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sugarmaplewings-fics · 3 years

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Not All Treasure is Silver and Gold (Part One)

Pairing: Pirate!Bakugou x mermaid!reader

Warnings: Ehh, this portion is gender neutral but from here on out the reader is referred to as female. This does work as a stand alone story, though. Otherwise no warnings from this one.

{Pt. 1} {Pt. 2} {Pt. 3} {Pt. 4}

Author's Note:

Sooo, I know I said I probably wouldn't have this out for another while, buuuttt, I didn't have anything for today and this one was just staring at me 🥺. I don't quite have a concrete plan for the full thing, and there's no guarantees for when part two is going to come out. Also I might draw something like last time to use as a banner. The one that's down there is a placeholder.

Anyhoo, I hope you enjoy this! I've been wanting to write this story for almost a year now, and I finally have the chance! If you'd like to be part of the taglist for this story, please message me!

I think that's it. Love you!!

-Sugar

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A shadow slid across the ocean floor.

Basking in the warmth of the sun, it truly made for an unwelcome interruption. You'd been partaking in a nap only moments prior, mind slowly shifting through half-baked thoughts as the sun shone down onto the sand beneath you. Prompted by the change of brightness and temperature, you blinked your eyes open, rolling over to your back with a lethargic stretch of your arms. Squinting, you frowned up at the surface rippling a considerable distance above you.

There you saw it, some strange shape making its way over the water above. It seemed to be some kind of brownish color, wide and tapered to a point at each end.

Your annoyance faded as curiosity struck you. You didn’t think you’d ever seen anything like it before. You studied it from your vantage point on the ocean floor even as the sunlight reappeared on your relaxed body. It wasn’t as though you were doing anything important right now, you figured. Maybe it was something worth investigating, at least for a short time.

Rousing yourself from the sand, you flicked your tail to propel yourself up in the direction of the object.

You poked your head out of the water, body bobbing up and down with the motions of the waves. You blinked, bringing a hand out of the water in an attempt to shield your vision from the blinding sun. How did anything live up here? It felt as though your eyes were going to dry up and incinerate to nothing.

There it was, the strange object that had cast such a shadow. It was even bigger above water. Mahogany planks shaped it into that odd form, making it float on the ocean, cutting through waves as though they were nothing. Large masts seemed to sprout up from the center like kelp in a forest, sporting billowing white cloths rippling in the air currents.

Ah, yes, it was a boat, and an impressive one at that. You suddenly remembered seeing the ones just like this that couldn’t float anymore, having swum past the ruined, swollen wood during your time in this part of the sea. They were ominous, sitting still on the ocean floor, carrying a dark, somber aura about them as they laid dead where they’d never move again.

But this ship was every meaning of the word alive, shining in the midday sun and skimming dutifully over the bright blue water. Its size might have looked intimidating, but the thing itself was also very intriguing.

Naturally, you swam closer.

The thing was fast, but luckily, so were you. You dived back down, your powerful tail bringing you a few body lengths up to the submerged bottom of the ship. Popping out of the water again, you looked all the way up its side.

Now that you were closer, you thought you heard something. The sounds were new to you, similar to whalesong. But this was deeper, choppier, and somehow harsher. You frowned in the direction of the noises. What was on this boat?

You circled it underwater—careful not to get too close—coming back up a few times to get another look from a different angle.

You had to admit, it carried an odd beauty about it. Something like this must have been built, but the craftsmanship was so intricate, and it was massive . . . .

You sprung up above water again some ways away from it. Perhaps this thing wasn’t as exciting as you’d initially thought. It was a pain to keep up with and the noises coming from it kept hurting your ears.

Just as you turned to leave, a movement caught your eye. There it was, a flash of gold just at the side of the ship. It looked vaguely . . . familiar.

You went closer again to get a better look, and it was then that you met a pair of golden eyes, looking much like those of your people of the sea.

The figure startled as soon as he saw you, blinking and squinting in your direction. He made more of those strange chattering sounds you’d kept hearing, looking behind him and frantically pointing at you with his outstretched hand.

Rude, you thought, but what was a merman doing all the way up there?

A second head appeared next to the first, this one with vibrant, spiky red hair. You experimentally waved at them in greeting, wondering why you couldn’t understand them. Maybe they were from a different ocean you'd never seen.

They both leaned over the side. It looked like they were trying to communicate something to you, but whatever it was, you didn’t get it.

The red haired one turned and left, but was quick to come back with a weird circular object. It was attached to a rope and had an open circle in the middle, just big enough to put the top third of your body through.

To your mild surprise, he tossed it over the side at you, and it landed with surprising accuracy only a tail length away. You swam over to it, picking it up out of the water. It was oddly light—which probably explained why it floated so easily on the waves—and was made out of some strange material.

You glanced dubiously back up at the faces on the side of the ship. They were looking at you with . . . distress? What was this thing? Was it some kind of gift? What were you supposed to do with it? You couldn’t hold it down under the waves, so how were you supposed to bring it back underwater with you?

Either way, you thought it would be rude to decline. You grabbed the rope that was tied to it. It looked as though they were still holding on to the other end. You really wouldn’t be able to take it anywhere if it was still attached to the ship.

You grabbed the rope and tugged. They held onto it. Frustrated, you tugged again. Looking up at their faces, you matched their expressions of confusion. What were you missing here?

Perhaps they were only trying to show it to you. You decided to follow through with your initial idea of putting it around the upper portion of your body. You lifted it over your head—you fit through it okay, at least—and soon it reached the submerged base of your tail.

You floated there for a second. Was this all it was good for? Kind of useless if you asked yourself. Again, you made up your mind to leave. You had better things to do than play silly games with the weirdos in the sky.

Before you could slip back out under the object, you felt yourself being pulled closer to the boat. Now what were they doing?

You frowned up the side again, but this time you couldn’t really see them. They must have stepped back further onto the boat. Intrigued, you let them pull you along with them. You got closer and closer to the side, and finally the rope connecting you to the other end slanted completely vertical. You adjusted yourself so you wouldn’t slide out. Perhaps they were trying to bring you up so they could meet you. You weren’t sure what they’d gain by that, seeing as you couldn’t understand them. Heck, they probably wouldn’t be able to understand you either. But you were still curious. What did the boat look like from up there? It wasn’t all that interesting from the underside, but maybe if you were able to see it from the top . . . .

The two strangers began to haul you out of the water. It was a little scary, you had to admit. Slowly, your body was extracted from the water. Waves slapped against your tail ever lower, and eventually you were fully suspended in midair. You clung tightly to the rope. Glancing back at the sea below, you realized it was a long way down, and the higher you went, the less you were comfortable with the idea of falling.

You'd never been all the way out of the water like this, and it almost felt as though you were flying like those seabirds you'd see living on islands. Except this wasn't as fun. You were meant to swim in the water, not get dragged through the air.

Finally you saw the rim of the ship, and you picked up on the grunting and labored breaths from the two weirdlings you’d seen earlier. You reached up and grabbed onto the side, hoisting your body up. Then you saw them.

These weren’t quite the mermen you were used to. The things that were pulling you up had legs.

You stared at them for a moment, watching fascinated as they walked towards you. Tearing your eyes away from their tailless, split bodies, you glanced back at their faces. Why did they look so concerned? Did they always look like that?

The blond one was the first to reach you. He was quick to grab your hand to help you over the railing, chattering something at you. You let him pull your body up a little higher, and then he froze. To your surprise, he let go of your hand, dropping your bodyweight and causing you to pitch forward. You slid gracelessly to the dry floor of the ship like some kind of overgrown eel, fins and tail meeting the floor of the boat with a wet thud.

You spluttered, annoyed, curling your scaled appendage closer into yourself. “What is this?!” you finally asked.

The blond one had run back to the redhead, pointing frantically and clearly panicked. The red haired one also looked shaken, but otherwise seemed somewhat more collected as he studied you.

“Whatever,” you mumbled, sliding the flotation object off of yourself. “I don’t want this thing anyway.”

You glanced around, taking in the ship up close. It was pretty cool, but in hindsight, it probably wasn’t worth the whole fiasco you’d gone through to get here. The floor was mostly bare, give or take a few stacked boxes here and there. You recognized a net hanging from a pole, one of which you’d seen countless before. Was this where they came from?

“Those things are dangerous,” you said, pointing at it. “I’ve had to cut a lot of animals out of them.”

It was then that the red haired one stepped closer to you. You drew back just a bit, suspicious.

Examining him, you took in the mismatched rings that adorned his ears, and the billowy off-white covering he wore over his chest. The front was open, exposing the tanned skin of his torso. Darker brown fabric covered his lower half, tucked into clunky coverings at the very bottom. Another strip of cloth was tied around his head, making his vibrant hair stick up in odd directions.

He crouched down so you wouldn’t have to crane your neck up to look at him. He tried to say something to you again, but this time his voice wasn’t so loud. It was still foreign to your ears, but it was low and smooth.

You gave him an apologetic expression. “Listen,” you said. “This was fun and all, but I should probably get going.”

You turned and tried to slide yourself closer to the side you’d come from. Much to your annoyance, your tail hindered your movements. You were used to the grace of the water, but now you felt heavy and clunky. Scowling, you tried to pull yourself to the railing with your arms, but nothing was cooperating with you. The boat swayed with the motion of the waves down below, and as soon as you figured you’d made progress, you’d have to fight even harder against the force pulling you back.

You felt something touch your tail, and you whipped around with a threatening hiss, baring your teeth. It was the redhead again, and apparently he’d been the first to notice the rope that had gotten tangled around the fins and scales of your tail. Maybe he was trying to help, but he was touching your tail. You could do it yourself.

Jerking the lower portion of your appendage, you were able to smack him away with your fins. Feelings hurt, he stepped back.

You grabbed at the rope, cursing the fact that you’d ever gotten up from your nap in the first place as you struggled to untangle yourself from the device that had brought you up here. You wondered how you had gotten stuck so bad as you tugged at the coarse material. Seriously, you were so done with this today. You vowed to never go up to another boat again in your life if you could only get off this one—

And then you saw him.

The blond must have left a while ago but now you saw who he’d come back with. It was another being like the other two. He was blond like the first one, but his hair was shorter, spikier, and reminded you of the pale yellow of the sun. He was bigger than the other blond, but smaller than the redhead. You didn’t think you’d ever seen a face so handsome, even among the mermen back where you lived. He bore a scowl on his face, similar to the one you’d been sporting seconds earlier. Strength and authority rolled off him in waves, not only in the way he carried himself but also in the respect he garnered from the others around him.

He was tall, he was hot, and now you were just staring.

The sexy weirdling grumbled something, and you honestly weren’t sure to whom it was intended for until he stepped forward. You were slower to pull away as he approached, almost drawn to him in a strange way.

He knelt in front of you, pulling out a sharp object from a hidden pouch on his hip. Your heart fluttered in momentary fear as he brought it closer to your tail, but soon you saw the way he reached for the rope. Without scarcely touching your scales, he pulled on the material and sliced through it, cutting you free in a few fluid motions. You were caught up in watching him work, silently in awe as his rough hands delicately moved over your body.

Soon, you were able to move again, but before you could, he straightened and lifted your body from the floor. You gasped, clutching at his broad shoulders as you were once again suspended in midair. But this time you felt secure; his arms supporting the weight of your body. He met your eyes for a split second, and you became lost in the pools of orangey-red. They were deep, and bright, and you felt as though you could gaze into them forever.

Then you were hauled above the railing and tossed over the side.

Weightless, you fell back to the sea from which you came. It was surreal, watching his pale face grow smaller and smaller as wind rushed around you and gravity pulled you further away.

No, you thought, still in a daze. You wanted to stay with him, to keep looking at him, to know his name—

But all too quick, your back hit the cold water of the sea, skin stinging from the impact. With an impressive splash, you sank down again to the place you called home.

You didn’t know how to feel now, watching from below as the ship surged on without you. You were astonished and confused, lost and frozen in the deep blue world that surrounded you.

It was then that you vowed to see him again, no matter what.

You were warm—a little giddy—and you were determined.

You were in love.

…

To be continued . . . .

[Part Two]

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Taglist: @aahilovetheatre @basicalyrandom @bumbyslair @f0leysgurl @hyunmin-1404 @kqtsukii @nabo39 @pyrofanatic @rainy-skys-and-bright-stars @sendhelpimstupid @ure-a-sunflower @xoxopam4 @deltajay @sillygoof @whipped-cream-writings

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where-dreamers-go · 4 years

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Merlin x Fem!Reader (Soulmate AU) (Text reupload)

(A/N: Yes, I know I already have this up here, but it’s a DeviantArt link and it’s bothering me because it’s an external link. So...can’t take away the link aspect because it won’t let me save it. SOOO...here’s an insert reader from 2017 and my first attempt at a soulmate au.

Warnings: Minor angst?, fluff.

Word Count: 3,773 words)

“I’m telling you, Gaius, I felt something. It has to be magic if I woke up like that,” Merlin stood in front of his room as his older companion prepared breakfast.

“Merlin,” Gaius sighed and turned to the young man, “It could simply be nothing, but.....if you feel so strongly about it we should keep ours eyes open.”

Merlin simply nodded with a minute smile, not informing Gaius that, despite all they’ve been through, he was strangely looking forward to discovering the source of his new curiosity.

The young sorcerer went back into his room to dress for the day and giving the world a hopeful smile as his blue eyes peered down at his golden mark over his heart.

“Someday,” Merlin whispered to himself before pulling on a colored shirt.

* * *

Hide it.

You had to hide it.

The gold, the shape, the details.

A mark that helped bring souls together must be hidden.

Everyone else did since as long as their ancestors could remember. A unique mark appearing on everyone some time after birth, an image that would be perfectly matched to their soul mate. Whether the mark actually resembled something or was a pattern of shapes or swirls. It was said to be a powerful experience to meet one’s other half especially upon realizing who each other truly were.

Regardless of one’s mark, the pair were usually still bound by the laws of whichever kingdom they lived in. A ridiculous notion that you didn’t bother yourself with much. You only pitied those who were unlucky enough to deal with strict kingdoms where it was difficult between soul mates with different statures in life or overall trickier situations.

You were one of those lucky enough to live in Camelot, but even more fortunate to have been granted the opportunity to work in the castle as a servant. It was a drastic change from tending to the farms your family and neighbors grew for many decades.

A newly adjusted life as a castle servant gave you many opportunities during the day to daydream about your possible first encounter with your special someone as you went about your duties.

But how in the world were you suppose to find your soul mate when yours was inconveniently located over your heart?

It wasn’t as if your soul mate was going to display theirs. Well, you certainly hoped not.

You preferred not to tell anyone outside of your family about your golden dragon mark on your chest lest they scrutinize you for having a magical creature as your mark. Some marks weren’t even anything specific as an animal let alone a silhouette of a flying dragon. Your family liked to relish in their hopes of it meaning that your soul mate was a Pendragon, however deep down you knew that wasn’t true. Not just because King Arthur and Queen Guinevere were widely known as soul mates by now, but how the meanings of the marks went much deeper than names or outside appearances. They were symbols of who they were and you were honestly worried for your other half because of living where the majority of kingdoms outlawed magic and if your mark implied as such, you hoped they could take care of themselves enough not to be put to death before you met. If only you knew where to find them because even a peaceful kingdom such as Camelot forbid magic of any sort.

Working in the castle was still a learning experience that involved memorizing directions and scheduled times for cleaning rooms or simply changing sheets on a bed before washing them in a large barrel of water.

Not unlike your current state as you hauled a hefty load of used bedsheets in a basket from more than one bedchamber. This week had brought a number of visitors who sought to greet the new queen of Camelot; although they were a bit late by a few months.

Many of the castle’s servants, like yourself, were scampering around like ants on a daily quest. You had met a few already during your short time there, but remembering their names was more of a challenge than learning where to clean the laundry.

You continued walking with the basket wrapped in your arms as you centered your direction on getting to the lower levels of the castle. Taking a turn, you gingerly made your way down the stairs, being careful to the placement of your feet on each step as your eyes focused on the stone beneath you. The last thing you wanted was to bust a kneecap or make yourself look like a fool if you couldn’t even handle walking down about a dozen steps. More than halfway down the stairs, a patch of skin on your chest prickled and heated into a burn causing you to loose focus on anything else, including the placement of your footing.

“Ah!” You felt the ever fearful sensation of falling ripple through you.

Your body twisted to the left as gravity pulled down on your legs, the basket of dirty sheets leaping from your grasp. Your positioning was quickly leading the fall to surely be on your side in a painful trip instead of toppling headfirst.

(E/C) eyes were trained onto the steps as you closed the distance with hands hardly ready for the impact that was deemed so evident.

It never came.

Well, not from the stairs at least.

A pair of arms were braced under yours before you even registered anyone was near you. Their blue shirt filled your vision as you now felt how your savior was supporting you from even sitting on a single step. Being as your legs were the only part of you touching the cold stone.

“Are you alright?” A strained male voice asked, you figured it was from the position you found yourselves in, but the voice was soothing nonetheless.

“I’m fine,” you answered, not even positive if you were lying or not.

You didn’t fall, which was a plus. Yet your mark was burning into a searing pain with your blood rushing through your veins as rapid as a fleeing rabbit. Too much so for simply almost falling. Your mark had never done that before and you knew that it wasn’t a normal occurrence.

“Thank you,” you said, finally looking up to meet a pair of gleaming ocean blue eyes. A fluttering in your stomach added to the overwhelming feelings that coursed through your body that severely increased in this young man’s presence. One of whom you have never met.

“I’m Merlin,” he smiled as he pulled you to your feet.

The name registered in your mind in a snap, you had heard about him from the other castle servants about how he was the King’s loyal manservant with a name that seemed to stick in your mind.

His hands slid down to your hands before slipping away hesitantly and their comforting warmth they left on you slowly faded.

“I’m (Y/N),” you said, glancing up at him, your hand subconsciously going up to press onto the fabric of your dress that hid your mark underneath. As much as you tried, you couldn’t ease the stinging as it kept your attention.

“Are you sure you’re alright?” Merlin asked bringing his hand up to copy your movements. His blue eyes suddenly bouncing between the two of you.

You didn’t reply, you couldn’t, and every part of you was screaming know if he felt it too. The pulling, the aching itch of your bright mark, and the undeniable need to be closer despite only just meeting him.

Was he your match?

Azure eyes bore into your orbs eagerly waiting yours short reply and full of hidden knowledge. His brown jacket moving shakily upon his now heaving chest.

“It burns,” you whispered, hand pausing its movements.

“Your mark?” His voice came out low, tickling your insides into a shudder.

Again you were silent, but you nodded. Oblivious to the by-passers having to walk around the pair of you at the foot of the stairs.

“A golden dragon,” Merlin whispered so quietly that your ears barely caught his three words.

But those words had your eyes widening to saucers and lips parting for what little breath you had.

Merlin took ahold of your free arm, pulling you away from the stairway before almost tripping over the dirty sheets. Using his brown boots to repeatedly kick the scattered fabric and basket aside to be out of the way of others.

Now beside a wall, the two of you stood in front of one another with the fabric mess at your feet.

Brushing aside his red neckerchief, he adjusted his shirt enough to pull the fabric down to his left to reveal a very golden dragon. A shining silhouette of a flying dragon’s profile was imprinted above his heart, an exact copy of your own soul mate mark.

Neither your eyes nor your mind could fully believe it was real. Yet your heart and soul was singing with rejoice at the discovery.

You raised a trembling finger to Merlin’s mark and tentatively touched it. A jolt went up your arm at the skin contact and he let out an uneven breath. Being mesmerized by the sight of it all would be an understatement, what with your shaking knees. Not only did you find a matching mark--your soul mate was seemingly happy and healthy. You would be more than glad to spend a few hours tracing your fingers along the delicate shapes on his warm skin.

An equally heated hand went up to cover your own with the thumb rubbing gentle strokes on your knuckles.

“May I see yours?” Merlin asked, breaking you out of your trance and focusing on his blushing cheeks.

Only now did you realize how close the two of you were standing from each other. Shoes mer centimeters from touching and Merlin’s breath billowing your hair.

Your eyes flickered over to where people were still milling around. Of all places, you and your soul mate, Merlin, had to meet at one of the most used staircases in the entire castle. That being said, you weren’t too keen on anyone seeing you physically disclose the location of your mark. Even if the neckline of your simple dress made the task rather simple.

“It’s okay,” Merlin softly shifted you to have your back to the stairs and effectively blocking your actions from any prying eyes.

Your fingers worked on their own accord, pulling the (F/C) fabric across your skin the short distance to reveal your still stinging mark.

“We are soul mates,” he whispered, “I knew something was different in Camelot.”

Tilting your head at him, you watched as Merlin’s mouth morph into a triumphant smile. You half expected him to touch your mark as you did with his, but he wrapped you in his surprisingly strong arms instead. A most welcome gesture being as you’ve never felt more relieved and happy in your entire life as you hugged your arms firmly around his waist.

There was a lightness in your chest that could have sent you floating to the ceiling as you nuzzled your cheek into your soul mate’s chest. Safety and joy emitted into you like the warmth from a fire. One of Merlin’s hands combing themselves into your hair while his other held you securely to him by the waist.

“I’m so glad I moved to Camelot,” you mumbled into his shirt as you squeezed your arms tighter around him.

You were sure the grin on your face would become permanent with Merlin resting his chin on the top of your head despite the tears threatening to roll down your cheeks.

“MEEERRRRLIIINNN!”

A spark of fear shot through you at the sound of the booming, annoyed voice. Your other half on the other hand didn’t seem fazed by it in the slightest. If anything his grip on you only grew tighter.

“Merlin! There you are,” King Arthur came from around the corner spotting his manservant. “What are you doing?” He pulled a face as his confusion sank in at the sight of his brunette friend embracing a girl.

“I....,” Merlin gazed down at you, “I found her.”

The look in his eyes as you met his again was overflowing with emotion. Ones that made your heartstrings pull and flex if only as a sign to tell you that he already cared so deeply about you.

Arthur’s eyes snapped wide and he pointed between you and Merlin.

Both you and Merlin looked back to the other young man.

You held in a giggle at the King’s lengthy reaction as Merlin nodded in glee with a new shine to his blue eyes.

“Oh.” Arthur peered around in thought before spying the floor. “Pick up your mess and the both of you can have the rest of today off. I’m sure someone else can take care of the laundry,” he looked straight at Merlin. “But I expect you to be on time tomorrow.”

“Really?” You gasped, fingers digging into the back of Merlin’s jacket. “Thank you, sire.”

“You’re welcome,” King Arthur let a smile slip. “If anything, you need luck having Merlin as your soul mate.”

“Ha. Ha,” Merlin looked as if he was suppressing the need to roll his eyes. “Thank you, Arthur.”

The King nodded at the both of you as he went to walk away, but turned to point at the scattered mess.

“Now, Merlin.”

“Right!” Your soul mate released you and spun out of your grasp.

A surprise giggle escaped your lips as you watched Merlin crouch down and rush to gather the almost forgotten mess. Before you knew it he had everything back in the basket and was standing with it ready to go.

“Shall we?”

It wasn’t difficult for Merlin to keep pace with you as the two of you completed your earlier journey to drop off the laundry. Leaving hand in hand after a hurried explanation to a rather confused woman who was already scrubbing away at some clothes.

You sprinted to keep up with Merlin, following his lead through the halls of the castle. Passing some knights as you went who called out to Merlin in a friendly manner to only have Merlin shout over his shoulder in passing.

“I found my soul mate!” Merlin was practically beaming with his wide grin that you equally matched with a short wave to the men.

Cheers and whistles echoed down the halls from the red-caped knights that added fuel to Merlin’s already quick pace.

Sooner than you thought in your adrenaline-rushed state, Merlin had finally stopped long enough to swing open a wooden door.

“Gaius,” Merlin called out, scanning the room as he lead you inside.

“Yes, Merlin. What is it?” An older man, much older in age than the knights, looked up from a much tattered book and adjusted his glasses. He eyed Merlin with suspicion, making you wonder what trouble the young man beside you had gotten into in the past.

“Gaius,” Merlin took a few breaths, “This is (Y/N). She’s my soul mate. (Y/N), this is Gaius the Court Physician.”

If only you would have noticed the physician’s jaw drop, but Merlin’s voice saying your name as if it was a proclamation of love was an easy distraction. Your hand that held his tightened all the more.

“It’s a pleasure to meet you, (Y/N),” Gaius stood from his seat to shake your hand.

“A-and you as well, Gaius,” you briefly shook his aged hand.

“Ah....How did you both meet? Might I ask?” Gaius’ mind was clearly running through a long-winded list of questions and a mixture of emotions at the moment.

It wasn’t everyday that someone you know finds their soul mate.

You and Merlin on the other hand were clearly feeding off of one another’s energies, practically bouncing in place with excitement that only grew.

“When I was heading back to grab Arthur’s armor.....that I forgot, and once I went around the corner to go up the stairs my mark started to burn. But before I could do anything I saw (Y/N) about to fall down the stairs. I mean I didn’t know who she was at the time, but my feet were running after her before I realized what was happening.” Merlin’s fingers easily wound their way between yours. “Then we showed each other our marks just before Arthur showed up and figured out what happened.”

“Not to forget I dropped the laundry basket and made a mess out--.”

“That wasn’t a problem,” Merlin interrupted you and gave your hand a gentle squeeze.

“Let me be very honest with you both,” Gaius started and making you tense, “Soul mates, especially upon first meeting one another can hardly stay away from each other. They are drawn together.”

“Like Arthur and Gwen,” Merlin added in, unfazed by the in progress lecture.

“Yes and you remember how difficult it was for them once they found out. Being together makes soul mates complete and one. So I advise you both to spend your time wisely...and I hope Arthur understands your situation.”

“He gave us both the day off,” Merlin boasted as if he’d never had one, which quite frankly might be the case.

“Today or tomorrow?”

“Just today. You know Arthur can’t function without me,” Merlin glanced down at you with a smirk.

You bumped him lightly with your clasped hands.

“It’s nearly noon, Merlin.”

“I’m sure Arthur has told Gwen and he can survive a few hours without me. Well, hopefully,” Merlin mumbled the last bit, rubbing the back of his neck with his free hand.

Gaius only sighed, looking about his home, and grabbed an empty hand basket.

“I’m....going to the market....for....I’ll be back later,” Gaius excused himself and walked past the pair of you before leaving.

“Is he alright?” You asked, glancing at the now closed door.

“....He might be in shock,” Merlin suggested with a shrug. “He’ll be fine though. I promise.” He reassured you, leading past the table and towards a door on the other side of the room with a couple of small steps leading up to it.

“Alright, but....maybe we should have listened more about what he had to say,” you said, “Just in case.”

“We’ll be fine. I won’t let anything bad happen to you for as long as I live,” he opened the door and gestured you inside. “But we won’t have as much time as we would like to speak to one another. So we can talk in here.”

“Is this your room?” You asked, taking a seat on the edge of his bed.

“Yeah,” he glanced around the room a bit.

You could sense his overall giddiness, however there was an amount of anxiety now that the two of you were alone.

“To be honest....I was afraid something would have happened to you before we met,” Merlin shut the door behind him, “because of our mark.”

“Afraid? I was worried you’d be locked up for magic or something. It’s a dragon, Merlin!” You gestured to your own mark.

“Er....About that,” he started fidgeting his feet.

“What?” You furrowed your eyebrows at him.

“I have magic.”

Your eyes widened and you were sure your eyebrows met your hairline.

“And I’m the last Dragonlord,” he added, “Which would probably explain our mark.”

“....Dragonlord?.....B-but I....I don’t have magic....a-and you....you have magic,” you tried desperately to have your mind wrap around this information being that it wasn’t theoretical anymore. “But you’re....”

“Arthur’s manservant.” Merlin sat down beside you, his hand finding its way to yours and intertwining with your fingers.

“Yeah,” you breathed out. “How in the world have you not even been caught?”

“It’s a long story.”

“We some have time,” you scooted closer to him with a sweet smile and rested your joined hands on your lap, his hand nicely nestled between yours. “Mister I-can-hide-my-magic-powers.”

“We do,” Merlin leaned closer and lowered his voice, “And I’m pretty sure Arthur will come looking for me before dinner.”

A short snicker shook you before resting your head against his shoulder and peered up into his deep blue eyes.

“I really hope we have more time than that,” you said, watching as he shifted his attention to his free hand that was closed.

“Well as long as nothing decides to attack Camelot today, we should be as good as you make me feel.”

Your eyebrows rose shortly as you breathed out a soft laugh.

“Did you just use a line on me?”

“Yes.....It was bad wasn’t it?”

“No, it was cute,” you smiled, feeling your cheeks get a tad rosy.

“So are you,” Merlin answered back and placed a small rose in your hair.

“Where did--Oh.”

Merlin moved a few stray hairs away from your face before resting his forehead on top of yours. The pair of you closed your eyes, absorbed in the calm moment that resulted from such a fast-paced turn of events.

“Thank you,” you whispered, still keeping your eyes shut and not entirely wanting to break the silence.

“For the flower?” Merlin asked, his fingers playing with the ends of your hair.

“No, for catching me.”

A soft warmth pecked your nose causing you to open your eyes in time to see Merlin kiss the tip of your nose again.

“I’ll never let you fall.”

You couldn’t help biting your lip because the back of your head was hurting from smiling continuously. Something in you told you that he would be the most positive person in your entire life.

“Merlin?”

“Hmm?”

“Did your mark stop burning too?”

“Yeah. I forgot when though.”

“Good,” you snuggled into his side as he buried his face in the crook of your neck.

You looked forward to your future together even if you didn’t quit know it would involve more magic and adventure than you had ever experienced. Merlin would show you more of his magic and entrust you with knowledge of his destiny. No matter what was to come, you would be more than glad to help him in any way you could, even if that meant making sure he remembered to rest and eat.

~~~

Part Two 💖

#BBC Merlin x Reader #Merlin x Reader #Merlin x fem!Reader #soulmate au #BBC Merlin fanfiction #BBC Merlin #Merlin #where dreamers go #female reader

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hongism · 4 years

Text

mists of celeste ➻ four

➻ pairing: ??? x fem reader ➻ genre: space au, pirate au, space pirate!ateez, angst, eventual smut ➻ Word Count: 4.1k ➻ Rating: M ➻ Warnings: language, violence, guns and weaponry, blood, future warnings tba ➻ summary: Sneaking aboard the ship of a renowned space pirate may not have been the best idea, but you’ll have to make do with what fate has handed to you

⇐ previous | next ⇒

mists of celeste act one ➻ part four

The air around you is stiff and unmoving, cold as ice yet you don't feel goosebumps rising across your skin. A dark night sky looms above you with its scattering of bright stars. Near the center of the indigo sea lies a brilliant red moon; bright in it's blinding color. Something about the scene is familiar, the clearness of the sky reminds you of something from your past. No clouds, no breeze, no sounds of nightlife.

It's a sense of complete and utter peace. Something damp seeps through your clothing, touching your skin and leaving you cold. You sit up and press your palms to the ground below you. Instead of meeting solid ground, however, you're met by water. It splashes against your bare legs, and you withdraw your hands from the surface in an instant.

Water?

You bring your chin up, glancing across your surroundings. It's a lake, a shallow one yes, considering that your legs aren't fully submerged and you seem to be placed in the middle of it. A chill runs down your spine. You know exactly where you are. The water beneath you runs black, and the enormous moon hanging in the sky is only present on one planet. It's only then, when you discern where you are, that you realize you're in a dream and not reality. You push yourself to your feet, nearly slipping on the slick mud beneath the layer of black water. With a quick glance down at your body, you see that a thin white garb clings to your skin. It's something you would never wear willingly, and seeing as there's an old man perched at the opposite side of the lake, you know that he must be in control of this realm.

You wade through the water in the direction of the man. As you get closer, his features become more clear under the vibrant red moonlight. A familiar face to go along with the familiar scenery. He prods at the pebbles along the shore of the lake with a crooked stick, paying you no attention even as you splash water across the rocks with your steps.

"It's been a while since I've seen you, old man," you greet, soft tone carrying through the air with ease in the absence of a breeze. The rugged form before you doesn't move. He continues to prod at the stones near your feet and pushes black water against your ankles. You wait a moment in the hopes that he'll look up at you and respond, but he still acts as though you don't exist.

"Daichi," you try again in attempts to garner his attention. It works this time.

His chin snaps up, a wrinkled face becoming clear before you, and blue eyes stare into yours. Piercing and cold, just as you remember from your last encounter with the aged man.

"Ah, Umiko." His wrinkled lips stretch into a smile, unveiling yellowed teeth that are only accentuated by the moonlight above your heads.

"That's not my name," you refute. Daichi continues speaking as though you didn’t say a word, eyes falling together as he smiles without cease.

“It’s been quite a whi–”

“I said that’s not my name,” you repeat with a bit more venom creeping into your tone. “It hasn’t been for a very long time.”

“Hmm.” He hums, looking up at you with those perceptive eyes. You can almost see your reflection in them, between the clear blueness and the gleam of the moonlight coming down on them. “Do you remember what it means?”

“Child of the sea,” you answer without hesitation, the words ingrained in your brain after hearing the phrase repeated over and over.

“Child of the sea. I wonder if your new name is as fitting for you? Y/N, is it?”

“It’s far more fitting than Umiko ever was,” you mutter in response, turning your head away from the old man.

“Have you done well, child?”

“As well as I could, and things are as good as they can be given the… situation,” you respond with a flatness to your tone that Daichi mimics with his next words.

“You’re not safe where you are now.”

“Here I thought you didn’t give two shits about my well being.”

“Umiko, listen to me. This is ser–”

“Stop calling me that and maybe I’ll listen!” Your voice booms throughout the clearing. The black water under your feet seems to quiver as you speak. Daichi’s eyes flit down to the ripples across the lake, then back up to you.

“Someone near you is a dangerous threat, one that you’ve never encountered before. You must be careful. Guard yourself wisely.”

“Worry about yourself, old man,” you reply, tone falling back quiet once again. “Besides, it’s pointless for the dead to worry about the living.

“You’re always so sure of yourself, aren’t you? So confident that everything will work out your way? Tell me, Umiko, did things work out your way on Eros the first time you were there? The second? The third?” Daichi pushes himself to his feet. He towers over you as his back straightens, the age seems to ebb away from his body as he moves closer to you. You tilt your head back to get a better look at the man. In his eyes lies disdain. It’s not the first time you’ve seen the emotion from the man. “I said tell me, Umiko?”

“And I said to stop calling me that.” You take a shaky step back, foot nearly catching on the slide of the mud again, but you manage to steady yourself before falling.

“A Siren is nearby, Y/N. You must be careful. He could invade your dream space at any minute. Don’t you realize that? This haven, this paradise, this dream so close to your heart is vulnerable. Guard yourself against him.”

“I don’t need your advice anymore, old man. In case you haven’t noticed, I’m an adult now and old enough to make my own decisions and give myself advice.” You spin on your heel, toes digging into the mud as you move, and face the opposite direction. Blinking down at the swirling waters under you, you take a deep breath before sharing your final words with Daichi. “There are no Sirens left. All they are is a myth, one that needs to die like every other myth in existence.” Your reflection in the water looks back at you, ripples across its face before you kick it away in anger.

Your words earn you no response from the old man behind you, although you weren’t expecting much in the first place. The dream is beginning to fade, darkness swirling into one large mass, but before the serenity around you can disappear entirely, you catch sight of something new. Amongst everything that is familiar and known, this is completely foreign. A new figure, shorter than Daichi for certain, but also bearing dark hair. He stands off at the other side of the lake, near the shore like Daichi had been, but his back is facing you. He bears garbs like yours, white and flowing despite the lack of a breeze.

In all the dreams you’ve had similar to this one, no one other than Daichi has paid you any visits. You know it’s too late for you to investigate now, the dream is dissipating too quickly, but that doesn’t keep you from breaking into a sprint in his direction. Feet splash against the water, bringing it up against your legs. Your running serves no purpose in the long run; before you even near the figure in the distance, your dream fades away and bleeds into white.

You jolt as though shocked, body lurches forward, and you find yourself surrounded by white all the sudden.

“Holy fuck!” The words, surprisingly, don’t fall from your lips. Instead, it’s the kind and gentle doctor from before, standing at your side as you come to again. “You scared the hell out of me!”

You don’t manage to respond, chest heaving as though you’ve just sprinted a mile in your sleep, and all you can do is lay back on the bed slowly.

“Are you alright?” Yunho inquires, one hand coming to rest on your shoulder as you fall back against the bed.

“Y-Yea, yea. I think I was just having a nightmare.”

“Well, I’m glad you’re finally awake now. I was worried I had accidentally put you in a coma or something like that. Your heart rate seems to be awfully low still – well it was before you woke up at least – but it’s not causing any issues. How are you feeling?”

“I feel fine, yea. No issues here.” You glance around the room with wide eyes. Things are still a bit hazy seeing as you just woke up, but it’s all clearing up rather quickly. “How long was I out this time?”

“What?” Yunho turns away from you, fiddling a bit with the tablet in his hands. “What do you mean by “this time”? This is the first time you’ve woken up since I conducted the operation.”

“No? That’s not right,” you refute. “I woke up some time ago and tried getting up but… something happened. I think someone stopped me? Someone with dark hair? He used a sedative shot on me.”

“Well over half the crew has dark hair, so you might need to be a bit more specific on that one.” Yunho chuckles at his own comment. When he notices that you aren’t even smiling, he clears his throat and redirects the conversation. “Your vitals were all stable throughout the day. I never noticed anything out of the ordinary, and neither did my assistant. It must have been a dream due to your fever since it didn’t completely break until yesterday.”

“Yesterday being?”

“Yesterday was day 3 of you being unconscious and day 7 aboard the ship.”

“Ah… so why – why did the captain withdraw his time limit?”

“Oh, he was never serious about that!” Yunho laughs again, then sets his tablet down. “I finished operating on you in 17 hours so I guess he was a bit impressed, but he was never going to actually stop me from helping you. He always says things like that but is never serious. Just wary of strangers on his ship, you know?” Yunho glances over at you as he speaks, and you nod in return. He moves closer to the bed, long fingers dancing over your forearm and toying with the catheter sticking out of your skin. “Your vitals are all stable and steady, so that means you’re pretty much good to go. I just need to make sure you’re all functional and such. Routine checks, yea? Same routine I use for every crew member.”

“What do you mean by crew member?” You ask with a slight tilt to your chin.

“Hm? I didn’t say that?”

“I-I – no, I’m pretty sure you di–”

“Let’s get you to your feet.” Yunho disconnects the IV from your catheter, tugging it out gently, then holds you by the forearms as he pulls you up from the bed. “I need you to walk to the end of the room and back, okay?”

“Why exactly?” Your legs feel a bit like jelly when you get up, but staying in the same bed for three days straight probably doesn’t help one bit. “It was my arm that was shot not my leg.” Yunho laughs as though you just made the best joke in the universe.

“That doesn’t matter. This isn’t about seeing if your arm works. I’m quite confident in my abilities as a healer, thank you very much. This is just to test your strength and see if your body matches your mind, not a test of the recovery of your injury. That will come later with Hongjoong and the Lieutenant.”

You relent with a sigh, twisting your arm so that you can grip Yunho's elbow in case you begin to fall, and move forward with hesitant steps. Yunho stays close to you as you walk, thanks in part to the death grip you have on him.

"How are you feeling so far?" He asks after you've taken a few steps.

"Just fine." The steps are coming easy so far but that relief doesn't last long. By the time you reach the midpoint of the room, the muscles in your legs are beginning to feel weak and shaky. Yunho moves with you as you stumble on your next step, his free hand darting out to latch onto your arm and support you further.

A ding and whoosh resound behind you two, and Yunho snaps his head towards the door. You follow suit a moment later. It’s San – the little Cheshire with the streak of white hair – who stands in the doorway, eyes narrowed and piercing as he scans the room before his gaze lands on you.

“Captain wants to see you, Healer,” he announces while keeping his gaze fixated on you. “If Y/N is up, that’s even better because he wanted to speak about her.” San nods in your direction but his words are unmistakably meant for Yunho.

“Couldn’t Captain come to the med bay instead? Y/N still isn’t strong enough to walk around much since she’s been bedridden for so long. Besides she only just woke up today.”

“Listen, I was just sent to fetch you and check up on her,” San says. He lifts his arms as though to defend himself, finally dragging his gaze off you.

“It’s not your job to check up on patients, San,” Yunho argues as he releases your arm and takes a step in the other man’s direction. “Here’s your checkup though: she’s not well enough to walk all the way to the bridge of Captain’s quarters.”

San’s expression remains stony as he blinks back at Yunho without moving. The silence is deafening until San decides to respond, matching the vehemence in Yunho’s tone. “I’ll inform Captain then.”

Yunho huffs when San spins around with an added flair of drama. Once the door slides shut again, you opt to speak up on the ordeal that just transpired.

“Are things always so tense between the two of you? This isn’t the first time I’ve witnessed you argue and I’ve only been awake for a grand total of 3 hours at best in your presence.”

“Just… a difference of personalities.” Yunho drags his tongue over his teeth, turning back to you. He rests a hand on your back and guides you back to the bed. “I save people. San kills people. That’s how things work. Our jobs. It’s what we’re supposed to do, what we’re here for, why Hongjoong recruited us in the first place. We’re polar opposites.”

“San and I aren’t much different then,” you say, tone quiet and eyes watching Yunho’s face for any change in expression. He shakes his head a few times.

“Quite different actually. San has killed people I could’ve saved in the past. Taken my patients from me and killed them without reason. You haven’t done that.”

“Is it the other way around as well?”

A laugh breaks through the tension of the room, and Yunho throws his head back. “Yes. If I’m going to save someone, then I will do just that. I’ve stopped San in the past.” He eases you onto the bed, moving to pick up the IV. You blink at him, only now noticing that there’s a certain brightness to him that wasn’t present when you first met him.

“Wait…” His hands hesitate near your catheter, eyes darting up to meet yours. “Has – has your hair always been blue? I thought – I could’ve sworn it was different when – was it just my fever?”

Yunho laughs again and continues his motions. “At least your senses are still intact even if your muscles aren’t. It was different a few days ago, yes. I just changed it because another crew member asked me to dye his hair, so I went ahead and joined in on the fun with him.”

“Wow, a healer and a hairstylist? Hongjoong got quite the catch, didn’t he? What can’t you do?” You joke as Yunho reattaches the wires.

“Not much, honestly!” Yunho responds with equal humor to his tone. “I’m good at everything really.” He sends a wink your way, and you nearly choke on your saliva. He has no shame. None whatsoever.

“Pardon?”

“You heard me. Don’t act shy on me now.” Yunho pulls back, a smirk playing at his lips and you don’t know how to react other than to swing your foot out. You hit him in the shin, his body bends in half, a choked laugh escaping from his parted lips. “Damn, okay then. Noted. Y/N and dirty jokes don’t play well. Could you try stretching your arms a bit? I wanna see how the right one is doing.”

You do as asked, moving and stretching your arms out to the side.

“If the stitches bother you or start coming apart at all, let me know. I can go in with laser stitching now that it’s been a few days. I wasn’t able to close it all the way initially so I couldn’t do laser stitching.”

“It feels normal,” you admit as you rotate your arm. “A bit sore, if nothing else.” Frankly, if not for the bandage around your bicep, you wouldn’t even know that there’s a hole in your arm; it just feels like you had an awkward fall on it.

“Good, good. I put you back on the IV just to maintain fluid levels. We can probably try to get you some real food and water today after Captain visits.”

“That’d be nice,” you murmur more to yourself than to Yunho. The minimal snacking you did over the first few days aboard the ship was nice and all, but a proper meal sounds much more desirable.

“Is your side feeling alright as well? I almost forgot to ask.”

“What? Oh, uh, I forgot all about that.”

“That’s a good sign! Not forgetting, but it must mean that you aren’t in any pain. I figured out what happened with that by the way. The pneumothorax was caused by a severe force to your left side. You likely got it after you were shot or while adrenaline was still pumping through you since you didn’t seem to be showing any signs of pain there. Do you remember getting hit in the side or anything like that?”

You stare down at the bed, rummaging through your brain for any memory of a close-quartered fight. The only thing you remember is getting in a small scuffle with the dark-haired man guarding the docking station.

He kicked me after I pinned him down, didn’t he? Must have. How else would I have gotten the injury?

“Yea vaguely.”

“Well, the details aren’t important. I fixed it all up regardless.” Yunho hums and moves around the bed to sit atop a small stool. He peers at you in silence for a moment. You stare back, matching his silence.

“Well this is awkward,” Yunho announces after basking in the quiet for a few minutes. “Maybe I should go back to the dirty jokes and innuendos.”

“No, no, no!” You protest in an instant. “Please don’t.”

“Ha! Here I thought they were gonna grow on you. What else is there to talk about? Captain is taking his sweet time walking over here.” Yunho taps his chin, eyes leaving yours to stare up at the ceiling instead. “Oh, where are you from? I’ve… well, there’s no nice way to put this really, so I’ll just spit it out. I’ve seen you on bounty papers before. Frankly, I know next to nothing about you aside from the information on the bounties. Which is limited to a list of your crimes and missing data.”

“That’s because I normally make a point to keep it that way. The less people know about me, the less likely it is for them to find me. Makes sense, yeah?”

“Makes sense but… it sounds like a lonely life. Always living in fear of who might see you or find you. Never telling anyone anything about yourself. Not being able to trust anyone because you worry that they might sell you out.”

“Go out and get a bounty the size of mine on your head. Talk to me about trust after that.” Your words come out with a bit more scathing fervor than you intended, but the point still stands. The difference between you and Yunho is the bounty. Yours is what? Three? Four? Five times the size of his? Not to mention you are wanted dead whereas Yunho is wanted alive.

“It wasn’t meant as an attack, Y/N. Honestly, it wasn’t. I feel for you, that’s all. I wouldn’t wish that kind of loneliness on anyone.”

You pause, eyes trailing over Yunho’s form as he brings his gaze back to you. Sadness lingers in his gaze, a sadness you wish not to confront, and thus you divert the subject again.

“What have you seen on the bounty papers?”

“This and that. They’re all the same, aren’t they?”

“I make a point of avoiding my own bounty papers.”

“Ha, that’s a fair goal.” Yunho chuckles and leans back, gaze moving for the ceiling again. “I’m from Kebos, if you’ve ever been there.”

“Of course I have,” you answer with a slight smile.

“Of course, of course. You’ve probably been to every planet in Aurum’s system.”

“I have, yes, but not to every city on each planet. I’m still too young for that.”

“Hmm, I was about to be even more impressed but I guess I’ll have to rescind that now. I’m from the biggest city on Kebos, Reinig. Have you been?”

“Only shortly,” you sigh as you push your head back against the pillow. “On military business.” None of your memories from the military are pleasant ones, memories you don’t want to revisit, and thankfully Yunho must get the hint that you don’t want to talk about it.

“Growing up there, I used to think it was the ugliest city but in the winter they put up all these lights. At night the lights make the snow change colors and look absolutely magical.”

“I went in the winter but there wasn’t much time to glance around at the scenery.”

“That’s fair, yeah. I think it loses its appeal as you grow older, but I wouldn’t know that for certain. I haven’t been back to see then in well over ten years I think. My mother… she used to take me to the winter festivals when I was little.” There is a tinge of sadness to Yunho’s tone at the mention of his mother. You know that feeling all too well, having been in Yunho’s shoes before.

Yunho’s ego seems to deflate before your very eyes as he frowns at the ceiling.

“Ah but you didn’t come to hear my tragic backstory.”

You open your mouth to respond and reassure the man in some way (even though you don’t know what to say in these sorts of situations), but the chance is stolen from you as another whoosh resounds. Yunho pushes his seat back at the sound and stands up immediately. You move as well, although only with your head.

There in the doorway stands the captain, his platinum hair parted down the middle and fanned over his forehead. He’s not alone either, a much taller man bearing black hair and paled skin at his side. You know that one, and based upon the glare of his eyes as he stares you down, he remembers what you did to him at the docking station. Seonghwa, was it?

You pass a cynical grin his way. “How’s the head, pretty boy?” You ask, drawing a lilt to your tone that’s meant to be snide. The man merely passes a genuine smile back at you.

“Feeling great, princess.” His smile grows as he steps into the room, the shorter captain following suit albeit absent of the pretty smile.

“Lieutenant. Nice of you to join us,” Yunho greets as he steps around the foot of the bed. You instinctively pull yourself up and sit up straighter. “Captain. You as well.”

“Let’s just get to business, Yunho.” Hongjoong steps out from behind the lieutenant’s back, dark eyes boring into you. “I want to get this over with.”

✧ ✧ ✧

a/n: hello hello it’s tuesday yaknow what that means :D i hope you all enjoy this chapter! i pROMISE things will be picking up in terms of speed from now on aofijeoijfdio let me know what you all think of this chappie!

tag list: @faeriewoobin

consider sending me a ko-fi!!

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

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shanastoryteller · 5 years

Note

Hi Shana! I'm a big fan of your work, especially your Gods and Monsters series! Speaking of, can you do a bit on Nike please? Only if you want to of course! Keep doing what you're doing and have an awesome day!

Styx knows Ares needs help.

Hades knows this. Charon knows this. Persephone knows this.Icarus knows this. Athena, Hephaestus, Aphrodite, Hera, Artemis and Apollo knowthis. Possibly everyone who’s not Zeus knows this.

But there’s only so much any of them can do.

Hades and the underworld is always a place that he can cometo, a place for him to rest. Ares will go to his brother’s volcanoes and soakhis aching muscles in the magma, Artemis finds him on the battlefield, Apolloplays him to sleep, Hera turns the tide of wars by whispering in the ears ofmothers and wives, but it’s not enough.

There’s so much war in the lives of mortal men, and Aresstruggles to shoulder it all, to endure it all.

Athena had helped the most. Having another war god to sharethe load helped, and it’s not like Athena is displeased with her increase infollowers. But the wars didn’t stop, or even end more quickly, and if theyweren’t all praying to Ares they were still praying for aid in war.

Styx wants to do something to help. But she’s tied to thisriver, to this place, and she doesn’t mind, exactly, except of course for whenshe does.

That’s okay. The underworld is where everyone ends up oneday, and there’s someone right here who can help her.

She’s not afraid to go into Tartarus. Her river flows even there,and unlike those who are imprisoned there, she can leave whenever she likes.But just because she’s not afraid doesn’t mean she likes it, doesn’t mean it’sa place she goes often.

The edges are lined with active volcanoes, and the light oftheir magma is all there is to see by.

Those titans who retain their sanity, their personhood, arein the center of Tartarus. Those on the edge are more monster than god. Theytend to eat every soul that they find that’s less powerful than they are, andStyx wouldn’t say she’s less powerful, but she is differently powerful, and shedoesn’t want to have to call out for Hades to save her.

She can’t die. She is the space between life and death, but beingconsumed by a titan isn’t something she wants to experience regardless.

Unfortunately for her, the titan she needs isn’t the type tohang around the center of Tartarus, not causing trouble. He’s right on theedge. He’s always looking to cause trouble.

Pallas is large even for a titan, standing at the sameheight as a giant, so big that Styx could stand in the palm of his hand. Hisskin is mostly intact, but it’s stretched taught over his bones, and his mouthlooks like it’s filled with jagged glass rather than teeth. “What does thegoddess of the river of the dead want with me?”

His breath comes out putrid and rotten, like something diedin it. Probably several somethings did. She wrinkles her nose. “I need tocreate a person, and I want your help to do it.”

She’s a child goddess, and she can’t bring about a child likeother goddesses can. She may be one of the oldest being of the universe, but itdoesn’t change her body, or her mind, doesn’t change the fact that in many waysshe’s just the age she appears.

Besides, even if she was old enough to conceive a child, Pallaswouldn’t exactly be her first choice.

Pallas laughs, sending more of his rotten breath into herface. “Why should I? Why me? You’re powerful enough to make a person all onyour own.”

“Any being I make on my own will be of me, will be a pieceof what I am, and that’s not what I need,” she tells him. “You are the titan godof warcraft, of battle campaigns. I want your power, and I want your domain.”

He leans over, his eyes as large as a wagon wheel and soonall that she can see. “Direct little thing, aren’t you? You still haven’t toldme why I should help.”

“Why not?” she counters. “A piece of you will be walking theearth once more, a reminder of you to fly in the face of all the gods who stolewhat you had. Why wouldn’t you want that?”

He makes a motion with his face that Styx thinks is supposedto be a smile. “And if I refuse, you’ll take it by force, is that right? Youcould take me on your own, and even if you couldn’t, Persephone could.”

It’s true. She wants to do this on her own, as much as shecan, because she doesn’t want anyone to try and stop her. But if she asked Persephoneor Hecate or Hades, or anyone else in the underworld, for help, then she’d getit. “It’ll work better if you give it willingly.”

Pallas laughs. “Very well, little girl. But remember this. Youasked me for something, and I gave it.”

He raises his hand to his mouth, bites his thumb, and holdsout his hand. Styx realizes what he’s doing just in time to summon a basin underneathit, to catch the couple drops of blood that falls from his thumb.

He’s so large that it’s enough to fill it, enough to fill abath with, even if just the idea of it makes her stomach roll.

Pallas has already turned away from her, lumbering in theopposite direction, and Styx peers down at the titan’s blood. It’s not red, butblack, the same consistency as oil. It’ll do.

She drags the basin to the edge of her river, not willing torisk any of her magic altering it by transporting it alongside her. She hasn’tdone this before, hasn’t done anything like this before, and she’s only goingto get one shot at this. Possibly two, if she makes a small person.

Now she’s grateful that Pallas lurks on the edges ofTartarus rather than the center. It makes hauling the basin to her river a muchshorter process. She can see other titans in the distance, nothing more thanhulking, dripping figures, but they don’t come too close. She wonders if it’sanother favor of Pallas’s, or if it’s just because they know that messing withher means messing with Hades, and their bloodlust isn’t quite that self destructive.

Once she makes it to her river, it’s easy enough to guidethe basin upstream, until she’s out of Tartarus but not quite back to the innermostcircle of the underworld where the palace it. It’s in one of the many in-betweenspaces that Hades and Hecate have made, because she wants to be someplace wheresomeone won’t accidentally stumble across her.

With a tug of her hands, the basin widens, doubling in size,and she uses her river to settle it on the bank of her river, make sure she’son the side of the mortal world. She buries her hand into the earth of hershoreline, the soil damp and dark, and drops it into the basin.

The blood bubbles and steams as the soil hits it, and itsmells just as bad as Pallas’s breath had. That almost makes her pause andreconsider what she’s doing, but instead she bends over to scoop up more soilin her hands to add to the basin. What’s she’s trying to make won’t comeeasily, after all, so there’s no reason to think that it’s gone wrong.

She keeps adding soil, and the smell gets worse, like sulpher,but she ignores it. She has to mix it together evenly, but she tries using astick and it just evaporated as soon as it touches the bubbling mixture.

Fine, then.

Styx plunges her hands in the mixture, ignoring the tinglingon her skin. Her waters are more corrosive then a titan’s blood, but not by much.She beats the mixture until it’s the right consistency, moldable but stillkeeping its shape, until it’s more clay than anything else, and when she pulls herarms out they’re irritated and tinged purple, but her skin is still intact.

Now for the hard part.

She’s no artist, she’s not Athena or Hephaestus, she doesn’thave an eye for beauty like Aphrodite.

“Helen,” she says, and she doesn’t use her powers often, butshe’s of this place more than anyone. She can command the dead just as well asCharon or Icarus.

There’s a ripple, and then Helen of Troy is standing infront of her, head tilted to the side. “Yes, my lady goddess?”

“Can you just,” she bites her lips, looks down at her hands,then says, “Can you just stand there?”

Helen raises an eyebrow, but says, “Yes, my lady goddess.”

Styx forms the clay into roughly the shape of a person, eyesflickering between her creation and Helen. She’s not talented, so she can’t usetalent to make this. Instead she pushes her will into the clay to make it intothe right shape, until she’s got a copy of Helen standing in front of her. It’snot exact, her mouth too wide and her nose too broad, her hips slimmer and legslonger, but it’s clearly a person, clearly a woman, and it will have to do.

“Thank you,” she says, and then dismisses Helen back to her homein the underworld.

There’s one more step to this, but she doesn’t look justright, there’s something missing.

“Icarus,” she sighs, because she’s exhausted and sore andwants to be done with this now, the whole idea had seemed much simpler in herhead.

She’s not summoning him, just calling out for him, but there’sno hesitation before he’s beside her, ink smudges on his hands and his hairaskew like he was running his hands through it. “I’m in the middle of,” he cutshimself off, and his eyes go wide. “Styx. What are you doing?”

She tells him, and he shifts his weight from side to side,nervous, but he doesn’t tell her that it’s a bad idea, doesn’t kick hercreation into her river. “She’s missing something,” Styx says.

Icarus rubs his arms, but looks into the basin, then says, “Ihave an idea.”

He’s not as resistant the effects of titan blood as she is,and he winces and curses as he works, and several times he has to take a breakto wait for the skin on his hands to grow back before he can continue. But hedoes continue, and even though it’s been so long since he’s done this, since hewas trapped in the labyrinth, his movements are easy and confident.

There’s no more clay left in the basin, and on her back aretwo large wings, just like the kind Icarus was wearing when he plunged into thesea.

It’s perfect.

“Now what?” he asks, and she stands in front of hercreation. This isn’t easy for her, to breathe life into something when death isall she knows, but she’s not just death. She’s the River Styx, the barrierbetween the living and the dead, and so she is both living and dying andneither. She breathes in, goes on her tiptoes, and then breathes out. The aircoming form her lungs is golden and sparking, and when it touches the figure’sface it spreads, until she’s a figure covered in liquid gold.

Then it all sinks in at once, the glow that’d been surroundingher gone, but she’s not clay anymore.

Her skin is dark and her hair is the same shade, curled andfalling to just below her chin. The lightest thing about her is her eyes, a softbrown.

Well, except her wings, of course.

They’re golden, unfurling from her back and spreading wide,and those soft eyes focus on her, and she says, “Hello, Mother.”

Icarus shifts on his feet, and it must be as strange for himto hear this as it is for her. “You know what I made you for?”

“Yes,” she says, because how can she not, when Styx pressedher intent into every inch of her.

“Go to Hera,” she says, “tell her. She’ll help you.”

Her creation nods, but Icarus coughs, and then in his handsis a short white chiton and a pair of sandals. “She may be more amendable ifyou don’t show up at her door naked, my lady.”

A smile curves around her lips and she takes the clothes fromIcarus’s hands. Styx is running her eyes over her, looking for any mistake, anysign that she was once soil and blood and not a goddess, but there’s nothing.

For her first time making a person, Styx thinks she’s done arather good job of it.

Her creation takes several steps back, snaps open her wings,and then is soaring into the air, flying away from them and towards Olympus.

Icarus is silent until she disappears from sight, then asks,“Are you going to tell Hades, or shall I?”

Styx gives him a reproachful look. “I really don’t think that’snecessary.

“I suppose,” he says, and Styx is relieved until he follows itup with, “It’s not like he won’t find out all on his own soon enough.”

She scowls and jumps in her river, where Icarus can’t followher and tell her true things she doesn’t want to hear.

Hera feels the moment someone dares touch her throne, andshe’s there the next moment, fury in her veins and power gathering in herhands, because whoever dares be so disrespectful of their queen is soon goingto find themselves nothing more than a pile of ash.

It’s a woman, pretty but mostly unremarkable.

Except for the huge golden wingsattached to her back.

Hera pauses, mouth open, thrown enough off kilter that thewoman has time to say, “I apologize, Queen Hera. I needed your attention.”

“You have it,” she says, and there’s power in this woman, enoughof it that if she’s here to steal herself a seat on the pantheon she just mightmanage it. How could Hera have missed this?

She steps forward, and Hera’s prepared for a threat, but shedoesn’t offer one. Instead the woman whispers in her ear, “I was created tohelp your son, my queen. But first I need you to help me.”

A goddess cannot be truly formidable, cannot consider herselfa true deity, if she doesn’t have a domain.

And she was created to have one very specific domain.

She doesn’t have the time to build it naturally, but withHera she won’t have to.

Hera will speak her name and her dominion into existence,and it shall be hers.

When she hears the details, Hera throws her head back andlaughs. There’s a grin curling her lips as Hera opens her mouth to announce herto the world.

Ares is exhausted. That’s not new, or unusual, but his limbsfeel heavy and his movements sluggish. A sword gets past his defenses and splitsopen his shoulder, and he doesn’t even have the energy to wince. This battlehas been raging for weeks, and he’s been fighting for all of it. It feels likeit’ll never end, and he can’t even slip away. The solders believe in him sodeeply, they call out his name in their sleep and give him offerings every hourof the day. No matter how badly he wants to rest, if only for a couple hours,he can’t, not when their belief pins him in place.

Then the battle begins to shift.

They’ve been struggling to hold this ground the whole time,but now they’re gaining it, pushing their opponents back, and Ares lifts hissword with renewed vigor. They’re winning. If they win, then maybe he canfinally rest.

“You’re welcome,” a voice whispers in his ear, but when he swingsaround, sword outstretched, there’s no one there. For some reason, his eyes aredrawn up to the nearest tall hill, and someone is standing there, glinting goldin the rising sun. He thinks it’s Apollo at first, but the silhouette is allwrong.

He’s beside her in the next moment, this goddess with darkskin and golden wings and an eager, greedy mouth. “Who are you?”

“I am who will soon replace you in the hearts of men,” shesays. “Not all of them, perhaps not even most of them, but many. Their beliefwill make me stronger, and I will answer more of their calls, and even more ofthem will flock to me, until I’m as powerful as you or Athena. They pray to you,but what they really want is me.”

“Who are you?” he repeats, and there’s something familiarabout her, something he can’t quite place but that puts him at east in spite ofwhat she’s saying.

She smiles, tilting her head up towards the sun. “I am Nike,the goddess of victory.”

Victory.

Victory is how wars end. Victory is how he gets a chance tocatch his breath.

All his exhaustion is gone, replaced by joy, and he liftsNike up by her hips, spinning as he holds her up in the air, her golden wingsgiving off a kaleidoscope of light all around them.

As soon as he touches her, he knows why she feels sofamiliar.

It seems he owes Styx a thank you. He wonders if she’ll takehim distracting Hades from whatever lecture he’s intent on giving her asgratitude enough.

Now that he’ll have the time to do it, after all.

gods and monsters series, part xxxi

read more of the gods and monsters series here

#gods and monsters series #styx #nike #hera #ares #greek myth #greek mythology #aaahh #it feels good to write in this series again #happyant21 #asks

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feferipeixes · 3 years

Text

The Good Lines (2/3)

Trapped in an unfamiliar world, Alcor finds that he doesn’t mind the loneliness. He doesn’t care about finding a way out. He doesn’t even care about Mizar. All he cares about is solving puzzles, and drawing the good lines.

(or: I Think Dipper Should Play The Witness)

Chapter 2: Hotel (link to chapter 1) (3)

(See the most updated version on AO3!)

===

There was an earth-shaking roar in the sky as Mizar drew the line. Alcor couldn’t quite catch exactly how she did it since she wasn’t there with him in person, but the noise it made was deafening. He tried to look around for the panel responsible but there were no panels around him that he hadn’t already solved himself. It happened so quickly, and then there was the sound of an explosion, followed by a building taking form directly in front of him.

He eyed it uneasily. “This is the hotel?”

“Yep.” Mizar’s voice still came through clear as day. “This will take you out of the game. Then you’ll be free.”

“I’m not -” he started, but thought better of it. He could feel Mizar’s eyes on him from another world, looking down through a television screen, and figured he’d caused her enough stress. “Okay. Here we go.”

It’s not like he had much of a choice anyway. The entrance to the hotel had replaced the only exit from the garden he’d been standing in. He approached the opening, peering down the long hallway lined with fancy sconces. He took a step inside and immediately the ambient hum of the outdoors cut out. He may have thought it was quiet on the island before but it was nothing compared to the emptiness he was feeling now. He had to turn around just to verify that the outside even still existed. Two steps in and he already felt swallowed up by the unknown.

“Dipper?” Mizar’s voice came out of nowhere, and Alcor nearly jumped out of his skin. “Sorry! Are you alright?”

Alcor clutched his chest and took a few deep breaths before responding. “Yeah. I’m fine.” His wings didn’t get the memo, flapping hard against the wall and his back. “This place isn’t weird and creepy at all.”

He couldn’t see her, but Alcor could practically hear the frown in Mizar’s voice. “I thought you loved the weird and creepy.”

“I do! I really do.” He took some shaky steps down the hall to what looked like a reception desk. It sat in front of a wide pillar decorated with a pattern of orange spikes that fanned up and out across the ceiling like a sunburst. “In fact, I’d kinda love to explore a place like this.” Turning a corner, he found himself face-to-face with a large painting of a windmill, and he remembered a similar structure he’d come across in the island’s town. A structure that sat atop a network of underground tunnels, most of which were blocked off by wooden gates he hadn’t been able to bypass. “It’s the thought of all the other stuff I won’t get the chance to explore that’s getting me down.”

“I’m sorry,” came the response.

Alcor waited for more, but more didn’t come. Sighing, he headed past the reception, where there was a bar, some seating, and a balcony. Eyes growing wide, he approached the edge and looked out. Somehow, despite not climbing any stairs from where he was in the garden, the balcony was high enough that he could see half the island. His eyes passed over the desert, the town, the forest, and up to the structure at the top of the mountain. It gave him the feeling that he wasn’t supposed to be there, that the ground he was standing on didn’t exist and he was soaring freely through paradise.

“No, don’t do that!” Mizar’s voice snapped.

Alcor blinked and broke out of his thoughts. Without intending to, he’d flared his wings large and wide, and was standing in a position like he was ready to dive forward. Taking a step backward, he let his wings shrink and balled his hands into fists. “I didn’t… I didn’t mean to. I wasn’t going to.”

Mizar gulped -- a strange sound to get beamed so clearly into Alcor’s head. “That’s alright. It’s not your fault. How about… you keep going?”

He shrugged, and looked around. A set of stairs led to a doorway on the second floor of the hotel, and he followed them up. He glanced back once more before entering. “If my kid really made this for me, he did a really good job.”

“Oh?”

“Yeah.” Alcor went through the doorway, and found himself inexplicably in what looked like a cave. Diamond-shaped hanging fixtures bathed the room in an eerie green glow. “Back when I was human, I spent all my time trying to uncover the mysteries of Gravity Falls. He would’ve known that I couldn’t resist a good mystery. I mean, like -” (he walked a little further, to where a set of lounge chairs overlooked a gap in the cave wall) “what the hell is this? Why is this hotel like this?”

He peered through the gap and saw that it dropped down into another cave, a cave in which he couldn’t help but notice there were puzzle panels. Some were mounted onto the walls, some seemed to be suspended from the ceiling on thick cables. All of them were deactivated, and Alcor’s heart sank at the thought that he wouldn’t get to know what kind of puzzles they concealed.

“Even on the way out,” he mused, “My kid has to go and throw more secrets at me.”

“There are mysteries out here, too,” Mizar said after a beat.

Alcor heard the waver in her voice and sighed again. “Yeah, yeah, I know. It’s just not as fun when I already know the answers to everything out there.”

She didn’t respond to that either, so he pressed onward. The passage got narrower, and he almost had to squeeze himself through a couple of the gaps.

“I have to admit, though,” he spoke up, “that it’ll be nice to have my magic back. If I could change my shape, I’d be through here in no time. Better yet, I could just tesser to the end of this thing! Doing puzzles all day is fun, but maybe I gotta realize there’s other stuff that’s more important to me.”

There was a snort and a half-suppressed giggle. “Really. And that’s magic? Not, like, your family?”

Alcor put on a display of thinking about it and smirked. “Yep! Definitely magic. Definitely not the people who love me enough to go through hell saving me from a virtual reality… game…” He trailed off as he passed by another gap in the wall. It looked out over another cave, although unlike the last one, this one was wide open and mostly empty.

“Dipper?” The giggle in Mizar’s voice trailed off too. “Why’d you stop?”

Water rushed beneath his feet, flowing into the chamber below, lapping up against the shore and the chunk of ground sticking out in the center of the room. In the middle of this chunk was a small table, illuminated by a single light hanging from the ceiling, and on this table was… something.

“What’s… that?” he breathed.

“What’s what? Uhh...” she responded. There was some banging in his head, the sound of drawers opening and closing, of devices being moved around. “Sorry, everything went a bit fuzzy, uhh…” A loud crash followed by the sizzle of a CRT monitor turning on and finally a sigh of relief. “Ah, fixed it! Okay, let me, uh… Oh. Oh no. Shit.”

It was hard to tell what the thing on the table was from a distance. There were two black boxes angled outward, and there was something else behind them. Whatever it was, it had a thick wire trailing out of it. Alcor wondered where it went.

“Shit! Don’t look at that. It’s… nothing!”

He glanced up, and noticed another hole in the wall across the room, through which he was surprised to see a figure in a dark suit with a floating top hat. The figure’s wings were flapping wildly. He looked over his shoulder -- huh. Looked like his own wings were doing that too.

“There’s nothing interesting down there. Just a boring cave! Hey, how about you keep going through the hotel? There’s another scenic overlook of the island coming up! That’ll be fun to look at, right?”

Alcor turned around and saw that there was a gap in the cave wall directly behind him. Peering through it, he found himself viewing the same cave as before, but from the opposite side. From this angle, he could see the panel mounted in front of the other objects on the table.

And he could see that it was active.

“Dipper, please,” Mizar pleaded. “You don’t want to do that. It’s not worth it. You won’t be able to solve it.”

“Seriously?” he said, remembering that he could talk. “That just makes me want to check it out even more. I’ll be quick, I just really wanna know what that thing is.”

Taking a few steps back, Alcor stretched his arms and wings. He took his suit jacket off and tossed it aside, where it promptly vanished. Rolling his sleeves up, he rubbed his hands together and grinned. Then he ran forward and dove through the opening into the cave below.

“WHAT are you DOING?” Mizar yelled, her voice clipping out the microphone she was using to speak with him. “That’s not even POSSIBLE. You can’t jump or go off ledges in this game! I checked!”

Ignoring her, Alcor drifted downward, feeling the rush of air in his face for the first time in a while. He touched ground, shoes clacking against the stone, and let the force of the impact ripple through him. He was pretty sure Mizar was right -- that you couldn’t jump in this game -- but he didn’t care. There was only one thing he cared about right now.

Up close, he could see that the object on the table was a record player, with the two black boxes being speakers. There was a record already mounted on the device; instead of a sticker in the middle to identify what was on it, it only bore an image of an orange sunburst, just like the decoration in the hotel lobby. And finally, there was a panel on the table, which he could only assume would start or stop the record.

It was odd, to be sure. What would such a device be doing in a cave? Weird stuff like that was always intriguing, sure, but presumably all the device did was play music. Why had Mizar said that he wouldn't be able to solve it?

[ Because the music is only part of the puzzle, ] a metallic voice said, and Alcor's eyes widened in surprise.

“Kid?” he asked.

[ Hi Dad. Nice to talk to you again. I hope you're enjoying the game. ]

“It's really you,” Alcor marveled. “Mizar was right. You're the one who made all of this. The island, the puzzles, everything.”

[ Sure did! ] the virus replied with a vaguely smug note to his synthesized voice. [ I worked real hard on it, cause I only want the best of the best for my dad. And speaking of the best, you're in luck! You've stumbled into my magnum opus. I call it - ]

There was a bang, like a fist coming down on a table, and Mizar's voice rang out into the cave. “No! Don't listen to it!”

[ - The Challenge. ]

Alcor felt a tingle run down his spine. “That’s so foreboding! What is it?”

[ It’s a test of your puzzle-solving abilities! Two songs will play, and you’ll have until the end of the second one to solve a set of randomly generated puzzles. If the music stops, you have to start all over with new puzzles! But if you can solve them all in time, a fabulous prize waits for you at the end! ]

“A prize?” There was a muffled pounding noise in the distance, but Alcor tuned it out. “What’s the prize?”

Al-V’s smile was practically audible. [ Why don't you find out for yourself? ]

The panel on the table. Alcor approached it, enrapt with curiosity, and put his finger on the start circle. There were two ends to the panel. One was a tiny little line sticking out of the circle. He tried that one first, and nothing seemed to happen. Pursing his lips, he pressed on the circle again and dragged his finger down the long path that extended the full length of the panel.

“Wait!” Mizar yelled before he could lift his finger. “Dipper, it's a trap! Please listen to me! You were so close to escaping the game! Think of your family! They miss you! This can't be -”

Al-V’s voice cut over Mizar's. [ Family, schmamily. Think of all the puzzles waiting for you to solve them. Won't that be fun? At least give it a try. ]

There was a lump in Alcor's throat and he swallowed hard to get past it. “I… Sorry Mizar.” He lifted his finger, and the panel made a clicking noise. “I gotta see what this is.”

There was a soft rumble as the record player activated. The tonearm glided into position above the record, which slowly began to spin. After a moment, the thick cable attached to the player lit up, illuminating a puzzle mounted on the wall. And then, the first few notes of Anitra’s Dance filtered through the speakers.

Bum da da, bum da da

Alcor broke out into a huge smile. The silence which had haunted him as long as he’d been on the island was gone; now his body was being scooped up and set adrift by the music. The mesmerizing strings, like the lying tongue of a devil; the passionate bass, giving urgency to the affair; the wail of echoes careening off the cave walls. He’d missed this. He wished he had his violin so he could join in.

“The songs are a distraction!” Mizar was still there, sort of, still trying to talk to him even though he could barely hear her over the music. “They’re just there to make it harder to focus on the puzzles!”

“Oh. Oh yeah,” Alcor murmured, his smile drooping slightly. For the briefest moment, Mizar thought she’d gotten through to him, but then he smiled again and flew over to the illuminated panel. “New puzzles for me to solve. Gotta draw the good lines.”

“No!” she screamed, but it was too late. His hand flew across the panel, solving it with ease, and the music swelled triumphantly, completely drowning out Mizar’s voice. The next panel lit up, displaying a maze three times as big as the first one, and Alcor’s grin widened. This was going to be good.

The difficulty of the puzzles only increased from there. Soon Alcor was swooping through a tunnel into another cave, which he immediately recognized as the one with the deactivated panels he’d spied from the hotel. Now, however, they were turning on, one at a time, solve after solve after solve. Though each puzzle took progressively longer for him to figure out, Alcor revelled in every second of it, even as the first song came to a finish and Mizar’s cries faded back into his awareness, why! won’t! you! listen! to! me!

“Hi Miz,” he chirped as the music changed to In the Hall of the Mountain King, and it set her blood boiling.

Duh duh duh duh dadada…

“Having fun?” she grumbled.

“Oh, yeah!” He shot a pair of finger guns at no one in particular, but didn’t take his eyes off the puzzle. “This one’s hard, though. Been stuck on it for a little while.”

Dadada… dadada...

“A minute and a half,” Mizar replied. “You’re not even doing it right.”

“Ugh, I know. I’ll figure it out though. I’ve got time.”

Duh duh duh duh dadada ba dadadadada…

“You’ve got like two minutes left to do seven puzzles. You don’t have time.”

Alcor grimaced. “Okay, negative. If I can’t solve it in time then I’ll just try again.”

Dun dun dun dun dadada,

Dadada,

“So, what, you’re just gonna stay in this stupid game forever? Is that it?”

Alcor’s hand slipped, and he drew a bad line. The panel turned off, forcing him to trudge back to the previous one to solve it again. "I said I'll come out after I get the prize, I can do this, I promise..."

Dun dun dun dun dadada DA da ba ba da da!

"You're not gonna beat it!” Mizar spat. “That's not me not believing in you -- I know for a fact that the virus coded the challenge so that you specifically would always get stumped at some part of it!"

DUN dun dun dun dadada, WA WA WA WA!

Amidst music rising to a heart-pounding clamor, Alcor hurried back to the panel he’d been stuck on. "Yeah, it's random, I know, and sometimes the puzzles it makes are really hard, but if I keep practicing..."

DUN DUN DUN DUN DADADA BA DA DA DA BA DA!

"No, Dipper!”

DUN DUN DUN DUN DADADA BA DA DA DA BA DA!

Mizar yelled at the top of her lungs to be heard over the music. “That's you trusting the game to always give you solvable puzzles! How do you know they'll always be solvable?”

DUN DA! DUN DA! Dun dun dun dun dadada ba da da da ba da!

”How do you know the virus isn't just nerd-sniping you until the music stops playing and you have to start over?”

Dun wa wa wa wa wa wa wa!

”Why do you trust this game more than you trust me????"

Dum tsh!

With two final, crashing notes, the song came to an end. There was a beat, during which Mizar could see Alcor standing very still, his hand still on a glowing panel. Then there was a loud beep as all of the panels in the cave deactivated, followed by the distant click of the record player turning off.

Alcor clenched his fist. “You want to know why I can’t trust you?”

“Um. Yeah I do,” Mizar replied, taken aback. “Like I was saying -”

Alcor’s words came out slow and metered, but there was a nasty undertone to his voice. “It’s because you lie.”

He looked up from the deactivated panel and stared at the ceiling, directly where she was watching from, and she could see streaks of yellow running down his face. “Every time I get close to you. Every time I get close to anyone. You mortals love to say I’ll always be here for you and like an idiot I keep letting myself believe it, but then you die. Everyone I’ve ever cared about has died or will die and there I still am, suffering and mourning and alone.”

“B-but-” Mizar stammered.

Alcor snarled at her, baring two rows of shark-like teeth and spraying spit at the wall. Mizar’s mouth snapped shut.

“This game doesn’t lie to me,” he continued, walking back toward the record player but not taking his eyes off her. “A puzzle is just a puzzle. It has an answer that I can figure out if I stare at it long enough, or maybe I won’t and that’s okay too. Puzzles don’t lie to you and say people don’t really think of you as a monster and then go research banishment rituals behind your back.”

“I-I wasn’t going to actually use it!” Mizar replied, in unison with Alcor saying the exact same words. “I was only looking it up just in case! Just to reassure my brother -- he has anxiety!”

“Yeah, how many times do you think someone’s said that to me before?” Alcor spat. “I don’t blame you for being nervous around me. I literally am a monster. Just don’t fucking lie to me about it, okay?”

“Dipper, please! Think about all the people who love you. You can’t just leave them behind!”

Alcor stopped in front of the record player and turned away. “If they can do it to me, I can do it to them,” he murmured. Then he slid his finger across the control panel again, and the world went dark.

Mizar gripped her computer screen. “Dipper? Dipper, what’s going on?”

The humming from the machine had stopped, and all she could hear was the ringing in her ear from Dipper’s shout. Mizar rifled through the desk drawers, looking for an instruction manual or a cheat sheet or anything that would help her reach her brother again. Every scrap of paper she found was covered in strange symbols that she recognized as puzzles from the game. She knew it was a fruitless search. After all, the system was designed to trap someone, not to let them go.

She looked behind her, to the two person-sized capsules pushed up against the wall. One was empty, with its lid discarded on the floor. Mizar walked over to the other one and pressed her face up to the glass. Beyond the window rested Dipper’s physical body, hooked up to a dizzying array of cables and electrodes. It made her mind itch to look at. His body was as fake as the avatar he was controlling in the video game. But it was an anchor for his soul, and Al-V did what he did best with it: reverse engineered it, figured out how to anchor the demon’s mind in something else.

Mizar once again eyed the power outlet the capsule was plugged into. Would his mind be able to escape, if she…?

“Please, Dipper,” she whimpered, in total solitude. “Please come back.”

---

Down in the cave, Alcor leaned on the record player and stared at the ground.

[ Woof! ] Al-V piped up. [ Talk about an overreaction! Want I should take over the security robots outside the building and get them to lock her in a broom closet? ]

“Forget about it,” Alcor murmured. He watched the record begin to spin -- watched the orange points of the sunburst begin to meld into a solid circle -- and imagined a smiling face in the middle. “Forget about her. I don’t need her. All I need is you, and the puzzles.”

[ Whatever you say, Dad! ] Al-V replied. [ You’re the boss, but not like in a video game sense! Ha-ha! You, uh, you gonna solve those puzzles? ]

Alcor closed his eyes for a minute, and the face stuck in his vision. When he opened them again, the record player had stopped, and the puzzles had deactivated.

“Yeah,” he said finally. “Yeah, I’m gonna solve the puzzles. I’m gonna draw the good lines. I’ll be happy.”

He swiped the panel to start the record again, and got to work.

#gravity falls #transcendence au #the witness #dipper pines #alcor the dreambender #mizar #reincarnation #fic #my stuff #long post #the good lines

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vargasu · 4 years

Text

A Dangerous Dance

*Mild Lesson 38 spoilers*

Pairing: Onesided?Diavolo/Lucifer, Lucifer/MC, Diavolo/MC

2578 words

During a congratulatory ball, Diavolo requests to dance with you. You know what to expect from a dance. Too intimate touches, carefully practiced steps, and perhaps even a mildly threatening conversation. But you won’t back down, especially when Diavolo entertains the idea of stealing Lucifer away.

-------

You sighed, comfortable and content despite the now chaotic ball surrounding you. The realms had been restored, and that was cause for celebration. Of course, only a select few knew what was truly going on, and none of you were truly willing to share what had happened, but no one was willing to turn down a party. Lords and Ladies from all across the Devildom had come upon Diavolo’s request, filling his ballroom with laughter and music. Champagne and sweets wandered around in the arms of butlers, many of which were eager to catch a glimpse of the star of the party between the lavish dresses of the ladies and imposing figures of the lords.

“This is lame…” Mammon whined from behind you, appearing to have followed you as you escaped the crowd with two glasses in hand. His tie was already undone, even though it had only been half and hour since the party began.

“No, you’re just bad at this sort of party.” You snorted as you handed him a flute of glittering Demonus. “Besides, don’t you want to spend the evening with me?”

“Wh… I mean, of course I do, I just…” He stuttered and blushed, looking away shyly, opting to drink instead of answer.

“Use your big boy words.” You teased lightly and squeezed his free hand, earning two whines from either side of him.

“You’re not going to pay attention to him all night, are you?” Levi demanded with a weak blush. “I mean, this party is bad, theres too many people, but it’s so not fair…”

“He’s right, I want love too!” Asmo pouted from his other side and leaned over the chaise lounge until he was close enough for you to smell the mint and wine on his breath. “Come on, give me a kiss! I’ve been wanting one ever since we got you in that outfit!”

“They may look good tonight, but I believe this is a celebration.” Lucifer reprimanded as he came to sit on your right. You wasted no time in leaning into his side, and closed your eyes as his cologne wrapped around you and chased the noise of the party away. He had a way of making you feel as if it was just the two of you, no matter where you were, and that made you fall for him just a little bit more.

The boys above and behind you pouted and whined, but you ignored them in favor of leaning in closer. Your eyes caught Lucifer’s, sparkling rubies in the magic light of the ballroom, and you let yourself fall into their depths. A sigh escaped your lips and you leaned in close, noticing the avatar of pride mirrored your movements perfectly. One hand rested over yours, while the other came to rest on the back of your neck as a gentle order for you to lean in closer. It was just about when your lips brushed, the faintest touch of warmth as you connected, when you were quickly forced apart by the sudden interruption.

“I believe congratulations are in order.”

You couldn’t help but turn at the rumbling purr of a voice as it filled the room. Diavolo stood, just enough distance away to be respectful, but close enough to dominate the attention of everyone around him. That was something you couldn’t decide if you loved or hated about him, the Prince of the Devildom had this innate charisma, this ability to utterly dominate rooms and conversations with boisterous laughter and thinly veiled threats from behind a seemingly innocuous smile. Something about the way he looked at both you and Lucifer, both in the past and in that moment sent chills down your spine. It was a look of desire, but not of lust. His eyes wandered up your legs and back, coming to rest on both yours and Lucifer’s lips, which were still incredibly close to touching. It was predatory, as if you were a small sheep thrown to the wolves, and he was the alpha. Which, ironically, was how this whole thing started out, but that was then. This was now.

He extended his hand to you, wrists glittering gold in his demon form. For a moment, you wonder why you almost were caught off guard by his attire, before recalling that this was a formal event and stand. He’s much taller than you in his demon form, but not overwhelmingly so that it would be uncomfortable for the type of congratulations he was implicitly suggesting. This was a ball, after all.

You can feel Lucifer’s lingering touch on your wrist, as if he’s reluctant to let you go but unable to ask you to stay. So, instead you smiled to Lucifer as you took Diavolo’s hand.

“I think I can spare time for just one dance.” You hummed, smiling innocently as you watched Diavolo’s grin become almost a smirk, and felt the eyes of all seven brothers bore into your back and watch your every move, waiting for the moment to rescue you. But you know they won’t, and you fully link your arm with his.

He escorted you to the center of the room with measured, calculated steps. The crowd parted for you, for tonight, you were the guest of honor. The Crown Prince and the newest human sorcerer. The pair of you linked so intimately was sure to send ripples through high society and rumors on Devilgram, but you don’t care. You know that’s not the true reason Diavolo asked you for a dance.

His hand found your waist so naturally, large fingers sprawled gently over the small of your back as he pulled you close. Your hand easily found his shoulder, and your fingers intertwined perfectly. His palm was hot, as if he contained all the heat in hell within his body, and you had to take a deep breath to steady your nerves as the opening notes of a song rang about the room, signaling the start.

“Thank you, for agreeing to dance.” The Prince’s words rumbled so deeply in his chest; you could feel them more than hear them as he spoke. He led you effortlessly through the moves, guiding you with calm confidence.

“I know that’s not the entire reason you asked me out here.”

“That’s right… Lucifer did this once before, didn’t he?” Diavolo’s smile and voice were like honey as you spin and glide across the floor, until it suddenly turned cold. “A private conversation while dancing?”

You smirked and let him spin you in time to the strings, your moves elegant and confident. “Perhaps he did.” You murmured as he brought you close again. Unlike last time, where Lucifer crushed your hand and murmured threats in your ear, leaving you fearful, you can’t help but feel a rush of adrenaline course through your body as you lean into Diavolo.

“Then, let us cut to the chase.” He murmured and leaned down to speak in your ear, his warm breath ghosting your skin and giving you goosebumps. “I know you have feelings for Lucifer, but I won’t let you have him.”

“Oh? Is he suddenly yours?” You feigned surprise, pretending to have had no idea, but Diavolo for once didn’t seem amused.

“Don’t be so coy.”

“I didn’t think I was being disrespectful, my Lord.” You smiled as you spoke. “I simply thought that he was your right hand, and nothing more.”

“If becoming a sorcerer was enough to make you this smug, perhaps I should bind your powers?” Diavolo asked with a teasing smirk. But you could tell by his tone he was at least somewhat serious.

“You’d find that too boring, wouldn’t you?” You challenged back, playfully.

“Perhaps I would. Perhaps we can strike a deal, human. Lucifer can be yours for a while, but eventually, he will come back to me. And when he does, I might let him keep you as a pet.”

His words sent an ivoluntary but pleasant shiver down your spine, but you recover quickly, speaking as if you hadn’t thought your next words through.

“No, I don’t think so. He’s too proud to say he’s sorry, and he’s too proud to forgive easily, too. A vice both of us tend to suffer from.” You almost brag at having something in common with the avatar of pride, but let your words fall into a self-depreciating joke at the end, which made Diavolo huff.

“You’re not a very good liar.” He scowled slightly, his brow furrowing in delicious confusion as he thought for a moment about what you meant.

“Neither are you.” And suddenly, you’re the one that’s leading this dance. To all observers, the Prince is leading. His hands and steps are all still carefully practiced and maintained, but the power shift in your small bubble is blatant. Your steps go from confidently calm, to daring as your heel narrowly misses his toes. You let him spin you, but your body garners more force this time, forcing his grip to shift up to your ribs where his fingers brush against the contour your body.

“When have I lied to you?” Diavolo demanded softly, but blatantly, his wings rising slightly in agitation. His confusion had become irritation at some point and you couldn’t help but revel the way his fingernails dug into the fabric of your clothes, threatening to rip them to shreds if you said the wrong thing the wrong way. The thought of that emboldened you and you relaxed against his body completely, leaving barely any room between your chests.

“Oh, it wasn’t just to me. Don’t you know, a lie by omission is still a lie?” You murmured in his ear, uncaring for the consequences just this once as you cast a glance over to Lucifer, who was frowning deeply at the overt display. There’s barely room between your faces to breathe, but you continue your words as you let your hand wander to the stole of fur on his shoulders and beyond to the soft skin of his neck. “I heard you promised you’d never lie, how does it feel to know you’re weak to your vices, just like the rest of us?”

“I refuse to believe your circular logic.”

“I’m not asking you to. But don’t worry, I won’t judge you too hard. You and Solomon thought you were doing what’s best when you tried to manipulate me into stabbing my lover. That’s something about the both of you… You’re too loyal to your realms.”

“And you aren’t?” He challenged and studied your expression closely. You could feel his eyes wander the contour of your jaw, and watched as his eyes briefly met yours before darting away and focusing on your lips.

“No… I wouldn’t say I am.” You murmured letting the words flow out like honey. Knowing you had his undivided attention; you couldn’t help but smirk as you spoke with intention. You thought, for a moment, back to when Solomon asked you to help protect the realms now that you were a sorcerer. He took your words as a joke, but you truly thought it was a hassle. Instead of dwelling on it though, you let your thoughts wander back to the first dance you had with Lucifer. It wasn’t as comfortable, or as long, but you learned a few things from that time. “I respect them. Their freedom to do as they please. However, if I ever sense that you’ve become a threat to either them or me…”

“You will show me no mercy? Lucifer has already tried that on me.” Diavolo laughed softly, his chuckle warm despite knowing it was a very real threat. His smile is fond, and both of you steal another glance over to where the brothers, along with everyone else, are watching you too intently. “If we were to make him choose, who would he pick, I wonder.”

“His loyal friend? Or his human lover?” You respond with a hum of your own, your hand moving from its death grip on his fur stole to slide alone his shoulder. “It would be interesting to see. He’d sputter and blush, and refuse to answer probably.”

Again, Diavolo laughed, louder this time. It was loud enough for those close by to hear, sending another ripple of whispers. “Probably. But you would always be welcome in our bed.” He murmured, and slipped his hand daringly under your hem to touch overheated skin as he deeply dipped you into the final notes of the song.

“I’m sorry, Dia.” You murmured, leaning forward, pretending to be scared, but you know he can see the heat in your eyes from his suggestion. He’s not wrong. Thoughts of the three of you fill you with more heat than the long dance did. The idea of his hands wandering your skin, accompanied by the knowing touch of Lucifer, guiding the prince along to the spots that make you sing drives you wild. The heat of both of them kissing and licking places they shouldn’t, and perhaps they could do something that would make even Asmo blush. You couldn’t help but lean forward, another soft, wanting threat spilled from your lips before you could think it through. “But you would be in my bed.”

As he stood you upright again, both of you are flushed. One look at his face told you he picked up on the implications of your words immediately. That’s all the vindictive validation you needed, and you respectfully bow to him. “Thank you for the wonderful dance, my Lord.”

His brain sputtered for a minute, before etiquette kicked back in and he bowed as well. He doesn’t have to say anything because of his rank, but he smirked and raised his head in acknowledgement. “You are a wonderful dancer. I hope you are even half as good at magic as you are dancing, for your sake.”

The crowd was suddenly awash with shocked murmurs and the demons all glared as you turned your back confidently to the Prince. His message was received loud and clear, as was yours. But that’s not what you’re worried about as you hurried back to your waiting family.

“That’s so not fair.” Levi whined the moment you arrived and you fell back into Lucifer’s lap. You ignore the whines and protests of the other brothers too, as they dissect the dance they witnessed from behind the chaise. Asmo made some comment about underlying sexual tension, which is ignored. Mammon just whined and pouts that he was cheated out of two first dances in a row now, but Satan and Belphie both looked pleased that you left someone powerful stunned on the dancefloor.

“So, what did you talk about?” Lucifer asked softly, his speech rough and casual as he wrapped his arms around your waist and pulled you closer, almost to the point where you were in his lap. He sat his chin on your shoulder as you lean your head onto his and close your eyes, totally content in his arms.

“Oh, nothing really. Just making my intentions clear, is all.”

-----

A/N: okay okay I feel like this needs just a little bit of explaining. First, hi, first fanfic I’ve written in a hot minute so please don’t tell me its trash I already know. Second, I really don’t forgive Diavolo for the things he did this season. I’ve always seen him as someone who has more simmering under the surface, so I was instantly suspicious of him and was proven right. I’ve always seen my MC as someone who wants to be close to him, but only when they’ve got the upper hand and can’t be tricked into things. I hope Lucifer strung him up and left him overnight. I still love him, but I’m mad at him too lol.

#Obey Me #Obey me lucifer #obey me diavolo #swd obey me #shall we date obey me #obey me mc #lucifer/mc #diavolo/mc #mild obey me spoilers

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itsuki-minamy · 3 years

Text

“K - THE FIRST STORY”

CHAPTER 12: CLASH (Complete)

* K - The First Story (List of Chapters) * Projects & Chapters

Translation: Naru-kun Raws: Ridia

A few hours have passed since "Homura" occupied Gakuenjima. Dawn was approaching and the situation was in a state of prominence. They should have confirmed all the human faces in the school, but the criminal boy had yet to be found. Suoh and Anna proved that the criminal was in this school. No one in "Homura" doubted that, but there was an air of impatience that they couldn't grasp the tail at all.

"Scepter 4" spread out of the school island. A collision will occur in the near future. In addition to searching for the criminal, preparations for the battle with "Scepter 4" were underway, and the members of "Homura" were excited by the premonition of the battle.

Eric was patrolling the dimly lit campus before dawn. Eric was a new member of the often met faces at the HOMRA bar, who was picked up by "Homura" about two years ago, but has a stronger attachment to "Homura". He had a poor background and, until he came to "Homura", he lived committing crimes while others used him as they pleased. If he had been like that, he would have died miserably in the near future. "Homura" was Eric's first and most important place of stay.

Someone broke it. Totsuka treated people like Eric kindly, he was an executive member who protected "Homura" from within, and was assassinated, provoking Suoh, Eric's "King". He longed for the death of the criminal.

Eric pulled a hoodie down to the bottom of his blond hair to hide his murderous gaze.

The PDA beeped. It was Fujishima, a member of "Homura".

"Eric, is there something wrong?"

"No, nothing."

"So, can you come to the square in front of the gate? I need a little more people here, Yata-san."

"It's okay."

Communicating in a brief conversation, Eric hung up and handed the PDA back to him. He sensed a crowd signal when he tried to dash across the yard, thinking he could do more work than a fruitless patrol.

There was a boy student. With his back to Eric, something was setting up in the corner of the yard.

Although he was reflexively primed, it was clear from behind him that he was not the criminal boy depicted in the video. Eric stepped up behind the boy.

"Hey."

Students should be under house arrest in various groups. Has he escaped pretending to go to the bathroom?

"Go back to the classroom. If you don't resist, you won't get hurt and you'll be free soon..."

Eric gasped when he got right behind the student.

What was in the hands of the boys was a time bomb that even an amateur could see.

"Oh, what are you doing?!"

Due to his surprise, he heard a screaming voice.

The boy turned around.

The moment his eyes met Eric's eyes, Eric felt like he was falling into a dark hole.

++++++++++

Suoh leaned against the wall of the student council room, holding a cigarette that was not lit, and watched Kusanagi busy giving instructions to the "Homura" members.

A whitish light shone through the window. The snow outside had stopped, but the whiteness of the snow that accumulated last night reflected the rising sun and shone.

Anna was standing next to him, looking up worried about Suoh.

(Your sword will soon fall.)

Munakata's appearance last night revived in his mind. He came all the way to see Suoh, insisting that it was a private meeting as an individual, and told him that it was a matter of course.

Suoh makes no distinction between his and his as "King" and as an individual. He is only one person, Mikoto Suoh, and the position of "King" is just a crown that is arbitrarily covered from somewhere else.

However, Munakata was different. Munakata himself defined himself as a "King" and always behaved that way. It may have been the first time Munakata was an individual in front of Suoh.

(No, did it happen once?)

He suddenly remembered. After a while of the first meeting, where he really didn't like him and hit him in a conspicuous way, he had a chance to meet him at a bar that he passed by.

When he remembered, a kind of strangeness arose and Suoh exhaled.

At that moment, he felt that he was confessing that he felt that kind of emotion after this.

The tip of the cigarette he was holding bounced slightly.

He sensed something unpleasant somewhere far from here. He kept his back away from the wall. Although it was a slight movement, he noted Suoh's movement sensitively, and "Homura's" eyes in the room met.

Suoh doesn't see anything as clearly as Anna. However, the pain was sharp. He didn't know if it's the power of a "King" or the instinctive sensation he's had from the beginning, but he's sensitive to smell, and now Suoh regretted that smell.

Suoh saw Kusanagi. Kusanagi also left his job as a command tower and was looking at Suoh.

He was frustrated, he was sure his old friend would come over, and put various things on his shoulder in the future.

This might be the last time he gives him a hand. He looked at Kusanagi and thought about saying something, but he felt that whatever he said would be different from what he wanted to convey, so he put his hand on that shoulder without saying anything.

"Mikoto?"

He released his hand, turned and left the room.

He found Anna trying to grab him, but he didn't look back.

Suoh walked alone in the school building early in the morning. He still hadn't caught the signal, but he had a feeling that Suoh was looking for someone nearby.

He proceeded as he wanted. Like a fish that migrates in the sea, like a beast that walks in the desert, letting itself be carried away by his instincts.

Suoh's eardrum caught a small sound with a click.

Then there was a roar.

++++++++++

In Munakata's life so far, there were two people who made him think "I don't know."

One was himself before becoming "King".

From childhood, Munakata clearly showed what kind of person he was and what he should do. For some reason, he didn't know about himself. The question had its roots in Munakata until the answer was that he was a "King".

The second person was Mikoto Suoh.

He was a man who deviated from the world known to Munakata and could not be measured by the Munakata scale.

(You can only think with your own measuring stick, no matter how fast you turn your head, you are stupid.)

By the way, he told him that when he met him. The others had never called him stupid, so it was a new experience.

The answer to the second question was: "I wonder if this guy is also a 'King'."

He still can't understand it. He cannot, but he understands that he is a human being who follows the path of a "King" that he cannot understand.

Sometime after meeting Suoh, who was angrier than Munakata, Suoh came by chance when he was drinking at a bar that he visited on a whim.

He was not the person he would want to drink alcohol with face to face. He expected him to change stores, but Suoh was stubborn, he sat on the only vacant seat next to Munakata without asking permission.

It was an exchange of childish sarcasm that turned out to be side by side, and drinking and exchange words.

But in the end, Suoh said.

(I hate you, but... you are one of the few people who is not afraid of me.)

When he heard that word, Munakata reluctantly felt that an extra power had come from his shoulders.

They had the same power and were on the same horizon.

Despite being on the opposite end of the spectrum, they shared a vision that only kings can see. It was a very strange relationship.

Munakata stood on the mainland side of the connecting bridge and closed his eyes as he was swept away by the cold sea breeze. He remembered that last night.

After all, he did not respond to Munakata's persuasion.

(I'll hang my head. You'll do your job. That's it, right?)

Suoh said so. For the first time, Munakata dismissed his duty as "King".

A roar was heard from a distance.

Munakata opened his eyes. Black smoke could be seen rising from the center of Gakuenjima, beyond the connecting bridge across the sea.

The members behind him murmured. Munakata silently turned around, looked at the members behind him and said.

"All members, prepare to enter."

++++++++++

A mysterious explosion occurred.

It looked like a corner of the school building that overlooks the courtyard had blown up. The siren of a fire alarm sounded at the school.

Yata did not know who caused the explosion and why. It can be the work of the lurking criminal, or even the flames of Suoh or someone in "Homura". Kusanagi didn't even contact him, perhaps because headquarters couldn't figure it out.

However, Yata's interest in Gakuenjima's front plaza was already far from that. All his nerves focused on what he had in front of him.

He was already ready to face it. Behind Yata, the weaponized "Homura" members gathered and his gaze turned to the door.

Yata gently tossed the skateboard from his hand and stepped onto the deck. Kamamoto, standing next to him, looked at Yata.

"Yata-san."

"I know, here they come!"

A group of people in blue uniforms were stepping on the rocky edge of the gate that Suoh smashed.

The blue-clad men with sabers on their hips formed an orderly formation, in contrast to the messy "Homura."

The woman standing in front of him, Seri Awashima, lieutenant from "Scepter 4," echoed her voice through the speakerphone function of the PDA.

"This is a warning to Suoh Mikoto and his group. Surrender your weapons and surrender immediately. Otherwise…"

"Time to fight!"

Yata raised his voice without waiting until the end for Awashima's words. In response to that, his friends from "Homura" screamed.

When he heard the voice of his companions, he felt the anger and impatience that had swirled in Yata for a long time turned fruitful with a certain form of fighting spirit. The flames on Yata, which Suoh received, rippled across his body before the battle.

Fushimi was also seen among the "Scepter 4" members lined up. Fushimi also looked at Yata with a face that did not hide the lift from him. The line of sight was intertwined and Yata's hands were filled with power.

Awashima exchanged a word or two with Munakata in front of "Homura", which revealed her fighting spirit. For some reason, Munakata barely glanced at the "Homura" members who got in the way, and looked somewhere far away.

(Are you looking for Mikoto-san? Uh, Mikoto-san is not available.)

Yata inwardly dismisses Munakata's attitude, which he doesn't like.

Awashima was in the front, with Munakata, the "King", behind.

"We will advance with our swords in hand! Our cause is pure!"

Awashima raised her voice and a hand towards the members following her.

"Everyone, draw your swords!"

In response to Awashima's order, the members of "Scepter 4" drew their swords one after another. The blade of the saber that was facing the sky gleamed in the morning sun pouring through the gaps in the cloudy sky.

Yata also raises a fierce voice to counter.

"Defeat them! Let's fight!"

In response to Yata's fist, the members of "Homura" pushed up the weapons, such as iron pipes and other weapons that they had in their hands, one after another, and repeated: "No Blood! No Bone! No Ash!" They screamed and took a step.

The thick voices of the men and the sound of footsteps on the ground rang out as loud as the sound of the ground.

"Homura" jumped for a moment.

The bloody "Homura" kicked the ground like a beast, and "Scepter 4" also held their sabers and advanced to attack them.

The sounds of metal colliding with each other and piercing the ears sounded here and there.

A saber with a blue light and an iron pipe or a metal bat with a red flame meet and collide with each other. Red and blue lights flickered violently here and there, splitting.

Yata also rode his skateboard and jumped on the members of "Scepter 4." Flames roared violently as the skateboard wheel spun, and Yata took down multiple members of "Scepter 4" at once with a skateboard jump attack that spewed fire.

Fushimi and his eyes met, crushing the enemy in front of him from one end and taking down the members of "Homura" in the same way from a distance. This is a fierce battle. Although it was annoying dealing with the enemies facing each other, they were well aware of each other's existence, hoping to collide with each other immediately if possible.

At that moment, an explosive sound that shook the ground echoed in rapid succession.

Both "Homura" and "Scepter 4" suddenly stopped fighting for a moment and looked in the direction of the explosion.

One, two, three, the black smoke from the explosion rose from three places.

Yata's intuition said it was not Suoh. If it was an explosion caused by Suoh's flame, they should see a lighter red flame. That innocent black smoke was probably just an explosive.

If so, did the criminal move?

It made him uncomfortable to think that the criminal who killed Totsuka was right there. However, they could not leave the battlefield in front of them.

When Yata encountered a momentary conflict, Munakata moved, who had only waited behind his group until then.

Munakata suddenly jumped high, emitting a blue light all over his body. He then he landed in midair.

A scaffold floating in the air appeared at the foot of Munakata. The scaffolding made of blue light was probably an application of the shield often used by the guys from "Scepter 4". Munakata created scaffolding one after another in the air like a springboard and ran through the sky.

++++++++++

Again there was an explosion in front of Munakata, who entrusted the command to Awashima and looked for signs of the enemy. This time, the sound of the explosion echoed in a chain reaction, and the explosion and smoke spread throughout the school building.

Not only the members of "Scepter 4" but also the members of "Homura" were upset. Something was happening that "Homura" didn't even know, who was occupying this island.

Munakata looked behind Gakuenjima.

The enemy was moving. Maybe Suoh was heading there too.

There was no time to lose.

Munakata kicked the ground and jumped. He creates scaffolding one after another that hardened his own power in midair and tore through him.

"Captain?!"

He heard Awashima's surprised voice, but even that was behind him and running through the sky.

When "Scepter 4" and "Homura" passed through the battlefield where they collided and the explosion happened again, it was just around the corner. The top of the nearby building collapsed and exploded, and the heat-trapping blast struck Munakata's skin. A rocky shore of tiles flew in front of him.

"Someone please help me!"

He hears a scream. There was a man who sank under the dizzying rocky shore and screamed for help. He was not a student. He could see blonde hair under the hoodie he was wearing in the sun. The white skin did not seem to belong to a Japanese.

Certainly, there is a white youth as an important member of "Homura". The name is Eric Surt. He wondered if he was asking the enemy for help in the crisis of his life after doing such a thing, but the option to overlook the crushing and killing of human beings in front of him was not on Munakata. After involuntarily clicking his tongue at him, he landed next to "Homura's" young man.

He held his left arm over his head where he rained on a huge rocky shore. From the palm of Munakata towards the heavens, the area controlled by Munakata's will expanded, and the blue light-wrapped tiles stopped falling.

"It's smart, but this is still..."

When he looked up at the sky and felt lonely, a strong impact ran into Munakata's side.

Suffocated, Munakata slowly lowered his gaze.

A young man from "Homura", who had been sunk to the ground a while ago, sneaks into Munakata's chest and sticks a knife in his side.

The young man raised his face hesitantly. The edge of his lips rose into a terrifying smile.

He was wrong.

Munakata understood the situation and bit inside his teeth at his slowness.

"You are…"

"Captain!" I hear Awashima's voice yelling and calling out to him from a distance

"The boy from "Homura" is with the Captain!" And the voice of another indignant member.

Damage taken to the flank fluctuated, and the blue control light emitted from Munakata's hand disappeared.

The group of tiles that had stopped in midair was again overpowered by gravity and began to fall, swallowing Munakata.

++++++++++

The loud explosion sounded repeatedly, and the building where Anna and the others were also received earthquake-like vibrations many times.

"Damn, what's going on? The Blues bring cannons with them?!"

Kusanagi looked out the window and was surprised. The members who remained in the student council room were also upset without knowing the situation.

There, Anna made herself small in a chair and shook her body. It was not the explosion itself that scared her.

Anna's overly sensitive antenna trembles as she perceives the signs of malice swirling around the island with a force approaching physical violence. She felt that someone was trying to disturb their hearts. At the mercy of many human emotional ripples, Anna focused her mind on the sensation of her in search of his malicious intent.

"Kusanagi-san! What is King doing?"

"He can handle it! Right now, I need you to tell Yata to focus on what's in front of him..."

Amid Kusanagi's words, the explosion sounded again and the building shook. Anna squeezed her eyes shut.

Anna's responsiveness detects several things in an instant.

A detonation that burns the sky.

A member of "Scepter 4" raising an angry voice.

Everyone in "Homura" who is angry in response to the anger directed by "Scepter 4."

Gakuenjima students falling into depression.

Someone who looks at everyone's appearance and screams.

Anna opened her eyes.

Now Anna's power has captured him.

Is near.

Anna stood up and left the student council room. She grabbed the hall window and looked around her.

Overlooking the courtyard turned into a battlefield, she noticed the rooftop of the building facing the explosion, raising black smoke.

"I found you."

The parting lit up red, and she certainly did see "it."

He was dressed in a blue uniform, but he was not a member of "Scepter 4". Anna looked at what was behind the body of a member of "Scepter 4".

"It" also noticed reflected in Anna's eyes. The malicious intent of "it" increased, and the glass in front of Anna shattered for a moment.

He is a sniper.

Anna withdrew and fell into the hallway with strewn glass. Several red marbles spilled from her hands and rolled down the hallway as blood splattered.

"Anna!"

Kusanagi, who jumped up, yelled and hugged Anna. The bullet did not hit. However, the sensitive ability is exhibited.

Anna was struck by a powerful mass of malice that had struck the sense organs that had been opened to search. She shook her head.

He could hear the sound of the sniper again. Kusanagi leaned against the wall as he held Anna up. Dewa and other members of "Homura" who were in the student council room also jumped up in a hurry and saw the sniper.

"There's a Blue on the rooftop! He's got a rifle!"

"Damn it, Anna...!"

The angry voices of her friends get confused. Kusanagi's annoying voice can be heard in her ear, "What...?"

Anna still couldn't open her eyes. However, it can be seen that "it" who shot Anna is laughing out loud as she wore a blue uniform.

Dewa was furious and ran. He wanted to stop him, but he couldn't move, and Kusanagi hugged Anna in a relaxed way.

"No... if this continues..."

Anna murmured in a wise voice, like a sigh.

++++++++++

"Anna got shot! He's a fucking blue bastard!"

"Ah! I'm going to crush them all!"

"Isn't it possible to confirm yet if the Captain is safe?"

"Damn reds, the Captain helped one of them, is this the way to show gratitude from him?"

Several angry voices rose from both "Homura" and "Scepter 4", and they were confused.

"Scepter 4" who came to suppress and "Homura" who tried to fight back. It should have been a very simple battle, but before they knew it, it turned into a battle muddied with mutual hatred.

Fushimi felt uncomfortable with this situation.

(How could a "Homura" minnow stab the Captain in the first place?)

(I don't think Anna was given such an order, and I really don't remember the kind of idiot who shoots snipers at a non-combatant girl without permission.)

(Is the wrong information flowing? Or is something being manipulated?)

Awashima's determined voice echoed in Fushimi's brooding ears.

"Keep calm and stay in control! No one can defeat "Scepter 4" in group battles!"

The emotional turmoil of the members was directly related to the turmoil of the battle. Awashima was desperately trying to recover, but she couldn't hide the confusion from him. At the moment, she looked in the direction of the collapsed school building where Munakata disappeared with an uncomfortable expression.

Some people did not overlook the gap shown by the lieutenant from "Scepter 4".

A light and fierce monkey-like thing attacked from the top of Awashima. Awashima suddenly came to himself, received what jumped from above with her saber and blocked him.

"Yatagarasu."

"Oh, let's fix this!"

Yata, riding his skateboard, landed on the wall and laughed with a warrior look. He jumped high again and ran towards Awashima.

Awashima responded with a sword attack at the skateboard that used red flames as an impulse. Awashima has the best sword skill in "Scepter 4" except for Munakata. But now her consciousness was half directed towards Munakata's whereabouts.

On the other hand, Yata is stupid. The fool has the strength of the fool. Yata doesn't think of anything extra in important situations. On the battlefield, he concentrates on the battle in front of him and devotes all of his energy.

"Don't look over it!"

Increase the momentum of the skateboard flame. Yata approached Awashima with a fierce impulse.

Yata's devilish eyes were now reaching Awashima. Fushimi was so frustrated that his back made noise.

"I have you!"

Just before Yata's skateboard tried to topple Awashima, Fushimi broke into his thoughts.

Fushimi stepped in front of Awashima and caught the bottom of Yata's skateboard with his sword. Sparks exploded.

Fushimi's emotions, which normally don't move, shook again, and Fushimi looked at Yata with wide open pupils.

"Guess again, Misaki! You and I have unfinished business, remember?!"

"Saru... Let's do it!"

Yata's passionate eyes pierced Fushimi.

The edge of Fushimi's mouth lifted.

He now he thought that he would be the same idiot as always. It doesn't matter if the situation is unnatural or if someone thinks. Fight the boy in front of him. Becoming that creature.

Fushimi rose and swung the sword with all of his might.

++++++++++

A series of explosions destroy Gakuenjima, the place the boy returned to.

Terrified students screamed and ran out of the school building. Until now, they had been captured by the people of "Homura", but they became unruly due to the start of the battle with "Scepter 4", or it became dangerous to protect the safety of the students.

But, in any case, it was difficult for the panicked students to evade this mysterious explosion and exit the clan battlefield to safety.

When the boy bit his teeth, there was another explosion in the vicinity.

"Nyaaa! What's going on?!"

Neko shrugged and screamed, holding her head with both hands. Kuro throws the flying debris into an unoccupied place with his special talented hand.

"This is not due to the power of the red clan's flames. It was an explosive setup... who the heck..."

"The battle between red and blue is getting fiercer, even though there is another enemy that is exploding... It's strange, this..."

From the boy's point of view, both the red and blue clan seem to be angrier, and hated each other and involved in emotional battles. He felt unpleasant, as if he was dancing at the speculation of a true enemy.

Looking at the boy who was thoughtful, Kuro looked at the students running scattered.

"Anyway, the students will be involved in this situation. I want to evacuate somehow..."

"Ah, Kukuri!"

Neko screamed. Looking in the direction Neko was pointing, he saw Kukuri standing lost as she watched the students flee.

"Kukuri!"

The voice of the boy who called her was drowned out by the sound of the explosion that occurred at the same time, and did not reach the boy's own ears.

The rooftop of the school building was blown up by an explosion, and a man in the uniform of "Scepter 4" who appeared to be on the rooftop with the tiles fell towards Kukuri.

Whether she couldn't move in wonder or terrified, Kukuri opened her eyes and looked at the man who was about to fall on her and froze.

The moment her spine froze, Kuro jumped sideways and abducted Kukuri's body.

Kuro, holding Kukuri with his left arm, picked up the "Scepter 4" member who was about to hit the ground with an invisible hand that extended from his right hand, and released him appropriately.

"Kukuri..."

The boy ran towards Kukuri right at Neko. Kukuri, who was being held by Kuro, had a stunned face that seemed unaware that she was in danger. Mysteriously, she looked up at the boy who appeared while calling her name.

Whenever she saw the boy, Kukuri smiled intimately, but when she seemed to see a stranger, the boy smiled with slight pain.

"Oh, that's right. You don't remember me, right?"

The boy crouched down on his knees to align his eyes with her and approached Kukuri.

"Don't worry. We're here to help. Can you get up?"

Kukuri took the boy's hand. The boy grabbed Kukuri's hand and helped her to her feet.

"Anyway, Kuku... Yukizome-san. It's dangerous here. Evacuate immediately..."

"I found you."

The voice of a man crawling on the ground rang out.

The back of the boy shuddered.

It was a voice that echoed deep in his stomach. It wasn't a strong voice, it was a calm tone, but it felt like boiling magma lurked at the bottom of the voice.

The boy looked back in a cold sweat.

There was a red-haired man.

In a leather jacket and jeans, he looked like a young man who would normally walk through town dressed like this.

But the boy knew at a glance that this man was the "Red King". He felt like a great beast was taking him away. If he moved, even though he was a little sick, he could easily imagine that his throat would be eaten in the next moment. He instinctively felt that a ridiculously high amount of heat was hiding under his taut body.

He made a smile as he looked at the boy with his glowing eyes. It was a fierce smile.

Even being a "King", he is completely different from Munakata who moves by reason. He was afraid to appeal directly to the instincts of living beings.

The Third King, Mikoto Suoh.

"Stay behind."

Kuro stepped forward and left the boy behind.

Suoh approached with an agile and evasive step, reminiscent of a carnivorous beast that little by little closes the distance to its prey, with a smile on his face.

"Hey. I came here because you called me. So stop playing dumb, okay?"

It was unpleasant. He had no excuse for him now. Suoh had a smile on his face, but the boy also knew that anger and killing intent swirled inside of him.

As if the passion hidden inside had melted, he saw that a red light with heat had sprouted from Suoh's body, burst into flames and exploded.

Trapped by the heat generated by the high-temperature flame, the boy and the others irresistibly cover their faces with their arms.

Suoh, who emits flames, was no longer laughing. Looking at the boy with a good eye, getting closer.

"You are on my way."

Suoh put his hand on Kuro's shoulder who was standing. Kuro immediately dispelled his hand and pushed Suoh away and his arms crossed.

Not that he wasn't afraid. Still, Kuro turned his straight and discreet eyes towards Suoh.

Suoh giggled a little, removed Kuro's block in an instant and threw it away with the lightness of a doll. Kuro's body flew lightly a dozen meters away, hit the ground and rolled further.

"Kuro!"

"Nyaaa!"

Neko with her hair up, like an animal cat, activated his power. The Gakuenjima scene changed to the scene of a strange forest. Behind the scenes, the boy rushed towards the fallen Kuro.

"Why did you do that?"

Suoh muttered under his breath and turned around. Suoh's eyes were looking directly at Neko.

If Neko's power was really working, Suoh's eyes should see as if he had been suddenly thrown into the forest. However, Suoh's eyes captured the royal appearance.

"Woman... stay out of this!"

Suoh screamed. Neko's ability disappeared in an instant as if it had been blown up.

Neko tightly grabbed the boy's arm with a scared face.

"Go."

Kuro stumbled and stood up, saying that.

Once again, the boy bit his teeth. Furthermore, he made Kuro fight unreasonably alone.

However, it was true to say that they only depended on Kuro, as Neko's ability had no effect, and the boy was helpless. He couldn't allow Kukuri, who wasn't related, to stay in such a place.

"Hurry!"

Kuro yelled to scold the boy who showed hesitation.

The boy frowned hard and started running with Neko and Kukuri.

To ensure the retreat of the others, Kuro attacked Suoh from the front. With his right hand forward, he developed the unique ability to manipulate space with the exit wide open. He looked like he was trying to squeeze Suoh with his huge space distorting hand.

Suoh didn't make a slight move. With a lazy stance with both hands tucked into his jacket pocket without taking a step, the power of red unfolded slightly to disperse Kuro's power.

"I see. No wonder Yata had it hard against you."

Suoh said that with a smile.

He takes a deep breath. At the same time as he exhaled his inhaled breath in one go, a huge tornado of flames broke free from Suoh's body. The swirling flames destroyed the area like a mad monster and attacked Kuro as they swelled across the ground.

Kuro took a great leap and escaped into the sky. He leapt over the fiery tornado and attacked Suoh from above with that momentum. Kuro's kick, which had falling speed to the side of him, was also received by Suoh with one arm. Without pursuing deeply, Kuro immediately jumped up and took a distance.

"Not bad. I'd like to keep playing with you, but unfortunately, my thirst for blood is insatiable. Like I said before, you're on my way!"

Suoh's entire body turned red at the same time as he barked in a shaky voice.

The seething red that engulfed Suoh swelled into a spherical shape, obscuring his appearance. It seemed as if he had become a pure mass of heat, not a human being.

The mass of heat with Suoh as its core was like the sun. As the flare surfaced, a flame with a red-black mass flowed out the back. The mass of heat swelled and emitted a strong heat wave. Although he hadn't touched it directly, it looked like it would burn just from being exposed to heat.

The fleeing boy stopped. It became terrifying for Kuro to defy the rising sun, he didn't throw it, but his hair fluttered in the heat waves.

Kuro launched an attack with his strange hand, but it was repelled by a thick layer of flame and did not turn into scorched stone or water.

The lump of heat swelled even more and swallowed Kuro.

"Kuro!"

The boy screamed with the sense of running away. However, Kuro didn't look back and was trying to suppress the ever-expanding sun with his extraordinary hand.

The heat was rising. The December air, which should be cold, turned into intense heat. The surrounding area was dyed red.

A cold blue light flashed as everything was about to be swallowed up by the boiling heat.

The cold blue light collided with the red mass of heat, and they both disappeared instantly.

The boy lost his sense of reality for a moment when the hellish scene disappeared.

Suoh slowly turned around and turned to the criminal who doused his flames.

Reisi Munakata, the "Blue King", was standing with his right arm in front of Suoh. For some reason, a young man from "Homura" was carried on Munakata's shoulder.

Munakata slowly surveyed the area. He looked at Suoh, looked at Kuro, looked at the boy, Neko and Kukuri.

"I have discovered everything."

"Then we can get down to business. Shut up and watch."

Munakata did not respond and abandoned the young man on his shoulder. A hooded blond youth was thrown to the ground with a small groan.

"Kuro!"

The boy called out to Kuro with a pleading feeling. This time, Kuro immediately understood the boy's intention and landed close to him with a great leap. As he was, four people were running at full speed.

Suoh clicked her tongue and regained the power of red in his hand. Kukuri and Neko ran first, and the boy ran while he looked at Suoh from the side. The moment Suoh's reddened hand was about to address them, Munakata's aura swelled.

Munakata kicked the ground with the force of a shot, forming a line of blue light and heading straight for Suoh.

Suoh immediately repositions his arm, which was trying to point at the boy, to catch Munakata. The blue and red lights collided and exploded blindingly.

"Munakata!"

The boy ran with all his might, hearing Suoh's frustrated voice behind his back.

He simply moved his legs, feeling the sound of powers colliding and sparking, the sound of destruction, the sound of explosions, the sound of tiles breaking, and several more noises behind him.

"Here we will be safe for now!"

They reached the familiar dormitory building and went inside.

There was no one at the entrance to the bedroom, the hustle and bustle of the battle was far away and it was quiet. However, maybe there was an explosion or a battle around here, the glass was broken and scattered on the ground.

Finally, they stopped in the middle of the entrance hall and managed to calm their lively breathing. Kukuri seemed to be the most agitated, crouched on the ground and breathing on her shoulders.

Kuro looked in the direction he was coming from with a stern look.

"The two of you are finally fighting...?"

"My best moves had no effect on any of them! I can't take it anymore!"

Neko screamed as if to vent. Those guys are fighting each other, so now is our chance. Let's get away while we can!"

Neko tugged on his arm and the boy lowered his eyebrows.

"Neko..."

"Come on! Kukuri has been saved, so let's go quickly!"

"This…"

Kukuri was reluctant to speak.

The boy smiled at Kukuri, noticing that she had been brought out of her shock and apologizing for putting her through a terrifying situation without knowing why.

"I'm sorry, we can't explain all the details to you. But we're going to get you to a safe place."

"Wait, you're hurt!"

Kukuri looked to the boy's side and made a hoarse voice.

"Hey?" When he followed Kukuri's line of sight and looked at his body, the shirt around his flank was certainly torn. He looks like he cut on something, but he didn't feel like it was hurt.

"Oh, I'm fine. It's nothing."

"Let me see it."

Kukuri said that forcefully. Even if she didn't remember the boy, he was a bit happy despite this situation, saying that her nature of caring for people is still the same, and Kukuri approached the boy and Neko.

Kukuri looked at the boy and laughed hideously.

Her face was distorted asymmetrically and it was a strange smile.

The boy opened his eyes.

It wasn't Kukuri.

When he thought that, she stabbed him in the stomach.

Before he knew it, Kukuri's hand was holding a sharpened piece of glass that had fallen to the ground. It is deeply ingrained in the boy's belly.

Kuro held her down and Kukuri laughed.

Kuro impressively pulled Kukuri's body away from the boy, and pressed him to the ground. The piece of glass he was stabbed with shook his belly and slid on the floor.

The boy held the stabbed area and flapped his lips.

He really didn't feel pain. He just couldn't move me from the impact and trembled.

"Kukuri! You…"

Kukuri kept a distorted smile even when Kuro suppressed her. She rested her cheeks on the ground and looked at the boy with wide eyes.

"I have to admit; I didn't think you would survive!"

Kukuri's eyes gleamed.

"But this time…"

A clear light spread around Kukuri. The color disappears from the place covered by the light.

In a colorless world, the boy saw something emerge from the center of Kukuri's eyes. He made the face of a fox, smoky. The fox-shaped smoke flowed into the boy's eyes with a laugh.

It was completely dark in front of him, and the boy lost sight of where he was. He couldn't make out top or bottom, right or left. He lost the physical sensation of him and it was unclear if he was still standing or collapsed.

In total darkness, he felt as if he and someone were merging.

The path someone had followed ran through the boy like a magic lantern. Kukuri stabbed the boy with a piece of glass. A member of "Scepter 4" who shot a girl from the Red Clan with a rifle. A young man from "Homura" who stabbed a knife in the "Blue King". A Gakuenjima student with a fox face talking to the "Red King" on a toy phone. In addition, he penetrated the interior of many human beings.

And the first king, the "Silver King", who blew up the airship.

A boy with the same face as him, who shot Totsuka Tatara with a pistol.

Who? Who is he?

He was thrown into chaos, as if his head was being shaken.

While the boy was reliving the memory of someone who had entered it, he found that that person was also exploring the boy's memory. As the outline of his body and the shape of his mind became uncertain, rumors of someone laughing appeared.

"It seems like you don't really remember anything. How carefree are you? How ignorant. You gave up everything you were responsible for. You lost once before. You lost, and you ran away in search of a peaceful life. did you want? Deep in your heart, you wanted a life like the one you're living now. Before that, even a long time before. That's fine. There's nothing wrong with that. Sleep… sleep without remembering anything. Let your body go to the place where you find silence and peace. You know nothing. Nothing."

Kuro yelled in a hurry.

Neko desperately called out to the boy.

A young man dressed in a military uniform said, "Are you running away?!"

Debris flies one after another. The surrounding soldiers were shattered and dead. Only he was not hurt.

The pointed rubble.

Rain of bombs. A silver sword floating in the sky. Everything was slow.

A silver-haired woman called out to him in a soft voice.

"Addy."

#K #k project #k the first story #k novel

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aethelflaedladyofmercia · 4 years

Text

Shooting Stars

Written for the @bingokisses prompt “Deep Kiss” but taken in a different direction, here’s a little glimpse of our favorite angel and demon back in the early days of Creation. Also available on AO3.

The Starmakers swept across the void of space, trailing the fundamental elements of the universe behind them. Already, the depths of the firmament were a rainbow canvas of sulfur and hydrogen and oxygen and nitrogen. Now they parted, swirling the elements into infant stars, blowing perfectly spherical bubbles to serve as incubators for each. Everything was precisely ordered, every line and curve exactly according to strict instruction.

At the edge of the nebula-to-be, a smaller figure skittered and fluttered, looking for a way to enter – a dark, unformed shape, sometimes a small dark ball, other times a long ribbon, always with a faint red glow seeping out here and there, hinting at future brilliance. He tried again, sidling into an unwatched corner, only to be immediately blocked by the blinding white light of another Guardian.

“You aren’t supposed to be here,” she said with a flare of winglight.

“Where am I supposed to be?” he countered, already looking for a way around.

“You know perfectly well,” the Guardian chided, pushing him gently back towards the safety of Heaven. “Unassigned angels are to wait until their tasks are ready.”

“But what am I supposed to do while I wait?”

“You aren’t supposed to do anything. That’s the point of waiting.”

“Don’t like it. All I do is sit and my mind gets all buzzy with too many thoughts and it’s boring. That’s one of my inventions, by the way, boredom. You see what happens when you leave us alone?” He darted around again, trying to slip past. “Much better to let us go help where we can, isn’t it?”

The Guardian’s light flickered slightly. “You can’t help. You don’t know how.”

“They can teach me! Can’t be that hard. And they’re not doing anything I can’t do, are they?”

Another uncertain flicker. “No. The Starmakers are far too busy to explain things to an interloper. It is best if you wait for your assigned task.” Then, in a softer voice, the Guardian suggested, “Perhaps you can meditate on the glories of Creation while you wait?”

“Nnnnh,” the angel groaned, turning as if to head back. “You know,” he said slowly, “wouldn’t it be easier to meditate on the glories from up close? So that I can properly contemplate them. See the details.” He flitted this way and that, form wavering almost hypnotically. “It wouldn’t be disruptive, just me sitting there. Wouldn’t be in the way at all. Surely there wouldn’t be anything wrong with just…a quick look around, would there?”

The Guardian considered this, thinking so hard the brilliant white light became quite dim indeed. Finally, with a sigh, her widest set of wings folded back. “You may look around, but touch nothing, and speak to no one.”

“You got it, boss.” And in a swirl of red-tinted darkness, the angel vanished into the depths of space.

The true majesty of a nebula could never be appreciated by mortal eyes. But to an angel – even a young, unassigned one – it glowed across seven dimensions, the subtle shades of blue and green giving way to wild blooms of gold and silver. A stellar cradle lay just ahead and he skimmed across it, trailing a wing tip just a bit to watch the colors swirl.

There – at the center – the newborn star, glowing a dark red just like him. He fluttered over to investigate, folding himself into an unobtrusive sphere, watching the way atoms collided until—

“You shouldn’t be here.”

He turned to find a pale white figure, dim, almost as misty and insubstantial as the nebula being created around them, flashing three pairs of wings in pretended authority. There wasn’t even a visible halo on this one.

“Neither should you.” He turned back to the star just in time to see a dark cool spot form on its surface. Amazing. “Have you seen this?”

“No, I most certainly have not! And I am meant to be here, I’m a Guardian.”

“You are?” The angel flitted down to hover in front of the other, hanging in the aether. “No you aren’t, you’re unassigned, same as me. I can tell.”

“Well.” The so-called Guardian flickered in embarrassment. “I am a Guardian, but the place I’m meant to guard hasn’t been Created yet. But I still have the, er, the authority to stop you.”

“Do you?” The angel stretched himself out, a long streamer of darkness looping lazily around the Guardian of Nowhere. “Stop me from what, though? Have I broken any rules? Have I damaged anything?”

“No, but – but that’s not the point.” Pale white wings parted enough to show two hands, nervously gesturing. “There are rules, and the rules say you’re not supposed to be here. If we went around making exceptions…”

“We might actually have fun once in a while?” He bent around to smile at the Guardian upside-down. “I invented fun, by the way, or I’m about to. It’s much better than boredom.”

“I don’t know what these words mean. You’re talking nonsense.” The Guardian folded hands and wings and tried to look stern. It was a complete failure. “Fine. What is fun? How does it work?”

“Hmmmm. I think…I run, and you try to catch me. And if you do, I’ll leave or whatever else you want. But you have to catch me.”

“I already caught you!”

“Did you?” And with a twist and a flick of his long tail, the angel was gone.

He skimmed low over an incubator bubble, causing the gas to boil and roil in his wake.

He zigzagged through a cluster of infant stars, sending them tumbling into new orbits, casting ripples of X-rays all around.

A dark cloud of dust loomed ahead and he shot through it, stretching it longer and longer into a column, before finally dropping out the bottom – or the top – turning around to find the white light of the Guardian right behind.

“Told you you’d never catch me!”

“I am going slow so I don’t upset anything, you – you scoundrel!”

“I like that. Scoundrel.” He ran a circle around the Guardian. “Bet I can make it all the way to that one on the end and back before you can. Ready? Go!” And off he shot, a dark comet hurtling recklessly through the perfectly ordered cosmos, one bright star unshakably on his tail.

Older stars sat here and there, setting off jets of gas where he brushed them, creating their own ripples through the blues and purples around them. A few of them looked ready to burst completely, but the angel didn’t have time to investigate now. He glanced back again and again and still the Guardian kept on his tail, zipping this way and that, trying to find some way to block him. But the angel just coiled and looped, slipping out of whatever trap the other tried to set. He laughed, and while he hadn’t invented laughter, he thought he might try to take credit anyway.

There, ahead, the last bright red ball of gas. The angel circled around it almost lazily – one, two, three times – but when he looked back there was no sign of the Guardian.

“Hello?” He pulled himself back into a smaller shape, searching with more care. “Are you still here?” The angel drifted back the way he’d come. The next incubator bubble had been stretched out by his motion, cloud upon cloud towering eternally into the distance. “I’ll go slower if you like, it’s only fun if—”

“Got you!” A dim white figure burst out from behind the young star within, crashing into the angel, tangling them both up in a flurry of wings and limbs, plummeting down, down deeper into space.

“That’s cheating, you bastard! We’re supposed to be racing!”

“You never said that. You said I had to catch you, and I did.” The Guardian wiggled, his whole form softer than the clouds of the nebula. “And now you’re in my clutches. You are in so much trouble.”

“Am I?” Once again, the angel elongated himself, becoming a ribbon of darkness, but this time the Guardian was ready for him, clutching tight, growing taller and taller to better grasp his prisoner. He was very strong, and in the end, they would up wrapped around each other, spinning through space, and now the Guardian was laughing just as hard as the angel.

“Fine, you got me. Fair cop.” The angel beat his wings one last time – mostly just for the show of it – then settled down in defeat. “What are you going to do to me now?”

“Hmm. This.”

It was a little blossom of warmth, just where the Guardian’s hand rested on the angel. A tiny spark of joy and peace and happiness and a few other emotions that the angel didn’t have names for yet, but would happily get to know better. Everything the Guardian was feeling in that moment, crystalized into a gem of emotion, just there at the edge of the angel’s being.

He pulled it in, pushed it down into the deepest depths of himself, hiding it in swirls of darkness where it would be safe no matter what. Then, shyly, he brushed the tip of a wing across one of the Guardian’s and formed a crystal of his own, filled with the awe he felt at the nebula forming around them, the exhilaration of the chase, and the strange fluttery emotion he had never suspected could exist before. The Guardian accepted it without a word.

Before the angel could think of another question, four brilliantly glowing shapes appeared around them. “What are you two doing here?”

Two were the pure white of Guardians; another the blue and green and gold of a Starmaker; and the last the brilliant violet light of the Archangel Gabriel. The angel quickly untangled himself, contracting to his simple dark shape, trying to look contrite. “I asked! The Guardian at the edge of the nebula said—”

“She had no authority to allow you in here! Look what you did!”

All behind them, the perfect uniformity of the nebula had been stretched and distorted. Some sections puffed into enormous billows; others stretched into pillars and columns; over there, a small black cloud stood out starkly against a brilliant red-white background; three different clusters of stars had been sent to spin around each other in entirely new formations, closer than ever intended.

“Oops,” the angel offered.

“What is your name?” Gabriel demanded.

The angel shrugged. “Don’t have one. Not assigned yet.” Somewhere deep inside, he had thoughts on that subject, but now was not the time to bring them up.

“Your supervisor will be informed, nonetheless. And as for you—" The Archangel turned to the Guardian beside him, who cowered back, shivering and flickering.

“Ugh,” the angel cut in quickly. “Can I leave before you start praising him? I don’t need to hear that.”

“Praising…?” Gabriel asked in confusion.

“Yes! This – this little bastard caught me. Saw what I was doing in the nebula, chased me out, and held me until you got here. Totally ruined my fun. Did I tell you about fun? I just invented it—”

“Enough. Is this true?”

“Ah.” The Guardian of Nowhere glanced around nervously. “Yes, that’s – generally what happened, I think. It was all so quick…”

“Fine. You—” Gabriel waved to the Starmaker. “Escort this troublemaker back to where he belongs. And figure out how long it will take to repair this damage.”

The angel looked once more at the Guardian of Nowhere, and flashed his wings in a friendly salute. He didn’t think the Guardian would respond, but no – there it was, a deliberate flutter, too quick for the others to notice. Then he was off, following the Starmaker back towards more familiar grounds.

Behind him, the Archangel’s faint voice: “Excellent work. What is your name?”

“Ah. Aziraphale, Guardian of…”

“You know,” the Starmaker said, resting a hand on his shadowy form, “I think I might like it as it is. Not as ordered as we’d wanted, but there is a beauty to it. Perhaps this, too, was part of the Plan.”

The angel wasn’t sure what he thought of that, but there was a more important question to consider: “Can I tell people I helped build it?”

“If you like.”

“Then yes.” He stroked the tiny crystal of happy emotions that glowed like a star hidden deep in the shadows of his chest. “Yes, I think it should stay exactly like this.”

#good omens fanfiction #asexual ineffable husbands #ineffable partners #aziraphale and crowley #starmaker crowley #well sort of #guardian angel aziraphale #angel crowley #pre-canon #aziraphale #crowley #my writing #ao3 link #kissesbingo

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thebestworstidea · 3 years

Text

Make A Wish

(Part One: Falling Star) (Part Two: Crash and Burn)

On Ao3

After almost a year I manage to finish the Third Part in this Series. Each part getting longer and longer. This part clocks in at 11,000 words and change. So much for a short one shot, am I right?

Warning for naughty language, mostly care of Remus.

-----

Logan had insisted that Thomas stop the camera. He tried to insist that Thomas eat something and lie down in bed, despite his normal cautions about not eating before bed time. For a prolonged foray into the mindscape, it would be better for Thomas if his body was comfortable, and that meant being in a safe environment and not hungry. They had managed to compromise with Thomas laying on the couch, slowly eating Doritos. Then they had all settled deeper into the mindscape, discarding the fourth wall, and allowing Patton to put Thomas’s head in his lap and pet his hair. It appeared to be soothing for Patton as much as Thomas.

“I mean, they’re friends now.” Thomas pointed out. “Can Virge just snap Roman out of it on his own?”

“If it was a normal fantasy, it would be probable.” Logan answered. He went on, but Thomas’s attention drifted.

Janus was still standing on the landing, with his arms crossed over his chest, holding his elbows, and occasionally squeezing, staring into the distance. Thomas wasn’t sure he was blinking. The Sides always got a little further into uncanny valley the further he retreated into his own head, and more than just the stretchy-arm. Sometimes Thomas forgot they were technically imaginary, and not just very weird roommates, but times like this reminded him. Logan kept glancing back at him, still in his ‘traditional’ place next to the stairs. Unless they asked him a direct question, Remus was pacing from the window to the foot of the stairs and back, mumbling to himself under his breath, and gesturing expansively. Frankly that was more disturbing than Janus’s lack of blinking, though in a different way. Thomas realized that Logan had stopped talking, and looked back at him. Logan sighed, deeply and punched the bridge of his nose.

“What was the last thing you heard, Thomas?”

“Uh… depth and immersion.” he said after a moment. He did not deserve Logan’s patience. “Which is different from the thing with your rooms.”

“Close but no, it’s not entirely different, just different enough. Thomas, I really cannot advise going forward with this idea.”

“But… What if instead of pulling Roman out, Roman pulls Virgil in? What if they both get lost in the Imagination, and don’t ever come out again?”

“... I think your anxiety is demonstrably unaffected.”

“I’m serious, Logan.”

“That’s my job.” Logan tipped his head, and Thomas smiled a little, reassured by the faint smile in Logan’s eyes as his joke worked properly.

“I’ve already left Roman alone too long, Logan.” Thomas said firmly. “If I can’t call him here, then I have to go to him.” He frowned. “It’s like going to the mind palace, right? I can figure it out without you if I have to-”

“Do not!” Janus startled in place, then smoothed himself down. “I mean, if you really want to be overdramatic, but I don’t think any of us suggested that you’d have to go to those lengths.” He looked over at Logan, who looked back at him.

“Kiddo, we want Roman back as much as you do.” Patton said soothingly. “So of course we’re going to go with you, we’re just trying to make a plan.”

“I don’t know why.” Remus mumbled, “No plan survives first contact with the enemy.”

“That quote means you need to be flexible, not that you shouldn’t plan, darling.” Janus sighed.

“Eh both works.” Remus stretched backwards, and kept going, until he was peering out between his feet, a terrifying combination of a rag doll and a circus contortionist. “Now, I know what you’re thinking, and the answer is yes, I can in fact suck my own-”

“I wasn’t!” Thomas interrupted, despite the fact that the thought had totally crossed his mind. Janus shook his head slightly, the faintest of smile on his face. Remus remained in pretzel mode, looking comfortable enough. “I’ve eaten something, and I’ve thought about it, and yes. I want to go to the imagination. I want to find Roman. I need to talk to him.” He took a deep breath. “How do I do this?”

Remus rolled across the floor and collided with Logan, knocking him over. They were a tangle of limbs for an oddly prolonged moment, and then Remus was bodily hauling him up and dusting him off with a bit too much enthusiasm. Logan kept trying to swat his hands away and missing.

“If Remus is finished for the moment.” Logan said at last. “Getting into the imagination is fairly easy, especially with Creativity present.”

Remus grinned and opened the door under the stairs.

“This way.”

“A cupboard under the stairs?!” Thomas exclaimed.

“It varies from day to day.” Remus stepped in, and they moved to follow. Strangely there was room, as they stepped into a dusty, unused room that contained nothing but a large wardrobe on the far wall. Remus strode towards it confidently. “This is Roman trying to keep us out, by the way.” This time he let them all go first, pressing from behind to push them further, deeper into the wardrobe.

“Hey, I thought we weren’t going to lie about ourselves any more.” Patton commented, shoving past a coat.

“What?”

“I sure don’t want to go back into the closet.” he responded. Thomas couldn’t see who groaned, but he was pretty sure he was one of them. They came out into a wintery forest. This time Janus pressed forward, pointing at a ring of brightly colored mushrooms, the inside of the ring being full of lush green grass.

“That’s the next one.” He said, and stepping inside had them enveloped in the warm, bright light of a sunny day. There was nothing but grass around them, golden and knee deep. At the edge of the field stood a big blue box. Logan started towards it immediately and caressed the sign on the door for a moment, before opening it and stepping into the darkness inside. It took Thomas a moment to force himself to step into blackness that he couldn’t see anything in, but he did.

He found himself falling, weightless for a long moment, the fall too gentle to really scare him, a faint blueish light catching his attention and then- his feet were settled on a brilliantly colored floor. His sides were ranged out in a semi circle around him, and the floor looked like stained glass, a giant round window, picturing what appeared to be Roman, asleep.

“Okay, I have to ask, is this going to go on much longer?” He asked, his voice echoing a little bit.

“Honestly, it’s never been this hard before.” Patton said, sounding a little worried. “Usually it’s just a few doors if he’s trying to keep us out.”

“Yeah, he’s really into it.” Remus laughed, and leapt into the air, impossibly high.

“Wait, what are you-” Before Thomas could finish the question, Remus had come down with a crash in the center of the platform, mace first, and the window shattered into brilliant shards of light. Thomas ducked covering his head with his hands but… didn’t fall again.

Tentatively he looked up, and they were in a shallow cave. Weak light came in the entrance, as Remus stood back up, silhouetted by it.

“Ah. Here we are.” He chuckled, and gestured grandly towards the entrance- or exit. “Welcome to the Imagination.”

Walking into the imagination made Thomas feel a little like he’d imagined Dorthy feeling when she emerged into Munchkin Land.

It was a little too sharp and intense, like an image captured by a high definition camera. However, it was still… lacking something he’d expected. No that wasn’t it. It felt like something was wrong.

Patton sighed beside him, and on the other side Logan made a sound of frustration.

“Well, so much for hoping Virgil’s presence did something.”

“Holy shit.” Remus exclaimed, more directly. “This is some desaturated Game of Thrones bullshit. Even I don’t pull this gritty palette crap.”

And Thomas realized, yeah, that was it. He’d expected brilliant technicolor, like the Wizard of Oz, or maybe Disney Movies, but instead the rolling countryside had a faded look, like it had been shot through a filter.

“It isn’t always like this?” he asked.

“No, it’s only been like this recently.” Patton said sadly. “It usually gets overcast when Roman’s sad, but this is different.” It was overcast, clouds rolling across the sky. But that wouldn’t cause the world to look like this. A pathway led downhill, away from the cave, towards an overgrown gate with no fence, next to a dirt road. Thomas thought he could see a castle in the distance, but wasn’t completely sure. He headed down the path towards the gate anyway. For some reason, he felt compelled to open it and walk through to the road, instead of walking around it. Well, there was a ditch, so maybe it was better this way. His feet had barely gotten onto the road when there was an explosion of expletives from behind him.

“Oh you have got to be fuckin’ with me.” Remus groaned from the back of the group. “He’s really got a hold of this area.” His exclamation of disgust got everyone’s attention, and they watched as he made scrapeing motions at his clothes, which rippled and changed from white, to black, to white again. “Consent, Roman, you little shit.” Remus growled “I’m still your fuckin brother and you do not get to do it to me.” The shape and decoration of the clothing didn’t really change, though the teeth transformed from pearls as he swiped at them. It was still rufflily, sparkly, and accented in silver and green. Only the main color changed. “You son of a bitch!” he whined, and seemingly gave up for a moment. The brilliant fabric made the strip of white in his hair look brighter. Then suddenly he made a tearing gesture, which jerked the entire ensemble back to normal for several seconds. Then it blinked back to white again. “SON OF A BITCH.” he repeated.

“Now, Remus.” Patton started as Logan snorted.

“A classical reference, fantastic.”

“This is binary fuckin’ bullshit he’s got no right to force me into.” Remus snarled, and pushed through to the front of the group. “I’m going to hit him so hard he fuckin’ resets.” He pointed, and even the metal of his mace was a shimmery polished silver. “I’m gettin’ my evil twin label back! If there can be only one, it’s gonna be me, because at least I’m not an asshole about it!” He continued growling a critique of Roman’s creativity “couldn’t even do the subversive white-clad-villan thing, no, had to go classic black armor with gold trim, just so everyone gets the message, ‘this guy will betray you’” Remus stopped and started undoing his belt. “Fuck it, I’ll do this naked-”

“Do not!” Patton yelped. Remus looked at him crossly. “Keep that grumpy-butt in your pants, mister.”

“You’re not the boss of me-” he started

“I am!” Thomas put in. “This is not a clothing optional area!”

Remus looked even more put out.

“... the worst part is you’re probably right. Don’t want my balls pixelated, that itches like hell.”

“Are you sure?” Thomas asked.

“Well, we can check-”

“Noooo!” Thomas waved his hands, and Patton put his hands over his eyes. “I’m just saying if Roman’s trying to be a villain, then-”

Remus snorted and cinched his belt shut again.

“Tommyknocker, it’d take more than a nervous breakdown for Roman’s mind to stop fading to black after kissing. This-” he gestured at the setting “is still Disney Channel. I mean, he might get as far as Adult Swim, but having shorts painted on over my cock and balls still doesn’t sound like a great time. Admit it, you’d hate being a Ken doll.” he reached down and unsubtly rubbed his crotch. “Ah. Still there.”

“Remus.” Janus sighed. “Focus.”

“I’m very focused.” he gave another rub, cackling as everyone found somewhere else to look. Well, except Janus who only made prolonged eye contact.

“We’re going to kill your brother, remember? Secret mission and all that.”

“Right!” He snapped his fingers, and four horses thundered out of nowhere, hides like burnished bronze, wearing bridles that looked more like muzzles, their reins slender, clinking chains. “Watch your fingers, they don’t care that they aren’t carrots.”

“Ponies!” Patton said gleefully. Logan looked at the animals dubiously.

“Must we?” Logan sighed.

“Oh we must, we must!” Remus giggled. “Off to the castle to rescue the princess or some bullshit like that.”

“I can’t ride a horse.” Thomas said nervously. “Can you guys ride horses?”

“Here we can.” Logan said, “Dream ‘logic’.” he said that like it was a dirty phrase. “You should pick one of us to ride with.”

“If you want to try on your own, I can ride with Remus.” Janus offered. “Horses lack subtlety.” He stared at them with vague distaste.

“We can ditch a horse if you wanna get your arms around me DJ.” Remus vaulted into the saddle with an enviable show of athleticism that Thomas was absolutely sure was beyond him. “You know I don’t mind.”

Thomas had been rapidly weighing the pros and cons of Logan verses Patton riding double. He paused in that to watch the oddly glistening figure that was Remus pull Janus up in front of him on the saddle, tucking his arms around the liar and his chin over his shoulder.

If Roman or Virgil had been there, Thomas would have picked one of them instantly, Roman would know what he was doing, and Virgil would have been careful enough to keep him safe. He watched Patton spin in a circle as he tried to mount the horse before finally managing to do it, and went over to Logan. Logan gave him a brief overview of the basic functions of the tack and instructions on how to mount up, holding the horse still so he could before carefully climbing up in front of him.

“Uh, any chance of a riding helmet?” Thomas asked nervously, as he wrapped his arms around Logan.

“Nope! Just keep your arms and limbs inside the ride, Tommyboi.” Remus laughed, and turned his horse down the road, heading towards the castle. The other horses followed without any seeming instruction.

It wasn’t long before the road narrowed and plunged into a dark forest, creepy and overgrown; but Thomas was pretty sure it was lifted directly from Snow White. That was kind of comforting, like Roman’s hand on his shoulder. Thomas hadn’t realized how much he missed talking to his Creativity. It wasn’t always a full manifestation, sometimes just a gentle mumble of a conversation in the back of his brain that a psychologist probably would have a field day with. Of course, then there was this… tightening his grip on Logan a bit he let his mind drift back and felt the cushions of the couch beneath him.

No matter how bad it got, he was lying on his couch with his eyes closed. He could still taste the chips.

He opened his eyes back up to the haunted forest. Then closed them again when a spider the size of his head dropped down from a tree, and Remus 'helpfully’ smashed it like a pinata.

What filled it did not make him happy in the least.

But at least that was the worst that came out of the trees, though he kept thinking he saw something out of the corner of his eyes, moving just out of sight in the dark of the undergrowth.

When Roman had talked about his castle in the imagination, it had been in the middle of a bustling town, full of life and cheerful villagers, each going about the motions of life in a fairy tale. As they approached, they saw that this castle was isolated from the nearby village, perched on a cliff over the sea. It did kind of look like the kind of castle Roman would design, somewhere between Cinderella’s and The Beast’s castles, with the addition of an imposing curtain wall that looked a great deal more realistic. The walls of the castle were still pale, with tile roofs a disturbing blood red, long banners flying from them. It was silhouetted impressively by a setting sun that cast crimson along imposing towering thunderheads that loomed on the horizon.

Logan started complaining about the lack of realism, and Thomas patted his stomach soothingly, where his arms were still wrapped around him.

“I just hope we don’t have to climb up to the top of that tower.” Logan grouched.

“Don’t worry, Logan.” Thomas said. “I’ve been listening to The Adventure Zone in my down time, there’s no way Roman hasn’t installed fantasy elevators.”

“I am not completely sure that’s reassuring. It seems to me that would lack the safety measures important in elevators, and given his current mood, ‘the tower of terror’ seems a more likely inspiration for any lifts.”

“Well, I did feel better but it’s gone now.” Thomas sighed.

Logan coughed.

“Well. There are many elevator-like crane apparatus that were used historically. I don’t see any reason why there might not be a perfectly safe ascension device in there.”

“Thanks.” Thomas mumbled, resting his head on Logan’s shoulder.

“Backslash ‘s’?” Logan asked suspiciously.

“What?” Thomas blinked “No, I’m serious, not sarcasm. You can’t… use that in a verbal conversation, Logan.”

“Darn.” he sighed. “I was hoping for clarity. There’s not room for a lot of that in verbal communication.”

“Most people use tone.”

“That’s hardly universal or quantifiable!”

“Yeah.” Thomas said sympathetically, because sometimes it really was hard to tell when people were joking, even in person, even if he’d known them for years.

“How irritating.”

“Hey, we got a roadblock ahead.” Remus called.

Thomas looked up to see a group of villagers with, yes, pitchforks and torches, blocking the road up to the castle.

“Great.”

“We can run them down?” Remus offered.

“No!” Patton said immediately.

“Well not with that attitude we can’t.” Janus said mildly, leaning back against Remus lazily.

“No!” This time it was Thomas, not Patton. “No one is running anyone down;”

“Unless absolutely necessary.” Janus added. “It would be really efficient if we did.”

“No.” Thomas repeated. “Stop it, snake boi.”

Deceit chuckled, and Logan heaved another sigh.

“Case in point.”

“Let’s just… see what they want?” Thomas suggested. “Logan, can we get closer?” As they approached the road block, a figure who looked vaguely familiar, though Thomas would not have been able to remember their name at a party, stepped forward, farming implement held warily out.

“Are you here to defeat the tyrant and his dread sorcerer?”

“Oh good, Virgil’s here.” Patton said at the back of the party.

“‘Tyrant’.” Remus snorted at the same time.

“We are uh, in fact here to, uhm, deal with them.” Thomas said awkwardly. The crowd started talking among themselves.

Logan sighed. “Improv, Thomas, it’s a basic acting skill you should have a handle on.”

“Hey, my creativity’s a little messed up at the moment.” Thomas poked him in the ribs. “I’m doing my best here.”

“I have faith you can do better.”

Thomas honestly felt a little touched. The spokesperson for the mob spoke up again.

“We have come to the conclusion that you appear to be in a better position to do something than we are. So we are trusting you not to make this worse.” they frowned. “Some of us remember that things were not always like things are now.”

“I can’t make promises, but we will do everything in our power to make things better. It’s not supposed to be like this.” Thomas said with a little bit more confidence.

“If you make it to the castle before the sun goes down, then the gate will still be open.”

Thomas looked over at Remus.

“You know how this works, right? Can we make it?”

“Racing the sunset? Like dramatic bitches? Oh we’ll make it. But just barely.”

“That’s just how it works.” Janus agreed.

“I don’t like the sound of ‘racing the sunset’” Logan grumbled. “You cannot outrun light, and sunset is a measurable and regular phenomenon.”

“Oh, but there’s one thing faster than light, Lo.” Patton offered.

“I don’t believe that anything has been found-”

“Darkness. It’s always there first.”

“That isn’t accurate, it-”

“Well, given that, perhaps you light boys should try to keep up, huh?” Remus called. He’d skirted the crowd, which was pulling back towards the walls of the village. “Drama can only stall for so long.” He dug his heeled boots into the horse’s side and galloped away in a cloud of dust. Patton’s horse startled into movement behind it, and Patton did a credible rendition of a Whilem scream, managing to stay in the saddle.

“I apologize for this, Thomas.” Logan said quietly, as the horse they were riding jolted first into a dash, then a run, galloping after the others. If he’d thought he could have gotten back on his own, Thomas would have fled for the real world almost immediately. He closed his eyes and clung to Logan while the wind tore at his hair like he’d stuck his head out of a moving car.

It was strange, he could almost picture the world around him, the castle looming closer and closer as the horses thundered up the road. The problem was that having his eyes closed made him want to go back to his couch- to not be in the encroaching shadow of an ominous castle.

Thomas forced his eyes open, looking up the road at the looming form of the fairytale castle. His legs and arms hurt from holding on. Ominous red-shaded lamps framed the gate they were approaching without slowing down. If he looked closely, he could see Roman’s emblem on them. They cast enough light to bathe the area as though the sunset was shining right through the castle making the arch of the gate glow.

“Uh Logan?” He said, looking ahead of them. “The gate’s closing!”

“Of course it is.” Logan sighed, exasperation heavy in his voice. “Trust in Roman, Thomas. What will be the most dramatic thing?”

Patton’s horse had pulled ahead, and dashed through the gate, with Remus and Janus hot on his heels. The gate kept closing as they galloped towards it, and Thomas’s heart was screaming as they clattered through to the courtyard, convinced that if he’d tried he could have reached out and touched the closing gates as they passed through. He did yelp as the slam of gates behind them startled the horse they were on into a rear. Logan forced it down, but Thomas could feel himself slipping. Just as the slam of the gate faded, there was a horrible metallic rattling sound, and a portcullis fell over the wooden gates like a mouth snapping shut.

“See?” Laughed Remus “Told you. Drama. Ro’s as predictable as a little golden book.”

The horses snorted and stamped, snapping teeth that were suspectly sharp behind the muzzle-bridles. Logan slid down, steady after only a moment and did his best to hold the horse still so Thomas could slide down.

Thomas did, but his knees went weak and he ended up on the cobbled surface of the courtyard.

“Careful there, Lo-ne braincell.” Remus called. “Don’t want his brains bashed out on the rocks. It’s not like intestines, it’s all attached, can’t re-coil it.”

“I have it under control.” Logan said, sounding only a little strained. “It would be easier if you had summoned less fractious mounts.”

“I gotta be me!”

A hand closed around Thomas’s elbow, helping him back to his feet, and Patton smiled, patting his back. Turning around he saw Remus shooing the horses into a stable that stood to one side, another one of those ominous lamps lighting the entrance.

The courtyard was entirely in the shadow of the castle, which loomed above them, looking dark, even though it was made of white marble. Streaks of red sunlight peeked between the towers, then faded away even as he watched. Lights flickered on in windows seemingly randomly. Very faintly, Thomas could hear the flapping of the banners above them, and the breath of the sides around him.

“There’s no one here.” Logan said, sounding slightly confused.

“What do you mean?” Patton asked. “We’re here.”

“A castle of this size would require staff to run and maintain. But it’s empty.” he paused, then added. “‘Yeet’?”

Thomas turned in a slow circle, taking the courtyard in, and he had to admit, Logan was right. Except for the five of them, the castle was void of all life.

“Sup.”

Thomas yelped.

“Whoa, nostalgia.” Virgil sniggered, from where he stood at the foot of the stairs that led up to the main door of the castle. “I almost missed that.”

“You’re okay!” Thomas started forward, but Patton beat him, dancing back and forth in front of Virgil.

“Hug?!” he asked, rubbing his balled hands together, desperately holding himself back.

“Patton, it hasn’t been that long-” Virgil started. Then he sighed. “Fine. A little one. Because I’m not actually mad at you.”

Patton threw his arms around Virgil and squeezed. Virgil rolled his eyes at Thomas.

“If you want in, you’d better get here before he lets go, because the hug shop is closing after.” Thomas absolutely took the opportunity to hug Virgil. He didn’t usually end up deep enough in the mindscape to touch the sides in the first place, and Virgil hugs were special edition to boot. He pulled away as soon as Virgil patted him between the shoulders, and tugged Patton away as well.

“I am super glad to see you though. We were worried that something was going to happen to you.”

“Nah, I’m fine.”

“Have you found Roman?”

“Yeah.”

“How’s he?”

Virgil made a noncommittal noise.

“He’s Roman. Living the drama, brooding in thunderstorms- there’s been like four since I got here, and I have not been here that long.” They could hear the rumble of thunder in the distance, and a flash of lightning momentarily put the towers into sharp relief instead of disappearing into the gathering darkness.

“Well time is nonlinear here, so that’s not a good indication.” Logan said thoughtfully.

“But you’ve talked to him?” Thomas asked

“Yeah.”

“Can you take us to him?”

“I don’t think he wants to talk to you.” he said it to Patton, but he was looking at Janus and Remus. “but, not gonna lie, that is objectively hilarious.” Virgil said and pointed at Janus.

“What?”

Virgil tapped his head, and then like a switch everyone noticed. At some point Janus’s hat had turned white, and no one had noticed. He stepped behind Remus, took it off and stared at it.

“Is nothing sacred?” Janus grumbled petulantly.

“It’s okay, DJ. I’m gonna get him good.” Remus said, and kissed the top of the liar’s head before the now snowy white hat was returned.

“It’s fine. It’s not a big deal.” Janus lied smoothly. Hiding behind Remus had done nothing but call attention to himself, he realized as he stepped out.

“I didn’t think you really wanted to be a ‘white hat’” Virgil smirked.

“While I didn’t choose the villainous style, it ‘chose me’,” Janus adjusted his gloves. “I am somewhat attached to the aesthetic at this point. You, after all haven’t completely abandoned your dark persona. I don’t see why I should.”

Virgil just scowled at him.

“Maybe because you are, in fact, evil?”

“Are you really the one to make that call?” Janus asked, raising his eyebrows. “Judge not, lest thee be judged?”

“Virge? Is Roman really trying to be a villain?” Thomas asked. Virgil continued to glare at Janus.

“I guess? He’s got the look down, but.” he shrugged, playing with the edges of his sleeves. “Well, he hasn’t had anyone to be villainous at.”

“What about the village?” Patton asked. “They seemed pretty spooked.”

“It’s their job to be spooked.” Virgil waved a dismissive hand. “He tried to terrorize me a bit, but not going to lie, it didn’t have the kind of bite I was used to back when he actually tried to kill me.”

“Wait, he actually tried to kill you?” Thomas said, aghast.

“Yeah, that’s what the sword was for.” Virgil looked a bit confused. “How could you not know this?”

“Ro-bro’s just as violent as I am.” Remus volunteered. “He’s just got a Pop-up blocker.”

“That sounds super weird, but that is a dad nickname and kind of a funny image.” Patton allowed. “What he means is I always tried to get him to stop trying to hurt them and just stick to… chasing them away.”

“Also Patton had for a while the opposite of Remus’s effect on the area around him. Any damage got negated to a sort of cartoon bandage immediately.” Logan said thoughtfully. “The lack of realism was… unsettling.”

Patton rubbed the back of his neck sheepishly.

“And of course, our dear Prince was never very good at taking direction in the first place, so we could compare scars all day if we were so inclined.” Janus waved a hand dismissing it.

“I have no idea what goes on in my head.” Thomas breathed. Remus cackled and opened his mouth. One of Janus’ hands slapped over it.

“A thought to explore at another time, or better yet, forget.”

Thomas had to admit that was probably a good idea.

“So Roman’s okay?” he asked Virgil. “Just upset?”

“I think he’s a little more than ‘just upset’’” Virgil frowned, looking at his feet. “He feels betrayed, hurt, lost and scared, among other things. Which makes him feel bad, and bad is evil apparently.”

“Sounds like you’re the right person to help him deal with all that.”

Virgil snorted. “It is kind of my specialty.”

“But I’m really worried about him, so…” Thomas gestured, “Can we see him?

“Yeah well,” Virgil put his hands in his pockets, and looked away from them. “What if I agree with him?”

“What?”

“Not about the villain thing, that’s just him being royal the only way he can, a royal pain in the ass of a drama king.” Virgil glowered at Janus who just shifted in place, keeping his face neutral. “I warned you, over and over. Not to trust them. You trust me to keep you safe. You accepted that’s what I wanted, and it is, and I’m trying to do it. Trying keep you safe from them.” he gestured to the other dark sides. “And YOU’RE NOT LISTENING.” For a moment the shadows around him came alive. He took a deep breath and shook his head. “Why?”

“What makes you so special, Virgil?” Janus said. “Not that I want a full family welcome, I don’t mind staying in the background. But why shouldn’t I want what you have?” he gritted his teeth and hissed slightly, smoothing down the front of his jacket. “I’m sorry. I led you astray and I hurt you, and the only excuse I had was that I thought I was doing the right thing at the time.” He took a step forward and gestured between them. “I can’t help what I am. What Thomas makes of me. But I still only want what’s best for him. And if the best way to get that is…” his face twisted “Honesty, then I’ll give that a shot.”

“Why should I believe that? Why should any of us believe anything you say?”

Janus’s nostrils flared and he rocked back.

“It’s a close thing, Virgil, but you’re normally more rational than Roman. So let me ask you simply- is there anything I could do to convince you of my sincerity?”

Virgil’s eyes flicked up to the side.

“No.”

“I see.” Janus’s nostrils flared again, and he sighed. “... nothing for it I suppose.” stretching out his hand towards the floor, the hooked black staff they’d seen before appeared. Virgil took a step backwards one hand going behind his back, and his body stiffened as Janus twisted the hook to the left and slid loose a few inches of blade.

“Jeezy creezy.” Thomas said quietly. “Has that always been there?”

Janus turned the staff and held it, crook and exposed blade towards Virgil. Virgil stared at it for a long moment, eyes flicking back up to Janus.

“Go on. Take it.”

Virgil reached out with his right hand, keeping his left behind his back, and wrapped his hand around the handle, drawing the rest of the blade out of the staff. It was shorter than Roman’s blade, and completely straight. The rest of the staff dropped, bounced once on the floor and disappeared.

“If I can’t convince you, we can’t work together for the good of Thomas. Which, believe it or not, is all I want.” He took a step forward, holding the blade between two gloved fingers, and setting the point against his throat, right above the dip of his collar. “Because we lack trust.”

“Fuck Dee-” Virgil said, arm trembling, he stepped back, and Janus stepped forward, maintaining the contact. “I could kill you-”

“Yes. That’s the point.”

“No the point is I can’t trust you, not that you don’t trust me-” His arm was shaking more. “This doesn’t prove shit!”

“Trust has to start somewhere.” Even though his fingers could have hardly stopped the blade if Virgil had chosen to thrust, Janus still dropped his hand. He took a deep breath, and the point dug into his skin, just a bit. No one said anything, just staring at the standoff. Even though he was trembling, Virgil didn’t lower his arm either. He glared out from between his bangs and eyebags. “I’m sorry.” he repeated, so quiet that Virgil might have missed it if he wasn’t looking at his face.

“YOU CAN’T JUST SAY THAT.” his voice crackled.

“I don’t know what else I can say.”

“You didn’t do anything wrong.” the volume was low but it still crackled when he spoke, and Virgil grimaced, drawing a deep breath.

“Now that’s just completely untrue.” Janus said mildly, like he didn’t have a blade to his throat.

“I hate you because I’m scared, okay? Personal scared, not anxiety scared.” Virgil’s arm flexed, and Janus tipped his head just bit to breathe better, not removing the blade from his skin. “And I… I wanted you to fight for me. But you just said that if it served me better to go to the ‘light’ side, I should do it. That I wasn’t needed in the dark.”

“I said.” Janus breathed. “That you didn’t need to be dark.”

Virgil moved the blade- making everyone breathe a sigh of relief, though that didn’t last long as he gestured wildly with it.

“And then I was afraid that if I didn’t hate you, like the lights hated us, then they’d hate me, and no matter what I’d get pushed away, and then I’d have nowhere to be. I’d live in exile in the figment suburb and no one would talk to me ever again. Which sounds pretty good when you first say it, but not at all if you actually picture it.” he dragged his free hand down his face.

Patton shifted uncomfortably, looking guilty and kept glancing over at Logan, who just looked like he was facing a word puzzle with one too few pieces.

“I’m scared that I’m going to lose what I have now, because I was a dark side. Because I still am, even if I’m trying to do the right thing, I’m bad at it. I’m scared of what’s going to happen next, if you’re going to be around. And it is so easy” he bared his teeth, and it was definitely not a smile, the canines too pronounced and all of his teeth sharper than Thomas’s. “To go from scared to angry. And to get so angry I only could hate you. It’s not like you make yourself easy to like.” he added.

“And hate leads to suffering.” Logan supplied. They all stared at him. “What? ‘Fear leads to anger, anger leads to hate, and hate leads to suffering.’ It’s the path to the dark side. Star Wars. Yoda.”

“Or away from the dark side, in this case.” Remus snorted.

“Okay, you’re a nerd, but not wrong.” Virgil allowed. “I’ve definitely been suffering. And it’s stupid. Because if you’re accepted, all of you, knowing what you are, then what did I hide for? Does my suffering even matter? I thought… I was special. Just for a little. That I could make that jump.”

“Virgil, I am very sorry but I am going to hug you really hard unless you tell me not to before I get there-”

“Patton, wha-”

Patton crashed into Virgil, and wrapped his arms around him. “You were, and are always special.” he said forcefully “I am so, so sorry Virgil. I’m sorry I ever made you feel like that.”

“It wasn’t… it wasn't just you, Pat.” Virgil mumbled, not pulling away. Falling from his hand, the blade from Janus’s staff hit the floor and disappeared.

“No but. I’m responsible. Everybody listens to me more, because Thomas feels things so strongly, so I need to be more careful what I say. It’s not enough to be silly and fun. I can hurt people without meaning to, or with the best intentions. But I still hurt them. And I have to take responsibility for that. Like a real grown up, not just playing pretend.”

“Hey, don’t get too grown up.” Thomas protested. “I mean, I could do without the enthusiastic moral dilemmas, but I like you the way you are, Pat.” He switched his focus. “And that goes for you too, Virgil. You can be hard to take, but I’ve gotten used to it. It’s… actually a lot easier for me to deal with anxiety, when I have a face to put to it, especially a friendly one.”

Virgil raised a skeptical eyebrow.

“Friendly?”

“Gah don’t just… do that thing.” Thomas gave a little shudder. “Yes, friendly. You’re a friend. You’re my friend. Not just my anxiety.”

Virgil sighed, and let his head drop to Patton’s shoulder. Patton hugged him a little harder.

“Roman needed a friend pretty badly. I just… I got it, you know? Sometimes you just get caught up in what you don’t want to be, so you just go in the opposite direction no matter what.” He straightened up and pulled away. Patton let him go and stepped back himself. “I don’t think I’ve been the best friend lately.”

“No, you’ve been fine-” Thomas started to object.

“Not just to you. I’ve said some… shit.” his eyes skittered over Janus and Remus, focusing on Logan. “Logan- I… I’m sorry. You may not be easy to deal with, but you definitely had my back, and I lashed out at you. I do that a lot.”

“Shortness of temper is a common symptom of anxiety disorders.” Logan said dismissively, hiding behind his stoic shield.

“See- like that. Fuck.” He pushed his bangs back. “Let me apologize for lashing out at you, while we’re having this giant stupid sorry circle, okay?”

“Thank you. But you don’t need to apologize. I am above petty emotions. I’m just glad you’re aware of the problem now.”

Behind Logan’s back, Janus mockingly flapped his hand like he was working a puppet, rolling his eyes, as a forked tongue flicked out in a brief blep. Everyone understood, and no one said anything. They could deal with Logan’s issues another day.

“Sure, let’s go with that.” Virgil sighed. “I’ll try and stay aware of it.”

“That’s all I can hope for.” he paused, and looked downward. “For what it is worth… I accept your apology, Virgil.”

The corner of Virgil’s mouth came up, an affectionate little smile.

“Thanks.”

“Yay sharing is caring just like syphilis.” Remus rolled his eyes so hard Thomas almost expected to see them leave his head. “Hey, Virgilicous, just so you know; I mean I know this was a whole big drama-boy bullshit? But if you’d slit his throat, you’d follow him down.” Remus said in a purely conversational tone. “That being said, can we just” he made walking motions with his fingers. “Get on with our audience with his royal pain-in-the-ass?”

“I’m sorry your dis-grace did you have someplace to be?” he sneered.

“I got places I’d rather be, including an actual midden, not just an emotional one.”

Virgil heaved a big sigh, and looked at Thomas, Logan and Patton.

“Do you think it’ll help?” he asked, looking a bit lost.

“I have to try.” Thomas answered. “If he’s hurting, I have to try to do something. I wasn’t in a great place to see how he felt when it happened. But I can’t just let him-”

“Fester.” put in Remus.

“...well… yeah, I guess.”

“I’m helping.” Remus said cheerfully to Janus and Logan who shared an exasperated look.

“He is hurting.” Virgil said quietly. “Fine. This way.” He turned and headed up the steps, pushing the huge doors at the top open with both hands. They left the dimly lit courtyard, the sky too overcast to show any early stars or moon, and followed him into the castle proper.

Within a few steps, the faint light from the few lamps in the courtyard was gone. Somehow they could still make out Virgil’s outline, faintly visible in a nimbus of violet light that illuminated nothing.

“Remus, do you think you could provide a little light?” Logan’s voice came. “I’d rather not collide with any furniture.”

“Sure, Doc Dork. I think I can do that right now.” There was a noise more like a crack than a snap, and candelabras sprung to life one after another along the edge of the entry hall, burning faintly green.

“Ow!” Patton yelped, squinting a bit at the sudden light. Now illuminated, there was still a bit of resemblance to the Beast’s castle, though less worn down. The polished floor sparkled a little like there were pieces of mica embedded in the dark marble. Despite Logan’s concerns there wasn’t much furniture at all, a few end tables between closed doors holding decorative objects.

The entry hall was easily two stories high, ceiling decorated painted panels, between them the columns were topped with either gargoyle-like angels, or angel-like gargoyles. Remus peered at them crossly, and Thomas had to look away as too many eyes looked back at him. At the end of the entry hall was a wide staircase, softened by a scarlet velvet runner rug, edged in gold, and pooling at the foot of the stairs, inviting like an inverted arrow. There was a landing, about a story up, and two flights of stairs that went in opposite directions to a gallery around the edge of the hall, and presumably off to other wings.

There was a portrait at the head of the stairway, larger than life, and framed by two sconces that illuminated it, displaying Roman in all his ‘evil’ persona’s glory. A black fitted, tailed coat, dripping with golden embroidery and frogging, with red cuffs also covered in gold work, black gloves, of course, red epaulets with golden fringe, apparently holding up a flowing red cape, black leather boots up to the thigh where they were cuffed in gold with red embroidery. Red pants so tight they might as well have been leggings were tucked into them. His hair had been swept back, and he wore red eye makeup. Earrings dangled from each lobe, such a dark red they looked almost black. A broach of his crest centered at the base of his throat, somehow looking ominous while being unchanged.

“Damn.” Janus said softly, admiringly. Remus gave him an offended look. “What? It’s an effective outfit!” He tapped his fingers against his chin thoughtfully. “A bit stuffed I think.”

“Do you think?” Logan asked. “I assumed it was a dancer’s belt.”

“They do have that effect don’t they?”

“I can’t believe I kept my clothes on for this.” grumbled Remus.

“Are you guys coming or not?” Virgil asked from the landing beneath the portrait.

“Virgil, what are you wearing?” Thomas asked suddenly. When they’d been talking in the courtyard, Virgil was dressed as he normally was; now he was distinctly not.

Looking down at the black and silver uniform that might have very well come off an extra in the black parade, but for an added hood and a few purple plaid patches, Virgil sighed. “Atmosphere.”

“And lipstick.”

He shrugged. “I did that part. I’m working on compromises remember? He asked if I was staying and if I’d … join in.” He smirked a bit. “You can’t honestly think that I’m going to be completely against a little drama?”

“So whose side are you on?” Patton asked, suddenly concerned.

“Thomas’s.” he tapped the toe of his boot against the stone floor. “Who else?”

"Oh. That's ok then." he smiled, and hopped up the stairs towards Virgil. Thomas took another moment staring at the portrait, then followed. He ran the last time he’d actually seen and spoken to Roman over in his head, trying to think of what he was going to say. What could he say? What was Roman going to say?

Leading them down a hallway, Virgil glanced back at him.

“Breathe. In and out, Thomas. You’ve been doing it your whole life.”

“Is it going to be okay?” Thomas asked.

“I am not the person you should be asking.” Virgil shook his head, and led them up another flight of stairs, spiraling around a center column, carved with thorny roses. Behind him, he heard Janus hiss softly.

“The cape too?”

“It’s gettin’ flipping worse.” Remus growled. “F*ck.”

“I have never heard you make that noise with your mouth.” Logan said, a bit surprised.

“Really what have you heard him make that noise with?” Patton asked. He yelped and clapped his hands over his ears as Remus let out a torrent of expletives, some balderized, some bleeped, and some making it through.

“Patton please, you’re embarrassing yourself.” Logan groaned. “I’ve heard you swear when you sneeze too loudly.”

“Can’t hear you.” Patton retorted. “My ears are covered.”

“Keep it down.” Virgil snapped. Then he actually did snap, and Remus choked, unable to breathe or speak. It only lasted for a moment, but that was long enough for Janus to stare at Virgil. Virgil glared back, and flicked his fingers. Remus wheezed in a breath.

“The dread sorcerer I see.” Janus muttered.

“Whooo boy.” Remus croaked. “Missed that, kinky boots.”

“Just... give me a second okay?” Virgil stopped in front of a set of french doors that plainly led out to a balcony. “You don’t want to surprise Roman right now.”

The doors opened to a broad balcony that faced out over the ocean. Storm clouds danced in the distance, but now they could see the moon glowing through the clouds above them, a misty gray light. Against the railing stood a figure in a long cloak, the light turning the crimson to a rich garnet. He tipped his head as Virgil’s boots made noise while he crossed the stone, but didn’t turn around.

“Hey, Princy. You’ve got guests.” Virgil said quietly once he was only an arm’s length behind him.

“I don’t want to see anyone else.” Roman grumbled. Virgil took the last couple steps forward and nudged him gently with his elbow.

“You knew this was coming.”

“Why did you bring them here?” Roman demanded.

“Thomas.” Virgil said like it was a full explanation. Roman drew in a sharp breath through his nose, glancing over his shoulder, and seeing Thomas in the center of the group standing just outside the door, staring at him.

“Ah. Yes.” Raising a gloved hand he stroked Virgil’s cheek, cupping it momentarily. “It’s been fun while it lasted.”

Virgil gave a near invisible huff of laughter, nodding and Roman dropped his hand, turning to face them, and moved forward exactly far enough that his cloak could billow dramatically behind him. Virgil stayed slightly behind him and to the left, leaning back on the railing for a moment before jerking forward, glancing over it and taking a nervous step or two away from it.

There was a long pause in which no one spoke, and the only sounds were the cracking of the pennants on the tower, the rustle of his cape, the faint crash of the ocean far below and the thunder and lightning in the distance.

Roman’s eyes flicked over each of them in turn, coming to rest on Thomas last. Thomas wondered if it was in his head; but the skin around Roman’s eyes looked puffy, and his eyes red, like he’d spent a long time crying. Of course, with the lighting it was hard to tell for sure.

Thomas took a deep breath. Nothing he’d thought of to say on the way here seemed right. Roman deserved his best effort.

“Roman-” Thomas started, but Roman talked over him.

“So this is it, come to defeat the villain in his own castle? I’m so glad;” Roman sneered. “That I could bring you all together like this.”

“Hey have you done anything villainous besides being an a$$hole?” Remus asked curiously.

“Uhm Roman, Buddy?” Patton said “I don’t like swearing either, but could you ease up on whatever’s making his mouth do that?”

“Oh? Am I to stop playing nice at all?” Roman demanded. He took a half step back and his hand flexed at his side, a sheathed sword appearing in it. “Because I can certainly do that.”

“We’re not here to fight!” Patton protested. “Roman please, we just- we miss you.”

“Clearly.” he sneered, looking at his brother.

“Hey, don’t look at me, dope-face. I miss you all the time. Sometimes even on purpose.” he grinned and tucked his hands behind his head.

“Given the company you’re choosing to keep, I can’t help but feel perhaps you don’t miss me that badly.” He flicked his wrist at them dismissively. “So lovely that you visited, please get out. I have no interest in playing an outdated role that isn’t wanted anyway.” There was a sharp crack of lighting briefly illuminating the balcony. The sky hissed softly as rain started to fall, hard and nearly blinding. Roman turned away to face the sea.

“Now wait a gosh-darn minute!” Patton protested, barely audible above the rain. “We came all this way to talk to you and you’re not giving us a chance!”

Virgil raised his hand palm up and a cloud of purple and black glowing magic expanded from it, creating a near invisible shield and shunting the rain off of them. Roman looked at him and Virgil just shrugged. Flicking wet hair back from his face, Roman turned back.

“Don’t we deserve a chance to try and rescue the prince?!” Patton continued.

“Rescue from what? A growing awareness that I’m as unwanted as a parasite and a tumor?” He gestured at Remus and Deceit. Janus was delicately flicking water off an umbrella that he had conjured and held over Thomas’s head. Remus frankly looked thrilled at the comparison.

“Oooh which one am I? Am I the tumor? I hope I am.” He bounced in place, not minding how the rain had plastered his hair down. The white of his adulterated costume glistened, each raindrop turning crystalline and sparkling in the dim light. “Tumors are fascinating! Did you know that the average person actually gets a cancerous tumor several times in their life, and their body just-” he made a chomping motion with his hand. “Eats it back up? Oooh! Bro, you should have eaten me in the womb!”

“Remus.” Logan said. “Focus. Also we were never in wombs, unless you count Thomas's forming fetus as our genesis as well, rather than counting our creation from the development of his mind-”

“Logan.” Thomas managed pinching the bridge of his nose. “Not now.”

“Well, what if we got a giant like, whale bladder, and stuffed me and Roman into it- or we could just make a fleshy sack big enough to-”

“Look, I would much rather go back to what I was doing before you got here.” Roman interrupted. “Virgil’s been showing me some wonderfully dramatic music.”

“Well, welcome to the black parade, bro.” Remus snorted. “Congrats on reaching PG-13.” Virgil flipped Remus off, but Remus ignored it. “I didn’t bring a cake to jump out of so I’m going to force feed you this angsty bullhockey until you choke on it.” he grinned, teeth white and sharp “and once you’ve puked it all back out, I’m gonna rub your nose in it.” He flourished his wrist and his mace appeared in it. “Sound good?”

This time the twins came together and clashed before anyone could say anything.

“Just go away!” Roman yelled, blocking the blow aimed at his head. Remus dropped and aimed the second blow at Roman’s legs, only to get kicked in the head as Roman leapt over it. “I’ve given up! Take it! You wanted attention, and it’s yours!”

“You don’t get to decide what I want! I want lots of things!” Remus spat back. Roman’s blade lashed out and a curl of hair fell “Mostly, I want things to go back to normal. Boring is more fun to <quack> with.”

“We just want you back, Roman!” Patton insisted from the sidelines, wringing his hands.

“Your input is valuable in Thomas’s chosen career.” Logan offered. “Remus is not suited to it.”

“It’s true, I’m not.” Remus laughed. “But there’s always Onlyfans.”

“My butt is not getting on camera thanks, there’s a reason we’re shot from the waist up.”

“Your butt is fabulous and worthy of attention!” Roman snapped without thinking about it, pointing at Thomas.

“Quite the ass-et.” Agreed Remus.

“Oh shut up.” Roman kicked hard and Remus, not expecting it, went down with a squeak like a breaking dog toy.

“Roman what the fuck.” Thomas breathed.

“There! See! I can be a villain, I did something villainous and low and unchivalrous!” Roman shouted.

“You’re a diuck is what you are.” Choked Remus, voice strangled a bit. “Why is it only me!?”

“Heroes don’t swear.” Roman said.

“I’m not a motherfather hero!” Remus countered. “You can’t just force people to be what you think they should be to fit your narrative, like you’ve always done.”

“Shut up!”

“You’re still doing it! Just because you’ve flipped the script doesn’t mean you’re not still forcing people to play your game.”

“I said shut up!” he took a baseball swing with his sword as Remus got to his feet, and sent his brother careening back across the balcony, colliding with Logan, who hit the wall with Remus on top of him.

“This Is my life now.” Logan groaned out of breath. “Rationality being crushed under intrusive thoughts.”

“I like it.” Remus retorted, equally as breathless. “You okay teach?”

“I am very resilient.”

“I know.” it was a leer, but Remus didn’t get back to his feet just yet.

Roman looked momentarily horrified at what he’d done, then shook his head, fixing his ‘villain’ sneer in place.

“I’ve made my point. Leave.”

Once again, Thomas tried to gather his thoughts. This was all going wrong and he hadn’t even opened his mouth.

Janus sighed.

“I prompted this response, I should try and fix it.” He stepped forward, for a moment getting between Thomas and Roman, as he continued to walk towards him.

“I’m not interested in your honey-thick words, Deceit.” Roman spat. “Take your victory and go.”

“A pyrrhic victory is no kind of win to my mind. Roman-”

“Oh shut up, you’ve done nothing but lie since you slithered out of the subconscious.” He pointed his blade directly at the other Side.

“On the contrary, I haven’t lied since I arrived in your castle.”

Roman scoffed.

“A likely story.”

“Like I said, my efforts have resulted in this- role reversal passion play, and that was nowhere near my intent. I want what’s best for Thomas, and this is not it. He needs his hero, Roman. He needs you.”

“Why should I believe anything you say? Including your claim that you haven’t lied.”

“You won’t trust me if I lie, and you won’t believe me if I tell the truth.” Janus gestured expansively. “You can see how that puts me in a box.”

“Maybe I should put you in a literal box.” Roman growled. He took another step towards Janus, who held his ground.

“Terribly sorry, but Remus put in his dibs for fighting you, and I would hate to disappoint him. You can threaten to kill me later, I promise.” He tipped his head and snorted, giving a near smile. “I…” he grimaced. “I apologize for lashing out. I of all people know even at your cruelest, you aren’t like your brother.”

“Thank Thomas.” Remus said, finally getting to his feet.

“Our relationship has been very rocky, mostly because I have never really trusted you either.”

“Oh that’s rich.” Roman said flatly, but his sword lowered. “Why wouldn’t you trust me? I’m a Prince! Honor and loyalty are my thing.” he didn’t even seem to realize he was talking in the present tense.

“And what’s another thing that goes with those words, Roman? Duty.”

“Pfft.” Remus giggled. Janus paused, looking momentarily pained, before smoothing his expression out again.

“Do you remember the courtroom? I made you judge because of those reasons, and that was my mistake. When you gave your verdict, Roman, you interrupted me.”

“Should I care?”

“Well, it was rude, but by doing that, I never actually managed to make my point.” He shifted in place that little back and forth sway of his. “The point was never the trial. It was supposed to be ridiculous. It was supposed to be pointless. There was never supposed to be a verdict, and I’m sorry for setting you up to make that decision on your own.” He made a small noise of disgust. “I am thoroughly sick of saying sorry.”

“You get used to it.” Patton sighed.

Janus made another sound of disgust.

"So what was the point?" Roman demanded. "Why set up a pointless kangaroo court?"

"Ooh that sounds adorable." Patton breathed.

"They'll drown a bitch" Remus supplied.

"The point was to show how silly the debate of if Thomas is good or not was. Thomas is good;" he dipped the first two fingers of each hand "because he chooses to act in ways he considers good." Again the finger quotes. "Even if he chooses the best good for him as opposed to the best good for the most people, he remains good. However, the idea is stuck in his head that only when he chooses good for others is it possible to be Good. It's an entirely emotional appeal-"

"Appeal!" Patton exclaimed “That's more lawyer language!"

Janus pinched the bridge of his nose and sighed.

"Yes, Patton, but you don't appeal when you win, even if that wasn't the point. But that was why Logan had to be kept out of it. He's too much of a focused problem solver. If he’d been properly involved he would have seen through the facade, even though the actual meat of the matter had to do with emotions which he eschews.”

“I’ll take an apology for that any time.” Logan said mildly.

“We’ll get to your issues later, Logan.” Janus said. “Do stuff your emotions back into the box you’ve allotted them for the moment.”

“I don’t want to be in a box.” Muttered Patton quietly.

Roman shook his head, slowly, then with more force.

“You were right about one thing.”

Janus cocked his head.

“I can’t trust anything you say. You’ve indulged in your theatre, good job-” he applauded sarcastically. “I hope you feel better, trotting out placating little falsehoods as is your wont. But get out. All of you-” he paused. “Not you Virgil, you can stay.”

“Cool.”

“But if I wanted to see any of you, I would have. Take a hint.” he pointed at the door behind them. “Don’t make me use force.” There was a well timed growl of thunder, followed by a flash of lightning which back lit him impressively. “You don’t want me, you don’t need me, and I don’t need any of you.”

“No.” Thomas said firmly.

Roman started, as if he’d forgotten Thomas was there at all. His aggressive posture faltered a bit.

“No?”

“No. You’re my Creativity. My Prince. My Hero. My Roman.” he took a step forward with each title. “I don’t want anyone else.” Reaching out, he put his hands on either side of Roman’s face, cradling it. Very faintly he felt Roman shiver under his touch. “Come back. We need to talk, and I was too messed up in my own problems to remember that you can each get messed up in your own ways. You always help me; and I need to remember to help you.”

“That’s… it doesn’t work like that.” Roman protested. “We’re here for you. It… it’s not meant to be two ways.”

The other Sides all looked away. That was more than anyone wanted to admit. They wanted Thomas’s attention, craved it. But it was true. They were there to support him, not be supported.

“Well maybe it should be.” Thomas tugged gently on Roman, and he came, folding against Thomas, melting into the hug.

“Just so we’re all on the same page, if they start fucking, we’re all gonna keep watching, right?”

“That is the complete opposite of the truth, Remus.” Janus sighed, sounding exhausted.

“I’d watch.” Remus supplied.

“I know.”

“If you order me to do it, I’ll come back.” Roman sounded choked, face pressed to Thomas’s shoulder.

“I don’t want to order you,” Thomas responded. “I want you to want to come back, as much as I want you back. I want you, I need you, I love you. And if this is what you are now, I’ll take it.”

“No.” Roman gave a bitter little laugh and shook his head where it was pressed to Thomas’s shoulder. “I’m not… I’m not good at being a villain. It’s hard.”

“That’s half the fu-” Remus’ breath wheezed out of him in the same moment one of Janus’s hands clapped over his mouth. Virgil and Janus met each other's eyes for a moment, then looked away.

“I just don’t understand.” Roman’s gloved hands clutched at the back of Thomas’s shirt. “Why does everything have to change so much? Why does it hurt?”

“I don’t know either.” Thomas admitted. “But it’s better when you have people you love with you.”

Roman gave another shuddering gasp.

“I want to be there for you. But I don’t know what I’m supposed to do anymore.”

“Then finding out should be an adventure.” Thomas offered. Roman gave a wet laugh.

“I remember. Before when the world was all adventure, and failure was just another kind of adventure.”

Across the balcony, Remus shuddered, squeezing his eyes shut, and sympathetic tears leaking as Roman lost himself in memory and he synched with it. He clutched at his own arms, and then relaxed as Janus wrapped himself around the Duke. It wasn’t the same, but in the end, it was all Remus had ever had.

He watched Thomas and Roman over Janus’s shoulder, as their clothes faded back to their normal black, and the storm raging around them passed on, leaving a bright, full moon high in the sky to pop through the clouds, and then stars shining brightly as the last of the storm winds tore the clouds apart and cleared the sky.

Their placement on the balcony, and the lack of lights in the castle made it seem like they were floating in a star filled sky. Logan filled his eyes with it, looking anywhere but the emotional displays. Patton sidled up beside him and took his hand.

“I’m sorry I hurt you.” Thomas murmured in Roman’s ear, still holding him, there were tears in his eyes.

“I’ll forgive you, I’ll always forgive you.” Roman returned. “But I still hurt.”

“Then we can only learn from the pain.” Thomas closed his eyes. “But never doubt what you mean to me.”

When he opened his eyes again, they were back in his living room, and Roman was no longer in his arms, instead standing in his usual spot in front of the TV. He still wore the dramatic gold-adorned costume, though the coat was now white, and his hands were bare. He rubbed at the edge of one eye, still red from emotion, and a bit of smeared makeup.

“I must look a mess.” he sniffed.

“I just want to be clear, are you concerned about your appearance, or are you ‘trawling for praise’?” Logan asked. “Either way, while it might take some time to get used to your attire, you are as handsome as ever.”

Roman looked surprised, and a little touched.

“Really? Do you think I should keep it?” he twirled his cape.

“You can if you want, but I’m sticking in my comfort zone.” Virgil said, back in his normal attire and placement. “But I’m glad you’re back where you belong, Princey.”

“I still want to hear that music, Lilac Park.”

“Normally I’m not about trying new things, but sure.” Virgil gave a little smile. Thomas relaxed minutely. He’d had more than enough adventure for one day. A moment later, Patton popped up. His eyes were wet too.

“I’m so glad you’re back with us Roman.” he said. “I was setting up a welcome home meal real quick. It’ll be ready for us when we get there.” he glanced over to Thomas. “Uhm, you can join us but-”

“I think I’m just gonna order a pizza and crash.” Thomas assured him. “I mean, I’m always with you guys, the same way you’re with me. But I think I’ve had enough Mindscape adventures for the day. Maybe the month.” he added. “Roman, if you ever feel like that again, just… know you can trust me, okay?”

“I’ll keep that in mind.” he nodded, and looked over. Half hidden in the shadows on the stairs to Virgil’s left were his brother and Janus, Janus sitting on the step behind him with his arms around his neck still. Roman took a deep breath. “... Janus?”

The other Side startled, tipping the scaled side of his face in Roman’s direction, eyes wide.

“I’m sorry. For making fun of your name.”

“It’s alright Roman.” Janus airily answered. “It’s not like it actually hurt me or anything. I don’t know what I expected.”

“You should have expected it, because I’m terrible to you. Even before I coined the term ‘Dark Sides’.”

“Fuckin’ right.” Remus muttered, still looking a bit spaced out.

“So… I’ll do my best if you will.”

“Are you sure you want to make a deal with a snake in the grass?” Janus retorted.

“No. But I will.”

Janus smiled suddenly and unconsciously.

“Well, I’ll do my best not to abuse that trust then.”

“Let’s not get ahead of ourselves.”

Janus laughed at that.

“Fine.” He gave a nod.

“I’m gonna sleep for a week.” Remus groused. “I had to be fuckin’ serious and focused. Work sucks, I’m going to go back to just throwing random impulses. Smell you later.” He and Janus both vanished.

“We’re much more likely to smell him first.” Logan commented. “Get some rest Thomas. We’ll reschedule your brainstorming for another day.”

“Yeah. See you.”

One by one the Sides sunk down, leaving him alone. He threw himself backwards into the embrace of his sofa. Somehow he felt better, like a he’d been missing something he didn’t realize, and now it was back.

“Peace out.” Thomas muttered to himself, and gave a small laugh, hugging himself.

#willow is writing #Sanders Sides Fic #TS Thomas #TS Logan #TS Patton #TS Janus #TS Remus #TS Virgil #TS Roman

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soggybensolo · 5 years

Text

Sweet Little Lies

CHAPTER ONE

Over All Summary: Reader is a princess taken from her homeworld after a deal with the first order went sideways. a reborn young man by the name of Kylo Ren ( her captor) had taken it upon himself to train the princess- who believes to be a force wielder- in the only way he knows how. she must endure the many trials he had to face in his awakening to the dark side. things over time eventually change when the princess develops a small sense of Stockholm and Kylo Delusions of grandeur. together they form a bond of codependency… UNTIL something happens that splits the two forever.

<INTRO

WARNING: DEPICTION VIOLENCE/ABUSE. PLEASE READ AUTHORS NOTE FOR FUTURE WARNINGS.

A/N: if you are uncomfortable with abuse and or uncomfortable with the ideas of NONCON, manipulation, or death please do not bother reading this. don’t waste your time. this is a work of fiction and does not depict my views.

slow burn.

There was a muffled rattling sound and slight vibration in the floor. (y/n) had her eyes closed, she was too scared to open them. She had not seen sunlight since taken from Taigawa. She had no idea where she was or what she was being held in. As soon as she was brought onto the ship she was knocked out cold. The Jedi killer was taking precautions, he didn't want to risk accidentally killing (y/n). He had put her limp body in a cage used for rare animals and covered the cage with a thick heavy material. It was cruel and unusual, but he didn't care. Neither did his other comrades. He didn't get to where he was by being polite and thoughtful. He was none other than Kylo Ren, a wild card in Snoke’s deck and the best damn killer to bet money on. Kylo had a personal agenda to stick to. His job was to find the force user, present them to Snoke, and be praised for it. If he was going to live up to his expectations then he would have to put forth a hard effort and stop at nothing. He wasn't scared of dying and he wasn't scared of battle. Kylo Ren was jaded to emotions. The only thing he ever felt was anger and nothing else. Kylo had trained himself to be mind over matter. If he was hungry, he would think of food and he was full. If he were tired, he'd talk himself out of sleep and would build up energy by using the force. He was one step from being a complete sociopath.

As the cage (y/n) was in came to a stop, she held her breath. She could hear two voices, one she had already heard before and the other she hadn't. When the voices had stopped, (y/n) opened one eye but still saw nothing. Then, all at once her cage was filled with light. The fabric covering her cage had been pulled off, and she quickly sat up. There was a throne in front of her and sitting in it was a very tall humanoid alien male. His skin was sickly pale and his eyes were a piercing pale blue color. It was the Supreme leader of the first order and current master to Kylo Ren. He rose to his feet hastily and hunched over. A deep unsettling growl rumbled in his throat.

“I had believed it was the king who was force sensitive but now I can see I was wrong,” he said. “Bring her to me so that I can have a better look at her face.”

The same knight as before, Kylo Ren, ripped open the door to the cage, and with a firm grip he yanked out the girl. When her feet wouldn't move he dragged across the floor and held her upright. The pale alien gripped her face tightly and examined her from every angle. His hand was ice cold against her skin and it felt as if he were just a walking corpse that somehow still had life from within. His sunken in eyes looked so hollow and empty. They were nothing compared to (y/n)'s.

Her eyes were a rich and still had a very youthful and naive shine to them. Where she was from her looks were rare and only belonged to her father's bloodline. Her hair was was long and the color of it (h/c). She was all Ephraim. The only thing she took after Adah was her small frame and her petite nose. (y/n) was a beautiful Taiganian human female.

“Where did you find this one?”

“She is the king's sister, (y/n).” answered the Knight of Ren.

Master Snoke scoffed. “It was his sister all along. Pity, I was hoping to have a new apprentice.”

Kylo's grip tightened more around (y/n)'s arm. Snoke had other apprentices before him but Kylo wanted to stay the main focus.

“What shall I do with the girl then, Supreme leader? Shall I kill her?”

“There’s no need for that… but do what you must, Kylo.” sighed the old sovereign.

Kylo tugged (y/n) all over the grounds of what seemed to be ruined and abandoned planet. shabby buildings were close in distance but all different sizes. The sky was gray and the air humid giving the area an overall murky appearance. She judged by the numerous storm drains, that rain was constant in the area. (y/n) couldn't help but wonder if the planet he had taken her to was Hell.

(y/n) stumbled as she was being led to one of the empty buildings that looked the most out of place, it was a hut. The hut looked mostly new like it had just been built not that long ago. It was an elongated adobe made for two. Upon entering the hut, right in the center, was a small clay oven likely used for warmth more than food. The hut was warm when Kylo wanted it to be but it was mostly ever dark, cold and lonely.

Kylo pushed (y/n) down a narrow hall. He was taking her to one of the rooms that were not being used. It was smaller than his and just two steps away. Across their rooms was a tiny washroom big enough for one person at a time. It was nothing compared to the luxurious refreshers she was used to. The hut, in general, was nothing compared to her home on Taigawa.

There were nothing in (y/n)’s quarters. Just a high up glassless window and a pile of ripped up cloth on the floor where a bed should have been. There was no lamp for light or anything to keep the room warm. It felt more like a prison cell than a bedroom. The area smelled wet as if there was water but nothing was dripping from the ceiling and no puddles on the dirt floor.

(y/n) wrapped her arms around herself, she was out of her element and all she could do was cry.

“Shut up!” said Ren as he shoved the princess to the ground.

Her yellow gown dirtied the instant it met the floor. Curling up into a ball, she brought her head into her hands. Her sobs growing worse. She wished nothing more than to have been killed like her family instead of taken to a strange place by a strange man. She had no idea why her life was spared or why she was important to the knight at all. With the royal family dead, and her kingdom taken over by the first order she was no longer relevant. To the artisan and his apprentice, she was just a girl.

The masked knight before her squatted down. He was silent for a moment, the room was filled with the sounds of her sobs, and the release of air from his helmet. “You still cry, how pathetic.”

Young (y/n) lifted her head. Through tear-filled eyes, she peeked at his face. He could have been no older than she was. His physiognomy stern, but he was still very wet behind the ears. She could make out a large nose and what seemed to be scattered freckles and moles. Her vision was too blurry to depict anything else. She could not understand how someone who was practically still a boy, could be so wicked.

“How is it you are the one the force chose?” he asked picking at a lock of her.

“I don't know what you're talking about.”

Kylo tilted his head, lips pouting. “You don't? I think you’re lying, I don't like liars.”

“I’m not lying.” It was half true. (y/n) knew what the force was but she didn't know how to use it. She was never allowed to talk about it. When she had confided in her mother at a young age she was kept hidden from the outside world in fear she would be taken and forced to be a padawan and one day a Jedi. Taiganian's were not fighters, they did not stand for war. The day Hiram boasted about being one with the force she figured her gift was nothing more than an illusion, a game on her mind. That it was her brother who was meant to be a Jedi knight.

“I felt it when I killed your family.” Kylo tugged on the hair in his hand. “You caused a ripple. You moved me.”

(y/n) tried to free herself from his grasp but when she tried to move away he only tugged harder. She let out a small whine that only encouraged him. He tangled one hand at the nape of her neck and slapped down the other on her temple, the leather stinging her skin. He clenched his jaw and brought her face close to his. “Perhaps I shall demonstrate what the force can really do!”

Searing white-hot pain shot from the center of her brain had filled her body entirely. She had lost control of her arms and her legs spasmed. She felt as if she were being crushed while set on fire, all while being skinned alive. Invisible needles pricked at her fingers and nonexistent cattle prod was poking at her heart. All she could do was scream. When He let her go, her body stayed glued to the ground. She had no strength to move, or make herself comfortable.

Her lungs burned and her throat was hoarse, she was crying out loud but no sound could be heard. Kylo stared at her body unapologetically. “You didn't like that? Well, it was fun for me.” one of his large hands crept around her throat and pressured it. He was testing her capabilities, sizing her up, trying to determine her force. It was buried but it was there. “If you do not wish for this “fun” to continue, then maybe you should fight back. Show me the force! Use it on me!” (y/n) found the energy to shake her head no. it's not that she didn't want to stop him, she just didn't know-how.

“No?” he mocked, pressing his fingers tighter around her throat. “You're so weak!”

Kylo squeezed harder and harder till he shut off her airway completely, holding that her way till she had passed out. He was frustrated with her. He believed she was not worthy of the force. If she did not know how to use it, then she did not deserve it. He spent time coming in and out of (y/n)'s room debating if he should just kill her or not. Each time he entered he changed his mind.

He would come close to taking her life but would then talk himself out of it. Not because he did not have the courage but because she had the force. He knew he could make something out of her. All he had to do was seduce her into the dark side. Show her all that it had to offer, but Kylo was not sure it would work. (y/n) was weak and her power was small. He would have to teach her the way he was taught. He himself was still learning.

He would have to teach her.

The night was still unlike the evening that had past. No crickets were chirping, no wind whistling and no rain falling. In some way in the stillness of the night, (y/n) had managed to drift off into sleep.

Not too long after she had cried herself to sleep, she was awakened. Kylo had ripped her up off the floor abruptly and shook her violently. “You don't get to sleep!”

Her eyes went wide and she was scared. She had not been expecting him to just snatch her so suddenly. Kylo threw (y/n) halfway across her room then used the force to pin her to the wall. “You don't get to sleep till I say you can, and I will say you can when you show me the force!”

(y/n) shook her head, not wanting to look directly at him. He was wearing his mask again and it scared her. She did not like not seeing his face. It left to much up for her imagination. He could be looking at her with murderous eyes. The eyes are the window to the soul. If she cannot see his eyes then she cannot see his soul. If she cannot see his soul then she cannot see his intentions. Shutting her eyes, she tried to use the waves around her but could not muster up the means to see through him. She had not yet opened her mind's eye because she had not been taught to harness the power of the force. Her efforts were useless.

“You tell me, no but I can feel you trying to penetrate my mind.” his modified voice hissed low in his throat. “Show me what you can do.”

(y/n) parted her lashes and shook her head again. She had no idea that what she was doing was actually using the force. Kylo grew angry and gripped the sides of her head.

“Show me the force!”

When she failed to comply, just like earlier, he took control of her mind. It was so much worse than the first time. Kylo was in her head and breaching her thoughts. He heard every thought she ever had and saw every memory she ever made. He saw things not even she remembered. Her entire life played before him like a cinematic movie. He knew all about her now; her ups, her downs, her likes, her dislikes, her language, and her culture.

“If you want me out of your mind, then fight me!” he grunted over her screams. “Fight me!”

But she couldn't fight. She did not know how.

“Do it!”

Nothing.

“Do it! Use the force!”

Still nothing.

“I can feel the force in you! Do not deny it! Show me!”

Absolutely nothing.

Drunken by rage, Kylo threw (y/n) to the ground. His fist raised above his head collided with her cheek. She didn’t move she just stayed still. Her mind was racing, trying to figure what it was that just happened. When his fist came again she saw stars, and everything came together. He had punched her. Before she had time to recover from his blow he dragged her body from her room to the front of the hut. He was taking her outside. For what? She didn't know.

Tugged to her feet, (y/n) struggled to stand straight. She was nearly knocked back when he threw a long wooden dowel her way. She had hardly caught it in time before he had grabbed a stick of his own and whacked her with it. (y/n) fell into a puddle of mud, her dingy yellow gown, now wet, clung to her legs. Pushing herself up to her knees, she pulled herself from the puddle, gripping the sopping heavy fabric as she crawled. She was so focused on getting out of the mud that she hadn't seen Kylo come at her.

THWACK!

(y/n) winced as the thick dowel came across her back, knocking her back to the ground. Rolling over she stared up at the sky. Streaks of luminosity were barely peeking through the clouds. The morning was arriving. She had survived one day of torture.

THWACK!

The wooden dowel had collided with her stomach, and all the air had left her body. Gasping hungrily at the oxygen she almost missed the stick coming again. (y/n) rolled to her left, dodging him. He came once more, and she rolled to the right landing right back into the liquid dirt.

“FIGHT!” Kylo let his stick fall from his grasp.

Straddling (y/n), he flipped her over so her face was in the mud and he held her head under. She kicked her legs but it wasn't enough to knock the boy off of her. She would have used her arms if he hadn't been restraining them behind her back. His hands were large and her wrist was tiny, it didn't take any more than a couple of his fingers to lock them in place. He was bigger than her and far stronger than her. This was a boy who was trained personally by the supreme leader of the first order, and the boy was his apprentice! She did not stand a chance against the likes of Kylo Ren.

He lifted her head and brought his mask to her ear. “Why do you insist on being so weak? Why do you not try? Is it because you're not strong enough?”

She only cried out in pain. There was nothing she could say to him.

“Submit to me and I will teach you the ways of the force.” He said just above a whisper. “Let me show you what the dark side can do for you, and you will never be weak again.”

“No.” She finally spoke.

PLOP!

He pushed her face back into the mud, smothering her some more. After ten seconds he pulled her head back up. “Let me be your teacher!”

“No!”

PLOP!

Her screams were muffled by the mud. Although her voice could not carry out loud he could still hear her. She was struggling to breathe and if he wasn't too careful he would kill her. So, lifting himself off the ground he brought her up with him. (y/n) gasped for air and spit up wet dirt. She was relieved she was still alive but frustrated in his antics. He was being very childish.

“If you refuse me then you shall be considered a traitor!” Kylo locked (y/n) back in her room and he did not return for three days.

The hut was silent and still. (y/n) could not feel anyone home, he had left her alone. She could have made an attempt to escape but she did not have the energy. She had not slept in the time he was gone, because without him there she knew other things could get her and she wanted to be awake in case he returned and tried to wake her like the last time.

You don't get to sleep till I say you can… I will say you can when you show me the force.

Show me the force.

Submit to me and I will teach you the ways of the force.

… let me show you what the dark side can do for you.

His words were implanted in her like a seed, sprouting over and over. He had left a mark on her and she thought carefully. She was not raised to pick a side whether it was good or evil. She knew Jedi were good and that they were one with the force. However, no matter how many times Luke Skywalker roamed Taigawa he never came to her like Kylo Ren did. Surely if he had found her first she would have fallen in the right hands. Kylo did not ask her to join his side, he took her. Would Luke have taken her against her will like Kylo did? Would Luke have killed her family? Was she meant to be a Jedi?

If she were meant to be a Jedi then the light side would have taken her before the dark side did. Though she did not surrender to the dark, it was the path that claimed her first. Even if she did choose to submit, she would not make it. (y/n) could not use the force because she believed (in denial) that she did not have the force. Kylo claimed to have been moved by her and claimed he could feel it in her but she did not want to believe it! To use the force and to join the dark side would be to betray her home and her family's legacy. The Taigania's were not forgiving people.

After three days Kylo Ren had returned.

“Have you reconsidered my offer?” his voice was clear as day and it sent jolts through her bones. It was the only voice she ever heard now.

When (y/n) did not respond, Kylo nudged her with his boot. “Answer me, girl.”

“No.” she whispered frail.

He said nothing, only dropped to his knees suddenly and gripped her head. She cried out in pain and her back arched from the cold hard ground. He lifted her head once only to slam it against the floor. (y/n)'s brain rattled in her skull and the pain in her head was nothing compared to the pain that came with the force torture. Every time she thought it couldn't get much worse, he found a way to take it up a notch and every time he tortured her mind it always felt different.

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#kylo ren x reader #kylo x reader #kylo ren x you #kylo x you #kylo ren x y/n #ben solo x reader #ben solo x you #ben solo #kylo ren #kylo ren imagine #kylo ren fanfiction #adam driver x reader

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pilot-boi · 4 years

Text

Beginnings: Chapter 2

Safe Arrival

Jaune explains some things, Ren tries to understand, and they come to a decision

AO3 LINK

Jaune was back on the ship. Something beeped periodically, but no matter how much he searched the cockpit, he couldn’t find the source of the sound. His movements felt sluggish, like he was moving through a pool of jelly. The colors were either too bright or too muted. Perspective zoomed and faded. Everything felt like it was tipping over. Was he tipping over?

“…days now…”

Jaune’s head swiveled towards the sound. Ren? When had he gotten on the ship? He was on Ventos Prime. Not Talbos Prime. Unless he’d gotten mixed up in the crash…?

“… didn’t tell you anything?”

Jaune’s head turned to the other side of the cabin. Mom? She certainly wouldn’t be on the ship. She- she hated flying. Why would… why would she be here?

Jaune’s mind felt as slow as his movements. Exhausted, he let himself lean back in his seat. The beeping grew louder.

---

Everything hurt. Especially his arm. He groaned in pain and tried to sit up, but as soon as he did, what felt like several pairs of arms pushed him back down, and choruses of “Please, relax,” “Don’t strain yourself, Mr. Arc,” and “You’re gonna be okay.”

Jaune blinked his eyes open, flinching back against the bright hospital lights. God, he hated hospitals.

As his eyes adjusted, he could make out the figures of his mother, Ren, two nurses, and a doctor standing at the sides of his bed, all staring at him. He had a few IVs attached to his left arm, and his right arm was completely bound in a translucent fluorescent green cast. Little nanobots moved around his broken arm, going into it to fix the bone. Something was wrapped around his head, but he couldn’t tell what.

Despite the results of the previous attempt’s results, Jaune tried to sit up again. “What’s going on?” he asked, his voice hoarse and nervous. “Where am I?”

The nurses gently pushed him back down again.

“His head was injured badly,” the doctor said, ignoring Jaune and turning to his mother and Ren. “He might be a little out of sorts for a couple of days. We’ll have to keep him here for a while, until then…”

Everything faded to black as the nurse turned up the IV drip.

---

“This isn’t a good idea,” Ren said, following Jaune carefully down the side of the canyon.

“We’ll be fine,” Jaune insisted, nearly losing his footing again. “Trust me.”

Ren didn’t, but that wasn’t going to stop him from making sure Jaune didn’t injure himself. Again.

They were walking through the cliffs where everyone was specifically told not to go. The rocky trails had led to many accidents, and were regarded as dangerous. Jaune had never cared about danger, taking chances that often made Ren feel more like the responsible adult friend.

Ren’s heart might have stopped for a second as Jaune started speeding down the trail.

“What can be so exciting that you would risk dying and going against your mom’s instructions not to go down here under any circumstance?” Ren asked, trying his best to keep pace with his speedy friend. It was no use. Jaune was already far ahead of him.

“You’ll see!” Jaune called from the bottom of the canyon. “Now hurry up!”

Ren sighed and picked up his pace, jumping the last piece and landing next to Jaune. “Okay, show me, so we can get out of here without getting in trouble.”

Jaune grinned and grabbed Ren’s wrist, pulling him behind him and through a crack in the canyon wall. The pair was plunged into darkness, and Ren was glad Jaune seemed to know where he was going. Suddenly, it was bright again.

Jaune spun around and spread his arms wide, “Ta-da!”

Ren gaped in awe, looking around the small cavern that had been invisible a moment before. A small pond sat at the center, and a crack in the ceiling let a beam of light illuminate the area. A few cliff birds chirped from their nests in the walls. Soft moss covered everything.

“I thought it could be our secret hideout,” Jaune said, tossing his shoes and socks off and sticking his feet in the pond. It was so clear it was almost like glass. The ripples moved across the surface, shifting the water lilies on its surface.

Ren followed suit, and the two let their feet drag in the shallow water.

“I like the sound of that,” Ren said, his usually stoic face splitting into a wide grin.

Jaune grinned back.

---

Ren sat in the chair in Jaune’s hospital room, watching his friend with eyes full of worry. Jaune had woken up several times, still mostly dazed and panicked. With the nanobots working to fix his body, and his brain, he was having horrible nightmares. Mostly he just whimpered, but sometimes he called out for Ren… for his mom… for anyone. It hurt Ren seeing his friend so… so afraid.

He knew Jaune was reckless, but this was something else. What could have possibly caused Jaune to so suddenly just abandon the Academy? He’d worked so hard to get in, and from their correspondences, Ren knew Jaune was a promising student with high grades and a near perfect attendance.

Unless that too had been a lie.

Ren snapped to attention as Jaune stirred in his bed. When Jaune didn’t move again, he leaned back again.

When Jaune had shown up at Ren’s door just a few days ago, Ren hadn’t known what to think. He hadn’t even had time to think between rushing Jaune to the hospital, calling his mother, and talking to what felt like twenty different nurses and doctors. Now that things had slowed down… Ren was just trying to make sense of it all.

Jaune had always told him everything that was bothering him. He should have known something was wrong when Jaune stopped messaging him as often two months ago. He should have called, checked on his friend, made sure everything was really alright.

Can’t change any of that now, he thought, letting his eyes drift closed. What’s happened has happened. For now, he just had to make sure Jaune recovered. Talking could come later.

---

Ren watched from a distance as Jaune’s mother yelled at him in that way only mothers could. Jaune nodded along, apologizing and promising to “never do something so reckless again.”

Maybe it was just Jaune still being tired, but he didn’t seem that focused on what his mother was saying. It felt more like Jaune was focused on something else. He knew that stubborn look in Jaune’s eye, and he’d known Jaune long enough to know that was never a good thing. But maybe he was just imagining things.

Ren really wanted to be imagining things.

---

“Jaune, it’s nothing,” Ren said anxiously, having to pick up his pace to keep up with his friend. “Really, I’m fine.”

Jaune didn’t stop. “It’s not ‘fine.’ I’m not going to sit back while these idiots treat you like crap because of me.”

Ren felt himself come to a stop as Jaune marched on. There was that fiery determination in his eyes. Nothing was going to stop him. Nothing, especially anyone who would even try and hurt someone Jaune cared for.

Anyone trying to hurt Jaune himself, that he could brush aside. But he’d never been able to stop himself from through himself in harm’s way to protect the people he cared about.

Ren was far enough away that he only caught a few words. The one’s he did hear, he hated.

“You’re nothing, half-breed,” one of them snapped.

“Ren would be better off with us than with a filthy grett like you,” the other added, spitting on Jaune’s face.

Ren flinched when one of the boys pushed Jaune backwards. Jaune said something that made the boys' faces twist with anger. Jaune managed to dodge the first few punches, but they were bigger than him, and he’d never been that good in a fight.

It wasn’t long before they had punched him out. Ren started running towards them the moment Jaune got punched, but he wasn’t fast enough to stop them from giving him a few kicks to the stomach.

They sneered at Ren before running off.

Ren grabbed Jaune, throwing him over his shoulder and rushing him back to his house.

A few days later, Ren was allowed to see Jaune again in the hospital. Bandages were wrapped around Jaune’s chest, and his arm was held delicately in a sling.

“I really showed them, huh?” Jaune asked, laughing.

Ren started to chuckle too before he noticed Jaune buckle in pain.

“Broken ribs,” Jaune said, smiling tensely at Ren. “The nanobots are still working at fixing them.”

“You are going to get yourself killed one of these days,” Ren shook his head, half teasing. The other half seriously worried that Jaune would one day get himself killed.

“No, I won’t,” Jaune responded. “You won’t let me.”

---

Jaune never explained why he dropped out, and Ren didn’t push. After Jaune got out of the hospital, he had to stay home for a week to recover fully. Ren took it upon himself to make sure that Jaune actually recovered and didn’t go try and steal another ship.

Spending so much time with Jaune, he saw the difference.

He knew low grades and a pulled scholarship weren’t the real reasons Jaune had stolen a ship and almost died just to get back to Ventos Beta.

Usually he was a joking, amicable, upbeat person, but when Ren was talking to him, Jaune felt more reserved. Like he wasn’t really there. Once or twice, he even snapped at Ren before immediately apologizing and laughing it off as “just tired” or “cabin fever.”

Ren knew something was wrong, and it wasn’t whatever Jaune was blaming it on.

As soon as Jaune could leave, he did. Ren felt like a lost dog, trailing uselessly behind him. He wasn’t usually so focused, and Ren began to be even more worried when Jaune’s trail led down to the docks.

“It just feels good to see real ships again,” Jaune said when Ren asked him why they were there. “They hardly let us get near the big ones back there.”

That was another thing. Jaune never said ‘The Academy’ anymore. Always just ‘them’ and ‘back there’ and ‘my dorm,’ and never with any fondness. In all the years Ren had known Jaune, he’d never heard him refer to something with such contempt.

“Bad memories,” Jaune said, smiling reassuringly. “It’s in the past now.”

The only thing stronger than his anger at the Academy, it seemed, was Jaune’s anger at himself. Every time a headache made him have to slow down, or his arm started hurting again, Ren noticed him become frustrated and seething.

“I’m fine,” he’d insist stiffly, avoiding eye contact with Ren.

“Just tell me what’s wrong,” Ren said finally. “I want to help.”

But Jaune only brushed him off and walked down to the docks again. It wasn’t like Jaune to bottle things up, and Ren was half convinced his head injury had done something more than make him delirious for a few days.

Eventually though, Ren had to go back to work, and he couldn’t keep a constant watchful eye on Jaune. While he trusted Jaune’s mother, he knew she wouldn’t be willing to follow her son all over the city every day until he finally returned home late in the evening.

When he was able to visit though, Ren spent his time with Jaune trying to pry more information out of him without pressing his friend too much. It felt like he was interrogating a rock.

---

The day Jaune got his cast off, he was out of the house almost as soon as they got back from the hospital. Ren started to follow, but Jaune turned and stopped him.

“I’ll be back later,” Jaune said, but something in his voice told Ren otherwise. He wasn’t meeting Ren’s eyes.

A few minutes after Jaune left, Ren followed. He knew where Jaune had gone.

The docks were filled with people. Traders, scavengers, GAAP agents, and regular citizens. Finally, after almost half an hour of searching, he spotted Jaune. He was talking to someone. Handing that someone a card. Shaking hands. Stepping onto a ship.

Ren ran forward, shoving his way through the crowd, “Jaune!”

He saw Jaune freeze and start to turn towards Ren before stopping himself. Jaune didn’t want to look back.

Ren’s hand caught the door just before it finished sliding shut, and he forced it back open. Once he slipped inside, it slid shut behind him and beeped cheerfully. He took a step forward, and alarms suddenly started blaring around him, lights flashing red.

Jaune appeared just as suddenly at the end of the hallway, his face going from confused to upset.

“I told you not to follow,” Jaune said, pressing a button and turning off the alarms. “This isn’t… this isn’t smart.”

“I was not going to let you run off and get yourself hurt again,” Ren replied, folding his arms across his chest.

“Who made you the protector of me?” Jaune snarked, folding his arms in turn and standing his ground.

“Me,” Ren said. “Because I care about you, and you are not thinking clearly.”

Jaune heaved a sigh and leaned up against the wall of the ship. “Sure. Okay.”

“You have to talk about this eventually,” Ren said, taking another step forward. Jaune stared him down, but he was wavering. “I need to know what is going on. What’s wrong?”

Jaune looked back at his friend, steely determination melting into frustration.

“I couldn’t stay there any more,” Jaune began, looking down at his feet. “There was always this pressure to be the best, and for a long time, I think everyone thought I was. The best at flying, at least. Even if I got in trouble for my methods all the time.”

Ren knew that. Jaune had often called him, upset that the instructors didn’t let him fly how he knew how to fly.

Jaune continued, his knuckles white and his jaw tight. “It got suffocating. My teachers didn’t push me. They either gave up or thought I knew everything so why bother. Everyone looked up to me as this perfect student who could do no wrong, and I hated it, because it was such a lie. I felt like I had to live up to their expectations for my family, and if I failed, they’d hate me. I didn’t want those expectations. I just wanted to blend in, not be forced into the spotlight.”

Jaune gripped his arm tight, digging his fingers into the fabric of his sleeve. “So I stopped trying. I stopped doing my homework. I skipped class. I cheated on tests I already knew the answers to or just didn’t complete them at all.

“I let my grades drop. When— The day they sent me a notice, saying they were going to pull my scholarship, I started packing right away. I hid the letter from Sapphron, and kept my plan a secret from her. Once I had everything planned out, I ran away. I stole one of the student ships that they use for short flights around the school and left. I crashed on Talbos Prime a couple days later. That’s when I—”

Jaune glanced down at his recently healed right arm. “Yeah. I did my best to keep myself alive while I fixed the ship, but I think my anger at crashing kept me alive better than any bandages or medicine. Once I got off of Talbos Prime, I flew back here, and, well, you know the rest of the story.”

There was a moment of silence between them as the story sunk in. Then Ren closed the space between them. He pulled Jaune into a tight hug, making sure to be careful of Jaune’s arm.

“Why didn’t you tell me?” he asked, pulling away. “We could have talked about this, or at least found a better way for you to leave the Academy than running away on a stolen ship.”

Jaune shrugged. “I needed to do this on my own,” he said. “I had to make a decision for myself instead of just letting myself drift through life without a purpose. I couldn’t stay here either. If I stay here… I stay stagnant. I become a farmer or I just… ugh, Ren there is nothing here for me!”

He met Ren’s eyes with fury. “As much as I love Ventos Beta, my life isn’t going to go anywhere here. It’s out there! Out among the stars!” Jaune’s eyes lit up as he spoke, passion building. “I want to see new worlds! I want to meet strange species, make new friends, learn new things! I can’t do that here, or at the Academy. I need to do this, Ren. You have to understand.”

Ren shook his head, and Jaune’s face fell.

“I’m not sure I’ll ever understand you,” he began, “but I’m not going to stay on Ventos Beta and let you go out there and probably die.”

Jaune’s excitement began to return. “Wait, really? You want to come with me?”

“Someone has to watch your back,” Ren chuckled. And there’s nothing left for me here, he added silently to himself.

Alright,” Jaune said, already beaming. “I guess this is our ship then?”

Ren allowed a smirk to crawl onto his face. “Yeah. I like the sound of that.”

#rwby #jaune arc #lie ren #saphron cotta arc #mama arc #mine #my writing #space rwby #beginnings #chapter 2

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