#like a lil heads up maybe? or at least a definitive answer? im leaving tomorrow morning so i need to pack

[nerdie-faerie]

Love when plans get cancelled last minute 🙃

[proherostories]

Quarantine Craze

AO3 LINK

WC - 1716

Archive Warnings - Rated T & No Archive Warnings apply.

TW - Quarantine

Pairing - TodoDekuKiri

Summary -  Midoriya does his best to calm down his friends who have gone wild due to a villain's Quirk.

Everyone’s a Pro-Hero

Notes - Written for "#writersmonth2020" from tumblr 

Day 2 Prompt = Quarantine ch2 will be prompt = hurt/comfort

Written for "#writersmonth2020" from THIS POST

Izuku felt his heart breaking the longer he watched his friends [and lovers] in the holding cells, screaming and holding their heads as if they were going to split apart.

They were in Tartarus, not because anyone was in trouble, but because they had the space necessary to deal with what was happening. 

Shouto and Kirishima were in separate rooms, with windows that looked in but not out. There was no furniture for them to throw around, but that didn’t stop Shouto from throwing icicles at the walls or Kirishima trying to punch the window. Izuku hadn’t seen Kirishima this...feral in quite a while. As for Shouto? He was always outwardly composed, so seeing him like this? 

Tears pricked at Izuku’s eyes and he took a deep breath. Officers and other management were here, so he couldn’t really...be vulnerable. It was so hard to not run into either room and try and calm them down. It was bad enough a lot of civilians were going through this same process, but they were being held elsewhere since the Quirks of the general populace weren’t as well trained and developed as Heros.

It was lucky he himself wasn’t in their shoes. A villain had a Quirk called “Craze” and it not only affected the people he went after, but anyone they had touched. It didn’t show up until at least ten minutes later, which gave people who thought were fine time to come in contact with others. When someone like that went out and caused chaos and mass panic? Gathering information on who’d run into who was difficult. 

Their saving grace? Shouto and Kirishima had been in the same location when everything went insane, and had not only subdued the villain but also kept the ‘casualties’ at a minimum. Maybe fifty people were being monitored instead of...a hundred? More? 

Now the downfall was right in front of his eyes, and no one would be ‘okay’ until tomorrow. It’d maybe taken...half an hour to get here? Both of them had been sedated and put into their own holding cells, but now it looked like that had been the worst thing to do. Almost as soon as they woke up their Quirks had flared up, Shouto’s freezing the room in one second only for it to be covered in steam the next. Kirishima had gone Unbreakable and his roar had been what cut the sound from the rooms. 

There were sensors keeping track of their vitals with technology Izuku didn’t have the mental capacity to pay attention to. He’d arrived here maybe five minutes ago, and his friends had been rampaging long before. It hadn’t even been an hour and no one knew when it’d calm down or if they’d need to be sedated again before they killed themselves. 

He couldn’t do it. He couldn’t sit still and watch them hurt themselves, it wasn’t in his nature and he headed to one of the officials that looked like they’d be able to get him what he wanted. “I need to talk to them.” 

They looked at him but seemed completely unaffected by his presence. Izuku severely disliked people like this. “We can’t let you do that.”

“Yes, you can and you will.” Izuku drew up to his full height, “I’m not asking to go inside. Give me access to your intercom. I will not stand here twiddling my thumbs hoping they won’t collapse from overexertion.”

Huffing, they narrowed their eyes before turning on their heel and he followed after them. 

Once he got into the room where he could talk to his loves, he settled himself in and took deep breaths through his nose. He couldn’t let them down. They were there for him, and he was there for them. That was how they worked and he wouldn’t disappoint.

Considering how volatile Shouto’s quirk was, he started with him and focused all his attention on the man with duo-toned hair, “Shou?” he called softly at first, to see if his voice would even garner his attention, but no it did not. So he tried again, louder and firm in his tone. When Shouto snapped his head up and spun around, trying to find the source, he kept going, “Shouto, it’s Deku-”

“Deku! Deku, Are you-what-you…” Shouto faltered and grabbed his head again, “you...okay?”

“Yes! Yes, I’m trying to tell you I’m okay. I’m here. I’m talking to you through the intercom-”

“It hurts!” Shouto gasped and Izuku winced, hearing how much pain was interlaced in the other’s voice, “I don’...villain...he…”

“Quirk: Craze. I know. It’s okay, you’re okay, Shou,” Izuku soothed, “We don’t know how long it lasts yet, he won’t talk. I was worried about you when they said you steamed the room. Try and take some deep breaths for me, Shou. Sit down if you gotta.” He watched as Shouto did as he was instructed, plopping down onto his ass while ice and fire still warred over his skin and uniform. “We’re at Tartarus, you’re safe here.” ‘At least you should be…’ Izuku thought venomously, “You’re in Quarantine. Everyone else from the attack is also being quarantined-”

“Red Riot!” Shouto suddenly gasped, head jerking all over again as he looked around frantically, as if they’d even be in the same room together, “Red Riot, he...with me…”

Part of Izuku doubted what he was even saying was being paid attention to, but it didn’t matter. Just talking, hearing his voice had severely calmed down one of his lovers, and he hoped it would have the same effect on Kirishima, “Yes, he’s here too. In the cell next to you. I can only talk to one of you at a time…”

“Talk to him! Talk to him, I’m-” Shou made a soft shout and a groan as he doubled over, “I got...Deku, I got it…”

‘For the moment, anyway…’ “Okay, I’ll talk to you again in just a minute. Just breathe for me, Shou.” Cutting connection with Shouto’s room, Izuku felt as if he was spiraling. Following his own advice, he took another breath and then opened the coms to Kirishima, wincing as he was immediately deafened by the shouting, “RED RIOT!” He knew he had to shout here, “RED, STOP! RIGHT NOW. IT’S ME, IT’S DEKU!”

It was such a process, watching Kirishima shake his whole body from side to size, Hardened hands digging into his palms. There was definitely blood, and Izuku didn’t doubt he’d pierced his own body in a few places. “D-Deku?!” he sucked air into his lungs, but still couldn’t focus.

“Yes! Yes, Red, it’s me, it’s me,” Izuku had to reign in every instinct to call either of them ‘baby’ or ‘love’ so he poured every inflection into his voice at every opportunity, “I’m here. I’m here, I got you. It’s alright, everyone’s safe you know. You and Shou did such a good job. The villain’s locked up but he won’t tell us how long this’ll last. We’ll all go home after this, I promise, okay? All three of us. You’ve done so good, Kiri.”

The whimper that filtered through made Izuku shake in his seat from trying not to risk everything by going to his companions. “D-Deku…” A lot of the fight seemed to leave Kirishima from his words, crumpling to the ground without even having to be asked. Legs up and hands in his hair again, he was curled in on himself, “Jus’ wanted...t’get out...Shouto, he…”

“What’s the matter, Red?” Izuku coaxed, “You can talk to me, you’re safe. Shou’s safe.”

“His powers...they...he…” a frustrated noise, “...powers...started losing it...got really worried…” 

“Shou’s powers went haywire first?” Izuku guessed, “Who took down the villain?”

“Me.” It was a simple, easy answer, “I did. Shouto ‘n’ I...together we...cuffs. Waited...backup. Took too damn long,” he spat, “Frost...started goin...then fire sputtering...He couldn’ make it stop…”

“The Quirk effect varies from when it manifests,” Izuku explained gently, “If you took him out first, then you must’ve started after Shou did.”

“Ya…” Kirishima jerked and his body rippled with Hardening, his fists clenching as he locked up, only to gasp and puff when it dissipated, “I...uh...punched ‘im…Shouto tried to...stop me...froze a ‘lil…” he touched his left arm, where Shouto would’ve had to grab him for the ice to be relevant.

It warmed and broke Izuku’s heart to know why Shouto had demanded he speak to Kirishima, and why Kirishima had been freaking out so badly but now seemed less drastic than the fire-ice user. “He’s okay. We’re all gunna make it outta this, alright? You were sedated for at least thirty minutes before you woke up and maybe another ten before I got here. If you’re fine in the next two hours we can go home.”

“Tests?” Kirishima grumbled and it pulled the first chuckle out of Izuku.

“Yes, I don’t doubt they’ll run tests on you. I know it hurts, but I’m gunna talk to Shou again, okay? Hang in there, tough guy,” Izuku cooed and only caught Kirishima nodding before he switched coms again. “Shou, Kirishima’s doing fine. You used your Quirk on him by accident, didn’t you?”

Shouto looked horribly dejected by being called out, but he nodded. The room was frozen over, but his fire hadn’t flared to steam it yet. Was it slowing down?

“He was worried about you,” Izuku shushed, “He’s having flare-ups, but he’s okay. This’ll all be over and we’ll all get home and watch movies and take the day off tomorrow. How’s that sound?”

“‘S’kay,” Shouto mumbled, his arms wrapped around his body and looking miserable.

“Kirishima’s not hurt, Shou,” Izuku repeated, realizing how locked in his head Shouto was, “Your Quirk started acting up before his did, and then you tried to stop Kirishima from hurting the villain. It’s not your fault. You were doing what you needed to do.” He smiled softly, “Your power hasn’t hurt anyone, Shou. You and Kirishima are doing so well.”

When all Shouto did was nod and drop the tension in his shoulders, Izuku relaxed as well, “Just another couple hours and a couple tests, alright? We’ll get through this, just like we have everything else.”

[bunchamunchafaunus]

The Rise of a Ventian Queen [2]: The Next Step

“So, Peri.”

Hearing her name got the worried woman’s attention drawn from her bedridden friend to the man behind her. A raised brow curious what he wanted, such only getting stronger seeing him pat at the floor beside him.

“Come tell me some stories of Team Empress while we wait for her to recover.”

Such a simple request actually got the Komodo laughing. She wasn’t sure why she had expected anything else, but for some reason it caught her off guard. It only took another glance back to the slumbering Qilin to realize they were going to have to wait for a fair while before she’d wake. They definitely had time to relax, especially given she was sure the NeverCondor would take to the skies to get away from the canyon once it could.

So she did just that. Stepping back till she felt her back eased to the wall by her tail keeping her from just outright falling against it, she found herself on the metal ground beside her friend’s father figure. Taking in a breath to relax herself as she let her shoulders drop at last. Tail curling round to fit it’s thinner end under her legs.

“Well to start, I think I gotta mention she was the most awkward person out of everyone in the room the night before our entrance exam. No lie, she just kept looking over everyone in some awestruck state for about an hour at least while people came in and out of the room.”

The two laughed some, Peri recalling the silly look that had been on Emma’s face back then, Umbir imagining it.

Knowing they were in for some fun chatter, they made themselves comfortable and began. Not too long after would they feel the engines of the NeverCondor roaring to life and the large metal vessel leaving the ground and beginning to soar.

                                                   - One Day Later -

P - P a p a...

S h i t! E m m a!

Ringing.

L a y  h e r  h e r e!

Silence.

Darkness.

Was she?

No, no, she was still hearing noises here and there. So very faint and muffled, but they were there. Familiar voices, laughter, beeping... snoring? She was still so warm too. She had to be alive, right? Yeah, yeah, she had to be. From everything she knew, she’d be cold if she wasn’t.

For some time it was just this empty void. The odd sound so faint and muffled here and there, but nothing all too loud or obvious. Just the constant wonder of what might have happened to her and what would come to pass. It got to the point she was actually starting to worry, trying her best to have something, anything change. Yet nothing did, no matter what she tried.

Though something eventually changed, a small, tiny little dark orange light breaking the darkness. One that would change to fit a form, a humanoid figure. Instantly she knew what it was, and felt herself calm with it’s presence quickly. But that calm would suddenly be shaken up, hearing a voice. One that was clear, one she never heard before. A woman’s voice, low, echoing, comforting. One single sentence being spoken by it.

“I am proud of you”

The source of this voice disappearing soon after, leaving her alone in the quiet darkness once more. But this would not last long before the Qilin felt herself falling. Such a sudden sensation causing fear and panic to fill her, making her body jerk and flail for a single second as she sat up and found herself awake, staring at a wall judging by what she could now see her aura flowing up. Her breathing being long, deep breaths as she took in the situation.

Aching and sluggish body, left leg felt better but right knee still stings, a slight pinch in left arm, the sudden moving form of a person with a blue aura running past her view. The left side of which showed nothing defined when they saw the other living being, just a messy uncontrolled pattern of blue spread across a whole half her vision. Blinking a few times, she could tell her aura was switching from it’s default navigational assistance to the protective layer and back each time. Eventually stopping, closing her eyes, and focusing it to it’s defensive capabilities before letting it ease back to it’s usual sight-providing action. Finally staying as such whenever she blinked afterward.

“Emma!”

The Princess’ head turned immediately upon having the ever so familiar voice register to her, seeing the umber form of her father figure standing in what seemed to be a doorway. Plus some slight peek of a friendly red aura just around the door-frame beside him though it would duck back to be hidden as she saw the man draw closer. Soon after feeling his arms wrap ‘round her upper body and his cheek against the top of her head.

She wanted to return the embrace, but her body felt slow, heavy even, much more than she was used to. It even hurt some to try and move anything beyond how her body was now after having awoken so suddenly. Though she was sure she could manage speaking at the very least, so she cleared her throat before attempting to.

“Papa?” Her voice a little rough, but she still spoke. Not getting an answer right away, she could feel his arms move and saw his form begin lowering some. Soon seeing the shape of the man’s head as he had dropped to one knee in front of her so she wouldn’t have to turn her own head up so high.

“Yes, Lil’ Filly?”

That nickname again, she wasn’t sure whether to feel comfort hearing it again or to be annoyed by it and say she wished she hadn’t woken up as a joke. Quickly deciding against the later.

“What-... What happened? After what I did?”

“Well, assuming you remember up to the point I signaled the NeverCondor to fire, they got the two shots off. The destroyed rocks and trees from the blast on the cliff and the mountain began falling down into the canyon, but I’m pretty sure you somehow managed to stretch out your Semblance’s range because it all stopped mid-air and began spreading out across the width of the canyon itself. Once the Goliaths were getting right under the debris, it began dropping. Some hit the first two, the rest began falling on the next two, but all the stuff that you had circling the three of us quickly sped up and began being loosed in the direction of the front two Goliaths. The barrage forced them to start moving backward, thus suffering the rest of the falling debris like the two behind them. Four Goliaths were pinned beneath all sorts of rocks and trees, likely dead, and the Grimm on the far side were blocked off.”

Hearing it back from Umbir, Emma was sure she had been awake for the events he recalled. Her own mind replaying the sounds she had heard at the time. The thunderous gunfire from the Airship, the trumpeting sounds of the Goliaths, stone hitting stone, she was sure of it. “What about after that?”

“After the wall of debris settled, you collapsed. You had exhausted the vast majority of your aura to the point that you couldn’t stay awake. The Dust crystal you had used fell from your hands, depleted, and the winds around us started to die down. With the remains of the Grimm horde that were on our side starting to move again, I had Peri take you and get you into the NeverCondor.  I ran back on my own, the turrets were manned, cannons recharged or reloaded, and the majority of what we still had to worry about of the horde was destroyed. Once enough was gone, we took to the skies. We’re settled above the ocean right now.

“How long was I out, Papa?”

“I wasn’t exactly paying attention to the time, but judging by the position of the sun compared to how it was when you lost consciousness, it’s almost been a full twenty-four hours.”

Twenty-four hours, it felt like she had been in that dark space for so much longer than a single day. One shaky inhale later, the name he had mentioned snapped back to her mind, making Emma move in sudden worry, despite the pain she felt by doing so and the wince it earned from her. A noise which got her father figure immediately rising to stop her from moving too much and carefully lay her back down.

“What about Peri, where is she?”

“She’s fine, Emma. Your teammate’s a wonderful young woman who cares a lot about her friends. Peri was actually by your side for the first few hours, it took telling her about how strong you were during your recovery after Samuel grabbed your neck that one time to get her to calm down, eat, and get some rest. She’s still asleep since she used up quite a bit of her own aura against that horde as well.”

To hear the Komodo was safe and resting eased the Qilin’s worry for the other. Sighing with relief as she let her head press back against the pillow.

“I’m gonna have to face them now that I’m here aren’t I? Make sure all those people aren’t scared about him finding them and ruling them like Manus did so they don’t attract Grimm like that again.”

Umbir chuckled a little. “It’s actually kind of funny that you mention it. There’s some soldiers who were loyal to Cres, now loyal to me, out side this room right now. They insisted on standing guard outside the Medical bay to make sure you’d be safe while you were out.”

This revelation was... odd... to say the least. Emma was so sure she would never be able to successfully fill any Royal role for so long in her life. Then she announced herself to dozens of Nobles as the Princess she was by blood, making word spread of her living state after having been thought dead for a good while. Now, she had people looking to her to be their Queen. People from her own place of birth. Ventian civilians and soldiers both. She didn’t feel ready to accept the role they needed her to play, but if she didn’t, she knew the events of the previous day would eventually happen again.

Maybe even to a much, much worse degree.

“Either way we look at it, I can’t really move right now can I?” She remarked with a little chuckle behind her words. A sound which Umbir repeated on his end at the inquiry.

“No, not really. Not without it hurting a lot since you’re body’s still recovering from such a heavy dip in aura. Maybe tomorrow you’ll be able to move around better again. Plus your legs could use just a bit more rest. The cut on your left was shallow, but it was long, and the scrape to your knee was a lot worse, so even with another day of your Qilin genetics healing that up it’s going to be sore when you try to walk on it again.”

“Okay ‘DAD’. I’ll stay in bed...!” A joke reply, but one that both parties laughed at.

“It’s nice to know you’ve still got that childish side to you after all this time and all the hardships you’ve faced, Emma. I’ll go get you some water.”

The Qilin simply nodded in thanks for the man’s concern and care, letting herself relax and her eyes close for a moment while she listened to his footsteps leaving the room. A shuffle of a couple other metal clad feet outside the room moving to clang together before stepping to what she assumed was a basic defensive stance for the Soldiers she had been informed of.

Over the next few hours, Umbir would come and go from the room. The two speaking over various different topics and points of her experiences ever since she had left Ventus so long ago. At one point even getting Peri up and visiting Emma to see how everything was going. The three of them conversing and interacting for a fair while longer before one-by-one people left the Medical bay for the night leaving Emma to rest on her own.

It was about noon the next day when the Qilin’s friend and teammate would enter the Medical bay with a set of new, clean clothes in a bag for her.

“Big day today for ya, Em’.” The woman remarked making her way toward the Qilin’s bedside. As she did, she watched the young woman atop the bed adjusting to an up-right seated position with a smile across her face. “Roy and I made sure to get something that looks real fancy.”

“Roy’s with you?”

“Well not right now, no, he went to talk with Umbir about something, but I did drag him along for the clothes.”

“You didn’t get something that’s all show without any comfort did you...?”

“Oh hell no, I know well enough that we tailed Faunus need clothes that are comfortable over everything else. Stuff’s real soft on the skin and still looks nice. I’m not gonna say you’re going to be comfortable mentally or emotionally while you’re up in front of your people, but at the very least you will be physically.”

Lifting the bag in her hand, Peri placed it down into Emma’s lap. “A nice white button-up top with a black knee-length skirt that has purple floral patterns, some white thigh-high socks, and a purple ribbon that can be tied into a bow under your collar or you can tie back your hair with it. I’ve got you~ Now go ahead and get dressed, I’ll be waiting outside.”

“Thank you, Peri.” Emma spoke with a soft thankful tone  while the Komodo was close enough to still hear. Watching on afterward while the woman’s red form would leave the room, leaving her alone in it again. Taking a second, she made sure to pull the curtain by the foot of her bed ‘round to hide her from view of the door to the room.Once with more privacy provided, she shifted to get off the bed on the far side to begin changing her clothes. Taking a second of pause noticing her necklace was absent from around her neck.

About five minutes would come to pass before Peri and the four soldiers standing ‘round the door as protective guard for the Royal within the Medical Bay would hear the door open. A second later seeing the Qilin step out from the room within the newly provided clothing. The bag in hand containing the clothes she had changed out of, and the purple ribbon in her hand. Tail behind her finding itself dropping low and pressing against her leg with uncertain worry about the situation.

The four Soldiers, upon seeing her come to a stop, would turn to face her directly. A single stomp being done as they would, unknown to Emma, salute to her. Peri on the other hand could see that the three men and one woman had their right hands raised and placed diagonally across their chest while their left was tucked behind the small of their backs.

Taking a second, the Royal looked around to the four unfamiliar aura forms that surrounded her. A rather nervous smile present upon her face that all present could see clearly. After a couple seconds of silence, one of them would clear their throat before speaking. The sound drawing Emma’s foggy eyes to the unknown person immediately to her left before their pale yellow form in her eyes would lower to a knee.

“Your Highness, Melo Grove, I used to serve the late Queen Cres rather closely.” A soft woman’s voice quickly introduced herself. “I’m unsure of whether Sir Dew has mentioned it directly to you yet, but Cres truly did regret forcing you out of Ventus. For the past few years especially she searched for any sort of sign that you were alive in hopes of eventually meeting you in person and apologizing for her actions. When word spread among nobles across Remnant that you were present at the Duke of Coste’s charity event, she was ecstatic to know you were alive and well.”

What the Soldier said, while not entirely new to the Qilin as she had, indeed, heard some of it from Umbir, was appreciated. If not for the fact it contained some new information, then because it came from a voice which sounded so genuine and confirmed what her father figure had told her. Still, even with how she felt, there was the whole fact that being treated the way she was by these four was entirely new territory. A short glance to Peri for some sort of assistance just earning a shrug to the red shoulders of her friend’s figure.

“I-...” Focusing her attention back to Melo, she swallowed a nervous lump that had formed in her throat. Stepping closer to the kneeling woman, she shifted the lone ribbon to the same hand holding the bag as to clear one up for freedom of use. Then bringing that same hand up to gently rest on the woman’s shoulder, which caused their head to rise and she could feel their eyes on her once more. She noticed now a soft vibration of anxiety in the pale yellow form. One she attempted to ease by giving a soft, more confident smile.

“Th-Thank you, Melo. It-uh... it comforts me knowing Queen Cres wished no ill will towards me during the last years of her life. I-... I’m not sure how well I’ll be able to fill her shoes since I honestly never really expected to be doing... well.. any of this honestly, but I hope that we may work together as well.”

It was obvious to the four that the Royal they were currently looking to wasn’t exactly used to any of this. That despite how unsure of herself she sounded, the Qilin was trying her best. They could all respect that, immediately feeling much more comfortable with her as the one they would soon follow. Melo herself now giving a wide smile as she looked up at Emma.

“I would be honored to work alongside you, Your Highne-”

“Emma, please...”

“Emma... I look forward to serving you.”

Seeing the woman’s head bow again, the Royal watched her soon rise to her feet again.

“Is there anything we may do for you... Emma...?” The tone of Melo’s voice made it obvious she was going to have to get used to using a proper name instead of a title while addressing her superior.

For a short bit, things were quiet on the Qilin’s end, looking between the four soldiers again, this time in thought. “C-Could I maybe get some more privacy with Peri? We’re in a safe place, I really don’t think I need four guards here...”

She didn’t see it, having been looking away from the one Guard who’s name she knew so far at the time. Melo’s attention moved between the other three, the group coming to an unspoken agreement before the trio of still unknown Soldiers would take their leave. Relaxing their forms and beginning down the hall of the Airship they were currently in.

Sighing once there was less attention on herself, Emma turned to the woman once more. This time bowing her own head as she voiced her appreciation. She received a bow in return. After which her attention moved to Peri as she fetched the ribbon from the hand the bag was in.

“Could you tie my hair back? Just want it all to be nice and neat behind me for when I do this.”

The Komodo, befitting her personality, chuckled  some at the request, but nodded none the less. Stepping to her friend, she took the ribbon in hand before physically encouraging a turn with a gentle push to the shoulder. Once such movement finished, she brought the ribbon between her lips to hold it while working on collecting the mass of near white hair that belonged to Emma. Every now and then working a hand down the length of it to try and funnel it all together better the farther down it went.

“Peri?”

“Yeah?”

“You possibly know where my necklace went?”

“Yeah, Umbir has it. Said he’d be giving it back later while you’re addressing everyone.”

Her answer made some sense to the Qilin, nodding a little in understanding as she fell silent for her friend to finish her work.

Once she felt she had a good enough control of her friend’s hair, Peri shifted hold to one hand as the other retrieved the purple fabric and worked it around the hair to replace her other hand. Finally being able to begin working on tying the ribbon tight to give a clean and proper finish to Emma’s appearance with a small bow holding her knee-length hair together at the bottom of the back of her neck. Looking to Melo, she earned an approving nod from the woman before looking back to it herself and nodding her own head.

“There ya go, ‘Your Highness’.”

The joking use of the title earned an elbow moving to impact with her arm. Laughter following from both the Faunus as Emma turned to face her teammate again. All this right before the shorter of the two would move to hug the taller, which was quickly reciprocated.

“Thank you, Peri, for everything you’ve done the past few days.”

“You’re welcome, Emma.”

The two letting their embrace last a couple seconds longer. Breathing in the comfort they shared knowing they were both alive and well after what they had gone through the other day. Once comfortable, both let go, Peri patting at Emma’s shoulder as one last gesture of fondness before she’d speak again.

“Now, you’ve got a crowd to address.”

A deep breath in and a sigh out would be taken by the Qilin. “That I do...” She glanced the two ways down the hall available to the three of them, brow furrowing some. “Um... Melo?”

“Yes?”

“D-Do you know what way we need to go?”

“That I do, just follow me.” Without missing a beat, the pale yellow figure Emma had turned her eyes to stepped side-ways. An outstretched hand gesturing the opposite direction than the other three had gone earlier. Quickly following up the gesture by turning herself in full and beginning down the hall.

The two Huntresses followed behind the woman for a minute or so, passing through the hallways and by some crew members here and there. Multiple different rooms they may have been able to turn into as well, yet Melo kept going. Eventually turning into a much wider hallway than the ones that they had walked through so far. One with a multitude of people seated along the walls, some standing, others walking between each other. The moment they did, Emma froze.

Looking down the hallway, the Qilin’s sight was filled with such a vast array of colors filling it. The initial viewing of so many people was too much for her with half being as messy as it was. It hurt her head to see all of them. She turned her head to clear her view and hopefully ease the strain it put on her. Peri’s red soon stepping into view as she felt her hand at her shoulder.

“Your eye bugging you?” Her question only received a nod from the shorter woman as her left eye closed and a hand rose over it.

“Her eye?” Melo stepping around to the Royal’s side with her question. “What happened?”

“A while ago Emma had an incident where she saw some odd aura that she said looked like a person. She called out to them, they didn’t respond, she tried to get closer but it just kept moving at the same distance away from her. She said it seemed to just slide around, never taking a step or turning or anything. Eventually it stopped, she got right next to it, then the next thing she knew she woke up back in her room at the Inn our team owns. Umbir said that he had been watching over her for a while, and when he saw what was happening he followed her, but when he caught up an Ursa had hit Emma into a tree, and she was unconscious on the ground. He killed the Ursa, brought her back and ever since she woke up, her left eye hasn’t been working the way it should.”

While Peri retold the events to Melo, Emma found herself shivering some remembering it all. Her mind calling back to the months where she felt unlike herself afterwards. It got her right eye closing as well as the discomfort of the memories from that time began setting in.

“Wh-What do you mean it’s not working the way it should? Can she not see with it?”

“She was born blind, Melo. Sometime during her childhood her aura adapted to allow her eyes to register visual sources of aura and give some semblance of sight. She sees everyone as generic humanoid forms of solid color based on what their aura’s color is, which ever since the old Great War tends to match with their name. Mine’s Peri, my aura is a dark red, I’m a red figure to her. You’re Melo, I’m assuming mellow yellow, so she sees you as a pale yellow form. Ever since what happened, she’s explained sight in her left eye as a repeating pattern mess of color whenever looking at someone. After being told what a Kaleidoscope is, she said that’s pretty much what it’s like.”

Hearing this, the somewhat absent gaze she had seen the young white haired woman had given to her and the other Guards earlier began to make more sense. “Ah...” This was new information that she knew she’d need at a later point. It was going to be a bit of a learning curve for how to handle things with Emma. “Maybe it’d be a good idea to get her some type of cover for her left eye then. Eye patch or something...”

Turning to look over the people filling the hallway, she could see some of them looking to the trio with curious eyes. A few even worried, one or two doubtful gazes from some older individuals. Gently grabbing onto Emma’s shoulders, she guided her back around the corner, gesturing for Peri to follow. “Just keep her here, I’ll be right back.”

The Komodo nodded before watching as Melo went into a light jog down the hallway to return where they had just come from. Carefully she helped Emma to lean against the wall after the form of the Guard disappeared ‘round the corner down the thinner hall. Afterward stepping close to the corner again and peeking around it to look over the civilians filling the area.

“E-Excuse me, miss?”

A young voice would register in the Komodo’s ears, guiding her attention down to see a boy standing next to her. A pair of small antlers growing atop his upturned head among dark brown hair and his bright blue eyes looking up at her. His arms were tucked ‘round behind his back. She stepped from the wall before lowering herself to her knees to be at a more equal level to him.

“Hey little man, what’s up?”

He seemed to be a little nervous with how he lowered his head a tad further than it already had to simply keep looking at her.

“Is that... Is she our new Queen?”

His question got Peri’s head turning to look to Emma. She could see the her gaze turned to focus to the boy beyond Peri’s form, hand now away from her left eye but the eye itself still closed. She turned her red eyes forward to the child again just after.

“Well. technically she’s not just yet, but she’s going to be soon. She’s just feeling a little under the weather right now, bit of a headache. You know what that’s like, right?” A soft smile came to her face seeing the boy nod in understanding.

“I- uh... M-My mommy helped me make a necklace... I wanted to make it for our new Queen after she told me about how she was ex-exhi-”

“Exiled?”

“Yeah, that word!” His hands finally came out from behind his back. In the one was a collection of a dozen small, smooth black stones that had been drilled through to fit them onto a braided silver and gold cord. None were exactly the same size as another, nor shape, but it seemed they were all sanded down to be smooth and rounded. Smaller stones being farther out and larger being closer to the center. “I collected these, whenever I found a black rock I picked it up. There isn’t a lot of them, but they always look so nice...”

Peri felt a familiar hand at her shoulder, looking up and back it was Emma. Shifting aside atop her knees, she gave enough space for her friend to get down beside her. Even offering a hand to support her as she took to her knees, a slight wince escaping putting as much weight as she did on her right. Still a little sore she guessed.

Now at eye level with the bright blue form of the boy, Emma could see an ever so subtle vibration to his form. She put on a gentle smile in hopes of calming his nerves

“What’s your name?”

“C-Cele.”

“Cele, very nice name. I would love to wear the necklace you’ve made for me, is there a clasp on it or is it a full loop?”

“My mommy tied the ends of the cords we used when we were done braiding it.”

“A loop, then, would you mind putting it on for me?” As she asked this of the young boy, she shifted closer to him and bowed her head forward. Closing her eyes she simply waited. It took a few seconds, but she soon felt his little hands brush against her hair some. A second more passing before the weight of the stones on the cord was fully present on the back of her neck. After a second more, she lifted her head, a hand moving to pull her tied hair out from beneath the braided cord then to fix it beneath her collar. With it fit proper into her outfit, she turned her attention to Cele again. The anxious vibrations from earlier now gone.

“Thank you, Cele. I’m glad to know there are such kind children like yourself from Ventus even after everything it’s people have been through.”

He was quiet a moment after before she could feel his arms suddenly around her neck. It was unexpected, but Emma returned the hug with a hand gently pressing to his upper back. The hug ending almost as quickly as it started, the boy ran back down the hallway to return to his mother who stood a ways down the hall. Taking her hand, he looked up to her and they began talking about something. Peri noticing a smile across the woman’s face as she crouched down to her son.

“Damn you handled that nicely.” Peri spoke up as she rose to her feet again.

“You did most of that though being the one to talk to him first.”

“The kid probably thought I was a body guard or something, so it was actually a pretty smart idea for him to come to me first. Gotta give the lil’ dude props for that.”

“Plus for working on this with his mother.” Em’s hand moving to let her fingers move over the stones now settled across her chest.

“So? How’re you feeling after doing your first Queenly act?”

“Queenly act?”

“Yeah! You just interacted with one of your Kingdom’s next generation, accepted a gift from them, praised them, and helped them feel better before sending them back to their guardian! You can’t see it, but that kid’s really happy and he’s even bouncing a little while telling his mother all about you and how it was to meet you.”

What her friend was saying... actually made a lot of sense to her. No matter what way she thought about it, what she just did was something a leader or hero would tend to do in stories. Stories both fake and very real. The fact she actually did something like that without realizing it, there was some confidence that filled her.

“I’m feeling like I can actually do this...”

“Hell yeah you can!”

Another pat of Peri’s hand to her arm like before occurred and the two of them laughed a little.

“Emma!”

The oh so familiar voice got the Qilin turning her head to look down the hallway behind her. Both the earthy aura of her father figure, the source of the call to her, and that of the pale yellow belonging to Melo were making their way to her and Peri. Poking at the Komodo’s leg got her attention, a hand lowering to help Emma return to her feet with her uncomfortable knee. Managing to get back up just as the two reached them.

“Hey, Umbir, where’d Roy go off to?” Peri called out to the man as he kept drawing closer to the two of them.

“Your brother’s talking with Captain Maho. I told him to show Roy where to go once they’re done so he can be present for whatever Emma’s got in mind.” He took a moment of pause to his speaking as he glanced over Emma’s new clothing. “Speaking of, It’s nice to see you on your feet again, Em’.” Her father figure spoke up, a gentle smile across his features.

“It’s nice to be on my feet.”

“Sir Dew bumped into me while I was on my way out of the Medical Bay.” Melo spoke up explaining his added presence. “I grabbed a cotton pad and some medical tape that we can use to cover your eye, Emma.”

“Emma?” Umbir’s tone a little confused turning to look to his underling. Such earning a shrug from the woman.

“She requested that I call her by her name and not using a title.”

Em’ could feel the man’s eyes fix on her, clearly looking for some confirmation. Nodding her head, the man did the same understanding the situation.

“Okay” Melo spoke up getting the Royal’s attention as she extended a hand with a small square between her fingers “hold this over your eye.”

The process took about a half minute. Emma taking the cotton pad and carefully holding it over her left eye, Melo unwrapped strips from the tape, tore them off, and secured it in place. One down the side of the square on the outer side of the Qilin’s face, one smaller piece across the corner by the top of her nose, and one last strip along the bottom above her cheek.

“There we go.” The woman turned her attention to Umbir again. “Could you return this to the Med-bay? I’ve been around the civilians more often than you have, I think it’ll be good for me to be with Emma while she’s around them.” Her hand holding the medical tape aside for him.

“Sure. If you three get to the catwalk before I catch up, I’ll meet you there.” Taking the roll from his underling, he turned and began back to the medical room of the Airship.

“What’s he talking about with a catwalk?” A confused Emma speaking up in question.

“There’s a catwalk in the room we’re heading to. High up, gets people in a noticeable spot, can let a voice carry through the room well. Best place to speak to your people and say whatever you need to.”

Emma nodded in understanding after it was explained to her what was meant.

Just before the Knight went to begin guiding the two again, she noticed something that got her to step closer and gently lift the necklace with a finger. “Did a little boy with antlers and blue eyes give this to you?”

Her question got a nodding confirmation from Emma.

“That’s actually really nice, Cele did good.”

“I know, right? Lil’ guy’s got a good eye and creative mind!”

“That he does. Gotta give him a high five while we pass by.” A smooth transition from the trained woman as she gestured for the two to follow her again. Stepping ‘round both to round the corner once more and begin down the crowded hallway. Looking ahead she could see little Cele being picked from the floor by his mother. Their eyes meeting and the trio sharing a smile as the distance between them was beginning to close.

Emma on the other hand, as she followed behind Melo, kept her had turning to look over the people around them. Seeing so many people, thankfully now only through her right eye, she was able to look over them more properly. Seeing so many whom appeared to be adults, others small and childish, a couple clearly elderly. So many auras of varying colors, but so many of them in different moods.

Some dimmed, others shivering, a few vibrating, a couple having shrunk even. Sadness, despair, anxiety, fear, so much negative emotions. Even if some of them seemed to be easing as they saw her. But a few brightened and glowing aura’s stood out to Emma’s sight. Most which she didn’t know, a lot being children whom she heard quietly asking various things about her to their guardians. Though one was a bright blue that she had met just a minute earlier.

As the three came up to Cele and his mother, Melo stretched out a hand and the boy quickly reacted. Reaching his own hand out, the two connected for a ‘high’ five. Afterward his attention quickly shifted to Emma, the Qilin could feel his gaze on her, and even if she couldn’t see it they shared a smile. Once it came Peri’s turn to pass by, he gave the kid a thumbs up and a wink. Waving with her tail as they passed and continued on.

It only took another minute of walking, passing by multiple more groups of people till they would fine themselves stepping into a much, much larger room. Within was the bulk of the Ventian civilians, dozens of them if not a hundred or so at bare minimum filling this room alone. There was still some space to move around and for some breathing room, but so many more people than what was within the halls leading here.

“Up this way.” Melo spoke up, stepping off to the side where, after a second, Emma’s aura would reveal a stair case as it began flowing through the room.

Turning her attention up the stairs, she quickly noticed a familiar aura, ever changing between seven colors and never staying as one of them for more than a few seconds at a time. Roy. His form bent forward, she supposed he was resting against the railing of what she guessed was the catwalk. Off to his side, however, stood two auras more. One she remembered from when she and Peri arrived in the canyon the other day, and one of a beige color. The red aura of the man from the canyon with his arm ‘round the smaller beige being.

“Hey there, Princess.” Roy spoke up as the trio got up onto the catwalk proper.

“Roy.” Emma greeted in return, making her way to hug him, feeling his arms return the embrace quickly.

“Hey, leave some room for me!” The sister of the Gaia duo stepping over to the two opening a space to welcome her into their hugging. As the three shared this moment, a breath of relaxation was taken by each. After which they broke apart, though Peri kept her arm round Roy’s shoulders as they set into a comfortable stance together.

The Qilin, however, would feel a tap at her shoulder. Looking to the source, it was Melo gesturing to step past her friends. Following her, the two stepped over closer to the two auras whom were unknown to the younger of the two. Seeing both of them move to turn to face her. Only now noticing that the beige shorter being had a pair of animalistic ears atop their head. Really, really tall ears.

“Emma, these are the NeverCondor’s Captains. Captain Maho Agna and his wife Captain Begi Vix.” The Guard introduced the two to the people to Emma. Gesturing first to the taller red form, then the shorter beige.

Before she could do much, she would see the man’s hand reach forward urging for a handshake, one which she took with a bow to her head. After which she saw that of the shorter of the pair bow her own head before hearing her speak up.

“It’s a pleasure to meat you, your Highness. Umbir’s been working pretty closely with us and he’s told us a lot about you. Actually kind of been looking forward to meeting the ‘Aura-Sighted Huntress’ for a bit now.”

“Please, just call me Emma. No need for titles between us. I’ve never really felt like I’d be able to fulfill the role, so this is all going to be new for me.”

“Well, if it’s going to be any bit similar to being a Captain, you can come to us if you need some advice at any time.” A masculine voice, she assumed Maho’s as she turned her attention to his aura form.

“Thank you, Captain. I’ll keep that in mind for the future.”

“Here.” Maho again, his arm moving, seemingly to retrieve something. “Whenever you’re ready, there’s a switch on the side of this headset that you can use to turn it on. Once you do, a microphone will fold out and you can speak into that. It will broadcast your voice through the entirety of the ship. Since the Ventian refugees we have on board are spread about the central area of the ship, this will let all of them hear you from where they are.”

The object held out to her, according to what Emma would see with her aura flowing over it, appeared to be a wireless thin headset. One side ending with a thinner stop she assumed would fit over or behind her left ear. The other with a wider and thicker section with a somewhat similar shaping as the other, just with an extra bit that she assumed would go inside her ear. Reaching to take it, she brought it to hold in both her hands across her front.

“Thank you, again Captain. For taking care of... my people... in their time of need. For bringing them to a safer place. I’m not absolutely sure about it, but I think I have an idea of a location where they can be housed for some time until we’re able to get some more proper housing set up. Just might take some time to get it ready for them.” A fairly obvious bit of nerves present as she said that second sentence.

“If you need any help with that, just let us know, alright? We’ve got some people who’re great with repairs and building, and there are actually quite a few of your people who’ve offered to help us with keeping the NeverCondor in good shape while they’ve been on board.”

“I’m glad they’ve been able to help with your travels since you’ve taken them in.

“Y’know” Begi again “for someone who’s unsure how well they’re going to do as a Queen, you’re already handling yourself pretty well just talking with us.”

“R-Really?” A somewhat disbelieving tone to Emma’s voice.

“Hey, that’s the kind of talk I’ve used to make some deals as Captain while Maho’s not been available before. There’s definitely going to be some hardships and some things to get used to, sure, but I think you’re going to do fine in the long run, Emma.”

A gentle smile came present to the Royal’s face hearing Begi’s words. “Thank you, Begi. It helps knowing so many people have been showing faith in me.”

Feeling a hand come to clasp onto her shoulder, Emma’s head turned to look for the source behind her. Seeing Umbir’s aura, she moved her own hand to hold over his. Now with her smile even brighter.

“We’ll have your back, Emma. You’re not going to be alone at any point in this stage of your life, I can promise you that.”

His words were a huge source of comfort to her in this moment on top of just him being present overall.  Though after hearing him, her head turned and she looked down over the crowd beneath them. Slowly feeling her smile weaken some, her nerves getting to her as she saw many of them moving closer, to look up at them.

“Despite all the support, I don’t even know what to say to them. I’ve not been in Ventus for years, some of these people are children who were born after my exile so they don’t even know who I am beyond a false Princess. They’ve lost who was likely their best leader since Manus, and now they either turn to Samuel and hope for mercy, or they look to an uncertain young girl who was raised to be a maid for her own half-brother. The only other time I’ve spoken to even a fraction of this amount of people was at the Duke’s charity event when I announced I was still alive, but I had Octavius Tyrian with me at that time. My closest supporter and friend on the Noble front, and he’s not here right now...”

“Hey” her father figure called to her to earn her attention “you’re going to do wonderfully. Breathe in,” he himself inhaling, Emma mimicking him “breathe out,” both of them exhaling “You’ve got this.”

The short moment the two shared was something they tended to do when they were younger. Any time young little Emma had been panicking or upset for reasons related to her disabilities, Umbir would come to her aid. Getting to his knees in front of her, a gentle hand cupping her cheek, another holding her arm or hand. Speaking to her, calling out the nickname she had given her, and getting her attention before working through the process with her.

Both remembered this in the moment, taking one more to hug each other with a single arm.

“Thank you, Papa.”

“You’re welcome, Lil’ Filly. Take some time to think over your words, and when you’re ready, you’ve got the microphone.” His hand patted at her shoulder, leaving it a second after to step over by the Captains to chat with them a bit.

Now on her own among the group, Emma stepped over to the railing of the walkway. Both hands coming to rest atop it, headset in hand. She could feel so many people looking up to her in the moment. It actually surprised her a fair bit just how many people filled the lower section of the room. Combining the number she could guess was present to those in the one hallway she had her eye act up in, she was sure it was a minimum hundred people. The fact there was even more though, that actually got her nerves acting up some.

Still, even with the nerves present within her, she set her mind to attempt to piece together some collection of words. Something she thought would be fitting for a new leader to say to those she’d watch other. She couldn’t really come up with anything all that fast, it was definitely going to take a minute or so at least. Stepping back from the railing, she backed herself to the wall behind her to rest against that instead. Hoping that clearing her sight of the multitude of people below would help her think.

The Gaia siblings glanced over to the thinking Qilin for a second after seeing her form move as it did to the wall behind. Peri, out of the corner of her eye, noticing Melo looking to the Royal as well with some worry present in her gaze. A flick of her tail off to the side getting her attention, after which the Komodo mouthed “Just give her some time”, receiving a nod in understanding. Watching the Guard then turn to join Umbir and the two Captains for the time being. The two of them, however, moved to the corner at the top of the staircase that lead up to the catwalk which they stood on. Further from the rest of the group and a tad more private for them to talk without interrupting their friend.

Remembering back to her time at the Duke’s charity event and the speech she gave there, some ideas did come to mind. Though really thinking them over, the ideas she had back then were meant for high-society people that could’ve provided support for her. This time it was a bunch of people who were scared and unsure of what their future held for them. People who looked to her for some sense of comfort or safety. Two very different things, very different wordings needed.

Working her mind to think of some sort of answer, her eyes lowered to look to the headset her aura covered with each pulse of it. Taking in a lip to nibble at it as she thought, and her tail beginning to swat gently against the wall behind her.

A few minutes actually ended up passing as Emma had her mind hard at work. Not noticing the people having moved around her, her mind having tuned out their voices to focus her own inner vocals. Having switched which side of her lip was being nibbled on every couple seconds, at one point bringing both in and just pressing them together. By now, she felt like she had a couple points she wanted to get across, but there was a lack of proper wording to use to get them out. It was actually a little stressful being unable to piece together words like she was needing to.

Suddenly feeling a hand to her shoulder, the Qilin nearly jumped as her attention was forced back to the world beyond her mind. Blinking a couple times over, uncovered eye glanced about. Noting Roy absent from Peri’s side to her left, Melo standing in front of her and just a little toward the right, then Umbir leaning against the wall beside her with the aura forms of the two Captains and the Gaia Brother standing some distance away.

“Emma?” The woman before her calling her name, getting her eyes turning to her pale yellow aura again. “You alright?”

“Yeah... Yeah, I’m fine, I just... I know what I want to tell them, but I’ve not been able to think of words I should use to get those messages across...”

“Why not wing it then?” The extremely familiar of Umbir’s voice spoke up, earning her attention immediately. “Some of the better speeches that Manus or Cres ever gave were mostly just them going out and talking.”

“I don’t know if I should be inspired hearing that my biological father, who was apparently a Tyrant most of his reign, had good speeches because he just ‘winged them’...” A doubtful response from Emma’s end at his idea.

“I’m not saying you should be, Emma. I’m never going to tell you to be inspired by anything Manus ever did with how horrible a man he was. What I am saying is that you don’t necessarily need to plan out every last word that you say. Just take what you’ve got, figure out how to word it all as you do.” His shoulders rising a little during the end of his sentence. Relaxing just a second later.

Emma had her head nodding for a short bit as she thought over the idea. It would work, she had the somewhat vague idea of what she wanted to say in mind and she knew what exact points she wanted to make known. Winging it would likely be her best option over all wouldn’t it?

Some bit of her was feeling a little more sure of herself when thinking of taking the plunge that would begin her role as Queen. Of making her voice present for the Ventian people to hear. 

She was still a little nervous, yes, but that was her worry that she’d be treated the way she was while leaving Ventus all those years ago. Plenty of the refugees were undoubtedly old enough to remember that day, some possibly having even been among the people whom had spit disgust her direction. as well.

Yet. really taking a second to think of it, there wasn’t exactly a reason for her to think of that... To think such a thing would be unavoidable. Especially not with how everything had been just days ago. At least she hoped that after what had happened it wouldn’t be that way...

“Y-Yeah... I think I can do this. Just give me another minute.” She could see the pale yellow head nodding in understanding. The woman then stepping away to lean over the railing of the catwalk and look to the people below. Something becoming clear to the Royal in this moment, Melo had a tail. A long tail with a rounded end that unfurled from ‘round the Guard’s waist to curl beside her leg.

Emma was a little surprised she hadn’t been able to notice the extra appendage on Melo before, but thinking over it for a second, she figured that she had kept it wrapped ‘round her waist till now. She’d have to ask what sub-species of Faunus the Knight is later. Too many things were much more important right now.

Thankfully it didn’t take much longer till she felt she was more ready to be able to do what she needed. Taking a deep breath, she moved herself away from the wall and stepped closer to the railing. Once more, she could feel the eyes of the people below fixing to her. Swallowing down the nerves that rose from the sense that most all of them were turning their eyes to her, she lifted the headset in her hands, fixing it atop her head and fitting the two sides so they felt right on her. One more breath, and with her hand rising to feel for the switch, she pushed it across it’s spot, and with a gentle click beside her ear, the microphone was now available.

A chime suddenly rang out in the room, three notes in a rising tone. The echo from beyond the room making it clear to her that this was, in fact, going across the ship. Bringing her hands to hold at the railing, she took one more breath.

“P-People of Ventus.” She could hear her own voice repeating, a somewhat electrical tone to it. “I am Emma Smoke Khromatos, Daughter of Manus Aescae Khromatos and Aligar Kaj. Due to my birth mother, Aligar, dying shortly after I was born, I was raised as a maid to the royal family under the name Smoke Kaj by the maid named Harley Nara. A woman who I assume a good sum of you know as she was a kind, wonderful woman that would frequently venture to the market along the main road for supplies. I would often be present with her, a young, scared little girl who rarely spoke when around people I didn’t know.”

She had to pause a second to breathe and calm herself, recalling her past having brought up various emotions which she hadn’t exactly expected. The breath she took to calm herself being just barely heard across the speaker system of the ship.

“Eventually... as I grew older, my Faunus trait began showing more and more. Thankfully with the maid outfit being as long as it was, it hid my tail for a long while. Though after a particular fall that I took, Queen Cress saw it. This ended up giving away my true identity. That I was a child of her King born out of wedlock. Angered by this, she ordered that I be exiled. That night I stole a weapon that was to be given to my half-brother Samuel the next week. Having been his training partner for a while under the watchful eye of Sir Umbir Dew, I had experience with the kind of weapon it was. I disguised it as a walking stick, and the next day I had it with me when I was escorted out of the Kingdom to the Solitas mainland to wander on my own.

One thing lead to another, I found myself on a boat to Sanus, and I traveled to Vale. Meeting with a teacher from the Hunter Academy of Vale, I expressed a wish I had developed during my travels to be able to keep other people safe during their own travels, as I had been helped by Hunters and Huntreses myself at various points on my own journey. Thankfully after displaying my capabilities with the Scythe and what little I could control of my Semblance, he was able to help me enroll in Beacon. I had to tell the headmaster my true name and my story, but he felt I had potential, so he let me in.

By the time I was one of the students and placed into a team fittingly called Team Empress, word had spread that a Princess had been exiled, and eventually killed by a Grimm. With the assistance of the son of a Noble family that supported me even back when word first got out of my situation, I was able to get in touch with some other members of Noble blood, eventually even being invited to a charity event held by the Duke of Coste. At this event, I spoke to settle the rumors of my death, and set word to be spread around that I still lived.

As Lady Melo Grove has revealed to me, Queen Cress had been trying to discover if I was still alive for a while before the Charity event. Wanting to contact me and try to welcome me back to Ventus with open arms to try and repair our relationship. I’m unsure, but she may have even been wanting to accept me as a proper member of the Royal family and an heir to the throne should Samuel have not been fit for it. 

However, at it was soon after I attended the Charity event that the attack on Vale happened. Beacon Academy was swarmed by Grimm, some of Atlas’ technology went haywire and starting attacking students and civilians, and the Cross Continental Transmit System tower of Vale was destroyed. Communications were hindered across all Remnant because of this, and Cres was unable to contact me in any easy way like she might have been with the CCT system up. Instead, she decided to get in touch with some of the Noble families based in Sanus who supported me. One such pair of Noble families was the Baron and Baroness of Montai, and the Duke of Coste.

A couple months back, after you arrived in Sanus aboard the NeverCondor, Umbir dew came to find me, and alongside a close friend of mine, Octavius of the Tyrian family, he showed us video footage of the meeting that Cress had with the three Nobles. I could only hear it, but what I heard made it clear that the Queen wanted the best for me. Asking the Montais and the Duke to take care of and support me in her place should she die before she’s able to meet with me and fix things between us....

Sadly... neither her request or her wishes could possibly be fulfilled... Just as their meeting was ending, a cloaked woman was let into the Quartz Stage by guards loyal to Samuel. This woman rendered the fully armored Umbir Dew incapacitated, killed the Duke of Coste and the Montais, and after my Half Brother took the crown and left the building, she killed Queen Cres as well. 

The sounds of gunfire and screams could be heard as background noise as Umbir began to recover control of his suit, and his body in turn. After retrieving the Necklace from around Cres’ neck and pocketing it, Umbir rushed outside, and the sound of raging flames and explosions became clear... The rest of this story you all know already.” 

Once more she’d pause, feeling a lump in her throat remembering how she handled everything when it was revealed to her that such tragedy had happened to her home.

“Now... when he came to me, Umbir left the Queen’s necklace with me and for some time I avoided wearing it. He told me that I needed to come talk to all of you... To give you some sort of hope by becoming the next Queen and leading you through this difficult time.... But I was unable to bring myself to do so, I was scared, doubtful, and felt I couldn’t possibly fill in the space left by the late Queen Cres... So I never came.

I left all of you scared, unsure of what the future held for you, and those emotions grew more and more each day. Growing to the point it drew the attention of Grimm. Too much Grimm for the NeverCondor to have been able to handle without help. At the time, Umbir called for me, for my team and any others I could get to help.

Initially, me and my teammate and friend Peri Gaia intended to call more people to help us confront the Grimm Horde which was assaulting the Airship. But something happened. 

I’m unsure how many of you know, but I was born blind. I am blind. Though at a point in my life, my aura began changing and adapting, interacting with my eyes in a way that removed it’s protective nature as a sort of default, and instead let me perceive auras. Right now, as I look at everyone in this room, I see you as a vast array of wonderful colors. Reds, blues, greens, yellows, even a couple more uncommon ones like grays and metallic shades. 

Back when I arrived, what happened to me was something that happened once before, but I saw what I can only explain to be a ghost. An aura figure that didn’t belong to any living physical body. One of a ghastly white color. Last time I had encountered it, I entered into it’s embrace and I felt at peace. Like everything was right in the world. Though it also distracted me enough for an Ursa to find me, which proceeded to hit me into a tree, injuring my head and damaging my left eye further than it already was.

Seeing the ghostly aura again, I knew something would happen if I went to it. I was unsure whether it would be something good or if it would be bad, but I had to know. , With some help from a crew member that I’m told goes by the name of Sprig, I was able to get to the figure and once again feel it’s touch. The odd aura was calming, pleasant, and for a short time it felt there wasn’t any horde surrounding me. Yet in it’s embrace, something happened this time that didn’t before. 

The being spoke to me. It’s words... I couldn’t understand them at all. Yet even still, there was some sense of understanding that came as I listened to it. I came to know what I had to do to help with the Horde, to have some confidence that I could lead you, and to know it’s identity. As crazy as it sounds... I’m not entirely sure of it myself, but I’m sure the name that it put into my mind was that of our first Queen. Of Giulia Khromatos. I’m unsure why Giulia came to me or how it’s even possible, but she was there, and even though she’s absent right now, I know she’s here watching over us.

Using the knowledge Giulia gave me, what seemed to be based on an experience she herself had with the Ventian People of her time, I was able to come up with an idea that would hopefully work to fend off enough of the horde. With a Dust Crystal in hand and Giulia’s help, I was able to use the Dust to stagger the Grimm horde, and my Semblance at a much stronger state than I have ever been able to in my time as a Huntress. The combination allowed me to successfully fend off what Grimm were more of a threat, block a large sum of the horde from being able to get to the NeverCondor should those closer to the ship be destroyed. 

Though I do have to give thanks for my friend and teammate Peri Gaia and the man who’s been my Father Figure for my entire life, Umbir Dew. Without the two of them, there were multiple points during the encounter where I very well could’ve died. A couple where they almost did themselves”

Turning to look back to the Komodo and the Armored man one after the other, the two both shrugged after glancing to one another and stepping forward to her sides. Emma herself looking between the two before focusing to the crowd again. A smile now present.

“Without Peri and Umbir, my effort in settling the rumors of my death would’ve turned out to be for nothing.” She could hear Peri chuckling, thus making her laugh a little alongside her. Not really even caring it would be broadcast through the entire ship. Though she did calm herself a couple seconds later.

“After what happened two days ago, I ended up losing consciousness due to severe lack of aura. According to Umbir, I was out for a full twenty-four hours. Over this time, the NeverCondor’s crew was able to clear out as much Grimm as they needed to have the time necessary for them to launch and take to the skies safely. To get all of you to safety. But this is only temporary... 

If I were to have left the instant I could instead of coming here to talk to all of you, it would’ve set the cycle in motion all over again. You would feel that same fear, despair, anxiety, and uncertainty still, possibly even worse, and eventually Grimm would’ve come again. The next time would’ve likely been worse, so much so than what this time was. 

But it’s because I know that and because of the faith that I’ve received from the people beside me right now, and because of the kindness of a little boy among you who welcomed the idea of me as your Queen so easily that I stayed. That I am right here, right now, speaking as I am, and addressing every single refugee. What I am about to say, I may sound unsure of myself, but that’s not because of how I’m feeling right now or because of you. It’s because of doubts I had harbored all my life and the fact that, just like all of you, I am scared to step into this unknown territory.”

Pausing, Emma took a deep, audible breath to ready herself physically, mentally and emotionally for what she was about to say. A part of her unable to believe she was taking this step, that with all the negativity that had filled her whenever she thought of herself as a ruler, she was about to set herself to such a role. There was actually a want to hesitate, to stop right now and just run, but she knew she couldn’t. She had to do this.

“I, Emma Smoke Khromatos, twelfth generation of the Khromatos lineage, will not hide any longer. Starting today, I will take upon myself the role of Queen of Ventus. As shaky as the road ahead may be with having to learn and adapt, to the best of my ability I will lead you all to a future where we can return to Ventus and free it of the legacy of tyranny which Samuel continues in his fathers stead. It may take some time to get there, but I promise you, I will get us there. I just need your faith and your trust.”

The intercom system would fall silent for a short bit. Emma quieting herself hoping for some kind of reaction from the crowd. She could feel eyes leaving  her and hear voices down below. For a few seconds she was feeling unsure of whether or not what she said was right. If the words she used didn’t work and the Ventian people wouldn’t support her. She could feel her tail curling ‘round her leg as worry began to settle in.

But then she heard something, cheering and clapping, all so faint from the hallway she and the others entered the room from. The quiet applaud soon growing louder while still muffled. Louder again, the opposite side now, just another second passing before the very room she was currently in began cheering up to her. Some merely clapping, others shouting words of support and positivity.

It actually took Emma by surprise a little bit to know they were accepting her. That after all of her self-doubting, people were able to believe the would be able to lead them. Finding herself choking up some just from the realization that so many people believed she could do what she was so sure she couldn’t for so long. The impact of the moment hitting her hard enough she could’ve sworn she couldn’t breathe.

Before she was able to say or do any more, she could feel a pressure against the side of the headset. Soon discovering it was Umbir shutting the headset off. Turning her head to him, she could see his hands raising with the aura-filled pendant necklace hanging between them. Moving it closer to her to set it ‘round her neck as his aura glowed bright with happiness. 

Moving to hug him, Emma felt his arms quickly return the embrace and his voice speaking one simple line that sent tears rolling down her cheeks..

“I’m proud of you.”

[im-confusedandgay]

As Luck Would Have It

A Snowbaz Fic Genre: a lil mix of angst/fluff (i swear its more of fluff at the end) Word Count: 4k Summary: Simon Snow does not know how lucky he is.

~

She ran. she ran so much, so fast. Her knees were throbbing so severely, she was afraid they might disconnect from the rest of her limbs. It was like everything lost meaning, every definition and motive, all gone to her.

and this was her only purpose. this right here. The running and the escaping. and the tiny little ounce of hope she carried with her, like a narrow light beaming in her chest. still, at the back of her mind, there was always that voice, that damnable voice that reeked of fear. 

That voice said "This is the part where it all ends in flames." She couldn't tell if it was her own voice. couldn't tell if it were his. She turned a corner and nearly tripped on the jagged rocks. Every breath seemed impossible, incoherent. Her head was pounding, aching. numb. her arms wanted to give in, to let go. she didn't allow anything of that sort.

She ran. She didn't know how. She didn't know how it was possible. Her magic could be carrying her every step with some abstract energy, maybe. thats possible right? The last tendrils of her magic, at least, because she was so certain she gave all of it away.

Trees were fading past her, the ground tumbled beneath her. She did not think about the man chasing after her,  did not think of the bare future laid before her. she did not think of anything else besides the baby in her arms. He wailed, a heavy shrieking noise. his tiny arms were reaching for her face, fists unclenching, clenching. reaching, always reaching. 

She would never let go. she didn't allow anything of that sort. 

this promise would carry her in her solemn grave. This promise, she thought, is the only thing that could keep my son alive.

And maybe this was why she ran.

-

"Simon, Im home." 

Simon sprang to the living room, all giddy and vivacious ecstasy radiating off of him. He's smiling that amiable smile of his. 

Baz raised an eyebrow. "What?" Despite himself, he mirrored simon’s smile, that same easy and lively light aglow in both their faces.  still, Baz felt his face linger in bemusement. 

And still, simon wouldn’t say a thing except high squeals, tugging on Baz's sleeve like a five year old. Baz didn't mind. “Alright, Simon, whats going on?” 

Simon then fished for something in his jeans pocket, retrieving what seems like a plain white sheet of folded paper. He passed it to Baz with excited hands. Baz took the sheet of paper with a confused glance. He gently unfolded it.

July 19, 2017

Dear Simon Snow,

We are pleased to notify you that, of the many proposals we received, we have selected your portrait ‘petite étoile’ , Your response to the RFP issued by Cambridge Art Association stood head and shoulders above the rest. We are looking forward to moving forward with the installation. 

Thank you.

Baz blinked at the words. He read it again just to make sure. and again. He looked at Simon. 

Simon, seeing the stupefy and awed expression in his boyfriends face, squealed, “I KNOW!” Baz hugged him in response, smoothing out his bronze curls, kissing his forehead, taking his face on both his hands and nuzzling his nose with his because he's a fucking tragedy when it comes to Simon Snow and both of them know it. “I knew you could do it.” he whispers, wiping the tears off Simons face. 

They felt each others smiles radiate of their lips in smooth, lethargic bliss. 

“we should throw a fucking party.” Baz announces.  

“you don’t have to do that-“

“shut up, Simon.”

  he already had his phone in his hand, calling penny’s cell. “We are celebrating the shit out of this letter.” Baz held the phone by his ear as he took his boyfriend by the waist. Simon leaned his head against his shoulder in response, breathing him in. Baz smelled explicitly of Cedar and Bergamot today.

“Hello? Penny? Guess who received an acceptance letter!?” 

He could feel Baz’s piercing smile in those words. Simon laughed in response.

-

She didn’t know it was going to end like this. or maybe she did. maybe she did all along and denied it. She knocked on the cottage door twice. she was sure she lost him. he probably tripped over some twig and lost her tracks. maybe. hopefully. A nervous energy filled her veins as she continued to rasp at the door until an old women by the age of 50 opened it. 

“Hello,” She greeted.

The old woman continued to stare, bored.

She shifted her arms so she could adjust herself to the weight of her baby, holding him close. 

The woman still continued in silence. 

“M-may we please stay here for awhile? We don’t exactly have anywhere else to go.” She could feel her teeth clatter in hunger. or fear. Fear, she thought. Its always fear. 

Finally, the woman made the smallest gesture of glancing at her baby. the next thing she knew it, a closed door appeared in her face, inches away from the peak of her pale freckled nose. 

A sob escaped her as she continued walking off into the distance, the wail of her baby traveling with her in a soothing presence.

She was sure she lost him. maybe. hopefully. 

-

Its times like this when Simon Snow wakes up at 12:00am. 

Times like this when he wakes to the sensation of arms around his waist. a body instead of space beside him. 

He wakes, sullen and drowsy. patches of blue and silver moonlight teem down the window panes. His eyes travel to where Baz’s head lays down in the cushions, peaceful and quiet. 

It was just 5 weeks into their relationship when Baz presented the thought of moving in with Simon and Penny just days ago. Penny, god bless her, approved.  Of course Simon approved as well. Hell, he may as well rent a place of their own if he could. 

It wasn’t official or any of that sort. But he knew they’d make it through that point. 

They made it through watford, anyway. If they could make it through that, Simon’s pretty sure they’ll make it through anything. 

He continued to gaze upon Baz’s sleeping figure. 

“you know what would be a great idea?” Baz had said just the day before.”you could paint portraits. paintings. Just for a change.” 

Simon scoffed. they laid in the couch. He was busy sketching some pieces he thought of that day, cross legged beside Baz, who was reading a thick pretentious novel. 

“Nice one Baz,”

“Well, no offence love, but you sulking around all day with nothing else better to do is an image we’re all tired of” 

He shrugged in response. 

“So what if i’ll start painting and make pointless portraits? What could i make of it? what would change anyway?”

“well for instance,” Baz glanced at Simon’s sketchpad, a grin plastered on his face. he returned back to his novel. “Change is happening right now, Snow.”

Simon shifted in their bedsheets. he wrapped his arms around the sleeping boy beside him.

He’ll start painting tomorrow. 

-

As luck would have it, She turned to the right direction after all. Now all she has to do is wait for a car ride. The street before her laid bare and remote, as if no venichle has passed by since god knows how long. 

The baby she held in her arms grew silent and still. she looked at him, tracing a forefinger over his smooth rosy cheek. Her finger traveled down to his neck, where a tiny, indistinct mole lays there. 

His eyes were closed in tranquillised sleep, not a single worry or doubt in the world in those closed lids. She smoothed out his blanket, tugging it this way and that. 

It wasn’t far long ti'll she grew helplessly weary. She settled herself on the edge of the curb, waiting for a miracle. Her knees felt like heavy rocks dragging her body down, and she couldn’t help but think of herself as a statue, numb everywhere, inside and out and at this point it was a marvel she could speak, a miracle she could so much as utter a single word. 

Her stomach growled. It was only when she pursed her dry sandpaper lips did she noticed how thirsty she was. 

She looked at the baby in her arms, still asleep. Somehow, she held tighter. 

in that sweet, lullaby voice of hers, she cooed, “I’m going to love you so much, no girl would ever be good enough for you.”  

“But I do believe a girls going to love you so much. or boy. I wouldn’t care. As long as you love them and as long as they love you back just as much.” she reconsidered. “i’ll still love you the most though.” 

she nuzzled her nose in her baby's neck. He smelled of smoke. Smoke and brunt trees. He smelled like everything she thought he would smell like. “I’ll always love you.” 

 “And if by some larger force separates us,”

she wrapped his tiny fist with her single finger. she squeezed. he squeezed back. 

“Then know that i’m always with you okay? know that i’m with you no matter what and nothing could change that. nothing.”

  The baby opened his blue eyes and as he did, a Camero’s headlights were headed their way. Lucy jumped, standing up, balancing herself. The sudden movement made the baby wail. 

then she saw the plate number. 

Dread filled her system like a slow, creeping snake. 

Oh god.

But it was too late to start running.

-

Baz knocked on Simon's door again. And again. No answer. Only the sound of Simon's obvious sobs, sobs he tired desperately to hide then. It was useless to keep them in, anyway. "Simon," He didn’t know what he could possibly say. Assure him everything is okay? Tell him he'll move on? Tell him lies, lies they both know would do nothing, nothing but display themselves ostentasiouly in the air once they’ve been said. 

Baz was not one for lying. So he told him the truth.

"This isn't okay. Your magic will never come back and we can't do anything about that." Inside the room, Simon grew deathly silent. From the living room, Penny shot him a treacherous glare that says what the fuck are you doing. Her eyes were gigantic plates and really, it was a marvel how she could manage to do that to her eyes.  Still, Baz continued. "The mage is dead. Holes were made and holes were filled."  no response from inside the room. 

"Simon, love." Baz was surprised when he heard a choking sound leave his lips. Even Penny grew silent for once. He tried his best to carry his now trembling voice, 

"You want the truth? Thats the truth. The truth is your the most alive being in the whole damn world. The truth is with your magic, you were fucking untouchable and I was scared Simon. You were the sun and i was crashing into you and the world revolved around you and it was like i couldn't even reach you, it was like everything depended on you and i couldn't possibly give you the satisfaction of knowing that i depended on you too. You were on the other side of the galaxy and you were so far away. The truth was i was so bloody scared Simon. The truth is with your magic, we would have never met in the middle." He laughed at that probable thought. "There was no fucking way."

Silence. 

"Simon," Maybe he said enough? Maybe words were enough. it didn't feel enough for Baz though. 

Simon's own words were still echoing in his head, words that nearly shot him dead at the spot, words that were so untrue, words said with sharpened tips -- "I don't feel alive Baz! I was alive with my magic!  I'm nothing without it and theres no fucking point to all this a-and I --" Simon wiped his eyes then. "I just want to feel fucking alive again!" That was when he stormed to his room and shut his door, locking it with heavy breaths and trembling shoulders, looking for all the world like a precarious, fragile thing. 

Baz softly says -- though not that softly so Simon could hear him through the door -- "Your so alive Simon Snow." 

He thought he heard the door click. He goes on, "You got my share of it."

Before he could even blink, Simon’s pink swollen lips collided with his and at that moment it was as if words didn't matter. As if they never did.

-

"You can't just take him!" Lucy Salisbury was desperate, yes, though she was also many things indeed. Angry. Furious. Confused. Determined. But Davy didn't see any of this. Davy didn't need to see any of this. He's seen it a thousand times before, has seen desperation claw at peoples stomachs with hunger and the need to devour. He's felt it a thousand times too, but now looking at Simon, looking at his blue eyes...maybe he finally completed it. Maybe he actually finally did it. 

The chosen one. Davy laughed. Its still hard to believe, even after all these months of waiting. 

"Give me my baby back you bastard!" Lucy screamed. She was pulled back,  carried away by Davy's men. She didn't even know he had men. "Simon isn't yours to take!" Sobs were leaving her like drool and she reached out with her arms towards her baby, she willed herself to reach out to Simon, and maybe she was close, maybe she wasn’t, but all she remembered was a blade, a sharp blade, a sharp and silver blade in Davy’s hands and she thought --

No. He wouldn't.

He thrusted the blade into Lucy's abdomen. 

And thank god it wasn't her baby’s abdomen. She thought for a second there…

But then the last thing ringing in her mind was the fundamental issue of Simon.

Because even without that dagger in her boy's stomach, she had that nauseating feeling that he wasn’t safe with Davy, blade or no blade.

This was the last thought she could think of before The Mage willed the blade to go in for the kill. 

Simon cried all the way to the Camaro, where the Mage cooed and cradled him as if he were a loving father who'd never let go of his son.

-

Baz was told he would have to end him in some way. Kill him. Maybe he could bite him, savour every drop of blood the notorious Chosen One has. He could place him in a stake. Burn him. Maybe he would do the classic blade in the chest move, or a spell powerful enough to end him.

He was told he would have to end Simon Snow in some way. People have been telling him this since he was five years old, small enough to walk, but also small enough to follow what the adults say, no matter what that thing is, even if it meant theft or murder. 

as a result of this, he followed his instructions to kill the chosen one without question, followed it like a manual or a booklet. He kept it to heart and practised his spells to complete and utter perfection by the time he turned eight. 

Because maybe then he could avenge his mother. Maybe then she'd come back to him. 

then, of course, the crucible paired Simon Snow and Basil Pitch together and that was when it all went downhill from there. 

It was summer. The second year of watford came to a bittersweet closure. All was well. The family was doing good, everyone was healthy. The air in the dining room was alive with conversation with sparks of laughter here and there. Champagne glasses were being passed around like a game of hot potato and the chandeliers were sparkly and glistening, crystal and divine even amidst the sullen, medieval and almost melancholy structure of the Pitch's mansion. 

He didn't know when the conversation started, didn't know when or how it turned to that direction, but the one thing he heard that day that got his attention was when his aunt, Fiona announced, "Simon Snow isn't human." 

The fuck? Fourteen year old Baz raised an eyebrow. Perhaps joining one of these adult conversations would be a little fun. "Why do you say that?" 

All Grimm-Pitch eyes turned to him expectedly, as if Baz had something imposing to offer them. Fiona smiled that devil smile of her's. "He was brought by the Mage. Everyone knows anything brought by that tyrant isn't natural." She took a agonisingly long sip of her red wine -- she didn't care for champagne -- and pursed her lips in an effort to retrieve the sweet and bitter aftertaste. With a feline grace she placed her glass back down on its coaster.

Baz picked up his fork, thinking that that was the end of a lovely exchange of words, but when Fiona cleared her throat and faced towards him, he had the obvious sense that she was just getting started. 

"Simon Snow is a weapon, Basil. Name me one hero who wasn't built for a single, certain purpose." Baz didn't bother answering. Just get to the point, he wanted to spit out. 

"Exactly. After Simon completes that purpose, after he's done saving the world of mages, lord knows what would happen next. A few celebrations, sure. Maybe even some cake and confetti. Then what? That's the only thing separating us from heroes, Baz. They're granted with a life purpose, we aren't. We live ambiguously, they don't. We have choices. Everything around us is a life choice. We get to be anything we will ourselves to be. But for people like Simon Snow?" She turned her head and grabbed her spoon, turning her ice cream around her glass like stew. "He's a weapon. He'll always be a weapon. Nothing will change that."

But if you could be anything, Baz thought. If you could be anything, then why do i feel like i have no other choice but to become the villain?

-

He almost felt bad for him. Almost. Besides, he was doing this for the greater good, so there was nothing to feel bad for, nothing to worry about. 

He could have had a childhood. This was Lucy’s voice. Or was it his own?  You could have given him that. He could have been a normal mage with likes and dislikes. A normal boy who plays soccer, who plays in the rain and jumps in rain puddles. You had the power to do that. You could have presented that boy with choices. 

The Mage dismissed this voice. Simon wasn’t normal. Simon was the Chosen One. Who wouldn’t want to be the hero of their own story? 

He was sure he left Simon here. Shame, maybe he could have placed him down in some other care home. Out of all the care homes it had to be the one with walls so old its ugly orange paint was peeling off around the corners. He could see mold around the space where the walls met its roof. 

The mage wrinkled his nose in disgust. It is possible that Simon may have learned the value of simplicity at least. Staying humble and all that. Though none of those trivial values mattered now.

He went through the Chosen One’s schedule for the next week, listing off all the essential bits and all the least important ones. He’s going to need training. He’s going to need lots of training. And supervision. Perhaps he could be there for Simon ti’ll he gets the hang of the whole Chosen One business.

He’s already planned it all. He’ll give Simon his wand — and what a powerful, experienced wand it is — and he could show him some tricks. He would give him special classes, explicitly for him. 

Next thing he’ll know it, he’ll be the saviour. The hero. He’ll be the Chosen One  and save the whole world of mages. That is the hope anyway. 

Though people like Davy don’t rely on hope. People like Davy call hope goals. They call goals objectives. People like davy see these objectives as check boxes ticked off by the second. 

So he adjusted his suit jacket. Looking over his shoulder, he gestured over to one of his men to come close. “Make sure Simon gets in the camaro once he gets out.” The gentleman nodded in response. 

History was in the making since the time Davy was in watford. Today, history is about to change. 

-

Her mom told her that Simon Snow was dangerous. Everyone tells her Simon Snow is dangerous.  Soon, as Penelope Bunce has come to learn, she noticed everyones been telling her lots of things about the Chosen One. They tell her to be careful. To never go near him by the time she would enter Watford. They tell her that he is the most powerful  mage to ever walk, and that his magic isn’t normal, that it isn’t contained. That he is a monster. One night, when she and her brother were trading ghost stories by the fireplace, he told her the story of the Chosen One and how he was sent by demons. She tried so very hard not to roll her eyes.

The point was, Simon Snow came off as many things. Maybe it was because of her stubbornness, maybe it was because of how insistent she was on proving to everyone that Simon Snow was not what everyone declared him to be, or perhaps it was simply because she was intrigued of Simon even before she met him. Maybe these were all valid reasons as to why Penelope befriended him on the first day of watford, despite her family’s warning.

Thinking back to the past events, to every word her relatives have said about her friend, every lie and rumour, she couldn’t help but smile. She smiled because she knew she was right once again and that the rest were wrong: Simon Snow is not a monster. She didn’t think he ever was. 

They’re seated across from each other on the breakfast table. It was their fourth day here in Watford, and Penny was pleased to find out that she was already leading top of the class. Well, that is, if it weren’t for Baz Pitch, maybe she really would have been top of the class and not fall on second. Second sucks. According to Simon, Baz sucks as well. (It turns out not a day away goes by without Simon mentioning his roommate. Penny tries her best to stay inquisitive throughout these discussions with her friend, but most days the whole conversation gets too tedious.) 

Speaking of discussions, she wanted to lead today’s conversation towards a direction — literally any direction — that has nothing to do with Simon’s roommate, so before he even gets the chance to open his mouth, Penny says “You know, i’ve heard a lot of things about you. Even before I came to Watford.” 

Simon stared. This was an indication enough for Penny to continue. “Like how your the Chosen One and all that.” 

The boy swallowed his cherry scone and almost as swiftly grabs another one. “Yeah, well, I am the Chosen one, so that figures.”

Penny thought for awhile. “Why are you the chosen one though? Out of everyone?”

“Because of my magic?” 

“how’d you get so much magic in the first place then? Your magic has to come from somewhere. Why would your parents leave you when they knew how much magic you contained?” She stopped herself from asking further questions. “Gosh, Simon I’m sorry. Was that too much?”

Simon kept his eyes plastered on the cherry scone in his hands. His eyes betrayed no emotion. “Thats fine Penny. I’m sure they had a reason though.” His voice sounded positive despite the subject of discussion, and that was the exact moment Penny knew this boy was nothing close to a monster. 

Simon Snow is just a boy. A boy with as many questions as she has. 

“Sometimes i like to think that my mom was a teacher. A really nice teacher who gives blueberry muffins to children who answer things correctly?” Simon dropped his scone, and the mere sight was a wonder to Penny’s two eyes. She decided it was best to encourage the conversation. “What would your dad be?”

“He’d be a football player. Like as in, celebrity football player. He’s the one who wins all the trophy’s, that one player the team couldn’t win without. He’d be riding in a limo and everything and there would be light shining everywhere from the paparazzi.” He smiled, thinking of these concepts. 

He knew it would do him no good to think of these things. But no one told him he couldn’t pretend. No one said pretending was bad.

So he pretended. He pretended he was loved. He pretended he was wanted and cherished. He pretended he had a mom and a dad and a life. 

The next thing Simon feels is a hand on-top his shoulder. Looking back he see’s the Mage in all his glory. “Simon, we’ve got work to do.” He had sounded so official, so down to the point. He also sounded like a leader, and the mage certainly dressed like it. 

Simon stood up. 

It was evident to Penelope that Simon wanted to be like the mage someday. She saw it in the way he looked at him, like the mage was some kind of statue he needed to replicate. As if the mage was the only person in the room who mattered to Simon.

Like he was the only person who bothered to care.

Simon left without question, leaving Penny looking dumbfounded and surprised. 

She knew that Simon Snow was just a boy, yes. What she does not know is if everyone could see that as well. Soon, she found herself hoping the mage out of all people could see that. 

Soon, she found herself by Simon’s side the next year, and the year after that, then the next year until her family had grown used of him, until they considered him family. 

Soon, she discovered that Simon no longer had one person in his life who cared.

Then when Baz Pitch strides by, when she catches the way Baz glances at his roommate or the small moments like the way he sneers at him…it turns out she wasn’t the only one who cared.  

-

They're seated in the dinning room and Penny can't handle it anymore. "Alright assholes tell you what, how bout i cook some fucking chicken and a steak. How bout that?"

Baz snorted. "Theres no way you could do both. Besides, if someone wouldn't be picky -- " 

"Try me Picth i dare you."

"uh, language."

Both Baz and Penny stare at the boy cradling himself on the chair. Penny glared. "Excuse me?"

“Well, you kept swearing, its bad for the baby."

"well don't you think its a little too late to—“ Penny stopped in her train of thought.

Now its Baz's turn to glare. He raised an eyebrow and politely, sarcastically asks, "What baby, Snow?" 

Simon smirked. "Im the baby, idiot. Hell if either of us could conceive don't you think we'd be having a family of sixteen right  --"

Baz threw a spoon at his husbands face to shut him up, rolling his eyes in the process. "Your a disgust, Snow. And also I saw that post about the whole baby shenanigan joke in tumblr, so don't think your so special."

He was surprised when he saw the look of hurt across Simon's face. He was even more surprised when that hurt looked genuine. "Jesus stop pouting -"

Penny cuts Baz off: "You have a tumblr?" Simon's eyes immediately perked up at that concept. Baz could tell tonight was going be a very long, very agonising night. 

“Im sorry, my mind just can’t wrap around the idea of you having a tumblr.” Penny joked, one hand on her hip and the other leaning against the kitchen counter. 

Simon looked to Penny. “I bet he has a username like CountBasilton360.” She laughed at that thought. “No, no, no I bet he named himself BazzieTheVampireSlayer and has a profile picture of Drarry Fanart!” 

Baz stood up in the middle of all the laughter and the chaos and gladly excused himself to his and Simon’s room. He silently grabs his laptop to change his profile picture. 

-

The veil is getting thinner by the second. I don't know if i could reach you -- but i did it before. I could do it again. 

it's funny, last time i reached out towards you Davy stabbed me with a dagger. Theres no dagger this time, Simon. I'm safe here. My only wish is for you to be safe there. 

So i tear open the Veil -- i could handle the consequences after. 

As luck would have it, you look happy. I see you seated in the dinning table with Natasha's boy. I notice identical rings in both your ring fingers, and i shouldn't be crying, but i cry anyway.

Oh, Simon. 

Everything revolved around you. Chances are you wouldn't have made it. But you look so happy … your smiling and your so bright and vibrant. 

I’ll love you the most, Simon. I’ll always love you the most.

I wasn’t there to prove it —

but I’m sure they will.

The last image i get from you is you laughing with your eyes closed, arms around your stomach.

And I’m sure your the most alive I have ever seen you.

For once in my entire life, I stop fighting the veil and I let its cool breeze devour me. 

~

[lasagnabomb-blog]

Belargo the Coin Dragon

"Hey, shopkeep, what can I get for this? Found it on a recent venture in southern Duskain".

Kit faced a small roadside wagon set outside of Lupren in central Duskain. Drawing the short straw, he was sent out to run errands while the rest of the crew set up camp. Usually, they would stay at an inn when this close to town, but after being robbed of your gold and some of your supplies you learn to make do.

“Looks beat up, but the knife is still sharp. I'll give you six gold for it.”

The shopkeep was a stout man, short too. You could almost mistake him for a dwarf if he grew a beard. He stepped back from the counter and put away the knife. Kit looked around at the pines and straightened his coat. Winter was coming and it was coming fast, frost had been on the ground that morning.

“Aye, here you go. Six gold, as promised.”

In the shopkeep's hand. There were six coins, but there was also a tiny silver dragon clutching one of the coins. Kit tried to softly tug the coin away from the dragon, but to no avail as it growled and hissed at his hand.

“The dragon comes with the coin, sir.” The shopkeep gruffly spoke “Little guy never lets go of his coin, so he always goes with. He's traveled to about every shop in the town, and who knows where he was before that. Try and spend ‘im somewhere else so he gets to travel.”

“I… uhh…” Kit held out his hand. The dragon perked up and scampered onto his hand, up his arm, and perched on his shoulder.

“By the way, the lil guy responds to Belargo. Have a nice evening now.”

The shopkeep didn't give time for Kit to respond and closed the window to the cart. Dumbfounded, Kit decided it was best to spend some of the gold and get food for the crew.

After shopping for a while, Kit finally returned to camp with dried goat, dried fruits, and one gold. The camp had been set while he was gone, and his two companions were already sitting by the fire. On the left sat a black kobold named Arua, on the right sat a dwarf named Gurk. Both seemed to be laughing at some joke Arua had just finished, her jokes were known to be a bit raunchy and a favorite of Gurk's.

“Hey, Kit, we found a log for ya to sit on. Find anything good out there?” Gurk's voice rumbled deeply. “I can smell the meat, toss it ‘ere!”

“Fine, calm down Gurk, there's plenty for us tonight.” Kit, pulled out a piece before slinging the sack over to Gurk. “Got some fruits for the road as well.”

There was a moment of silence.

“We have one gold piece left” Kit said “though it uh… it comes with this little guy” Kit proceeded to reach into his jacket, and show off Belargo in the palm of his hand. “Merchant said the dragon comes with the coin, never leaves it either. Figured we can keep the little fella for now at least. His name is Belargo.”

Arua had already approached and convinced the dragon to her hand by the time Kit was done talking. “So, he's sorta like our little mascot now, huh?” Arua chirped. “ Who's a good wittle fella, huh?” as she pet the dragon with her finger.

“We should get to sleep soon. We have to catch up to Silvereye if we're going to claim that bounty.” Kit stated. “We've come close to losing the trail a few times, so we can't let him slip out of Lupren without us knowing.”

Belargo trilled happily as Arua rubbed his belly.

“Well, silver dragons are a sign of good luck.” Gurk said. “Maybe we'll catch Silvereye at the gate tomorrow before he gets the chance to slip!”

“Well, if we are gonna do that, it's best to turn in soon. Goodnight guys.” Kit yawned through the sentence.

The group had a peaceful night and rose early the next morning. After tearing down camp, the went into Lupren to try and spot Silvereye, the infamous murderer. She would leave a silver piece in the left eye of her victims, and was more than rich enough to pay off the law. The bounty was big, it would definitely make up for the money the group lost a while ago.

Kit was leaning in the gate of the town, watching over the street. The sun had barely risen, and the streets were near empty. Kit was having a hard time staying awake before his head flashed with pain and his vision went black.

When Kit came to, his hands were tied behind his back and his mouth was gagged. In a chair across the room sat a very large man with two other brutes standing beside him. One of them had a bloody bandage wrapped around his nose and cotton in his mouth.

“Ah, boys, our guests are finally awake.”

Kit looked around and saw Arua and Gurk both tied up. It looked like Gurk was hurt the most, he must've spotted the thugs before they got him.  

“Now, I have a question fellas.” The chair creaked as the man stood up “Why are you following miss Silvereye, eh? You couldn't be bounty hunters, could ya? I hear plenty in that profession die gruesome deaths.” The man towered over Kit now, blackjack in hand. “Some of ya even go through torture. So why are you followin’ the miss?

Kit spat at the man's boots. Before he had time to make a snide comment his head exploded in pain and his vision went blurry. Blood started dripping down his temple. Before he knew it, he was hauled up by his hair and pinned against the wall.

“Now, I asked you a question. I think it's best for you to answer.” His breath smelled like beer and onions.

Kit remained silent

“Fine, I see you won't talk If I hurt you. How about the little miss there? Skellen, grab her. Tie her up to the chair.”

Arua was hauled over to the chair. Her fighting back was pointless, she was much smaller than any of the thugs. After she was tied up, the leader let go of Kit and walked over to the chair.

Kit started struggling against the rope, trying to get free to save his friends.

“So, what's a little miss like you doing out here? It's easy to get hurt y'know.” The leader slammed his blackjack into her stomach. “I think it's best to admit to what you did, we might kill ya faster then.”The leader put a hand on Arua's shoulder and cocked his other hand back.”It's a shame sweetheart, you're pretty for a fucking lizard.” A small flash of fire hit the hand on Arua's shoulder. The leader roared in pain and reeled back, clutching the burn on his hand.

“FUCKING WITCH! SKELLEN, KILL HER!”

Kit had worked his bonds to the point he could slip a hand out. Skellen was standing over Arua, confused by the small dragon on her shoulder. Belargo had clambered his way up to Arua's shoulder from one of her jacket pockets. That gave Kit just enough time to tackle Skellen while he was confused. The third thug stumbled back, surprised by what was happening.

Kit took the knife from Skellen's sheath and cut his throat, then sprung back up to assess the situation.

Gurk was still tightly bound and Arua's chair had been knocked over, she was struggling with the rope. Stefan had cast aside his blackjack in favor of a shortsword. The third goon had drawn his sword as well and was getting ready to charge.

“So, you really do want to be tortured to death, huh?” The leader growled “I'm gonna put your head on a fucking pike in the middle of town!”

The leader rushed forward and thrusted his blade at Kit's chest. Kit turned aside and kicked at the ankles, causing the man to tumble. Before he could do anything else, Kit was pommeled by the other goon. Luckily, he missed Kit's head and bashed his shoulder instead, causing Kit to fall over in pain. The thug but his boot on Kit's back, pinning him to the floor.

The thug raised his blade, and readied to stab Kit through the neck.

Kit heard a loud thud and a crash, followed by a string of dwarven swears and a fist meeting flesh repeatedly. The foot was no longer on his back and Gurk was free of his bonds,  beating down the goon. Arua had also escaped hers, but hadn't gotten up yet.

“You think… that I'm just gonna go down that fucking easy?” The leader stood back up, and whirled his blade.

“I mean, I was sort've hoping so. I've had a rough week, and your fat ass made it worse. Sorry I have to take it out on you.” Kit threw the knife at the leader's head. It would've hit if the leader's reaction was any slower, he deflected the knife with his sword.

The leader charged, whirling his blade around and making it difficult to get much closer to him. Kit saw an opening, but the leader read his movements and slashed as his side while sidestepping away. The blade caught Kit on his upper arm, leaving a deep wound. Kit cried out in pain and clutched his arm, making a feeble attempt to staunch the flow. Having lost his balance from the blow, Kit crashed into the wall and fell back over.

“My name is Sellus Drihart, and I’ve never lost a fucking fight. I’m not gonna lose to some cut-rate bounty hunter.”

Sellus swung his sword at Kit’s head. Arua cried out, her lifelong friend was about to meet his demise and there was nothing she could to. She couldn’t make it in time. The sound of a blade cutting flesh and cracking bone echoed through the room. Arua screamed, and found the knife on the floor. Kit wasn’t dying in vain.

“... your blade isn’t as sharp as you think, Sellus… don’t you know it’s important to keep it sharpened after every fight?”

Kit sat there, blood pouring out of his right arm and his left hand, sword embedded in his palm. He seemed to barely be conscious. Sellus stood there, shocked. He then yanked the blade and readied for another swing.

Sellus had no time to swing though, Arua had already closed the distance and slashed his achilles tendon with the dropped knife. Sellus crumpled to the ground, unable to stand back up. Arua made quick work of Sellus, repeatedly stabbing him anywhere she could. After it was all said and done, Arua fell to her knees out of pure exhaustion. Kit had fallen unconscious, and Gurk had just finished off the last thug, with a few less teeth than before.

Silence rang through the room.

Gurk finally spoke. “ I guess silver dragons aren’t much luck after all…”

Both of them stared at Kit, he was basically their leader and what brought them together. Neither of them knew how to patch wounds like he had; especially his hand which was almost dangling off from the rest.

Belargo skittered over to Kit, and started lapping up the blood. Before Arua or Gurk could stop the dragon, the blood began turning silver in color, running up into his wounds. The wounds started shimmering, and then began closing. Scar tissue grew rapidly and stopped Kit’s bleeding. Belargo’s horns rapidly shrank in size until they were little nubs on his head, and then the dragon fell asleep.

Hours later, Kit woke up in an unfamiliar room. Arua and Gurk sat by his bedside. After a flurry of questions which were mainly answered with “I’m alive”, “I feel like shit”, and “I need water.”; Arua screamed something about Kit’s eyes. Kit didn’t really understand, his head started ringing. Stumbling over to the mirror, Kit noticed a few things immediately. His wounds were covered in a very rough scar tissue, it almost looked scaled. Each of those scars burned like fire when touched. Lastly, his eyes had taken a sterling silver color and resembled those of a dragon.

“Guys, What the fuck happened to me? Where are we?”

Gurk calmly explained that they were still in Lupren, in the Blitzed Imp Tavern. Then told Kit about Belargo and what happened after Kit had passed out.

“Little fella still hasn’t woken up.” Gurk explained “Fixed ya up and hasn’t moved a muscle since.”

Kit stumbled over to where Gurk and Arua had made a makeshift bed out of rags and a spare pillow. Belargo was nestled beneath the rags, with only his head sticking out.

Slowly, the dragon’s eyes opened. Kit’s eyes almost exactly matched Belargo’s. The two had been bonded by dragon magic in the attempt to save Kit. Nobody knew what this meant for them, but they were soon to find out. This was only the beginning of an adventure, the likes of which hadn’t been seen in centuries.

-END OF PART 1-

This was inspired by a writing prompt that was thrown my way! It had reached Tumblr fame before, but I figured I'd give it a shot too. Thank you of you've taken the time to read this, I'd love to know what you think! Have a good one!

[willgayers]

i havent been COMPLETELY thru your list of reddie fics so if youve already done something similar ignore this but. what about a sickfic where richie is sick? also maybe eddie just like, forgets about germs to take care of him and then ends up getting sick too and blaming richie and richies jus like, dude, were you here

i changed it a little but only the part where he blames richie and richie wonders if he was there !!! hope u like it :-)

again,,, sorry for the length?? but i cant write these short?? also again. IT IS WORTH IT 

so obviously eddie is TERRIFIED of germs and every time one of the losers has even a little flu he’s not gonna touch anything they touch and will stand 5 feet away from them and honestly in the end will probably just be that one friend who’s gonna say

“my mom said no”

just so that he won’t hurt his friends’ feelings even tho he really just doesn’t wanna be anywhere near them bc hey he could get it too and it could turn into something more dangerous like leper obviously

but then one tragic time… richie gets a flu

and eddie’s very torn bc he doesn’t wanna be with richie cause ???? he isn’t clean

but then again they were supposed to hangout

eddie is thinking whether he should ditch richie or not

“jesus i’ve been sneezin since 8am”

yeah eddie is not gonna go there

the gERMS ARE FLYING and just the thought makes him shiver

he’s thinking that oh well maybe tomorrow he’s gonna be ok again

spoiler alert: he’s not

so eddie suffers thru the day bc its boring at school without richie

they talk on the phone later that day and eddie’s like hey r u feeling any better

“i am nod” richie answers with a stuffed nose

eddie just sits on his bed with a facial expression that is nothing other than :(

then the day after that ,,, eddie goes to school in hopes of that maybe richie had a miracle healing last night and now he’s gonna be there

LMAO YOU THOUGHT EDS

now eddie is just gettin pissed off bc how dare his boyfriend be sick for this long

so again that night they speak on the phone

“richie jesus christ when are u gonna HEAL”

“i am do dorry eddi-spageddi bud i am just so sig”

eddie is gonna turn into hulk soon from the conflict bc he REALLY misses richie

should i stay or i should go™

(nice stranger things reference)

ok maybe eddie is gonna give it one more day.

so it’s friday and richie has missed school for almost the whole WEEK

“wow eddie you’ve been without richie for almost the whole school week how’s that feel must be a new record huh”

“shut up stan”

don’t be mean stan

eddie’s heart is breakin

again,,, he goes home from school and calls richie immediately

“ARE YOU,,,,STILL…. SICK?????”

“yeah i— *LEPER COUGH* i ah-ah-AMh *cough*”

eddie cringes because ???? oh my gosh he is turning into a zombie

“oK THATS IT”

eddie has had it

he hangs up and stomps out of the house and rides his bike to the grocery store and buys all kinds of stuff like non-caffeine tea ((bc he knows for a fact that it helps better than regular)),, some ice cream and chicken soup in a can even tho eddie thinks it’s disgusting and fights with one of the workers

“YOU DONT HAVE NORMAL,,, READY CHICKEN SOUP IN THE FRESH FOOD SECTION????”

“yeah not today”

“my bOYFRIenD haS bEeN SiCK!! FOR A WEEk and i hAVE TO BRING HIM A CAN????”

eddie shakes his head in disbelief and curses the store as he walks away

then he finally arrives at richie’s house

he knocks on the door first just in case his terrible excuse of parents are home but they aren’t

so he leans down to grab the key from under the doormat and opens the door

he walks in and stiffens his upper lip as he glances around at the sight of empty beer cans and liquor bottles and there’s just the smell of old booze and cigarettes in the air

like it’s normal (and eddie hates that it’s normal) but richie’s SICK and he should be breathing fresh air not the literal definition of the breath of a drunken bum who’s been living in the gutter

this wasn’t what he was expecting bc he figured that richie’s parents would at least open the fucking window because their son is sick inside the house

so quickly eddie makes his way to richie’s room that is at the end of the hallway and he knocks on it softly before opening the door

he finds richie sitting in his bed ,,, burrito inside blankets and he’s watching something from his laptop

his eyes are red and his face is a lil swollen and nose also v red

eddie wants to cry bc he looks so bad

“eddi???”

“yes,,, eddi to the rescue” he mocks his boyfriend’s stuffy nose voice a little

richie is literally starstruck bc ???? EDDIE IS THERE ???? EDDIE , IS THERE , WHEN HE IS SICK ????

“whad de fug edz u should go befor u ged dis doo”

“i’ve been to school without you for a week now richard im done”

richie wants to cry

eddie is still just staring at him bc he doesn’t know how to approach him since he’s still a little disgusted at the situation this is all new for him ok but he really wants to help his bf

“i bought u some stuff”

richie starts to smile wide

“BUT” eddie starts

“before i give u any”

“????”

“you’re gonna leave this house”

richie looks at him like he’s crazy

“r u serioud eddi every pard of ma badi hurts”

eddie feels so bad for him

“you don’t even have fresh air here richie so i am serious”

richie can’t take the fact that his boyfriend is such a knight in shiny armor

eddie leaves the bag for a moment to grab richie inside his blanket burrito and pull him up.

“ur gonna have to get rid of this blanket tho”

“no:(”

eddie looks at him

“srsly richie i can’t give you a ride on my bike you’re gonna fall down and roll down the hill”

“:(”

“i will give you my blanket once we’re there”

richie throws his blanket down way too fast and he starts feeling nauseous

the bike ride isn’t very aesthetic™ for him either bc his head is spinning and all of his muscles hurt and oh my gosh he’s doing his everything not to throw up on eddie’s back rn

eddie’s mom isn’t home so eddie can easily sneak richie in

he’s not sure how he’s gonna explain him living there until he’s healthy again tho

but he’s not gonna worry about that now

(fast forward;

i donT CARE THAT HE’S SICK AND INFECTED MOM,, i LoVE HiM!!!!)

so now they go into eddie’s room ( he’s basically holding richie up )

and richie settles down on eddie’s bed and eddie wraps him inside a blanket and richie is just smiling at him the whole time

“r u comfortable”

“very” richie says. the blanket smells like eds and he is in eddie’s bed. ofc he’s comfortable 

“here’s my laptop”

eddie hands him his macbook and goes to the kitchen to prepare the chicken soup. in the can. which eddie still thinks is unacceptable as he heats it up

“here”

richie is about to cry bc “did you really mage me chiggen soub”

eddie nods with a light frown like wtf obviously that’s what you eat when you’re sick

“there’s also ice cream”

“ice cream???”

“yeah it’s for the throat…???

eddie is kinda confused bc how can richie not know it helps

then it occurs to him that

richie doesn’t know, because

no one’s probably ever taken care of him when he’s sick????

i REPEAT, NO ONE’S EVER TAKEN CARE OF RICHIE TOZIER WHEN HE IS SICK

now eddie wants to cry

“scoot over”

he wants richie to be on the side next to the wall so he can lean his head on it if he wants to it’s more comfy  

with a lil trouble richie does move and eddie cuddles up next to him

literally cuddles

richie is SHOCKED

“are you sure u wanna do dat”

“100%”

richie wants to marry eddie

“wad r we watchin”

“kill bill”

“waid a minude… isn’d dis-”

“yours. yeah. i never watched it and i never gave it back so”

“u never watched dis?? oh my god eddi—”

“eat ur chicken soup and watch this movie with me now oKAY” eddie is a pissed off knight in shiny armor bc talking is just gonna exhaust richie more and he needs to get WELL

richie eats his soup and they watch the movie in silence,,,, glued to each other and at some point eddie realizes richie’s fallen asleep with his head resting towards eddie’s

eddie can’t move because he knows if he does he’s gonna wake up richie

but thankfully after like 15 minutes richie wakes up and he’s like “shid where am i”

“you’re with me”

he turns his gaze down at eddie and he remembers that yes,,, he is in fact with eddie and he just feels: ️️️️️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️

well the weekend goes by and eddie goes hardcore nurse on richie and literally by sunday he is already pretty healthy like his voice is back to normal and so on

but… Oh… no

eddie and richie are eating in the kitchen

richie goes;

“baby can u pass me that ketchup”

“sure—”

SNEEZE

eddie’s eyes widen and he freezes in shock

richie looks at him like o'shit he done caught the flu

but then he starts to smile

“WELL I GUESS I WON’T BE GOING TO SCHOOL FOR ANOTHER WEEK”

“what do you mean?!?!?!”

“because obviously im gonna take care of u”

eddie is 😨😭💘😓😭💕😨😭💗

then later they tell the other losers why they’re both missing school and stanley uris wants to comment again

“so eddie u went to richie’s house??”

“yesh”

“and i thought i was romantic letting bill choose dinner”

@nopetaking @xbell22 @donthateonk8 @stenbroughbros @reddiebrekmyheart @itsgreywaterrichie @donvex @blueeyespurpleskies @ageorgymi @oh-youre-the-worst @eddiekaaspbraak @whipashwhipash @rissyq @richietoaster @edskasqbrak @waterlouis @wyattghouleff@urtury @bukiminajimu @kcutieeesblog @stansmansuris @adorefack@reddieaddict @icyeyes102@denbroughbill @graveyardshipper @taletellingsir @anxiety-freak-yuuri @rheddie @queertrashmouth