#i was fully prepared for that series to flop after like 3 parts | Explore Tumblr Posts and Blogs

frostsinth · 4 years

Text

Royal Flush - Pt. 6

Part 1|2|3|4|5 - MasterList - Art - Art - Art - Art - Art

Shit, it’s already part 6??!! Ok, so this update is REALLY long, but I assumed you guys wouldn’t mind. I hope you will enjoy the dynamics bewteen the characters I tried to play on here.

I’m already working on the next chapter, which will be a bit juicier. And there will probably be more art, since I love drawing these two, so be sure to keep an eye out for both!

If you like this story, check out my others on my MasterList above. Feel free to BuyMeACoffee while you are there. As always, drop me a ask/comment/reblog if you have any questions or thoughts! I always love to hear back from you guys.

“Well…” Damjan wheezed breathlessly, then hoisted himself up into a sitting position, “It seems you are in peak form today,” He looked up at me from where I had just laid him low, giving me a lopsided grin, “I’m guessing you and the King worked things out then, Your Highness?”

I offered him a hand sheepishly. “Apologies, General,” I replied as I hauled him back to his feet, which took the majority of my strength, “I hope I caused no injury nor insult.”

“Bah!” He grunted, releasing my hand and slapping his own down the front of his trousers to release the worst of the dirt. “I’d be a rotten wassa indeed if I let a fancypants shiba Prince keep me down.”

I considered the strange words only briefly before he forced me back into my defensive stance with a soft lunge. It didn’t surprise me; the half-goblin General always seemed to be poised to strike. More than once he had caught me off guard. But I was a fast learner, and he gave me a toothy grin in acknowledgement of my successful block. I nodded, and he executed another series of attacks that had me dancing back on my toes. For his size, Damjan was very quick. I was less attentive to the spar, however, and more so to his constant peppering of goblinese into our conversation. It was certainly a change from our previous meetings.

“Well, Your Highness?” He called as he dodged my returning attack, sending me shooting past him and spinning on heel to prepare for the next onslaught, “Did you two manage to reconcile your differences after all? And keep your knees up!”

I raised the edge of one eyebrow at him, side stepping his feint and landing a solid blow on his shoulder. “My apologies again, General,” I shot back, hiding a blush as I loosened my stance to circle around his outside, “But I don’t believe that is any of your business.”

“On the contrary.” He argued, lobbing two heavy blows towards my middle. I dodged one, deflected the other, taking a skimming hit for my efforts. “As the General of his Armed Forces, I am responsible for protecting him from attacks-” He caught my swinging fist in his, yanking me towards him “-Whatever form it may take.”

I gritted my teeth, rolling my hand free and spinning to launch my elbow up towards his chin. I knew what he was doing. Just like his seemingly random attacks, Damjan used constant verbal assaults as well. Anything to give him an edge. Generally I could tune out his taunts. But he seemed to have found my weak spot, and I couldn’t help lingering on his comment. He dodged my elbow effectively, laughing and dropping low to swing a leg out at my feet. I leapt up and kicked out, sacrificing a balanced landing for a hard hit that had Damjan falling back a few steps. I staggered, breathless, but had time to fix my grounding as he righted himself and squared me up. We paced around each other.

“I haven’t seen him yet today;” he began, my only warning before he charged in. A flurry of blows followed before he and I found ourselves grappling in close quarters for the upper hand. “So tell me, Your Highness... was he still asleep when you left him this morning?”

My focus slipped in my absolute bewilderment of his implication, and just like that, I found myself flat on my back. Jaw dropped open, eyes wide and staring at the blue mountain sky overhead. Damjan’s loud guffaw rippled through the air, and I jumped when his face appeared in my line of sight. He placed his hands on his knees, bending over me and cocking his head to the side.

“Don’t let anyone in your head if you don’t want them there, Your Highness.” He advised. His big, grey-green hand came down, grabbing my shoulder and yanking me back up. “Not everyone will use their advantage quite so charmingly as I.”

I scrambled to get my feet beneath me properly, blushing furiously. And hot with anger at such an intensely personal attack. I didn’t wait for him to ready himself, shamefully knocking off two quick blows before I had even regained my own solid footing. Damjan slapped both aside easily. One quick feint and sweep later, and I was staring slack jawed at the blue sky again.

“Don’t let them ruffle your feathers either.” He suggested, smirking down at me knowingly. He tapped his temple. “You can’t think straight if your head’s burning too hot.”

It took me an extra moment until the wind returned to my lungs, and I gasped. The General helped me up more delicately, patting my back helpfully as I sputtered.

“How.. How dare-” I gasped, trying to form the words at the same time I tried to regain my breath. I pushed away his hand.

He raised his palms, patting the air soothingly. “Apologies, Your Highness. I know that humans are not so comfortable with intimacy as goblins.” His ears flopped as he tilted his head to the side to consider me as I shifted my stance warily. “But I would be a poor teacher indeed if I didn’t try to prepare you.”

My lungs finally having resumed their normal function of breathing, I straightened slowly. Considering him with a stony glare while rubbing at an errant rib. He grinned sheepishly in the face of my look, raising his palms again.

“... Prepare me for what?”

“The Goblin Court.” His toothy grin widened. “There isn’t a goblin alive who doesn’t love to mess with anyone they can. And you will be the main target, as not only our future King, but also a shiba Prince.”

“Shiba?” I echoed dumbly, staring at him. It was not the first time he had used that word in reference to me.

“Human.” He translated, then placed his hand on his hip. “Seems I’m going to have to teach you a little goblinese as well.”

“Hibik is already finding an instructor for me.” I shot back defensively, wiping my hands together.

The General scoffed. “Yeah, and they’ll teach you real good book goblinese. But what about when one of those creampuffs at court calls you a baka lo minsa? Or mumbles diavrit? Hmmm? How much faith do you have in a little eincha from the academy teaching you proper goblinese vulgarities?”

My mouth opened and closed slowly, and I blinked at him again. “I… I don’t think-”

He shook his head. “The Goblin Royal Court is more ruthless than any battlefield. They think it's all in good fun, but I doubt you’d much enjoy it, Your Highness.” His grin returned, and he walked over to pat me on the back good naturedly. “Tell you what, we can trade! You teach me some good human curses, and I’ll teach you the goblin ones.”

I felt my face flush even hotter, and he laughed amiably. “... May I ask, General,” I started, rubbing at the back of my neck as he started walking over to the wall of the ring, “.... Why are you…ah..” ‘Helping’ seemed like the wrong word to use, based upon my sore back and ego. So I let the question hang without definition.

He grinned, picking up his towel and dabbing at the sweat across his chest. “You are a member of the Royal Family now, Your Highness,” He explained, “Which means you’re under my protection too.” He tossed me my own towel, his grin growing. “So don’t make me work too hard.”

The notion he proposed… being a part of their Royal Family. It set my stomach into an acrobatic routine. It was a concept I hadn’t fully realized yet, despite everything else. That not just my living situation was changing, but my family was changing. Into a completely new world with its own dynamic and history that I had no part in until this very week... I stared numbly at the towel in my hands for a moment before I wiped down my own torso. A breath later I grabbed my tunic and slipped on my boots then followed Damjan back into the castle. My spine itched with nerves now that the spar was over, and I peeked nervously down the dark halls. He cast a glance at me out the corner of his eyes, lips still twitching.

“‘Baka lo minsa’ means something like… brainless, uncultured fool. But much cruder.” He explained, despite the fact I hadn’t asked. “And ‘diavrit’ is… well, literally it means to defecate, though it's more specific as to the manner of defecation.”

I cleared my throat, nearly stumbling over the carpeted hallway. Damjan laughed, wringing his towel in his hands. “I’m not sure this is appropriate-”

“Goblins don’t care.” The General interrupted. “Appropriate, inappropriate. Those words just have less sway with us. There is nothing off the table when it comes to an interaction; whatever you can use to gain the upper hand, you use.” He steered us up towards my tower rooms. “Proper einchak like Hibik may prefer what you would call a more “appropriate” attack, but even they aren’t above calling out your mother’s sexual partners, or your own natural bodily functions. Or standing uncomfortably close. The game, you see, is to do it eloquently. To attack your companion, set them off balance, gain the upper hand, and to do so with a delicate, poetic flourish.”

My head was spinning and I wasn’t sure if it was my heartbeat or footsteps echoing in my ears. I swallowed hard, checking the edges of my mask to make sure I had maintained it throughout our conversation. It seemed by some miracle I had; I wondered if it was enough.

“I appreciate your… candor, General,” I replied finally, feeling secure and confident in my form, and he turned to face me as we reached the door to my rooms, “However, I do not require such vulgarities to ‘gain the upper hand’ as you say.”

He nodded, crossing his arms over his still bare chest and leaning against the wall. “Fair enough, Your Highness.” He agreed. “I have no doubt you are clever enough to outwit anyone, human or goblin. But even if you do not need to use such topics or language, you should still find a comfort and familiarity with them.” His big head dipped to the side. “In order to maintain your composure under heavy fire… Which will include hearing talk of your sexual relationship with the King.”

I nearly cracked my jaw with how hard I clenched it, and I was certain my mask slipped a little. I stammered something uselessly incoherent, and felt my face flush even darker. I pulled at the hem of my newly donned tunic and shuffled slightly, glancing around. Thankfully, we seemed to be alone. I quickly considered a range of different methods of excusing myself from the conversation and ducking into my chambers.

“We are very comfortable talking about sex.” Damjan interjected before I could find the right method. “It is certainly not taboo to discuss our lovers and antics. I myself am currently entangled with a delightful woman… and sometimes her brother instead.” He grinned. “Goblins are very open and accepting of all things of such a nature. The King’s previous partners are well known, and such discussion is commonplace amid the court.” He looked me up and down. “They will expect you to be equally open, and if they find you are unsettled by it, they will never let it go unaddressed.”

I swallowed hard, giving him a curt nod and fixing my stance. “Thank you for the advice General,” I told him, then quickly continued as he opened his mouth as if to add more, “I do apologize, but I must take my leave. I have to prepare for the rest of my day. Until tomorrow then.”

I barely gave him a chance to formally nod and offer a farewell before I ducked into my chambers. I wasn’t able to completely ignore the amused smile on his lips, and his words lingered in my mind even as I closed the door heavily behind me.

By the Gods and all that was holy. I leaned against the wall next to the door and slowly sank to the floor, cupping my head in my hands. Trying to calm my racing heart. How was I supposed to be comfortable speaking about such vulgar and intimate topics when the mere thought of them made me break down into an incoherent mess?! I didn’t even know how I felt about the King, or where our private relationship was headed. Yet I should expect everyone ELSE to be constantly discussing it around me??

I groaned, letting my head fall back and hit the wall. Of course, obviously the general consensus for any level headed person was that we were to be married; which implied there would be some form of… intimacy… My head throbbed with the amount of blood rushing through it, and I tugged at my collar. My mouth went dry at the thought, but I couldn’t help but wonder about… such things. Especially what Damjan had said about Grier’s previous partners… Exactly how many were we talking about?? Not that it mattered, I reminded myself. We had only known each other for a week, and he was a King after all. Young, handsome… virile. I certainly had not shared my own romantic history with him (not that there was much of a history to share), and I found myself surprised to be pleasantly comforted by the fact that at least one of us would know what we were doing in… that department. It sent a chilly rush down my spine as I wondered what Grier himself expected for such matters of physical intimacy. My fingers came up to my lips of their own accord, and I felt the tingling ghost of his hand at my cheek. Certainly I had… enjoyed our interactions so far… I shifted, not unfamiliar with my body’s response to his advances, but never having needed to really assess such things before. I had only ever been able to… By the Gods, I couldn’t even think about my own intimate exploits in a coherent sentence. I had no words, no real thoughts I could describe it with. I settled for images. Memories of the one time I had slipped up, and let my emotions get ahead of my sound reasoning. It filled me with heat, and my breath became shallow.

There was also the lingering guilt, the stab of regret. Painfully twisting cruel fingers into my heart. I sighed again, rubbing my hand over the top of my head. This was not going to be easy. I gritted my teeth, then forced myself to my feet. I didn’t have time to linger on such things though. I was due to meet the Dowager Queen soon. And found it less daunting that she was a notoriously sharp witted and harsh Goblin Monarch than the fact that she was Grier’s mother… I swallowed painfully and headed over to the bathing room.

I wasn’t sure exactly when the introductions would happen, and wanted to be prepared as best I was able. Damjan had given me a little insight into the former Queen, mostly regarding her reputation as an indomitable force. But he had been frustratingly unhelpful in advice on meeting her myself. He had merely grinned and said something along the lines of ‘that’s a personal matter between you and Grier’. I kicked the soiled towel aside from where I had dropped it on the floor, scowling. So our personal intimate life was up for discussion, but not what I was supposed to do when meeting my intended’s mother? Hardly seemed fair.

I was scrubbed and polished clean by the time a light knock came on the door nearly an hour later, and I rushed to pull the fresh tunic over my head. My wardrobe options were becoming painfully repetitive; soon all my things would be soiled beyond respectable use. I wondered how to brooch the topic with Grier, which conjured a horrible image of myself in bright, lavish colors with ridiculous necklines, streaming lace and frills and… Perhaps I could send for my own things instead. Though I dreaded composing that letter almost as much.

A different goblin than the one on my mind stood at the door, and he bowed his head respectfully as I opened my chambers. Beside him was a silver cart filled to nearly unbalancing it with covered plates and bowls. I considered him briefly; I was certain it was the same goblin whom had been attending me since my arrival. Bringing my food the previous days, and walking with me and Hibik to the gardens the evening before those.

“The King has sent word that he will call upon you shortly,” He began, his voice quiet, “And requested your shared breakfast be sent ahead. If Your Highness would permit me?”

I nodded quickly, stepping aside to allow him into the chambers. “Of course, thank you.”

The goblin bounded lightly at my words, a small smile coming to his large lips. He barely came to my navel, and had dark curls that fell about his copper eyes as he moved despite an obvious attempt to keep them out of his face with some sort of grease and a hair thong. I followed him as he pushed the cart in, bringing it to the bed chambers where he had set the previous meals at the small table there.

I idled momentarily on the impropriety of dining in my private chambers, and felt a little flush to my cheeks at the thought. Certainly it was not commonplace, though I had heard that my father occasionally took counsel in his rooms when needs arose early in the morning… I assumed Grier had not given nearly so much thought to it as I was now, however, and didn’t want to be a bother about it. Perhaps it was not unheard of for goblins. It wouldn’t surprise me at any rate, given what I had seen of them thus far. I distracted myself by considering the dark haired goblin again.

“I apologize for my rudeness,” I told him as he began to set out the dishes, “I never requested your name. Might I have it now?”

He gave me a small grin, averting his eyes politely. “It is Seoc, Your Highness. I have been assigned as your personal attendant. In whatever capacity you have need of me.”

“It is a pleasure to meet you,” I replied graciously, “I beg your forgiveness for not having made an effort to do so sooner.”

Seoc bowed lightly, a small smile on his lips, having finished setting the dishes out on the small table before the couch. “Quite understandable, Your Highness. It has been an eventful few days for you.” He cocked his head to the side. “Can I be of any further assistance at this time?”

I paused, if only momentarily, thinking back to my lack of attire, but then shook my head. “No, thank you, Seoc. I appreciate your time.”

He grinned, nodding respectfully. “I will be within ear shot, should you think of anything, Your Highness. Please do not hesitate to call.”

Just as he bobbed out, Grier strode in through the open door, and I had to work hard to keep from starting at the sight of him. Not only because of his sudden, light footed and casual entrance into my private chambers, but also due to his overall appearance. He wore a tight emerald vest with yellow embroidery over a billowous, fluffy cream colored shirt that spilled out the edges of the vest as if unable to be contained and ballooned at the sleeves. His pants were a dark grey, and were equally tight all the way up to his navel with large gold buttons the size of his palm along the midseam. The vest reached just past the top of his trousers, but the cream colored shirt spilled out the back like a puffy tail. His hair seemed particularly wild, and he had a scowl set onto his lips. Hibik trailed behind him, babbling something and scrambling to keep the parchment in his arms from dropping.

“The sun has only been up for a few hours, Hibik,” The King grumbled, waving his secretary into silence, “Allow me time to fully come to my senses before you test them.”

I tucked my hands behind my back, squaring my shoulders and swallowing my nerves as the goblin turned to face me. “Good morning, Your Majesty.” I greeted him, though felt a tingle of unease that threatened to burst into a fully formed tension.

His scarlet eyes considered me, and he sighed heavily. “Don’t start with that again.”

“I’m afraid I do not know what-”

He waved his hand again, cutting me off. I pursed my lips as he turned to his secretary. “Another hour’s peace, Hibik, at least. Let me have some coffee, and hopefully some pleasant company. I trust your judgement on these things.”

Hibik nodded, bobbing nervously. “Of course, my King.”

Grier turned back to me as the other goblin darted out, closing the door behind him. “Did you sleep well?”

I blinked momentarily, confused by his switch. Eventually I nodded, though slowly. “... I did, thank you.” I noticed him looking about, the small scowl on his lips seeming to deepen. “Ah… did you as well, Your-”

“I will scream.” He threatened me curtly, narrowing his scarlet eyes. I clamped my mouth shut, my eyes widening slightly. Grier gave another deep sigh, shaking his head.

He strode to the bedroom without waiting for my invitation. I stiffened at that, but followed behind quietly. Again, I saw him look about, placing his hands on his hips. His brow scrunched, yet he said nothing, plopping down on the couch with a huff. My tongue itched to speak out against that, and I felt a tingling of insult at his behavior. But I settled into practiced temperance and withheld my comments. I reminded myself that it was likely just a simple misunderstanding… After all, I was his guest, and his future spouse. Perhaps it was not rude to assume such casual familiarity. I saw his nose twitch, and he looked over the plates and dishes before reaching for a decanter and cup. I too could smell the thick aroma of the hot brown liquid as he poured himself a serving. What had he called it? Yes, that’s right, coffee-

“HIBIK!” He shouted loudly, and I jumped in surprise.

There was a clatter and a crash from the hallway beyond the foyer. Then the small man quickly darted in, bowing repeatedly. I stared at him, a little taken aback.

“Y-yes my King?”

Grier waved his hand about. “Do I even have to say?”

“Ah, no, my King… Apologies I-”

“Who is his attendant again?” The King leaned back, his brow dark and his scowl somehow even deeper.

“Ah, that.. That would be-” Hibik scrambled through the parchment in his hands.

“Seoc.” I informed him, my voice a little tight. Both goblins froze, staring at me with surprise. As if they had forgotten I was there for a moment. I considered them both. “Is something wrong?”

Grier made a soft ‘tch’ with his mouth, sipping at his coffee slowly. Hibik glanced at him, then offered me a polite bow. “My fervent apologies, Your Highness, for the state of your rooms. I had intended to send up a designer for your consult as we discussed, but there was a delay in procuring the usual Royal decorators.”

I tried to puzzle together the implications of his response, but found I could not fathom what had them both in such a tizzy. “No apologies necessary, Lord Hibik-”

“It is unacceptable!” Snapped Grier, interrupting me. I felt my own temper flare, and clenched my jaw. “You, a Royal guest who is also my betrothed, to be treated so shamefully. No wonder you would think us uncivilized.” He started to turn back to Hibik. “No further delays. I want these rooms properly furnished before-”

“I beg your pardon, Your Majesty,” I interjected, a little louder than I had intended, taking a bold step closer, “But I will remind you that you have given me these rooms to do with ‘as I wish’, and as such, I will not be accepting any additional furnishings or decor at this time.”

The sharpness in my voice had him falling silent, and his slender brows shot up. Hibik glanced nervously between the two of us. I waited a breath, holding the goblin King’s scarlet eyes.

“... You mean, you like your chambers like-?”

“Lord Hibik, thank you, but we will not require your services at this time. You may go. I am sure you already have enough to keep you busy.” I informed him, ignoring Grier for a moment. I heard him begin to sputter behind me, but nodded to the smaller goblin who hesitated for a moment with a glance to the King before bowing and making his exit.

“You would dismiss my secretary-”

“Apologies, Your Majesty,” I interrupted him again as he had me, turning to face him properly, “However, if this is not to your satisfaction, I am certain as King you have numerous options available for where you may take your breakfast. I will not keep you from them.”

“Are you… kicking me out?” He sounded both equally astonished and perhaps arrogantly bemused that I would dare order anything of him at all. Perhaps he was not used to be refused so pointedly. Or eloquently.

I stiffened, squaring my jaw and considering him. “I would hate for Your Majesty to be uncomfortable. If you feel the setting is not to your standards, you are welcome to leave it.”

Again, he fell silent. Staring at me in unsuppressed surprise. Part of me hoped he would leave. I had never seen him so rude and demanding. It was off putting and I did not enjoy it in the least, and it left a bitter anger rolling in my gut. Was this the real Grier, I wondered? Had the rest been some act? The other part of me hoped there was some rational explanation… certainly he had shown his emotional range in such a manner before, but this time seemed wholly unprovoked. I held his gaze, unwavering in my stubbornness. Pitting my will against his. Finally, he broke the stalemate by slowly raising his cup to his lips and taking a careful sip. I wasn’t sure how he managed to make even that look arrogant. I continued to wait, my anger still twisting in my gut, hands still clasped behind my back.

“... Forgive me,” He grumbled, leaning back and taking another deep sip, “I am told I am not a ‘morning person’... I would like to stay, if that’s alright.” A small smirk played across his lips. “Though I have to say… I rather like this authoritative side of you.”

I felt my face flush, and just like that the bastard gained the upper hand again. His grin grew, and he patted the couch next to him. I paused, looking him up and down. Not entirely sure I was willing to forgive his earlier rudeness so easily. He finished off the last of his coffee and reached for the pot to refill his cup, flipping over another as he did and filling it as well. Slowly, I moved over. He held out the cup as humbly as he could manage, and I took his peace offering warily, sitting down at the opposite arm of the couch

“... I am often… less than courteous before noon.” He told me conversationally. “But I am sorry if I came off as… ah…” I checked on him out of the corner of my eye. “... More of an ass than usual, yes?”

“I believe Lord Hibik received the brunt of your ‘morning person’.” I replied lightly, keeping my tone as formal as possible and still not looking at him directly.

Grier sighed again, wincing. “Yes… I shall have to apologize to him… Though I fear he is far too accustomed to my morning antics.” He gave me a tiny, mischievous grin. “Despite the circumstances surrounding it... It is nice to see you speaking out… If I can otherwise encourage you to speak your mind, I will hasten to do so.”

I took a sip of the coffee in my hands, dropping my gaze. Silence spread between us for a long moment, and I felt my ears burn as it gave me time to remember the last time I had seen the King. More specifically, how his lips had tasted against mine. What did he expect of this interaction? I recalled the way he had so casually sauntered into my rooms, without asking my leave. For that matter, what did I expect? I was suddenly painfully aware of the proximity of my bed to us, and the invitation I had proposed to him last night. As well as how it could have been taken... I wondered if by goblin standards, that invitation had carried over until today. I swallowed my nervousness with another sip as he straightened, reaching out and plucking up what looked to be some strange baked treat from the trays in front of us. I saw his eyes skim about the room again as he leaned back and took a small bite.

“You really like your rooms like this?” I followed his eyes, considering the mostly bare room. I hesitated, chewing over an appropriate response. “Speak your mind, yes?” He reminded me. “You most of all should always be free to do so.”

I looked down into my cup, quiet for a moment longer. “... They are sufficient.”

“They are boring.” He mused, taking another bite of his pastry. “I know you said the rest of the castle was too loud, but surely you’d at least like some more furniture?”

I rolled my thumb along the edge of my cup before taking a slow sip, casting my eye around the room. The large four poster bed, the fireplace. The simple couch and small table. The bare walls and floors, devoid of personal effects and most color. It felt… strange. Empty and hollow, the shell of a real life. But somehow I found I preferred it this way. It felt… safe. A place to hide away and avoid facing the daunting spans of the rest of my life.

“... They are sufficient.” I repeated softly.

Grier plucked another of the baked treats from the tray and held it out to me. “It’s a bit early to dig for the emotional confession behind that answer. Can I perhaps tempt you with a goblin pastry instead?”

I almost smiled at his teasing, but lightly took the roll from his hand. He made sure our fingers brushed and I glanced at his eyes as they did. I pretended the heat wasn’t returning to my face, bringing the roll to my nose for an experimental sniff before taking a bite.

The dough was warm and flaky, and the inside was filled with some sort of ground meat. There was a burst of flavor, spicy and tart, quickly overlaid by the buttery softness of the dough. My eyes widened slightly in surprise, and I chewed thoughtfully. Very aware of his scarlet eyes watching me carefully.

“They are called uyapi,” He told me, turning to pick up another one for himself, “The outside dough is universal, but the fillings change depending on the meal and occasion. For breakfast, usually the goblin equivalent of sausage.”

He bared his sharp pointy teeth as he spread his jaw as wide as it would go to fit the entire roll in his mouth in one oversized bite. I observed him in bewilderment as he chewed, his cheeks ballooned out almost comically.

I took a more delicate bite of the remainder of mine, nodding slightly. “It is good.” I told him quietly.

He swallowed the last of his. “The nice thing about them is they have a bit of everything, so are almost like a small meal in every bite.” He noted. “There’s meat, diced vegetables, and often cheese as well as the dough.” I watched as he brought his long fingers to his mouth, licking each one slowly.

My mouth went dry at the sight of his long tongue, and I quickly looked for something else to occupy my thoughts. Even as my face grew hot. I took a deep sip of the coffee before placing the cup back on the small table, straightening a little in my seat. I finished the last of the pastry and reached for another.

“I will be trying to spend as much time with you as possible,” He told me, unaware of my internal struggle and leaning back with a third cup of coffee, “To hopefully… ease the transition. I hope you don’t mind.”

I shook my head slowly, swallowing the last of the uyapi and reaching for my drink again. “It sounds like the appropriate course of action… given our circumstances.”

His thin lips spread in a wide smile, and he cocked his head to the side as I took a slow sip. “Our circumstances, hm? You mean how I have already fallen hopelessly head over heels for you while I can only assume that even if you did feel the same way, you wouldn’t even know?”

I sputtered into my coffee, my face burning hotter than my drink. I coughed to clear my airway, placing the cup back on the table. I saw his grin grow, but his eyes were soft. I watched him out the corner of my eye as I dabbed a napkin at my mouth and chin. There was a warmth in the edges of his ruby reds, an echo of what I had seen the day before. I swallowed hard, my head spinning, and stared down at the napkin in my hands.

“.... Forgive me yet again… You are just always so serious and proper,” He swirled his coffee, considering me with a tiny smirk, “It is amusing to see you all flustered, knowing that I put you there.”

I remembered what Damjan had said about the Royal Court, and squared my jaw. Taking a steadying breath and relaxing my features to the best of my ability. I couldn’t help a glance at him again, and noticed him place his half finished drink on the table by mine. I felt the cushion beneath us shift as he slid a little closer.

“.... Not to mention you look very cute when you are surprised.”’

I slid as far away as I could manage, blinking rapidly. “I-I do not like to be.” I stammered, my lips feeling numb and mostly useless. “I prefer to always have control.”

His grin grew, and I felt my flush deepen, wondering what hidden meaning he had taken from my response. “Noted.” He pushed his hair back out of his face. “However, as I was saying, it would make things easier for you to accompany me as I complete my regular duties. Then not only could we become more… accustomed to each other’s presence and preferences, you would also be able to become more familiar with goblin society.” He cocked his head to the side. “You would be a greater boon as a husband if you were able to help me govern my people. Though I would also relish simply keeping you as a trophy in my chambers as well. You are certainly handsome enough-”

“I have spent my life training in royal duties and assisting the Crown Prince,” I interrupted him quickly, and ignoring the flash of his sharp teeth as he smiled again, “I would be pleased to utilize those skills and obtain new ones in the aid of your people.”

“Our people.” He corrected, sounding amused. “Soon enough, at least. And I suspected you might not be the type to sit idly by. However, I believe this might be easier accomplished if you might permit me to cast the charm on your eyes we discussed.” His smile faded, and one long finger came up to tap his pointed chin. “Though perhaps not today, as you wished to better understand the magic before it was cast upon you. I can procure a book I am certain, though it may take a few days to find one in common or have one translated.”

“I-I…” I stopped as soon as my words stammered out, and swallowed hard. Grier looked back at me, curious. “If… If you think it would be best,” I started again, then reached up to rub at the back of my neck, “I… I would trust your judgement and… and you.”

Now it was his turn to look surprised, and I looked at him through my dark lashes. He stayed silent for a moment, then the warmth returned to his eyes. “... You would trust me?” I nodded shyly. “... I don’t mind waiting. Your request is quite reasonable-”

“I trust you.” I spoke the words softly, timid and sheepish. But their honesty was undeniable to either of us, and I felt him shift slightly in his seat even as those words settled deep into my chest. It was odd to admit… but I did trust him.

“... I’ll have to touch you.” He explained, lifting his hands with his palms out as if to illustrate his meaning.

I nodded my consent, and he continued, sliding closer. Reaching up and gently cupping my face with his fingers on my temples and his palms against my cheeks. I bowed my shoulders and leaned a little lower so he could reach me more easily. I felt him skim his thumbs against my eyelashes, and blinked instinctually. His touch was light, but his skin was warm. My head swam as soon as it touched mine, and I almost missed his next words as my heart thundered in my ears.

“This won’t hurt,” He assured me gently, “But it will feel a bit strange… Try not to move.”

I nodded again, my movement slightly impeded by his hands. I saw him stiffen slightly. Noticed his eyes flick down to my lips. I wasn’t entirely sure if my heart had stopped, but I was pretty positive my breathing had. And he hadn’t even started the spell yet. He cleared his throat lightly, then closed those startling ruby reds. Freeing me to look down at his own lips without scrutiny. I watched them begin to move slowly, and could almost see them tracing the sounds out in the air with each syllable. The words he spoke were entirely foreign to me, but I felt a strange tingling sensation at his fingertips against my temples. It spread, like cool, trickling water, or hundreds of tiny little pine needles. It didn’t hurt, as he had promised, and as it reached my eyes his thumbs moved. I closed my eyes, felt him trace his thumbs over the lids. Still murmuring softly. It was warm then, like I was looking at the sun through my eyelids. It seemed to seep back, deeper than my eyes, and I let out a little breath as his thumbs moved away and the sensations faded with his voice.

I knew the shape of his mouth now, as it brushed against my own. I drew back in the breath I had released silently, but otherwise didn’t move. I kept my eyes closed as he gently trailed his lips along mine. It was brief, just a feather light kiss. Yet still my head spun like a top and it took me more than a single breathing cycle to let my eyes flutter back open after he leaned back.

He was watching me, his hands lingering on my face. I adjusted my tongue in my mouth, studying those scarlet eyes of his. “... Was that part of the spell?”

“No.” He admitted sheepishly. “I just... couldn’t resist the temptation.”

“...Well… you’d make a terrible monk...” I mumbled.

He laughed, running his thumb across my cheekbone. I flushed hotter at his delighted smile, and after another moment deigned to straighten. Slowly pulling my face out of his hands. He shook his head, still grinning like a fool.

“Obviously you are a morning person.” He said, bemused. “All quick witted and reserved… how long have you been up?”

“Since dawn.” I replied, looking around the room curiously. But nothing seemed to look different.

“An ungodly hour.” Grier grumbled, shaking his head, then his voice became tender. “Though, perhaps you could convert me to… What are you doing?”

I jumped from my slow rotation of studying the bedchamber, turning back to him embarrassedly. “I-I was… Just seeing if…”

He smiled knowingly. “You won’t notice a difference in here. You could already see in this light before.” Then he stood, straightening his vest before looking down at me. “You can see if it works sufficiently in the halls on our way to my mother’s quarters. Come.”

I jumped up at his words, my heart skipping, then quickly tried to brush away my suddenness with a glance around. His smile quirked to one side, and I cleared my throat. Fixing my composure back into place. He gestured to the table, but I shook my head before he could ask. I certainly wasn’t going to be able to eat any more now.

“Relax.” He told me comfortingly as he led the way towards the foyer. “She doesn’t bite.” I tried to listen to him, burying my fretfulness and following him out into the hall. “... Not that hard, anyway.”

“Grier,” I let slip unintentionally and unable to completely keep the exasperation from my voice.

His laughter proceeded us down the hallway.

….

“Mother?” Grier called softly following his knock, cracking the door open and poking his head around. “Are you decent?”

A scoff came from the room beyond him, and I resisted the urge to shift nervously at his shoulder. “Am I ever, mo apawiwi?”

Grier sighed heavily, shaking his head. “I meant that I have brought a visitor, inana. May I bring him in?”

“Do as you like!” Came the hazardous voice, thin but still strong. “You are King, are you not?”

He groaned, shouldering the door open and walking in. He gestured for me to follow him, which I did. Though much more slowly and less languidly than he. I kept my spine stiff, my shoulders squared, with my hands tucked into the small of my back and my heart in my throat.

The room we entered was grandiose, with high ceilings and thick draping curtains around the walls. There were a great many items of furniture; here a desk, there an armoire. In the corner a long table with a shelf built along one end. Most in a dark, polished wood though occasionally a lighter pine sprinkled amid the others. And of course, each of these available surfaces was covered in items. Delicate and expensive looking bottles of what I imagined must be perfume. Gems and jewels, necklaces and earrings. Books and large hats. Maps and parchment, quills and inkwells, globes and strange models of things I had no name for. A few small stone busts or statues, some of stone, others of wood, still more of copper. I wasn’t sure where to place my focus, as each time I shifted it I found a million things to see. I found that my enchanted eyes were easily able to define the shapes of everything, down to minute details. But the colors, which I imagined were just as loud as in every other part of the castle, were subdued. For which I was grateful; the clutter alone was overwhelming, not to mention the heavy smell of old perfume and worn cotton.

The King led the way towards the center of the room, where a great chair with a high, plush back was set amid piles and piles of trinkets like a dragon’s hoard. It was perpendicular to the door, requiring us to walk around to the side to approach it head on. Which we did, and which also gave a pair of beady red eyes time to carefully run us over from head to toe.

The Dowager Queen was small, her thin shoulders hunched and bowed with age. I could see the distinct shape of her bones in her skinny arms as they extended to rest her thin hands on the head of an ornate cane that tapped the ground between her knobby knees. She wore a large dress, poofy and full of lace and frills, which enveloped her tiny form like a cloud, spilling over the arms of the chair and bunching at her little shoulders. Her nose was similar to Grier’s, though a little longer and more hooked at the end. She had the same eyes, the same brows, though her face was more rounded than his, and her ears, while wider around the middle, still curled back towards her face in the same way his did. It was impossible to say what color her hair had once been, as it was bleached as white as fresh snow, but looked equally as soft piled into a neat bun on the top of her head. She jingled like a bell from all the jewelry she was adorned with as she tilted her head, scarlet eyes studying me as I came around to her front. I stopped a respectable distance away, tucking my heels together and dipping my head politely.

“Mother, this is Prince Nikostratus.” Grier introduced me, going to his mother’s side and dropping to one knee by the arm of her chair. “Prince Nikostratus, allow me to introduce the Dowager Queen Morag.”

I bowed slightly at the waist, dropping my eyes respectfully. “Your Grace.”

My neck itched from the weight of her gaze on me, but I kept my head bowed for a long moment. Trying to deny the twitch in my fist clasped tightly behind my back. When I finally did straighten, her eyes followed me, and her head tilted to the other side.

“Khos kala ka, spaye halshalen shiba wa.” She intoned, considering me still.

I was incapable of hiding the helpless flick of my eyes to Grier at her words. He seemed embarrassed, and rubbed at the back of his neck.

“Ah… She said-”

“If I had been speaking for his ears, I would have spoken in Common, apawi.” She snapped, then flicked her fingers. “Cuir om, my child. Who is this shiba? Why have you brought him?”

“Well, Mother, Prince Nikostratus is to be my husband.” He explained, and I could see the anxiousness plainly on his face as he shifted on his knees by her side. “We-”

“Kashta vol! What is this nonsense you speak?” She cut him off again, her voice louder, and he winced, opening his mouth just to have her wave her hand to silence him and turn to me. “Non, come closer, shibakin. You will answer, not this abhama who would try to lie to his ina, and let me see your eyes when you do.”

I did as bidden, though my heart thrummed loudly in my ears. I took a few steps towards her, maintaining a respectable distance. I shifted my stance, shrinking my body as much as possible without actually bending or crouching down and making an effort not to loom over her. She seemed to consider this, reaching up to run her long fingers along her chin. I met her eyes firmly, burying my nerves and fretfulness deep down. Etching my face into stone to hide whatever she might try to pry from me. I saw Grier wince again, but ignored him. I didn’t have time to focus on appeasing both goblins at the same time.

“Why do you marry my son?” She demanded, her Common thickly accented with the rolling syllables of goblinese but still clear to the ear.

“We broker a peace between our two kingdoms with our marriage.” I told her honestly.

“Shiba men do not enjoy shiba men.”

My jaw stiffened. “Not openly.”

“You are a Prince?” She pressed.

“Yes.”

“The firstborn?”

“Secondborn. I would not take the throne.” I replied.

“So you seek one.”

“No.”

“Then why marry a King?”

“To end a war.”

“Even though he is goblin?”

“Yes.”

“For whom do you end the war? Yourself? For renown?”

“No.”

“Then whom?”

“My sister. My people.”

“For shiba.”

“For shiba and goblin.”

“Not for your King.”

“... No.”

She fell silent for a moment after her rapid fire, steepling her fingers before her chin. Her eyes studied my face. I was careful to keep it blank, but firm. Certain and undeniable. I saw Grier’s eyes darting back and forth between us. Thought I saw him chewing his bottom lip. But I refused to look away from the diminutive goblin in front of me. She straightened, shifting in her seat. As relaxed as I was on edge, though I hoped my composure held well beneath her scrutiny.

“PAYE!” She shouted, and we both jumped. “Bring chairs for my guests.”

An attendant darted from the next room, quickly dragging over two chairs. I hastened to help them as soon as I saw them nearly buckle under the weight, and they offered me a grateful look. I was vehemently aware of the Queen’s eyes still following me, and noticed Grier nearly trip over himself as he stood and settled in the offered chair.

“When will you wed?” She demanded as I took my own seat.

“It will take time to plan, inana,” Grier explained, rubbing his hands over his knees, “Perhaps next spring-”

“Pah!” She scoffed, waving her hand at him. “I am old, mo apawi. I do not have such time to wait about. You!” She turned on me, pointing with one bony finger. “Shibakin. You will send for your mother. You learn the most about a boy from his mother.”

I stiffened, and felt my jaw clench a little tighter. I saw Grier open his mouth, looking a little pained, but I shook my head slightly. Catching his words before they left his mouth.

“I am afraid my mother passed when I was a teenager, Your Grace.” I told her myself, hoping my voice didn’t sound too thin.

She clicked her tongue, making a soft sound in her throat as she considered this. “You have a sister, yes?” I nodded. “Then you will bring her.”

“...She is nine.”

“All the better.” She scoffed. “Children are always honest.”

“Mother, I don’t think it’s the best-”

“PAH!” She shouted, silencing her son again. “You don’t think Grier. That is your greatest fault. You have no patience.” Her scarlet eyes flicked over to me. “How am I to know what kind of man this Prince is if I cannot speak to his family?”

“You could ask me.” I replied dryly. Then instantly clamped my mouth shut as her beady eyes narrowed. Internally I kicked myself. What had ever possessed me to-

“PAH!” She barked, though this time it sounded more like a laugh. Her thin lips twisted into a smirk. “Would you answer? Do you know yourself, shibakin?”

I hesitated, then dropped my eyes. “... No.”

“PAH!” She laughed again, rubbing her hands over the head of her cane. “He is a clever one then.” I jumped as the end of the stick came up and tapped my knee. “Let me tell you, shibakin. No one knows who they are. Many think they do, but they are wrong.” She tapped my knee again, and I met her eyes. “If you wish to know someone, see them through the eyes of those they love. That is where you will find your answer.”

“That is wise, Your Grace.” I said humbly. “...What may I learn from you of the King then?” I noticed Grier shoot me an embittered look. I hid my amusement well.

“Of course it is!” She cried, then turned and smacked her cane against his leg. “Pah! I like this one, apawiwi! You will keep him.” She glanced back at me. “As for this abhama!” She whacked him again. “He never thinks! He never waits! He just acts acts acts!” She punctuated each repetition of the word with a whack against his leg. Grier scowled, trying to swat the stick to the side unsuccessfully. She was quicker than I would have expected.

“Mother!” He hissed, and I thought I saw his cheeks burn a little darker. “I am a grown man. You cannot-”

“PAH!” She shouted, smacking him one last time for emphasis. “You are a child still, apawi, because you still act like one. Perhaps marrying this shiba will calm your passion.” Morag turned back to me, and I eyed her cane warily. “He is passionate, yes? He is heat and fire and burns at both ends. He feels everything. And he wears it on his ridiculous looking sleeves.” I pursed my lips to keep them from twitching. “You! You, shiba. You are cool, and calm. You are stone in a storm. You think before you act. Two minutes and I see this plain!” She banged her cane on the ground at the foot of her chair. “Teach this abhama some of your ways. And he will help you crack your mask to burn hot as he does, shibakin.” She nodded, as if agreeing with herself as she thought her words through.

“His name is Nikostratus, ina.” Grier grumbled, crossing his arms in a pout over his chest. “Not shibakin.”

“Pah!” She scoffed. “I am old, cai thani, I do not have time for such a long name.” She banged her cane against the floor. “PAYE! Bring us drinks! Ash usi yage!”

“Ina!” He scolded. “It is not even noon!”

He jerked his legs up to avoid her swinging cane. “PAH! I am cai thani, what do I care for noon? It does not wait for me. I shall not wait for it.” Morag turned back to me. “You, mo shiba, shall bring me your sister. I have always wanted a daughter. And this siut abhama,” She swung at Grier again, “Is quick in everything but giving me grandchildren.”

I tried to sort out her words, blinking slowly. The goblin attendant returned, and I found a glass pressed into my hand. It was filled with a clear liquid, and I could already smell the strong vapors wafting from it. I glanced at Grier, who had a different shaped glass in his own hand. But considering the grimace on his face, I was guessing his held the same liquor as mine.

“I would be honored to bring my sister here,” I started carefully, watching the little old goblin draw in a deep, pleased breath from her own glass, “But I am afraid there may be… other complications Your Grace-”

“PAH!” She shouted, and clapped the bottom of her cane on the ground again. “You will call me ina, mo shibakin. Ina Morag. And what what? What is this you speak? ‘Complications’? PAH! You are a Prince, no?”

“Yes, but-”

“There is no but!” She snapped. “You want her to come? You bring her. There, I make it simple.” Scarlet eyes darted to her son. “Perhaps I am wrong. Perhaps you are better match because you are both abhamak.”

“Your Grace-”

“Ina Morag! Ina Morag!” She practically shouted. Snapping her cane against the floor. “You are deaf, mo shibakin?” She turned back to Grier. “You are not teaching him goblinese? Gunum! That I should have a son that would not know my own language. Nare!”

“Nikostratus has barely been here a week, ina,” He breathed exasperatedly, rubbing at his brow with one hand, “We already decided to procure-”

“Gunum! You make excuses, Grier. Teach the boy goblinese. Nisle! Yes?”

He nodded, smirking. “Yes, inana. I hear you.”

“Pah!” She leaned over to me, holding one hand by her mouth conspiratorially. “He says this, and then as soon as I am out of ear, he will do what he wants anyway.” She nodded to me. “Do not let your manwe pull this on you, mo shiba.” A familiar mischievous grin spread her thin lips. “I will teach you his tricks, mo shiba. I am his inana. I know them all.” She tapped her cane lightly on the floor. “Come and visit your ina Morag. You are welcome here.”

I dropped my gaze, flattered and feeling heat rising to my ears. I heard her laugh, and recognized in its echo another thing her son had inherited from her. I chanced a peek at him out of the corner of my eye, and saw him hiding a small smile, his face equally flushed.

“Hechi!” She proclaimed, her voice softer than I had yet heard it. She held her glass high. “To your union, yes? And your future together.”

I recognized a toast when I heard one, and raised my own glass in a soft salute. I gritted my teeth as I brought the strong smelling liquor to my lips. I tried not to let it linger in my mouth longer than necessary. But I wasn’t entirely sure I hadn’t just swallowed fire. I heard Grier coughing as he downed his own, and felt the corners of my eyes water as I tightened my jaw and resisted the burn in my own throat.

Morag chuckled, seemingly unaffected by hers. She tapped one long boney finger and the attendant returned to refill her glass. They didn’t bother to offer more to us, for which I was glad. Manners aside, I wasn’t certain I would be able manage a second. The burn settled heavily in my stomach, and I swallowed a few times trying to clear it.

Suddenly, the old Queen began to speak again, long and flowing sentences in goblinese. I couldn’t even attempt to follow along, let alone pull individual words out. Again, her voice was soft, and though she looked at me as she spoke, I could see Grier stiffen in his seat. When she finished, there was silence for a long moment, and it rang in my ears. I turned to the King to find his face a little pale and his lips tight.

Finally, he nodded, looking down at the floor. “... Tasu, inana.”

I didn’t know the word, but it sounded affirmative, as if he were confirming something she had said. Her eyes finally fixed on him, her head tilting to the side. She spoke a shorter sentence in goblinese, and I could feel the tender warmth in it. I shifted, uncomfortable to sense such a moment between mother and son, even if I couldn’t understand what was being said. It was intimate, and I felt as though I were trespassing. After she finished, Grier hesitated before nodding. A moment later he stood.

“She wishes to speak to you alone for a moment,” He told me as I started to follow him, “...I’ll wait in the hall.”

My composure almost slipped, but I managed to keep it as he took up his mother’s hand. Then bent down and gave her a gentle kiss on the cheek. She smiled, patting his face fondly. He passed me one last look, which I couldn’t quite read, then left. Leaving me alone with the Dowager Queen.

She waited until the door clicked closed behind him, eyeing me all the while. I stayed still under her scrutiny, but felt my heart going a mile a minute in my breast. The minutes ticked by in silence, and I waited with practiced patience despite the knots slowly tying and untying themselves in my stomach.

“I have but one son.” She began finally, tapping her glass quietly. “One child. Grier is my everything, shibakin. And I would see him happy before I die.” She sighed, taking a sip and leaning back in her chair. “It does not matter what I say, he will do what he wants in the end. But I would know you, so that perhaps when my time comes I can go in peace.”

I straightened slightly, rolling the empty glass in my own hands. “I will give you whatever peace I can offer, Your Grace.”

“Hmmm. I see you do that.” She jerked her chin at me. “I have known you ten minutes, and I see it. You hide yourself, whenever emotions might show. You become stone.” I tried not to tighten more at her words, and therefore prove their weight of truth. “... But I sense you feel things strongly. Perhaps even more strongly than Grier does.” I said nothing, yet felt her words sink inside me like an anchor off the side of a ship. Dragging me down to dark depths. “... Do you love my son?”

I felt cold at her words, and my jaw clenched. “I barely know him, Your Grace. We just met a few days ago.”

“So? Does this matter?”

“... I am not sure I know what it means..” I admitted to her weakly, my voice soft but honest.

“You love your sister.” She pointed out. “You build a peace for her.”

“Yes, but... that is different.”

“Can you love my son?”

I almost winced. “I do not know.”

“Does he make you happy? Or is this a marriage of necessity?”

I thought about that for a long, quiet moment. I considered just telling her what she wanted to hear. Just speaking sweetly to soothe her conscience. I shifted, looking down at the ground without really seeing it. Knowing I couldn’t do it.

“... It started with my responsibility to my Kingdom. To bring peace.” I told her honestly, my voice hesitant and uncertain. “But… He’s been… I-I…” I gritted my teeth. “I am… not very good at expressing myself.”

“Hmmm.” She tilted her head to the other side. “When you touch, does your mind spin?”

“... Yes.”

“When you see him, does your heart skip?”

“... Yes.”

“Have you kissed him?” I blushed furiously. She scoffed at that, and her jewels jangled as she shook her head. “And?”

I thumbed the glass, and felt my blush deepen. But I forced the words from my lips. “A-and … I can’t breathe… I can’t… think… I have no words, but feel I have so much to say…” I shook my own head. “I apologize, that makes no sense.”

“Love doesn’t make sense, abhama shibakin mo.” She replied, sounding amused. “I was not sure I loved his father when we married. Perhaps I did not then. But I came to love him.” Her voice became pained. “I miss him every day now.”

“I am sorry for your loss, Your Grace.”

“I am sorry for yours, shiba apawi mo.” She tapped my boot lightly with her cane. “Call me ina, yes? Ina Morag. Make an old lady happy.”

“As you wish… Ina Morag.” I tried not to mumble, and glanced up at her as I spoke.

She gave me a kind smile. “You do make him happy, mo shiba. It is obvious to anyone who knows him. Just in the way he looks at you. I never thought Grier would be one to settle his wild spirit with one heart. But, I believe he has settled his heart on yours… And I believe one day your heart will settle into his.” She smirked. “Though you may not notice when it does.” A laugh this time. “You may just wake up one day and realize it's there, and has been for a while.”

My blush returned. “...I would be lucky then, ina Morag… You have a good son.”

“Pah!” She exclaimed then waved her hand at me. “Now away with you, mo shibakin. Your youth has drained mine, and I must rest now.” She smacked me lightly with her cane as I moved to stand. “But come back soon, yes?” A familiar grin settled on her lips. “I would know more about my new child. And bring your sister!” She sighed. “It would do an old heart good to see a child’s face in this palace again.”

I bowed low at the waist, and her hand came up. Patting my head lightly. “As you wish, ina Morag. I will do what I can.”

“Toksor, mo shibakin.” She called lightly after me as I made my way to the door.

Grier waited anxiously in the hallway beyond, pacing back and forth. He jumped at the sound of the door opening, and rushed over quickly as I stepped out.

“How did it go? Are you alright? What did she say?”

I shook my head, slowly closing the door behind me, trying to settle my swirling thoughts. “Well, she was right about one thing at least.”

He peered up at me, his anxiousness settling into lines at the corners of his eyes. “What’s that?”

I hid my smile as I turned to stride down the hall. “Your sleeves are ridiculous.”

...

UPDATE: Part seven HERE

#Royal Flush #goblin romance #goblin king #goblin lover #goblin husband #mlm #male x male #monster x male #terato #exophilia #slow burn #monster romance #monster lover #monster husband #monster royalty #arranged marriage #angst

67 notes · View notes

imnotwolverine · 4 years

Text

White gulls

Henry Cavill x OC Lisa - multi-chapter fic

Author’s note: Its been raining all weekend, so I needed all the sun flooded heart buzzing fluff I could fit into one chapter. And BOI has it become fluffy. I hope you enjoy! Have a lovely Sunday everyone <3

Word count: 3.061

Disclaimer: fluffff

This is part 20 of the Tea for Two series.

Find the Masterlist here.

< Go back to part 19

Salt.

Sun.

The sensation of a soft, lukewarm wind on toasty skin.

A lushious towel, its soft weft protecting me from the seething hot, wooden deck.

Gulls, screeching atop our heads.

And the sea. Its waves softly breaking against the boat’s bow.

I turned the page on the book I was reading and looked over at Henry, his satisfied face poking out from the shimmering water as he floated around in the pale blue sea. Cute bear.

He looked so very relaxed, a soft smile playing on his lips as his eyes tracked the gulls that were flying big circles through the sky, his hands languidly paddling through the Aegean sea water.

We had agreed on taking some holidays after the production for the Witcher had wrapped up. And though I had been apprehensive - I loved working JUST a bit too much - Henry was quick to veto his vote.

‘I’ll organise everything.’ He had stated simply. And so he did. And here we were. In Greece, on a private yacht. Which is totally, totally ridiculous, but…whatever. Life was never truly normal with Henry in it.

Our days were spent eating freshly caught fish, learning some Greek words from the ship’s crew, meandering through small harbour towns and swimming. Lots and lots of swimming. I, especially, since I was struggling to keep my cool in these high temperatures.

Talking about which.

I checked the page number of my book and closed it, crawling up from my towel and readjusting my bikini before quickly tiptoeing over the burning hot wood to the back end of the deck. I squealed, feeling my feet almost melt as my skin touched the wood, the arduous journey becoming even more complicated as the boat shimmied in irregular patterns, making me wobble unsteadily on my half-sleeping legs.

‘Oh fuck fuck fuck.’ I cursed under my breath, before finally finding a more comfortable spot to stand on.

‘..You okay there love?’ The wind carried Henry’s deep baritone voice to my ears as I stretched myself out, looking for a good spot to jump into the water. Ha. I could jump almost right next to Henry without him seeing, his eyes still peering up at the sky.

‘Yes dear.’ I said sweetly, before pushing myself off the deck, landing a little distance away from Henry in the cool, cool water.

‘OI! You little..’ He quickly turned, spluttering out the water that had gotten into his mouth as he reached out an arm for me. I squealed as I tried to make a swim for it, my blubbery legs unfortunately letting me down.

In no time I was wrapped in Henry’s iron grip and my body shuddered. Be it because of the cool water, or the fact I was a prisoner to his will now.

‘..little vixen.’ He breathed in my ear, nipping at my earlobe playfully. I laughed and bit my lip, turning my head towards him as far as I could, my back still pulled flush against his chest.

‘What?’ I said, feigning innocence.

‘You know what.’ He growled.

‘It’s not like you got any wetter.’ I shrugged, feeling a dry chuckle reverberating through his chest.

‘Mhm..’ He hummed, one of his hands now reaching down for my fabric covered crotch, a teasing finger pressing against my clit, making me shiver again.

‘BEAR!’ I gasped.

‘What? It’s not like you can get any wetter…hmm?’ He nuzzled my neck, his finger continuing to make small circles over my nub.

I squirmed, my legs kicking out as I felt my breath hitch. ‘..Hen…’ I rolled my eyes back, my oversensitive flesh yielding much to quickly to his touch.

Gods..this man.

Electricity started to bubble up in my pinky toes, licking up my calves, washing over my thighs before knotting up in a tight coil in my core. I let out a low moan before being suddenly interrupted by another large spray of water that took us both by surprise.

‘Kal…’ Henry chuckled, the big dog apparently not wanting to miss out on whatever fun we were having as he had just now also launched himself in the water.

Henry released me from his grip and greeted the large akita as he circled towards us, large paws kicking the water as his fur clouded around him, making him look even bigger.

‘Saved by the Kal.’ I chuckled, earning a teasing smirk from Henry as he scratched Kal. ‘You just wait.’ He winked.

—

‘A shot to good health!’ Felipe, the captain smiled as he pressed a shot glass of Ouzo in my hand. I smiled, raising the small glass and clinking it with his before taking a small sip. The captain wasn’t quite as subtle however, taking a good long swig of the strong liquor.

I studied the way he hollowed his cheeks and let out a satisfied sigh, his eyes shimmering as he gazed back over the water, checking if all was well. If you thought of a captain of the ship, this is probably what popped up in your head. His skin looked almost leather like, his eyes soft and dark brown, most of his face hidden behind a well trimmed, greying beard.

And, Felipe was a jovial, romantic spirit. He spoke in great length of local history, myths and legends and seemed to know this sea better than his women - which he had..plenty of..if his stories were anything to go by.

We had just finished another delicious lunch that the cook had prepared - like…totally ridiculous..we had a cook on board - and Henry, Kal and one of the crew members had made it to shore so Kal could do his business, the boat now languidly gliding over the water, waiting for them to return.

Felipe tapped my shoulder, alerting me to follow his pointing finger.

‘See there? Those are white seagulls. Lovers. See the way they circle each other?’ He sat down besides me on the blue and white striped pillows, keeping his gaze fixed at the birds. The birds tilted their heads at each other, dancing on the wind as their wings twisted and turned.

I smiled, the birds reminding me of the dream I had that night.

‘I actually..dreamt of white gulls last night.’ I hummed, taking another sip of the Ouzo, the liquor burning a trail through the back of my throat.

‘Oh! Tell, tell! What is it you dreamed about?’ Felipe turned his warm, curious eyes at me, studying the way I now looked at the glass in my hand.

‘I eh…was standing on a rocky shore, alone. A seashore I think, though I can’t remember seeing a sea. And everything around me was big, blue.. cloudless sky, the only sound I heard being the screeching of gulls. Two gulls. Circling above me just like they do now.’ I looked up as the birds made a bit of a dive, their little feet almost touching the water before circling back up again.

‘Just two of them?’

‘Yea..two gulls. It was quite nice to watch..but weird as well. Usually my dreams are a whole lot more busy, action packed..haha.’

‘Hmmm. Well, it is a good sign.’ He nodded, taking a last swig of his drink and pushing the glass on his table.

‘How so?’ I asked, looking over at the captain as he let his hand slip down from the glass, his fingers spreading on the table.

‘We greeks believe that dreaming about two seagulls means you have met..or WILL soon meet..your one true love. They are a representation of eternal love…marital bliss even.’ He sighed, a satisfied grin appearing on his lips as he quirked his head towards the beach where Henry was strolling.

‘I see.’ I said slowly, looking back over my shoulder to see Henry and Kal running around on the beach, Kal jumping up at a piece of driftwood that was thrown. A soft smile curled on my lips. ‘I see.’

—

We had come to shore for a day, our feet now flip-flopping over the promenade while watching the locals be about their business - selling small trinkets and ice cream, chatting on the docks, fixing fishing nets.

Henry glanced over at me, smiling.

‘Hi.’ I said impishly, smiling back.

‘Hi.’ He said, his voice smooth as butter.

We smiled almost stupidly, lost in each others eyes for a moment as we walked into a secluded little bay.

‘Even now, with you just looking at me, you can make my stomach flutter.’ I said, sniffling shyly and folding my hand around his before leaning my head against his shoulder. He kissed the top of my head. ‘Good.’ He hummed, his hand squeezing mine gently.

‘I can no longer imagine a life without you.’ He said as I lifted my head back up.

‘Not even when I steal all the blankets?’ I jested. He raised an eyebrow. ‘Oh, don’t tease me little she-devil!’

Without warning he lifted me up and over his shoulder. I shrieked.

‘Nooo HEN! Put me down!’ I kicked my feet haphazardly, both our flipflops now discarded on the beach.

‘Perhaps a swim?’ He suggested, walking towards the water. I tried to worm out of his tight grasp, but to no avail.

‘Oh you wouldn’t dare.’ I challenged.

He however didn’t stop as the water moved passed his calves, his hand now playfully patting my butt.

‘Then no more blanket stealing?’ He rumbled.

I chuckled and finally managed to wiggle out of his grasp as a surprise wave hit him, making him lose his balance for a split second.

Quickly I strode further into the water, up to my waist, before turning back towards him.

‘Never!’ I said exasperated, laughing, letting myself slip fully into the water, my summer dress now pooling around me like a colourful cloud. He joined me, rolling his eyes at my cheekiness.

Within moments I was back in his grasp.

Our lips connected. Eager tongues fighting as I wrapped my legs around his waist, feeling him as he pressed his groin into me. He let out a low moan, feeling the friction as I pulled him even closer in the hook of my legs, his eyes quickly darkening.

‘No blankets needed here.’ I said, quirking up an eyebrow. He tilted his head, unbelieving, his eyes quickly looking over my shoulder at the shoreline.

It was practically deserted, two fishermen just walking around the corner out of sight. The shutters of all the few houses here closed to keep out the heat.

I kissed his neck to regain his attention, sucking the sensitive skin behind his ear and earning a low moan from him.

‘You’re my undoing!’ He groaned, wrapping his hands around my buttocks and steadying my shimmying hips. I sniggered playfully.

‘Mmhmm.’ I hummed, catching his lips again.

It took but a few seconds for him to pull down his slacks and move aside my panties, his erection springing free before delving into me. The water caused an unfamiliar friction, making us groan as he slowly pushed inside. ‘Mmmppfff.’ He hissed, catching my lips again before I would moan too loudly.

We mostly just stayed like that while our lips discovered every little bit of skin, the salt sticking to our lips as his hips ever so slightly gyrated against my core. I fluttered my walls around him, making him moan, his lips curling into a smile. ‘Positive side effects of core workouts.’ I whispered in his ear, earning one of his breathy laughs.

Not long after he came, the friction just too overwhelming, his legs shivering. He moved his hand to my nub, but I stopped him. ‘Later.’ I hinted at some people just walking past the corner of the small bay. He sniggered, still somewhat shivery and his cheeks flush with embarrassment, his arms keeping me closely tucked to his chest.

I unwrapped my legs and looked for the bottom of the sea shore, the small sand grains melting between my toes again as I found my footing, the water washing our sweet sins away.

We kissed while Henry manoeuvred his pants back on and I moved my panties back in place - all while trying to not catch the attention at the people who were now strolling on the beach. We chuckled quietly, seeing the people move at an excruciatingly slow tempo, both our cheeks pink with embarrassment.

‘Well that was naughty.’ He said, still a bit flustered. We kissed again.

‘I love you.’ I hummed, smiling at him. He cupped my face, looking into my eyes. Deeply. His ocean blue eyes almost burning into my green eyes. Not saying a thing. He just..looked at me, his breath still a slight bit irregular. He clenched his jaw, leaning his forehead against mine as he continued to look at me. ‘Be mine.’ He whispered.

I leaned back against his forehead, closing my eyes, feeling his hands still cupping my jaw with a certain need. As if he was scared I would vanish, if not for his tight grip. ‘I am yours.’ I whispered in turn. He was quiet for a moment before he nodded, kissing me.

I could feel he was not saying something he really wished to say. But I figured, as is with all men, it just needed some time to turn into words. I cupped his face in return. ‘I am yours.’ I said with a touch more seriousness, looking back up into his eyes. His thought stricken face melted into one of love.

—

We had left the boat behind us as we had reached our last destination; a small harbour town with thousands of white-painted houses that seemed to grow like mushrooms from a steep rocky shoreline. The sun was currently sinking further and further to the horizon as our feet carried us through the narrow streets, our hands interlocked as Henry guided me to another one of his “little surprises”.

I didn’t really know what to expect, but apparently a “little surprise” meant in this case an absolutely lovely, completely private dinner with view of the sunset, the small terrace hewn from the coast rock itself. I hugged him, endeared by the gesture.

‘This is…a-ma-zing.’ I said exasperated, looking out over the railing to see the waves clashing against the rock below. My eyes probably spoke a thousand words, because Henry could only just smile broadly, proud of his present.

We sat down and a waiter came up to us in full black tux, pouring us some champagne, before quickly shuffling off through a small gate in the back.

We raised our glasses. ‘To life and to love.’ Henry said, our glasses clinking. I sipped the champagne, looking back at the sun, the sky now slowly turning deep hues of pink. And once more two gulls were floating in the soft evening wind.

How fitting.

‘Reminds me of when we met.’ I said, smiling happily before looking back at him, reminiscing that early morning hike in LA. He smiled sweetly, his nostrils flaring.

Strange…Was he uncomfortable? He always did that when he was uncomfortable...His shirt too tight? Too hot? I can’t be right...My thoughts rolled over in my mind as I studied him. No amount of acting classes could hide from me that something was up with him.

He was now also looking out at the sunset, his hands clenching his glass in a death grip and.. did I see a certain …worry.. in his eyes? He looked back at me, his smile growing wider, before realising I was noticing his discomfort, my eyes glancing down at his clutching hands. He grinned, as if caught, nodding, then took a deep, deep breath.

‘Go ahead then, spill the beans.’ I said, knowing something was up while looking at him with studious eyes.

He looked back at me too, our eyes meeting, and love melted back into his blues. Those big, anxious, puppy eyes. Gosh. He is so..nervous? Whatever it was: it was endearing. He moved his chair back, taking my hands and pulling me up, his eyes looking at me studiously as I quickly straightened my dress, confused as to why he wanted us to get up.

‘My sweetest, sweetest Lisa. Not in my long life have I felt so nervous about asking anyone such a question.’ He smiled. I smiled in return, peering into his eyes while squeezing his hands, my heartbeat slowly raising.

Our eyes delved deeper and deeper into one another as he continued.

Was he...?

‘We have this most wonderful, relaxed…well-balanced relationship. I just honestly didn’t even know I could have that. But here we are..’ He gestured at the sea with a quick raise of his hand, as he took another quick breath, swallowing his nerves.

Is he..?

‘I do not wish anything more then for this to never end. For us to see a thousand sunsets together, if life allows..’ He sank down on one knee, looking up at me.

OH BOI.

My heart started to flutter like a captured bird, restless and begging to be released, my lip suddenly trembling with emotion.

‘Would you dear Lisa, please, marry me?’

I felt a tear burning as I started to nod feverishly. ‘Yes, yes you fool.’ I laughed, the tears slowly flowing down my cheek as I threw myself in his arms. The air was suddenly so thick and heavy I couldn’t even stand on my own legs anymore, my full weight now hanging onto Henry as he remained there on one knee, quickly capturing me in his arms.

We kissed, laughing giddily and gasping for breath, our lips curling in such broad smiles it hurt our cheeks.

He finally settled me more comfortably on his knee as he moved one of his hands down a pocket, reaching for a ..marker?

He held it up. ‘No ring.’ He smiled with boyish enthusiasm, carefully taking my left ring finger and drawing a black band with his initials in it. I laughed, releasing a breath I didn’t know I was holding, a smile etched on my cheeks as I looked at him as he drew on the band.

He put the marker back in his pocket, blowing gently over the ink, before kissing it, his eyes interlocking with mine again.

This was it. I realised.

Forever.

The two white gulls that were now circling the burning skies, our witnesses.

Epilogue >

#henry cavill #henry cavill fanfiction #fanfiction #henry cavill x oc #henry cavill smut #henry cavill fluff #teafortwo #tea for two #smut #greece #yacht #sea #kal #swimming #summerlove #gulls #whitegulls #surprise #engagement

59 notes · View notes

hovercraft79 · 5 years

Text

The Closer I’m Bound in Love to You, the Closer I Am to Free

Chapters: 1

Word Count: 9,580

Fandom: The Worst Witch (TV 2017)

Rating: M

Warnings: SPOILER ALERT FOR SEASON 3, some angst, a bit of sexy times but not too graphic

Summary:

Hecate and Pippa finally spend their first night together. Everything is perfect until Hecate reveals a secret she’s been carrying for decades and Pippa has to figure out just what it means to support your partner – and how far she’ll go to do exactly that.

Notes:

As anyone who follows me knows, the RPs written by @pippa-pentangle and @misshecatehardbroom are some of my very favorite parts of tumblr. So when pippa-pentangle asked for a fic dealing with some of the revelations from season 3, the decision was easy: what pippa-pentangle wants, pippa-pentangle gets (and the same is true for misshecatehardbroom, as well).

The title of this story is from the song Power of Two by the Indigo Girls. If you’ve never heard of them, they’re a fabulous folk duo that I can’t recommend highly enough.

Sparky was just thrilled to find out I had a new fic to edit – especially when it turned out to be 18 pages long. I can’t thank her – or pay her – enough.

Hecate opened her eyes, slowly adjusting to the light pouring in through her bedroom window. Images from the night before flashed through her mind – a press of soft lips, the fiery tingle of fingertips ghosting over bare skin, the rapture of every nerve exploding as Pippa laid claim to her, body and soul. Finally. Fully.

Stretching across the mattress, Hecate savored the pull of muscles deliciously sore from unfamiliar use. Her hand brushed over the space where Pippa had been. It was empty. Hecate’s heart skipped a beat as she sat up, searching the room, but settled again when she spotted a pink dress tossed across a chair and two pink wedge-heeled shoes jumbled on the rug. Pippa, wherever she was at this moment, was still here. Hecate flopped back down on the bed and rolled onto Pippa’s side, feeling the residual warmth of her body, breathing in the faint scent of freesia - Pippa’s scent. It mingled with Hecate’s own rosemary and the musky aroma of sex. Of love. Of home.

Of something she shouldn’t have, she reminded herself. Couldn’t have. It wasn’t fair to Pippa. She sighed. Pippa cannot be her home. Last night was a mistake, she told herself, an achingly beautiful, wondrous miracle of a mistake. She could never let it happen again. She would definitely let it happen again.

Scrubbing a hand across her face, Hecate pushed herself up until she was seated, cross-legged, in the middle of the bed. She would have to tell Pippa. There was no disappearing this time. She knew as surely as she was bound to Cackle’s that neither of them would survive another breaking.

Her stomach rumbled a good morning, and Hecate wondered if Pippa had gone in search of breakfast. Casting out a locator spell, Hecate was surprised to find Pippa outside the castle.

Brows furrowed, Hecate rolled out of bed, wrapping the sheet around her as she crossed to the window and opened it. Leaning out, she scanned the grounds, searching for Pippa. A flash of motion caught her eye.

There, just past the edges of the manicured lawns, she spotted Pippa, spinning and whirling through a patch of wildflowers. With a flick of her fingertips Hecate sent a slight ping of magic Pippa’s way.

Pippa spun towards the castle at once, beaming. Hecate wasn’t prepared for the hot jolt of emotion that Pippa’s smile ignited within her – the intermingling of love and lust and longing that she had only ever felt with Pippa.

Hecate barely had time to recognize the warmth of Pippa’s magic as it washed over her before she found herself standing next to Pippa among the wildflowers. It took less than a heartbeat for her to remember she was wearing only a sheet.

“Pippa Phyllis Pentangle!” she shrieked, frantically pulling the sheet tighter. “Have you lost your pink-pickled mind?” Her voice dropped to a frenzied whisper, “I’m not wearing anything under this sheet!”

“I know,” Pippa whispered back, leaning in close enough that Hecate could feel her breath against her cheek. “I’m not wearing anything under this robe.” She waggled her eyebrows suggestively. “Wanna see?” Pippa made to untie the sash.

“NO!” Hecate snatched Pippa’s hand away, unable to stifle a laugh. “You’ve gone mad!” She raised a hand to transfer them back to her rooms, but Pippa was too quick, wrapping her arms around Hecate, trapping her hands at her sides.

“You’re absolutely right, Hiccup! I’m stark raving mad - for you!” She picked Hecate up and swung her around, spinning in circles until they were both laughing hysterically, dizziness threatening to send them toppling to the ground.

Hecate finally wiggled herself free. “Really, Pipsqueak! I don’t know what’s gotten into you. It’s not—”

Pippa cut her off with a deep kiss, pulling away only when the need for air forced them apart. “You are what’s gotten into me, Hecate Hardbroom – literally and figuratively.” She threaded her fingers behind Hecate’s neck and pulled her into a series of slow, gentle kisses.

After a few minutes, Hecate pressed her hands against Pippa’s shoulders, separating them just enough to speak. “We’re in full view of the castle, Pip. If we continue doing this…” She trailed off as Pippa’s tongue flicked along her throat. “Please… somewhere private…” She shook herself free and stepped back, lips quirked into a grin. “I’d rather not have to endure Dimity Drill evaluating my technique as if it were some sort of mid-term examination.”

Giggling, Pippa laced their fingers together. “Don’t worry, darling, I’ve no doubt you’d ace that test just as you did all the others.” She brought their hands up and kissed Hecate’s palm, watching as a deep blush began creeping up Hecate’s chest and neck. “Don’t worry, darling, I understand.” She summoned the bouquet of flowers she’d picked for Hecate and pressed them into her arms “OH! Hiccup! I know just the place! Do you remember the Thistle’s pond? Just outside the grounds near the edge of the wood. It’s been ages since we’ve been there…” Before Hecate could answer, Pippa had transferred them away.

*****

Pippa’s tongue hurt and she could taste blood; she just couldn’t quite make out why. Her head buzzed with errant magic, and she seemed to be lying on the ground. Off to her right somewhere she heard a low moan coming from Hecate. Then it changed. The moan shifted into a high keening sound. Pippa could feel more than hear Hecate struggling to reach her.

“M’here, Hicc-hup.” Pippa’s tongue felt thick, and her words didn’t sound right – though that could have been the ringing in her ears. She reached out, hand flailing against the grass until she finally found Hecate’s hand. Lacing their fingers together, Pippa tugged as hard as she could, finally pulling them close enough for Hecate to collapse against her.

“Pip? Are you hurt?” Shaking hands flew over Pippa’s face and body. Pippa felt Hecate’s magic wash over her, sharp and hot in her panic. She never stopped whispering ‘I’m sorry.’

“I bid mah tong.” She rolled away from Hecate long enough to spit out a mouthful of blood. “Whah abow you?” She turned back to Hecate, who was staring at her with wide eyes and wild hair, the forgotten sheets puddled around her waist. “Your thide,” she said, pointing at Hecate’s bare ribcage. “You sscwaped your thide.” Head clearing, Pippa cast a healing spell over her tongue and Hecate’s side, then turned and spit again. “What happened?” she asked, wiping her mouth with the back of her hand. “Did the Thistles put up a shield to keep people out?”

“N-no.” Hecate crumpled in front of her. Pippa reached for Hecate’s shoulder, jerking her hand back when Hecate flinched and pulled her knees to her chest, closing in on herself. “It’s to keep me in.”

“Hiccup?” Pippa stilled, not wanting to spook Hecate any further, but refusing to move away. Slowly, careful not to touch Hecate, she reached out and pulled the edges of the sheet up until Hecate was covered. Hecate refused to meet Pippa’s eyes, but she didn’t move to leave. Pippa kept a close eye on her hands, ready to grab hold at the first sign Hecate might try to transfer herself away. “Hecate? Please don’t shut me out. I’m not going anywhere. Whatever this is.” She slid one hand over until it just barely covered Hecate’s foot. “We’re together now, Hiccup. I’m not leaving you.”

Hecate’s head shot up, a look of horror twisting her features. “But you have to!” With that, whatever Hecate had been holding in, burst free. She buried her face in her knees, sobs shaking her bony shoulders. Pippa eased closer, still careful not to touch. “You don’t understand! You have to go! I’ll end up… Please…just go…” The instant the stiffness melted from Hecate, Pippa scooped her into her arms, rocking her back and forth as she broke.

“I’m not leaving, darling. Never. It took us thirty years to get here, to have each other and last night. I’m not going anywhere.” She cupped Hecate’s cheek and lifted her head until their eyes met. “I’m not going to let you leave me this time, either, Hiccup. I made that mistake once, and I’ve regretted it my entire life. I can’t survive you leaving me again.”

“Oh, Pip…” Hecate buried her face in Pippa’s neck, hands clutching at the robe on her shoulders. “I never left you. Never. I just needed you to leave me.”

“But why?” Pippa kissed Hecate’s forehead and tucked her under her chin. “I never understood why.”

Hecate clung to Pippa, fingers digging into the thin fabric of the robe. She tried to gather up every memory of last night, wrapping them around her soul much like the sheet was wrapped around her body. She prayed they would shield her against the pain she knew would come when Pippa left again – this time of her own volition. Taking a deep breath, Hecate sat up so she could see Pippa. Beautiful Pippa, she thought, looking into warm brown eyes. “D-do you remember…In…Indigo?” The name clawed its way out of her throat for the first time in over thirty years.

Pippa frowned, confused by the question. “Of course, I do. She was your best friend our Second Year. You were so devastated when she left. You changed so much… How could I forget her?”

Hecate refused to meet Pippa’s eyes, staring instead at the scattered flowers from her bouquet as she answered. “Indigo didn’t leave. I – I did something foolish and horrible.” Slowly, she looked up at Pippa. “Will you let me show you something?”

*****

Pippa dragged her eyes away from the stony visage of Indigo Moon and stared at Hecate, stunned. “Your whole life?” Pippa dropped to her knees in front of Hecate, “For something that happened when you were thirteen? I never would have thought that Ada would –”

“NO!” Hecate shook her head violently, “No! Ada is not… Ada… Ada has done everything she could to…” Wringing her hands together, Hecate took a deep breath, steadying herself. “Ada is not responsible for my confinement. She has done everything she can to help me have as normal a life as possible.” She let Pippa take her hands. “She did too good a job, I think.” Hecate stared at their linked hands. “She made me believe I could have a life with you.” She felt Pippa’s flinch.

“What are you talking about? Could have? We do have a life together! Hiccup?”

Lips pressed into a thin, tight line, Hecate shook her head. “I can’t… Pippa… I – I can’t let you bind yourself to me… not when I can never leave this place.” She squeezed Pippa’s hands until her knuckles ached. “I never should have let last night happen. It wasn’t fair to you…”

Pippa tugged a hand free, bringing it up to cup Hecate’s cheek. “Ohhh, my love…. Do you really not know?” She brushed a tear from Hecate’s cheek with her thumb. “I have been bound to you since I was fifteen years old. That isn’t going to change now.” She dropped her voice to its lowest register. “And last night should have happened thirty years ago.” She giggled and shrugged. “Well, maybe more like twenty-eight years ago, but you take my point.”

“How can you say that? I cannot leave the Academy grounds.” She placed a hand over Pippa’s, pressing it against her cheek before turning and kissing her palm. “You need to be free, not trapped here with me.”

“I’m free when I’m with you, Hiccup. Always have been. How does this really change anything for us, anyway?” She leaned forward until they were breathing the same air. “I never expected you to leave Cackle’s. We were always going to meet on Thursdays and weekends and breaks and anytime we could. The only thing this changes is that it will be me coming to Cackle’s instead of us trading off.”

Hope and guilt warred in Hecate’s heart. “I can’t ask you to do that.”

“You can’t ask me not to,” Pippa breathed, bringing their lips together, pouring every ounce of love and desire she felt for Hecate into the kiss. Hesitant at first, Hecate soon melted into Pippa, wrapping her arms around her neck and kissing back desperately. Finally, Pippa had to pull away, gasping for air, fingers tangling in Hecate’s hair. “Rooms… yours… transfer…” She kissed Hecate again, a breathless ‘now’ disappearing into Hecate’s lips as she transferred them away.

*****

“It makes no sense, Ada. She was a child! How could you stand by and allow this? To be complicit in it?” Pippa prowled the edges of Ada’s office, gesturing wildly, sending more than one knickknack flying off a shelf to be rescued from certain disaster by Ada’s quick magic.

“She was. A child who broke our world’s highest law.” Ada sent a thin stream of magic into her teapot, heating the water to boiling. “A child who essentially caused the death of another child,” she held up a hand to forestall Pippa’s protest. “Inadvertently, to be sure, but the girl remains stone, nonetheless. As long as the child is stone, there can be no question that Hecate’s punishment will remain in effect.” She poured tea into two cups, holding one out to Pippa. “That’s the line I heard the first time I approached the Great Witch, the fifth… the tenth… each time I approached her it was the same. Nothing changed when I approached the Great Wizard once he came to power.” She stirred in two lumps of sugar. Shaking her head, Ada dipped a biscuit into her tea. “He said exactly the same thing his mother said.”

Pippa flung her hands to the heavens, sending tea sloshing onto the rug. “He’s been the Great Wizard over fifteen years. Surely, you’ve tried since then?”

Ada studied her tea.

“Not even once?” Pippa slammed her teacup down on the table and began pacing again. “I don’t know how many times I was told ‘no’ when I was trying to start Pentangle’s. Wizards, witches, people I thought were my friends… The Great Wizard himself told me it just couldn’t be done. Not once did I accept that answer. I kept going. I wouldn’t take no for answer. Why would Hecate?” Pippa shook her head and waved her hands at Ada. “Never mind. It’s exactly the sort of thing she would do. But why, Ada, you’re her best friend, the one person she could rely on… for all these years… Why would you stop trying? Why would you ever stop trying?”

“Because I asked her to,” Hecate said as she materialized fully into the office. “I couldn’t… I just couldn’t do it anymore.” She spread her hands out in front of her. “This is why you and I shouldn’t be…” Hecate glanced at Ada, and then looked away, blushing.

“Stop. We’ve been through that, Hecate. I’ll not be leaving, and you’ll not be pushing me away.” Pippa took a deep breath, forcing her voice to calmness. “We’re in this together, darling, from here on out.” She held a hand out to Hecate and waited for her to take it. Turning to Ada, she said, “I expect you’ll be seeing quite a bit more of me around the castle, Miss Cackle. I hope that is agreeable to you.”

Ada threw her arms wide and pulled them both into a tight hug. “It’s stupendous! And long, long overdue.” She pulled away and cupped Hecate’s cheek. “I’m so happy you’ve finally found your way back to one another.”

Tears filled Pippa’s eyes, “Thank you, Ada. I’m so happy about it, too.” She fanned her face, magicking the tears away. “But that’s not…” Pippa turned to Hecate. “Dearest Hecate, always one to take responsibility. I know why you quit trying.” She turned to Ada. “But, why would you?”

Shaking her head, Ada slumped into her chair. “It was all too easy, I’m afraid. You see, each time we’d try, Hecate would… well, she’d pretend she didn’t, but… she’d get her hopes up so high.” Her hands twisted the hem of her sweater. “And each time she would be so disappointed.” Ada smiled sadly at Hecate. “She’d pretend she wasn’t, but I knew.”

“You always felt so bad, like you’d failed me somehow,” Hecate whispered.

“I know, my dear, I know.” Ada stared at her hands a moment, before taking a shaky breath and continuing. “You would get so quiet after… for weeks – a bit longer every time, I think.” She glanced at Hecate fondly, “I know people think you’re quiet, but I’ve never found you to be. You’ve always had a wry comment or a bit of sarcasm, except after another denial.” Ada shrugged and picked up her tea again. “I hated it. I stopped believing the confinement would be lifted, and I hated being the one to kill that glimmer of hope again and again. I freely admit that I was relieved when Hecate said she didn’t want to petition for the confinement to be lifted again.”

Pippa chewed on her bottom lip, turning Ada’s words over and over in her mind. “Hecate? Do you really not want to try anymore?”

Anguish flooded Hecate’s eyes. “What is there to do, Pipsqueak? My situation has not changed. Please… I know that giving up is not easy for you.” She brought Pippa’s hand to her lips and pressed a kiss to her knuckles, oblivious to Ada’s presence. “It is a quality for which I am immeasurably thankful.”

“It’s brought me immeasurable reward, Hiccup.” Pippa pulled Hecate to her, crushing the taller woman against her chest. “I’ll respect your wishes, darling. For now. If you agree that, if anything changes – anything – you’ll allow me to try again.”

Then Hecate felt it again. That crushing, terrifying, damnable spark of hope, deep in her chest. And as much as she wanted to douse it, to bury it so far down she’d never have to feel it again, she found that here, with Pippa’s arms wrapped around her, Hecate felt just a little bit warmed by its light. Before she knew it, she was whispering “I will, if that’s what you want, I agree.”

****

Cosima Sage, Pentangle’s Deputy Head, raced down the corridor, heels clacking against the stone floor as she ran towards the Advanced Chanting classroom. “Miss Pentangle!” She skidded to a stop just inside the doorway. “Miss Pentangle!”

Pippa cut the chanting off mid-note. “Pardon me, students, just give me a moment.” She swept through the desks to the back of the room. “What do you need, Miss Sage?”

“Ada Cackle is in your office. She just transferred straight in and she’s quite agitated.” Cosima leaned in, lowering her voice. “I believe it has something to do with Miss Hardbroom.”

Pippa spun around to catch a dozen pairs of wide eyes staring back at her. “Class dismissed.” She practically pushed Cosima back into the hallway. “Did Miss Cackle say anything else?” A thousand possibilities churned through her mind, each one more dire than the last. After a few seconds she was running for her office much faster than she should have been in her heels. “Merlin’s bloody beard!” She said, suddenly remembering that there was a faster way to get to her office. She snapped her fingers and disappeared.

A heartbeat later and she was crashing into Ada, scrambling to keep her feet as well as keep Ada on hers. “Ada! What’s happened? Where’s Hecate? Is she all right?”

“Indigo Moon is no longer stone.”

The next thing Pippa knew, Ada was trying to keep her on her feet. She let Ada lower her into a chair. “Does Hecate know?”

“She does. She didn’t take it well.” Ada’s expression darkened. “She’s not very happy with me at the moment, I’m afraid. I’ve allowed the girl to remain at Cackle’s.”

“Ada! How could you allow that?”

“What choice did I have? As Mildred Hubble pointed out, where else is she to go?” Ada sank into the chair opposite her. “The girl had no family thirty years ago and like it or not, Hecate is responsible for the position the girl is in now.” She held up a hand to forestall Pippa’s protest. “I don’t say that to be cruel, only to say that we have a responsibility to this girl now. Hecate isn’t up to facing that responsibility today – and perhaps she never will be. I have to accept it in her stead.”

Pippa’s stomach felt like a cauldron that someone had allowed to burn dry. “Where is the girl now?”

“I’ve placed her in Mildred Hubble’s care. She bears no small amount of responsibility for this mess as well. Did Hecate tell you that she used a Wishing Star to give her mother magic?”

Pippa nodded. “Are you sure it’s wise to… to place her in Mildred’s care?”

“No. Frankly, I’m floundering, and my most trusted advisor has disappeared.” Ada leaned forward and placed one hand on Pippa’s knee. “To be honest, I’m here asking for your help for myself as much as I am for Hecate, but for now, please, go take care of her.”

Pippa nodded, already calculating how many transfers she would have to make to get to Cackles. “I’m going now. Make yourself at home, Ada.” She twisted her fingers in the air and disappeared, appearing a few transfers later in Hecate’s sitting room.

Swallowing down a wave of nausea, Pippa clutched the back of Hecate’s sofa and waited for the room to quit spinning. It wouldn’t do to chuck up her breakfast on Hecate’s rug. When the dizziness passed, Pippa searched the rooms, but Hecate wasn’t there. Taking a deep breath, she transferred to the potion’s lab but found it empty as well. She sent out a locator spell, as much to give her stomach a moment to settle as anything else, but it didn’t find her. “You never do things by halves, do you, Hiccup?” she said, wondering how Hecate managed to avoid a locator spell. “Fine, then. Where would you go?” Pippa transferred to the greenhouses, but they were empty. She transferred to the woods where Hecate had showed her Indigo Moon’s petrified body. Here she did finally empty the contents of her stomach. After a brief rest and a cleaning spell or two, she transferred to the Great Hall.

“Miss Pentangle!” Mildred scrambled back a few steps, pulling a taller girl with her. Pippa recognized her at once.

“Mildred! Have you seen –”

“Hello,” the girl held out a hand, offering up an Ordinary handshake. “I’m Indigo Moon. I like your dress.”

Pippa gingerly took the girl’s hand. “Well met, Indigo, and thank you.” All at once Pippa was twelve years old again and feeling like second-fiddle for the first time in her life. Thirty-odd years later it still stung. “Mildred?”

“I don’t know, Miss Pentangle. I don’t know how it happened, only that it did.”

“I see…” Pippa forced a smile on her face, reminding herself that Indigo – and Mildred – were just children – girls who hadn’t mastered their magic. “I’m… pleased… to meet you, Indigo, but I’m afraid I just must meet with Miss Hardbroom. Ta-ta!” Without waiting for a goodbye, Pippa transferred back to Hecate’s rooms, collapsing on the sofa.

Pippa knew she couldn’t keep transferring around the castle; she could already feel the tell-tale ache of magical exhaustion settling over her. She tried once more with the locator spell but had no more luck this time than she’d had before. At a loss for what to do next, Pippa leaned back on the sofa, closing her eyes and just…feeling out with her magic.

There.

Pippa felt it – the restless, spikey-hot magic that was uniquely Hecate’s. The roof. Of course, Pippa thought, she should have known. Standing up on wobbly legs, Pippa transferred one last time, to the roof.

Her knees gave out as soon as she materialized, sending her sprawling. Hands burning, Pippa squeezed her eyes closed, willing the world to stop spinning. Finally, it did, and she pushed herself to her feet. She could feel Hecate nearby. She slowly made her way to the place where they would stargaze. At first, she couldn’t see anything, then she caught it out of the corner of her eye – a slight swirling shimmer to the air. No wonder the locator spell didn’t work. Hecate was keeping herself suspended inside a transfer. “Hiccup? Darling?” Approaching the shimmer slowly, Pippa cautiously lifted a hand, dipping her fingertips into the place she believed Hecate to be.

Hecate appeared in an instant, cradling Pippa’s hand between her own. “You’re bleeding.” She took in the pale face, pinched and slightly sweaty. “Pippa?”

“Ada came… are you all right?” Pippa stepped closer, clutching Hecate’s hand between hers, raw and bleeding palms forgotten. “Of course you aren’t, that’s a stupid question. I –” Suddenly, her field of vision narrowed to a tiny point surrounded by blackness, before winking out entirely.

*****

Pippa couldn’t muster the energy to open her eyes, so she didn’t. Instead, she kept very still and tried to work out where she was and how she’d got there. Wherever she was, it was soft and smelled faintly of rosemary. Hecate’s bed, then, she thought, relaxing for an instant before her memories came flooding back.

“HICCUP!” She bolted upright, fighting back a fresh wave of nausea as her eyes found Hecate leaning over her, a damp cloth in her hand.

“Take it easy, Pippa,” she soothed, pressing Pippa back against the pillows. “You’ve given yourself magical exhaustion and transfer sickness.” Hecate pressed the cloth against Pippa’s forehead. “What were you thinking?”

Pippa snatched the cloth out of Hecate’s hand and tossed it aside before grabbing Hecate’s wrist and dragging her onto the bed with her. Caught off balance, Hecate tumbled onto the bed, landing awkwardly on top of Pippa.

“I was thinking about you, you foolish, beautiful, stupid, brilliant witch.” She wrapped her arms around Hecate, ignoring her stiffened spine, and rolled them both over until they were face to face, legs tangled together. “How are you feeling, darling? I can’t even imagine.”

“I-I’m fine, really. It’s…” She trailed off.

“Hiccup? It’s me. It’s just us here. Are you really fine?” Pippa brushed a thumb across Hecate’s cheek.

Hecate opened her mouth to insist that she was fine, but one look in Pippa’s eyes stopped her cold. Only inches from her own, Pippa’s eyes gazed back at her, brimming with worry, warmth and so much love. It broke her. “No,” she choked out, collapsing against Pippa. Pippa pulled her closer, squeezing her tightly as she whispered soothing words into Hecate’s hair. She let Hecate cry for as long as she needed - for as long as it took thirty years of pain and guilt to work its way out.

Finally, she quieted, hiccupping softly as she sniffled against Pippa’s shoulder. “What am I going to do? It’s all going to come out again.” She lifted her head to look at Pippa. “I’m a liability to you, now. I’ll understand if you… that you…” She closed her eyes, unable to continue.

Pippa stared at Hecate, taking in her red nose and wet, puffy eyes. Smeared mascara stained her cheeks. “You are nothing of the sort, Hiccup. I won’t have any of that sort of talk.” She tucked Hecate’s head under her chin. “We’ll figure it out. Together. From here on out, Hecate, it’s you and me together. This doesn’t change that.”

Hecate lifted her head so she could see Pippa. “I don’t deserve this,” she whispered. “I’ve never deserved you.” She lunged forward, pressing a searing kiss to Pippa’s lips.

Pippa kissed her back, desperate and hard, deepening the kiss as she tangled her fingers in Hecate’s hair. “I love you so much,” Pippa said, moaning into Hecate’s mouth. She felt Hecate move closer, so she rolled onto her back, pulling Hecate on top of her, savoring the feeling of her, solid and real. She ran her hands over Hecate’s shoulders before sliding them down her chest. Hecate’s sharp intake of breath sent a burst of heat straight through to her center. Pippa tugged at the collar of Hecate’s dress. “May I?”

“Please,” Hecate breathed, peppering Pippa’s jawline with kisses. “Yours, too.”

A flick of the wrist later and Pippa was sliding her hands across bare skin, her own flesh burning under Hecate’s attentions. A hot tongue flickered across Pippa’s throat and she couldn’t contain her groan. She knew this was Hecate’s way of both coping with and avoiding her feelings, but when Hecate’s mouth closed over her nipple she didn’t care. A few minutes later and she didn’t care about anything but what Hecate’s nimble fingers were doing.

It was some hours later before Pippa roused herself awake. Rose-hued sunlight, angled low, cast long shadows across the floor. She could feel the warmth of Hecate pressed against her side. Turning her head, she looked straight into Hecate’s soft, brown eyes. “Hey, you,” she whispered, “have you been awake long?”

Hecate shrugged. “I drifted off for a bit…after…” her hand fluttered over them and a deep blush crept up her chest. “It didn’t last for long, though. I couldn’t quit thinking about…everything.” She brushed a strand of hair away from Pippa’s face. “The girl truly can’t be here, Pip. It’s dangerous. She’s dangerous. Reckless.”

“Another Mildred, then?” Pippa asked.

“No!” Hecate’s answer was much quicker and much firmer than Pippa expected. “Indigo was always reckless – but in a way Mildred Hubble is not. Mildred may make foolish decisions and cause a great deal of disruption, but it’s never been from a place of malice or selfishness. I cannot say the same for Indigo Moon.” Hecate laid her head on Pippa’s shoulder and wrapped an arm around her waist. “She was reckless and defiant before I used the Wishing Star. Once she became corrupted by magic,” Hecate shuddered, “she tried to destroy the school, Pippa. It’s only a matter of time before it happens again, and what if I can’t stop it? What if one of the girls is hurt – or worse – because of what I did all those years ago?”

“We’ll figure it out. Worst comes to worst, I’ll take her in at Pentangle’s or Ada can transfer her to Wormwood’s. What choice do we have, really?”

Gazing back at Pippa, Hecate’s lips twisted into a watery smile. “I love you for saying ‘we,’ but it really isn’t your responsibility.”

“You are my responsibility, Hecate Hardbroom. Just as I am yours. We will figure this out together.” She traced her fingers along Hecate’s hairline. “Let’s have some tea, and then let’s go see Ada. You asked me to leave things be when it comes to your confinement. And I have because you were right; nothing had changed and so it wasn’t likely anything would change. But things have changed now, darling. Indigo has her life back. It’s time for you to get yours. I want your permission to petition Hellibore to end your confinement. Please.” Hecate closed her eyes, finally nodding her agreement.

*****

Expense reports were not Hecate’s favorite part of the job. Technically, they weren’t even part of her job. Finances were part of the Headmistress’s responsibilities. That’s as may be, thought Hecate, but Ada truly loathed dealing with finances. She would find any excuse to put them off and then rush through them as quickly as possible. More than once, Hecate had been forced to pour over messy ledgers and crumpled receipts in an attempt to reconcile the accounting. Finally, she had simply taken over the books. Ada’s gratitude had been vast.

Hecate had just closed the ledger books and magicked them away when a sapphire blue envelope appeared on the desk in front of her. Scrambling backwards to her feet, Hecate tipped her chair over, startling both Ada and Pendle.

“Hecate?” Ada rose slowly to her feet, following her deputy’s wide-eyed gaze to the envelope on the desk. “I see.” She crossed quickly to Hecate’s side, placing a steadying hand on her waist. “I gather Miss Pentangle was successful in her efforts to gain an audience with His Greatness.”

“It would appear so.” Hecate still hadn’t taken her eyes off the envelope, nor had she made any move to touch it. Her hands remained pressed against her sides, fingertips brushing against her thumbs. “I don’t think I can…”

“Shall I then?” Once Hecate nodded, Ada gave her waist a squeeze and summoned the letter to her hand. Breaking the silver seal, Ada opened the envelope and began to read.

“By order of the Magical Council you are hereby ordered to appear before the Great Wizard at 3:45 pm, on the date indicated above, at the Court of Magical Conformity to receive the final decision and dispensation related to the matter of the permanent confinement of H. Hardbroom to Cackle’s Academy for multiple violations of the Witches Code.”

Once she finished reading, Ada looked up at Hecate. “At least it’s not an outright denial,” she said, voice over bright and a tad too loud. “That’s a positive, don’t you think?”

“Wh… when… What is the date?”

Ada glanced at the summons again. “Wednesday, the… Demdike and Chattox! It’s today! The hearing is today!”

Jerked out of her stupor, Hecate flipped open her watch. “It’s hardly more than two hours from now! Ada… I have classes and –”

“Not today, Dimity and Gwen will cover.” Ada began forcibly pushing Hecate out of her office. “Quickly, go change into your dress robes. I’ll find Dimity and Gwen.” When Hecate hesitated, Ada nudged her again. “Go!” As soon as Hecate transferred away, Ada transferred herself to the Witchball court.

“Miss Drill!” Ada waved and waited while Dimity jogged over to her. “It’s time. Are you ready?”

“Yes, Miss Cackle. Everything is set.” She turned back to the girls, blowing her whistle. “Mildred Hubble!”

Plaits flying, Mildred spun around and jogged over to them. “Yes, Miss Drill?”

“Gather your team, Mildred. It’s go time.”

Mildred’s expression turned hard, determined. “Yes, Miss Drill. We’re ready.” She turned to Ada. “We won’t let you down, Miss Cackle. Or Miss Hardbroom.”

“I know you won’t, Mildred.” She reached out and squeezed the girl’s shoulder. “You never have.”

“All right, get your skates on, then. Go on.” Dimity shooed her back to the other girls. “I’ll go tell Gwen and Algie. How’s HB?”

“About as well as you could expect, I reckon. I won’t relax until we’ve touched down at the Council building. This will all be for naught if she refuses to leave the castle.”

“Leave that to me, Miss Cackle.” Dimity winked and transferred away.

*****

Standing on the front step of the Academy, Hecate clutched her broomstick in her hand. She rubbed her thumb across twelve hashmarks magically burned into the wood – one mark for each time she’d left the Academy over the last thirty-odd years. Each mark represented another affirmation of her sentence - another reminder that she had been responsible for taking the life of another witch. Another reminder that her freedom, the life she might have had, was forfeit. Today she would add another mark. If she could muster up the bottle to mount her own broom.

“It’s a bit of a ‘mare, I reckon.”

Hecate turned to find Dimity leaning against the doorframe. “That’s a bit of an understatement.” She turned back to face the road. “I don’t even know why I’m going.”

“Because you, out of everyone I know, are the stubbornest, most tenacious witch I have ever had the privilege of knowing.” Dimity grinned. “So pull your socks up and get in there and tell old Hellisnore what’s what.” Hecate didn’t move, but Dimity could see her looking at her out of the corner of her eye. She didn’t miss the twitch of Hecate’s lips, either.

“The Great Wizard is unlikely to change his mind.”

“So? What does it matter if he doesn’t?” Dimity kicked off the door and went to stand by Hecate’s side. “You won’t be any worse off than you are right now.” She moved until she was standing in front of Hecate. “Now, you listen to me, Hecate Hardbroom. The life you have, right here at Cackle’s, is a good life. You have friends. Meaningful work that you enjoy. You are respected in your field. And you have a beautiful woman who loves you more than anything else in the world.” She winked up at Hecate. “I’m pretty sure she’s a real tiger in the sack.”

Hecate’s eyes flew open wide. “Miss Drill!” Her cheeks flamed. “That was entirely inappropriate!”

“Even though it’s entirely accurate,” purred a voice Hecate recognized at once.

“Pippa!” Hecate thrust the broomstick into Dimity’s hand and flung herself into Pippa’s open arms. “I’m so happy you’re here!” Pippa crushed Hecate against her, whispering soothing words in her ear.

“Well, it looks like things are well in hand here.” Dimity said, smirking. “I’ll leave her to you, Pentangle. The Great Wizard won’t know what hit him.” She transferred back to the Witchball court.

Hecate took advantage of their few minutes of solitude to pull Pippa into a deep kiss that lasted until the need for air became too much. “How… how did you… know to come?”

Pippa stepped back, fussing with Hecate’s robes. “I may have added my name to the list of people to be notified. I hope you don’t mind.”

“Never.” She stepped back as Ada appeared beside them, wearing her dress robes, broomstick in hand.

“Well met, Miss Pentangle.” She squeezed Hecate’s elbow. “Shall we get going? I’ve got a good feeling about it this time.”

Hecate rolled her eyes. So far, every time Ada had a ‘good feeling,’ it resulted in catastrophe. Nonetheless, she mounted her broom and followed Ada into the air, fingers wrapped tightly around the summons that would let her pass through the confinement barrier.

The flight was uneventful, and the trio soon found themselves waiting in the outer room of the Great Wizard’s office. Sumptuous leather chairs, aged wood and the smell of olde magick did little to soothe Hecate’s nerves. She kept her fingers laced tightly with Pippa’s, not talking, certainly not relaxing.

They all startled when the office door swung open and Miss Doomstone exited the Great Wizard’s office, still muttering under her breath about that ‘stubborn old toad.’

“Miss Cackle! Miss Hardbroom! Miss Pentangle! Well met!” She bent deeply, hand pressed to her forehead. “I’m so pleased I could offer my support today.” Doomstone smiled brightly and shook Hecate’s hand. “Good luck to you, Miss Hardbroom. I hope this miscarriage of justice is corrected soon.”

“T-thank you, Miss Doomstone.” Hecate watched, bewildered as the school inspector said her goodbyes to Ada and Pippa. “I don’t understand,” she muttered, once the woman had gone. Pippa smiled cryptically. Before she could answer, Millicent Darkside burst through the door, red scroll in hand. She nodded in their direction, marched across the room and let herself into the Great Wizard’s office.

Hecate looked back and forth between Ada and Pippa. Ada leaned against the chair, eyes closed, looking as though she were napping in her office chair by the fire back at Cackle’s. Pippa was busy with that infernal cell phone of hers, pink reading glasses perched on her nose. “Pip?”

Before Pippa could even look up, Miss Darkside burst back into the room, no longer carrying her red scroll. “The cauldron has been stirred, Miss Pentangle. Quite forcefully. Be careful that the potion hasn’t become unstable. Or ridiculously cantankerous.”

“Duly noted, Millicent. I’ll be sure to tread cautiously. Thank you for your assistance in this matter.”

“This matter should never have happened. If I’d known about this confinement then, Alma Cackle wouldn’t have been alone in her protests of it.” She hurried out of the room, leaving them alone again.

Hecate stared at the closed door for several long seconds before turning back to her love. “Pippa? What have you done?”

“I’ve tipped the cauldron in our favor, darling. And I’ve used every weapon I could to do it.”

The office door crashed open, accompanied by a sharp crack and a plume of purple smoke. The smoke cleared to reveal the Great Wizard, sapphire robes billowing around him. His face was almost the same shade of purple as the fading smoke. “Miss Hardbroom.”

Hecate scrabbled to her feet, already lifting her hand in greeting, but the Great Wizard spun on his heel and disappeared into his office. Hecate straightened slowly, glancing down at Ada and Pippa with worry-filled eyes. Pippa stood up and grabbed Hecate’s hand. “It’s going to be all right, darling.”

“MISS HARDBROOM!”

Ada jumped up and grabbed Hecate’s other hand, pulling them into the Great Wizard’s office. They jumped again as the door slammed shut behind them. Hellibore paced the length of the massive fireplace twice more before turning to face them, eyes narrowed.

“I don’t recall any names other than your own appearing on the summons,” Hellibore huffed.

Pippa stepped in front of Hecate, their hands still clasped together. “That’s as may be, Your Greatness. However, the Code explicitly states in Section 12, Clause 4 that…” She dropped Hecate’s hand and summoned both her well-worn copy of the Witches Code and her pink reading glasses. “Any wizard or witch summoned to appear before the Magic Council may of right be accompanied by witnesses of character as well as to facts presented in evidence, so long as that number remains fewer than six.” Pippa looked at the Great Wizard over the rims of her glasses. “As you can see, we are well within the limit set out by the Code.” She smiled sweetly, but her eyes remained hard.

The Great Wizard held her gaze for a moment, before turning away. He gestured toward his desk, an ornate mahogany monstrosity that was currently overflowing with red scrolls. “These began arriving two days ago. A trickle at first, but now a deluge.” As he spoke, another red scroll appeared over the desk, dropping onto the pile and sending a stack of them cascading onto the heavy carpeting.

“I say, Your Greatness,” Ada smiled. “You do seem to have quite a collection. Might I inquire as to their nature?”

With a wave of his hand, Hellibore sent a scroll flying into Ada’s hands. “Statements of support. For Miss Hardbroom. It seems that a sizeable number of our community believe Miss Hardbroom has been unfairly punished.”

“They aren’t wrong,” Pippa said, her voice dripping with acid sweetness.

“They aren’t informed, more like,” Hellibore shot back.

“I don’t know that I would go that far, Your Greatness.” Ada cleared her throat and began to read.

“Miss Hecate Hardbroom has been instrumental in the education of generations of witches, securing the future of witchcraft and the Magical Community – a future she herself has been denied. What message does it send to our youth when they see that mistakes made as a child are never forgiven? That no amount of penance could ever be enough? As a child, Hecate Hardbroom broke the Witches Code in the most serious way possible, that is undeniable. What is also undeniable is that she has paid her dues, many times over. The time has come to lift the confinement that binds Hecate Hardbroom to Cackle’s Academy.”

Ada looked at Hecate, giving her the barest wink. “It’s signed by Eudora Blackthistle Hellibore. That’s your grandmother, if I’m not mistaken. Isn’t that lovely!” She transferred the scroll to safe-keeping. “I know just the person who will find that scroll fascinating.” Ada snapped her fingers and Felicity Foxglove appeared, maglet in hand.

“Well met, Your Greatness.” Felicity pressed her palm to her forehead and bowed deeply. “Thank you so much for contributing to my blog. It has the third largest circulation in the entire witching community.”

“What is the meaning of this nonsense?” Hellibore roared. “I won’t have children making a mockery of these proceedings –”

“If I might remind His Greatness,” Pippa interjected, smoothly interrupting his rant. “The Code does not specify the minimum age of witnesses during hearings of this type. And we’re still well below our limit.” She nodded at Felicity, who stepped forward holding out an over-sized microphone bedazzled in a rainbow of sparkling jewels.

“Can I quote you on that, Your Greatness? That children make a mockery of legal proceedings? Do you think it’s ironic that the legal proceedings in question involve a child breaking the Code?”

“Wait… what? No, you can’t quote me!”

“That’s okay. I’ll just put down ‘No Comment.’ Did you know that there are two wizards and one witch that broke the Code and caused bodily harm or death in the last five years and none of them received a punishment that involved permanent confinement? Or is that type of sentence only for children?”

“Who are you talking about?”

“When did the Witching legal system begin punishing children more severely than adults?” Felicity waited for the Great Wizard’s answer. He sputtered and stammered, looking between Ada, Pippa and Felicity in confusion. “I’ll just put ‘No Comment’ there as well. It won’t be much of an interview, but I’ll put it next to my article about Esper Vespertilio’s benefit concert for the Free Hecate Hardbroom organization.”

Pippa clapped her hands gleefully. “Oh, that sounds so exciting, Felicity! I can’t wait to read it. Perhaps a photo session later?”

A bright flash set spots in everyone’s eyes. “That’s okay, Miss Pentangle. I just got one of The Great Wizard for my story.” She waved her hand over the maglet and murmured a quiet spell, projecting the picture for all of them to see. Hellibore was looking slightly away from the camera, mouth agape, hands frozen mid-air. His expression fell somewhere between slightly unhinged and a yowling madman. “Thank you for your time, Your Greatness!” Before the Hellibore could respond, Ada transferred Felicity away.

“What… what was she talking about? Free Hecate Hardbroom? What nonsense is that?” He glared at Hecate who looked just as confused as he did.

“Not nonsense,” Pippa snapped. She stared Hellibore down, breaking eye contact just before she crossed the line from defiant to insubordinate. She knelt in front of Hecate, gentling her voice before she spoke. “Come with me, Hecate.” She pulled the bewildered woman to her feet and guided her to the window. “What do you see?”

Hecate clapped her hands over her mouth; Pippa was the only thing keeping her upright as her knees gave way. Hundreds of people were gathered in front of the Magic Council building. Many carried signs demanding her confinement be lifted. Other signs simply read ‘Free Hecate.’ Almost everyone wore the red sash of Hecate’s house at Cackle’s. The current Third Years stood in front of the crowd holding up an enormous banner reading FREE HECATE HARDBROOM as Mildred Hubble, Miss Drill’s bullhorn in hand, led them all in a chant.

“I don’t understand…” Hecate’s throat worked as she tried to gather her thoughts. “Who…”

“They’re all here for you, Hiccup,” Pippa murmured. “All these people are here to support you.” She cast a baleful glance at the Great Wizard. “No one believes your punishment to be just. Everyone – OH! Look, Hecate, there’s Dimity!” Pippa pointed to a tiny figure zooming high over the crowd on a broomstick. Suddenly, red smoke began billowing out behind her, causing the crowd to cheer wildly. They continued to cheer as Dimity swooped and spun to write ‘Free Hecate Hardbroom’ across the sky.

“Really, Ada? I know the students at Cackle’s have never had a proper respect for decorum or tradition, but to think that you, of all people, have resorted to parading them across my lawn in an attempt to manipulate my decision. Disgraceful.”

“Oh, I agree, Your Greatness, it certainly would be disgraceful - if I had done what you’re suggesting.” Ada smiled her sweetest smile at him. “However, I have not. In fact, each of those girls knows fully well that leaving the grounds today would incur serious consequences. They’ve still chosen to support Miss Hardbroom today.”

“Which reminds me,” Pippa interrupted, “I believe we have another witness who wishes to testify on Hecate’s behalf.” The Great Wizard started to speak, but Pippa cut him off. “I believe this will be four – still under our limit.” She walked Hecate back to the sofa and settled her in place. “It’s almost over, darling,” she whispered, taking the opportunity - while her back was turned to the Great Wizard - to blow Hecate a tiny kiss. When she turned back around, Mildred Hubble was standing in the middle of the room.

“Hello, Your Greatness.” Mildred gave the traditional greeting, much less clumsily that her usual attempts.

“Mildred Hubble, hmph. How did I know that you would be in the middle of all of this?” He threw his hands in the air and stalked back to the window, staring at the crowd. Some of the witching world’s most prominent families were represented today. Hellibore spotted Alicia Thunderblast, Head of Weirdsister College, the Spellbinders, Emerson Blackwood, and even two of the Le Fey sisters. Somehow, this had begun to spiral out of his control. He turned to find himself under the intense scrutiny of Pippa Pentangle and suddenly he realized exactly why. “Go on then. What do you have to say in all this?”

“Only that it’s my fault any of this happened. I wanted my mum to have magic, like she should have had all along. So, I stole the Wishing Star and made her magic. I didn’t know what the consequences would be.” She turned to look at Hecate. “Just like Joy Hardbroom didn’t know what the consequences would be. I thought Mum should have magic because I was selfish. Joy wanted Indy to have magic because she missed her best friend. I probably would have done the same thing.” Mildred shrugged awkwardly. “I did do the same thing. And the same horrible thing happened – she lost her best friend all over again, only this time it was her fault. I can’t imagine how that felt, can you? To know that her best friend had been turned to stone? Killed for all she knew? And it was her fault. I didn’t understand that when she first told me. I was too worried about Mum, I guess. But Miss Hardbroom helped me. Later, after Mum was all right, I had time to think. Did anyone help Miss Hardbroom? If there was a spell to reverse being turned to stone, why didn’t anyone use it on Indigo?” She looked beseechingly up at the Great Wizard, waiting for an answer. When one didn’t come, she trudged on. “How long is long enough, Your Greatness? Indigo has her life back. Shouldn’t Miss Hardbroom have hers, too?”

“It isn’t as simple as you think, child.” Hellibore’s voice still carried its early bluster, but it was obvious to everyone that his heart was no longer in it. “This was the most serious violation of the Code that a witch could commit.”

“Probably not. But, if that’s really the case, shouldn’t I be suffering the same punishment?” Mildred squared her shoulders before she spoke again. “You should order me to be confined to Cackle’s as well.”

“Mildred! No!” Hecate was on her feet in an instant. “Don’t listen to her, Your Greatness! She’s just a child, she doesn’t know any better.”

“You are correct, Mildred Hubble. Do you know why I did not? Because Miss Hardbroom spoke for you.” He pointed a finger at her. “You are a very lucky girl that she did that.”

“I know. I’m lucky Miss Hardbroom has been my teacher. All of us are. If you don’t mind me asking though, why did you listen to her? If you really think she should still be punished, why take her advice? Or do you trust her judgement now? And if that’s true, why keep her confined when the reasons she was confined in the first place don’t exist anymore?” She raced across the room and flung her arms around Hecate. “Thank you, Miss Hardbroom, for everything.” Turning to Pippa, Mildred nodded. “I’m finished Miss Pentangle. You can send me back now.” Pippa waved a hand and Mildred was gone.

“I hope that is the last of our histrionics, Miss Pentangle.” He gestured towards the window. “And you may call off… whatever that is.”

“It’s only the beginning, Your Greatness.” Pippa smoothed her skirt. “This is what I could put together on a few hours’ notice.” She smiled that unnerving fae smile that drew you in until you realized it didn’t reach her eyes. “Do you remember when I first wanted to open Pentangle’s? Closed door after closed door. As I recall, you yourself called me a ‘foolish dreamer of a girl.’ Do you remember that?”

“Miss Pentangle –”

“Because I do. I remember every dismissal, every condescending word, every outright insult. Time and again I was told I couldn’t do it.” She took a step towards him. “But I did it anyway. I made my school. You called me as tenacious as a tiger leech.”

The Great Wizard was beginning to look uncomfortable. “I’ll admit those words were ill-chosen.”

“Oh, no. Those words were chosen perfectly. Tenacious didn’t begin to cover it. I went after my goal with everything I had. And I won. Pentangle’s is here. It’s a leader among witching schools, outscoring all the rest, save Cackle’s in potions.” She took another step closer, leaving only a few inches between them. “Here’s what I want you to remember, Your Greatness. I would abandon Pentangle’s in an instant,” she snapped her fingers in his face, “for Hecate Hardbroom. Everything I did to make Pentangle’s a reality pales in comparison to what I am prepared to do to now. A lifetime confinement for a mistake made as a child is a grave miscarriage of justice. It’s time for you to be worthy of the title Great. Fix this or I promise today will look like a tea party compared to the chaos I will bring.” She smiled again and stepped back, holding a hand out to Hecate. “When shall we expect your decision?”

Hellibore ground his teeth together, rage and frustration setting his magic to boiling under his skin. Outside the chanting gave way to cheering again as fireworks blazed across the sky. A headache blossomed just behind his left eye. “You’ll have my decision by the end of the week.”

*****

Her maglet chimed and Pippa practically leapt across the room, sending it clattering to the floor in her haste to read the message.

AUNTIE EDITH’S APOTHECARY: FLASH SALE

Today only: 25% off student-grade cauldrons Plus 10% off your total purchase of everything (except slivered lacewings)

Growling in frustration, Pippa flung the maglet to the other end of the sofa. “End of the week, he said. Whenever I can magic up some stones, more like.” It had now been seven full days since the meeting with the Great Wizard, and it felt like he was stringing them on as long as possible. Pippa had been a bundle of nerves all day as an endless stream of mirror chats, maglet messages, phone calls and texts had poured in. Some were from concerned friends asking if there had been news, but most were just the daily annoyances that she’d had no idea came so frequently. Each time something chimed, her heart flew into her throat while her stomach dropped, leaving her feeling little more than a void.

She couldn’t imagine how Hecate felt right now, knowing she had to shove her anxiety down and teach as though this week was no different from any other. Pippa knew that distraction led to disaster and that no one knew better than Hecate that nerves and magic Do. Not. Mix. Pippa didn’t even trust herself to make a cup of tea with her magic right now.

Worse, Pippa now understood with sickening clarity why Hecate didn’t want to go through this – and why Ada had agreed to let the matter drop.

A knock at the door sent Pippa accidentally transferring into her clothes cupboard. Spewing a string of profanities as she untangled herself from her clothes, Pippa rushed back to her door. “I told you I didn’t want to be disturbed today!” She jerked the door open. “Did you not –”

Hecate Hardbroom stood on the other side, broomstick in hand, hair loose and wild, grinning with her whole face. “It’s over. He lifted the confinement!”

Pippa pulled Hecate into her room, arms flying around her, kissing and laughing. “That’s wonderful!”

“You did it, Pip – he was terrified of what you would do next time.” She kissed Pippa again.

Pippa melted into the kiss, keeping it going until her lungs were burning for air and kissing Hecate still. Finally, Hecate pulled away, gasping. “I can’t believe it, Hiccup. You’re free! Bats, Hecate we need to… go somewhere… where do you want to go first?”

“Anywhere.” She kissed Pippa again. “Everywhere.” Another kiss. “As long as I’m with you, it doesn’t matter.” One more kiss. “Right now, though, right now I want to go to your bedroom.”

“Done!” Pippa magicked the door locked, shut off every device and set the strongest silencing spells she’d ever cast. “Welcome home, Hecate.”

#hicsqueak #hecate hardbroom #pippa pentangle #tww 2017 spoilers

63 notes · View notes

mell-bell · 6 years

Text

you are everything I want (but more than I deserve) - Part 4

PART 1 / PART 2 / PART 3

Darcy Lewis x Bucky Barnes

AO3

Words: 2452

Series Summary: The first time Darcy met her soulmate she shot him. A relationship could only go up from there, right? Not when you pair together an ex-Hydra assassin and a woman with a penchant for trouble that could rival even his best friends

Chapter: 4/10

Author’s notes: Finally posting the chapters I had on AO3 on here :D Hope you enjoy!

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

Bucky woke to the sound of banging. He shot out of bed, his head snapping toward the door. Silence reigned throughout the apartment and for a second Bucky believed it had all been a dream. But then another loud bang shook the walls. Bucky slipped over to the door and peeked down the hall. No one was supposed to have access to his room. He had made Tony swear (while holding his liquor hostage) that he would have complete privacy. It was only when Tony showed him Jarvis’s coding for his room did he accept the answer and give Tony his alcohol back.

As the banging got louder, Bucky made his way down the hall. He reached into his waistband and pulled out his knife before rounding the corner ready to strike.

“Hey! Could you hold the ladder for me?”

“Clint, what are you doing here?”

“Darcy-proofing your apartment.”

“…. Darcy-proofing?”

“Yep. You’ll thank me later. Now, hold the ladder, will you? I still need to go make waffles for Tasha and I’m already 50 minutes late to work.”

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

Darcy was having a shit day. She had gotten yelled at by no less than fourteen different news outlets. She’d gotten cheese on her favorite blouse when an agent whacked into her with his cheese fries. She’d lost her shoe to a banana incident she refused to talk about. Jane had been back one day and had already set fire to her new lab four times. Darcy hadn’t slept in 40 hours. And here she found herself slumped over a desk next to Jane’s workbench, a fire extinguisher at the ready.

“Spawn, are you alive?”

Darcy groaned, “Does the pale glow of the lab lights make me look hot?”

She felt something poke her face and opened her eyes finding Tony trying to push her hair back from her face with a candy cane, “A hot mess. You need sleep.”

“Thanks.”

Tony reached over picking up a piece of her hair, finding some type of machine oil in it, “And a shower.”

Darcy nodded and pushed herself out of her chair, her legs groaning at their first movement in 10 hours. As she trudged slowly to the lab doors, Tony grabbed the fire extinguisher from her hands before pushing her off in the actual direction of the door.

Darcy stumbled down the hallway, somehow making it into the elevator and up to her floor. She slammed into her door with relief. As she reached for the handle, she looked at Bucky’s door for a moment before looking down at her rumpled clothing. She knew he wouldn’t care but she felt nasty. How was she supposed to seduce her soulmate with nasty breath and dirty clothes?

So, after a quick shower, which had been more of a 10-minute power nap under hot water, she shrugged into her Hulk pajamas and one of Tony’s old sweatshirts before sneaking into the kitchen. She looked both ways and pulled open the freezer.

“I know for a fact you are not stealing Tasha’s favorite ice cream again.”

Darcy swung around as the voice startled her and chucked a spoon at the perpetrators head.

Clint moved out of the way and raised an eyebrow at her as she wielded another spoon at his face.

“You don’t mention this and I won’t tell everyone about the time you dressed up as cupid and shot yourself in the ass with your heart-shaped arrow.”

Clint groaned, “You may proceed.”

Darcy bundled the ice cream up to her chest and took off towards Bucky’s room. She frowned as she tried to balance the ice creams in one hand so that she could knock on the door. Finally managing to balance them all against her body, she leaned against the door knocking loudly. However, when the door opened, the ice creams began to tumble out of her hand and Darcy screamed falling to the ground to save them, “My ice cream!”

Jumping back up she met her soulmates chiseled ass stomach.

“Oh, that is so not fair.” She said as she reached out to poke it, “Shit, it’s real.”

The man in question laughed as Darcy met his amused eyes.

“Alright, this is yours.” She said plopping a cold gallon into his hand before sliding past him and dropping herself down onto the couch and digging into her own gallon.

“Can you please put on a shirt or something. Anything. I can’t jump your ass yet. We haven’t even been on a date yet. And I....wait. Did Clint Darcy-proof your place?”

Bucky’s eyes went wide and he nodded.

Darcy’s eyes narrowed, before she smiled, “Good! I don’t want to break any of your stuff. Clint still won’t forgive me for breaking his favorite bow.”

Before he could even say a word, she turned around flinging her arms out, her eyes wide, “I promise it was an accident I was just trying to kill a huge spider…. which also turned out to be Natasha’s pet. So, let’s just say I wasn’t allowed back into their apartment until I baked them each enough food to live off of for five years.”

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

Darcy lay on the couch, her legs thrown over Bucky’s legs, his fingers drawing random designs on her thighs as she caught him up on her 20 some years of life.

“I was a normal child. Mom and Dad. Older sister. Younger brother. Typical middle child syndrome. Since I was 5, I never wanted a soulmate. My parents had a happy marriage and everything but for some reason, I didn’t want what everyone else had. It all just seemed too boring and easy. I’ve had your words on me since the moment I was born. From the moment, I could read and actually understand the words, I knew you were out there. It wasn’t until I turned 15 and realized how alone I actually was, that I realized it wasn’t weak to have a soulmate. And turns out my soulmate is a fucking god, so definitely glad I decided to follow destiny.”

Bucky smiled sadly, “I remember the day your words appeared on my skin. I was 25. I don’t know why they showed up then but I knew in that moment that I would forever give myself fully to you. Steve had had his words his whole life and I had always felt my life just wasn’t complete since I didn’t have any of my own. I thought I was the outcast. I would go out on dates, but it didn’t feel right knowing they had their own soulmates out there. And then the war happened and a part of me was glad I didn’t have words because there was a chance I wouldn’t come back and I didn’t want anybody to feel the loss that my mother had felt when she lost my dad. But then your words appeared on my skin and I just gave myself fully to you. I didn’t even know you, but just knowing you were out there helped me survive.”

His eyes grew dark.

“But then I remember getting swept up into everything Steve was doing. And then I remember falling. The moment my hand slipped, I knew I lost you. That I would never meet you.”

He felt her hand brush across his cheek and leaned into it.

“But you did.”

His head lifted up and he met her eyes, “I did.”

“DARCY MARIE LEWIS WHAT DO YOU MEAN YOU FOUND YOUR SOULMATE?! WHY DIDN’T YOU CALL ME?!”

Darcy rolled her eyes as she leaned back into her chair, propping her feet up on Coulson’s desk. The man threw her a glare and she offered him a cheeky wink at which he scowled and went back to his work.

A loud huff sounded across the room and Darcy’s head flopped back over the chair catching sight of a disheveled Jane pacing back and forth on the carpet, “You were on Asgard, Jane.”

Her arms flew out wide and Thor ducked out of the way as he continued to scoff down the homemade pop tarts Darcy had made him.

“A call would have been nice. Or even a text. You could have fucking telegrammed me for all I care. Pray to Thor or something. Pray to fucking Loki and I hate that man! You know he likes you for whatever reason, he would have told me! Literally anything. I can’t believe this.”

“Well, I for one believe this to be wondrous news!” Thor yelled, spewing pieces of pop tart all over the floor. Darcy could hear Coulson groan behind her as more crumbs fell to the floor as Jane reached over and aggressively brushed crumbs out of Thor’s beard.

“No! I will not tolerate this under my roof.”

Darcy rolled her eyes and jumped up grabbing Jane’s arm and pulling her out onto the little porch across from Coulson’s desk.

“We’re outside.”

Jane’s eyes narrowed and she pointed toward the sky, “The sky is my roof. I’m the fucking God of Thunder’s wife.”

“She has a point.”

Darcy peeked around Jane and locked eyes with an expressionless Coulson.

“I will chuck my shoe at you again. “

“Don’t make me call your mother, again.”

Darcy froze. Shit.

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

“Mom, I found my soulmate.”

“We’re adopting him.”

“The fuck? You haven’t even met him yet.”

“Does he cook?”

“He made me an omelet.”

“Yep. We’re adopting him.”

“Jesus Christ, mom.”

"Make sure you bring him for the holidays. Oh...Darce, I have to go, your father set fire to the roof again.”

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

After the phone call with her mother, Darcy took a much-needed 8-hour nap only to awaken by Jarvis who reminded her what day it was.

“It’s game night, bitches!”

Tony shot up from behind the couch, a screwdriver hanging out of his mouth.

“I thought that was on Thursday?” He mumbled.

Darcy rolled her eyes chucking an x-box controller at his head, “It is fucking Thursday, Tony.”

Tony’s eyes lit up and the screwdriver fell out of his mouth. He scrambled over to the couch and all but pushed Bucky off, “Move, murder-cat I need to get prepared to kick her ass.”

Darcy had made her way around the couch and smirked turning around slapping her ass, “This ass?”

Bucky’s eyes went to her ass and Tony glared at him, “I’m only just starting to like you. So, I know you didn’t just look at my basically-daughter’s ass.”

Darcy’s eyebrow went up and she reached over grabbing Bucky’s hand and placed it on her ass, not breaking eye contact with Tony.

Tony slapped his hand over his eyes, “I’m going to pretend that didn’t happen.”

Darcy rolled her eyes and shoved her way onto the couch next to Tony. Bucky took a place on the floor by her feet, leaning up against her leg.

“What’s game night?”

Darcy smiled, “Only the best night of the week! I created it my first month here because no one ever talked to each other. It was driving me insane. So, daily dinners and weekly game night. Even monthly fancy dinner night gives me an excuse for when Tony asks why I stole his credit card to buy another dress.”

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

I know you didn’t fucking blue shell me, Natasha.

Tony, I swear to fucking god if you push me off of rainbow road one more time I am going to throw you out the window.

Jarvis, you aren’t allowed to play that’s cheating.

SHE’S AN ASTROPHYSA-WHATEVER HOW IS SHE THIS GOOD?

Please place the Wii remote strap around your wrist, we’ve already broken 3 TV’s.

Bucky Bucky Bucky Bucky....psssst, what’s Steve’s weakness?

SAMANTHA. MY NAME IS SAM, TONYA.

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

Game Night Ratings – Number of Games Won:

Jane 20 Natasha 18 Sam 17 Darcy 14 Tony 11 Clint 8 Pepper 5 Steve 3 Thor 1 Bucky 1

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

At 3 am the phone rang. Darcy sat up, her head pounding. She crawled over to the wall and grabbed a broom, knocking the phone off the wall. She picked it up and pushed the button.

“Hello?”

“Ms. Lewis!”

“Nooooooo,” She groaned pulling the phone away from her head, “too loud.”

Fury all but growled on the other end of the line, “I expect every single Avenger present at the 7am meeting. On time. Do I make myself clear?”

“Clear as a ghost, bro.”

The line buzzed and Darcy dropped the phone onto the ground, quickly following as she once again passed out.

When she woke up again. It was 6am. And things were on fire.

Fire.

Flames licked up the couch and Darcy blinked her eyes, wondering if she was just imagining things. As she pulled herself to her feet, Dum-E came rolling around the corner, pushing her out of the way and used the fire extinguisher to blow out the fire.

The living room was completely trashed. The couch was burnt. The TV had writing all over it. Food was stuck to the ceiling. Glitter littered the ground. Tony was passed out against the window. The vent open, Clint’s legs sticking out. Sam, Steve, and Bucky were piled up on the couch opposite of the flame-ridden one. Pepper looked relaxed in the recliner in the corner. And Thor and Jane seemed to be missing. And Natasha –

“Ms. Lewis.”

Darcy groaned at the voice behind her, “We’re not late yet.”

“Has the world ended?”

“No, we just live like this now.”

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

Darcy somehow managed to wake everyone up with just enough time to get them to the meeting room. Dark bags littered their faces and their clothes were rumpled. Tony had a growing bruise on his cheek. Steve’s hair stuck up like a child’s spiked hair.

“Ms. Lewis, what did you do to my agents?”

“Nope. Not agents.” Tony grumbled, his face plastered on the clear table.

As Fury began to brief the group on the newest disaster, Darcy sunk into her chair and zoned out as she took a look around the room.

“Hey, um...”

Fury glared at her, but she held up her finger, before counting everyone, “Where’s Natasha?”

Everyone’s eyes furrowed as they looked around. Clint pulled out his phone as everyone began to talk. Fury looked at his computer. Coulson messaged Hill asking if Natasha was back on base.

Darcy’s phone buzzed in her pocket and she slipped out of the room without anyone noticing and took off down the hall, moving into a side room and pulling out her phone.

The front screen blinked a message from an unknown number.

Clinking on the link, her phone screen filled with a pet shop’s page.

Darcy scrolled in confusion until one of the cat’s names on the page caught her eye.

Loki.

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

Next up: Loki makes an appearance, Natasha is still missing, Sam hates life, and Darcy and Bucky share a first ;) .........

#Bucky barnes #Darcy lewis #Bucky x Darcy #Darcy x Bucky #wintershock #Darcy x Bucky fanfiction #wintershock fanfiction #avengers #Natasha romanoff #Clint barton #steve rogers #tony stark #Jarvis #sam wilson #my fanfic #DARCY X BUCKY FANFICTION

1 note · View note