daddy is?”

“I know this may be hard to believe, but I’m on your side.”

“Never heard of that being used as a murder weapon before.”

“Just sit around and cry, then. I don’t have that luxury.”

“I’m sorry. I thought you were someone else.”

“That’s the nice thing about telling the truth. You don’t have nearly as much to keep track of.”

“Of course we’re best friends. No one else would put up with our shenanigans.”

“That’s the least of your worries.”

“Do you trust me?”

“You found it on the beach? You know, when most people take a walk on the beach, they pick up seashells.”

“Sir. This is for children only.”

“I haven’t tried this on a human yet, but it should be very similar.”

“What? I meant it as a compliment.”

“Who put this in my coat pocket?”

“I can’t do this any more."

“I know you did your best, but it just wasn’t enough.”

“Even if I could stop it, I wouldn’t.”

“You have got to see this.”

“I don’t really think of myself as a thief…”

“Are you just going to keep walking by or are you going to come in?”

“Please return to your assigned seat.”

“Dude. It’s 3 in the morning.”

“I can’t believe I used to think he was attractive.”

“Where are your clothes?”

“Well, you have me here. What now, pray tell?"

“I can’t believe I’m telling you this.”

“I should have told you this a long time ago.”

“I am only telling the truth when I say that you have not behaved completely as a gentleman in this matter.”

“I thought we were friends!”

“I thought I loved you, but I don’t even think I know who you really are.”

“She’s evil, but she does have a point there.”

“I didn’t know you could talk.”

“Sweetie, what were you thinking?”

“What makes you think it was an accident?”

“I know you’re here. You may as well show yourself.”

“This isn’t going to be a typical best man speech.”

“We thought at first that it was part of the performance.”

“I would break his thumbs right now if I could.”

“Why are you helping me?”

“That’s the worst reason I’ve ever heard to have a baby.”

“I didn’t even recognize you!”

“Is it worth breaking your vows over?”

“I told you not to read that.”

“Put the turkey down.”

“I didn’t ask to be abducted.”

“That’s the most disgusting thing I’ve ever heard.”

“Where did you learn how to do that?”

“I thought you had him!”

“Humility is not one of my many virtues.”

“How can you stand living here?”

“You don’t have the correct paperwork.”

“Careful not to break the—oh.”

“I wasn’t going to say anything, but yes.”

“Well aren’t you the cutest little thing?”

“Please don’t use sarcasm. It confuses me to think you're capable of wit.”

“After we lost you, things just weren’t the same.”

“If you were logical you would’ve killed me already.”

“Well, that could’ve gone better.”

“Sometimes I feel like she’s still at my side.”

“We’ve been waiting two hours.”

“Your services are no longer required.”

“I feel like we’ve met before…”

“Does he hit you?”

“Yes, it’s a questionable line of work, but I’m good at it.”

“She’s in the building.”

“Wow! It’s an honor to meet you.”

“I’m cured. I swear.”

“My chances of living to a ripe old age are unfortunately excellent.”

“Let’s face it, you don’t exactly blend in.”

“Forgive me if I’m misreading things, but do you want to kiss me?”

“Seriously?”

“That does not look good.”

“You were in an accident. Can you tell me your name?”

“Pretend to be here with me, this creep won't leave me alone!”

“Is that a gun/knife/crossbow in your pocket or are you just happy to see me?”

"I can't believe you did that!"

“That is the worst line I have ever heard.”

“The next time you break the law, don’t do it in front of so many witnesses.”

“Sometimes being a total bookworm pays off.”

Places

Hallway

Sidewalk

Lake cottage

Hospital

Your residence

Restaurant

Wedding

Funeral

Jail

The beach

A Society function/ball

The Forest

A cave

the mountains

A ship

A shop

a park

Library

An attic

A bar or pub

Scenarios

Reunion

Injured In a fight

Best friends to lovers

Stranded together

Drunk

Jealousy

You’re his tutor

Meet the parents

Waiting Room

Cooking/baking

Kidnapped

Blackmail

Mistaken identity

Both reaching for the last one

Forbidden love

Belated love epiphany

Road trip romance

Second chance

The one that got away

Marriage of convenience

Lose a bet

Wingman fail

Bodyguard

#binbons 1k follower event #ben barnes #billy russo #benjamin greene #johnny whittaker #sam adams #Ryan Brenner #Caspian X #tom ward #nick tortano

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