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robininthelabyrinth · 3 years

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The Quiet Room

- Chapter 6 - ao3 - (previous tumblr pt 1, pt 2, pt 3, pt 4, pt 5)

The Lan sect’s rules said Learning comes first, and that was because learning was the root of all things.

Humans were changeable and ever-changing, molded by their heritage and their environment; it was through careful education that they learned to comprehend goodness – it was only through constant learning that they could keep themselves walking on the path of righteousness.

Learning from books, learning from others, learning from one’s own mistakes; it didn’t matter.

What was important was that you couldn’t stop learning.

You had to keep moving forward.

Lan Wangji had for some time entertained the thought that his life had stopped when Wei Wuxian’s had. It had felt as though it had: it felt as if his heart had been irrevocably shattered, like a priceless vase that had once contained all his tender feelings – all those feelings that, lacking their container, would now slip through his fingers forever, leaving him as empty as a soulless puppet. He’d thought he was doomed never to love again, never to learn again, all his mind consumed with nothing by memories.

He’d been wrong, of course.

Even with Wei Wuxian gone, he was still learning.

There were his recent meditations on the subject of silence and noise, for one.

There were his wards, for another.

Lan Sizhui was a polite and thoughtful child, inquisitive but a little shy and hesitant, a little fearful to assert himself – a little too quiet, in a way that Lan Wangji was starting to be able to recognize as being not good, a silence and reticence born of concern and anxiety rather than genuine introversion. Luckily, there was also Lan Jingyi, who was and had always been the liveliest and most spirited of children, and yet he, too, was just a little bit too loud in a way that reflected his own method of displaying anxiety, another startling realization that was brand new.

Lan Wangji had always associated quiet with reserve and self-control, noise with carelessness and recklessness, but being in the controlled chaos of Qinghe and really sincerely listening to it, accepting it, came with its own set of revelations. He found that there were people who were naturally loud and those that made themselves be loud, just as there were those who were quiet and those who were forced into quietude. Lan Jingyi worried just as much as the next person, but he displaced those feelings through distraction rather than through the force of his willpower, taking on the role of clown or hero as suited each moment, unafraid to cast himself in the role of aggressor if it would allow Lan Sizhui the chance to play the mediator. The subconscious division of roles allowed Lan Sizhui to feel useful and in control, reducing his anxiety, while Lan Jingyi got to feel taken care of, which reduced his own – it was good, in a way, but after some consideration Lan Wangji carefully took them both in hand and told them that they would need to be more thoughtful about it.

Lan Sizhui could not, should not, always have to be the peacemaker, always yielding and kind and gentle and quiet: he deserved to be loud, too. He deserved to be assertive, to be heard, to feel entitled to take up space regardless of his utility to those around him. He should never feel like he had to pay in service for the right to exist.

And by the same token, Lan Jingyi shouldn’t feel burdened to always have to be the one to take the first step, always acting as the driving force, the loud and opinionated one. He should have the opportunity, and the obligation, to think through what he was doing or saying, to be thoughtful and careful, to sometimes yield if he wished; he should be granted space of his own to make sure that his actions were what he wished them to be rather than some impulse.

Lan Wangji only wished he’d had the wisdom to tell Wei Wuxian the same thing while he’d been alive.

He’d been so short-sighted when he was younger, at first unable to recognize how he felt about the man and then unable to figure out how to speak with him – he’d been unable to break his own habitual silence, and equally unable to see the depths concealed in Wei Wuxian’s brash arrogance, especially towards the end. Like Lan Jingyi, Wei Wuxian’s reckless courage was genuine, especially in the happy days of their youth; like Lan Jingyi, when things got bad, Wei Wuxian had taken refuge in more of the same, building himself walls made of noise that were designed to keep everyone out.

Wei Wuxian might have been noisy and loud, right to the very end, but in his own way he’d been just as alone as Lan Wangji in his excess of quiet.

The next generation, Lan Wangji thought fiercely, would do better.

He felt comforted by that thought.

The children were chewing over Lan Wangji’s words as they walked along the outmost ramparts of the Unclean Realm, already inured to the glittering barrier that hung in their sky, full of arrays and inscriptions – they were accompanying Lan Wangji on his daily walk.

The Nie sect’s doctors had a very different regimen for curing illnesses than the Lan sect’s, he’d found. Thirty-three strikes of the discipline whip: in both places he’d gotten stitched back up, but while the Lan sect doctors had allowed him to retreat into seclusion, prescribing medicine and rest and self-reflection, the Nie sect doctors insisted on coupling medicine and meditation with exercise. Intermittent and gradual exercise, meant to increase flexibility and reduce muscle atrophy – it wasn’t really that different from what Lan Wangji had been left to do on his own back at home, but he found that it was easier to struggle against his stubborn body when he had company to encourage him to take that extra step beyond his limits, their voices pushing him when his own willpower was insufficient. Even the silent presence of the two children, walking beside him, helped him find the reason to keep going.

Truly, there was much to consider on the subject of quiet and noise, of loud and soft, of loneliness and isolation and how no amount of either introversion nor extroversion could alone save you from them.

Lan Wangji was still thinking it over when he heard a new noise.

It was also an old noise, painfully familiar from all those days of war – before he even consciously identified what the sound was, his back had straightened, his legs sinking into a prepared pose, his mind already summoning his spiritual energy to the forefront in case he needed to defend himself.

Cultivators, flying on swords at speed.

Lan Wangji looked up and saw them: men and women both, a small group – a forward scouting troop, small enough to be subtle and sneak ahead to see what was happening but large enough to ensure someone would be able to return to the main force and warn them if they did find something.

They were dressed in the colors of Yunmeng Jiang, and it was Jiang Cheng leading them.

Lan Wangji’s back stiffened.

He had not seen Jiang Cheng since the massacre at the Nightless City, although he’d heard the stories of how he had turned against his own shixiong and led the greatest of the forces that besieged the Burial Mounds. He’d decided then that he’d never wanted to see Jiang Cheng ever again – he hadn’t been able to comprehend how Jiang Cheng could do a thing like that to Wei Wuxian, who he’d loved.

He still didn’t understand, but he thought, perhaps, that he ought to be a little less hasty in judging others by his own standards.

He’d done enough of that.

“Hanguang-jun!” Jiang Cheng called, seeing him, and pulled ahead of all the other Jiang sect cultivators, leaving them hanging back warily. Lan Wangji turned to face him, conscious of the two young children still clinging to his hands and now half-hiding behind his robes – conscious, too, of the shimmering but translucent barrier that divided them from Jiang Cheng, the barrier that had been raised to protect the Unclean Realm from Lan Wangji’s own brother and all the mistakes he had made, well-meaning as they were. “Hanguang-jun, good, you can tell me, what is the meaning of…”

Jiang Cheng trailed off, his eyes suddenly wide and almost bulging from the force of how hard he was staring at Lan Wangji.

“Jiang Wanyin,” Lan Wangji said politely in greeting – or, well, politely enough.

“Lan Wangji,” Jiang Cheng said in return, his voice sounding strangled. “What…happened?”

Far too much to explain, so Lan Wangji didn’t, just waited for Jiang Cheng to continue with a more specific question.

“I mean, uh. The beacon went off,” Jiang Cheng said. He was still gawking, looking as though he were about to fall off his sword any second. “The – you know the one, the one that shows when a sect’s barrier defenses have been activated. I thought...”

He’d assumed there was an invasion, Lan Wangji realized, and had rushed over at once to try to help forestall it. It was a reasonable assumption, and a noble response: having once lost everything without being able to rely on the help of others, Jiang Cheng now sought to be the help that he had not had.

It was the sort of thing a righteous person would do, and in line with what Lan Wangji thought he’d known of Jiang Cheng’s character.

And yet…Jiang Cheng had still turned his back on Wei Wuxian.

Time and time again, he’d turned away fro him.

“I came to find out what happened, why they put up the shield,” Jiang Cheng continued. “I brought people with me to help, though I left them back a ways so it wouldn’t be an insult. And now I’m here and – and you’re here – and you’re…just…it’s…Lan Wangji, what happened to your forehead ribbon?”

Lan Wangji arched his eyebrows. “Is that your primary concern?”

Jiang Cheng waved his hands around, almost flailing, and Lan Wangji couldn’t quite help but feel a sudden stab of amusement – and then of sorrow, because the flailing was almost painfully familiar. He had seen Wei Wuxian do much the same when he encountered something unexpected, whether some threat or some new maneuver by the Wen sect or, in one notable instance, the unanticipated appearance of a fish in a place where one would not normally expect fish to be.

“I have taken a leave of absence from the Lan sect,” Lan Wangji finally explained, deciding to be magnanimous and take pity on his former comrade in arms. “The Nie sect has permitted me to remain with them while I determine my next course of action. As for the shield, there is no imminent invasion. The situation is – complicated.”

Jiang Cheng huffed. “You don’t say!”

Still, the explanation seemed to help steady him, somewhat, and Lan Wangji observed that Jiang Cheng did not look his best: tired, with circles under his eyes and an unhealthy skin tone. Too much work, too little rest, and probably nightmares…because of what had happened to Wei Wuxian, perhaps? But if so, why had he done it in the first place?

“I cannot let you in,” Lan Wangji added, even though technically he had one of the only remaining guest tokens that still functioned. Jiang Cheng nodded, seemingly having expected that. “I can escort you to the sect leader’s quarters to have your request for admission approved.”

That the person approving the request would probably be Nie Huaisang, Lan Wangji did not say – not so much out of caution, which would probably be justified, but rather out of a completely inexplicable urge to see Jiang Cheng start flailing once again upon finding out.

Was this how Wei Wuxian felt all the time?

Interesting.

He began to walk again, the children at his sides slowly coming out, and Jiang Cheng did him the courtesy of not mentioning how slow and stiff he was, although Lan Wangji thought he remembered enough of Jiang Cheng’s mannerisms to interpret the twisted grimace on his face as he glanced over time and time again as a look of concern.

After a little while in which Lan Wangji walked and Jiang Cheng floated alongside him on his sword, the Jiang sect cultivators lagging behind by a respectable distance, the children getting over their fear to start looking around again, Jiang Cheng finally cleared his throat.

“There’s a medicinal blend of herbs that can counteract the anti-clotting effects of the discipline whip,” he said. Lan Wangji glanced at him: Jiang Cheng was staring forward, not looking at him at all any more. “It makes it heal faster. I can pass the prescription along to the Nie sect’s pharmacists, if you like.”

Jiang Cheng had also been struck by the discipline whip, Lan Wangji suddenly remembered. It had been a matter of deep embarrassment for him during the war, making him reluctant to remove clothing even when they were rancid with blood and poisonous fumes.

“Thank you,” he said, and for some reason the children took that as their cue that Jiang Cheng was actually all right and burst out in a flood of questions.

Lan Jingyi wanted to know how Jiang Cheng’s clothing had gotten to be such a vivid shade of purple, while Lan Sizhui was more curious about his sword and how shiny it was – the concerns of children, unburdened by the memories or concerns of adults. Their questions made Jiang Cheng smile, and Lan Wangji thought briefly of the orphaned Jin Ling, who had been temporarily given to Jiang Cheng’s custody to pick up some of the traditions of his maternal sect. A fancy way of saying that the Jin sect wanted him out of the way for a few years until he was worth teaching their own ways to, but Lan Wangji suspected Jiang Cheng would have taken any excuse at all to remain close to his kin.

“What, now children aren’t too noisy for you?” Jiang Cheng asked Lan Wangji, and for the first time it occurred to Lan Wangji that the tossed out words, broken off and abrupt, might be meant as a friendly tease.

“I am reevaluating my relationship with silence,” he said, and Jiang Cheng smirked, amused.

“I bet you are,” he said. “Nie Huaisang alone would drive a man to distraction…”

Lan Jingyi laughed and clapped and that, and, inspired, Lan Sizhui followed suit.

And then, suddenly, Jiang Cheng frowned.

“A-Yuan,” he said, and Lan Wangji was suddenly cold from head to toe, the chattering of the children suddenly too loud in his ears: he had forgotten that Jiang Cheng had also visited the Burial Mounds. “That’s – that’s A-Yuan, isn’t it?”

“Jiang Wanyin…” Lan Wangji started, his voice sticking in his throat, then trailed off. He did not know what he could say that would work to convince Jiang Cheng that he was wrong when he was right, but neither could he admit to the truth. Even if Nie Mingjue had been kind enough to allow Lan Wangji to come to the Nie sect to stay, and to bring the two children with him, that had been under the premise that they were Lan sect children. If he ever found out that Lan Sizhui had been born surnamed Wen…

Nie Mingjue would not hurt a child, he was too righteous for that. But he might not be inclined to let that child grow up in his sect, either.

Jiang Cheng’s face was twisted in a strange sort of way, as if he couldn’t decide to be angry or relieved. “I thought he’d died,” he murmured, more to himself. “I thought…what is that?”

Lan Wangji was momentarily confused by the question, focused as he was by the terrifying implications of Jiang Cheng’s discovery, but then he saw that Jiang Cheng’s gaze went further into the distance.

He turned to look, then felt twist of unpleasantness deep in his belly: there was his brother in the sky, flying to the main gate on Shuoyue, and beside him was Jin Guangyao.

Why did you have to bring him? Lan Wangji thought, unhappy, but he already knew the answer to that. His brother trusted Jin Guangyao. Why wouldn’t he bring him?

If only he would trust the rest of them as much as he trusted that liar.

“We can discuss Lan Sizhui later,” Lan Wangji said, careful to emphasize both the surname and the courtesy name he’d given him – painfully obvious now that he thought about it, though at the time it had seemed only appropriate, the only name he could bestow that fit – and quickened his steps. “Now that my brother has arrived, things will become difficult.”

He wondered, a little bitterly, if his brother had even noticed that he was gone, or if he had been so thoroughly forgotten in his enforced ‘seclusion’ that it hadn’t even been thought of as a possibility.

“Lan Wangji!”

Lan Wangji came to a stop at Jiang Cheng’s shout. Suddenly full of anger, he turned his head back – surely Jiang Cheng didn’t hate Wei Wuxian so much that he wouldn’t let the matter of a small child go, even in the midst of a crisis?

Jiang Cheng was pointing into the distance. Strangely enough, it was not in the direction of the main gate, where Lan Xichen and Jin Guangyao were even now landing, but somewhere even further beyond.

“Do you see it?” Jiang Cheng demanded, and his eyes were suddenly wild, his breathing disordered; he seemed far more disturbed than he had when he’d recognized A-Yuan. “Lan Wangji, tell me that you see it!”

Utterly lost, Lan Wangji focused his gaze on the far horizon. It was the same scenery as he’d seen there the past few days, the interspersed richness of the low valleys that quickly arced up into the mountains that surrounded the Unclean Realm. There was nothing there that was unusual…

Lan Wangji spotted a very faint glimmer.

Sun, he thought, the reflection of sun – sun off steel.

All of a sudden, he wasn’t on the ramparts of the Unclean Realm but standing beside Jiang Cheng on a rough-hewn fortress barely worthy of the name, watching the horizon grimly as the damned Wen scout’s flare did its work and the amassed forces of Wen Chao’s troops began to move inexorably in their direction. They would come, he had known, and they would kill them all if they could; it would take everything they had to stop them, and to survive long enough just to retreat once again.

For some of them to survive.

“Invasion,” he heard someone say, their voice hoarse, and only a moment later realized it was himself who had spoken. “Invasion…it’s an army!”

“It’s the Jin sect,” Jiang Cheng said, staring blankly as if he couldn’t believe what his eyes were telling him. For once, Lan Wangji understood him completely; he was similarly shocked. “They’re wearing gold, you can see it from here…the Jin sect has sent their armies here? How could they even think to dare? Chifeng-zun will annihilate them!”

Lan Wangji’s throat worked, and for a moment he felt drowned in the quiet once more, his voice not wanting to cooperate with him, his entire being willing or even wanting to return to the solace of seclusion if it would only mean that he wouldn’t have to hear the horrible din of war once more. But he was not a coward, and would do what he must – even speak of things that felt impossible to be spoken.

“That complicated situation I mentioned,” he said, and Jiang Cheng turned to look at him. “My brother has either conspired with or was duped into assisting Lianfang-zun in an attempt on Chifeng-zun’s life through destabilizing his qi and inducing a qi deviation.”

Jiang Cheng’s jaw dropped. “They did what?!”

“Chifeng-zuns remains alive, but is confined to his bed,” Lan Wangji continued, ignoring the interjection. “Nie Huaisang was the one who ordered the shield raised, saying that there might be an attack – I thought he was overreacting, but apparently not.”

“If Jin Guangshan can take over the Unclean Realm while Nie Mingjue is incapacitated, he can say that the incapacitation is worse than it really is,” Jiang Cheng said, abruptly getting it. Lan Wangji had forgotten how much he enjoyed working alongside those from Yunmeng Jiang, Wei Wuxian most of all but also in his absence Jiang Cheng, who was smart and did not require too many words to understand. “Everyone knows Nie Huaisang’s a good-for-nothing – it wouldn’t be too much of a stretch for the Jin sect to claim that they came here at the invitation of the Nie sect to ‘rescue’ them, and remained in order to manage the sect on their behalf. Better that than have Chifeng-zun recover and come after you in vengeance!”

Lan Wangji nodded.

“But surely they didn’t think they’d be able to get away with it? Even if they could manage it for a while, as soon as the confusion cleared up, all the other sects would throw a fit…”

“Jin Ling,” Lan Wangji said, and Jiang Cheng blanched, seeming to realize the problem at once. His beloved nephew legally belonged to the Jin sect; if he dared to protest their actions, wouldn’t they be sure to take him away? As for the Lan sect, Lan Xichen would have been implicated through his actions – they could hold his participation over his head, forcing him to pick between supporting them and losing face for the whole sect, which would in turn weaken it. And that was assuming that Jin Guangyao didn’t somehow manage to talk Lan Xichen into thinking it was all for the best regardless…

There were only four Great Sects left, now. If the Lan and Jiang did nothing, who would be left to stand up for the Nie?

“I have to get inside. Nie Huaisang will need my support,” Lan Wangji said, but instead looked down at the children beside him.

“Go,” Lan Sizhui said, releasing his hand and stepping back away from him. “I’ll take Jingyi and hide in the room we’re staying in. You won’t need to worry about us – go, do what you need to!”

Jiang Cheng flinched as if he’d been struck.

Lan Wangji glanced at him. “The Jin sect army,” he said. “However unlikely, there’s still a chance that we are misinterpreting their motives.”

“I’ll go find out what I can,” Jiang Cheng agreed at once. “How many there are, what can be done…I’ll find out and report back.”

Lan Wangji tossed him the guest token he’d been given. “Be cautious,” he said. He still hadn’t forgiven Jiang Cheng for what he’d done in the Burial Mounds, but he was willing to wait until a better time to talk it over with him – now was not the time to try to gain understanding.

Jiang Cheng nodded and left at once, and Lan Wangji saw the children off, then hurried to do the same.

By the time he made it to the main hall, his brother and Jin Guangyao were already there, and Nie Huaisang was confronting them with nothing more than a fan gripped in white-knuckled hands and a glare.

“– dare you talk as if he’s gone mad, as if he can’t be trusted?” Nie Huaisang was shouting. “You should know how seriously we take such words here!”

“It is because of that that we are worried,” Lan Xichen said, and now it was Lan Wangji’s turn to flinch. His brother’s voice sounded just the way it always did, comforting in its familiarity: he sounded calm and patient, thoughtful and wise, sure of himself. He sounded as if he knew better than anyone else what was right and what was wrong. “Huaisang, you don’t know how much your brother has been worried about suffering the way your father did. He knows that qi deviations can be subtle as well as harsh – he understands that his reason might be the first to go –”

“And so you took it upon yourself to decide that for him?” Nie Huaisang sneered. “You keep saying that he understands, that he would understand, all that. But that’s a lie, isn’t it?”

“Huaisang, please,” Jin Guangyao said, his voice just as gentle as always. “You know we only want what’s best for your brother.”

“Do you?” Nie Huaisang said, but he was still looking at Lan Xichen. “You knew he hated the quiet room, er-ge. You knew that he’d never wanted anything to do with it – it’s not like that was anything new! That was something he’d said repeatedly, year after year, month after month, for his entire life. You knew how he felt about it, and you decided to ignore what he wanted in favor of what you wanted. How is that wanting what’s best for him?”

“I was only concerned for his health,” Lan Xichen said, sounding injured by the accusation. “I had nothing but good intentions…”

“Your intentions are immaterial compared to your actions,” Lan Wangji said, and they turned to look at him, both of them surprised – maybe they really hadn’t noticed he’d left the Cloud Recesses.

Well, he thought bitterly: they’d notice now.

He took a step into the room, then another.

“Your actions are this,” he said, ignoring the way his brother stared at his forehead, unadorned by the ribbon that had been there ever since he’d been a small child, receiving it for the first time from his uncle as a precious gift. “You did not trust or respect your elder brother’s word. You disregarded his decision, treating him like a child who can’t be trusted to make up his own mind – you put your own desires ahead of his, and in doing so, betrayed him. Did you really think he’d thank you for it?”

Did you think I’d thank you one day for authorizing our sect’s attack on the Burial Mounds without ever having to explain yourself? Even our uncle respected me enough to tell me at once what he had done and let me decide how I felt about it, accepting the consequences of his actions!

“Wangji,” Lan Xichen murmured. “You’re still healing, you shouldn’t be wandering around…where is your self-restraint?”

Where is your forehead ribbon, he meant, and Lan Wangji shook his head.

“Wangji, you don’t understand,” Jin Guangyao said, and Lan Wangji stiffened at the unasked-for intimacy of the address. “Whatever da-ge said to you, whatever he did, you cannot allow others to guide you by filling your heart with incomplete echoes of what you have lost. You will never forgive yourself.”

Lan Wangji was so furious that he could not speak. Was Jin Guangyao implying that Nie Mingjue had, what, seduced him? That Lan Wangji held his love for Wei Wuxian so cheap that he would have his head turned by the first person willing to make up to him in such a fashion?

“I should hope you know my da-ge better than that, er-ge,” Nie Huaisang said coldly, still speaking only to Lan Xichen. “Or is this something else where you will believe the words of that lying dog over everyone else and the evidence of your own reason to boot?”

“Huaisang, that is unwontedly cruel, and uncalled for,” Lan Xichen said, tearing his eyes away from Lan Wangji. “Whatever Wangji has decided, I do not blame Mingjue-xiong for it.”

Implying, Lan Wangji supposed, that it was Lan Wangji that was to blame for it.

“Put the blame where it belongs,” he said stiffly, staring at his brother as if looking at a stranger. “Was I to leave Chifeng-zun where I found him, half-dead and dying in our jingshi where you left him at Lianfang-zun’s incitement?”

“You think I don’t recognize that I’ve done wrong?” Lan Xichen demanded. “I will speak to Mingjue-xiong and apologize – I will explain my reasoning and let him decide how I can make it up to him. But please, there is no call for you to be cruel to A-Yao. Do not blame him for my mistakes.”

“What about for his lies?” Lan Wangji asked. He took a breath, sharp and unhappy, and suddenly it was desperately, urgently necessary to know the truth. “Brother, tell me you didn’t know. Tell me you weren’t in on it – that you didn’t try to kill Mingjue-xiong in order to cover up your affair.”

“What, kill, you think I would try to…Wangji! Affair?” Lan Xichen exclaimed, and he seemed genuinely shocked. “No, Wangji, you’ve misunderstood entirely! It’s not like that at all. Mingjue-xiong and A-Yao, they were once lovers –”

“No, we weren’t,” Nie Mingjue said.

They all turned at once. He was standing at the door, all but clinging to the doorframe to keep himself standing; he was swathed in bandages and still stuck with needles. None of them had heard him or seen him approach – he must have heard them shouting and dragged himself over.

He sounded tired. He sounded quiet.

He looked at Lan Xichen.

“I was never Meng Yao’s lover,” he said. “Not now, not before, not ever. And Xichen…you knew that, didn’t you?”

#mdzs #lan wangji #lan sizhui #lan jingyi #jiang cheng #lan xichen #jin guangyao #nie huaisang #nie mingjue #my fic #my fics #the quiet room #you may want to reread previous chapters to get caught up

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young-dumb-and-vaccinated · 3 years

Text

The Sommelier (Hannibal x Female!Reader) pt. 3

A certain redheaded tabloid journalist tracks y/n down at work. Y/n finds out how persistent she is when she makes her an offer she just can’t refuse.

Trigger warnings: Christianity, stalking, survivor’s guilt

You made it out alive, and that was more than could be said for some.

Your consolation prize was a ghastly scar on your hand that you kept bandaged up as to not scare small children. You did get some worker’s comp after all; enough to pay for your medical bills and a little extra to make up for the lost workdays. All things considered, you were the lucky one. Four people lost their lives that day and three more were injured far worse than you. You should have felt grateful to be alive.

But somehow that was even worse. You got a couple stitches and some time off. It wasn’t worth four people’s lives.

Your therapist explained it to you very gently. You were experiencing a phenomenon known as "survivor's guilt". She encouraged you to join a support group, get outside and familiarize yourself with your new experiences.

This was good advice and all, but yours was the newest, hottest crime. You couldn't go anywhere without being hounded by reporters looking for whatever details you had somehow left out. Dr. Bloom encouraged you to take some time off work until the media circus died down, but you had bills to pay.

"I feel like there should be some rule about re-opening a restaurant within a week of it being an active crime scene." Charissa observed as she wiped down a table. "If anything, it's a health hazard."

"Are you serious?" You scoffed. You'd been tasked with refilling the salt shakers. Appropriate, because there was plenty of salt to go around. "Demand for this place has never been higher. Everyone wants to see if the blood is still on the carpet."

"Hooray for capitalism." She rolled her eyes. "Are you gonna be okay, [F/N]?"

"'Okay' is a very relative term." You forced a laugh. "I think I can make it through the shift if that's what you're asking."

"Aren't you behind the bar all evening?" She asked.

"Yeah, but that means I'm trapped." You folded your arms. "First thing you see when you walk in is the waitress who survived the- what are they calling him?"

"The Baltimore Butcher." She answered with a voice full of vitriol. "Do you think they ever consider the ramifications of giving literal murderers these weird superhero names? Like, no wonder we get copycats, they treat these guys like celebrities."

"Holy shit, right?!" You slammed the salt shaker down on the table. "Y'know, last night on the news, they used the creep's graduation photo and kept saying that he was a good Christian young man with a lot of prospects."

Charissa stuck out her tongue in disgust. "I saw that. And how he was 'corrupted' by crack cocaine. Once again, blaming a drug that was used to villainize poor Black neighborhoods in the 80's as some kind of corrupting agent."

You nodded furiously. "Instead of understanding that Christianity is a violent imperialist religion that lets violent white men absolve themselves of any guilt."

"And they knew it wasn't crack." Charissa added. "I heard that shit was completely uncut. You know he spent a lot on it."

"And I will say this until the day I am put in the goddamn ground," you tensed up. "The only reason the fucker escaped is because he is white."

"Hey y'all." Another waitress walked in for her shift. "What are we talking about?"

"Cocaine." Charissa answered. “Also white privilege.”

"Great." She said dismissively. "Hey [F/N], can I scoop up that bar shift? I could really use the tips."

"Madison!" Charissa scolded. "What the fuck is wrong with you?"

"What?" Madison shrugged and glanced at you. "I didn't get any paid time off. I need the money."

"Was that supposed to be a joke?" Charissa scowled. "Are you seriously joking about her trauma?!"

"It's fine, she can have it." You rolled your eyes, then turned them to Madison. "Just know you're the reason I have survivor's guilt."

"Well now I feel bad." Madison frowned.

"Good." You and Charissa said in unison.

It was sort of comforting to get back to the script. Almost nostalgic. It provided the illusion of normalcy in an incredibly abnormal new reality.

You approached the first table in Madison’s block, hoping for a new beginning. A young woman with fiery red hair sat alone by the window.

“Hi!” You greeted, with a smile as genuine as you could muster. “My name is [F/N], I’ll be your waiter tonight.”

The woman smiled back. “Evening.”

You couldn’t tell what, but something was off. Perhaps you were trying too hard to force normalcy. Or maybe it was the borderline predatory way the woman was looking at you; like a shark following a trail of blood. Either way, the vibes were rancid.

“Can I start you off with a drink or is water okay?” You ask.

“Could I possibly trouble you for a glass of chardonnay?” She asked, lowering her eyebrows.

“Of course.” You nodded and reached for your pen.

“Actually,” She corrected herself. “If you could bring a bottle and two glasses, I’m expecting company.”

“Absolutely.” You scribble the order down on your notepad. “Do you have a preference?”

She thought for a moment. “Oh, dealer’s choice. Whatever you prefer.”

You soon returned to her booth with a bottle of your favorite chardonnay and two stemmed glasses. You poured a small bit in one glass to let her taste.

“You have wonderful tastes.” She complimented, filling her glass. “It’s very delicious.”

You rocked on your heels. “Would you like to place your order now, or do you want to wait until after your guest arrives?”

“Actually,” she repeated, filling the other glass. “My guest is already here.”

She slid the glass across the table and gestured to the other seat.

You felt stupid, but there was no way to avoid this. You couldn't just not do your job. She cornered you by the confinements of your profession.

"I really can't, I'm on the clock." You said, apologetically. The wine beckoned you. "I'm sorry, maybe another time."

"Oh, bummer." The woman placed her chin in her hand and pouted. "Well, I'm sure there's something that would make your boss look the other way."

She glanced down at your bandaged hand, then met your eyes. "The bandages are a dead giveaway, [F/N] [L/N]."

You then noticed a wire sticking from her pocket. Undoubtedly some kind of recording device. You looked at the ground. "I'm afraid I have to ask you to leave."

"But who will drink all this wine?" She asked, raising her glass.

"Ma'am." Your voice hardened as you tried to bite back an overwhelming rage. "Please leave the restaurant. I'm not going to ask you again."

Your manager, Matthew, passed by. "What's going on here?"

"This waitress is being very rude." The woman complained. "I ordered chardonnay, and she brought me chablis."

"Chablis is a type of chardonnay." You corrected. Even you found it strange that this was the hill you were willing to die on. "She asked for my preference, and I prefer the unoaked varieties."

Matthew looked confused. "Well, she's right."

You gestured to her pocket and he caught on immediately. He narrowed his eyes. "Ma'am, please leave the premises or I'll be forced to call the police."

The woman stood up, rummaged through her pockets and slapped a handful of bills down on the table. She then proceeded to drink both glasses of wine and walk away.

Matthew looked at you apologetically as he collected the bills. "Are you sure you want to be here tonight? I can call in someone to cover for you."

You shook your head and grabbed the bottle by its neck. "No, it's okay. I appreciate the concern but I really just want things to go back to normal."

"Hey!" A woman from the adjacent table called out. You prepared to immediately recant your statement about not going home.

"We like chablis." The woman said, gesturing to herself and her friend.

Her friend joined in. "And if that nosy reporter lady isn't gonna drink it..."

You glanced at Matthew, who shrugged. "Sure. It's yours."

The women exchanged delighted looks as you placed the bottle on their table. Matthew handed you a couple of clean glasses and you began to pour.

"For this wine, I suggest any of our wonderful seafood dishes." You explained, your cheeks stinging with a smile. "It also pairs quite nicely with chicken and game bird."

"Thank you." One of the women said. "If you don't mind, we'd like to take a look at the menu, please."

"Of course." You nodded. "Just flag me down whenever you're ready."

"This is why I put you behind the bar, by the way." Matthew gently scolded you as you collected the soiled glasses.

"Didn't you hear?" You said. "Madison needs the money because we can't all have paid time off."

"You should have come to me first." He sighed. "She has no right to say those things to you."

"Never stopped her before." You shrugged.

"I'll talk with her after the dinner rush." He said. "Just... try not to get cornered tonight, okay?"

"I'll do my best." You answered, flatly. “Because that’s definitely something I can control.”

The rest of your shift went smoothly, or, as smoothly as could be expected given the circumstances. The nosy reporter was right, your bandage was a dead giveaway. You had to dodge a couple of questions, but most people had enough decorum to know the wound--metaphorical and literal--was still fresh.

You said goodbye to Matthew and Charissa, collected your things and walked out to your car. You put the key in the ignition, only to find your gas tank was completely empty. You had just filled it that morning.

You bit back a scream and fought the urge to slam your head against the steering wheel. Throwing the door open, you mentally prepared yourself to either make a long trek to the nearest gas station, or beat someone up.

“Looking for this?” A smug voice said over the cicadas.

You turned around and saw the nosy reporter from before holding up a canister. A deep, blistering fury overtook your face as you slammed the car door. “You siphoned my fucking gas?”

“It’s not like you left me with much choice, [F/N].” She crossed her arms. “You’ll get it back once you answer my questions.”

You threw your head back in disbelief. “You’re Freddie Lounds, aren’t you?”

“I see I’m not the only one who does my research.” She said, looking a bit impressed. “How’d you know?”

“It’s the first thing that comes up when you search ‘unethical crime journalists Baltimore’.” You answered. “There’s a whole flair dedicated to you on the subreddit for murder survivors.”

Freddie seemed proud of herself. “Need a ride?”

“I’d rather drive off a cliff.” You said, honestly, before turning around to leave.

“Where are you going?” She walked after you.

“To get more fucking gas, you evil bitch.” You shouted back. “Are you gonna follow me to the BP too?”

“Look, I heard what you were saying to your friend.” She called out. “About white privilege.”

“Yeah,” You rolled your eyes. “It’s the same privilege that allows you to siphon a stranger’s gas and sit in a parking lot all night without getting arrested.”

“And I agree with you.” She hurried to your side, her chunky platform boots clacking against the asphalt. “They did you dirty and they’re shooting themselves in the foot by not listening to you.”

You turned around and threw up your arms. “Why didn’t you just lead with that?”

“I invited you to sit down over a bottle of wine, did I not?” Freddie chuckled.

“Cornering me at work is not a gesture of goodwill.” You huffed. “And I actually do want to put my story out there, but all you’re accomplishing by stalking me is guaranteeing you won’t be the one to do it.”

“Are you really in a position to be that selective?” Freddie smirked and placed all her weight on one hip.

You groaned. “What?”

“The Baltimore Butcher is still out there, and you won’t be the hot new victim forever.” She grinned sadistically. “Soon enough, him or some other psycho is going to strike, and your fifteen minutes of fame are up.”

“Good. Then I can go back to living my life.” You said.

“But what if his next victim is a Christian?” Freddie grabbed your shoulder. “What if the next person who narrowly avoids getting their throat slashed decides to go on record and say that he doesn’t represent ‘real Christianity’?”

You went quiet. You hadn’t considered it, but the thought of anyone downplaying his faith as a motivation made your blood boil. You looked into the man’s eyes and saw a person driven to kill for his god. A god he shared with the crusaders, conquistadors and slavers.

“...but it does. Christians colonized half the planet for--”

You stopped yourself when you saw Freddie’s smile.

“You want to get on your soapbox, now’s your chance.” She bit her lip. “Take control of the conversation while you still can.”

“Fine.” You spat. “I get off work tomorrow at four.”

Freddie shoved the gas can into your hands. “I’ll see you then.”

#hannibal lecter #hannibal nbc #hannibal x reader #hannibal x you #freddie lounds #tw christianity #will graham

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favoniuscodex · 3 years

Note

AXIAAAA. I HAVE RETURNED WITH MY COMPLETE FIC!

“Oh, they’re so graceful when fighting, you’ve got to see them in action.”

Childe/Tartaglia x GN!Reader

Word Count: 1799, excluding the bonus mini scenario (I really over did it this time..)

Warnings: Childe’s identity/spoilers once again- and, reader uses a polearm, wounds,

‘ ’ = thinking

“ ” = talking

(Y/V) = Your Vision

(Y/V/C) = Your Vision Color

(E/C) = Eye Color

Start!

(Y/N)- they come from Fontaine, someone who wields a (Y/V) vision. Bu~t, they don’t really focus on the outside world, like most people do. They don’t know about the fatui, the famous traveler, no! None of that. And here (Y/N) is, on their way to Liyue. By foot. They bring up their map and check where they are, and not very surprising, they are pretty close to Liyue Harbor. The only roadblock there is, though, is the fact that they’re in Lisha, and Lisha can be pretty darn dangerous.

‘It’s pretty peaceful here,’ they thought. ‘I don’t think much will happen though..’ Easily unclipping the (Y/V/C) pendant from their hair, (Y/N) sighs. ‘What did I do to get such gift? I don’t spend time worshipping the archons, nor do I know much about them.’ In the background, (Y/N) can faintly hear multiple activated ruin guards, a ruin hunter, + a ruin grader, and practically just war. And when they turned to see what was happening, there stood the infamous No.11 of the fatui harbingers, fighting them all at once. But hey, they don’t know what the fatui or who the main members of the fatui are. ‘Might as well help though- Some people told me that I’m quite skilled in combat.’

Materializing their polearm, (Y/N) sprints towards the scene. Childe, on the other hand, did not notice the (Y/V) user and the killing machine that somehow snuck up behind him without being noticed. (Y/N) swiftly weaves their way through the ruins, climbs onto the top of a column near the fight, and jumps onto the machine, striking the eye of the ruin guard. And now the harbinger notices, taking his eyes off of the other ruin guard. “Careful!” Quickly pulling their polearm out of the eye, (Y/N) hauls it at his previous target, paralyzing it. “Do not take your eyes off of your opponent! Any of them! You must know where they all are.” They jump down to retrieve the spear, taking a good look at the unknown man in the process. Half lidded eyes, looking like he was going to faint any moment.. A few scratches here and there, and one deep cut right below his collarbone. ‘What are you even doing here?? It’s dangerous, like hello??????’

(Y/N) sighs and quickly wipes out the remaining machines using their elemental burst. Making their way over to the hydro user, they shake his shoulders quite harshly… “Hey, hey! Stay with me, don’t close those eyes!” In response, he chuckles and falls limp into their arms, but reassure them with a small smile with fully opened eyes. “Good, thank you.. I’ll try my best to keep you conscious, alright?” (Y/N), surprisingly strong enough to carry this man bridal style, actually does so and sets him down against a ruin wall. As most people know, Childe is not very obedient. But when he’s in a pinch, the harbinger would probably choose the smart way and not make the situation worse.

(Y/N) examines the wounds a bit more, removing his grey jacket to get a closer look. “You’ve got a lot of battle scars.. Try not to be so reckless, okay?” Sighing, they continue. “The cut on your chest- it’s going to need stitches.” Shuffle shuffle. “You’re lucky I’ve got some topical anesthetic cream to numb the pain.” (Y/N) takes out a cloth and presses it to the cut, stopping the bleeding. “If you have questions, please do ask away. I’ll know that you’re conscious that way.” They finish preventing the wound from bleeding more and take out a bottle of clean water, applying it to a different soft cloth. “U-Uh..,” (Y/N)’s head slightly snaps up at the voice. “How do you know these things? You don’t seem to be the adventurous type,” the male said. Gently cleaning the wound with the wet cloth, they reply, “Many come to where I live, usually seeking help. This help, it’s mostly in the form of dealing with a wound.” Childe nods in reply, and immediately winces when (Y/N) presses the cloth a bit too hard on the cut. “Sorry,” they mumble.

Once finished with the cleaning and disinfecting step that was full of whimpers and sorry’s, (Y/N) takes out the numbing cream and spreads it around the wound. “Ask me some more questions, while we wait for the cream to take effect.”

“Well, I was wondering- what are you doing here?”

“On my way to Liyue Harber.”

“Ahh. I see.” (Y/N) easily slips the string into the needle. “Where do you come from?”

“Fontaine.” Childe hums in response. Then it hit him- Why are you helping him? Why would someone help a fatui?

“Why are you helping me?”

“Huh?? What do you mean? I couldn’t really let you die there, right..? Besides, you didn’t notice the ruin guard behind you. If I hadn’t come you would’ve already become dead meat.”

“N-No, I mean, I’m part of the fatui! And the fatui are ‘bad’, you could say..”

“But you don’t seem bad. Now tell me- do you feel anything around the cut?”

“Nope,” he says, popping the “p”. He couldn’t help but continue to wonder why.

“Alright. I’m going to start stitching now,” they mumble. “Hm.. How about you tell me about this.. Fatui.”

“Oh! Sure!” Childe begins to babble about the organization while (Y/N) focuses on quickly finishing the stitching. When they finish, (Y/N) decides that it’s finally okay to introduce themself. “I’m.. I’m (Y/N)! Oh I’m done with the stitching by the way.” They look around their bag to find some bandages, and sure enough, there’s a load. The (Y/V) user puts a finger to their lips and stares at the wound, thinking of a way to dress it. Childe, on the other hand, is lost in their (E/C) orbs. They were pretty, what could he say? Snapping out of his trance, he quickly replies with, “Ah, yeah! I’m Childe, or if you want there’s also Tartaglia, and Ajax.” Nodding, (Y/N) signals for Childe to move off of the wall, which he does, and then wraps the bandaging around his body.

“That should do,” they said, standing up and holding out a hand. “Come on, I’ll head to Liyue with you. Wait, that’s where you’re headed, right?”

“Yeah.” Childe takes the hand and stands up, brushing the dust off. “Do you have anything I can wear in the meantime? Jacket’s all.. Bloody. And kind of messed up-” (Y/N) giggles and takes an oversized coat out of their bag.

“Here you go! This should do. You can keep it, I don’t need it anyways.” He gladly accepts the coat and slips it on, relishing the coziness it brought.

“So, lets go?”

They arrive at Liyue around noon. “Thank you- perhaps we can meet up again sometime soon? I’ve got harbinger duties to do..,” Childe mumbles.

“Yep! That’s fine,” they reply, cheery. “Do take it easy though. Your wound isn’t even halfway done recovering.” The ginger nods and walks off, waving a hand. (Y/N) waves back, thinking what to do. ‘I should probably find a place to stay.. Hm.’

A week later…

“E-Excuse me!” (Y/N) grabbs the ginger’s hand. “Hi..?” Childe turns around to be met with the same (E/C)s from the other day.

“Oh! It’s you!” He smiles brightly, ruffing their hair. “How about we get to know each other? Liuli Pavilion! My treat.”

“Okay! Sounds good,” they reply, taking his hand in theirs. “Lead the way, Riptide.” Childe and (Y/N) both freeze. Had they just called him.. “Riptide?” He glances at (Y/N) who has confusion and embarrassment written all over their face.

“e-EHHHHHHH YOU HEARD NOTHINGG! NOTHING I SAY,” they quickly said.

“‘Nothing’, huh?”

“N- agHHHH FINE. Your eyes, they remind me of a riptide along with your whole look in general..,” (Y/N) mumbles, face turning redder every second. Childe finds this amusing- a skilled fighter who is completely falling apart due to an accidental nickname.

“It’s okay. I don’t mind, actually. It does sort of suit me, after all..,” he replies, quietly saying the last part. He immediately drags (Y/N) to Liuli, words seemingly to be caught in his throat.

“So correct me if I’m wrong- The fatui is an organization created by the goddess of cryo herself, the Tsaritsa. And apparently this group is.. Bad?” Childe simply laughs in response.

“You could say that.”

“Really now.”

“Mhm.”

“But- But you don’t seem like a bad person! Even if you’re a harbinger..,” (Y/N) sighs, staring into Childe’s ocean eyes(aHDHNSRDGHJM HIS EYES ARE SO PRETTY but zhongli’s eyes still remain in first place). “Alright, now onto you. You are the 11th harbinger of the fatui, said to thrive for battle. Your fatui code name is ‘Tartaglia’ and your real name is.. ‘Ajax.’”

“Correct! Wonderful wonderful..”

“And you use a bow, plus your water blades. You have two visions, but one is a delusion. One vision is hydro, and the other is electro.”

“Correct, once again! Now eat up before your qingce stir fry gets cold,” he interrupts. ‘They seem to be quite the special one.. Pretty cute too-’ Childe shakes his head, ridding of the thought. He watches (Y/N) dig into their order, more thoughts invading his mind. This time, he didn’t care- It was rare that Childe would be easily in love with someone just after a week, but (Y/N) here is a special case.

Two or three weeks later, the ginger had decided- even if it was way too early, he was sure that (Y/N) reciprocated his feelings. Bravely yet nervously striding up to their door, Childe knocks once. Twice. And 10 more times. What a great start, mister. He fumbles with the bouquet behind his back at the sight of you, nearly dropping it. “H-Hey! I hope you’re ready for what’s to come today~”

“Eh? Is today a special occasion-? Let me get dressed then-”

“Nono! What you’re wearing is perfectly fine! Now,-” Childe hands them the bouquet. “-may I take this lovely and incredibly skilled fighter on a date?” (Y/N), taken aback by his words, immediately punches him in the stomach by instinct. They didn’t really do well when it came to confessions, since most people were strangers. Quickly apologizing, they place a quick kiss on his cheek and boop his nose. “Got your answer yet?” They said, giggling. Oh how the tables have turned.. Now Childe is the one taken aback, scrambling to find the right words. Who knew that one who hails from Fontaine could fluster a one from Snezhnaya? A harbinger of all people too.

Let your imagination run wild from here! Where did Childe take you? What happened during your date? How did it turn out in the end?

Bonus(aka the title’s mini scenario): “Zhongli! Zhongli!” Childe rushed towards the funeral director, with a proud face on. “You’ve got to see (Y/N)! Oh, they’re so graceful when fighting, you’ve got to see them in action.”

“Really now?” Zhongli replied, unamused.

“Truly! C’mon, c’mon!” The ginger pushes the ombre to a waypoint, taking them to where his significant other trained.

-windwheel aster anon

CUTE but uhgfkxjgkjDJKJKSDK bestie this is so long how did u fit this all into a single ask,,, did tumblr up the character limit,

#long post #mail.childe #I CANT ADD A READ MORE HELP #//mail #PLEASE ITS SO LONG AND I CANT ADD A READ MORE AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA

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larissa-the-scribe · 3 years

Text

Sleep is For the Sane

1,800ish words

Lyn still remained quietly seated, staring into the fire, as the rest of their little group settled down and went back to their various bedrolls.

Zo sat down beside her. It was warm, and he had to prepare for his portion of the watch.

Almost an hour later, everyone else had fallen asleep, the disturbance to the peace past and forgotten in the much more important business of rest. Lyn hadn’t moved a muscle.

The blanket she had cocooned herself in was thick, warm—it also obscured the angry red lines of stitches. But Zo could still see the ends of the cuts trailing up her neck.

“Want a snack?” he asked, pulling a packet of beef jerky out of his sweater.

He expected that at least would catch her attention, considering they were in both a different world and medieval times where plastic packaging hadn’t been invented yet. She should notice, comment, ask him where he got it from, mutter something about being careful with timelines and technology. Instead, she just took the piece he handed her and nibbled on it.

He chewed his own piece in silence, considering what to say next. It wasn’t like it was any of his business to worry about her state of being. On a very technical level, it could be argued that it was. After all, the reason she had gotten to this particular state was the dramatic sacrifice that saved him. But, well, that had been her choice and it had been for everyone else, too. He hadn't been singled out, he'd just happened to be in the group as a whole. In fact, with that in mind, that made this even less his fault—he had been actively arguing against all the dumb decisions that had led up to that, to the point where someone almost had to sacrifice themselves or they'd all go down together.

And again, it had been her choice. All the noble sacrifice stuff still seemed incredibly dumb to him—that was exactly how one got nasty things happen to them under quite avoidable circumstances—but he did have to admit that he appreciated the effects of this one. Being one of the people saved by the noble sacrifice was, perhaps, giving him a different perspective.

“Sorry for waking everyone up,” she mumbled suddenly, cutting into this intriguing new thought.

He snorted. “Sorry? Why?”

She blinked and turned to him, one eyebrow raised in confusion. “You’re asking why I’m sorry for inconveniencing everyone?”

“No, I’m asking why you apparently feel guilty about something out of your control. It was a nightmare. Or night terrors. Whichever, neither are things you could have turned off.”

She shrugged, biting a bigger chunk out of her jerky. “I don’t know. I just know everyone’s been exhausted from the constant traveling, and that's kind of my fault, too, so the least they can hope for is some decent sleep, right? And everyone’s on edge, so having someone screaming in the middle of the night couldn’t have helped settle anyone. So I get your point, but it's still my fault.”

“Right. Your fault. Like us all being alive right now.”

She rolled her eyes. “I’m not going to start using that as an excuse. ‘Oh, did I do something annoying? Well, I also saved your lives so suck it up.’”

“Yeah, you really seem the type to do that.”

“Oh. Sorry, I try not—” she stopped. “You were being sarcastic.”

Zo almost laughed. “Yes, I was being sarcastic. You are probably the last person I could see pulling that stunt.”

“Thanks?” She almost smiled for a moment.

He handed her another piece of beef jerky, internally sighing. It seemed like a nice thing to do, but also he had been planning on saving the jerky for much longer. It was a very convenient back-up snack.

Wait, didn’t she skip supper?

Not my problem. She’s old enough to make her own choices. Even if they do seem consistently dumb.

I wonder how long she’s going to sit here.

“Shouldn’t you get some sleep?”

Lyn shrugged. “Probably. I don’t really want to, though.”

“I guess that makes sense.”

Well, it was an impasse then.

Since he was on watch, he was supposed to be closer to the edge of camp, and be doing stuff like walking the perimeter. But the edge of camp didn’t have a fire. It wasn’t like anyone would care, and he would hear anyone approaching them from a mile away.

Stretching his hands towards the flame for extra warmth, Zo glanced over at Lyn. She kept staring into the fire like it held the secrets to the universe or something.

Is she really going to sit here all night? Why is she so rattled? It was just a nightmare.

He handed her one more piece of beef jerky, got one for himself, and put the package away.

I suppose that’s not fair. That Inquisitor really did a number on her.

His eyes drifted to the vivid scars visible on her neck; his eyes snapped back up to her face, fighting to shut down his brain before images could come flooding in, of finding her in the castle like something out of a horror movie, covered in so much blood she was stuck to the table she’d been laid out on, of Wrade dying, of the fight with the Inquisitor, of—he dug his fingernails in the palm of his hand, returning his mind to the present.

She noticed him staring at her and looked up. “Something wrong?”

Shaking his head, he turned to look around the camp, in a nominal effort to do his assigned job, and ignore his previous train of thought. Yep. Nothing there. Shocking.

Lyn crossed her legs, pulling her blanket further around her. She struggled to do so without moving her broken arm, left hand fussing and pulling and adjusting for almost a minute.

Suddenly the caustic question from earlier—why is she so rattled?—seemed mean-spirited and selfish. She had gotten them out, but hadn’t managed to get out herself. He was still haunted by memories of the aftermath, she had been stuck there through it all.

Maybe it wasn’t his problem, but he didn’t need to be cruel about it. Besides, it wasn’t like there was anything else to do at the moment.

What did one say when trying to be nice, anyway? He cycled through several possibilities—starting with “yeah, you definitely should be getting nightmares”—before awkwardly settling on: “You want to talk about any of it?”

Lyn shivered slightly, curling further into the blanket. “I mean, there’s not really anything to talk about. I had a nightmare, I woke everyone up screaming, now I’m sitting here and enjoying the fire. That's all.”

Zo narrowed his eyes. “Wait, you’re not staying awake because you’re afraid you’ll get another nightmare and start screaming again, are you?”

Zo had long since become convinced that Lyn was physically incapable of lying. This was reinforced as her mouth flapped open and closed before she squeaked out a reluctant “noooooo?”

“Well that’s stupid,” Zo said.

Lyn huffed. “Well, like you said, whether or not I have nightmares is beyond my control, but I can control if I sleep or not.”

“That has literally zero percent to do with anything I was trying to say.”

“Maybe, but it’s true.”

“You do realize you’re being ridiculous, right? Everyone else is going to wake up, rested, and you’re going to manage fine until maybe about midday, and then you’re going to, I don’t know, faint from exhaustion or something.”

Lyn sniffed, glaring at him. “I’ve pulled all-nighters before, I’ll be fine. I’m not weak.”

Zo stared. “That’s… you’re not…” He turned towards the heavens as if seeking patience. “Lyn, you’re still badly injured from getting tortured, you haven’t eaten since lunch even though we’ve been walking all day, you got like two hours of sleep, max… whether or not you’re weak or strong is completely beside the point.”

She grimaced and looked away.

“Not to mention, Yuren will totally kill you for being an unruly patient.” Taking off his glasses, he rubbed his forehead. “The ridiculous lengths you go to in order to accommodate everyone around you, I swear…”

“Yeah?! Well… better than… than being an… insensitive jerk.”

Zo grinned. “Said with confidence, truly.”

Her figure was blurry, given that his glasses were still off, but it looked like she took a deep breath. “Sorry, that was uncalled for.”

“I know, I was deeply traumatized by such slander.”

He put his glasses back on to find her fuming.

“You’re not going to apologize again?” He said, resting his chin on his hand. “Such unfounded allegations being thrown around, and you’re not even going to take responsibility for them?”

“No,” she snapped.

“And you call me insensitive.” He shook his head, clicking his tongue in disapproval. “Now, if you’re still set on watching the fire to make sure it doesn’t walk away or something, just lie down right there. If you’re so worried about it, I’ll keep an eye on you and wake you up if it looks like you’re having another nightmare. No more screaming, no one else gets upset.”

She shot him a suspicious glance. “Really? Why?”

He shrugged. “No reason in particular. It’s not like I have a ton of stuff to do right now, I don’t want us to have to carry one of our teammates again, and it seems like a big deal to you. Even if the reasons as to why it's a big deal are a complete and utter mystery to me, that fact at least is pretty plain.”

Lyn's face scrunched, as if she planning how to explain. In the end, her face knotted further and she settled on: “but you’re not going to be on watch all night.”

“I’ll just ask the next person to do the same. Now go to sleep.”

“Well, I wouldn’t want to—”

“It’s not going to be a bother, Lyn. Literally everyone’s job is to keep watch. This falls into that category.”

They locked eyes in a staring match, before Lyn finally threw up her hands.

“Fine. You’re right.”

“I usually am,” he said, smiling in satisfaction.

Lyn rolled her eyes. “Sure. Okay. If you’ll be so kind as to allow me this favor, I’m still going to sit here for a while until I feel sleepy.”

He did his best attempt at a languid half-bow, considering he was sitting down. “Your plea has been accepted.”

Silence reigned once again as she settled back into her blanket. Part of him wanted to tease her about bad form, but he figured now wasn’t the time.

Finally, she yawned, stretched, and gingerly settled herself onto her back—a process that seemed like it would never end.

Now Zo’s back was freezing. He turned around and let the fire begin to warm his back.

“Um…” Lyn’s voice sounded even smaller than usual. “Thanks.”

He paused. For what? Was on the tip of his tongue.

“You’re welcome,” he said, nodding. If he had helped, he wasn't going to take it away by making fun of it.

A little while later, it became evident from her breathing that she had fallen asleep.

Despite having promised to “keep an eye on her,” Zo was not sure what that meant. He looked over, but he couldn’t see her face for blankets. Still, he assumed there would be thrashing around before whatever nightmares would lead to screaming. Being Keigo’s roommate through high school had taught him that.

Taking a deep breath, he stood up and stretched, and glanced down at Lyn again.

He shook his head.

Man, and I thought she had issues before.

He started walking around the camp, letting the cold wake him up.

Guess I really will have to keep an eye on her, before she gets herself killed.

Bonus:

A few nights later:

Lyn: *once again refusing to go to sleep after a nightmare, right at the beginning of Zo’s watch*

Zo: Look, I know you’re timing things just so you can talk to me more.

Lyn: I’m not—

Zo: Relax. So. What’s your opinion on zombie apocalypse movies?

More nights later:

Lyn: *has nightmare, is staring at fire*

Zo: Well, I already know you’ll be up for a while. Want some leftovers?

Lyn: Why are there leftovers?

Zo: I saved them so I could have a snack later. It was purely a whim.

Zo: *gives her 90% of it*

spoiler alert, it was not purely a whim

#whumptober 2021 #no.28 #nightmares #ocs #writing #how much of this was boredom and how much was him trying to be a good person?#unclear #he still got some character arcs to go through #I had maybe too much fun writing this #I will admit that something seems off in a few places #but overall I shall be content whatever my gremlin editor brain tells me #Zo's character arc has Begun and he doesn't even have a CLUE #they're both dorks I love them #Mercy More Than Sacrifice #Lyn Vordur #Tamaki Nozomu #Zo #Mïrmylana

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black-streak · 4 years

Text

Little Pistol - Up Down

Chapter 12

First Previous Next

Song title by Boy Epic.

Hey guys, I know its been.... 2 months since I updated this. Sorry for the long wait. Shifts at work went up to 9-12 hours each for a while. Now I'm temporarily quarantined as my father tested positive for Covid 19. Things are a bit rough but I have a lot of downtime now so I'm hoping to get some writing in. Unfortunately it's been a while so I kind of forgot what all I had planned for this fic, so I'm open to any suggestions. Thank you again for your patience.

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~---~

"You saw that, right?"

"Yeah."

"So… I'm not having delirious hallucinations steeped in caffeine and exhaustion?"

Hood whipped around to stare at him as he narrowed his eyes on the spot the apparent not apparition had disappeared from.

"How much…?"

"Not the point."

"Yo, dumbass, you won't operate at full capacity if you neglect your fucking health," Hood deadpanned, walking past him and latching onto his cape to drag Red behind him as he went.

Twisting around in the hold, he dug his boots into the gravel and gripped the clenched hand, "Shouldn't we follow him.. Her.. Them? Whatever, we should figure out what that was."

"No, we should go home and clean out your wound. We'll look into them when they make themselves known again. Trail is definitely cold by now."

"No-"

"Shut it, you're too far gone to be obsessing."

Giving in for the moment, he followed Hood back to their closest safehouse, stripping the top half of his uniform to let Jason stitch the jagged tear of skin in his lower back. As the wound wash poured over it, he spaced out on the process, trying to process the last half hour.

It'd been a normal fight. Or at least, normal for them. A group of Black Mask's men had been harassing some of the girls down by the alley. Not their usual MO, not really, but enough to piss Jason off and in turn, Tim. It'd been simple really. It didn't hurt that Hood had a history with the bastards and the target on their back wouldn't grow from a few lowers being knocked around a bit. Until one got a lucky swipe in.

Tim could tell from the silence behind him that Jason was none the wiser on what exactly happened in those brief moments from the sharp edge cutting his skin to the drop of the body behind him. They never even checked to see if the guy was alive or not. Hood had hauled him up to the fire escape, out of the way and turned back to find the remaining thugs they hadn't already knocked out booking it out of there like they'd seen actual hell displayed before them.

Down below a still figure stood in the shadows. Blood red eyes flashed up at them before the person? Disappeared from view. Poof. Gone.

As they left, no sirens could be heard. As expected in such an area, nobody had called the police. Neither could say they blamed them. This also meant they probably wouldn't ever figure out if the man who got Tim lived or not.

That wasn't the part they were thrown by though. It had seemed, if only for a second, like the person was protecting them. As if they had acted completely on instinct. It had to have been for the reaction to be so instantaneous. The swing was only halfway across his back before impact. Like they saw the attack coming before he had.

And for the life of him, Tim could not think of a single ally who'd want to protect him so fiercely, nevertheless one with glowing red eyes. Afterall, all his friends were dead.

Which meant they had another motive.

One he needed to know.

The hunt was on.

…

Marinette dropped into her new abode, dropping the rings of magic layering her skin and started the slow process of removing each piece of jewelry to clean and lay back into its proper resting place.

She used three tonight. Just the three. Though with how they had worked within her, she knew a change was needed. Sass and Trixx had waged war within her through the night, neither agreeing nor properly disputing every shift in magic, every decision made, every single change in the wind. Nothing was agreed upon.

Her eyes roved across the three pieces of the night before carefully picking up the bracelet to be deposited within the hidden box along with Trixx's necklace.

If Trixx couldn't settle within her while combining with others, it could never work. She'd need another.

Carefully mulling over another she raised it slightly for Plagg to look over.

The little cat kwami met her eyes only to nod his assent. If she could feel, perhaps she'd regret denying Plagg's request for rest. She didn't actively use him unless necessary, like tonight, usually only using him for more passive powers. Powers He never knew or bothered to discover. Plagg hadn't questioned her decision. The fact still stood that he was the only one who understood. Somehow, she knew he wouldn't hold it against her.

Releasing an unknowingly held breath, she closed up the box, sealing the top of the sewing basket over the hidden compartment that housed the kwamis.

Longg settled against her collar, not bothering an attempt to talk, simply along for the ride. Not many of the kwamis tried anymore.

Dinner was a slow, arduous task. Bland and thoughtless, but necessary. It was only after that she washed up and settled in for the night.

Maybe a year ago this would feel like a great adventure. A monumental pinnacle of her newfound freedom and adulthood. Instead, it just felt hollow.

For a moment. Just a moment, she felt alive. Watching him. Saving him. Meeting his eyes in the dark and knowing he saw her. The thrill of protecting someone she had cared about. It had reminded her of something she once held dear. She couldn't recall it now, but she knew it then. She knew her reason to keep going. If only she felt it now. If only she could recall that instance, to find out what it really meant. Now her insides seemed carved out and numbed over into a frostbitten tundra, but she knew something had filled her if only for an instance. She needed it. To feel it again and again and again until maybe it found every darkened, rotted out crevice and brought life into the seemingly never-ending emptiness.

Whether it truly had to do with Red Robin himself or just managed to latch onto the familiar figure, she didn't know, but she knew she wouldn't be able to move on until she found out.

#maribat #timinette #timari #Dark!timinette #ml x dc

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enigmainvestigations · 3 years

Text

AO3 post: ??? Series link: ???

Some of the paint was chipping off the mural. Its massive length spanned almost the entire wall of the walkway, making it almost fifteen feet long. The painting was rather crude in its depiction of the island, juvenile, as if it was created by an unskilled artist. Most of it was large blue strokes to represent water, with a large slab of green floating in the middle in an attempt to resemble the island. Blots of green brush strokes depicted trees, with blue four-leafed flowers speckling the landscape. The island was void of any buildings, except for a tiny mansion perched on the top of the green blob. At least the artist hadn’t taken too much liberty with the scale and hadn’t tried to make the mansion appear much larger than it should. There was tiny writing next to the mansion. It read: "Gotham House of Madness and Ill Humors"

Edward Nigma took a step back from the mural and concluded that perhaps it wasn’t supposed to be some beautiful depiction of a rich family’s property. But it did seem odd. What was the point of the mural if it was only going to be a slab of green painted over a slab of blue? And that begged the question: why was it painted at all? He tilted his head to look down the walkway to the mural’s end and heard someone call his last name from the hall behind him. They were far away, and he decided he didn’t need to hurry with his examination. Looking down to the other end of the mural, he saw there was a tiny blotch in the water, and Edward assumed it was supposed to be a boat. Strange to paint only one, he thought.

“Nigma.” The voice called again. This time it was much closer, and followed by the sounds of heavy footsteps advancing in his direction. They slowed as the orderly drew nearer and came to a stop at his side. “I know you heard me calling you. If ya wanna know what I think, that’s not the best way to start your first day in the wing.”

Edward ignored him and lifted a finger to point at the mural. “I’ve never seen this before.”

The orderly looked at the mural and shrugged. “Welp, you’ve never been in this wing before.”

“Doesn’t it seem strange to you?” Edward asked.

“Out of all the strange things I see in this building, it’s probably on the least strange side a’ things.” The orderly shifted his feet and waved a hand in front of Edward’s face to break his concentration on the painting. “You can stare at this later, alright? Dr. Leland wants ta see you.”

Edward found that odd. He had spoken to her yesterday morning, and she had implied it’d be a while before they’d speak again. A chime broke out over the loudspeakers, signifying the guard shift change. Edward let out a deep sigh and turned toward the orderly, noting the slight show of fear in his eyes. “Alright then, ready when you are.”

The man looked suspicious, yet grateful of Edward’s compliance. “Thanks, Edward. I’ll escort you over there.”

Normally, that suggestion would get on Edward’s nerves. It was understandable that a patient might need supervision, but it always felt like they were implying he needed babysitting, as if he’d fall down the elevator shaft if he was left on his own. Currently, though, he didn’t mind the offer. Not all of the guards were aware of his transfer, and the last thing he needed was for one to spot him and sound the alarm in fear of his attempted escape. That was the last thing he wanted, he didn’t feel like being tackled to the ground today.

As the two men proceeded down the hallway, the vapid sound of speech hit Edward’s ears. He was coming to the decision he didn’t like this ward as much as the Rutan Wing. Initially, he’d found the more populated wing to be more exciting. The groups of people were a welcome change after his previous surroundings outside the asylum, but those feelings were wearing off quickly. At least the Rutan Wing was quiet and mostly empty. It wasn’t entirely a “Wing” of the asylum, just a smaller ward, but his room had a decent view of the Trigate Bridge. The dayroom was typically empty, and he’d spent most of his time reading or listening to the guard’s radio at the security station. At the time, he felt that the lack of activity was dull, and he was itching for a change in the environment.

But, last night the orderlies and guards had come to his room and said he was being transferred. He’d assumed they were taking him to a more secure area of the asylum. But they’d brought him here, the wing at the front; the least secure wing in the whole building. At first, he’d seen this as an achievement. If Dr. Leland was moving him to the front wing, it must be a statement about his progress. That he could be trusted with less supervision, and that he was getting better. He’d never even seen these wards before, and it was fascinating to see how the non-threatening patients experienced the asylum. They were allowed to wander around the halls freely -- well, mostly freely. But, it was certainly much more freedom than Edward was used to on this island.

The issues that arose became clear rather fast. Since the other patients had more freedom, it meant he had to interact with them more than usual, and they interacted with him with much curiosity. He started to find the chatter, noise, and hectic energy of the ward unsettling. So unsettling that he found himself wandering the halls until he found a spot where the echoing voices were much quieter. His tiny room in Rutan was starting to sound like paradise compared to this.

The orderly motioned Edward down the hall that led to the main clerical offices. He’d been there a few times during his frequent lock-ups in the facility. Usually, it was during his multiple escapes from his cell -- either breaking into offices to snoop for information, or for stealing certain supplies to aid in a more dramatic escape from the asylum. He’d always enjoyed watching the police and guards try to figure out how he’d disappeared, or how he’d gathered the supplies to enact his theatrical exit. It had always been an exciting experience being here, until the Bat had designed him a new cell. Then he began to understand why the others disliked their confinement in Arkham so deeply.

The two men stopped at Dr. Leland’s office door, and Edward watched as the orderly knocked and opened the door for him to enter. “Nigma is here for his appointment, doctor.”

Dr. Leland thanked the orderly and motioned for Edward to sit in the guest seat in front of her desk. Sitting down, he made himself comfortable, though it was mostly for appearances. Dr. Joan Leland wasn’t an unintelligent woman, regardless of her sense of morality that certainly made her do stupid things. She was one of the “good ones,” believing that the patients in this asylum were capable of rehabilitation and living normal lives. This belief had remained firm, even after the magnitude of evidence she’d witnessed that proved she might be wrong.

Edward watched the doctor finish filing some paperwork, and he resisted the urge to fidget his fingers. Dr. Leland was smart and observant; she would certainly notice his unease. But Edward knew that she also didn’t do things without reason, and there were too many odd occurrences to indicate something was going on with his situation. Putting a file away in her desk drawer, the doctor finally looked at him -- right in the eye, as she usually did.

“Hello, Dr. Leland,” Edward said, trying to sound casual.

“Hello, Edward. How are you liking the Thayer Wing?” Dr. Leland asked with her typical direct approach.

“It's okay.”

“Just okay?” Dr. Leland arched her brow.

It looked like she found that in conflict with what she’d assumed, so Edward adjusted. “I'm enjoying the broader freedoms. I spent all morning in the library, that was enjoyable.”

Dr. Leland eyed him closely. She did this quite often, and it was obvious she did so when she was trying to decipher if Edward was lying. “That's good, I had a feeling you'd take advantage of that amenity immediately.” She scribbled down a few notes, then gave him a calm smile. “How are you adjusting to the people? The wing is much more populated than what you’re used to, has that been a concern?”

“No.” Edward lied.

Dr. Leland didn’t catch the deception and began writing down a few more notes in his file. “I see. I know it's just been one day, but how do you feel about the new schedule?”

Edward found that a bit strange. He hadn’t been told of any schedule changes, but he decided not to dwell on it. “It's alright.”

The doctor nodded and flipped through a few pages in his patient logs. “I see your stitches were removed… you have a clean bill of health.” Signing off on some of the papers, she finally looked him in the eye again. “Are you still in communication with Ms. Quinzell?”

“No,” Edward said, a slight chuckle in his voice.

“Really?” Dr. Leland’s brow arched again.

Edward sighed. “You monitor everything I do, doc. You'd know before I would if she was trying to get in contact with me.”

The doctor leaned back in her seat, tapping her pen between her fingers as she examined him and Edward examined her in return. It seemed strange that she was more concerned about his contact with Harley than his adjustment to the new wing. He was starting to feel like she was going down some kind of checklist, but for what, he couldn’t imagine.

“If she does try to contact you, what would you do?”

Edward huffed. “I doubt she would, but I would just tell her to leave me alone.”

“You would?”

“Yes,” Edward answered, annoyance showing in his voice. “I'm sorry, doc, but what is going on here?”

“What makes you think something is?” After the words left her mouth, she appeared to catch herself and waved an apologetic hand in his direction. “I'm sorry, Edward. Sometimes it’s difficult to get my mind to drop old habits with you.” Dr. Leland set her pen down and rested her elbows on the desktop. “Edward, we had our meeting with the superintendents today. When Dr. Young heard about your progress, she was very impressed.”

That wasn’t the answer he was expecting, and he found himself confused on how best to respond. “Is that a good thing for me?”

Dr. Leland paused, and her eyes averted from Edward’s for a brief moment. “Things are being run differently here now. With new head doctors, new procedures --”

“Yeah, yeah, I know.” Edward cut her off. “Jerry is dead, and now things are different. I’ve heard all of that enough since I’ve been back. Can I ask you to please skip the public relations speech and just get to the point? Or would that request be considered part of my unproductive personality traits?”

“You're being released, Edward.” The doctor said flatly.

“I'm what, now?”

Dr. Leland paused again and folded her fingers together in an attempt to seem more forthcoming. “The head doctors think that, since you've progressed in your treatment, and you aren't exhibiting any aggressive tenancies -- they think you're a good candidate for the supervised release program.”

Edward stared at her, his disbelief apparent on his face. He let out a small chuckle. “This is a joke. This has got to be a joke, right?”

“No, it's not a joke.”

His eyes narrowed and his mouth was slightly agape as the weight of what she’d said set in. “Have you all gone insane? Has everyone in this building lost their minds? You can't release me.”

Dr. Leland jumped on that statement, quickly adding, “Why is that, Edward?”

“I can't go out there! I'm me!” he exclaimed, though tightly gripped the armrests of his chair to control his temper. Dr. Leland was watching him closely, her eyes searching for something as if she was looking for a clarification of some sort. Edward could feel his pulse rising and a tremble beginning in his hands. He leaned forward and spoke calmly, yet directly. “Look me in the eye, doc, and tell me you think I'm ready to be a part of society.”

The doctor contemplated that question for a moment before averting her eyes again. “You are no longer a danger to yourself or to others. That is the major reason you were the property of the state.”

Edward scoffed. “Oh, so now that I'm not dangerous I'm suddenly not "crazy" anymore, and I get kicked out?”

Dr. Leland’s eye very subtly twitched. “That's the way the rules work.”

Edward’s grip tightened on the armrests, his eyes darting around as his mind tried to come up with a solution. “Can I re-admit myself?”

“We're an asylum for the criminally insane, Edward, so, no. But you can admit yourself to a different hospital.”

“I can't believe this,” he said as he threw his hands up in exasperation.

Dr. Leland leaned forward, and lowered her voice in an attempt to calm him. “Edward, I know this is frightening. But you will have another doctor to continue to help you adjust --”

“I don’t want another doctor, I want you to be my doctor!” He noticed a somber realization flicker in her eyes, and he tried to slow his breathing. She had been his most frequently appointed doctor whenever he was at the asylum, and, once he’d made the decision to reach out, she’d been willing to listen to him. But that had taken years of sessions, years of him playing with her mind and refusing to speak. He’d had time to observe her, and he knew she would honestly provide assistance. The thought of talking with someone new was inconceivable.

Edward released his grip on the chair and rested his elbows on the desktop in front of him. “Do you have any idea how hard it was for me to just -- to start taking this seriously, and start letting my guard down?”

Dr. Leland leaned in more as well. “I know that was very hard for you, and I know that you can do it again.” Her expression was strong, as if she was trying to show him how much she believed those words. “Your new doctor won’t have as many patients, they’ll be able to give you more personalized care. It will be better for you.”

“Who are they?” Edward asked in a huff, “Who is my new doctor?”

A hint of sadness flared in Dr. Leland’s eye, and she tried to cover it up with a small smile. “I’m not sure, yet.”

“Wonderful.” He sighed and flopped back in his chair.

“Edward, you can do this,” she said, and her strong expression returned. “You need to keep reminding yourself why you wanted to make a change in your life. Keep that as your cornerstone, and try not to lose focus.”

He shook his head, still in disbelief, “I don’t… have anywhere to go.”

Dr. Leland gave him another sad smile. “You’ll be put on an assistance program. They’ll help you find a place to live, a place to work, and you’ll have some money to help you pay your bills.”

Edward chuckled at that. Yeah, I bet plenty of landlords in this city will be jumping at the chance to have you as a tenant, his thoughts chimed in, and he immediately tried to ignore them.

“How long?” He asked.

“I’m sorry?”

“How long until you all kick me out of here?”

“It takes about a week to get all the paperwork in order.” Noticing the cynical look on his face, Dr. Leland continued, “You can spend that time wisely. You should be thinking about what profession you’d like to go into.”

“What?” That statement yanked him from his internal thoughts.

“Well, you won’t be a criminal, and you’ll have a stamp of approval from the asylum. You should start considering what you’d like to do for employment. You’re very good at gathering information, perhaps you could be a journalist, or a researcher for one of the papers.”

Edward began fidgeting in his chair, and the trembling in his hands started to die down. That was a thought, but completely out of the question. If he was going to be out on the streets, the news of his release was going to spread like a wildfire in the underworld. And working for any news outlet would put him too close to the criminal activity in the city. That line of work would be unreasonably dangerous for him at the moment, but the suggestion had triggered his thoughts to wander. There were other professions he could get involved in, especially if he wanted to stay off of everyone’s radar.

Despite what the state might intend, he was sure they were going to have difficulty finding even a grocer that would allow him to mop their floors for a few measly cents a week. He could already see the hurdles they would have to jump through to find him employment, and something he’d heard on the guard’s radio in Rutan snuck into his memory. The city was desperate for new business owners after all the carnage on the streets the last few months. Many people had had to close down, and migration into the city had trickled down to nothing. The newscaster on the radio often mentioned the officials’ constant complaining about the dwindling funds in the budget.

His doctor shifted in her seat, and the movement pulled him out of his thoughts. She was staring at him, still examining him with those searching eyes. Dr. Leland normally would allow him to get lost in his thoughts, and she rarely interrupted him when he did. But, this time, she looked more curious than usual.

“Did that help calm you down, Edward?” She asked.

He slowly let out a breath, “Yeah.”

“Good. Just remember, you have more possibilities now than you did before, and many more options at your disposal. You don’t have to leave here and get lost again.”

Edward looked her in the eye, “Can I ask for something?”

“That depends on what it is.”

“Can I have some reading material?” Seeing her apprehension, he swiftly explained. “I just want to refresh my memory on the laws, and the current services available for opening a business.”

Dr. Leland tilted her head. “I don’t see why we couldn’t get you some books on the requirements. However, you’re going to have a lot of paperwork to go through the next few days. There is a lot of information you’ll need to get familiar with concerning the current services available to the survivors.” She picked up her pen and scribbled down something on one of her notepads. “I’d suggest you read through all of it, no matter how daunting the volume might be. Those conditions and services apply to you, too, remember.”

He gave a weak shrug. “I’ve never been intimidated by large volumes of information, doctor.”

She attempted to hide a smirk, and gave him a stern look. “Read through all of it, Edward.”

“Okay, fine. I’ll read through it.”

She nodded her approval, then turned her attention down to her notes. She pretended to contemplate them for a moment, and then looked back up at him and fixed her gaze with his. “I know we already went over this, but I’d like to go back to the subject of Ms. Quinzell.” She ignored Edward’s eye roll and set his large patient file aside. “It is a source of concern for me, Edward. I want to ensure that I have explained my position fully before you leave this facility.”

“What else is there --” Edward stopped himself, and his lips thinned. Taking a deep breath, he let it out and motioned for her to continue. “I’m sorry, doc. Go ahead, what is your concern?”

Dr. Leland seemed pleased with his composure. “I know you said you aren’t going to be in communication with her, but you haven’t ever fully explained why you two were in such close communication while she was here. The two of you haven’t ever been hostile toward each other, but you two also never paid much attention to one another. My concern is that something is going on.” She set her pen back down, and her shoulders slumped. “I’m not trying to pry into your personal business, but I’m afraid that if she contacts you then you will talk to her. I don’t think that is a good idea.”

Edward nodded and opened his mouth to speak, but Dr. Leland beat him to it.

“You are doing the hard work to try to live a better life. Ms. Quinzell spent her time here exhibiting her usual behavior, and then escaped from the facility. In my opinion, she is not on the same path that you are, and any communication with her would be detrimental to your rehabilitation.”

Edward fidgeted in his seat and nodded again. “I know, doctor. I think my reluctance to talk about this situation might have given you the wrong idea. Harley and I just -- we had very different experiences during the lockdown. I know it will sound cruel of me to say so, but I was genuinely really surprised that she survived. I was just curious how she did, that’s all. Honestly, doc, that’s it.”

Dr. Leland wasn’t buying that explanation, Edward could see it on her face, so he kept going. “And, I felt like I could talk to her about our experiences. It was easier to discuss it with her, since she was there, albeit under different circumstances, considering her side.”

Dr. Leland perked up, but she did a decent job of not letting her eagerness show too much, “You spoke to Ms. Quinzell about your time on the island?”

“Yeah. As I said, it was easier to talk to someone who already knew a lot of the circumstances.”

“Did it help to talk to her?”

“Kind of. Not really, actually.” Edward ruffled his hair, mentally kicking himself for bringing up the subject. “She understood some things, but -- I mean, it helped at first, but, now, I don’t know.” Edward adjusted his glasses and looked his doctor in the eye. “You don’t have to worry about me talking to her. Harley made her position quite clear, she has no intentions of quitting her criminal behavior. I don’t even see why she’d contact me, since I made my position clear as well.”

Dr. Leland stared at him in silence. She wasn’t showing any tells, but Edward could see it: she was still suspicious. Eventually, she stood from her seat and gave him a final look, “If she contacts you--”

“I won’t speak to her,” Edward confirmed.

The doctor nodded and picked up his patient file, setting it on the filing cabinet behind her. “I apologize for having to cut this discussion short, but I have a patient to assess. I’ll see to it that we get you those legal texts. If you need anything from me, just tell one of the nurses or the orderlies that you’d like to speak with me.”

Edward agreed and stood from his chair. The doctor stepped around her desk, and Edward moved backward toward the wall to keep a safe distance between them. Watching him, a smile crept across Dr. Leland’s lips. “You don’t need to keep your distance from me, Edward. You’re not in Intensive anymore.”

Hearing her words, he felt a bit foolish. He nodded to her to show that he understood, but remained standing by the wall. Dr. Leland took a step toward him, her smile shifting to a calmer one. “You’ll be alright. Just try not to let your negative thoughts hold you back, and stay on course. If you need me --”

“Yeah, don’t worry. I know where you work, I’m sure I can find you if I need you.” Edward said, triggering a small chuckle from Dr. Leland.

He walked with her out of the office, and she motioned for one of the guards to get Edward an escort. “So, thinking of making your own business. What line of work were you thinking of going into?”

Edward gave her a weak smile, “Finance.”

Dr. Leland gave him a suspicious look, but returned the smile. “Not a bad idea. Lots of money to be had in the world of taxes.”

“Yeah, that’s why I decided I should brush up on the laws.” Despite his honesty, she still looked concerned, though she didn’t voice it. She bid him good day, instructed him to follow the rules, and he watched as she hurried off down the hall to her next appointment. It took a few moments before an orderly showed up to take him back to his wing in the asylum, and he found himself bewildered again. He wasn’t used to being treated with so much lack of concern, and it was beginning to make him feel nervous.

As the two walked back to the Thayer wing, the orderly tried to make some small talk, though his choice in subjects made Edward quickly lose what little interest he’d had in the discussion. As they arrived at the heavy dividing door, the orderly motioned for Edward to go ahead of him and locked the security door behind him with a loud clang. The wandering patients took note of Edward’s return, and he hurried back to the empty hall to avoid the curious stares. His eyes landed on the mural immediately, and he slowed his pace as he walked up to it.

He found himself staring at the tiny, lone boat in the water, and a different sensation hit him. As he looked over the painting, he found that it had a charm to it he hadn’t noticed the first time. The starkness of the island felt calming, and the little blue flowers didn’t look so juvenile now. The blue void of the water was serene, as if it was a protective barrier surrounding the land. He was starting to feel like he understood what the artist was trying to convey. It was something that didn’t require masterful artistic skills to explain, which was probably why they didn’t bother. The island was a sanctuary from the outside world, a tiny home locked away by a river of water. Somewhere where the struggles on the lands surrounding it couldn’t touch. Though the mansion at the top still looked creepy.

Oh, so you’re happy being locked away on islands now? The thought came from nowhere, and he willed it to stop, but his mind persisted. The outside world is too frightening for you, so now you want to be like whatever patient painted this? Locked away in a cage where you’re safe, so the scary bad men can’t hurt you anymore?

His eyes narrowed as his temper began to rise. That wasn’t it, he just wasn’t ready to leave yet. Despite what the doctors said, he knew he hadn’t made enough progress. There were too many issues he was dealing with. He kept telling himself to keep things simple. To keep his world small, and not worry about the larger issues at hand. It wasn’t an emotional decision, it was a logical one. He wasn’t being a coward.

But he couldn’t shake the feelings, now that the thoughts had pointed them out. It could be that he was scared. That he was wasting valuable time sitting around in this cold building. The doctors didn’t want him here, and he’d lost his sanctuary of isolation from the other patients. He wondered why he felt so desperate to stay.

It’s because you’re afraid of what waits outside these walls, his thoughts concluded.

All at once, the mural in front of him had lost its appeal, and he had the impression of being right back where he’d started.

#writing post #Extra episodes #Prequel episode #canon post #Season 1 episodes #eddie post

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thoughtfullyyoungduck · 4 years

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And he said, I hope you know how to swim

A/N: this is for the gift exchange from @itfandomprompts! My giftee is @iheartthoreau who asked for shy skinny dipping lovers and jealous Eddie. I’m sorry it’s out so late, I hope you enjoy it anyway!

Summary: The Derry midnight breeze is freezing, Eddie notes, still dressed in a shirt and pants and dreading having to get rid of them. He’s bare foot now, standing on top of the quarry and peering down into the glinting lake. Next to him, also bare foot, Richie looks over his shoulder, and laughs, bright and innocent.

warnings: skinny dipping, mentioned of nudity (but nothing graphic)

read on a3o

The atmosphere of six best friends who’ve just moved past the worst stages in their life cackles in Eddie’s brain.

He’s buzzed up, energized beyond all logic by the laughter and loving gestures so carelessly tossed around in their group. Pennywise is dead, and with it the looming threat following each of them around and the teasing unhappiness hinting at what they were missing but not giving any clues as to what.

It’s all over now, and a road full of new opportunities lays ahead of them. Everyone is acting loose, ecstatic with the weight that fell off their shoulders. Eddie’s feeling a tad guilty too, for calling Myra and informing her that way about their upcoming divorce that he’s going to set in motion as soon as he’s had a good night sleep, but he felt so brave after surviving a literal killer clown, that he wanted to get it over with as soon as possible.

A part of him was also frightful that he’d lose his courage, between now and getting home, that he’d look around his house and accept that this was all he was destined for, a mediocre life with a wife he didn’t love and a job that sucked the joy out of all employees. Myra deserved better though, and that’s why Eddie’s guilty eyeing his phone, debating on calling her back. He won’t take back what he said, because he’s relieved to have put it out in the open, but he’s unsure if he should have been more empathetic towards her feelings in all of this. If he should have ended the call after telling her to take care.

Bev notices his wandering eyes from where she seated beside him on the couch, the woman still laughing a stitch, shifting forward and hiding his phone in between seat cushions. Out of sight out of mind so to speak.

‘We’ve got time to worry about it tomorrow Eddie.’ She says, and she’s right. Tomorrow both him and Bev will have to deal with the intricacies of divorce and separating a company and a home. Tonight is reserved for the losers only.

‘Yeah Eds, and here I was assuming that after twenty years we’d have some stuff to catch up on.’

Richie regards him from the floor, legs tossed up upon the couch with his body upside down. His glasses are sliding off, but he’s lazy to fix them, so he looks like even more of a goofball than normal. If Eddie could, if he didn’t feel like his intentions would be even more noticeable if he did, he’d scoot over to Richie, adjusting his glasses and letting his fingers trail his cheek and bask in the skin to skin contact.

‘You never did anything interesting before we went to college, what makes you think you’ve done something interesting after?’ Eddie’s tongue is sharp, a façade he builds to stop speculation about his feelings towards Richie, though the truth is that he is intrigued and he craves to know every small detail about his life outside of Derry.

‘No you guys are not starting this again. I’m sick of your bickering,’ Bill interjects, rolling his eyes at the pair.

‘I reject that big Bill, we’re hilarious, you can’t be sick of us bickering when you haven’t had the pleasure of hearing it for the last twenty years. Michael, back me up here buddy.’

‘Sorry Rich, I’m not getting involved in the slightest.’

‘Yeah guys come on, can’t we have one quiet night in?’

‘What so Eddie can just call me boring and I’m supposed to let it slide? Me? I’m the fireworks on the Fourth of July, the highest roller coaster in the park and the whipped cream on strawberries, but I am not boring.’ Richie changes positions, almost accidentally knocking over his beer bottle. He theatrically waves his arms back and forth, trying to animate his words and add conviction.

‘Okay, okay you’re not boring, but don’t overrate yourself either. The most adventurous thing you ever did in high school was skip a class to read a comic book in the school’s bathroom. Not exactly daredevil behavior.’

Bev sips from her whiskey, winking at Richie whose face turns beet red for a reason Eddie can’t decipher. It’s not until Bev conspicuously blows out a gust of air with her lips puckered that Eddie connects the dots.

‘Didn’t you say you ditched because you were smoking with Beverly? Dude did you fucking lie about that? I was worried you’d die and get cancer ever since that day you piece of shit.’

‘No I definitely did smoke. I swear.’

‘You’re not kidding anyone Rich, I vouched for you all those years ago, but I’m not doing it again. Little Richie was a comic book nerd who just pretended to be really cool. We never ever smoked together.’

The losers all holler, clapping their hands together and cheering on the exposure of their foulmouthed friend, debunking all the story Richie apparently made up where he and Be had to sneak out at night to smoke inconspicuously, with the exception of Eddie and Richie. Eddie, because he’s busy glaring at Richie and Richie because he’s busy tapping Bill’s hand away, teasingly disheveling his hair.

Eddie wishes he was brave enough to give these little affections to his friend, especially after witnessing how soothed Richie got when Eddie hugged him after Neibolt, when he had dropped his face into the nape of Eddie’s neck and stayed there, swaying on his feet of exhaustion. It would only make him a good friend, a best friend, but Eddie is still so damn afraid.

He might have had the power to separate from his wife and kill an abstract form of his deepest fears, but Bowers angry yelled words, such as fairy and faggot, swung to his head any time he and Richie graveted closer while walking, haunt him even now.

Touching is off limits the words tell him, so he shows affection the only way he’s ever known towards Richie, by bickering and pulling pigtails.

‘I should have expected that.’ Eddie nods vehemently, laughing as Richie’s mouth drops open in a shocked manner.

‘Are you kidding me? Eddie Spaghetti is the one telling me I’m a loser?’

Eddie flips him off, ignoring Mike’s whispered; ‘he’s got a point’, in favor of levitating his full attention on Richie. The giggling in the room elevates an octave higher.

‘You all laugh’, Richie addresses the entire group, ‘but was I not the one who came up with the idea for the list?’

Abruptly, all sounds snap off, as everyone is snapped back to the past. Even Richie is, at face value, confused about the word he spoke, until the concept and creation of the list is brought to the forefront of everyone’s mind.

‘Holy shit.’

‘Oh my god Mike please tell me you still have it.’

Mike shakes his head with a far-off look. ‘Sorry guys, I don’t know who had it last but I never found it again.’ He’s saddened by it, like he did them all an injustice by not holding on to a flimsy piece of paper.

The List, capital L, was nothing more but a checklist, composed with all the fun and dangerous things the losers all had hopes of doing after graduating high school. Eddie remembers now, the hushed laughter and uncompromisable joy that came with the simple idea of these things, how everyone pitched in and added dare after dare while him and Stan exchanged glances and hoped to god that some things would never be executed.

‘That’s okay Mike, I’m just happy we can all remember making it.’ Ben smiles reassuringly Mike’s way, who smiles back and takes a deep breath.

‘Wait, I think I can recall some of the things we wrote on there. Hold on’, Bev squeezes her eyes shut and snaps her finger in the hope it will get to her faster. ‘Oh’, she exclaims, startling Bill who chokes on his own saliva, ‘we were going to visit Europe, do a high rope parkour, rock climb and some other things I can’t remember right now.’

‘Didn’t we also agree to volunteer in a hospital and go camping in the national forest?’ Ben asks, awaiting confirmation.

‘Yeah we did, Stan was throwing a fit over going camping because of the environment and the dirt, but we were well on our way to convince him.’

‘Wow,’ Richie breathes, chest puffing up and head dropping back into the couch so his face isn’t visible to the rest. ‘I forgot all about that, but come to think of it, I’m pretty sure I did most of those things with Bryan.’

And who the fuck is Bryan? Certainly not Eddie, sweating in fear from the things that were being listed, searching for the most extreme dares he’d seen happen on tv to suggest, doing anything he could to impress Richie. Eddie was terrified of most of the activities on the list, like Bev’s idea to waterski in the ocean, or Mike’s zip lining idea, but he would have done them if it meant he could bask in Richie’s attention, impress Richie to rid himself of scared baby Eddie was so sure he must have been in Richie’s eyes. So who the hell was this Bryan stealing his thunder like that?

‘Who’s Bryan?’ Bev inquires with a smirk, winking at Richie blush ridden face. Eddie’s jealousy rears its ugly head, flaring up and making his head woozy. He simultaneously both considers choking Bev and thanking her for the question.

With Richie’s secret fresh on his mind, the way he’d so shamefully admitted that he was gay and they were the first people he’d ever found the courage to tell, Eddie wondered if Bryan was perhaps someone Richie had been romantically involved with.

Richie would have deserved it, Eddie argues in his mind, to at least for a short period of time have someone love him back as fiercely as he dons it out, but Eddie’s also furious that he stole Richie out from under his nose.

Which is illogical, because even if he and Richie had managed to stay in touch, and Eddie confessed – not much chance there, as Eddie didn’t even tell anyone he was gay when Richie did - there was no guaranty that Richie would’ve reciprocated.

‘No one snoopy’, Richie argues with a jittery leg, ’just some guy I hung out with for a while.’

Bev appears unconvinced, but she’s also respectful towards Richie's decision to not say anything. ‘So which ones did you complete?’

‘I went to Europa senior year of college, smoked a bunch of weed, went zip lining. The normal kind of stuff.’

Zip-lining, or smoking weed for that matter, causes Eddie skin to crawl, not that he’d ever admit it. He hates that that’s not the case for Bryan.

‘Well thanks Rich, none of us ever did anything on the list without the other losers. I guess you didn’t miss us too much.’ It’s not fair, of course it’s not. He can tell by the eagerness to spend time together that Richie was very lonely, and experienced the same aching emptiness where his friends were supposed to be as the rest of them.

The bitter tone of Eddie's speech, and the way Richie’s eyes turn a little dimmer extinguishes the fire of Eddie’s envy. Richie deserves better than him in every way. An apology lies at the tip of his tongue, ready to jump into the open and hopefully aid the wounds before they’re fully developed.

Sensing the impending hurricane of trouble on the horizon Mike is eager to intervene, playing mediator for two forces that are about to collide. ‘Well I mean, we probably wouldn’t have gone through with most of them anyway.’

‘Speak for yourself’, Eddie waves him off, spiteful that Mike has a good point. He would have found a way to undermine their plans and make it so that he could back out without appearing like a meek lamb, for at least half of the activities. If he had known about Bryan’s existence though, he would have done anything. He feels ready now to do anything, to one up him and establish his spot as Richie’s number one.

‘Prove it,’ Bill dares with a lopsided smirk, certain he’s got Eddie beat. He sustains eye contact, reaching for the bag of chips on the table and gnawing on it with the most smug aura Eddie has ever witnessed him having.

‘I would’, Eddie defends fiercely, ‘but we can’t do any of the things in Derry.’

‘Sounds like a cop out to me.’

‘Yeah, sure Big Bill, because you can easily find a zip line here in Derry. The town that refused to spend money on renewing the library back in the eighties is no doubt going to have that installed by now.’

‘What about skinny dipping?’ Ben proposes innocently, having no idea the kind of strain he’s putting Eddie under.

‘That’s a great idea Ben, I forgot we put that one on the list.’ Beverly acknowledges despite Eddie’s frantic head shaking. The room temperature drops down and rises back up steadily, at least according to Eddie. He’s starting to sweat, something he never does and takes pride in – in the office he’s the level headed one, and that’s saying something – and he pulls at his collar to allow some air to ventilate.

Everything except that. A swim in a dirty lake that was most likely infected was a whole plate of different bacteria, and being naked in front of the man he’s in love with is not something Eddie is particularly fond of. He almost asks for a different thing to do, but that would truly be a cop out, and he both refuses to back down in front of Richie and give Bill the satisfaction of being right.

‘Good luck with that Eds, question before this all goes down, am I allowed to use this in my next bit?’

‘Actually,’ Bev interrupts, ‘I think you should join him too.’

‘Hey I wasn’t the one that said I’d be willing to do anything.’

‘No, but you were the one who added it on the list in the first place. C’mon Richie, It’ll be fun. For us, not for you guys, but we’ll get a good laugh out of it.’

Richie is hesitant, same as Eddie, readjusting his glasses again. Eddie is sure that if he says the word Richie will tell everyone to back down for him. He wouldn’t even make fun of Eddie for it, should Eddie give any indication that he wouldn’t want him too. He thinks back to Bryan, and how he wouldn’t have backed down for such a thing, and how in awe Richie must have been seeing the man abandon all safety precaution and go for it, Eddie’s mind is made up instantly.

‘Let’s do it.’ He says without leaving room for argument, nodding at Richie as he looks to him. He hopes Richie will go with it, but is also confident that of course he will. As kids they followed each other everywhere, and surely that hasn’t changed.

‘Really? I mean yeah – sure I guess. Bring it on.’

-----

The Derry midnight breeze is freezing, Eddie notes, still dressed in a shirt and pants and dreading having to get rid of them. He’s barefoot now, standing on top of the quarry and peering down into the glinting lake. Eddie’s jumping from one foot to the other, annoyed that dirt is clinging to his skin and branches are piercing his soles, even more aggravated at the idea of cleaning them in infection filled lake water. Bev better keep her end of the promise, and be waiting near the end of the lake with a pair of fresh pressed towels.

Next to him, also bare foot, Richie looks over his shoulder, and laughs, bright and innocent.

‘I forgot how high this was.’

It is high up, but they’ve done this jump at least a hundred times before, so Eddie’s not worried about the plunge. He’d assume Richie isn’t either, but the man keeps glances towards the path they took to get up here, uncharacteristically silent.

‘It’s okay if you're too scared to go through with it Eduardo, I won’t tell the others.’ Richie smirks when he notices Eddie’s glance, crossing his arms over his chest.

The movement makes his shoulders bulk, highlighting just how much bigger Richie is compared to Eddie. Eddie’s mouth waters, and he starts to worry about how he’s going to have to get through seeing Richie’s naked shoulders in the flesh.

‘Just get undressed will you? Hurry up.’

‘Why? Eager to see my bare ass?’

‘Yeah, because who doesn’t think jumping naked into a lake they frequented as kids is the epitome of sexiness? No you self-centered idiot, I want to get it over with so I can go back to the Inn and grab a warm shower.’

With one last peek, Eddie moves backwards, standing away from the ledge and begins to unbutton his shirt, before thinking better off it. Richie picks up on his hesitation, shifting backwards too and motioning his head towards the ridge.

‘Do you want me to show you how it’s done?’

‘No,’ Eddie objects, ‘I’ll go first.’

‘Why? I’m not going to stare at your junk while you're jumping in if that’s what you're worried about Eddie. I’m not that kind of gay.’ Rarely does Richie toss aside an opportunity to grant Eddie another humorous nickname, so the use of his real name spooks Eddie just enough that he opens his mouth to apologize without even realizing what he’s apologizing for.

Richie’s facial expression, set in a grimace and squinting his eyes defensively, are a dead give away that Eddie’s words are being taken the wrong way. If only Richie knew that Eddie wanted him to go in first so he could avoid the same temptation Richie thought he was forcing on him.

‘Richie no, that’s not what I meant I-.’ Heartfelt compliments are not something Eddie has had a lot of practice for these last few years, and he’s not doing a good job catching up on them either. Therefore he sighs and hopes that he can find another way to prove to Richie he’d never accuse him of something like that. ‘Whatever, just go first already.’

‘Fine but turn around okay?’

Eddie listens to him, back towards Richie and the jump off, though he doesn’t really understand the request. With Richie comes a lot of flair, and he was more or less been prepared for a joke about how Eddie got to confirm how big his dick is in reality.

He waits and listens carefully for the sounds of clothes being dropped on the ground, and he can’t stop his mind from secretly imagining how Richie looks like without them once he distinguishes it. Eddie shakes his head, scolding his own mind.

The next few moments are filled with raspy breaths originating from Richie, footstep sounding further away and then closer again in an erratic pattern. He must be scared of the jump. Under normal circumstances, Eddie would ask to jump in at the same time, but since Richie asked Eddie not to turn around, he won’t.

‘If you don’t jump in the next five minutes,’ Eddie teases, the way Richie used to tease him, ‘I’ll push you in.’ A second later Eddie hears Richie’s loud whooping as he plunges down into the dark water.

Eddie spins, the only thing greeting him the dark with very little light clearing up his path, from the moon. He’s having a hard time to even see where the cliff ends, and he can’t disguise Richie in the water at all.

‘I’m coming in’, he yells to the void, in case Richie can’t discern his body in time and needs to move out of the way. He takes off his clothes, goosebumps erupting on his skin, and folds his pants and t-shirt up neatly, touching the ground with his hands to find a dry spot to lay them on. The air is cold, and so Eddie refuses to linger on top any longer than he has to.

He jogs up to the ledge and darts off before his mind can conjure up the thousands of things that can go wrong from swimming in the dark this late at night. His body flies through the air and connects with the water in one swoop, a pit of glee bursting in Eddie’s stomach. Jumping from the quarry equals freedom, a hot summer day and love for all of his friends, but in particular Richie.

Eddie keeps his head underwater until his lungs burn, eyes closed and allowing himself to just feel all the sensations. Then, something tickles the back of his leg, and the peaceful moment is over. He kicks back the surface, away from the spot where he could swear something touched him, and searches around for Richie.

Richie, with his wet black hair clinging to his forehead, strands of it sticking out in every direction, and his droplet covered glasses, roving more of Eddie’s heart each minute they’re near each other. He’s never looked more beautiful, and Eddie has never had to fight the urge to kiss him as much as he does now.

‘See, I told you I wouldn’t stare Eds, I can’t even see anything with all these splatters on my glasses.’

The moon reflects on the water, so that it’s impenetrable, and neither Rich nor Eddie can look down and see their lower body parts.

What Eddie can see is enough anyway, Richie’s shoulders and part of his chest hold Eddie’s attention, and he forgets to respond to Richie’s comment.

His eyes land on a dark bruise, just on the bottom of Richie’s neck, a remnant of their fight with Pennywise earlier that day. Without thinking, without standing still on the consequences of such an action, Eddie swims closer, stretches his arm out, and lingers his fingertips over the bruise. He carefully positions his body to not touch any other body part of Richie’s except for his fingers on his neck.

He makes an inquisitive noise, thumb stroking over the injury in what he hopes to be a calming matter. He physically can’t pull away, entranced with the way he moves and responds to him, trying but failing to get his fill of Richie clenched.

‘Eddie’, Richie whispers, scared to break the silence and the intimate moment. ‘It’ll be fine. And hey, at least he didn’t do anything to my dick.’

‘Yeah, would have been a shame if it were to become even smaller.’

Richie snorts, retaliating the jest with a wave of dirty water aimed at Eddie.

Eddie gasps, spitting out a bit of water that managed to sneak into his mouth. ‘Oh you’re on.’

The two of them chase each other, and if it weren’t for the fact that they were both naked, Eddie would have thrown his entire body weight in the game to push Richie underwater. As it stands, they just splash back and forth until they’re exhausted and the remnants of their laughter dies out, barely enough energy left to stay afloat side by side.

‘Did you have this much fun with Bryan?’ Eddie asks, a bit envious. He hates how he’s still stuck on the Bryan thing, hates that his mind keeps popping images of them doing the exact same thing only to end it with a kiss.

‘What?’

‘With Bryan, the guy you did all that other stuff with?’

‘Oh no, me and Bryan – we were never together like that.’ Back at the hotel room, Eddie figured that that was a ploy to distract Bev, something Richie just said because he couldn’t comfortably admit the real intent of their relationship. But he’s never lied to Eddie, and his eyes, magnified by his glasses, seem so sincere, Eddie has no other option but to believe him. ‘I-I’m- some other guy already has that place all taken up.’

Eddie stupid, oblivious and dense and everything in between. He knows Richie isn’t talking about him, he knows he could never be the guy Richie would hold all hope out for – he also secretly hopes it’s none of the losers -, but he wants to be so bad. Just one time, just one kiss and he’d be sated enough to let go of his feral behavior towards any potential love interest Richie might have. Just one time.

‘Richie’, Eddie starts, biting his bottom lip hard enough to draw blood. He’s taking a huge risk, by foreseeing a rejection but hoping that Richie won’t drop him as a friend because of this. If Eddie doesn’t do this, he’ll never stop wondering what it feels for their lips to meet. He’ll never get over Richie because he never got to experience any with him.

‘Can I kiss you?’ He risks releasing his lip.

Richie is visibly shocked. ‘What? What the fuck? Eddie is this a joke?’

The joke is, as usual, all on Eddie who regrets ever opening his mouth in the first place. He could try to laugh it off, say that it was a joke, but that would mean that he pretends to make a jest out of something Richie has struggled with for his entire life. He’s stuck between a rock and a hard place. Left with no other options but to further dig his own grave, Eddie decides to be honest. At least that means he gets to keep part of his integrity.

‘No Richie of course not, I wouldn’t do that to you. I’m sorry. Look I like you but it’s obviously one sided and I just wanted to know what it felt like to kiss you but it was a stupid request and I shouldn’t have asked you that. Oh god, I never even asked if you were dating someone –‘

‘Eds?’

‘- Fuck can we please forget I said anything so we can still hang out?’

‘Eddie?’

‘What?’

‘Yes. Please kiss me.’

Eddie gapes with his mouth open, struggling for breath and for words. He’s half convinced he misinterpreted the words, but his tilted head proves otherwise. Eddie doesn’t question it further, counting his lucky start for once, and leaning in to his emotions and Richie, breaching the water to get to him.

Their kiss is surprisingly gentle for the ungovernable lead up prior to it. Richie’s lips taste like lake water, but deeper underneath lies a tang of something distinctively Richie. Eddie can’t wait to devour him whole once he’s cleaned up. Their lips move together in tandem, a perfect harmony that for once neither are willing to break.

They pull back, Richie’s arms circling Eddie’s waist, and he smiles. His smile mixed with the love stricken gleam in his eyes, mysteriously tells Eddie that Richie feels the exact same way he does. His chest caves with happiness.

‘I like you too, if it wasn’t obvious. A lot more than Bryan.’

‘For the love of God can we never mention that again? It’s embarrassing. No, Hush’, Eddie says urgently, covering Richie’s mouth with his palm when he opens his mouth to conjure up another joke.

‘Fine,’ Richie says while pulling away from Eddie’s hand. ‘How about we talk about something else then? How the fuck are we supposed to get to our clothes?’

#my writing #reddie imagine #reddie fic #reddie #richie tozier #eddie kaspbrack #richie and eddie #adult losers #it chapter two imagine #eddie x richie

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otherworldly-healer · 3 years

Text

Challenge Part 2 [The Sage Family Reunion] [~2770 Words]

The group ventured into the forest, the fog becoming ever more dense as they walked forward. This was the direction that Raine had been told the couple was spotted. Still, it had been a few days since that had been reported around town. They could be anywhere in the Mistwood by now. Their only hope was to shout out into the trees, looking for wanderers. Every now and again they would see a creature made of mist and skeletal remains far off in the distance, watching, almost as if it was waiting for the perfect time to strike. The group had fought off some weaker mist creatures already, about the size of a common raccoon. They were easy enough to scare away with their weapons alone, as well as some of the Monster Warding potions that Raine had brought along. She knew there were more coming though. It was only a matter of time.

After two hours of walking, the group had traveled southbound. Someone finally called out in the distance. The professor and her companions walked in the direction of the voices. Raine knew immediately that it was them. Even after so many years, she remembered the sound clear as day. Once her memories returned to her at the Otherworldly Gate she was sure that she would never forget that sound again. Her father reassuring her everything would be alright as long as they were together. Her mother gently chiding her when she asked for too much, or complained that they could not just find a new, safer place to live. Both of them calling her name to gather her belongings so they could continue walking alone through the wilderness.

When the Sages were finally in their sights, Virginia had been sitting on the ground nursing a bandaged cut on her arm, and Kloitz was kneeling down beside her, tensely looking around to make sure that no monsters were lurking about. He looked tired, as if he had been awake for days. Thinking back on it now, that’s how she ultimately remembered her father in his last months. He was run ragged, always making plans for their next escape, and always on watch for the family’s safety. As much as he tried to hide his worry at that time, a child could always tell when secrets were being kept from them.

Raine frowned, turning back to Lloyd and the others calmly, she asked each of them if they could hang back for a moment so that she might speak to them alone. This was something she had been needing to do for a long time. As fate would have it in her own world she would never get that opportunity…but perhaps here the Stars had actually granted her something of a gift. What Raine had been searching her whole life for—answers.

After two years past meeting with her mother, Raine had already stitched closed some wounds in her heart. She knew where she came from now. Genis told her himself that she was nothing like her mother--a fear that tugged at her ever since her memories had returned. Even through all the hardships they had gone through: homelessness, hunger, the distrust of humans, and finally finding a home of their own, her brother still looked up to Raine. While she still couldn’t forgive her parents for abandoning her and heart felt heavy seeing them together once again, she was not shedding any tears immediately upon seeing them. The night before she had braced herself for this meeting. She hardened her heart once again. Raine remembered that day in Exire, where she couldn’t control her emotions and all she could do was cry and scream, so bitter, angry, and heartbroken at the sight of her mother. But now it was different.

Today, the half elf felt melancholy and pity for her parents. Here were two people that tried so desperately to do the best that they could for their children, doomed in every timeline to a tragic end. They never got to live their happily ever after, growing old together in peace. Instead, they traded everything to make sure that their kids didn’t end up as slaves. Now that she had taken a step back to think about it…their choice was completely selfless. There were still holes missing in the story, and perhaps they could grant her some clarity. After reading her mother’s diary, the woman could no longer feel the fury she once did.

Kloitz rose to his feet as his daughter approached. His eyes studied his daughter a look of shock and denial first crossing his features. He looked between Raine and Virginia, voice caught in his throat, and when he finally spoke, there were tears in his eyes. This was the greatest gift Kloitz would be given in life— the knowledge that his daughter would grow up and the world would not completely break her. There was a light on the other side of the darkness. “Raine…is that you? You’re…you’re all grown up. You look just like your mother.”

Those words still stung to hear. Raine did not want to look in the mirror and see Virginia, but she had to admit that both of the siblings had taken after her appearance much more than their father’s. Raine tried to hold it together, giving Kloitz a shaky smile as he rushed over to wrap his arms around her. As soon as he did, Raine couldn’t help but shed a few tears of her own. Even though she had prepared herself for this moment, it still wasn’t easy to keep herself collected. “Yes, father…It’s me. Genis is here with me too, safe and sound. He’s twelve now. He likes playing with kendamas just like mother always did. He even got accepted into the best school in the country.” Raine pulls out her phone and navigates over to her photos, bringing up a picture of both siblings taken at an ice cream stand here in the city.

Kloitz was overwhelmed, and Virginia rose to place her hand on her daughter’s back to look. Raine winced, attempting to hide a scowl, ultimately feeling guilty for her hesitance towards her mother’s touch. Right. She had spent the last two years—more than that now in Spirale—coming to terms with her anger. If there was anyone she should be angry at, it was the Imperial Research Academy. They were ultimately the cause of this family’s destruction. It would take even more time for Raine to accept that, but for the moment she could at least try to set aside her feelings. They didn’t have much time here. It was dangerous. She would have to get to the point.

“And you? What have you been doing in all this time?” Virginia asked.

“I am...a teacher. Just a teacher in a small village.” The full truth was too fantastical. She really didn’t see herself how the world did, anyway, and so she kept it to herself. But to her parents, Raine didn’t need to be a hero. They knew just how much she loved to learn and explore. The Sages immediately knew that her daughter was on a path that she chose herself, and in a profession she always would have wanted.

“We’ve been granted a little bit of time to talk, but when you last saw me I was only eleven. I bet you both want to get back to Tethe’alla, don’t you? …What was the last thing both of you remember?” Her parents looked at each other cautiously and then back to Raine.

“We were on the boat... It was storming on the sea. You had just gone overboard and we pulled you out. You were so shaken, and the boat was headed for safer waters. We were on our way to—huh, where was it again, honey?” Her father wore a nervous smile. Kloitz was trying his best to be positive, like he always had.

“Altamira.” Virginia piped up. Raine hung her head, still being held between both of her parents. They couldn’t even be honest with her now.

“Heh…right. Except we weren’t.” Raine’s expression soured. “Genis and I never got to see Altamira. You asked the ship captain to make a detour. We ended up at the Otherworldly Gate. Genis and I were sent through alone. Mother told me to hold him, and then sent us to go ‘play’ in the ruins. You knew it would take us to Sylvarant…except we never made it there together.” Kloitz and Virginia looked to the group behind her, as if asking silently whether it was alright to be having this conversation here and now. It’s not like she would ever get the chance again.

“Don’t mind them. They know about all of this… Mostly.” The half elf said sternly. Her mother shrank, seeing how severe her daughter had become over the years. She was no longer acting like the child she knew—mischievous and sneaky, joyful and always reassuring her mother that they would be alright, just like she was mimicking Kloitz. No…the world had changed her. In the end, Kloitz and Virginia could not protect her from hardship and suffering.

“Raine…we wouldn’t have done that if we thought there was any other way.” Virginia began crying, her head helplessly falling in her hands. “We got passage onto that ship in a hurry. It wasn’t even a passenger ship. The Research Academy found us in the forest and we were all so tired of running, even you. We could see it in your eyes, even if you wouldn’t tell us. You kept asking us if we would ever find a safe place and it broke our hearts. We wanted you to know a life where you didn’t have to run anymore. The full moon would line up with right when we got there, so we figured that there wouldn’t have been another opportunity we could find to see you to safety! We were going to go together!” Her mother exclaimed, hiccuping.

“Then…what happened?” Raine looked out into the distant fog, picking through her memories of that night. She remembered Virginia in front of her, just out of reach. But where was Kloitz at that time? Had he even made it onto the island? No… he was back on the ship. The Otherworldly Gate only activated for a moment on the full moon. So, if he hadn’t been with them to catch the portal… Kloitz would have been left alone in Tethe’alla. If Raine had Genis, at least none of the family would be truly alone. So…that’s what happened. Virginia didn’t want Kloitz to be left behind. He was her entire world. Raine gritted her teeth. She knew deep down she needed the answer to this question, as it had been nagging at her ever since she went to Welgaia. “D-do you ever regret having us? If we were never born, you would not have been chased by the Research Academy. You could have found another home. Father wouldn’t have had to—he…”

Raine could not finish the sentence. If the last thing that they remembered was the boat, they wouldn’t know that Kloitz would die. She wouldn’t ruin their last remaining month together by telling them of their fate. They could only be positive for so long without breaking down. When you’re a child most think that your parents are your heroes—infallible and always knowing what is best. What she learned from being something of a parent herself was that nobody really knew what was best. The truth was…Kloitz and Virginia had really thought this was their only choice. They were not all-powerful or omniscient. They were just…people. Afraid and full of uncompromising love. They were victims of fate just like the siblings were, and when Raine finally realized that…maybe she already had forgiven her parents. Raine stared at her boots. Deep down she knew the answer, but she wanted to hear it from them. Before she could see the look in her parents’ eyes, Kloitz brought her into a tight hug again. This time Virginia would join them in the embrace and Raine would not be able to to contain herself, shaking before crying into her father’s coat.

“Sweetie, we love you and your brother more than anything. It’s the world that’s wrong to hate you for your being born to us. We wouldn’t do a single thing different in our lives. Having you gave our lives meaning. You completed us by making us a family…and we’re so proud that it seems like you’ve found people that you care for as well, and who care for you in return.” Kloitz smiled widely, looking back at her team. He was sad to think that she would ever consider herself a burden to them, but he also understood that starting from birth, that is all that a half-elf is told from humans and elves. They’re scorned and ostracized and live in danger of being used as tools. Virginia took some tissues she had hoarded in her pocket and passed them around between the three Sages assuring Raine that she felt the same as her father did. “I wish we had more time to catch up, honey. But your mother and I have to make sure that you two make it to Sylvarant on time.”

At his last comment, Raine would only smile at him dismally. She didn’t want to tell her parents how much they struggled to survive on Sylvarant. It wouldn’t change what had happened in the past. Her life so far had already been set in stone, and no amount of wishing would change her life’s path. She heard what she needed to hear. They were loved. They did their best for their kids, even if there were any other options—for better or worse those actions when she was eleven turned her into who she was today. And finally…finally, she could see her mother as she remembered her. She recognized her daughter. She was still her mother, not the mother of some straw doll left behind in the girl’s belongings. After a couple of minutes Raine had been able to compose herself to a point where she could stand tall once again. She clears her throat.

“Now it’s my turn to protect you. With the help of my friends here.” She would introduce them all, being vague on how they each met. It was too much to go over, especially when there were monsters crawling about. “So…I imagine since you’re here in the Mistwood, this is where the Stars directed you to go?”

Kloitz bent down to the ground where they had originally been sitting. He pointed to a line that he had drawn in the dirt, and Raine leaned down to inspect it. This felt just like when she was a kid. They would often make games out of discerning animal tracks or identifying different herbs and plants. Now the stakes felt higher, but…maybe they always had been after all.

“If we walk past this line, these skeleton monsters made of mist will come after us, but behind this point we seem to be safe. It reminds me of Gaoracchia. Those monsters are how your mother got all scratched up there. Well-sort of. Someone fell down when one of them appeared and got scratched up by a rock. Then a hero swooped in to save the day.” Virginia huffed at her husband and placed her hands on her hips, not appreciating the playful critique of her reaction to almost being killed. Raine noted that her father had been wearing some leather armor underneath his jacket, and he had a sword at his hip, though knowing the Stars he had not been granted a very useful one. At least he knew how to protect himself. “We were told to go past the boundary of the forest. If you successfully brought us there, they would allow us to go back to our time.” Virginia clarified.

The half elf turned back towards her companions, feeling somewhat renewed and ready to take on the monsters. They were relying on her now. That’s right—she’d grown strong, reliable, and against all odds, capable of helping to save two entire worlds. Not bad for a girl who only ever dreamed of being a small town teacher! Raine dug her staff into the ground proudly, a grin tugging at her lips.

“Alright everyone. That’s enough of that. Gather round. I’ve got a plan.”

#isola challenge #challenge pt 2

8 notes · View notes

enigma-im · 4 years

Text

Danger Zone

Rating: Explicit Relationship: (Homemade)SCP x Female!human Warning: Violence, verbal abuse, forcible removal of limbs, work place bulling, sex, knotting, oral, monster sex

Word count: 6561

A love story written in incident reports in a SCP file

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ID#: KC-S4905 Object Class: Euclid Keter Description: 1.95m and 116.9kg Bipedal, long neck Black back hair. Lighter to the middle. Grey chest. Black crooked tail Human-esk face with a wide grin, multiple incisors. Flat nose and small eyes. Long erect ears similar to a border collie. White eyes generally obstructed by black bangs Front claws are ~ 5.59cm, hind claws are ~6.62cm muscle mass of 52%, ~10% higher than an average 20-year-old male.

Origin Found in Banff, the bottom half of Alberta Canada. A local fisherman reported traps being destroyed. Local deputy logged sightings of a 'bigfoot' in the area. A team was dispatched at 7/14/16 to investigate. Reported back 7/22/16 with clarification on the sighting. A tall black creature with a long neck and glowing white eyes. The team was approved to detain and capture the creature to be brought back to a base in South Dakota.

KC-S4905 was captured on 8/2/16. brought to base Fanning on 8/4/16. the creature was sedated, and detained in containment unit 23K-A. No further precautions made necessary besides 24/7 monitoring and a team of two at night. The creature remains cautious and hostile. He doesn't speak but is found to understand basic English. Follow commands but still lashes out when too close.

As of 8/6/16 creature KC-S4905 is logged and detained in Timbre Lake, South Dakota, Base Fanning.

The lab associates call him Kasey.

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Incident logs (KC-S4905 & surrounding area)

10/14/16 2:23am - Motion sensor tripped in 23K-F. Guard reports nothing unusual.

The control panel light blinks at the bored guard. He sits with his head resting against his palm swiveling back and forth in his chair when the light catches his attention. He looks down, identifies the section it came from then with a sigh flips to the camera for that hallway. The guard studies the screen, looking for shadows or open doors but finds nothing. With another sigh, he sits up and pulls out his walkie.

"Who is close to 23K-F," he asks, yawning afterward.

His radio cracks to life, "I'm close, what's up?"

"Motion sensors went off on the third hallway. Please check it out, I'm not seeing anything on the monitors," he answers.

"On it."

The guard watches the screen until a figure walks around a corner. He watches as the man looks through the two rooms located in the hallway.

The radio beeps," I'm not seeing anything."

"Alright then. Probably a false alarm, thanks."

"Yea, anytime."

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"Inserting 4mg of Midazolam into the upper arm. Should be good for another hour, two hours at most," the lab assistant spoke with unconcern. Just another monster to collect a sample from, nothing exciting for Brian Philips. Working here for eight years, you have seen it all. Having seen it all, Brian is pretty ok sticking with the 'grunt' work. Collect blood, hair, and tissue samples then send the big beast back to its cage.

"Can't imagine we need that kind of time, be in and out in, what, 30 minutes?" the guard, Princeton, asked. The guard rested against the wall closest to the door. He held a .50 cal. Pistol with sedative rounds. Security wasn't allowed to even have the opportunity to injure anyone or anything. Less the unit was deemed dangerous then all armed workers must use fast-acting tranquilizers.

"No time at all," Brian answered noncommittedly as he plucked some hairs from the creature's arm. Stuffing large tuffs into a bag, labeling, and placing it in storage before working on a tissue sample. He got flakes of skin, storing in the same fashion as the fur. Everything was simple and easy. But would you honestly believe that? This is an incident report after all.

Brian reached for a needle on the metal table. Sterilizing then finding a vein he slowly pricked the tip into the creature's skin. The second the point pierced the epidermis Kasey woke up.

Brian barely even registered the movement before the arm he was leaning next to thumped against his jaw, clamping his teeth over his tongue. Brian rolled back in his chair, only having enough time to taste the blood pouring from the end of his tongue. Next KC-S4905 rolled off the metal table and lashed out at the poor lab assistant, scratching across his shoulder, slapping him off the chair and onto the floor. A pop pierced the air as a weapon was fired. Princeton managed to get a hit on the creature's back before Kasey clawed at Brian's back with his long claws. Brian screamed as the knives cut through his coat and skin like paper. He felt it run from the back of his neck and down to the bottom of his ribs, his skin instantly burning as his muscles are introduced to the open air.

Another pop fills the room as Princeton fires again. The tranquilizer finally seems to do something as KC-S4905 swayed on his feet. His nails clicked against the tiled floor as he hobbled into the far wall. He caught himself on the brick before sliding down to the tiled floor. He lands on all fours, growling and shaking his head. Try as he must to rid the dizziness, it only got worse till he fell to the floor.

Princeton watched the creature with bated breath, his weapon clenched tightly in his terrified grip. His ears rang and he could feel sweat dripping from his brow. His body felt primed and ready for a fight but he knew there would be none, especially against something this big. As he watched the beast fall slack against the floor did he lower his weapon. He stopped and caught his breath, dropping his head so his chin bumps against his chest. His ears finally cleared enough to hear Brian crying against the floor.

Princeton reached for his walkie," I need medical at lab room 23K."

"Roger, medical is on their way," a voice answered back.

10/30/16- Lab assistant injured while collecting samples. Guard -Princeton Adams- fired 2 sedative rounds. Lab assistant suffered 3 lacerations on his shoulder and back. 25 stitches used. Higher precautions enabled.

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11/9/16 1:14am - door alarm activated in container 23K-A. Guards report no tampering, door slightly ajar. The main door into the container is locked and sturdy. The investigation of the video shows nothing.

A piercing alarm startled security guard Pico Conwell. He was walking his rounds when the loud siren rang. With years of training he knew without evening thinking what it was. Pico ran down the hall, closer to the blaring call. He turned down the maze of hallways to see two other guards running with their weapons drawn to the floor.

Breach alert, everyone knew that sound, drilled it into their heads since day one. If you work around the beast that can kill you without a thought, you made sure to keep alert and aware.

Pico and his fellow guards came to the unit where the call came from, 23K-A. Pico walked ahead of the group, as a senior resident it was his duty to scope the scene first. He walked down the hall to a slightly ajar door, keeping wide breath with his weapon pointed to the floor. Many times these calls have been just a newbie trying to get some work done and messing up the access protocols. No need to have your weapon out to scare any poor workers dumb enough to trip an alarm.

Finally getting around the door he was able to look inside. Years of experience he knew to check the containment door first. If that door was open then extra caution is necessary. The door was still sealed, the light above glowing green. It was locked and untampered. Pico looked around the small room, almost a hallway, and found nothing out of sorts.

He walked out the room to the two other guards," Nothing amiss, perhaps one of the techies didn't close it all the way. The main door is still shut, call maintenance down to turn the alarm off, and check the lock."

"On it," someone answers.

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12/22/16- An altercation between guard and doctor. Nonviolent, but harassment charges were filed against a guard, Princeton Adams, from Dr. Janet Wilco.

Dr. Janet Wilco was assigned to KC-S4905 after the incident with Brian Philips. Having experience with aggressive subjects she is all the more qualified to be part of this project. Some don't seem to see it that way, such as Princeton Adam. He was always tense whenever KC-S4905 was in the room, also questioning everyone to make sure the subject was really out. It irked Dr. Wilco to no end, having some overpaid babysitter to stand there with a gun acting like he knows even a smidge of medicine.

Today was no different.

"The beast is properly sedated," he asked as they wheeled KC-S4905 in. Dr. Wilco passed an unamused glance at Princeton.

"Of course Mr. Adams, we do know how to do our jobs," Dr. Wilco passed with a barely restrained sneer.

Princeton chuffed," So far as you think."

"What is that suppose to mean Mr. Adams?" Dr. Wilco turned to Princeton, her sneakers scuffing against the floor. Princeton looked down at her with an unentertained grin. Dr. Wilco felt patronized at the look.

"It means that if you techies knew how to do your job then Dr. Philips wouldn't be in the hospital," he bent low to be eye level," So excuse me for being sure. I rather not see your pretty face get all clawed up like Brian's back."

"You listen here you-," Dr. Wilco paused before she said something she regretted. Princeton chuffed again with more amusement. Dr. Wilco collected herself before speaking again. "The first time was because we assumed we knew the correct dose to be used on the subject. He burned through it pretty fast and now we know the correct amount to use that would both sedate him and not kill him. So if you would stop questioning me every time I do my job, I think we could be done with these little check-ups quickly," she answered with more professionalism than she believes she could muster.

Princeton stood straight with arms crossed. The conversation seemingly over Dr. Wilco turned and got back to work. It's with an off the shoulder comment did she lose her cool and give Princeton a tongue lashing that made even the second guard present blush.

Everyone heard, and everyone had thoughts on the matter. And when I do say everyone, I do mean everyone.

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The guards' room is under surveillance 24/7. the area is more of an apartment than anything else. Having bunk beds present and a fully functioning kitchen in the same room. Another room attached has a lounge and a locker wall. It’s a comfortable enough place for guards to take their breaks, store their items, and catch up on some sleep before their next shift. Some believe it has to be the safest place in the building with its gun locker and lockdown functions.

It wouldn't be true as of Dec 23, 2016.

Princeton Adams settled down for a nap around midnight. Perhaps 40 minutes later the cameras go on the fritz, looking like the visuals were in a snowstorm with all the static. After about 5 minutes the screen cuts off, completely black, completely silent.

When the camera comes back on its around one in the morning. The screen shows Princeton resting against the floor surrounded by other workers, both guards and scientists alike. He was screaming and holding his face with bloody hands. His wails alerted residents in the hallway to rush to his location. As they reached him there was only him and severe cuts on his chest and face.

Princeton was rushed to medical. Treated for his wounds and given blood as most of his was on the floor of the guards' bedroom. Once he was settled and able to answer some question he was of no help. He remembers going to sleep then waking to a burning pain on his bare chest. He startled awake where he caught sight of a dark figure with white eyes. Before his eyes could adjust he was slapped across the face and promptly mauled.

Guards remain vigilant, no leads are found.

12/23/16 12:56am- Motion sensors tripped in guards' quarters in unit 23. One guard critically injured with lacerations across the chest and face. Guard was identified as Princeton Adams. The video cuts out before any movement is detected, coming back to the guard being surrounded by workers. All guards are permitted to hold live ammo with them at all times.

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"giving 6mg of Midazolam," lab assistant Amy Borrell called to the room. Dr. Wilco nodded but focused on her clipboard, recording vitals as she walked to the cabinets. Once she finished she set her board down and began searching for supplies. Grabbing what she needs and set them on the metal rolling table. She glances at the large creature passed out on the table.

Wilco has always been fascinated by the strange and unusual. As a child, she adored watching monster flicks and horror movies. Amazed by the practical effects of monsters and how they are made. They have always had an allure to them, something captivating that Janet couldn't put her finger on. Her two career choices as a teenager were a doctor and special effects artist. As we all can see she has chosen to go the medical route. Lucky for her it brought her straight to this job. It’s a dream come true for Janet to work with monsters.

Looking at KC-S4905 or, as Dr. Wilco heard his alternate name, Kasey, she felt a kinship with him. She couldn't describe it but this creature has stood out to her, more than any of the others she has worked around. Perhaps it was his long neck or pointed teeth. Maybe it was his muscular body or piercing eyes. Either way, it wasn't something Dr. Wilco could put her finger on.

Continuing on with her work she was first to reach for the subject. As her gloved fingers brushed against his fur she noticed his stomach tense. Before she had time to even say a word Kasey lifted his head and snatched Wilco's arm. She immediately tried to jerk herself out of his hold but he held firm. White cold fear ran down her spine before she looked up at Kasey's white eyes and a wide smile. They both held each other's gaze as the room went silent. Nobody moved, nobody breathed.

Dr. Wilco stared into his piercing eyes and could only think, 'is he purring?"

1/3/17- The doctor grabbed during sample gathering. KC-S4905 was sedated but woke long enough to grab Dr. Wilco's arm. No injuries sustained, mandatory therapist meetings required to find further damages. Though the creature doesn't project mental abilities, precaution is used.

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1/4/17- door alarm activated in unit 23 worker's locker room. All lockers were opened, nothing reported stolen besides a single lab coat in locker 142. Owner not identified having refuse to step forward.

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Dr. Bradshaw was added to the project shortly after Dr. Wilco. He was a stubborn man, perhaps a bit sexist or racist. Could be he just doesn't like Dr. Wilco. The two constantly butt heads during work, arguing over the simplest things till they both were red in the face.

One day that workplace arguing got a little too out of hand

"Dr. Wilco, do you insist on doing things the hard way? Does it make you feel like you are important," Dr. Bradshaw snarked. Dr. Wilco was currently setting up the IV drip for when they start surgery on Kasey, KC-S4905.

"And do you feel like a big man when you belittle coworkers," she snapped back. Before Dr. Bradshaw could retort back the door opened as Kas- KC-S4905 is rolled in.

The process went smoothly as lab assistants set up the heart pads and IV. Doctors cleaned up nearby wearing scrubs and gloves.

"Think you can handle something like this, wouldn’t want you to get cold feet in the middle of this operation on your little boyfriend," Dr. Bradshaw snorted. Ever since Janet was grabbed most of her coworkers have called her beauty. Referring to Beauty and the Beast or King Kong in their jesting. It didn't bother her, the names meant nothing. The situation around Kasey's gentle hold was more startling than their jokes. Still, when it comes from Dr. Bradshaw it's all the more aggravating.

"I should handle well. I'm more curious if you will be fine, I heard that you sometimes get squeamish around blood," She chuckles as does a few others in the room. Dr. Bradshaw is secretly known for his fainting in his younger days when he first drew blood. Having moved far away from the area it still sticks with him.

"Who told you that," Dr. Bradshaw snapped. It was shocking to Janet and most others in the room. Dr. Bradshaw turned and snarled down at Dr. Wilco, "Who told you, tell me you little bitch!"

"Whoa, Whoa," I held up my hands as I backed away," it's just a joke, calm down." Dr. Bradshaw continued his pursuit with fist clenched at his sides.

"No, it's not just some joke. I spent years of my career perfecting my skills and gaining great recognition. I do not deserve to be belittled by some woman for something that happened years ago," he backs her to the surgery table. Dr. Wilco braces her hands on the cold metal, looking around at the others for help.

"Hey, you're right. I'm sorry, how about we forget this and get back to work," she tried to deescalate. He was having none of it.

"No, fuck you, Janet. You dumb slut, I worked hard for this and I don’t want to hear your mouth anymore. So do us all a favor and know your fucking place," he snarled in her face. Before anyone could react he raised his hand and backhanded Dr. Wilco to the floor. She fell to her hands, banging her knees on the ground. Dr. Bradshaw seethed above her, feeling a little proud of himself.

It isn't until a loud growl pierces the air does anyone look away from the slapped woman. Dr. Bradshaw looks up in time to see an open mouth lunging for his face. He backs up enough to fall to the floor, but before he can make it a hand grabs his forearm. Quickly teeth sink around Dr. Bradshaw's elbow, scraping against the bone before his whole body is pushed away. He screams and flails, beating against the creature as he shakes his head. Soon Dr. Bradshaw falls to the ground, landing partially on a growing pile of blood. The creature lashes at him, cutting over his chest as two loud pops fill the room. The beast stops, Dr. Bradshaw stares at bloody teeth and closing eyes, seeing his mauled arm resting in its mouth. Then the creature falls to the floor, making its own pile of blood.

Guards usher workers out of the room and Dr. Bradshaw is dragged into the halls before being taken to medical. Kasey lays on the floor, barely catching his breath as he watches Janet look back before turning the corner and out of sight.

1/23/17- Altercation between Dr. Wilco and Dr. Bradshaw. Violence was used by Dr. Bradshaw and Dr. Wilco was forced back into a table. KC-S4905 woke from the sedative and attacked Dr. Bradshaw. Two live rounds were shot into the creature's leg and shoulder. Dr. Bradshaw is now in critical condition. His left arm forcibly detached from his elbow down. Medical was able to reattach the arm, he remains in their care till further notice. KC-S4905 was sedated and treated for injuries. Remaining in his cell until further notice, no interactions. Food is distributed by guards now.

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1/26/17 2:30am- unauthorized entry into unit 23K-A. No further info provided

Dr. Wilco believes she has to see him. The day runs over and over in her mind all week. She is questioned and monitored like crazy before they leave her alone, moving on to another witness. As she spends her time alone, checking up on the camera watching Kasey, she thinks. Did he attack the first person he saw? Where the sedatives, not enough? Or where they never enough and he was always watching, listening? Then the ultimate questions circling her mind.

Did he do it for her?

After hours of thinking, making a decision then backing out, she goes for it. Nabbing a temporary pass from the office then sneaking down to containment. She cards herself in then stops in the first room. Closing the door silently behind herself she watches Kasey rest in the corner of his room. He is lounging in a circle, similar to a dog. His eyes were closed when she walked it but a few seconds later they are opened and staring straight at her.

Janet walks closer to the window, looking at his shaved shoulder. The director demanded medical to treat his wounds before he bled to death. They had to shave his fur to get a better look. The wound looks good, almost scarred. Fast healing was a thing that was recorded so it's not too surprising.

Kasey followed Janet's movements, too curious to look away. He couldn't think of a reason for her being here but accepted the blessing for what it was. He watches as she fiddles with her fingers, looking behind herself once in a while. She looks like she wants to say something, Kasey is eager to listen.

"Thank you," she answers. Kasey just barely catches it behind the thick glass. "I don't know if you attacked Dr. Bradshaw for me or you were just attacking out of fear but I still appreciate it either way. He was a very rude man. He didn’t die so I think I'm allowed to speak ill of him," she chuckled at the end," I read you can understand us for the most part, so… do you understand me?"

Kasey nodded.

"Oh," she started, shocked," good then. So, thank you and I need to go." she scurried off, closing the door quietly behind herself. Kasey figures quickly that she wasn't supposed to be in here. The camera most likely picked up here coming and going from here, Kasey would deal with it.

When the night progressed Kasey assumed it would be safe enough to travel. He moved the tile on the floor, shoving a lab coat out of the way before escaping.

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

2/1/17- routine cleaning of 23K-A finds a lab coat hidden behind a floor tile. Coat belongs to Dr. Wilco.

2/1/17- subject upgraded from Euclid to Keter

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

3/5/17- KC-S4905 drugged for a check-up. Took well to the new substances. Precaution; table with limb locks used. The creature managed to fight stronger sedatives used for transportation and cornered Dr. Wilco to the far wall. No shots fired, creature retreated on their own. Dr. Wilco sustained no injuries. Therapy sessions mandatory. Partial transcript below.

Transcript: Janet Wilco and Dr. Jung ….. Dr. Jung: You say that he spoke to you?

Dr. Wilco: yes. He had a deep gravely voice that kind of rumbles into my chest.

Dr. Jung: what did he say?

silence

Dr. Jung: go on, it's ok. The more we know the better, but don't feel pressured. ok, Janet?

Dr. Wilco: He said 'you smell like roses'.

Dr. Jung: is that all he said?

Dr. Wilco: …Yes.

…..

End.

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3/7/17- with constant incidents with Dr. Janet Wilco, she is now assigned to a different unit.

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

3/24/17- Door alarm activated in the Doctor locker room in unit 23. all lockers open similar to 1/4/20 incident. Nothing was stolen. Locker 142 door was forcibly removed. The locker is currently empty, as was at the time of the incident.

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4/2/17- Guard doing patrol reported to odd noises coming from Break Room 32C in unit 20. The call was made at 4:22am to control. Transcript below.

Transcript: Security guard Jose Pérez ….. Pérez: I hear a strange noise coming from 32C in unit 20. request to investigate

Control: go ahead. Stay on the line

Pérez: copy

sound of footsteps

Pérez: Hello! Anyone in here? I am currently armed so make yourself known now.

Footsteps followed by soft groaning noises

Pérez: Hello? Please make yourself known now.

Background feminine voice: Kasey

Pérez: Miss? Are you injured? Say something, miss.

Control: Have you found who was making the noise?

Pérez: No, I hear someone.

Growling and high wails

Pérez: Oh Fuck. I think someone is getting mauled.

Frantic footsteps. Wails increasing in volumes

Control: Pérez report

Pérez: Oh god.

Control: Report

shouting and growling

…..

End

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Janet unbuttons her top in the empty locker room. Her mind wonders a mile a minute as she thinks back on her time working on the KC project. She finds the audacity to reassign her ridiculous. It was hardly her fault that things went the way they did. Some coworkers were insufferable, that had nothing to do with her. Then the attacks linked back to the subject wasn't her doings either. Its impressive that Kasey managed to avoid detection for so long, sneaking out the tile on the floor. There are theories being pushed about between workers about how he managed to dig a hole without being noticed. It’s a curious thing.

Janet dressed into her casual clothes, ready to head to the bunks to get some rest. She closes the locker, it clicking into place, before reaching to the bench for her bag. As she grabs the handle she faintly hears a different clicking sound. She stills, looking around the room. She listens, hearing nothing she calls out.

"Hello," her voice echoes throughout the room. The clicking starts again, coming from behind the wall of lockers in front of her. She waits for an answers, a sign of someone else being here. Janet waits with bated breath for any indication.

"You left," a deep gravely voice calls from behind her. Startled, Janet jumps, turning quickly to the source of the voice. At first she sees nothing, the room mostly dark as she didn’t bother turning more than one set of lights on. It isn't till two white eyes meet hers does she know who it is.

The soft sound of nails clicking against metal is all she hears as he shifts into the light. He sits perched above the lockers, crouched on all fours. Above him a ceiling panels is missing. As he gets closer, his hand slamming against a locker, Janet steps back. The back of her knee bumps the bench, making her sit.

"You left, Janet," he growls out again. He sneers, his teeth shining in the low light of the room. Janet sits there in a mix of emotions. Startled, confused, alarmed, but curious.

"Left what," she manages to ask. Kasey growls at her answer, jumping down off the lockers and onto the floor. He quickly makes his way to Janet, clawing his fingers into the wooden bench on either side of her. Janet sucks in a gasp, tilting away as she comes face to face with him.

"You weren't there anymore," he huffs. Janet sits back as far as she can on her hands, her head turned away. He seethes on her face, sitting inches away.

"I-I had no choice," she chokes out.

"No choice," he hisses.

"Yea, I had no choice. I was reassigned," she whimpers. His nearness and low rumbling growls do nothing to settle her nerves. Despite her lately romanticizing thoughts of his actions she wasn't naïve enough to apply them here. Not when his sharp incisors are inches from her cheek.

Kasey clenches the bench tightly, unapproving of the attempts to rid her. Finding her was a challenge for him, not knowing where she could be. It was frustrating the first time he was sedated since she left, not getting to inhale her comforting scent during such a stressful time. That would be the first time he let the affects of the sedative alter his alertness. If she wasn't there then he didn't want to be either.

"They tried to keep you away from me," he bumps his head against hers," but they cannot keep me from you."

As he begins to rub his face against her she lets those thoughts come unfiltered. So he is interested, that’s a not so uninteresting thought as she figured it would. Ever since Janet first met him she was impressed with what she saw. He is appealing in ways men she has been with before have not. He has protected her when others haven't and he seems devoted to her. It was a strange thought but Janet is all for it.

Janet turns into him, rubbing her cheek against his. She lifts one hand to his on the bench, feeling his warm fur against her fingers. She startles a bit when he begins to purr, just like the first time he touched her. Janet licks her lips before stroking up his arm and around to his shoulder. She can feel the rumbling of his pleased growls. As she reaches his neck he licks up her's. Janet gasps, the tingling sensation running down her spine and into her crotch. Her nails dig into his fur, grabbing it by the fistful as he settles her shoulder in his mouth. His sharp dangerous teeth barely dig into her skin.

"No one can keep you from me, " he growls around his mouthful," I will have you this night." One hand unbeds itself from the bench and rests against Janet's back. He tugs her forward till her chest is flush with his. The feeling of her in his arms, safe against him, makes his chest feel full. Yes, he will have her this night.

"o-ok," Janet answers a bit dazed. She knows this should be alarming, if not off putting, but Janet doesn't care. This feels right, that’s the only thing that has felt right in a long while.

Kasey purrs with a large grin, all the more excited now his female accepted this, accepted him. He licks and nibbles her neck as his hand pets and gropes her hips. His cock hot and ready but the little he knows about females, let alone human females, is that she needs more time to be ready. Kasey slides her off the bench and onto the floor, his eagerness showing between their bodies.

Janet gets a slight view of his rod, it being too dark to see it all. She does notice a large bulb at his base, before she can question it her shirt is ripped open. Janet yelps as her body jiggles with the sudden force. Her bra is ripped next leaving her bare and open to Kasey's all too pleased gaze. He likes what he sees, reaching out and groping her chest with both hands. Janet sits back on the cold floor, arms resting on either side of her head. She chuckles to herself at the absurdity of the situation. The strangeness is outweighed by the heat in her pants as his claws carefully pinch at her skin.

Her clothes are removed promptly, Kasey excited to bury himself into her awaiting heat, not before he gets a taste. Janet watches as he rests on his stomach, staring down with his wide grin at her cunt. He licks his lips, Janet groans with anticipation. They both wait with bated breath as he lowers his mouth to her, quickly licking a long stripe up her. They both moan at the feeling. Kasey already believing she is the best tasting thing on the planet. Janet can't believe she is really getting eaten out by one the monsters she works with.

Kasey worships her with his mouth, licking up every drop of her. He grunts and groans against her as his cock pulses against the floor. His palms cup her ass as he grind her into his face. His back nails dig into the concrete floor as he fights the urge to buck against the ground.

Janet whimpers and cries out, squirming in his hold as she fists her hair. She fights her fast approaching climax, wanting to ride his mouth just a little longer. Its when she feels his nails prick against her skin, feels his rumbling purrs against her, and sees his tail wagging behind him does she give up on the fight. With a shout and an arch of her back does she cum on his face.

Kasey licks up every drop, adoring the way she wiggles in his hold and buck against his tongue. Oh he plans to do that often. He think about doing it again till his cock pulses again between his stomach and the cold ground. Hearing Janet cry out had him nearly cumming on the floor, wasting his seed on his chest rather than inside her.

Janet pants as she watches Kasey climb up her body. His teeth sparkle in the light making her shudder as she knows some of her slick is on those teeth. Janet reaches out for him, wrapping her arms around his neck as he settles above her. He leans down and licks over her mouth, delving in when she opens for him. Janet sucks on his tongue, carding her finger through his hair as she does.

As Janet is busy Kasey takes the time to align himself with her awaiting heat. His eyes roll back as his tip presses to her hole. Kasey grabs her hips and sits up to watch himself enter her. Looking down at his cock he passes just a glance up at Janet. He takes in her overeager grin, her heaving chest, and flush cheeks. Kasey adores what he can do to her, knowing fully well he is the reason she is so ragged looking. He smirks down at her before pressing in.

Janet chokes on a gasp as his cock fills her up. The stretch is divine as is the feeling of his fur sliding across her thighs. He rests against her thighs with a grunt, finally settled as far as he is willing to go for now. She will take his knot later. He lightly bucks his hips at the thought.

He thrusts into her without a care. Janet can feel him deep inside her, her walls fluttering around him as she watches his hips slam into her's. he holds her, pulling her against him with each beautiful glide of his cock. He already feels ready to burst, ready to give in to her tight cunt. Janet sits in for the ride, watching every clench of his stomach, every hiss coming from between his teeth, and hear the clap of their hips. She can't stop the whimpers and cries the escape her parted lips.

"Kasey," Janet shouts as he slams into her. He gives up on watching her pussy take him and falls to his hands. He wildly thrusts into her, completely adoring the way she grips his cock. He can't hold on any longer, she has to take him completely.

He slaps his hips harder into her, opening her thigh wider with a hand as he tries to force his knot. Janet feels the hard piece begging for entrance. Was this the bulb as his base? She isn't quite sure she can take that as she already feels completely stuffed. Kasey doesn't quit in his efforts, leaning into her with a particularly hard buck of his hips. He feels her give just a bit, he keeps pushing. Kasey feels her open for him, allowing just enough room for him to pop into place.

"Agh, fuck." Janet groans and Kasey whimpers into her neck. His high pitched wails make Janet hold him closer, petting along his hair as she tries to adjust to the new intrusion.

"Perfect, too perfect," Kasey cries out. He gives small bucks of his hips that drive Janet wild. She gives in faster than she thought possible, clenching and spasming around him. Kasey whimpers louder as she grips him harder than he could ever imagine. His tongue hangs out his mouth, panting as his thighs shake. His balls clench up and when he listens to her own cries of pleasure does he shoot his seed into her. He turns his head and sinks his teeth into her soft, delicate flesh. He is only mildly aware of how fragile she is, holding back just barely as he marks his mate.

Kasey and Janet catch their breath on the now warm floor. Janet's sweat sticks to Kasey's fur. Kasey's teeth sit just barely in Janet's flesh. They can both barely hear the sound of his tail wagging behind them. Janet would laugh if she wasn't so exhausted. Instead she sits lax against the floor hearing a soft keening coming from Kasey.

"You alright," Janet asks. Kasey finally lets her go, sitting up to look down at her. His wide grin show off his blood stained teeth. He licks them clean before resting his head to hers.

"Perfect," he grumbles. They share a smile, all too content with what they have done.

Janet still feels Kasey cumming, his hot load making her squirm in frustration. Kasey looks between them before meeting her eyes, he tilts his head in questions before running his hand down her stomach. Janet nods, dropping her head back as his hand meets her clit. He rubs her as his hips buck. As he listens to her cries of pleasure he misses the sound of a door opening.

Upon later reflection he blames himself for what happens, knowing he is way more aware than this.

As she cums on his cock for the second time a man calls out from behind them. Kasey looks over his shoulder to see a guard pointing a gun at them both. Quickly Kasey pulls out of Janet's all too comfortable cunt. He winces along with Janet at the pain but its short lived before he picks her up.

Kasey settles Janet in the corner of the room, holding himself as a shield in front of her. Kasey snarls and growls at the guard, protecting his new mate from the intruder. Kasey's mind was still a bit fuzzy but he knew that he needed to protect her. He will protect her.

4/2/17- Guards flank to storage room 32C to scene of subject KC-S4905 and Dr. Wilco copulating on the floor. Backed into a corner, KC-S4905 hides Dr. Wilco in the corner while snarling at security. No shots fired, all participants go willingly.

4/2/17- Medical eval. Shows semen found in and around Janet Wilco's vagina. Bruises covering most of the inner thigh, hips, and one on her neck. Small cuts on her posterior and hips. minuscule puncture wounds on her neck and shoulder. No serious injuries. Psych eval. Results are inconclusive.

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

4/5/17- Dr. Janet Wilco is forcibly let go and on constant surveillance until further notice.

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

5/23/17- Despite transferring to a more secure containment, KC-S4905 has escaped the facility.

5/23/17- Janet Wilco is missing.

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

KC-S4905 is still currently missing. Janet Wilco's missing person search has been disbanded and she is now considered dead as of 2/25/18

End of KC-S4905 (Kasey)

Director Cameron H. Stanley

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If you made it to the end I'm proud of you. this is extremely experimental and I figure most people won’t enjoy this. I know little to nothing about SCP stuff but I was reading one and I got this idea to tell a love story in one. At first, it was just incident reports and no little story bits in the middle. but it got away from me and here we are.

I realized like halfway through this that I was pretty much ripping off Strigoi boyfriend from Somanyfangs on twitter (I tried posting the link but its not working). so credit is due here. besides that, this was all original. I hope you liked it cause I'm so iffy on this one.

Check out my Archive | Masterlist| Main Blog

#scp fanfiction #Kasey x Janet #Kasey the SCP #monster boyfriend #monster lover #exophilia #Enigma-IM

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purkinje-effect · 3 years

Text

The Anatomy of Melancholy, 75: Paper Weight

Table of Contents. Third Instar, Chapter 6. Go to previous. Go to next. TWs: Religion, joint issues, diet/appetite weirdness, brief transphobia adjacent anxiety, minor dehumanizing ghoul treatment. Uh. Not in that order. A slightly longer groundwork chapter, and continuing evidence that I am, in fact, criminally insane. [Updated 2021.07.12.]

“...[F]ixed in a sort of eternity at the heart of the crystal.” -- Orwell’s 1984

______________________________

‘Choly woke to Sticks gently stroking at his long dark shock-streaked hair. He could not discern the time of day without any light sneaking in around the edges of curtains, and recalled their inn room did not have windows. The ghoul drew his attention back to him with a drowsy smile.

“Ready to start the day?”

To resist the draw to curl up into Sticks, ‘Choly stretched out with a yawn, only to jerk his eyes open. He laid on his back for some time. In the night, one of his shoulders had separated and dragged his neck out of alignment.

“--I’m not ready, but let’s start anyway. Angel, be a dear and turn the lights on, please.“

The Mister Handy puffed to life again. Reignition of its pilot light cast dim outlines to the space. Unveiling the Burlington glass fixtures returned the room to unnatural illumination by that strange red-green light which ‘Choly disliked intuiting as gold. By the time Angel had completed the task, Sticks had thrown himself out of bed to dress.

‘Choly managed to sit up, and palpated at his errant joints, using the mindful pressure of his fingertips to coax things back into place. Not dislocating his fingers in the process required what little focus he could summon without coffee or his reinforced gloves, but he could barely move let alone think straight with the strumming stitches radiating through his arm and neck. He squirmed inside, knowing he couldn’t help but force Sticks to bear witness to the strangled hisses and cartilaginous pops.

Angel presented ‘Choly a can, which he accepted half-awake. He put on his glasses one-handed.

“A canister of fresh water to start your day, Sir? I’ve only got the one at present, if you’d like to split it. More is on the way.”

“Would you be able to open it...?”

“I have no sharp implements,” it apologized.

“Give me that.”

Sticks snatched it playfully and held it between his knees while he reattached his Pip-Boy and left hand. He hadn’t quite got to buttoning his shirt just yet. He slipped the glove off his mechanical prosthetic, and produced a sort of multitool from the armature of the region analogous to the metacarpal bones. As the ghoul made use of the folding implement, ‘Choly watched the hand’s exposed mechanical parts in motion, intimating tendons and ligaments, not always attached to something resembling a bone. A dull pop liberated the can’s lid. Sticks took a few swigs and handed it to ‘Choly helpfully, before hiding the tool again and slipping the glove back on. He moved on to finishing with his shirt so he could tie his bow-tie blind, humor to his breath.

‘Choly simply sat there and observed Sticks at length, nearly altogether forgetting gratitude or thirst. Words failed him. Sticks ran his right hand over his one surviving curl of hair. The blond ghoul noticed him staring and sat up straighter.

“What?”

“A pocket knife? That’s allowed?” He kept turning his neck, head held at deliberate angles, seeking that last tweak of alignment his cervical vertebrae wouldn’t yield him.

“See’s never asks me to show my hand,” he shrugged. “Half the time, they don’t even notice it’s not flesh.”

“This isn’t about your hand, and you know it.”

“Hey now. They’re fine with utensils. It’s got to be scarier than a butter knife to make them skittish. Really, though. Don’t mention it. It’d probably risk ‘em taking my whole hand, especially now that it’s wired into this thing.”

Sticks huffed a bit. Angel leapt to assist when his neckwear wouldn’t cooperate.

“Oh, do let me help you with that, Sir.”

“Thanks, chap. Hard to do without a mirror.”

“I brought in a hand mirror.” Unappeased, ‘Choly gestured to Angel for his hairbrush, which he set to using with his head dipped between his knees, desperate to couple the inversion of gravity with cadence of his brushing. Once he sat up again, he looked to Sticks. “Which, would it be all right if we brought in some things from the car? I figure that even if we get lucky today, we’ve paid for a week, so we may as well stay for a week. No sense in rushing things. Might miss something, if we do.”

Sticks tilted his head.

“I could warm to that. What all would you even need to bring in, though?”

“Little things,” he reassured a little too quickly. “Toiletries. Some spare clothes. Nothing too elaborate.”

“I don’t see why not.” He gripped his own knees. “Let’s knock that out. After, we can head to breakfast. Now. You want my help with your corset and stuff?”

‘Choly’s shoulders folded in as he worked at unbuttoning his shirt. His reservations came not from distrust but self-consciousness. Despite having partook in several kinds of sex acts with him already, he still preferred that the ghoul only see him naked from behind, if at all. But, he didn’t care to parse any selfishness or perversion in the offer: he wanted Sticks’s help. He’d be a hypocrite, anyway, to find fault in Sticks’s own enjoyment of the activity, when his very physiology provided the same passive delight for ‘Choly. He pulled the corset to him, and removed his shirt so he could hook the busks. Only then, holding it up against his front, did he relent to receiving help stringing the back. The more pieces Sticks helped him into, the more straightened out and held in place he felt. More clearly than usual, he craved the full-body orthotics set, in the expectation that with them he might feel normal again. Functional again. In any sense. In every.

He objected, mostly internally, that his brain would thrust heavy self-reflection on him so soon after waking. The idea of returning to bed enticed him again. No. Sooner than do so in the bathroom mirror, he pinned up a french twist blind and loose.

The two finished off the water before leaving the room.

They first stopped at the restrooms, where Angel waited just outside. ‘Choly flinched at the doorway, only to scold himself for even thinking he shouldn’t use the men’s room. He remained aware of others the entire time, relieved to go unnoticed and unremarkable. He insisted to himself that the night before had been a fluke.

Exiting the mall made ‘Choly wish he’d brought his visor inside. The garage’s luminosity wasn’t significantly greater than inside the mall, but the shift in hues to natural lighting pulsated in his right-sided cervical migraine. He didn’t think he’d gotten used to the limited color spectrum indoors so soon, yet here he was, nearly thinking seeing any color besides red, green, and gold signified he was seeing colors which didn’t exist. The intensity with which he saw cyan, magenta, and even white, he approximated to an aura migraine. The edges of his vision felt over-illuminated and blurry. If this sensitivity overload would take place every time he adjusted to and from Burlington glass lighting, he decided he would avoid going inside and out with any frequency for the remainder of their stay.

In the garage, mostly only the children paid any attention to the trio. So early in the morning, many inhabitants shared cinder block campfires to prepare community breakfast. On the way to Little Boy Blue, they passed through delectable aromas of sweet breads and pan seared meat.

Sticks opened the trunk for ‘Choly. Once he could tell ‘Choly intended to make use of Angel’s storage compartment to carry his things inside, he tossed in few of his own clothes too. He smirked at yet another of ‘Choly’s outdated behaviors:

“You packed like you’re on vacation.”

“A vacation with a purpose, perhaps. I’m grateful for it, though. It doesn’t seem this hotel has complimentary soaps.”

Sticks snickered.

“To broach a veritable elephant,” Angel stressed, “I must point out that while we may be booked for a week’s lodging here, you only have four Melancholia remaining, Mister Carey. In addition to our primary goal, we should stay on the lookout for toothpaste and mouthwash today. And we may no longer require them for first aid, but do recall that Stimpaks are the most important part of that recipe.”

Stimpaks. 'Choly paled at his oversight.

“Surely four of those things will get you through the week,” Sticks muttered. “You can’t swear off food now, with the biggest restaurant cluster in New England at the other end of the building.”

“...If I can help it.”

Sticks puffed up.

“Not if I can help it.”

The Mister Handy and chemist turned down the invitation to argument.

On their way back inside, ‘Choly saw Maury eating with a group of other settlers. He didn’t want to interrupt their meal, but he still waved. When See’s screened them, ‘Choly showed them Angel’s compartment again. Everything passed muster with security, albeit thoroughly rifled through. ‘Choly welcomed their return to the clear, dark uniformity of the mall interior’s red-green glow. They dropped off their things at the room, then went into the mall proper.

The Concourse seemed to only just be waking up by this hour. Most walked southward like them. Only half the stores looked open for business. ‘Choly looked to his Pip-Boy for the time. Just after nine. He accepted it and slouched as comfortably as he could atop Angel.

He figured most of the people headed to the food court were Laners, while the rest were probably visitors, or at least lived outside the mall. Along the way, he people-watched, eventually making a visual distinction between Laners and everyone else less by their routine and more through their attire. The fashion of mall denizens seemed to posit some commixture of Irish crochet, beaded silk, and embroidered tweed, bakelite and astrakhan, plus-fours and long trailing skirt hems, chemisettes and dickeys tethered with layers of scarves and shawls.

More people packed into the boisterous food court for breakfast than had for dinner. Even getting to the counter with the shortest line took patience, with hundreds seeking their first meals. Sticks ordered himself carrot pancakes, then turned to ‘Choly.

“Are you sure I can’t interest you in breakfast? With the lines like this, I’m not ordering twice.”

Fatigued lyric traced his reply as he patted at Angel’s storage compartment to retrieve his Billerica Golf Course mug with a smile:

“You can interest me in a cup of coffee.”

The ghoul impatiently resigned to a smaller order than he’d liked, and flashed his inn room key fob to net a discount. He requested a plate from Angel, and took it and ‘Choly’s mug to hold out for the server, who confirmed, yes maple syrup, black no sugar, before plating up as requested. Twenty-seven pulls lighter, Sticks let Angel locate their seat with its higher passive senses.

‘Choly sat with his coffee warming his gloved hands for some time, content to let the aromatic steam roll over his face while he watched Sticks dig in with knife and fork. Angel set a Melancholia bottle on the table. Eventually, Sticks’s bites slowed, and he stopped to finish chewing. He cut off a forkful and held it out with a cupped hand beneath, optimistic the craving spurred ‘Choly’s attention.

“The maple syrup makes up for it being carrot.”

‘Choly eyed it. Sooner than admit due impropriety, he let him stuff the bite in his mouth. He had expected the syrup and apple compote to provide all the sweetness, but the finely grated root vegetable mixed into the batter contributed both sweet and savory. Against his better judgment, to quash any question altogether, he mooched a second bite as well with interest.

“Don’t you like carrot?”

“...Blueberries aren’t in season,” Sticks eventually smiled. “Now, I’d happily split these with you... or are you actually happy with that damn silt flour smoothie?”

“I’m only happy with my Melancholia, in that it doesn’t upset my stomach.” He opened it with his reinforced gloves, and thought to himself, This batch isn’t even cherry. It’s mint. “If you want my full faculties, you’ll have me with Mentats, Melancholia, and a cup of black coffee.”

Brow raised, Sticks frowned into his plate as he scrutinized where to cut off his next bite.

“Far be it for me to come between you and your faculties.”

Angel used the dish station at the far end of the food court to rinse their plate, mug, and utensils. Then, they got to skimming stores.

Beginning just outside the Customs House, they poked around any open store which appeared to carry armor or apparel. ‘Choly went by cane for the most part, and tried not to let interesting garments distract him or his cash from his goal. He wasn’t about to spend anything until he knew the price tag on liberating the leather orthotics from whoever might have them. Neither their descriptions nor the product photos in the catalogue produced results.

In one shop, Sticks unhelpfully described the item to the clerk, who immediately pointed them to an array of girdles and brassieres. Beet red and speechless, ‘Choly had to nearly shove away the salesmanship, no matter the young man’s encouragement or respect. Sticks didn’t know whether to find ‘Choly’s reaction revealing or amusing.

They passed crossway between the main entrance and Sutter Grove, only for ‘Choly to stop cold. Like some strange airport reunion, a loud, excited group of Laners fawned over a black woman with a shoulder-length white bob--white all the more stark in contrast to the red-green golden mall-sea. When Sticks noticed ‘Choly had stopped, he backtracked, eyes on the woman sooner than him.

“You need me to help you up on Angel?”

“Such accolades. What do you suppose she means to them?”

“From the look of her, she must travel a lot. They probably just haven’t seen her in a real long time. It’s not important. They’re going to Burlington Glassworks. They won’t have what we’re here for. Now come on.”

Head askew, ‘Choly watched the gaggle drag the overwhelmed yet pleasant woman across the Concourse and to the lighting store.

“I... I want to go in there.”

“Didn’t think you were particularly religious, but whatever. We can take a break and play tourist or somethin’.”

‘Choly almost objected, but figured he’d understand if only he satisfied his curiosity. If he recalled anything from the time before he’d stepped foot in the United States, he knew with certainty he’d been raised to abhor religious observance. At least, outwardly...

Myriad strange shapes the luminescent space, but the motif repeated in the glass art filled with glowing golden red-green fluid, that the neck swirled and looped around the body, then somehow reentered it. Bulbs were hung by these loops from the ceiling, some in knotted strings, while most other bulbs rested in metal fixtures reminiscent of egg cups. If not for the artistic shapes and the hue of light they cast, ‘Choly and Sticks almost considered it like stepping into the lighting department of a hardware store.

“Hierosacristan Fresnel!” The group begged, both in English and what ‘Choly could only presume was French. “Hierosacristan, tell us of your orbit!”

The staff had abandoned their posts in fascination of their visitor. Some showered her with sunflowers. Here, ‘Choly could see the woman wore an ornately embroidered shawl, fur-lined metal armor, and an all-black bodysuit. The woman could only oblige her admirers with a humility strained smile. A dozen or so stone park benches furnished the deeper half of the store, in two neat rows facing the back wall. ‘Choly sat at the last bench to watch, transfixed. Begrudgingly, Sticks joined him, and Angel, behind them.

As she spoke, Fresnel’s deep, silvery voice alternated between English and French, limiting ‘Choly and Sticks’s full comprehension. Her audience seemed more captivated by anything she didn’t say in English.

When she told them, “Qu’Atom vous garde,” they mirrored it in kind. ‘Choly filled in any gaps in the language barrier with presumptions of what little he knew of Orthodoxy.

“Much of my year I have studied in Thomaston... XXXXXXXXXX I wandered the Nashua ruins a bit before coming to the Lane proper... XXXXXXXXXX XXXXXXXXXX I come to greet the granite... I must travel West before I return to Five Sisters. To report my findings to Grand Mother Skwodovska. But, I savor a leisurely return. My discoveries dictate my orbit. XXXXXXXXXX I Winter at the Lane for the first time... XXXXXXXXXX XXXXXXXXXX XXXXXXXXXX ”

At some point in her speech, she took notice of their visitors. She broke away from sermonizing for the dozen or so practically clutching for her attention, to approach. ‘Choly straightened, expecting her to scold him. But she bowed to Sticks with grace, and held his hand in both her own. The ghoul fell speechless when she smiled up at him.

“What a blessing, that one of Atom’s beloved attends us. I never get the chance to speak with any Undying.”

Sticks let her hold his gloved hand, too, and laid on his charm.

“I’m impressed at our timing. We happen to be at Ant Lane right when such a highly esteemed Child of Atom has popped in.”

Again struggling with humility, she withdrew to stand. Taken aback by the sight of Angel, she hemmed into her fist.

“Forgive my start from the robot. One of my past orbits took me to the Commonwealth, and since my visit to the Cambridge Polymer Labs, I haven’t much liked the company of Mister Handies.”

“Cambridge!” Angel blandished. “Such worldliness.”

She appreciated that it did not take exception with her.

“My brothers and sisters show our devotion in a commitment to travel.”

“Forgive my stupidity,” ‘Choly asked, voice cracking, “but what exactly is a hiero...?”

The intense, robust woman half-sat on the back of the next bench to form her reply. Up close, ‘Choly could make out her face tattoo, of many concentric rings, emanating outward from one eye. Sooner than wonder what it signified, he could only imagine how much it must have hurt. The white bob was a wig.

“You speak Keb? No?” She became more particular in her words. “Among the Children of Atom is an order of scribes, historians, cartographers. We are the Daughters of Radon. We hail from the Rock of Ages. We document and research Atom’s holiest substances, such that any of Atom’s children can safely trace a path and greet everything She has touched. The rank bestowed of Daughters of Radon is Sacristan, keeper of holy spaces. Hierosacristans are the Daughters’ Zealots.”

‘Choly strained to follow along, teetering between looking lost and unintentionally judgmental.

“What interest, then, in granite? I heard correctly, that you intend to greet it? It’s very pretty, but really, I want to understand what has you all so enchanted. Is there correlation between granite and these glass lights?”

Fresnel smiled broad and beaming, nearly sarcastic in a way.

“A visitor from the Commonwealth. I see. The answer is Atom’s touch. We concern ourselves not just with nuclear bodies, but with large sources of granite, marble, and limestone. Anyone could observe these structures, both man-made and still-buried, but it takes the devotion of Daughters to listen to their histories.” A sigh and slouch announced her travel weariness. She pointed above them, to the hanging glass. “Everything is a vessel. We carry our world-soul. Nuclear bodies carry the Holy Light of Atom. And certain stones can carry recorded memories of the worlds which formed this one through Division. The Daughters are committed to documenting these memories, so that the Children can celebrate everything from the past which went into the creation of the present.”

‘Choly fumbled as carefully as he could. It fascinated him, that it seemed more and more that religious devotion tied directly into the creation and maintenance of the increasingly supernatural glowing glass fixtures--let alone that it had anything to do with radioactive material.

No wonder they appreciate Sticks. “And you... listen to the granite here?”

Sticks poorly hid his annoyance with a shift in posture and a grunt.

“Most granite is quite loud. The granite here... whispers.” Fresnel admitted. “The Children often call this place The Quiet Granite. You’re very new, and so eager to learn of Atom’s Kingdom... Are you here to let in Her Holy Light?”

“Until I stepped foot in here, I had no idea this place was a church. I know it sounds stupid, but I wanted to come in to see the lights up close. I’m fascinated that a substance could sustain luminescence without external excitation.”

Though his admission dulled her enthusiasm, his verbiage still held her interest.

“I’m not directly involved in glassblowing, so I know very little of it. The Glow is most remarkable, n’est-ce pas? Even if you’re here merely to marvel at our blessed work, you can still take a piece with you. You should speak with my brothers and sisters here. If you’re more than a scholar or tourist, the local Confessor can direct you to our body of scripture as well. I’m far better suited to geography than sermons.” Fresnel’s attention warmed back to Sticks. “Be no stranger to our space...”

“Sticks.”

“Be no stranger, Sticks.” She smiled, mirthful. “You and your odd friend here are welcome here.”

Before the game of Twenty Questions could continue, Fresnel stood to pat Sticks’s hand... and the top of ‘Choly’s head. The chemist frowned as she excused herself.

“Fresnel spoke directly with you,” a devotee said, behind them. They looked over their shoulders at the nervous man. “Is there anything I can do for you, Undying?”

“It’s Sticks,” he repeated, quickly growing tired of it. “We’re sightseeing, you could call it. I think this fella wants a souvenir.”

The man looked ‘Choly over and nodded, motioning for them to follow him to the counter. He produced an egg-crate tray of walnut sized glass baubles, and picked them up to swirl them around in visual demonstration.

“We’re blessed to meet a Hierosacristan.” He poorly contained his delight. “I wonder if she would permit that I be in her caravan when her orbit carries her onward.”

“Where is she headed next?” ‘Choly asked, moreso making conversation than wishing to know.

“The standard path for all caravans from Ant Lane to Burlington is Route 89, straight through the mountains. But, she mentioned traveling West. The Daughters of Radon follow the orbit of their heart. She may intend another orbit yet uncharted. --Forgive my gushing. You’re interested in a prayer armillary?”

“How much are they?”

The potentially inappropriate question caught in ‘Choly’s throat.

“Fifty-one pulls.”

“You don’t happen to take cash, do you?”

“Certainly. Our caravans do trade with more than just Ant Lane.” The Child picked up the tray’s edge to look at a note on the side. “One hundred fifty dollars.”

So deep in, he didn’t feel like he could say no thank you and just walk away. Not that he wanted to walk away empty handed after such a bizarre interaction.

“Tell me more about them. What makes them glow?”

“There are two aspects to Burlington’s glass artistry. We’re beholden to conceal our craft, but it’s perfectly safe for all Atom’s Children, blessed with the Endurance to withstand Her Light or no.“

In the remark, ‘Choly stifled a shiver at the possibility that the entire mall might be a religious settlement.

“The craftsmanship is remarkable.” His voice cracked. “How long do they last?”

“Years, if they must. But these smallest vessels are intended ephemeral: We encourage that you use them to seal a prayer, then shatter it someplace consequential to disperse the good will into the universe.”

“Are they... still safe if broken?”

“They are not grenades. And to drink its contents would be ill advised, foremost on account of the broken glass.”

“I would never have considered the fluid potable,” ‘Choly lied, having had the thought gifted him. He shakily produced the requested cash, and the Child let him pick one of the egg-like baubles. “Thank you.”

“Anything for you?” His beseeching, bleary eyes suggested more than simple commerce. “Do you require any arrangements? Any accommodations of any kind?”

Sticks eyed the tray with near disappointment, and rocked a bauble around in its cup with one finger.

“...You said they were fifty-one?”

“Take one, gladly!”

Feigning pleasantry, he picked one for himself. It exasperated ‘Choly that Sticks had not attempted to influence the price tag on his trinket, but only his frigid shoulders said as much.

“Thank you. Get to take a piece of this place with me, then.”

“But of course!” The Child nod-bowed to them both. “Qu’Atom vous garde.”

They mirrored the nod, caught in the uncertainty of pronunciation, and the uncertainty of appropriateness that they repeat it back.

‘Choly held his prayer armillary at his chest as they exited the Glassworks. He had no intention of ever break it. The thought crossed him as he glanced down at it, that he could place it in Angel’s storage for use as a perpetual light source, like the light to a glove compartment.

“...Angel,” he asked it, spellbound by the strange, vaguely oily, fluoresceinesque fluid, “you’ve got French programming, haven’t you? That was French, yes? What was she saying?”

“I believe it’s French, Sir. At least, partly. If I’m to understand Miss Fresnel, these Children of Atom worship gamma radiation... as well as something they regard as ‘foreign.’ ”

“Cultists, basically.” Sticks snorted.

'Choly didn’t care whether the Children’s religious motivations made any rational, scientific sense. It still burned him, that they’d given Sticks his trinket for free. The ghoul handed him his with only a vague smirk.

“I, you didn’t want one, then?” He had only starry-eyed gratitude. “Are you sure?”

“Why would I? I let them give it to me so they’d knock it off and let us leave.” The ghoul blurted out an abrupt chuckle and slung an arm around ‘Choly’s shoulders, to grip him a little too forcefully. He kept his voice down, cracked lips inches from ‘Choly’s ear. “Don’t make me go back in there. I get enough of that from you.”

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

A/N: I anglicized the maiden name of Polish-French Marie Skłodowska-Curie, in the expectation that oral tradition would follow phonetically. (I also wanted to differentiate the Grand Mother from both Mother Curie III and FO4′s Curie, while still nodding to the historical figure.)

A/N: I’ve thus far gone all my life not knowing it’s pronounced Freh-nel or Fray-nel. Even my science teachers all pronounced it Fresnel. Hm.

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#fallout #children of atom #fallout 4 #fallout fanfic #fo4 fanfic #sole survivor #ghoul oc #mister handy #melancholy #sticks #angel #child of atom #hierosacristan bernadette fresnel #the anatomy of melancholy

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phthalology · 4 years

Text

(how is a pigeon like the tower?)

on AO3 here

The former Speaker’s reception room became an activity room for the Vanguard after his death. Guardians would meet with Ikora Rey or Commander Zavala there, or use it for the unofficial but Vanguard-sponsored (i.e. Ikora had nodded in agreement to the idea once) book club. Wicker chairs and a long table provided convenience, while skylights let in natural sun and warmth.

Eris Morn hesitated in the doorway. The Titans sat with their backs to her: Zavala folded over the clacking of knitting needles, Lord Saladin drinking something hot next to him, Lord Shaxx scooping cookies onto a plate on the other side of the room. Saint-14, ambling across the room with his own plate, was the first one to see her.

“Eris Morn!” He boomed her name and rushed toward her, one arm flung wide. His silver armor made him look even larger than his wide Exo frame already was. He had declined to wear his famous helmet, revealing silvery plating and ice-blue eyes. “Our favorite Guardian tells me you do not want hugs. I will honor this, but …” A graceful wave of his giant arm turned into a graceful return to the plate of cookies. “Let me know if you ever need.”

“My skin crawls,” Eris said. She watched for Saint to react with disgust to her tone, but he did not. Such a relief. Her truths were hard, these days, and she did not expect the Titans to stomach them. The invitation itself had been a surprise. She also found it courteous to let people know what to expect from the person she had become. “Touch reminds me too much of the creatures that crawl as well.”

“We will try to think of things other than that.” Saint’s thunderous voice held notes of scorn toward the Hive, which Eris respected. He did not belittle her pain. “I have a project for you, if you want it!” He moved around to one of the several empty chairs and scooped up a roll of blue yarn.

Zavala turned around, his hands still occupied with the quick-clacking needles. “Eris.”

“Are you certain you welcome me? Again the Guardians whisper that I touch evil I should leave alone. I will not endure such whispers easily.” She hated to antagonize the Vanguard, but there was no way around it. And …

The Titan Vanguard replied in just the way she had hoped he would. “You show us all an example of standing as a shield in front of others. Without you, the moon would be a more dangerous place. I hope you find that here, you do not have to shield your own heart.”

The words sounded like a speech he had rehearsed ahead of time. Eris respected the thought if he had. This was also, she knew, how the commander typically addressed people.

“Commander. Thank you for the invitation. While I have declined several times in the past, I found this timing … auspicious.” She glanced at the others. Saladin she knew the least, while she had spent the most time with Saint and Zavala. The days with Saint had been … centuries ago?

“Because Saint is here?” Shaxx sat down, facing her over Zavala’s shoulder, with his plate of cookies. The chair creaked under his muscled and armored frame. “He and I were just talking about you. About how we haven’t fought together since the Great Hunt, and how perhaps that should change.”

The Great Hunt. Eris remembered Ahamkara the size of buildings crashing down on fireteams … and the satisfaction of evading their meter-long claws, ignoring their tempting whispers, and piercing their violent hearts. She smiled. “It has been a long time since I faced a wish-dragon. Memories from … before … are fuzzy … but welcome all the same.” Try. Try, Eris, to let them know you appreciate them.

Saint was waiting for her response, holding the yarn up in enthusiastic little swoops. “Eh…?” Saladin and Zavala both kept level gazes on her. Shaxx stared down at his cookies, reluctant to remove his helmet.

“I brought something for you too.” Eris held out the satchel at her side. She plucked the Hive-leather roll from inside and partially unrolled it. The black beads inside glittered in the sunlight. It was strange to see them in bright Earth light instead of the gray-green murk of the moon. Eris had spent so much time working with stones like these, along with iron plates and incantations. Seeing them in the Tower for a moment seemed wrong, like bringing a painful shard of her new life into the wispy memories of her old. But with the sounds of the room—Saladin and Shaxx beginning a conversation, Saint creaking as his weight shifted—she was pulled into the present. These Titans—these old warriors—had wanted her to come here.

“Marvelous!” Saint said. He took the roll from her gently, his hands dwarfing hers. “Perhaps I will string them on the edges of my scarf!”

They traded the beads for the yarn. Eris took a seat and was immediately surrounded by the conversation of Titans: Shaxx’s laughter, Saladin’s measured and wise words, Zavala quiet, concentrating on the gradually growing knitting in his lap. Words and warmth mingled. She watched the steam rise from cups. Saint talked about Osiris’ work on the Sundial. Zavala stooped under a heavy silence, once raising his head as if he was as heavy as a boulder to add his voice to the chorus of praise for the Guardians’ latest exploits. When conversation turned to the moon some eyes glanced at her, but none of them wanted to talk about the thing in the canyon.

“It was the Ahamkara hunts, when we truly spoke last,” she muttered into the silence.

“It was.” She could hear the smile in Shaxx’s voice.

““Even before my ill-fated fire team began our task. The dragons were not as cruel as the Hive, but there is no purpose in measuring one suffering against another.” The words were laborious: she forced them out.

“We’re old, Eris.” Saladin intoned the words, but then smiled to show he meant them to be soft. The “we” struck her: no one had counted her part of a group for a long, long time. “We could measure one era of life against another all day. Or, we can fight to live another day.”

“Titans.” Saint pressed his fist against his own chest. “Good at many things. Defending the City. Giving advice.”

Eris picked up the yarn. “After such a long time, I have forgotten…”

“We were all beginners once,” Zavala said, and began to teach her the stitches.

Eris left with a thin string of knitting in her satchel. Saint looked to Shaxx after she left. Most of the cookies and tea were gone. The tone in the room had changed, from an informal meeting of the crocheters to a more somber Vanguard gathering. This was not the public club, where Guardians mingled. This had been a meeting of specially chosen old warriors. “Splendid. She learns quickly.”

“I have to ask,” Saladin said. “How much of that was about getting her to return to the Tower, and how much was about you?”

“Both! Of course it is both. I am new to the Tower. She is new to the Tower. I was stranded in time. Dead, perhaps? I cannot remember. Strange not to remember thousands of years gone by in one death.” Saint shook his head. “Hah. Then I come back, discover she was stranded on the Moon. We are similar in this, I think.” He turned the black beads over and over.

“I know Ikora invited her before,” the Vanguard Commander said from his chair. “She never took up that offer.”

“Ah! Then this is victory indeed.” Saint crowed. He remembered when Eris had leaned over to him, a few stitches loosely completed in her lap.

Zavala and Shaxx had been tensely asking one another if they could get the other anything, the old pain of their rivalry comfortably buried under enforced politeness that might one day mellow it into fondness. Saladin watched over them like a father. The signs that he still remembered them as Guardian recruits at Twilight Gap were clear. Both had been hard-living immortals even before the Gap, but Saladin’s conviction and skill at organizing troops had made him the foremost of Titans, and a template for what the nature of a Titan should be.

“So, you have also returned from the dead," Eris had said, with humor. “Did you feel like you walked in the Tower as a ghost?”

Saint could be quiet when he wanted to be, especially under the voices of his compatriots. “After the Guardian brought me back, I, well … I had birds to take care of. They needed me to be alive. A ghost cannot hold seeds.”

Eris narrowed her eyes, scrunched her lips. Even with the top half of her face mostly obscured, it was easy to read her dissatisfied expression.

Saint leaned closer. “Just like you take care of Guardians. Even when they make a mess.”

Eris smiled.

How was the moon like the snow of the gap? What did it matter to an immortal to lose the centuries he had lost, the years Eris had lost? Saint did not dwell. He watched the Titans begin their back-slapping, wall-rattling farewells, and looked down again at the minuscule beads in his palm, crafted by Eris’ clever hands.

Victory indeed.

#destiny #writings #eris morn #saint-14 #commander zavala #lord shaxx #lord saladin #inspired and beta’d by jen!

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chazzfox · 4 years

Text

The Search

So, this is a super simple silly story comprised of pictures of toys. I made it for my wonderful friend after she encouraged the shit out of my normal toy loving shenanigans. It’s a lot of photos so under the cut it goes. Elsa loses Anna! Oh noes! Luckily she’ll have help looking for her~ ---- One hot day, Elsa went outside to meet with Anna for a walk. But Anna was nowhere to be found!

So Elsa walked around and looked for her, calling her name loudly. "Anna! Anna, where are you?" she yelled. It was unusual for Anna not to meet with her and she was a little freaked out.

She heard a thud behind her and turned around to see her friend Pepita. She was surprised to see her so suddenly. "What's wrong?" asked Pepita. "Anna is missing! She never misses our walks!" Elsa replied. "I knew something was wrong...I'll help you look," Pepita offered. "Can I ride on your back?" Elsa asked, excited at the prospect.

"No," Pepita replied and picked her up with her hind feet. Elsa tried very hard not to ice herself.

When they landed, Elsa was fighting the urge throw up. "Where are we?" she asked as she walked with Pepita.

"The Hobo Camp," Pepita mumbled back. "They're a mess, but they let all sorts hang out with them, so they might have information."

Elsa was immediately hit with the strong smell of alcohol as they arrived at the Hobo Camp. The three men looked at them with curiosity. Elsa tried not to judge too hard as she stared back. "Hi, I'm Elsa. Have you seen a girl with red hair and a purple cape? Perhaps she offered you chocolate?" Elsa asked. "We have not," said Tiger. "Wanna drink with us?" "No thanks, I'm very worried." "You should go ask T," Bunny suggested. Pepita perked up. "Oh yea, T! He's always flying around and getting in everyone's business."

“You sure you don’t want to take it easy, have a drink by the fire?” Tiger asked again. “Tiger let her go find her friend,” Bunny sighed. “Good luck mode on, Elsa!”

"Thanks for the advice," Elsa told the Hobos as they headed off again. She didn't know who T was. "When you find your friend, come back for drinks!" shouted Ryan the Lion.

Pepita abruptly picked Elsa up again and flew with her. Elsa had to swallow some puke...

Her stomach threatened to revolt however as they landed and she was hit with a very stinky, earth smell. "What is that!?" she asked. "The Beast. He's smelly, but we might as well ask him."

Elsa rolled her eyes but went to the Beast. "Have you seen a red-headed girl in a purple cape sort of like yours?" she asked. "Get off my property!" The Beast roared, so Elsa glared and left.

Then she yelped and jumped as something sprang out of the ground. "What the hell is that!?" "That's the Fizzgig. You don't come out here much, do you?" Pepita snorted. "No, we usually walk somewhere less odd..." But it would be just like Anna to go exploring.

"By the way, that's not its real hand," Pepita added. Elsa refused to turn her back on the creepy thing.

As they continued on, she caught up with Pepita. "Thanks, by the way. If I can do anything in return..." "Just don't die in a way that causes family drama in the underworld, and I'll be happy. Not that I'll have to deal with you, but my friend will." Elsa was left to ponder that.

"There's T!" Pepita said suddenly. "Hey, T! Have you seen a girl with red hair and a purple cape?" "And freckles," Elsa added.

T studied them and then nodded wisely, hopping from his place on the tree. "He has an idea of who we can ask. Let's go!" Pepita said.

On their way, they had to backtrack a bit and Elsa smelled wet dog. "What is-oh he's taking a bath." "That's odd," Pepita said. "Why did he get bigger?" "Just happens when he gets wet," Pepita explained.

Elsa heard some chatter and a man with short brown hair and a woman with shoulder length red hair came into view. Her heart sank. "That's not the redhead.."

Still, T ran up to the man. "Mulder, your dragon is back," the woman said with amusement. "I think he's trying to tell us something Scully!" he said as T jumped on him. "It might be best to let them do the talking," Scully said, motioning to Elsa and Pepita. "We're looking for my sister..." Elsa explained yet again, and the two pondered.

"Well, we don't know about your sister," said Scully. "But we found this totally strange book with many pages yet the whole story is contained on the middle two pages. Maybe it can help." "It was ALIENS, Scully," Mulder said excitedly. "Everything is aliens with you," she sighed back. Pepita studied the book carefully, and then her eyes lit up. "I recognize this! I know who owns it! Let me take you!"

"I'm getting real tired of looking at your furry ass," Elsa grumbled as they lifted off again.

They flew quite far. Elsa was surprised to see Mulder and Scully were able to follow, but before she could question it, an odd little blue being showed up. "What the-" Elsa jumped back.

They were surrounded immediately. Elsa made a shield. "Pepita who are they?" "Aliens!" Scully murmured and Mulder smugly pointed his gun at things. "They're fine," Pepita assured everyone even though she was ignored.

"Elsa!?" Suddenly, escorted by more of the blue things, there was Anna! Elsa dropped her shield and ran toward her. "Anna! I've been looking all over for you! Are you okay!?" she asked, leaving the group.

"I'm fine! I'm so sorry I worried you," Anna said as her sister rushed to her side. "I've just been hanging with the Stitches." "The-the what?" Elsa asked.

"The Stitches! These guys. I don't know much about them, but they know how to have a good time once you convince them to stop actively destroying things," Anna explained further. She and Elsa turned to see the others starting to meet the blue creatures. There were snacks and drinks and honestly, everyone seemed okay. Elsa started to calm down. "Okay well...I still don't understand how you found them and all, or why you didn't tell me!"

Anna opened her coat and revealed a milkshake."I can explain! You know how today was unusually hot? I wanted to cool off, but I wasn't sure where you went this morning. I made a milkshake and went to the yard with it, and they just showed up." "Hmm. I was doing paperwork...okay, then what happened." "They carried me off! I was going to stop it, but they started making popcorn and I thought: how bad can these guys be?" "Anna..."

Before she could launch into a lecture, Pepita approached them again with a happy look on her face. "So the great mystery is solved. These guys are a lot of fun. I've flown over their parties before many times! If you had mentioned the milkshake I'd have known where to go." "I didn't know about the milkshake..." Elsa started to glare at Anna out of frustration, but then Pepita spoke up again. "Hey - want to go have even MORE fun? I have an idea." "YEA!!" Anna screamed.

And so everyone wound up at the Hobo Camp. The drinks were flowing and popcorn buttered hard. Ryan the Lion had a cleaned up date and the Stitches were everywhere. Elsa lost track of Mulder and Scully - but she sure didn't lose track of Anna again.

THE END

#Toy Comic #Disney #Frozen #Stitch #Toothless #Elsa #Anna #The Beast #tiger and bunny #pepita #the x files #Mulder #Scully

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g00d1uckch4rm · 4 years

Text

Chasing The Sun

Chapter 2: Set Sail

Summary/Info Rated M ____________________________________________________

AN: no measurement or comparison is given for much of the ships. I’m guessing and just going with it, it’s not important enough to make statistics of fictional ships. I don’t know shit about sailing either. So it’s just whatever sounds good and if I have to look something up, I will. But not a concern if I’m wrong. ____________________________________________________

-Introduction to Type Dynamics- (Continued...)

Type A Dynamic Also referred to as Type A or simply A Twenty-two percent probability

The function of one's gonads is the production of sperm, no matter the body appearance. Type A have a particular sense of smell and very rarely have a sexual drive outside of a Rut (See: ER Period). It is not unusual for one to have a territory and keep others out, whether they themselves are aware of it. Depending on the person, it could be a favourite chair, their home, a small village, etc. People of this Type may also have a harder time living together, as an overabundance of similar pheromones and closely timed Ruts will cause instinctual rivalry and potentially hostile actions.

It is a misconception that Type A females have or had a penis. They do, however, lack a womb and are incapable of becoming pregnant.

Type B Dynamic Also referred to as Type B or simply B Fifty-six percent probability

There are two variations, but the key factor of Type B is the lack of both (P)heromones and (S)ensitivity (See: WISP Score). For males, the function of their gonads is the production of sperm. For females, they have a womb capable of carrying children and the function of their gonads is the production of eggs. Typically, there are no territory issues and have an easier time living with others regardless of Type.

~~~~~~ ҉ ~~~~~~

Brunch was when the Straw-Hat crew; with the addition of Law, got together to discuss preparations. A few were still half sleep, but they were doing their best to at least pay attention. Nami and Franky were assigning tasks, while Sanji handed out servings.

The departure from Wano would be in about a week, earlier if possible. The storm they stirred up was far from over and last thing this freshly liberated country needed was more conflict. It was in the best interest of everyone that the pirates moved on, even if it was sad to see them go so soon.

"I've got a few, light modifications to tend to with Sunny," Franky informed Usopp. "but I should be done by the time you're about ready to load up the restock. I'll be there for the heavy lifting for sure though."

"That's fine, and if you're still busy, I'll do a double check to make sure we're not missing anything." Usopp offered and earned a thumbs-up from the cyborg.

"I could do with some heavy lifting." Zoro made an attempt to help and keep up his routine.

Chopper; who had been nodding off, suddenly snapped fully awake. "You could do with some rest!!" He shouted and angrily shook his hoof at the swordsman. "How many times do I have to tell you!? You're not to do any strenuous activity! You so much as pop a stitch or pick at a bandage, I'll strap you to a stretcher for the duration of your recovery! You hear me!?"

Zoro gave a mild grimace, the tiny deer was hardly ever threatening. But as annoying as it was, Chopper almost always got his way.

"Robin," Nami began next, looking to the other woman of the group. "you okay with lending Chopper a hand?"

"Of course." She said with a smile and cast a glance at the swordsman, though Zoro could see the warning in her eyes. He scoffed under his breath and bitterly gave into silent defeat.

Chopper added in a word of thanks. But was innocently unaware of what truly transpired.

The doctor would have his hooves full for a good part of the week continuing with treatment. Along with all the other available doctors. So, he was preparing a list of supplies. Mainly herbs and different medical dressings. Having Robin being the one to take care of these things would be a huge help.

"Which leaves Brook and Jinbei," Franky then did some finger snapping back n' forth between the skeleton and fishman. Which was almost dance-like, as the pair sat across from each other. The action was likely done for that very purpose, given that Franky had the most energy this morning. "you bro's cool with running errands for Sanji?"

The mere thought that helping Sanji with shopping and gathering could possibly mean snacks, had Luffy jumping at the opportunity. "I want to go, too!" Raising his hand with great enthusiasm, but in the process also knocked over the man resting against him. "Ah, sorry, Torao."

"Ya, no." Sanji scoffed as he turned Luffy down, ignoring any sort of pout sent his way. "You already have your job, keeping the two of you fools out of trouble and focused on recovery."

Law grumbled in reply, batting away the younger captain's hand when they tried to help as he slowly sat back up and rubbed the sleep from his eyes. "That's what I get for," He began mumbling bitterly, but paused when Luffy carefully placed the spotted hat back on his head. "... thanks."

The rest of the crew carried on with their discussion, trailing off into casual chatter and enjoying their meal. Jinbei however, ate in silence and pretended to engaged with everyone else. Though, truth be told, he had been keeping an eye on the pair the moment they had entered the room. He wasn't sure if it was just curiosity or concern. The situation from early this morning and the addition of what was happening over brunch. It felt... off.

Law was back to resting his head on Luffy's shoulder as he began to doze off again. At which, Luffy smiled and then nudged Law's untouched plate towards him. Law simply stared at it with tired eyes for a moment before Luffy spoke up. "Common, eat." With a barely audible 'fine', Law begrudgingly picked up the utensil and gingerly ate.

Yesterday, Law had been unapproachable by anyone, unable to sit still and seemingly in a deep state of torment. Today, Luffy remained at his side, patient and accommodating everything with a smile. To say it was strange would be a vast understatement. Perhaps his captain had taken it too seriously or too literally when Jinbei had asked to make sure Law was alright.

~~~~~~ ҉ ~~~~~~

However, over the course of the next three days, Jinbei came to realize that none of the other Straw-Hats acted as though this was out of the ordinary. He didn't know how the Heart crew was taking it as they were all far too busy with their medical work and Law never left the house. Neither did Luffy for that matter. Which was a good thing, in a way, they both needed to rest and let their wounds heal.

Yet at any point that Jinbei saw them, they were always together. Curled up together for a nap. Having light conversations while they sat next to each other. Sharing meals. There didn't seem to be any building irritation or fights breaking out either. Jinbei doubted that any of this odd behaviour from either of them was even close to normal.

Though, what he was doing was pretty abnormal too. Here Jinbei was spying on his captain for no particular reason and he had to admit this had become ridiculous. An odd friendship, more than friends, forcibly stuck together? Whatever it might possibly be, he refused to question it any more. It is what it is, he accepted.

~~~~~~ ҉ ~~~~~~

It was hours before sunrise, before breakfast, but Brook had woken all the Straw-Hats up in song. With a fully amped electric guitar and timed pinch harmonics no less. Yes, the wakeup call had been requested, however not to that extent. While Luffy and Franky thought it was awesome, everyone else had mixed feelings of how to kill someone that was already dead. Though Jinbei just found it to be a very weird way to start the day.

The crew began to grab the last of their belongings and supplies to take to the ship. Those that were done sooner, went on ahead and slowly, quietly made their way out of the building. Outside was still dark and not a soul on street, surprisingly Brook hadn't disturbed anyone else. That. Or the town had gotten use to all the noise. Either way, it was the goal, to set out without an announcement or large gathering. Only a few people needed to know that they were leaving today and they had already given all their farewells yesterday.

First light of the twilight hour began just as some of the crew made the long walk from town to the shore. Upon arriving, Nami was quick to begin barking out preparations to Usopp, Brook, Zoro and Robin as they got the ship sail ready. Thirty minutes later the shipwright and helmsman arrive pulling an ox cart. Jinbei began helping Franky with the last-minute loading, tossing large crates from the dock up to the cyborg on deck.

While Luffy showed up not long after with Otama on his shoulders. Not unexpected, given her attachment to him. But nothing needed to be said to the captain, he wouldn't let her come along no matter how much she begged. He would, however, spend whatever time was left at the foot of the pier with her, sharing hugs and promises to see each other again someday.

Finally, the last of crew arrived at the docks. Chopper; approaching the ship with Sanji in tow, called out to the rest of the crew. "Anyone seen Zoro?"

"Ya, he's passed out on the deck!" Usopp shouted with annoyance from high atop the foremast.

"You sure its not a bump in the lawn." The cook remarked.

But, unexpectedly, there was one last person to show up. And it didn't seem like it was for a last minute goodbye. "TO-NI-YA!" Law enunciated loudly, storming towards the dock with a sinister expression. The reindeer squeaked and quickly hid behind Sanji's legs in fear. Though it was useless as it only took one swift gesture to utilize his ability, "ROOM." and then forced Chopper to come to him with a simple Shambles.

Chopper flailed and screamed in horror as the man now held him up by the antlers. "We're going to have a nice, quick chat. Doctor to doctor. About exploiting your patients in high risk situations for therapeutic treatment!!"

"Ah-uh!? Wha? I-I didn't–" The young doctor stammered and tried to figure out what or who Law was talking about.

"Oi!" Sanji quickly came to his comrade's defence, stomping his foot in warning. "You ungrateful brat, don't think I won't kick your injured ass-!"

"Well, that's fine." Luffy said with indifference, cutting Sanji off as he stood up from the edge of the pier. Patting Otama's head and walked past by the two doctors. "Don't take too long. Oh, and Torao since you'll be heading back to town, could you make sure that Tama arrives safely?"

"L-luffy! Help me!" Chopper reached out towards his captain.

"Hm, with what?" He paused, resting his hands behind his head as he turned towards them. "You two are just going to talk."

Sanji came up next to the shorter man and spoke with a heavy tone, like when he was reminding someone to be careful. "Luffy."

"It's fine." Luffy countered with a smile and reassured his crew-mate. "Torao probably just has questions about his first time."

Both Law and Sanji immediately flushed while they yelled at the top of their lungs. "DON'T SAY IT LIKE THAT!!"

To further humiliation and chaos, Franky wolf whistled from over the railing of Sunny. "Ow! Congratulations, man!!" Everyone onboard; including Zoro whom had been sleeping, burst into a fit of laughter. Though, Luffy scowled at them in disapproval and their amusement eventually tittered off into soft chuckles.

As pissed off as he was, Law knew it was a losing battle, the shipwright was likely ready to perverse anything he could say clarify the conversation. So, he didn't bother and let it go. "Real fuckin' mature." He said with an irritated groan and flipped him off. "Just you wait, when our paths cross again, you'll be the first to die."

"Pift, ya right!" Franky shook his head. "We're allies remember?"

"That alliance ended when Kaido fell." Law smirked confidently.

"Pretty sure you've said that before," Franky insisted as he lifted his shades to give the doctor a wink. "then came back for more."

Law was visibly cringing, both in disgust from the perv's implication and irritation from the fact that he wasn't technically wrong. Dressrosa and Zou, he had tried to call it off so many times.

"Franky." Was all Luffy had to say as a light warning and the cyborg frowned before returning to his task. Addressing the fellow captain, Luffy was back to his cheerful self. "Sorry, Torao, everyone is so use to it they forget-"

"Doesn't matter." Law interrupted him sharply and turned to walk away.

"Law." Surprised from the use of his actual name, he looked back, locking eyes with the young man. "I'll see you later, take care, alright?"

"Ya." Was all he could say a first, till the tension finally left his shoulders. This was likely the last time they would see each other for a long time. It hadn't really sunk in till this moment. But, there was a part of him that came to realize that he was going to miss Mugiwara-ya, even if it was just a little bit. "Ya... you too, Luffy." Law blamed it all on his dynamic.

Then he turned his attention back to the tiny deer still in hand, making sure to convey how dead serious he was about making this quick. "Let's hope you have the capacity to be somewhat fucking professional, Dr. Tony. Let's start with what the hell is Hypo-Prism?"

~~~~~~ ҉ ~~~~~~

With the Sunny out of Wano's ocean boarders and sunrise brightening the sky, Nami gave an all clear for smooth weather. At least for the time being, it was the grand line after all. But not a moment later, Franky quickly stole the helmsman from his post. "Come on, I've already asked Brook to cover for ya!"

It was time to begin the promised tour from top to bottom. The living quarters was skip till the end and the two giants of the crew made their way down to the lawn deck. Franky pointed out their destination with a colossal hand. "We'll start at the stern, it will be a little bit of up and down, but we'll eventually make our way below deck."

"I am eager to see it all." Jinbei said with a smile.

When they made their way up the quarterdeck, the shipwright showed him the tank hatch on the starboard side. Out of all the others, this is the only one that had been modified and Franky opened it to showcase. "Made this one's access bigger in the end, never know what the guys will fish up. But you're still welcome to use it if ya want."

It was still strange to have tank on a ship, even more so with the sheer size of this one. From the hatch Jinbei could see fish swimming about and judging by the dark tint of the sand bottom, it was fairly deep too. "How big is the aquarium?"

"Mmm." Franky mussed and properly shut the panel. "About fifty-thousand gallons? Give or take a few quarters."

"F-fifty!?" He sputtered in shock and quickly did the math in his head. "That's like, five-hundred-thousand pounds! Having that much weight on the aft is cause for drag."

"Eh, probably more around fifty-one-hundred thou' with all the stuff in there. And just who do take me for?" Franky found the helmsman's concern to be more humorous than insulting and chuckled. "Sunny is perfectly balanced and can carry twice their weight before submersion would even be a problem."

Jinbei was already dreading the future situations where fifty-one-hundred-thousand pounds lighter might mean life or death. Being a carrack was already a disadvantage in speed and mobility to most ships, second to only a galleon. Not even touching the rare monstrosities that could hardly be called a sea vessel anymore. Mobile castles or islands was more like it. "Is it even necessary?"

"Of course it is! Now, were heading up from here." Leading the way around to the entrance of the observation tower and beyond the doorway was a ladder. It was a rather short climb to the hatch, which was given a light knock in warning to anyone that might be on the other side.

"The 'brains of the Sunny', as Nami likes to call it." Franky gestured to the circular library. "Everyone stores their books here. Well, everyone except for Luffy. So, feel free to do so as well if you ever pick up anything as we go."

As Jinbei was taking a moment to scan the room; noting the sea charts at the desk and the fair collection of numerous types of literature, Franky was opening the door. "This area is were some of the crew like to garden." Franky explained as they walked onto one of the upper decks. "Though, the only key thing to keep in mind here is the orange trees are Nami's territory."

"One too many people have tried to take the fruit in the past, I take it?"

Franky laughed and made his way back to the ladder. "They only try it once. Anyways, one more floor up and that will be all for the tower, then it's back down."

The tour of the bathhouse was very quick, though quite impressive for a ship to have such a land-based luxury. Though, it wasn't something that the fishman was going to partake in. Fishfolk had other means of grooming and upkeep that didn't require unpleasant things like soap. Relaxing in hot water was about as sensible as humans; and other land races, got when it came to their torturous task they dubbed as 'bathing'.

Next; after returning to quarterdeck of the stern, they entered the infirmary. The doctor was working on a file when he turned and greeted them.

"This is obviously the Doc's workplace, a permanent territory free space." It was a tiny space with a desk, a few shelves and a sickbed, but felt even smaller with the two large men squished inside. With a quick look around, Franky then addressed Chopper. "Though, might have to see about remodelling to give you more room to work. This place is too small for even one of us big boys."

Chopper let out a relieved sigh as if he had been waiting for good news. "Please, do. If it's not too much trouble... One bed has been one too few for a long time."

"Why didn't you say so sooner?" Franky enquired with a frown.

"Um, well." Chopper hesitated as guilt weighed down on him. "I didn't want to sound ungrateful o-or insult all your hard work."

"Nonsense." He dismissed the others misplaced worry with a wave. "I'll get some drafts drawn up and talk more in detail later. Gotta finish the tour first."

"Oh! Okay, thank you, Franky!" Chopper was already becoming excited for the bigger infirmary. With how reckless most of the crew was and not to mention the tough battles to come, a more reasonable sized medical centre was going to be needed. Perhaps he could even consult Nami about a budget for additional equipment.

However, just as the two were crossing through the back door into the kitchen, Chopper remembered something important. "Jinbei?"

"Yes, Dr. Tony?" He replied as turned back to his tiny crew-mate.

"When you're done, could you come find me? I'd like to build your medical file."

"Certainly."

Continuing on the dining room and kitchen, where the cook was finishing his prep work for breakfast. Franky began again. "So, pretty straight forward in here, not much to say other than Sanji's territory starts-"

"What the hell, Franky!?" Sanji jumped in, foregoing his original focus once the cyborg just started freely talking about sensitive information. "Why are you just calling me out like that!?"

"I'm just trying to be helpful, gez, why are you so mad about it? Everyone else knows."

"That's not the point-! Uhg, fuck it!" He growled and then glared at Jinbei. "Everywhere the tile touches, stay out unless I say so and we won't have any problems. Got it?"

While Jinbei was bewildered over what the fuss was about, he knew it was unwise to question the cook further on the matter. So, he just nodded his head politely and agreed to the terms with no problems. "I understand, Sanji."

"Good, now, leave me alone so I can cook in peace." He bitterly said as he jutted a thumb towards the door, the tour in here was over. "I'll call when food is ready."

Exiting the kitchen, the door was slammed behind them. "Tch, touchy today and it ain't even that time of the month." Franky grumbled and made his way back to the main deck, suppressing the urge to kick the grass in spite. First Luffy pulling the alpha card on him and now Sanji was already acting like his rank was threatened. Though... to be fair, Franky know he was in the wrong with all the teasing he gave Law about his time with Luffy.

"If it's not stepping over any bounds." Jinbei spoke up, still confused by what happened. Enough that he dared to ask. "Why was Sanji so bothered about his area being discussed?"

"Eh. I don't really get it either." Franky paused, looking up at the sails as he spoke. "I mean, I get it, I wouldn't be happy if I found someone in my workshop without permission. But Sanji; and I guess mostly everyone else, is on a different level about it. Maybe it's because I don't care if others talk about me and all my preferences, that I don't fully understand the desire to keep it to myself?" He then sighed and shook his head. "I don't know how to explain it, man. But, I figured I was saving everyone the fuss by telling you where anyone has an area claimed. Ya know, being a good packmate an' all that, rather than letting it get to them and explode on you later."

Particularities amongst the crew; even if seemed to be about something of little importance, that was something Jinbei could understand. He was familiar with the Sun crew and some of theirs. "Well, know that I appreciate it." Though his expression retained his usual seriousness, his voice softened to show his gratitude. "I certainly wouldn't want to cause any problems as I get acquainted with the crew."

That helped him to perk back up. "Then, if anyone asks, you figured it out on your own. Deal?"

"Deal."

And they shook on it. However, re-experiencing the strength in the fishman's handshake made the cyborg remember something he wanted to try. Keeping his grip on the other's hand, Franky was fully pumped back up. "Can we arm-wrestle!?"

Taken back by the sheer randomness, Jinbei awkwardly leaned away. Unsure of how to remove his hand without coming off as rude. "Uh, shouldn't we finish the tour?"

Quickly letting go and giving a snap of finger-guns, "Oh, right! We'll do that later then." Franky got back on track.

Before Jinbei could say anything more on the matter, the human was back to providing information about the Sunny. Resuming with the sails. Including little details like the exact size of each sail, which was automated and what was manual. Having a ship with parts that responded to a control system was fascinating. And honestly, Jinbei liked that he had more precise control over the Sunny.

For the bar, it was a very quick showing. Since the tank had already been discussed, there wasn't really anything that Jinbei felt like he needed to keep in mind. It was mostly a place to relax and drink.

Climbing up main mast to the crow's nest and to find that it was also a training room was very, very unexpected. While Jinbei didn't voice it, he believed that it would be a better fit if it was swapped with the library. After all, having a place to tidy up next door after training would rather nice.

Now, going below deck, this is where Franky bombarded the helmsman with information on the whole Soldier Dock System. Clearly the cyborg's pride and joy, as he was quite passionate about all the additional vessels that he had built for both weaponry and to make certain tasks easier for the whole crew. Jinbei spent a fair amount of time listening quietly, but intently, even though he didn't have any use for these mechanical contraptions.

Eventually, Franky had them move on. Going over the storage room, where and what supplies they had. It was still bizarre to know that the man had somehow managed to power everything; including his own body, with cola. The energy room that gave the Sunny its incredible powerful blasts was no different.

The workshop area and territory is split between Franky and Usopp. Pretty easy to tell which side is who's. Franky had grinned as he jutted his thumb at the sniper's sign on the wall.

With only the bow left, Franky got a strange grin as he led the way back up on deck. "Now, it's time for the surprise."

Surprise? Most of the Sunny had been a surprise, what could the shipwright have planned?

Upon entering the first level of the bow, Jinbei realized it was the men's sleeping quarters. But he didn't get a moment to completely take in the room as his guide took off.

"I call top!" Franky said with great child-like excitement and swiftly hoisted himself up onto a very large wooden, naval cot. He then posed like he had been waiting for the other to arrive. "I finally had a reason to make a set for big boys."

Jinbei observed that this bunk was indeed far larger than the other four sets. Though, with how small they were, he wondered if Franky even slept in here before this. Or just crashed on the floor. Well, even if it worked out in the man's favour, Jinbei was still grateful for the accommodation.

"The bottom suits me fine." Having to climb into bed felt inconvenient and Jinbei honestly didn't see the appeal of sleeping so high up.

"Sweet," Then as he hopped back down, he had a mischievous grin. "so, ready to see the ladies' quarters?"

"I doubt that is necessary." Jinbei replied uninterested and then took a moment to inspect his new living situation. Left to the large bunks was a sunken table, the crew's wanted posters scattered over the wall and lockers to the back. Some more worn than others; rough, repeated use left the door littered with scrapes. Upon closer inspection he noticed that instead of names, there was simple images scratched into the metal surface. A swirl, music note, slingshot, sword, straw-hat, an X, hammer and a handwheel.

"You... alright, bro?" Franky broke the silence that had settled between them.

The fishman turned to the human. "Pardon?"

"Are you normally this serious or is it because you have yet to settle in?" To be fair they hadn't really had a casual conversation since the night of the festival. Then everyone became busy with preparations. But the man didn't take the bait when Franky brought up the girls' room. Jinbei didn't get flustered or disgusted by the idea, heck he didn't even bat an eye at it.

"I'm afraid that I don't follow. If this is in correlation to the tour, I only spoke if I had questions as I was focused on learning what you had to show me."

"Hm." Perhaps he's a bit like Robin? Franky thought, but let it go. "Eh, don't worry about it. If you have any questions later on, let me know. And don't worry about gettn' back to the helm right away, get settled in, unpack."

"That can wait till later." Not that he had brought much with him to Wano to being with. "I wouldn't want to trouble Brook with my duties."

From the other side of the ship, they heard Sanji call everyone in. It was perfect timing and Franky adjusted his sunglasses before rushing out the door. "Fight 's on!" He cheered.

~~~~~~ ҉ ~~~~~~

The Den-den-mushi was already on its sixth ring and the reindeer's stress was climbing by the second. Chopper decided that waiting for him to pick up was much, much worse than dialing the number that was meant for emergencies. And it hadn't been easy getting the contact information either.

Just as Chopper was about ready to give up on the idea and hang up, then the sail's eyes popped open. Only for the snail's expression quickly sour into a scowl, he gave a small yelp and nearly dropped the mic. "I-uh... T-this is Ch-"

"It hasn't even been half a day, Tony-ya!" Law snapped and then growled with annoyance. "Mugiwara-ya better be dead."

"Ah, ya, I know." Chopper said in defeat, unable to look at the snail. "I'm sorry and everyone is fine, I just wanted to ask-"

"I'm hanging up, now," Law cut him off. "and don't expect this number to work next time."

Doing a full one-eighty from timid to bold, he yells into the mic. "Would you just let me finish!? No, it's not an emergency, but it is still very important!"

"What is it." He demanded, if it wasn't worth the call, there would be hell to pay.

"How much do you know about fishfolk medical practices?"

The snail's expression relaxed a bit into one of surprise and perhaps curiosity. The edge even faded from Law's tone. "What happened?"

"Nothing. Well, nothing yet." Chopper explained as he flipped open the file he had put together with Jinbei. "Some of the information Jinbei provided during a consultation, I don't know of its importance and it made me realize that I don't know anything about fishfolk other than blood compatibility. Like, he said he has gill type four?"

"I'm afraid that I don't know any more than you."

That was quite the shock to the small doctor. "Eh? But didn't you perform surgery on him?"

"The injury from Akainu?" Honestly, Jinbei's size had been his saving grace. Despite the devil fruit powers tunnelling through his body, it was Luffy that had the most life threatening wounds from the attack. Jinbei would have likely recovered even without surgery, with minor loss in quality of life. "He was lucky that the damage was mostly done to his liver and lung. At least that was practically identical to a human's." Well, the bottom half of the lung was, going up things started to look alien.

"I see." Chopper slouched into his chair, this turned out to be more worrisome than anticipated. Now he had no backup should something serious happen to the fishman in the future. It wasn't likely that he would just find textbooks on the surface either. "You wouldn't happen to still have that in your records, would you?"

There was silence for a moment and Chopper was beginning to wonder if the connection was breaking up. "I'll find a way to get the file to you. But that might take some time."

"That's fine. Thank you, Torao." He said in genuine gratitude.

"And since," Law sighed and spoke begrudgingly. "since you've allowed a partnership with your work. I guess the least I could do is pass on anything I get my hands on for fishfolk."

Chopper beamed with utter delight. "Really!? Thank you, that would be amazing!"

"I'll contact you later, so don't call again unless there is an emergency." And then Law hung up before anything else was said.

~~~~~~ ҉ ~~~~~~

It was wishful thinking that they would get a break and get to relax on the first day finally back to sea.

Luffy was most certainly back to his normal self and being the newest addition to the crew, Jinbei was not familiar with his captain's tactics with stealing food. Franky hadn't been kidding about there being a fight. A fight to block Luffy's greedy little fingers from touching his plate. But despite this annoyance, everyone else was so use to it that they talked and joked like usual.

However, not even ten minutes after this rowdy breakfast, Nami warned the crew that they had thirty seconds to ready for a flash storm. And they handled it well, even if full bellies made Chopper and Usopp nauseous from the rough rocking of the storm's waves that lasted for two hours. Good ol' grand line keeping them on their toes. You can only be graced with so much good luck, that you're bound to get some bad.

The afternoon also had its fair share of chaos.

The sudden, large explosion on the upper deck of the stern had Jinbei turning away from the helm and readying for a fight. But Nami shouting warnings to the sniper, changed the situation to something else. "What the hell, Usopp!? I swear if you've damaged Bellmère's tangerines again, I'll cut your hair off!!"

"Don't threaten my hair! The trees are fine!!" He yelled back before emerging from the black cloud and hung himself over the railing to escape the thick smoke. He coughed a few times before wheezing. "And I'm okay, too, thanks for asking."

"Hey, bro! Whatcha makin'!?" Franky asked with great excitement as he hurried to join him.

"A new type of cannon ammo." Usopp groaned in reply, ignoring Nami's fuming rage and calling him a liar. Sanji quickly join in to back up the lady as well.

Jinbei stopped paying attention at that point. He sighed and returned to his post, trying to relax in the seat at the helm. "Is it going to be like this every day?"

"Nah, this is just one of those calm days. Don't worry though, we'll have days that will be even crazier and loads more fun!" Luffy reassured with an enthusiastic grin. Given the Straw-Hat pirates history, Jinbei had no doubt about crazy. Though being at the heart of it all from here on out. Perhaps he truly had no idea what he signed up for.

"So soon it will be like you're all right back at home, then?" His reply came casually, continuing the small talk and disregards his worries for the time being. He looked to where the captain was lounging against the lion's mane. All happy and full of energy, without a care in the world. Not a trace of the oddities Jinbei had witnessed over the course of the past couple days he had spent with Law. It was good to see Luffy this way once again.

"Oh, that's right. I almost forgot!" He scurried to his feet, ran over and quickly placed the straw hat atop his helmsman's head. Surprised, all Jinbei could do was stare as Luffy rushed over to the railing to shout at the rest of the crew. "Everyone, listen up! Jinbei's part of the pack now!"

There was a mix of responses, ranging from celebratory to indifference. Even when finding his voice, Jinbei didn't know what to say and just echoed in question. "Part of the pack?"

"Ya!" Luffy laughed and spun back around. "So, welcome home, Jinbei!"

Jinbei gave a huff of amusement before chuckling softly at Luffy's antics. That doesn't sound too bad. Not bad at all.

<<–Previous Chapter-^-Next Chapter–>>

#JinLu #One Piece Jinbei #One Piece Luffy #A/B/O verse #Chasing The Sun FF #Mpreg #Written Work #Fanfic #Rated M #Rated R

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naruwitch · 4 years

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Code Geass: Paladins of Voltron Chapter 30: Castle Held Hostage

"Are you sure you want to get to the Chinese Federation this way? I could have easily just dropped you off in the country itself you know?"

"Perhaps. But traveling in disguise like this will make it more difficult for Britannia to locate me. Especially Charles and V.V. Best not to tip them off." C.C. answered the Green Paladin as he escorted her into the airport terminal. He was dressed in his casual blue shirt, grey jacket, and black jeans while the immortal was currently wearing a dark blue business suit with a dress, black heeled shoes, and glasses with a black wig.

After Tohdoh and the Four Holy Swords were officially integrated into the Black Knights and Voltron Coalition, as they had shortly afterward begun to call themselves, the group had become much more organized and was slowly trying to integrate into a more cell-based structure. All that they had to do now was finalize details with Kyoto.

When Rai had left to take C.C. to the airport, Suzaku and a couple of the other Paladins had been preparing to take Tohdoh, Ohgi, Sayoko, and the rest of the Black Knights to Earth to discuss with Kyoto the means of locating and integrating the remainder of the JLF into the coalition before the Britannian forces found them, along with any other resistance groups that were still putting up a fight.

When questioning Tohdoh about General Katase's whereabouts, the Colonel informed the Paladins that he and the Four Holy Swords had been meeting at a rendezvous point when they had been ambushed by the Britannians, leading to Tohdoh's capture. The Six Houses were likely the only people that had the means to find and contact the General now.

Coran would also be accompanying Rakshata and Kaguya to the planet so that the Altean could better familiarize himself with the technology Earth could offer them. Hopefully, once he had a better grasp on it, he, Rakshata, and whoever else Kyoto could convince to help could finally create a successful, working space Knightmare.

"I suppose that makes sense…" Rai sighed, "How did Lelouch put it? 'If you look humble they'll look down on you' or something?"

"Whether that statement is correct or not, I do possess some humility," C.C. quipped back.

Rai chuckled, "Well, I guess you'll put it to good use then. Passport okay?"

"It's almost a perfect forgery," C.C. said, a layer of awe in her tone, "Almost too perfect."

"Well, that's what happens when alien technology comes into play," Rai countered.

C.C. sighed softly, "Other than that, I'm all set."

"Great," Rai nodded, "if you get into trouble contact us immediately, okay? We'll be there in a flash."

"Tell Lelouch not to draw too much attention to himself while I'm gone, will you?"

"I'll relay the message," the Green Paladin casually confirmed as he walked purposefully out of the airport, his eyes darting everywhere to make sure that no one recognized him. He was still technically considered 'missing' after all.

He found Zerith exactly where he left her, her cloaking system still active as she sat calmly just outside of the Britannian airspace. Thanks to Lelouch's experiment when they met with Kyoto for the first time, the group knew that the Britannians wouldn't be able to track the Lions from any place or area, so it was easy to park them in any secluded location.

"Well, that's done," Rai smiled as he settled down into Zerith's cockpit, his Lion's warm presence greeting him. He also sensed curiosity about what exactly was going on. Rai figured if the Lions had ages, Zerith would likely be the youngest of the pride. She certainly possessed the curiosity of a young adolescent.

"Don't worry girl, everything's going according to plan," he reassured as she purred lowly and took off into the air. The sudden shift in the wind was the only evidence left behind that she had been there at all.

o~o

"Suzaku."

The Purple Paladin jumped from his seat in Yoru's cockpit at the sound of Tohdohs voice. He was in the process of transporting his sensei, along with the Four Holy Swords and his cousin, Kaguya, back to Earth to meet with Kyoto. Hopefully, by the time the meeting finished, they'd be able to locate the rest of the JLF and either transport them to the Castle or create some kind of alliance at the very least.

"Oh, Sensei," the Purple Paladin greeted as Yoru just began to descend into Earth's atmosphere, "is something wrong?"

"I'll get straight to the point, Suzaku…" Tohdoh said with a serious tone, "...Do Lelouch and the other Paladins know about your father?"

Suzaku stiffened, nearly forgetting how to breathe. The last time he had even thought about his father, what he had done was…

"...No. Not yet," Suzaku answered softly.

Tohdoh breathed out slowly through his nose. He wasn't angry, or disappointed in Suzaku in any way. After all, what child would want to admit they were the reason their parent was dead? Besides himself, Tohdoh knew that the leaders of the Six Houses were the only people that knew the truth of the Prime Minister's death.

However, keeping such a secret as this would eventually take its toll on even the strongest of warriors.

"...They'll discover the truth eventually, Suzaku," Tohdoh said after almost a minute of silence, "you do realize that, correct?"

A look of pure helplessness crossed Suzaku's face as he looked by at the Colonel, "Sensei, don't tell. Please. I'm begging you…"

"I won't," Tohdoh promised, "but you should tell them… sooner rather than later. The truth always has a way of coming out in one way or another."

Suzaku swallowed back bile as he directed Yoru to land in a deserted area of the ghettos. He knew his sensei was right… but how on Earth could he tell them?

o~o

"Allura, big brother told me that you and the mice can really talk to each other!" Nunnally said in awe as she glided onto the bridge in Allura's old hover chair, "Is that true?"

Allura chuckled fondly and the mice squeaked in greeting from her shoulders, "Yes, we can talk to each other. When I was frozen in a cryopod, the mice fell asleep inside with me. During that time, somehow our minds connected, so now we can communicate psychically."

Nunnally gasped in wonder. She wished she could talk to animals! Though waiting years frozen in space to do so seemed like a more extreme method.

Lelouch also chuckled as he briskly walked onto the bridge moments later. He was happy to see his sister so cheerful and even more grateful that her ailments had been completely cured. He'd forever be thankful to the Alteans for helping him and Nunnally.

The very first thing that he and the rest of the Paladins had done was give Nunnally a tour of the Castle, which included each of the bays where the Lions rested. She had been confused at first when they told her how the Lions were alive in a way, it resulted in Nunnally giving an uncertain 'meow' to Zenobia (the first Lion she saw). This was so adorable that it left Rivalz, Suzaku, Rai, and Milly in stitches, though Kallen, Shirley, and Lelouch chuckled as well.

Despite Coran's correct diagnosis of Nunnally's legs being mobile again and her eyesight restored, Nunnally was far for a hundred percent yet. Just as the older Altean had predicted, the years of inactivity had deteriorated Nunnally's leg muscles, and although the pods had successfully reattached the nerves and aligned the sinews correctly, the young princess would have to go through some weeks of physical therapy in order to walk properly again.

Fate seemed to be smiling on the vi Britannia siblings, though, as they found out the same evening that Nunnally woke up that one of the Black Knights, Kento Sugiyama, actually had some experience in this field. The blue-haired rebel had explained that he had been studying to become a physical therapist before the Britannian occupation and had been about to begin residency when the war had started. Once he retrieved his old college books from his apartment, he offered to assist in Nunnally's recovery.

"The Space Mice have proven to be valuable members in their own right," Lelouch agreed, "I believe if it weren't for them, this Castle and Voltron would probably be in Galran hands by now."

The four mice straightened proudly on their hindlegs, puffing their chests out proudly like superheroes at the complement.

Nunnally giggled at how adorable the gesture was. She sobered only a moment later though.

"Big brother… you promised to tell me where you've been… and…" Nunnally hesitated, "and I understand why you're Zero, but what about Voltron? How did you find the Lions and why are they here?"

Lelouch gasped softly and grimaced. Personally, he had wanted to save this conversation for when the rest of the Paladins got back so that he could have some additional support.

Despite it being inevitable, Lelouch still wished that he could have found a way to shield Nunnally from this war that had grown in larger proportions than ever before, but that simply wasn't possible. Zarkon and his armies could arrive any day (honestly, Lelouch was shocked that he hadn't arrived already) and when that day came, he wouldn't be able to spare the horrors of it from Nunnally. His sister may be young, but she wasn't stupid either. If he didn't tell, she'd find out some other way.

After sharing a look with Allura, the princess also looking reluctant, Lelouch sighed before settling down on the middle platform steps, becoming eye-level with his sister.

"Nunnally," Allura began, "I'm sure you're aware by now, but Coran and I aren't from Earth. Our home was a planet called Altea. My father and mother were king and queen of this planet, and 10,000 years ago, my father was also the one who built the Voltron Lions."

"10,000 years ago?" Nunnally wondering if she had misheard the alien princess.

"Yes," Allura nodded, a pained expression on her face, "my planet unfortunately doesn't exist anymore. It was destroyed by the Galra, and their leader, Zarkon, shortly after I was put to sleep for such a long period."

Nunnally gasped when she heard what happened to Allura's home. She couldn't imagine something so horrific happening to anyone. If Earth was destroyed, and she woke up one day to discover that she was the only survivor...

She banished the thought before she could pursue it further.

"Ever since Altea's destruction, and while Allura and Coran slept inside this ship," Lelouch continued as Allura pulled up the star map, "the Galra didn't simply stop there. They continued to spread and conquer and any planet or world that they could lay their eyes on," feeling a sense of deja vu, but this time from the opposite perspective, the room soon turned from a comforting blue to a harsh red as all the planets that the Galra had taken, except a couple of tiny spots scattered here and there.

The view then shifted a slightly brighter part of the star map, still blue instead of red, "Earth is here, Nunnally," he pointed at their solar system glowing above them. He winced as he noticed that the red had bled further in their planet's direction compared to the last time they looked when the Black Knights first came on board, "at the rate that they are expanding, I wouldn't be surprised if their ships came raining from the sky just a few years from now. And right now, Voltron is the only known force in the universe that has a chance to stop Zarkon and armies."

"The only one?" Nunnally asked, "What about Britannia?" a small quiver of hope in her voice.

Lelouch scowled and shook her head, "As Britannia stands now, it, much less the rest of Earth, doesn't stand a chance. That's why we're here now though. It's not just to prepare Earth for the Galra's arrival, but it's also to ensure that Britannia doesn't fall back into its old way of conquest once the Galra are repelled. Voltron will need to leave Earth at some point in order to win this war. Before we do though, we need to make sure that Earth has a better chance of a brighter future, not one under Britannian subjugation."

Nunnally looked thoughtful for a moment but then nodded her head, "I understand. But Lelouch, why don't you just tell Britannia about the Galra. If father knew the truth, I'm sure he'd be willing to help. Earth is his home too. I was even able to convince him to let me speak to you when you first came back with Voltron."

Lelouch grimaced, "Nunnally, and I'm not saying this to make you upset, but I'm sure the only reason that the Emperor agreed to that arrangement was because he suspected that I was Zero from the beginning. You were simply the bait."

"I must agree, Nunnally," Allura said solemnly, "I find it hard to believe that a man who would not only dismiss his wife's murder like it was nothing, and then exile his own children when they had the right to demand justice, could even consider himself a parent."

Lelouch felt his own heart clench when he saw Nunnally's sad expression, but he needed to make sure she understood, no matter how painful it was.

"Honestly, Nunnally, I don't see any difference between our father and Zarkon himself. Even if, by some miracle, we convince him to help us, what's to stop him from backstabbing us to get his hands on Voltron himself?"

At this accusation, Nunnally looked like she was about to protest, but Lelouch continued.

"Nunnally, I want you to think long and hard about this. Do you really think our biological father, Charles zi Britannia, the leader of a ruthless, borderline evil empire that refuses to take any responsibility for any mistakes is going to listen or change his mind, even in the face of an even worse threat?"

Nunnally doesn't answer right away, but does pause to think about her answer. To her own dismay though, no logical argument comes to mind. Looking down sadly, Nunnally knew, deep down, that Lelouch was right. If their father wouldn't help them…

"...What about big brother Schneizel then? Or Euphie? Can't we at least tell them that I'm okay, that I'm not in danger?"

Lelouch frowned a moment, conflicted on how to answer this inquiry, "...I'm honestly unsure whether or not to trust our brother Nunnally," he finally admitted, "When I confronted Clovis when he was clearing out Shinjuku, I learned that Schneizel and Cornelia may know something about our mother's murder. Possibly even having a hand in it."

"What?!" Nunnally gasped, eyes wide. She couldn't fathom why the two of them would be involved in something like that. While she wasn't as sure about Schneizel, from what she remembered at Ares Villa, Cornelia adored their mother, practically worshipped her. Why would she want to kill her?

"However, while I also don't doubt that Euphemia would be willing to assist us," Lelouch added, "we need to be careful about how we proceed from here. If we take a single misstep, a civil war could easily break out as well. That would only hurt Earth's chances of preparing for the Galra in time."

Nunnally frowned sadly, her head bowed. Logically, her brother's reasoning made sense. Though she truly believed that there were other reasons why their family couldn't reach them during the war, she wouldn't deny that the Royal Family was far from perfect. All of the lying and fighting had truly pushed their family apart. It was moments like this where she wished more than anything that the world was a gentler place. Maybe it still could be someday. But it wouldn't be today.

The tense conversation was interrupted by the bay doors opening again. Looking up, the trio was greeted by the other Paladins who had just returned from their errands on Earth.

"Mission accomplished, Lulu," Milly reported with a grin, "Everyone has been dropped off at their rendezvous points. They'll contact us when they're ready to be picked up."

"Good. Thank you," Lelouch nodded.

"Nice to see you back on your feet Nunnally," Rivalz joked with a laugh.

"Rivalz!" Kallen snapped, "Would it kill you to be at least a little more sensitive?" Kallen wasn't the only one sharing an offended look with the Blue Paladin, and Milly and Rai looked at him in shock as well.

Despite the bad joke, and Rivalz flushed in embarrassment after he realized his mistake, Nunnally giggled nonetheless.

"I'm glad that you're all okay," she said with a smile, "I was so worried about all of you. When I heard the news…"

"Sorry we scared you, Nunnally," Suzaku said, walking up and placing a hand on her shoulder, "but everything's gonna be okay now. Okay?"

Nunnally beamed up at her childhood friend, grateful that she now had a chance to see his face and nodded.

A loud 'meow' suddenly interrupted everyone. Swinging their heads towards the source, only then did the group register that Shirley had an extra guest with her.

"Arthur?" Rai asked in realization.

Shirley blushed and scratched the cat behind his ear, "I kind of made a pit-stop at the Academy - don't worry, no one saw me - to at least check up on him. And… it didn't look like anyone had been taking care of him for a while. I mean, he was clearly getting fed, but that was about it."

"Shirley…" Kallen said slowly, "You brought a cat… where there's also… mice?!"

As if the words were magic, Arthur's head shot up and looked straight at the four space mice still perched on Allura's shoulders. With a yowl, the cat leaped out of Shirley's arms and made a beeline for the rodents.

With squeaks of horror, the mice launched into evasive actions, scattering throughout the bridge.

"No! Arthur! Bad cat!"

"Someone catch him!"

"No, save the mice first!"

The next five doboshes consisted of trying to gather the mice and keep them away from a surprisingly determined Arthur. Shirley may have said that he was being fed, but apparently not enough for Arthur to leave mice alone. Or maybe it was simply his inner animal instincts kicking in.

The debacle eventually ended with the mice finding refuge in Nunnally's arms and Suzaku diving after the cat behind one of the chairs.

Suzaku yelped in pain and then groaned.

"Are you all right, Suzaku?!" Allura gasped, frazzled from the chaos just moments ago.

"Yeah…don't worry, it's a familiar feeling," the Purple Paladin moaned, sitting up and raising his right hand. Low and behold Arthur was in a familiar position of having latched onto said hand, his claws also having sunk deep into the palm as well.

"Oh!" Allura gasped, eyes widening in shock.

"Oh my!" Nunnally also exclaimed as the mice peeked out from her hair. All four of them were glaring angrily at the cat, hissing fiercely.

"I'm so sorry guys," Shirley said miserably, "I didn't even think about the mice. But when I thought about Arthur, I-I… I just…"

"It's okay, Shirley," Lelouch reassured her, and smiling fondly as he helped Suzaku unlatch Arthur from his hand, "it seems we simply have another 'pet' to look after."

The atmosphere suddenly turned serious at the use of Lelouch's wording. Everyone knew what he meant by 'pet' after all.

"I do believe it's time that we talked to you sister," Allura said, with a frown, "she's been conscious for the past several varga."

"Anything to note?" Lelouch asked.

"No," Allura said, pulling up a screen, "she's tried to break the energy barrier a couple of times, but it's held firm." There, they spotted the Viceroy pacing in a small, round cell located in the lower parts of the Castle. All of the sides were made with glass, reinforced with a thin layer of quintessence, so no matter how many times Cornelia tried to break it, it wouldn't budge. The cell itself was connected to a long, narrow bridge in front of the elevator. Only one way in and one way out.

The cell itself wasn't very large. Only a small narrow bench similar to the ones in the lounges was inside. No other pieces of furniture decorated the room.

"Can I come with you Lelouch?" Nunnally asked. When she heard that Cornelia was here, she hoped that she could at least assure her sister that she was alive and better even.

Lelouch grimaced, "Not right now Nunnally," he pressed on before his sister could protest, "If it's true that Cornelia was involved with mother's death, I don't want her anywhere near you. You understand, right?"

"...All right," Nunnally eventually nodded sadly.

o~o

Cornelia li Britannia scowled as she sat down for the hundredth time on the small bench in her cell. If Zero truly thought that capturing her would be enough to spill her guts, he would be sorely mistaken. And once she figured out how to get out of here, she would kill him with her own two hands, and bring his head back on a platter!

A light humming caught the princess's attention and she noticed the bright light of the elevator descending.

So it seemed Zero was finally greeting his 'guest' huh?

Cornelia's suspicions were confirmed as the masked man himself exited the elevator, and more people in darkened helmets, who Cornelia assumed were the other Paladins, trailed closely behind him, along with a tall slender woman she didn't recognize.

"Zero," Cornelia said with a scoff, "If you think I'm going to accept this-"

"I don't believe you have much of a choice right now Viceroy," Zero interrupted, "I'm sure you've realized by now that this isn't an ordinary cell. Brute force isn't going to so much as scratch that container, and we're the only ones with code to open this door."

Cornelia tisked and looked away with a scowl. She assumed they'd likely been watching her attempt to break out already. The only saving grace she could think of is that they weren't there personally to watch her make a fool of herself.

"So… what do you plan to do with me now?" she sneered, "Torture me for information? I'll save you the energy. No matter what's done to me, my loyalty won't shake. And if you think you get me to beg for mercy, you'll be disappointed as well."

"No, you're not the begging type, are you?" Zero asked, "Unlike Clovis."

"It actually makes me a laugh a little," the figure in the green armor snarked, "Zero said Clovis begged for his life, while at the same time, he had ordered the deaths of millions of innocents in Shinjuku ghetto. Which, might we add, you tried to do the same thing in Saitama just to lure Zero out."

"How does the old saying go again? 'The apple doesn't fall far from the tree' or something?" the red figure added.

"...You know, I actually used to admire the royal family for the longest time," the shortest one, in blue armor, spoke up, "but after seeing everything you've really done, all I can think is how stupid I actually was."

Cornelia blinked at that statement. Why on Earth would a terrorist admire the royal family?

"What? Surprised?" the yellow armored woman asked, "Well, it was true… at least, for a while."

At the Yellow Paladin's final statement, all of them, save Zero himself, grasped their helmets and lifted them off.

Like most of the other people who had seen their faces, Cornelia couldn't stop the small gasp as she recognized the six missing students from Ashford Academy. Most of them were looking at her with scornful expressions, save for the orange-haired girl (Charlotte or something?) who looked more nervous than angry, and-

"Suzaku Kururugi," Cornelia addressed with contempt. Unlike his fellow Paladins, the warrant officer looked more disappointed than derisive. She scoffed, "Why am I not surprised? No fighting one's blood I guess."

If the Paladins weren't angry before, they were now.

"Hey, Suzaku's our friend. You can't talk to him like that!" Rivalz shouted, balling his fists.

"Is it really all about blood and race to you?!" Kallen exclaimed, "The Japanese, or I suppose Elevens to you, are people too you know!"

"You should be ashamed of yourself," Rai growled.

"Enough," Zero said calmly, "we're not here to lynch the Viceroy."

"So what exactly did you do, Zero, to make them so loyal? Bribe them? Brainwash them? Blackmail perhaps?" Cornelia accused.

"Excuse me?!" Milly exclaimed, angrily.

"Blackmail? Brainwashing? There was never a need for such inhumane actions," Zero said, promptly silencing Milly, "I just told them the truth about their beloved Britannia. A country whose government is full of nothing but hypocrites and criminals. You do realize that it doesn't take much to turn someone against their own country, if you give the right reason to do so."

"So you made them traitors instead?" Cornelia spat, "Once the Emperor gets wind of this, they'll be charged for their treachery. And besides, what sort of crimes are you claiming Britannia has committed?"

"I'm talking about the crimes that I saw unfold right in front of my eyes eight years ago. At Aries Villa," Cornelia's eyes widened at this statement. Zero must have noticed as he continued, a hand raising to his own mask, "I'm sure you know what I'm talking about, don't you… dear sister?"

Cornelia's nearly stopped breathing as any form of anger on her face morphed into surprise and shock as Zero finally lowered his mask

"L...Lelouch!"

"It's been a while, hasn't it, Cornelia?" Lelouch glared distastefully at his elder half-sister.

Cornelia couldn't believe it. Zero, the masked terrorist that she had been hunting ever since she came to Area 11 was actually her younger brother. But why? Why on Earth would he turn against his own country-

"You mean the same country that killed my mother?" Lelouch yelled. It was then Cornelia registered that she had spoken that thought aloud, "The same country who exiled me and Nunnally when we did nothing wrong?! Or when they almost killed us when they invaded Japan?! And that's not even counting all the other innocent people you and our so-called family have murdered!"

"'Poison gas.' That's what we were told on the news," Rivalz said, "That terrorists were using it on civilians in the ghettos. But that was just an excuse to wipe those people out, wasn't it?!"

"Don't you realize that whole families were killed because of what you've done?!" Shirley cried, "Children! Babies! They didn't do anything but happen to be in the wrong place at the wrong time. Not that they had much control over that either!"

"You kill people you see below you for the most simple of crimes. Last I checked, a full-blooded Britannian wouldn't be sentenced to death because they stole a couple loaves of bread! But an Eleven certainly would, wouldn't they?!" Kallen roared, the memory of her brother's execution flashing through her mind.

"And like I mentioned earlier," Rai growled, "you were doing the same thing as Clovis in Saitama, killing every Japanese person you could see just to get to Zero. You're as much of a murderer as he is!"

"I'm ashamed to admit that I didn't act to stop all of the discrimination happening at the Academy alone sooner," Milly muttered, "But why should the fact that someone is of a different race make it appropriate to bully and belittle them?"

Cornelia couldn't believe what she was hearing. Britannians, students for that matter, speaking so lowly of their own nation.

"I find it difficult to believe that students of the Empire would speak to me as if-"

"As if you were one of the leaders of one of the most bloodthirsty empires we've ever seen," Allura interrupted her with a scowl of her own.

"'Bloodthirsty'?" Cornelia exclaimed in offense, "Britannia is trying to save the world!"

"Saving?!" Kallen bellowed, "You call invading other countries, committing daily massacres, you call all that saving the world?!"

"Thanks, Viceroy," Rai said sarcastically, "that makes us feel so much better."

"You know," Suzaku said, speaking for the first time since coming down, "The only reason I joined the Britannian military at the time was because I thought I could change Britannia from the inside. But, thinking about it now, that was just a foolish pipe dream. If Britannia believes that slaughter is the only way to change the world, then maybe it can't change."

"Why are you so surprised?" Cornelia argued, "People die every day! It's not just Britannia's doing. As a soldier I would have thought you'd understand that. If that's what it takes, so be it!"

Allura pursed her lips and narrowed her eyes, "Sounds like you are your father's daughter."

These words angered Cornelia as she shot to her feet, "And who are you to judge me?!"

Allura didn't flinch, "As someone who's seen your kind before. Someone who destroys innocent lives to pursue their own petty dreams of power and refuses to take responsibility for the lives they ruin in their wake. Voltron stands to protect those who can't protect themselves, to protect the weak from ruthless monsters like Britannia, and Voltron will tear it to the ground."

Cornelia's face contorted in rage, and was about to start screaming at Allura when Lelouch interrupted her, "For the record, a small part of me had hoped that you would be able to work with us, considering how close we were as children. But… it seems that that person has never existed. All I see is a warmonger who will even use her own family for political gain… like Nunnally."

At the mention of his sister, Cornelia's widened in surprise before narrowing again with a glare, "This coming from the boy who kidnapped his own sister?"

"We didn't kidnap her!" it was Shirley who shouted this time, "We rescued her!"

"Yeah!" Rivalz agreed, "And she's much better now too! She can walk again now! And see!"

Milly elbowed Rivalz firmly before he could reveal anything else.

"Nunnally is perfectly fine," Lelouch said with finality, "she's far away from our monster of a father and away from you! If you, by some miracle, manage to get out of this cell, me and the rest of the Paladins will personally hunt you down, and drag you back before you so much as lay a finger on her!"

"What?!" Cornelia exclaimed, even more shocked now, "Why on Earth would you think I'd want to hurt her?!"

"I've already lost one member of my family to the likes of you! I'll be damned if you take another one away from me!"

"Wh-what are you talking about?!" Cornelia practically demanded.

"My mother, Cornelia!" Lelouch shouted in rage, "Clovis told me that you knew something. About her death! How you might even be involved in it! You and Schneizel!"

This accusation seemed to strike Cornelia speechless. For several moments, she opened her mouth, but no words came out.

Finally she grit her teeth and shouted, "Lelouch, I didn't kill your mother! I held Lady Marianne in the highest regard! I'm beyond offended that you would even think I'd hurt her or Nunnally!"

"Either way," Lelouch glowered, raising a hand to his face, "the truth won't be hidden from me any longer! So…" upon lowering the same hand, his Geass glowed brightly in his eye, "You will answer anything I ask!"

His Geass sigil flew into Cornelia's eyes, and just like with his brother, Cornelia's eyes lit up with a red ring.

"Yes, go on," the Viceroy said almost robotically.

"Cornelia, are you the one who killed my mother?" was the first thing Lelouch asked.

"No," Cornelia responded.

"Then who was it?" Lelouch pressed.

"I don't know," she answered immediately.

Lelouch gasped and stepped back in surprise. Most of the rest of the Paladins shared similar looks.

"But you were put in charge of her personal guard, were you not?" Lelouch asked with a frown.

"Yes," Cornelia confirmed.

"Then why did you withdraw her escort?"

"I was asked to," Cornelia said.

"What?!" Lelouch gasped, before narrowing his eyes, "By whom?!"

The answer that came next shocked everyone in the room.

"Lady Marianne."

Gasps and murmurs whispered within the group. How was that possible? Why would the Empress ask for her own escort to withdraw?

That could only mean…

"That's impossible…" Lelouch muttered, "Did she-my mother knew she'd be attacked that day?! No… that can't be… if she did… she would have gotten us out of there!"

Inhaling sharply, Lelouch angrily demanded, "What really happened back then?! Who killed her?! Who killed my mother, dammit?!"

"Lelouch! Calm yourself!" Allura exclaimed, grasping his arm.

Breathing heavily, he looked at the Altean Princess, frustrated tears gathering in his eyes. Looking back at Cornelia, the Viceroy opened her mouth to answer, but then stopped. It seemed she couldn't answer. Which meant…

"You don't know the truth? Then who does?! Someone must know! Why did Clovis mention that you knew something?!" Lelouch inquired aggressively.

"He was probably talking about my investigations on the incident," Cornelia said calmly, "And I remember His Majesty the Emperor ordered Schneizel to transport the body out of there."

"The body…?" Milly asked, remembering the live broadcast of Lady Marianne's funeral, "Wait, what was in the coffin then?"

Lelouch repeated the question to his sister, but she didn't answer. It was obvious that she didn't know either.

Lelouch grimaced, "What else did you find out? Tell me everything!"

"I didn't find anything in the investigation," Cornelia explained "Though, I've always theorized that the responsible party is from the Royal Family, besides myself, Euphemia, Clovis, and Schneizel."

"Does that include the Emperor as well?" Lelouch questioned further.

"No, though I couldn't think of, or see a reason why he would do it, he was never cleared of suspicion," Cornelia said.

"Then why didn't you do anything about it?" Lelouch asked.

"There was no evidence of his involvement, and even if I did confront him, I was worried he would do something to Euphemia in retaliation," Cornelia answered.

Behind Lelouch, Allura scowled. The fact that children were scared that one wrong misstep with the person they should call a parent could bring consequences like that sickened her.

Lelouch sighed in disappointment. It didn't look like there were very many clues to the murderer besides simply clearing a few suspects.

Then he remembered something else.

"Have you ever heard or met someone by the name of 'V.V.' before?" he asked

"No," Cornelia answered.

This Lelouch grimaced in frustration. Not only were there no new clues to his mother's death, but they couldn't get more information on this mysterious other code-bearer. Though he didn't have evidence, his gut was telling him that this person may have something to do with the murder, possibly even be the perpetrator himself. But if Cornelia didn't know him…

He shook his head, he had more pressing issues to deal with right now. There was still plenty of other information that Cornelia could offer them while she was still under his Geass.

"Now, tell me everything you know about Britannia's military operations in Japan."

"Of course. What first?"

o~o

Nunnally hummed lightly as she glided down the hall of the Castleship in the hover chair she had been given for temporary use. Along one of the walls was a long narrow window that looked out into the outside of the ship. Right now, it was facing the blue and white surface of Earth below. Yes, Nunnally remembered seeing pictures like this before their mother was killed, but those photographs were nothing compared to seeing it from a distance with her own eyes.

To say that Nunnally never would have imagined that she would be in space one day was an understatement. She especially never even imagined that aliens actually existed. It was simply never something that she took the time to think about back on Earth.

Either way, this unexpected event certainly had advantages. In particular, her brother. Despite her disability back then, Nunnally was much more observant than she seemed. She knew that ever since they were sent to Japan, that something in her brother had broken. Besides when he was with her, Lelouch became distant from everyone else. It took him months to finally let the young Suzaku in. She knew that it took a couple years for him to trust the now-members of the student council, with the exception of Milly due to her family's history with their mother.

So to see that her brother wasn't simply talking, but speaking openly and honestly with the Alteans and even more than ever before with the student council made her very happy. She wasn't sure what sort of magic (come to think of it, was that a real thing in space too? Somewhere at least?) the Alteans and Lions worked on her brother, but she certainly wasn't complaining. Seeing her brother genuinely happy overjoyed her as well.

However, while this new trait in her brother was amazing, another factor in this situation saddened her. All of these things happened because of violence and war. Their mother was killed by someone inside their own family, Britannia invaded an innocent and unsuspecting nation, and now this! A universal war that had been lasting for over ten millennia! It was all madness! Why on Earth was there so much bloodshed even not on their homeworld? What on Earth did the Galra want to accomplish in all of this?!

Of course, upon hearing about the threat the Galra had, Nunnally understood why her brother was so urgently preparing Earth for what was likely an all-out alien onslaught. It was the only way that their planet would have a future at all. And though she sometimes didn't agree with his methods, she knew that Lelouch's heart was always in the place.

Therefore, she would support him. She would support all of the Paladins in the best way that she could.

"Oh! I'm sorry, I didn't know anyone else was down here," a friendly voice said from down the hall.

Turning to look (she still couldn't believe that she could actually do that again!) Nunnally spotted the woman the Black Knights had been calling 'Villetta.' She remembered Lelouch explaining to her that this woman had been a soldier for the Britannian military, but got amnesia during the mission to rescue her. Though he seemed hesitant about the idea, Lelouch didn't outright forbid Nunnally from interacting with the woman either. She seemed nice. She was always helping out with chores on the ship and always seemed to be smiling.

"It's okay," Nunnally smiled, "I was just enjoying the view."

Villetta chuckled and walked closer to join her by the window, "Yes, it is beautiful isn't it…? I just wish I remember more of it…"

Nunnally looked at the woman sympathetically, "You still don't remember anything before you came here?"

"No, I'm afraid not…" she sighed sadly, "The only reason I remember my name is because I was told it when I woke up here."

"...Do you like your name?" Nunnally asked curiously. Villetta looked at Nunnally confused. The princess blushed, "It's just… I've sometimes heard stories where people get amnesia and find out their name and they don't like it. So… do you?"

"...It's okay," Villetta shrugged, "Although to be honest, every time I think about it, I get strangely uncomfortable…"

"Would you like a different name then? At least until you get your memories back?" Nunnally asked.

"...I guess it's not a bad idea," Villetta smiled, "Why don't you pick it for me?"

Nunnally thought hard about it. For some reason choosing a Britannian name felt wrong, so… what else could she pick? She looked Villetta up and down. Her tan skin, bright golden eye, and long flowing blue-grey hair. The way that it flowed behind her reminded Nunnally of wind blowing through her hair as she sat on a hill, surrounded by wildflowers.

Wait… that was it!

"How about 'Chigusa'? In Japanese it means flowering plants or something like that."

"Hmmm…" the woman hummed, rolling the name around in her head for a few minutes before smiling and nodding, "I like it! Thank you, Nunnally."

"You're welcome," Nunnally giggled in response.

"Oh, how precious!"

The sound of the unfamiliar voice, twined with the sound of clapping hands made the two girls freeze and turn around.

Their eyes widened in fear.

o~o

"So… that happened," Rivalz said as he and the rest of the team plopped down on the couches in the main lounge. To say that they had learned a lot from Cornelia was an understatement. They now knew the movements of every Britannian military unit and every strategy that Britannia could implement with the resources they currently had.

Besides that though…

"...Lelouch, are you okay?" Shirley was the first who was brave enough to ask the Black Paladin this question. He was currently hunched over, his fingers loosely folded in front of his face. His eyes were looking at nothing in particular but were focused in concentration.

It took a couple of minutes for Lelouch to reply, and for a moment Shirley wondered if he even heard her.

"I'm fine," was all he said. He then sighed, allowing his hands to fall into his lap, "I'm sorry I dragged all of you into my family drama."

"Hey, no need to apologize, Lulu," Milly chastised, "we all know your family was nuts… besides Nunna and maybe Euphemia of course."

Lelouch actually snorted a little from the afterthought. It was true. Those two were likely the only sane ones left in the royal family as far as he was concerned.

"Plus, we promised you we'd help you figure out your mother's murder," Kallen added, "and we got a lot of information from Cornelia about it."

"Thank you," Lelouch smiled, "Really, thanks for everything."

"Lelouch, sorry if this sounds nosy, but what exactly was your relationship with Cornelia before your exile?" Rai asked.

"I loved her," Lelouch answered honestly, "She was… she was my big sister. She coddled over Nunnally, Euphie, and me all the time. I admired her skills as a warrior and saw her as a role model, someone I wanted to be like someday. I admired her like I did my mother. But, after our exile… after Japan was attacked… I… I was so angry! It seemed that she… and everyone else abandoned us. Abandoned me. You… you have no idea… how much that hurt… and seeing her now…"

"Lulu…" Shirley said sadly, gently placing a hand on his shoulder.

"Well, if you're so concerned about fighting against her, just Geass her onto our side," Kallen said bluntly.

No one saw it, but Suzaku winced. The idea of controlling someone like this made him feel sick. However, he already knew what Lelouch's answer to that would be, so stayed silent.

"That's not an option," Lelouch said firmly, "if I use Geass to force her to join us, I'm no different from my father. Or Zarkon for that matter."

Suzaku smiled in relief at this answer.

"...Is there really no hope of Cornelia joining us? When we were talking to her, she seemed like she was genuine when she talked about wanting to keep Nunnally safe," Shirley pointed out.

"I noticed that too," Lelouch admitted, "Cornelia's a lot like me when it comes to her family. She'll do anything if it means that those close to her remain safe."

"I am not so sure…" Allura murmured, speaking for the first time since they got there, "The more I learn about your country, the more similarities I see with the Galra Empire. If Charles is to be compared to Zarkon, Cornelia is equivalent to Sendak."

"Hmmm… now that you bring it up, those two do have a lot in common, don't they?" Rai said, "They only difference I can think of is that Sendak has openly admitted that he's a murderer."

"Even so," Suzaku spoke up, "If we're not only going to get Britannia's help, but also improve and change the country once the Galra are pushed back, we're going to need the Royal Family's support. All of our efforts will mean nothing if the Imperial Family still sees us as enemies when all of this is over!"

"How will we know if their support is genuine though?" Kallen asked skeptically, "It's like Lelouch said when we got here. Most of Britannia's royalty only acts on their own personal needs. Once something is deemed 'useless' to them, they throw it away and move on to the next best thing."

"...What about Euphemia?" Rivalz suddenly suggested, "Maybe she can help! She's a lot like Nunnally right? She hates fighting too and certainly doesn't seem to support a lot of the Emperor's views."

"Yeah!" Milly agreed enthusiastically, "After all, she saved us during the hotel jacking. She could have easily stayed back and watched while those terrorists threatened us."

"I won't lie, the first word that comes to my mind when I think of Euphemia is 'pacifist'," Lelouch said, "which I find to be the finest form of irony ever considering the circumstances. However, I'll also acknowledge that out of everyone in the Royal Family right now who would assist us without any interior motives would indeed be Euphemia."

While the rest of the Paladins murmured and nodded in agreement, Allura still remained unconvinced. This was Cornelia's full-blooded sister they were talking about and first impressions of that woman weren't the greatest. Despite the praise this younger sister seemed to be receiving, Allura couldn't quite believe that this Euphemia person was really that different from her elder sibling.

But, notwithstanding her own prejudices, she knew that it was ultimately Lelouch who knew his own family the best. She would simply have to trust that he knew what he was doing.

Any further conversation was interrupted by a loud buzzing coming from Lelouch's pocket. It was his cell phone.

Blinking dubiously, along with most of the rest of the team, Lelouch cautiously answered it.

"Hello?" he asked, still highly confused.

"Lelouch!" He heard his sister's distressed cry.

"Nunnally! What's wrong? Where are you?!" Lelouch exclaimed in alarm, turning on speakerphone in the process.

"I don't know, but I can't move!" she grunted a bit as apparently the phone was taken away from her.

"Nunnally!" Lelouch exclaimed.

"Long time, no see, Lulu," a new voice spoke from the phone. A voice Lelouch, nor anyone else, ever believed to hear again.

"Mao!"

"He's alive?!" Rivalz squawked, "How is that possible?! That shouldn't be possible!"

"More importantly, how did he get into the Castle?!" Rai demanded.

"You and your little alien buddies dropped your guard, Lelouch. Just because you all thought I was dead," was the answer they received.

"Mao listen, C.C. isn't here right now," Lelouch practically growled.

"That's why I came. Someone immune to my Geass would be troublesome, now." Mao replied with a giggle, "I'll save my encounter with her for a later date. First things first, I'm gonna pay you back for that little session the other day. Your cute little sister and her lovely companion should be plenty of leverage to deal with you."

'Companion?' Lelouch wondered. He then remembered that Villetta was still on the ship too. So Mao managed to capture her and Nunnally!

"Well, on the bright side, we know he's somewhere on the Castle, right?" Shirley pointed out nervously.

"Well, obviously genius! Now why don't you try to find me?"

"Here's a good question, how the hell are you still alive you bastard?!" Kallen demanded.

"I'm not telling~" Mao practically sang before continuing, "Now listen carefully. You lot have five Earth hours before this Castle of yours goes up in flames. Oh, by the way, since the game is just between you all and me, no calling in any of the Black Knights or other alien friends. I'm not in the mood to get shot up again," he laughed sadistically.

"You're a sick, twisted piece of work," Suzaku ground out.

"You might wanna watch your language, Suzaku," Mao warned. "Considering I hold the cards. You guys really should have made sure I was dead, maybe even have my body dumped in a river or something? You left off the finishing touch, and now dear sweet little Nunnally and Villetta are in a bind! What a quandary, what a quagmire, what a crunch!"

"Now you listen-" before Allura could finish her threat, Mao hung up.

By now most of the Paladins were beginning to panic. How the hell did Mao get onto the ship? Much less recover quickly enough to be alive and moving again?!

"You know what, whatever!" Kallen finally shouted, "We can just beat the answers out of him once we catch that son of a bitch!"

Lelouch exclamation managed to shake Lelouch of his stupor and he frowned in suppressed fury.

"All right, split into two teams. Shirley, Rai, Rivalz, and Milly will be one, while Kallen, Allura, Suzaku, and I will be the other. Search the Castle! If you find him, shoot him on sight! Don't give him time to play any of his mind games. His maximum range remains about five hundred meters, that's large but it's not enough to cover the entire ship. That's our one advantage over him. Now go!"

"We're on it!" Milly said with a scowl.

"Got it!" Rai nodded.

o~o

The sound of feet thundering down the hall could be heard as Rai led his team carefully down the hall. Each of them at their Bayards out and ready. They were especially grateful that two of their Bayards were automatically long-ranged weapons, although Rai and Milly's could extend their range as well.

"Hmmm...hmmmmm!" Rivalz hummed aggressively, face looking comically pinched and focused.

"Um… Rivalz? What are you doing?" Milly had to ask.

"I'm trying to clear my mind so Mao can't read it!" the Blue Paladin answered, "Like Suzaku did the first time!"

"I don't think that's how that works Rivalz," Rai deadpanned. If it weren't for the life-threatening situation they were currently in, the Green Paladin likely would have found the behavior hilarious. Rivalz looked like he was more constipated than concentrated.

"Um… more importantly," Shirley said anxiously, "how is Mao still alive?!"

"Shirley calm down," Rai said softly, "we've taken him down before. We can beat him again."

"Yeah, don't worry," Milly said with a determined grin, "We know how he likes to play the game. We just got to make sure he doesn't have a chance to play it. If we mess with him like last time, it can trip him up!"

"But… won't he know that that's what our plan is?" Rivalz asked, abandoning his quest to 'clear his mind.'

"Maybe, but he still won't know how to counter it. Once he loses control of the situation, we strike," Rai decided as they cautiously entered through another hallway leading to the engine room. Lelouch told them that Mao said that he was planning to blow the ship up, so obviously the first place to check for any explosives would be the engine room. Any other part was too heavily shielded or could be repaired (perhaps not immediately but still could be).

They came to the end of the hall, towards the large sliding doors that automatically opened for the group, revealing the engine room on the other side. And sitting in the center, tied with duct tape to a large bomb was…

"Nunnally!" All of them exclaimed as they ran into the chamber.

Due to her mouth being taped over, all Nunnally could do was muffle out a cry of relief and struggle weakly against her bonds. Villetta also attempted to loosen her bindings but wasn't having much luck at all.

"Hold on, we're gonna get you out, okay?" Shirley said as they started to run across the narrow platform.

Before they could make it though, a figure stepped out from the shadows, clapping casually.

With gasps that quickly turned into scowls, everyone activated their Bayards, aiming them at Mao.

"Uh, uh, uh! I wouldn't do that if I were you now!"

It was only then that they noticed something in his hand. It looked like a switch of some sort, but Mao seemed to be pressing down on the button.

Rai was the first to recognize what it was.

"You bastard…!"

"Figured it out did you? Well you're absolutely right!" Mao congratulated mockingly, "Yes, it's a dead-man switch. If this little device leaves my hand for any reason at all, the entire ship will go up! You don't want that to happen now do you?"

"You're insane! You'll die too if that happens!" Rivalz argued.

"Don't be so sure," Mao sniggered, "I have a little… insurance from my new contractor if anything goes awry this time.

"New contractor?" Milly questioned, "Wait-is it that V.V. guy?"

"I'm not telling~" Mao repeated in the same sing-song manner.

The next second, Mao's eyes snapped up, and a flash of black light blinded everyone. Instinctively, Rivalz turned his own Geass on, his nearly translucent shield blocking everyone from getting in.

But he apparently wasn't fast enough.

"No… not- stop!" Rai suddenly cried, collapsing to his knees, clutching his head, "Not again! What else will you do to me?!"

"Huh?" Rivalz gasped. He jumped when Shirley screamed, tears gathering in her eyes.

"No! Mom! Dad! Don't leave me!"

"Shut up…" Milly murmured behind him, pure anguish on her face, "Mom you can't… talk to me… like… that!"

"What the…" was all Rivalz could say as his friends collapsed, eyes skewed shut in pain.

"Oh my!" Mao exclaimed as he clapped, "Quite impressive! I've never seen a Geass do that before!"

"You! What the hell did you do to my friends!?" Rivalz demanded angrily.

"Oh spoilers!" Mao grinned, "Let's just say my Geass got an upgrade. I don't just read minds anymore. No, no! I can see the worst fears of any person… and bring them to life before their eyes! Pretty cool, huh?"

Rivalz growled and raised his gun, aiming it Mao, "You're insane!"

"Oh, are you going to shoot me with that shield still up? I know you can't! Sure, my Geass can protect you from my fear visions right now, but I already know the ins-and-outs of your Geass. Sure, no one can get through that shield to you, but you, nor nothing else inside the shield already can get out. To move, you're going to have to lower that shield, right?"

"And besides," Mao chuckled psychotically, "a flimsy shield like that won't stop me from letting go of this dead-man switch and blowing up the Castle anyway! Where's your little strategy now?"

Rivalz's eyes narrowed before his eyes wandered behind Mao, to his two frightened hostages. Villetta looked scared, but Nunnally was shaking in terror, her eyes building with tears. The Blue Paladin met the younger girl's eye… and winked with a smirk.

In the blink of an eye, Rivalz's shield flickered off.

A second later, Mao's eyes widened.

"You little-"

"You get all of that, Lelouch?" Rivalz continued to smirk.

"Affirmative, Rivalz," Lelouch's voice crackled through Rivalz's helmet. The Black Paladin had heard everything. Including Mao's upgraded Geass.

"You talk way too much, you know that?" Rivalz said almost cockily.

Mao didn't reply, simply growling ferally, pulling a grenade out from his pocket. Pulling the pin ring with his teeth, he chucked the explosive towards the group. It exploded before Rivalz could raise his shield again.

With a shout of surprise, Rivalz flew backward from the impact. With a crack, he was knocked unconscious along with the rest of his friends.

Nunnally and Villetta both screamed under their gags, eyes wide in terror.

"Oh please, don't get your hair in a bunch," Mao chastised nonchalantly, "that grenade wasn't enough to kill them. Even if he was hit point-blank, that armor would have blocked most of the damage."

Mao then smirked and shook his head, "Well whatever, it doesn't matter if Lelouch knows my plan now. I'll just have a little fun with him for now."

Nunnally grunted behind him. Turning around he saw that the girl was glaring at him as hard as she could.

"Oh, is the whittle kitty growing some claws?" Mao giggled, "My, my, look at that glare! Guess you're trying to make up for being such a burden to your big brother all these years, aren't you?"

Villetta also jerked, nearly lunging at the man, only to lose her balance and fall to the ground instead.

"You know, if you actually had your memories back, I'd actually have been scared by that move," Mao shrugged, "Oh well, I shouldn't leave his highness waiting now, should I? Heh, heh, enjoy your last few hours… alive…"

With a chortle, he skipped out of the engine room to set up the final stage of his revenge.

o~o

Back on the bridge, Lelouch, Allura, Kallen, and Suzaku scowled as they heard the last of Mao's little speech. Lelouch was especially livid as he heard him taunt Nunnally but knew that an outburst from his was likely what Mao was aiming for, so forced himself to stay calm.

"He's heading for Zenobia's bay," Kallen said, her Geass flashing, "and… wait, what's that? He's holding something besides the switch."

"You think he's just taunting us by heading there?" Suzaku asked.

Allura frowned and pulled up the security cameras in the engine room.

"Oh dear," Allura's eyes widened upon seeing the large bomb by the main engine.

"Do you think we can disarm it?" Kallen asked, looking at the explosive.

"We can try, but the engine room isn't too far from Zenobia's bay," Lelouch said, "We'd still be in Mao's Geass range. If he hears that we're tampering with the bomb, he could set it off immediately by letting go of that dead-man switch. In order to stop him… we need to figure out a way to either dismantle that bomb without him knowing, or get him to let go of the switch, without activating it… he's certainly dotted all of the 'i's and crossed all the 't's for this."

"This situation only looks impossible Lelouch," Suzaku said, "There's a solution… there has to be."

"Look at the information and tools we've gathered so far," Allura suggested, "it's not like we're completely powerless."

"We have your Geass and mine," Kallen listed, "as well three highly-trained fighters standing in front of you. So use that gigantic brain of yours and figure out how to solve this problem, because I certainly can't! The only one who can do this, is you, Lelouch."

o~o

Mao hummed absent-mindedly as he lounged on the ledge Zenobia was propped on. The Lion, herself, had her shield up, so Mao wasn't able to enter her even if he wanted to.

"Oh if only my little gift could make me read your mind," Mao said to Zen, "I mean, a mind over 10,000 years old, oh just imagine the information running around in there! Say, what exactly do you see in someone like Lelouch anyway? If you ask me, you should dump him and let me be your Paladin! I'm much better than he will ever be!"

The only reply he got was a low threatening growl that vibrated the floor.

This only caused Mao to scowl in irritation, "Tch, you're no fun!"

His irritation soon faded as a familiar voice, or mental voice appeared in his head. He smiled manically. It seems Lelouch wasn't such a coward after all. He blinked when he noticed that Lelouch's voice was the only one he heard. Oh well, he guessed the other three were ordered to stay behind. Oh, so the prince did have a heart. After all, if any of them attacked him right now, they still had the dead-man switch to worry about.

'What now? What's he got planned for me next?' Mao heard thought as Lelouch walked closer to the chamber, 'Mao will be able to hear us if we go for the bomb. He can also let go of the dead-man switch at any time. That would kill everyone on the ship, including him. What a whack job. I told Suzaku, Kallen, and Allura to behind, and we haven't called for back-up in any way. Guess I'm on my own unless someone miraculously comes back to the ship on their own. But with how little time is left, that's unlikely.'

Lelouch finally entered the Black Lion bay, face solemn but determined.

"Well, if it isn't Casanova!" Mao greeted mockingly as he clapped his hands, "No weapons, no Lions, no friends, no strategy, you can't defuse the bomb without me hearing what you're doing! What's wrong, Lulu?"

"I'm not explaining anything to you!" Lelouch glared, eyes burning in hidden fury, "The final game, is it ready?"

"Let's put an end to this," Mao revealed a fully assembled chess board next to him, "with your specialty."

"Hm?" Lelouch asked, eying the board suspiciously.

"You see, the scale is the bomb's detonator and its cancellation switch," Mao explained, gesturing to the device next to the board, "The chess pieces we capture will go here. If the needle swings all the way towards me, the bomb goes off. If it stings towards you, the bomb will be disarmed. In short, if you win the game, you save your sister's life and everyone else's!"

"Your mind is twisted, no wonder C.C. left you," Lelouch scowled as he settled on the black side of the board.

"Provoking me won't work. I can read your thoughts, so I know what you're trying to do," Mao said with a grin as he captured Lelouch's pawn and placed it on his scale, causing the meter to tip closer toward him.

The two jumped when they heard a vicious snarl coming from Zenobia. Though she didn't move from her position, Lelouch smirked as her emotions flooded his being.

He laughed softly, shaking his head, "She really wants to kill you."

Surprisingly, Mao didn't look offended or scared of this statement. He simply smirked, "Must have gotten that killer-instinct from her last Paladin."

Lelouch didn't lash out, but he still glared fiercely at the mind-reader. But doing so would accomplish nothing, so he forced himself to play the game.

Unfortunately, chess was a game best used with the mind, a mind that Mao could read perfectly.

"You're dead to me."

Lelouch gasped and whipped around. That voice. It had been his father's! But… that was impossible.

"Hmmm? Something wrong, Lulu?" Mao smirked savagely.

"You can't fight it."

Lelouch gasped again as this time Zarkon's voice rang in his head.

Then it hit him.

"That Geass! I heard that it was upgraded, wasn't it?" Lelouch accused.

"Hmmm, well that's one way of putting it," Mao shrugged as he captured two more pawns, "I certainly have better control of it this time, and even has a little bonus! Everyone has their fears after all. I simply can… 'help' them realize them. Whether with their own eyes or planting a couple of stray voices here and there. Little things like that."

'He's screwing with me,' Lelouch thought, as Mao nabbed a knight, 'I can't let those distract me!'

"Oh, that's just wishful thinking on your part Lulu. I'm afraid you're not the type of person who can keep your mind, empty," Mao continued to mock him, "There's the part of you that's a critic, constantly watching your own moves… making sure that you don't end up like big, bad Zarkon. And there's another part that's an observer watching the critic — watching you. You're that type of person. But I know all your thoughts, so I'm always a step ahead, you can't win."

Mao captured Lelouch's remaining knight and put it on his scale, causing the needle to tip closer towards Lelouch. Lelouch scowled, but Mao was able to read what he was thinking.

"Bravo!" Mao clapped as he saw Lelouch move his next piece, "Your plan is to think of seven things at once to confuse me and trip me up! But you see, if I focus my Geass directly on you, it's easy to tell which one is your true thought," Mao captured another of Lelouch's pawns. "Ah, your last plan is failing you as well. You underestimated me, and that's why everyone is…" He threw the piece onto his scale.

The needle was less than a centimeter away from the red zone. If that was hit, the bomb would detonate. Now Lelouch was getting more than a little bit nervous. He began to tremble.

"'What do I do? I'm out of strategies. I can't call for backup as long as Nunnally is being held hostage.'" Mao mocked, reading Lelouch's fearful thoughts out loud.

Mao then pulled a coin out of his pocket and it clattered to the floor.

Lelouch jumped.

"Sorry, sorry, I dropped it."

He picked up the coin and clapped once more. "Your turn, better hurry."

He saw that Lelouch was hesitating, "Looky, looky, time is running out. Your little team is not gonna make it. You're going to lose everything."

Lelouch reached to move his king. "Ah, is that the right move? Are you sure you wanna do that?"

Lelouch hung his head down. It was impossible. He couldn't beat Mao. Not when his sister's life, all his friends' lives, hung in the balance. There was only one way out.

"Isn't this enough?" Lelouch pleaded desperately, "Please stop it, Mao…"

"I can't hear you very well," Mao sang.

"You got everything you wanted! Let everyone go!" Lelouch shouted.

"Huh?" Mao mockingly said, wanting Lelouch to say it.

"I admit it… you have beaten me."

That was all the madman needed to hear. Like a hyena, he cackled as he clapped his hands, like a child being presented its favorite toy, "Very well said! You're finally speaking your thoughts from the deepest part of your soul, huh? That feels great! Fantastic...! But no. This… is checkmate."

"NNNNNOOOOO!" Lelouch screamed and Mao laughed maniacally… only to stop when nothing happened.

"What?!" he gasped. Slammed his hand against the switch again, "What's wrong with this thing! Everything should have gone 'Boom!'"

Reaching into his pocket again, Mao pulled out what looked like a viewing device. To his shock and confusion, the bomb remained untouched. Nunnally and Villetta also remained alive.

Suddenly, with a *bang* the doors to the bay burst open, and Suzaku and Kallen charged in, shocking Mao even further.

With a yell, Mao pulled out a gun and fired at the duo. However, his bullets did nothing but harmless bounce off the energy shields. With a swift kick, Suzaku smacked the gun out of Mao's hands. Kallen followed up with a punch to the jaw, sending Mao flying backward. Before the mind-reader could recover, Suzaku leaped onto him, keeping pinned and locking his arms behind his back.

"How did you… you!" Mao glared hatefully at Lelouch, "What the hell did you do?! How did you disarm the bomb?! I would have heard you! The engine room is in my range!"

"It was all part of the plan," Kallen smirked, towering over Mao, "Isn't that right, Lelouch?"

Lelouch blinked as his eyes each had a red ring form before fading immediately. In a rush, all the memories from before rolled back.

"That's right," Lelouch smirked triumphantly at the madman. "Mao, it would seem this is my checkmate."

Mao's eyes widened in realization, "Lelouch… Don't tell me…"

"Yes," Lelouch said to him with his thoughts as he, Kallen, and Suzaku all smirked. "I gave Suzaku, Kallen, and Allura their instructions, while also using Geass on myself to forget so you couldn't find out. You believe that if you know a person's thoughts you know everything. That's why you narrowed your range and focused your all power on my mind. That was your mistake."

"Then while you were distracted, the three of us disarmed the bomb. Lelouch told us which wires to cut ahead of time," Suzaku added calmly, though he could barely hide the satisfying smirk on his face too.

"While we're on the subject, you said your Geass can give people nightmares, huh? So how come I'm not seeing anything?!"

That was indeed strange. It had obviously affected Lelouch from close range, so how come Kallen and Suzaku weren't experiencing hallucinations.

"...Oh, I think I know," Suzaku murmured, "You have to actually see someone to give them visions, don't you. Not necessarily eye-contact like Lelouch, you just need to see their face. But with you pinned down like this, you can't look at me or Kallen, huh?"

"And even if you did try anything, your little mind games won't work on me! I already know who I am! Nothing you say is going to change that!" Kallen declared.

"Allura," Suzaku said into his comm, "It's safe to untie them now."

o~o

"Understood," the princess replied on the other end. Back in the engine room Allura quickly moved to reach Nunnally and Villetta.

"Oh um… forgive me, Nunnally, this will hurt," she apologized before ripping the duck tape off her mouth.

Despite the stinging pain from the rip, Nunnally started crying in relief as Allura undid her bands. She quickly did the same to Villetta.

Allura then nearly lost her balance as Nunnally sprang forward and hugged the Altean tightly, still crying.

"Oh, Nunnally," Allura murmured, running her fingers through the girl's hair. Villetta looked on sympathetically as well.

o~o

Unfortunately, even this wasn't enough for Mao to accept defeat as he began to struggle relentlessly in Suzaku's hold.

"Stop it!" Suzaku told him.

"Get your hands off me, father-killer!"

Suzaku's pupils shrunk and the world froze. He didn't hear Kallen's gasp next to him. Even Lelouch stopped in surprise.

It was all Mao needed to head-butt the Purple Paladin and scramble away, grabbing his gun in the process. For the slightest second that Suzaku's guard had dropped, Mao had pulled out a trump card he never had until now.

Smiling once again like a maniac, Mao continued, "You killed your own father seven years ago. He called for do-or-die resistance, and you thought stopping him would end the war. What a childish idea. The fact is you're a murderer!"

"That's not true! I just… I…" Suzaku stuttered.

"How lucky for you that no one ever found out." Mao continued. "All the adults lied to protect you."

"Wait no!" Kallen objected, "That doesn't make sense! All the reports said his suicide was a protest against the military actions."

"A lie! All of it! Nothing but a big, fat, lie!" Mao confirmed with a cackle.

"Suzaku…" Lelouch looked at his friend with both shock but also sympathy.

"I didn't have any choice!" Suzaku said immediately, "If I didn't… Japan would have…"

"That's how you justify it in retrospect? Well, it explains your death-wish!" Mao stated, causing Suzaku to gasp again. Mao smirked evilly, "You wanna save people's lives? It's your own wretched soul you're trying to save! That's why you're always charging into danger! Placing yourself on the edge of death!"

Now that he had a view of Suzaku's face, Mao didn't waste any time force-feeding a vision of that very night before Suzaku's eyes. The Purple Paladin screamed and clutched his head between his knees. Then the vision shifted. He was no longer standing over his father's corpse but over Allura's. The other Paladins lined up by her, all dead.

"Congratulations," Zarkon's voice echoed in his head. Looking down, Suzaku was horrified to see himself dressed as a Galran soldier, "You're one of us now."

"You're no hero!" Mao continued to mock, "You're just trying to wash the blood off your hands! A little brat begging to be punished!"

"MAO!" Lelouch roared in rage, twining with Zenobia's that ricocheted off the walls of the bay. In shock, the mind-reader looked up. With a flash of red from Lelouch's Geass, the Black Paladin commanded, "NEVER SPEAK AGAIN!"

"No!" Mao tried to cover his face, but it was already too late. Lelouch's Geass flew into his eyes. Mao opened his mouth, but no words came out except incoherent gurgles

With a scream of fury of her own, Kallen rushed at Mao, her Bayard claws activated and wildly sliced at Mao's side. The mind-reader managed to sidestep in time to avoid being sliced in two, but it still left a deep gash either way.

In an act of desperation, Mao meets Kallen's face with his Black Geass, and the Red Paladin screamed in anguish as she watched her brother being gunned down in the middle of the Shinjuku square. She didn't even register that Mao had shoved into her, and knocked her down.

Knowing they couldn't let him get away, Lelouch raced towards him as well, only for Mao raise his gun, ready to shoot Lelouch in his unprotected forehead… when a glowing orange arrow pierced his chest.

Eyes wide, with a choked gasp, blood splattering across the floor, Mao collapsed to his knees and fell lifeless to the ground, the heart-piercing arrow putting an end to his life.

Stupefied, but quickly shaking it off, Lelouch raised his head to see Rai's team standing in the doorway. They looked like they had been about to charge in, but were now facing the opposite direction. Behind him, Shirley breathed gasped heavily, her hands shaking violently as she lowered the bow.

With the main source now deceased, the visions faded from Suzaku and Kallen's eyes. The Red Paladin looked around in confusion before spotting Shirley.

"Shirley…?" Rai asked anxiously.

"I...I just-" her Bayard slipped from her fingers and hurtled to the floor. The Orange Paladin collapsed to her own knees.

"Shirley!" Rai exclaimed in alarm, quickly catching her before her head could hit the ground.

Seeing that Shirley was taken care of for now, Milly and Rivalz both rushed to Lelouch and Kallen.

"You okay?" Milly asked, pulling the Red Paladin to her feet.

"Yeah," Kallen nodded breathlessly, "We're fine…"

"...How much?" Lelouch asked as Rivalz swung an arm over his shoulder.

"...We heard all of it," Milly admitted guiltily.

Slowly, everyone, sans the unconscious Shirley, turned and gazed sorrowfully at Suzaku, who hadn't seemed to process anything that had happened. He remained on his knees, shocked still.

"I just… I just…"

#Voltron #Code Geass #Crossover #Fanfiction #lelouch lamperouge #rivalz cardemonde #milly ashford #shirley fenette #rai (lost colors)#suzaku kururugi #kallen kozuki #allura #nunnally lamperouge #villetta nu #mao #cornelia li britannia

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